We Can’t do That!

Being a ‘creative’ is an odd vocation.  My job is to come up with ideas.  Some are good.  Some are not.  But what is the response you get when you throw out ideas.  Lately, for me, they fall into two categories:

It’s either:

‘We can’t do that!’

or

‘How can we do that?’

The difference is subtle, but clear.  The first question is actually an answer – NO.  The second question is actually a question.  Basically the person is asking for more information.  ’What would it take to accomplish what you are proposing?’

So I turn the question back on myself.  When someone comes to me with an idea, what is my first response?  Is it a resounding – NO! We can’t do that!  Or, is it – ‘I don’t quite see it yet, but explain to me how can we do that?’

 

I think this has application for all areas of life, church, job, family, etc.  What if, the next time someone asked for your input on a creative idea, you chose to say, ‘Ok, how can we do that?’  Instead of saying, ‘No.’

 

Food for thought,

 

Matt

Are You Hurting?

How do you relate to God when this world bears down on you?  Are you angry?  Are you sad?  Are you mad?
Job lost his his house, his kids, his health, his friends, all his possessions.  Listen to Rob Bell talk about Job’s response and our response in this NOOMA video.

HT: @dkerry

New Windows

So yesterday was the first day in my life wearing glasses. It was a bittersweet experience with positives and negatives.

I like the fact that some things are clearer. I can read text clearly from much farther away. It truly is amazing!

The downside is that I was dizzy ALL day. I realized as I was working on my computer that the screen used to look like a rectangle and now looks like an upside down trapezoid. I just wonder if my brain will ever catch up with my eyes. Time will tell I guess.

Student’s Prayer

O God, You who are the truth, make me one with You in love everlasting.  I am often wearied by the many things I hear and read, but in You is all that I long for.  Let the learned be still, let all creatures be silent before You; You alone speak to me.  ~Thomas a Kempis

Garage Door Community

The Garage Door Opener was the single biggest killer of community ever invented.

Ed Young on the Colbert Report talking about SEX

If you were not up into the wee hours of the morning like I was (and usually am with one or all of my three tiny children) you may have missed Ed Young (pastor of Fellowship Church) talking on the Colbert Report about Sex. If you did indeed miss this conversation, you may now be enlightened:

more about “Ed Young on the Colbert Report talkin…“

My princess

Elf Yo-self!

Hillarious to see yourself (and your family) as a dancing elf.

Especially to see my 4 week old baby dancing…actually that’s kinda wierd…

Enjoy!

(oh, and it’s only available till the beginning of Jan)

Indy 5-O

Today my second son and third child was born at 805am.  He weighed a perfect 7 pounds and 2 ounces.

We are now five Odegaards in Indianapolis – Indy 5-O.  Welcome Tyler to the family and into this world.  I am so thankful that our gracious God has blessed us with your presence in our Family.

(If you can’t see him it’s because he’s hiding in my daughters lap!)

The Princess and the Dragon

The princess and the dragon