Category Archives: Culture

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10 Reasons to Love the 4th of July

July 4th is a bittersweet holiday. It’s sweet because it’s right smack in the middle of summer. It’s bitter because it means that summer is flying by.

Nonetheless, there are plenty-o-reasons to love the 4th of July. Here are ten of them:

  1. It was on this day that the Continental Congress voted a second time on the Declaration of Independence. John Adams wrote in a letter to wife, Abigail: “It ought to be commemorated as the Day of Deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty.”
  2. Speaking of John Adams, every 4th of July my dad watches the movie musical 1776. It is a wonderful re-telling (with a bit of artistic license) of the days leading up to that first July 4th in Philadelphia in the midst of turmoil within the First Continental Congress. Rent it this year. You’ll love it.
  3. It’s a great excuse for great food. Ribs. Burgers. Brisket. Pulled Pork. Cole Slaw. Potato Salad. Watermelon. Appetizers of all kinds. Need I say more? Yum.
  4. Everyone seems to be in “vacation mode.” That’s a good thing. People are happier, more friendly, and sharing plenty of toothy smiles.
  5. The world’s greatest music festival, Milwaukee’s Summerfest, is in full swing. Is there a band you’d like to hear live? Chances are they’re playing at Summerfest over the course of ten wonderful days.
  6. It brings back memories for me of living in small town North Carolina and watching the Old Soldiers Parade. It’s a throw-back to post Civil War times and true Americana. It’s also a day to remember another slice of Americana: sitting on the curb with a box of donuts watching the Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, 4th of July Parade with great friends.
  7. Singing the National Anthem often makes me well up with tears. I’m a patriotic person, and July 4th is a whole day set aside to be thankful for the freedoms of my beloved country. Have you ever seen the American Experience at EPCOT in Disneyworld? Talk about tear-inducing.
  8. Many women and men have sacrificed time, comfort, and even their lives for my freedom. July 4th is a day to remember and thank them.
  9. I love a good fireworks show…especially if I’m the one who gets to set them off. I fondly remember my brother-in-law putting a firecracker and a teddy bear in very close proximity with one another…but that’s another story.
  10. (Your idea here)

I have intentionally left number 10 blank because I’d like for you to suggest your own reason to love the 4th of July. Please respond below with a comment.

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Midnight in Milwaukee (Or, the Midwest’s Version of Midnight in Paris)

In the new film Midnight in Paris, a writer named Gil travels back to Paris of the 1920’s and meets writers and artists like F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, and Pablo Picasso. The film itself is an adventure in creativity and a gold mine of ideas for any writer or artist. It shows the effectiveness of blue sky thinking. Suspension of disbelief is an important tool for any creative task, and Woody Allen has led the way with this wonderful romantic comedy.

Gil spends evenings walking in Paris to get away from his annoying fiance and to feed his creative spirit. It is on those walks that he encounters writers and artists of Paris’ past. One evening Ernest Hemingway says to Gil, “You’re a writer. You make observations.” That’s what all artists and creatives do. They observe. Observation and interpretation create great art.

But with nothing new or interesting to observe there is no fuel for the creative fire. In her book, The Artist’s Way, Julia Cameron encourages people seeking renewal of creativity to take “artist dates.” Artist dates are done on one’s own. They consist of a block of time set aside each week to nurture and feed the creative spirit.

Cameron says…

Your artist is a child. Time with a parent matters more than monies spent. A visit to a great junk store, a solo trip to the beach, an old movie seen alone together, a visit to an aquarium or an art gallery — these cost time, not money. Remember, it is the time commitment that is sacred.

Every night at midnight Gil goes out on his artist date. On that date his creativity flourishes. He finds fodder for his art. He gains renewed excitement and passion. He even finds motivation to do re-writes.

You and I will probably never meet Fitzgerald, Hemingway, or Picasso on our artist dates. But, like Gil, our creativity will be energized and renewed if we will only take the time, defeat the resistance (who doesn’t want us to do artist dates), and make observations.

