15 Minutes to Live #trust30

15 Minutes to Live #trust30

I’ve entered into a challenge from the Domino Project called #trust30. They are basing it on a book by Ralph Waldo Emerson called Self-Reliance. I’m not exactly sure what I think of self-reliance yet, I am just starting the book. Over my life, I have learned that God-reliance is better by far than self-reliance, nonetheless I decided to participate and blog and tweet the process.

Here’s the gist of the challenge:
#Trust30 is an online initiative and 30-day writing challenge that encourages you to look within and trust yourself. Use this as an opportunity to reflect on your now, and to create direction for your future. 30 prompts from inspiring thought-leaders will guide you on your writing journey.

Here is today’s prompt:
We are afraid of truth, afraid of fortune, afraid of death, and afraid of each other. Our age yields no great and perfect persons. – Ralph Waldo Emerson
You just discovered you have fifteen minutes to live.
1. Set a timer for fifteen minutes.
2. Write the story that has to be written.

If I had 15 minutes to live, I have serious doubts that I would be writing a story. More than likely I would live them like I live too much of my life, trying to cram in twice what I should. But who could blame me? It is after all my last 15 minutes. I’d want to spend those minutes with my wife saying all the things that I should have said. Telling her how much she has meant to me and how much I love her and thanking her for all she has done for me. I’d want to spend it with my sons telling them how proud I am of them, how much I love them and will miss them and giving them as much of the wisdom I have gained over the years as I could. I’d want to spend it with my family and friends saying many of the same things.

I guess if I had to choose, and it had to be spent writing a story, I would want to create a blog post explaining why thanks to Jesus, this is not really my last 15 minutes to live. It’s my transition to eternity. You see Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior. He is God’s only Son and He laid down his life to save me for eternity. I would tell them of all He has done for me. How He took me from darkness into light and how every good thing in my life was given to me by Him because He loves me and I would tell them He loves them too and is waiting with open arms for them to come to belief in Him. I would beg and plead with them to consider His claims and come to a saving belief in Him. I would send the post to everyone I have ever loved and beg them to do the same. Why would I invest my last 15 minutes in this effort. Because it’s not really my last 15 minutes and everyone who comes to belief will share eternity with us. Oh that I would spend my last 15 minutes investing in eternity.

The good news it’s not my last 15 minutes but maybe I should live like it is. How about you?
If this post blesses you, share it.
God bless,
Dave Weiss
May 31, 2011

Illustration Friday: Asleep

IllustrationFriday.com Challenge: Asleep

When I saw the challenge asleep, I immediately thought of the verse “Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. (Ephesians 5:14-16) and I began to think about all of us who appear to be wide awake but we fail to see what’s going on around us and the many many opportunities we have to make a difference in the world around us.

Look around you, look for the opportunities to do good in these evil days and Wake up. Let the Light of the Lord shine through you.

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.
1 Samuel 24-25
You can also download your own chart here.

A Word of Encouragement

A few of my friends over the past few days have reported being under one form or another of Spiritual attack often manifesting in real discouragement. I am not immune to this and I got hit with it too. There is one very important thing for us all to remember. Attacks usually, maybe even always come before a breakthrough. So when you’re feeling weakness, discouragement and other negative feelings, I created this guy or you as a reminder.

A friendly reminder for when discouragement comes to call.

Check out these verses of encouragement from the Scriptures.

I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:37-39

And Most importantly Jesus said: “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28: 20

Press on brothers and sisters. You are not alone.

Yes You Can!

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.
1 Samuel 22-23; Titus 2
You can also download your own chart here.

Illustration Friday.com/ Soaked

Another ways of saying soaked is all wet. This prediction definitely was that

Harold Camping’s latest rapture prediction may not have been soaked but it was definitely all wet. I believe in Jesus Christ and I believe He is returning, but in order to believe in Him we need to also believe Him and He said now one knows the day or the hour of his return. It’s not our job to predict His return it’s our job to obey His teachings and commands and love our neighbors, serve our neighbors, and show them that Jesus loves them and wants them to be in His family forever. We can’t do that with half baked predictions that violate the teachings of the Word of God. We need to invest our lives in people and love them like Jesus.

