Lies Artists Believe

No one enjoys wallowing in his or her own stereotype like an artist.

Painting with large brush strokes . . .

I have worked around artists my whole life. I am an artist. I know what you say about us and I know what we allow ourselves to believe.

Artists are always late.
Artists can’t think straight.
Artists are flighty.
Artists are unorganized.
Artists are self-absorbed.
Artists have high highs and low lows.
Artists mostly have low lows.
Artists are out of control emotionally.
Artists’ passions often lead them astray.
Artists are tortured.

Wearing his or her “temperament” of shame (wrapped in pride), the artist often wanders through life discouraged, sad, and feeling misunderstood.

Disappointingly, some artists find a toxic strength in the identity of popular opinion and embrace the labels as a badge of honor. They begin to live out their self-fulfilled prophecy of a helpless and tormented soul. They become the bad girl or bad boy everyone thought they’d become--blaming indiscretions on the “way they were made.”

Some artists wave our temperament like a banner and a license of freedom to do whatever we want. On a path of self-destruction.

I’ve seen a sad trend with artists embracing the stereotype of the tortured artist as if they have a disease as opposed to a gift. As if they’ve been dealt a bad hand as opposed to a special prophetic way to heal the world.

If I hear one more male artist tell me that “every man who knocks on the door of a brothel is looking for God” I am going to punch him in the neck. I get it. You’re full of emotion. No one understands your passion. Sometimes your sex drive (masquerading as passion) gets you in trouble. But, it’s not because you are an artist. It’s because you are making stupid choices.

Artists: If you drop the ball and show up late and give an excuse like you were tortured by a dream all night and had to paint it out on canvas to the wee hours, that is not a legitimate excuse. You didn’t set your alarm. It’s your fault.

If you didn’t prepare for something because you . . .

a) forgot
b) thought you could wing it
c) haven’t prepared for anything before and everyone knows that’s just how you are . . .

Stop playing a victim. Buy a notebook. Put reminders in your phone. People may expect you to blow it but I guarantee you they don’t like it. They tolerate you. Or ignore you.

If you have high highs and low lows that’s okay. Lots of people do. But they aren’t called artists. They’re called humans. You may need medication. You may need to be in community. You may need perspective. You may need to let go of some baggage. You may be lying to yourself. You may be in denial. Maybe all of the above.

Temperaments make sense. I get it. I believe in predispositions. I empathize with being wired a certain way. I understand having a certain bent. I too feel tormented at times. I’ve had seasons of driving my self crazy with dreams. Sleepless nights. Feeling misunderstood. I’ve been mocked. I’ve made bad decisions. I’ve battled narcissism.

Owning up to all the above, offering them to God, being accountable, allowing ourselves to be edited, practicing full disclosure with loved ones, and surrounding ourselves with people we trust to help us navigate life in Jesus is the way forward.

It’s time for artists to stop constantly getting caught with our hand in the cookie jar and blaming it our natural bent towards the smell of cookies.

My Art Pieces from Ap(art)

Okay, if you want to own a piece of my art there has never been a better time. Here are four pieces from the Ap(art) event. All money from these pieces goes to scholarships for kids so they can continue in art programs at Jackson School of the Arts.

Get out your checkbooks people. If you want a piece, you can bid here on this site in the comment section or send me an email at john@westwinds.org. I will contact you with current bid status and answer any questions.

If you aren't an art person, do it for the kids. We'll give the art you win away to someone else.

You can pay by check, cash, or credit card through our PayPal account if you win the bid.

#28 is an oil abstract on a 4X4 piece of 3/4inch plywood. The "frame" was routed into the actual piece with a plunge router and the color gives it depth and the illusion of being inset in a frame.

#33 is a black and white abstract with oil and bondo on canvas. There is a thick wire running around the perimeter of the piece. The contrast is brilliant.

#7 was inspired by the series we are in at Westwinds. The writing on the painting says, "YOUR CITY IS SICK SHE'S HURTING" and the words repeat four times with a different word underlined each repeat for a different emphasis. Your city is SICK. YOUR city. Your CITY. Your city is sick, she's HURTING.

#41 This is oil and bondo on ply. A boy kneels and ponders how he might shadow God in the redemption of the world.

