Yep, you will thank me as I did finding this on twitter with pals like @randyelrod and @chukazooloo who are part of the cre:ate conference tribe. In fact, some of North Point’s programming people have been part of that for years. So, that is one reason I love going to that conference each year is to hang out and learn from people who do this!

The cre:ate2110 conference in Franklin, Tennessee has been more than a conference for my the past nine years. As a “creative” in ministry I feel like I belong to a tribe of amazingly smart, gifted and godly men and women who gather each year to have an extraordinary salon about worship, film, media, art and culture. There seems to be no other ministry related event in the nation like this.

I owe this very blog to attending cre:ate conference. I am now in the top 50 of Christianity blogs, and the collective blogroll the tribe of attendees is amazingly strong with people like Carlos and Randy. (Go to my blogroll to see some of them). This is just one tangible evidence of how impacting this conference has been on me and others.

Each year I look forward to learning from authors, pastors, filmmakers and the collective group which alone is worth the trip. Indeed, the relationships that have lasted these years and influenced me have made this trip one I cannot miss.

On top of that, the experiences with music, art and food are astounding. I can’t wait!

Randy Elrod is a friend who has impacted my life in ways he may never know. He has a new book of his water colors out called “Beauty Is Calling” and is offering it at a discount price right now of $19.99 (a $60 value). Besides the enjoyment of this book as a collection of art, you will be supporting Kalien, a center that mentors young artists.  Go to Randy’s blog to find out more and purchase the book.

Sunridge Community Church,
42299 Winchester Rd.,
Temecula, CA  92591
May 29, Thursday at 7:00 PM
Price is FREE – 951.296.1770

This evening is a special time since I get to work with my good friend Dave Moore from Southwest Community Church in Indian Wells.  We are partnering on this, combining worship teams and doing this whole event on Friday night at his place.

Dave and I met Michael Olson at the cre:ate conference in Franklin, TN earlier this year so when Dave proposed doing this it was not hard to jump in!

You will not want to miss this event!

In previous years, I blogged like a journalist at the cre:ate conference.  This year, I am happy that many more were actually living blogging.  We have spawned many bloggers over the years from this annual creative think-tank.  I did not want to be completely lazy.  So, here is a round up of fellow bloggers who actually blogged the event:

• John was one of the moderators at cre:ate 08 who is a creative ministry master!
• Bobby has the most prolific set of posts to read at his www.myworshiprevolution.com blog.
• Francis is tied!  But, he is from Peru which makes him cool even
  though you might have to use Google translator in your browser to read
  the posts at Adoracion y Artes blog.
• Mark takes the BEST notes by far
• and Bethany really journals the experience.
• Cynthia is an amazing creative leader, and second-time church planter.  At Cheval Glass you can read about the conference.
• Nathan, who wears a beard pretty well, blogs at Pied Piper Piping…
• Carlos even adds his blogging prowess at RagamuffinSoul.
• other cre:ate peeps blogging about it or who were there this year.. Kari, Marina, Tyler, Pat, Bryan, Kim, Paul, Vicky, Chris, Mark L.,  Heather

Also…See pics at the cre:ate Flickr account and video at the You Tube Channel

I am going to have more to post as the weeks go on.  Imagine being led
in worship by Vicky Beeching, Brenton Brown, Paul Baloche while having
your mind stretched by amazing thinkers and the ensuing dialog late
into evening.  Randy, our
mentor in this journey, truly puts on an incredibly filling and
transforming event.  The favorite quote of the week, that Randy and
others picked up from Jon Tyson, pastor of Origins Church in NYC:  “We are not called to change the world, but to create culture…”

The relationships and community part of this think tank is why I have
gone for seven years to Franklin, TN.  Thanks, Randy, for doing this.
If you only really knew what it means!

Did I miss anyone else actually blogging about the event?

I am at the cre:ate 2008 think-tank and conference in Franklin, TN.  This is the place that got me and dozens of others blogging, by the way.  The conversations about faith, art and creativity are amazing as is the food.  This is my seventh year and it is great to catch up on some old friends while making new ones.

I will be blogging sporadically throughout this event, so stay tuned for updates, or follow the Twitter threads on my sidebar.

The fabulous Brenton Brown is nearly a twin!  He writes worship music, leads worship and is good-looking.  So, there you have it.  We are twins…almost.  Today, I had the privilege of spending some time with my re:create pals at a songwriting workshop at the EMI Christian Publishing building near Nashville.  I love the WorshipTogether people and how they have helped facilitate the modern worship movement!

The songwriter panel that we dialogged with was impressive, to say the least:  Brenton Brown, Matt Maher, Leeland Mooring,
Marc Byrd and Steve Hildalong (Marc and Steve wrote “God of Wonders”).
So, the songwriting inspiration will hopefully spawn some new material
from me.  I will keep you, my faithful readers, posted.

Some of the WorshipTogether execs chimed in and gave some valuable
advice to us.  But, I may have blown it with Ed DeGarmo, the president
of this gang, since the night before I told him I was one of those
“old” guys who remembers his former band DeGarmo & Key Band.
Oops!  I should have said “older” something…oh well.

While we are on the subject of twins….Justin Adams
and I are twins in this pic with navy pea coats and faux hawk hairdos.
I think Justin not only rocks alot with his guitar, but dang, Justin
knows how to dress!  My hero.

One idea I have is to invent a worship leader hair product.  Anointing oil turned into hair cream?  Any thoughts?

The worship time in the morning with Leeland and his family was a
treat.  His parents were leading with him!  Mom and all shared what it
takes to raise a creative child to be a servant.  I was taking notes on
this, knowing my two babies fit that category.  “You can tell a lot
about a creative child from the stories he tells.” was a take away
quote.  Wow!

The lunch at the Red Pony was amazing.  Sushi that melted in your mouth was part of the first course.

We ended the night at a home, a re:create tradition.  Another
powerful time of worship was had by all.  Brenton Brown, Matt Maher and
Leeland led us into God’s presence.  As always, the meal conversations
were both profound and funny.  I just did not want this conference to
end, but it did.

Check out what others are blogging about re:create here from Ethos.

And, check out the photogallery here.

Louis Markos is amazing!  This fellow came to one of the early re:create conferences a few years ago and since then my mind was spinning.  Today just spun my brain further into wonder about many things.  His book, Lewis Agnonistes:  How C.S. Lewis can train us to deal with the modern and potmodern world, is a must read.  As a creative person, this lecture hit home how God has made us “sub-creators” and reveals himself when we create.

More food!  We had pork chops, fried chicken, biscuits and a true southern meal for lunch.  At dinner I got to spend some time with the Mars Hill Church dudes (Joe and Timothy)
and Chris (from Canada) and my Florida friend Bobby.  After dinner I went to Steak and Shake with my friend Joel, a musician and student at Belmont University.
I ended up staying up even later to chat with other conference attendees at the hotel lobby bar.

One of the best things about this conference is the relationships.  I learn more from conversations with this group of people than ten books.   So, that was day three.