ARTIST NOTES |
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Week 44 4/02/2017
Title of drawing: "His Nearness is Our Only Good" (Revelation) Artist Thoughts: The book of Revelation is full of imagery. It reveals a future glimpse into a very thorough process of destruction and judgement: warfare, plagues,and famine. At one point even birds are commanded to feast on the flesh of those who oppose Jesus and the kingdom of God. In short, justice comes and consequences are severe. But there is also a newness of creation to experience and a perfected relationship with Jesus to fully embrace. It is clearly not the end for those found to be with Jesus. John, the last eye witness to Jesus, was commanded to write these things down as he was given the privilege to foresee them in a dream. Through the story of creation, the fall, redemption, and the last judgement the main character has been Jesus. In this life we may suffer but in Jesus we find comfort. Through out history and eternity the nearness of Jesus is and will always be our only good. It is my heart's desire to be faithfully found in a growing relationship with him because I have experienced his goodness, his love, and his forgiveness. We have a remedy to our sin and brokenness that we can proclaim to the world: Jesus suffered and overcame death for us so that through him we may discover the full definition of what it means to live. May we who know Jesus live in such a way that our friends and our enemies want to know him and receive the love and life God offers through him. Listen to the sermon here: https://youtu.be/LHqrz2XG8r8 View the time lapse video here: https://youtu.be/VTGdoNVo3Do |
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Week 43 3/26/2017
Title of drawing: "A New Way to See" (Acts 9) Artist Thoughts: Paul wrote in correspondence to the Corinthian church that anyone who is in Christ is a new creation, the old has gone and the new has come. He was speaking from a place of accountable and personal experience. Knowing what he was like prior to his encounter with Jesus it would seem as if his DNA was radically changed. He was born again. Listen to the difference: A hearty agreement with torment, torture, or mistreatment in the preservation of holiness or proclaiming the grace and forgiveness of God through the love and life of Christ The desire to bind others to the law or the desire to be bound to the one who is the fulfillment of the law offering love and grace to all All about rules or all about grace A heart focused on judgement or a heart focused on reconciliation A life built on self-sufficient trying or a life dependent on trusting A relationship with Jesus manifests into a new way of seeing. Old eyes become new again. One of the cardinal distinctions of the Judeo-Christian worldview versus other worldviews is that no amount of moral capacity can get us back into a right relationship with God. Herein lies the difference between the moralizing religions and Jesus’s offer to us. Jesus does not offer to make bad people good but to make dead people alive. -Ravi Zacharias Listen to the sermon here: https://youtu.be/fR9AdbHiRP8 View the time lapse video here: |
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Week 42 3/5/2017
Title of drawing: "God In Us" (Acts 1-5, John 15) Artist Thoughts: Pentecost involved a unifying act of God through his people for the glory of his name. Through many languages one message was preached, a multitude understood, and thousands were redeemed by the gospel. To go from fear of imprisonment or death at the hands of local authorities and uncertainty of how to do what Jesus had told them to do into a boldness and joyful telling of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus means something at the core of someone's identity has changed. On that day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit came to dwell within each follower of Christ and the church was born as a caring, loving community. They began to impact Jerusalem by declaring the importance of Jesus and showing his love for one another. If we Identify ourselves as a member of the body of Christ and a worshipper within this fellowship of believers have we prayed for God to increase his kingdom through us lately? What would we look like asking God to continually fill us with his Holy Spirit? If he is the Creator and Redeemer shouldn't we be reflecting Him as creators and redeemers of culture? May the Holy Spirit fill us, lead us, and transform us into exactly who God desires us to be in order to love him and to love our neighbor. May God show who he is through us. Listen to the sermon here: https://youtu.be/bEXai_Y0H30 View the time lapse video here: |
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Week 41 2/26/2017
Title of drawing: "Hope Versus Expectation" (Matthew 27, Mark 15, Luke 23, John 19) Artist Thoughts: Understanding the resurrection is paramount to understanding the hope that we have in Christ, to understanding our purpose, and to understanding our expectations in this life. When Jesus appeared to those after the resurrection he also explained the Scriptures so that a proper understanding and living proof of his victory over death would lead to a proper outworking of loving God and loving people. Without this understanding disappointment seemed to shroud the presence of a resurrected Christ. With the death and burial of Jesus his followers were racked with disappointment. The expectations they held Jesus to were not properly aligned with the hope Jesus was offering. Veiled by disappointment the perceived reality of the moment was distorted and this distortion invited doubt in the hope they had. Writer and Theologian, Jill Carattini puts it this way when describing Jesus's heart broken followers, "Their hope in him was accurate; it was their expectation of that hope that blurred their vision and left them in the murky waters of an incoherent mess." Much like a work of art requires you to stand still and spend time with it in order to perceive all that it can give, we must view the life, death, and resurrection of Christ with an