Giraffe with dots

I know, I know, giraffes really do have spots.

Penguin with dots

What if all animals had spots?

In Christ – Ephesians 1:3-6

Over the next few Friday’s posts, I plan on looking at the book of Ephesians. It is a book in the Bible that covers many topics, but I like to look at it as a book of spiritual geography. Paul, the author of Ephesians, talks about many places where believers van find themselves, and that’s how I want to look at it.

To begin the letter to the Ephesians, the apostle Paul introduces himself and who he is writing to, ‘the saints who are in Ephesus and are faithful in Christ.”

There are a few different ways this could be taken.

1) the letter is written to the saints in Ephesus and anyone faithful in Christ anywhere. This is doubtful, since Paul doesn't address letters to other churches this way.

2) to the Saints who are in Ephesus and are faithful. Indicating there are saints in Ephesus who are not faithful. This is possible, but again, it doesn't fit with Paul's other letters, nor with the rest of this letter.

3) the letter is written to a people in Ephesus and a people who are faithful in Christ, and they are the same people.

I believe the third explanation is by far the best, and you might have figured that out before you even read these three explanations. So why would I take the time to point this out? Paul could have said, “to the faithful Saints in Ephesus,” and on the surface it might sound pretty much the same, but I believe the phrase he chose “are faithful in Christ Jesus” is more a statement of position than behavior. In other words, the words “in Christ Jesus” are more important than the words “are faithful.”

I don't want to downplay our faithfulness, but in light of the rest of the letter, this seems like the best understanding. Paul is not just describing the way these Christians act or think; he is describing them positionally. They are in Ephesus, their geographical location in this world. But, they are also located spiritually in Christ Jesus. Paul is pointing out the dual citizenship of the believers.

We might say we are at work or at home or in the ball field, but if we have put our faith in the work of Christ, we are equally in Christ Jesus. This is a position, a place, as Jesus himself said, “Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me, you can do nothing” John 15:5.

Too often, our focus is on Christ with us - Footprints in the Sand kind of thing - all about the here and now, the physical world. Paul, as we will see, wants us to focus on the spiritual and eternal. He wants us to live in Christ.

Blessed be the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ…

Paul goes on and describes what being “in Christ” is like. God the father has:

   -Blessed us in Christ

   -choose us in him

   -Predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ

   -Blessed us in the Beloved

In English, it looks like these two words “blessed” are the same word. They are close in Greek, but the first word is always reserved for the Father or Christ. It means to speak well of or to praise. We speak well of the father. We don't do this because we're smart or eloquent speakers. On our own, we are all rebellious to the Father. By our actions and attitudes we cursed him.

So why change from cursing to blessing? Because He blesses us in Christ. He spoke well of us; to as many as received him he gave the right to be called children of God.

In verses 3-6, Paul describes the ways the Father has blessed us. Notice he doesn't talk about health, wealth, old age, new cars, new houses or anything else tied to the stuff in this world. He does tell us that, in Christ, the father has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places.

Spiritual... Heavenly... What about that new job? What about healing my mom? What about health, wealth and happiness?

Father didn't choose to bless us so that we could get what we want here and now. He did choose us before the foundation of the world so that we could be holy and blameless before him, so we would be acceptable for adoption. He blessed us to be in relationship with him. And all of this positioning places us in heavenly places, before him, and his family. It comes by placing us in Christ, in the Beloved.

In the Beloved we have:

   -Redemption through his blood

   -New life

   -The forgiveness of our trespasses by his grace

   -Knowledge of the mystery of his will

   -An inheritance

   -Been sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.

If you have put your faith in the redemption offered through the sacrifice of Jesus, you have been placed in Christ. Remember this as you walk around your physical geography. You are dual citizen of both a heavenly kingdom and an earthly nation. Live your life accordingly.

If you are patriotic to the nation of your birth, how much more should you be to the kingdom, where the King of all kings came down to suffer and die so you could become a part of his kingdom? If you obey the laws of the land, how much more should you obey the commands of the Eternal King? Live a life that reflects the grace of a glorious God who would take you out of your sin and darkness and place you in Christ.

Flappers

Another picture of whimsical birds.

Who gets the worm?

Explain it again. Who gets the worm?

(Note: this is a picture of a picture instead of a scan, so the colors have diluted some. One day I'll get the original scanned in.)

Joy!

I'm thinking this would be a cool throw pillow...not that I really want to throw pillows, but you know.

Paradise

I thought I'd try something for my parents' 50th wedding anniversary. I decided to call it Paradise, for a couple of reasons.

1. Sunsets are golden.

2. We may think of a scene like this as "paradise," but usually while we are at a place like this, we are wishing we were sleeping in our own bed, where things are comfortable and just like we like them.

After 50 years things ought to be pretty comfortable. The kinks have, for the most part, been worked out, and it's smooth sailing. And while there might be an argument here or there, even in the finest paradise you can get sand in your shorts.

What to focus on today

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.  Hebrews 12:1-2

In Hebrews 11, the writer leads us through a grand history of faith. The big names, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Gideon, and David are in the list, as well as some we might not think of right away. All these people - this great cloud of witnesses - did amazing things by faith.

These are the stories you might have grown up on. Movies have been made about them, books written, songs composed (flannel-graphs created). It's almost like the author of Hebrews is telling us, "Don't forget these people!"

But then two verses into chapter 12, he shifts gears on us. "Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith." The word "looking" in the Greek means "to turn the eyes away from other things and fix them on something."

