Freeing My Mind

It’s difficult for me to write about anything else other than the present editing process that I’m going through with my book. I’m finding that giving new language to spiritual concepts, both old and fresh, isn’t as easy as I once thought. I’m a firm believer that in order to change the way we think, we have to change the words we use. The basic purpose of the book is to challenge some of our current thought. In order to do that, I’m trying to find new ways to say things. It’s proving to be difficult.

Take the word “church”. For most people, especially non-believers, this words hold many negative connotations. I’ve been talking lately about redefining what we consider “church” to be. I even put it as the tag-line for the new placeholder on our website. As I talk and write, it seems hard to even use the word without bringing along all the preconceived notions it has. But, how do you speak about the local church and church life without using it. Sure, I can say “community” or “family”, but those words also bring meanings with them. Maybe I’ll make up a new word like Google did. A lot of people have been asking me, “So, what exactly are you guys going to be doing out here/there in San Francisco.” I usually stumble through my words trying to describe planting a church, without using the word. Once the person is thoroughly confused, I just say “we’re planting a church… kind of.” That usually brings at least a bit of satisfaction.

By the way, 28 years ago, at the age of 28, on July 28th, Keith Green was killed in a plane crash, along with two of his children and 9 others. Tonight there is a live Webstream devoted to honoring his life. (4:30 Pacific time) Many of you probably know that Keith has been one of the major inspirations in my life. I encourage you to watch. Also, send some prayers my way. I don’t know Melody Green, (Keith’s wife), but I am considering trying to get her to write the forward for my book. Fingers crossed.

Anyway, I need to get back to the big edit. Love to all my readers. Be inspired.

Previously on Freeing My Mind: Spam bots declared war against us. A random lady encouraged Craig to get in shape (in a round-a-bout way).

Update: The bots are out of control. I actually think they might have self-actualized. At times I feel like they are having conversations with me. I figured this would happen one day. We give the machines too much information and they start to think for themselves. (See iRobot and Battlestar Galactica.) The most recent bots have names such as LED TV’s, Jesus Ressurrection (If that really is you Jesus, go ahead and repost your comment. I marked it as spam.) Free Viagra (I don’t know if this one is offering me Viagra for free or if it is a social justice issue and Viagra is hold up in a jail cell somewhere as a political prisoner.) and also random German names that give me my Google ranking for the day. I’m going to install a new spam filter. Hopefully that will help cut down on all of the oddly encouraging comments.

Lori and I are still working out hardcore. I haven’t been this dedicated in about 5 years. I’ve lost about 15 pounds in a week. Yeah, it’s been insane. Between my regular cardio and weight training, Lori has gotten me to try  a few of her workout videos. These women are crazy. They’re always telling you to breath and smile, but my body wants to grunt and grimace. One day I did a yoga video. This wasn’t some eastern meditation mixed with stretching, but 45 minutes of trying to will my body to form poses that the male body was not meant to form. I mentioned how difficult it was on my Facebook page. Within a few minutes I had someone telling me that any form of yoga was occultic. I might have been a little harsh with the guy and I actually felt bad when he removed his comment, but I’ve been a little frustrated with Facebook. In comes with the territory that many of my Facebook “friends” don’t actually know me. Lately it’s been difficult for me to make a simple comment about my day without it turning into something overly spiritual or even controversial. In some ways I understand the limits of text in conveying emotions and also the idea that I do have to think a little more about the way and what that I communicate. But should exercise that has to do with nostril breathing, posing and stretching really be a point of contention just because it’s called yoga. If we decided to forgo any activity that has ever had something to do with eastern religions or occult practices we probably wouldn’t even go to church or celebrate holidays.

I have an acquaintance who is the sister of a friend. Her name is Maggie Eckford. She’s a musician and just released her first EP. You guys should really check it out. God is really inspiring some great sounds through people that I’ve come across lately. I love that people are heading into the secular music arena with music that is both parabolic and feel-good.

I’ve got four different people editing my book. I know it seems strange, but I figured that having many viewpoints on edits would help me make decisions on what to change on what to leave. Throughout the process I’ve realized that receiving criticism isn’t my strong suit. My wife has been telling me this for years, but who actually listens to their spouse? This is especially true when it comes to something I’ve put my heart into. If you don’t like the fact that I did yoga, after a couple of minutes it’s kind of “so what”, but something that is the accumulation of the past 28 years of my life hits me a little harder. I assume it’s like having someone comment on your child’s inability or behavior. It really doesn’t matter if it’s true or not. There’s a defense response that flares up because part of you is in there. I’ve actually barely looked at any of the edits, so I’m trying to prepare myself. It would be a lot easier if editing a book consisted of red circles and smiley faces around large sections.

