#2 post of 2012

We all know the importance of the ten commandments – the golden rule for how we’re supposed to live our lives. But what about a golden rule for our creativity? Blogger Andrew Zahn developed a less sanctimonious list than Moses, but it’s a list that can be adapted to our creative lives. Here’s the list with a little commentary:

• 1. Give space, time and energy to your creativity. // This is HARD! Our lives are busy, so it can be difficult to be intentional with creating space for us to be our creative best. But, space is important for ideas. Once we have identified an idea, we have to give it space to grow and breathe before we try to execute it. Our best ideas reach their potential when they have space and time around them. Finally, we manage energy. It’s on us. How much energy is attributed to our creativity and our craft ultimately is managed by us – the user and steward. We all have about the same amount of space and energy and we all have the same amount of time. We are going to put our space, time, and energy somewhere. Why not put it into something we value?
• 2. Creating is an act of worship. // For those of us who are Christians, we know creating is an act of worship to the ultimate Creator of the universe. However, Zahn takes a different angle, an angle that states that when we choose to not create we are actually being “self-centered and selfish.”
• 3. Your creativity is a gift given to you. // If we’ve been given a gift, we need to cherish, honor, and protect that gift. Even more importantly, we need to share our gifts with others. Give and it shall be given unto you.
• 4. Date your artist. // Our greatest ideas are going to be birthed out of our experiences. Great art is created when artists are able to connect with emotions that are deep inside themselves. We have to be willing to explore those places to uncover the truths about the artist we are becoming.
• 5. Don’t be an expert. // Experts know it all. Students are always learning. When we accept the fact that we can always learn more, each person, project, and experience becomes an opportunity to add more tools to our tool boxes. Don’t believe the hype. You are great, but you can be greater. We should talk less and listen more, but whatever we do, we should NEVER STOP LEARNING.
• 6. Jealousy is the death of creativity. // It’s been said that jealousy is where love and hate both live together. If we want to battle jealousy, we have to do it intentionally. When we champion others, we go on the offensive against jealousy. When we want the people around us to win – no matter the cost – it not only builds great teams, but it removes the temptation to be in competition with one another. Champion and celebrate others at every opportunity.
• 7. Don’t give up. Don’t give up. // EVER! And if you think about giving up, stop. Take a breath. Then, keep going.
• 8. You have what it takes. . . now. // God created you. He knew you would be uniquely YOU! If you’re honest with yourself, you probably don’t think you’re good enough for the challenge in front of you. Thats GOOD! If you felt you COULD handle it, that would mean you were able to take the credit for it. When you know you can’t handle it, you have to have an element of faith and trust. Those two ingredients are activators for our best creative endeavors. So, stop doubting. Start believing. Never stop working.
• 9. Authenticity breeds beauty. // Anyone can duplicate something that has been created. You, however, have walked a road no other artist has traveled. That road gives you the permission to create art that no other artist can create. Create out of that place, and you wont have to worry if you are duplicating.
• 10. Want what you already have. // Stop comparing. Stop creating excuses. Stop hesitating. Use what’s in front of you, control what you can control, and create something today that moves you and your organization forward!

Do you resonate with these commandments?

The 3rd most popular post of 2012!

Photo Props

Have you ever thought that Creativity may actually keep you from being a senior leader in your church or organization? According to a survey done last year for the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology most people are attracted to leaders who remove risk and actually support and reinforce the status quo.

This is scary.

With the speed of our world and the turbulence for which we face daily, creativity should not only be encouraged but also championed as a trait of leadership that will help our organizations stay competitive and aggressive. The problem is, creative leaders come with stereotypes: Unreliable, Risky, Lazy, Forgetful, Aloof, Arrogant, Self-Consumed…and the list goes on and on.
The truth, most of these stereotypes are not true.

Our organizations need new and fresh ideas. As creative professionals it is our responsibility start destroying these and other stereotypes. It is time for us to be who God created us to be, in his image, creative leaders. We have the opportunity to set a new stereo-type: Passionate, Carrying, Desperately seeking new results, Hard working, Sensitive, In touch with emotion that creates connection, introspective, strategic, and willing to do whatever necessary to share the absolute most important story ever told in an attempt to help people experience life change.
It’s not something that we can do…it is something we must do.

We can lead and still be creative…and we will.

What are some of the stereotypes you experience as an artist? How are you combatting those via your art, work ethic, and approach?

You may want to bookmark or Evernote this post for next year. These songs won big for us. Hope you enjoy the #4 post of 2012.

There are two types of people in the world: those who love Christmas, and those who don’t.

Each year, we’re working to build momentum and worship culture inside our services. We want people to have the chance to experience God and understand the value of worshiping our Heavenly Father. For eleven months, we pine over this process. Then, for five weeks, we have to abort because it’s Christmas time. If you’re like me, you LOVE Christmas – probably not as much as THIS GUY – but still love it and you want to sing Christmas songs.

