A group of artists came together to participate in a very unusual art project. Phase one, the artists were tasked with creating their best “Crown of Thorns” piece. Phase two, which was kept secret, became a very unusual, powerful experience for all those involved. The paintings themselves were done on a 2′x2′ piece of plywood in the medium and style of the artists choice.

Every good and perfect gift is from our father, but lets not make idols of them. Remember the golden calf? The gold was plunder from Egypt which the Lord gave them, yet they crafted idols from God’s gifts & blessings.

We are reconcilers, reformers, co-laborers, ambassadors for Christ that means we are re-presenting Christ and His Kingdom on earth as it is in Heaven.

Our time, talent and affections are to be his, and is agenda is knowing Him and making Him known; seeking and saving that which is lost.

Above: Artist Susan Gromala Crary

Above: Artist Jim McMahel

Above: Artist Jerryl Kain

Above: Artist Jeanne Smith

Above: Artist Antonio Santos

Above: Artist Keelan

Above: Artist Scott Howe

Above: Artist Cody Duncan

Above: Artist Neysa Millan Santiago

PHASE TWO

After presenting their finished paintings to the group, the artists are challenged to their surprise, to offer on the altar as a sacrifice, the very paintings they just created, as a representation of giving Jesus Christ full lordship of their creative abilities.

God promises Abraham a son, (Gen 17:15-21) and  that nations and Kings will come through him. After Isaac is born, God tests Abraham (Gen 22:1-18, asking him to surrender Isaac back to Him, by sacrificing him on the altar. God asks Abraham to release back to him the very thing he has blessed him with; that which he holds most dear, that for which he has hopes & dreams and even a word from the Lord! We believe God is asking us to place ultimate trust into His hands; to release what we hold most dear and personal, our creative ability, for His purposes alone – to make His name known in the earth not our own.

Pastor Larry Ramirez was the one-man wrecking crew who volunteered to smash the paintings. As he starts the dirty work he begins sharing about the sacrifice of Jesus and the atoning work that took place on the cross of Calvary. Almost immediately we feel the breath & presence of God. We began to get just a slight understanding of God’s love and the cost of Christ’s blood to buy us back.

Almost all of us are moved to tears as we experience God’s love for us, the sacrifice of His son and the ongoing furious pursuit for the souls of all men and women.

We gathered together on the altar and offered ourselves as LIVING SACRIFICES to our Lord and King. Our creativity, our hopes and dreams, our very lives offered to Him for His purposes!

Something significant happened in our lives that day. Something shifted in our perspective that will drive us in a greater way to do all things for the glory of God and no longer to the glory of ourselves.

The people of Israel had completely lost sight of the Lord’s supernatural hand in delivering them from the bondage of Egypt. They instead gave credit to Moses and once he had disappeared for a little while they resorted to their own darkened counsel to move forward. When we lose sight of God’s hand in our lives and look more to the shifting tides of men leadership and wisdom, we are more apt to become nervous, fearful and insecure.

We read in Leviticus 22:31-33 God’s perspective. “I am the LORD, who made you holy and who brought you out of Egypt to be your God. I am the LORD.”

Although God uses men and women to carry out His divine assignments, if we do not look past the human to the divine and see His sovereign hand, we will always be looking to men to meet our needs. If we are continually looking to our loving heavenly father, who gives good gifts (Mat 7:11) and supplies all our needs according to His riches and glory (Phil 4:19) we will find it much easier to be at peace. Understanding that Jesus Christ himself has been sustaining you, not your employer is a completely different perspective. Understanding that HE is your peace, not things or experiences will keep you grounded.

Remembering that God never changes, in Him there is no shadow of turning (James 1:17), His steadfast love endures forever (Psalm 100:5), and he knows what we need before we even ask (Mat 6:8), we can be confident to, “Seek first the Kingdom of Heaven” (Mat 6:33) knowing “These things will be given to you”.

