For the Love of It

A while ago I had a conversation with a fellow artist about her art and she made the comment that she wasn't professional because she hasn't taken any classes. This made me start to wonder. What do people think makes an artist "professional"? I typically go back to the idea that if you make your living from something; that is your profession. So to me if your "day job" is creating art, then you would seem to be a professional artist. Others qualify the term professional by experience, quality, or education. All of these qualifications, including the "day job" one, may work to classify someone as a professional artist, but why would someone want that title anyway?

We have this idea that a professional artist is, by nature, better or of higher quality than the amateur artist. While it is unlikely that an artist who depends on income from their art would survive very long if their work is of poor quality. It is just as unlikely that an artist would inherently create quality work by virtue of doing the same thing for 20 years. So I think the real question one should ask is, "What is the difference between the 'professional' and the 'amateur'?".

An amateur is a devotee, or an admirer (Merriam-Webster). So an amateur artist is someone does their art for the love of it. Not for fame, wealth, or anything else. So whether that art is their profession or not is irrelevant. I would take an amateur over anyone who treats their art as "just a job". And I think you would too.

Created For?

In my last post really wanted to make the point that; because God is a worshiper, and we are created in His image, we too are worshipers. What I fear did not come across is the point that God did not create us to worship.

This seemingly harmless idea; that we were created to give glory, proclaim reputation, or otherwise worship God, may seem to make sense at first glance. In fact, if you don't think about it this idea seems beneficial to us who want to inspire others to a life of worship. However, if this idea is lived out, and the logic followed through we will find that God becomes this Geppetto-like character who has created humanity to fulfill His own needs and desires. Even worse, for those that equate worship with singing or music, the notion of heaven is that our whole existence is wrapped up in the tedious task of constantly creating the noise of quote worship. The flaw in this idea is that God has no need for worship. He is already constantly worshiping, pouring Himself into Himself and creation. For us to believe that God created us to fulfill a need, the need to be worshiped, is to make God less than fully God, self-sustaining, self-sufficient, all-surpassing, complete.

Humanity has a natural desire to be a part of something bigger than ourselves, because God did create that in us. I don't know for sure what that is, but I do know for sure that we were not created to fulfill a need of worship in our Creator. What do you think we were created for?

Worship and Imago Dei

As I was reading through "Unceasing Worship" by Harold Best; (it's amazing how much you learn when you're not trying to fake your way through a 10 page paper) I came across a quote that struck me with an instance realization I've never had before.

"We were created continuously outpouring. Note that I did not say we were created to be continuous outpourers. Nor can I dare imply that we were created to worship. This would suggest that God is an incomplete person whose need for something outside himself (worship) completes his sense of himself."

In other words God created us constantly worshipping; not because He needs our worship, but because He is a continuous outpourer and we are created in his image. You see, God is the original "continuous outpourer" even before He chose to create He gives, reveals, and pours Himself out to His Triune Self that continues in the glorious work of being I AM THAT I AM. Since God created us continuously outpouring ourselves, as He is continuously outpouring our worship of Him is not a service to Him, it's not even a response to His action. (However, it is His action that causes our outpouring to be redirected toward our Creator.) Our outpouring is simply who we are. It's why people long for community, discussion, interaction. We seek to pour ourselves out, and that outpouring is for the glory of our god. Yes, I realize I didn't capitalize "god", because our outpouring isn't always directed toward the glory of God, the continuous outpourer. Rather, it most often is to our own needs, desires, and selfishness.

God desires our worship; to be giving, pouring and revealing in the glorious interchange that that comes so naturally to us, as ceaseless worshippers, but He does not need it. It also occurs to me that the most repulsive action is when you go through the motions of an outpouring exchange with God, but continue to outpour to other gods (Hosea 6:6).

How can we focus our outpouring toward God and help others do the same? Let me know if you have any ideas.

Remodel!

Wow! It's been a really long time since I've updated, but I had a good reason (my dog ate it). So here's a slideshow of what's been going on in the sanctuary at Oakwood.




To start out we have what it looked like before. Then we took out the pews, pull up the carpet from the stage, and laid the tarp out so we could paint the ceiling. One of our members welded together the pipes to hang our face light from and we bolted them to the wooden beams on the ceiling. And then came the truss...we had to get the stage ready for that to go up. Patch holes where old lights were, take down the cross, and paint the wall. Finally, we got it up after a long day's work  (and a couple scissor lifts). Last, but not least was painting the ceiling so our new house lights wouldn't show off the water damage from a previous leak. Those last pictures are what the stage looks like now (without the tomb on the left side, that was for Easter).

It's been awesome to work with all of our talented volunteers and a leadership that's so interested in staying relevant and attractive to younger generations.Thank you to everyone who spent time/energy/sweat on this project!

Music and Judges 19

It really bothers me when people can't seem to live in community with each other. Let's just admit it. In the church we can find some of the worst examples of harmony, but we have the opportunity to change that. Put aside our selfishness and put the needs of others before our wants. That goes for all of us, the younger and the older generations.

Tenebrae, Turbans, and Clapping

Video Post 1/11

This is what's happening in the Worship ministry at Oakwood.

Hillsong's "Came to My Rescue"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAMbEPZfWCY