Ultimate Perspective

People question the existence of God. This video is incredible and gives some perspective on the size and scope of God’s creation. To my mind seeing things like this make the idea that it’s all random look a little sketchy. There is a God. He created everything and He loves you.

Don’t Miss the Miracle

There’s another old saying…

You can’t see the forest for the trees.

It’s this idea that we are so focused on one thing that we miss the big picture. I think it’s like that for us all. Think about it. It’s vacation time for a lot of us. We’ll travel hundreds and maybe thousands of miles to see wonders, some natural and some man-made and all that is great, but consider what we are missing. In the process of our quest to see all these wonders, we tend to overlook God’s greatest most miraculous creation, the creation He created all other creations for… Humanity!

We stare at the ocean and miss those frolicking in it. We stress to stick to an itinerary and end up sniping at the ones we are ultimately taking the trip for. Don’t miss the miracle, and remember you are part of that miracle.

So this year, slow down and capture all that God has created, especially His greatest creation, maybe His greatest miracle, the creation that can itself create… Humanity… YOU! Genesis 1:27 says So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

Paint a portrait, take a photo, even just people watch and record WHO you see. Remember, we are created in the image of God. When we express humanity, we capture at least part of His likeness.

Details

Today I want to look at an old saying that in some cases could not be more wrong. It is said:

The Devil is in the details…

I know where the truth is in this statement. The fine print in the contract that rips you off, the disclaimer that makes the offer null and void, the problems they don’t reveal when they sell you the used car or the house, in general it’s the stuff we overlook that comes back to bite us. I get it and in this way the statement is correct.

But there is something more. You see I believe God is in the details. Look at nature. Look at the veins and capillaries in a single leaf, the intricacies of a snowflake, grab a mirror and look closely at the very thing that allows you to see, look at all the structures in the iris of your eye that allow the pupil to dilate and contract allowing your eyes to remain in constant focus. To me, these little details are the signature of the ultimate creative, God Himself. God is amazing and we see his handiwork in the details of life. Romans 1:20 says “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.”

Today, go out into nature or look at the nature that is you, and capture those details in whatever art for, you see fit. Then praise the God who is in the details of every day life.

Then share a link to your work with us in the comments.

This post has been inspired by a wonderful book I am using as my devotional right now. God’s Creative Gift-Unleashing the Artist in You: Bible Studies to Nurture the Creative Spirit Within by Jody Thomae

The Master Artist At Work…

I went to see a huge exhibition of amazing art on Saturday. The work of THE master creator. No it wasn’t in a museum or a gallery, it as on a lake. You see not far from my house is a large wildlife sanctuary dedicated primarily to waterfowl. What we saw was stunning. It was estimated that around 60,000 snow geese had taken up temporary residence at the Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area. We’ve had a particularly cold winter here in PA and most of the lake is still frozen meaning all these amazing beautiful birds concentrated themselves into a fairly small area of open water The result was breathtaking. One could practically walk across the geese. To make matters even better the geese are joined by about 6,000 Tundra Swans.

As my wife and I were marveling at the beauty of these magnificent creatures, a different conversation came up. Why we didn’t hear about snow geese when we were kids. The answer was simple, there weren’t very many. According to National Geographic “In 1916, snow geese had become so rare in the eastern United States that hunting of the species was banned. Since that time, the birds have made a remarkable comeback.” Now of course we weren’t alive in 1916, but when we were goring up in the 70s and early 80s they were still quite rare.

Also according to National Geographic. “Today, populations are thriving. In fact, the birds have become so numerous in places that they threaten to destroy their own habitat.”

By comparison, we saw a rarity yesterday, a ring necked pheasant. What is striking to me is that when I was growing up, these beautiful birds were commonplace. I once saw one strolling down the sidewalk in the midst of an urban area. They were everywhere. I’m not sure what happened to them. My guess is an increase in predators has made their populations dwindle. Many of the animals that eat pheasants used to be trapped for their fur and feral cats (cats released into the wild by owners who no longer wanted to care for them) also decimate the populations.

Why do I share this? God created this amazing world in perfect balance and He put it into our hands to care for. The balance is delicate and we need to be diligent. God has given us something amazing in His great love. Think about the great masterpieces of art. Imagine the Mona Lisa. It is kept in a carefully climate controlled area, you can’t take flash photography of it for fear of damaging it and if someone were to damage it, it would be considered a great crime. The earth sustains our lives. It is a masterpiece and a great gift. We need to care for it.

Creation Station: God Made You to Be a New Creation

This video was a lot of fun to make and I’m pretty happy with how it turned out. I tried to figure out a way to explain salvation to young children. This is what I came up with. What do you think?

This is the final session video for the AMOKArts’ Creation Station Bible School Curriculum shows us how to be a new creation in Christ by looking at two of God’s creatures who start life out looking completely different. To bring Creation Station to your church, contact Dave Weiss at AMOKArts@aol.com

IllustrationFriday.com Challenge: Tall

Maybe it’s because school started this week but I just couldn’t get this child-like illustration of a Giraffe made out of the letters spelling the word “tall.” (Yes I know the “L’s” are backwards, call it artistic license.) I know it’s pretty elementary but it was fun to do and it got me thinking.