Here are some of things I could do for a “midnight in Milwaukee” artist date:

  1. Stroll upon Lake Michigan’s beach
  2. Visit the Calatrava wing of the Milwaukee Art Museum
  3. Browse at the humongous Renaissance Used Book Store
  4. Shop at Winkie’s old fashioned five and dime
  5. Enjoy the fragrance of fresh produce at the West Allis Farmer’s Market
  6. Observe people at the Milwaukee Public Market
  7. Bike along the Oak Leaf Trail
  8. Enjoy the sights and sounds of one of the many ethnic festivals
  9. See a play at the fabulous Milwaukee Repertory Theatre
  10. Catch the sights and sounds of a walk down Brady Street

What suggestions do you have for a “Midnight in Paris” kind of artist date?

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A Procession of Miracles

Thinking about that day still almost makes me cry…in a good way. It was literally a procession of miracles.

Our family had arrived in New York City in the summer 2004. Beyond being tourists in the city that never sleeps, our main purpose was to see as many shows on the Great White Way as we possibly could. Our family loves theatre and wanted to see it on a scale that is the best the world has to offer. So when we hit the ground in Manhattan we already had some tickets in our hand.

But the one ticket we couldn’t secure was the one to Broadway’s hottest show: Wicked. It was the show we all (…almost all of us) wanted to see more than any other. The problem was, so did everyone else. It was impossible to get tickets. Well, almost impossible.

It would take a procession of miracles for us to secure tickets. We knew there were two possible ways we might get the most coveted tickets on Broadway:

  1. Wait in the stand-by line early in the day to see if there would be any ticket returns.
  2. Win the daily lottery for two $25 front row tickets.

We knew it was a long shot, but decided to give it a go. I would wait in the stand-by line for a while as the rest of the family did some Manhattan shopping. I got there mid-afternoon and a line had already formed. Then, when the time came, the rest of the family submitted their names for the ticket lottery (I wasn’t allowed to because I was in the stand-by line).

To make a long story short, as showtime neared our daughter Ashlyn won two tickets in the lottery (I heard her name called while I was in line). It was nothing short of a miracle. Dilemma: which two members of our family would see the show? I was still waiting in line to see if two more tickets would free up. I gradually worked my way up to being first in line after a few people scored tickets.

Showtime was less than five minutes away as the ushers began telling people they needed to be seated, or they’d have to wait for the first break. Just then I was called to the ticket window. Two tickets had been returned: orchestra section, twelve rows from the front, right in the center. I bought them, and in we all ran.

It took a procession of miracles. Just as we sat the overture began and we all witnessed one of the most magical things we had ever seen with our own eyes (even son, Ben, who thought he’d rather be shopping on the streets of Manhattan). It was one of the most enchanting of a days of my life and one I will never forget.

On this year’s Tony Awards Bono of U2 said that every show on the stage that evening was “a procession of miracles.” Indeed. I’ve been in enough amateur productions to know that from the very start of the rehearsal process until the very last performance there are “a procession of miracles” that bring the magic of a live performance to an audience. There are always points where it seems as though the show will never be able to be pulled off. How much more so with today’s Broadway productions that include technology of all kinds. And some never do make it.

But the ones that do are a procession of miracles.

Theatre is a form of art that truly lives and breathes. There is no screen to separate. Audience reaction has an impact on actors. The chance of a forgotten line, missing prop, or malfunctioning set add to the wonderful tension. The applause at the end is an affirmation of of the procession of miracles that has just been witnessed and appreciated.

I, for one, am so very privileged to have witnessed this procession of miracles numerous times in my life…but especially that incredible day in the summer of 2004.

Where have you witnessed a procession of miracles in your life?

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New News Delivery

Two very familiar things are now missing from our house. For years we had a newspaper delivered every day and received Sports Illustrated in the mail every week. I used to love the newspaper. I would devour it each day to keep up on current events, learn about the world, find a connection to my community, read restaurant reviews, and find out about the local arts scene. I used to love Sports Illustrated. I would devour it each week to read Rick Reilly’s column, search for information about my favorite teams, and read touching stories that went far beyond sports.

But that has all changed.


It’s almost sacrilege not to have a newspaper in our house. I grew up in a household that received both a morning and an afternoon newspaper in the day and age when Milwaukee had both. Our home was filled with magazines. Daily reading was part of the culture of our home. I even have a newspaper collection that includes editions dating all the way back to World War II.

But recently we decided it was no longer worth the expense or the extra paper sitting around because:

  • I was getting angry reading articles and editorials that were so far removed from my own political views
  • There were many days that, because of our busy schedules, the newspaper was never even opened
  • We felt as though it wasn’t good environmental stewardship to keep sending slightly used paper into the recycling bin each and every day
  • Sports Illustrated became a shadow of its former self, and, in my opinion, just not that interesting anymore.

