Mr. Tall

StandOut

Here is the start of a CD cover that I'm doing for the girls of StandOut Ministries. They have to prepare a Demo CD for an agency. So I'm putting this together for them. I'm going to be adding texture and maybe a cool border... You like? Any suggestions?

Just Friends?

I recently read an article on Christian Singles Today called "Just Friends?" with this tagline - Six singles weigh in on whether or not they think male-female friendships are possible
It's an old article that was linked on their recent email. I felt very sad after reading some of the entries in the article and I responded to the article with the following:

How can someone think that it is impossible to be friends with a person of the opposite sex?
As a believer, in our horizontal relationships with other believer (regardless of sex/age/ethinicity/cultural background/marital status), we are to:
"...treat younger men like brothers, older women like mothers, younger women like sisters, in all purity." 1 Tim 5:1b-2
and
"Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." 1 Peter 5:5
and
"Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind." 1 Peter 3:8

We are all a part of the family of Christ - every believer is a brother or sister! As singles, who feel they are lead to be married, there will be attractions to the opposite sex that are unavoidable. Until God leads to start developing a deeper relationship, all dealings with the opposite sex should be as to as brother or sister. Humility, brotherly love, tender heart, purity, and reliance on God are the keys!
Yes, you can and should have friendships with fellow believers of the opposite sex. We are part of the body!!

Disclaimer: I'm not bashing Christian Singles Today, I actually enjoy a lot of their articles, I just felt that this one particluar articles was a little off and required a response. What do you think? Am I off?

Looking Back

God is the best painter!

Wanting

All thy lovingkindness is in thy Son,
I bring Him to thee in the arms of faith,
I urge His saving Name as the One who died for me.
I plead His blood to pay my debts of wrong.
Accept His worthiness for my unworthiness,
His sinlessness for my transgressions,
His purity for my uncleanness,
His sincerity for my guile,
His truth for my deceits,
His meekness for my pride,
His constancy for my backslidings,
His love for my enmity,
His faithfulness for my treachery,
His obedience for my lawlessness,
His glory for my shame,
His devotedness for my waywardness,
His holy life for my unchaste ways,
His righteousness for my dead works,
His death for my life.

Valley of Vision, p. 283

Five-ish Things

Jan from "the view from her" tagged me for "Five-ish Things I'd Like to Know About You" meme. I typically am not a huge fan of these, but jan would like to know me better and I give in easily (sometimes). :)

1) What's the most fun work you've ever done, and why? (two sentences max)
Shooting photography for several of my friend's christmas cards. It was just fun and I loved it!

2) A. Name one thing you did in the past that you no longer do but wish you did. (one sentence max)
Throwing clay, I miss pottery so much.

B. Name one thing you've always wanted to do but keep putting off. (one sentence max)
Work out. Not that I need it, but it would probably feel good.

3) A. What two things would you most like to learn or be better at, and why? (two sentences max)
How to study the Bible better, I really stink at it. I read and do small studying, but I'm constanly in awe of how some people are able to get great stuff out of their study.

B. If you could take a class/workshop/apprentice from anyone in the world living or dead, who would it be and what would you hope to learn? (two more sentences, max)
Ansel Adams, need I say more?

4) A. What three words might your best friends or family use to describe you?
Tall, skinny... jk Dependable, Sweet, Nice-guy

B. List two words you wish described you: Independantly wealthy =D umm... I can't think of anything that I wish was me, I'm content.

5) What are your top three passions? (can be current or past, work, hobbies, or causes-- three sentences max)
God, my Church, and recently this really great girl.

Five people to tag: Dad, Teresa, Ben, Gwen, and Kim.

XTi

This sweet piece of photographic equipment is on its way to me!!!

God's given me a real love for photography over the past year, and I'm going to pursue it until He directs otherwise.

He's given me a couple of jobs/clients over the past couple of months and I'm thankful for the fun experience:
- Alisa and Mandi from Standout Ministries asked me for help them with photography to create an image for their music group (I'll post a link when they get their website up and running). We did a really fun photo-shoot before Christmas that was a blast and I got some really good shoots at one of their concerts.
- I've been asked to do some photography for North Hills Community Church's upcoming website redesign.
- I've been hired to do product photography for a startup company that does corporate gifts, rewards, and promos.
- A friend who owns a graphic design company has told me that she's going to have me shoot some stuff for a few upcoming jobs.

So, if you need any photography work, feel free to ask my advice (it's free!). Not that I have much experience, but I love it and I'm learning a lot!

If you were to... My Answer

If you were to write a gospel for the people in your culture...
Where would you start? How would you explain sin? How would you explain Jesus? What about Jesus’ life and teaching would they most resonate with and struggle with?

Jesus. Gospel means good news about Jesus.

The question then begs: Who is Jesus? Or who WAS Jesus (some people may ask)? And what is this good news? Why do I need good news?

I’m going to start from the last question and work my way back to Jesus. Good news is needed because if any person is truly honest with themselves they are not good. Therefore there is lack of good, implying that good/righteousness is needed.
What is the good news? There is hope for change from the bad (sin) that exists in everybody. What is sin? First of all, it is not an anti-social behaviors or things that go against an established cultural conduct. Sin is missing the mark or target. God is perfect and has a standard of perfection; sin is simply being unable to reach that standard.
Alright then, who is Jesus? And why is He the good news? Jesus first of all IS, because He is God and is eternal.
Now let’s start from some basics:
1. Jesus is not a myth, He did exist, many contemporary secular writers and authors talked about or mentioned Jesus (Roman and Jewish historians, Roman and Greek philosophers, etc…).
2. He was a man, but a man that claimed to be one with God. He was either telling the truth, or lying, or was crazy. His disciples and friends reveal that He was neither crazy nor a liar (1 Pet. 2:22). They even died because they wouldn’t say different about Jesus being God. Who does that?
3. He died on a cross and then rose from the dead. Over 500 people ate, talked, and touched Jesus after He was rose from the dead. And again, His disciples and friends died because they affirmed this.
Jesus is God, and He came and died and rose again. Is He just showing off? Why is this good news? The reason Jesus did that is the good news. The reason is to offer forgiveness to repentant sinners because He promised. We miss the mark, but Jesus came to forgive us and help us hit the target of perfection. Why do I need forgiveness? Everybody misses the mark and receives the punishment of going to hell. Jesus died to offers free forgiveness to save us from that punishment. All we have to do is believe with all our hearts, proclaim His truth, and we will receive that good news that changes our lives.

If you were to write a gospel for the people in your culture...

Where would you start? How would you explain sin? How would you explain Jesus? What about Jesus’ life and teaching would they most resonate with and struggle with?

"God inspired the writing of four gospels, each designed to present the gospel in the most effective manner to four different cultural groups. This was done without changing the gospel message of Jesus as God, who lived a sinless life, died as a substitute for his people, was buried, and rose from death to forgive repentant sinners according to the promises of Scripture." Mark Driscoll - The Radical Reformission

I will post my answers to the above questions in the following days. Feel free to comment your answers, or at least take a moment to think through them.

New Year

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! Welcome to 2007. It's going to be a great year!