History in the Making

The Amazing Projects of Friends

I have too many audacious friends. Here are some of the projects that are launching now:

• Gary Lamb is a person of the second chance. Now he's giving the people of Canton, GA a second chance as well. Here's an exciting way for you to be involved.
• Jeff Goins released a free ebook The Writer's Manifesto
• Lifepoint Church's creative team in Fredericksburg, Va has launched a fun new blog
• Bryan Allain is helping bloggers grow their readership by 15-20% with the Blog Rocket course
• Online ministry guru Dana Byers wrote a free ebook called The Art of Online Ministry
• Tim Abare is heading up The Epoch Missions Gala to fund someone's worthy cause for $50,000
• Gary Waldron launched The Aragorn Project which helps young people become the people they were meant to be
• Dream Year participant, restrauranteur Duy Nguyen from Quebec is seeing his Ozen Restaurant grow quickly and is already looking at a second location
• Josh Tandy launched Pastors in Process to help young pastors navigate the choppy waters of ministry. He started a monthly lunch that is taking off in Indiana
• John Finch is traveling all over the country to shoot a documentary about the impact of "father wounds." His new ministry is called The Perfect Father.

Creative Meet-ups in a City Near You

We're seeing amazing turn-outs at the creative meet-ups across the country. Charlotte was incredible on May 27. I was unable to make the Nashville gathering this past week due to Ainsley's mom's surgery, but Sarah filled-in and met 100+ amazing creatives at Cross Point's Bellevue campus (pictured above).

Our Detroit meet-up is next on July 15. Let us know you're coming by signing up here. There are already 75 coming with a few weeks to go. Chicago and Cincinnati are next.

And don't forget the national gathering of the creative class on Sept 15-16 in Chicago at STORY. Best rate ends soon.

Wednesday Morning Run-Down

• Ainsley's mom came through brain surgery yesterday to remove a cancerous turmor. They removed the right occipital lobe of her brain, but she was lucid after she woke up. She's in ICU for a few days. Thanks for your prayers
• I've been watching our three cowboys non-stop for the past few days and loving it. We rode a ferry in Norfolk's harbor yesterday to the Portsmouth children's museum.
• The moving truck pulls up next Tues. (gulp)
• 3-dimensional set for the Amon Tobin tour. This is an incredible sight to behold (via @shawnlandis)
• Dream Year weekend alum John Carroll is launching a residency program for City Leadership in Memphis
• The real temptation for quitting a dream is not hardship. It's the prospect a good salary at a comfortable job
• The Nashville creative meet-up is drawing nearly 100 people today, and the Detroit creative meet-up on July 15 is full-on. We're announcing Cincinnati soon
• A 15-tab promotional strategy for authors (in excel)
• I dropped my 3G iPhone in the toilet the other day and replaced it with... wait for it... another 3G. #anti-climactic
• The best rate for STORY ends soon. Join us in Chicago on Sept 15-16 for a national meet-up with the creative class and some amazing surprises
• N.E.R.D front-man Pharrell is opening an Oppenheim-designed after-school center for kids in Virginia Beach
• You can't be a dream chaser without being a rain maker. It doesn't matter what kind of dream you have (non-profit, writing books, donor-model, church planting), every dream needs capital
• Loved connecting with Daniel and Stephanie Gutierrez over Skype the other day. They recently left their church-start Bloom in Minneapolis to return as missionaries in Lima, Peru. They're going to help us with a global STORY project launching soon.
• Can someone tell me if they recommend a Roku?
• I'd do this if I didn't already own the complete series
• Who knew bunk beds could be this nice? I want one
  

The Easy Team vs The Dream Team

There's a mental shift each person in Dream Year has to make before they can see their dream become realized.

It's to stop seeing their vision as a personal pet project and embrace it as a calling that involves other people. And not just any other people. The best people in your life.

In 1 Samuel 10:26, when Saul was appointed the first king of Israel, it says, “Saul also went to his home in Gibeah, accompanied by valiant men whose hearts God had touched.”

When you go after a dream, you need some valiant people around you. Your dream is not just for you. It's for others. You just happened to get the invitation.

