In the opening chapter of For the Beauty of the Church (W. David O. Taylor), Andy Crouch highlights the distinction between creation and culture. The story of creation is about creatio ex nihilo – the creation of something from nothing. In extension, culture is about creation out of what has already been created (creatio ex creatis). Culture – God’s idea In the … [Read more...] about Beauty, art and the Kingdom part 2 Beauty, art and culture
Marion Van Driel
Marion Van Driel delights in her roles as a wife, mother and grandmother; her soul is fed by both composing and composting. Music, words, form and colour are ingredients on which she thrives. She considers her garden a gift where family and friends gather to visit, heal, reflect and celebrate. Called as writer, artist, worship leader, gardener and (sometimes reluctant) follower of Christ, she bears evidence of God’s abundant grace without which she’d be someone else entirely.
Beauty, Art and the Kingdom Part 1 Perceptions of beauty
Although the word ‘beauty’ evokes such varied impressions for each of us, we all desire it in one form or another. Even if we don’t think about it much, there are certain encounters that take our breath away. The subject of beauty is expansive, wrapped in endless forms – nature, music, speech, colour, form, ideas and ethics, all originating in God’s creation of the … [Read more...] about Beauty, Art and the Kingdom Part 1 Perceptions of beauty
Soul care – the calling of Cathy AJ Hardy
Self-care comes in many forms, for we are complex creatures housing physical, intellectual and emotional components. We are image-bearers of the living God, made to display His glory. Self-care honours our innate purpose. There is no shortage of information on diets, exercise, and other habits meant to promote healthy bodies. Our technological devices offer all kinds of games … [Read more...] about Soul care – the calling of Cathy AJ Hardy
A year like no other, a year of discovering blossoms in the wilderness
The world’s memories of 2020, including Christmas, will forever stand out in history with a kind of bleakness - a wilderness terrain for the whole of humanity. But even in the wilderness, tiny blossoms show up now and then. They convey a kind of hopefulness to move us forward. Thirteen months ago, I took up a new instrument. If anyone had told me I’d ever learn to play the … [Read more...] about A year like no other, a year of discovering blossoms in the wilderness
Lament and the Church: Part 2, in the context of worship
When we accept a theology of suffering there’s the question of how to introduce lament as a truthful, healing practice that leads us back to hope. Worship leader and recording artist Brian Doerksen agrees that offering a space for lament in our worship draws us together as community, reminding us we’re not alone in our feelings of hopelessness and grief. Taking it one step … [Read more...] about Lament and the Church: Part 2, in the context of worship