Shadow

Life is an adventure. It is full of highs and lows, good times and bad. But through it all, I am reminded that God is here. He is with us. He is Emmanuel. He didn’t come to earth just to show off and have a good time. He came to earth to break the separation between man and God through his death..he came to be WITH us. And that truth is something that I often forget when life suddenly blindsides you unexpectedly. It’s so easy how humans can forget, wouldn’t you agree? God is so good, and yet life has a way of giving us spiritual amnesia. Life is hard for me today. I won’t cover it up or disguise it. It sucks. I’m anxious and weary. But I also know God is in control. He has plans for me. He knows my next step in life, even if I don’t. He can see what’s around the corner when I can’t. Sometimes when hard times hit, I forget to remember that I’m living an adventure..with all the ups and downs and round and rounds and the steep, slow anticipation of the ascent to the top and the thrilling and terrifying rush to the bottom and the near-death twists and turns and the euphoria of the ride. Things wont be the way they are forever. If its a thrilling season, it won’t be forever. If it’s a scary time, it wont be forever. So today, as I sit here worried and confused and disappointed in the shadow of recent events, I also have a glimmer of excitement in my soul, wondering what may be next.

David Crowder’s new song “Shadow” has spoken to me a lot today. When life is crazy and hard, we remember Who is in control. 

Life is full of light and shadow
O the joy and O the sorrow
O the sorrow

And yet will He bring
Dark to light
And yet will He bring
Day from night

When shadows fall on us
We will not fear
We will remember

When darkness falls on us
We will not fear
We will remember

When all seems lost
When we’re thrown and we’re tossed
We remember the cost
We rest in Him
Shadow of the cross

target.

I’ve been reading the book “Tribes” by Seth Godin. It’s a great book. In it, Seth talks about the idea of each of us leading a tribe. There are people who follow us, whether we know it or not. Sure, there are the up-front-on-the-stage leaders who we naturally follow. There are bosses and managers and supervisors and executives that we follow. But then there are the people we follow who may not have the “title” but they have the influence. That person who started that latest trend. That person who is challenging the status quo and you’re buying into their idea. That person who writes that blog that challenges your thinking every day, and who you subscribe to each day, wondering what they’ll say next. That person on Twitter that you may or may not know, but you’re fascinated with what they’re doing in life, so you follow them. They, believe it or not, are leading you. In the book, Tribes, Godin believes that in today’s society, it is now easier to be a leader…it is now easier to find a “tribe” following you.

Fast forward. I’m laying in bed the other night thinking about some things going on in my life, some of the struggles I face, some of battles I face. And as I was thinking about those, I started to wonder if you guys (yes, you guys who are reading right now) were to know the person behind the blog. I started to wonder if you read this blog and left being challenged or confused or inspired or annoyed, but you left not really knowing who I am. Regardless of how you felt after reading it, some of you come back every day. (Thank you, if that applies to you). But what if you were “following” a person you didn’t know anything about?

I try to be pretty transparent and authentic on this blog. My hopes and intentions are that what you see here is really what you get. It’s really who I am. But I hope you know I am not perfect. I am chasing after God, but I fall…a lot. Not only am I clumsy in real life, but seriously, I’m a spiritual klutz, too.

Fast forward that train of thought. As I laid there in bed, I started thinking about all of the “tribes” that exist today. Churches, companies, bloggers, activists, politicians, etc. I started to wonder how many of those “tribes” exist simply because of the “leader” of that tribe. And if the leader were taken out, would the tribe die? I think you know where I’m going with this.

With the ever increasing number of “tribes” these days, I can only imagine satan is having a hayday. If he can target the LEADER of each of those tribes, how many tribe members can he take out with just one shot? Churches, blog readers, Bible studies, youth groups, etc. If the followers aren’t constantly reminded to follow the TRUE Leader, Jesus Christ, they could be a casualty as well.

I’ll repeat my thought…if the leader gets taken out, how many of the tribe will be destroyed?

And as I slowly began fading into sleep, I wondered….if I were attacked and I fell to the enemy’s schemes and the tribe found out…how many people would be caused to doubt, struggle, question the truth. And if I, a person who merely has a little voice that a few people are listening to, feel so attacked by the enemy….how much must the huge-impact leaders be attacked? How big of a target must they be for the enemy? And how much damage could the enemy do if he were just to take out one of those leaders.

It’s serious stuff. We are in a war.