Trust Him today!

Evoke Ministries and Resound Mission Base (www.Resound247.com) are partnering together again. Scott Howe, Director of Evoke, will be teaching the first semester of 2011 at the missions base. The class is entitled Creativity, The Christian & The Commission. If you are a creative person that has a flare to design, dance, sing, draw, write poetry, photography, make films or just want to creatively engage this generation, these messages are for you. Your creativity is God-given, and desperately needed in the body of Christ. Scott teaches how God used creatives throughout the bible and what role these creative talents play today in the purposes of God for engaging this culture and reaching a generation with the love-message of the gospel.

The classes are every Thursday, starting January 20th thru March 10th from 11am-12pm and are absolutely FREE! We encourage you to come early and join the Resound Team for worship and prayer from 9am-11am.

Exodus 31
1 Then the LORD said to Moses, 2 “See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, 3 and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts- 4 to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, 5 to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of craftsmanship. 6 Moreover, I have appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, to help him. Also I have given skill to all the craftsmen to make everything I have commanded you: 7 the Tent of Meeting, the ark of the Testimony with the atonement cover on it, and all the other furnishings of the tent- 8 the table and its articles, the pure gold lampstand and all its accessories, the altar of incense, 9 the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, the basin with its stand- 10 and also the woven garments, both the sacred garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons when they serve as priests, 11 and the anointing oil and fragrant incense for the Holy Place.

Not only does God choose and appoint artists, but he fills them with the Holy Spirit and equips them with skill, ability and knowledge. You who are creative, you can be sure of your call as an artist. BUT, recognize that the call is for the purposes of God Almighty.

See more on this in our resource page: http://www.evokeministries.org/art-for-gods-sake/

We are exhorted, “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” (Phil 4:8)

Our meditations are meant to be on the things of God. “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2 Cor 5:17). We should be renewing our minds and no longer conforming to the thoughts, ways or expressions of the former lusts, as in our ignorance. (1 Pet 1:14). At one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. (Eph 5:8-11)

Since we are new creations, let us seek to reveal attributes of the loving creator, be discerning of our thoughts and meditations, and put aside our own selfish creative expressions that may be of no benefit to anyone but the our own egos.

Although we are constantly plotting ways to creatively convey the truths of the Gospel we understand that it is the message that holds the power not the method.

1 Corinthians 1:17 tells us, ” preach the gospel, not with cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void” . We understand this to mean that we are not to get crafty with our words, or as The Message translation says, “use fancy rhetoric of our own” but to clearly bring forth the message. The message of Christ’s resurrection is the only message under heaven and earth that can save. No matter how we package this message of God’s loving, saving grace it will be a stumbling block and mere foolishness to those who stand against it (1 Corinth 1:18). There is no way to soften the offense unless you just don’t preach it. Sadly, this is the so-called solution many resort to. Being involved in creative ministries over the years I have seen committed believers with good intentions, refrain from sharing the gospel in order not to offend and preserve the relationship. We are called to preach the gospel at all costs. This is God’s way and is a part of dying to our own will and wisdom. 1 Corinth 1:21 says, “…God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe”.

We are the modern day generation conveying a timeless message.In attempting to translate the age old gospel into current day culture we dare not change, obscure, twist or tweak the message. A translator simply converts the message into a different language without altering the message.

(1Peter 2:9) But you are a chosen race, A royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

Scott Howe
evoke ministries

It’s time for creatives to get serious about Godly character as they are about their art form. Many creatives put much more thought into the technical aspects of their craft than into their personal commitment to God. Many have a vision as to how they want their music to sound, art to look, creative endeavor to go, but have no real vision how to press in deeper to the things of God. This shouldn’t be. Hours and hours are spent finding new music, going to shows, art openings, movies, to study the industry greats, but somehow a lack of motivation sets in for prayer, bible study, and gathering to discuss Jesus Christ. Being a creative myself, I understand the draw of industry performances and whatnot, but we cannot be wooed away from our first love by it.