Don't forget all these faithful ones, but at the same time, don't fixate on them. These men and women of faith were fallible. They had their moments of weakness, fatigue and defeat. Salvation cannot be found even in their most faithful acts. Studying them cannot give you faith for your future.

Fix your eyes on Jesus, the King of Faith. The one who is faithful:

     -to leave the glory of heaven, where He was worshiped 24/7

     -to become one of us
         = the all-knowing God, who had to learn to walk and talk
         = the all-powerful God, who had to be swaddled and carried
         = the omnipresent God, who was confined in a vessel of clay

     -to obey the commands God gave through the Law

     -to let the filth of my sin and your sin invade his perfect righteousness

     -to sacrifice himself, so his blood would cleanse us

     -to trust the Father to raise him from the curse of death, overcoming death for us.

Fix your eyes on him.

Salvation is in him alone. He is the founder (the one who begins) our faith and the perfecter (the one who completes) our faith.

Wherever you may be in the race set out before you, remember the ones who were faithful before, get rid of the things in this world and in your life that cause you to stumble, and run. But most of all, look to Jesus.

He is what you need to focus on today.

Leopard - Mixed media

Happy Thursday. I could use your help again. Which background do you prefer?

A:

 B:

Let me know which one you like better in the comments below. Also, if you haven't signed up to receive the weekly newsletter, please do that in the form to the right.

Beta Fish - Mixed media

I need some help with this one. I have created two different backgrounds, and can't decide which one I like best. So please vote in the comments section. Do you like A or B better?

A:

B:

Let me know which you prefer. And, thanks,
Darin

Cardinal - mixed media

Macaw - mixed media

For the series I've done this week, I used a mix of digital drawing and watercolor painting. For the Macaw, I first drew the digital picture of the macaw.

After that, I originally put a solid background behind it, thinking I could print it on colored paper or even a t-shirt.

I liked it okay, but felt like it needed something to make it more artsy-fartsy, so I decided to paint a watercolor background, and then scan the background. Here's what I ended up with. What do you think?

Conforming to the World

As I said in Wednesday's post, I set up this blog to journal my entry back into the world of art, but because of my faith in the work of Jesus on the cross, any world I enter, He is there. So, I've decided each Friday will be faith-based Friday, and will not only have a piece of artwork, but also a devotional thought or teaching. Don't forget to sign up using the form on the right to receive a free print of my Psalm 67:1-2 painting.

We live in a world of moral relativity. There is no right and wrong, instead everyone is right, every idea is justified, every thought is good - unless you say someone is wrong. That's bad. Intolerant.

The modern-day church has fallen prey to this relativity. We have caved to the pressures of a sinful world. We've stopped looking to what God says, and instead we've begun to parrot what's popular.

But why?

Here are a few reasons I think this has happened:

• We spend so much more time listening to the world than to God. Do you spend an equal amount of time listening to the Bible, sermons, or even Christian music, as you spend listening to secular TV, movies, books, and music? Half as much time? A quarter of the time?
• We know sin is wrong, but if everyone is saying it's not so bad, we can feel better about ourselves. We fail to grasp that God's grace is greater than our sin, so we would rather wrap our lives with fig leaves and false truth and hide from God.
• We like our sin. "If it feels good, do it." Okay, why not? It's not like I murdered anyone. It's not so bad. - IT IS SO BAD! 
• We've been taught if we look "too Christian" we will be considered freaks, and people won't listen to our witness. This is crap. If you look and act just like the world, THEN the world has no reason to listen to you.
• Mostly, we are afraid of persecution, even if that merely means someone calls us weird. We would rather look like the world and feel safe, than look like Jesus and risk crucifixion. 

This is not a comprehensive list, but hopefully it will get you thinking about your life and your church. If either is widely accepted by the world, then you might want to rethink your priorities. You might want to repent. Read what God says:

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. 3 But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. 4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. 5 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not become partners with them; 8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true),10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. Ephesians 5:1-11

Beautiful

Me...on Wednesday

I do like tacos, but not necessarily every day. Some days I like burritos. :-) 

I've recently started this blog, as a way to share my journey into the world of creation. I used to play here often, but in high school I was told I needed to get a real job. And so, off to college I went to prepare for said "real job." (I did buy a lot of pizzas during this time with money I made painting pictures on beer bottles. College guys loved that.)

After finally squeezing a four year degree into five years, I went out and worked for a living. My free time for creating decreased, and marriage and two kids whittled away more of it, until eventually I seldom even visited the world of creation. -Tears are fine at this point in the story-

The kids have grown and flown, but I did keep the wife and job. (Wanted to keep the wife; the job...) Recently, I just felt the intense desire to create again, so I've begun the journey, no the adventure of moving back to the world of creation.

 Some of my work will be silly and some serious. Sometimes I will write about it, other times I will just post a pic. But I would love to have you join with me on this grand excursion into the unknown. If you're ready to put on your hiking boots and step out with me, just sign up on the form to the right.

I'll send out a weekly newsletter through email, but if you would like a free print of my Psalm 67:1-2 painting (post from Jan. 31st), just fill in you mailing address as well.

Thanks for stopping by,

Darin

Tacos make me...

Mondays

Okay, tacos don't really fix too many problems, except hunger...tacos fix that.

Fly by Knight

One more knight for fun.

Sweet Dixie Knight

Another knight for fun.

Dark & Stormy Knight

Just got on a kick with series of things about knights and tacos - not together. Hmm, who knows why, but here is one just for fun.