But the main reason we let go of these physical subscriptions is because we could get our world news, local news, and sports news much more quickly and immediately online. On Twitter I can follow news and sports that are more specific to my interests, locality, and persuasion. I see things in online news feeds far before they would ever be published in a newspaper or magazine. Being a Facebook fan of my favorite teams provides up to the minute information on injuries, roster moves, and background stories.

I can always buy a newspaper at the newsstand if there is a significant event that would provide the impetus for me to add to my collection. For instance, I bought a paper the day Osama bin Laden was killed. And if I really want to do the crossword puzzle (which is the one thing I miss about getting the paper) I could cure that need with a quick trip to the store.

The one thing I need to be careful about, however, is insulating and isolating myself from opposing views. Although I got angry at my local newspaper because of the political slant of the coverage, I need to be careful not to stick my head in the sand. I make sure to follow online news outlets that come from a differing view and provide for me thoughts that expand my thinking. But I can pick and choose, and I can read opposing viewpoints in doses that are much more tolerable.

Have you given up on receiving a physical newspaper? What are your thoughts regarding getting all your news online?

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Bach’s Birthday (and Mine)

J.S. Bach and I share a birthday (March 21). It rolls around just about this time every year. It’s the first day of Spring which is, I suppose, appropriate for me, since I detest Winter. We’re on our way to warmer weather.

And it’s appropriate for Bach, because spring is a time of new creation. Bach was a creative genius. He didn’t introduce new forms, but he took old forms and interjected new things into them. He was a master at the contrapuntal technique. He brought organized motifs into his music. He took forms and textures from Italy and France and adapted them into his own music to create something brand new.

I’m in no way claiming to be a creative genius, but I believe that Johann and I have some similar characteristics and experiences:

  • Bach came from a musical family, and learned his craft from an early age. My dad is a creative spirit who is a writer, director, and music lover, all of which I have received from him.
  • As a young man, Bach sang in a well-renowned choir. As a young man I had the privilege of singing in Eldon Balko’s Schola Cantorum. My parents saw to it that I went to this Saturday morning music school every week. I actually loved it, and count it as one of the formative experiences of my life.
  • Bach had an adult mentor named Johan Adam Reinken. Bach loved Reinken’s music so much that one summer he walked 48 km in order to hear him play the organ. I had mentors outside of my family that taught me to play the guitar, encouraged life skills in the Boy Scouts, and affirmed my affinity for singing. Glad I never had to walk 48 km to be with them!
  • When he was about 18, Bach took on a job as a servant and private violinist in the chapel of a Duke. He learned the importance of earning an honest days’ wage while perfecting his craft. As a young person I worked as a caddy, a bus boy, in a pharmacy, and in a one hour photo shop (remember those?). Those jobs taught me a number of things, including the fact that my education was important so that I didn’t have to have jobs like those for the rest of my life.
  • Early in his career Bach took a leave of absence to learn from Dietrich Buxtehude. He came back to his home church and introduced some newly learned techniques, much to the chagrin of his congregation. A year-and-a-half ago I was granted a three month sabbatical. I came back and introduced some new ideas, thoughts, and creative techniques…hopefully not too much to the chagrin of my congregation.
  • At one point in his life Bach had to write one cantata per month. I can’t imagine writing a cantata every month. But I suppose some people can’t imagine writing a sermon every week, either.
  • Bach was a Lutheran. So am I.

J.S. Bach showed that creativity and musicianship are the result of passion, pursuit, and practice. I’d like to have more of each of them in my life. That’s what I plan to celebrate on my next birthday. And J.S. Bach will be there to remind me.

I’m curious: With which famous person/people do you share a birthday? What have you learned from them?

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Irrational Passion

OK, I admit it. On the eve of the NFC Championship game featuring the Packers and Bears, my passion, nervousness, and anticipation is irrational. I know that there are those who would never understand it. I even admit to this particular neurosis. I don’t expect people to accept it. As they say, “It is what it is.”

For the past few weeks I have been living and dying with every play of each Packer game. When injuries decimated the team early in the season I felt as though I could relax and simply enjoy any victory that they might achieve the rest of the season. But as the team stepped up, as they began to win, as they made their way into the playoffs, my irrational passion rose to the surface once again.