There two kinds of teams you can attract: the easy team or the dream team.

The dream team requires a big ask. It requires you to think more highly of your dream and have the courage to invite them. It may require that they move. Change jobs. Make asks of other people. Invest money. But your team is a direct reflection of your dream. Who is surrounding you?

What I'm Learning

I can't even begin to describe last week.

So many good things and so many devastations.

We felt your outpouring of love, prayers and support after announcing the news about our family... and then...

A dead car battery; lost keys to our other car; Ainsley contracted the worst sickness in our 11 year marriage; our four year old with a plastic baseball bat vs. our plasma flatscreen (which lost); my inability to make three critical meetings that will likely affect our livelihood; an ER visit for Cody who cut himself badly; the absence of a recovered Ainsley to care for her mother; and an impending move in one week.

By Saturday all I could do was laugh at the calamity. A pain-filled laugh, but feeling the bliss of resignation.

Here's what I'm learning:

To trust God when I'm abased as well as when I abound.

I'm blessed by so many things: that we live in Virginia Beach for such a time as this; that I don't have a boss who requires my rear end to occupy an office chair; for an incredible family; for friends who have reached out; and for opportunities that allow me to keep chasing and helping others chase their dreams.

Friday Twitter Insanity

There is not a bad job that good entrepreneurialism can't fix...

This goes for church planting too, which you'd know if you read Church in the Making ;)

Thank goodness for this. Sick of Apple give-aways.

This seems to be a church version of StumbleUpon that Vince is pointing out...

MacBeth performed in Central Park

This is the secret to STORY. We don't complexify. We simplify and then layer up.

The "Among Us" crew as featured on Jared Hogan's blog:

Shot this in Mark Batterson's car on Saturday night. Capitol Hill at night is such a tranquil beautiful place.

My two year old "Power Ranger Cody"

And "Beach Cody"

hmmm, note to self: C seems to enjoy dressing up more than sand =(

Finally, some great bloggers tackled 'creative blocks' this week - #creativeblocks

STORY 2009 Opener Audio

Thought you might like hearing this. In 2009, I pulled together movie clips that speak to the greater metanarrative of life... moved into quotes from some pastors you might know... and ended it with Arcade Fire's kick arse anthem... enjoy. =)

Storyopener2009

Btw, join us for STORY 2011 in Chicago this year.

Wednesday Morning Run-Down

• I'm floored by your support, encouragement and prayers during this difficult season of life. I thank God for you
• After the merriment, socializing and wonderful food at the Nashville creative meet-up on June 22, I'm going to share a new project that I'm bursting at the seams to unveil. Can't wait for this gathering - sign up [here].
• Google's free program for non-profits
• Behind the scenes photos of Willow Creek's production
• The STORY creative meet-up in DETROIT on July 15 is taking---wait for it----off. Those Chrysler ads are right
• Cincinnati is next. Stay tuned.
• I'm speaking at Jon Acuff's Quitter event in Nashville on July 30... and looking forward to it
• An incredible immersive theater experience in NYC where guests intermingle with the actors. Some photos of the environment. And the official site. (via Kyle Baker)
• Amazing large scale projection for Hot Wheels. This one has a storyline, which is the next step now that environmental projection has achieved the wow factor.
• Working on an incredible new site for Dream Year which will allow scores of people to go through the year-long process to bring their audacious projects to life... masterminded by my friend @elliottmunoz
• We're spending ungodly amounts of money on the STORY notebooks this year. I like a good notebook. So you better believe you're getting one.
• 360 theater? Are you kidding? You say it's Peter Pan? Who cares? Sign me up. Currently playing in Chicago
• This month, so many of my Dream Year participants are experiencing breakthroughs. They are fearing the "big ask" no longer. Doors are opening. Waters are parting.
• Ains is 'lay in bed with a bowl' sick today, so I'm off to spend the morning with my munchkins

News from the Homefront

For the past few months, our family has been battling some forces outside of our control, and I thought it was time to share this on the blog for the sake of needed prayer.

We moved to Virginia Beach in 2009, not just because we love the ocean, but because Ainsley's mother, brother and sister-in-law's family live here. We rented a house for the first two years to get our feet wet. But as we were preparing to find something more permanent this summer, we got bad news...

