Redigging the Wells

I don't know why, but I'm always blown away by how the Lord chooses to align people and situations in the Kingdom to fulfill His purposes. Lately, I have been feeling a real unsettledness as it relates to my calling in Asheville and I began to ask the Lord about it. Nothing really came as far as a direct word or direction, but I felt a nudging to begin to research the history of the Southern Highland Craft Guild, the Craft Revival and the Settlement School movement of the early 20th century.

Being in Asheville, the center of the folk art and craft movement, I was able to visit the Folk Art Center up on the Blue Ridge Parkway yesterday. I spent several hours reading, researching and plundering the wonderful research library they have onsite that has hundreds of rare and out of print books on the subject of handicrafts, art and what we call the southern highlands.

During my research yesterday, I literally began to weep while sitting at the table. The Lord started showing me in bold color the fullness of the purposes he has for me and The Worship Studio here in Asheville. Turns out, the whole arts and crafts revival that changed the very DNA of this region in the early 20th century was fueled primarily by missionaries - Godly people both ordained and lay - who had a vision for economic and cultural impact in the context of the Kingdom through art, beauty, craft and wholistic education. I couldn't believe it! The very thing the Lord had called me to a year ago - to raise up an army of artisans to reveal His Glory in the earth - to establish a center for training and ministry - to be a creative hub and prototype that would spawn other creative communities around the world - Literally, people in this area were doing it over 100 years ago with incredible favor and success.

John C, Campbell (pictured above) and his wife Olive Dame Campbell (pictured left) were two of the main pioneers in this movement. In fact, John was an ordained congregationalist home missionary who was sent by the American Missionary Association to southern Appalachia to minister to the 'mountain whites'. Rupert Vance, in his forward to the reprint of Campbell's The Southern Highlander and His Homeland said "This was a period when many felt that unless home missions, private church academies, and outside philanthropists were adequate to save the mountain people from stagnation and isolation, they could not be saved."

The model of ministry was for missionaries - some families and couples, but also many young, single women - to relocate and live among the people to minister through relationship and daily mentoring. These were passionate people who saw a desperate need to reach a people group and gave their lives to minister to them. Allan Eaton describes a common scene during this time around Allanstand (Francis Goodrich's outpost) as women gathering once a week for "sewing, chatting and for a short religious service." Upon John Campbell's death, it was his wife, Olive who picked up the torch and ran with the vision they shared - visiting the Danish Folk Schools, starting the John C. Campbell Folk School and along with other leaders, leading the movement to start the Southern Highland Craft Guild - unifying Appalachian artisans in a way that would be economically and artistically beneficial to them.

The incredible part for me about all of this is that because of the significant Arts and Craft Movement that really flourished between 1880 and 1910, the Social Settlement Movement, the Country Life Movement in England and the Social Gospel Movement in the US, people and entire organizations embraced the idea of art, craft and beauty as a valid way to impact people and shift culture - the same calling we embrace today with The Worship Studio. It seems around 1900, people began to get a vision for this type of social activist ministry and we started seeing workers migrating south to help revitalize the economy and culture through basic craft training and production. Quickly, whole denominations within the Body of Christ began to lay hold of the vision, sending missionaries, funding missions programs and sponsoring what were known as settlement schools all over Appalachia. By 1920, Campbell lists over 150 schools and academies like this all over southern Appalachia with backing provided by most Protestant denominations and wealthy patrons. LIterally within about 20 years, the whole face of a culture and economy were shifted because of people who had a vision for the Kingdom and shifting culture through creative expression.

Today, God is calling us to redig the wells that have been dormant in this region and around the country. What once started as a kingdom-focused ministry sponsored by the Body of Christ to equip people in their calling has now been turned over in large part to humanistic, government funded influences who resist the marriage of faith and creativity. We are praying for a resurgance and revival within the arts community that would shift culture and impact the lives of artisans in greater ways than even those early forerunners dreamed possible. We will see, as Allen Eaton said in the early 20th century, "Pioneer Centers" raised up that will spawn other creative communities all over the world with a passion to integrate wholeness of the artisans, the ability to engage the Holy Spirit within creative expression, mentoring by master artisans and skill development. Just like the John C. Campbell Folk School, Allanstand, the Fireside Industries of Berea and Arrowmont, among others, God is raising us up for such a time as this in the Kingdom to release His Glory and impact culture around the world in unprecedented ways.

Riding the Wave of His Presence

I love this short video clip about famous surfer, Laird Hamilton because it speaks to the very core of who we are as artisans in the Kingdom of God. There's a quote at the very end that says of Laird "No one had ever ridden as Laird rode on that wave before. It was the imagination of dealing with that unimaginable energy and coming up with the plan spontaneously - he couldn't practice!"

