Author: Jody Thomae

Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #203 — Cultivating Kingdom Creativity

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National Book MonthMore creative books for National Book Month!

Theresa Dedmon has been on staff at Bethel Church in Redding, California since 2003 where she currently oversees the Creative Arts department at Bethel’s Supernatural School of Ministry and in church life. She is the author of two written works on creativity.

CultivatingKingdomCreativityCultivating Kingdom Creativity: a Practical Guide to Releasing Supernatural Encounters Through Prophetic Arts in Your Personal Life, Church, and Community. “Learn how to access new levels of creativity. Receive an impartation for breakthrough in creativity. Experience activation exercises that will propel you towards your creative destiny.” Continue reading

Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #202 — The Organic Artist

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NNational Book Monthational Book Month continues with more books for creatives, artists and worshipers.

Today’s book is The Organic Artist by Nick Neddo. Is your creative hobby getting too expensive? Do you love to create but find yourself inhibited by the cost of art supplies? The Organic Artist is loaded with ideas to make your own paint, paper, prints and pigments all with the help of nature!

Organic Artist“The Organic Artist seeks to inspire creativity by connecting you to your wild roots. In addition to offering a wide variety of suggestions for using nature as supplies for art, this book also introduces the concepts of awareness and perception that are foundational to the creative process.”

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Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #201 — Gently Awakened

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National Book MonthWe continue National Book Month with more books for artists, creatives and worshipers!

Gently Awakened: The Influence of Faith on Your Artistic Journey by Sara Joseph is a wonderful book of transparency from the heart of an artist who has surrendered her gifts to God! Sara shares her passion behind writing this book:

“Aware of how testimonies always encouraged me, whether Gently awakenedI heard them in church or read them in a book, I wondered if perhaps my story would encourage someone else. This book is part memoir interspersed with color images of art and poetry. It is an account of some of my experiences as an artist and a testament to God’s incredible faithfulness. His unchanging character is reason enough for you to confidently pursue art as an expression of your faith.”

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Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #200 — Journeyartfully

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National Book MonthNational Book month continues with books for creatives, artists and worshipers!

Pattie Ann Hale is the author of Journeyartfully: Secrets for Living an Artful Life. Here is the description from her website:

“This thought-provoking and life-shifting book by artist and Journeyartfullyteacher, Pattie Ann Hale, is an invitation to live artfully. The artful life is a deeply spiritual life which brings those who will embark upon it into a deeper understanding of creation, God’s heart, community, and themselves. This book will open one to new doors of creativity, love, soulfulness and spiritual encounter through the sacredness of everyday living, seeing divine nature in the entirety of life.”

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Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #199 — Let the Bones Dance

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National Book MonthOctober is National Book Month so we continue our focus on books for the creative soul.

Today’s recommendation is a book about embodiment called Let the Bones Dance by Rev. Marcia Mount Shoop, PhD. Don’t be mistaken in thinking this is simply a book for dancers, as it is for all who have left their feelings and bodies at the doors of their churches for a refined, safe religion.

“Why are feeling and body often demeaned in theology and church while cognition and mind esteemed? Beautifully Let the Boens Dancewritten, deeply felt, Let the Bones Dance defies the disembodied ethos of Reform Protestantism that turns churches into dry, brittle places where we hide rather than reveal our bodily vulnerabilities. In its place, it offers a vivid theology relocated in the flesh and blood of life’s utter physicality. Finally a book to recommend when people ask about resources on bodies and theology!” — Bonnie Miller-McLemore, Professor of Pastoral Theology at Vanderbilty Divinity School

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Create A Day: your daily dose of creativity #198 — An Army Arising

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National Book MonthEnjoying our book focus? Hope so! Because there’s lots more books on the way!

ArmyToday’s feature is An Army Arising: Why Artists are on the Frontlines of the Next Move of God by Christ John Otto. It is a very inspiring book. If you are an artist or creative in need of “the big picture,” this is a great read as it helps you see the bigger picture of God’s kingdom coming to earth through our artistic offerings!

Otto works with artists through Belonging House of Boston, Massachusetts where creative worship is being used to glorify God and advance His kingdom!

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Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #197 — Many Books of Matt Redman

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National Book MonthOctober is National Book Month, so I’ll be continuing to post links to books for creative Christians and artists all month!

