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I unfollowed yet another person on Facebook today. It was a pastor. I actually agreed with what he was saying in his video, but it wasn’t providing any hope or help.

He was talking of the importance of churches keeping Christ first, which was good. But his delivery was this: Beware of those churches. Stay away from those churches. Pray for repentance for those churches. It was all criticism, all shade thrown into the picture.

One of the big criticisms I have for the way Christians approach social media is that they often paint in only two colors. The things they’re notorious for saying are often “don’t do this” or “this is so wrong”… It’s negativity, shade, and black-and-white thinking.

I’m not saying everything needs to be shades of gray. I’m not even saying there isn’t black and white. But God has given us so many more colors with which to see the world. Black and white is boring unless it’s presented with an array of other colors. When we can present hope, possibilities, and light along with the black and white, that’s when people will listen.

Here’s what I’d love to see more Christians posting. I’d love to see more posts about bravery. About love. About good. About the opportunities God has given His children.

In Matthew 5, The Message says it beautifully: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine!

God has made us light, not just to get attention, but to bring out God-colors in the world. We shine not to paint the world in monochrome, but to show blues, purples, yellows, reds… Brilliant colors of God’s love. His hope. His peace.

I believe part of our call as Believers is to be the hidden option for the world around us. That means that we can’t just see the world in a hopeless light like unbelievers often do. We have to seek the hope so that we can then show that hope to the world. It starts with us doing the hard work and then helping others see it.

I wrote about this a bit in my upcoming book, The Hidden Option. I’d love if you pre-ordered a copy. I believe when we all tap into this idea of showing God-colors to the world, Christians can be the example we were intended to be.

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My upcoming book isn’t for everyone.

You quickly learn in the publishing world that if you try to write a book for everyone, the book’s more likely going to be for no one. The best way to write a book is to target some specific people who will benefit from the content. The Hidden Option does exactly that.

So how do you know if reading The Hidden Option is right for you? Well let me explain to you the people I wrote the book for, then you can decide whether it’s for you or not.

The Hidden Option is for…

1. Those who feel called to launch out into new territories but don’t see how it’s possible.

Most often, we can’t see how it’s possible to start something new (a ministry or business) because we’ve seen what other people have done. We realize we don’t have what they had when they started out. But The Hidden Option shows you how God has already given you exactly what you need – it just might not look how you think it will.

2. Those who feel like limitations in their lives are keeping them back from God’s calling.

Surely if God’s called you to do something, He’ll lavish resources on you, right? Except that’s not what most people experience. Most people feel like God lavishes limitations on them when they’re called to do something. I’m convinced those limitations are actually God’s direction to help you find new ideas and techniques no one else has tried before. The Hidden Option shows you how to lean into limitations instead of complaining about a lack of resources.

3. Those who grapple with how to be a light in seemingly hopeless times.

We live in dark times. We want to make an impact. But we also don’t see the benefit of standing on a street corning yelling, “Repent; the end is near.” So how can we show light to the world around us in a way that isn’t us yelling at the world, but rather compelling the world to come near and ask us for the reason we have hope. The Hidden Option gives you some practical ideas on how to do that.

4. Those who have ever been told “you are not creative”.

As children, simple statements or even implied ideas can set the course for our lives. I was told as a child that I wasn’t creative. But I found out later that might not be true. I believe, even if you no longer think you’re creative, that you can discover a greater capacity for creativity than you know. The Hidden Option will help you see that capacity.

5. Those who desire to live an uncommon life but don’t know where to start.

Most of the people you know are overstressed and discouraged. You don’t want to live a life like that, but where do you even start? The truth is, you still have to earn an income and live life. How can you live an exceptional life when you still have bills to pay? The Hidden Option helps you come up with ways to innovate in your personal life so you can still get things done but also live an extraordinary life of hope and possibilities.

Do you fit into one of those categories? Can I encourage you to pre-order the book then? It’s available for a huge discount (not sure why Amazon did that). You can buy it now and get it as soon as it’s available – releasing September 1st.

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I’m not sure if this is bad marketing to share all of the best nuggets from my upcoming book in one place, but I’m trusting this will make you want more. I truly believe these seven quotes from The Hidden Option (releasing September 1st) could change your life if you act on them. The book, of course, gives you practical ideas and context for how to live these out, but I’ll try to give a bit of context below each quote to help you get a handle on them.

God’s creativity starts when things look hopeless. God loves to show us things we can’t see on our own. When things are the darkest, that’s when God’s creative light shines through and illuminates the pathway. Next time you’re feeling hopeless, look for God to demonstrate his creativity.

