Saturday, April 10, 2004
Well, I was the last person to see the Passion of the Christ or at least that's how it seems. It was... well I don't exactly know how to describe it. I can't say I enjoyed it, it's not enjoyable. I can't say I loved it. It was too hard to watch. What I can say is it changed me. It inspired me to go further for Jesus. It was a major work, an important film and if it touched others as it touched me, the ultimate critic will one day hopefully give Mel Gibson an enthusiastic well-done.
As a Christian, I would like to thank Mel Gibson for putting his considerable talent to work to the glory of the Lord. I would also like to thank the media for all the free publicity and all the folks that critiqued it before they saw it and amped up the controversy and got many into the seats of the theaters to hear the truth of the Gospel vividly and graphically portrayed. I'd like to thank all the movie companies that decided not to touch it, the risk Gibson took to put it out is a far greater testimony. In ignoring this film, Hollywood changed the face of their own industry forever. A good truthful movie about the creator of the universe still interests people to the tune of nearly half a billion so far and a person dedicated to serving the Lord no longer needs them to get the message out. Thanks Hollywood.
What can we learn from this, Church? First. 1 Peter 4:10 still rings true. Each one should use whatever gifts he has received to serve others. You may not have 30 million (or the gifts or talents) to make a movie, but God has a plan and a purpose for your life and He placed the gifts in you that it will take to get it done. Second. You can't outgive God. Third. Communicate the Gospel whether or not people try to get in your way. If it's God's plan, no one can stop you.
Happy Resurrection Day/Easter.
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As a Christian, I would like to thank Mel Gibson for putting his considerable talent to work to the glory of the Lord. I would also like to thank the media for all the free publicity and all the folks that critiqued it before they saw it and amped up the controversy and got many into the seats of the theaters to hear the truth of the Gospel vividly and graphically portrayed. I'd like to thank all the movie companies that decided not to touch it, the risk Gibson took to put it out is a far greater testimony. In ignoring this film, Hollywood changed the face of their own industry forever. A good truthful movie about the creator of the universe still interests people to the tune of nearly half a billion so far and a person dedicated to serving the Lord no longer needs them to get the message out. Thanks Hollywood.
What can we learn from this, Church? First. 1 Peter 4:10 still rings true. Each one should use whatever gifts he has received to serve others. You may not have 30 million (or the gifts or talents) to make a movie, but God has a plan and a purpose for your life and He placed the gifts in you that it will take to get it done. Second. You can't outgive God. Third. Communicate the Gospel whether or not people try to get in your way. If it's God's plan, no one can stop you.
Happy Resurrection Day/Easter.
Thursday, April 08, 2004
Wow it's been a long time since I blogged. This is one of the busiest times of the year for me both in my job and in ministry. I wanted to tell you all about an amazing experience I had. I was invited to lead two seminars at our denomination's regional youth conference. They were arts in ministry seminars and the students (youth and their leaders) did a great job and came up with some truly wonderful stuff. Where normally I have a pretty structured project, this time I allowed them to create whatever they wanted there was only one catch, it had to describe their individual relationship with Christ.
That evening, I got the opportunity to paint in the context of the worship service. My mission was to paint an image of Jesus on the cross in a short period of time that was big enough to be seen throughout the church that we were in. Due to the time constraints and the importance of the subject, I did a very tight sketch before hand and practiced the piece twice beforehand. I was prepared...or was I. After my last seminar, I moved my easel onto the stage and set up my work surface (a stark white 30 x 40 sheet of foamcore). I arranged the brushes I would need, set my paint colors and got ready to go. The set up a large white spotlight over my easel which made it shine against the black curtain behind me.
When it was my time to go onto the stage in the suface I was a little nervous. There were about 300 people there. The band began to play and I began to sketch. I threw up a quick prayer and it happened. It was as if everyone in the place disappeared. I could hear the worship music, but it was as if it was just me and the painting. I always started with the head and this time was no exception, only this time from the time I finished His face, I began to fight back tears. In that moment what He did for me became reality. In my image, the sign above Jesus head is only partially visible. I usually just left it blank, but this time I felt I should add one word, part of the inscription on the original sign. That word was "King." It was appropriate, He is my king and my sin put Him on that cross.
On this image, the last thing I add is the crown of thorns and the blood. Where before they were just part of the picture, this time they were agonizing to add. The last stroke of the brush was redemption. The last thing I add to every piece is a single dab of red paint, a drop of blood falling from His hand. That drop is for you and for me and it gave me a strange sense of peace.
As I walked off the stage, my piece completed, a looked at my hands, there was at least a little of every color I used in the image. The evidence of His crucifixion was once again on my hands just like it was 2000 years ago. As we approach good Friday and Easter, the mess is on your hands too, but it's okay, because if you trust in Him, that one drop of blood washed it clean.
My next painting of Jesus will be done in my Easter Service this Sunday. It is a decidedly different piece. I'll tell you about it Monday.
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That evening, I got the opportunity to paint in the context of the worship service. My mission was to paint an image of Jesus on the cross in a short period of time that was big enough to be seen throughout the church that we were in. Due to the time constraints and the importance of the subject, I did a very tight sketch before hand and practiced the piece twice beforehand. I was prepared...or was I. After my last seminar, I moved my easel onto the stage and set up my work surface (a stark white 30 x 40 sheet of foamcore). I arranged the brushes I would need, set my paint colors and got ready to go. The set up a large white spotlight over my easel which made it shine against the black curtain behind me.
When it was my time to go onto the stage in the suface I was a little nervous. There were about 300 people there. The band began to play and I began to sketch. I threw up a quick prayer and it happened. It was as if everyone in the place disappeared. I could hear the worship music, but it was as if it was just me and the painting. I always started with the head and this time was no exception, only this time from the time I finished His face, I began to fight back tears. In that moment what He did for me became reality. In my image, the sign above Jesus head is only partially visible. I usually just left it blank, but this time I felt I should add one word, part of the inscription on the original sign. That word was "King." It was appropriate, He is my king and my sin put Him on that cross.
On this image, the last thing I add is the crown of thorns and the blood. Where before they were just part of the picture, this time they were agonizing to add. The last stroke of the brush was redemption. The last thing I add to every piece is a single dab of red paint, a drop of blood falling from His hand. That drop is for you and for me and it gave me a strange sense of peace.
As I walked off the stage, my piece completed, a looked at my hands, there was at least a little of every color I used in the image. The evidence of His crucifixion was once again on my hands just like it was 2000 years ago. As we approach good Friday and Easter, the mess is on your hands too, but it's okay, because if you trust in Him, that one drop of blood washed it clean.
My next painting of Jesus will be done in my Easter Service this Sunday. It is a decidedly different piece. I'll tell you about it Monday.