even greater purposeful study so that we do not miss the good news. It's easy to glance and walk past many works of art and never truly see them or the questions they ask along with the heart they portray. Art demands you to slow down and to look. I would expect God, who is the ultimate artist, to masterfully author a story and create a world that requires someone's full surrender of themselves when seeking to understand life's meaning and purpose. In perceiving Jesus as our hope we can give our full attention to God's redemptive craftsmanship and then follow him trusting his love to have the power to prevail in every circumstance. We can read that Jesus died for our sins hundreds of times, see it in movies, on t-shirts, stickers, and billboards or even be told this and hear it growing up and still never truly understand what it means, or we can truly take it to heart and find ourselves surprised by the beauty of it's bloom within us and the sweet aroma that continues to linger the older we get. Listen to the sermon here: https://youtu.be/17Mnwvk13Ow View the time lapse video here: https://youtu.be/BSHjLaRV0B0 |
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Week 40 2/19/2017
Title of drawing: "He Bodily Rose" (Matthew 27, Mark 15, Luke 23, John 19) Artist Thoughts: Those that love the truth listen to Jesus and there is no religious or political mechanism that can ever stop him. The physical, bodily resurrection of Jesus is the miracle of all miracles and the foundation of Christianity. It split time. It conquered death. It pays for every sin past, present, and future when we believe it and receive his sacrifice as personally applicable. The falsifiability of a bodily resurrection presented an opportunity to be empirically tested as true. The physically resurrected body of Christ proves the words and actions of Jesus to have always been pointing to God's specific and intimate love for every individual one of us. The empty tomb fills our life with meaning, with hope, and with a fulfilled promise that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Jesus is the way we can go. The truth we can trust as our plumb line, and he is the life that is overflowing, abundant, and undefeatable. Listen to the sermon here: https://youtu.be/JlKnyITNO3I View the time lapse video here: https://youtu.be/RmPiswKd_T0 |
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Week 39 2/12/2017
Title of drawing: "Jesus Broke" (Matthew 27, Mark 15, Luke 23, John 19) Artist Thoughts: Luke chapter 23 records 3 hours of darkness at mid day as Jesus breathed his last breath on the cross. I imagine there must have been a heavy weight or a seemingly eerie pause to time itself as the sin of all humankind broke Jesus. It's as if the sun even mourned at the loss of it's maker. The one and only perfect human swallowed the poison that would otherwise continue to enslave and destroy all human life. At the death of Christ it appeared as if all hope for a savior was lost but it wasn't the end. The earth quaked, rocks split, the curtain of the sanctuary was miraculously torn from top to bottom, and many saints who had died were raised as tombs broke open. I would be scared. Jesus was separated from his Heavenly Father that day. The trinitarian relationship was temporarily broken. That darkness was a physical echo of a tragic spiritual event but something was taking place that no one understood. Death was about to lose its curse. The law of sin and death was about to be overwhelmed by the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus. Can we sit and stare in reverence of this moment of darkness and all that it symbolizes: humility even to the point of death, the execution of a rescue plan, and a life taken, blessed, broken, and given for the world. This is love. This is who we worship and this is who we follow. Listen to the sermon here: https://youtu.be/17Mnwvk13Ow View the time lapse video here: https://youtu.be/YKYqE0BoU20 |
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Week 38 2/5/2017
Title of drawing: "His Will" (Luke 22, Mark 18, John 17) Artist Thoughts: Jesus fervently sought the listening ear and loving heart of the Father for an alternative to the cross. Finding none he prayerfully prepared himself and decided to begin what would be the hardest most painful act of obedience and love anyone can imagine. Everything Jesus does is redeeming. Even in the face of impending self-sacrifice, the very reason he came into this world, Jesus aligned himself with redemption because it was God's will and purpose. And when arrested he rebuked Peter who cut off the ear of a servant to the high priest trying to prevent Jesus' arrest. Jesus immediately healed the wounded man reattaching his ear and conveniently illustrated that it takes more strength to listen than it does to lash out with a sword and try to control a situation with sheer force. Proverbs 16:32 says, "Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city." Communion with our Heavenly Father develops patience and patience will develop experience. I believe empathy will come with experience and develop an ear that listens rather than a clenched fist ready to fight. Listen to the sermon here: https://youtu.be/_UfFzl2VKeQ View the time lapse video here: https://youtu.be/2m3kNuSJ62M |
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Week 37 1/29/2017
