Recession & Creativity
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On February 4, 2009, American President Obama gave his State of the Nation address. He said, “History reminds us that, at every moment of economic upheaval and transformation, this nation has responded with bold action and big ideas. In the midst of civil war, we laid railroad tracks from one coast to another that spurred commerce and industry.From the turmoil of the Industrial Revolution came a system of public high schools that prepared our citizens for a new age. In the wake of war and depression, the GI Bill sent a generation to college and created the largest middle-class in history. And a twilight struggle for freedom led to a nation of highways, an American on the moon, and an explosion of technology that still shapes our world … We are a nation that has seen promise amid peril and claimed opportunity from ordeal. Now we must be that nation again.”
In other words, what makes a people great is their ability to creatively try out new ideas in the face of immense challenges and crises. Recently, my friend Aries Zulkarnain sent me an article of a list of innovative ideas that have emerged during times of economic duress. Some examples:
The Great Depression: 3M invented the Scotch tape (1930); Revlon launched long-lasting nail polish (1932); Campbell’s Cream of Mushroom and Chicken Noodle soup were introduced (1934); GE introduced the fluorescent light bulb (1938); Hewlett-Packard was established (1939).
Eisenhower Recessions: Texas Instruments introduced the transistor radio (1954); McDonald’s opened its first restaurant (1955); Proctor & Gamble tested Pampers disposable diapers (1960).
1973 Oil Crisis: Arthur Fry and Spenser Silver invented Post-it Notes (1974); Bill Gates and Paul Allen formed Microsoft (1975).
Early 1980s Recession: MTV hit the airwaves (1981); Diet Coke made debut (1982); Microsoft introduced Word for MS-DOS 1.00 (1983).
Black Monday: Prozac was approved as an antidepressant (1987).
Gulf War: The World Wide Web and Apple Powerbook debuted (1991).
Dot-com Bust: iPod was unveiled (2001); RIM introduced Blackberry 5810 (2002).
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Today, we are in a recession that many have claimed the worst since WWII. It was started by the collapse of the housing market. Then, the collapse of major banks caused public panic. The amount of available credit spiraled downward, making it almost impossible for anybody to get a loan. This recession was especially hard on car makers. As consumer confidence continues to plunge, things continue to get worse.
But hardships and difficulties are the necessary backdrops for greatness. When it seems like we are hard-pressed on every side, we must courageously tap into our oft-hidden God-given talents and gifts, unleashing the potential of those underused abilities to their fullest. Our moment of crisis is also our moment of creativity. This recession could well be our greatest hour yet. “Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward” (Heb. 10:35).
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Thanks for sharing and encouraging us in the midst of this crisis. This message of “Recession and Creativity” reminded me that God has placed in each of us the potential to re-create and re-invent, releasing solutions and possibilities in the midst of uncertainties. Very often we tend to look down at what’s happening around us. It’s time that we look up to Him, our Source and our Strength, to find back our hope and confidence in Jesus.
Pastor Kong Hee, thanks for this sharing and am sure this can help a lot of people especially those who are worrying about the current economic situation…
Pastor, I agree with you. Creativity needs to be released more than never before in such a time like this!
The best have yet to come. Greater works will we do. :D
Wow.. nice blog. I just stumbled on to your site through your facebook. Absolutely, this time and hour, it’s our opportunity to use what God has given us (creativity as you said). Greater the challenge, Greater of God’s glory. Thanks so much for this blog. Very motivating! =)
Very true indeed =)
It’s a time to tap into our creative side and seek wisdom from the most High, for there’s always an abundance of wealth there’s yet to be harnessed.
Thanks pastor for this article. I’m encouraged by it because i was just telling my husband about being creative. We deal with gemstones and the market for gemstones is as crazy as the stock market.
So i believe that in times like this, there’ll be a surge of creativity as we tap more deeply into God. There must be a way we can overcome this season.
Thanks for sharing again!
Dear Pastor,
It is indeed so true that in the midst of recession, there are still opportunities abounding if one were to tap into creativity.
Interestingly this is also the sentiments of some companies globally. A survey done by McKinsey & Company, a well-known global management consulting firm that focuses on solving issues of concern to senior management highlighted in its Dec 08 article that ‘Some executives continue to see opportunity in turmoil. For example, 27 percent say their companies are considering developing new products or services to meet new customer needs, and 20 percent are considering entering new markets.’
In every challenge lies the opportunity to breakthrough. Those who know their God will be strong and do mighty exploits. It’s an opportunity in a gloomy time now where Christians can shine like a beam of light using their creativity.
It is situation that drives certain people to turn into an alternative and do the new things.
Or
It is situation that drives people to go beyond the limits of their usual intelligent?
so true!this is amazing..indeed it is only in darkness that light becomes obvious:)
Dear Pastor,
Thanks for sharing this… times of depression and crisis produced great ideas that resulted not only in great products but also processes.
Hope this little nugget is useful: the Toyota company adopted the processes that was eventually known as the Toyota Way way back in the financial crisis of 1950 in Japan.
In John 14: 1, “Let not your heart be troubled,” is timely and wise in today’s unfortunate situation. This verse bids us pluck up heart and be of good courage in the worst possible conditions. In tandem with the ‘Recession & Creativity’ blog article, it’s a positive conclusion that we must dare to think and act differently in God’s
strength and wisdom.
Yes, we must RISE up from the RECESSION and become
RADICAL to battle against all adversities and REVOLUTIONIZE
our thoughts in line with the word of God.
Let’s live for our Lord Jesus and shine gloriously by unleashing our God-given potentials (outlined in the article) in the season of Darkness-the economy downturn.
