Crowned With Righteousness Or A Frying Pan; You Pick

I Corinthians 13-14

My Bible used a 2 ½ page footnote to explain verses 34-35 in chapter 14 but only 8 lines to explain the entire 13^th chapter.  Since both are dealing with husbands, wives and marriages I would stick with chapter 13.  It’s a lot more fun and will get you crowned with righteousness instead of a frying pan.  

Love
by Robert Indiana

The Unseemly Seemliness Intestines

I Corinthians 11-12

“…and our unseemly members come to have more abundant seemliness.”  12:23b

Paul’s covering the rules and gifts that orchestrate public worship.  As he does so he encourages those who seemingly have lesser gifts.

I use to think that the human form was the highest state of beauty.  Then I saw Tim Hawkinson’s massive work Uberorgan that depicted the human intestine.  Can you imagine the beauty of an organ that can take chocolate cake and hotdogs and turn them into you?  An unseemly member elevated to profoundly abundant seemliness.    

Uberorgan by Tim Hawkinson
This is only part of it.  It streches into another building and issues
sounds much like your stomach growling.

Hey, Do You Have A Minute

I Corinthians 7-10

Paul’s pen begins the arduous task of the day-to-day grind, the hourly life.  I once heard a man so tired that when it came to walking he said, “God if you will pick them up I will put them down.”  Life, liberty and the pursuit of marriage can so consume our minutes that we can quickly misplace God.

“…whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” 10:31

Lest we forget what all our minutes are for in marriage, life or art making!!!

James Turrell's Roden Crater.
Using his minutes for God's glory even if
he does it unaware.

Self Ain't Much To Discover

I Corinthians 2-6

“I (Paul) do not write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children… Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” 

I Corinthians 4:14; 3:16

What is the greatest sin of the American believer?  We have forgotten our first Love so that our temple is hollow and our dwelling cold.  We are trying to fill it with wealth. 

Art is the same way.  As artists we have forgotten our role is to make art and have instead chosen to make trinkets of self-discovery and self ain’t much to discover. 

The Running Wall at Storm King NY
by Andy Goldsworthy, one of the few humans
making art today.  Several years ago my wife and I
took our children to see this piece.

You Can’t Sculpt Like That

Romans 15 – I Corinthians 1

“Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?”

1 Corinthians 1:20b

Humans have created beautiful paintings but we should never confuse beauty with the profound.  Humans can paint but only God can make color.  Which is more profound, painting or color?

My yard is knee deep in oak leaves.  I was walking around my yard yesterday waiting for
my wife to get ready for church and looked down and saw this particular one.  It exquisite
beauty was immediately apparent as were my artistic limitations.  God
is always ready to be found by us as long as we are always looking for Him.

SIT DOWN!

Sunday School Lesson

When our children come home from college they attend my Sunday School class.  This week the lesson is from II Peter 3 dealing with the assurance of the second coming of Christ.  We have taken our children hiking all over the world.  One of the main things we have taught them is that if they are ever lost in the woods SIT DOWN and wait.  Do not move.  We will find them if they stay put because we know where we’ve been.  In my Sunday School class I am going to ask them what is the number one rule when lost in the woods and I am confident of their answer.  We have taught and trained them. 

“Therefore beloved, since you are waiting for these (Christ’s return), be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.” 

II Peter 3:14

Will you be found by God doing what He has taught and trained you to do?

Hiking New York Mt. and didn't loose anyone.
Maybe 12 years ago?

What The Well Dressed Christian Is Wearing Today

Romans 10-14

Have you ever been convince of something but because of the radical nature of it you longed for others to be convinced as well.  There is something about a group of “committed’s” that stiffens the backbone and sharpens the passion. 

The truth however is that you will often be alone.  Radical passion is a garment sized for one.

“Let each man be full convinced in his own mind…So then each one of us shall give account of himself to God…The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God…” 14:5a,12,22

My latest work, "What The Well Dressed Christian Is Wearing Today"
made of 600 one dollar bills.  Made as an indictment of
my own faith and dependance on money and my willing
participation in hoarding it.

Drinking Starbucks At The Burning Bush

Romans 8-9

“The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ…” 8:16-17a

Infantile faith is a plague on the Christian today.  All of life for the believer is alive and full of the real possibility to know and experience God and to add to our riches as heirs of Him.   For the committed believer every moment of life offers us a glimpse of the Almighty, every raindrop and blush of color come alive and hold exquisite meaning of God is love.  Art making is one of the surest avenues by which this meaning becomes reality.

However we have made it enough for us to make a public confession and then sit around the Burning Bush texting and drinking Starbucks.

The Burning Bush
by J.E. Raddatz

Freedom To Be Andy Warhol

Romans 6-7

At one point art was dominated by masterful rendering of recognizable themes, then a great freedom was discovered… self-expression and artists embarked on a marvelous time of art making centered in the freedom to explore outside the slavery of corrective rendering.  Great works were and are created by great artists like Monet, Pollock, Warhol, and Kappor.  However, in this freedom of self-expression lies the hideous seed of self-indulgence.  Bacon, Mapplethorpe, Serrano and Madonna often slide into this realm. 

