Saturday, August 24, 2013
Friday, August 23, 2013
Web of Deception
It's all around us but is not always easy to see until it is too late. The majority of us eventually get caught but don't even realize it. The spider sits back and waits, knowing it won't be long when another comes along. The only effort he has to make is securing us with just a little extra webbing so we won't go anywhere if we should get the chance. His job is easy since he doesn't have to come to us... we are quite willing to go to him.
Thursday, August 22, 2013
Coquille Candidate
Multimedia art print utilizing 50 year old coquille board, painted watercolors with high noise gain, and digitized layered colors. Senator Joseph Weldon Bailey depicted from a 100 year old glass negative belonging to the Library of Congress.
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
Soaring Above the Clouds
I just finished composing 'Soaring Above the Clouds'. Once again this one caught me completely off-guard and I can truthfully give it's inspiration and guidance to God's powerful Spirit! It is quite different from most of my other compositions and even most popular music for that matter. It goes from the pretty melodic opening to variations of chaotic bold miss-chords, reestablishing itself as it moves along, and finally ends with the melody it began with. I will post a finished piece in the next few days.
Poking Stomachs
You meet up with a friend/colleague whom you haven't seen in over twenty years. You walk across the parking lot and embrace. Immediately she pokes your stomach and says, "I see we've both put on some weight." Though your mouth replies "yeah" your mind thinks "what the heck!?" Granted, this person is known for their peculiar, off-the-cuff remarks, but you're still taken aback none-the-less. LOL
--((switch from second person to first person)--
Someday I will write a book on all the unusual people I have known or encountered throughout the years! Forgive me if I leave anyone out.
--((switch from second person to first person)--
Someday I will write a book on all the unusual people I have known or encountered throughout the years! Forgive me if I leave anyone out.
Monday, August 19, 2013
Death by Natural Disaster
Death by Natural Disaster
my Reflections and Paraphrase of Dr. Erwin Lutzer's Writings
Although life is precious, the fact is that earthquakes, storms, and natural disasters do not increase death. The people who die in a natural disaster would have definitely died at a different time and place if that event hadn't taken them when it did. Everybody is going to die someday. It’s simply the way they died that causes us so much grief.
When we hear about a natural disaster we should grieve with those who grieve, and we should ask what we can do to alleviate their suffering. Our humanity causes a bond of sympathy to form which should promote action to be taken in one way or another. We should not be like those who practice the 'blame game' who look for a scapegoat such as blaming the government, leaders, builders, or if no person can be blamed... even God Himself!
When looking at the many horrendous trials which befell Job, one was when all ten of his children died in a natural disaster. There was a wind storm that blew down the house. Job was confronted with the fact that because of a natural disaster, there were 10 fresh graves on the hilltop. So now what is he going to do?
His wife says to curse God and die. But Job said, “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.” Though we might share in the sentiments and anger of his wife who was also grieving the loss of her children, we can also choose to reflect the righteous sentiments of Job who shows us it is possible to worship God even without explanations, even when we don’t know all the reasons.
What we need to realize is that God can be trusted, even when it seems as if He is not on our side. We have to comprehend and accept the fact that God has intervened in our planet by sending Jesus Christ who gives eternal hope beyond the few minutes when the devastation took place. Though our eyes might be muddied by the disaster that happened, through Christ we see the love of God most clearly.
Martin Luther also had great spiritual insight much like Job. When speaking on the disasters and painful things we go through, he said, “When you look around and wonder whether God cares, you must always hurry to the cross and you must see Him there.” When the pressures are on, we look beyond our present predicaments to the glories of heaven which Christ has supplied the entrance to.
God's love, care, and concern goes far beyond the mere grave.
_____________________
And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering. Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are.
(Romans 8:17-19)
Sunday, August 18, 2013
Saturday, August 17, 2013
Filtered Flowers
I developed a series of filters which are generously applied to watercolored flowers. I spotted these little yellow guys growing where they shouldn't be in the front yard.
Friday, August 16, 2013
Thursday, August 15, 2013
Love it Or Loathe it
The words love and loathe sound much alike but have opposite meanings. Apparently people sometimes get the two mixed up when trying to express their opinion or feelings. Uhhh, at least I hope they have the two mixed up or things are getting worse than we think!
Causes and Motivation
Sometimes the person doing the protesting is the real hero of the situation.
BUT
Sometimes the person doing the protesting is actually the only real villain involved.
BUT
Sometimes the person doing the protesting is actually the only real villain involved.
Not a Murderer
Just because you've never murdered anyone doesn't mean you're a good person. Just because you occasionally get into trouble doesnt mean you're a monster. Who's, or what standard are you using?
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Eagle Wings
But they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles;
They shall run and not be weary;
They shall walk and not faint.
