ChrisMoncus.com

Here’s the first in a series of desktop wallpapers for your computer.

Heaven. Jesus promised us He would return. Until then, He is preparing a place in Heaven for us. He wants us close to Him.

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” John 14:1-4 (New International Version)

I pray God blesses you through them.

Download
Widescreen: 1920×1200, 1280×800
Standard: 1600×1200, 1024×768
iPhone: 320×480

Courtesy a blog post by Tony Morgan, I found an article in Inc.com spelling out tips from the country’s top innovation consultants on how to stay creative. Being one whose job it is to be creative, I read through it and gained lots of valuable insight into staying creative.

For those of us with short attention spans… here’s Tony Morgan’s summary. If you’re interested in the full version, read Inc.com.

1. Get multicultural. - You need to get around people that are different than you.
2. Provide lots of free time to think. - Give staff freedom with their schedules, and encourage them to be “off” and dream big.
3. Encourage risky behavior. - Maybe my wife will let me ride a scooter.
4. Write it down. - Encourage your team to write and share their lives with others. (More blogging!)
5. Hire smart. - Hire risk-takers. You need people that are willing to embrace change.
6. Bring in outsiders. - Bring in outside perspective to expand your thinking.
7. Be flexible. Very flexible. - The same strategy doesn’t work for every situation.
8. Do it for free. - Give your team the ability to give their work away and serve others.
9. Mix up your people. - Let people step into new team environments for a season.

To the readers my coworkers - Fred, Travis, Justin, David - after reading this, how can we get more creative and encourage an environment of creativity?

Your thoughts?

Link to: Tony Morgan’s post
Link to: The Inc.com article

During my first year of college I started attending First Baptist Brunswick, GA. There I met several ministers who so graciously sowed into my life and really affected the direction of my life. Over those five years I took away so many good tips, experiences, and ideas for ministry that I know I wouldn’t be the person I am today without them. One tip in particular has application throughout all areas of ministry and secular events.

“Kill it before it dies”, Waller Boyer said to me one night while he and I were leading a Disciple Now down in Jacksonville, FL. “Leave them wanting more.”

That statement rocked me.

So I started the implications of doing just that with different areas of ministry. How many sermons, music sets, dramas, videos, _____insert ministry here_____ have started out strong but the end perception was boredom or disinterest? Ministers, have we “lost” our audience and wondered why? This could be the answer.

When writing sermons, blog articles, and tutorials I try to use the “kill it before it dies” method. I get rid of all the extra stuff and try not to repeat myself unnecessarily. When possible I provide pictures to illustrate my point so I don’t have to beat the point to death. I try to write a 30 minute sermon, condense it to 15 minutes, and then when I go over (like usual) the message ends up being 25 minutes - the perfect length. I believe that I should be able to illustrate my point within the alloted time. If not, there’s probably too much “extra” stuff that could be removed, condensed, or otherwise better said. I also believe that a sermon should rarely be finished at church. There should always be some takeaway for the audience to have to work through and thus finish the sermon in their hearts. Leave room for that. Leave room for God to work.

Application to worship music? We need to keep a bead on the crowd and not let the songs go on too long. Luckily I am in a situation where that doesn’t happen much. If anything I want more. I could stand another 10 minutes of music easily, but maybe that’s the point. Leave me wanting more. Force me to seek out that satisfaction.

In my line of work it has applications on the non-sermon side of things as well. When being approached by someone to build a website I pass on a tip to them regarding their site content. I tell them, “Write what you want to say to the reader. Come back the next day and get rid of half the words. Then come back the next day and get rid of half of what’s left. You are then left with all the information you wanted to communicate in a smaller and easier to digest package.” It is more likely to be read and remembered if there is less to read and remember.

So that’s my little takeaway. Apply this to whatever you do in ministry and I believe the perception thereof will be more pleasant and engaging.

Please comment and let me know your experiences with this. Good or bad. Did this click with you? Do you disagree? Let’s talk.

A couple weeks ago I did a shoot with Mckendree Augustas for his new album. Here’s the keeper for the poster. Pope Saint Victor did the artwork and post-processing.

http://www.virb.com/popestvictor

There might be some of the pics going on the album art so I’m interested to see how Victor processes them and his design.

If I could summarize my biggest need right now it would be time. I need time with Amanda. I need time to have fun with music and photography. I need time at work to get better at what I do. I need time to organize.

Some examples: I haven’t filed papers at home in six months. Amanda and I cook at home MAYBE two nights a week. I love to write yet I go weeks without writing at all (you can see the gaps here as proof). I’m a graphic designer who spends half as much time as would be proper on projects. I haven’t gone on a local photo safari in months. I pick up my guitar briefly every couple of weeks. I have little time to learn and less time to practice new techniques in design. Right now it seems like life is getting in the way of living. It’s not fun.

So what’s in the way? Why do Amanda and I rarely just chill out away from the house? Why do I work 8-10 hour days and not get it all done? Why do I spend time at home and never get organized? Why am I never able to spend time learning?

Someone! Help! Please!

I’ve had some ideas but as of yet they haven’t paid off or I haven’t stuck with them. Someone recommended changing my sleeping schedule to go to bed earlier and get up earlier. Unfortunately something in my physiology hates that and always has. I don’t know how to become a “morning person”. It would be nice though.

Another suggestion was to get to work earlier and leave right at five instead of working late. My job though includes at least one night I have to stay (Wednesday @ Youth Group), one night I like to stay (Tuesday @ Elevate), one night I’m usually slammed and it becomes a late day (Mondays), one night with my small group, and if I’m in the band or helping set up for Sunday it’s another night (Thursday). Most weeks I am at the church four of the seven nights in the week, sometimes five. It’s killing me. No, I’m not being forced into this schedule but I don’t know of a better one. How can I still get and give the ministry and community I need and still have a life?

The other is a question of my productivity. I feel like I get interrupted (Ha ha. I JUST got a phone call about a printer that isn’t working. Interruptions in action.) all the time and it kills my productivity. When I was looking for solutions I found a PDF from Stephen B. Jenkins of the Institute for Aerospace Research for National Research Council of Canada. His research found that “interruptions that occur within 15 or 20 minutes of each other can cause your productivity to fall to near zero.” That might explain why I get my best and most productive work done after 5pm. No one is here to distract me or interrupt me. Given, my job involves tech support but I feel like there is a better way than repeated “Got a minute?” entries through my doorway. I wish I could have designated work times where no one can bother me. Too bad I can’t hide. My 24″ iMac with second 22″ monitor is a little hard to throw in a backpack and go to Starbucks.

Any ideas? I’d love them. I have to get more productive so that I can work and live without harming the other.

If you have any ideas please leave them in the comments area. Please.