Creativity and the Creator

Anything Lord!!!???

2010-01-27T23:15:00.001-05:00

Don't worry about anything instead pray about everything . . . . .

He actually said not to worry about ANYTHING.
Can you imagine?

Seems so far fetched and out there that only a God of faith could even dare to utter it.

Is it even possible, Lord??!!

Well, if we believe in the premise of God being just, we have to accept the fact that He would only require us to do those things that He gives us the grace ability to do.

Actually, the ability to accomplish the seemingly impossible is found through the force of faith that is released from God's Word as we act on it believing.

So yes my friend it is possible. The question is are you going to choose to believe that He is faithful to His promises.

How??

. . . .By praying in faith instead of living in fear and worry.

Trusting means that you leave your worries at the alter fully assured that God's got your back and He's working out His deliverance in your life.

You see faith is not just abstract and intellectual agreement. It is an action that moves forward on a foundation of solid truth. Always moving ahead into a deeper and more clearly defined understanding of the The nature of the Godhead as revealed through the Son, Jesus Christ.

6 Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

So I challenge you give up a life of fruitless worry and live a life of abundant peace by trusting in God through His Living Word.

What Say Ye of The Christ

2009-04-11T20:57:00.007-04:00

The Christ,

The Anointed. The Savior. King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Prince of Peace. The Lion of Judah. The Lamb of God.

We know all of the Lord Christ Jesus' beautiful names. We can quote them at church.

We recall them amongst christian friends but what does our lives say???

One of the most pivotal moments in the ministry of Jesus concerning His closest disciples was when the Lord questioned them saying, "Who do men say I am??"

Their answers were telling.

What would be the answer of your life????

Live as if He were truly the soon and coming King.

Trust as if He was actually Lord of Lord and King of Kings.

Forgive as if He were the Everlasting God.

Love as if He were the Lamb of God slain since the foundation of the world.

Whom say ye that He is?????

Mark 8:27-29

27.
From that place Jesus and His disciples went to the villages belonging to Caesarea Philippi. On the way He began to ask His disciples, "Who do people say that I am?"

28.
"John the Baptist," they replied, "but others say Elijah, and others, that it is one of the Prophets."

29.
Then He asked them pointedly, "But you yourselves, who do you say that I am?" "You are the Christ," answered Peter.

Weymouth New Testament

The Price and Promise of Forgiveness

2009-02-14T19:35:00.008-05:00

Hurt people hurt people. Damaged lives crash into other lives exponentially compounding the damage in both lives.

This is the tragedy of life.

Yet in every tragedy there is a hope in the possibility of a new beginning.

In nature the lone animal, decrepit with age, falls lifeless in the lonely woods.
It's from the midst of seeming hopelessness rises the first buds of a young sapling breaking free from the confines of earth. It itself having been nurture by the decaying flesh of the the same animal that had died alone weeks before.

Out of Death, Life. Out of Despair, Hope. Out of betrayal comes forgiveness and the restoration of trust.

This is the cycle and the pattern of a deeper life. Forgiveness is the first light of hope in an otherwise dark and hopeless landscape.

We have all both been offended and caused offense. Years of sacred trust can die in a moment of indiscretion.

So is this death of trust and security the end??? Is the betrayal of a vow or pledge the final death knell of a once beautiful and flourishing relationship???

It doesn't have to be.

Sometimes the most blessed and beautiful union can be forged from the dying remnants of a love once strong and secure that has been betrayed.

How is this possible???

It's possible by returning once again to Love.

Love covers the multitude of sins and love at the same time chooses to believe the best of all it comes in contact.

8.
Above all continue to love one another fervently, for love throws a veil over a multitude of faults.

If after repentance we would elect to love one another both love and even trust can be restored.

Return to love.

Return to trust in the never failing power of God's redemptive loving grace that forgave the betrayal of man and restored to him even more in Christ than what our forefather Adam forfeited by the ultimate betrayal and treason of the Garden.

Forgiveness cost Jesus His life.

Romans 5:6-8

6.
For already, while we were still helpless, Christ at the right moment died for the ungodly.

7.
Why, it is scarcely conceivable that any one would die for a simply just man, although for a good and lovable man perhaps some one, here and there, will have the courage even to lay down his life.

