Thriving As an Artist: Chapt 1

If you don't have a copy of the book by Rory Noland, "Thriving As an Artist in the Church," please let me know. This week we're starting with chapter 1. Each chapter opens with a real-life case study that could happen in worhsip ministries around the country. The bulk of the chapter deals with principles relevant to the topic the case study introduces. There are also many discussion questions.

Chapter 1: How to Keep Your Passion Alive

Noland gives us four examples of "passion killers."
1. The Same Old Routine
2. Pressures of Life
3. "Hairballs" (MacKenzie's book "Orbitting the Giant Hairball" is one of my favorite reads of all time and I highly recomend it to anyone who does creative work in an otherwise corporate setting)
4. Perfectionism
Any of these ever zap your passion? Which ones, and how did you deal with it? The author also gives some tips for sustain passion which have to do with varying levels of living a life of adventure as well as keeping our inner spiritual lives in order.

At the end of the chapter in the discussion questions, question #4 asks, "Would you say you're an activist, a contemplative, or a combination of both?" I think I'm more of an activist. Not that I don't like or enjoy contemplating, but after a while I need to "do" something. I can't sit around thinking about a decision for too long; I have to do the decision sooner, rather than later.

I also like questions #8 & 9; as a matter of fact, I think it would be unbalanced to answer them apart from eachother. Afterall, as worshiping artists, our artistic skills flow out of our relationship with the Lord, while at the same time our relationship with the Lord flows out of the expression of our artistic skills.

So... What can you do to keep your artistic skills sharp and to keep growing deeper as an artist in your relationship with the Lord? Take a look at Personal Action Steps on the last page and see what you think. Then, let me know what you think...