Monday 19 December 2011

Ideas relay (6)

“It is time for us, as part of the world community, to recognize our limitations. We all need other people to equally enjoy our togetherness in the world, so we could all feel each other's pains and burdens. I invite us to build a world in a frame of mind. We will look at each other and support each other. I hope these ideas can be reflected in some of my work and also to fill the minds of other artists in the project 'Run with the Fire'. It is my hope and vision that warms my heart to work for this project.”

Erland Sibuea

Sunday 18 December 2011

Ideas relay (5)

“When I hear the title ‘Run with Fire’, I have to think of Phil 3: 13 I have to think of an Olympic stadium and Paul describes here that you have to live with one goal (The Lord Jesus) and run for it. Forget what is behind you (everything you did wrong and all your sorrows). Keep your eye on Jesus and start training to reach your goal. You don't have to run alone, the Holy Spirit (Fire) will guide you. In my painting I want to show that The Lord is like a fire …. if you live your life in His presence, He will fill you with His Spirit and this is like a fire. You can see in the fire the different figures. They are one with the fire. It fills their whole life. You don’t have to be afraid that you are alone and that you can’t do what He wants you to do. He is totally around you and lives in you. You only have to walk (run) in His presence and He will give you everything you need: power, strength, love, peace, happiness, healing, guidance and protection.”

Dietske van Winkelhoff

Tuesday 13 December 2011

Ideas relay (4)

“The artist I was responding to gave me the passage “And surely, I am with you always, to the end of the age” out of Matt 28. I kept thinking about how Christ is “running the race” with us to the end. To me that race often feels like a marathon. It’s a journey through a lifetime, we are encouraged to run it well and to the end. But maybe it’s more like a relay race, passing the torch from one generation to the next, each one of us having our own part of the journey until we reach the “end of the age.” This running with the fire of the Holy Spirit, running with the fullness of the generations, through time, through space, between the physical and the spiritual...to the end... is what inspired this image.”

Bobbette Rose

Ideas Relay (3)

“Going to church on Sundays was a regular part of my childhood. I loved the stained glass windows that seemed to surround our church and flood it with multiple gems of light. A reoccurring image in many of the windows was a white dove. The white dove was an image I would see repeatedly during Pentecost. At the time of Pentecost our church would be decorated with colorful banners. One such banner depicted a dove flying over flames. In a child’s simple mind, I thought the flames would burn the poor dove. I would learn in Sunday school that the dove represented the Holy Spirit and that the Holy Spirit was not being burnt by the flames, but was bringing the flames to us to ignite our spirits. The Holy Spirit is gentle and can come into our life softly, yet swiftly- like a dove. But like a flame, the Holy Spirit can build within us and consume us; transforming us into the person God would have us to be. It is the image of the Holy Spirit as both dove and flames that inspired this rosary. With this rosary, I pray that those who have been touched by our Lord’s flames - consumed by the Holy Spirit - go gently and swiftly into the lives of others and allow the light within them to be a beacon to show others the way to God.”

Michelle Mattingly