Creativity and Risktaking

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By Joel PelsueAugust 24, 202210 commentsBlog

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Creativity and Risktaking

From the time we are children we are wildly creative.
How do we recover that child-like freedom to take risks and be boldly creative?
How do we overcome the shame, or fear that is holding us back?
Join me and learn how God invites you to overcome your fears, and begin taking risks again, both in your life and your creative endeavors.

Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

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10 comments on “Creativity and Risktaking”

Alan Hueth August 24, 2022 Reply

Joel, a very interesting speech. I understand the basic points, but I’d love to see what it “looks like.” Do you have a Christian friend-artist(s) that reveal your points and this process. That would be very helpful to understand the process and “boundaries” that are relevant to this approach. Let me know.

Thanks and blessings,
Alan
- Joel Pelsue August 24, 2022 Reply
  
  Alan,
  
  Great Idea. That would be a great inspirational book on its own… or a series of video interviews?
  We have mentored people who struggled with perfectionism, and fear related to these concerns.
  So much baggage can creep into our faith, that is not actually Biblical, as you know!
  Spiritual freedom in Christ has liberated so many creatives.
  I haven’t asked permission to share some of the stories…but I’ll think about this.
Leonardo Ramirez August 24, 2022 Reply

The biggest risk that I took in the last book I wrote (and the one I’m working on now) was to incorporate aspects of spiritual warfare into a fictional, secular setting (i.e. girl fights the nine circles of hell). When you read the reviews, you can tell who caught on and who didn’t. It’s subtle and not overt. I’m not a believer in being explicit. I prefer to “show and not tell”.

The fear that I struggle with is having to explain this to others. A wall goes up within me. I’ll give you the shirt off my back so long as I don’t have to explain myself. I just don’t feel called to. I’d love for the stories themselves to speak for me and move on to the next one. Yet, there’s still a tinge of sadness when someone doesn’t understand that what I’m really trying to do is impart hope. We have to trust God with the audience and surrender them to God. Then we have to rest in our identity in Him. Therein lies the journey.
- Joel Pelsue August 24, 2022 Reply
  
  Leonardo,
  
  You are in great company. Jesus spoke in parables, and he was completely fine with the Pharisees and others not understanding what He was truly saying. It is perfectly fine to just tell people, “I write novels, not non-fiction. I’m more interested in inspiring than spelling everything out. It isn’t meant to be explanatory, or to be precise and exhaustive like a theological or philosophical textbook.”
  
  Be bold in your creative voice, and realize the problem (as with Jesus’ audience) is often in the heart and mind of the audience, not in the authorial intent or content.
  - Leonardo Ramirez August 24, 2022 Reply
    
    Great encouragement!! Thank you!!!
    - Joel Pelsue August 28, 2022 Reply
      
      My pleasure.
Carrington Kingsley August 27, 2022 Reply

Thank you, Pastor Joel. As in all your presentations, this one was awesome.

Make a joyful noise,
Carrington Kingsley
Rancho Santa Fe, CA
- Joel Pelsue August 28, 2022 Reply
  
  My Pleasure Carrington.
  
  I’ll be back in Carlsbad in a few months.
  Have a great Sabbath.
Kent Dickerson August 28, 2022 Reply

I’ve taken some risk in my art in occasionally creating something pretty new but this was nothing like the risk I took in writing my book, Remade, a preacher finds victory over porn and complaint. The risk seemed pretty extreme choosing this title and laying out my story in greater detail than I’d ever shared before. Yet I felt compelled to go this far in giving my brothers (and sisters) hope. And the response has far and away been positive.
- Joel Pelsue August 28, 2022 Reply
  
  Wow and Congratulations!
  
  That is definitely stepping out there in faith. I’m not surprised the response has been good. So many are waiting for someone else to break the silence, and begin to paint a picture of hope that transcends the shame and guilt. God Bless you and give you favor as you humbly lead.