Friday, June 29, 2007

The art of making " things."

So who is really an artist? Someone who just happens to know how to mix color and put it with all the technical knowledge on paper or canvas?
The photographer who happens to know how to work with a camera and film in the darkroom?
The sculptor who knows pulls and image from a block of stone or wood?
The writer who has a gift of words an d can create images in our heads by placing them on a page
of text?

Why not the welder who can run a perfect bead of steel and flux?
Why not a plummer who can run a system of pipes through out a building with out distubing anything it it's way. ?
Why not the auto mechanic who can create a smooth running engine from nothing but steel parts and rubber hoses. ?

Is one art and not the other? God has gifted us each with a special skill, Each is an art. But is one more art than the other?
What IS art?

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Pray for the chidren in your lives.

The children in our lives. Need our prayers. Use your art as a way to effect change in their lives. Use it as a starting point for real frienship. As artist's we can change the future of their lives. God has called us to use our talents. We can change lives in many ways. Help the young people in our lives to be creators. Making art is a good thing. But making art and creating mentor friendships, is even better. Be a big brother or sister for Christ.
I love you guys. Amen.
Now I have to get to work.

Monday, June 25, 2007

Creation Part Two

In the beginning was the Word, and the word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.
Through him all things were made; with out him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. That light shines in the darkness, put the darkness has not understood. John 1: 1-5 NIV

I was at home saturday and sunday watching over my flock of two cats and two dogs. Being home alone without people is very rare for me. It is also very hard for me. So I keep busy by doing small chores. Only this time the needs of the animals
over rides all other needs both recreational and project wise. It's like when God says to you " Be still ! I have everything under control, REALLY" . The weather is so wonderful and I could be DOING so much. But I watch my little flock and enjoy the cool
breeze as it flows through the house.

I tried to publish this piece earlier today (sunday) but I was unable to get it up on the page. God really wanted me to be still and I really needed to listen. So I did.

I saw the scripture that I began with and knew that what I had originally written came from my head ( the darkness) and not from THE WORD. so even though it was a good piece, I'm sure that God wanted me to sit with him a little longer.

But the point I really want to make is that God made EVERYTHING in the beginning. As artist's, tradesmen,writers,mothers , and fathers, even people of the sciences, I know you are out there, the list is as big as God himself. Everything we feel, smell, touch, and experience has been created by God.
A lot of what we have today has been rearranged by man to do something. But the bottom line is that God made all the basic material, the physics, the math, the colors, the chemistry, all that we know about, and things yet to be revealed, in the beginning. And we have all been gifted by God to use this stuff.
The problem is that we are flawed. All this stuff can be used for good or evil. That is where the REAL problem comes into existance. AND that is when I have to let God be God and pray to let him run the show. He is far better at it than I will ever be. And I am thankful that Jesus is REAL. Amen.

Pornography

When this group first started meeting a while back, Joe was in the habit of bringing issues to the table that we often sweep under the rug. Because they can get pretty ugly. But no matter where you go you are still confronted by them.
Then a few years back, Bill and I were talking about the issue of " The church, the arts, pornography, and what is and what is
not pornographic. " In other words, is there a line in the sand or is it really a personal thing. I know what I think, but this is a question for discussion.
As one example I bring forward the sculpture of David. A masters work, carved by masters hands. Truly the best example of marble sculpture for its time and for me in all of history. A sculpture of this richness and design had never been produced in all of history. This scupture is on display in all it's beauty in a major public museum, for all to see. But just the other day I saw a piece on TV that happen to be near this work of fine art, and the TV fuzed over certain areas of the scupture. I understand clearly what had been done for this program, but on the other hand it appears that we live in a world of very mixed messages. And I know that one persons temptation is not anothers. And I also know that we have all fallen short.
I live in a world where art students study the body daily and I'm certain that each has a conflict internally daily to deal with the broad range of emotions and feelings that arise in one self. Some become numb to the study, some are driven mad. I have witnessed both sides.
After talking to my daughter on Saturday , we decided that this would be a cool place to bring up the issue. And let our own feelings known.
This is a real tough subject, but as I understand it " The Edge " is the place to lay it all out for the community of faith.
I personally used an example from the world of sculpture, but I know that this is an issue that crosses thru all the arts.
Open dialogue is very much requested.

