Smile in The Mind

In a recent interview, book designer David Drummond says A Smile in the Mind is his modus operandi. The comment made me curious, so I found myself a copy.

The subtitle reads: witty thinking in graphic design. And in five parts, the authors do a fabulous job of defining, developing and demonstrating the use of wit and witty thinking in design. But I'd venture to say the book is worth the read simply for the fifth part alone, where 26 designers and thinkers (including Saul Bass, Milton Glaser, and Paul Rand) describe, "how I got the idea."

The book has certainly prompted me to risk a little this past week, and take a couple of projects in a whole new direction... ( Insert tentative smile here,) we'll see if I can convince the client.

Thanks David, the book is definitely worth checking out.

I'll keep dreaming

I used to own a Macbook.

At four years old, it barely survived the trauma of our three kids. Dropped. Kicked. Poked with peanut butter fingers...I was more amused than annoyed when it was stolen. To boot-up it had to be coaxed and cajoled, pleaded with, prayed over and held up at weird angles. For awhile I had some sick satisfaction in knowing the little crook would never be able to start the machine.

Still, I was left without a laptop.

I've been a Mac guy as long as I can remember. Dad introduced us kids to the Apple when 512k wasn't something to laugh about. And MacPaint was just the absolute sweetest program for any aspiring artist. I wouldn't see Photoshop for a couple more years. But that year I received the top art student award. It was 1984.

Apple really was, and still is, for die-hard dreamers and I occasionally found myself dreaming. Or drooling. Still do.

So when my better half mentioned this little contest she entered, I thought, why not? What if? Just what if ....I won?

Dream: (insert moving story about solving world hunger here)

Maybe. But probably not.

Still, I would love to win one of these For her...of course.

According to the rules:

I must have at least two links back to the contest. Check.

And I must write at least 250 words. Check.

Wow. Contest entered! What if I really win? Maybe I could win one for the wife. And she could win one for me. Now that's a thought. I'll keep dreaming. Thank you.

A little slice of my life

That's about right. This cartoon by David Walker certainly sums it up.....now where did I put my keys?

Calling All Chickens

A new book cover that I designed for author Jean Laury. Jean Laury is actually my wife Shirley Jean and an author friend, Laury Hubrich. Look for more books in the future by these two.

Dandelion Deliverance

help wanted

As a designer, I've been interested in book covers for a while now. To turn that interest up a notch, here is my idea:

I would like to have a broad range of cover art to present to publishers on the following (but not limited to) topics:

• Christian Living
• Politics
• Business
• Children
• fiction

Here's how you can help
Send me your title ideas, a pen name, or your own if you are so inclined. And over the summer months I'll put some samples together and post them here on a weekly basis for your review.

Thanks! This should be fun.

new cover art

Here is a recent cover design I completed for a good friend. What do you think?

the VOICE of Truth

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10 reasons why I blog

1. Because it's new to me. And it's about time I learned something (new).
   
   
2. Because I like reading other blogs.
   
   
3. Because I enjoy good conversation.
   
   
4. Because if I don't I will wish I did.
   
   
5. Because blogging improves my writing skills.
   
   
6. Because blogging lets me share.
   
   
7. Because I have something to say.
   
   
8. Because I want to connect with others.
   
   
9. Because, so far I enjoy it.
   
   
10. Because I like to write.

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Something's Missing

Something seems amiss in the church at large today. When one considers apologetics invariably we hear: Christianity is different from all other religions because....it's about relationship. But something seems to be seriously missing. And I've often tried to put my finger on it.

At it's core essence, Christianity is about relationship. But instead the church today is full of debate. Bitter feuds. Dissension. Is it sovereignty or free choice? Is it grace only or Lordship? is it Calvin or Hobbes? And from our differing camps we send out our favorite theologian and cheer them into battle.

Yet I continue to wonder where is the relationship that Christianity espouses? As 'believers' do we actually believe we can enter into relevant relationship with Christ. Or is that simply rhetoric and silly cliché?

Have we considered the possibility that we might be missing out on the reality of close intimate fellowship with God because of our "beliefs"? Could being a believer be less about what and more about knowing who we believe? I'm not saying it is completely. Saying that can lead to wrong conclusions. However, I am saying that we tend to hide behind our beliefs and debates — fig leaves which cover a seriously lacking intimacy with an unseen God.

But a deep abiding relationship with Christ is available and offered to everyone who seeks Him. Don't miss out! Don't allow your theology to keep Him distant and uninvolved. Search the scriptures — not to add proof texts to a pet theology, but to find Him. To those who truly seek Him, the scriptures promise that you will. How exciting, and fulfilling is that?

In His presence there is fullness of joy.

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On the road.

This past year I took McClay Design and Associates on the road. Over 8,000 Km! Our travels to date have taken us from Winnipeg to New York to Dallas to Calgary. Who will stop the insanity? Me. me. Pick me. Pick me!

I'm pushing 40!

