Are you a consumer or a creator?

When was the last time you created something?  Maybe it was a term paper, a speech, a t-shirt design, or something else that was created by your mind and hands.  I think that God, the original and ultimate creator, put it in our DNA to be creators as well.  It’s why a child has this strange urge to DO something with the sand at the beach.  There’s this urge to create something.  Even if they’re just burying their dad in the sand.  There’s an itch that has to be scratched.  Somewhere along the way that urge gets short circuited.

We become consumers.  We consume food, hours of television, 1000’s of youtube videos, and National Enquirer headlines.  We get on our computer anxious to create the next great blog post or product and instead end up watching movie trailers for all the summer blockbusters.  We start cleaning out the garage or basement and get distracted by a stack of old Sports Illustrated and Wrestling magazines.  2 hours later the garage is still messy, and we’ve reread 50 articles for the 4th time.  Our instinct to be a creator is overpowered by our urge to be a consumer.  How many pastors have been distracted from sermon prep by articles that took them down a rabbit trail?  How many great projects and
products have been derailed by the urge to consume?  (Click to Tweet)

This is where I’m at personally.  I have 5 ideas I’m working on and can’t seem to get any headway.  Even at the idea stage I am distracted to read one more Tweet, one more blog, one more political headline, or one more clever Facebook post.  I know that God has given me the desire and ability to be a creator.  I fail when I try to do all of this in my own strength.  I am trying to rely more and more on the Holy Spirit to help me fulfill Ephesians 2:10:

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.-NIV

I believe God has planted these projects in my soul as some of the “good works” He has prepared for me.  I am striving to be obedient and I know that completing these projects will provide a service to others, will enhance the Kingdom, and give me another stream of income.  So….here’s what’s in my creative pipeline:

1. A short e-book in pdf and Kindle format on becoming a HootSuite Master.
2. An offer to set up self-hosted WordPress blogs for folks that would include training videos, installed plugins, post ideas, and blog marketing strategies.  This would also involve some Google + hangout coaching.
3. A book on making the transition from youth pastor to “Real” pastor.  At least that’s what my mom calls me.
4. Writing the Complete Guide to setting up and maintaining a church website using WordPress which means I’ve got to work on ours.
5. A video series on using Garage Band to record and post sermon audio.

That was pretty scary to share all of that because now the cat is out of the bag.  Feel free to Tweet, message, text, or email me to see how I’m doing with all this.

What are you creating?  What project keeps getting put on the back burner?  What are you consuming that’s eating into your creativity?