Matt Redman has a BEaUtiful heart of worship and so much wisdom to share as a “veteran” of the modern worship movement.Screen Shot 2014-12-28 at 7.28.20 PM

In addition to many songs to his credit, he has written more than a half dozen books on worship, including The Unquenchable Worshipper and Face Down. You can explore his book offerings on his website at www.mattredman.com. There are excerpts of all books available to read there so you can preview them before you decide to buy.

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Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #196 — Painter of Light

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National Book MonthContinuing our focus on books for creatives, artists and worshipers, I want to point you to Billion Dollar Painter: The Triumph and Tragedy of Thomas Kinkade, Painter of Light by G. Eric Kuskey.

I enjoyed this honest review from Amazon:

“This is not the most sophisticated book. It’s not the most comprehensive book. But it is a really fascinating biography told from the point of view of a man who was a close friend Kinkadeand colleague of painter Thomas Kinkade through the best and worst of times. I actually had a hard time putting the book down due to its compelling narrative arc — naive but brilliant painter and his two pals dream up a little company that turns into a multi-billion dollar enterprise, before the wheels fall off.
Some may criticize the book for being too soft on Kinkade himself, letting him off the hook for some of the financial damage his company did to gallery dealers and soft-pedaling some of the painter’s vices. But I think readers can read between the lines of the author’s account and get a pretty full and interesting picture of the Painter of Light, who kept his hopeful gaze on the morning glow even as dusk closed in…”

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Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #195 — Books of Matt Tommey

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National Book MonthContinuing our National Book Month focus on books for creatives, artists and worshipers, I’d like to introduce you to several books from Matt Tommey of the Worship Studio.

UnlockingThe first is Unlocking the Heart of the Artist: A Practical Guide to Fulfilling Your Creative Calling in the Kingdom. According to Jeanne Randall, President of Masterpiece Christian Arts Foundation, “It’s the Purpose-Driven Life for Artists.” I love that it touches on the importance of working towards healing and wholeness. There is also a companion guide resource with journal prompts and project ideas to help you on your healing journey.

Creativity TommeyCreativity According to the Kingdom: Connecting With Heaven to Create With God and Release Transformation is Tommey’s more recent release. I love what this Amazon reviewer had to say about the book:  “Matt Tommey’s earthy and challenging teachings on creativity in the Kingdom are wonderful. He raises the bar to create with God instead of struggling to create for God. It is encouraging and uplifting.”

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Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #194 — Books of Artist Dave Weiss

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National Book MonthContinuing our focus on books for creatives, artists and worshipers, I wanted to share the books of Dave Weiss of AMOK Arts. I’ve shared several resources from Dave this year, and here’s two more great resources he offers!!

AMOKRunning AMOK: Creative Musings for the Creative Hands of the Body of Christ is his latest offering. It is available through Amazon in both print and Kindle format. Kindle version is currently FREE for Kindle subscribers or $2.99 if not.

Ministering to the Creative Soul: a Manifesto on Ministry to Creatives and the People Who Love Them is Dave’s other offering. The Kindle version is also free to Kindle subscribers and $.99 for non-subscribers.

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Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #193 — Imagine That

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National Book Month October is National Book Month, so I’ll be posting links to books for creative Christians and artists all month!

Manuel Luz is the Creative Arts Pastor for Oak Hills Church in Folsom, California. I posted his blog, Adventures in Faith & Art early in the year.

Screen Shot 2014-12-18 at 5.30.04 PMHe is also the author of Imagine That: Discovering Your Unique Role as a Christian Artist. Here’s more about this amazing resource:

Drawing from his experiences performing Mozart, playing “dive bars”, and leading worship and the arts in the church, author Manuel Luz seeks to answer the questions that artists often ask. Laced with humorous and sometimes poignant anecdotes, Imagine That is a thought-provoking journey through the convergence of art and faith. Luz has been a working musician, writer, pastor, and even amateur cartoonist for more than 40 years, and in Imagine That he lays out his case for a uniquely Christian approach to the vocation of artist, using theologically rich and artist-friendly language.

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Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #192 — Photography as Prayer

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National Book MonthOctober has traditionally been National Book Month and to celebrate I’m posting books for Creative, Artists & Worshipers

I posted about Abbey of the Arts and the work of Dr. Christine Valters Paintner early on in the year, and today I want to guide you to a specific resource.

Eyes of the HeartEyes of the Heart: Photography as a Christian Contemplative Practice by Dr. Paintner is the first book of its kind—exploring photography as a contemplative spiritual practice from a Christian perspective. I first found this book when I was searching for a book for my daughter who loves to take photographs, and I consider this book a treasure to Christian photographers! The ideas and concepts are applicable for moving film and cinematography, as well.