For the last two games of the regular season and the first two games of the playoffs I have worn a path in our living room rug. I have been spitting and fuming; I have been lamenting and rejoicing; I have leaped off the couch at the very high highs, and pounded my fist at the very low lows.

At the start of the playoffs I stated that it didn’t matter how far the Packers made it in the playoffs. It would all be icing on the cake. I lied. Now anything less than a win is going to be far more than a huge disappointment. It won’t only ruin my day. It will take me months or even years to get over it. I know. It’s just a game. It’s irrational.

Everything changed when it turned out that the Packers would be playing the Bears. You see, Green and Gold literally runs in my blood.  My maternal grandmother and grandfather lived in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, just miles down the road from Lambeau Field. They followed the Packers most of their lives. They read everything they could read about their beloved team. My great aunt had season tickets for more years than I could count. My parents are both rabid fans. My mom won’t even stay in the room if the game is close (just in case you wonder where I get it). My son and daughter, nieces and nephews bleed green and gold, too.

I grew up pretending to be Bart Starr scoring the winning touchdown with just seconds left in the game. When I wasn’t Bart Starr, I dreamt I was my favorite player, running back John Brockington, sweeping around the corner for a 40-yard run. I suffered through the Lynn Dickey years, the Forrest Gregg and Lindy Infante years, and more recently the Ray Rhodes year. I still shed a tear and get chills when I watch Brett Favre and Reggie White winning the 1997 Super Bowl, and can’t even bear to think about the 1998 Super Bowl. To this day I can’t stand the Denver Broncos.

Now it comes down to a game with the Chicago Bears in order to proceed to the Green Bay Packers’ first Super Bowl appearance since 1998. Really? Did it have to be the Bears? Did it have to be that team from south of the border that has been the arch rival since time immemorial? Did it have to be the team so appropriately dressed in villain’s black? Did it have to be the team from the city that produces more obnoxious fans per capita than any other? (OK. They probably feel the same way about the fans to their north; but, still….)

So if you listen closely tomorrow, you might hear my screams, cries, or shouts. I’ll be lunging my body forward with James Starks on the Packers running plays, and oomphing along with Clay Matthews as he makes a tackle. I’ll be wincing when Aaron Rodgers gets hit, and putting a little bit of my leg into Mason Crosby’s kicks. I’ll be cheering each fumble and interception given up by the dreaded black and orange, and hoping against all hope that my beloved Green Bay Packers will pull out an improbable run to the Super Bowl.

But if they lose, please give me my space. And if they lose, I don’t want to hear from any of you Bears fans. I know, it’s just a game. It’s irrational passion. But I am who I am. I can’t help it.

Go Packers! Please win. Please?

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Fads That Fix

Last night I spoke at The Haven at Concordia University — Wisconsin. The Haven is an informal, contemporary worship experience held every Sunday night during the school year. They asked me to speak about fads…specifically about the way in which fads are fleeting, but the Word of the Lord stands forever. The example they used in their publicity was the moonboot.

Remember those? When you put them on you felt as though you could jump higher than any other human being. There was no right boot or left boot, so you could put them on either foot. You could be ready in seconds to jump out the door into the biggest snow bank of all, pretending you were an invincible astronaut exploring the furthest reaches of the moon.

Moonboots were a fad. They came and went with the 1980’s. Many fads have come and gone since then. But there is one fad I demonstrated with the college students last night that seems to have some staying power. I told them all to take out their phones (I’m pretty sure every single person had one) and text me one fad they could think of right there on the spot. I got more than seventy texts, and hardly any of them were duplicate “fads.” I had just demonstrated a fad that doesn’t seem to be dying down: Texting.

It showed the power of electronic media. Facebook is still growing. Twitter adds 370,000 new members every day (!). A phone is in most every hand. A computer is in most every house.

Fads like texting, Twitter, and Taylor Swift come and go, but the Word of the Lord stands forever. That’s because you can never separate the Word from the God who speaks it. When it is spoken He is there. When it is read He is there. When it is preached He is there. When it is applied to you He is there. When it is passed along He is there.

The Word of the Lord is no fad. It has stood the test of thousands of years. In fact, it stands forever. Those who have had that Word applied to their lives have been born anew, put into an everlasting fellowship with others, and have received the permanent gifts of God. God has guaranteed a permanent party!