Well, Jarrod, our worship leader is a little more scrooge than Santa and he wishes we would never sing Christmas songs. With that thought in mind, we went into the lab a few months ago to dream up what it could look like to make both sides happy. We came up with these mash-ups that have worked GREAT in our services. They’ve allowed us to celebrate the season without sacrificing the momentum and culture of worship. Check ‘em out.

*Artistic disclaimer – these are work tapes we’ve created for our bands to practice with. Feel free to use these songs if it might help your service. Also, we’ve added an original worship song to this list that has been working well for us.

Merry Christmas!

PS. If you need charts Email: Ali@Crosspoint.tv

The 5th most popular post of 2012!

There is nothing wrong with a 9-5 job. It is more than admirable. In fact, a lot of people dream of the day we can show up at 9 go home at 5 and not think about our jobs when we are on the beach, in the car, or playing with our kids.

But oh creative culture…you have ruined us. Because of our attachment to our art, and our inability to cut the tether from our creative core, we think, dream, process, and obsess about how our ideas will impact our jobs. For some it is a gift. For others, our creativity is a curse. But why? Why can’t the creative job not be completed during our “shift”?

• We are not in a setting that inspires us to think creative.
• When we are at work we have too much to do and not enough space to be creative, unless we plan and make that time.
• We get interrupted. (twitter, people, emails, ping-pong, meetings, lunch, responsibilities)
• We are afraid we won’t appear to be working when we do what it takes to process creatively.
• There is not a premium on ideas but a premium on execution. (Both are necessary)
• The routine of work bores us and depletes creative energy.
• Our environments are not conducive for creativity.
• Teammates, co-workers, bosses or employees cause us to be afraid of sharing that idea that might just change everything.
• We feel we will be rejected.
• We don’t feel enough ownership to be vulnerable.
• We have been told no before, so we feel we no longer are responsible for dreaming. (This could not be more wrong. As artists we are responsible to the idea and the inspiration, now how it is accepted or rejected)
• No one asks us, so we don’t assert our creative energy. Which causes us to rob ourselves and to rob others of the chance to collaborate on something amazing.
• We are frustrated.
• Our pace is too frantic.
• We are comfortable and stretching would mean getting out of that comfort zone.
• What if our idea is accepted…what would that mean. No thanks!
• We don’t feel valued enough to share our best ideas.
• We have gotten bored, and are so bored we have not realized it yet.
• We have to many priorities and not enough delegation.

Being creative is an honor. It is not always comfortable. It has requirements and responsibilities associated with it that at times can be an inconvenience. We need you to be your creative best and to share that with the rest of us. Are you ready? It may be uncomfortable, it may cost you, but it could also change….everything!

What would you add to this list? But more importantly, what are you going to do today to be a creative monster?

The 6th most popular post of 2012!

Photo Props:

Creative people are liars.

It’s a fact. A recent study conducted by professors from Harvard and Duke University have identified that creative people have a problem with honesty. According to the study that was published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, the same people who are gifted with looking at problems differently – seeing things others don’t – and have the “intellectual spark to think outside the box” are prone to drift into indulgences like telling lies, cheating, and general dishonesty.

And you know what…it’s true.

Creative people are liars.

The odd thing is, the lies start with us lying to ourselves.

We lie to ourselves when we believe we aren’t good enough.

We lie to ourselves when we believe that God didn’t give us the gifts that make us unique.

We lie to ourselves when we believe we always have to fit in or be accepted.

We lie to ourselves when we believe that the work is too hard.

We lie to ourselves when we believe that our dreams are too big.

We lie to ourselves when we believe that everyone should understand us.

We lie to ourselves when we believe that we don’t have the ability to change the world through the art we are creating.

Stop telling lies.

Stop believing lies.

We are the ones who have been chosen to write this chapter of history.

We are the ones who have been chosen to write this chapter of history. What will your page say today? What lies will you stop believing?

Integrity Music and I have decided to share a little peak behind the creative curtain of some of todays most prolific worship leaders. Questions about process and a peak at how these worship leaders are crafting songs for the Church.

Today Jon Egan is joining us. Jon is a worship leader at New Life Church in Colorado. You can follow him on Twitter HERE. Jon also fronts the Desperation Band. Their new album, Center Of It All, is available on iTunes HERE.

Q1. Jon, what does your creative process look like?

• Out of the heart the mouth speaks.  In other words, what goes in will come out.  As a worship leader/songwriter, it is of the utmost of importance to fill up with the things of God.  The last few years have been a blast for me.  More than ever, I have become a student.  A student of theology, revival, the presence of God… What I have learned from Him and from others, He is using to fuel my creative process.  When truth explodes in my heart, I am compelled to share it.  Whether it is with my mouth through speech or through the vehicle of song.