Our God is longing for us to sit before him (luke 10:38-42), meditating, confessing, casting cares, interacting with the living God and coming to know him (John 17:3). We must be willing to recognize when our creative interests are becoming idols that consume much of our time.

In his book, “How Saved are We?”, Dr. Michael Brown says this,
“We spend hours watching TV and movies but minutes watching in prayer”
” We are hungry for sports, but have little taste for the scriptures”

What good is it for us to excel in our creative talents but have a calloused heart toward God. What will it profit us to be exalted for our talents but have nothing to say. We need the burning words of Jesus on our lips! We need a flaming heart of compassion for our generation! Spending quiet, intimate time with our God, beholding his face is essential to a life with Him. I urge you to become a genuine, diligent seeker of Christ before the diligent study of your craft. (Mat 6:33) But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Scott Howe
evoke ministries

Leen La Riviére – Chairmman, Intl Assoc. of Christian Artists

.

The books of Ezra and Nehemiah make fascinating reading. They contain many great lessons for us today. We can read how the Lord appointed both of these prophets to lead his people back from captivity into their own land. This process would not be complete until the center for worship had been restored: Jerusalem and the Temple.

Despite the fact that the Israelites had obtained full permission for this work from the highest authorities, and had everything they needed for it, things were not at all easy. Their return meant a loss of territory to those who had taken their land during their captivity. They were not welcome in their own country. They faced overt opposition, slander, blackmail and bribery. The enemy even suggested c0-operation with a view to undermining and destroying the work they were doing. Tricky. When the work was completed, we might think that the Israelites could start living their own lives and resume worshipping God just like that. But no, during their captivity and then during the period of restoration, people had defiled themselves in various ways. Mixed marriages had taken place. So Nehemiah called on the levites to purify themselves so that they could guard the gates and keep the sabbath holy. All the beautiful things that had been achieved, including the joyful worship full of color and song and dance, would be endangered if the gates were not watched by purified people. People who were able to discern what was impure.

Doesn’t this story make your heart beat faster? Hasn’t our culture been captivated by the enemy? A culture that should be under God’s authority? We too are called to restore things under Christ’s authority.

That is the essence of Gospel preaching. Just as in the days of Ezra and Nehemiah, we need to pray while building the walls, fully armed in the spirit. We also need to be instructed in the word of God as Ezra and Nehemiah instructed the people. We also need to discern the wiles of the Devil. And, having done all that, we have to see to it that purity is achieved and maintained continually.

The moment we fail to watch the gates, the enemy will move in. Ezra and Nehemiah could do their work because people supported it fully. They not only gave their tithes, they also fulfilled the role each had to play. May artists fight the myth that has captured our culture today, that everything is neutral! Objects are neutral; life never is. Bob Dylan rightly sings, ‘You’ve got to serve somebody’. There’s no such thing as ‘art for art’s sake’. That is plain deception. Art conveys something, and so it’s never neutral. When AAron created the golden calf, he abused art. When we go along with the trends of the secular world, we abuse art. The world’s beauty is negative beauty when it doesn’t speak of truth. It doesn’t lead to worshipping God. It will always reflect the character of it’s origin; Lucifer. Negative beauty always has a sting in it’s tail. Art reflects  a reality, and when that reality is not derived from God it will end up in deception, in a lie.

Artists need to purify themselves. They need to be free from selfish ambition, from self-centeredness, from jealousy, rivalry and insincerity. Only then is art safe in their hands. Only then can they guard the gates. It will take determination, as Nehemiah was determined. It will take boldness, never losing sight of our vision. The levites were called were called to guard the gates. Today our artists should rise up and hold the gates of civilization. Restoring beauty, proclaiming truth, challenging every other Christian to stand up and rebuild in their own location, in their own profession, the eternal values of God;preparing his kingdom.