If you’re creative, there’s a tension you walk every day.
“How am I supposed to get all my ideas…done?” It’s challenging to balance a busy life with big dreams.
That’s why I wanted to chat with Michael Neale. Michael is a worship leader, bestselling author, award winning songwriter, speaker, and entrepreneur.
In this interview we cover a lot of ground – from being a creative in the local church to songwriting to worship leading to making your entrepreneurial vision happen. Guys, this is really valuable content.
Click to Listen
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
Scripture of the Week
Psalm 54:6-7
“With a freewill offering I will sacrifice to you;
I will give thanks to your name, O Lord, for it is good.
For he has delivered me from every trouble,
and my eye has looked in triumph on my enemies.”
What You’ll Learn in this Episode
- How to steward many creative pursuits and dreams
- Why the church isn’t meant to house all of your creative pursuits
- How to know when it’s time for a new season/transition
- How Michael structures his week to get stuff done
- What you need to do before you launch into a new entrepreneurial vision
- Your main goal as a local church worship pastor
- The process of discovering and figuring out your “calling”
- How to finish songs and make them better not just different
- What it means to be a “good” worship leader
- The Worship Leader as “Gospel Pointer”
Resources Mentioned in this Episode
- Website: Michael Neale
- Book: The River by Michael Neale
- Book: Into the Canyon by Michael Neale
- Book: Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott
- Book: On Writing by Stephen King
- Book: Story by Robert McKee
- Book: Save the Cat by Blake Snyder
Subscription Links
Your Feedback
If you have an idea for a podcast you would like to see, a special guest you’d like to hear from, or a question for an upcoming episode, please email me. If you enjoyed the show, I would be so appreciative if you would rate it on iTunes and write a brief review. That helps me so much! Thanks.
Question: What was your biggest takeaway from this interview with Michael? You can leave a comment by clicking here.
[ois skin=”Beyond Sunday 2″]
Interesting interview … what sorts of creative pursuits is the church not meant to house?
Let’s call the church what it really is. It’s not a building.
We are a people called to be set apart from the world. Shouldn’t all we do center around that? If we – the church – are preparing ourselves for Christ’s return for a pure and spotless bride, then what pursuits are worthy of taking outside? Shouldn’t all of our pursuits involve the church? Shouldn’t our job, our family, our worship, our creativity, and our interests involve the church? Not the building or denomination or any nonsense like that. I’m talking about the church – the people and our mission.
Joe – bringing the heat! 🙂 I think what Michael was referring to was the fact that the local church isn’t the place to serve an individuals vision but God’s vision and the vision of the lead pastor. I believe every artist absolutely should have the backing and blessing of a local community but that doesn’t always mean the church should invest their finances, time, personnel, and resources towards making it happen. Churches need to have laser focus on what it’s called to do but can still bless what artists in their midst want to do for the kingdom. Sometimes, that may involve the church’s financial investment and resources. Other times, the church can bless an individual who needs to step out to go and make art. Make sense?
That makes better sense. The local church can pray about and choose what pursuits they are interested in supporting and the artist can either squash the other ones or choose to take whatever those other ones are down a different avenue.