Q2. When you write worship songs do you identify a target audience or focus on theme?

• I love the church.  All generations, commending His works to one another.  I want my songs to transcend age and/or season of life.  I actually do not believe in “youth” worship or “adult” worship.  People have tried aiming their songs at one age group for years.  Myself included!  All that has been found is that the songs that reach one age group the most are the songs that reach all groups.  A great song is outside a cage.  More than ever, I strive to write for the “church”.  All generations. I am a theme writer for sure,  maybe to a fault.  I want to be moved by an idea and develop it in the song.  God speaks to me this way so it is hard to write in other ways.  It helps me focus on the weight of big ideas.  For example, I wrote “Strong God” from Psalm 68 where it commands us to sing to God.  But the “why” is what got me.  Because He is father to the fatherless.  Defender of widows. He puts the lonely into families.  Incredible thoughts about family, justice, and the plight of the orphan and widow.  I sat in this psalm for a while knowing that this theme had to be written into a song.

Q3. Do you have a favorite place to write or create?

• I have a space created for writing, but it’s funny how it works.  I end up writing everywhere.  I think writers need to ALWAYS be writing.  Whether they’re in church, or alone in a writing room, or driving in the car, truth can come out and you want to be ready.  Just the other morning I woke up singing a melody.  I loved it.  I grabbed my phone and recorded the melody.  Now it is finding its way into the bridge of a new song I am working on.

Q4. What inspires you the most?

• The reality of God.  He is more real than everything around us.  Which means He is here, involved, engaged, close.  I want to see God’s people wake up to His presence.  Wake up to His love and grace.  And therefore see that they are His.  And they are carriers of His presence to this place and every place.

Q5. When you feel you have hit a creative block, how do you overcome that moment?

• First thing I do is not panic!!  I think a creative block can actually reveal some nasty things inside us.  If we panic, we are perhaps treating our writing as an idol.  And why would we treat it that way?  Because it points to us perhaps?  Glory is God’s alone.  Because it shows that God is using us?   We must trust God to use us.  Because it may generate income?!!  Ouch!  God is our provider!!  When I hit the block, I relax.  Perhaps I need to learn some things.  Mostly, I need to come out of the writing season (the pouring out season) and enter into a reading season (the pouring in season).  And by reading, I mean spending time with Him…  in the Word and in the words of others He may lead you to.

Q6. Do you prefer to create in community or on your own?

• God is doing a tremendous thing with community.  He always has been if we’re being honest.  But writers are catching it…myself included.  The Center Of It All album has only 1 song on it that is just my own.  Every other song is a collaboration!  And the result is something I am so proud of!  We need each other.  We are better together.  We all see God in different ways.  We interpret in different ways.  If we are willing, we can learn from just about anyone.  I was so honored to write with people I deeply respect.  Jason Ingram, Mia Fieldes, and Paul Mabury are heroes of mine.  To get with them and craft worship songs for the church was an absolute thrill! I do not think that writing a song alone is in any way wrong.  But I do believe a spiritual thing is happening here with community.  I plan to continue diving in to it!

Q7. What is the hardest part of creating worship sets every week (or as often as you lead worship)?

• Like a marriage, worship-leading is a God given role that does present challenges.  The greatest things will always include the greatest challenges.  For me, the biggest tension is having to put to death the “people pleasing” thing.  We are only free to deliver people when we are delivered OF  people.  I pray for and seek to have authority in my leading and songs.  Longing for man’s approval will cripple your spiritual authority.  It is something that must die.  And it seems to have resurrection power now and again because it seems to find its way back!  it is something to consistently slay.  But!  His grace is sufficient!

Q8. How do you balance original songs with songs that are leading the global church when you are creating a set?

• In context to leading with authority, it is important to me to make sure I lead songs that are truly “in” me.  My original songs are “in” me yes.  But they haven’t always been.  I’ve been at my home church of New Life for 11 years now!  I believe that I’m meant to write for our church.  In 11 years of massive ups and extreme downs, there is quite a bit to SAY now.  So the songs written lately have been special to me because they are FULL of things we have learned as a church body.  But also, I believe that when God speaks something, MANY hear it!  So you can find incredible songs from others that are meant for your church.  I’m constantly amazed that themes that are burning in my heart end up coming out on other albums!  From other people!  It’s really an amazing thing.  So, when I commit to singing at church what God is speaking, the balance of original songs to other songs works itself out.

Q9. Who is the one writer you have not worked with that you would love to write a song with?

• Ah man.  There’s a few.  But my hero that I have never met is Martin Smith.  I grew up listening to him and his songs.  He is more than a songwriter.  I would love a chance at that!!

Here is the art for the album, Center Of It All.

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