Art from Ap(art)

Go online to the Ap(art) site and place your bid on any of this art. Click on a piece if you like it and place your bid in the comment section. We will update the site later today with the bid status. Every piece of art is at least at $50.00 currently. Some are over $150.00. All the money we raise goes to art scholarships for the Jackson School of the Arts.

Ap(art) 105.3 Interview

Playful Healing

This 4X4 piece was painted on 3/4inch plywood today. Bondo. Mixture of both oil and latex. This piece was inspired by the series we are in at Westwinds entitled, "Archetypes."

In the series, we are examining how individuals shadow God in the redemption of the world in relation to personality, spiritual gifts, dreams, etc.

Each week, we begin the message with a video short wherein the "King of the City" sends a letter to a different archetype and tells them he has a job for them to do in order to heal the city.

This painting captures a child juxtaposed between the innocence of a colorful and playful existence and their impending journey into adulthood. However, their mission to the city as an adult need not loose any of its innocence, playfulness, or satisfaction.

The Tyranny of Theme Part 2

Why is it that church musicians listen to Radiohead and say they are inspired and moved yet pick a Nickleback song for the weekend?

I want people to engage and have a deeper level of listening. When we explain art away, we open the door to passive interaction—the lowest level of listening.

When there is an unidentified noise in your home, you seek it out with due diligence. Where is it coming from? What does it mean? Is something broke? Am I in danger? Once you identify it, you deal with it. But, if someone says, “oh, that’s just the wind blowing the tree against the house” you stop listening. You “hear” it, but you don’t listen to it anymore.

When we explain art away and live under the tyranny of theme—especially obvious theme . . .

No one asks questions. They don’t need to.

No one arrives at their own conclusions about their own lives. We tell them what to think.

No one is bothered. We tell them it’s okay.

No one is convicted. There’s no element of surprise.

Often, people will ask me why we “use” certain songs at the Winds. But, I don’t think in terms of “using” art. At least not in the sense these folks are thinking of when they ask the question.

I certainly don’t think of music as something we “use” to get to the “real message” (sermon).

Music isn’t “used” to round out 60 minutes and offer something other than a talking head.

Music isn’t simply used to communicate one theme at Westwinds.

Our music, like everything we do on the weekend is about aggregates and gateways. Sure, we aren’t completely random. We pray. We think things through. We pick the right song for the right moment. But, we aren’t mono-thematic.

What I really, really, REALLY want to see happen is for the people who are in charge of music selections at their churches to look past obvious theme. I want to see us not be afraid of the world of metaphor, tension, concurrent subject matter, emotional and physiological response, and avant-garde.

So, instead of asking your network of music people if they know a good song about “money” because your pastor is doing a sermon on “tithing,” (which will garner obvious and overdone suggestions like Pink Floyd—Money, The Beatles—Money (That’s What I Want), and Calloway—I Wanna Be Rich) let’s think for a change.

If you are stuck in the theme mode, at least think about deeper layers of themes. A theme like “tithing” gives you a plethora of places to go from comfort, to sacrifice, to commitment, to mission, to obedience, to state of the heart, to lifestyle, to choices, to fear, etc.

OR . . . OR . . . don’t do a song at all!

OR . . . do a song that isn’t tied to the theme at all.

OR . . . do a song that is pertinent for other things your church or the world is experiencing.

OR . . . do a song because it is a good song and it needs to be heard.

One of the greatest things that ever happened to the church over the last few years was Willow Creek’s influence on music and the arts in the context of the Sunday gathering. But it is that very thing, that theme mindset, which “special song” approach, which sometimes keeps us hamstrung from being creative.

It makes us predictable.

So, we are left to search the internet for themes, ask our friends what worked for them, go to an old book like The Source, or post a frantic request to Twitter because our pastor is speaking on Homosexuality and we can only think of Queen songs.

(P.S. Scott Dyer, author of The Source, is a friend and a good man. The Source has been a huge impact and excellent resource for many. Sometimes, a book like this is exactly what the doctor ordered. But, it is not the only way to approach music selection and I’m sure Scott would agree)

So, church musicians, I dare you to break the mold.

Listen to the radio. Listen to the new iTunes releases. Pull up the playlist of the college station.

When a song grabs you, ask why.

If it makes you cry, you should probably share it. Soon. Because.

If it makes you smile, buy the chart.

If it bothers you, put it on the calendar.

