Arts Blog : Books Music Movies and the Arts

It's Coming

Pam Howell — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 12:47:00 GMT

Deadlines! There are always deadlines. One that is fast approaching is May 1, the deadline for the Film Festival . This experience is always one of the highlights of the conference. Last year over 100 churches from all around the country. Out of the 100's...(read more)

A Place for Doubt

Pam Howell — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 03:07:00 GMT

Okay, I know you are busy preparing for Good Friday and Easter Services. But ... after Easter, if you haven't already read John Ortberg's book Faith & Doubt , pick it up. In the mean time, here is what to keep in mind for this weekend. God...(read more)

Reading on the Beach

Nancy Beach — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 16:58:00 GMT

I'm back from our Spring Break in Florida where the combination of family laughter, incredibly warm sunshine, a fast from e-mail and technology, and reading on the beach fed my soul and refreshed me entirely. I am deeply grateful for the gift of that...(read more)

Try on The Blue Sweater

Pam Howell — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 03:36:00 GMT

This is a fantastic story of one woman's journey to understand world poverty and what she could do to combat it - what we can do to overcome it. Jacqueline Novogratz, the author of The Blue Sweater, moved me with her stories, challenged me with her...(read more)

Creative Leadership from "The Office"

Tony Kim — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 20:26:00 GMT

As a fan of the hit TV show The Office, you can pretty much count on Michael Scott’s managerial style as how NOT to creatively lead. This past week however, he did something innovative. In the spirit of ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’, he sent out...(read more)

Who Watches the Watchmen?

Tony Kim — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 18:26:00 GMT

I went to Watchmen on opening weekend. It's very unlike your typical 'superhero' movie. Regardless if you liked the movie, it did bring up interesting (& controversial) ideas in regards to creative leadership. No, I am not going to talk...(read more)

The Oscars & Creative Leadership

Tony Kim — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 08:14:00 GMT

The annual Academy Awards is an interesting phenomenon in our country. Living so close to LA makes it especially fascinating. It is a unique celebration of glamour and art- mostly too much of the former and not enough of the latter. Beyond all the dresses...(read more)

How are you feeling?

Pam Howell — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 16:19:00 GMT

Do you feel tired most of the time? Do you have a difficult time relaxing? Do you think the 4 basic food groups include McDonald’s, Taco Bell, In & Out and Wendy’s? Do you exercise regularly? Do you exercise at all? Are you impatient? Frustrated?...(read more)

The Story of Sor Juana

Nancy Beach — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 18:30:00 GMT

I love plays, films, or books that tell the story of someone I've never heard about before and inspire me with displays of courage. Last night my husband and I experienced a play at Northwestern University titled The Sins of Sor Juana . The play brings...(read more)

A Magnificient Gift in London

Nancy Beach — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 17:39:00 GMT

I recently returned from a 10 day teaching and ministry trip to Sweden and the UK. On the night before my final workshop in London, God gave me an incredible gift - seats with my hosts in the 7th row center for the revival of the musical, Oliver!. Produced...(read more)

FREE DOWNLOAD - LOOKING FOR GOD - JELL-O

Pam Howell — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:00:00 GMT

Sometimes when I am giving a talk, I ask people to look quickly at the person on their left, then the person on their right. I say, "Do either of those people look anything like you?" Of course the answer is no. "Then why," I ask,...(read more)

The Fair Trade

Pam Howell — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 15:00:00 GMT

God. He has always spoken to me through stories. Whether it is the Bible, a movie or good book, I have been stretched, stirred, and changed by stories. These days we are inundated with opportunities to engage with stories. My list of things to see and...(read more)

A FEW MORE MINUTES WITH RICHARD ALLEN FARMER

Pam Howell — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 18:12:00 GMT

One of the blessings of my ministry is the people I get to meet. Richard Allen Farmer was a pleasure to get to know during the pre-conference preparation, as well as the actual conference. As you know if you were able to see him at the conference he is...(read more)

The Ballad of Emmet Till

Nancy Beach — Fri, 30 May 2008 15:48:00 GMT

Last night I saw one of the plays in my much-appreciated subscription series to Chicago's Goodman Theatre. The play, The Ballad of Emmett Till, is based on a tragic event that took place in Mississippi in the summer of l955. A young Chicago boy, 14-year-old Emmett Till, was visiting relatives down south. For the crime of allegedly making an improper advance to a young white female store clerk, Emmett was tortured and beaten to death. His body was thrown into the Tallahatchie River. The only way his mother could recognize his remains was by a ring engraved with the initials of Emmett’s father. This horrific event echoes through our history, reminding us of the terrible injustice that raged through our land just before the enormous struggle for civil rights erupted in the l960’s. I was looking forward to experiencing this night in the theatre. And I am sorry to say that my friends and I were deeply disappointed. We wondered how such an incredibly powerful story could end up feeling so flat and fail to engage the audience. The acting and directing, and most certainly the stunning design, were not the problem. I believe the “miss” was all in the writing - which felt predictable, overdone, and lacked vitality. Later I thought about how Christian artists and teachers possess the most incredible story to tell in the universe. And yet sometimes in the telling, we miss as well. Our words and music and images rarely capture the wonder of the gospel, the glory of creation, the miracle of grace, the sovereign power of our Holy God. So much rests in the writing – in the craft of the words we choose, the images we portray, the music we compose, the dances we choreograph. I for one long to break out of the same old way of telling such a marvelous story. My experience in theatre last night inspired me not because of greatness, but because I felt so empty at the end. I don’t want people coming to church to leave feeling flat, disengaged, uninspired. Certainly the Holy Spirit and his anointing power plays an enormous part. But so do we, the humans who prepare and design and write and communicate. May we increasingly do our part with innovation, vitality, and fresh words for timeless truths.

A Stretching CD From Aaron Niequist

Nancy Beach — Thu, 29 May 2008 15:47:00 GMT

I've been enjoying - and stretched by - the most recent CD from worship leader Aaron Niequist (formerly from Mars Hill in Grand Rapids). With Broken Fists takes listeners to deeper places I'm hoping all of us will go to - places where we surrender ourselves to God for his purposes of advancing the kingdom and bringing about social justice. The very first song, Resistance, calls us to being a part of the resistance, a movement of God that refuses to settle for the way things are. How refreshing to think thoughts about leveraging our gifts for holy purposes through songs of worship. Aaron is one of several songwriters these days who is expanding our language beyond songs of comfort and songs of praise – all of which certainly have their place – to songs of action, confession, and transformation of our broken planet. Many of his songs propel me out of my cushy, predictably routine life to want to risk something bigger for God. In the third session of the arts conference this year, I will be interviewing Brian McLaren, and asking him to help us answer these questions: What can church artists do to make a difference in solving some of the biggest problems in our world? Do we have anything unique to offer? What is our role? I can’t wait to unpack with Brian some of his tremendous thinking from his book, Everything Must Change. That session will also include some video and dramatic pieces we’ve used at our church to awaken the congregation toward justice. As much as any other session, I’m looking forward to that one.