The accurate side of creativity
A few years ago I did an interview with the Wall Street Journal concerning originality in weekend messages. Several pastors were asked about their views pertaining to one-of-a-kind messages. Most of them said they thought it was okay to borrow insights from other’s messages. Rick Warren, who says, “If my bullet fits your gun, then shoot it,” also says modern day messages of pastors are the equivalent of yesteryear’s commentaries. I agree with Rick.
Over the years I have borrowed from others – and some have borrowed greatly from me – some have even published my stuff in their books (sometimes with permission, sometimes not). Consider a couple of thoughts.
No matter where you stand, don’t get too arrogant about your claim to originality. I’ve had people tell me they never lift other’s material – that they only share original information. I don’t believe them. The Bible says, “There is nothing new under the sun.” No matter what you say, you are pulling information from somewhere that has been stored in your memory banks from input you’ve received along your journey. Some are better at recalling pieces of input than others. That doesn’t mean they are more creative.
When you use other’s stuff, do so humbly and thankfully, not exhaustively. Your audience is usually bored with that. On Sunday mornings you are giving a helpful message, not a defense of a doctoral dissertation. If you share a lot of ideas, I don’t think it’s necessary to offer all of the sources of information you share in a message.
Robert Schuller once shared with me his policy for giving credit in messages. “The first time I use someone’s stuff I say, ‘Like so-and-so says and I name the person.’ The second time I say, ‘Like someone has said…’ The third time I say, ‘Like I’ve always said…’”
Creativity is a gift from God. As we call upon him his ideas will flow. Let’s move in it by the empowering of the Holy Spirit.
When is it time to fight?
Yes, there is a time to fight, even when you are in the kingdom of God. There is a time to stand up for what is right. That’s not the same as standing up for your rights.
We can get the false idea that it’s never okay to fight – that no good ever comes of exerting one’s will when conflict flares up. I don’t agree. Even when we are walking in the Spirit conflict sometimes comes about. There are plenty of examples of this in the Scriptures.
Sometimes when others are intractable, and you are convinced of the rightness of your cause, the only option may be conflict. But how do we proceed when this is the case?
Smile. Determine to have a good attitude regardless of the reactions of others. When conflict arises sometimes we are merely stopping the bullying of others, even in church settings. Count on it, when you put your foot down you will get negative reactions. Smile just the same.
Relax. If you didn’t cause the conflict be philosophical about it. Realize you are not causing this. You are in the midst of a complex situation – not by your choosing.
Flow. Don’t let others get your goat, but at the same time it’s wise to not resist their blows. Ironically, sometimes it’s best to not resist the direction of life. Jump into the river. God will show up.
Walking out your potential
I’ve come to believe that most success in life is about doing things that are distasteful – or at least a willingness to do the things others aren’t willing to put up with. That’s the key thought – to put up with it – it’s mostly about having patience for the long haul. Many can at least briefly do something that is difficult, but how many can hang in there for the intermediate or long haul doing what isn’t all that much fun…? I know I’ve gone through most of life not being able to endure at that level, but then God broke through and gave me a gift.
I’m coming up on the anniversary of my devastating medical accident – some of you are aware of that so I won’t explain that here (you can read about it in my book The Day I Died). Of all I have gained from that time of suffering what remains is the lesson of endurance. A lasting level of patience came to me when I was tied to a bed for an extended time during my recovery. At the time I thought something was taken from me. Now I realize I was getting in touch with the ability to move through life and do what is distasteful.
He’s in the business of giving gifts, though not in the way I received mine.
How to get a job
- Learn how to learn. It’s about humility. We won’t go very far forward until we bow down and allow the lessons of God to permeate our souls. The good news…he is continually bringing us around to know what we don’t yet understand. We will never make make progress in our souls until we admit we are in desperate need of his intervention. “Mess with me” is our dangerous prayer.
- 2. Learn how to ask great questions. Great questions come out of great levels of curiosity. Reading in the power and leading of the Spirit is life changing.
- 3. Learn how to knuckle down. There is a lot we are called to accomplish we will never pull off save for mere commitment to the task that lies before us. The Kingdom goes forward on the backs of available people who are willing to say Yes to the call of Jesus, come what may.
Strategy of attacks
As we live a life of obedience we run into obstacles. Chalk it up to the universal principle of attack and counter-attack. As you sign up to do good and the will of God there will automatically come opposition. You are no longer moving in the direction of agreement with the culture that opposes God. Attack is simply going to be your lot in life every now and then.
How you deal with these attacks will be one of the first testings to come your direction. What are we to do with those who oppose us almost to an irrational level? Jesus and Paul give us simple counsel: “Bless and curse not.” Don’t give into your natural inclinations. Don’t strike back, even when they jolly well deserve it.