God Told You I'm Supposed to Use This? OR 10 Things to Tell People Who Swear You're the Lennon to their McCartney

He brought his guitar with him one Sunday. He told me I had to sit and listen. "God gave me this song and told me to give it to you," he said. Awkward to say the least.

As an "up-front" artist, I often get approached by people asking me questions about songwriting/poetry/painting, etc. They range from, “how do I get started?” to “will you help me with _________ (music, lyrics, publishing, art, poetry, etc.)? to God told me you are supposed to help me.”

It’s hard to tell from a first meeting if this is going to be a creative-collaboration-match-made-in-heaven or it is going to be a nightmare where you’ve committed to reading someone’s Chicken Soup for the Soul poetry while wishing there was some sort of Kevlar headgear to protect you from oncoming clichés and hickory-dickory-dock meter.

In some of my most scary awkward moments, I’ve been handed notebooks of poetry after a set where someone tells me God told them to give me the poetry so I can turn it into songs. I have had people give me recordings of the song God told them I should do in church the next week. I was once handed a notebook of sketches that were "inspired by the Holy Spirit" for my use.

Honestly, in 20 years of ministry and dozens of these spontaneous meetings, I have never had many turn out real well.

The collaborations that work usually come about an entirely different way. Usually, the collaboration happens when artists collide while they are doing the hard work of honing and sharing their craft. And, the magic usually only happens when there is a relationship between two or more parties. Sometimes the relationship can be as simple as getting to know each other at a writer’s retreat or playing a gig together.

But, asking someone you're not in relationship with to spend their time helping you make your “art” better is mostly awkward, sometimes rude, and often strangely bizarre and unfair.

Unless you are part of a collaborative group, a dedicated retreat, an open mic talkback, etc. OR unless you are paying an expert for their services, time, and opinion, OR unless you have a great relationship with someone who is some kind of authority, OR unless that expert has made it known they would like to be a mentor, it is probably not a good idea to approach someone and guilt them into reading something or hearing something.

With all that said, not everyone is a sponge ready to exhaust you of your energy. Not everyone has bad poetry/art/songs. Some are just starting out and really need someone to give them direction. Some just need us to point them in the right way. Some are just socially awkward and don't know the "rules." Some respect you and want advice.

It’s not always easy to discern between them, however.

So . . .

This is the approach I take when put in any situation—awkward or not—wherein I am asked to give my opinion, read poetry, collaborate, etc. I usually say something like:

“It sounds like you and I share something in common . . . we write songs and poetry/paint/design, etc. The difference is, I have an outlet to share it with others. I understand your frustration because seeing something come to fruition is the best part for me at times.

With that said, I always feel awkward saying this but . . . I have so many ideas and songs I feel like I am driving myself crazy at times. It's enough to keep up with my own stuff. So, it's hard for me to imagine dropping everything and collaborating with something new.

Plus, songwriting/art/poetry is very personal. It’s difficult for me to be able to talk through these things unless we are either in a classroom setting where I am getting paid for my opinion or we are friends and trust one another a good deal.

But, I always want to listen to voices that may potentially be God speaking! So, here is what I suggest to anyone with your particular gifts:

1. Consider starting a blog if you don't have one. This is a great way to get your thoughts down and share them with the world and get feedback. Let me know when it is up and running so I can go read the goods!

2. Consider sending me some poetry to see if it something we can use in other ways beyond song--i.e. on screen, having it read, etc.

3. Consider starting a satellite group for poets. We have reading groups, visual art groups, and writing groups happen here. A group for poets to share and give feedback would be awesome!

4. If you have any musician/art/poetry friends, sit with them and share your thoughts.

5. Start taking piano or guitar lessons.

6. Consider paying someone to take your lyrics and help you write and rewrite them from a songwriter’s perspective. I would be happy to do that for you at $_____an hour.

7. Enroll in some music theory classes/poetry classes/art classes etc. at the Junior College.

8. Join our next songwriter’s retreat. Be ready to submit your stuff and get real constructive criticism. Be ready to grow thick skin.

9. Enter your lyrics in a poetry contest or your song in a songwriter’s contest. There are many of these that happen throughout the year.

10. Join any of our multiple teams around Westwinds and get to know some people. There are many young and fresh artists who are building community with one another. You should get to know them and serve with them!

All of these things are good starting points. We may find we have a good connection. On the other hand, I want you to understand it may not be a perfect match but, we never know until we try. It's the match that counts.