Obedience

Dichotomy in Oregon

I didn’t want to paint this painting. I was with my friends from VineArts Boise. We had spent the day worshipping and painting and praying and I saw a lot in them that I really wanted for myself, not the least of which was freedom in worship and in art. I wanted to let loose, not plan so tightly and just let the Spirit move. We were invited to visit a great church in nearby Ontario Oregon called Christian Life Fellowship for their Night of Worship. (They have a great art ministry there as well called EchoArts). On this evening the VineArts folks and I painted, the CLF worship team played and a really cool break dance group called WonForce danced. It was a great night, except for one thing. I didn’t know what to paint. Well that’s not entirely true. I had an idea which was to paint my painting Dichotomy, a painting I had done many times before. When I prayed I kept feeling like I should do that piece and I really didn’t want to. I wanted to paint something new, something I never did before, something wild and abstract that would just let me, well you know… run amok. But no matter what I did, no matter how many times I pleaded and prodded, the Spirit kept leading me back to Dichotomy. So finally I relented.

My only concession was that I did most of the painting with my hands and fingers which gave it a different feel. Toward the end of the evening, we were each asked to share the story of the piece. I know the story behind Dichotomy very well, but something strange happened this time. Something new came out. I usually talk about how this is the worlds most unusual portrait of Jesus—how He is both the Lion of the tribe of Judah and the Lamb of God. I did mention that on this evening as well. I also talked about he has been both my savior and my defender, not to mention Lord and King. What was different was this—I said until He is Lord we will constantly be crying out for Him to save us. Please don’t launch into an eternal security debate with me that’s not exactly what I mean. I mean that if we don’t make Him our Lord and follow Him, we will continually be crying out for Him to bail us out of the consequences of our actions. I know that story all too well too. How about you?

At the end of the evening someone approached me and told me how she related to the piece and the story behind it. A few minutes later I gave her the painting. It wasn’t the painting I wanted to do, but it appears it’s the painting I needed to do. We can’t always do what we want to do, but if we’ll walk in obedience, we’ll see God at work eventually. It’s funny. I’ve painted that piece at least eight or nine times and I have never kept if very long. It’s an image God gave me in a prayer walk and it does what I wish all my art would do. It speaks to hearts and minds about my Savior and Lord. My prayer is that everything I do and my entire life would speak that same message. That’s what I’m shooting for… How about you?

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.
1 Samuel 18-19; 2 Timothy 4
You can also download your own chart here.

Weighing in on the Rapture

Thoughts on the Rapture Prediction

Seems to me someone needs to read this…
Mark 13:32 (Jesus said) “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. 34 It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with his assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.
35 “Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. 36 If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. 37 What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’”

More on this tomorrow.

The Tribe Lives

Well I’m sitting in the business center in the Shilo Inn in Boise ID. Lord willing I will be boarding the plane for PA in a few hours. About now you might be wondering what I got out of this trip. Well to be honest not what I expected but a lot. See part of me thought I was going to travel out here to find ten easy steps to starting a thriving arts ministry. That’s not what I found. What I saw was better.

First I saw a group of people willing to take in a relative stranger simply because we have two things in common, art and Jesus. They prayed for me, spoke life to me and thoroughly blessed me. I got to see artists humble and loving far beyond their amazing talent. I got to see a church that embraces it’s artists and empowers them to be who they are and I got to see what happens when gifted people work together to bring God glory with their gifts.

I got to watch and participate and worship and commune with them. I got to work side by side with Lisa, an amazing abstract artist Who knocked out a painting in an hour or two that looked like it took months. But that wasn’t the most amazing thing. The most amazing thing was the deep celebratory worship she was experiencing as she painted. I looked to the Lord and said I want what she’s having.

I watched Alyee, all of 20 years old lay down her opportunity to paint to sow into the life of an eight year old. I have no doubt that little girl will continue to use her gifts for the Lord as she grows and I have no doubt that some day when Alyee receives her crowns one of them will be for that moment.

I watched Dean, who is a consummate artist in what seems like every visual arts discipline, share on art and ministry with such passion that it reinforced this path I have chosen to follow. This man, who could show in any gallery in the world, was most fond of the concept that in arts ministry, “everybody gets to play.”

Of course there was their fearless leader Jessie, who in the time I was there, demonstrated leadership and organization skills that were just wonderful and totally evident in the unity and cohesiveness of the group. She spoke into my life and the Spirit showed her the areas of my struggle and she and the group helped me. I also got to interact with her family and I got to see a ministry family living as God intends. Grace and faith and balance and wisdom. It was both a blessing and a challenge to me to look at my priorities when I return home to my “first tribe.”

I was blessed to meet so many artists and the church that embraces them. They are all artists in everything they do, whether visual or cullinary or every day life or… well you get the idea. They’re a tribe and I’m pleased that they’re part of my tribe.

