Barnabas File

“Creativity is the power that generates innovation.”    At the beginning of The Creative Mindset , authors Jeff and Staney DeGraff define the interplay between these two processes.  Creativity is coming up with a great idea; innovation is making it happen.  Both are necessary to impact our world.  In this book, the emphasis is on developing a mindset and the skills for creative thinking that will result in innovative ideas that one wishes to pursue.   Since I have taught seminary classes involving creativity and innovation for several years, I am pleased to find this “toolbox” of tools and techniques to enhance the creative process.  The authors’ process is clear and easy to grasp:   Clarify--getting the challenge right; Replicate--mimicking and reapplying ideas; Elaborate--multiplying ideas by adding new ones; Associate--connecting ideas with analogies; Translate--creating stories from ideas; Evaluate--selecting the best ideas...

The church of which I am a member has responded effectively to the pandemic.     We quickly went to an online service, moved to doing Bible study and committee meetings (and even business meetings) online, and began providing proactive member contacts through phone calls and digital media.    With the leadership of a COVID-19 task force, we have a phased plan to restart on-campus activities based on public health data rather than opinions or personal preferences.   Many of the things we are doing have gone very well.  Our staff has led in putting together a Sunday morning worship experience that is recorded ahead and broadcast at the usual worship time.  Many members have contributed recorded segments and it has been fun to see individuals and families offering music, art, and the spoken word.  At last count, we seemed to be engaging more people in virtual worship than we were in person before the coronavirus.   Most of our Bib...

My LinkedIn account reminded me recently that I have been associated with Central Seminary in Shawnee, Kansas, for fifteen years this month.  It has been an interesting journey that has taken me to unexpected places.   Association with Central Seminary began while I was Coordinator of Tennessee Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.  The seminary offered an “alumni by choice” certificate to invite those who had attended other seminaries to show their support and I readily signed on.    My more official relationship with seminary began in 2005 when I became the volunteer site coordinator for Central’s teaching church site at First Baptist Church in Murfreesboro.  We provided the opportunity for students who were already immersed in ministry, work, and family life to pursue the Master of Divinity degree without uprooting their lives and relocating to pursue a seminary degree.   During the Tennessee Site years, I was invited to become an adjunct i...

Pinnacle Leadership Associates is launching Summit Coach Training this month.  This course on "Introduction to Coaching" will be of interest to both those seeking coaching certification and leaders wanting to enhance their skills.  Click here for video