Up From the Church Basement, by Cal Thomas (Town Hall)
Here's a teaser:
"Everything those awful movies were ["Christian" Films], this one isn't. It faithfully follows the storyline conceived by C.S. Lewis, the Belfast native, gigantic intellect, Christian apologist and Oxford professor, who died 42 years ago, but whose work continues to sell and challenge the self-indulgent and disbelieving spirit of the age. Lewis believed in taking on the popular philosophies of his day on their own turf, not retreating into religious catacombs.""
November 26, 2005
November 20, 2005
This Christmas, Focus on the Family Singapore has been given permission from the National Tourism Board to bring World of Narnia. to Orchard Road from 17-24 December, 12 noon to 9 pm daily, to coincide with Disney’s 22-Dec release of the movie, “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” And I've been asked to write and direct the interactive WORLD OF NARNIA - with 4 weeks lead time on this 350,000 project! These folks have BIG FAITH! If you're not familiar with Focus on the Family, it is a Christian organization established to support and build strong families. They offer a wide range of magazines, books, cds, videos and seminars for kids and adults. (the "Adventures in Odyssey" radio drama and video series was produced by this organization). This event is a great way to offer families an affordable adventure to do together over the holiday, as well as give GREAT exposure to the resources this organization has to offer.
November 14, 2005
Artists Gathering 2005 (A4J)
It was a great meeting last night...A nice mix of people...a sweet time of sharing and praying for one another. Wish there were more time to hear from everyone. You are all His WORKMANSHIP or POEM - You're God's original expression of himself to the world. So sweet to see how your craft is shaping up in you and how you reflect his glory!
If you're a Christian and you'd like to join the Arts for Jesus egroup, send a short introduction of yourself, your faith, and your role in the arts. Just click here: Arts for Jesus. Also check out Create le Voyage, our online magazine for Christians in the Arts.
November 06, 2005
COOS Drama Team in the Highlands
Even marriage proposals! "Will you marry me?" is what the signs says! We do things in Groups here...
Marriage Proposal Helpers in Malaysia
IMG_0041.JPG
Originally uploaded by K!Mberly.
Oh did we have a sweet time in Cameron Highlands. I do think this OMF Bungalow is my favourite spot in SE Asia. Paul did some teaching, Peter proposed to Diana, we gave Diamond Ensemble and Enacted Prayer a try and most of us really enjoyed worshipping God in a new way. I think this was a FIRST for some in the group: a retreat where we really retreated for quiet and solitude and relaxation. The "retreats" we're used to here are mostly very RAH RAH with packed schedules of sessions... Not this retreat! Yeah Paul! I especially loved just laying in bed, doing some stitching (a handmade gift for my nephew) and listening to the rain, just wasting time with God like lovers like to do.
October 27, 2005
Grace Drama Team
Grace Drama.JPG
Originally uploaded by K!Mberly.
Tries out different characters for their Christmas sketch. I love having a living room big enough for rehearsals!
September 08, 2005
August 24, 2005
Giving Enacted Prayer a Try
Giving Enacted Prayer a Try
Originally uploaded by K!Mberly.
Had a great evening with Heidi Friesen. She taught us some of what she's learned doing Enacted Prayer while in a college theatre program. A perfect group came. A mix of full time practitioners and those who use drama as their ministry in church.
August 16, 2005
For Nagasaki & Hiroshima
It wasn't the time or place LAST MONDAY AFTERNOON, August 8, 2005 to make my apology to the Japanese people. But I will do it now, and then I'll tell you a story from that day.
My dear Japanese brothers and sisters,
Even though it was not my hands that did the killing, I know that the Japanese people have suffered much because of the devastation of the atomic bombs dropped on the people of Hiroshima and Nagasaki 60 years ago. For the moment, I want to put all the history aside about the whys and whats and what ifs of that terrible war. For now, I want to say to you that we have not mourned with you the great devastation those bombs brought to the people of your country.