Let’s stop, just for a minute, and pray for those that have huge giant targets on their back.

And let’s turn our focus back to the real leader of us all…Jesus Christ.

Thoughts on Creativity by Tim Schraeder

Found on timschraeder.com, i thought this was a great blog on creativity!!

Design Apologetics

• Apologetics – to speak in defensive of.
• So as a Christian creative/designer we should en able to speak in the defense of our design.
• We often bump heads over aesthetic.
• Genesis 1:1 – “In the beginning God created…”
• God is infinitely creative.
• God has no creative blocks.
• It’s not “In the beginning, God used clipart…”
• “The heavens declare the glory of God…” – Psalm 19:1
• God’s portfolio trumps us all.

God’s Portfolio vs Man’s Portfolio

• God’s portfolio has the human smile.
• Man’s portfolio has the pug. (You either think they are really cute or really ugly.)
• God made tropical plants and fish… patterns, colors, texture, smell, etc.
• Man created the hairless cat.
• God made jellyfish.
• Man grows an ear on a rat.
• God created mountains and modes of transportation.
• Man created the Pinto.

Man Tries to Mimic God’s Creation

• No matter how hard we try we can’t compare to the intricate design of God’s creation.

God’s Visual Aesthetic

• God creates strange things… like spiders.
• God does scary… the Great White Shark.
• God does fearsome… an alligator.
• God does creepy… a scorpion.

The Wonderful Paradox of God’s Design

• He makes things that look sinister, evil or demonic… Angler Fish

Christ is the ultimate creator. He didn’t water down his design to appease a consensus. Christ-like creativity means we live out the reality of being made in His image.

What is Creative Curiosity?

• Comes from fun not fear.
• Creating is all about sharing.
• Anyone can be creative.
• Refrigerator Effect: Since childhood, we’ve always wanted people to appreciate our work and creativity.
• The most frustrating time for all of us is when people don’t appreciate what we do.
• Good thinking leads to good design.

Humor is creativity’s best friend.

• Humor and creativity complement each other.
• Creativity takes the mundane and ordinary and sees something unique in it.
• Creativity is a universal trait.
• We’ve all been creatively curious.
• We all have the inherit ability to be creative.
• We see it in various areas of life.
• Our creativity has to be on tap because of our job description.
• We have to look for those moments of creative opportunity.

Kids are Wellsprings of Creativity

• Creativity comes to kids, naturally.
• Kids are naturally curious.
• They lose their creativity when they become adults.
• We need childlike curiosity.
• We need to look at things differently.
• If you need perspective, watch and listen to kids.

Exercising Creativity

• Look for things that aren’t there.
• Seeing art in the mundane… maps, subway maps, trees, chicken nuggets, potato chips, etc.
• You’ve got to train your brain.
• Check out Caffeine for the Creative Mind
• Check out Veer Lightboxing

Creativity is Fostered not Discovered.

• Be aware – Boredom  is an opportunity to be inspired by the mundane.
• Go in Observation Mode… observe the mundane and be inspired by it.
• If something intrigues you, figure out why.
• Piqued curiosity leads to creativity.
• Be sensitive to creative impulses.
• If something frustrates you, figure out why.
• Necessity is the mother of invention.
• The best inspiration is frustration.
• Seek and you will find.
• Capture thoughts, visuals and words.
• Twitter is a diary for my random thoughts that others can follow.

Creating and Sharing – act on your creative curiosity.

• Personal creativity doesn’t need to be appropriate.
• Turn normal into unique.
• Blog about your ideas.

You never know where it’s going to lead.

My design portfolio.

As much as I wonder where design fits into the scheme of things at the church, I’m still called to use the gifts that God has given me. So I do. And with this job at PV, I’ve been able to focus on challenging myself and try new things every day to expand my skill level…and it has been a lot of fun!!!

So…do you ever wonder what types of projects Communications teams work on at a church? Well, let me show you! Click here to head over to my design porfolio page on my blog, and take a look at just a portion of the things I’ve designed…for multiple churches, and a few other clients also.

Feel free to comment or make suggestions if you have any ideas!

beautiful bride.

Tonight I was lucky enough to share such a great experience with my Community Group as we went to our friend Holly’s wedding. It was the first girl in our group to get married. We really got to “share life” together as we experienced this huge moment of her life together. It was incredible to feel so apart of a community. Those women are amazing and such a blessing to my life.

And Holly? Wow. Well Holly was just stunning.

