Christians & Torture.

A new report from CNN shows that 54% of Christians who go to service at least once a week support torture to gain information from suspected terrorist. That number blows me away. That number also grieves me. I will not write a long post about why we should be the exception rather than the majority, but give you one passage of scripture that deals with how we should treat those persecuting us. Read this and pray that God will allow us to show the same mercy he has given us.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.

Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.

Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men.

If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.

Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord.

BUT IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM, AND IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD.”

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Romans 12: 14-21

Here’s to Collaboration

I was sent a link to this amazing video/ad produced by Honda to promote their hybrid sedan, the Insight.

The video itself is clever and fun, but what really struck me was how the close collaboration between Honda and Vimeo resulted in an extraordinary experience. I was reminded through this that two are always better than one when it comes to our creative endeavors.

With this narcissistic age of “me” upon us, it’s even more imperative to take a cue from our creator, and exist in community. So I challenge us all today to not create alone! Team up, mash-up, partner up, collaborate—doesn’t matter what you call it, just do something creative with someone else and share with the world.

Sermon’s over. Here’s the link to the video! http://vimeo.com/4281939

(Sorry for no embed, must be viewed on the Vimeo site for full effect.)

How Do You See Life?

This ad is a wonderful example of how I tend to see life. I look for what I want to look for, and I ignore what I want to ignore. Just look at this ad, what we see as happy, is grotesque when turned upside down. This is no different then my daily life. Without a guide I have no idea what I am looking at, what seems good is really bad. But with God I can learn what is pure and right. Just read Romans 12: 2.

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

We cannot look to the media, and that means Fox news just as much as CNN, for how we should live. We cannot look to politicians, and that means both Red and Blue, for what laws we need to pass. And we cannot even look to our own heart, because it can deceive us. What we need is the word of God. That will transform us, that will allow us to see what is truly good and acceptable and perfect.

Disclaimer: This post is not meant to be about President Obama. So please to not use this as an opportunity to either praise or tear him down. Instead do what the bible says later in Romans, and in 1 Timothy.

Artwork found at Coloribus.

When Inspiration Leaves

From time to time, well it happens more often than not, inspiration will just leave me. A project will come up and I can think of nothing to do for it. I end up staring at my screen for hours hoping for something to pop into my mind, but it rarely does. So what do I do, I try and jump start my creativity.

Check out websites.

Here are a few sites that I will immediately go to for some inspiration. That does not mean you go there to steal ideas, just be inspired! Graphic Exchange, VLU, Flickr, AdHunt and Inspiredology are just a few.

Play some games.

Video games have always been a great way for me to relax. Sometimes I just need to stop what I am doing and play some dumb online games. Kongregate is the biz-omb for quick online games!

Read, the old fashion way.

Reading is another way for me to get out of my funk. Magazines are filed with wonderful articles, layouts and ads. I also have a library of old readers digest books, going through those are wonderful. The colors, typography and layout and amazing. Also, check out the bible. God’s word is filled with stories that can inspire anyone.

Go outside.

Sometimes just stopping what I am doing and going outside is all I need. To feel the rain, snow, wind or sun on your skin can recharge you. Nature is the most beautiful work of art there is.

What do you do?

These are just a few things I do, but what do you do? Help me out because I can feel that today is one of those blah days.

Your Attitude is Crap

I love watching marketing guys, their arrogance is mind blowing to me. Everyone is an expert, and they all love to show it. In the church we look to them often for advise, but here is one guy I would like you to stay away from. Why? Because his attitude, not business card, is crap.

Humility needs to be a quaility we are known for more than our marketing. Remember that no matter how amazing you are at what you do, it is still a gift from God.

Tutorial: Repeat With Style

There is not much to this design, but by adding a simple repeat it now becomes a modern piece of art. I will show you the most simple way to do it. It is as easy as hitting one button.

Step 1: Open Illustrator

This only works for Illustrator, so all you Freehand people will have to chill. Open up a new document, and choose what shape you would like to use. For this design I used the circle.

