#reedemer

“Good Composition is Needful", by Jennifer Deutsch Acrylic on canvas, 8x10 I don’t mean to preach. This is just me. Me, relating my art to my life. I can’t say if it will be helpful to you. I promise not to indulge my inklings and faults here for long, keeping it brief. Have you ever thought what anchors a good painting? I can testify; the composition is key. Composition is how objects are arranged on the canvas/painting surface, and how they relate to one another. If ones’ configuration is wonky, badly done, half baked; there is nothing that can be remedied to salvage your piece. You could change the mood, deepen the shadows, use a richer palette, “put a bird on it”, perfectly execute scholarly techniques– it’s just a fail. It looks foolish. Artists’ study this stuff for years, it takes practice!

What’s my point? Life mimics art. (Ugh, “whatever”, you think!) OK, true confession. Recently, I made a bad decision. Similar to a poor composition; no matter how I tried to justify it, my actions didn’t hold water. I knew better. Sin creeps up on us, as we try to make it fit the situation/picture.

Trying new inroads: how I “painted” the scenario, making adjustments, giving my thinking a makeover–- it was just a bad design. I was fortunate. It was minor. I was foolish; thankfully, nothing harmed, nothing gained! But, definitely a warning. Do I have a method, needing to start with a solid, balanced, practiced, execution? My plum line and foundation, is the Word of God.

The above painting is my latest, so new that the paint is still drying. I wanted to convey something basic. A simple pleasure for the eyes: happy, joyous, bright. The electric orange, accompanied by vibrant Van Gough yellow hues, highlight the peaches–-the subject. The cosmic colored, fragmented, confetti patterned tablecloth, is the complimentary predicate. A nice harmony. I struggled with the configuration for a long time, and way before I applied the first brushwork to the canvas. I had to plan it out in my head, what I needed to do for my desired results. In my humble opinion, this small gem it is a success!

I know and am reminded, in the same way, I need a strategy for certain situations…so I won’t have faulty balance in my life! (It looks bad). I need to practice Godliness, always, beforehand, being prepared. And when I blow it, even a little, I have a Redeemer to go to. I ask for forgiveness. I get it, and move on.

The Crabb Family perform 'Redeemer' live.

Jesus Wept. Jesus, deeply moved in spirit and troubled... wept. Jesus- King of Kings, Prince of Peace, Son of Man, Son of God, Redeemer, The Sacrificial Lamb, The Anointed One, The Bread of Life, The Light, The Way, Emmanuel, The Lamb of God... wept.

And so do I.

I Wept.  I, today in church, wept.  I- Colleen, Fiance, Friend, Daughter, Sister, College Graduate, Dreamer, Idealist, Hopeful Pastor, Christian, Child of God... wept.

I wept because as I looked around the sanctuary I noticed stern faces lacking smiles and excitement to be in the presence of God.  I wept because I was moved in spirit and troubled.  

I was so troubled that I got up out of my seat, walked to the side of the sanctuary where the healing minister was seated, and asked her to pray with me for the institutional church.  As she spoke the words I couldn't, tears rolled down my face.  

She prayed for grace and empowerment as well as strength and courage to fill the church and to fill me.  

And so, today I write courageously..

I do not think that I am being to harsh or asking to much for the community I so dearly love to remember who Jesus was- to forget about the fancy dancy names we assign Jesus- and to remember that Jesus was a Jew. a homeless man.  a friend of tax collectors and poor people.  a heeler.  a radical.  God incarnate, walking among Gods people (of all kinds) exuding love, grace and compassion to promote a new way.  

I don't think I am being to harsh or asking to much of my sisters and brothers in Christ to not only worship Jesus, but to follow Jesus.  

I don't think I am asking to much for us all to live out our faith.. To take Sundays message and live it/proclaim it on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday as well.  

To not only believe it ourselves, but to invite others to believe it as well.