This is what these chapters are about.  In Christ we receive freedom, total freedom to be who He created us to be.  However, we must always be aware that the seed of sin and death still live inside us and we must at all times wage a resistant fight against it. 

Jesus
by Andy Warhol

Counting Hair

Romans 4-5

There is such profound duality in Christ.  On the one hand it is so simple to be saved, we need only believe in Him.  On the other the believing is a consuming fire that eventually will ignite every cell of us.  Salvation in Christ comes from a total acceptance of Him, not who you think He is or who the world has said He is but an acceptance of who He said He is. 

It’s that simple but it will change even the hairs on your head. 

(You will accept they are numbered like Peter and Paul did.  See image below)

Saint Paul Reading To Saint Peter
by Carlo

Can't Get My Boots Off

Romans 2-3

“For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.”  Romans 3:28

If I have to work my way into heaven I give up.  At one point I was young enough to pull off the arrogance of the self-redeemed, but at my age now I can barely pull off my boots.  God help me.  He did.  His Son.

Apostle Paul In Prison
by Rembrandt

A Heart As Dull As Dirt

Acts 28-Romans 1

Paul arrives in Rome and we begin one of the most beautiful books ever written, Romans.

“For the heart of the people has become dull…because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.  For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so they are without excuse.”  Acts 28:27; Romans 119-20

Many a heart is dull as dirt but even there we can find God.  Is there anything so Godly as dirt which by some miracle grows tomatoes, cotton, maple trees and everything else?  Let the beauty of God’s “today” polish your old dull heart!!!

St. Paul's Gate
Rome

Kiln Sitting Doxology

“To Him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore!  Amen.”  Jude 1:24-25

Studying my Sunday School lesson while kiln watching with the night still dark outside.  

Little Michelle in heavy reduction
while God creates RED inside.

General Petraeus And Paul

Acts 25-27

Paul comes out of nowhere to become the center of Christ’s redemption story.  We find him first as an accomplice to murder, later saved and commissioned to missions and while on his way to stand trial before Caesar, ship wrecked and cast into the sea during a 14 day “nor-easter”.

Our contemporary heroes like President Obama and General Petraeus seem silly in comparison to Paul and his willing commitment to follow Christ on our behalf.

St Paul Shipwrecked
by Nicolo Circignan

Barely Missed It

Acts 23-24

“And as he (Paul) was discussing righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix became frightened and said, “Go away for the present, and when I find time, I will summon you.” 24:25

One thing that has always sobered me is….

how many people are going to barely miss going to hell

and

how many people are going to barely miss going to heaven!

Rembrandt's Paul

We Had Better Be Serious, They Are!!!

Acts 21-22

“And they listened to him up to this statement, and then they raised their voices and said, “Away with such a fellow from the earth, for he should not be allowed to live.”” 22:22

A few months ago the media announced that America is now a post Christian nation.

A sobering truth.  Christ cannot be ignored.  Once there’s enough who are willing they will try to kill Him out.

Great is Artemis

Great is Artemis Marriage Equality

Acts 19-20

‘…they began to cry out, saying, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”’  19:28b

This sounds ok and the masses were proclaiming it but behind it all were the merchants who sold the small silver statues of their god Artemis.  They believed that Paul’s proclamation of Christ would end their lucrative trade.  Sounds silly now. 

Whenever Jesus comes He disturbs the peace.  The peace however is often kept by a group with a deceptive hidden agenda cloaking it in catchy phrases, “Marriage equality” or “Reproductive Freedom” or in this case, “Great is Artemis…”

Can You Save Yourself?

Acts 17-18

Christianity answers this one vital question: who has authoritative truth?  Every culture, every nation, every human life lives under authority, someone or something that defines their life.  Today most westerners live under the authority of the individual, the autonomous self. 

This is what our reading is about today.  Who has authority?  Every human being will answer that question and then be held accountable for their answer.

“Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.’”  Matthew 28:18

Jesus will allow you to save yourself even into eternity.  The only problem is we can’t save ourselves. 

Paul At Mars Hill
artist unknown

Look At Yourself In The Mirror

Acts 14-16

Christ and His offer of salvation are spreading across the Middle East and now into Europe as Paul lands in Macedonia.  There is one great question that has always puzzled humans?

“what must I do to be saved?” 16:30b

Must I be circumcised, eat certain foods, go to church, do good deeds, WHAT???

“God saved you by His grace when you believed.  And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.  Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.  For we are God’s masterpiece.  He has created us a new in Christ Jesus…” Ephesians 2:8-10

The artwork for today?  Any mirror will do.

Begging For Jesus

Acts 11-13

A true truth: 

I was watching a sitcom on TV late last night where a Christian family were guests in the home of the show’s star.  The family lived up to all the old stereotypes that the world depicts Christians as, silly, narrow and simple minded, judgmental and better than thou bigots.  The whole world is satisfied to get their Jesus through the media and pop culture but there’s one serious flaw… Jesus doesn’t come that way.  He comes through you and me, sincere believers who have experienced the overwhelming Grace that saved them.  When Christ comes this way, most people are intrigued and many want desperately to become a part of Him. 

“And as Paul and Barnabas were going out, the people kept begging that these things might be spoken to them the next Sabbath.” 13:42b 

Saint Peter Delivered From Prison By Angel
by Pietro Ricchi

You're Just Right

Act 8-10

We Are IN!!!

Have you ever been out of the loop, second string, left out, didn’t belong?  Often we want desperately to belong but don’t.  We just don’t measure up.

Today we all got invited in!!!

“God has shown me (Peter) that I should not call any man unholy or unclean.” 10:28b

WE’RE IN!!!

Post Script:  Puts President Obama and Governor Romney in a new light in our hearts.

The Conversion Of St Paul
by Caravaggio

Are Americans Missing Something?

Acts 5-7

This passage begins with Ananias and Sapphira dying for lying to the Holy Spirit and ends with Stephen being stoned to death for his proclamation of the gospel. 

While reading this I am sitting in a Lazy Boy recliner, sipping Star Bucks Dark Roast, wrapped in a LL Bean terry cloth robe in a warm home and now writing on a MacBook Pro.

Am I missing something here?!!!

Martyrdom Of St. Stephen
by Bernardo Cavallino

The Febreze Of The World

Acts 2-4

Jesus has departed the earth but has sent the Holy Spirit to be God inside of us so that we might be His representatives to the world.  What are the affects of God in us?  We refresh the world we’re in.  Our world, the area of life and culture we find ourselves in, is stale.  We, through Christ living in us, Re-Freshen it.  We are to remind the people around us how wonderful oxygen, color, touch, love, leaves, kissing, holding, communication, elbows, water, grand children and everything else are.  

The most important reminder?  Christ can even Re-Freshen a human being. 

“Repent therefore and return, that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.”  3:19

Don’t you just love God!!!

The Pentecost
by Jean Resout

Purely Practically Lost

John 20-Acts 1

Jesus is raised from death and from earth with the Heavenly promise that He shall return.   Why will He return?  Because no one knows how to get to Heaven, where it’s at or by what method we will travel from here to there.  In a Spiritual sense we are saved but in a purely practical sense we are lost, no map, no directions, no GPS.  Jesus has to come back to show us the way. 

Ascension of Christ
by Garofalo

The Greatest Irony

John 17-19

The human body is a divine gift and a solemn curse.  When we are conceived we are given one and by it we experience life and the joys of being alive.  However we are also locked in it fully aware that it is marching us lock step to its destiny, death. 

Jesus knew this greatest irony. 

‘When Jesus therefore had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!”  And He bowed His head, and gave up His spirit.”’ 19:30

The Dead Christ
by Andrea Mantegna

The Gospel of ___________________

John 13-16

One of the most glorious passages, Heavenly prose stirred in the ink of man. 

The gospels are such balm for the world.  What is your gospel?  I mean if you wrote “The Gospel of your name here”, what would you write.

My first line;

"In the beginning Christ came to me having never held me against me."

Christ Washing The Feet Of Peter
by Ford Maddox Brown

Look At MEEEEE!!!

No One’s Looking At You

John 10-12

One of the most sinister qualities that plaques humankind (see image below) and thwarts the Kingdom of God is the overwhelming urge we all have to live under this mantra;

“Look at Me!!!”

“for they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God.”  12:43

Adoration Of The Magi by Sandro Botticelli
If you look very few are adoring Christ, most are there to be seen and the artist, pictured on the far
right is looking at you looking at him.

Daydreaming Eden

John 7-9

“When He (Jesus) had said this, He spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and applied the clay to his eyes…And so he went away and washed and came back seeing” 9:6-7

That sounds familiar!

“Then the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground…”  Genesis 2:7

I can imagine in the act of making clay Christ was sincerely harkening back in memory to those carefree days in the Garden when He and His Father had created man…

…because every potter knows you repair clay with clay.

Christ Healing The Blind Man
by Assereto

Pizza Or Jesus

John 5-6

“Jesus…said…’He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life.’…Many…of His disciples, when they heard this said, ‘This is a difficult statement…’ As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew…Jesus said…’You do not want to go away also, do you?’…Simon Peter answered Him, ‘Lord to whom shall we go?’”

Utterly unbelievable!!!  All Christ is saying is that you can feed your body and get maybe 90 years at best.  Feed your soul and He guarantees you to live forever. 

Pizza and diet 7-Up or Jesus?  It’s your call!

Christ By The Pool At Bethesda
by Heinrich Bloch

180 Gallons of Pure Love

John 2-4

Our story begins with Jesus’ first miracle, making 120-180 gallons of wine for a party where the guests were already merry with wine and ends with Him healing a man’s lost son. 

In all the partying and healing don’t loose sight of Christ’s reason for being on earth.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”  John 3:16

Raise your glasses and hold your sons, God dwells among us!!!

The Marriage At Cana
by Marten Devos