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Are You in Awe of the Aching Beauty of God’s Creation?

December 4, 2012 — 11 Comments

When was the last time you soaked in the aching beauty of God’s creation? Or let me ask you, how does the aching beauty of God’s creation move you? I hope it does. God’s creation could be the very heart monitor you need to check the condition of your spiritual life. The music of God’s creation is all around us and this past weekend, I had a deep soak in the visual artistry of God. A long drive through vineyards, past California oaks, and the Pacific Ocean along Santa Barbara tunes you into the frequency of God’s love like no other. If there is one thing that renews my spirit, it is the beauty of God’s creation. I have a sneaking suspicion that God’s creation does the same for you. Let me share a story. It may inspire you to go for a slow walk or long drive this coming weekend. Read on…

 AreYouinAweoftheAchingBeautyofGodsCreation Are You in Awe of the Aching Beauty of Gods Creation?

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Question of the Week #6: How do you handle interruptions, distraction or lack of focus?

November 28, 2012 — 1 Comment

Welcome to the Art, Life & Faith Question of the Week #6: How do you handle interruptions, distraction or lack of focus? Okay, I know that may be a risky question for some of you, so I’ll go first. I’m not going to lie to you. As a writer, producer and executive direction of a non-profit organization, I frequently wrestle with interruptions, distraction and lack of focus in my work. Did you hear that? Frequently!

artlifefaithquestionoftheweek6 Question of the Week #6: How do you handle interruptions, distraction or lack of focus?

I can’t claim that I suffer from ADD, ADHD, or TBI (traumatic brain injury), though I do know several people who do. I don’t think I’m alone on this focus issue. Artists and creative people aren’t the only ones who have to deal with interruptions, distractions and lack of focus. Read on…

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Pray and Take Action for Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

November 21, 2012 — Leave a comment

For the past five years, Ken Straw (my screenwriting partner) and I have been researching and writing about the history of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). I typically don’t write posts of a political nature, but today’s Art, Life & Faith post is about preserving life. Call it exercising faith through prayer and action. First, I want to ask you to pray for the safety of the people in Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo. I have very dear friends who are leaders living, working and ministering in Goma, whose names need to be kept anonymous for their safety. In the past few days, the situation in the Eastern Congo has gone from bad to worse with the M23 rebels takeover of Goma. According to reports, their next goal is the takeover of Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province on the other side of Lake Kivu. The chance for M23 conscripting child soldiers is high. To take action, read on…

PrayandtakeactionforGomademocraticrepublicofcongo Pray and Take Action for Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

 

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The Key to A Happy Life: Surrender to God

November 19, 2012 — 4 Comments

Do you want to live a happy life? Though life is filled with blessings and challenges, the key to a happy life is much simpler than you think. Let me start with a story…

Last week, I had the wonderful opportunity to get away to the local mountains in Big Bear with twelve Southern California worship leaders. Hosted by The Grove Center for the Arts & Media, we had three days of great meals, laughter, music and wonderful conversations about cultivating our lives in Christ. On the final day of our getaway, Sherri Alden, one of our Grove board members read this amazing quote by George Mueller. In this simple quote, I rediscovered what I’ve know for many years: The key to a happy and full and rich life is full surrender to God…a daily process that takes a lifetime! I hope you enjoy these inspiring words and share them with a friend today. Read on…

ThekeytohappinessfullsurrendertoGod The Key to A Happy Life: Surrender to God

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Thomas Merton: Thoughts on Creativity & Writing

November 13, 2012 — Leave a comment

Thomas Merton is my favorite spiritual writer. This now-dead Trappist monk and brilliant writer who lived a quiet and creative life of prayer at the Abbey of Gethsemani in Kentucky, is one of the keenest theological minds of the 20th century. His thoughts and theology on creativity, the writing life, the restorative work of the Trinity and the kingdom of God on earth are elegant, weighty musings.

merton 1 Thomas Merton: Thoughts on Creativity & WritingThe best way I can describe reading Merton is this: Imagine Thomas Merton holding your head in a bucket under water for a few minutes. Suddenly, he pulls you up for air—a moment of brilliant clarity! You take a deep breath and then, he plunges you back down again! You don’t speed-read Merton. He has many thought-provoking thoughts on creativity and the writing life that I’d like to share with you today. I hope you find them as encouraging and insightful as I do. Read on…

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Art, Life & Faith Question of the Week #5: What has been your most challenging artistic work?

