JFlah's Blunders

Created a hand scanner for next week's performance of The Agape League . We're going to post these at each entrance. The Agape League musical is another great imaginative and God-honoring children's choir musical by Christy Semsen . The music is so much fun. They have a great DVD accompaniment too. What's funny is that Semsen's work is all great. I haven't listened to one that I didn't go "Wow! I love this." I've made the files available to everyone who wants it. Here's a download link: http://bit.ly/1fbdeoh And the kids like to give out "invitations" for their programs at school to teachers and friends. Here's what was created for those:

Mercy. It’s such a strange un-human concept. At our base level, no human has a knee-jerk reaction that is merciful unless there is an outside force acting upon our naturally self-centered minds. If we don’t immediately jump to revenge-mode it’s likely because of two things: We are concerned about how society (read “friends or family”) will view our actions (so we reign in our desire to exact revenge or lessen our reaction to the wrong.) We extend mercy as an out-flow of something deeper, purer – namely a relationship with the God of the universe, leaving room for God’s judgment. ( Romans 12:9 ) God sent His perfect Son to live a sinless life, be obedient to the point of shedding His blood and death, then to rise bodily from the grave – providing hope of eternal life. Through Christ’s sinless life, death, and subsequent resurrection, the penalty for sin ( death ) was satiated and God freely offers mercy to us despite our sinful rebellion. (...

    Worked with Dad last week to help him get some totem poles painted. It took a very long three days of working from sun up to sun down to complete them, but it was fun. I enjoyed having a brush in my hand once more, even if I was painting ugly totem pole figures for some movie I'll likely never see. They'll be filming at Camp Merrydale in St. Francisville for the next few months. It's a horror/comedy thing tentatively called "The Final Girls." Didn't see it on IMDb yet - it's a "low" budget film (do those even exist?).

I'm marveling at the mercy of the cross. At the ninth hour (3pm) the day following Passover evening, Jesus Christ allowed himself to be crucified. He died. It was gruesome and terrible, but through His death (but mostly His resurrection) we have the hope of heaven. That's why we call it "Good Friday." Christ's sacrifice made it possible for me, a gentile, to receive God's mercy, have hope of life eternal, and it blows my mind even now. Thank you, Father God, for that mercy, for the sacrifice and for the hope that it has created in this life You've given me. In your Son's holy name, Jesus Christ, Amen.

image by Markheybo at flickr I think this quote is reflective of something endemic in churches - embarrassingly endemic because people who go to church seem to try to "look" like they have it together. Truth is, no one has it together! Of those people who do not attend church the majority of the reasons sited for their disinterest is "hypocrisy" of the church members. Most people don't feel safe sharing the truth about themselves (or about what God has truly saved them from or brought them through) for fear of the listeners spreading rumors or judging them. I hope and pray that the people I know do not see a front from me, but that they will see the truth of how amazing God is for what He has done (and continues to do) in my life. I'm not perfect and won't be this side of heaven, but I don't want to be perceived as having it all together because life is messy. God cleans me up and church is where I go to brag on Him for what He's done.

I don't know what the correlation between listening to audio books and the quality of my sketches, but I can tell you that there is definitely a correlation. My sketches are better in general and exhibit better overall composition when I'm listening to an audio book. They're still not perfect but they are better. Is it because I am focused on the book and so only my observational skills are employed for the sketch - does it help me not to over-analyze?

This is a project I've been playing with off and on for about a week. It's a "push card" for the women's ministry. I printed them for the director today and they look great!

Sarah won the Picot Cowl! I hope you enjoy it. She can expect a special package any day now. Only had 28 entries for this first giveaway. Next time I'll have to do better with the build up via social media, huh? Do you have an idea of what you'd like to see here as a giveaway? Leave me a comment.