"You HAVE to do this..."

So I dont know how many of you I've told... ok let me back up a little more then that. So super senior year of college I was just LOVING art. I just enjoyed it SO much... thinking about it, experimenting with it, making it... especially with others. So when I graduated and it looked like I'd be substitute teaching for a while it looked like I wouldnt need to be making art at all. And not only because I LOVED art but also because I was required for almost 2 straight years to be creative almost 24/7, I knew this was going to be a difficult change. But God has graced me with a few big ideas for big projects that don't have to be completed anytime soon but that I can work on whenever I have the chance :) (Hes also given me various other little ones to work on as well... thank you God!) Ok... anyway one of them is a graphic novel based on the story of the Apostle Paul but in modern times... weird I know. SO to make a short story long... Im trying to come up with an idea of how the characters in this story will look, more realistic/less realistic, basically what will be the feel to all the characters. So periodically I sketch out the heads of my idears of Paul, Stephen and Peter. So I was doing that today while resting and the head of the first one I was drawing was coming out more realistc. Thats alright and also he wasnt looking very Jewish... (I want Peter and Paul to look VERY noticably Jewish) so I decided to make this one Stephen. And I want Stephen to be blonde at this point (dont really know why). Also for the look I was going for I was thinking of Jon Foreman when I was thinking of his hair. (Probably because I cant stop watching the Switchfoot podcast from the last blog entry :) So when I was done I realised.... I drew Jon Foreman.... not Stephen. It looked very much like him. So... I had 3 circles on the page... I decided I was going to draw 3 of my favorite singers right now: Josh Garrels, John Mark McMillan and as I said above Jon Foreman. So I got ALL EXCITED. Then I thought, "ILL DO THREE PAINTINGS OF THEM!!!" and was even more excited (you can tell by the "all caps") But then I slowed down, I've been trying to keep my mind off of myself these days. God has been showing that pretty much the root to every problem I have is my WICKED selfishness... and its showing itself to be more and more true. So I thought, this is a pretty selfish painting. I stoped. Later this evening I picked up the drawing and thought I would at least finish the graphite portraits. I was looking through a bunch of pictures online as refrence for the guys. When I came to John Mark, I found this recently added video to his blog,



Then I heard...

Death in His Grave

I havent written here in a while

I think its because I've been really convicted about the amount of empty words I spew fourth every day,

But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. (Matthew 12:36)

Thus, I'm trying (but need to be trying harder) to, "be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger"(James 1:19)

But I feel like He's showing me more and more and more everyday. Its pretty incredible actually. He's mainly showng me how much I need Him. Like... how much I need Him. I'm seeing as well how much He wants us to live in the present, I have a few little short term plans... I'm subbing right now but when summer comes I will most likely be looking for a more permanent job... but I just really have no clue what I'll actually be doing... and I'm kind of having a hard time with that. But I really think He wants us to be that dependant...

Ah growing :)

Anyway, to the title of this here blog, I've found another favorite artist, the writer of the famous How He Loves John Mark McMillan. I've discovered this amazing site called Grooveshark which is like Pandora but way better because you can choose the songs specifically and arrange them in anyway you want to! Pretty amazing hu? Anyway, so I've been listening to his latest "The Medicine" on this lovely website because it hasnt been released yet.... but I can listen to it on there?.... Hmm...

Anyway, here are the lyrics to what is my favorite song right now for sures:

Though the Earth Cried out for blood


Satisfied her hunger was

Her billows calmed on raging seas

for the souls on men she craved



Sun and moon from balcony

Turned their head in disbelief

Their precious Love would taste the sting

disfigured and disdained



On Friday a thief

On Sunday a King

Laid down in grief

But awoke with keys

Of Hell on that day

The first born of the slain

The Man Jesus Christ

Laid death in his grave



So three days in darkness slept

The Morning Sun of righteousness

But rose to shame the throes of death

And over turn his rule



Now daughters and the sons of men

Would pay not their dues again

The debt of blood they owed was rent

When the day rolled a new



On Friday a thief

On Sunday a King

Laid down in grief

But awoke holding keys

To Hell on that day

The first born of the slain

The Man Jesus Christ

Laid death in his grave



On Friday a thief

On Sunday a King

Laid down in grief

But awoke with keys

Of Hell on that day

The first born of the slain

The Man Jesus Christ

Laid death in his grave



He has cheated

Hell and seated

Us above the fall

In desperate places

He paid our wages

One time once and for all