You have had to live with the shame and after effects of putting your country back together. While people around the world were relieved and happy that the war was finally over and countries were being freed of Japanese occupation, your people were mourning the deaths and wounds and sicknesses of so many civilians as a result of those atomic bombs. Since you were the "bad guys," the world has had little empathy for the innocent in your country who have suffered.
You, like myself, are from a new generation who did not participate in this war, yet I know that many of you have wounds and hurts that have been passed on to you as a result of the war. I have been insensitive toward your wounds, both physical and emotional, and as an American, I apologize that it was America who delivered those wounds to you. I am sorry for the pain you have endured because of the way the pacific side of World War II ended in Japan.
I am truly sorry.
My dear Japanese brothers and sisters,
Even though it was not my hands that did the killing, I know that the Japanese people have suffered much because of the devastation of the atomic bombs dropped on the people of Hiroshima and Nagasaki 60 years ago. For the moment, I want to put all the history aside about the whys and whats and what ifs of that terrible war. For now, I want to say to you that we have not mourned with you the great devastation those bombs brought to the people of your country.
You have had to live with the shame and after effects of putting your country back together. While people around the world were relieved and happy that the war was finally over and countries were being freed of Japanese occupation, your people were mourning the deaths and wounds and sicknesses of so many civilians as a result of those atomic bombs. Since you were the "bad guys," the world has had little empathy for the innocent in your country who have suffered.
You, like myself, are from a new generation who did not participate in this war, yet I know that many of you have wounds and hurts that have been passed on to you as a result of the war. I have been insensitive toward your wounds, both physical and emotional, and as an American, I apologize that it was America who delivered those wounds to you. I am sorry for the pain you have endured because of the way the pacific side of World War II ended in Japan.
I am truly sorry.
A little preaching...
I am not naive to realize that racial hatreds are being birthed and nurtured in other places of the world as we make our reconcilliations about World War II in the Pacific. I don't hold much hope that we'll all get it right and reconcilled this side of heaven. My belief about this world is that a genuine world peace can only come through the Creator's salvation and restoration, and there will always be enemies of God who would rather make their own rules and run their own show. Judging from my experience even among followers who desire to live a life submitted to Jesus being their Lord, this peace and harmony will only be truly known in heaven, when he makes all things new. Only then will we be restored to the way we were supposed to be in the beginning. But we're learning in this life...and sometimes we're getting it right. Because I have experienced the power of being forgiven for my selfish and stubborn nature, it has in turn softened my unforgiveness of others who I thought I'd had the 'right' to hate.
Okay, enough preaching. I want to write about what lead to the above apology.
Okay, enough preaching. I want to write about what lead to the above apology.
Reconcilliation at the Asia Playback Gathering
About twenty participants from the region had selected to participate in a “jam session” as their last workshop for the first ever Asia Playback Gathering the 6-9th of August, 2005. I brought my 8 year old son Cameron along to watch and play with me.
Kayo, of Japan's "Playback AZ," was an impressive leader as she got us started with a game and began conducting the first of the afternoon’s stories. I liked her style. She drew us in, and drew the stories out with her warm, confident, and shepherding personality. After a few fluid sculptures she suggested we allow actors to perform in their own languages. Some of them were wonderful actors and we weren’t getting a chance to see them shine when they were limited by trying to speak in English.
We tried it. A woman from Taiwan shared a story, with English translation, about saying goodbye to her 4 year old son at the airport, and realizing that he was growing up. A group of Japanese actors played the story back for us, in Japanese. It was a clever, artful, touching improvisation. We all understood it because we’d heard the sweet story only minutes before.
Next a group of Chinese from Hong Kong, Singapore and China got up to play a new story back, They were going to use a mix of Mandarin and Cantonese. A Filipino participant, Edward, decided to share a story he said he’d been saving for 2 years. He’d been waiting for the right time to share it and felt this was the setting.
