Our Anniversary

A few weeks ago Creativity Encouraged celebrated our two year anniversary as a group at Buca Di Beppo in Columbus Arena District. My wife (aka Haircut) and I began the group with a vision to pull together people and encourage them in their God given creative gifts. We chose to focus on creativity instead of artists because we want a group that welcomes everyone and everyone has creativity.

A lot has happened in the past two years but for me the biggest thing for me is seeing God at work in the group with relationships, healing, and community. There is an openess and honesty with each that is... therapeutic in a sense. It's been a blessing to see God move us from individuals to a family through Christ. It's also a blessing to see people operating in their gifts and many times not even realizing it's happening.

I believe that God has big plans for this upcoming year and I know that others in CE feel the same way, but I'll write about that at a later date. I look forward to seeing how God will amaze and surprise us in the months to come.

Art by committee

This site is focused on creativity which includes everyone even if you don't consider yourself the "creative type." We were all created in the image of the Creator. Got it? Good. Many people call themselves artists which I believe is creativity taken one step further. Artists are people who specialize in a field or area of creativity often involving some sort of aesthetics. Why did I say all that? I'm not sure... but read on.

Artists are usually creative in a world of their own. They are used to only having to deal with themselves when it comes to their work. If artists took up a sport they'd more likely play tennis or golf (individual sport) than football or baseball (team sport). I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing either. I mean, how many works of art do you know that were created by a committee? Committees usually commission an artist but a team of people will often come up with something that is a collaboration of everyone's ideas. In short, it will be boring.

So, I believe that a challenge which will constantly test artists is working together with a group of people. During a group discussion it's constantly having to fight the thought, "this would go much faster if I just did it myself." Ahhh yes. You've said those words before haven't you? C'mon. Fess up. Over the past few years God has been showing me that I don't need to do everything myself and, more importantly, I can't do everything by myself. Being self-employed things often just fall in my lap so I end up working on everything myself but when my wife started working with us things had to change. I couldn't simply just take the "I'll do this myself" attitude.

I think God puts me in situations where I can work with others so we can see him at work instead of relying on myself and so I can see others strengths work in place of my weaknesses (and there are many). This is what is meant by the body of Christ. I've seen this in my work at the church, in our small group, in my business, and in my marriage.

It's a great thing to be part of.

snow covered ordinary

ordinary things

I dabble in photography. My favorite subjects are pretty ordinary. I have always figured anyone can take a picture of a beautiful thing and its a beautiful picture. I feel my talent (if you can call it that) is trying to show the beauty in things that people would normally pass right by. I want people to see the beauty that I see everywhere, from a building being demolished to a great sunset. I can't help but notice what an awesome world God has made.
I also love fresh snow. Even though the excitement should have worn off long ago, I'm a kid again when I wake up in the morning and see it has snowed. There are no snow days anymore, more often than not, snow just brings the hassle of driving and cleaning off your car now. But I still love it. I think because for the short time before the sun begins to melt things off, all the ordinary is beautiful. How can you not see it? The trees all have the wonderful contrast of white snow on dark bare branches, snow covered roofs, and white everywhere. It's as if everytime it snows God is showing how beautiful the ordinary can become and I just have to stop and praise him.

God tinted light

I know that you know that I don't care much for New Year's Day or worse, New Year's resolutions. I guess people make resolutions with good intentions but I think we can look at this in a completely different light. A couple weeks ago in our small group I posed the question:

"What does God want for your life this year?"

This is different than asking, "what do I want this year?" So, answering the question will take some guidance from the Holy Spirit. My guess is that whatever it is God has probably been preparing you for prior to the new year. It could be a personal change, a relationship change, a work change, a change in your perception, a change in your view of God. It might not be a change at all. It could be that God just wants you to continue trusting in Him or maybe just accepting a certain situation or maybe a person. I guess the point is getting in tune with God's will for you life and also being able to look back over the year in 11 1/2 months and see what God has done.

So, I guess I'm extending this question to anyone who reads this blog. What does God wants for your life this year?

Columbus Music Hall

Hello everyone and welcome to 2006! I believe this should be a good year because my good friend Dan Tress has declared it the year of house music. So everyone should get their groove on!

Just wanted to let everyone know we have the next two Jazz Slams scheduled. We wanted to do a slam around Valentines Day so we booked Friday February 10th. Next we wanted to try to hit April Fools so we booked Saturday April 1st. So for those who don't know, the Jazz Slam will be about every two months. We are also promising to record these slams and post them on the internet.

Same place and time.
Columbus Music Hall
Sign up 8:00
First 12 poets only
Start time 8:30
5 dollars at the door

Poet and his audience

So I've been reading some other blogs on poetry slams and what people think about the whole thing. Some people say it is an art form all to itself, others say it's just a gimmick to get others turned on to poetry. I think it can be both and several other things.

I think it can serve as a great public forum to speak on social issues. Every individual who comes to slams gets to participate. Whether you're a poet or a judge it is indeed the most democratic art form out there. The other great thing about it is as Andy would say "Everyone gets there 15 minutes."

Ok a lot of people aren't going to agree with me on this but like it or not slamming is an art form. Anyone who is a public speaker is an artist in what they do. It doesn't matter if you're a preacher, poet, politician, teacher, or what ever. If you speak in front of an audience and are able to hold there attention and relay a message that is total an art form. Some people are born with it and some people pick up the craft along the way. No question it is a very powerful art. Just look at some of the great public speakers of our time JFK, Martin Luther King, Garrison Keillor, even Bill Clinton.

For me Poetry Slams are a gimmick! I used to be in an Indy Rock band. When I would be on stage there was nothing greater in the world, the smell of cigarettes and beer, the hot lights making you sweat. Then there's the audience! To engage them is where it's at. Duwane who was not only the base player but also my musical mentor would always tell me "You have to learn to control the audience." This wasn't a manipulative thing, more like a leading the horse to water kind of thing. People have emotions they just have to be reminded. That is why I do poetry slams and open mics. To connect with an audience! I love it when a poet can walk into a room of about fifty people when there is still a lot of chatter and just draw everyone into total silence. If you can hear a pin drop you got them. So anyway, I plan on going out this Monday night too Larry's in search of an audience. Hopefully I'll see you their.

Poetry Forum at Larry's