God is calling us as artisans to that same place of imagination and creativity in order to take a mountain that's so big, no one has ever dared take it before - the mountain of arts & entertainment. He's calling us through our creative expression and the expression of our lives to release the Glory of God and impact culture around the world. He's looking for those artisans who are willing to risk it all for the thrill of conquering in His kingdom. He's looking for those who have dreamed of a moment like this, where their actions and the actions of those around the would forever alter the fabric of history in this realm.

The story of Laird Hamilton is not that he reached some long sought-after destination but rather the culmination of everything that he was, knew and had experieced prepared him for this perfect wave on this perfect day. It wasn't that he wasn't looking to go conquer that particular wave that day. In fact, he probably thought it was just another day on the water like he had spent many days before.

The same is true for us. Conquering the mountain of arts & entertainment and impacting culture is not some destination. Rather, it's about doing what you do every day as an artisan in the Kingdom and then all of a sudden waking up to the reality that you're right in the middle of the biggest moment of your life. It's the day to day journey of life, community and creativity that prepare us for these moments of destiny. Whether you're just beginning this journey of creativity in the Kingdom, or you've been preparing your whole life, I'd like to offer some sign posts for the journey to help guide you down this road of destiny.

Ride the Waves
One of the most important principles to learn in the Kingdom is that God creates the waves - we ride the waves. Arthur Wallace once said "If you would do the best with your life, find out what God is doing in your generation and fling yourself into it." Any time we get into creating the wave, manufacturing the circumstances, stirring up the momentum it likely leads us to moving outside the Spirit. Don't hear what I'm not saying though. God's looking for dreamers - those who will go for it - but all under His strategic guidance.

Every wave we experience in our life - creative or not - is seasonal. It's up to us to learn how to embrace the season we are currently in so we can fully experience and cooperate with what God is saying and doing now. When we try to operate the other way, by manufacturing situations or momentum, we become easily frustrated and blocked both spiritually and creatively. The Jesus model is to love us in relationship, show us the mysteries of God and then reveal greater works to us.

¹⁹ Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. ²⁰ For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel.

It's All About Balance
When you're riding a wave, the focus of your attention has to be about balance and forward momentum. You can't stand still on wave or you'll get crushed. The same is true creatively. You'll die as an artist if you don't learn to move with the Spirit of God and connect to the source of all creativity.

The balance we do desperately need as His creative ones is learning to flow in the right things at the right time. I'm typically an all or nothing kinda guy, so balance doesn't come naturally. If I am going to pursue something it's usually at the expense of something else. The Lord's plan for us as artisans is to be so tuned in to Him creatively that no matter what He calls us to - art, family, an upcoming show, volunteering at church, community events, work, a new project - we are able to flow in the grace and creativity He is releasing for that season. Again, our job is not to create the wave but to cooperate with it.

Beyond Practice
Lastly, I believe the Father wants to take us to a place in Him that's beyond practice and the rudiments of our creative medium. His desire is that we trust and flow with Him in the realms of life and creativity where it's impossible to practice or prepare.

This may seem unnatural to you, but it's exactly the story of Laird Hamilton and of Jesus. Both worked their whole life - listening, looking, percieving, preparing - Laird with the flow of ocean waves and Jesus with the flow of His father. Then, at the right time, with no real notice, they find themselves on the ride of their life where everything they are doing is the culmination of their entire experience.

For us to go to the levels in God that is required for us to take dominion over the mountain of arts & entertainment and really shift culture, it's imperative that we learn to go beyond what we can do naturally. We must learn to operate in the supernatural creative flow of the Holy Spirit. That's the place where the Kingdom and God's power are simply flowing out of you. Whether you're eating lunch, creating or talking to a friend, you're flowing in the Kingdom and the Glory is being revealed in and through you. It's what I call the 'shadow anointing'. Just like the disciples when they walked down the street and people got healed when their shadow fell upon them. The disciples didn't do anything per se but just be who they were in the Kingdom and boom - a normal everyday event like walking down the street becomes a supernatural explosion of creativity and healing.

I encourage you as a fellow artisan in the Kingdom. Pursue the deeper life in God and in the Glory of His presence. Learn to flow in His rhythm and together we will see an army of artisans arise!

"Christian" Art or Prophetic Art?

A mistake made by many in the church today is to label only creative expression that is ‘family-friendly’ or ‘g-rated’ as “Christian art” or God-inspired; when in fact, the Father has chosen to use artists to express His heart throughout the generations in a variety of ways – some easy to understand and some difficult. I encourage you in the Lord to become increasingly comfortable with the prophetic nature of your work so that when the Lord speaks, you are able to respond, without any religious preconception of what that response will be.

