Ideas Relay (21)

“The vision statement by Whojeong Lee was a wonderful gift to me, talking as it did about exploring the nature of the Holy Spirit through colour and texture. The picture takes three elements: fire, air and water to show different aspects of the Holy Spirit. He is the fire of Pentecost, the breath of life in Genesis and the Living Waters. As I thought about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, I realised that we "run" most successfully when the Holy Spirit can be seen through us. The less that people's attention is drawn to us (our faults and failings) the more they see God working through us.”

Sue Newham

Ideas Relay (20)

“I'd like to explore different nature and characteristics of the Holy Spirit and express what I find using various textures and colors. I will initiate this process by reading the Bible and meditation and prayers and ultimately interact with Him to understand what He wants to tell to the viewers and audiences through my art works. I know that each artist's works should convey his/her encounter with Him and finally celebrate the fact that He came to us and teaches and commands us and intercedes for us in prayer.”

Whojeong Lee

Ideas Relay (18)

“As a result of reading Miriam Cabello’s writings, I was moved to co-create with Miriam a vision that could be common to all men, and which would hearken back to our origin as a species. I wished the paint to look as though it had been applied ‘naturally’, without artifice or academic perfection. The title is ‘Torches at Urulu’ - this painting was scripturally inspired by Psalm 18:28 (the numbers of which are also lettered above my signature in the original): ‘For Thou dost light my lamp; the Lord my God illumines my darkness.’ In this painting my concept is a primordial vision of our ancestors, of men that who have gone before under the light of stars and have been guided by the Lord on their way. Petroglyphs on the walls of the rock of Urulu signify the shapes of stars and planets, which themselves look like petroglyphs (the earthly kingdom, in some ways, is a reflection of the heavenly one). Water remains at the base of the rock from a recent rain, during which liquid runoff was deposited beneath, reflecting the light of men. There are three men, reflecting the three elements of the Olympic motto, ‘Citius, Altius, Fortius.’ The theme, ‘Running with Fire’, applies here to the bearing of the torch of faith from one generation to the next ,as much as it reflects the Olympic theme of competing and allying with fellow men in these Games which begin and end with the bearing of a physical torch. The figures are warriors, strong and fit--one carries a spear, just as the believer carries with him the sword of truth. The path to victory through life, and sport, is narrow but achievable, if one is borne up and led by the light of the purifying fire of the Holy Spirit, in the power of the One with whom all things are possible.”

Rick Delanty

Ideas Relay (15)

“My vision for Run With the Fire comes from the passage in John 14:12-27 where Jesus literally passes the torch to us.  He promises that whoever believes in him will take up his baton and do even greater works than him--than Jesus himself!  What an inspiring declaration--he literally speaks life over us and calls us out of ourselves and into greatness by speaking our destiny as people who are called to follow and obey him at all costs.  Immediately after Jesus promises that we will have all authority to do great things, he promises that the Holy Spirit will come and be with us forever.  We can not step into our Kingdom destiny--doing these even greater things--unless the Spirit of Truth fills us and lives in us.”

Kim Daus Edwards

Ideas Relay (10)

“The artist's statement I received was rest without want: recovery. Jesus recovers the hopeless, the sick, and those with hurts of mind. The Holy Spirit brings hope, health and peace of mind. What is it like to go through this transformation? When our chains fall away, we are released. We are free to be filled with His building energy: soaring on eagle's wings, running without weariness. We vibrate with His light, a supernatural force that cannot be held back. Bright means sunny, radiant, illustrious, beautiful, lively, jovial, clever, and promising. Who wants to say no to this good news.”

Kirsten Borror

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

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