Emmett Till, a call for prayer

Please join together for prayer and a moment of silence Friday at noon as a sign of unity between all races. August 28th signals the 65th anniversary of Emmett Till’s murder, because of a rush to judgement, prejudice and mob rule. It is a major event and turning point in the civil rights movement toward racial equality. It is a tragic lesson in reason ruling over emotion. May we learn from history.

Painting of Emmett Till by Bonnie Mettle

Original post from Global Christian Worship

Vote Left or Right?

Both political parties ...
want their candidates elected in November. In trying to discern how to choose my thoughts turn to the story in the old testament of Solomon presented with two women fighting over custody of one infant, each claiming it was hers. 1 Kings 3:16-28. Solomon uncovered their true feelings and relationship to the child by suggesting the baby be sawn in half. Each woman receiving part of the child. With this proposal the true agendas of actual mother and the pretender were exposed. The true mother begged that the whole child be given to her rival. If we view our nation as the baby and the two contending parties as the "mothers,

" which one would you feel has the better "claim", the best intentions?

Image: The Judgement of Solomon, Oil Painting, 
18th century Venetian School, Unknown Artist
Mannerist Style

Guernica

Guernica by Pablo Picasso. 1937. Oil on canvas.

Guernica is considered and icon of modern art or the Mona Lisa of the twentieth century. As da Vinci painted a Renaissance ideal of serenity and self-control, Guernica is considered Picasso's visual statement about the  individual versus extreme forces such as political crime, war, and death.

Guernica, a community in the Basque area of Spain, was a resistance movement center during the Spanish Civil War. 

Guernica, not of any military or strategic value was razed to the ground April 26,1937 by German Nazis as the overture for the Nazi war machine, on behalf of Franco, in coordination with the air force of fascist Italy. Franco wanted to terrorize those who opposed him, centered in this region. For Nazi Germany and Italy  it was a chance to  weaken Britain and France and change the balance of power, to see how would the world react to their policy of imperialism. According to one historian’s account, “the destruction of Guernica was planned as a belated birthday present from Göring to Hitler, orchestrated like a Wagnerian Ring of Fire”. A British intervention in Spain, after the bombing of Guernica, might well have curtailed the imperialist ambitions of Hitler, thwarting the birth of WWII, according to some historians. We will never know.

Actions, or inactions have consequences. We reap what we sow or leave fallow.

The glicee print pictured is "The Holy Thing" by Bruce Manwarring. Sadly Bruce has passed away but his evocative Advent  image remains. On this first Sunday of Advent, behold him, the King who is coming, the long expected Jesus, growing within the womb of the Virgin.What do you grow within your heart? What expectation this holy season? Come Lord Jesus!

From the  Arts and Crafts Society of Central New York:  In Memoriam

Bruce Manwaring, 1940-2009

Bruce Manwaring born in Middleboro, MA was 68 when he suddenly passed away on February 7, 2009. Bruce received a BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design in 1962. Traveling to California, he attended the Claremont Graduate School (now Claremont University) studying painting at Scripps College where he received a BA. After serving as Chairman of the Art Department at Jamestown College, he continued on to receive an MFA in Printmaking from the University of Massachusetts. In 1970, Bruce was hired as an Assistant Professor in Printmaking and Illustration at Syracuse University where he helped to build up the Printmaking Program as part of the Experimental Studios Department. This Department, which he chaired for five years, became the present Studio Arts Department. He and his wife, Nicora Gangi, are co-partners of Machaira Studio, which was formed in 1986. Bruce has served as Area Coordinator of the Printmaking Program and has taught courses in Foundation Drawing, Lithography, Relief, Monoprint, and Stained Glass. He retired from Syracuse University in the spring of 2007 after 43 years of teaching. Bruce’s prints have been exhibited regionally, nationally, and internationally in numerous juried and invitational shows.They are in the collections of the Free University in Amsterdam; The Munson Williams Proctor Institute; the Tyler Gallery at SUNY Oswego; the Scripps Gallery in Claremont; and in numerous private collections in the US, Canada, England, Germany, and the Netherlands. Bruce was a member of the founding board of the Arts and Crafts Society of Central New York and a familiar face at our events. His soft spoken gentleness will be missed. 

  http://www.acscny.org/newsletter/acscny_spring09_final.pdf

Inspirational Cards

As a gift to yourself or someone else try making an inspirational deck of cards or bookmarks. This is a fun project offering  you a way to combine scripture and the wise words of saints and create fifty-two or three hundred and sixty five individual pieces of art. These small cards can be created on a daily basis,  one to three cards at a time during your devotional time.  I often keep my finished cards in various places in my home or desk at work to remind me of the simplicity of my faith and to provide inspiration, strength and hope.