I hope everyone has a beautiful day. Be inspired by my boys the Paper Tongues.

A few things going on today: I just got Paper Tongues new album. If you’ve been following the blog, you’ve heard me talk about them. Amazingly talented guys and super feel-good music. If you only buy one track, my advice is “Everybody”. Check it on iTunes here and from their site here.

I took Monday and Tuesday just to chill. March was a bit crazy on me emotionally and spiritually. I finished the first draft of my book. I’m still playing around with title ideas, so not ready to reveal that just yet, but hopefully soon. Right now it’s with a few different people for editing, I’ll get it back and see what I like and don’t like with the edits. After that, I have to make a big decision about either going with a publisher or self-publishing. I’m pretty sure I could get a deal with a publisher, but how good the deal would be is another question. I don’t really like the idea of giving up the rights to my work, but I also want wide distribution.

How do I think people will respond to the book? Hopefully, overall very positive, but I’m sure I’ll get my share of criticism. I’m finally at a place where I am prepared for it and ready to just be me without worrying about the blow-back.

Part of the reason we had put our big move to San Francisco on the back burner was for me to finish the book. Now that I am in the home-stretch of getting that done, I’m ready to really start moving forward. Nothing is going to happen in April, I’ll be on the road for about three weeks and then I go to Indonesia around the first couple of weeks of May. After that, we plan on going to find a place and then making it there for good in the summer. In preparing, I’ve been really surprised just how different of a direction God is taking us. I’ve always said that in order to see what you’ve never seen, you have to do what you’ve never seen done. It’s gonna be a crazy journey, but hopefully we’re all ready. I’m going to be making a new video this weekend, a little longer and in more detail to give everybody a clearer update.

In the spirit of trying to make sure that I take in everything I can while we’re still in North Carolina, I’m trying to plan a rafting trip sometime this weekend. Hopefully all my friends can get away… you know who you are.

Last night, I had a lot of trouble sleeping. I think I had caffeine a little too late. It didn’t used to bother me, but I guess it’s just another sign that I’m getting older. I took a Benadryl to help me get to sleep, which seemed to help give me some insane dreams. One involved watching the initial casting of Growing Pains and Elisabeth Hasselbeck telling me that she was moving to San Francisco with us. As long as she at least tries to bring Whoopie Goldberg with her, I’m all for it.

Anyway, just a quick update. Much love.

Comment away.

Today’s inspiration is a children’s choir rendition of Jonathan Coulton’s song  “Still Alive” from the Valve’s video game Portal. This is so awesome. I hope the choir director still has his job.

Taking a break from all the thinking, plotting and planning, concerning our move to San Francisco in order to focus on this writing this book has been good for me. There’s something about taking what’s in your heart and putting it into written words that is very different than speaking. I’m really learning to choose my words carefully and let my though process go to places that it normally doesn’t. It’s actually helping me to clear my head and bit and focus in on where we are going as a ministry.

A lot of people have been asking me what the book is about. I’ll let you know when I do. Right now the word document is called, thenewbook.doc I’ll eventually have to change that. I’m thinking about posting a snippet of it to the blog. I’m the kind of guy who is always looking for feedback, but I’m also the kind of guy who likes surprises.

To all of you who have either a passing interest or an enthusiastic passion concerning our plotting and planning for San Francisco: I’m going to try and put up a new video the next couple of days. Anyway, just wanted to say hello world… I’m alive and well. Much love.

My brother always provides me with good content when I don’t time to search for stuff on my own. Today’s inspiration is no exception. This is a music video from Aaron Ivey which features a song that is inspired by his adopted children. It’s really moving and some of the best stuff I’ve heard in a while. Enjoy.

I’m on day three of my writing hiatus. It’s amazing how little writing goes into writing a book when compared to research and fact checking. Oh, if you didn’t know, authors are actually supposed to check their facts to make sure they actually are facts.

I think this is my last day this time around. I might come back up to this cabin tomorrow, but my wife and my dog miss me something terribly. I don’t know which is more depressed.

In order to clear my mind at night, I’ve been watching this show called “The Colony” from the Discovery Channel. The first season is over, so you’d have to catch it on DVD or Netflix. The premise is that about 10 people are taken to an abandoned industrial district of Los Angeles and surrounded my a reality that depicts a post-apocalyptic world scenario. The group must set up a “colony” in an old warehouse and create a living environment from the resources they find around them. Food, water and even packs of marauders are their main concerns. Don’t expect too much in the way of reality. They are pretty much set up with an ideal scenario. The people involved include a doctor, ER nurse, rocket scientist, a handyman that would put McGyver to shame, ex-Croatian military and mechanical engineer, computer and mechanical specialist, martial-arts expert, ex-con/general contractor, etc. It’s interesting to watch the engineering skills of almost everyone involved. From building a shower (not the scarcity of water), to electricity, to a “battle truck” and even a radio transmitter.

