Having started the wood support for the work, I have decided upon an idea for the panels. I am looking toward Romans 12:12.
The concept is patience, and the painting will have four panels. Three of these will be in a monochromatic scheme, showing a tree in decline. The fourth panel (in the upper right) will be done in vibrant colors and will have foliage and the start of new fruit. Combined with the wood window frame, it should be quite interesting.
I had an interesting request from a friend at work today. His sister-in-law was pregnant with triplets; slowly one-by-one they passed, the last having only a short time on this earth. His request was for a work of encouragement and love. Some time with my bible led me to 1 Corinthians 13:13.
"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."
I am blessed to have two children of my own, who are both very precious to me. As I came home tonight with this thought on my mind, I could barely fathom the loss. This sketch came out of the verse:
In this three panel work, each will hold a small seedling, blooming in soft Spring light. I intend to keep the seedlings delicate, just as the little children they represent.
Subtle and quiet.
As I look toward my next work, a verse has come to mind:
Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 7:21 NIV)
It is not a denial that I see here, but an encouragement to follow after truth. This makes more sense in context of the verses previous:
A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. (Matthew 7:18-20 NIV)
What fruit am I bearing? My art is but a small part of the whole picture; yet I wish to bear good fruit in every aspect of my life. Perhaps this work may allow some time to reflect on this.
Art is a gift that allows us to take joy in creating something beautiful, just as God.
God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. (Genesis 1:31 NIV)
God finds pleasure in His craftsmanship; forming life on an empty canvas. Modeled in His image, it is no surprise that we too have a desire to create. This thought has captured my mind lately, and I wish to pursue it more. I feel greatly gifted; not as an artist, but as one who is able to enjoy the act of creativity in freedom. It is not a requirement or a command; something to be accomplished or completed. It is a joy that can be shared. What a great gift to receive!
When we ask for help, what are we asking for? I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me; I was found by those who did not seek me. To a nation that did not call on my name, I said, 'Here am I, here am I.' (Isaiah 65:1 NIV)Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." (Matthew 21:21-22 NIV)
I spend time in prayer, but am I looking for guidance or sanctification? In the tyranny of the urgent, it is easy to become impatient; praying for help while helping ourselves. In a time like this, as the church is acting in service, it is important to remember that God cannot be surprised. He is focused on the details. While we run around to put out fires; God is pulling hearts to avoid the flame entirely.
My hope is that as I seek to do His work, I seek His will.
In the wake of disaster, there is great need. In the Gulf Coast, people have lost everything: homes, family, jobs, everything. When the waters subside, it is likely there will be nothing to return to. As a country, we have mobilized to offer support and supplies; but as Christians, we need to offer more. When we give a drink, it should be of living water.Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water." "Sir," the woman said, "you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his flocks and herds?" Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." (John 4:10-14 NIV)
Without the message of Christ and the water that subsides all thirst, any aid will be temporary. It is a time of questions, frustration and faith; for only by faith can we be encouraged to find joy through the suffering.
I challenge myself to find an opportunity to serve; not only in relief, but release from eternal thirst. I challenge you as well. Please let me know what you find.
In a recent post by the Broken Messenger, Brad Huston created quite a stir. Speaking to commenters on his site, Brad mentions the benefit of explanation along with disagreement. I don’t know all the answers, and really take joy when a fellow Christian takes the time to gently show me my error. To leave only insult is to refuse Christ’s request:In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. (2 Timothy 4:1-2 NIV)
I really appreciate Brad and his willingness to call us on our cultural views of faith. His posts sometimes rub me wrong, but only because they point to the sin I have allowed to become habitual. To teach with a gentle and patient tongue is to speak to the heart. This is a call we all should follow.
A post by Dan Edelen at Cerulean Sanctum captured me today. Dan’s post, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction, talks about the road taken to follow Christ. We all start at a different place, but our destination is the same. For Dan, the road began at 14, putting his faith in Christ before traveling the road in the wrong direction. Others start farther down the path, broken by life, seeing clearly the dead end approaching when following sin. Many are like myself and start somewhere between the two; given our own pace by our guide, Jesus Christ.
What struck me was Dan’s comment on being judged by not having been broken enough; as though Christ must always place us on the end of the road to travel the entire journey, without which grace cannot be truly realized. It is perhaps this mindset that prevents many from coming to know Christ. They consider themselves good people, and rightly so. They are friendly, caring and compassionate. If heaven were a reward for good behavior, they would be set.
It is not.
We are all sinners. There is no grey area, no in-between by which we are proven righteous by our own accord. We are all separated by God without the blood of Christ to bring us in line with the high standard God has set. He will not accept anything less than perfect.Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:12-14 NIV)
As we travel this road, let us remember it is not where we start that is important, but where we finish.
A missionary visiting from Italy preached at our church today from Acts 16; the message discussed how God uses our weakness to reveal His strength. What caught me most was his closing. Church is useful for encouragement and growth, but it is not how we are saved. The word of God is needed for grounding and guidance, but it is not how we are saved. Only though Jesus Christ are we saved.
This thought helped me consider again our role as ambassadors of Christ. In my desire to share the grace of God, I must remember one thing. My skill and strength cannot bring people to salvation; only Jesus, and Him alone.
Just a quick thought as I begin my morning reading of Jeremiah; do I lead my life or follow the will of God? More specifically, am I looking for God to bless the steps I choose, or am I tracing the steps that Jesus tread before me? When God goes ahead, nothing is impossible, but where we tread alone, it seems, nothing is certain."Ah, Sovereign LORD," I said, "I do not know how to speak; I am only a child."
He has a plan. Will we take part, or part ways?
But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a child.' You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the LORD. (Jer 1:6-8 NIV)
Family, 2003
If we are born anew as children of God, we are brought together as a family. Observing the ways we treat each other, sometimes I feel that our family may be a little dysfunctional. We have trouble playing nice. Paul speaks to this in Galatians, as he warns of focusing too much on the details, while forgetting the message:
You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. (Gal 5:13-15 NIV)When angered, we injure; when corrected, we rebel. In many ways it seems as though we do not believe the very message that gives us hope. So what can we do to bring the family back together? We can learn love. I can change no one but myself, so here I start.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. (Gal 5:22-26 NIV)As Paul writes, pride pulls us away from experiencing the fruit of the Spirit. My own search for importance is the very thing that moves me away from Christ.
In Christ, we are made new; shedding an old life of sin and becoming righteous for God. It is a great gift of grace, but not an end. Just as blessings are shared so that God may be revealed to those that do not know Him, we are reconciled to God so that others may also be reconciled. 2 Corinthians 5 speaks to this as we are called ambassadors to Christ.Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Cor 5:17-21)
As an ambassador, I am a living representative of Jesus Christ; sharing the good news that brings reconciliation to God. There is no room for my own agenda, my own purpose. I must be a servant, making myself transparent so that God’s will is known.
Get about the work
Matthew Self at Gad(d)about has an interesting post about sharing the gospel message in America. He calls out an interesting question: has America really heard and rejected the gospel of Christ? It may be a false assumption that prevents our effectiveness as ambassadors.
"True friends stab you in the front." - Oscar Wilde
My wife and I just returned from a short vacation, where we left our two little ones at home. Our intent was less recreation, than a rediscovery of our ten years of marriage and a focus on how we should approach the next chapter.
At the ruins in Tulum, Mexico.
We spent some time reading Tedd Tripp’s book, Shepherding a Child’s Heart, which brought on some great discussion not only on how we approach raising our children, but on how we approach each other. The discussions were honest, and sometimes painful, but truly worthwhile.Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses. (Proverbs 27:6 NIV)
It is true that the words of a close friend can cut deep, but with a focus on love, the wounds heal stronger (it helps that she kisses the wounds as well.) I learned much about myself, and the sin that I have allowed to creep in. How fortunate we are to have such a loving God to combine us as one in Christ. In the fourteen years that I have known her, we have grown so much.
Christians are a people called to peace; why then are we so contentious? We quarrel with the world when it rejects us, we quarrel with each other when we disagree. What is it that draws in us a need to defend ourselves, leaving love and grace behind? Reading around the blogosphere, I am surprised by how much energy is used exploring arguments.
When confronted we take action, but how we act is a reflection of our faith. Jesus is not asking us to passively avoid an argument; He asks that we actively seek reconciliation."You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth. But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles." (Matthew 5:38-41 NIV)
How is this done? With love and prayer; with a mindset on being holy."You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:43-48 NIV)
When we confront those that oppose us, we are defending our pride. It is the easy response. Humility takes work and patience, yet the rewards are eternal.When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. (Proverbs 11:2 NIV)
My hope is that we may become wise in the Lord, rejoicing in unity of the great gift of grace; allowing ourselves to decrease so that Jesus may increase.
Meanwhile his disciples urged him, "Rabbi, eat something."
Pain De Vie (Bread of Life)
Reading this evening in the gospel of John, I found a verse that has followed me through the night. Combined with a post at the Broken Messenger, where Brad Huston outlays the problems with prosperity; I am really questioning where I go to feed myself. The verse is in John 4, after Jesus speaks with the Samaritan woman and His disciples return from buying food:
Jesus is satisfied by seeking God first, not His flesh. It is this self-surrender that is Brad's focus:
But he said to them, "I have food to eat that you know nothing about."
Then his disciples said to each other, "Could someone have brought him food?"
"My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work." (John 4:31-34 niv) Jesus time and again stated that self-denial was a total surrender to the Lord, not an idealistic one. He also stated that such total devotion is necessary and that above all else our belief must be authenticated through our love for Him by rejecting every earthly thing so that our full dependence rests upon the Lord Jesus Christ. This full dependence must be just that and it cannot be shared with both God and the cares of the world.
This is not to say Jesus wishes us to starve in order to follow Him; it is more the priority in which we place our relationship. How easy is it to shift focus to our perceived needs while leaving our faith wanting. With our eyes on Jesus, our needs will be met by the One who knows them best; concern about ourselves just leaves us hungry for another day."Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? (Matthew 6:25-27 niv)
Jesus tells us that life is more important than food and clothing, but do we trust Him? Going back to the Samaritan woman, Jesus reveals what only grace can provide:Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." (John 4:13-14 niv)
To worry about the everyday is to live life hungry.
Finishing a study into the book of Job, I was hit with an interesting thought. Through the devil's intervention, Job is stripped of everything he has: family, property and health. The devil's hope is that without God's blessing, we will cease to praise Him with all our heart. What struck me most in this text was not Job's initial response to his suffering, but the lesson he learned later from God's revelation. Job thought that God's blessing came as a result of his own righteousness, when truly our own abilities to please God fall short.
This falls in with what I am reading in Deuteronomy, where God blesses Israel with its inheritance:It is not because of your righteousness or your integrity that you are going in to take possession of their land; but on account of the wickedness of these nations, the LORD your God will drive them out before you, to accomplish what he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Understand, then, that it is not because of your righteousness that the LORD your God is giving you this good land to possess, for you are a stiff-necked people. (Dt 9:5-6 niv)
God is blessing to fulfill a promise and reveal Himself, not as a reward for righteousness. Like many others, I consider God's blessing as a sign of approval; not looking into what role the blessing may play. Even in Genesis, God speaks of blessing others through those that already know Him:Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him. (Gen 18:18 niv)
What does this mean for me? It means I need to look outside myself. It means that His blessing is not a reward, but a tool to be used for His good work. Am I to be like Job at the start, and ask to be rewarded for my own righteousness; or will I acknowledge that God is using me to glorify Himself? Our reward is not of this world, but with Christ in heaven.
Web-log or Web-news?
Matthew Self at Gad(d)about just posted a commentary on the popular "death of traditional media and the role of bloggers as journalists" thought that seems to pour from the internet. According to Matthew, we are not journalists, but commentators; very much using the traditional outlets as a source and starting point for our own work.
I don't want bloggers to be journalists. I would hate to take away the personal face from the writing. There is no editorial process, no interest in newsworthiness or marketability; just reflections on the aspects of life that interest the writer most. It would be akin to calling the novel the death of poetry. Blogging is not a replacement for news; it is the color that gives it life.
"Be still, and know that I am God;
I appreciate how God can use two seemingly contrasting ideas to bring us in a closer relationship with Him. It is in these details that He reveals His character; the stirring of our faith from comfort to reliance. Again I am drawn in by a recent post by Mr. Standfast, where he discusses God’s desire that we draw near to him:
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth." (Psalm 46:10 NIV)I am convinced that the great need today is not for still more activity, not that we "get it in gear," "hop to it," "look lively," or "push ahead," but that we draw near. Not that we run hard, but that we be still.
The contrast is provided by Teresa at Restoration Station, where she focuses on going forth in the Lord:I think that it is interesting that the word "GO" is mentioned around 1500 times in the Bible. Now of course that is in many different contexts, but "go" is an action word, and we must MOVE in order to go. In comparison, the word "STAY" is only mentioned around 35 times.
How can I go while being still? Perhaps the key is in how we go, or why we move. Am I following Christ, or simply moving ahead in the hopes that He will follow? Stillness is listening to the Lord even when we think we have it figured out. It is waiting for Him to direct our goals, not approve them. In Psalm 46, God reminds us that we can better see His greatness when we cease our busyness.
Even work for Him will distract us from Him when we focus only on the task.
Can painting be an adventure? Sure it can, when there is a short timetable at a remote location. I just finished painting a mural for the nursery of a friend of mine. I don't normally like painting on walls, as tastes change and families move, rendering the work only temporary. I did do a four-wall mural for my son, which is why this request was made.
My friend is having a girl, so castles and stars were in order. This is what she decided on:
The sketch.
The adventure part comes from the fact that I had only one day to complete the project. I used house paint for the task, which is not particularly friendly to my style. I like keeping paint wet to blend areas together. Interior latex does not like to be sprayed with water, so I needed to work quickly over a large area. I put up a quick paint sketch and started into the background:
While the color coat took only three hours, the black lining took another three.
Even with an open window, the paint fumes were pretty intense. After finishing the background and lining, I started into the composition.
Framing the castle.
Blocking in the composition.
The last step was to line the entire work; castle, village, moon and stars. Considering the wall was about 10' by 17', this process took some time. I spent most of the latter part of my work either crouching on the floor or with my arms over my head. Nice.
Details after lining.
The final work.
In spite of the fume induced silliness, the mural turned out well. It was dark by the time I finished eleven hours later. Whew!
Temporary?
On a side note, this work had me thinking about the temporary nature of everything we do. When Jesus returns, everything gets tested for the kingdom.
His work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. (1Cor 3:13 NIV)When Jesus comes back, all my painting will pass away; it is the message and purpose that I wish to remain.
Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character." (1Cor 15:33 NIV)
We are often influenced by those we surround ourselves with. I believe this is true not only of people, but of the books and information we take in on a daily basis. John, the great encourager at SCOTWISE, has asked me to list my bookshelf. I can't bring myself to do the entire meme, but here is a sample of what I am working on:
After three years overseas, a missionary friend of mine just arrived home on his first furlough. We used to meet regularly to study together, and he was a great guide in my walk. To prepare for his return, Re-Entry: Making the Transition from Missions to Life at Home, by Peter Jordan was a recommended read. Although intended for missionaries themselves, the book was a strong reminder of the problems missionaries face returning home.
As a gift for my 31st birthday, my brother-in-law gave me a copy of Will the Real Heretics Please Stand Up, by David W. Bercot. The title is a shocker, but the book itself is about the early church right after the Apostles. Bercot challenges the reader to see how culture has dictated modern Christian ideology and how the early church stepped away from the cultural norms of the day. I am in the first half of the book right now, and it is pushing me to explore what parts of my own faith have been molded by modern politics and culture apart from the word of God.
In my daily walk, I am working through Deuteronomy and the book of Job. With so much discussion of the law and righteousness, I can't help but see the need for Jesus Christ. In reference to the book above, I can see where we as Christians can get derailed looking for righteousness defined by our own standards; missing the reason for the law entirely. As Jesus declared:"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them." (Matthew 5:17 NIV)"
Finally, my wife has asked me to read through Shepherding a Child's Heart, by Tedd Tripp. As our children grow, we hope to create a unified plan and purpose for sharing the love of Christ and the power of God. How could I refuse such a request?
What are you reading?
I would love to know. Most of these books were at the recommendation of others. If we are what we eat, then sharing a book is like sharing a fine meal with friends.
"No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead he puts it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light.” (Luke 11:33 NIV)
What does this scripture mean to the modern Christian? Living in an open country, there is no need to hide our faith; yet we do. It comes out when convenient, or when in the company of fellow believers; but how often do we share the love of Christ in open discussion? Perhaps we feel guilty as Christians have been labeled as culturally insensitive and single-minded. We don’t want to hurt any feelings or make trouble; so we keep God’s wonderful grace to ourselves. I came to know Christ later in life, and thank a few faithful men who were consistent to share the truth and tenderly question my beliefs.
Living Sanctuary
The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. (1Cor 12:12 NIV)When I was a new believer, I thought this verse meant I didn’t have to share the gospel, as that was not my “part.” It was uncomfortable, and I felt very much unequipped for the task. How much joy have I received by looking closer into the changes He has made in my life. By sharing with others I have gained a better grasp of the wonderful grace I have received. When we shine the light, we also see it.