What you will need:

• 3x5 index cards, blank or lines, whatever you prefer, or repurpose a deck of playing cards, or cardstock cut into 1 1/2 x 12" strips.
• scrapbook paper
• strong-hold tacky craft glue or rubber cement
• scissors, cri-cut is handy if you have one
  
• alphabet and decorative image stamps if you like to use them (not necessary
• black ink pad (in a pinch you can use a waterbase marker if your stamp pad is dry)
• Pigma Micron fine-point pen, fine point Sharpie or any fine point pen brand you prefer
• paintbrush (small and high quality)
• inspirational books, magazines, used greeting cards
• sandpaper, fine grit 
• embellishments (glitter, yarn, jewels, stickers,etc)
• tote or box to keep your supplies collected 

2. Prep all of your cards with scrapbook paper. First, brush a layer of craft glue on one side of the card. If you use sandpaper to lightly roughen the card first, it will provide the texture needed to firmly adhere the paper and glue to the card.

3. Place the card on a piece of scrapbook paper. Repeat until the paper has as many cards as will fit.
Repeat with the entire group of cards.

4. Allow the glue to dry and cut out the cards. You can work with one card at a time or prepare multiple cards at once.

When the glue has set, let your heart guide you, finding words, scripture or inspirational phrases that inspire you. Let the designs evolve. You are creating these cards for you; whatever may be holding you back from creating freely give to God in prayer. Play with the materials, make designs.

5. Cut out small pieces of paper with different shapes matching the scrapbook paper backgrounds. Glue one to the center of a card or slightly to one side of a card.Use a large rubber stamp and black ink to add another design element on top of it all. Rubber stamp designs such as feathers, leaves, birds and flowers will add a unique touch and contrast to the card. If you don’t press hard enough with the stamp, you can fill in your letter with a black pen.

6. Cut out words from a book or use word stickers to add inspirational phrases along the side of the stamp. If you do not have the word you are looking for, use your rubber letter stamp set on your card or hand write or print the word or phrase. If you make a mistake you can cut out a mini piece of paper to cover that area and then stamp or write again on top of it.

Inspiration Words:
Faith
Hope
Love
 Joy
Peace
Serenity
Jesus
Abba Father
Living Water 
Holy Spirit

7. Accent a word by placing it farther away from other words and drawing an arrow to it, or drawing a box around it with a black pen.
Keep these cards around your house, in your car or at work to inspire you, or carry them with you to share with others.
You can attach these cards to your business card with a paperclip, or even frame a few of them together to create a piece of wall art.
 This tutorial was previously published in the book Art Journal Art Journey by Nichole Rae, copyright 2014. CreateMixedMedia.com and North Light Books.)

http://www.createmixedmedia.com/make/make-an-inspirational-card-deck-mini-art-journal
and adapted by Art As Prayer.
Image lifted from: http://www.randomcreativeart.com/2012/11/friday-feature-thanksgiving-cards.html Check out her site, many awesome ideas for this project!

Fraktur for the Faithful

Pennsylvania Fraktur was an illuminated folk art created by the Pennsylvania Dutch (also known Pennsylvanian German). Most work of this type was created between 1740 and 1860 by teachers or pastors seeking to supplement their meager salaries. The manuscripts, scribed in ink, were sometimes colored with watercolor. The illuminated book below is an example of Vorschriften (writing), single page birth and baptismal certificates, marriage and house blessings, book plates, and floral and figurative scenes were referred to as Taufscheine.

Pictured below in color is the work of Johannes Ernst Spangenberg (1755-1814) a Northampton County Pennsylvania schoolmaster. He was much in demand for his Fraktur and was known as the “Easton Bible Artist.”

Fraktur also refers to a Latin Blacklettering text style created in the early 16th century by Hieronymus Andreae for the Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I for a new series of books. Blow in black and white is an example of a Bible done in this manner.

