Parameters can uniquely (and perhaps, paradoxically) unleash creativity by eliminating what isn’t and focusing on what is. If our tools are a sandbox and our hands, we probably shouldn’t make a sandwich. But all sorts of beautiful, profound & brilliant things can happen if we embrace what the sandbox is. Sure, we might detonate the walls of our sandbox in the process of our creative dynamite, but this ruptured second draft might be much more satisfying sandbox, even if it isn’t a great sandwich.

Are you with me?

Unless, of course, you brought a sandwich with you into the sandbox… but we’ll get to that.

And what if the world was our sandb…

(Sorry, I repent.)

EMBRACING PARAMETERS FOR HARBINGER OF SOUL
In 2010, Harbinger of Soul will be about becoming creative and feeding your creativity, which I believe is implanted in each of us as reflections of our creator, regardless of our perceived abilities to access our creative DNA. Because of my natural bends, the intersection of church and creativity will be a common theme, but by no means do you have to have an affiliation with a house of worship to benefit from cultivating creativity.

This is also going to be an outpost for what we’re doing at Greenhouse, the primary sandbox for most of my creative juices. We’ll look at the things we’re talking about & the ways we’re engaging as a community. We’ll have sermon post-mortems, big church discussions around all sorts of topics, and maybe a guest blogger or two, all with the hope of capturing the imagination of this generation.

So get hydrated, find your comfiest pants and have a seat. May 2010 be the year where your creative explosion changes the world.

But today, Times Square in New York is preparing for 2010 by saying “Good riddance” to 2009. (H/T @heytherejoe) Shredders abound as people symbolically destroy the things they can’t wait to forget. I’m sure many of us can resonate, at least in some way. Thanks in no small part to the economy, 2009 has had its fill of moments we’re all ready to move on from. I’m saying good riddance to being so busy I more or less forgot to take adequate time off.

So, the question of the day: What are you saying “good riddance” to from 2009?

This is Steve (on the left), my brother, who I deeply love.

Today is his birthday.

While others spend Halloween being someone they aren’t, I spend it remembering who I am, and celebrating who Steve is.

Happy birthday, Steve. Looking forward to seeing you soon.

November’s almost here, which means I have two months to complete my goals for 2009. This year, I made ten goals: Five for work, five for my personal life. Where I currently stand is very telling:

Work: five out of five in motion, three of which are fully completed
Personal: one out of five in motion, none fully completed.

That speaks volumes to my work/life balance at this moment. Of course, those goals don’t account for things like “invest in my marriage” or “stay rested,” which is traditionally how I spend my non-work time lately. But something needs to change.

How are you doing on your goals for 2009?

It’s not required to complete the handbook to participate, but it might spark something for you, so we wanted to make sure you had access. There are two ways you can download the handbook.

Printable version - If you print this front & back and staple accordingly, you’ll end up with a handbook that flows properly.

Electronic version - This is better if you’re just viewing it on the screen, or printing one-sided pages to work through.

You can also download this Sunday’s sermon (and the entire series on Purpose) by subscribing to the podcast on iTunes or downloading them from the Greenhouse category on the Evanston Vineyard site. If you have time, listen to this Sunday’s sermon (”Invitations”) to get some context for where we’re heading.

We’re really excited about Sunday! We hope to see you there - 4pm at the Evanston Vineyard, Howard & Kedzie in Evanston, 60202 (behind the Jewel).

crisp air
apples
Frightened Rabbit
jackets
chili
firepits
football
long walks
turning leaves
rolled-down windows
and…

I didn’t miss blogging.

I didn’t feel guilty for not blogging, the way I did before announcing a little mini-pause.

I have a history of cranking out several blog posts in a several days followed by weeks of inactivity.

So what do I do with that information?

Seems like a recipe for shutting her down. But instead, I think it’s just time to recalibrate what exactly this thing is about. What it was was fun, but ultimately of little consequence and therefore one of the easiest things to nix. But it could be something more.

And so the scheming begins. I’m not sure what comes next, but I’ve got a few things tumbling around in my noggin.

Lots more Greenhouse (which launched Sunday night), lots more posts worthy of a killer name like Harbinger of Soul…

And lots more creative content, including poetry, photography, and, if I can swing it, video.

Until next time…

Feel free to hold your breath.

We’re in a race to the finish line.

Which is sort of just the starting line.

And so the blog’s gonna be light on content over the next few weeks. Lots of finishing touches - sermons to polish, volunteers to firm up, spotlights to create, sharpies to buy.

This Sunday, we’re running a sort-of dress rehearsal that we’re calling the Greenhouse Sneak Preview. It starts at 4pm in the Vineyard Auditorium at Howard & Kedzie in Evanston (behind the Jewel). We’re running a stripped-down version of the service so you can get a feel for how it’s different than the morning services, and to introduce you to the new elements we’re incorporating. We’ll worship together and then have time for Q&A with the lead creative minds behind the project.

Meanwhile, hit me up on Twitter and Posterous, and you’ll get your daily Dave.

Until then.

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