Skydive from Space

Australian Daredevil Felix Baumgartner recently completed a skydive from space, some 24 miles above the earth. No, I’m not recommending you take something like this on, it might be considered “putting the Lord thy God to the test” but there is something we can learn from this. Imagine the discussion he must have had when this feat first came to mind.

FB: I’m thinking about skydiving.
Friend: Why would any sane person jump from a perfectly good plane?
FB: No I’ve jumped from a plane hundreds of times. I want to skydive from space.
Friend: That’s impossible.
FB: Is it?
Friend: Well first of all there’s no gravity up there.
FB: Not that far up, just the Stratosphere.
Friend: Oh well if it’s just the stratophere…
FB: Oh, shut up.
Friend: Well first of all it would cost a lot of money.
FB: I’ll get sponsors.
Friend: And how will you get up there? I don’t think planes don’t go up that high and even if it did, I doubt you could open it. And a rocket goes way too fast.
FB: I’ll bet I could hitch a ride on a weather balloon, in a pressurized capsule.
Friend: It’s got to be seriously cold up there. You’ll freeze and won’t your body explode from the pressure differences?
FB: I’ll wear a space suit.
Friend: You’ll be going awfully fast.
FB: Hopefully…
Friend: You’d probably break the sound barrier.
FB: Even better!
Friend: You’ll be torn apart at that speed.
FB: Hmm, I’ll have to work on that but I’m pretty sure if I can get a suit that will keep me from exploding, I can get something that will keep me in tact.
Fried: What if you pass out and can’t pull the ripcord?
FB: Details, details. It’s not impossible.
Friend: I think you’re crazy…

That’s a completely fictitious conversation of course, but think about the process. Felix Baumgartner wanted to do something that had never been done before. Something most people would consider impossible not to mention insane. Let’s be realistic. There were a lot of things that could have gone wrong and one by one they all had to be addressed, removing as many of the variables as possible, until they had a relative assurance of safety. Lots of work, lots of preparation, lots of money and it all would have gone for naught if he hadn’t jumped.

But he did jump and he did land and he landed alive and well. That one moment in time has changed his life forever.

Brothers and sisters it’s the same process for us. We start off with a dream and a vision to do something God is leading us to do. The risk is probably not nearly as extreme as Baumgartner’s, but there is risk. There are variables to be considered, questions to be answered and work to be done. We can prepare and prepare but eventually we will all stand at the precipice of a leap of faith. You might be standing there right now.

What’s keeping you from jumping?
Here’s a video from the 18 mile test jump.

There’s a New Tagline in Town: It’s Not JUST About the Art

You may have noticed a few differences on the main page of this site. In working with my coach, he has been challenging me to work on the way I present this ministry. I wrote something in one of my notes to him that really stood out to him. “It’s not just about art.” He called it out, tweaked it and now it’s the new AMOKArts tagline.

It’s sort of a crucial thing. I think a lot of churches see this ministry as just about art or  just for artists and as such may be hesitant to bring me in to speak. Maybe some people look at this site and think it’s just for artists. That really limits the scope of this ministry and it’s a limitation I don’t want and I don’t think God intends. I want to do more than just come to a church and make art and I want to help you dear reader to do more than just make art.

So what is it about?

It’s not JUST about the art… 

AMOKArts is about PASSION
It’s about a passion to know Jesus and make Him known.

AMOKArts is about VISION
It’s about helping people to find God’s plan and purpose for their lives, to find and use their gifts to glorify God, serve others and make the world a better place.

AMOKArts is about MISSION
It’s about helping churches to empower their people to be all God intended them to be so the church can fulfill the mission God has given them.

I want to help people and churches to have a passion for Jesus, live their vision and accomplish their mission. Art is the tool, but it’s all about Jesus.

That’s what’s on the main page of this site and it’s what’s on my heart. I want to see people come to Jesus and I want to see them find and use their gifts to serve Him. I want to see churches full of empowered believers reaching out with the tools God gave them to fulfill the mission God has for them in the world. I want to help the church to fulfill its mission. I want to help church leaders to move  their visions forward and reach a generation for Christ.