Original preserved examples of Fraktur Americana folk art can be seen at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Philadelphia Museum of Art as well as in private collections.

Making Praise Cards, the inspiration of Cheryl Cope

If you are looking for some interesting ideas related to Creativity Coaching, Weight Loss and Women's spirituality you might find the blog sight of Cheryl Cope interesting. Here is the link: http://www.cherylcope.com/art-and-creativity

One of the things she talks about is making "praise cards" and gives some lovely 
examples on her site. She also talks about her experiences with prayer journaling.
For those of us who have minds that tend to wander creating praise cards or actively
journaling is one way to stay on focus while spending time in reflection on a passage
of scripture or a thought a theologian has had.

I have a journal and use it, although not with the regularity I should. It is helpful 
when I maintain that spiritual discipline. Part of my hang up, my journal is very private.
I worry that it will be read by unwelcome eyes. when I go back to read things I had read
and reflected on in the past it is always amazing to discover the insights I had 
gained and see the growth and prayers answered.

 I am going to give the praise cards a go and see if they help me with my 
reflection as well. Enjoy the inspiration of Cheryl Cope's Praise Cards. 
Checkhttp://www.cherylcope.com/art-praise-cards the link above to see examples of her work. 
Why don' t you give them a try too?

The Art of Small Groups

One of the blogs I follow listed their small group offerings with meeting times and places. If I lived on the 

West coast and worshipped with this community of faith, this is the group I would choose join.   

 Since I live technically in northern Appalachia, I may have to start a group of a sort like this 

myself. Something to pray about. 

http://www.imagodeicommunity.com/small-groups/

Visual Journal

Group Facilitator: Martin French

Location: Imago Art Space (downtown)

Day/Time: Wednesdays at 7pm

See This Group on The City

Working with prompts from history, theology, and culture to craft a personal artistic voice.

Are You Ready for the Truth?

Tina Allen, African American sculptor (1948-2008) created in bronze larger than life figures of many notable African Americans such as: abolitionist Sojourner Truth,author Alex Haley,scientist George Washington Carver and the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr., as well as many unknowns. Her talent for sculpting was evident in her early teens when during her art class in public school she sculpted a bust of Artistotle instead of the assigned ash tray in clay. She felt that it was her mission to be "writing our history in bronze," and as such did extensive research into the lives of her subjects, interviewing them and their friends, using many reference photgraphs and pictures, if the subject was deceased, to capture the essence of the individual. She said of her work, "I'm trying to infuse a soul into these objects." Her agent, Quentin Moses, said that "once she got her hands into the clay, her subjects started talking to her." As her hands molded and fashioned the clay into the desired image, it seemed to breathe.

Advent

This is an advent, an anglicized version of the Latin word adventus, meaning "coming" of more thoughts and ideas of what prayer and contemplation have to do with art. This blog has been silent for too long and the ideas are starting to flow again. Wikkipedia's definition of writer's block as "a condition, primarily associated with writing as a profession, in which an author loses the ability to produce new work...It can be trivial, a temporary difficulty in dealing with the task at handIn the sweet shadow of Thanksgiving I am giving forgiveness to everyone I thought had ill treated me. I want to enter the Christmas month with a clean slate. I want to think that everyone I know can enter the last month of this year free of any ill will between us. Let us all go into December 2012 free, giving and expecting the good thing.At the other extreme, some "blocked" writers have been unable to work for years on end, and some have even abandoned their careers" gives a thoughtful account of anyone involved in a creative process,writing notwithstanding. So it is with other creative endeavors, the visual arts, music, theatre, dance, the culinary and homemaking arts,and so on. A number of years ago a friend and I attended a retreat entitled Art as Prayer. During one of the solitary prayer times witting with a paper and box of crayons I heard God's audible voice call softly to me asking" who told you you couldn't do Art?" In my mind flashed the portion of the sistine Ceiling painted by Michaelangelo where Adam and Eve discover they are naked and try to hide. The art making, creative process is a process of laying bare and not everyone can bear being that exposed. It's all about shame. Who shamed you? who made you feel small unworthy, unable, unwhole, useless, and as one shamed, who have you shamed? Maya Angelou recently entered this thought on her wall on Facebook, it has become my prayer: "In the sweet shadow of Thanksgiving I am giving forgiveness to everyone I thought had ill treated me. I want to enter the Christmas month with a clean slate. I want to think that everyone I know can enter the last month of this year free of any ill will between us. Let us all go into December 2012 free, giving and expecting the good thing."

