I am trying to decide what is a rail (good image) and what is a p
Friday, October 26, 2007
On a lighter note . . .Comic Strip????
I've been thinking about starting a comic strip . . .
Something about life and growing up. Here's an image of a possible character.
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Peace and Purpose
Peace and purpose are found in the will of God.
I have been thinking about my place in the world.
I guess that happens when you hit the Big 4-0.
It seems that just working and doing the day to day affairs of life is never enough.
It would be nice to rest peacefully in the purposes of God.
The writer of Hebrews talks about a place of rest.
Heb. 4:9 "So there is a special rest still waiting for the people of God . . ." (NLT)
How many people ever reach such a place.
It seems that most of us wander aimlessly in the Wilderness of "Things of this World entering in" falling to the wayside of life like salt that has lost its saltiness.
Are we Moses or the Israelites?
Will we enter in or die in the wilderness never really finding our true purpose and the joy that comes from resting in God.
It's something to think about.
I have been thinking about my place in the world.
I guess that happens when you hit the Big 4-0.
It seems that just working and doing the day to day affairs of life is never enough.
It would be nice to rest peacefully in the purposes of God.
The writer of Hebrews talks about a place of rest.
Heb. 4:9 "So there is a special rest still waiting for the people of God . . ." (NLT)
How many people ever reach such a place.
It seems that most of us wander aimlessly in the Wilderness of "Things of this World entering in" falling to the wayside of life like salt that has lost its saltiness.
Are we Moses or the Israelites?
Will we enter in or die in the wilderness never really finding our true purpose and the joy that comes from resting in God.
It's something to think about.
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Joy
As you know I've been struggling with drawing and creating artifacts even while in the midst of a site relaunch of http://www.efinearts.net/. Well the other night my five year-old Jackie asked me to color with her.
At first, I thought "Color?; I'm a degreed artist!!". then I thought about my e-bud Tim drawing and coloring with his daughter and I thought why not!
You now what? I really enjoyed it. That's when it dawned on me the problem that I've been having is I had lost my joy. When I was a child I drew, colored, cut out and pasted a world of creative projects and whimsically silly ideas.
I didn't get paid for it. I did it because it brought me joy. Joy, the often illusive abstract that most modernists are secretly searching. Joy the spiritual satisfaction that comes from purpose and not profession. I have lost sight of that.
When God created the known universe He looked out across His handy work and behold it was "Very Good" What is that statement but a divine expression of joy.
Return to joy and you will return to the satisfaction that comes from purpose.
Chris
At first, I thought "Color?; I'm a degreed artist!!". then I thought about my e-bud Tim drawing and coloring with his daughter and I thought why not!
You now what? I really enjoyed it. That's when it dawned on me the problem that I've been having is I had lost my joy. When I was a child I drew, colored, cut out and pasted a world of creative projects and whimsically silly ideas.
I didn't get paid for it. I did it because it brought me joy. Joy, the often illusive abstract that most modernists are secretly searching. Joy the spiritual satisfaction that comes from purpose and not profession. I have lost sight of that.
When God created the known universe He looked out across His handy work and behold it was "Very Good" What is that statement but a divine expression of joy.
Return to joy and you will return to the satisfaction that comes from purpose.
Chris
Sunday, May 20, 2007
The Sublime
Well I finally did it. I began to draw again. The experience of drawing after so much time away is both refreshing and trying. I never thought that something that used to come so naturally would seem so difficult to do.
The creative mindset is a different mindset and I believe that's were most of the struggle comes from.
We spend so much time doing left brain tasks: writing, reading traffic signals, working out family budgets that the right brain creative tasks seem other worldly.
It the great balancing act. Living out in a practical way the abstract. It's similar to the walk of faith that followers of Christ struggle with daily. In art you deal with the abstractions of beauty and design while you struggle with the practical side of good craftsmanship. Let's face it if the craftsmanship is sub par the message is lost in the mess.