(Isaiah 40:31)
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
Monday, August 12, 2013
Sunday, August 11, 2013
Saturday, August 10, 2013
Friday, August 9, 2013
Thursday, August 8, 2013
Who, or What is Your God?
Who, or What is Your God?
We are living in a time when people are replacing their spiritual needs and trust with a reverence and security in the works and abilities of humanity. God has been replaced with an idolatry of self. We have put science and education on our pedestal of worship. We feel that God has not supplied our wants in the way we desire and so conclude that He does not exist. Contrarily, we feel that humanity actually has supplied, and has supplied in a miraculous manner. Our "great signs and wonders" are happening through the insightful discoveries which our experimentors have conducted. Since we fail to acknowledge that the results of our experimentation (labeled as science) is simply a discovery of principles and procedures of what God has already set in motion, we vainly have taken on a basic and practical atheism, even for people who claim to be somewhat religious! We proclaim "there is no god" while at the same time we rely totally on what He has created, of which we are a part of and totally dependent upon physically.
Christ has specifically shown that as the ages draw to a conclusion our idolatry will focus on false signs and wonders coming from folks who will be highly elevated and admired. These people will replace the spiritual positions of God-ordained prophets and will be an alternative substitute for the authentic and true Christ. Though not capable of manifesting actual miracles as only God can provide, we will do a remarkable job of displaying our own made-by-hand alternatives which never-the-less will impress and keep our focus away from where it actually should be. The warning which Christ gives is not some far and distant abstract time and place, it is rapidly becoming the here-and-now. We already label the results of science as being a miracle, and many deify leaders, educators, and politicians far beyond what they deserve. No, we shouldn't live in fear of the future. It's the present that should awaken our mind and prompt us to spiritually and dynamically focus where our heart should truthfully be.
__________
"Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect." (Matthew 24:23-24)
We are living in a time when people are replacing their spiritual needs and trust with a reverence and security in the works and abilities of humanity. God has been replaced with an idolatry of self. We have put science and education on our pedestal of worship. We feel that God has not supplied our wants in the way we desire and so conclude that He does not exist. Contrarily, we feel that humanity actually has supplied, and has supplied in a miraculous manner. Our "great signs and wonders" are happening through the insightful discoveries which our experimentors have conducted. Since we fail to acknowledge that the results of our experimentation (labeled as science) is simply a discovery of principles and procedures of what God has already set in motion, we vainly have taken on a basic and practical atheism, even for people who claim to be somewhat religious! We proclaim "there is no god" while at the same time we rely totally on what He has created, of which we are a part of and totally dependent upon physically.
Christ has specifically shown that as the ages draw to a conclusion our idolatry will focus on false signs and wonders coming from folks who will be highly elevated and admired. These people will replace the spiritual positions of God-ordained prophets and will be an alternative substitute for the authentic and true Christ. Though not capable of manifesting actual miracles as only God can provide, we will do a remarkable job of displaying our own made-by-hand alternatives which never-the-less will impress and keep our focus away from where it actually should be. The warning which Christ gives is not some far and distant abstract time and place, it is rapidly becoming the here-and-now. We already label the results of science as being a miracle, and many deify leaders, educators, and politicians far beyond what they deserve. No, we shouldn't live in fear of the future. It's the present that should awaken our mind and prompt us to spiritually and dynamically focus where our heart should truthfully be.
__________
"Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect." (Matthew 24:23-24)
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Felicity
Definition of FELICITY
fe·lic·i·ty noun
1a : the quality or state of being happy; especially: great happiness
b : an instance of happiness
2 : something that causes happiness
3 : a pleasing manner or quality especially in art or language
fe·lic·i·ty noun
1a : the quality or state of being happy; especially: great happiness
b : an instance of happiness
2 : something that causes happiness
3 : a pleasing manner or quality especially in art or language
Extravagant Hats
Lithographic art print / coquille board created from a 100 year old glass negative belonging to the Library of Congress.
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
Argumentative
I must be doing something right. I'm receiving quite a few argumentative comments on my Pinterest posts from someone who is not like-minded in opinion about anything!
We all have our opposites out there, that's another reason we really need more than a simple two party system. Some of us need a major party where we can agree on some things beyond what the two present ones do.
We all have our opposites out there, that's another reason we really need more than a simple two party system. Some of us need a major party where we can agree on some things beyond what the two present ones do.
Pure and Clean or Dark and Dirty
People should be aware there is a standard of purity that is far above and beyond what they are adhering to in their natural, unrepentant state. It is this awareness of God's higher holy standard that does unite many of the world's religions and is the one area where they actually do have something in common*. It is when people make no effort to strive for any purity standard; live, interact, and adorn themselves at the most base, carnal, and low; and are consumed by an egotistical vanity, that God's wrath is fully justified in eventually being delivered, as He has promised. God clearly views our self indulgent and vain actions as being the equivalent of committing idolatry and sinning against Him. We are not innocent in this area.
