Dream In Soul

Being a writer/designer, I always love finding new resources for creatives (or basically anyone who wants to harness their creativity- because we are all like our Father the Creator in our own way) especially when other believers collaborate to encourage and inspire one another. The Creative Collective is a movement that inspires people to “Create like they were Created” and connects believers in a variety of fields though meet-ups and other resources like e-books, videos, their blog and social media.

To give you a look at how relatable the collective is, here’s a video of one of the Creative Collective meet-ups in Phoenix last month where Designer/Photographer Promise Tangeman joins Blogger/Worship & Arts Leader Carlos Whittaker along with Jarrett Stevens of Soul City Church in a talk about the creative process, how they began and progressed in their respective artistic fields and lots more:

To find out about other meet-ups and to see if there will be one in a city near you visit http://creativecollective.is.

Free Creative Matters EBook

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You were created to create…

The free ebook Creative Matters offered by the Creative Collective is a call to arms for all of us who endeavor to create beautiful, transcendent and transformational experiences in and around the Church. It’s a field guide of sorts…written by Creatives for Creatives… for those who work in the trenches of the “Create-On-Demand” challenges that every weekend brings…

“If it’s God’s plan for your life it’s going to work out, you’re not gonna have to force it and make it happen and beg people to work with you or beg people to support you or believe in you…” – Britt Nicole

Some of my favorite parts of the interview:

- How Britt trusted God when she felt He was asking her to obey and stay home instead of going off to college, even if she didn’t see the way ahead.

- She shared the verse 1 Chronicles 28:20 that she was encouraged by: “And David said to his son Solomon:

“Be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the LORD God—my God—will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.”

Britt Nicole’s song “Walk on The Water” from her latest album The Lost Get Found is great inspiration to anyone to have faith in God and take chances when following the dreams in their hearts:

Where do you seek out inspiration in your ministry, artwork, music, writing or in other creative life areas? The book Finding Divine Inspiration: Working with the Holy Spirit in Your Creativity by J. Scott McElroy and resource website (www.findingdivineinspiration.com) gives insight to artists in the church and how they can more effectively be led by God in their work.

The book features exclusive interviews with:

• Thomas Blackshear, Painter, “Forgiven”
• Dan Haseltine Jars of Clay
• Peter Furler, Newsboys
• Buzz Mclaughlin, Writer/Producer, Theater and Film
• And others

From the Author
There is a New Renaissance coming in the arts and God has a special place for you in it. In Finding Divine Inspiration you’ll learn how to hear God’s voice and collaborate with Him in the work He has for you.

God wants to reform the arts, to bring a new infusion of Divine Inspiration into the mainstream and an explosion of arts in the church, but for these changes to come His artists must develop a lifestyle of collaboration with Him. Through solid biblical guidance, exciting historical and current examples, and practical steps, Finding Divine Inspiration shows artists how to partner with God in their life and work. Its a concept that can help invigorate your spiritual life, bring new inspiration, enable you to share God’s messages more freely and ultimately transform the arts.

God wants to include you in an amazing creative collaboration to bring His messages to the world in unique ways — and unleash your true creative potential!

He will inspire and empower you as you learn to actively partner with Him in your life and work. He wants to transform the arts in the culture and the church, and transform your life as you learn to listen for His voice. Learn how in Finding Divine Inspiration: Working with the Holy Spirit in Your Creativity.

Visit www.findingdivineinspiration.com to learn more about the book, to order, and visit the author’s blog featuring more posts about Christians and the arts.

Watch an interview with the author, J. Scott McElroy interviewed on The Harvest Show below. He speaks about the role of creative arts in the church, how to prevent arts from becoming an idol, self-expression vs. God-expression and more:

Jon Acuff, author, speaker and founder of the popular (and hilarious) blog Stuff Christians Like recently released a new book: Quitter, Closing the Gap Between Your Day Job and Your Dream Job. The title and promo video for the book caught my attention, as I can definitely relate. Learn more about the book and the author at www.jonacuff.com and read the book’s description below:

Quitter Description from Jon Acuff

Have you ever felt caught between the tension of a day job and a dream job? That gap between what you have to do and what you’d love to do?

I have.

At first I thought I was the only one who felt that way, but then I started to talk to people and realized we’re becoming the I’m, but generation. When we talk about what we do for a living we inevitably say, I’m a teacher, but I want to be an artist. I’m a CPA, but I’d love to start my own business.

I’m a _____, but I want to be a ______.

All too often, we hear that dreaming big means you quit your day job, sell everything you own, and move to Guam. But what if there were a different way?

What if you could blow up your dream without blowing up your life?

What if you could go for broke without going broke?

What if you could start today?

What if you already have everything you need to begin?

From figuring out what your dream is to quitting in a way that exponentially increases your chance of success, Quitter is full of inspiring stories and actionable advice. This book is based on 12 years of cubicle living and my true story of cultivating a dream job that changed my life and the world in the process.

It’s time to close the gap between your day job and your dream job.

It’s time to be a Quitter.

It’s a question many of us ask at one point in our lives: What is my calling? Where does God want to use me right now; in ministry, in a certain career? For me the question was most urgent after I graduated from college (which I wrote about earlier on Dream in Soul). It was the typical post graduation anxiety – “uh oh – I’ve got be an adult and face the ‘real world’? What do I do now?”

I was confused as to where God was leading me, if I should pursue studying in a certain area of ministry (in my case I felt it might be youth ministry) and I searched my heart and prayed to God to show me which direction He wanted me to go. After a campus ministry conference a few months after graduation I asked one of the leaders Pastor Sample, a youth pastor at a local church, what his advice was to someone who felt they might be called into youth ministry. His answer and how he broke it all down was a blessing to me, especially how he explained how you have to hear clearly from God where He is specifically leading you. I thought his advice was fitting for anyone who was questioning the path of their calling so I wanted to share:

Question: How Do I Know if I Am Called To A Certain Ministry?

A: Special training for ministry is great and so is Bible college or a ministry school…but the main thing is that you really hear from the LORD.

He will call you (it sounds like He is) He will give you specific instructions. Do not run out ahead of Him and do not be behind Him. Go at the pace He wants you to go.

You do not need a special degree or anything…you need a confirmed word of the LORD. He never calls the qualified, He only qualifies the called.

When the Lord calls there are usually 5 steps:

1. Calling – divinely dissatisfied with what you are doing – you know you are being called to a specific direction.

2. Training – this is usually done by man…ie..bible school, training school…