imaginate E-Book

John Michael Hinton

• Herausgeber: BroadStreet Publishing Group, LLC
• Kategorie: Religion und Spiritualität
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2022

Seitenzahl: 152

Beschreibung

imaginate verb /im`ag´i`nate/ to create imaginatively in collaboration Collaborate with the Creator of the universe. In this broken world, we can feel lost, unworthy, and unremarkable. But we're invited to—in fact, created for—ultimate collaboration with God himself, the greatest artist of all time. This book reveals your significance as God's masterpiece and equips you to use your talents to partner with God in his creative process. Imaginate and bring beauty to a fractured world together. Join authors John and Ken as they - marvel at God's design in every corner of the earth, - share the vital importance of art, - reveal the creativity inherent in every job, - inspire you with stories and examples, and - urge you to greater vulnerability and deeper purpose.Whether you feel artistic or not, you can discover the joy of creating with your Creator. Unlock your true purpose by imaginating with God.

Leseprobe

BroadStreet Publishing® Group, LLC

Savage, Minnesota, USA

BroadStreetPublishing.com

imaginate

Copyright © 2022 John Michael Hinton and Ken Castor

978-1-4245-6536-8 (softcover)

978-1-4245-6537-5 (e-book)

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Scripture quotations marked TPT are from The Passion Translation®. Copyright © 2017, 2018, 2020 by Passion & Fire Ministries, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ThePassionTranslation.com. Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, a Division of Tyndale House Ministries, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Scripture quotations marked ESV are taken from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Stock or custom editions of BroadStreet Publishing titles may be purchased in bulk for educational, business, ministry, fundraising, or sales promotional use. For information, please email [email protected].

Illustrations by Maribeth Hinton, Ken Castor & John Michael Hinton

Cover by Maribeth Hinton & Garborg Design Works

Interior by Garborg Design Works | garborgdesign.com

Printed in China.

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ENDORSEMENTS

John has collected in these pages ideas for your life that are both practical and winsome. He takes you on a delightful ride using relatable stories about real life and real faith. You are really going to enjoy this book.

Bob Goff Author, New York Times bestsellers Love Does, Everybody Always, and Dream Big

John Michael has been a friend of ours for several years, and we’ve been huge fans of everything he does. imaginate inspires us to keep pushing the boundaries of what we can do creatively together. You’ve got to devour this book.

Tommy Woodard and Eddie James The SkitGuys

John Michael’s themes of purposeful creativity and art speak to me deeply, and I’m inspired by his urge toward collaboration and community. The openness with which he shared sacred moments from his life to illustrate these ideas is moving. I can’t wait to take these thoughts and apply them to my own life’s work!

Mario “The Maker Magician” Marchese Performer, Author, Creator

These two dudes are the real deal! I’ve loved working with John Michael Hinton and Ken Castor at next-gen conferences all over the US. And now I’m pumped that they’ve written a really fun, refreshing book that sparks the creative process in all of us. imaginate is the inspirational collision of two resilient creatives who encourage people to thrive even when difficulties get in the way. I can’t wait to see what good things God is going to do when people imaginate!

Josh Griffin Speaker; Youth Pastor; Co-founder, DownloadYouthMinistry.com

My experience is that all too often, people overcomplicate creativity, making it into something they can either claim or distance themselves from. But John Michael and Ken reminded me (over and over again, actually) of truths about God, myself, and creativity that are quite literally woven into my design (and yours, by the way). At its heart, this encouraging book is an invitation not only to collab and imaginate with God and others but also to see yourself how God sees you.

Mark Oestreicher Founder and Partner, The Youth Cartel

What are the first five words of the Bible? “In the beginning God…” Copyright infringed? Plagiarized? Duplicated? Nope: “In the beginning God created!” Imagine you could imitate an artist like that. The first of the firsts. imaginate will put the path in front of you and some very practical tools in your hands. This is a must-read for anyone who makes anything from spreadsheets to suspension bridges to spit wads.

Eric Samuel Timm Artist, Author, Pastor

Pre-imaginate, I felt like I had a pretty whole and accurate view of our creative God. Nope. I didn’t. Post-imaginate, I see a God who laughed while creating and delights in collaborating with me in unique and fun ways! If I were in charge of coordinating a creative round table, John Michael would be my first pick! (Walt Disney my second.) His take on everyday life and the God who invited us into that everyday life is fresh, fun, and fascinating! Every one of my students needs to be shaped and grounded by the perspective on God’s creativity revealed in this book. John Michael’s personal story, told with such humor and detail, intersects masterfully and insightfully with God’s story. imaginate is more than temporary art—it’s here to stay!

Heather Flies Junior High Pastor, Wooddale Church, Eden Prairie

For the creative person, maybe coloring outside the lines is normal. But for all those who have never experienced the wonder of a Broadway show, nor awed at a masterful magician expanding their imagination, this book has enough mystery to make everyone want to run for the crayons. Thank you, John and Ken, for ensuring none of us ever see the creation story, nor a deck of cards, the same way again. Thanks for helping us imaginate!

