It is not hard to diagnose the level of distraction we face in our cultural moment. Endless feeds that scroll and scroll by, Advertisements everywhere we turn, Cultural voices saying “buy this and you’ll be happier!” “consume this and you’ll feel better!” And perhaps we’ve gotten so used to the “24 hour news cycle” that we don’t even feel its … Read More
Captivated II
When I was in college, I would occasionally take the train from Wheaton into Chicago to visit the Art Institute. I didn’t meander through the galleries in any intentional order or direction, but each time without fail, I found myself in the same grand room in the ‘Painting and Sculpture of Europe’ section, sitting on a small bench, staring up … Read More
Captivated I
St. John, in his Gospel, records John the Baptist saying of Jesus, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” St. John was inviting the crowds then, and us still, to slow down, look up, pay attention, “the lamb of who takes away the sin of the world.” There is so much vying for our … Read More
Captivated Prayers
Lord God, heavenly Father, we thank you that you have granted us to live in the time of your favor when we may hear your holy gospel, know your fatherly love and behold your Son, Jesus Christ! Most merciful Father, let the light of your holy Word remain with us, and govern and guide our hearts by your Holy Spirit … Read More
Captivated IV
There’s a beautiful practice that I’ve been led through – and in turn have led others through, both in larger groups and individually. It’s a type of prayer and meditation that draws on visualization, and has resulted in powerful moments of the participant being captivated by Christ. I’d encourage you to try it out – or even better, to ask … Read More
Captivated III
One of the perks (gifts!) of serving as a pastor at a college church like Pillar is the vicarious nature of life with students. There is an exquisite privilege in watching them grow up in all things into Christ our Lord: forming friendships, building Christian character, discovering the adventure of “faith seeking understanding,” and even becoming captivated by Christ along … Read More
Visual Art – “Christ Is Your Spring” by Blake Johnson
I discovered this piece, (originally “A Study of Two White Lilies” by french artist Antione Berjon (1754-1843)) while sifting through the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection of public domain drawings. The technicolor grid, placed posthumously beside the image – likely to help “white balance” the archival photograph – caught my eye as an interesting juxtaposition: the gentleness of the artist’s … Read More
Visual Art – “The Resurrection” by Blake Johnson
Like “Christ Is Our Spring”, I discovered this piece (originally “The Resurrection”, a 16th century German molten glass sculpture) in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s open source archives. I was searching for historical art pieces I could digitally reinterpret for an album of songs attempting to do a similar thing – using newer musical technologies to reimagine older hymn texts. … Read More
Song Reflection #6 – Rise Heart
Pillar Journal Songs – Eastertide 2024 by Pillar Hymnal George Herbert a Priest, music composer, orator, poet and theologian who lived at the same time as King James of England, gave up his worldly ambitions of becoming an elite master of rhetoric and public oration and embraced a delightful burden of extending the message of the cross which is to … Read More
Song Reflection #5 – Be Not So Tearful
Resurrect, Vol.1 by Bellwether Arts [Feat. Jonathan Gabhart] From an early age Phoebe Cary (1824-1871) was familiar with the deep pain of life. Her mother died when she was a young girl. They lived a peasant life in rural Ohio. Phoebe and her sister Alice found comfort amidst their struggle by writing. They wrote poetry and verse and eventually found … Read More