It got me thinking. (And, please…. please, do not take this idea seriously and run with it.) How hilarious would it be to do a reality show where you place a bunch of Christians in the same scenario, except that the scenario is the Biblical last days being played out. Me and a friend would be willing to dress up as Moses and Elijah in order to see the response. I’ve got the beard, a little dye and bam! I guess it would be a good idea if we wanted to inflict further injury to our cause.

inspire.

Being locked away in a mountain cabin for the purposes of writing proposes a quandary. I need to write and I want to write, but the snow covered ground seems to beckon me outside. Although, I’m not giving in to the wily call of nature.

I’m listening to a podcast for the purpose of research, but I don’t have to listen very closely. My fingers get antsy and I start ghost-typing the words from my speakers. I decided it would be a better use of my time to write a quick blog.

This book I’m doing is going in a place that I didn’t expect. When it comes to the practicality of book writing, I’ve been told that one of the most important aspects of the process begins when you consider your audience. “They” also say that you want to make your audience pool as large as possible, while still sticking to the core of your message. It looks like this project is going to take a dip into a larger pool that I first thought. I’m hoping that no matter your background or spiritual affiliation that it will speak to you.

Before I even began the process, I was looking for some fresh inspiration when it comes the flow of my writing. For most of my friends in ministry, the tone and progression of their writing is familiar to me, but isn’t really what I’m going for. I guess I have my own tone and flow, but it’s always advantageous to look at what good writers are doing. I know I’m more than a little late to the party on this, but I picked up Donald Miller’s A Million Miles in a Thousand Years through my trusty Kindle for PC application. I remember the praise for Blue Like Jazz, some years back, but it often takes me a while to catch up with popular trends. I have to say that I am more than a little inspired by this guy. I feel him, you dig?

Anyway, you should check it out. Be inspired and much love to you and yours.

I was hoping to get a more proper blog out before I leave for Brazil, but as I sit in Newark, NJ waiting to board our plane, it looks like a short snippet from my iPhone is all you get.

Although tired from already being on the road for a week already, I’m so stoked about Brazil. I did the same event in December last year, and it was my favorite place I went all year.

1) Crazy passionate young people.
2) Wobbly Mary. A Brazilian dessert something akin to flan with a heavy dose of coconut.
3) Brazillian steakhouse. I can pronounce the term, but attempting to spell it would bring down my “world traveler” respect points.
4) Futbol chants during the conference.
5) Summer.

I wish I has time, and a better keyboard, so that I could share what all God has been doing in Lori and I. I remember writing a post entitled “Growing Pains”. In it I described the feeling of my external life having trouble keeping up with accelerated change inside of me. It looks like my life and ministry are beginning to catch up.

I’ve been contemplating various pioneers throughout history. Whether it be Jesus, Martin Luther (original and King Jr. version), Chris Columbus, or Leonardo Davinci, I’m beginning to see various similarities about their lives. While I currently merely aspire to be like these men, I’m beginning to understand my thought process a little more.

A long time ago, the Lord spoke to me. He said, “More than a minister, Craig, I want you to see yourself as an inventor. You might make 10,000 mistakes, but if you keep seeking to do what has never been done, eventually you will create something that changes the world.” It’s easy to think about being that way, but frustrating to actually live that way. I’m finding myself in a time where my hypothesis has yet to be completely proven, but I’m seeing good signs. I know, still vague.

On a side note, I need some accountability with a goal that I’m setting. I’ve got about three books inthe works. Varying in their state of completion from simply an outline to about 100 pages written. (Although that particular book is somewhat dated in my heart.) I’ve decided to commit to having one of them finished by February first.

SO, here is where you come into play. I would like my faithful blog readers to help give me a much needed kick in the butt when I need it. I would really like some of you to commit to praying for me. Mostly for creative grace and time. Also, every now and then either leave a comment on the blog or leave me a swift kick in the butt via facebook. Something to the effect of, “Craig, I really hope your working on your book right now. I’ve decided to go on a hunger strike until you finish it. I have also forced my young children to participate in my strike. Oh, and I have suspended my African child sponsorship until the book is printed.” That should help. But really, leave a comment.

Forgive any spelling errors, this actually was a long post for an iPhone keyboard.

Let my hero inspire you: