Art Day at Providence Bible Church!

What a fabulous day it was!  It was raining outside and we were all huddled around a large table creating miniature little works of art together, while the intermittent sound of thunder rumbled in the background.  People of all ages interacting around each others creations!  This truly broke down any generational boundaries like nothing else I have been a part of.

Laura's art piece (above) was the result of what is called "Accidental Art" where you randomly drop or dab water colors onto watercolor paper and then try to find images within the colors and bring them out with a fine-tipped marker.  We were all sharing our water colors and asking each other, "What do you see in here".  It was like seeing things in clouds.  We were all giggling like little kids - even the little kids!

Brian explained to the group that these little pieces of art are called "Artists Trading Cards" and that artist's from all over the world trade their art cards on line with one another.  So Laura's card could end up in Italy one day --that is if she is willing to part with it. (Smiling)

Our second project was to tear images and words out of magazines and make little miniature collage art.  Here are the youngest members of the "Art Club" sharing their wonderful creations!  Both young ladies had a blast and did some really incredible art work!

The day could not have been more perfect!  The Lord truly blessed this event and I think all of us look forward to doing this on a regular basis.

Tim's Collage Art! - Really Well done!

 In the above piece, after the magazine images and words are glued onto the card, the images are covered with a light coating of gesso.  Once that dries, you add details and design enhancements with a fine-tipped marker to create a 3 dimensional looking composition.

Brian's Accidental Art Piece - Great Composition!

Scott Dawson's Accidental Art Piece!

Sharing Your Gifts

In ways you least suspect, God answers prayers.  I have been praying for a couple of years that the Lord would bring someone into our lives with a heart for music.  My husband, who neither reads nor can write music, has been given over 70 songs (both the words and melodies).  His only way to capture those songs is to record them acapella.  He can hear orchestra's playing them, congregations and choirs singing them; but, that is impossible without sheet music for them.

We met Celeste and her husband Mike last December when members of our church and others came to Atria, where my husband ministers, to share a Christmas Program with the residents.  Celeste accompanied the group on piano and Mike sung in the choir.  At that time we had no idea how gifted this young lady was.

As we got to know Celeste and Mike we discovered that they both love the Lord and are both gifted in many ways.  As a side note:  They will be leaving for the mission field and will be gone sometime before the end of this year. Mike is a doctor and will be joining a medical missionary team in Africa.  Celeste will be working with women trapped in the sex trafficking industry with the desire to win them to Christ.

Through our relationship with them, we discovered that Celeste has been singing since she was a tiny little girl and also plays the piano--even composing her own musical arrangements.  Michael shared a few of his songs with Celeste and she was able to write the piano chords for them.  Three of Michael's songs became part of a one woman, outreach concert,  that we hosted at Atria on April 19th.

As we sat listening to this gifted young woman sing praises to the Lord, our eyes filled with tears.  As we heard Michael's songs being played and sung by someone who we have both grown to love, we were overwhelmed with thanksgiving to the Lord.

Little did we know, another sweet Christian sister, India Curry, who is a gifted artist as well, video taped Celeste practicing for the concert in her home and posted that video on Youtube.  You can watch it here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcXn5x26Alo

This is the body of Christ working together to build up and edify believers, bring glory to God, and reach the lost.

What God has taught me through this is that He has everything and everyone under His sovereign control and overcomes all obstacles that we may think are present in our lives.  He will bring those members of His body together who will glorify Him with their gifts in the most unexpected ways--even if it's only for a season!

Rejoicing in Christ - The Center of Our Joy!

Courageous!

After watching "Fireproof" a few years ago, I had no desire to watch "Courageous" as I felt there were many problems with how the gospel message was handled in that movie and since "Courageous" was made by the same group, I had determined that it would probably just bring me sorrow.  In fact, my normal disposition to these types of movies, is one of scepticism and concern--always assuming that they will "not get it right".  That they will "water-down" the gospel.  That they will present a "man-centered" type of Christianity that dishonors Christ and the gospel.  The truth is that I rarely even want to watch a movie that is produced and advertised as a "Christian production" for mass humanity.

I was wrong!  This movie is by no means perfect.  However, the true Gospel is proclaimed.  There is a scene where a young officer thinks that Christianity is a religion based on a list of rules and regulations and that the way one is reconciled to God is by trying their best to be good.  He is clearly corrected by his partner who informs him that God is a just God and that no one will be justified accept through Christ.

Anyone watching this movie will have heard the TRUTH!

After we watched the movie last night, I had a suspicion that others in the "reformed camp" would have held the same negative opinions that I had previously held.  You know what our problem is?  We are snobs!  We are self-righteous, pompous elitists, who think that unless a person agrees with us, they have no real value and God cannot use their efforts for His glory!

This morning I explored whether or not I was correct in my assumption about the "reformed camps" opinion of this movie.  I was saddened to discover that some in that camp ( not all) had bashed this film.  I read the review at the White Horse-In and was disgusted by it.  The author of the review was specifically critical of the "Resolution" portion from the film.  Without the reviewer probably even thinking about this, his same criticism could be equally applied to the Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards.  Does he realize that?  I think not.  Why?  Because once we become self-righteous, pompous, elitist we also become blinded to our own arrogance. 

I support this film and I would challenge any "reformed man" who has subconsciously boycotted this film and decided that it is unworthy of their time, to WATCH it!  After watching it, I would also challenge them to ask their wife's and children to WATCH it with them and to honestly tell them just how they are doing at being the spiritual leader's in their family (which was an aspect of this film that was strongly emphasized).

How can any true born-again believer, who has a heart for the lost and a desire to hear the gospel proclaimed to the lost, have any issues with this movie?  There is nothing heretical being conveyed in this film.  This group of Christians, has done what none of us in the "reformed camp" have managed to do or have even thought of doing.  They gave sacrificed their time, their talent, and their money to produce a film that has brought the gospel message (yes, the TRUE GOSPEL message) into the home of millions of Americans while also encouraging men to turn to the Word of God and to be the Spiritual Leader's of their family.

In addition to that, this effort was bathed in faithful and consistent prayer.  When I watched the "making of the film" portion on the DVD, I was strongly convicted.  The Christians that were involved in the making of this film, were in constant prayer: before, during and after.  How's your prayer life?

I strong word to men.  Based on observation and the conversations that I have had with your wife's, most of you are failing at being godly husbands, fathers, and spiritual leaders in your homes.

WATCH THE FILM!    

Giving Theology the Boot?

While home sick yesterday, I decided to make myself useful.  I grabbed one of Michael's winter sheepskin slippers, a handful of Sharpie's, crawled back in bed, propped myself up and began with Calvin.  My pen slipped while working on Luther and in trying to fix my error, he ended up looking more like Tetzel.  Luther would not have been happy!

Modern Day Scribes

Have you ever heard of Makoto Fujimura? I had not. While reading through my morning emails, (one of which is Desiring God's Blog) I learned of this man.

He is an artist, writer, and founder of International Arts Movement. He has had over 100 exhibits worldwide, and from 2003-2009 was Presidentially appointed to the National Council on the Arts. An ordained elder (on sabbatical) at Redeemer Presbyterian Church, Mako and his wife, Judy, raised their three children in lower Manhattan.

Being somewhat gifted in the visual arts, I was fascinated to also learn that he was commissioned to work on a wonderful project--"The Four Holy Gospels"--had not heard about that either.

The Four Holy Gospels stands in the historic stream of the beautifully hand-illuminated editions of the Gospels created many centuries ago. This exquisite and unique modern edition carries on a classic tradition, beautifully combining the words of the Gospels and original art, inspired by the text, and brilliantly executed for the glory of God. It is an exquisitely designed and produced edition of the four canonical Gospels in the English Standard Version, published in commemoration of the 400th anniversary of the King James Version (KJV) Bible in 1611.

The Four Holy Gospels features newly commissioned original paintings representing the four Gospel Evangelists, illuminated initial letters, and other embellishments and design elements, printed in full color throughout and on high-quality art paper. The text of the Gospels is reproduced in a highly readable, large font; ideally suited for public reading, liturgical use, and as a family heirloom.

Wow! Now that is art at it's finest. What a blessing to use a gift in this manner. In this same article on Makoto Fujimura and The Four Holy Gospels, I learned of another project that has been completed, that I had never heard of; and, although I would not be in agreement with the ecumenical emphasis of the project, I am delighted to learn that there are people out there who are actually using their God given gifts to produce such beauty.

The blog post states:

It is amazing, and rather disappointing, that no other artist has illumined the four Gospels for over 400 years! The only effort that comes close is The Saint John’s Bible project—a magnificent work of calligraphy and illustrations.

So I looked up that project. Here is an example of the completed work from one of my favorite passages in Ezekiel:

























How was it done?

Initial Design
A computer is used to size text and define line breaks. The two foot by three foot pages of each volume are laid out in full-size spreads. This enables scribes to work on pages simultaneously, maintain consistency and avoid awkwardly breaking words.

Calligraphy
The script used in The Saint John’s Bible was designed by Donald Jackson with three qualities in mind. The text had to be readable, modern, and appropriately dignified for the Bible. Subtle differences in the final script mark the work of the six individual scribes on the project.

Illuminations
A schema put together by Donald Jackson and the Committee on Illumination and Text tells which passages will be illuminated and designates the size of each illumination. Many illuminations are commissioned to artists or the result of collaboration between Donald Jackson and additional artists, who says:

“When I was a nine-year-old, desire led me to copying ancient scripts and decorated letters. I loved the feel of the pen as it touched the page and the breathtaking effect of the flow of colored ink as its wetness caught the light.”