updates / blogs
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- Last night, I went and heard Donald Miller speak on his “Million Miles Tour.” If you haven’t picked up his new book, you should. It’s a really thought-provoking and inspiring book about story. We weren’t meant to live boring & meaningless stories, but instead were created to be a part of grand adventurous stories. It begs the question, at the end of your life, what story had you told?
- Don Miller is way more personable and humble than I imagined him being. I would have liked to hang out with him. Me, Donald Miller, Chris Martin, and the dude that invented the Sharpie.
- Finished reading “No Man is an Island” by Thomas Merton. What a great book! I have a alot to process from that one.
- Started a new book (only 101 pages) called, “In The Name of Jesus” by Henri J.M. Nouwen. I first read him in a compilation book, “Devotional Classics” which is edited & compiled by Richard Foster. Henri basically packs some of the most challenging and convicting principles for Christian leadership in 101 small pages. I’ve already had my mind blown a few times at the reminders of what really counts in Christian leadership.
- Heading to Breakway tonight at Texas A&M. Last week was an amazing time of worshipping with those guys, and I’m REALLY looking forward to tonight. Praying that God moves mightily!
- Songwriting takes discipline. Rarely (and I mean rarely) does a song instantly come from some monumental occasion. I used to think that great songs flow from waking up early and watching a sunset. Or traveling to the Grand Canyon and sitting perched on the edge with a Moleskin and a Sharpie. Or maybe just sitting with a white piece of paper on a piano…waiting for great words to flow from the fountain pen. But that just never happens! (at least for me). Instead, as with anything worthwhile, it takes work… it takes discipline. It takes exercise and time. I recently read an article by Jon Foreman. He talked alot about songwriting (and he’s a really good at it). He writes several hundred songs every year. That’s alot of work, time, and diligence. I also recently heard of a writers challenge to write 30 songs in 30 days. I’m thinking about trying that.
- Do you ever feel the urge/need to be spectacular? As an artist (and as a minister) it’s a constant war that goes on in my head & heart. In a culture that consumes itself with success, results, and numbers, it is easy to get sucked into. However, I don’t think anything you or I can create ever seems spectacular to God. Sure, he’s proud or pleased when we do things that bring Him glory and point people to Him. But, what we create…what we do…what we accomplish can never camouflage the real things that matter. Jesus asked Peter a profound and pointed question when He said, “Do you love me? Do you love me? Do you love me?” So, the question sits heavy today as Jesus directs the pointed question to me…and to you. Too many times, we seek to be well-rehearsed actors that woo and impress and stir resounding applause. But, that’s never something God has been interested in. And, it’s absolutely not the way Jesus carried himself. In the gospels, we see countless occasions where people want Jesus to prove himself, to do something spectacular that would get a resounding applause. But He always resisted that temptation. Henri Nouwen says it like this… “Jesus refused to be a stunt man. He did not come to prove himself. He did not come to walk on hot coals, swallow fire, or put his hand in the lion’s mouth to demonstrate he had something worthwhile to say.” May you & I resist the temptation to be spectacular.
Empires: Holy Warriors – Richard the Lionheart and Saladin movie
Beverly Hills Chihuahua hd
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November 10th, 2009 @ 9:51 am
Your last point just punched me in throat. Thanks for the great reminder. Can I share it?
November 10th, 2009 @ 10:13 am
Great post. Thanks for the book recommendations.
November 10th, 2009 @ 10:22 am
My cousin and I (who are both writers of novels, poems, and articles – but never songs) did our own little 30 songs in 30 days challenge a few years ago. We changed it up and made it a bit more challenging by writing a different TYPE of song each day. We did country-western, rock, gospel, limeric, show tune, commercial jingle, etc.
We made sure we got it done by being accountable to each other by having to email our song of the day to the other person no later than midnight. (No cheating writing two songs in one day and emailing one at 11:59pm and the other at 12:01am “the next day”.)
It really got the creativity flowing and helped both of us move through some challenging projects we were working on.
November 11th, 2009 @ 11:51 am
i began reading no man is an island again. i think i may start a book club here in h-town. thanks for the encourgement.
November 11th, 2009 @ 4:23 pm
Just curious, what exactly do you mean by “justice” in the context you display it on your website?
November 12th, 2009 @ 9:40 am
I read “In the Name of Jesus” a couple years ago, and reading this post made me pick it up again. I forgot how good it is.