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The third of my top talent sounds a bit more like what you'd expect in a list of talents ... I'm strategic. The basic gist of this is that, where other see complexity, I can see patterns. As a result, I'm able to play out a variety possible scenarios and determine what route is best for a group to take. Similarly, I'm able to look ahead, see potential obstacles, and avert them.

However, while the idea of strategic sounds more like what you'd expect on a talent list, I can't help but see it in light of the first two, connectedness and ideation. After all, connectedness means I see the big picture, ideation helps me understand how the elements of the picture connect, and strategic helps me figure out where to go next.

The other thing that strikes me is that all of these talents (and the two I've yet to explore) are all very cerebral and abstract, which explains why, with the exception of the elemental life and other projects that require a study, think, tell approach, if left to my own devices, I rarely get anything done. On the positive side, this is good for ministry when it comes to preaching and teaching, as well as things like writing.

In addition, I could excel in a setting where I cast vision, assuming I have a team of people behind me who are gifted in ways that they can take my abstract thoughts and make them reality. Feeding from this, how do you see your talents working in concert with others?

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I've come to the conclusion that self-promotion sucks.

For a month now, I've had the opportunity to sell copies of the elemental life at Christ Lutheran in Denver, and I haven't brought it up, even after I had 300 copies of the book sitting in my living room.

But that's not the only example. I set up this author page on Facebook, and haven't invited anyone except Anita and a friend who asked to join it. Then you have upcoming book signings both at Vineyard of Faith and Peace with Christ. I'm dreading the whole deal, and this is selling books to people who love me and want to support me, and I do it knowing that, until I sell those 300 books and then some, I'm not making anything off of this deal. There's also the mass e-mail updates which, when I look back on them, always sound like I think I'm the greatest thing since sliced bread. I hate this crap.

Why? Because I hate self-promotion, I'm just completely uncomfortable with the whole thing. Let's talk about ministry, let's talk about my family, let's talk about co-workers, or best yet, let's talk about Jesus, but whatever we do, let's not talk about me. I'm okay with the spotlight, it's just when I feel like I'm diving into it or putting it on myself that it sucks.

I love being a pastor. I love writing. I love the stuff I'm doing. But seriously, there are moments I just want to be a bartender in some dingy, rarely visited, back alley bar. Of course, what's worst, all of this loathing about self-promotion, is in fact, self-promotion. Grrr.