Art is strange. It is highly subjective in some ways and there is sometimes almost universal appeal in other ways. Sometimes, art is for the few and sometimes it is for many. Depends. I've written many songs that will never be heard but, they are great prayers and special to me. I have people that speak into that.

Kudos to you for being bold and looking for ways to serve God and bless others through your gift. I'm sure there is a great place for you. Let's see if we can find a good fit! Let me know how you want to move forward.”

Good Friday Art Piece

Our friend, fellow Westwindee and an exceptional artist, Mrs. Heidi Rhoades did a beautiful 4'x8' charcoal art piece on good Friday between the two Fusions. She started with a blank canvas at 6:00 and wrapped it up at 8:30.

Heidi told me beforehand she was excited to have no idea what she was going to create beforehand but create as she worshiped.

This art is now on display at The Winds.

Office Art

Tahni needed some new art for her office. She just moved it downstairs where it's warmer.

Opposite her work area is another desk in the office where the kids and I sometimes work. Tahni needed some art above that desk so she bought 6 panels of plywood and asked me to create an art piece with them.

Worked on it for a couple hours last night. I am pretty excited about the end result.

More on Ap(art)

On the day(s) of the Ap(art) [say Art Apart] event, we will be streaming live from the Armory Arts Village on the Ap(art) site found here.

If you see a piece of art you like on the stream, take note of the number the art is labeled with and submit your bid to art@westwinds.org. Make sure you give us your full name and contact info. We DO take VISA and MASTERCARD and, if you win a bid and prefer to pay that way we will send you a request for payment through PAYPAL.

We will be checking online bids every hour until the close of the event at 4:30 on Saturday.

If you would like to check on the status of your bid, please email art@westwinds.org and put the word status and the number of the piece of art you are inquiring about.

Example: Status 25

We will reply with an update and a chance to raise your bid.

On a personal note, I will be doing some artwork at this event and my medium will be oil, acrylic, and bondo on canvas. I can't wait. If you win a bid and you are a Vertizontal follower, we will donate 10% of the cost of your artwork to the charity of your choice.

Today I met with artists from Jackson who are NOT part of Westwinds and we talked about what it looks like to breathe life and hope into our community. It feels good to be part of an event that is not church specific but rather shows love in a tangible way to our community as we pour time, energy, and money into the artists who are making our community a better place.

Ap(art)

When I first moved to Jackson from California, I was very surprised at the low opinion Jackson had of itself in many circles.

Sure, there were and still are people who were doing great things to promote community awareness and love this place (such as the staff at JTV and Bart Hawley in particular, the folks at Art 634 and the Armory Arts Village, 105.3, Home.fm, many churches and schools, etc.) but when I talked to many of the folks I was meeting around town it was a different story.

It became common for me to hear things like, “Why would anyone move from California to this place?” Or, “Hope you stay for a bit . . . last one out of Jackson turn out the lights.”

That mentality is very sad to me. I understand where it comes from . . . businesses closing, not a lot of night life, depressed economy . . . I get all that. But whining and apathy will not change the face of Jackson. We need to breathe life into this community. Picasso said, "Art washes from the soul the dust of everyday life."

It was out of this desire to change Jackson’s opinion of itself and to breathe life into the community that Ap(art) was born. Art is a wonderful way to engage in a dialogue, process feeling, commune with one another, celebrate life, work through tensions, co-create with God, tell a story, raise issues and awareness, and respond.

Thomas Merton said, “Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.” At this time in our confused and volatile community art is one of the things that cannot be taken away from us.

Unfortunately, though art cannot be taken away from us in a spiritual and metaphysical sense just as our dreams cannot be robbed from us, the sad reality is art IS being taken away in that schools, students, and resident artists are finding it harder to purchase materials they need and keep programs alive and/or make their way.

At Ap(art) [say, “art apart”] artists will create works that will be auctioned to the public in order to pour money back into the community. This is a missional effort. Money will be given towards scholarships for art students, expenses for artists in residence, and grants for art programs here in Jackson for underprivileged students.

Check out our site here. You can apply to take part as an artist here. You can support the event by becoming a sponsor here. The event will be streamed LIVE here.

Because Jackson is worth it.

Literal Art

I used to work with a wonderful staff member long ago who could not stand to leave things uninterpreted or unexplained. This caused many problems for us even though we are great friends to this day.