I am so passionate about this because my whole life was radically changed when a pastor identified my gift and gave me a way to use it in the church. One small art project was used by God to set this ministry in motion, a ministry that has taken me all over the U.S. preaching and teaching and yes, painting with a passion for introducing people to Jesus, helping them to become all God made them to be. I believe that there are thousands and maybe millions of people like me in the church of Jesus Christ who are just a nudge and an idea away from doing great things for the Kingdom. I want to be that nudge and bring those ideas.

Church leaders, what dreams and visions and missions could you accomplish if even just a few more people stepped forward and said, “I want to be used by God. I want to serve. Here’s my gift. What can I do?”   Let me help you see that happen.

Some Inspiration from Dan Miller, 48 Days to the Work You Love

I’m vacationing in Ogunquit Maine. Today I went to a modern art museum and two galleries and I am thoroughly inspired. On a little break, I was reading Dan Miller’s 48 Days to the Work You Love and I came upon this gem that every creative needs to consider…

“What is it that you find naturally enjoyable? If money were not important, what would you spend your time doing? When do you find time just flying by? What arethose recurring themesthat keep comingup in your thinking? What did you enjoy as a child but perhaps have been told was unrealistic or impractical too focus on as a career?

This is a tough area for most people. There is a subtle Spiritual myth that following our dreams is likely to be selfishh, egotistical and something God would frown on. That kind of thinking implies that God is totally outside of ourselves; we are simply physical robts separated from His mind and heart.

However, we are created in God’s image and as such are creators ourselves. Why would God have created us to think imaginatively and to have vivid dreams only to then squelch those dreams for practicality? Consider the possibility that your dreams are thhe voice of your soul, God’s voice within you, longing for expression through your faith in action. And as you move toward your values, dreams and passions, you will move toward being more Spiritual and more fully what God created you to be.”

If all this were true (and I believe with all my heart that it is) what would you do?

What Will You Do?

We’ve looked at our identity as children of God and how this is ultimately who we are. We’ve looked at the underlying motivation of glorifying God that should drive our efforts. Now it is time to look at what it is that we will actually do. This is the actual “work.”

I believe this is ultimately guided by a couple of factors:
First what did God make you to do? Each of us has been blessed with gifts, talents, aptitudes and experiences that will open doors as to what our “work” will be. I believe there was something each of us was made to do and when many different people do the many different things we were created to do in community, we form the body of Christ. So the first step is finding what God has created us to do and doing it to His glory, while seeking out others to share and collaborate with.

Next what are you passionate about? I believe God makes us passionate about the (positive) things He wants us to do. For example if you see something that makes you say someone should do something about that, especially if that thought keeps you up at night. Chances are the someone who should do something is you.

Next what is the need? Ultimately I believe this needs to be secondary but it is vital. Sometimes we need to go beyond our giftedness and so something just because it needs to be done. Sometimes someone needs help right now and simply can’t wait for a uniquely gifted person to show up. Sometimes “you gotta do what you gotta do.” I believe in these moments God gives us the grace to do what must be done. In some cases, God will even use these times to show you a gift and a plan you didn’t recognize.

There is a very big caution here though. We all have a temptation toward self-importance that forces us to just keep on taking on one more thing. I’m not convinced this is Godly but rather becomes a pride issue. Working outside our giftedness is okay for a time, but we should always be looking for the person for whom the activity will be their “sweet spot” and when we find that person we should step aside and let them take over.

Ultimately we will do our best, most God-glorifying work in our gifting. We need to seek out that gifting and develop and use it to God’s glory. We need not wait until we are perfect. Rather we need to give God our best today praying and believing and knowing that giving our best today will help us to be better tomorrow.

What will you do?

Why Are You (Am I) Here?

Once we’ve established our identity in Christ, “who we are?” if you will, we are ready to begin to look at why we are here? What are we here to do? This is where we begin to explore purpose and calling. Ephesians 2:10 says “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared for us to do.” In other words we were created on purpose, for a purpose, to live out a mission. There is something by definition that we were created to do.