The group became a little uncomfortable as he shared about planning to go to the International Playback Gathering in Japan 2 years ago. He told us about his Filipino grandfather’s strong words, “Why would you want to travel to that country, with all those awful people? Why would you want to spend your time and money in a country with the Japanese?” He replied, “Never mind the Japanese, Grandfather. If I want to learn more about Playback Theatre, I have to go there. I’ll go just for the playback; not for the people.”
Cameron, my son, and I were the only non-Asians in the room. However, I’ve been living in Asia 7 years. That is long enough to learn that the hatred and racism toward the Japanese people is pervasive in this region. Japanese soldiers inflicted unspeakable horrors on Asia during World War II; occupations, mass killings, torture. Many from the generation who experienced these things are still alive, and they have shared their unrequited bitterness with those of us who have come after.
As we listened, Edward went on to tell his story. It turned out differently than it started. It turned into a story about the Japanese “angels” who helped him when he was alone in the train station having missed the last bullet train; the "angel" who had returned to him important belongings he’d inadvertently lost; the "angel" who had welcomed him to the conference when he finally arrived very late on his first night. He finished by saying that he’d learned that the Japanese are kind, friendly and good people. No matter what happened in the war, it is wrong to have such predjudice against the Japanese today.
Wow. We all looked to the Chinese group who’d volunteered to be the actors. If any group hates the Japanese it is the Chinese, but this group did a touching improvisation of Edward's story. It was too bad that the Japanese sitting next to me couldn’t understand the language of the actors as the story wrapped up. It ended with a hug and the actor playing Edward saying in Chinese, “My grandfather was SO wrong.”
The actors all quietly looked to Edward when the piece was finished. It was their offering to him. To us. We let the offering linger in the air for a moment until a Japanese woman broke the silence.
“I’d like to share a feeling,” she said.
She told us how the Japanese playbackers had met before this conference and had anticipated what might happen when Asians got together to share important stories from their lives. “We were prepared for people to hate us. We were prepared for stories that might tell how terrible we are.” They had talked ahead of time about how they should be prepared for racism against them. “Yet, this is the first time in the whole weekend that the issue has come up, and instead of saying how awful we are, you have called us ‘angels.’ We are so relieved and thankful.”
I see a few eyes getting moist as the conductor asks the Chinese group of actors to play this feeling back as a fluid sculpture.
Kayo, the original conductor, also speaks.
“I feel I must say something too. Our people did terrible things to your countries during the war. Even though it was many years ago, and even though it was not my hands that did it, I want to apologize for the things my ancestors have done in the past. I want to say that I am sorry for the things the Japanese people have done to your people in the past. I apologize on behalf of my people.”
The Chinese actors are still standing in front. All of them are openly crying as they play back this apology as a new fluid sculpture.
Astounding. I am a privileged witness of an amazing emotional healing taking place before me in the room. I am not crying. I am too stunned. I am joyfully in awe. I’m quite sure my mouth is hanging open. My hands are holding my heart. It is about to burst. I’m standing in the midst of what feels like a miracle.
Asians are notorious for keeping their feelings inside, for never talking openly about hurts or joys, rarely do they openly showing displays of affection. We once had a Japanese student live with us. She said she loved that we hugged her as she’d never been hugged by her parents. One Chinese friend once told me that they are like a thermos; cold on the outside, but hot on the inside. Yet, on this afternoon in Singapore, as this group decides to sit in a circle to process what has just happened, there are grown men of different Asian races openly weeping and hugging one another.
Different people around the circle share what they are thinking and feeling. One thought she didn’t have any prejudice until that afternoon, and as soon as she realized that there was a corner of her heart that was hateful toward the Japanese, it had disappeared.
Why don’t I have any tears? It’s because I am so filled with hope for the future. I am seeing first hand how easy it is to build bridges of peace and reconciliation with a few genuinely spoken words. I decide to share with the group now sitting in a circle.