Sunday, June 24, 2007

Lies from the enemy to a writer

Who do you think you are? You’re pathetic. You don’t have anything to say that’s worth hearing.

You aren’t actually going to let people read that, are you? You know they’ll laugh, right? You’ll look like an idiot. People will think you are arrogant and foolish for even thinking they’d want to read your drivel.

Well, you went and did it—put your amateur ramblings out for all to see. Can you imagine what they are thinking about you? You should be embarrassed.

She told you your writing blessed her? She didn’t mean it. She just felt bad for you.

Those people liked it too? Well, just look at them! They probably consider the Left Behind series classic literature. Wouldn’t know Shakespeare from Danielle Steele. Don’t feel too good about compliments from them.

Okay, you have a point. That fellow is pretty smart, and I don’t think he’d give an insincere compliment. In fact, I was wrong. You know…. You’re really something. Quite talented. Very, very special. Your readers are lucky to have you. The compliments are nice, aren’t they? Feels good to be noticed, admired. Why don’t you write something else so you can get more praise?

You are so wicked! Full of pride. I thought you were doing this for your precious savior. Seems to me you think it’s all about you. I bet God is disgusted with you. You’re a hypocrite—don’t even practice what you preach. You should turn in your pencil.

Excuse me, I hate to interrupt your writing, but I wanted to remind you of the laundry, the dust, your other responsibilities. You’re becoming quite a sloth. All this time spent being creative is pretty self-indulgent. Selfish, selfish, selfish.

Hey, hello! Listen to me. Quit that infernal singing. I’m trying to talk to you. [Curses under his vile breath]. Oh forget it, they never hear me when they’re praying. But, I’ll come back later. I’m getting tired though. She just keeps writing and writing, and even when her heart isn’t right; HE uses it for His kingdom. Ah, what’s that? Not another one thinking about putting his soul’s ponderings on the blog? Better get busy discouraging him…

Friday, June 22, 2007

Watching my sheeep

Sorry I will not see you guys this week end. I will be watching over my flock. With any luck they will be kind to me and I will get part two of creation. I hope you know that is only chapter one. Page one.

Thursday, June 21, 2007

Fish Bites and Frogs

My brain is a host to a school of those fish
that take the form of thoughts nipping at my soul.
They can be nasty when hungry to feed
on my insecurities and self-doubt.
The bites come out of the questioned perception
I have of my knee-jerk response to these things...
those free-floating thoughts caught harassing and hissing...

The frogs just swim by unaware of my quandry
to just let the fish feed and then move on their way...
They question the reasons I fixate on fish
and shrug off the navel that I seem to worship.

I now wonder if I should tire of swimming
with soul-nipping fish and decide to go fishing instead...
For the meat on their bones all comes from the ashes
of burnt offerings; and I'm weary from feeding the fish
when they would mercifully die out from lack of food.

I think I have a taste for a fish fry,
and take back the ground that I've given away;
I have tired of letting those fish have their feeding
and determine to send them to belly-up bay.

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Fences are good for the sheep of his pasture,more

After I wrote about fences and how they are good for us, it was brought up to me that some times fences can cause us pain.
Well let me explain the kind of fence I was thinking of. First of all, I was thinking of the soft, and mobile fence that a good
shepard would use to help contain his flock while resting or sleeping. The last thing I was trying to do was bringup the image that I guess we have today of iron fences with barbs that sting.
But also if for some reason we should get out and find our selves lost, we have the promise that our good shepard Jesus will
come looking for us and bring us back from that tough spot we were in and continue to love us unconditionally, always. Remember that even when we think we are at the end of our strength, Jesus is there waiting to carry us back to the resting place we belong. He will fight the fight for us even when we can not.


I love you all.

Monday, June 18, 2007

Creation, Part One, the beginning.

