This article was featured on the Christians in Theater Arts site
during the month of August 2009.
 
Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 

Ephesians 2:19-21 (New International Version)
 
For those of us in theater, “the house” usually means our second home, the venue we work in at any given time. To operate well, it must be built on a good foundation, run in a wise manner and maintained in good repair. As believers in the arts during turbulent times, we play a crucial role which impacts the world around us in an eternal way. Throughout the process, however, it is crucial that we often look inside our own “houses” to ensure they, too, are ready for service to the Master Director. In 1 Corinthians 6:18-20 we are admonished to consider our bodies the residence of the Holy Spirit. These three-part homes (soul, mind and spirit) are the venue the Creator uses to appeal to those in the light and to those in the darkness. His fragrance of restoration and hope flows from every pore of our lives to draw those who are perishing and those who are being saved (2 Corinthians 2:13-15). Our physical homes will also be a reflection of our inner home or heart condition. What's in yours and what's it built on?
 
Turn back the pages of history with me to the Old Testament. Let's pick it up in Ezra chapter three just as the Israelites were granted passage by King Cyrus to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. He functioned as the executive producer of sorts for this project and commissioned them to carry out the work with his blessing, just as we have been given the Great Commission with the Lord's blessing. After arrival and roll call, the Israelite exiles made sacrifices before starting the foundation, though they were still in fear of those in the area who opposed them. They also made sacrifices for the feast of Tabernacles or Booths (shelters or temporary homes) to commemorate the Exodus from Egypt. Their intentions were good and their efforts noble. Once the foundation for the temple was completed, they celebrated with musical accompaniment, bittersweet weeping and joy which were heard for miles. This was one grateful orchestra and crew who understood what the foundation meant for the nation. Soon, however, opposition came against the project. It came from those who didn't believe in what the exiles wanted to do in order to regain God's protection and favor. It is an interesting parallel to our present day circumstances as artists and as believers in this nation.
 
Fortunately the construction resumed and the temple was completed by the workmen and artisans. They again took part in a ritual cleansing before celebrating the Passover. They comprehended the necessity of maintaining the outward practices, though they overlooked some vital issues. Everything was supplied for the job, the leadership, crew and location were secured and the venue for God's work was ready. Now the preparations could be made for the most important part of all: the actual practices and worship within the Holy Temple.
 
Enter Ezra in chapter seven. He was a priest and well-respected teacher of God's law who was given a very nice set of departure gifts and provisions for the new House of the Lord by King Artaxerxes. God was blessing this effort in every way and gave Ezra authority in the region. Ezra wisely initiated a prayerful fast and requested military protection. The king granted the protection and Ezra traveled to Jerusalem strengthened, focused and safeguarded. Once he arrived, more joy and sacrifices were offered in praise and thanksgiving to God for His provision. It seemed that things couldn't be better. You know what they say about appearances, though.
 
The not-so-small snag was that some key Israelites had let down their guard. Spiritual cracks had formed in this “foundation” of the house of Israel. Ezra found out that the Israelites had intermarried with foreigners, which was strictly forbidden by the Almighty One. What was worse, the leaders and officials had led the way by sinful example. Ezra immediately understood that God had graciously provided in spite of this great sin and, after he recovered from the shock, prepared to clean Israel's spiritual house by implementing a new production plan: Repentance and Recommitment for Restoration and Revival. Simple obedience would be required in order to be set apart and effective. This would pave the way for the cup-bearer turned governor Nehemiah to successfully continue the work of rebuilding the city after he, too, took some time to repent and pray. All the sacrifices the Israelites had made were no substitute for obedience (1 Samuel 15:21-23).
 
As a result of these events, the temple stood unprotected until the walls were completed, much like we become if we invite the enemy in by not safeguarding our hearts and lives. Those of us in ministry know the enemy wants to disable God's work in us and through us in any way possible. The saboteur will try to damage our personal lives, misguide our stewardship, and trip up our creativity or discount our leadership. He also knows we can call on our Defender at a moment's notice, though, so he tries to distract us from the Truth any way he can. We have the high calling to ensure that our hearts and homes are built on the strong foundation of the Word and are in the best order possible for the King if we are to face the challenge of creating for His glory during this time in history. In these days of intense opposition and an all-out assault on the moral values given by Master Architect Himself, may He fortify our foundations and cleanse our homes for His use. Take courage and strengthen your stance on the Rock of Ages who is our High Priest. Ask Him to build up those healthy, protective walls of your heart and home with the knowledge and practice of His Sacred Script, fellow colleagues in the arts. He will fill both your personal house and the one you are working in with His heavenly light and presence. The show must and will go on until He calls us home after the final curtain is drawn on sin once and for all. And I believe our heavenly home and His kingdom here will be places that allow for much creative expression. After all He gave us the gifts we have and loves variety! Think about it: what if this life is a dress rehearsal for how we will worship Him in eternity?
 
Standing by with you,
Selah the Scribe
 

 

Transluscent-Colored Glasses, photo by Sensory Bible Experiences.