We are all one or two generations away from the atrocities of World War II, and yet there has remained, knowingly or subconsciously, a racism that has been inherited from our parents or grandparents. As our generation learns to reconcile like this, we learn that we can live in peace, harmony and genuine friendship.
In my home country of the USA, the races that have the most reason to hold a grudge with American Whites are the African Americans and the American Indians. My adopted son Cameron, who is an ethnic mix of all three of these races, has grown up in Asia. Today he has witnessed everything we’ve all just seen and heard. Yet, despite this, he turned to me in the middle of all the tears around us and said, “Mommy, why are they all crying?”
In his heart of hearts he can’t imagine any reason why this group would be anything other than a bunch of friends from different countries getting together to play and have fun.
THIS IS TANGIBLE HOPE. Our generation has the opportunity to raise the next generation with Cameron's genuine heart of unity and brotherly love across cultures.
We closed our circle time sweetly stumbling through an old song recently recorded by Vince Gill. I just took a moment to look up the lyrics online. They are worth memorizing again.
Let there be peace on earth
and let it begin with me.
Let there be peace on earth
the peace that was meant to be.
With God as our father
brothers all are we.
Let me walk with my brother
in perfect harmony.
Let peace begin with me
let this be the moment now.
With every step i take
let this be my solemn vow.
To take each moment
and live each moment
with peace eternally.
Let ther be peace on earth,
and let it begin with me.
Kayo, of Japan's "Playback AZ," was an impressive leader as she got us started with a game and began conducting the first of the afternoon’s stories. I liked her style. She drew us in, and drew the stories out with her warm, confident, and shepherding personality. After a few fluid sculptures she suggested we allow actors to perform in their own languages. Some of them were wonderful actors and we weren’t getting a chance to see them shine when they were limited by trying to speak in English.
We tried it. A woman from Taiwan shared a story, with English translation, about saying goodbye to her 4 year old son at the airport, and realizing that he was growing up. A group of Japanese actors played the story back for us, in Japanese. It was a clever, artful, touching improvisation. We all understood it because we’d heard the sweet story only minutes before.
Next a group of Chinese from Hong Kong, Singapore and China got up to play a new story back, They were going to use a mix of Mandarin and Cantonese. A Filipino participant, Edward, decided to share a story he said he’d been saving for 2 years. He’d been waiting for the right time to share it and felt this was the setting.
The group became a little uncomfortable as he shared about planning to go to the International Playback Gathering in Japan 2 years ago. He told us about his Filipino grandfather’s strong words, “Why would you want to travel to that country, with all those awful people? Why would you want to spend your time and money in a country with the Japanese?” He replied, “Never mind the Japanese, Grandfather. If I want to learn more about Playback Theatre, I have to go there. I’ll go just for the playback; not for the people.”
Cameron, my son, and I were the only non-Asians in the room. However, I’ve been living in Asia 7 years. That is long enough to learn that the hatred and racism toward the Japanese people is pervasive in this region. Japanese soldiers inflicted unspeakable horrors on Asia during World War II; occupations, mass killings, torture. Many from the generation who experienced these things are still alive, and they have shared their unrequited bitterness with those of us who have come after.
As we listened, Edward went on to tell his story. It turned out differently than it started. It turned into a story about the Japanese “angels” who helped him when he was alone in the train station having missed the last bullet train; the "angel" who had returned to him important belongings he’d inadvertently lost; the "angel" who had welcomed him to the conference when he finally arrived very late on his first night. He finished by saying that he’d learned that the Japanese are kind, friendly and good people. No matter what happened in the war, it is wrong to have such predjudice against the Japanese today.
Wow. We all looked to the Chinese group who’d volunteered to be the actors. If any group hates the Japanese it is the Chinese, but this group did a touching improvisation of Edward's story. It was too bad that the Japanese sitting next to me couldn’t understand the language of the actors as the story wrapped up. It ended with a hug and the actor playing Edward saying in Chinese, “My grandfather was SO wrong.”
