The Sacred Art of René de Cramer
I often think that one of the most overlooked periods of sacred art is the early 1900s. Christian artists of that period had a deep respect for tradition but were nit afraid to adapt traditional forms to contemporary needs. If anything their work displays a logical progression in the developmentContinue Reading
Truth, The Five Legged Cow, and The Deliberate Christian Artist
“When regard for the truth has been broken down or even slightly weakened, all things will remain doubtful.” Truth is a casualty of our modern era. We have become very good at sidestepping any admittance of an absolute truth. President Abraham Lincoln was once embroiled in a dispute with aContinue Reading
Creativity, Artists, and the World to Come
“As the new Heaven and Earth will represent the fullness of creation, we will also enjoy the fullness of our gifts.” How will we live in the new Heaven and the new Earth? Will the creatives among us continue to create? Will there be work? Will we be bored, sitingContinue Reading
This Is The Peace Of Christ
“When we accept the offer of Jesus we experience the calm and serenity that Zaccheus experienced when salvation came to his house. This is the Peace of Christ.” The Repentant Sinner In 1886 Leo Tolstoy wrote a short story titled “The Repentant Sinner.” In the story a seventy yearContinue Reading
Persistence and the Christian Artist
“Throughout history the Church urges us to be persistent in our efforts to evangelize the world. “ One of the great mysteries of Christianity is how God uses the virtues of humility and persistence to achieve great things. We see this throughout the Bible and throughout the history of Christianity.Continue Reading
Mary, Undoer of Knots
“”the knot of Eve’s disobedience was loosed by the obedience of Mary. For what the virgin Eve had bound fast through unbelief, this did the virgin Mary set free through faith.” Latest work, inspired by the painting by Johann Georg Melchior Schmidtner (1700). Mary is the new “Eve.” Her obedienceContinue Reading
Does God Answer Our Prayers?
Saint Monica is one of the best examples we have of the power of consistent prayer and the way God answers those prayers. When her son Augustine came of age he told his mother that he had become a Manichean. Manichaeism was a pagan philosophical religion that directly contradicted Christianity.Continue Reading
The Danger of Becoming Complacent
“Have we become so complacent in our faith that we have stopped striving to know God better?” The Danger of Complacency Are you too complacent in your faith? Complacency is a rejection of things as they might be. “Good enough” is the motto of the complacent person. Complacency makes peopleContinue Reading
The Power of Faith
“If we are unable to move mountains and work miracles, perhaps it is because we have not nurtured the seed of faith that was planted within us.” Lepanto The tension between the Christian and Muslim world is nothing new. It has been going on for centuries. In 1571, Christian EuropeContinue Reading
Work, Humility, and Paying Our Debt
“In all things, give glory to God.” God is the Author of Our Victories All that we have, all that we are, all the talents, traits, interests, and abilities that make each of us unique individuals, are given to us by God. They are given to us along with aContinue Reading