Need a little pick me up after your trip? Do you love hanging out in the kitchen, snacking, chatting about various topics and generally enjoying people's company? Well, pull up a stool and have a seat. We have so much catching up to do! First on the menu: what is your favorite food and the perfect beverage to go with it? I think I can whip something up... My latest find?  Agave syrups in irish cream, hazelnut, vanilla and cappuccino flavors! They aren't as sweet as the flavored syrups and are healthier! Put some in your favorite warm drink and pair it with some Miss Meringue cookies.
 

Need a fresh start or rebirth of creativity in your artistic life? Want to explore creativity in the context of faith? Join us as we go through books on the subject, share works in progress and support each other through discussion as well as prayer. We are presently going through The Creative Call by Janice Elsheimer.
 
http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=81383&item_code=WW&netp_id=255379&event=ESRCN&view=covers
 
If you live in the Denver area and want to join our in-person meeting on the second Wednesday evening of the month from 6:30 until 8:30 pm, please get in touch using the contact form. The first half of our meeting will be to get to know each other a bit and share which exercises in the book were the most meaningful to us. The second half will be to share works in progress, ask for feedback if desired and we will finish with prayer requests and praises.
 
Discussions here will cover the chapters after each meeting as follows: October 14th (chapters three and four), November 11th (chapters five and six), December 9th (chapters seven and eight, wrap-up). Retreats will be on your own. Feel free to share about them here.
 
I hope you find this book and time together fun, encouraging and creatively enjoyable. Please let me know if you have any questions. I can't wait to get to know you.
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

I am so glad you came up the stone steps to peek in the stained glass windows of the Chapel. Here you will find more in-depth Bible devotions, essays and studies. You can also submit prayer requests here by replying with a comment or using the contact page. Indicate if they are "Private" if you rather your request not be posted in the form of a prayer. I can also keep names and situations anonymous and offer a general prayer for you that way if you prefer.
 
Creak open the door, experience the warm glow of candlelight and know this is a safe place that beckons you to unload your cares, feast on the Word and receive His blessing as well as His encouragement.
 
 
The Art of Romance or Romance of Art
My semi-inquiring mind wanted to know: What does romantic relationship have to do with a creative person's craft?
 
Art and romance have some things in common. Think about each at different times. Are they friends or foes or both?  Do you find yourself fighting to improve one, either or both?

And when we er-politely disagree...(o.k, argue) with our romancee...isn't that a bit like struggling with a project we can't seem to bring to life? We want to make it one thing, but it isn't cooperating so we either keep trying to make it just so, compromise or give up and walk away. Been there, done that in both settings. No pre-fab solution or easy way out. In a scene in the movie The Impressionists, by the BBC (excellent, by the way), the character of Cézanne is painting up on a high hill and gets so frustrated with his work that he throws the half-finished canvas high over a stone wall. All of us have gotten fed up during a discussion with a loved one. Have you ever stone-walled your loved one or your project? Is the romantic relationship, then, like a piece of art we are trying to develop and mold into our ideal? How many times have we walked away during an argument with them, exasperated or pouted in a corner when the "project" didn't go (or react) our way?
 
What do art and romance have in common that causes all this artistic and relational angst?
 

My guess would be...passion.
 

 
Why else would we fight for the right results? When we can't get what we see in our mind's eye as the perfect ending or feel in our hearts as what could be perfection...the passion can lead to frustration. Now if the relationship is going well, there is a light, fulfilling contentment much like completing the perfectly executed project. Perhaps, then, these two have more in common than we realize. They both take dedication, devotion, time, discipline and even ingenuity. They both share problem-solving, highs and lows as well as "dry" spells. Just the same, they also share the euphoria of a beautiful moment, like when I first gazed upon the perfect iridescence of the iconic tile and glass pieces by Louis Comfort Tiffany on display at The Met in New York. Since I had admired his work from afar my whole life, I could scarcely believe I was standing there in person, taking it in. 
 

 Stained Glass Panel by Louis Comfort Tiffany
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City
 
 
Where are you in your love affair with your art?
 
 
 

Hello fellow restless creatives,
Got everything? We're leaving to go find some new places of creativity. Which have yours been and why?
 
 
 
In the book The Sacred Romance, John Eldredge writes about of “the message of the arrows”. As we walk through the journey, we’ll get plenty of arrows shot our way. If we didn’t have a strong value placed on our creativity to begin with, the arrows are harder to avoid and remove. I don’ t know if all our technology and business increases our creativity, numbs it or perhaps it does both. Some of us work best under the pressure of a deadline or tough critique while others balk or buckle. Is necessity what drives creative impulse or is restless boredom? And if we only did art for ourselves or an expression of faith, would it be enough to satisfy? Perhaps studying our own patterns can lead to increased creativity. We need to understand our travel style, what trips us up and what makes us pick up the pace to the next artistic expression.
 

What do you do when creative dry spells and apathy set in? Do you push yourself to work anyway? 
Or, like Frost, do you take the road less traveled and does that make all the difference?
 
Perhaps if it is your job, you have no choice but to plod on muse-less and hope she'll still show up in the end product. You might be highly disciplined about your creative art and have determined to get to work on it each day whether inspiration strikes. If it is a hobby or ministry...what happens? Does it get squeezed into a closet no one sees for a while? Does it become a jealous love, making its presence known to you whenever you pass by in the daily rush of activity? What tricks do you use to get those juices flowing once more?