I love
talking
with
my artist
friends...
I can relate
to them
on a
completely
different level
than
anyone else...
We see
the world
in a way
that is
totally other...
Jade and I
were talking
this morning
about God's
artistic
characteristics...
as Creator
of the Universe,
as a
carpenter...
about the fact
that art
is found
throughout
Scripture...
music,
dance,
craftmanship,
poetry,
prophecy,
rhetoric,
parables...
ART.
Why is it,
then,
that the church
seems to place
little or no
focus on art
&
creativity?
Shouldn't
we
encourage
artists
to express
themselves
& use their
talents
to lift
the name
of Jesus
high?
I think
many
Christians
are
intimidated
by art...
because
you can't
put it in a box...
you can't
confine
or
structure
it...
just like
you can't
put God
in a box
or
confine Him
to manmade
theology...
What would
happen,
though,
if we
encouraged
and even further
created an
environment
conducive
to artists
in our communities
& churches
to use
their unique,
God-given
gifts
to bring
glory to
God &
to bless
others?
What would
that look
like?
Hmm...
a community
of artists,
coming
together to
spend time
with
&
encourage
each other
to develop
& refine
their passions
& talents...
to sit around
& write,
sing,
play,
strum,
photograph,
paint,
&
draw
together...
What an
honor
we have
been
given...
to get
to reflect
the artistic
nature
of God,
of Christ,
to the world...
What a
responsibility!
How can
we
push
those
characteristics
to the
background
of our lives?
How dare
we!
How dare
we try to
cover up
what God
is trying
to show
& express
through us!
We must
embrace it,
harness it,
refine it,
and utilize it...
so that
we may
make Him
known. 
