Artists' Listening Group: Update

Hope everyone had a Happy Holy Week leading into a blessed and Happy Resurrection (Easter) Sunday and Monday! (See my Holy Week 2012 posted earlier)

4-10-12
Yesterday at the Artist's Listening Group , we were asked how we used our God given talents and skills and discipline to partner with the Holy Spirit to create our works of culinary, visual, musical, spoken word, written and/or fine arts. We discussed how God blessed Bezalel with the Spirit and the gifting to build the Tabernacle in the Book of Exodus.

Exodus 35:30-35
30 Then Moses said to the Israelites, "See, the LORD has chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, 31 and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts-- 32 to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, 33 to cut and set stones, to work in wood and to engage in all kinds of artistic craftsmanship. 34 And he has given both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others. 35 He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as craftsmen, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers--all of them master craftsmen and designers.

Then we discussed how our spirit-filled process flows for each of us. Responses included lots of references to the help of praise music in creating an atmosphere fitting for the Holy Spirit(try Terry McAlmon's The Glory of His Presence live worship CD guys).

Then we talked about how the great masters of fine arts like Michelangelo and Di Vinci depicted Biblical scenes and how fine art is inspired today including the Pageant of Our Lord which is similar to the Pageant of the Masters but with Biblical artworks by the masters depicted by live actors with live choral music. For more on the pageant visit www.PageantOfOurLord.com.

The masters have always inspired me and my own last drawing in my Kenya series has a nice old world feel to it and I named it Mona-Alyssa in homage to Di Vinci. We commented on Christian painter and fine artist, Thomas Kincade's passing on Good Friday , too. Thomas proved that one can do Holy Spirit inspired work and it will sell and be profitable both spiritually and financially.

We talked about print journalism, TV and all media as a creative outlet but we forgot to mention the death of Mike Wallace, the noted journalist from the 60 Minutes TV News show on CBS who passed on Saturday (may they both rest in God's heavenly peace). We did talk about how everyday words and images from street signs, billboards (see the "Transformers Are Coming" link), TV or any media or even musicians or actors themselves can influence our creative work in this modern era and how to keep God in the mix.

We closed out the night with lots and lots of individual and group prayers for our current art and anything in our lives that was concerning us. Well, Nichols Fellowship was on my mind and on the minds of most of the writers in the group so we got prayer for our submissions. I also got great prayer and encouragement for my artwork and more prayer for more healing.

Wow, next week is the last of the 8 group sessions so it will be the last time the group will meet. I thank God for the Artists' Listening Group and its originator and sponsor, Melissa Smith of Epiphany Space. I pray for all who attend this group and they have become people I care for deeply. My own trust and faith in God has only grown stronger since attending the group and I even got a healing of my right leg and hip which have plagued me for years. Hallelujah!

A Creative Artist's Ode to Father, Son and Holy Spirit:

I'm thanking God today that the Holy Spirit does not work on the usual 9-5 time-table of man. However, that means that sometimes I am inspired to write the best scene or draw my best art at 2 am or 4am (try telling any boss that as an excuse for being late for work-lol).

My Process:
So since I can't put the Holy Spirit on the clock, I just let Him be AMAZING! Hours fly by as the praise music plays and I praise Him as I create under His tutelage... He gives me the very words I type and improves my fine arts techniques. He even returns motor skills and vision to my eyes. Most importantly, I feel no pain until I've completed the work as assigned and even then I believe as His word says, “by His stripes I am healed!”.

Resurrection Sunday and Baptisms!

I placed my green "He is Risen!" paper cross that I'd crafted on the outside of my apartment door then I raced to make it to church. I was late due to detours along Hollywood (commemorating the Armenian genocide) but I finally made it.

I entered the church in extremely high spirits as today was my first Resurrection Sunday (Easter) service at Ecclesia church and what beautiful service it was! The wooden cross was back in its place near the rafters and Pastor Joseph finished up the Tougher Love series by read various scriptures. He also gave his personal testimony about his struggles and his coming to faith or as he said it “coming from death and bondage in to life”. He invited all of us to choose to do the same.

He made the lovely analogy that Baptism is a public statement that you have chosen to follow Christ almost like a wedding ring shows to all that the person is married. Pastor then called for anyone wanting to be baptised to join the others lining up for baptism and/or prayer. Pastor Joseph also joked that so many people were baptised in the earlier service that he was now soaking wet.

They had a new baptismal tank draped in black and surrounded by a line of potted white lilies of the valley flowersin pots which were wrapped with a deep magenta colored metallic paper. The base of the stage and the foyer also had matching potted flowers.

Greg and the praise team lead us in singing wonderful praise and worship songs and the baptisms began. The were 5 initially scheduled then another 5-6 more made the choice to be baptised just that morning. So at least 11 people came to Christ! Some were new to Christ while others were long time Christians who were baptised as infants but all are welcomed to the body of Christ. As usual, I could not contain myself and I stood and clapped, whooped, cried and yelled “Hallelujah!” for everyone single one.

So many people were queueing up for baptism that Pastor Joseph asked the praise band to play more music for us to sing to as the pre-baptised changed into their baptism clothed. Pastor eventually had to ask us to sit because we had been standing so long during the baptisms. It was so beyond lovely and a blessing
to be there to see these baptisms and the Holy Spirit was definitely present there.