I wanted to hang a piece of art and invite dialogue . . . he wanted me to explain it all away. I wanted to show a gripping video clip . . . he wanted me to set it up and explain why it fit our “theme.” I loved first person narrative sermons, biblical theology, and inductive approaches to speaking . . . he loved acronyms, pithy grabbers, and wrapping it up nice and tidy.

The writers of some biblical children’s books don’t like tension and they are creating havoc for our children.

Life is full of tension. Non-answers. Mystery. The unexplained.
The Bible is full of tension. Stories with bad endings. Ambiguity. Paradox.
The human condition is full of tension. Questions of “why?” Confusion. Things that don’t make sense.

The video below might shed some light on this. Hilarious. Thanks to Ben for showing me this video this morning. It isn’t a perfect analogy but . . . feeling pressure to provide all the right answers and wrap it all up at the end of a Sunday with three points and a poem feels a little like what these guys have done with this video.

Enjoy! And, you are welcome.

See more funny videos at Funny or Die

New Aesthetic

If you are interested in learning more about our Genesis series, "Cheer Up, It's Not the End of the World" go here for videos, notes, nerdy stuff, Q&A, comics, and a bunch of stuff that makes us happy.

More on Christian Subculture

Here are some more thoughts following the conversation the other day . . .

I have issues when our starting place is to create a safe place or alternatives.

Someone please give me a legitimate reason why I should buy a crappy painting or figurine or video game or book or music simply because it has a fish or a cross on it. And, someone please tell me why—if something is already working well—someone has to take it and reshape it and fit a cross into the logo.

I just threw up in my mouth. I need a Testa-Mint.

Some of the things that are synonymous with the dark side of the Christian Subculture that turn my stomach and make it difficult for my neighbors to approach Jesus include:

• Ignorant sounding pithy grabbers
• shallow absolutes
• intellectually offensive language
• cheap knockoffs that attempt to mimick pop culture
• The subtle or not so subtle fingerpointing at “secular” culture
• Bad art/production/acting/aesthetic, etc. created in an attempt to evangelize
• Perpetuation of an impulsive consumer mentality driven to consume all things “Christian”
• Asceticism and escapism as opposed to incarnating the culture
  

There was a religious subculture of sorts in Jesus’ day. It wasn’t unlike our current Christian subculture. It elevated rules over relationship and had created systems, safe havens, alternatives, and a club mentality.

These people were called the Pharisees (Pharisee literally means “set apart” or “separated ones”). Jesus was always telling these guys that they were missing the point. There was more finger pointing their way than at the culture at large.

Jesus is not interested in us setting up spiritual retreat centers from our world.

I Don't Like Christian Music?

There’s a rumor I don’t like Christian music. Ehhhhhhhhhh. Wrong answer but thanks for playing.

If you’ve read my blog for any period of time you have heard me mention some of my favorite and most respected bands of all styles and genres—including those that wear the label “Christian.”

I know where the false idea came from though. I have a love-hate relationship with the Christian subculture.

Part of it heavily influenced me and I owe it a debt of gratitude. Take the music for example::: I don’t know that I would be the person I am today without the music of some Christian musicians. But then again, the ones who have really influenced me sing about spirituality in a way that any legitimate songwriter would chronicle their thoughts and struggles—in other words, I never really get the impression from them that they are on the Jesus Train headed to their gig at Six Flags Over Jesus as they snub their nose at anything outside the subculture.

Yes, I have been very opinionated about some Christian music. Some of it is dumb. Some of it has no musical integrity. Some of the lyrics make me gag. Some would bite the dust if it weren’t for very clever marketing to grandmothers and soccer moms who are afraid to buy their kids any music at all unless the Jesus quotient is high. Some of it isn’t honest—it’s nampy-pamby-Jesus-is-my-boyfriend music. Some of it makes me angry. When a band jumps on the bandwagon of style and starts acting and singing and dressing like some other band that all the cool kids listen to, I think that is dumb.

But, you know, I have the same kind of problems with music of ANY genre.

There are a lot of great things happening in Christian music today and I know a lot of great people who are creating art that naturally flows from a full life. They are in a different category and that is not my soapbox.

It’s not the legitimate expression of faith in art I have a problem with at all.

I have a huge disdain for anything that seems like a secondhand cheap knockoff of something that was working well as it was but someone had to ‘Christianize” and sanitize it, and market it as a better idea because of its Jesus-speak.

