(via 37signals.com)

Fascinating talk from the legendary John Cleese. One point that hit home with me was that ideas and creativity do not come from a laptop. Admittedly I’ve sat with the laptop waiting and hoping for some great idea to be born. As Cleese pointed out, most good ideas are born away from the laptop. Stimulating conversation or, as Cleese says, sleeping on it or meditating, are much better ways to create and solve issues.

Momentum is another factor that Cleese didn’t mention. When you’re away from creating for a time it’s challenging to just start generating ideas. However, once you do start again it’s much like riding a bike. Another sub-text in Cleese’s speech is that of discipline, which also interfaces with momentum. He talks about working through the obstacles he faced in creativity. That requires discipline.

Check out the speech. What do you think?

Why isn’t this common sense? Whatever posted on Twitter, Facebook or any other blog is public. Even a deleted post can come back to haunt you if someone got a screenshot. With maximum security on Facebook or Twitter a malevolent person can get a screenshot and send it anywhere. Always keep your “Twitter editor” on. 140 characters sent out of anger or passion could get you fired, ruin a relationship or best case scenario, simply make you look foolish.

Honestly, at some point we’ve all posted something online that wasn’t our best. Always think about the future. A future job, relationship or business deal may suffer because of a tweet. Judgements may be incorrectly formed about who you truly are.

Emoticons?! I’ve never liked them and glad to see that I’m not the only one.

Laws won’t help on this. Be your own editor. Think before tweeting or leaving that comment.

This morning I shared what I thought was my favorite Internet video. Then on Digg I see this today. It’s so funny. It’s a little close to home too because our family had an English bulldog who looked a lot like this dog.

This video is my all-time favorite. 21 million views on YouTube. It’s so random and so funny.

I wanted to share a little about the experience I’ve had with the Insanity Workout. I’m about to wrap the 60 day program. Like Shaun T says in the video, the Insanity Workout is not for everyone. I can say with absolute certainty, it’s the hardest workout I’ve ever done. Insanity focuses more on cardio and endurance training. There is some resistance training using your own body weight but not much at all.

I think P90X is a better and more well-rounded workout. I actually saw better results with P90X because of all the weight training.

Insanity is harder mentally and physically. As Shaun T says repeatedly in the workouts, “Dig deeper!” You truly have to find that place where you can play through the pain. You have to turn off the pain in your mind and keep going. That is where you get the results.

As far as trainers go, I think Tony Horton from P90X is a better motivator. Shaun T is great but Horton has a way of helping me get that last impossible rep.

I have 3 more workouts to go and then I’m done with Insanity. Now after 5 months off from the gym, I’m going back. I’m looking forward to getting back with a new intensity. I’m going to incorporate bits from both P90X and Insanity into a new “JamSmooth” routine. Then I think I’m going to see some seriously great results. I’ll keep you posted.

2010 has been a good year, especially for those of us who enjoy a good laugh via the Internet. Here are my favorite videos from 2010 so far.

Merton the Chatroulette piano improv guy. I watched this video countless times when I first saw it. This guy is genius. Wonder whatever happened to him?

Double Rainbow. How can you not love this guy?

Can’t embed this one but click on the link to view: http://www.youtube.com/user/OldSpice#p/c/62A5785CD0D6474C. This Old Spice campaign is pure brilliance. No I’m not going to buy Old Spice but I do give them credit for a hilarious and original campaign. “Swan dive into the best night of your life.” Amen.

L’amour de Dieu est folie, is French for, the love is God is folly, foolishness.

Read Ephesians 1:4, “For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight.” Wait, what? He chose us?! You’re telling me that God chose us! Despite all of our wretched, horrible, bitter, selfish, evil and corrupt ways Father loves us, He died for us and He chose us to be with Him.

Do you have an enemy? Most of us don’t. Think about the person who in your life who caused you the most pain. Do you love them? Would you give up your life for them?

In human terms it doesn’t make sense. How could He love us when we curse Him, we sin, we murder, we fornicate and worship idols like money, sex and work? Yet He does! Like the song above says, “If grace is an ocean we are all sinking.”

I am humbled by the love of God. It’s foolish. It’s crazy and illogical. Yet it’s real and powerful. The even greater news is that you can know it too. It’s free for everyone! Later in Ephesians 2:8 Paul writes a famous verse, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.” Do you see that? Just have faith in God, receive His gift. There is nothing we can ever do to redeem the despicable acts we’ve done. Yet through His grace we can be saved. Like Kim says is the song, we can be changed!

Attempting to understand all this is like an ant attempting to understand a human. It will never happen. What can happen is that if you unlearn everything you’ve learned, you can know and experience a love that transcends. What do you have to lose?

5 guidelines from 3 verses.

1. Do not lose heart
2. These are light and momentary troubles
3. We live in a temporary world
4. Focus on what is unseen
5. If you live for something greater than yourself the temporal fades away

You can find these guidelines, written by Paul, in 2 Corinthians 4:16-18. I know, easier said than done. Let’s do our best.

1. Be on guard
2. Stand firm in the faith
3. Be courageous
4. Be strong
5. Do everything in love

You can find these 5 guidelines in 1 Corinthians 16:13-14.

As many of you know, I’ve been in Cambodia since the end of April. We’re on the way back right now. I’m in South Korea at Incheon airport awaiting our flight to Atlanta.

This trip has been nothing short of extraordinary. Go to our team blog at phnompenhin2010.com to read about our trip and see some photos.

Once I get back I will upload the photos and begin working on a short film.

Thanks to all of you who prayed or partnered with us to make this such a successful trip.