Arts Blog

Hope for 2009

2009-01-05T16:47:00Z

Driving in the car this morning, a radio talk show host was asking listeners to call in and vote whether or not they believe things in general will be better or worse by the end of this year. The votes seemed to be about 50/50, with some decidedly pessimistic and others simply stating that they don't think things can get much worse. I contrast that whole conversation with my experience in church this past weekend. We launched the new year at Willow with a service that focused on the good- ness...(read more)

Baby It's COLD Outside!

2008-12-22T15:59:00Z

There's cold....and then there's COLD! Yesterday and today the wind chills ranged from 20 to 30 degrees below zero here in Chicago. I've lived in this area all of my life, and you'd think that would make me accustomed to this kind of frigid weather. But as I literally sprinted from my car into a local restaurant last night, I was truly shocked that a person could feel cold down to their bones, and that people like me actually choose to live here! We're expecting a heat wave by...(read more)

The Joy of the Gospel

2008-12-15T23:59:00Z

O Lord, God, whose chosen dwelling is the heart of the lowly: We give Thee thanks that Thou didst reveal Thyself in the holy child Jesus, thereby sanctifying all childhood in him. We beseech Thee to make us humble in faith and love, that we may know the joy of the Gospel that is hidden from the wise and prudent and revealed unto babes. Amen From the Book of Worship...(read more)

Post Thanksgiving Thoughts

2008-12-01T17:40:00Z

I am grateful to report that I survived last Tuesday's colonoscopy, and to my husband's great disappointment, I didn't say anything too wacky when I was on the drugs. We had a wonderful gathering for Thanksgiving which included welcoming home my college daughter and also meeting my niece's boyfriend (poor guy faced the grilling questions of many concerned relatives!). Today, Monday, December 1, feels like a gun going off for many of us, with only 25 days to prepare our homes, churches...(read more)

Thanks!

2008-11-25T16:19:00Z

There are many reasons for me to be committed to serving churches around the world, one is deeply personal but one that I am sure most of you can identify. I have family and friends who still have not embraced the hope and life Christ is offering to them. Over the past year and half, a few of my family have found Christ through the people of a local church. They have found life changing teaching, worship that moves them and takes them deeper into their following Christ. They are developing relationships...(read more)

The Table

2008-11-21T18:52:00Z

I look outside to our back deck and see our table - the one we purchased for a high school graduation celebration and the one we gathered around on summer nights as mosquitoes swarmed - all covered up in a tarp to be protected for the onslaught of winter. It's a sad sight, just like the grey November skies, barren trees, and swirling snow flurries. This is not the prettiest month up here in the north. It feels like such a LONG TIME until we will use that table again - like about 7 months! For...(read more)

Unbelieveable Proposal

2008-11-19T16:44:00Z

When my husband proposed to me, let's just say I was underwhelmed. We had been dating about 10 months, and were hanging out at his house in the family room. He looked over at me and said, "So, you want to do it?" "Do what?" I inquired, totally uncertain what he had in mind. "You know, get married..." So that's how we decided to become engaged, look for a ring, and plan a wedding. No original song, no getting down on his knees, no poetry, no champagne, no ring...(read more)

Eliminate the Blahs

2008-11-18T14:34:00Z

A good word for teachers and all of us who put together services, events & presentations, Seth Godin , Blah, blah, blah, blah......(read more)

Why WONDER?

2008-11-17T14:33:00Z

I know you are thinking about this coming weekend’s service, Thanksgiving & Christmas services. I am sure many of you are contemplating big issues like leading your church through transitions, staffing changes or difficult economic times. We at Willow Arts have all of that and more in mind as we’ve been putting together 2009’s Arts Conference, WONDER . We have invited teachers & worshippers from around the world who will encourage and equip you to meet the challenges you are facing. Our speakers...(read more)

Right Brainers in Budget Meetings

2008-11-14T20:45:00Z

I've spent the past four days - all day! - in budget/planning meetings for the Willow Creek Association. Down the hall, I know our church staff is in the same kind of meetings. And I have four more days of these meetings to look forward to all next week. It's that time of year. For a highly right-brained person like me, this is, shall we say, not my favorite kind of meeting. The numbers on the page start to look fuzzy, and it was only a few years ago that I learned paragraphs around numbers...(read more)

Our Offering

2008-11-14T15:04:00Z

I had the pleasure of worshipping & learning with a new congregation this past Sunday. The music & visual beauty offered me many opportunities to engage but one of the moments that caused me to shout with praise was watching the arts leader that led the service teams. She gave me a beautiful picture of how God is equipping the body to serve Him & provide a place for others to find God. She was the right person for the job! The team meets in between services to talk through the program...(read more)

Proud to be an American

2008-11-05T16:55:00Z

Yesterday morning as I stood in line to vote, I saw that my 19-year-old daughter had left me a cell phone message. "I just voted for the first time!" she declared with excitement. "And I'm proud to be an American." What stirring words to hear from a young person. I'm proud to be an American today as well. I'm proud that we have the right and freedom to passionately express our views and disagree with one another, mostly with civility. I'm proud that the process...(read more)

Off to Africa

2008-11-04T16:45:00Z

Saturday morning I drove my husband to O'Hare airport and gave him a big hug as he was departing for 12 days in Africa. Warren leads our global work in South Africa and Zambia, and periodically needs to meet with our partners and discern how we are doing with our church's investment in those vital ministries. I am very proud of the work he does (he's a full-time volunteer!), and have always been inspired by his passion for the under-resourced in our world. But 12 days is a long time,...(read more)

FREE DOWNLOAD - Have You Died Yet?

2008-11-03T18:32:00Z

It is easy to be focused on bearing fruit. For the artist and teacher serving in the local church, we are focused on bearing fruit every weekend. Our time easily becomes consumed with creating messages and art, meetings and rehearsals. It isn’t unusual for us to measure our worth and our impact based on people’s evaluation of our contribution. One of the dangers is we rely on ourselves, our strengths and abilities, to produce ministry rather than fruit born from lives fully submitted to Christ. John...(read more)

If You Could Ask Bono One Question....

2008-10-29T17:02:00Z

Next week, Bill Hybels will be interviewing Bono for the Leadership Summit 2009. Last time this happened, I got to go along to Dublin - but this year that will not be possible. However, Bill asked me if there are any questions the artists would want him to ask Bono. We could possibly use those responses for our own conference in June in a brief video segment. That's where you come in. If you could ask Bono one question...what would it be? The hitch is I need your responses immediately because...(read more)