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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

“Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu each took his own firepan, put fire in it, placed incense on it, and presented unauthorized fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them [to do]. Then flames leaped from the LORD’s presence and burned them to death before the LORD.” Leviticus 10:1-2 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

Freedom. Reading this passage was like a breath of fresh air. “So there are times when doing ministry may be against God’s will. I don’t have to accept every ministry opportunity presented to me.”, I thought.

A guy named Joshua Duncan wrote this about this passage.

Nadab and Abihu had been consecrated as priests. They were to serve the Lord in His temple, and if you have read Exodus and Leviticus you know that His instructions were quite specific. There were certain things that the priests were commanded to do in God’s service, and they were to do nothing else. One such service was the burning of incense, as detailed in Exodus 30:1-10. This is the command that the sons of Aaron disobeyed.

So what incense am I to burn before the Lord? What incense should I not burn?

It reminds me about John 15:1-8 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vineyard keeper. Every branch in Me that does not produce fruit He removes, and He prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in Me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without Me. If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown aside like a branch and he withers. They gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be My disciples.”

Looking at the section about pruning back, God seems to generally want us to be really good at a few things and not spread ourselves thin. We’re more effective that way. My incense may be different than yours.

I don’t know if God will strike me down for accepting one more photo shoot than is in His will, but I pray He let’s me know someway that I am being less effective than I could be.

God deserves our best in the best quantities we can offer. Seek out His perfect will for your life and discover the freedom in being “cut back” or “trimmed”.

What’s in your life that needs to be “trimmed back” so God can fully use you?

Here is one of the most practical and view-altering videos I’ve seen on church growth. Rick Warren is being interviewed regarding church discipleship and growth and his response to the Reveal Study by Willow Creek. It’s about 30 minutes long and well worth it.

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.

Is your church buzzworthy?

Is your church a topic of conversation in the community? Is your church making an impact? If it ceased to exist would anyone notice? Is your church innovative or does it follow the crowd?

The last two days I have been listening to the MP3 sessions from the Buzz Conference 07 hosted by National Community Church in Washington DC. Those question above were asked by such amazing church leaders as Mark Batterson, Craig Groeschel, and Tim Stephens. During their talks they give leadership visions for reaching people in radical ways and greatly affecting our communities.

If you’re a pastor or other church leader/employee, YOU NEED TO LISTEN TO THESE!

Session 1: Mark Batterson
In this opening session, Mark Batterson converts the Moscow Rules into leadership tactics for modern ministry.

Session 2: Tim Stevens
Tim Stevens, from Granger Community Church, shares insights into creating buzz by using the leverage of modern culture as the momentum to compel.

Session 3: Craig Groeschel
Craig Groeschel develops an algorithm: Limited resources, plus increasing passion, equals exponential innovation.

Session 4: Craig Groeschel
In this powerful message, Craig brings forth a confession of practical atheism.

Session Q&A: Craig Groeschel
Mark interviews Craig in this Q&A discussion immediately following Session 4.

Session 5: Mark Batterson
In the final session of Buzz ‘07, Mark finishes a discussion on tactics for greater leadership in ministry.

What’s also amazing is that they have released each of the five messages plus a Q&A on downloadable MP3 and streaming video for FREE! Download them at http://buzzconference.com/media/.

Listen and be blessed. Pass them on to your pastor. After you’ve listened, share your thoughts in the comments area.