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.

Some Thoughts About Worship for the Artist (Creative Person)

Every Christian artist (creative person) should look at this video.  But before, consider Romans 12:1-2

:

I appeal to you therefore, brothers,by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.2 Do not be conformed to this world,but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. ESV

Now consider this:  Pretend you're a Swiss Watchmaker about 250 years ago.  Your whole life, you whole sense of self, not to mention your reputation and income, are derived from making the most beautiful, more accurate watches in all the world.  And you know, beyond a doubt that prospering means that you need to remain the best.  You take huge pride in what you do.  On Sunday, at church, as you pray, sing, listen to a sermon, your breast swells with pride.  So few people can do what you do, and, in your mind, no one can do it better.  As you place money in the collection plate, you are giving from the abundance you have gathered because of your tremendous skill.  You worship from a place of strength.  Your witness is:  "perhaps those less skilled, less intelligent, will see me in church and come because they know I am not a fool.  Everything I do, including church, is the right thing to do."

But one day, the circumstances unimportant, our Swiss Watchmaker comes to know Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior.  A verse plays in his head like a father's loving admonition:  What do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?  1 Corinthians 4:7 and he realizes that every skill, every shred of reputation, every spec of provision has come from God.  The Watchmaker is who he is because God made him that way, made him for His own purposes - he was a great watchmaker because God wanted him to be a great watchmaker.  With renewal, he now attends church eagerly, sings with more gusto, listens more intently.  But it just doesn't seem to be enough. With the greatest gratitude, with a full and reaching heart, he decides to take the skill God's given him and create something so intricate, so magnificent, so astounding, that it would tell God how much he truly appreciates the gifts he'd been given.  And when complete, in some small way, the creation itself would cry out to God in the deepest, most humble thanksgiving.  The Sunday following the moment when all his grand and humble toil was complete, he places his creation on the altar, and returns to his seat, leaving it there.  

Now look at the video and when done, think about the act of worship for an artist, a creative person.

Subject: Built 249 years ago
To:

http://www.chonday.com/Videos/the-writer-automaton

Another Great Gathering

Some very neat things happened at our last meeting (7pm, Monday, Sept 23).  Foremost, I think, was that we all can see a core group building.  Here they are:

The family group in the back are the Terry's, Toby (13), Leah, (11), and mom, Michelle.  Toby builds some very complex structures, mostly with Legos, while Leah is a dancer/actress.  Mom is a cook and for refreshments brought a very good cake - Leah's having a bit of it.  (I picked the wrong week to join Weight Watchers).  On the left forefront is Valerie Provines.  Valerie paints beautifully striking impressionistic works.  This is one of them:

I wish the room was better lit and the cameraman (me) better trained.  See Valerie's work in person if you can.  Valerie is also a playwright and stage director and will be using those talents very soon within TCAF.  On the right is Susan Palmer.  She's retiring November 1 and taking over ownership of the Tehachapi Christian Store.  Although she denies having much creativity, she's shown all of us that her soon-to-begin tenure at the store will be marked by a number of creative decisions and directions.   Now for the other side of the room:

 2nd in from the right is Frances Carter.  Frances is a painter of beautifully vivid flowers, paintings that, to her surprise, are appreciated by men just as much as women.  Frances also writes and she read one of her short stories to us - a touching look at a gift given and not appreciated, a glimpse into the mind of God.  On the right is Dorothy McReynolds, also a painter and writer.  Her painting of fishing boats moored expectantly at a tall, seaside pier is quire remarkable, and a story she wrote that I had the privilege of reading sparkled with heart and insight.  So, what is everybody looking at(?) -  Gail Martin, a landscape photography and game designer pictured here:

describing her new game Hokey Dogies, an exciting family board game for those who enjoy hokey.  If you'd like to learn more about the game and how you can help bring it to market, click on:  http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/69618800/hockey-doggies-a-fun-fast-paced-board-game?ref=home_location
and you'll learn all about it.
Our next gathering will be on October 7th at 7pm at First Baptist Church in Tehachapi in the "Awana Room" in the back of the campus.  See you there.

Kyla Hansen, one of our founding members, shares drawings

Kyla Hansen, one of our founding members, has two artistic interests, writing, and drawing in the anime style.  Here are a couple of her more emotionally evocative works.

Meeting Announcement

Announcing Tehachapi Christian Arts Fellowship – Meeting Announcement

“In the beginning God created . . . “ Genesis 1:1

The fifth word of our Bible identifies one of God’s chief characteristics:  He is a creative God.  And everywhere we look, from the design of the human cell to the workings of the universe itself, we see evidence of His creative Spirit, His infinite ingenuity, and resourcefulness.  Because we have been created in His image, that same Creativity resides in all of us.  We believe we have much to offer, and that it’s time to nurture, grow, and tap into our creative spirits and use those gifts to bring honor and glory to our God.

To that end, we are forming the Tehachapi Christian Arts Fellowship (TCAF), where “Arts” is defined in the broadest terms – from dance, to writing, to landscaping, and beyond – we’re here for any Christian, of any age, who fills a blank space with his or her God given creativity.

TCAF is not a church, but is faithful to God’s word and supports all Christian churches as a venue where you, as a Tehachapi Christian artist, can find love, nurture, a place for expression and a springboard to ministry.   

If you would like to be a part of this exciting new fellowship, attend our meeting, Monday, September 23^th at 7pm at First Baptist Church (1049 S. Curry St., Tehachapi) – once there, we're toward the back of the campus.  If you plan to attend, or can’t and would like more information, contact us at billkritlow@gmail.com, or ltrapp1@hotmail.com.  

“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork.”  Psalms 19:1

God is a creative God, and we are created in His image.  Together we can help each other bring Him the glory of which only He is worthy.