Besides, I would like to encourage the readers especially those in the business field with a powerful testimony of my dearest friend, evangelist Judson Abraham from India(I have invited him to our Asia conference ‘08). He experienced severe loss in his business incurring insurmountable debts. He fled away from the debtors. Jesus personally manifested to him when he was crying for God’s help in the wilderness. The Lord himself bestowed upon him with His power of creativity of starting a cake business to pay off his debts. Jesus even instructed Judson with minute profound details on how to build a machine to bake cakes innovatively resulting in a mega-sized factory. Now, Judson Abraham is a very properous businessman and a mighty healing evangelist serving the marketplace. Friends, God can infuse His power of creativity in you too.
Kindly, visit his testimony at http://giftofjesus.tv/md/index.html
and please view the documentary video in English.
May God bless His servant Pst. Kong richly for providing a meaningful insight into our global economy crisis, to be a beacon of hope and strength to the heart-broken. Amen!
P.S: On behalf of His people desperately looking for sound counsel in these days of economy gloom, I sincerely request to have you to preach such an inspiring (as above) message on the pulpit. Thanks alot!
Yes totally agree with you Pastor Kong! Sometimes in the midst of valleys, it is when you see the wonders of God!
As the saying goes, “when the going gets tough, the tough gets going! ” Now is the time to put our best foot forward and be noticed for “your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1Thess1:3).
Pastor,
Thanks for the posting. I am very inspired.
Now thinking about what can i do during this moment of economic crisis…
I believe that with God and the creativity that He has placed in us, we will shine in the midst of darkness!
Thanks Pastor :)
Dear Pastor,
thank you for your encouragement. Your message on creativity many years ago has helped me and my company alot.
This recession has enabled smaller companies to do business better than bigger giants. We are more flexible with our price, time and quality of goods.
People are more open to creative ideas to get more value..
Pastor, thanks for this message. Whilst doing one extremely challenging project 2 years ago, I asked the Holy Spirit to be my Creative Director in every step of the way and He did just that. That experience refreshed and revitalised me spiritually. I learnt that at the most challenging times, it is NOT the time to give up BUT the time to seek God earnestly. I sought Him and He found me. He turned my “red sea” into “dry land”. It was an amazing valley to mountain top experience then and I can only encourage those who are going through challenging times right now to press on fervently in prayer. Soon, you will be soaring on the wings of eagles too… Press on…!
Great Word pastor.
I really believe this recession is a great time for creative problem solvers to rise up.
I read about this the other day and each time i read it again its still very inspiring.
“Though we are living through difficult and uncertain times, tonight I want every American to know this: We will rebuild, we will recover and the United States of America will emerge stronger than before,” Obama declared to a thunderous round of applause from a packed House
Thanks Pastor!
Indeed it is a time for us to increase our strength and decrease our weakness.
Really inspired! =)
Hi Pastor Kong,
This is indeed encouraging. My friend once encouraged me that sometimes our problems may seem so big that it actually clouds our view of the reality of God’s working.
Thanks for sharing your podcast on “Creativity, Shortages & Scarcity”, indeed with our God, scarcity only exists between our ears … if we allow it to : )
Perhaps in this economic recession we will see a broad stroke of innovation in the realm of economics and green technology.
What innovations do I hope to see out of this recession?
1) A more responsible financial system, with checks from independent institutions and the govt to ensure that capitalism is not given too free a rein.
2) The acceleration of advanced green technology. I’m impressed that Obama has chosen to push ahead with his plan to implement a greener economy despite the recession. Let’s hope that green technology will lead not just to a cleaner earth, but a more prosperous economy.
thank you pastor for the insights. Indeed the Lord left the bible for us as reference as well because you will find that it was in famines, troubled times that great men and women of God came alive. Examples include Naomi ( who despite losing husband n 2 sons) perserved and encouraged Ruth to continue to glean. Then there is Joseph who through famine found love and forgiveness with his brothers and father.
yes…we hold to only one thing in our lives. God tells us simple in 2 words…TRUST HIM. and BELIEVE too.
Amen.
and may the Lord continue to shower you with His grace and abundant blessing as you and your wife and son become shinning light for JESUS !
I agree Pst.
This is indeed a time to be creative and productive for our society.
Thank you for the encouraging words,pst.
Dear Pastor,
I read an article on Mckinseyquarterly.com which was quite similar to yours talking about recession and innovation in the 1930’s. But yours was much better!!! Not just informative but supportive as well. Perhaps submitting your writings to one of these news companies could be another interesting way to increase readership. Do hope that you will have even more creative and innovative ideas in the future.
God bless
Daryl
Your words of faith is what I feel in my spirit. I am stepping into something groundbreaking for the kingdom – in the time of economy that says it will not succeed. But with God’s favour, stepping out is the very thing that the lost requires. Thank you for your impact on this generation.
I think this is awesome.. Truly, this is the time and the season for the church to rise up to it’s occasion and show to the the world that the God that we serve is indeed Greater than ALL in the world.. Thanks Pastor, it was a real encouragement and a confirmation for something I was thinking of doin.. Have a great day… God bless.
hey pastor, if you dont mind, im going to say a very random thing here. my friend doesnt believe that you will have the time to read all these comments because you are so busy! haha~ but i believe that you do read!!! anyway, just want to say: im so proud to be under such an awesome pastor like you! Will be praying for you! God Bless!
Crisis is an opportunity to show character. I do believe, crisis is an opportunity, because the normal/traditional rule of play is not valid anymore, it is where the ground of playing is leveled.
So like what pastor said, let not cast away our confidence in what we see and what we hear around, just trust God’s promises, He will see you through. Halleluyah.
“For this reason I say to you, do not be anxious for your life, as to what you should eat, or what you shall drink; nor for your body, as to what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body than clothing? “Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? “And which of you by being anxious can add a single cubit to his life’s span?” (Matthew 6:25-27)