There is a need for creative understanding in the local church.  Not for the Saddlebacks or Ed Youngs who routinely make awesomeness look easy. But for those whose purpose in the body of Christ is to be the big toe or the appendix, who hardly, if ever, get the high-fives they deserve. They need help. We know it. They know it. But what options do they have? That’s why we created My Square Creative.

My Square Creative is a ministry focused collective that offers subscription based design services to the church by providing a fully staffed creative department at half the cost of a SINGLE full-time designer. Our mission isn’t to grow every church. It’s to empower them to be the church.

Frank Chimero, author of The Shape of Design, said “People ignore design that ignores people.”  The thing we tend to forget is that the church, is people. If the church is meant to have a purpose, if the people are meant to have purpose, then it has to been designed. It must be intentional. We’ve seen what happens when the church designs without purpose.  We feel we can help.  We’re not the solution for everyone.  But we are a solution for those with the need.

Twitter: @mySQcreative

Facebook: /mySQcreative

W: www.mysquarecreative.com

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Urban Calligraphy “Skyfall” from DESIGNWARS on Vimeo.

Living in times that hope seems to have lost it’s meaning and mankind walks in paths of uncertainty and hate, Simon finds hope in the skyfall. His calligraphy leads him through inner peace and serenity to the path of wisdom, from the free skies to a free fall in the urban surroundings we have to endure. In a pure and magical way he manages to entrap us to his world of letters with one purpose, to convey his message of change and hope crashing the black era that has emerged. A better world is possible.

“This is the end, hold your breath and count to ten, feel the earth move and then, hear my heart burst again”

MORE INFO
www.facebook.com/urbancalligraphy
www.flickr.com/photos/simon_silaidis
www.urbancalligraphy.com

At first glance after downloading the app I love the way that the UI looks. It makes use of swipes and basic movement gestures of the iPhone. After only having it launched for a few moments I found out how really easy it is to use. I love the simplicity of it.

Also another thing that sticks out to me is the navigational aspects of the app as well. It’s easy to navigate, and I don’t have to read a “for dumies” series book if I want to learn how to use it. That is how all apps should be, but I have come across a few that I just can’t figure out how to use, and are designed very poorly, this app is not that way at all.

Here is an overview of it’s features from Ora.Net:

Organize your prayer life with Circles

ORA’s circle feature allows you to organize your prayer life and those you pray with and for into “circles” that can be secure and intimate or available broadly to a larger community.

Swipe imageSwipe to Pray

Let them know you’re praying for them. ORA provides a glimpse of the eternal that we can miss when we’re caught up in the stress of everyday life.

Heart imageReal-time engagement with prayer

ORA notifications through your smartphone provide immediate feedback to requests, questions and comments from prayer partners and helps to track and remind you of how your prayers are answered immediately or over time.

Partner imageAn intuitive prayer partner

Prayer is always available, but ORA makes notes, reminders, prayer partners and community always available, too.

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If you haven’t downloaded it by now, you are missing out. I would encourage you to do so immediately. What are you waiting on??

This app seems like it will be great as far as keeping me in communion with God through prayer and by praying for my friends and family.

Download ORA for the iPhone in the App Store! http://appstore.com/ora

THE AMENDMENTS OF A TRASH MAN from Shea Sizemore on Vimeo.

Be Water – Kinetic Typography from Albert Oriol on Vimeo.

Kinetic Typography of Bruce Lee’s famous quote “Be water my friend”. Follow on twitter: twitter.com/tropicalbert

I joined the street team to get the word out about the book and can’t wait for you guys to get your hands on it.

Here’s a few questions that Brad responded to so that you can get some insight about why he wrote the book.

1. What is the Catalyst Leader about?

The Catalyst Leader lays out the eight essentials for becoming a change maker. The traits that I believe one must develop in order to become a change maker, and ultimately a Catalyst Leader. I hope this book will provide practical leadership answers for a new generation of aspiring leaders who are looking for answers and solutions, and not just leadership theory. It’s a practical guide for leading now, and leading well, serving as a leadership handbook for the next generation of leaders in our country.

The book presents the key essentials that I believe will define our generation’s ability to influence over the next 20-25 years, laying out what it means to be a Catalyst in this generation. The Catalyst Leader is packed with a combination of candid interviews with thought leaders, research with the core leadership community, and overall leadership best practices. A rising generation of leaders need to be equipped for the task of leadership.