The actors all quietly looked to Edward when the piece was finished. It was their offering to him. To us. We let the offering linger in the air for a moment until a Japanese woman broke the silence.
“I’d like to share a feeling,” she said.
She told us how the Japanese playbackers had met before this conference and had anticipated what might happen when Asians got together to share important stories from their lives. “We were prepared for people to hate us. We were prepared for stories that might tell how terrible we are.” They had talked ahead of time about how they should be prepared for racism against them. “Yet, this is the first time in the whole weekend that the issue has come up, and instead of saying how awful we are, you have called us ‘angels.’ We are so relieved and thankful.”
I see a few eyes getting moist as the conductor asks the Chinese group of actors to play this feeling back as a fluid sculpture.
Kayo, the original conductor, also speaks.
“I feel I must say something too. Our people did terrible things to your countries during the war. Even though it was many years ago, and even though it was not my hands that did it, I want to apologize for the things my ancestors have done in the past. I want to say that I am sorry for the things the Japanese people have done to your people in the past. I apologize on behalf of my people.”
The Chinese actors are still standing in front. All of them are openly crying as they play back this apology as a new fluid sculpture.
Astounding. I am a privileged witness of an amazing emotional healing taking place before me in the room. I am not crying. I am too stunned. I am joyfully in awe. I’m quite sure my mouth is hanging open. My hands are holding my heart. It is about to burst. I’m standing in the midst of what feels like a miracle.
Asians are notorious for keeping their feelings inside, for never talking openly about hurts or joys, rarely do they openly showing displays of affection. We once had a Japanese student live with us. She said she loved that we hugged her as she’d never been hugged by her parents. One Chinese friend once told me that they are like a thermos; cold on the outside, but hot on the inside. Yet, on this afternoon in Singapore, as this group decides to sit in a circle to process what has just happened, there are grown men of different Asian races openly weeping and hugging one another.
Different people around the circle share what they are thinking and feeling. One thought she didn’t have any prejudice until that afternoon, and as soon as she realized that there was a corner of her heart that was hateful toward the Japanese, it had disappeared.
Why don’t I have any tears? It’s because I am so filled with hope for the future. I am seeing first hand how easy it is to build bridges of peace and reconciliation with a few genuinely spoken words. I decide to share with the group now sitting in a circle.
We are all one or two generations away from the atrocities of World War II, and yet there has remained, knowingly or subconsciously, a racism that has been inherited from our parents or grandparents. As our generation learns to reconcile like this, we learn that we can live in peace, harmony and genuine friendship.
In my home country of the USA, the races that have the most reason to hold a grudge with American Whites are the African Americans and the American Indians. My adopted son Cameron, who is an ethnic mix of all three of these races, has grown up in Asia. Today he has witnessed everything we’ve all just seen and heard. Yet, despite this, he turned to me in the middle of all the tears around us and said, “Mommy, why are they all crying?”
In his heart of hearts he can’t imagine any reason why this group would be anything other than a bunch of friends from different countries getting together to play and have fun.
THIS IS TANGIBLE HOPE. Our generation has the opportunity to raise the next generation with Cameron's genuine heart of unity and brotherly love across cultures.
We closed our circle time sweetly stumbling through an old song recently recorded by Vince Gill. I just took a moment to look up the lyrics online. They are worth memorizing again.
Let there be peace on earth
and let it begin with me.
Let there be peace on earth
the peace that was meant to be.
With God as our father
brothers all are we.
Let me walk with my brother
in perfect harmony.
Let peace begin with me
let this be the moment now.
With every step i take
let this be my solemn vow.
To take each moment
and live each moment
with peace eternally.
Let ther be peace on earth,
and let it begin with me.
May 28, 2005
Check Out PLAYBACK "TOO BUSY FOR YOU!"
This is new theatre form for me. I've been stretched this year with Tapestry Playback Theatre group to grow in improvisation. I like to think of Playback Theatre as "Who's Line is it Anyway" with a purpose. We take stories from the audience and play it back for them in different ways.
This coming Saturday is my second forray into a performance. Tapestry has been performing in Choa Chu Kang (that's pretty far out of the downtown area) but this time around it will be held in our new home. We are moving this Monday (We're spending our last 2 nights in Tampines among a LOT of boxes. (We're excited about the move to town!) Check out the view!
"TOO BUSY FOR YOU! - Life in Singapore"
Are you too busy for me? If you're reading from Singapore, come check it out and give me a housewarming by telling one of your stories about life in the fast lane of Singapore!
Emsemble: Agnes Law (Conductor)
Anne Chua (Actor / Musician)
Sia Ee Mien (Actor)
Kimberly Creasman (Actor)
Jerry Louis (Actor / Musician)
Date: Saturday 4 June 2005
Time: 8pm (Please be seated by 7.30pm)
Venue: Private Apartment in Teresa Ville,
1007, Lower Delta Road, #23-04
Ticket price: $10* pp
(Seats are limited, call early to avoid disappointment)
*Special 10% discount for groups of 5 and students
Confirmation of your tickets through cash / cheque payment within a
week of booking. Please call or sms Jerry at 90093679 if you would
have queries.
May 25, 2005
Kurk lives out his fantasy for 5 seconds...
Kurk, the King
Originally uploaded by K!Mberly.
Grace Drama initiates my super find at the Barang Barang Warehouse: "The Five Star Lounge," while reheasing in our new apartment on Thursday nights.
May 21, 2005
Enacted Prayer
Learning a lot with the Grace Drama Team as we explore using Playback forms and style in a worship setting.
Tried it out on the choir tonight and had a great time. Psalm 121 was a good Psalm to portray how we felt after last Thursday's rehearsal, so we did a FLUID SCULPTURE on it.
Tried it out on the choir tonight and had a great time. Psalm 121 was a good Psalm to portray how we felt after last Thursday's rehearsal, so we did a FLUID SCULPTURE on it.
May 01, 2005
Thanks Mary Engelbreight HOME magazine
Thanks Mary Engelbreight HOME magazine
Originally uploaded by K!Mberly.
I love the section in the magazine that interviews an artist. What inspires them. How they got started. Advice. Great stuff.
April 20, 2005
AT THE BRIDGE, Easter @ COOS 2005
AT THE BRIDGE, Easter @ COOS 2005
Originally uploaded by K!Mberly.
The congregation was invited up on stage to cross what ever bridges they needed to cross, symbolically...literally. A great worship experience but I especially loved the post production meeting for those who'd taken the "Learning the Ropes: Directing" class. What encouragement. We experimented with this kind of class and it seemed to be a good opportunity for most who signed up and came: to learn and grow in faith and art. What will we dream up next?
March 28, 2005
March 14, 2005
JoJo's Cheer for the High Wire Act:
To do something scary and not get a fright,
You must look straight ahead with the finish in sight.
One step at a time,
You just walk down that line.
And the scaries you'll find are just all in your mind.
(I had fun writing with this with Melissa for a new school show today!)
You must look straight ahead with the finish in sight.
One step at a time,
You just walk down that line.
And the scaries you'll find are just all in your mind.
(I had fun writing with this with Melissa for a new school show today!)
February 16, 2005
February 08, 2005
Should Christian Artists Work in Church for Free?
As an artist myself, I sympathize and identify with her answer. As a pastor’s wife of nearly twenty years, I also have a unique vantage point on this issue.
