Today’s Kintsugi of the Soul* will warm your heart and make you smile!
Kintsugi of the Soul, edition 24
Music
Creator’s Healing Power Virtual Bible Study
The Creator’s Healing Power—Restoring the Broken to Beautiful Virtual Bible Study
Join me, Jody Thomae, author of The Creator’s Healing Power, as I guide you on a healing journey through my newest book via a Virtual Bible Study. You’re invited to join me live on four 75-minute phone calls. The calls will include embodied prayer ministry time and also be recorded for later playback. You’ll also be a part of our private Facebook page where you can share your thoughts and get to know others joining us on this healing journey. The study is hosted by YogaFaith, a Christ-centered yoga training school, and is currently being offered for a sale price of $20 through their website. Continue reading
Kintsugi of the Soul, edition 21
Today’s Kintsugi of the Soul* features singer/songwriter Ryan O’Neal of Sleeping At Last. He is currently creating a series of songs based on the Enneagram, a system of nine “personality types” (that are actually so much more). If you are not familiar with the Enneagram, I encourage you to familiarize yourself with it and perhaps take an inventory to see if you can identify your own type.
Ryan is in the process of releasing a song with an accompanying podcast for each of the nine Enneatypes. I have found these very helpful to not only understand myself but also those I love. Also I love hearing him talk about his creative process as a deep-thinking artist. The podcasts can be found on iTunes here. You can also find them here. I CANNOT recommend these podcasts ENOUGH!! They are amazing!!
Here’s one of my favorite Sleeping At Last songs with lyrics proclaiming “You’re enough!” In a world of comparison that makes us feel as though we can never measure up and consumerism that plays on making us feel inadequate on our own, I know many of us struggle with feelings of being not quite enough.
7 :: “Today you will be with me…”
Standard“7” Last Statements of Jesus
Spoken from the Cross: Week 2
“I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:43
Matt Durbin (c) 2010
Breath
Jesus, why are you
up here
with me, why
is our blood
mixing with dirt,
why do our lungs
heave out as if
we have
the same spirit
in us
begging to be set free?
Why do we keep
breathing,
each inhalation,
a gasp.
All I want to do
is breathe out
a final time. Continue reading
“7” :: “Father, forgive them…”
Standard“7” Last Statements of Jesus
Spoken from the Cross: Week 1
“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Luke 23:34
Matt Durbin (c) 2014
The People Stood Watching
Come, see a man who told me everything
I ever did. A man who healed my eyes,
fed me bread he multiplied, poured my cup
of wine, washed my feet, called me out
onto the sea, cursed the unfruitful tree,
received my kiss on his way out of Gethsemane.
Come see a man who raised me from death,
beckoned for me from my tomb, knew me
in my mother’s womb. See him, how he saved me?
Let him save himself, if he is the chosen
one, the Son of God, of Man, a Nazarene.
Come draw lots with me—which piece
of clothing do you need?
~ Sarah M. Wells (C) 2010 Continue reading
Moving Creatively Through Lent
Yesterday I posted information on a new series called EMBODIED that starts this Friday, February 16th and goes through Good Friday. Embodied is a 7 week-long exploration of postures of praise & prayer to help us move mindfully through the Lenten season. I will be posting one posture each week (on Friday) to take us through the season of Lent.
In addition, to further help us move through Lent creatively, I will also be posting from the previously featured “7” Virtual Art-Walk series each week on Wednesdays throughout Lent, as well as reflections from our church’s Lenten sermon series on Monday of each week. The 7 Virtual Art-Walk includes the artwork of Matt Durbin, the poetry of Sarah Wells, and music that all focus on the last 7 words of Christ spoken from the cross. And our church (5 Stones Community Church) will be working with passages throughout Ephesians to help us prayerfully remember and reflect on Jesus during this season. Continue reading
An Open Letter to the Other Side of the Aisle: a meditation on John 4
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“Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.”
“Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. (John 4:19-22)
Dear Hymn-Singer on the Other Side of the Aisle, Continue reading
Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #251 — Nativity Shadow Dance
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We are nearing the end of our Create-A-Day 2015 posts. As we wind down, I want to leave you with a shadow dance to “O Magnum Mysterium” sung live for CHRISTmas Eve 2013 at Northland Church in Longwood, Florida. Such BEaUty!!