More to come.

What Would Jesus Deface?

Banksy is at it again.

Last month in London, renowned graffiti artist and rabble-rouser “Banksy” gathered 40+ artists to transform a railway tunnel under Waterloo Station into a statement—a piece of art.

According to participants, Banksy gave the invite and told the artists their flights. I can only imagine the thrill this would have been to be invited by the artist who alludes the press and authorities—the art world’s V for Vendetta figure.

I’m not gonna lie . . . I love this guy.

While there is quite a bit of controversy surrounding graffiti art because, well, it’s illegal . . . this Banksy exhibit entitled, "The Cans Festival" (see more photos HERE)was completely legal and encouraged by the owner of the tunnel who plans to leave the exhibit up for up to six months.

“Graffiti doesn’t always spoil buildings. In fact, it’s the only way to improve a lot of them. In the space of a few hours with a couple of hundred cans of paint I’m hoping we can transform a dark, forgotten filth pit into an oasis of beautiful art. . .in a dark, forgotten filth pit” said Banksy.

The artist revolutionary does continue to make good points about graffiti art in that dilapidated and forgotten buildings in cities are often a bigger eyesore than the art that begs to adorn them. The sin of neglect seems to outweigh the sin of defacing what has been abandoned by the cities in which they dwell.

While Christians would be hard-pressed to make a foolproof case for the defacement of property in order to make a statement, it is hard to argue with the outcome of some of these revolutionary statements.

One can’t help but wonder if (and I realize this is a slippery slope) if there is some inherent value in some of these statements with an appeal to the “greater good” principal.

After all, the country we live in that prides itself in “free speech” only got there because a few men a couple hundred years ago committed high treason.

I never thought I would be having conversations about the ethics of graffiti with people in my church but, surprisingly enough the topic has come up a few times in recent years. There was the kid who asked me what I thought about him spray painting the words, “F#@k Pervs” on the side of a porn shop in downtown Jackson. There was the young man who unveiled his plan to me to paint starving people on the side of an abandoned building by the old railway tracks in order to draw attention to the homeless and hurting in Jackson. While I had many issues with the first idea, I actually had to think about the second for a bit.

I am reminded of the stories of King David eating the temple shewbread with his hungry men or Jesus’ disciples picking heads of grain on the Sabbath or Rahab harboring spies—all stories wherein the law was broken for a greater good.

I am aware of the surface implications of breaking laws to raise awareness. I am aware of setting precedence and opening the proverbial Pandora’s Box. But still, I question . . . .

The prophet Banksy says, “I’ve always felt anyone with a paint can should have as much say in how our cities look as architects and ad men. So getting to cover an entire street with graffiti is a dream come true, or as some people might call it . . a complete and utter nightmare.”

The inherent humor and sarcasm in almost every Banksy quote is endearing to me. Maybe it’s because when I see pictures like this (left) I am actually moved. More than “moved” in an emotional sense—“moved” to action. Moved to want to make a difference. Moved to change. So, I appreciate the rebel in Banksy.

Another good case in point for art raising awareness and “moving” people through art in the face of opposition and laws would be The Heidelberg Project in Detroit.

The Heidelberg Project, bearing the name of the street on which it exists, was started in 1986 by Tyree Guyton.

Tyree was raised on Heidelberg Street and, at the age of 12, witnessed the tragic effect of the Detroit riots - from which he claims the City of Detroit never recovered.

Armed with a paintbrush, a broom, and neighborhood children, Guyton, Karen, and Grandpa began by cleaning up vacant lots on Heidelberg and Elba Streets. From the refuse they collected, Guyton began to transform the street into a massive art environment.

Vacant lots literally became “lots of art” and abandoned houses became “gigantic art sculptures.” Guyton not only transformed vacant houses and lots, he integrated the street, sidewalks, and trees into his mammoth installation and called his work, "The Heidelberg Project", after it's location on Heidelberg Street.

Today the Heidelberg Project is recognized as one of the most influential art environments in the world.

Funny how things change. The Heidelberg Project is now “protected” by the city as a historical site. Groups have partnered with Guyton to raise money for the arts, art camps, community gardens, and a plethora of other community life-breathing activities all because of his act of defiance.

Is there ever a case where a believer in Jesus should break the law to raise awareness?

