There’s a kink in my hose.


Creative LightbulbCreativity is something everyone possesses.

If you don’t feel you are a creative person, someone probably told you that and it stuck. Or maybe you even heard someone else told they weren’t an artist, or had a good voice and you thought, “Man, I’m not even as good as them! I must suck!”

Creativity is tenuous. Much like self esteem it can be obliterated with a single negative word.

So here is the word of the Lord into thy life: ‘Thou art creative”.

Feel better?

The hose is turned on. The water is flowing, you just had a kink that was killing the flow.

Here’s the thing now: you may have to clear a little deadwood.

Chuck Jones, the great Warner Brothers animation director, once recalled that one of his art instructors once greeted the class by saying “All of you here have one hundred thousand bad drawings in you. The sooner you get rid of them the better it will be for everyone.”

I have written countless bad songs in my life. Only a few are good enough to be presented to children.

There is a significant song in the journey of Beci (that would be my wife) and I that stands out.

I’m Really Happy - From our first Hillsong Kids album “Jesus is my Superhero”.

We had written some seriously lame tunes before this song came along. Finally we both felt we had made a breakthrough and it was one of the first songs to be locked in for the album.

I would like to say that creativity and excellence comes easier now, but there are still deserts between the oasis of great songs (not sure of the plural of oasis - oasi?).

So GET IT OUT!

Clean the pipes.

Unkink the hose.

Keep writing.

Keep singing.

Keep composing.

Keep believing that the ‘Best is yet to come’.

(Thanks Brian).

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May 21st, 2007
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Comment Number:
1
Written by:
Pastor Todd McKeever
Posted on:
May 21, 2007 at 7:07 am

Boy have I been busy on the 1,000.

Comment Number:
2
Written by:
Pudge
Posted on:
May 21, 2007 at 9:15 am

About two or three years ago we had a staff meeting & our senior pastor was casting some vision for what was to come. It meant a lot more work, but a lot more people being changed! Of course, I was instantly on board (as was our staff).

In order for us to not forget that day we were given a “desert fork” with a little card woven in between the “pokey things” that read, “The BEST is YET to COME.” It still sits on my shelf today and I will never forget that day! What makes it stick out so well? The simple creative illustration! We say around here, “THE BEST IS STILL YET TO COME!” because God isn’t finished yet!

For me, I know it could take years for God to birth an amazingly creative idea in me. The trick is remembering that the “bad ideas” aren’t bad ideas…they are the journey God takes us on to bring us to the great ones. Creativity is a process.

You ROCK Dave!
pudge

Comment Number:
3
Written by:
Jason of "Kim & Jason"
Posted on:
May 21, 2007 at 11:59 am

As a cartoonist, I have learned this firsthand. People often think that you just need to wait for creativity and inspiration to come. Invariably, it never does. You have to make time to write down all the stupid ideas and silly doodles that come to mind. Keep doing it long enough and, lo and behold, some of those stupid ideas actually connect to create something great!

Comment Number:
4
Written by:
Kristin Evans
Posted on:
May 21, 2007 at 12:54 pm

I have a friend who is really funny, but for every funny comment he makes, there are probably 10 not-so-funny comments he thinks or somethimes says outloud. I love the tenacity he has to keep saying the funny things until we all laugh. I think creativity is the same way…keep trying until you find the gold! And the best thing is that we can ask an incredibly creative God for help! Thanks for the encouraging blog today…a great Monday help!

Comment Number:
5
Written by:
Kenny Conley
Posted on:
May 22, 2007 at 2:53 am

I’ve found it very helpful to surround myself with creative people when needing a new idea. Although I’ve always had a creative side, I spend most of my time living ont he admin side. One of my good friends is a graphic artist on staff. A lot of times I’ll share my ideas with him and just let him go with it. He doesn’t work with the kids that much, but he often comes up with some killer ideas. So, as often as I can, I take my notebook and bounce ideas off a few of our more “creative” people on staff before sitting down to wrtie/plan.

Comment Number:
6
Written by:
Jennifer Cox
Posted on:
May 23, 2007 at 5:22 am

Hi Ps Dave,

I really enjoyed reading your encouraging words about being creative. I’ve been inspired :)

Jennifer
Planetkids Melbourne

Comment Number:
7
Written by:
Marcy Ribeiro
Posted on:
May 23, 2007 at 1:19 pm

I just wanted to tell you and your team at hillsong that resources that you guys provide is amazing. I have all three dvd’s and they have helped in so many ways. sometimes i am bombarded with thoughts of negativity and not being creative..even though i am studying art education and i love coming up with ideas…thank you for your word of encouragement..keep up the awesome work you guys are doing with kid’s ministry…my husband and i love to see what your whole church does overall…blessings …..marcy

Comment Number:
8
Written by:
Lori Eilers
Posted on:
May 23, 2007 at 7:57 pm

I’m really enjoying your blog and have been a fan of your music for quite a while. I believe we should all consider ourselves to be creative. Afterall, we were created in the image of God…the ultimate in creativity! We need to re-think some of the ways we have been trained to consider who is creative and who isn’t. Just because I don’t draw well doesn’t mean I’m not creative. I’m learning to be more of a risk taker and not worrying about getting it “wrong.” Like Kenny, I try to surround myself with other people who’s brains work different than mine. Thanks for the encouragement.

Comment Number:
9
Written by:
JUST PUDGE » Blog Archive » Back to the drawing board…
Posted on:
May 25, 2007 at 6:35 am

[...] Dave was saying in a post he did this week…our creative hoses can get a kink in them and we just have to work them out. [...]

Comment Number:
10
Written by:
Glen Woods
Posted on:
May 25, 2007 at 9:34 pm

Thank you for the encouragement. I needed to hear it. I am one of those who has been told over and over again by leaders that I am not creative. I guess I have started to believe it. Thank you for letting the Lord use you to speak into my life.

Blessings,

Glen Woods

Comment Number:
11
Written by:
Dave Wakerley
Posted on:
May 26, 2007 at 7:41 am

Thanks for everyone’s comments. It is a blessing to write something that has an impact on a bunch of people!!

Thanks!!

Dave

Comment Number:
12
Written by:
JoNathan
Posted on:
January 6, 2008 at 7:16 pm

I just sent this to my entire team. Great Piece!