November 6, 2012 — 6 Comments

Welcome to the Art, Life & Faith Question of the Week #5. What has been the most challenging artistic work you’ve ever created? What made this artistic work challenging? Right now, I’m in the middle of one of the most challenging writing projects I’ve ever encountered. How about you? Read on…

artlifefaithquestionoftheweek5 Art, Life & Faith Question of the Week #5: What has been your most challenging artistic work?

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Are You Grateful for the Gift of Friends?

November 1, 2012 — 14 Comments

Yesterday I had a wonderful conversation with my buddy Roy Cochran, a dear friend of mine who leads a ministry for worship leaders and artists called the Worship Mentor Network. We had just come from a Grove planning meeting with Monty Kelso and Sherri Alden (also dear friends!) at Hidden House Coffee for an upcoming Grove Worship Leader Getaway.

Celebratingthegiftoffriendship Are You Grateful for the Gift of Friends?As we stood in the gardens on Los Rios Street just talking and watching the sun go down, the warm light danced through the sycamore and eucalyptus trees. It was one of those reflective moments framed by the gift of friends and the breathtaking beauty of the waning day. After a hug and a goodbye, I got in my car to get home before dark to take my seventh-grade son, Aidan, out with some friends for Halloween trick-n-treating. I called home to check in and what I heard next broke my heart…horrors of horrors on Halloween! Read on…

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Art, Life & Faith Question of the Week #4: What would you say to an artist struggling with a project?

October 26, 2012 — 5 Comments

Welcome to the Art, Life & Faith Question of the Week #4. How many artists do you know that are stuck and struggling? What would you say to an artist struggling with a project? Maybe you’re one of them? I’m interested in knowing how you get out of a creative funk and how you would help another artist? What do you do when the words on the page are a garbled mess? What happens when you can’t nail that dance move? How do you dig deep when it’s Take #19 after you’ve flubbed Takes #1-18? What happens in your spirit when that plein air painting is more of a mix between Jackson Pollock and Picasso?  Read on…

artlifefaithquestionoftheweek4 Art, Life & Faith Question of the Week #4: What would you say to an artist struggling with a project?

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Are You Becoming More Loving, Joyful & Winsome? A Great Challenge by John Ortberg

October 24, 2012 — 2 Comments
Are you becoming more loving, joyful and winsome? It’s a wonderful, challenging question asked by pastor and author John Ortberg. In today’s guest post by my friend Alan Fadling, you’ll be encouraged to consider how you are becoming more loving, joyful and winsome as a follower of Christ. Alan graciously agreed to share his notes from a recent message given by John Ortberg at the Pastor’s Forum hosted by the Center for Individual and Family Therapy (CIFT). Dallas Willard had been scheduled to speak, but a recent surgery and slower than expected recovery meant he was unable to attend. Alan’s blog is An Unhurried Life, which I read regularly and highly recommend. (FYI, this is an article length post.) John’s words and Alan’s notes provoked this question in me, “As I rest in the grace of Jesus, am I becoming more loving, joyful, and winsome?”

areyoubecomingmorelovingjoyfulwinsome Are You Becoming More Loving, Joyful & Winsome? A Great Challenge by John Ortberg

 

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The Art of Cultivating Your Life

October 23, 2012 — 9 Comments

How do you cultivate your life? I believe that cultivating your life is an art form because it involves vision, purpose, intentionality and commitment to your craft. Just this past weekend, a handful of artists, Grove board members and I explored this theme. We had several conversations about The Art of Cultivating Your Life at the Young Artist/Creative Leader Getaway sponsored by The Grove Center for the Arts & Media. We had a wonderful weekend, which is why I’m so eager to share our conversations with you. Read on…

theartofcultivatingyourlife The Art of Cultivating Your Life

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