We have gotten to the point where we are craving to justify our practices, and so we twist the tables to make it seem like we are doing the correct thing by adhering to them, that we have created professional titles for people who are regarded as authorities in certain areas... only for the purpose of approving and justifying actions which are purely abhorrent to a holy and just God! One of these so-called experts recently made the statement that we should send our practices of modesty and purity back to the dark ages so we could move forward on a quest of sexual indulgence. Though this statement might sound infantile and childish to someone who can see through it, it was not made by an uneducated ignoramus, it was pronounced by an expert on the subject! God's Word tells us about these folks, "we'll appoint authorities who will tell us what our itching ears desire to hear."
Here's the bottom line... we actually do have an inner, quiet voice which tells us when something is not right. It is easy to ignore and pay no attention to, and move forward with what we really crave and lust after and honestly want to do! And after this has taken place, our next line of defense is to state that this inner consciousness was never there to begin with and our moving ahead into sin is the better action to take. This is widespread standard practice... but that doesn't make it right! Pure and clean is always a better alternative than soiled and covered in dirt.
"Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience." (Colossians 3:2,5,6)
_____________
*I am not a universalist in belief and feel that unity amongst religions is an impossibility without watering them down to a practically useless state, but I do believe there are some areas of numerous religions which have much in common, one of which is what is discussed here, the absolute need to live a far more righteous and pure life than what the non religious person chooses. This principle is present in most major religions.
Monday, August 5, 2013
Sunday, August 4, 2013
Resident Affected by the Bangor Fire
Painted from a minuscule detail from a 100 year old 5x7 glass negative belonging to the Library of Congress.
Mourn for the Fallen
Mourn for the Fallen
A reprobate and perverse generation take delight when finding out that an otherwise clean-cut personality actually has a previously unknown sordid past. This produces titillation, delight, and in some cases admiration where none should be. They pompously love to think that this respected public figure has no better character or scruples than what they have. If anything, this sullied persona might be worse than they are since he/she now has the stigma of being a hypocrite (providing it was not they who unveiled the revelation of their own dark past).
Personally, I'm just the opposite. Though I realize we're all simply human and have our weaknesses and flaws, I love to hear of individuals who have (for the most part) maintained their integrity, lived a faithful and honest life, acted with modesty and humility, and have done their best to adhere close to the high standards which God intends for us to have. Our world is a better place because of people such as this. And if we do learn that a reputable person does have some ugly closeted skeletons, it produces sadness and mourning. My heart also goes out to those loved-ones who are now suffering from ridicule, shame, or whatever specific repercussions which have resulted from this ugly revelation.
A reprobate and perverse generation take delight when finding out that an otherwise clean-cut personality actually has a previously unknown sordid past. This produces titillation, delight, and in some cases admiration where none should be. They pompously love to think that this respected public figure has no better character or scruples than what they have. If anything, this sullied persona might be worse than they are since he/she now has the stigma of being a hypocrite (providing it was not they who unveiled the revelation of their own dark past).
Personally, I'm just the opposite. Though I realize we're all simply human and have our weaknesses and flaws, I love to hear of individuals who have (for the most part) maintained their integrity, lived a faithful and honest life, acted with modesty and humility, and have done their best to adhere close to the high standards which God intends for us to have. Our world is a better place because of people such as this. And if we do learn that a reputable person does have some ugly closeted skeletons, it produces sadness and mourning. My heart also goes out to those loved-ones who are now suffering from ridicule, shame, or whatever specific repercussions which have resulted from this ugly revelation.
Art at the Next Level
In the world of fine art, I personally feel that for every ten people who claim to be an artist, there's normally three or four that have the potential to be a superb artist if they would only work at it harder, but there might only be one or two who have taken the time to actually reach a level of expertise where they have nothing to be ashamed of. And no, selling artwork at high prices is really no genuine indication that the artist has reached a level of professionalism and competence in their chosen field of expressionism, they simply know how to market their work effectively.
Saturday, August 3, 2013
Early Mornings
Nothing beats a good early morning quiet time with The Lord. This valuable time consists of sincere devotion; Bible study and meditating upon His word; honest prayer, petition, and seeking only 'His will be done'. We quietly allow our inner heart to be open to hear when He speaks, responds, chastises, and guides.
When we miss this important spiritually uplifting time, it reflects in our functions and decisions throughout the remainder of the day. We can either face the day ahead totally on our own weak strengths and lacking abilities, or we can meet each oncoming challenge with the mighty strength and insightful assistance coming through God's powerful Spirit.
Begin your day with time alone with the Lord. You'll be glad you did... and perhaps others around you will be glad you did as well!
