We’ve all had those awkward moments when—while listening to a song or watching a scene in a show—we’re suddenly overcome with unexpected emotion.    

Sooner or later, everyone hits a sticking point in the creative process. Momentum slows and doubt grows. And soon, the dream begins to fade.  

Ever notice how most new movies, shows, and music lack any true creativity or imagination? It’s like they all come from the same giant factory. And from a spiritual perspective, perhaps they do. 

The core issue in our walk with God is always the battle for intimacy. Will we choose God to fill all our desires…or look to someone or something else? 

To navigate this broken world, it’s essential to recognize the times we’re living in. That may sound obvious…but it isn’t our normal practice.  

My youngest son graduates high school today. There’s a lot to celebrate in his story. I’m so proud of him.

Writers often try to measure their creativity by the wrong metric—the number of words written that day. It’s about as helpful as evaluating your last vacation based on the number of steps taken while there. 

We look at the world and see the wrong ideas and voices gaining momentum while the people and desires of God are mocked and silenced. The trajectory seems unstoppable and inevitable, so we begin to lose hope. 

There’s a growing concern among many that generative A.I. will soon be able to duplicate, if not exceed, their creativity. Is that possible? And if so, what happens then?

I want to share with you this stunning statement from Yuval Noah Harai of the World Economic Forum. His mix of arrogance (regarding using technology to control others) and ignorance (of the reality and supremacy of God) is hard to fathom. 

On a recent flight, the woman next to me asked about the book I was reading. We spent the rest of the flight talking about God and creativity.  

How do we interpret the story we find ourselves in at this moment in time? The world is unraveling and growing more artificial by the second…and yet most believers carry on like all is well. 

God-given creativity doesn’t rely on past formulas or man-made rules.  

Creativity is best viewed not as what you’re good at…but as a journey you take with God into the activities and things that make your heart come alive.

In this increasingly virtual, artificial world, we need a way to see clearly what’s really going on.

Elon Musk recently summed up the capabilities and impact of this new breed of artificial intelligence this way: “Things are getting weird—and they’re getting weird fast.” 

Our world is moving more virtual every day. Most spend more time staring at screens than interacting with real people . . . or real life. Many reading this will even challenge what real means anymore. That’s how comfortable we’ve come to be with the artificial.

God invites us to create on a canvas of unlimited possibilities. 

Each week, I write the five daily readings for the next week. And every time, before I begin, I get hit with a wave of dread that I have nothing to say, that no one will read it, and that I should just punt for the week. Recycle past readings and call it good. 

Creative people love to create. But most don’t particularly like marketing what they’ve created.