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Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #191 — Books for Worship Dance

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jodythomae.comContinuing our focus on books for creatives, artists and worshipers, I want to look at a variety of books today all geared towards those in worship dance ministry or who use dance as a personal way of worship. There are many, many books for dance so I want to consolidate some of them here.

First, Lynn Hayden of Dancing for Him Ministries has a full variety of books and instructional DVDs. I featured her awhile back, and you can refer back to that post here.

Here is a list of several more books I recommend: Continue reading

Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #190 — Breath for the Bones

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National Book MonthOctober is National Book Month so from now to the end of October we’ll be focusing on books for artists, creatives and worshipers!

Breath for the BonesIn Breath for the Bones (Art, Imagination and Spirit:
A Reflection of Creativity and Faith) author Luci Shaw “challenges all of us to re-think how faith informs art and art can animate faith. Here is a fresh breath of encouragement to imaginative minds. . . . A clear guide to the theological framework of creativity and the call for active participation in God’s own creative life.”

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Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #189 — Windows of the Soul

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National Book MonthContinuing our book focus for the rest of September and October . . .

In Windows of the Soul, author Ken Gire proposes that art, poetry, scripture, movies, writing, nature, tears and depression are all windows given to us by God to see into our own souls. Imploring his readers to look with more than their eyes and to listen with more than their ears, he says:

“We must be aware, in all Windows of the Soultimes and in all places, because windows are everywhere, and at any time we may find one. Or one may find us. Though we hardly know it . . . unless we are searching for him who for so long has been searching for us.”

Published in 1996, it has helped readers find themselves through the many creative avenues that we hold so dear. My pastor mentored through this book during my time as worship pastor at our church. It’s a great tool for individual or group study, as well as for spiritual mentoring and direction.

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Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #188 — The Impressionist

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National Book MonthContinuing our September/October focus on books for creatives, The Impressionist is a novella by Tim Clinton and Max Davis all about becoming the masterpiece you were created to be.

The jacket cover reads:

Middle aged, disappointed and self-loathing, Adam Camp is anything but the picture of a successful man. With his wife threatening to leave him and Impressionisttheir son addicted to drugs, Adam teeters on the verge of absolute despair—questioning his own existence and purpose for living.

After an explosive argument with his wife, Adam searches for an escape as he sets out on a journey that will dramatically recolor his world. While walking through the city park, Adam is approached by an old painter. The mysterious artist convinces Adam to let him paint his portrait and what happens next is nothing short of a masterpiece.

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Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #187 — The Creative Call

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National Book MonthFor National Book Month, let us continuing our book focus for the rest of September and October . . .

Creative CallMany would consider The Creative Call by Janice Elsheimer a must-read for artists and creatives. According to one Amazon reviewer, “As a painter who had hit a dry spell . . . The Creative Call has helped me to rethink the whole process of ‘art making.’ I now see each painting as a gift, a ‘love note’ from God. I also see both the process and the finished work as an act of service, a means of worship.” Wow! That’s quite a testimony!

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Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #186 — Books of Rory Noland

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National Book MonthContinuing our focus on books for creatives, artists and worshipers in light of National Book Month next month. . .

We began Create-A-Day postings with Rory Noland, author of Heart of the Artist, way back in January with our very first edition!

In addition to Heart of the Artist, Noland has several more books for artists and worshipers:

Worship on EarthHis newest book is Worship on Earth as it is in Heaven: Exploring Worship as a Spiritual Discipline. It explores both private and corporate worship. Want to go deeper in your worship? Then this is a great choice! Continue reading

Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #185 — Books from Jews for Jesus Writers

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National Book MonthOctober is National Book Month, so I’ll be posting links to books for creatives, artists and worshipers the rest of September and throughout October!

Today is Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year for our Jewish and Messianic Jewish friends. So in honor of this holy day, I wanted to share several books that reveal Jesus Christ in the symbolism of several Jewish holidays.

PassoverTabernaclesPentecost

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Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #184 — An Altar in the World

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National Book MonthOctober is National Book Month, so I’ll be posting links to books for creatives, artists and worshipers the rest of September and throughout October!

AltarNew York Times Best Seller An Altar in the World by Barbara Brown Taylor takes spirituality out of the box. I love the way she suggests very non-traditional, creative ways to encounter God. As an artist or creative, her book will leave you with new ways to develop your own spiritual practices to commune and worship God.

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