THINK - Words Impact People

Photo via Your Amazing Places

Over the past two years, God laid the subject of 'words' on my heart and shed a tremendous amount of light in my life about how I was using them. I learned so much through spending time with Him and letting Him till the soil of my heart one row at a time.

Innovation: Genius vs. Providence

Innovation. Mirriam-Webster defines it as 'a new idea, device or method' and 'the act or process of introducing new ideas, devices or methods.'

To me, innovation = creativity with a purpose. 

For as long as I can remember, I've been drawn to ideas and items which have practical, everyday application. Looking at my office right now, I see books full of information about art and craft, gardening, even stories about people and places in talented authors' minds. I see light from my desk lamp, a beautiful antique sewing machine and Victorla meant to assist both work and play. Artwork on my walls includes a beautiful tree with Fraktur style creatures in its branches by an unknown artist and yet another tree filled with Charley Harper's distinctive geometric wildlife. Both of these pieces of art are drawn images of trees, yet innovative in their own right because they carry the each artists' interpretation and idea of what a tree should look like.

What are your ideas about innovation? I'd love to hear them!

Happy Innovating!
Chris

Chasing Rainbows in Winter

It's a dreary day in Lebanon, so here is a beautiful photograph to brighten up the day. I took this a few years ago at Franklin Conservatory in Columbus, OH. It is a Dale Chihuly glass installation serving as a roof for the 'cave' inside the Conservatory's tropical plant wing. Time for another quick road trip...

Treasure: My 2016 Word

Every year around Christmastime, I begin praying about a single word to focus on in the coming year and a Bible verse that really speaks to my heart. I started doing this in 2013 when I stumbled across myoneword.org and haven't looked back. Here are my words from the past few years: moxie (2013), grace (2014) and words (2015). By asking God to work the soil of my heart, I've grown strong in his Word, eternally grateful for the grace he has given through the death of Son and more graceful to others in the words I choose to share. I'm looking forward to uncovering buried treasure in God's Word this year and am excited about where God will take me this year. 

My Grandpa

Grandpa, Dad & Me at Coney Island, Cincinnati, OH

I recently stumbled across something I wrote (I can't believe it's been almost six years now) for my Grandpa Pfennig's funeral. I miss him so much, but am thankful he is now with my Grandma, dancing!