Strange Perversions Prevalent on the Internet
I'm continually amazed at how often completely unrelated and bizarre oddities are returned when one does in-depth internet searches. Even when you have a filter applied there's always a plethora of odd returns, some of which harbor on the sick and perverse. It's simply amazing the sheer amount of impure practices which entertain people and/or pull them into lifestyles that we really shouldn't consider in any form or fashion. Both adults and children are exposed to things which should have never entered their world in the first place. And it is not only coming from far off places which adhere to different practices, standards, tolerances, and crimes than we do, much of it is coming from our very shores... perhaps from our very neighborhood.
To make it worse, we are living in a time and place that actually encourages people to take pride in their strange fetishes. Many major cities promote parades where people show up in every shameful attire imaginable... much of it worthy only for the privacy of one's home, not for public display. We have become an alternative lifestyle friendly society that seems to have no bounds on the far reaches of our lustful excess! We have professionals and educators who defend and argue for the virtues of unleashing the inner beast within. Their only preventative is attaching the far too simple adage "Do anything you want as long as it doesn't hurt anyone" but then have a hard time defining what it truthfully means to not hurt someone. People are carrying emotional scars in record numbers as a result of being victimized by someone who didn't physically hurt them but did a real number on their inner psyche. This abuse of one's mind doesn't always come from a parent or family member, it more commonly enters through friends, media, and any source that has access to our thoughts. Our society in general is waiting to victimize us in one way or another.
Another aspect of the flowing filth that filters through is it doesn't just stab once, it punctures, leaves it's mark, and is ready to come back to strike again. Internet filth can be extremely addicting! I don't know how many times something peculiar reaches my computer and I am shocked and offended and never want to see it again, but guess what? A part of me is titilated and wouldn't mind seeing a bit more. That's the nature of addictive material. No matter what the vice, whether it's alcohol, drugs, gambling, pornography, or various other questionable excesses, one thing the purveyors know quite well is, once they get you exposed and hooked, they've got you captive... perhaps for the rest of your life. Your time, cravings, mind, and especially your money is now in their hands!
The days of having to leave your house to go and seek out vice are long past. Addictive vices are now ready and waiting wherever you might be. Be aware of them. Be mindful that they do have a negative dark side to them (no matter what some questionable experts might say), and they try to present themselves in a gratifying and embracing manner. If you value who you are... your character, your values, your reputation, what other folks think of you, what you think if your self, and even your very thoughts and mental reasoning, you really should avoid opening your door even just a mere crack. When the old search filter lets something through which is not what you intended, keep the sneaky little deceptive apple-bearing witch out... and don't open the door!
To make it worse, we are living in a time and place that actually encourages people to take pride in their strange fetishes. Many major cities promote parades where people show up in every shameful attire imaginable... much of it worthy only for the privacy of one's home, not for public display. We have become an alternative lifestyle friendly society that seems to have no bounds on the far reaches of our lustful excess! We have professionals and educators who defend and argue for the virtues of unleashing the inner beast within. Their only preventative is attaching the far too simple adage "Do anything you want as long as it doesn't hurt anyone" but then have a hard time defining what it truthfully means to not hurt someone. People are carrying emotional scars in record numbers as a result of being victimized by someone who didn't physically hurt them but did a real number on their inner psyche. This abuse of one's mind doesn't always come from a parent or family member, it more commonly enters through friends, media, and any source that has access to our thoughts. Our society in general is waiting to victimize us in one way or another.
Another aspect of the flowing filth that filters through is it doesn't just stab once, it punctures, leaves it's mark, and is ready to come back to strike again. Internet filth can be extremely addicting! I don't know how many times something peculiar reaches my computer and I am shocked and offended and never want to see it again, but guess what? A part of me is titilated and wouldn't mind seeing a bit more. That's the nature of addictive material. No matter what the vice, whether it's alcohol, drugs, gambling, pornography, or various other questionable excesses, one thing the purveyors know quite well is, once they get you exposed and hooked, they've got you captive... perhaps for the rest of your life. Your time, cravings, mind, and especially your money is now in their hands!
The days of having to leave your house to go and seek out vice are long past. Addictive vices are now ready and waiting wherever you might be. Be aware of them. Be mindful that they do have a negative dark side to them (no matter what some questionable experts might say), and they try to present themselves in a gratifying and embracing manner. If you value who you are... your character, your values, your reputation, what other folks think of you, what you think if your self, and even your very thoughts and mental reasoning, you really should avoid opening your door even just a mere crack. When the old search filter lets something through which is not what you intended, keep the sneaky little deceptive apple-bearing witch out... and don't open the door!
Friday, August 2, 2013
Just What Planet Am I On?
If you ever want it to hit home just how far skewed the world's value system is with your own, all you have to do is watch the national news a couple of times and it will leave you feeling like you're residing on a different planet.
Thursday, August 1, 2013
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