There's a new book in the works!

It's amazing to see how God directs our steps and brings special people into our lives for His purposes. When I started infuse back in 2007 I didn't see everything it would accomplish and really in tell. I knew it would bless others, I just had no idea how much it would bless me and that my life would be so enriched by the people God brought across my path. 


During the second year of my first group God spoke to my heart about producing a book with that first group. The outcome was KIDMIN LEADERSHIP.  When I started the second group one of their first questions is if we do the second year can we do a book too? It was after that I saw God was going to birth something special that I now call INFUSE PUBLICATIONS.


Two of the folks in this group were Sam Luce and Kenny Conley. The more I spent time with these guys the more I knew God had knitted us together for more than just infuse. These two began to not only help me learn as well but have also been a tremendous source of encouragement.  Our relationships have grown where I am confident we will do a lot of life together as well as learn from one another for the rest of my life. (There is not enough adjectives I could use to tell you how much I love these two!)  If you know anything about Sam and Kenny they didn't want to do a book like anyone had ever done before in the KIDMIN universe. So during a retreat while I went to preach to our Student Ministry they led the meeting in my absence. I came back to find out that the group and them had come up with a lot more than a show and tell style book but something they were describing to me as "a leadership fable." Over the next few months we came up with a concept that is very timeless and also unusual. Sam and Kenny started on the fable and everyone else started working on the 5 things every leader has to get right. The outcome is amazing!


The book is in the final stages and has actually started the production, final edit stage. Soon we'll have a cover to show you and an availability date for early 2012 but right now all we have to really share is our concept and our title. It's called "The Eric Trap -5 things every leader has to get right." This week I'll be telling you more about this project. I'm excited about it because I know it's going to help a lot of people. Not just KIDMIN folks but any leader in ministry who serves another leader.
more later...

Ten Ways Anyone Can Be Creative-Part 4

8. Have people you can brainstorm with. I love to brainstorm for creativity. I do not brainstorm to make decisions but let creative people give you their two cents worth. The decision is still yours but bounce it off a few people who will give you an “umbrella of mercy” I like to call individuals bounce an idea off them and then listen. How is this different from 4? In number 4 I want their ideas now I want their reaction. (And by reaction I do mean their honest opinion and thinking on the idea.) I’m thankful for the people who take my call and let me bounce and go. My friends know when I get more time (Like when I’m in my car) that I will call them back and find out what they are up to but not now. When I brainstorm no idea is too crazy. Be open to another way of doing things. Remember same action brings same results. Be on the lookout for different ways to do things and for new ideas. (At least new to you!)

9. Make time to think. I try to send time alone each week to think. I try to come up with 2 new thoughts per week. Schedule this alone time during a meal or in a quiet place. I love to sit and think on my screened porch.

10. Follow the peace of the Holy Spirit. Remember the Holy Sprit is your helper listen to him, follow peace. Never over ride a warning or check in your Spirit. He will guide you in all things even being creative.

What to add to my list? What do you do to be creative that anyone can do?

Ten Ways Anyone Can Be Creative-Part 3

5. Learn from different camps and types of ministers. I belief the body of Christ has lots of camps and circles. The more of these camps and circles you can penetrate the greater influence and blessing it will bring to you. I am blessed that over the years I have been able to speak to almost every different denomination and group as well as attend almost every major conference the different organizations put on. I have learned something from all of them. Sometimes I come home having learned what not to do but to me that is just as valuable! Here lately I’ve been spending a lot of time with youth and student pastors. Rather than spend my life complaining about youth ministry I’ve been trying to create a different model I have not seen before. I ran it by Sam & Roger but because they are both from the children’s ministry camp I wanted to run my idea by a “dyed in the wool” 100 per cent bonifide Student pastor. So I made a lunch date with Michael Bayne. He’s a young leader I’ve been watching and learning from his blogs, he’s a great church in Clarksville, TN. It’s funny he thought I was going to try to hire him and I wanted to be able to tell him about the my methods and model of Student Ministries I’ve developed and get a Youth Guy’s perspective. It was a very helpful lunch and I hope the start of a new friendship.

