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!

“Epiphany 2009”

That is what author Ian Morgan Cron wrote inside the flap of the book he authored, Chasing Francis as I handing it to him for an autograph. I am pretty sure I had an epiphany of sorts at the Eucharist he and Randy Elrod performed as part of one of our cre:ate think tank sessions. Let me share a couple things before I share what happened.

I will not go into the doctrinal intricacies of the Eucharist and shatter my own Evangelical construct for communion here since really that is not my point at all. The Lord’s Table has always had great meaning for me. But, something more happened this time with the beauty of the ritual of the Eucharist that did not dilute my thinking of my prior experiences. In fact, this experience greatly added to it.

For me as a more mystically wired musician, my upbringing as an avowed Evangelical enriches me to this day with powerful reasoning, life-changing doctrines and value for the authority of scripture. This very foundation leaves room for a mystical side, even though many seem to be far from encouraging it in practice.

For those who are charismatic, or pentecostal, your theological base pulls Evangelicalism to the mystical already, so you get this I suppose. But, for me I have treaded lightly even when my experience and understanding of the the teachings of the Bible call me to hear from God in ways more colorful than two dimensional text and in the full color of an incarnational experience. Epiphany?

Let me share what happened just a few days ago. As the music and creeds and prayers were recited, the image of a leather button on the sleeve of a familiar corduroy coat flashed in my mind. In fact, I could smell that coat. My stepdad wore that and my memory of being tucked near his side, pulling his large finger said to me that this is how God sees me and where He wants me.

Those buttons were this epiphany of sorts. The earthiness of this 1970s coat transported me to feel for a brief moment what its like to be a child who comfortably nuzzles with his dad. This picture in the context of remembering Christ’s offering on the cross while receiving with open hands the body of Christ and dipping it into the wine undid me right then and there amongst these friends of mine.

How many times do I miss the God-moments where the truth of His Word is not just memorized, systematized but alive due to my busyness and laziness? I do miss the point here and often. One good friend who led my small group many years ago used to say that God is speaking to us all the time. My friend is right!

I confess my efforts and practice are remedial in hearing God in these mystical ways, even though I am perhaps a mystic through and through by design. My hope this year to is to live out what Ian so gracious encouraged us to do with one simple word. Epiphany.

What is your recent epiphany, mystical “God-moment” or does any of this even make sense to you?

For eight years I have been a part of an amazing think tank and creative leader conference called cre:ate (recreate) in Franklin, TN. Randy Elrod and his wife Chris have founded not just an environment that challenges, encourages and catapults a group of leaders but they have created a real community of influencers who are shaping the local church in America and beyond.

One benefit is having filmmakers, authors and talented musicians as part of this group along with experiences in a setting that is small–the max size ever is 150 people. Being able to dialog with authors like Ian Morgan Cron and gifted communicators like Ken Davis proved to make this past year as memorable as the rest.

Randy knows the power of community. The authenticity and safety of this environment gives the air needed to breath dreams. I have so much to unpack and journal regarding the powerfully impacting time taking the Eucharist or hearing Randy’s lecture “The Cure of the Blessing” as well as most of the other content. The advantage I have is that there are friends all over the world now sharing this experience with me until next time and with twitter, tokbox and skype we will do it together.

More to come about this experience. If you were part of cre:ate, did I get his right? If not, does a conference like this intrigue you?

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.