Posts with the category “improv-comedy”

"Creativity is just connecting things.When you ask creative people how they did something, they feel a little guilty because they didn’t really do it, they just saw something. It seemed obvious to them after a while. That’s because they were able to connect experiences they’ve had and synthesize new things.And the reason they were able to do that was that they’ve had more experiences or they have ...  Read More

"You know what intimacy is? It's into-me-you-see.” - Martin de Maat The original pioneers of improv-comedy in the 1950s included now-famous names like Alan Arkin, Mike Nichols, and a very young Joan Rivers. A famous story from the annals of Second City recounts how Rivers was once on stage and asked for an audience suggestion for a scene. When "marriage" was shouted back, Joan initiated the scene ...  Read More

I’m not concerned about being criticized for taking risks to reach people far from God.  I’m concerned about not being criticized. Recently I was invited to teach a breakout session at a conference in Chicago based on my book, Holy Shift.  The topic was so popular among church leaders that we ran out of seats!I had fun sharing my journey in comedy and ministry, the unique story God is writing at L...  Read More

Marines get stuff done.They face impossible missions yet always prevail. 2 Timothy 2:1-6 tells leaders to think like a Marine. During a recent Leadership Coaching Session, I shared 8 Leadership Lessons from the Marine Corp: Common Sense Principles for Success.I hope these 8 Leadership Lessons encourage you and your team to fearlessly lead your church to grow!...  Read More

Leaders and comedians share the same struggle: Creativity Constipation.You know that great idea is in your noggin' somewhere, but it just isn't coming out.Dry seasons happen; the inspiration is quenched and decisions become tougher to make.I remember talking with my improv teacher Mick Napier (pictured above) back in my Chicago comedy days about what to do when you don't know what to do.  Mick gav...  Read More

The late Dr. Martin de Maat had a profound impact on my life (I wrote about that here). He was not only my professor and mentor, he was a close friend (Martin was even one of my wedding groomsmen!). Dr. de Maat taught me so much not only about improvisational-comedy, but more importantly about the joy of doing life together:"What happens... in being with each other in acceptance and Yes And-ing ea...  Read More

I had a BLAST sharing about what God is doing at the church I love, partying with Chris Farley, PLUS how EXCITED I was to open for LEE STROBEL at the Outreach Summit! Jonathan Herron is the Founding and Teaching Pastor of Life Church Michigan, the 11th Fastest Growing Church in America (Outreach Magazine, 2019). Jonathan says the two main ingredients to church leadership in the 21st century are la...  Read More