Thanks to all the folks at VineArts Boise. You really have blessed me. I didn’t get my ten steps to a strong arts ministry instead, I got four steps. Pray, Love People, Love Jesus and then Make art!

Sowing

2 Corinthians 9:6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.

It’s hard to believe I’m in my last full day at VineArts here in Boise, ID and while I am really missing my family, I have to say I am also going to miss these folks. What a dynamic arts ministry. If you’re ever in this part Northwest US you need to stop by and check them out.

Today I want to take a moment and share with you about whatthey did for me. I came out here looking for a plan, discernment and what to do next and while I have a truckload of ideas, I can’t say there’s a step by step plan at least not that I’m seeing now. I did however see something that, Lord willing, I will do for the rest of my life. These people have sowed into me. Yeah I know that sounds a little “churchy,” maybe a little “Christianese” but look at the verse at the start of all this. Paul writes about sowing generously or sparingly.

Sowing is planting, planting seeds. It’s the idea of investing for a harvest. The folks at VineArts Boise have prayed for me, spent time with me and showed me what they do to glorify God in the arts. They didn’t do this so I would start VineArts PA or sell me a franchise or any of that, they did it to help me refine and do what I do. They did it to help me “use what I have been given where I’m livin!’” (like that? it just popped into my head.) They sowed into my life in the hopes that God will reap a harvest and they sowed generously.

I wish I could give you the five step plan of what I will do when I get off the plane tomorrow night (well I have one step, since my flight arrives at midnight, I will sleep). But seriously, the only thing I can say for sure is my immediate plan is to keep seeking the Lord and keep sowing into people. One person in the midst of praying for me told me I paint on the canvas of people’s lives. I like that a lot and Lord willing that is what I want to do.

How about you? Will you sow sparingly or generously? I hope you sow generously and may the God of the harvest reap greatly through you.

Our Creative Creator

My church is doing the First Place 4 Health Program (biblical health and fitness). Last night we were looking at our bodies as the Temple of the Holy Spirit. One of the passages we looked at was Psalm 139:13 and 14 which speaks of us being fearfully and wonderfully made. The question was asked about the systems of our bodies that we find amazing. My answer was everything.

From the very beginning of life, conception where two cells come together to create a living breathing person nine months later, to our brains capable of storing every piece of information our senses absorb to the senses themselves. 60,000,000,000 fingerprints, no two alike. Hearts that keep perfect rhythm. Our bodies turn food into energy, the body; natural abilities to cure itself and on and on and on.

When I contemplate all the things that Lord has done in making each of us, it reminds me of a few things.
1. The vast majority of humans see themselves in one of two ways and both of them are false. They either see their value as incredibly low, which is wrong because in addition to all this evidence, Christ gave His life for you, or they severely overvalue themselves. “Look at all the great stuff I’ve done.” we may accomplish great things but without God we can do nothing. Looking at ourselves honestly allows us to see the awesome things God has done just to give us life.
2. When we are given the privilege of creating we are being given the privilege of experiencing just a taste of what God experiences.
3. I’m convinced we miss so many miracles every day. That each of us exist is in itself a miracle. Life is a blessing I am honored to receive and the best thing I can do is make the most of it.
4. I’m not a fan of evolutionary thinking. This is not a scientific thing for me so much as it is that I can’t look at myself or anyone else and think they are the result of random chance. I refuse to see my neighbor as a naked ape. To do that removes the expectation of greatness. Where there is purpose, there is hope. I choose to believe that I was created on purpose, with a purpose and because of that I choose to live on purpose. Further I believe that of everyone around me which gives me hope for humanity, not because my hope is in humanity, my hope is in the creator who creates on purpose.

At the end of the day it all comes down to this. Your Creator is good and He created you on purpose for something good. From there it comes down to a choice and the choice is largely ours. Will you find and embrace your created purpose and live on purpose for your creator?

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.
Judges 17,18, Psalm 38
You can also download your own chart here.

The Benefits of Creativity

Einstein

“Problems cannot be solved by the same level of thinking that created them.” Albert Einstein

You will never get a different result by doing the same thing. To make things different and better requires creativity. Sometimes the best answer is right before your eyes, a new application of something right before you and sometimes it has never existed before. At the end of the day when we are really up against it and not sure what we are to do, the best solution is to pray and ask God to help you to see what He sees. Then act on His solution. Creativity comes from the Creator and He always knows what to do.

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.
Judges 15-16, Psalm 65
You can also download your own chart here.