It got me thinking about something I was talking to Erin about earlier today at lunch. The Church. The Bible references the Church as the Bride of Christ several times [Ephesians 5:25-27; 2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:24; Revelation 19:7-9; Revelation 21:1-2].

A bride is beautiful because of who she is…naturally. She puts her make up on, does her hair, paints her nails, and puts on the most beautiful dress. She presents herself to her husband as a beautiful bride. Looking good for her husband is important because she knows he’s worthy of her best. But, as the husband knows, what really matters is who she is and whose she will be. Makeup or not, painted nails or not, hair up or hair in a pony tail, beautiful dress or sweatpants…its about who she IS that matters.

Imagine a bride who came through the doors with layers and layers and layers of makup caked on her face. The giant spider eyelashes are jumping off her face. Her fake tan is so thick, she looks like an oompa-loompa. She’s desperately trying to do everything possible have people even deem her as attractive and to accept her and be compelled to her beauty. But we all know better. THAT IS NOT PRETTY.

Sometimes I wonder if we focus SO MUCH on the outward appearance of our churches that we almost become a scary fake bridezilla, when what REALLY matters is that when the Church is doing what it’s called to do, when it’s called to be itself in the very best sense, THAT is when we are the most beautiful. Of course, looking attractive and doing our best to present ourselves in an excellent matter because we know HE is worth it, that is absolutely okay.

But when we get so focused on the makeup (crazy sweet graphics), assembling the hair extensions (wicked movies), fake baking (flashy lights everywhere), tarantula eyelashes (coolest giveaways) to the point that layer upon layer upon layer has been caked up on us just in an attempt for people to call us attractive, it just simply isn’t pretty anymore. Because that’s not what makes the bride beautiful.

A bride is beautiful because of who she is, and WHOSE she is.

stewardship.

Perhaps God’s longing for us to be good stewards isnt JUST about being wise with what we’ve been given (a way to show our gratefulness for the blessing), but how would we ever be able to give to others if we didn’t know what we, ourselves, had? How can I wisely give money to people or organizations if I don’t keep a budget myself? I could possibly be spending hundreds of dollars on things for myself if I didn’t keep track, and that money could have been put to better use to help others in need, if I only would have budgeted. How can I give people and organizations my time, if I don’t spend my time wisely? I may always feel like I’m super busy and never have time to spare, but if i really looked at it closely, I could manage my time a lot better so that I did have more free time to give to others.

We have so much, but sometimes our failure to be good stewards (or our purposeful ignorance) can hinder our ability to do what God has really commanded us to do….to be generous givers, to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to serve others, to put others before ourselves.

I dont want to talk to the air and pretend I have it all figured out. Honestly, I’m the last person who should be talking about stewardship. But God is doing a work in me that I can’t ignore, and I believe he’s calling me (and you) to take a good hard look at the way we do life and the way we do church and ask ourselves: IS THIS WHAT JESUS INTENDED?

What do you think?

my place as a designer.

God has called us to justice. God has called us to generosity and serving. God has called us to compassion, to reconciliation, to forgiveness, to love. He has called us to worship Him. He has called us to reach the world for Him. He has called us to help the least of these. He has called us to meet together, spurring each other in good works and in the pursuit of knowing Him more. He’s called us to share the good news. He’s called us to be there for the hurting. He’s called us into his misssion of expanding His Kingdom. A kingdom where things are opposite. The rich are really poor…the poor are really rich. The first are last..the last are first. Blessings are to be given away, not hoarded. Its a Kingdom described as a mustard seed. Something so small that makes the biggest impact. Not the huge flashy productions, but the simple way of life..that is His Kingdom.

So where is my place as a designer? At a church? In America?

Am I in the wrong place?

I wrestle with this. I really, really do. And the more I study and process this mission that God has called us on, the more I’m wondering if I’m just a part of the problem? If you are a designer at a church, or know people who work in a church producing the creative elements/communications/websites/set designs, etc….please send the link to this blog to them so that they can help me wrestle through this.

My heart is being compelled more and more to simply be the hands and feet of Christ…to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to comfort the hurting. That is what Christ has called us to do as Christians. As the Church. So what do pretty invite cards have to do with anything? What do attractive banners and websites really do? Is my cool graphic feeding the poor? Are my proofreading skills clothing the naked? Are my efforts, sitting behind a computer screen, attempting to let my creative juices flow really comforting those who are hurting? Does the facebook and Twitter interaction that I stir up really causing people to be the hands and feet of Jesus, or is it causing people to just sit in their chairs, staring at a computer screen just like me?

