The rest of this week we’ll be in a four-part video series by artist Scott Erickson called Why the Church Needs Art: Stories of an Artist in Residence. We’ll gain insights from his experience as an artist-in-residence at Ecclesia Church in Houston, Texas. So today through Friday grab your cup o’ Joe and join us for some great insights from a fellow artist on the journey of creativity!
Here’s part 1:
Create Supernaturally is the ministry of Theresa Dedmon, who 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. This is her prophetic word, prayer and impartation for artists and creatives in 2015. Watch & be inspired!
It’s another Facebook Friday! Let’s network together and make His praise glorious!
International Christian Dance Fellowship is an organization of Christian movers and dancers that exists to mobilize the movement arts in ministry and mission. It is an international networking and resource for people involved or interested in dance and movement expressing faith. Find out more at http://www.icdf.com/. They have two groups on Facebook:
International Christian Dance Fellowship (ICDF) – public
International Christian Dance Fellowship (ICDF) – private
I’ve long been a proponent of putting pen to paper, and not in the proverbial sense, but in real-live, actual pen or pencil in hand on that thin, white stuff of trees we call paper! However, today I’m sending you over to the Creative Thinking Hub for a short article on Creativity, Touch & Feel. This article is about how to use your tablet in a similar way as pen and paper. Continue reading
Church Stage Design Ideas is a website filled with creative inspiration for churches, ministries and worship events. There are design ideas for all types of settings, stages and budgets. Sets for youth and children’s ministries too! Lots of pictures, instructions and idea sharing. Continue reading
“Art inspired by God is the highest form of inspiration there is.”
Ivan Guaderrama is a remarkable, young artist whose artwork brings the Holy Spirit to its viewer in a very real and visceral way. Listen to these amazing thoughts from Ivan:
“Since discovering the gift God has given me I have been faithful in my search for the purpose in which he has given me such talents. It is more clear to me now than ever that God has given me the opportunity to spread the hope found in His word through art inspired by God. Through my relationship with Christ, my life has made some astounding changes, and no feeling compares to seeing that experience begin to take shape with the many guests that visit our Gallery. Whether or not they are believers in the Lord, there has been countless guests of the gallery that have felt the Holy Spirit move in them through the art they have seen or purchased. I have no doubt in my mind that it is the message of the Lord placed in the art inspired by God that is causing such a reaction, the gut level understanding that if you are patient and put your life in His hands He will follow through in His abundant promises. My connection to God never ceases to amaze me.”
“Art washes away from the soul the dust of every day life.” ~ Pablo Picasso
“Can flexing your creative muscles really make you happier?”
I know YOU already know the answer to that question, but watch this inspiring video and watch SoulPancake put some science behind what we already know!! Continue reading
The Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington DC makes this powerful statement:
Take a moment, look at these images, and consider the cost.
What did your freedom cost the young man above?
What did your freedom cost the men, the women, the families represented by the more than 285,000 headstones at Arlington National Cemetery?
From the American Revolution to the current situation in the Middle East, have you considered the cost paid for your freedom?
Don’t ever forget!
And don’t forget the cost paid by Jesus Christ as he took your sin to the cross and was buried in the tomb. Continue reading
thecreativepastor.com
In the article entitled, “Ten Years in Creative Ministry Taught Me This,” Kendall Conner, the Creative Pastor, shares what he has learned in ten years of creative ministry at church. And it boils down to one simple truth! You’ll have to read it to find out what that simple truth is!
Let’s make today a TED Talk Tuesday!
Spurred on by the question, “Can art change the world?” street artist JR made a wish in 2011: “Join me in a worldwide photo project to show the world its true face!”
Can caterpillars remember? 
Find out in this Creation Moments Minute! I think you might be inspired by the answer!
“God provides all creatures with the abilities they need to live successful lives. To God, no creature is unimportant.”
“As long as you find yourself drawn closer to the Lord through the art you produce, you are doing what you are called to do.”
~ Trisha Stern
(c) Trisha Stern
The topic of my next book is the artist on the healing journey and the artist as healer, so I was intrigued when I found a Christian Artist Feature on Trisha Stern on The Artistic Christian blog. After experiencing severe wounding trauma in her life, art became the way out of the depths of her grief and pain.
In the words of Trisha, “Art changed my life.” She has much more to say about the power of art!! I encourage you to read the whole feature here. It will inspire you!
(c) Mara Bochart Design marabochartdesign.blogspot.com
I’d like to introduce you to the scripture inspired art of Mara Bochart through her BEaUtiful site Shine Living.
This is a great example of an illustrated sermon. The story of Mary and Martha is told through dance. And dance alone. No lyrics, no words, no dialogue. Yet it beautifully illustrates the scripture passage found in Luke 10. Continue reading
Bringing you an article on learning creativity from CreativePro.com today. CreativePro is a website for anyone involved in the conception, direction, design, or production of communication materials, including print designers, photographers, illustrators, and web designers. The article is geared towards their audience, but all ideas can be transferred over to other areas of the arts and creativity. Check it out here:
Worship band a little sparse on keyboard, piano, and /or synth? I’ve struggled with this very problem as a worship leader until I discovered Worship Pad Loops by Shalon Palmer.
padloops.com
Pad loops provide ambient noise in the key that matches the songs you’re playing and fills in empty space with beautiful sound.
Files download right onto your phone or mp3 player and then can be routed through your sound system. I have used them in a variety of settings including a large cavernous church and a small retreat setting. Works well in many settings!
Skeptical? There’s a sample in the key of A so grab your guitar and play your favorite song in A right along with it to hear how it sounds! And enjoy your worship time with Jesus as you do!
In this article entitled “Keys to Creativity: Vulnerability” by Diana Pitaru of Unleash Your Creativity blog, she encourages the reader to step into a place of vulnerability in their creative process. Yet she recognizes that’s much easier said than done:
“Vulnerability can be a hard to reach place because we’ve been trained to bury it and stay away from it. It feels uncomfortable because this is where all our demons hide: the things that marked us, terrible things we’ve felt and parts of us that we learn are unwanted. . . “
Today’s post is dedicated to my daughter Maddy in celebration of her birthday. You are Madelyn Ruth, Magnificent Companion of God! You are my BEaUtiful daughter, ablaze with adventure and life!
I’ve posted the work of artist Colleen Briggs of Fragments of Light before. Want to direct you there again! This artwork and her accompanying story will certainly bless your day. As you read the story, you will quickly see it is an analogy for something much larger.
colleenbriggs.com
So click here to head over to her post entitled Blaze, and allow the Holy Spirit to minister to you as you read and enjoy her work.
Disturb us, Lord, when we are too well pleased with ourselves,
When our dreams have come true
Because we have dreamed too little,
When we arrived safely
Because we sailed too close to the shore. Continue reading
Have you always wanted to play the piano or keyboard at church or for your own personal times of worship? Had trouble fitting lessons into your busy schedule? Perhaps traditional piano lessons have left you frustrated? Well, I’ve got a possible solution for you!
This is my friend Dr. Ron Sprunger and this is his creative offering called How 2 Play By Ear. Check out the site for a quick summary and sampling of Dr. Sprunger’s program to help you learn to play the piano or keyboard by ear.
Nurturing the Creative Spirit Within 