Jonathan Meyer Pastor; Founder, Ignite Youth Leadership Conferences

One of my greatest thrills in life is to help people discover the unlimited love and life that God offers to everyone. There’s nothing quite like living in the fullness of life that God has creatively and uniquely set before each of us. imaginate helps us to tap into that life of joy, hope, and wonder. This book is an eye-awakening, soul-inspiring, super-fun deep-dive into the creative work that God has for us.

Zane Black Evangelist; Founder, wearelovinlife.com

Over the years, I’ve come to see John Michael Hinton as someone who does the incredible in a way I just cannot understand. I love watching him perform, and I have no idea how he does his illusions or what the hidden trick might be. But in imaginate, he is all about the opposite—he actually breaks open the deep mysteries of life and Scripture and, through his personal story, reveals the details of God’s imaginative invitation to create. This is an inspiring and great read for anyone.

Scott Wakely National Director, Alliance Youth, LIFE Conference

When John and Ken, two of my most creative and coolest friends, get together to write a book, you know something amazing is going to happen. They’ve taken the best of their passions and stories and mashed them into fun adventures and deep discoveries about the very essence of life. John and Ken know that people truly thrive when they connect with God and others. I’m excited to see how imaginate will spark movements of creativity that change the world.

Brad Mock High School Pastor, Christ Community Church, Omaha

As a magician myself, I understand the special gift John Michael Hinton has given us here. Good magicians want to help people marvel at the world, expand their sense of wonder, and help them imagine new possibilities. With the help of a trusted voice in Ken Castor, John has crafted a masterpiece for the soul that changes how we approach our lives. imaginate is an entertaining invitation into a secret world…a world inhabited as it was meant to be: with abundant wisdom and humor and awe.

Mark Matlock Author; Consultant; Principal and Founder, Wisdom Works

DEDICATION

For Maribeth, Charity Joy,

Silas John-Paul, and Jude Sinatra: the most creative people I know and with whom I have the honor to collab daily

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction

Chapter 1“It Must Have Been Fun!”

Chapter 2About the Artist

Chapter 3Temporary Art

Chapter 4A Collaborative Self-Portrait

Chapter 5A Dream Realized

Chapter 6Art Is Essential

Chapter 7Finding Creativity

Chapter 8Painting over All the Walls

Chapter 9Art Is Not Safe

Chapter 10The Ignorant, Uneducated Art Critic

Chapter 11Do the Impossible!

Chapter 12Let’s Collab!

Best Way to Imaginate with God

About the Authors

INTRODUCTION

imaginate

I envision a round table with the most creative minds dreaming and brainstorming together all committed to bringing a beautiful idea into reality. They’ve been commissioned to create an amazing art piece that will express the deepest of truths and that will inspire others to be the best versions of themselves. If you’re anything like me, you want a seat at that table.

The best hope for humankind is when humans do what they were designed to do: operate in a collaborative existence with our Creator and each other, using the unique gifts we were given to artistically craft our world into a better version for every generation after us.

When I’m not playing with my kids on the living room floor or drinking large cups of black tea with my wife, you’ll find me making videos for my socials or trekking around the world speaking at retreats and performing magic shows. Over and over, I’m amazed and humbled at the platform I have to share my story and make new friends. Whether on large stages or in small groups of friends, my desire is to impact this world by bringing good things to life.

But, transparently, I often feel like I’m not capable or worthy or skilled enough to be at a table engaged with imaginative, productive people. My psychologist friends tell me I have a very common problem among creatives called “impostor syndrome.” This feeling of insecurity sabotages my ability to see a dream through to reality. This feeling overwhelms me most when I compare myself to other creatives and influencers. There is always someone more talented, more fashionable, more mature, or more widely known than me. And then I feel like trash.

Do you ever feel that way?

But…

…what if we were not trash? What if God not only enjoyed creating us but also delights in recreating us? As a great artist, what if God created mankind as his “self-portrait.” In his likeness, his image. What if we were endowed with his breath, his character, and his creative calling?

My hope for you as you read this book is that you will embrace your value and the value of what you have to give this world. I want you to discover the joy of journeying through the creative collaborative process. It’s a journey you were created to take. Designed to take. I can’t wait to hear the stories of all of you who join God’s invitation to collab with him as he brings back beauty and art to our fractured world.

imaginate

verb

/im`ag´i`nate/

To create imaginatively in collaboration

Chapter 1

“IT MUST HAVE BEEN FUN!”

I accumulate a ton of airline miles. My job, which primarily involves motivational speaking and doing magic shows,1 takes me all over this great world. In one stretch recently, I traveled first to Erie, Pennsylvania, then to St. Cloud, Minnesota, then to St. Croix, Wisconsin, then to Charlotte, North Carolina. I was home for ten days until I went back on the road to Fremont, Nebraska, then to Littleton, Colorado, then to Hilton Head, South Carolina, then to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. You get the idea.

When I first started traveling, one of my mentors told me, “John, the road is hard! Being away from your family is really hard. So you always have to find a way to make road life fun.” This has become my mantra on the road. Whether it’s trying a cool local restaurant or buying a nosebleed ticket to a ball game, I now always try to “make road life fun.” But one of the main ways I accomplish this is by saving up my airline miles so that I can go on fun adventures with my family.