6. Go to creative places. I love Disney every park. I try to go to every theme park I can go to, it always jump starts my creativity but so do themed restaurants, as well as creative church environments. I am so thankful for cell phones because now it’s easy to keep a camera with you 24-7 and take pictures of every creative thing you see that you might be able to use or that just strikes your fancy. I have pictures of carpet from Movie Theater and hotels, wall décor from stores at the mall. Wherever I am I see something cool I snap a picture, then when I’m wanting to be creative I go through my picture albums of ideas.

7. Start a creative file. Years ago I realized you did not have to have a million dollar advertising budget to be creative. I started collecting happy meal boxes and bags, brochures from the Disney Store and paying attention to font choices and colors as well as other design concepts I could learn from people who did have a million dollar advertising budget. If a secular business mass marketing to the same age group or demographic as my church I tried to learn from them. When I needed an idea I went through the file. Every church I go to I pick up every form, brochure, offering envelope that I can get my hands on. Then we I get home I file the good ones and trash the bad ones.

Ten Ways Anyone Can Be Creative-Part 2

3. Hang out with creative people. Every chance I get to choose who I spend time with I choose creative folks. I always have questions ready to learn what I want to learn at that time. I am thankful for my friends do you know every friend I have I choose to be friends with. Most of them I sought them out. Roger Fields, Sam Luce, Kenny Conley, Ryan Franks are four folks I like to talk to just to see what they are up to and they are thinking. Michael Chanley is another good friend that I am so glad is in my life. Michael just up and called me one day and said he wanted to have lunch with me and was willing to drive to Murfreesboro and meet with me. It impressed me so much I not only took the appointment, bought his lunch but I have developed a very close relationship that has helped me be creative. This also makes me think of another habit. When you go to a conference don’t hang out with just your friends make new ones. I call this the conference within a conference. I seek out speakers, workshop presenters and attendees I want to learn from and buy them coffee or a meal. Never miss an opportunity to learn, ask a question, or run something you are thinking about by someone you admire! I just got back from spending a day with Reggie Joiner in Atlanta and boy did I need it!

4. Learn from people of multiple age groups. I hang out with a lot of people from different age demographics. When I think about the people who I like to learn from and who are speaking into the creativity of our next generation department I’m being influenced by folks from 18 to 50. Most of the people that I spend time with are younger than me so I deliberately get older folks opinion as well as listen to parents of different age groups. Every group and different back- ground brings an unique viewpoint.

more to come

Ten Ways Anyone Can Be Creative

If you have read any of my other articles here on my blog or have read any of my books or have ever heard me speak, the chances are pretty high that you’ve heard me say at least one or all of these sayings…

If you aim at nothing, you’ll hit it every time, or Same actions bring same results. Or maybe you’ve heard me say “Don’t make the same mistake twice, there are lots of different ones that you can make each time. Sound familiar? The common denominator to walking these sayings out is to be creative. It’s a way of life that every children’s leader can and must practice to build an effective ministry to children’s and their families. Here are 10 ways or habits I try to walk out on a consistent basis to be creative.

1. Pray to ask God to help you be creative! You have to realize we were created in the image of the creator. Genesis 1:26-28 tells us “26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”  I start every day as well as every creative meeting or brainstorming session with prayer and ask the creator to stir up His creative spirit and power within me. It takes creativity to manage, rule and be fruitful. God has promised us that he would meet all our needs (Philippians 4:19). Expect Him to show up.

2. Study creative people. I like to read about creative people; Walt Disney, Dave Thomas, Sam Walton, Donald Trump, and Seth Godin, just to name a few. Any time I can find a successful innovator I find a creative person. I love to try to get inside their head and learn ho they think and look at life. Reading their books, their blogs and/or the stuff others write about them help me unlock secrets I can adopt in my own life. If you can add 1 habit from a book that’s a benefit. I try to read every autobiography I can get my hands on.

more to come...