If the church responded like the church should, would there be a need for law-breaking of any kind in order to raise awareness of injustices?

Tattoo Apologetics

Last weekend, we showed the Popnovella video "About Tattoos" at Westwinds. Great feedback.

A couple of folks asked me--following the video--what the "biblical" take on tattoos is. I have had this conversation a few times over the years and it is always an interesting conversation.

A few years ago, Westwinds invited a tattoo artist to the church to engrave someone on stage. We have plenty of illustrated folks at Westwinds. I have a tattoo and come from a long line of tat bearers. So, yeah, tattoos work their way into conversation occasionally.

I usually find, when it comes to conversations about tattoos, people who grew up in the church "assume" the Bible says they are wrong. They usually have some faint memories of some OT passage banning pictures on the skin or graven images.

These conversations have led us to put together an official "statement" regarding tattoos for anyone who is interested in exploring what the Bible actually says about tats. (by the way, popnovella is having a "fire sale" on the Chapter 1 DVD that includes "About Tattoos" and if you email customerservice@popnovella.com and mention this blog, you will have the DVD sent to you for 15 bucks total!)

Here it is:

TATTOO APOLOGETICS--WESTWINDS CHURCH

Are you wearing a cotton blend shirt? How about a wool blend suit (Leviticus 19:19)? Have you shaved the sides of your head (being clean shaven), trimmed your beard, or eaten pork (Leviticus 11:6-7) lately? Oops! Guilty! Have you ever eaten lobster (Leviticus 11:10-12)? Oops, again. Or that steak you ate recently, do you know if it’s from hybrid cattle (Leviticus 19:19)?

According to Levitical law each of the above is forbidden right along with Leviticus 19:28 – You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you: I am the Lord. The reference of Leviticus 19:28 refers to a heathen practice meant to invoke the attention of pagan gods – usually by means of cutting oneself to “prove” one’s sincerity (Leviticus 21:5; Jeremiah 16:6 and Deuteronomy 14:1). It was an attempt to make oneself worthy to approach some graven image of a god through self-abasement.

God rightly admonished His chosen people not to follow the pagan rituals of such false “religions.” Some critics will still hold fast to the literal letter of the law and conclude that regardless of its textual meaning, the act of tattooing is still forbidden.

Granted, the entire Bible is the inspired Word of the living God, but it also represents a progressive revelation of its Author – His nature, His grace and His plan for redemption. Taken in context of God’s plan to restore mankind into fellowship with Him, the law was given to show us that we could not redeem ourselves by our own efforts.

Paul writes in Romans that the law will justify no man. The law was given to reveal sin. Only through faith in the free gift of God’s grace, found in the sacrificial blood of Jesus Christ, can man be justified (Romans 3:20-26). In fact, Jesus actually redeemed us from the law and its curse (Galatians 3:13 and 3:22). Living by the law – the Old Covenant (promise, contract) – means keeping all of it, not just parts. If we do wrong in any part of the law we do wrong in all of it.

Thank God that He has provided a better way for us to be in relationship with Him. Romans 5:1-2 says we are acceptable by faith, given right standing with God through the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:8-11). Galatians 5 deals with the issue of contrasting law and liberty, the lusts of the flesh and the fruits of the Spirit.

Under the New Covenant, all the law is fulfilled in loving God with all your heart, soul and mind and loving your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:36-40). Jesus fulfilled the law and now our right standing with God is based upon His right standing. Our righteousness is based upon His righteousness – not on the law. Galatians 2:21 I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain. The thorny issue of whether Gentile (non-Jewish) believers had to obey Jewish laws before they could become Christians caused many problems in the early church. This included eating meat sacrificed to idols. The meat itself was neither good nor bad.

Paul was more concerned about the attitude of the heart. (Romans 14:6; 14:21; I Corinthians 8:13; 10:25) Is getting a tattoo defiling your body? (I Corinthians 3:16; 6:19; II Corinthians 6:16) In these scripture references Paul is addressing envy, strife and division of the church at Corinth and warning them to be careful of what is built upon the foundation laid down by Jesus or the temple will be defiled. Jesus Himself said in Matthew 15:11 it is what comes out of the mouth of man that defiles him.

It is the love, purity and faith that comes out of your heart that keeps your temple holy – or it is the strife, immorality and unbelief within your heart that defiles it. At Westwinds we have always taken a stance that on black and white issues we needed to be firm but on gray issues we would be gray. Where there is no biblical, ethical or moral mandate for behavior we are in an area of liberty or gray.

