This is one of my personal favorite Sophia drawings called “Study“. I feel like her personality really shows through here. Her courage to study in the face of intellectual intimidation is commendable. I remember once I shared with some friends that I was happily reading some Buddhist texts. The looks on their faces! One of them said to me, “Why would you read that? The bible has everything you need to know about your spiritual health!” Even though I’d always... Read more
Today I am giving away an unusual prize for the winner: an illustrated children’s book, Prairie Storms, written by Darcy Pattison and illustrated by Kathleen Rietz. Kathleen and I are friends, and she’s offered this wonderful book that she’s illustrated for today’s Freebie Friday! And she’s going to personally sign the copy! As you may know, I am an artist, so I appreciate things like this, and I think you will too. Go to the publisher’s website, Sylvan Dell, for... Read more
When someone leaves a church for whatever reason… they finally decide it’s no longer for them; asked or pressured to leave; lose much of the church due to something like a split; the churches ceases to exist; they move to another area and can’t find another church to settle in; etc… they will often experience grief. But the grief is on two levels: The first level is grieving the loss of the church. Especially if church has been a huge... Read more
One of my favorite passages in the gospels’ portrayal of Jesus’ ministry style is Matthew 12:20… A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he leads justice to victory. In other words, his general style was that he was gentle, compassionate and patient. It was out of character for him to make whips and clear the temple. Which is why it is recorded. It was remarkable when he chastised the religious... Read more
We live in a world of hoods: Childhood. Parenthood. Motherhood. Fatherhood. Brotherhood. Sisterhood. Neighborhood. Manhood. Womanhood. Falsehood. Priesthood. Sainthood. Statehood. Nationhood. Unlikelihood. Victimhood. It is important to know that… most people live, mostly unquestioning, within some of these hoods; these hoods mean different things at different times in different places to different people; these hoods all possess unspoken assumptions we call common sense; those who challenge these unspoken assumptions are considered crazy or dangerous. The story of Jesus in the... Read more
Come on! Admit it. This will have to happen. Don’t get me wrong. I love theology. I have thousands of books of theology. I have a B.A. and 2 masters degrees in theology, biblical languages, religion and ministry. I’ve been ordained in the Presbyterian Church in Canada and served Presbyterian, Pentecostal, Vineyard and Independent churches for over 30 years. Even after leaving the professional ministry I am like a pitbull who can’t let go of the church! I don’t poopoo... Read more
Ordinary people, even good ones, can be seduced, recruited, initiated into behaving in evil ways under the sway of powerful systemic and situational forces. (Philip Zimbardo, The Lucifer Effect) As Philip Zimbardo wrote in his gripping book, The Lucifer Effect, individuals must be held responsible for their bad deeds, but that many times the systems the individuals operate within may receive the burden of responsibility. Remember that it is not only individuals that stand on the last day, but nations.... Read more
This guy has found a way of coping with this world of pain and suffering. He has hermetically sealed himself inside his fantasy that he is separate from it all… from all the suffering, pain, sin and sinners. He has yet to learn that he is the bi-product, the product and the producer of suffering himself. He is the sinner! The evil isn’t “out there”! It’s inside his own heart. I think if he would realize that we would become... Read more
Our young courageous Sophia continues her journey towards her independence and wisdom. She’s taken the leap. All she has is a rope connected to Something above. Her desperation, her tenacity, her wildness… these are all interpreted by some as her being irrational. But she understands that sometimes drastic times require drastic measures. It’s all or nothing. This is drawn with pen and ink and graphite pencil on Arches 300lb. hotpress acid-free rag, measuring 8″x10″ (20cm x 25cm). Buy the limited... Read more
Some say I have surrendered to the weather. I have become distorted. Bent low to the ground. My fruit seems to have withered and died away. I appear old and barren. Finished. But I am in the winter of my soul. My distortion is my splendor. I shall bend further still. My fruit bore seeds, and they have littered the earth. I have become wise and spacious. Poised. Buy the original charcoal drawing here. Read more
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