IllustrationFriday.com Challenge: Jungle

Maybe it’s because of the era I’m from, but I can’t hear the word “jungle” (this week’s challenge) without hearing “Welcome to the Jungle.” Because of this, my first thought ws to do a cartoon of Axl Rose facing down an actual lion and shaking in his kilt. It would have been funny, but then I thought of something more important.

He had his day in the sun, 2000 years ago, give or take, as he watched the Son of God gasping for every breath, hanging on the cross. He had managed to convince the very people Jesus came to save to scream for his execution. You know he was elated when he heard the words, “It is finished.” Ah sweet victory, but sometimes victory is short lived, especially when you mess with God.

Oh, make no mistake about it, there was victory that day, but it was not as it appeared. Not many days before, Jesus reminded His disciples that He would die for their sins and that no one takes His life away but that He lays it down freely. He has the power to lay down His life and the power to take it up again. What looked like victory was really a crushing defeat for death, hell, the grave and the devil as Jesus paid the price for our sins and bought eternal life for all who would believe. Jesus won the victory. In His human form, he looked easy to defeat for the mighty fallen angel, but the fatal flaw was forgetting that the suffering servant was also the Lion of the Tribe of Judah.

Welcome to the Jungle.

My Entry into the Sketchbook Project 2012

This year I decided to participate in the Brooklyn Art Library’s Sketchbook Project. All the entries will become part of a touring exhibit and then be placed permanently in their collection. There were numerous themes to choose from. The one that suited me best was Heroes and Villains. I just finished the cover of the book and thought I would share it here.

The cover for my entry into the 2012 Sketchbook Project World Tour

I’m not sure where the whole book will go yet but the cover shows the general idea. the ultimate battle between the ultimate hero and the ultimate villain. My goal is to show that nearly every great hero of nearly every great story shares attributes of the hero of the greatest story ever told. The secondary theme is to remind people that each of us is in a battle against the same opponent. My hope is that this piece will at least get people to consider Jesus as the hero of their story.

When the book is finished I will post it in its entirety.

This is just another example of a way an artist can use his gift to tell the story of Jesus. How will you use your gift?

AMOKArts ArtChurch: WDJD?/WWJD 6: Dealing with Temptation Jesus Style

Message
This message is based on the temptation of Jesus from Matthew 4:11. It shows temptation and how we can deal with it. Temptation is the number one weapon the enemy of our souls uses against us and it’s called temptation because it’s tempting. I hate onions, I can’t stand them. I’m sure God had a good reason for making them but it’s sort of lost on me. Satan’s not going to waste his time waving an onion sandwich in front of me. No he’s going to hit me with something I want, something that I can be tempted by and something that will appeal to me but also cause me pain and ruin my witness. Temptation is hard and it will beat us if we let it and that brings us back to act one. Let’s look at what happened when the roaring lion went after Jesus.

Art
Temptation and the Roaring Lion
This is the art project that went along with my message, WDJD?/WWJD 6: Fighting Temptation Jesus Style. It goes along with 1 Peter 5:8,9 which speaks about how Satan prowls around like a roaring lion seeking whom he might devour.

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.
Genesis 25,26, Galatians 3
You can also download your own chart here.