Working on design a new CD for Andrew Peterson. Should be a fun project. It's always a challenge to take the lyrics and visualize the atmosphere and colors that go with the music. Not sure at this point if it's going to toward some photography, or if we want to stick with illustration. Leaning towards the latter.
I just got back from a quick whirlwind trip to New York City, as I mentioned on my other blog entries. Dropped of portfolios, met with some publishers, etc.
At one point, I was about to get back in the elevator after dropping a DVD off with a publisher in Manhattan. I tried to stop a door from closing with a manila folder I had, but sadly, it just got slammed in the door. Ended up standing there for several minutes, balancing my time between trying to looking normal and concentrated attention on getting it out.
We also lost Justin at one point. I'm sure it wasn't traumatic for him in the slightest, but when you don't know where some one is in New York for several hours, and they should have called, you get worried. Seems he took a subway up to Columbus Circle at Central Park instead of getting off the F train near Little Italy.
Right now I'm sitting with Justin Gerard, Jamin Jantz, and Jessica Mission in an absolutely fabulous Thai restaurant in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
We're up here for the weekend on business as well as to help Rob and Sarah Elkin learn more about their church planting neighborhood.
Monday and Tuesday, Jamin, Justin, and I are going to be meeting with Golden Books, some other art directors at Random House, and Harper Collins.
I hope to post some images soon.
A few of us from Portland Studios went down to Augusta, GA to meet with A. Peterson to talk about some upcoming projects we may be doing together. We'll see what happens... Andrew was kind to allow us to eat some dinner with the group before the show. Justin had a chance to hear from Garrett some of what goes on in India with the Dalits. I'm particularly excited after talking with Marcus and Emmanuel about potentially going to India on a trip to serve the people there somehow through our art and illustration---maybe some murals, or art training. Got my wheels turning.
Had sirloin tip and beef flank with friends tonight. Ben Kammer, Justin Gerard, and Micah McCormick. Kammer brought the Peeps.
We talked about the Third World, escatology, Peeps, steak, Donald Miller analysis, seminary, Camp of the Saints, and more.
The reason Christianity must build our lifestyle on God’s mercy in Jesus Christ is that the whole point of Christianity is to glorify the mercy of God in Christ. We exist to put the glory of God’s mercy in Christ on display. So Paul spends 11 chapters opening the mercy of God in the work of Christ, and then says, “therefore” build your lives on this. Live a life that shows this! That’s why you exist.
So we say, “Because of God’s mercy revealed in Christ, therefore, I do this and not that. Because of God’s mercy revealed in Christ, therefore I speak this way and not that way. Because of God’s mercy revealed in Christ, therefore I cultivate this kind of emotion and put that kind to death. Because I exist to glorify the mercy of God in Christ, I live this way and not that way. Christian living is built on something!
-John Piper
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I have been learning more in this area recently. Everything we have in this life as Christians is just mercy upon mercy. For us to have a swaggering attitude about our "rights" as Americans, or have cold arrogance towards "the sinner" or the "worldly," shows that we do not understand the utter humility and silence that should catch in our throats before we speak a word of judgment. We have been given mercy. This affects everything---preaching, our use of possessions, pride in our witnessing, etc...