8.
But God gives proof of His love to us in Christ's dying for us while we were still sinners.

You can be sure that it will cost you something but in the end the sweet smelling harvest of redemptive restoration makes the former decay a faint and distant memory.

So by love forgive. Reap the benefits of a force that never fails and abounds with the restorative creative power of the seed of the very Love of God. (Romans 5:5)

This is Only a Test

2008-12-25T15:20:00.004-05:00

Look, people have problems. Something has got to be wrong with all of us. Forgive and move on. Some people seem to be angry about some unknown offense. People may have things from the past they need to settle. You can't make someone take an inventory of their lives; all you can do is forgive people and attempt to love them in their weakness. Most people do not seem to know how to accept and express love. Love will tell you off sometimes, but in the end it restores and gives hope. This is a test. Use the love that God put in your heart. (Rom 5:5) The true test of being spiritual is loving the unlovable and forgiving the unrepentant.
Take it with a grain of salt.

I Peter 4:1-5 ;8

1.
Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin.
2.
As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.
3.
For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do--living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry.
4.
They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you.
5.
But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

8.
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

Repent, Forgive, Move on . . . . . .

Enjoying The Process

2008-06-14T21:03:00.007-04:00

St John 16:33.
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! (Have Cheer!!) I have overcome the world."

In this world we WILL have trouble but we can have a way of peace that will make the trials stepping stones to victory. It's His Peace. What is Peace? Peace is a state of being free from turmoil and fret. Free from walking in our own strength and the limits of our own abilities. It's resting in God where we cease from our own works and rest in the fact that the answer to our problems is older then the problems themselves. You see, our answers are in the works of God and he rested from His works long ago. ( Hebrews 4:4 )
Rest in the fact that the answer is already yours. You have to let go of your own reasoning and trust God for the resolution.

All things work to the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)

You say but am I called?? Well don't you know you've been accepted in the Beloved!!! (Ephesians 1:6)

Think about that. You are ACCEPTED, in His Beloved no less.

So rest in God.

The answer is yours; you are just going through the journey to your victory!!!

Love Never Fails

2008-04-14T15:49:00.000-04:00

Major in love.
That's the victory.
That's the overcoming.
Love never fails.
Love holds the universe together by the power of His Word.
Why not our little lives . . . .

Romans 5:5

All Sufficient

2008-03-25T13:34:00.007-04:00

Fear Not. Do not be dismayed.

He said He said he would never leave us or forsake us.
So why are we often so afraid?

The God that we believe formed the known universe said He would always be by our side.
So then why do we feel so inadequate?

He poured His precious blood over our souls to wash us anew.
So why do we look back to sin.

He overcame the world.
So why do we look to it for answers?

Hebrews 2:9-18
9.
But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.
10.
In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering.
11.
Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers.
12.
He says, "I will declare your name to my brothers; in the presence of the congregation I will sing your praises."
13.
And again, "I will put my trust in him." And again he says, "Here am I, and the children God has given me."
14.
Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death--that is, the devil--
15.
and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.
16.
For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham's descendants.
17.
For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.
18.
Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

and FREE those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death . . .

and FREE those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death . . .

and FREE those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death . . .

Thanks be unto God for His indescribable gift!!!!!

2008

2008-01-01T00:11:00.000-05:00

Happy New Years !!!!

As the year starts fresh may our lives be filled with the Zoe life of God and our creative endeavors informed by His grace.

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. "

Jeremiah 29:11

2007-10-26T16:37:00.000-04:00

I've been working on rebuilding my portfolio. I am attempting to restart my creative career. The portfolio is a necessary tool in getting ahead in the graphics art field.

I am trying to decide what is a rail (good image) and what is a p

On a lighter note . . .Comic Strip????

2007-10-26T15:59:00.000-04:00

I've been thinking about starting a comic strip . . .

Something about life and growing up. Here's an image of a possible character.

Peace and Purpose

2007-10-09T14:39:00.000-04:00

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.

Joy

2007-06-24T17:50:00.000-04:00

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

The Sublime

2007-05-20T11:44:00.000-04:00

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

Rebirth redux

2007-05-06T21:14:00.000-04:00

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

Rebirth

2007-04-28T20:40:00.000-04:00

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 beginning God. . .

2007-03-19T16:29:00.000-04:00

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.

Why we do what we do

2007-03-18T21:46:00.000-04:00

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.