In the same way if we fail to live out the practical aspects of sanctification and christian character the holy message of redemption that we carry can get lost in our mess.
Thank God for His mercy. His grace comes in contact with our efforts, how ever feeble, and we find the strength and resources to meet the task at hand.
I Cor. 1:30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God--and righteousness and sanctification and redemption-- 31 that, as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the Lord."
So let us continue to glory in God alone. So weather in life or the study of the arts we can reach the level of excellence we are called to with the ability that the Spirit gives.
Eph.2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Chris
The creative mindset is a different mindset and I believe that's were most of the struggle comes from.
We spend so much time doing left brain tasks: writing, reading traffic signals, working out family budgets that the right brain creative tasks seem other worldly.
It the great balancing act. Living out in a practical way the abstract. It's similar to the walk of faith that followers of Christ struggle with daily. In art you deal with the abstractions of beauty and design while you struggle with the practical side of good craftsmanship. Let's face it if the craftsmanship is sub par the message is lost in the mess.
In the same way if we fail to live out the practical aspects of sanctification and christian character the holy message of redemption that we carry can get lost in our mess.
Thank God for His mercy. His grace comes in contact with our efforts, how ever feeble, and we find the strength and resources to meet the task at hand.
I Cor. 1:30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God--and righteousness and sanctification and redemption-- 31 that, as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the Lord."
So let us continue to glory in God alone. So weather in life or the study of the arts we can reach the level of excellence we are called to with the ability that the Spirit gives.
Eph.2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Chris
Sunday, May 6, 2007
Rebirth redux
OK I haven't actually started yet. I'll admit it. The prospect of starting over after almost a year of no drawing is taking me some time. I've been seeking inspiration from other artists who are attempting to do this faith through art thing.
One, Tim Barron, is pretty impressive. I can't give him an out right "This Guy is Great!" I just found out about him. What I can say though is that he seems to have something to say and he does it with style and humility. It's like iron sharping iron to quote a wise man from long ago. Check him out at: www.timbaron.blogspot.com/
There is another artist that I am kind of impressed by but I can't find any links to his work besides on a comic book gallery page. He goes by Apostle 13. Do you know him?
My experience over the past week as I attempt to build up my courage to begin again is under girded by these other men. As they work out the life of faith through art they serve as examples to me that it can be done and it can be done with artistic integrity and theological openness. It reinforces in me my idea about the importance of community and art. I don't even know these guys, yet they still inspire me and by their example they keep me accountable.
"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. "
Col. 3:13
Grace and Peace
Chris
One, Tim Barron, is pretty impressive. I can't give him an out right "This Guy is Great!" I just found out about him. What I can say though is that he seems to have something to say and he does it with style and humility. It's like iron sharping iron to quote a wise man from long ago. Check him out at: www.timbaron.blogspot.com/
There is another artist that I am kind of impressed by but I can't find any links to his work besides on a comic book gallery page. He goes by Apostle 13. Do you know him?
My experience over the past week as I attempt to build up my courage to begin again is under girded by these other men. As they work out the life of faith through art they serve as examples to me that it can be done and it can be done with artistic integrity and theological openness. It reinforces in me my idea about the importance of community and art. I don't even know these guys, yet they still inspire me and by their example they keep me accountable.
"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. "
Col. 3:13
Grace and Peace
Chris
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Rebirth
I have two daughters who are themselves very artistic. E.B., 11, even wants to be an illustrator like me. A.J., 8, is naturally good with colors. These gifts are apparent and strong. I was encouraged to begin drawing again and not just discussing the abstracts of art and faith but experiencing the joys and trials of the creative process. For the next few postings I will attempt to chronicle my personal experiences and reflections as I take a journey of rediscovery. Hopefully by doing so I can more passionately communicate the importance of the creative endeavor the life of the individual and community at large. Jesus is the giver of gifts and in His wisdom he often gives families a certain leaning or bent. It's almost as if our family history will be viewed by coming generations as a work in progress and the testimony of modeling artistic integrity and christian character can be seen as the Spirit's "body of work" as coming generations walk through the gallery of our lives.