Are my creative designs just feeding the consumeristic engine of the church? Do people expect and demand “coolness” because a “cool graphic” is what makes the church awesome? because IT DOESNT. Graphics mean NOTHING in a church. Social media does NOT make me a better Christian. That sweet big-screen design did NOT lead a person to the foot of the Cross, finding the remedy for all brokenness. So am I just feeding into a “gimme” culture by doing my every-day-job? I don’t find any verse in the Bible saying “some were given the gift of freakin’ sweet design skills so they may produce the most killer graphics for the church.”

On another note completely, another thought I’m wrestling with, is how art can be used to expand the kingdom. Is art just a “luxury” that should be sacrificed for better things? I dont think so…but, I do have to admit, art doesnt really feed the hungry, or cure cancer, or save a soul. Music…music can be used in the church for worship. Accounting skills can help non-profits get their books in order to most effectively give resources to those in need. Counselors can comfort the hurting and broken families of our world. Doctors can cure diseases in third-world countries. Speakers can proclaim the redemptive message of Christ.

But artists? What good does art really do? Don’t get me wrong, I have been given an incredible gift of creativity, and yes, I can use it personally to worship God…but what good is art for the masses? For the crowds? For the congregations? Where does art fall in God’s Kingdom, besides just a personal worship tool?

Am I helping or hurting the church? And before you say “it makes people attracted to the church cuz it looks cool”….should that REALLY be why people want to check out our church? Because it looks “cool”? Since when has Jesus’ call to “come and see” and “come and die” been cool? Shouldnt the attraction be to the compelling lives of us as individual Christ followers, living out the lives Jesus himself has transformed? Isn’t that what should compel others to “come and see” the claims of Christ? And since when has the goal been to get people simply INTO the church? Isn’t our call to “go out into all the world…”? Sure, we’re to meet with each other to encourage each other, but thats just the start. The pep rally. “CHURCH” should really be the day-to-day living, breathing, being Jesus to the world, and joining his mission to restore the world to Him.

So where, oh where, does art and the role of a church designer play into that?

Cuz I can’t figure out where it does.

justice.

thoughts are stirring. nothing has quite formed yet. just thoughts. words. the sentences haven’t quite been put together. but there is this brewing in my spirit about justice. about our role as Christians. about our role as filthy rich American Christians. WHY are children DYING of starvation when we are stuffed so full every day of so much food that it makes us sick? WHY are we complaining about our tough 40 hr/wk job when there are some who are working three or four jobs just to keep their kids clothed? WHY do we spend our money on designer clothes, name brand foods, and the top of the line coffee when there are people DYING of diseases that could be CURED if they just had more resources to do the research. WHY do we sit on our fat butts watching endless hours of mindless TV, movies, and video games when there families FALLING APART EVERY SINGLE MINUTE who need someone to be WITH them, share the HOPE of Christ with them, to be Jesus in the FLESH to them.

We have been given MUCH….SO THAT…we can give to those who have little.

We have NOT been blessed because we are better. We have been blessed….SO THAT….we can bless those who are broken, weary, burdened.

We are SQUANDERING the wealth on the things of this world while ignoring the eternal souls of those around us.

HOW can we call ourselves Christians and be OKAY with this?!?

HOW!?

Come to my church?

I write this not towards other people, because the majority probably aren’t in the same situation. I write this for advice or thoughts on the matter.

Often we are encouraged to invite people to church with us. Sounds like a good idea. Currently, I’m not sure who I would invite…but if I did have someone to invite…i seem to have a problem.

Nearly every Sunday, I’m involved in serving with the media for the services. I love it. I feel like its my “sweet spot.” However, that means that I leave my apartment by 6:45 a.m. in order to get there for practice. And  then I run media for both services. I don’t have a boyfriend or husband who can sit with the people I invite. It’s just me. Do you see my problem?

Granted, there are a few weeks that I’m not serving that I could sit with someone…but what if they wanted to come back the next week? Do I ask them to sit alone? Do I ask them to sit with people they don’t know?

Like I said, unfortunately, as much as I wish I had people in my life who I feel prompted to ask to join me at church, I really don’t….YET. But if I did….what do I do?

Thoughts?

engage

This just goes to prove that people don’t want to be entertained..they want to be ENGAGED.