The limitations God puts on your life might just be the catalyst to a creative solution to life’s most impossible problems. God often likes to provide the miracle where you feel most inadequate. Don’t have the budget? Don’t have the resources? Don’t have the time? Look for God to find a creative way for you to work within those limitations.

Obligation does the minimum, but love embraces the maximum. God demonstrated His love for this by dying for us while we were still sinners. That was above and beyond. If you want to show true love, that’s the type of above and beyond it requires.

There’s always a third option to the obstacles you encounter, even if you can’t immediately see it. Confronted with a wall in your pathway? Do both left and right look like bad options? Good thing there are more possibilities. Over, under, through… There are far more possibilities if you’re willing to keep looking for them.

God isn’t limited to the options we’re able to imagine. And guess what… If those other options aren’t enough to solve the problem, God has even more tricks up His sleeves. Rely on His creativity and His options to find your solution.

If you’re ever faced with an obstacle that appears to only have two solutions, you’re probably asking the wrong question. Often we limit our possibilities because we ask the wrong questions from the wrong perspective. When we see things from God’s perspective, a world of opportunities emerges.

God is the only voice who can tell you who you are. Throughout your life, people have told you who you are and who you aren’t. You aren’t creative. You aren’t smart. You can’t do it. Those voices have no truth in them, because they don’t know you like your Creator. Choose to believe who He says you are. That’s the truth.

There they are! Did any of these resonate with you? Let me know in a comment below! Then make sure you share that image on social media. The success of this book relies on you helping me get the word out. You can also pre-order it here.

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Alright guys! After two years of working on this content – speaking at conferences and codifying the concept into written form – I’m pleased to announce my book is publishing next month! The book is called:

The Hidden Option: Igniting Creativity to Solve Life’s Impossible Problems

Here’s what it’s about.

We live in a polarized world. We want everything to fit in box A or B, option 1 or 2. Fight or flight. Black or white. Left or right. But Jesus regularly shattered restrictions and presented a third, hidden option.

Our God is bigger than just two options, and the same creativity Jesus used in finding the third option is available to you, whether you consider yourself creative or not. By learning to find the hidden option, you can become a better spouse, a better employee, a better friend, and even a better follower of Christ.

The Hidden Option explores questions like:

• Is there really any hope for our world where everything is so polarized?
• How do we find solutions that reach across the aisle without compromising the truth of God’s Word?
• How can you minister to others when you already feel overworked and under resourced?
• Do you have the capacity for creative problem solving, even though you might not consider yourself creative?

Check out what a couple of my friends have said about the book!

Everyone has a secret superpower called ‘creativity.’ If you’ve already tapped into that power, then you’re lucky. But if, like many, you’ve only brushed the surface of what’s possible, then you are in for a treat with the hidden option. Buckle up. This one’s a great ride!

Jeff Goins, best-selling author of The Art of Work

Once again, Jonathan merges his personal experience with a biblical perspective to help anyone (creative or not) learn how to solve problems by finding the option that may not seem as apparent. Already incorporating these perspectives into my every day life!

Luke McElroy, founder of SALT Conferences

Pre-order it here on digital or paperback.

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I’m part of a huge Facebook group where people who work at different sized churches all communicate best practices and ideas. I recently saw someone in the group suggest we break the group into multiple groups, based on the size of church. They felt they weren’t learning from the folks who worked at larger churches. I see it like this: They found themselves in the deep end of the pool and wanted to go back to comfortable depths. Now, there’s value in that, but I also think that’s not where you should stay.

Here are three depths I think everyone should continually experience in their life.

1. The comfortable depth.

This the enjoyable depth in life. You have some freedom for discovery, but you also know nothing too bad will happen. You’re surrounded by other people with similar skills as you, consequently, the conversations are all about things you appreciate. There’s a benefit to comfortable depths. But if that’s the only place you live, that’s unhealthy.

2. The shallow depth.

I believe there’s benefit for those who return to the shallow depths. Thinking of the FB group, these would be the folks from large churches, communicating with the ones from small churches. First of all, it helps you regain perspective and appreciation for how far you’ve come. But it also gives you an opportunity to invest in those who aren’t as far along as you. You actually learn a ton as you teach others.

3. The deep end.

Finally, though, I think people need to jump into the deep end from time to time. It’s those places that are scary, that feel beyond our ability. This is where you realize how far you have yet to go, but also what’s possible. You see there’s so much more than what you currently experience. It gives you something to aim toward. And it heightens your skill, so when you return to the comfortable depths, you realize you can actually go deeper this time.

We should continually grow as life-swimmers. But that doesn’t mean we leave people behind. Let’s reach for new depths and then reach back to bring others along with us.