In the words of Paul, "Forgeting the past and pressing forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and recieve the heavenly prize to which God through Christ Jesus is calling me." (Phil. 3:13-14)
Chris
In the words of Paul, "Forgeting the past and pressing forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and recieve the heavenly prize to which God through Christ Jesus is calling me." (Phil. 3:13-14)
Chris
Monday, March 19, 2007
In the beginning God. . .
Greetings,
After defining the purpose of this monologue in my earlier posting I want to present some ideas.
The first concept is that we as creatures are uniquely made in the image of God. By this I mean that we are a reflection of the creator in our essence and purpose. Do I mean that we are divine? Well recent human history could answer that, but for the sake of clarity I will say no.
Being made in God's image especially, as artists, buts us in a unique position. All humankind has been charged to some extent with the responsibility to best represent their Creator but the creative ones among us have a extra special challenge. You see we traffic in ideas. We can make people feel and think in ways they may not even be aware of. The arts touch us in both primal and profound ways all in the same instance. The only other vocation that has such multi-tiered influence is teaching or parenting.
So what is the artist to do? Take on aspects of the Divine and be filled with pride? Hide away in the shadows afraid to weld such awesome influence? Foolishly follow every personal whim and fancy that comes to mind like some lust struck Pandora?
Non of the above. No, the artist must soberly ,albeit freely, come to terms with their Creator on a personal level laying down their many gifts and talents at the feet of the Gift-Giver and pray, yes pray, for wisdom and mercy. (I Peter 4:7-10)
That is the challenge.
After defining the purpose of this monologue in my earlier posting I want to present some ideas.
The first concept is that we as creatures are uniquely made in the image of God. By this I mean that we are a reflection of the creator in our essence and purpose. Do I mean that we are divine? Well recent human history could answer that, but for the sake of clarity I will say no.
Being made in God's image especially, as artists, buts us in a unique position. All humankind has been charged to some extent with the responsibility to best represent their Creator but the creative ones among us have a extra special challenge. You see we traffic in ideas. We can make people feel and think in ways they may not even be aware of. The arts touch us in both primal and profound ways all in the same instance. The only other vocation that has such multi-tiered influence is teaching or parenting.
So what is the artist to do? Take on aspects of the Divine and be filled with pride? Hide away in the shadows afraid to weld such awesome influence? Foolishly follow every personal whim and fancy that comes to mind like some lust struck Pandora?
Non of the above. No, the artist must soberly ,albeit freely, come to terms with their Creator on a personal level laying down their many gifts and talents at the feet of the Gift-Giver and pray, yes pray, for wisdom and mercy. (I Peter 4:7-10)
That is the challenge.
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Why we do what we do
Wanting to discuss the arts and faith in an open forum is an idea that has been stirring in my heart for quite some time.
I want the forum to be open to honest discussion but it must have limits to allow for a healthy wholesome hashing out of ideas.
Some people may think it somewhat limiting to have to discuss things within a certain philosophical context, ie a historical christian context.
I would disagree with this closed idea. First of all we all speak from a certain social context, however subconscious.
I am committed to being honest about my biases. I am a christian and I have created this forum for the discussion of the impact and influence of the arts and faith. Yes, we are interested in developing disciples. Yes we care about eternity and Yes we are committed to a Christ alone theology and world view.
I want the forum to be open to honest discussion but it must have limits to allow for a healthy wholesome hashing out of ideas.
Some people may think it somewhat limiting to have to discuss things within a certain philosophical context, ie a historical christian context.
I would disagree with this closed idea. First of all we all speak from a certain social context, however subconscious.
I am committed to being honest about my biases. I am a christian and I have created this forum for the discussion of the impact and influence of the arts and faith. Yes, we are interested in developing disciples. Yes we care about eternity and Yes we are committed to a Christ alone theology and world view.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)