Repoussé: to push forward

The Enclyclopedia Britannica online defines repousse as a "method of decorating metals in which parts of the design are raised in relief from the back or the inside of the article by means of hammers and punches; definition and detail can then be added from the front by chasing or engraving. The name repoussé is derived from the French pousser, “to push forward.” Not all of the design is pushed forward or is a "positive" space, some of the spaces are pushed backward as "negative spaces".
The negative spaces provide contrast for the positve spaces making them look impressive and stand out.

So it is in our lives, the negative experiences and low points help make the positve, mountaintop experiences even more exhilarating. Joseph, the eventual Prince of Egypt first spent time in a hole in the ground and then in prison. Ruth was a poor, widowed gleaner of fields until she caught the eye and wedding committment of Boaz, just thinking....

Six Word Memoir

Six Word Memoir

In the blog Abbey of the Arts, Christine Valtner Paintner asks, " What six word memoir would describe your life at this present moment?" She used these words to describe herself," urban monk bearing witness to beauty". After a few brief moments of thought I wrote these words: "Passing by watering gardens, seeking rest". As there are many types of gardens for different purposes, so there are many situations in life, home, work, neighborhood, church, organizations, school. In all of these I have endeavored to pour the living water of God's love and mercy. I now find that the pitcher is running dry. Where there was once the joy of the mountains, my interior landscape is looming as flat as a Kansas prairie. Putting six words togther in this fashion was a good way to guagw the condition of my soul. Put six words togther and describe the condition of your soul. Is is well with your soul? It isn't well with mine, but I know the well to draw from, the water is sweet and I am taking long drinks and resting in the shade. I'll be back shortly I expect, God willing.

Worship Arts Festival At Ascension Anglican Church,Pittsburgh

I am posting this announcement from an area calendar posting on behalf of my friend Suzanne Trenney on of the artists involved in the Convergence Worship Arts Festibal Saturday, May 30 2009 in Pittsburgh , Pa. Suzanne Trenney's worship arts have been featured in an earlier blog posting on this site and she has her work also posted on the Ascension church site. The Ascension Church is also the place where the Saltworks Theatre resides. Here is the article copied and pasted from the community bulletin board for your information should you wish to attend:

CONVERGENCE: Community Arts Worship Festival

The Church of the Ascension presents Convergence, an experience in the arts for people of all ages. This unique community arts festival is an exploration into the eddies of art and faith. Experience this kaleidoscopic presentation by local artists in painting, multimedia, drawing, sculpture, calligraphy, mosaic, song, story, poetry, photography, music and much more. Convergence will be held on Saturday, May 30th 2009 from 12:30-4:30 PM at Church of the Ascension, 4729 Ellsworth Ave. in the Oakland/Shadyside area. Admission is free. The schedule includes:

A performance by The Ascension Youth Band, Broken Glass
Scene reading and monologues by Pittsburgh Shakespeare in the Park
The Ascension Puppet Troupe
Children’s Stories with Jude Blank
Lucy Scandrett and the Harp Orchestra
Sacred Stories with Roland VendeLand
Alan Irvine performing Parables and Legends
The Music of the Organ with Jeanne Kohn
David Minniefield’s one man show “Ecclesiastes”
Dance by James Gilmer
Blues Guitar with Mike Janiszewski
Poetry Reading by Lucille Seibert
Hands on crafts and Puppet making for all ages

Ascension prides itself on being a place of belonging where a wonderfully eclectic slice of Pittsburgh gathers to learn and worship. Many visual and performing artists have found a home at Ascension. Several area arts groups are active and supported from within the church community. For more information call Alan Irvine at 412-521-6406. Directions are available at www.ascensionpittsburgh.org The image is Suzanne Trenny's "Laundry Day"