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Many of you read the title of this blog and clicked through preparing to be offended. Give me a few seconds before you pass judgment though.

Freedom is a very good thing. In fact, Paul tells the first groups of believers that we were called to be free: “For you have been called to live in freedom…” That’s not talking about a political freedom; it’s a true freedom only Jesus can provide. But political freedom certainly helps reality match with the freedom of heaven.

The problem is, freedom gives us the tendency to take it for granted. In fact, the next sentence in that verse in Galatians talks about that very thing: “But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.” – Galatians 5:13

We’re meant to take advantage of our freedom but not to take it for granted. When you take something for granted, you abuse it. But when you take true advantage of something, you use it for your benefit and for the benefit of others. Our freedom as Americans (or whichever free country you’re reading this from) is meant to benefit us and to benefit others.

So we can’t just take it for granted. We’re meant to make the most of every day (Ephesians 5:16). That means an active pursuit of opportunities that our freedom provides us. And guess what, not everyone lives under this same freedom we experience. Yet they’re called to the same – to make the most of every opportunity.

If our fellow believers living under extreme oppression are called to make the most of opportunity – to innovate within whatever freedom they are given – shouldn’t we take our responsibility even more seriously. To whom much is given, much is required.

American freedom is a blessing. It’s a good thing. But it becomes a bad thing when we let it make us complacent. I encourage you – today and in the coming weeks – actively take advantage of your freedom. Ask God to give you unique ways to capitalize on your freedom and operate within it.

Could it be that God wants to bless America through you? It just might mean you taking full advantage of your freedom, though.

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Here’s a paradox for you. Crazy life change seems like it should be something that’s extreme. Right? You should behave one way or operate your business one way or respond to God one way, then in an instant, you change.

And most people go life change that way. They find themselves down a road they never wanted to be on, then they make the drastic decision to go a different direction. Cold turkey. All at once. Change course.

There are some areas of your life where you need to do that. When it comes to things that will lead to death, a cold turkey change is important. Salvation works like that. You’re heading toward hell, then you repent. Drastic.

But when it comes to the more nuanced changes in life, cold turkey rarely works. Without the penalty of death or other horrible consequences keeping us accountable, we often swing from one extreme and back to the other.

There’s a better approach:

Balanced, Steady Movement

Imagine in a diet if, instead of cutting all sugar from your diet, you just stopped drinking soda. Then two or three weeks later, you cut something else out of your diet. Then again in another two or three weeks. It seems like you’d make no progress. But in a year, you would have cut about 20 categories of bad food out of your life.

Now think back on your last few drastic diets you adopted. Have any of those stuck? Probably not.

They key to life change isn’t in giant leaps. It’s in small, intentional steps toward your goal. It doesn’t feel sexy. It doesn’t feel glamorous. But it will actually get you where you want to go.

Resist the urge to “change your life” overnight. Break your goal down into small, manageable steps and then start taking them. Here are some ideas for you:

• Instead of stopping watching TV altogether, choose one hour in the evening when you normally would, but decide not to.
• Instead of adopting an hour-long devotional each day, choose to one Proverb each morning and say a quick prayer.
• Instead of dropping everything and becoming a full-time minister of the Gospel, start giving and praying for an organization. Start donating your time.

You can eventually reach those lofty goals. But unless God commanded those extreme changes, small steps are far more likely to get you there.

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At times it feels like the world is filled with people all fighting over scraps – especially in business. Someone has an idea, then about 50 other copycats hop on the scene and there’s instant competition. I’m all for competition and the mechanism of free market, but when everyone copies an idea, there’s very little innovation happening.

I believe on word can change all that. And I believe it can change it in your life too. The word?

Yet

There’s tons of negativity in this world. Tons of discouragement. But when you can add this three letter word at the end, it turns negativity into opportunity.

That hasn’t worked… yet.
Nobody would buy that… yet.
Kids aren’t interested in the things of God… yet.

Whatever your situation – ministry, relationally, or career – I believe remembering that three letter word can make all the difference.

Something has never worked, maybe because the time was wrong. Maybe because they never actually tried it. Maybe because they were the wrong person. Maybe because circumstances were different.

Take that three letter word, and evaluate it. Why does the negative statement exist? Then figure out the opportunity. Just because nobody’s done something doesn’t mean it can’t be done. Just because something has always been one way doesn’t mean it can’t be a new way.

Believers have the opportunity of hope: to see the world one way, but trusting it can change.

Let’s be agents of change. Let’s see the negative thought process in this world, but append that word “yet” to each statement. Then let’s explore and discover what things can change and how we can be part of that change.

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