I think sometimes we want to rush into the nuts and bolts of this. What are we to do and where will we get the resources to do it? Both good questions which will be answered in time, but first I think we need to look at the overarching reason we, as followers of Jesus Christ, do what we were created to do. In Matthew 5 Jesus calls us the light of the world, which is quite an honor because, He also called Himself the light of the world. He says we’re like a city on a hill that cannot be hidden and that we shouldn’t hide our lights under a bowl but rather put them on a stand so they can give light to everyone in the house and then He says, “In the same way let your light shine before men, so they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in Heaven.

Quite simply put it means the end purpose of all the things we do in this world should be done for the purpose of giving God the glory He so richly deserves. This should be the first and foremost purpose of every believer, no matter what their gift.

Is it why you do what you do?

Now that we know who we are, and what we do next time we will look a little more closely at what it is that we will do.

Video of the Day: God is God

Using art to tell the story in this human video from Mission Atlanta WinterFest. Check it out. How can you use what you have to tell the story?

The First Day of the Rest of my Life

I hope you will indulge me in a little self-reflection and read through to the end where I am placing a challenge. Yesterday I posted about the passion and vision I have to travel the world and help build the body of Christ by helping people find their God-given talents and live out their God-given purpose. This mission consumes much of my thoughts and excites me beyond belief but there’s a problem. To really do this right, I have to be fairly healthy and on this mission, I have been lax.

Yesterday was my 48th birthday and today as I start my 49th year, I have purposed in my heart to make a change. There was a time in my life where I weighed over 320 pounds. In 2004, I had a health scare and got than number down to 230, but of late I have gotten more and more busy, driven and focused and as a result, I have gotten lax about my physical disciplines. That’s not going to cut it. So today I humble myself before you, determined to start over. This morning I tipped the scales at 267 pounds and that needs to change. Today is the first day of the rest of my life and I’d like to invite you to join me on the journey.

Don’t worry, I’m not going to turn this into a weight loss blog, the focus remains the arts and ministry, but at the bottom of a post each day I am going to place a chart that looks like this:

w=267, mw=1, mr=2

It stands for weight=267 pounds, Miles walked=1, Miles ran=2 If I do other exercises I will add them as well but walking and running are my main two. I am posting this for the sake of accountability and I am hoping you will keep me accountable. My attainable goal is to weigh 220 pounds by the time I turn 49 and my audacious goal is 200. I know weight will fluctuate even if I do this perfectly but I am looking for a downward trend. If you see me going lax, I hereby give you permission to harass me.

Will you join me on this journey? You don’t have to post your weight or anything like that, just take steps to get healthier. We only get one body and no matter what our mission may be, it will be enhanced by staying healthy.

Take care of yourself,
Dave

A quick way you can help people in need for free with a couple of clicks.

blood:water mission

Okay this is not art related but please take a minute and read it anyway. You might have noticed the Social Vibe link on the side of this page (I moved it up look to the right) to donate to blood:water mission. This is a ministry I believe in that drills well in third world countries to save lives. I found yesterday that they are doing a promotion right now with a few advertisers that if you click through their links they will donate money for each click. These are big companies like Lexus and not spammers as far as I can see.

It costs nothing but a little bit of time and it could save lives. How often can you help people for free. This blog had over a hundred hits yesterday. If each one of us took about two to five minutes we could purchase 10,000 days or more of fresh clean water for people who desperately need it. Please take the time and do it today and if you feel so led, forward this link to your friends. http://amokarts.wordpress.com

Bible Reading Guide
An important part of following God is knowing what He wants and a great way to know what He wants is to read His Word. Follow this plan and you will finish reading the Bible in a year.
Numbers 10,11; 1 Peter 5
You can also download your own chart here.

Vision Series II: What’s In Your Box?

Yesterday we looked at the problem, today we will start to look at the solution. For so long we creatives are told to think outside the box and that is great, but sometimes we get stuck because our outside the box dreams seem so far off, so big and so unmanageable. Maybe we need to start with what we already have and be faithful there on the way to the vision. So what’s in your box and how can you use that to God’s glory? What can you do now to prepare the way for the bigger vision. Thanks to Craig Smith, Exit 7 Coaching