Sooooo….I didn’t make my Book Deadline this weekend.

But I’m CLOSE!

So until I can get my chapters in, I’m pressing PAUSE on Nuvement.

I hate to have to do that, but if my Artificial Deadlines don’t have Real Consequences, it’ll never get done.

In the meantime :: If you are of the Praying Persuasion - I will take any and all of that.

Hope to be back up here ASAP!

See you on the other side…

But there can only be ONE winner, and that winner is REV KEV with this MJ (J5) Masterpiece

His reasons are as powerful as they are concise:

• Don’t blame it on the sunshine.
• Don’t blame it on the moonlight.
• Don’t blame it on the good times.
• Just blame it on the boogie.

Well Done Rev.

Coaches Award this week goes to my man Gunnard for this Gem

Well Chosen, Gunnard.  A personal Fave.  JT owes MJ his career.

Thanks to all who played this week.

The Gloved One is in a Hot Air Balloon right now…over your house…wearing a surgical mask…smiling.

We put this together to show you what we mean.

I KNOW…it looks very “America’s Funniest Home Video circa 1988″.  I happen to be a fan of that style!  enjoy.

1. You pick the Video // You write your Reason in 1oo words of less.
2. We Vote.
3. We announce a Winner on Friday.
4. You Win 10 acres of Neverland Ranch!

Still Confused?

Funky

Not Funky

although…the hair is RATHER funky.  Very Lando Calrissian!

Got it // Cool // Post Up!

(Use the YouTube button in comments to include video)

The image above is taken from a local coffee shop here in Atlanta, OCTANE.

Their smug tag-line brilliantly captures the tension of ANYONE attempting to do ANYTHING New, Creative, or Important :: If you can not Stand Out, if you are not Unique, you will be Irrelevant and ultimately Invisible.

We all know this, but often forget it when it comes to our blogs, bands, videos, design, and churches.  There is a tempting tepid acceptance found in the middle. Everyone likes the middle.  Everyone lives in the middle.  Everything looks like Everything else in the middle .  And Everything pretty much stays the same.  That’s why the Middle changes nothing.

It’s those who are willing to Try, to Risk, to Put it all Out There, and ultimately to FAIL that eventually change things.  Todd Henry says it best, “Cover Bands Don’t Change The World”. He’s right.  Being the first to Copy doesn’t make me original or unique…it just makes me first to copy.

I want to CREATE DOTS, not just CONNECT THEM! To stand out, to risk everything, to fail boldly, and to CONTRIBUTE something fresh, new, stimulating, challenging…something UNLIKE anything else I can find in the middle.

YOUR TURN :: What in your life exists OUTSIDE the MIDDLE?

Me :: Every relationship but the last one…I was Broken Up With.
I never saw it coming. I mean, why would she want break up with me after I made out with her friend…

As you think about that…you can watch this…

Bonus Points for the WORST Break Up Story.

I’ll start :: The only Break Up I did…I did…on her Birthday!

dude.

Last week I came across the newest version of an Urban Bible.

The concept is simple :: Biblical Truth in Contemporary Language.  I love and support the desire to get the Bible into as many hands as possible.

In fact, I’ve been honored to be a part of shaping and speaking into several different versions of the TNIV Bible.  Just this last week, Jeanne was a part of a Round Table Forum around how to help people engage with the Bible more.

All Good (as they say)…I just wonder if we haven’t swung the pendulum too far.

There’s currently 3,456,334,075 versions of the Bible. 40 years ago there were 3…

• The kind in church // hotels
• The kind they made people swear by in court
• The kind your parents hit you over the head with

Now, there’s a Bible for every Age, Stage, and Walk of Life.  Whatever you’re into…we’ve got a Bible for that.  While I can appreciate Jesus calling his disciples by asking “Yo, you down with my posse, or what?”,  or when he ascended to Heaven, saying, “Peace Out!”

I wonder if the millions and millions of dollars spent in research, and design and marketing couldn’t be redirected to get “basic // boring“ Bibles

• Into the hands of the MILLIONS of Christians that are a part of the Underground Church in China (a job easier said than done).
• Or into the hands of Pastors in the overflowing churches of Latin America.
• Or into the hands of young mothers to read to their sick children in the forgotten villages of Zambia.

I think, I might be “down” to “floss” a plain old boring bible knowing that the money NOT spent on me was being spent on them…the ones who really need another A Bible.

Peace Out, Homies (Luke 24:50-51 NUV)

Right now I am in the process of finishing my Second Book “Four Small Words“.  It’s the entire story of God in just Four Small Words.

I’m really excited about what the book is becoming.  Over the next few months I’ll be sharing segments of it with you to get feedback and input.

But before all that happens…I have to finish it!

So.  Here’s what I’ve done.  I’ve created an ARTIFICIAL DEADLINE for myself with a very REAL CONSEQUENCE.

I have till this Friday at Midnight to turn in the next Four Chapters.  If I don’t…this Blog goes dead till I do.

I am really loving what’s happening here.  I love how it’s forcing me to be creative.  I love how it’s fostering nu conversations, and nu voices…that’s why it has to be what I Wager.  As a Artist // Creative Type, I have to have a REAL CONSEQUENCE, or it will continue to float around in the ether never materializing on it’s own.

I’ll keep posting this week and will keep you updated as to my progress.  I’m excited by the challenge and am throwing up in my mouth thinking about what it will take to get it all done!

YOUR TURN :: What is something you’re working on that needs an Artificial Deadline // Real Consequence

AND, according to Charles Spearin (of Broken Social Scene) there is Melody.

Over the course of a few months, Spearin invited his neighbors over to his house to talk about “Happiness“.

He then took their words and found the most beautiful and surprising melodies.  He matched those melodies to music and created some of the most Unique, Layered, Intriguing, and Inspiring Music you have ever heard.

It’s called the Happiness Project.  And it’s amazing.

Even the Video that explains it all is amazing.  Be Inspired.

Charles Spearin – The Happiness Project