Theresa Cates, sojourner with a paintbrush

On February 5, 2009 Theresa Cates will have a solo exhibition at the Red Door Gallery, 3715 JFK Blvd
North, Little Rock, Arkansas 72116. What is the big deal about Theresa Cates , who is she and why should I be interested you may be asking? Well since you are wondering... we are currently mourning the loss of a great American painter, Andrew Wyeth, a man who seemed to capture the essence of the mystery of life on canvas and paper in a simple and evocative way. Just as I was mourning the loss of the visual richness of this man, I stumbled across an article about thirty nine year old African American artist, Theresa, who began her "art career by doodling on the backs of bills. Her work is reminiscent to me of Harlem Rennaisance painter Jacob Lawrence, whom I greatly admire for his ability to use color and shape boldly while telling a story on canvas.Theresa was commissioned to paint switch boxes and bus stops in her native Arkansas and painted what she knew and loved best, people in church worshipping the Lord. She shows all the passion of the African American worship tradition in her work. Having just come from a staid and proper formal worship event at my church, I found her paintings stirred in my heart a longing for more passionate expressions of spirituality. Her her church paintings evoke the type of imagrey and passion that I imagine of the scene in which a woman poured expensive ointment on Jesus's feet and then wiped them with her tears while the rest of the folk sat upright and all proper in their chairs. Here are a few images from the Cates' exhibition. This is an artist whose work I hope to be able to see someday, other than in internet thumbnails. I think she has a lot to say if we will pay attention.

Northwestern Pennsylvania Worship Arts Festival

Saturday, February 28, 2009 at the Edinboro united Methodist Church 118 High Street, Edinboro, Pa. there will be a Worship Arts Festival and Conference sponsored by the Erie Meadville District of the Western Pennsylvania Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church.The registration begins at 8am and worship at 9. Following an inspiring worship service participants will choose one of the eight specialized workshops to attend, providing hands-on opportunities to learn technique, style and acquire the tools to implement the arts in their worship settings. The Rev. John Zimmerman will be teaching a Multi-media workshop. Liturgical Dance and Expression will be presented by Michelle Hunt. Praying in Color and Visual Arts in Worship will be presented by Carole Werder and Suzanne Trenney. Puppet Ministry will be led by Bob Klingler.The Rev. Roy Gearhardt will teach a Drama workshop and Liturgical Weaving will be led by Mathilda Murphy. Glenn Rankin will present Creating Coffeehouse ministries and Alternative Worship and Margo Evans will present a worksop on building Praise Bands and blending worship.A light lunch will follow for all who attend. To register contact the Erie-Meadville District office UMC, 5304 US HWY 19, Cochranton, PA 16314. Make check or money order for 10$ payable to the Erie-Meadville district UMC to cover the registration fee and mail to the district office along with your contact information. Students are free. See you there!

Worship Arts Conference, Jan 31, 2009

This announcement has been shamelessly lifted from the internet verbatim but I wanted everyone in our region who reads this blog to know that a mere three and half to four hour drive away this opportunity exists to learn and grow in knowledge and fellowship among those interested in the worship arts, not just music, but the visual arts. I had a delightful conversation with the preseter of this workshop via dropping in by telephone. SHw was gracious and generous in answering my questions about worship arts. SHe also supplied the information leaading to the link I have supplied at the bottom of this posting which is for the United Methodist Fellowship of those who work in the worship arts ether they be music, dram, visual and liturgical arts or whatever you could imagine. I encourage you to explore their website and join their national effort. They have a national conference coming up in Florida this year. More to come. But for now, this January, here is an item of interest to those of you struggling with worship arts, or maybe not struggling, just looking for encouragement:
***************************************************************************************************

Artistic Creativity Workshop For Worship Centers and Alters- January 31, 2009

Altered Altars- This workshop focuses on designing worship centers as the focal point of the worship service We will talk about the differences between an altar and a worship center, where do we center the altar/worship center and what resources are available. Another topic in this workshop is how to decide what to put on the worship center and how often do we need to change the center.