“O Magnum Mysterium” written & arranged by Morten Lauridsen
Original Text:
O magnum mysterium,
et admirabile sacramentum,
ut animalia viderent Dominum natum,
jacentem in praesepio!
Beata Virgo, cujus viscera
meruerunt portare
Dominum Christum. Alleluia. Continue reading
Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #233 — Music & Memories
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Today I’m sending you over to Dave Weiss’ blog at AMOK Arts to a post he did for CHRISTmas last year called Tell a Better Story: Mark Schultz… Different Kind of Christmas.
May you be blessed by this BEaUtiful song and the story behind it. And may you remember to reach out to those who’ve lost loved ones this past year with love, grace and compassion.
Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #163 — The Power of Music
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This is a very poignant and touching example of the power of music to communicate, connect and heal!
In this video, Naomi Feil, founder of Validation Therapy, shares a breakthrough moment of communication with Gladys Wilson, a woman who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2000 and is virtually non-verbal. Feil is a Jewish woman, yet she sings Christian hymns for Gladys because she knows it is those hymns that will resonate deeply in her spirit. Continue reading
Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #155 — Women Who Dare to Believe
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“Women Who Dare to Believe” is a musical by veteran actresses and singers Bonnie King and Nan Gurley. Utilizing a 20-foot piece of scarlet fabric, they tell the story of 21 women of the Bible—women who are all part of God’s story of salvation and hope—bringing them to life through story, song and drama. They also have a CD and a two-part Bible study that accompany the musical. Continue reading
Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #142 — Artists in Christian Testimony
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actinternational.org
A.C.T. International (Arts in Christian Testimony Intl) is a remarkable organization helping artists take their witness to the world. Founded in 1973 by Byron Spradlin, the organization has artistic ministries in over 15 countries. According to their website: Continue reading
Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #121 — Worship Pad Loops
StandardWorship 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!
Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #117 — Playing By Ear
StandardHave 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.
Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #112 — Guitar & Drum Lessons
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Looking to improve your guitar playing or drumming? Looking to learn? Looking to equip your worship team? Worship Artistry provides online worship guitar and drum lessons to help you master today’s top Christian worship songs – with new songs being added weekly – all from the convenience of your computer, smartphone or tablet.
Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #109 — Common Prayer
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Common Prayer is a site created by Shane Claiborne & Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove, designed to draw people together in a virtual setting to pray common (or the same) prayers. As we join our hearts together across the world in these prayers, we are united with God’s people and places and purposes.
Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #106 — Fun in Your Creativity
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From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise! (Matt 21:16)
When I first saw this video I was first struck by this boy’s exuberance, then by his uncanny metronome-like sense of meter and timing, and then by his knowledge of this intricate piece of music. And then, of course, on the shear fun and laughter of it all! He is filled with energy and life as he conducts his imaginary orchestra! He captures the nuances of the dynamics of the song as it swells and collapses back down to near silence!
Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #95 — Wonderful Ache of Beauty
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Not wasting much time here today. Want to direct you to an amazing article called The Wonderful Ache of Beauty (Why We Need Art) by writer Jeff Gions.
Head on over—it is very much worth the read. And make sure you listen to the song—it is very much worth the listen!
Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #90 — Intercessory Art
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Today, in honor of the National Day of Prayer, I want to direct you to this song by Joshua Aaron called Hoshiana (Save, Please). It is a BEaUtiful song of intercession for the nations and a wonderful example of intercessory art, crying out to God on behalf of the nations!
No other name by which we are saved but the Name of the Lord
Oh that the world will know Your Name
That the nations will call on the Name of the Lord
The Name of Yeshua!
Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #82 — Art Against Injustice
StandardArt against injustice: Justice Sees illustrates the sobering reality of human trafficking and the way God cries out to the oppressed.
Dancer: Rebecca Ludwick http://www.krswing.com
A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;
from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—
the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and of might,
the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord—
and he will delight in the fear of the Lord.
Nurturing the Creative Spirit Within 