Churches by definition are volunteer organizations
Most churches run on a shoestring budget. Supported by the offerings of their congregations, most churches have barely enough money to pay a modest salary to an overworked pastor or two. The average church budget rarely can afford much more than the rental or upkeep of their facility, operating expenses and the support a missionary or outreach cause. The Christian who fixes toilets or repairs electrical outlets for their livelihood often volunteers his service to help maintain the church. The teacher, who works six days a week, can often be found on the seventh in Children’s Ministries. The accountants can be found on the church board. The doctors and dentists often treat pastors and missionaries for free and then go to some developing nation on their holiday to pull teeth or offer other healthcare. Romans 12:5-8 says, “We are all parts of his one body, and each of us has different work to do. And since we are all one body in Christ, we belong to each other, and each of us needs all the others. God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out when you have faith that God is speaking through you. If your gift is that of serving others, serve them well….If your gift is to encourage others, do it!” In light of these verses, what is so special about artists? Why would we even assume it should be different for us?
No one owes us a living
I believe part of the grumblings is from a need to have better boundaries. We also can get a bitter because in choosing art as our career we have such pitiful incomes compared to others. But following art as a career path is a choice, your choice. It should be no surprise that there is little money to be earned in art; in the church or in the marketplace. Throughout the ages, unless an artist has a wealthy benefactor, finances have always been a challenge. It is more realistic to think of your craft as a “calling” than a “career.” There is usually great personal satisfaction and often great freedom in a creative career. There is also ample thanks and praise that come with the job. But cash is not quite as free flowing as the praise! This isn’t any different for church. Though we may like the verse in 1 Timothy 5:18 that says, “Elders who do their work well should be paid well….Those who work deserve their pay!” Here is the reality: When asked to bring your craft to a church, you can assume that they mean for it to be an offering. You may be offered a little white envelope when your service is done. It’s a “love offering.” Though it may be enough to reimburse you for the expenses you incurred on the job, don't do the work with hopes that the contents will pay your rent! So, you need to face reality about your income as an artist and pray from Proverbs 30:8 “Give me neither poverty nor riches! Give me just enough to satisfy my needs. For if I grow rich, I may deny you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God’s holy name.
| When asked to bring your craft to a church, you can assume that they mean for it to be an offering. You may be offered a little white envelope when your service is done. |
A talented dramatist here once told me that he doesn't serve in his church in the area of drama. He feels that when he is serving in some other capacity, he can't get a bad attitude about doing it for free. However, soon after he told me this, I learned that he was directing a big project at his new church. He felt convicted about helping them with this project and wanted to serve the Lord and his church this way. Later he told me that the church had given him a generous monetary gift which he didn’t ask for or expect.
The key to our practice as artists: follow Jesus
Once you are “discovered” by your church, you will be asked by any one who can use your talent, to serve through your art. You must follow Jesus, and learn to listen to his voice about how, when and where he wants you to give your gift back in worship to him. The church wants and needs the creativity you have to offer. If you are truly talented, you will be asked often to serve. Your gift came from God when he created you, and you are developing it with his hand on your life. Look to him to see how he wants to lead you in using your craft, both in and out of the community of faith. When you do offer your gift as an act of service to him, it needs to be from a full heart of gratitude and never from a sense of obligation. Don’t be bullied by well meaning people who know you’ve got something that they want. Make it between you and the Lord. They’ll wait for your answer, and though they may be disappointed, they’ll respect a firm “no” when you know it’s not the right thing for you to do. I am constantly refining my calling statement, which helps me in making purposeful ministry commitments. (See http://kimberlycreasman.blogspot.com for the draft.) Romans 12:1,2 is a touchstone for me about this, “Give your bodies to God. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice…When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask?....Let God transform you…then you will know what God wants you to do….”
| “When you do offer your gift as an act of service to him, it needs to be from a full heart of gratitude and never from a sense of obligation.” |
Nearly all my life I’ve had a strong conviction that my calling is as a theatre artist. Even more specific, my calling has been to discover ways to practice theatre as a means of sharing the Gospel, equipping Christians, or drawing people closer to God in worship. I knew from the start that this was not going to be a lucrative career! My expectation was always that I would make money doing something else on the side while I worked on learning and practicing my craft. Being from Los Angeles, where there are so many out-of-work actors waiting tables, I considered it a privilege that my church allowed me to experiment with my art and gave me a platform to actually showcase it and have an audience who would see it and hopefully be enriched and blessed by it.