Some of the typical “issues” for religious people surround drinking alcohol, watching rated R movies, getting body piercings , and getting tattoos—all within the area of gray. They are areas of liberty.

At Westwinds we have tried hard to keep agreement on the essentials, but allow freedom to choose on the nonessentials. This requires humility on everyone’s part. Gray areas by definition are open to personal conviction, opinion and leading. As a result we are in no place to judge others for taking a position different than ours, gray areas mean differing opinions are permitted.

More Cool Cheap Aesthetics and Design Ideas

We are in a series at Westwinds entitled, "Images of Atonement" and our aesthetic for the series incorporates a lot of circles.

Circles often represent the eternality and completeness of God and, in this series, we are focusing on many working scriptural metaphors/atonement theories--the things Jesus has done and is doing to restore our broken relationship with God.

I get a lot of requests for inexpensive aesthetic ideas. This is the latest video describing our new aesthetic.

A special thanks to all my Twitter friends and others at Westwinds who pulled together and worked their butts off to make this aesthetic happen @Jay_Kreger, @erin_kreger, @itsauelgood, @DanP_70, Matt, Mark, Tanya, Reese, Tim, Ryan, Stan, Michelle, Rick, Wes . . . I hope I didn't forget anyone. Thank you!

This post is also part of the Watercooler over at Ethos. Check it out!

Once in a Lifetime Wine

Tonight, my wife and I will be attending a wine tasting in Franklin, TN to raise money for the Kalein Artist Development Center. My interest in this center goes beyond my friendship with founder Randy Elrod. My interest and passion is rooted in a firm conviction that our churches need to recognize (seek out) up-and-coming artists in our communities and support them--giving them the tools and encouragement they need to be influencers.

I highly recommend you check out Kalein and consider supporting this dream. You may make donations directly from the site.

Tonight's wine list : : :

1992 Opus One
1980 Whitehall Lane Cabernet (Alexander Valley)
1990 Whitehall Lane Reserve Cabernet Napa
1990 Silver Oak Alexander Valley
1986 Cain "Five" Napa Red Table Wine
1988 Anselmi Amarone Re Cioto Della Valpolicella
1989 Joseph Phelps Insignia Napa Red Wine
1987 McDowell Syrah Mendocino
1991 Girard Napa Cabernet
1987 Carmenet Sonoma Red Wine

Altered Collaboration

If you know me, you know I am addicted to and energized by “altered books.” One such book is on display in the Vertizontal Gallery.

A friend in California got me started creating altered books about 10 years ago. Altered Books are a wonderful way to journal or simply display artwork. Better yet, an altered book is a piece of art in and of itself.

I pick books based on title, feel, size, or anything I deem special or magical about a book. My books sometimes become my prayer journal, my conversation with God, spiritual musings, and record of my recent journey. Sometimes, they are simply a way for me to stretch my creativity.

One of my favorite ways to make an altered book is to think of my artwork working in connection with the author of the book. It is a partnership of sorts--a creative collaboration. So, a book with an interesting title might have art that coincides with the title and chapters of that book. Or, it might be in complete contrast.

Bottom line : : : someone else’s book + my art = altered book.

So, today I “stumbled upon” this cool site lookatbook.com.

(P.S. You NEED to check out StumbleUpon)

Over the course of almost a year, four artists—two in Belgium and two in New York—exchanged a book wherein one artist would create art and send it off to the next who would then make an entry/spread in response to the previous spread. The artists did not communicate concerning the content of the book during the project.

“Book” traveled over 60,000 miles in 8 months.

I love this project. Great idea. Great execution. Great follow-through.

As an artist and a pastor, I have a few thoughts on creative collaboration. To show my cards, I usually don’t like it. For creative collaboration to work for me we need to define some boundaries and set up some rules.

But, without me diving too deep into my psyche, let’s hear from you. Here are some questions to start the conversation but, add whatever you want . . .

• What would church look like with more creative collaboration?
• What would have to line up for an artist to allow another artist into their creative space?
• What do you do when people praise creative collaboration and you think someone else’s ideas “dumb down” the whole?
• What is the best creative collaboration result you have ever had?

Please comment. This post is also part of Ragumuffin Soul's Creative Chaos.