an equation for innovation.

image from techmoola.com

Talking with a close friend recently the thought occurred to me...there actually is an equation to innovation.  


My friend had just come back from a scientific research conference. 




This gathering was made up of some of the brightest scientists from all over the globe who want to cross pollinate their findings with each other.  I can't even spell his area of expertise, he's that smart!


On the surface you may say, "That's great, so what."  But when you step back to think about what they are actually trying to accomplish it will cause Kingdom minded people to sit up and take notice.


Besides money, hours of hard work, laboratories, bright minds, etc.  Innovation requires two things: generosity and humility.


Innovation requires generosity because I have to be willing to share with you my findings, research, experiences, anointing, knowledge, etc.  Generosity serves as a catalyst, building block, and key ingredient to creativity.


Humility must also enter the equation because I have to honor you and what you carry otherwise I will not value what you are offering me.  WOW. Creativity flourishes in an environment of honor.


generosity + humility= innovative creativity


If we could grab ahold of these truths it would help churches, businesses, and families go further, faster. 


In nature, we see that cross-pollination brings fruit.  


Apparently God wanted to get the message across to us that cross-pollination feeds fruitful innovation.   

Nineveh vs Nazareth.

Have you ever wondered what the major difference between Nineveh and Nazareth was?  


Nineveh experienced one of the greatest city-wide revivals in history. (Jonah 3:3-10)  




Nineveh was filled with savage, Gentile warriors and hard core heathens.  


Nazareth, however, was primarily filled with well behaved religious Jews. 
Yet, they never did get to experience a major move of God. 


Was it a lack of good preaching??? 
I'm pretty confident that wasn't the problem.  


Jesus was sent to preach to His home town of Nazareth and Jonah was sent to preach to Nineveh.  I don't think anyone would argue that Nazareth got the better prophet and preacher and yet they ended up with a worse result.  


"Maybe God is not just looking for great preachers and prophets to preach but a people who will listen!" -Glen Bert-eau


I couldn't agree more.  


I am beginning to see how listening is the primary skill needed in the Kingdom of God.  


Matthew, the converted tax collector who followed closely the life and ministry of Jesus gives us more parables in one chapter (Matthew 13) on the Kingdom of God than any other in the Bible.  


In this chapter Jesus exhorts us to "listen" more than anything else. Well over a dozen times in one chapter.


Becoming a better listener is the one focus God has given me for 2012.  


We will never rise above the level of our listening.

"So pay attention to how you hear." -the Son of God (Luke 8:18)

stairway to heaven?

I grew up listening to all kinds of rock music.  


My older brother Michael loved it...and when you share a room with your older brother who is stronger than you, you listen to what he likes:)






"Stairway to heaven" by the British Rock Band Led Zeppelin is considered my many as one of the best rock n roll songs of all time. 

• Released in 1971 (10 years before I was born).
• The most requested song to be played on the radio in the 1970s.
• By the year 2000 the song had been broadcast over the US radio waves over 3 million times.
• The song's sheet music is #1 in sales, selling over 15,000 copies annually.
• Today, when I googled a youtube recording of the song there were 48,656,953 views....41 years after it's release! 

Clearly this song struck a chord in the hearts of many people. Isn't it interesting though, that most songs like this are filled with more questions than answers?


People are so desperately looking for a spiritual experience as they get lost in the music, but often find themselves more depressed than when they first hit "play."


Even the band's lead vocalist Robert Plant once said, "I'd break out in hives if I had to sing ("Stairway to Heaven") in every show. I wrote those lyrics and found that song to be of some importance and consequence in 1971, but 17 years later, I don't know. It's just not for me." 


My intention with this post is not to slam this song or any other form of art.  The ability to create and appreciate art is an amazing gift given to us by God Himself. 


My thought here is on the simple fact that art, beauty, music, and anything that catches your heart but does not lead you to the source of all beauty, creation, and wonderment (Jesus), will in the end leave you depressed, jaded, cynical and self absorbed. 


Take a look at a few words penned by a guy named John about 2,000 years before Led Zeppelin was inspired to write their classic piece...


Jesus is quoted here talking to a new friend named Nathaniel about His true identity. 
“I tell you the truth, you will all see heaven open and the angels of God going up and down on the Son of Man, the one who is the stairway between heaven and earth." John 1:51

There is only one true stairway to heaven.  

I'm just so glad Jesus came down here to show all of us the way!

embracing my echo.

Today it is easy to become focused on finding and maximizing your "platform."  


Platform, is the level of influence a person gains through their integrity, reputation, career, relationships, products, social media, twitter followers, etc.  


Going hand in hand with the desire to establish your platform is the call to "find your voice."  Your voice is the message you have that can add to the global "conversation."  


Maximizing your platform, finding your voice, and adding to the conversation are all buzz phrases in our culture.  Each of these have their place and should be utilized by Kingdom influencers.  After all, John the Baptist's life and ministry was summed up as being was known for being "a voice." 


Yet, the interesting thing we see in the life of Jesus is His whole life was focused not on building His platform, finding His Voice, or adding to the conversation.  


Jesus leveraged His whole life around His Father's voice. 


 Jesus lived His life to embrace His echo.
“My message is not my own; it comes from God who sent me." John 7:16 NLT 


I'm not suggesting losing your creativity or just parroting someone else's passions, but if it worked for Jesus it is definitely worth investigating.  


Embrace your echo..say what the Father is saying and you will definitely have a voice worth adding to the global conversation.


*echo image created by echo hub a division of RT Creative Group.  See echo hub.com for more info.

integrity invites scrutiny.

Erwin McManus' words came to mind as I read a portion of the Old Testament recently, “The world doesn’t need more great leaders, it needs more great people who lead.”

The life of Samuel is provoking on so many different levels.  He maintained his integrity even being around men with serious deficiencies in this area like a priest named Eli and a King named Saul.  

Samuel almost single handedly had to lead Israel during a dark time spiritually and yet he was able to finish strong. (I Samuel 12:1-5)

To be able to stand up at the end of his life and invite scrutiny from the very people he spent the past few decades leading is an amazing statement to his character and integrity. 

The responses of his followers found in I Samuel 12:4 are incredibly helpful for any parent or person serving in leadership. 

#1 “You have not defrauded us.”

For this group of people to never have felt misled or falsely guided by Samuel is an amazing statement.  Samuel never made empty promises and never led the people down a path leading to a dead end.  He never led them for his own benefit.

#2 “You have not oppressed us.”

It’s been said that absolute power corrupts absolutely.   

Abraham Lincoln once said, “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.”  Samuel never abused his spiritual leadership.  He never developed the poor practice of resorting to fear, control or manipulation even when the people of Israel would not respond to the Word of God!

#3 “You have not taken anything from any man’s hand.” 

Samuel never stole or accepted a bride to sway his influence.  A person that cannot be bought, no matter what the price is what our world is looking for. With our current crisis of credibility happening all around us, a look at the life of Samuel is incredibly refreshing. William Shakespeare could have easily used the prophet Samuel for the poster child of his famous quote, “Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none.”