One time, after I had accumulated over two hundred thousand miles,2 I told my wife she could pick anywhere in the world to travel to, and we’d go. She debated all the exotic places in the world, scoured all the Pinterest travel blogs, and finally landed on Rome. And what a wise decision that was! Look, if you have not been able to decide whether you should ever fly to Rome in your lifetime, let me help you—do it! Save, work the extra shifts, do what you need to do, and make the trip to Rome. You owe it to yourself, your eyeballs, your nostrils, and especially your tastebuds. Rome is one of the oldest cities in the world and is the perfect mix of the historic and the modern, creating one of the greatest cities that is always full of life. We ate all the pizza, pasta, and gelato we could and fit in as many historical sites until we were blissfully exhausted.

And while we were there, we made sure to visit one of the biggest tourist destinations on earth: the Sistine Chapel.

Honestly, my wife was more excited to visit it than I was. I know it’s the pope’s chapel. I know the legendary artist Michelangelo painted his masterpiece on the ceiling and altar. But let me shamefully admit my ignorance and vanity here. I have traveled a lot. I have seen many of the great wonders of the world, been to many of the great art museums of the world, and had the privilege to stand in front of and take in with my own eyes many famous works of art. From Leonardo’s Mona Lisa to Rembrandt’s Prodigal Son to the best velvet Elvis paintings in Mexico’s flea markets, I’ve seen tons of famous paintings and spent time in famous art museums all over the world. For instance, while living in Paris, France, I would frequently just hang out in the world’s largest art museum, the Louvre,3 go get a ham and cheese baguette sandwich, and pop over to the Notre Dame Cathedral to listen to a choir practice or just enjoy the peacefulness in one of the chapels.

Yes, I’ve been spoiled. Yes, you guessed it, I may have become a little bit jaded. Yes, I know the Sistine Chapel had a “master” painter paint on the ceiling. And yes, it has been featured in countless art books, on T-shirts, on keychains, and memes. I knew I should be excited about visiting this legendary site. But I was like: “Uh, really, another chapel? I mean I guess we are here, but then let’s see what else is cool to do around here. When in Rome, right?”

I was simply wrong.

Before we went to Rome, a good friend gave us the tip to get “early admission” to the chapel. It’s a little more money, and you have to wake up way too early (which is a real problem for two night owl creatives whose bedtime is normally between two and three in the morning. And did I mention we were jet lagged?). But we will be forever grateful for this advice.

We woke up at 4:45 a.m. to catch an Uber to the Vatican City. Standing out in the cold, we found our tour group and showed them our passes. With only about fifty other people (which is way different from the mobs of hundreds or thousands that you would normally be with), we were ushered through the halls leading up to the chapel. I’m not a mean guy. I like making friends. But I was tired, impatient, and wishing we could speed this process up. The cappuccinos and gelato cafes of Rome were beckoning me elsewhere.

Once inside, however, I knew I had been a fool. The halls leading up to the chapel surprised my apathetic thoughts. All of a sudden, my attitude had changed from “let’s-get-this-over-with” to “hold-on-this-is-amazing!” The ancient corridors, lined by huge intricate tapestries, were awe-inspiring. And we weren’t even to the chapel yet. Someday, I want to visit this incredible place again simply to slow down in the halls to be able to take in all the art. But our tour group had momentum moving us forward. We were on a mission—to see the great Sistine Chapel.

But even then, I wavered. Right before the chapel, there is a bit of an obstacle. As if to say to the sojourner, “Are you sure you’re ready for this?” A test of the will is issued. Just outside the chapel, there is a humble, narrow, circular staircase that challenges the determination of any cynical, spoiled pilgrim like me. In fact, the stairs reminded me of what I have affectionately called my “fat man squeeze” that I have experienced while exploring caves. I had to press on, down into the cavern of this massive, ancient building, bumping my shoulders against the walls, spiraling down the uneven stairs. With each descending step onto each stone stair, my expectation went down as well.

But then we stepped into the chapel.

It was as if someone hooked up a shop vacuum to each of my lungs and turned it on full blast. Every last bit of oxygen was sucked from my lungs. My breath was literally taken away.

I had seen many pictures of the different works of Michelangelo in books. But just like seeing a two-dimensional picture of a sunset versus experiencing it with your own eyes while sitting on Newport Beach with the waves of the Pacific Ocean lapping in front of you…I had no idea how incredible it could be.

Another valuable tip we received from our friend was to download the “Rick Steve’s Audio Guide to the Sistine Chapel.” (You could make an argument that Rick Steve is kind of like the Michelangelo of tour guides.) This audio guide explains to your ears the when, how, and why of every bit of art displayed before your eyes. It helps you unpack every detail of this incredible masterpiece through the lens of an expert. We sat and allowed the guide to explain to us the different parts of the massive art piece. I was astonished at the considerable amount of work put into the six days of the creation story from the book of Genesis that were depicted in the middle of the chapel ceiling.