In this stunning, and possibly ground-breaking, book by Jordan Raynor, we find that there is such a thing as being "Called to Create".
I've been a creative person from the start. Growing up in a home where my father is an artists and musician and my mother is a quilter and a musician, I was never far from art supplies, music, a camera (disposable or otherwise), and the encouragement to create. My family nurtured my creativity. That is not always the case with some.
As we face in the "real world", the stress of choosing a career based on what you can be paid and what jobs are available is a big deterrent to creativity. It can be hard to say we want to "follow our creative dreams" when becoming a doctor seems so much more helpful. Or perhaps its the thought that starting up an Etsy shop doesn't seem as "holy" as becoming a missionary. For those of us who do break the mold and become entrepreneurs, we may find ourselves wondering if we can possibly serve God and our creative passions at the same time.
These things, and more, are all addressed in Jordan's fantastic book Called to Create. As a creative, I felt welcomed into this book from the very beginning. I thought - he's talking to me! - when he mentioned Etsy shop owners, writers, and photographers, but he uses such a wide variety of stories from all walks of life and different areas of creativity that any creative will feel at home among these pages.
I could go on and on about the things I liked in this book, but I'll leave it at saying that, if you are entrepreneurial and creative, you need to read this book. You need to be reminded that your talents are God-given and that He can do amazing and complex things with them. That you don't have to be a pastor or a missionary to serve Him fully. You also need to be reminded that everything we have is just that--a gift bestowed for use on a grand scale.
I highly recommend this to all creatives (writers, photographers, shop owners, calligraphers, business creatives, bakers, designers, stay-at-home moms who want to use their creative talents, and so many others!). You'll be refreshed, energized, encouraged and, if you're like me, ready to take on the next big project one creative effort at a time.
My Rating: 5*
Purchase: Called to Create
Book Description
(from Amazon)
We were created by an infinitely creative God to reflect his love and character to the world. One way we do that is by continuing his creative work. In this energizing book, serial entrepreneur and bestselling author Jordan Raynor helps artists, entrepreneurs, writers, and other creatives reimagine our work as service to God and others, addressing such penetrating questions as
- Is my work as a creative really as God-honoring as that of a pastor or missionary?
- What does it look like to create not to make a name for myself but to glorify God and serve others?
- How can I use my work to fulfill Jesus's command to create disciples?
- Will what I make today matter in eternity?
To answer these questions, Raynor shares compelling stories from an eclectic group of 40+ Christian entrepreneurs, including the founders of TOMS Shoes, Charity: Water, Chick-fil-A, In-N-Out Burger, Guinness, HTC, and Sevenly, as well as nontraditional entrepreneurs such as C. S. Lewis, Johann Sebastian Bach, and J. R. R. Tolkien. Raynor's "show" rather than "tell," story-driven style makes you feel as if you are sitting at the feet of some of the godliest and most successful entrepreneurs of all time.
Perfectly poised to reach today's growing creative class, this unique work restores God's position as the first entrepreneur, helping readers see the eternal value in the work they do today.
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I received this book for free but was under no obligation to post a review. I do so under my own motivation and the opinions I have expressed in this review are honest and entirely my own.
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