Week of Feb. 3-9 I Believe.....

Do you have any strange beliefs that no one knows about? How about wierd superstitions? I truly believe that I will always get into the slowest line at the grocery store or Walmart. I find myself "knocking on wood". Sunday Aaron said that people say that if they are reserved at a football game then they should be reserved in praise and worship....I used to believe that...I am changing that belief. If you look at the word "believe" do you notice a small little word built inside of it? I won't tell you...see if you can guess. This week see if there is any strange beliefs that you intellectually know is untrue but believe it anyway. This is a great exercise for those creative writers out there. The following is a fun link to look at. It is interesting to see how many superstitions are directly linked to religion or the Bible.

http://www.islandnet.com/~luree/silly.html

Jamie's History

Week of January 27th-February 2

I am always fascinated with stories that people tell about their lives. Where they came from and why they believe the things they believe. I had a wonderful grandmother who was always telling stories. I think that is why I like listening to stories so much. It reminds me of sitting in my Grandmother's kitchen drinking coffee (thanks for the addiction Grandma) and listening to her talk. This week think about your story. Try to communicate where you come from or an incident that has shaped who you are.

There is a group called Story Corps...
http://www.storycorps.net/
they are in the business of recording as many stories as they can Check out the website and think about the story you would contribute if you had a chance

Week of January 20-26

Learners

This weekend a few of us attended a workshop called "Hearing the Voice of God." One of the speakers, Aaron, talked about how God talks to us. We all have different styles of learning and experiencing our world. Our learning is based on one of our senses. We can be visual learners, audio learners or we may learn by touching or experiencing things. I am very tactile...I like touching things. So I would have to say that I learning through feelings and impressions. That is why I like mixed media. I like the different textures and patterns in life! This week create something that best expresses your learning style and how you experience the world.

Nick's Beginnings

Here is Nick G's Beginnings contributions
Great job Nick!!

Jarett's critic

Here is a self portrait of Jarett and his critic.
Thanks Jarett!

Good Art?

I'm going to put myself out there and ask the question.
What is good art?
I am reading a book right now about art and Christianity and in the book they use this verse from Philippians 4:8

"8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things."

The book makes the point that we should use this verse as a benchmark for judging our own art as well as the art of others. Could it be that we have allowed moral relativism to seep into our thinking about art? If the Christian world has been so disconnected from the art world...does that mean that anything goes and anything is art? I am not talking about good craftsmanship. I am talking more on the lines of subject matter. I belong to a couple secular art groups on the web. Some artists are very political and want to make a statement with their art. Some art is just flat out evil. But have we been so disconnected that we are afraid to criticize when we see bad images reflected in art? With this blog I have been forced to ask myself these questions because I have to moderate the site. I have discovered in myself that art...any art has been OK with me because it is just that....art. Yet, we would not put some contemporary songs on our site if we were musicians because of the content and not all creative writing is good for the soul...so what about art? I would be interested in how all of you feel.