With Signs & Wonders Following
In Mark 16:17 Jesus said:
“17And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well."

A natural outflow of walking in the Kingdom as a believer – and all the more so as an artisan - is to see signs and wonders following you. The Bible is full of illustrations where the power and presence of God was on people, in places, & on things. If Paul can send a handkerchief full of the power and presence of God and see someone healed, then so can you! Your work carries the very power and presence of God. Let faith rise and expect signs and wonders to follow your work! By faith, begin now to expect the release the voice of God through your creative expression!

For more information on engaging the Holy Spirit in your creative expression, visit http://www.theworshipstudio.org or http://www.gatheringofartisans.com

Develop Your Prophetic Voice through Art - Part 2

Beholding His Beauty
It’s often been said, “you become what you behold”. The more you behold Him in worship and through His Word, gazing upon His beauty, learning to hear His voice and dreaming with Him, the more prophetic your creativity becomes. It’s a natural outflow of your relationship with the Father. One of the powerful models we see for this is in the life of King David when he expressed his heart to the Father in Psalm 27:4 by saying “One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.”

There’s a great song that the band Jesus Culture does called “King of Wonders” and it has a line in it that says “the more we see , the more we love you.” The presence of God is addictive! The more you see Him, the more you want to see Him. The more you hear His voice, the more you listen for it! God designed you that way – that your hunger for Him would never be satisfied! He’s endless in beauty and glory. The minute you think you’ve seen it all, He’s like “BAMM!” - here’s another facet of my beauty! As a creative one, you are wired to want to tell others about God’s Beauty and reveal His Glory through your art. It’s a divine setup!

For me, one of the best times I hear the Lord is when I’m weaving a basket, looking for natural materials in the woods, or alone at my keyboard writing a song. Use those times in the creative secret place to invite the Holy Spirit to speak to you! He’s waiting!

Your Unique Expression
Often, people want to lump us together under the bland title of “artists”, but when it comes down to it, each one of us has a very different way of expressing our heart and the Glory of God. That’s the beauty of the Kingdom! What the enemy does to most of us – usually early in our artistic pursuits – is begin to sow doubt and unbelief in our hearts with junk like “you’ll never be as good as them” or “who do you think you are? Your art doesn’t look like theirs – it will never sell” or “Your stuff is too weird for commercial appeal.” And so before you’re even out of the gate, the enemy kills the very creative spark that God gave you as your own unique facet of His Glory. If the enemy is doing that to you, recognize it as a lie from the pit of hell and begin to declare God’s love, favor and creativity over your life!! Learning to wield the sword of His Word is the only way to gain power over the enemy in this area. You’ve got to know what God says about you so you can recognize the lies of the enemy and refute them.


What Do You Love?
I’ve always been fascinated with Appalachian folk art. For some reason, when I get up into the hills of North Carolina, Tennessee, North Georgia or Kentucky, I have this intense feeling of “these are my people”. It took me a while to understand that my love for basketry and folk art was God-given, not just some hobby I picked up along the way. Once I started to embrace and explore the possibilities for my unique expression in the Kingdom, the Father began to fling open doors of opportunity that intersected with my passions. I’m now involved in creative business ventures with people I was connected with prophetically that came through my love of kudzu – my primary basket weaving medium. The Father also picked us up and moved our family strategically to the center of Appalachian folk art – in Asheville, North Carolina. God loves to blow your mind if you’ll just trust Him enough to walk in your calling. (I could tell you the same kinds of stories with my love for graphic design, writing and leading worship.)

It’s important to really embrace the uniqueness that God’s placed on your life and art because it’s the very thing that He wants to use you in the most. It’s also the thing the enemy will come after the most in your life and seek to destroy. Part of developing your unique prophetic voice is diving into the uniqueness of your expression under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and asking Him to permeate every fiber of what you create. As you follow His lead, the Father will begin to setup divine appointments and strategic alignments in the Kingdom you never thought possible simply because you trusted Him enough to listen to His voice, follow His lead and step out in your uniqueness.

Once you are connected to the Father through His Word, intimate worship, hearing His voice and pursuing your unique artistic expression, you are on the road to seeing God blow your mind! He’s just waiting for you to open up the door so He can flow through you! The Father’s desire for you - His artisan - is to co-labor with Him in the Kingdom – doing the things that He wants to do in the earth – inspired by His creativity and Spirit – walking in daily relationship with Him. His Word says clearly in Joshua 1:3 “I will give you every place where you set your foot.” In the context of taking the Kingdom everywhere you walk, the Father chose artisans to serve many different functions - some you may be comfortable with and others you may be more reticent to accept.