I asked the college students last night if they wanted others to join that permanent party. It seemed that they did. So I told them that it won’t happen with the latest evangelism fad or outreach craze. It won’t happen by trying to argue the faith into someone or being a good example. It is going to happen when we use the powerful words of God Himself.

I believe God has given us the latest fads as a gift to use in the service of His kingdom and His Word. C.S. Lewis famously said that every square inch of the universe is claimed by God and counter-claimed by Satan. Let’s claim texting, Twitter, and technology for God.

Here’s how it has helped my ministry: Within the last week I have used these tools to help a member of my church plan a wedding; I have answered the deeply theological questions of a troubled young man; I have found musicians for a new service that we plan to start in the near future; our congregation has a Facebook page that keeps people updated on happenings at church as well as encouraging them in their faith; people that I follow on Twitter have given me great ideas for my ministry at Mt. Calvary.

The Word of the Lord can surf the waves of technology just as well as any other message. The very nature of social-networking is that it uses technology and media to bring people together in real life. Fads not only fix people together under a common item or idea, they can be used to fix people together with their Savior and Lord. Why not use the latest technological “fads” to invite others to the permanent party prepared by the Lord?

What fad do you use to connect people together, or to the Lord? I’d love to hear.

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Everything New Is Old Again

While we were on vacation, I had the chance to watch the Tony Awards. Since I love New York theater, I usually enjoy the Tony’s; but this year was disappointing for a number of reasons: 1. It seems Hollywood has taken over Broadway; 2. Catherine Zeta Jones in no way deserved the Tony over the other actresses that were up for the award; 3. Mostly I was disappointed in the “new” offerings coming down out of Broadway this year…except one. (More on that later.)

Granted, the Tony’s give away an award for “The Best Revival of a Musical” every year, but this year there were revivals of revivals, like La Cage aux Folles, Finian’s Rainbow, and a revival of Bye Bye Birdie after a sequel of Bye Bye Birdie had closed a number of years ago after only four performances. (Last October my wife and I happened to see the revival of Bye Bye Birdie starring John Stamos and Gina Gershon…and it was awful! No wonder it closed after only four months.)

Broadway isn’t the only place this is happening. Now I see there is going to be a “revival” of Hawaii 5-O on TV in the fall. And this summer there is going to be a “revival” of The A-Team in the movie theater (…did we really need that???!!!).  It seems that instead of the old adage “everything old is new again,” recently “everything new is old again”!

Where are the people like Jeremy Wood, who has made cutting the lawn a form of art? I read in Fast Company magazine that Jeremy has attached his GPS device to the riding lawn mower he uses to cut his mother’s grass, and then maps it out, so that it looks like a giant etch-a-sketch drawing. How’s that for making something “old” “new” again?

Is our 21st century culture so devoid of creativity that we have to rely on old ideas, and cannot come up with anything new? The writer of the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes famously said about sin, that “there is nothing new under the sun.” When it comes to TV, Movies, Art, Books, Music, and, yes, Broadway Musicals, can we please have something “new under the sun”?

Which brings me back to the one musical on Broadway’s Tony Awards that really caught my eye. There is a new musical based on a conceptual album by punk rockers Green Day called American Idiot. I’m not a Green Day fan, and I’m not even sure I would like the show or its contents. But it was the one “preview” on the Tony Awards that made me say out loud, “now that’s different.” It was intriguing, innovative, and more energetic than almost everything else on the Tony’s this year.

Where are the people who are going to make something new on Broadway, in Hollywood, on iTunes, or in the Book Store? I’m hoping this new generation “gets it” and will contribute things we’ve never seen before. And, frankly, why can’t some of these things come out of the Church…the place where New Creation happens every day? (Within the areas of the Church, of course, where there is Christian freedom.)

What are your ideas, not on making “everything new, old again,” or “everything old, new again,” but on making something completely new?  Please leave a comment with your ideas!

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I Absolutely Can

I watched customer service failure at Target the other day. My wife was in the dressing room, while I waited outside and observed three (count ’em: three!) less-than-motivated employees half-heartedly putting clothes away, and gatekeeping the entrance to the dressing room. They were all complaining about how tired they were, and were barely doing any work.

