This has been an exciting week for TCAF.  Let me fill you in.  First, our meeting on Monday the 18^th has some neat stuff happen.  We started to work on our first real project, the First Friday (December 6^th) Meet the Local Artist event at Susan Palmer’s Tehachapi Christian Store.  One of the artists who’ll you’ll be meeting is Valerie Provines, pictured here:

  Valerie is an impressionist and these are two of her works:

Our Landscape photographer, Gail Martin, who took these pictures,  will also be there showing some of her works.  

Rene Hajj, pictured here: 

will do double duty.  She’ll present a couple of her poems from her poetry gift book (one of them, Savior, is on the right), then go out to meet all of you as Mary, Mother of Jesus, passing out invitations to the event and answering any questions you might have about Mary, and her most precious son.

Along with Rene, a number of other TCAF members, those who are actors and writers, began rehearsals to become the other biblical characters you’ll meet that night.  Mike Sanders began researching his role as John the Baptist, Brian Smith did the same for his portrayal of Peter, and 11-year old Leah Terry began thinking about how she would greet you as one of the children who came to Jesus in Matthew 19:13-15. “Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them.  But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”  And He laid His hands on them and departed from there.”

We then spoke with 15-year old Kyla Hansen.  Her drawings were featured earlier on this blog.  Kyla will be partnering with TCAF to do some Christian Christmas Cards that might appeal to teens and be for teens.  We’ll be working on those in the days to come.

Okay, that was Monday night.  On Tuesday night we held our first Mini-Seminar (2 hours) at the Tehachapi Christian Store.  We had eight attendees learn how to write a novel with impact.  Two things about this event.  1) is was well received and will be put on again with greater publicity after the first of the year, and 2) it showed that this format – a 2-hour seminar on a weeknight – actually works.  It allows busy people to get the highlights of a given topic, to meet and hear the comments of other interested people, and establish a relationship with all concerned so they might learn more in the future.  With these obvious advantages, Lord willing, TCAF will put on more of these Mini-Seminars in 2014.

We also decided starting this Monday night, because of the early darkness, the winter weather, and it allows everyone to get home earlier, we’ll start our meetings at 6pm and go to about 7:30pm.  See you there!  Bill

We're on Track!

We're on track.  Based on your input to Dorothy, we're going to have a real impact on our community for Christ on First Friday (December 6th).  Now we just get ready for it.  What follows is what each of your wants to do.  

Those who are playing characters, read up a little on the character you want to perform (get some background and how you, as a character, feel about things), and come up with some things that character might say as he or she is handing out bookmarks and greeting people with love.  

Those of you who are visual artists, bring examples of your work to be photographed, also think about a paragraph of introduction - who you are, and what inspires your work - how you want people to think about your work.  I want that paragraph to appear on the promo.

Gail and I will be taking pictures, Gail for the Promo, and I for the blog and for an article I hope to write for the Loop.

Here where each of you are in your choices:

--Michelle Terry thought Leah would want to do a biblical character (perhaps Jairis' daughter---raised from the dead? she'll have to ask Toby what he thinks about doing it).
--Kristyn Hansen liked the idea for Kyla and Michael, depending on December demands
   Also she might be interested in having Kyla's art work put on greeting cards.
--Mike Sanders wants to be John the Baptist
--Renee wants to be Mary, mother of Jesus
--Larry Trapp will do live music that night.
--Gail is willing to do promo art cards for the visual artists.  So far Valerie and Juanita are going to bring their art work on Monday and Renee will bring a poem to be put on a card to promote her work.  Will let you know who else will bring work as I'm able to get a hold of them.
--Bookmarks were printed by Witts and came out great.
--A Christmas ad for Susan's shop was sent to the Beekay publication.
--We're going to do a separate flyer for First Friday, (to hang at Starbucks, Kelly's, Henry's Wherever, etc. where everyone will be invited to come and meet "John the Baptist", Mary, Mother of Jesus, Jairus' daughter...Maybe we can work some character photos in...
--Wasn't able to get a hold of Lisa, but hopefully she'll be one of the biblical characters as well - Lisa let's talk about it.

Writers - we need to be working with the characters to help them bring dimension and words to their performance.