Did  you ever wonder why you were made the way you were made? I think we all have things in ourselves that we’d  like to change. If that’s you,  consider the giraffe. That long neck has to be a, well, a pain in the neck, but it is actually a perfect design. As a matter of fact here is a whole article about the unique anatomical characteristics designed into the giraffe just to make it work. Ultimately God created an animal capable of eating from the tops of the trees. The giraffe is perfectly designed for what it was intended  to do.

Perhaps so were you. Short or tall, God made us all.

I Need Your Help… Crowd Sourcing Creation

Starting Thursday Morning, I have the awesome privilege of doing paintings at the Youth Leaders Hospitality area with my friends from Interlinc at the Creation Festival East.

Creation East holds a special place in my heart. It is where that I did my very first foray into ministry, where I baptized my son Chris and saw many people I love come to Christ. I can’t wait. I’m going to be doing some live paintings, giving away my ebook Ministering to the Creative Soul and a couple other goodies. The paintings I do (I’m hoping to do 16) will be given away as prizes and here’s where I need your help. You’ve seen my work. You know what I do.

The question is what paintings should I do to bless these hard working youthworkers? Leave your ideas in the comment section below.

I really am so looking forward to being at Creation East again and seeing my friends from Interlinc. It’s been too long on both counts. This festival often draws 80,000 plus. If you’re one of them please drop by and say, “Hi.” You won’t be able to miss me, I’ll be the one happily chained to the easel.

Also please be praying for me to have divine appointments with people I can help and people who can help me Run AMOK!

Video of Day: The Master Artist

There is a phenomenal artist that everyone knows about but most fail to acknowledge. His work is plagiarized by most other artists also often unacknowledged. While other artist are said to make the canvas come alive this artist does it literally. This artist works in life…

Watch this video and you will see something truly amazing, It’s called a murmuration. You have to see it to believe it.

A Murmuration was explained this way:
“This is one of the most spectacular animal phenomena known to man.

A murmuration, which this is, consists of thousands of tiny starlings (birds) collectively flying and swirling about. The mesmerizing act is typically seen at the beginning of winter, right before dusk, as the birds look for a place to roost for the night.

During the action, birds reach speeds of up to 20 mph.

In the video below, Vimeo user Sophie Windsor Clive captured an incredible example of the event on the River Shannon in Ireland. Clive and her companion, Liberty Smith, just seem to happen on the event as they were canoeing across. It was an amazing treat neither of them ever expected to see.

According to the Telegraph, what makes it so beautiful is actually a survival function:

“Numbers build up slowly near the roost over the afternoon as small groups of birds return from foraging in the area,” explains Paul Stancliffe of the British Trust for Ornithology. “By late afternoon there is a huge swirling cloud. It’s all about safety in numbers – none wants to be on the outside, none wants to be first to land.”
Essentially it’s an epic battle to determine who in the flock survives, and who’s a target for predators. According to the Telegraph, each bird tries to copy the bird next to it exactly, which results in a stunning rippling effect.’

The artist is GOD, you are his masterpiece.

My New Presentation

Defeating the 20/80 Rule with Be the Body
• Does your church have enough people to get everything done?
• Does your church have a small group of people who do most of the work?
• Does your church have a large group of people on the fringes and barely connected?
When you call upon your congregation to do the kinds of service Jesus commanded do they look back at you with a look that says, “Isn’t that what we pay you for?”
There’s a rule in most human organizations including, unfortunately, the church, which states that on average about 20 percent of the people do 80% of the work. This leaves your most faithful servants doing many things for which they are neither called nor gifted and nearing burnout while the rest of the congregation is only slightly invested in the work of the Kingdom. This is not the church that God intended.
I was in danger of becoming one of those 80 percent people and then something amazing happened. I went from struggling new believer who could barely read scripture aloud with a profound fear of public speaking to ordained minister, pastor and speaker. It wasn’t all a smooth ride and it didn’t happen overnight but it happened and I can trace it all back to one event. My pastor found a Kingdom use for my unusual gift and it changed my life. I’m convinced that there are thousands (maybe millions) of people in the church of Jesus Christ who are in the same boat. They have tremendous, God-given potential to do great things—things that will tremendously expand the Kingdom and they’re just waiting for someone to find their gift, ignite their passion and show them how to be what they were created to be to the glory of God. We are all “God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do!”
That’s what my new presentation “Be the Body” is all about. Through the use of my story, artistic gifts, interactive projects and preaching the Word of God, I will challenge the “many parts” in your congregation to become fully invested members of the “one body” of Christ. Topics covered include:
• What it means to be the body of Christ? 

• How to do and be your part.

• What to lay down and what to take up.

• Maintaining unity and more.


This can be anywhere from a single message, a series of revival/Spiritual renewal services even a weekend retreat. I really feel a strong leading to go out into the church and call people into their God given calling. The guiding verse of this ministry is 1 Peter 4:10, Each one should use WHATEVER GIFTS he has received to serve others. I would love to come to your church or event and share with your congregation. Contact me, Dave Weiss at AMOKArts@aol.com
God bless,
Dave Weiss

www.amokarts.com

Anyone need a speaker/painter?

Dave Weiss Speaking Ministry Flyer

AMOKArts.com founder looking for opportunities to speak and/or paint, paint and/or speak in worship, conferences, etc. See my booking page or contact amokarts@aol.com for more information.