After experiencing some loss of sight and extreme nausea, Ainsley's mother was diagnosed by a neurosurgeon as having glioblastoma in the back of her brain - the most aggressive kind of brain cancer there is. No one survives it. How long she has, ranges from 2 months to 12 months depending on the treatment.

We're doing everything can. But because of how disabling it is, our family is moving into her home this month to care for her in the time that she has left... and also to look after another close family member with severe health issues.

On top of an unusually rigorous season of running Dream Year and STORY for me, this season has been especially tough on our whole family. We've been rapidly converting her garage into a suite, preparing to move all of her things out - and all of ours in - all within three short weeks. We're holding on for dear life.

If you're inclined to pray, we'd appreciate what you have to offer for Ainsley's mom's health and our family's strength to endure this season.

On the Film Set of 'Among Us'

Whenever you attempt audacious things, rule number 1 is to always hire a photographer to document it. The very talented Bernardo Marentes shot these photos on set of "Among Us" in Charlotte. I cannot wait for you to see the finished product. It will premiere at STORY with a live soundtrack. [flickr]

Photos of Dream Year DC

Washington DC made the perfect backdrop for our Dream Year Weekend. Gorgeous weather. Mark Batterson delivered two powerful talks. The participants acted like old friends within minutes. "Curbside Cupcakes." Ebeneezer's Coffehouse. See all of the photos by my amazing coordinator Ally Fouts HERE.

Wednesday Morning Run-Down

• Dream Year weekend in Washington DC was incredible. I woke up at 11am on Monday. But wow it was good. The next Dream Year weekend will be in January.
• If you're in Nashville, join me for a meet-up and lunch for creatives on Wed, June 22 at Cross Point's Bellevue campus: www.nashvillecreatives.eventbrite.com
• Nathan Coronna shot this incredible piece for Listener. It's some serious hillbilly spoken word. It's either ingenious or just weird. Either way, I love it.
• Talked to Blaine Hogan yesterday about an enchanting piece for STORY that will take your breath away.
• Tripp Crosby is a very funny guy.
• We're starting work on a monthly program for Dream Year that will allow hundreds, thousands to participate.
• I grew up reading The Cross and the Switchblade, but I never knew of the passion of NYC pastor David Wikerson until I listened to this.
• I've never seen a film get so much buzz by people who can't tell you what it's about - The Tree of Life.
• Here's the photo album for our Charlotte film shoot
• Incredible article on Amazon's Jeff Bezos:

As a teenager, Jeff worked for a summer at a McDonald's. He hated it. So the next summer, Jeff and his girlfriend created a education camp for younger kids. They charged $600 a pop. Called "The DREAM Institute," the camp got six signups.

• (I knew I liked Jeff Bezos)
• "While Justin [Timberlake] was on vacation, I was making records." ~Kanye West #hustle
• We're adding 5 new presenters at STORY end of June.
• Photos from Dream Year DC weekend coming soon!
• Talk about experiential dining
  
• And how funny but true =)
  
• Finally my much loved son in the middle of this pile at school. Think it had to do with the treats he brought in =)
  

Nashville Creatives Meet-up

Join me for a Creative Meet-up and Lunch in Nashville on Wed, June 22 at Cross Point's Bellevue campus.

This is a casual mixer for creatives in the greater Nashville area, but I'll also be sharing a global creative project with you that will come to life in 2012. Seats are limited.

www.NashvilleCreatives.Eventbrite.com

Charlotte Meet-up Pics

We held our first Creative Meet-up in Charlotte last Friday, and over 80 of the city's finest came out for the lunch. I posted a few pics on STORY's Facebook and Flickr.

Our next creative meet-ups (locations TBA):
Nashville on Wed, June 22 and Detroit on Fri, July 15

Diner Photos from 'Among Us'

Here are a few photos from the diner scene in "Among Us" which will premiere at STORY. Jared Hogan did an unbelievable job on this piece. It was filmed at an authentic mobile diner called Mattie's that was trucked to Charlotte from New Jersey six months ago. The owner gave us run of the place, served us great food, and even had a role in the film.