I've spoke with a graphic artist about our sign and logo and that's in the works.

We need everyone there.  Big night coming up, let's all be there.  God bless, Bill

It's time to start working on being a TCAF Christmas Card

Last weeks meeting was special, this week's meeting will be special-er.  On December 6th, at the Tehachapi Christian Store, we're going to be the First Friday "entertainment."  This Monday night we will begin to prepare for that event.  And I want you to start thinking about what you're going to do on that First Friday now.  This will be the last First Friday before Christmas, and for Susan Palmer, it will be her first Christmas Card to the Tehachapi Community - and we are that Christmas Card.  

Each of us has different talents, different gifts, and we owe it to Susan, to those who come to experience us, and most of all, to the Lord, to use what He's given us in unique, meaningful, God honoring ways.  He's given us these talents for us to introduce Him to others, and to dig deep within ourselves so that we might identify new ways to strengthen our relationship with Him as we find more about ourselves - His creation, the one He loves unfathomably - you.  I've found that the more I've learned about myself, the deeper I've dug to present something credible in my writing, the more I've learned about Him and how He's worked in my life.

Each of us has something to present on the 6th, which means we have something to select and prepare before then.  So, let's all pray about it, ask Him for some wisdom and inspiration, and come together tomorrow night ready to work for Him. 

The Time Has Come - And We're Up For It!

We had our first “Coffee House” meeting Monday night and it was neat – very neat.   Renee Hajj read her poetry, a real talent.  Gail Martin read a children’s book she’s been working on, a beautifully visual tale staring her two puppies.  Thirteen-year old Toby Terry showed us some magnificent Lego based models he’s built.  Dorothy Esther read a short story that truly warmed our hearts, one she’d previous published.   Darrell Beck read a few short poems that painted a nostalgic portrait of his early life on an Iowa farm.  Now, I have to say that every offering was a highlight, but the next performance set a new tone and also TCAF's direction for at least the next month.  Susan Palmer gave us a visual of an idea she had.  She slammed in a CD - A Mad Russian's Christmas by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra - and let 'er rip.  The music reverberated - then Susan did, too.  For the next four minutes, she gave us a pantomime that kept us thoroughly entertained, and got our creative bodily fluids pumping.

What was her idea?  A way to introduce TCAF to the Tehachapi Christian Community - who we are, and what we’re about.  In brief, it’s a way to show the churches and those attending First Friday on December 6^th, that we’re a diverse group of artists – painters, writers, dancers, builders, film makers, musicians, and more – yet we’ve come together for a single purpose, to use the creative spirit God’s placed within us to minister to the community in which He’s planted us.

Then, as a capper, Susan invited us to present this, and other creative offerings at her Christian Store on First Friday, December 6^th.  This coming Monday night, November 11^th, we begin working to make this debut boffo - a real honey.

If you haven't attended TCAF before, if you’ve hung back waiting for us to define ourselves, to become a group you can feel good about, your wait is over.  God’s at work.  We saw Him working in spades last Monday night.  As Dorothy Esther put it the next morning, “I sensed the Lord was smiling last night.” And Gail Martin told me, “Great meeting last night.  I left with a happy heart.”   No matter what your creative focus, we’re here to encourage, nurture, and support.   Join in the fun.  Join in the ministry.

Loving our TCAF Neighbors as Ourselves

Matthew 22:37-40:  And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”  

Isn’t it amazing that a person can study all of scripture again and again, and all of it boils down to just these four verses in Matthew 22.  If we truly love the Lord, we’ll learn what He’s said, then do it.  And if we truly love our neighbors as ourselves, we’d never do anything to hurt them, but rather only build them up.

For me, one of the most important objectives of TCAF is to provide Creative Christian People, those Christian Artists in its broadest definition, a safe place to present their creative work – their ideas, their works in progress, and their finished projects – which are usually just the first stepping stone to their next work in progress.  My hope, and I think a realized hope, is that this gives all of us our first audience reaction, which, in turn, first gives us encouragement, and next helps us improve, particularly if we’ve asked for feedback.   

