The Eyes of God

We have had a 7-year-old visiting us for awhile. It is hard to believe that our own children were so small not that long ago.
The questions and wonder are endless. He has large eyes for this world. And big questions. Just like us.
In a letter from a family member who was just experiencing the joy of being grandparents, another member of the family told them, "NOW you know how God feels for us".

Enjoy this day.

Response to Steve's and Judy's Blog

Yes, Steve, we can all spend a lot of time trying to get more stuff. But some how we always end up with less. There are no winners in this game. And I'm sure you are right, if the son of the father who made my hand tool in the bush of the far east were to come to America, we could find him at starbucks looking for that $5 coffee. But is not that the way that man has gone since the beginning? To always want more? But in the end we are limited by our resourses, our culture, what is happening in the world of our neighborhood, and how the world effects that, and THE REAL BOTTOM LINE. What belief system to you hold on to and alow your self to be guided by. AND with all that said there are the times when we are just clueless as to what God is doing in our lives, and the pain and angish we are feeling.
I am thankful that if we are willing , the holy spirit will guide us and all our needs will be met. Often times not as we would have thought or even desired. But always exactly what was required. Nothing more nothing less.
Pray for the simple life.
When we ask for help HE is there.

The Garden in Summer

It's July now.Most of the spring was spent moving into summer, the celebrations of may, and time spent cutting and fighting the yard and what I consider the monster," cutting the lawn".
It's good for the heart and good for the mind and the cloud that always collects inside over the winter. But I'm always glad when the heat hits and the grass slows down. And I can slow down.

But finally it has come time to look more closely at the flower beds and the newly arrived transplants. It has always been a wonder to me that no matter how many flowers I give away there are alway more to grace my landscape.
Mine is not a perfect landscape. My yard is not cut with nail trimmers. The older I get the more the yard seems to change. Some of the change is change I have done with my simple tools. Other change has been brouht about by vines that out grow my ability to cut them down. Or tree limbs and trees that have fallen only to become back drops to ferns and iris. Mine is a yard that depends on natures decay. Brush piles first become homes to birds and bunnies and other creatures that I will never see. As the brush pile falls in on it's self and nature does it's work, these once large piles become food for flowers. A system that is slow but God is patient with me, why should I not take time to listen to him, and watch him do his work. A part of creation.

More on this subject to follow.

Robert

To Wander

It has come to my attention that I have not posted for a short while. WOW.
Well as Webster would define the word,,,,,,,
to stray
to move about aimlessly
or the one I like the best
to become delirious.
Trust me as far as I know none of the above apply. I have simply been doing all that is required of me.
I understand that in this day and age that is doing pretty OK.
I have started a blog about summer and my flower garden and worms. But it is not ready to post.
The heat is on and work is calling. And we have a house full.

My God bless you all.
Robert.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.