I'm Ready For RECREATE

I can hardly contain my excitement as I anticipate attending recreate conference again this year in Franklin. This will be my 4th year to attend and each year I come away with a deeper love and connection for this creative community that has formed around Randy Elrod and the Franklin, Tennessee community.

Recreate has for it's aim these three things:

re:create has three goals:

1) refreshment

2) encouragement

3) diffusion of ideas

They succeed on all levels in these areas but I'd like to add my observation of this gathering and why it's so important to me.

CREATIVE--this conference never ceases to amaze me in the level of creativity that they bring.  From speakers to singers to surprises you walk in each day not knowing what will happen.  The setting is intimate so the impact of the creativity is enormous.  You just never know what's going to happen (who's going to appear or what's going to be given to you)

COMMUNITY--there is a sense among those who attend that this gathering of creatives must be what it was like in the Renaissance period when the exchange of ideas between artists, builders, architects, academics and the like exchanged ideas and life in one area.  Believe me when I say that there is talk among the attendees that this community should exist more than just one week a year and in some respects Franklin is becoming that community because of this conference.   I have been impacted by the interaction with people from all over the world (Canada, Egypt, Peru) and this year I can't wait to add to that list from the people who are new and coming to the conference for the first time.  The great thing is that this community continues the conversation beyond the week through conversations on blogs, twitters, facebook and more.

CONVERSATION--this conference is intentionally small so that conversations can take place at anytime and at any level.  There are people from all walks of life and industry at this conference (not all church people but almost all are involved in Kingdom work).  You will find yourself at a table with Executives, writers, musicians, artists and more.  Then at break or dinner there is a mash up and you find yourself talking to a whole new set of folks. It's this constant flow of ideas and conversations that keeps the dialogue going and exciting.  It's a level playing field at the conference where you share and hear ideas from hearts and minds--not from positions of power.

COMMUNION--finally this is a conference that has a spiritual impact. Each year we have taken communion together as a group of artists, musicians and people who hunger to know the real creative.  These have been some of the most powerful times in my life and I look forward to it each year.

There are only a few spots left at this year's conference.  If you haven't already committed to a time of refreshment, I would highly recommend this one.  You won't regret it.