God the Good Master Craftsman

Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep. Ps. 127 Song of Ascents

Water Rendering of a Proposed Cathedral #2

Paid twice in fact. God is gracious indeed.

Water Rendering of a Proposed Cathedral #1

I’m always amazed that I get paid to do this. Nothing but praise to my God.

Inscribing Circles in Circle

The study of elementary geometry is more than a mental exercise. Sometime we are handicapped by technology but knowing how to construct geometries frees one to incarnate things like patterns for stained glass. As general theory informs a particular practice so to classical education leads to classical architecture.

Good Friday and D-Day: Heaven’s invasion of Earth

Today, I was reminded:

For although I dwell in the world, I do not wage war in a secular way; because the weapons of my warfare are not worldly, but rather are made mighty through God the Father to the pulling down of strong holds; casting down every arrogant argument and vain imagination that exalts itself against the knowledge of God the Father; and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.

And when I have become completely obedient, then I will be ready to avenge every act of disobedience.

Till then I’ll draw and persuade the enemy with the power of the Holy Spirit and let Christ avenge and conquer.

3 Roads to Jerusalem

I saw three roads to Jerusalem: a Pentecostal, a Roman Catholic and a Presbyterian; the three working together for God’s singular kingdom, right now, just after noon: all ministering to the homeless. The stories I heard today. The trust and praise; the perichoresis, circumincessio. I secretly cried during the interview. Such perfect harmony and proportion. Consonantia; Integritas; I saw it all with Claritas.

Premature Rubble

This is a perspective section I drew showing the interior of a proposed church. But in the grand scheme of things, the building is not the church. Its premature rubble.

Premature Rubble – pencil on vellum

Symbols – Of the Church

Here are the types of symbols I’ve found that relate to the church specifically.

The Ark or Ship – see Heb. 11:7, I Pt 3:20, II Pt 2:5, Matt. 24: 37-39 [apostle @ Galilee]

The Ark of the Covenant

The Vine – see Ezek 15:1–8, John 15:1–17, 1 John 4:13, Heb. 6:4, Heb. 12:10, James 2:14-20

The Wheat & Weeds

The Menorah/ Candlestick

The Grain Mill

The Garden-City on a Hill

The Rock

The Garden, Tabernacle, Temple

This is an on-going list. If I have overlooked a symbol used to connote the church please let me know in the comments, thanks.

C.S. Lewis on Symbols

“Symbolism exists precisely for the purpose of conveying to the imagination what the intellect is not ready for.”

Its all just premature rubble

Once, during the dedication of a new church building, the pastor indicated toward the campus and announced, “This building is not a church. It is premature ruble. You are the church and the ministries come through your fingertips.”

How true? Today especially, it is easy for me to miss the mark. In an era when such low value is placed upon monuments to praise God’s work in our reality, it can be frustrating to “play in the sandbox” when compared to the monuments of the past. We build with metal sticks; they used to build with stone. The local smith can hardly craft a relieve nor could our construction methods really make it more than a superficial applique. It can be disheartening to witness the growing cultural vacuum of the great nothingness of our being. Monuments only last as long as people remember to care about them, to maintain them. The church has risen and waned through history. The buildings testify nothing less. Church buildings began modest and practical, then stronger, then glorious, then covetous, then weak, then apathetic. Here we are now. The current monuments of the past are falling apart and not being replaced with the previous zeal. The buildings we do build with righteous intent are humble testimonies. The testimony is clear. Though the moth destroys and the thieves pillage the building, the Church is incorruptible and the gates of hell will not prevail against her.