Title of drawing: "A Place at the Table" (Mark 14, John 13 -14) Artist Thoughts: In remembrance of him, Jesus asks us to serve, to wash feet, to invite and to prepare a place at the table for one another, even for those who would harm us. Once again we see an upside down kingdom pattern. Mark 9:35 states, "If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all, and servant of all." For those who follow him and identify as the body of Christ through his sacrifice, Jesus not only sets the example to follow, he even demonstrates how God may intend to equip and employ us to share his love and saving grace to the world. When Jesus takes the bread: We see that we are never merited by our own works, God accepts us by grace through faith in his son. As we cling to his grace we realize He too has taken hold of us. (Matthew 10:32) When Jesus blesses the bread: We see that everything we have is a gift. His blessings provide healing, nourishment, and provision leading to transformation. When Jesus breaks the bread: We see that transformation. Something comfort could never accomplish. Maybe applied as pruning, humbling, submission to his word, or equipping so that we can share what we have so mercifully and graciously received. We're forgiven so that we can forgive. When Jesus gives the bread: We see that identifying with him transforms our "us or them" mentality into an "us for "them". So can we ask ourselves: To whom can we be his invitation to this incredible love? To whom can we be a blessing that reveals God's rich love for them? To whom can we forgive and serve because of the mercy and grace we have received? How and to whom is Jesus giving us to others? Listen to the sermon here: https://youtu.be/Sh1sz887Shs View the time lapse video here: https://youtu.be/VCgi3s0K1WM |
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Week 36 1/15/2017
Title of drawing: "The Hospitality of Forgiveness" ( Luke 7:36-50) Artist Thoughts: I've heard it said that the opposite of beauty is not ugliness it's legalism. With pragmatic answers legalism starves the soul of expressive needs: the ability to grieve or the ability to celebrate. Art takes what legalism can devalue and instead reveals beauty leading us beyond just looking Art teaches us to see that intent is prior to content. The woman with the alabaster jar truly saw Jesus. Her response to the hospitality of forgiveness he offered was an act of worship and adoration that represented a broken and transformed heart. Jesus saw her too. What appeared as foolishness to the Pharisees Jesus recognized as faith. She got it. She was accepted. And she reciprocated this loving acceptance by giving her best: an act of worship. Her recognition of Jesus's acceptance revealed his authority over her sin. Her love and worship declared Jesus to be worthy of all her honor. It was the evidence of her forgiveness. In remembrance of her brave act of worship I hope this drawing of an alabaster jar can ask us the question, "What is our response to God's forgiveness of our sins?" Listen to the sermon here: https://youtu.be/PYwWb6_R9ak View the time lapse video here: https://youtu.be/xP6AngSQasA |
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Week 35 1/8/2017
Title of drawing: "Waiting for You" ( Luke 15) Artist Thoughts: Waiting can be evidence for the patience of love. In the story of the prodigal son the first sign of repentance showed that beautiful love turns to joy and embraces us before we can even explain ourselves. The older I get the more I recognize God's great strength, mercy, and love in waiting. How long did this father wait. After all, this wasn't planned to be just a weekend experience. The money must have taken a while to run out and the son wasn't quick in admitting he didn't have what he truly needed either. In a search for happiness the son tried to bond with everything except what he was made for. His homesickness was a clue but he buried it under fleeting pleasures and superficial friends. If we could trust that God has something to say to us everyday and just slow down to listen and recognize God's presence, provision and opportunity we could wander less and celebrate the love of our Heavenly Father more. Appreciating what I have rather than coveting what's not mine. Trusting in our heavenly father's ability to provide. It's the difference between "See, covet, steal, and conceal" verses Jesus' example at the last supper to "take hold, bless, break and give". Love is patient. God is slow to anger and rich in love. Listen to sermon here: https://youtu.be/jP6T06mqdm8 View the time lapse video here: https://youtu.be/xP6AngSQasA |
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Week 34 11/20/2016
Title of drawing: "An Invitation" ( Luke 19: 1 -10) Artist thoughts: Most every part of our lives involves a decision. Like it or not we pass some sort of estimation, evaluation, or determination on everything everyday. Regarding social status, success, personality, identity, moral choices, ethical choices, physical appearance, and heredity there are plenty of attributes for categorization, whether in or out of our control, that account for layers of judgement. Who is this person turned away from us in this drawing? Accessing someone based on appearance, public preferences, or their job doesn't equal knowing someone. Jesus goes beyond these surface level judgements to show his love for us. In fact he even goes through and beyond our sin because his love leads to repentance. Only the authentic pure love of God can redeem someone. He did this with Zacchaeus and he does this with us. The people we think we know based on our limited engagements with them have the same spiritual need for love and forgiveness as we do. How often do we pre-judge someone to the point of denying them the opportunity to experience God's never stopping, always and forever love for them through us. Not us but Jesus in us makes the difference. John 5:25 reminds us of this, “I assure you: An hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. Listen to sermon here: https://youtu.be/lFOsjvXkumA View the time lapse video here: https://youtu.be/qJ2OxEQ3xY4 |
Artist Statement
The Emmaus road series is a year long collaboration between Ken Webb, the pastor of Christ's Fellowship Church (Valdosta, Georgia), me, and the one in whom we place our faith and hope, the God of all creation. Through the act of drawing, one drawing per week for forty-four weeks, I have sought to bring a form of visual communication that would buttress the pastors heart felt intentions as he delivers a sermon every Sunday morning. I am invited to give a quick artist statement for each piece at the conclusion of each Sunday morning service to summarize my thoughts and intentions for each creation. Each drawing is created live in tandem with the delivery of the sermon, approximately 45 minutes.