Back to safety:  when we take Matthew 22:37-40 to heart we provide the safety for each of us to present our creativity to the group.  We know we’re going to be encouraged, not ridiculed as the world tends to do to us.  We know no one’s going to steal our ideas and work and use it for themselves.  And we know we can count on the group to lovingly help us over our creative rough spots.  God made us this way for His purposes, and our creativity is precious to us just as it’s precious to Him.  Because it’s precious to us, because our creativity often defines us and our ministry, it’s important that we put together some rules so we all understand how we treat one another’s creativity, and how we can expect to be treated.  So here’s a few rules to start with that we can mull over and discuss.

            Rule 1:  We take to heart and adhere to Matthew 22:37-40.

      Rule 2:  No member of TCAF can use in any way another’s creativity for any purpose without the creator’s permission. 

      Rule 2.1 (expansion on rule 2) There are three ways we can present to the group.  1)  We can present our ideas and work to get reaction, opinion and/or critique. (Our idea remains our own).  2)  We can come to the group for help, telling the group specifically that we desire their help, to further the work, or improve the work.  Since the group is being asked to help, members of the group have the option to help or not help, and what creative help given is given as a gift to the creator, for when we need help, we want loving, gracious, responsive assistance. 3) We can give our idea to the group.  For instance, we’re brainstorming the next TCAF project, a member introduces the idea for an Art Show, the group gets excited and ideas enhancing the first idea fly around the room from member to member.  Although the credit for the idea remains with its original creator, the idea itself now belongs to the group since the group has expended creative energy improving it.

      Rule 3:  We should all be respectful of each other’s ideas and work, and not discuss them with those who might take advantage of them and who are not part of TCAF.  We don’t want to be the conduit by which one of our member’s creativity gets stolen or degraded.

      Rule 4:  TCAF wants to foster collaboration among its members – poets and musicians come together to create songs, writers and actors come together to create plays, painters and builders come together to create beautiful structures.  We don’t want to impede that at all.  We just want to make sure that we all feel safe to present, and just as safe to collaborate when we’re ready to do so.

If you have any thoughts at all about what I’ve presented here, please let me know what they are.  God bless, Bill

A Favor For A Dying Friend

Lorretta Turner has a Christian friend who is dying of cancer.  She has a 2-year old cat named Tiger Boy.  You guessed it, the kitty has tiger stripes.  Tiger boy is a house cat that has all his shots, has been neutered and declawed.  He comes with a fancy litter box, toys, dishes, and some food.  Lorretta's friend wants to make sure Tiger Boy has a good loving home before she goes home to be with the Lord.  Can you help?  If you can, email billkritlow@gmail.com.

This is God's Gathering, and God Worked

Something significant happened at the last meeting – last Monday night, the 7^th, only our third get together.    One of the main reasons Larry Trapp and I began these gatherings of artistic, creative Christian people, is to give them, and ourselves, a forum where our creativity would be free (under God’s leading) to express itself.  We wanted a place where human leadership is subordinate to the Creative Spirits within us that God brings together and uses.   At this meeting, that happened with great and exciting result. 

Important to all of us is that TCAF has a ministry and outreach component to it.  That said, we wanted to have a ministry and outreach event, something that would plant our flag here in Tehachapi, and show ourselves as a group with a true heart for our beloved believing and non-believing community.  I’d written a number of full length Christian plays, and in my mind one in particular would make a nice flag to plant, then the visual arts part of TCAF could exhibit their art as part of that event so that all of us would have an opportunity to minister in the ways God’s provided for us.

That’s not what God had in mind.  Creativity under God’s perfect direction was at work.  And His plan, and those in which He was working, came up with something far more exciting, and far more in keeping with the talents, direction and strengths of our group.  In the new event, all our writers will write, all our actors will act, all our artists will design and create, and all our musicians will bring their beauty, power, and impact.  And, without revealing too much, what will be said by the event – an event that will be open to the entire Tehachapi community, Christian and otherwise, will be a gentle, meaningful, impactful message that all need to hear.  As all surrounding this event, at this time, is in its infancy, the when is still to be determined, but it will be publicized in plenty of time for you to make arrangements to come and invite those who need to hear what will be said, as well.  God bless.