Christ is Lord and He is Risen!

Holy Week In Hollywood 2011

Mon 4-18-11 Passover

I spent Passover reading about the First Passover with Moses, the Israelites and the blood of the Passover Lamb in the Book of Exodus . I also spent some time reviewing Jewish Passover (Pasach) traditions (bitter herbs etc.) and how they are related to the First Passover.

4-21-11 Good Thursday

I spent Good Thursday reading the accounts of the Last Supper and Christ's Crucifixion in the books of the Gospels. I found many gospel programs on TV that were also reviewing the scriptures so it was a good study. I looked up the meaning of Maundy Thursday (another name for Holy Thursday) and fell in love with some of the Medieval traditions associated with it.

As a result, I couldn't resist watching to see if Queen Elizabeth of England would keep with tradition and hand out gifts to the poor or washing their feet. She did meet with some of her lesser (commoner) subjects but there was no gift giving or foot washing done. As it was the Queen's birthday, too I decided to let her slide (plus , she is planning a Royal Wedding-lol).

I also started my 3 day pulse fast and did more soul searching and praying. I had already given up chips and salty snacks for the entire season of Lent but it seemed right to avoid all meat and dairy for those 3 days that Christ was on The Cross.


4-22-11 Good Friday

Tonight's Good Friday service was amazing! Ecclesia's The large wooden cross that usually hangs high in the ceiling of the theater was now on the floor and leaning against the foot of the stage. The stage lights were down and the cross was back lit with floor lights and lighted candles were placed on a small table in front of it.

Pastor Joseph, the elders and the prayer team read from the scriptures about Christ's Crucifixion. The Gospels of Luke, John, Mark and Matthew were all read. Psalm 22 and Isaiah Chap 53 (by his stripes we are healed) were read also and one candle was put out after each reading. In between the readings, we confessed that we are sinners and not worthy but that Christ is our only hope.

Soon all the candles were extinguished and the room was dark. As an elder, Kevin, read the scripture and said "Crucify him! Crucify him!" with a booming voice I actually felt chills (boy does the theater have wonderful acoustics and Ecclesia has a wonderful production staff). A female from the prayer team read the scriptures describing how Christ's body was broken on The Cross and I again
felt physically affected.

I was already holding back tears when Pastor Joseph announced that we should consider that we are at a funeral then 4 men picked up the cross like if it was a casket. They placed the cross on their shoulders and bore it outside like if they were mourning pallbearers.

Then we sang praise and worsip songs about the Cross like Jesus Paid It All with heartbreaking lyrics “sin has left a crimson stain but He washed me white as snow” www.youtube.com/watch?v=ix7LNWzfFKU and Oh, the Wonderful Cross with lyrics “Oh, the wonderful cross! Bids me come and die, And find that I may truly live” www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sKcw9_PQYA

Pastor Joseph prayed over us then he encouraged us to spend Saturday in seclusion, as the Disciples did after the cruxifiction. Seclusion not out of fear as they did but out of sacrifice like secluding yourself from Facebook etc. Pastor Joseph also asked us to exit mindful of the solemness of the night.

We exited the room solemnly, some like myself, in tears. We passed vases of flowers at the entrance (almost like sympathy flowers), just as someone attending a funeral would. There was great grief at our loss, with reflection of the life of our passed loved one and with the hope and confidence of us meeting again. It was all wonderful and soul inspiring!

To God be the glory that He gave His only begotten Son for us on The Cross and may Ecclesia and its leadership and members always be blessed for the amazing job they did tonight!

Sat 4-23-11

I Spent Saturday mostly in seclusion as I continued my praying and fasting. I was also commercial TV free and almost Facebook free but I'm not that into Facebook so that wasn't that hard :D

Lent Begins In Hollywood

A season of hope begins as Lent begins in Holly-wood:







The build up to Easter, Holy Week, Passover, Holy Thursday, Good Friday and, most importantly, Resurrection Sunday(Easter) began last Wednesday. I attended Ash Wednesday service at Ecclesia at 7 pm at night and the church was filled with young believers in their 20s and 30s and we all declared that "we are sinners and dead(dust) but for Christ!" and that we repent and that we are dead to sin, thus received the sign of a cross of ashes(dust) on our forehead.

Instead of fasting for Lent, Ecclesia is encouraging us to do 1 in 40 (1/40)or 40 days of prayer and service for 1 person in need. First ASK: So from March 6th-19th we are to pray and ASK God for the name of the person He wants us to help. Then SEEK: From March 20th - April 2nd, we are to pray and SEEK God for the specific needs for this person and connect with them. Finally, KNOCK: From April 3rd - April 24th, we are to KNOCK to open a way or door so we can help them meet their needs as God leads us.

Update: 3/21/11
I found my 1 in 40s and they sure are knocking so I am continually seeking the Lord for guidance.


First Sunday of Lent:
Pastor Joseph did a wonderful sermon on Marriage, Singleness and Divorce from I Corinthians Chap 7, 8. Guys, this is a must listen so download it at itunes or from www.ChurchInHollywood.com


Second Sunday of Lent:
Another great sermon from 1 Corinthians, this time the Man as head of the family, why it is scriptural correct and how it applies to us in these modern times.