2. Why did you write The Catalyst Leader?

I wrote this book primarily for 3 reasons. Frist, while leading the largest leadership movement that gathers young career aged Christian leaders in America, I noticed that many of these young leaders desired to lead right now, but they didn’t know how to ultimately lead well. We have a generation of “called but not yet equipped leaders.” Leaders who are passionate about making a difference and having influence now. Called leaders who want to change the world, a generation ready to action, ready to influence and ready to lead, but not yet equipped for the task. They need the tools, the roadmap, the guide for leading well and getting that done.

So many of my peers at 25, 30, 35, 40 years of age are flaming out and need a resource to help them finish well. Second, I noticed that the leaders who were leading well shared several common traits and characteristics. What I’m calling the eight essentials. The book lays out those 8 essential characteristics for becoming a change maker, and ultimately a Catalyst Leader. Third, we’ve been handed the reins to lead. I just turned 40, and I believe it’s my generations turn and time to stand up, take the reins, and lead. We are now in the drivers seat, and it’s up to us. The called but not equipped generation. I want to see leaders, my peers, finish well.

Too many leaders are crashing early and often right now. Just like me, tons of leaders in their 20’s and 30’s are facing great opportunities that they feel a deep calling and passion for, and willing to take on, but not altogether equipped to handle. These peers of mine need a roadmap, a guide, a handbook for leading well and tools for the journey forward. Our generation needs a roadmap for leading well. Some of my best friends currently sit atop great organizations but are failing to shepherd their teams and lead these entities well. I’ve begun to see a disappointing pattern among young leaders. They achieve liftoff with a rocket start but quickly fizzle out.

With each instance of short lived success, I grow further convinced that we need to nurture leaders who will not just lead now, but also lead well. Ultimately, I’m writing a book that I wish would have been available to me 20 years ago when I was first starting my career and vocation life.

3. Talk about your passion for leaders.

I have a deep passion for helping leaders lead well. It’s what drives me. At Catalyst, we are crazy about gathering, inspiring and releasing the next wave of leaders who love Jesus and have a burden to be Catalysts in their communities and culture. I believe it’s my stewardship, and my responsibility to help these leaders do their jobs well- all over our country in our churches, businesses, and all organizations to lead well. And ultimately finish well. And I’m incredibly optimistic about the next wave of leaders who are now stepping into leadership roles.

It’s a generation of leaders willing to work their guts outs for something bigger than themselves, and also willing to work together to accomplish the big vision. This book is about the broader Catalyst movement.

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I hope this wets your appetite to get the book. I’ve already gotten so much from it, and im not done reading it yet. When I do finish reading it i’ll blog my review here.

Now, you are rolling up your sleeves, curious as to what exactly that was.

Well, if you read the title of this post that might give you an idea…so what was this experience like? We’ll let me walk you through it.

I have been attending a church called Forest Hill in south Charlotte for the past 4 weeks with my family. In fact, it has been a joy and a wonderful experience to be a part of a church that consistently for the past few weeks. 4 weeks? Consistency?? YEP! It’s been a while since I have gone to church that many weeks in a row. So it’s always a good thing to get back into the community of believers, and fellowshipping together in worship and proclamation of the word.

The church is huge. It has three campuses, and multiple services at each campus. At first it was overwhelming, but as the weeks passed, and I talked to more people at the church that feeling of overwhelmingness subsided. In fact, it was my desire to connect with fellow 20 somethings just like myself, who wanted to share life together. That is why I decided to attend the event that they had going on called Lifegroup Connect.

Life Group Connect from Forest Hill Media on Vimeo.

As you can tell from the video above, Forest Hill Church is all about putting people into circles, by connecting each person in a life group. This is no easy task, and it was a challenge that I decided to undertake. So fast forward with me to last night when I entered the doors of the atrium of Forst Hill.

As I walked in I was greeted by the volunteers at the registration desk. This was a good first sign, as I was greeted with smiling faces. I got my name tag, and proceeded down the hall. I knew it was going to be a good night once I actually got my name tag placed on my chest, and people could call me by name.

I entered the next room, and again, I was greeted by more volunteers. They handed me an instruction half sheet of paper, and explained to me what would take place next. At first I thought this was a very weird way of doing things, but as the evening went on things got even better. I felt like I belonged, even though the church has a TON of people in it. I felt like a person. People talked to me and I talked to them. By the end of the night, I don’t want to bore you with details, I was in a circle of guys who all came to the night wanting the same thing..to be a part of a life group.

We got to know each other, and just introduce ourselves. Our leader, Russell  told us more about his vision for the group, and what each meeting would look like.

As an introvert, this night was not comfortable for me, but sometimes God takes the uncomfortable, to grow us. Our first meeting as a group is this Friday at Starbucks at 7AM.

Good thing I’m a morning person! :)

What have you done recently that is out of your confort zone?