What Season of Life Are You In?

April 10, 2013 — 7 Comments

If you’ve been wondering why it has been radar silent here on Art, Life & Faith for the past few weeks, it’s because I’m in an unexpected new season of life. In agricultural terms, I’m in the midst of a ‘perfect storm.’ As many of you know, The Grove Center for the Arts & Media is a ministry to artists that I serve. And what makes The Grove unique is that we really do have a grove. Twelve acres of avocados and organic lemons which require constant cultivating, weeding, feeding, watering, and trimming for every new season. Thus, for the past month (as noted by my agri-absence), my hands have not been at the keyboard, but manhandling a weed whacker and chainsaw. I’m in a busy season of cultivating about 1600 trees…what season of life are you in? A busy season? A peaceful season? A fragmented season? Read on…

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My Top Faith-Based Arts & Culture Groups on Facebook

March 20, 2013 — 4 Comments

If you’re on Facebook, you just may want to check out my Top Faith-Based Arts & Culture Groups. You’ll find 16 wonderful organizations listed below. Many of these arts groups and ministries are led by friends of mine whose artist essays appear in Create: Transforming Stories of Art, Life & Faith. I hope you’ll visit and share these arts & culture groups with your friends. One of our goals with The Grove Center for the Arts & Media is to expose artists to fellow arts & culture groups who are leading significant conversations in art, faith and culture.  Now’s your chance to engage with these arts and culture groups on Facebook. Share it with your friends. “Like” them. Read on…

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Question of the Week #10: What do You Find Truly Life-Giving?

March 18, 2013 — Leave a comment

Welcome to the Question of the Week #10: What do you find truly life-giving? Answering this question just may cause you to seriously rearrange your life, schedule and priorities. If I were to peek at your “life-giving list,” there’s a good chance a lack of sleep, lack of exercise, reams of conflict and a hurried, hectic schedule would not be on your list. At least I hope not. The things you find truly life-giving are essential for cultivating a deeper, richer life. Read on…

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3 Ways Artists Can Cultivate Faith over Fear

March 13, 2013 — 2 Comments

As an artist, is fear kicking your butt? Maybe you’re not an artist, BUT you struggle with worry, fear, and anxiety? As an artist, I’ve found that fear is the number one obstacle to creativity, innovation, growth, focus, and artistic success. This past Monday night at our monthly Grove Gathering, Roy Cochran, my friend and co-worker, shared with forty-five artists the importance of cultivating faith over fear. I know this struggle of faith over fear well. If you’ve read my free book, The Longing: Embracing the Deepest Truth of Who You Are, you know that I had a ten-year wrestling match with chronic pain, fear and anxiety. I’ve learned a few lessons over the years that just might help you cultivate faith over fear. Read on…

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Top 10 Art, Life & Faith Blog Posts for Feb. 2013

March 6, 2013 — Leave a comment

Here are the Top 10 Art, Life & Faith blog posts for February, 2013. As I meet with artists and art leaders from across the country, I see a growing intentionality among artists to cultivate their spiritual growth and the creative gifts God has given them. As artists pursue the beauty, truth and goodness of God, the natural outflow influences their creative and imaginative gifts. I’ve seen an enthusiastic response of artists spending more time on Art, Life, & Faith watching the artist interview videos, reading and posting comments. Last month, the average time spent on the site was 21 minutes per visitor…the highest ever. Most important though, is helping you cultivate a deeper relationship with God and how to pursue excellence in your given craft…all to the glory of God. Read on…

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Cultivate Your Creative Calling

February 28, 2013 — 1 Comment

If you’re an artist and you’ve been discouraged by setbacks, wondering if it’s all worth it, I want to remind you that it takes work to cultivate your creative calling. One of the pure tests of whether you’re an artist or not is questioning your creative calling in the first place. Being an artist is not a fixed and static reality like a math equation: 2 + 2 = 4. Okay, we get that. In pursuing your art form, you will face challenges, questions, hardship, financial struggle, heartache and doubt. Read on…

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Creativity, Filmmaking & Mentoring (Free PDF)

February 22, 2013 — Leave a comment

What role does mentoring play in the life of an artist? How can an artist cultivate their creativity through an older, wiser mentor? How can artists improve their craft by pursuing a mentor? Whether its filmmaking, writing, music, dance, visual art, or any other art form, there are critically important links between creativity and mentoring in the life of an artist. A mentor can provide an aspiring artist the necessary wisdom and life experience to help navigate the unavoidable personal, professional, and spiritual challenges that emerge as one pursues their creative calling. Today, I want to share with you a great interview with Charlie Matz, Bub Kuns, and Ian Nelson with Veracity Colab about creativity, filmmaking and the role of mentoring from Create: Transforming Stories of Art, Life & Faith. Read on…

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Question of the Week #9: What Do You Enjoy Most about Creating Art?

February 21, 2013 — 2 Comments

Welcome to the Art, Life & Faith Question of the Week #9: What do you enjoy most about creating art? As a writer, there are days when I’m not sure if I’m working or playing. I simply love to write. The same can be said for any kind of art that you truly enjoy creating. If you didn’t enjoy and actually love the process of creating, there’s a very good chance that you’d never become an artist. Read on…

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10 Steps for Filling Your Life with Wow & Wonder

February 19, 2013 — 2 Comments

My teenage boys are fans of the hit zombie TV show, Walking Dead. If you and I take a closer look today, we might say, “Wow, the walking dead are all around us.” People whose eyes are empty, devoid of the wow and wonder of life all around them. Completely zoned out to living a life of “Wow, look at that!” and “Hey, I wonder why…” How can you avoid living like a zombie? I have real steps, not zombie steps, that will help you cultivate a life of greater wow and wonder. Read on…

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3 Ideas for Cultivating a Fruitful, Satisfying Life

February 18, 2013 — 1 Comment

Do you know it’s possible to cultivate a more fruitful, satisfying life than you ever imagined? Everyone is searching for a life they hope will be filled with satisfaction, meaning and purpose. Cultivating that life we long for is possible, but I’m not going to offer easy platitudes…it is challenging. This past weekend, I spent two days at The Grove, the 12 acre organic lemon and avocado farm owned by The Grove Center for the Arts & Media. I’m learning a lot about cultivating. I’d like to share 3 ideas to help you cultivate a more fruitful, more satisfying life than you ever imagined. Read on…

3ideasforcultivatingamorefruitfulsatisfyinglife 3 Ideas for Cultivating a Fruitful, Satisfying Life

 

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