I find myself so much more connected and in tune with each Sunday morning gathering because of the amount of study and preparation that goes into each drawing per week. It gives me the honest opportunity to ponder the story and scripture for each sermon, picture what it may have been like, and pray about what I'm to do with the resulting opportunity to edify the body of Christ. We live in an increasingly visual culture full of signs and symbols encouraging quick assumptions that simplify and deliver decontextualized instruction for living. Ravi Zacharias would describe this as giving rational thought to a subject without a predicate. As a culture we may not truly know how to see due to our expectation for immediate gratification. The appreciation of life through the creation of a simple drawing can slow us down giving more time to recognize what we see. The appreciation of art and its process can help us truly live or experience more of what it means to be human. I feel more connected to God after these drawings are finished. Concerning our perceptions and understanding of the world, G. K. Chesterton explains that, "God is like the sun; you cannot look at it, but without it you cannot look at anything else." Because of this series of work I feel like I can see better both physically and spiritually. I definitely see all 66 books of the Bible as intimately connected.
PROCESS
I receive a rough draft of Pastor Ken's sermon on Tuesday or Wednesday of each week. I read the sermon, the children's Bible lesson according to the Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones, and the scripture passages that both of these are based upon. Next, I begin to ponder, listen, and imagine the authors' thoughts, the commentary, the story, and seek the heart of how this all applies to me, to us who believe, to the human condition/To what it means to be human. Usually a picture or phrase begins to resonate in my heart and mind. I follow that reverberation, share it with my wife and close friends. The idea clarifies itself and solidifies with a short written statement for each drawing. I seek approval of that statement with the pastor before each service. Finally, I get absorbed in the process of drawing during the Sunday gathering at my church. As Ken preaches, I draw. Together we seek to present our hearts and scripture to the glory of God.
Craig Hawkins
The Emmaus road series is a year long collaboration between Ken Webb, the pastor of Christ's Fellowship Church (Valdosta, Georgia), me, and the one in whom we place our faith and hope, the God of all creation. Through the act of drawing, one drawing per week for forty-four weeks, I have sought to bring a form of visual communication that would buttress the pastors heart felt intentions as he delivers a sermon every Sunday morning. I am invited to give a quick artist statement for each piece at the conclusion of each Sunday morning service to summarize my thoughts and intentions for each creation. Each drawing is created live in tandem with the delivery of the sermon, approximately 45 minutes.
I find myself so much more connected and in tune with each Sunday morning gathering because of the amount of study and preparation that goes into each drawing per week. It gives me the honest opportunity to ponder the story and scripture for each sermon, picture what it may have been like, and pray about what I'm to do with the resulting opportunity to edify the body of Christ. We live in an increasingly visual culture full of signs and symbols encouraging quick assumptions that simplify and deliver decontextualized instruction for living. Ravi Zacharias would describe this as giving rational thought to a subject without a predicate. As a culture we may not truly know how to see due to our expectation for immediate gratification. The appreciation of life through the creation of a simple drawing can slow us down giving more time to recognize what we see. The appreciation of art and its process can help us truly live or experience more of what it means to be human. I feel more connected to God after these drawings are finished. Concerning our perceptions and understanding of the world, G. K. Chesterton explains that, "God is like the sun; you cannot look at it, but without it you cannot look at anything else." Because of this series of work I feel like I can see better both physically and spiritually. I definitely see all 66 books of the Bible as intimately connected.
PROCESS
I receive a rough draft of Pastor Ken's sermon on Tuesday or Wednesday of each week. I read the sermon, the children's Bible lesson according to the Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones, and the scripture passages that both of these are based upon. Next, I begin to ponder, listen, and imagine the authors' thoughts, the commentary, the story, and seek the heart of how this all applies to me, to us who believe, to the human condition/To what it means to be human. Usually a picture or phrase begins to resonate in my heart and mind. I follow that reverberation, share it with my wife and close friends. The idea clarifies itself and solidifies with a short written statement for each drawing. I seek approval of that statement with the pastor before each service. Finally, I get absorbed in the process of drawing during the Sunday gathering at my church. As Ken preaches, I draw. Together we seek to present our hearts and scripture to the glory of God.
Craig Hawkins