Let me begin with a quick paraphrase of the first chapter of the book of Genesis from the Bible.
In the begining God created "Everything". And when I say everything that means everything then, now and into a future that we no nothing of, yet that is.
Now let me explain where I am going with this. After "Creation" we are left with everything needed " forever". Now let's begin with Adam. God gave him a field to grow a crop in. God did not make a plow to work the field with. God did supply Adam with a forest of trees and a brain to use. Adam made his own plow with the materials he knew best. Adam used God's creation to solve his own problem. Adam worked his field and he ate food from it. We as God's sheep have lived in God's creation since the beginning with everything that we have ever needed. It really is not all about what we want. It's about what we need.
Now as a person who works in two worlds, both as an artist that finds joy in creating objects of art and as a supplier of materials used in the creation of art, it is interesting to me to see how we as artists have always had the tools and the materials to create art. We have used the materials that we best understood for what ever period of history we were a part of.
We as artist's stand at the feet of God as children, understanding and using the tools that we have created from the vast creation that God gave to us in the beginning. It is our job to use these materials to God's glory.
Amen.

Fences are good for the sheep of his pasture

My daughter called me today. Fathers day, you know. And while we were talking, a wonderful subject came up. Fences. And how we need to remember that we are the sheep of HIS pasture and that fences help us to keep control over our lives, They keep us from going places we should not go. And keep us from doing more than we are able. But a fence is a wonderful tool becuses it does not keep us from seeing into the world the way that a wall does. And a fence allows us to look up to our heavenly father. Amen. And as the good father that he is, He is always Watching over us. Thank-you lord.

Thursday, June 14, 2007

Ella in the Hot Seat

Ella was going to get kicked out of school. Even a fly on the wall at her house would have yearned for escape. Ella heard the words of the principal ring in her ears over and over again. It made sense, especially since her behavior was so disruptive to her classmates. She was writing a lot these days. It wasn't full of hearts and flowers. The cloak of melancholy had turned heavy once more and threatened her sanity. Reputation? It was trashed. Survival reigned over keeping up appearances that all was well. All was not well. She felt as if she were leaking life through every orifice of her spirit, soul, and body.

The days were surreal. She was aware of everything going on around her, yet wasn't often quick to respond. Noone came into her inner enclave except God himself. It seemed that God didn't know what to do with her, either. The question stood as to whether her perception was as accurate as it seemed like to her. Cracks in her armor let in just enough light to allow the questions to sneak in. The thought of her perception of reality being off-kilter was evoking an almost ambivalent shade of blue within her. If she spoke of her doubts, then the fact that her mind was in flux would be confirmed.

The psychiatrist's office had double doors that closed in opposite sides of the door jam. Liquid fear ran through her veins and chilled her. This confirmed her status among the truly whacked. How did she get here? She was in the 7th grade. There was no blame to assign her parents or to anyone else. They were attentive and loving. The mystery floated around her personna about why she cried. Panic froze her where she sat at her desk and chained her to the chair. The flood of water seemed to erupt with the intensity of a stick of dynamite.

The whispers of hope came to her even when being choked by the tears. There was going to be an end to these times of virulent intensity. It didn't seem close by; she wasn't going to be anticipating that change anytime soon. Still, she could remember the conversations of older relatives that centered around a loving Jesus and the impact that He had on their lives. She had invited Him in, but was disappointed when the guilt over her behavior continued to chew away at her hope for change. Some witness she was going to be for a loving God that gave everything to pull her fat out of the fires of hell. There were those moments that she could not see the faces of aunts and uncles talking about the Lord. Those patches of time were desolate; she felt bereft of comfort from any source offered. That spot in her spirit seemed unreachable by anyone except God. The problem was that she still felt like the same pummeled girl as before the invitation. Was there some reason why salvation just didn't "take?" Where else was there to go?

Wednesday, June 13, 2007

Creation and creativity

Hi,
I'm Robert,
I have always wondered what makes one person have a strong desire to be creative and another could care less.
I have always wondered how people can look around them and see the complexity of the world around them and say there is no God.
I have often had the desire to create and wondered where did that idea come from?
These and many more thoughts and ramblings are what I will try to post and hope that the postings will either open discussion or at least give rise to new ways of looking at the world that God has placed before us.

Having never done this before be gentle with me. I'm an artist you know.