Putting it out there.

Off and on over the last two years I have posted entry's in a BLOG that I really haven't let anyone know about.  Partly because I feel that nobody would really want to read what I write, and partly because I am "chicken" to let people know what I really think!  This mentality has changed though in the last month, mostly due to a great talk I heard at the Green Room Arts Conference.  Dewitt Jones was the speaker, he is an accomplished photographer with National Geographic credits, and a great celebrator of whats right with the world.   There were two things that really stuck out to me in his talk.  The first thing was that in order to create good art you need to "have juice in camera" so to speak.  He told a long story that explains that idea, but the shortened version is; for you to be inspired, you need to have things that are inspiring you.  This challenged me to really think about what "gives me life", "fills me up", or "gives me joy", and then address the harder question of; "When was the last time I did any of those things?".  When was the last time I went hiking and experienced the wonder of nature?  When was the last time I read a book to get lost in the story?  When was the last time I was so inspired, that I felt like I need to write a song and get my feelings out before I explode.  To be honest,  answering those questions was very sobering to me of how little juice I had in my camera.  The second thing that stuck out was really a challenge.  As Dewitt spoke, I felt as if he said this directly to me, he said, "Put it(your art) out there whether it is received or not.  To be honest again, I am not very good at "putting it out there".  I love to create, but I have a hard time sharing.  Its personal, I don't want to open myself up to criticism or praise, but the older I get(and the more wise people that speak into my life, thanks) I realize that I am being selfish with what God has given me.
So here I am sitting in a coffee shop in East Grand Rapids putting it out there.  I am nervous as I type this because I know in a moment I will email this link out to friends, but at the same time I excited about taking this first step of letting go.
I want this BLOG to accomplished three things.  First, I want it to be an outlet for me to share what going on in my head and heart.  Second, I want this to be a place where conversation happens.  Please comment on the posts and continue the conversation, or challenge my thoughts.   Third, I want this to be a place where you can add "juice to your camera" and where we can "celebrate whats right with the world".   So time to time I will post things that I have found that inspire me.
Well, here we go!  Thanks for reading!

Behind the Music

I absolutely love listening to musicians/artists talk about their music.  I love to hear why they wrote a song, what they were feeling at that time, who/what inspired them, and how it all came together.  I find real inspiration in other peoples artistic expressions and it moves me to create as well.  Enjoy this video of She & Him’s Zooey Deschanel and The Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson interviewing each other about their music. 
Artist on Artist: Brian Wilson & Zooey Deschanel

Artist on Artist | MySpace Video

St. Patricks Day Reflection

St. Patrick was a Christian missionary to Ireland from 389-460 AD.  He wrote this prayer in preparation to try and convert the High King Loegaire of Ireland.  May these words prepare you for this day and beyond.

 

I arise today

Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,

Through the belief in the threeness,

Through confession of the oneness

Of the Creator of Creation.

I arise today

Through the strength of Christ's birth with his baptism,

Through the strength of his crucifixion with his burial,

Through the strength of his resurrection with his ascension,

Through the strength of his descent for the judgment of Doom.

I arise today

Through the strength of the love of Cherubim,

In obedience of angels,

In the service of archangels,

In hope of resurrection to meet with reward,

In prayers of patriarchs,

In predictions of prophets,

In preaching of apostles,

In faith of confessors,

In innocence of holy virgins,

In deeds of righteous men.

I arise today

Through the strength of heaven:

Light of sun,

Radiance of moon,

Splendor of fire,

Speed of lightning,

Swiftness of wind,

Depth of sea,

Stability of earth,

Firmness of rock.

I arise today

Through God's strength to pilot me:

God's might to uphold me,

God's wisdom to guide me,

God's eye to look before me,

God's ear to hear me,

God's word to speak for me,

God's hand to guard me,

God's way to lie before me,

God's shield to protect me,

God's host to save me

From snares of devils,

From temptations of vices,

From everyone who shall wish me ill,

Afar and anear,

Alone and in multitude.

I summon today all these powers between me and those evils,

Against every cruel merciless power that may oppose my body and soul,

Against incantations of false prophets,

Against black laws of pagandom

Against false laws of heretics,

Against craft of idolatry,

Against spells of witches and smiths and wizards,

Against every knowledge that corrupts man's body and soul.

Christ to shield me today

Against poison, against burning,

Against drowning, against wounding,

So that there may come to me abundance of reward.

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,

Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,

Christ on my right, Christ on my left,

Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise,

Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,

Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,

Christ in every eye that sees me,

Christ in every ear that hears me.

I arise today

Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,

Through belief in the threeness,

Through confession of the oneness,

Of the Creator of Creation.

Beautiful Things

Every couple months I receive a church resource box from Neue. In the box are books, CD's, and DVD's handpicked by the staff at Neue to stir the vision of local church leaders. This has been a great tool for me over the last few years and has introduced me to authors and artists that I may not have encountered otherwise. One such artist that has been in my playlist constantly over the last couple weeks is Gungor(formally known as The Michael Gungor Band). I received their album "Beautiful Things" in the latest Neue box, and it has been a breath of fresh air. The melodies are sweet and lyrics are thoughtful and in some places raw and vulnerable. The album walks a fine line between being over and under produced giving it a strange balance. I love that the music is very eclectic, going from a modern rock sound, to funky grooves, and then to a very acoustic feel(with banjo!) within a few tracks. I think this is a great album and encourage you to check it out!