Some poor guy came up with 7 pairs of shorts to try on. One of the three “red shirts” said in a snide voice, “Only six items.” Poor Guy said, “Even if they’re different sizes of the same kind?” Red Shirt, nastily: “Yep. Only Six.” Poor Guy walked away with his head down, and came back later with six (count ’em: six!) pairs of shorts. If it had been me, I would have left. I would have bought shorts elsewhere.

I was instantly reminded of a tweet that I saw from Tom Peters, author of In Search of Excellence and The Little Big Things (which is, by the way, an excellent book!). Peters had been spending the weekend at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Tysons Corner, Virginia. His tweet said that three times he had heard these words coming from the mouth of an employee at the Ritz:  “I absolutely can!”

I absolutely can. What a great way to make a customer feel appreciated. What a great way to gain loyalty. What a great way to provide true, caring service. How much does it cost to use those three words? It often costs nothing.

What if Red Shirt would have said to Poor Guy: “You absolutely can take seven shorts into the dressing room. I’ll just check them when you come out.” Poor Guy would have felt respected and somewhat special. He may have even felt loyalty to the Target brand.

I have encouraged our staff at Mt. Calvary to “lead with a ‘yes.'” It means leaning toward a “yes” before you lean toward a “no.” It means saying “I absolutely can” to any reasonable request.  It means showing care, concern, and respect for those whom we serve. It means building loyalty. It means that the first instinct is to serve.

Wouldn’t it be great if the places you frequent would use those three words that most anyone would love to hear? I absolutely can! What a great theme for customer service.

When and how can you use those words in your life? What are your ideas for “leading with a yes”?

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The Altitude of Attitude

For the past few days I’ve been watching people’s attitudes. And I’ve been watching how their attitudes impact my attitude. It’s been an interesting test. I started on Saturday when my wife, Tammy, and I had to run some errands:

  • Car wash: Outgoing and friendly cashier put me in a happy mood and led me to leave a generous tip for the guys drying the car.
  • Lunch at Five Guys Burgers and Fries: Gregarious and engaging cashier tried to save me some money and led me to leave a generous tip for the guys cooking our food.
  • Trader Joe’s: Cool dude with tattoos, funky glasses, and rolled up jeans checked us out and held a conversation that literally made me want to be his “friend.” If it was an acceptable practice at Trader Joe’s, I would have left him a generous tip. I left Trader Joe’s knowing that I would be back again soon. I always seem to get good customer service there.

The great Romantic poet, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, wrote:  “Nothing is so contagious as enthusiasm.”  I wholeheartedly agree.  But I would add:  “…except for a bad attitude and lack of enthusiasm.”

On Sunday I left Milwaukee to drive to Nashville so that our son could have a car for the summer. I flew back home on Monday, and stopped at the airport shop to pick up a newspaper. I felt a cloud move over my head as I entered the store. There was a long line of customers. The cashier was dour, down, taking her time, making it known that she would rather have been anywhere but there. My mood was immediately altered for the worse. I ended up going to another store to get my paper. It took me a while to recover. If I had been attempting to write at the time, there would have been no way.

My creativity flourishes when I am in an environment where people are outgoing, pleasant, and pleased to serve. I don’t care if you’re not in a good mood. At least fake a good mood. It might actually help put you into a good mood. Do you realize how much your down and dour attitude impacts me?

I realized the altitude of attitude when I flew home on Monday. I took Southwest Airlines for the first time in a long time. It seems to me that they hire a different “type” of person. I did quite a bit of flying on my sabbatical last fall. Never once was I impressed or had my mood altered for the better by a flight attendant from any of those airlines.

But the flight attendants and counter people for Southwest Airlines were pleasant, funny, making jokes, smiling at customers, making them feel comfortable, and doing anything they could to make the flying experience a good one…which is a rarity these days. Boy am I glad Southwest now flies out of Milwaukee. I’m going to be taking that airline more often.

While I’m at it, let me put in one more plug. I have recently been making it a habit to write my sermons at an Alterra coffee shop. The people who work there are quirky, funny, friendly, and seem like they actually enjoy being there. It makes for a creative environment. Their attitude inspires me; it creates energy in the place; it perpetuates my creative spirit. My sermons are much “easier” to write, and flow a whole lot better in that kind of space.

What is your story about the way in which the attitude of others impacts you?