Step 2: The Magic Button

Here is all you have to do boys and girls, when you draw your shape hold down the “~” key. If you don’t know where it is look next to your “1″ on the top number bar. That is it. It will repeat the shape at the speed you move your cursor. You can also hold down shift like I did for the CD cover above to keep the shapes in a straight line.

Step 3: Time To Experiment

This really is a fun element to play with. You can make some amazing shapes, and some cool patterns. I have included some samples that I did in about 30 seconds. Have fun!

Not Gone, Just Tired

For the past couple months Kyle and I have been hit hard. Our company has taken a tremendous hit with the economy, and we have had pay cuts looming over our heads. Being a husband and a father makes this stress turn into panic, the uncertainty is sometimes harder that the actual impact. But I thank God that I have him in times that this. I am not gone for good, I am just tired for now.

Preparing for the race.

Paul talks about running the race for the prize at the end. I feel like the past two months have been training for me. I know I have failed in some, but I also know I have grown too. Through these trials God has also brought us blessing. Our work for the Plow has tripled in the last couple months, and we have been able to partner with some amazing churches. We have been blessed by that.

Our failures bring strength.

God has also allowed us to learn patience, humility and servitude. With increase of workload, sometimes our relationships can become strained. I have neglected this blog and the readers, and I am sorry for that. I have neglected some of my lower clients, and I am sorry for that as well. We are servants to God and each other, and I have been reminded of that wonderful truth. I praise God for allowing me to fail so that I might turn back to him.

Now the race begins.

I found this video below from the Wooster Collective by James Jarvis and was amazed by the simplicity and power of it. The race we run is not always easy. We come across trails and pitfalls, but we know we will finish. We are never gone, just sometimes tired—and God has the strength for us.

My Battle with Technology

For the past two days I have been in losing battle with technology. I have put my trust in computers to do my work for me, and they have failed. Now, this has been a very stressful time for me, but it has also been a very humbling (in a good way) time too. It has forced me to think about what I put my trust in, and how much I believe in that which I am trusting.

My Faith in Technology

To be honest I have a huge amount of faith in technology. For the most part I always believe that when I hit “send” in my email that it will send. From time to time I am let down, as I have been this week, but the majority of the time I trust that computers will do what they say they will. Why is that? Why do I put my faith and trust in something man made, something that I know at least 5% of the time will fail me. Part of it is out of necessity. I need to believe that it will work because it is the world I live in. Without it I would not have a job, without it I would not be able to to put food on the table. All of this scares me.

My Faith in God

Why is my faith in technology stronger than my faith in God? I know that God will always do what he says. I know that God will never fail in his love for me. I know that I will never be let down by God. I know that God will always provide for his children. God is fail proof, and yet I will doubt when I pray. I trust that a email will send, more than that God hears me. I need to believe what God tells me, without him I am dead.

Repentance

This week has been a blessing for me with the failures I have had. I have been forced to repent for trusting in a man made object more than the Creator of the universe. God has shown me that he is everlasting in a world that is dying. I place me faith and love with him, not technology.

The Breakfast Song

Both Corey and I want to apologize for the lack of posts recently. We’ve both been unbelievably busy with our agency work, making it hard to develop solid, thought provoking posts to share with you all. To make it up to you we want to share this fantastic video that came to us by way of @coltmelrose on twitter. Enjoy!

Clean or Unclean?

When you look at this picture how do you feel? I saw this ad this morning on ad goodness and it made me angry. I looked at it and was upset that the agency could minimize such a longstanding injustice and hatred. How could people make light of this? Then I got to thinking, why do I not long for this picture to come true. To me KKK and skinheads are unclean, not worthy of my love. But then I read Acts 10, and I am reminded by the love of our Lord. Nothing is beyond the power of God. God can make the most dirty, sinful person as soft as clay. He and only he can mold them into his child. I cannot look as his creation as unclean and unworthy of my love. All I can do is what I am commanded to do, love and share of God’s grace.

The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.” This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.

Read all of Acts 10