Creating Sacred Spaces - Although we can dialogue with God , worship and praise our Creator in any setting, we often need to turn ordinary space into sacred space. This workshop explores the purposes of your particular worship spaces, whether it be an Annual Conference setting, church sanctuary, or small meditation room. How can we craft the space to provide the most meaningful worship experiences. This workshop includes looking at the whole environment of the space. We will also look at ways to create the art needed and how to contact and contract with artists to create your ideas

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR
Linda McMillion Clemow is a Liturgical Artist and Workshop Leader who served as the Arts-in-Ministry Coordinator at First United Methodist Church in Oneonta, New York, a position which she created. Linda’s duties included teaching art to children, youth and adults as well as studying the arts in relation to society, religion and creative spirituality. With her students, she also designed and created liturgical art. Linda now sells her art, leads workshops, retreats and seminars through her own Soul Source Studio. She has led workshops and retreats on the Conference, District, Jurisdictional, National and International levels on: Art and Spirituality, Visuals in Worship, How to Have an Arts Ministry, Techniques for Creating Liturgical Art. She is the first ever Chairperson of the first ever Visual Arts Committee of the national organization The Fellowship of United Methodists in Music and Worship Arts.

To register for this workshop go to their website or call:
Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School
1100 South Goodman Street
Rochester, New York 14620-2589

Main Number (585) 271-1320
Workshop is an affordable $55.00


To contact the United Methodist Fellowship of Worship Artists go to this link:
http://www.umfellowship.org/

Alex Woinski, Jesus Christ Superstar

A 13 year old boy dressed up as Jesus Christ for Halloween.

The boy, Alex Woinski, of West Brook Middle School in Paramus,New Jersey was sent home from school on Friday because he declined to remove his costume when school officials told him to.

Alex,with his naturally shoulder length brown hair, wore a white robe, red sash,sandals,fake beard and a crown of thorns. School officials were all right with the white robe and red sash but insisted that the crown of thorns and beard be removed. The District Superintendent, James Montesano, felt that the entire costume would be too "distracting" during the course of the school day.

Alex, who just celebrated his Bar Mitzvah and is studying Bible scripture,said no deal.
The boy's mother is Catholic and his father is Jewish. He recently celebrated his bar mitzvah and has spent much time studying scripture in preparation.

As a veteran teacher, I have seen a lot of creatures come into school on Halloween in my thirty five years of teaching experience, all of them "distracting". As a faculty we chalked up this past Halloween day to fun and fantasy, maintaining a sense of humor, as we usually do. The children I teach, Alex's age group, eighth grade, are heavy into demonic fantasy and slash/gore. I would have welcomed Alex's Jesus Christ personage and it would have given my students pause to think about their costumes. In censoring him a teachable moment was lost. Even though I can't speak of my religious faith in public school, I could have used the opportunity to note that no one thought to come dressed as Ghandhi,Buddha,Mother Theresa, Benjamin Franklin, Noah, Ghengis Khan or Zeus. All of these aforementioned are covered in the Social Studies curriculum, including Jesus Christ...a teachable moment was lost.

Blue eyed Jesus

The visual arts are not seen often in the church, except for stock 1941 Kriebel Bates Warner Sallman lithos of a very germanic appearing Jesus reproduced from a print fifty years ago. I recently worshipped in a church with the golden blue eyed Jesus picture prominently displayed in an idyllic fashion at the altar. It made me wonder what the rendering said about the group of people who worshipped there and their world view in terms of "Open minds, Open hearts, Open doors", as well as what a person of another culture or color would think worshipping at the altar of the blue eyed Jesus? In 1941, however, the western world would have been comfortably at home with this image so much so that in the film making industry, the character of Jesus is protrayed as a variation of the 1941 litho standard of which about 500 million images were printed.
It could be said that the art or the music of a congregation is a matter of taste and context, so much of what I have seen traveling around in and out of local sacred spaces has been limited to the few same images, the blue eyed Jesus being one. When I was a child I was comfortable with the image, now it is time to put away childish things, in a sense, as mu personal image of Jesus has become more comphrehensive. It could also be time, in this global age, to rethink the images of Jesus we use in our worship spaces and in our literature. Oh can anyone show me the real Jesus? More importantly, do you see the real Jesus in the way I life my life, or in the way other professed believers live theirs?

The Real Jesus

Wide-Eyed and Mystified
by downhere

Lyrics:

Jesus on the radio, Jesus on a late-night show
Jesus in a dream, looking all serene
Jesus on a steeple, Jesus in the Gallup poll
Jesus has His very own brand of rock and roll

Watched him on the silver screen
Bought the action figurine
But Jesus is the only name that makes you flinch

Oh, can anybody show me the real Jesus?
Oh, let Your love unveil the mystery of the real Jesus

Jesus started something new
Jesus coined a phrase or two
Jesus split the line at the turning point of time
Jesus sparked a controversy
Jesus, known for His mercy, gave a man his sight
Jesus isn't white

Jesus loves the children, holds the lambs
Jesus prays a lot
Jesus has distinguishing marks on His hands

If anybody walks behind the Good Shepherd
If anybody holds the hands that heal lepers
And if you recognize the eyes that see forever, please...

Jesus, Jesus
Oh, can anybody show me Jesus
Oh, let Your love unveil the glory, the real Jesus

Oh, can anybody show me the real Jesus?
Oh, let Your love unveil the glory of the real Jesus, the real Jesus

Let sleeping dogs lie.....

I took Kelsey, my fifteen year old shetland sheepdog, to the vet yesturday for her annual exam. her teeth needed some dental work so she had pre-op blood work done and it was discovered that her liver enzymes were too high to put her under anesthesia. The blood work signaled other pending health issues as well. The vet advised me to number her days in terms of thinking of radical health measures for Kelsey. For her size and breed, she is "geriatric." I was her to have a good end of life and discussed dog hospice care with the vet.

My brother, at age 48, and my mother, at age 75, were both in hospice care briefly until they passed. No IV's, no extra fluids, with the assistance of medication to make them comfortable to deal with pain management and then just letting nature take it's course. They both died quietly slipping away in their sleep. That was my prayer this morning for my dog, that she will slip away in her sleep and I will find her some morning in her favorite spot curled up in a sweet dream. As for now, we went on a very short and slow walk this morning with frequent stops so she could catch her breath. She enjoyed the sunshine and the birds as well as the passing of another dog, which actually caused her to quicken her step a bit. She still enjoys her chow and her naps.

While I watch her age rapidly before my eyes, my body too is going through a similar decline, although not so rapid, would that my souls's willfulness would experience as rapid a decay as parts of my body! Where my dog was trained in obediance and would heed my commands, I am not so often keen to obey the word of my Master. My dog is simply what she is, there is no pretense, and it would be crazy on my part to hold her responsible or be disapointed because in the end of her life she was judged as not living up to her potential as a dog. On the other hand, when I say "I am only human" it is a lie, because Christ lives in me. I will end with this quote, " My ego is like a fortress. I have built walls stone by stone. To hold out the invasion of the love of God." Howard Thurman

The art of practicing surgery or Sunday school

In a few days I am going to have surgery under a general anesthesia. I certainly hope that the surgeon studied hard in medical school and worked on the cutting and suture techniques that will be needed to open and close the wound. The surgeon and the anesthesiologist will have my life literally in my hands when they administer powerful drugs to render me unconscious while the surgery is performed and at the same time make sure all my vital body functions are still carrying on. It is assumed that to maintain their licenses to practice medicine that they must go to training seminars and be briefed and updated on a regular basis on the latest, best practices in their special fields. Myself, the patient, would of course, be the beneficiary of all this training and knowledge, my chances of a successful outcome greatly enhanced. I certainly do not want a mediocre surgeon or anesthesiologist! Nor would the physician want a malpractice suit for practicing sloppy medicine!

Yet as Sunday school teachers we are not required to attend any kind of bible study or retreat to keep our minds sharp scripturally. Once pastors have finished their seminary training or licensing school they are on their own as far as continuing education as well. Knowledge workers: Doctors, nurses, anesthesiologists, dentists, therapists, counselors, teachers, pharmacists, are required by their professions to attend continuing education every so many years. It seems to make sense that it should be so for those who work for God. Shouldn't we give our utmost for him? Sometimes what passes for ministry, whether it be music, pulpit, ministry or christian education is mediocre at best because the time isn't put into the practice, study of best practices and preparation. Each one of us is responsible to study and practice to bring into quality the gifts we have been given. It is a discipline and a sacred responsibility. The apostle Paul talks about pressing on to the higher calling. Paul sets a pretty good example. He was never satisfied, never thought that he had attained, or had it made but was always moving forward. We all need to follow that example and keep pressing on. It beats being mediocre like the church in Laodicea, was that God's version of a malpractice suit?