The truth of this really was impressed on my one Easter season when I went to see an actor friend in a Community Theatre production. You can find Community Theatres in nearly every city of the
| Over the years, God has always provided for me; even though my art has rarely been validated by a pay check. |
Last year, I worked nearly full time in some capacity of theatre as ministry. I traveled to 4 countries to teach, direct, speak or write. It was great year for me. It was all very fulfilling work. However, I made no contracts before hand, and at the end of the year, my total income was only $500. Well, that plus a few thank you notes and a pair of earrings. In the past, this engendered self-pity. After 100 hours or more on a production, I’d look at the $100 inside a white envelope and thought, “Is this is all I’m worth?” Over the years I’ve have to take these thoughts captive, and put them on the altar of his grace. I have to constantly ask for his heart and mind toward myself and his church. Over the years, God has always provided for me; even though my art has rarely been validated by a pay check. Meditating on Philippians 2:5-8 has given me perspective: “Your attitude should be the same that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not demand and cling to his rights as God. He made himself nothing; he took the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form. And in human form he obediently humbled himself even further by dying a criminal’s death on a cross.”
The church I attend here has a policy, for now, to not pay any artists. If money is given to someone leading a workshop or class, it comes from the individuals taking the class and not from the church budget. The church does pay their guest speakers however, and once being far too cheeky, I asked the Creative Arts Pastor, “Why this double standard? In some cases, aren’t guest artists likewise holding forth the Word in worship?” He agreed with the inequity, but he is not the gatekeeper on church policy. For the time being, I’ve settled it for myself in this way: I am very careful about the commitments I make for serving churches, and if I am not sure that I can do it as joyful offering, I suggest making up a contract. I recently told another volunteer drama ministry leader that if they wanted to host their drama training for a group of churches, then I would gladly come do the training for free. If they wanted to have me come teach a small group of their people, we would need to make a contract. She’s getting back to me about it.
| I am very careful about the commitments I make for serving churches, and if I am not sure that I can do it as joyful offering, I suggest making up a contract. |
If when settling this issue for yourself, you need to start making contracts with churches, Paul McCusker in his book Playwriting: Choices and Challenges gives some great advice. He tells artists to talk about your expectations and convictions up front. Do not commit to anything without knowing where both you and the church stands. It's often awkward, but he says its win-win if you are open and upfront and both sides communicate well at the beginning of the project. You can see this as part of your serving the Lord: communicating with clarity and honesty.
Summing it up with some advice…
Earnestly ask the Lord the path he wants you to take, and don’t give up asking until you know for sure what the answer is. Take every effort to improve yourself in this calling. Follow him and his Word. Learn to be wise about money. And trust him more than anyone you love to take care of you. Whether or not you are paid by a church is not as important as whether you are being obedient to Jesus in practicing the art he’s gifted you in and called you to with an attitude of thanksgiving. Colossians 3:23, 24 says,“Work hard and cheerfully at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as you’re your reward….”
Some of you will sense the Lord wants you to use your talent in church as your gift to him, some of you will want to check out sample contracts that other artists use. Some will find that it is a mixture of both. No matter what, keep your attitude about your worth as an artist on the altar before God. If you’re not making a contract to offer professional services, pitch in with your craft and be part of the volunteer organization that is the church. Then you’ll consider it an unexpected ang bao when they offer you a little white envelope.
Scripture quotes are from the New Living Translation, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
February 04, 2005
February 01, 2005
Journaling Our Journey
Journey of Desire by John Eldredge was a favourite book for the Five Stars last year.
I'm re-reading it again with a larger group of friends in 2005!
Want to travel the book through blogging with a group of us?
Follow this link to Journey of Desire, get a copy of the book, and join us.
I'm re-reading it again with a larger group of friends in 2005!
Want to travel the book through blogging with a group of us?
Follow this link to Journey of Desire, get a copy of the book, and join us.
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