Yep. Sunday I had a birthday. I'm officially an old man.

And here's one of my all time favorites from Mark Lowry. Enjoy!

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Disappointment—His Appointment

God's goal for us is that we become who He created us to be. Sanctifcation is God's will—His goal—for our life (see 1 Thessalonians 4:3). There are distractions, diversions, disappointments, trials, temptations and traumas that come along to disrupt the process; however, the tribulations we face are actually a means of achieving the supreme goal of conforming to the image of God.
— From Beta, Student Guide, Neil T. Anderson, Freedom in Christ Ministries


Disappointment — His Appointment
By Edith Lillian Young

Change one letter, then I see
That the thwarting of my purpose
Is God's better choice for me.
His appointment must be blessing,
Tho' it may come in disguise,
For the end from the beginning
Open to His wisdom lies.

Disappointment — His Appointment
Whose? The Lord, who loves me best,
Understands and knows me fully,
Who my faith and love would test;
For, like loving earthly parent,
He rejoices when He knows
That His child accepts, unquestioned,
All that from His wisdom flows.

Disappointment — His Appointment
"No good thing will He withhold,"
From denials oft we gather
Treasures of His love untold,
Well He knows each broken purpose
Leads to fuller, deeper trust,
And the end of all His dealings
Proves our God is wise and just.

Disappointment — His Appointment
Lord, I take it, then, as such.
Like the clay in hands of potter,
Yielding wholly to Thy touch.
All my life's plan in Thy moulding,
Not one single choice be mine;
Let me answer, unrepining —
"Father, not my will, but Thine."

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The Most Often Prayed Prayer

"Oh God, fix him!"

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Blogging in Plain English

What is blogging? My mom asked recently. Blogging is still relatively new term for most. Even after a couple years of dabbling in the blogosphere, I stumbled over providing a succinct 30-second definition.

But I found something from the commoncraft guys:




Now, doesn't that make sense?

 

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Butt Prints in the Sand

I found this on Rindy Walton's blog. Too funny.

Butt Prints in the Sand
(writer unknown)

One night, I had a wondrous dream;
One set of footprints there was seen.
The footprints of my precious Lord,
But mine were not along the shore.
But then some stranger prints appeared,
And I asked the Lord, “What have we here?”
“Those prints are large and round and neat,
But, Lord, they are too big for feet.”
“My child,” He said in somber tones.
“For miles I carried you alone.
I challenged you to walk in faith,
But you refused and made me wait.
You disobeyed, you would not grow,
The walk of faith you would not know.
So I got tired and fed up,
And there I dropped you on your butt,
Because in life, there comes a time,
When one must fight and one must climb,
When one must rise and take a stand,
Or leave some butt prints in the sand.”

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The Missing Manual

How many times have you heard one of your male friends announce that their wife just doesn't come with a manual? And the anecdotes we contribute regarding toothpaste and toilet seats are met with silly grins and knowing nods. As a collective, we men just can't seem to figure out the female species. Some of us have even suggested that there isn't any real point in trying. Like asking for directions, when it comes to our marriages it seems like we'd rather just wing it — with very discouraging results.

But there is an often overlooked manual. It's possible that you have one, tucked away on a shelf in the basement or stuck in a box in the attic. It's called the Bible. And I suggest that if you're truly interested in discovering how 'she' ticks, take it out. Dust it off and dig in.

You may have some preconceived ideas about what the Bible says about her and your role in her life. And as you read this, you might be expecting me to pull out that favorite passage of all time on submission and really bring it home. But before you get too relaxed and settled in, let me tell you, I'm not going there. That's her side of the manual. Written to her in her language.

Our instructions begin on a different page in Ephesians.

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, people have never hated their own bodies, but they feed and care for them, just as Christ does the church— for we are members of his body. “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself…

And James reminds us with a warning and a promise:

if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.

Instructions
1. Begin to love. I'm not a psychologist, but I know I can't follow my feelings. I can't feel my way into behaving. But I certainly can behave my way into feeling. I don't have to feel loving to love. I can choose to love, and do something that demonstrates that love. Guess what? The feelings follow. It works every time.

2. Love more. At this point you will discover your own motives. You began to love. Ha! Are you sure? I've found that if I'm endeavoring to love — with an ulterior motive — I will quickly discover that really wasn't the sacrificial love described in the manual. That love doesn't have motive other than to bless. Continually.

3. Keep loving. Sacrificial love doesn't end. It doesn't run out. It doesn't keep score or tabs. It loves anyway. What does the word sacrificial mean? Ultimately it means death. This is what it means to love the way Christ loved the Church. It means a willingness to climb up on the cross to die. When you love sacrificially, it means you continually put yourself out there. Unprotected. And then you do it all again. And again. And... You get the picture.

Men, if we really want to know and understand our wives, we must give the manual more than just a casual five minute glance. We must be willing to make the serious commitment to follow through. No matter what.

Following this set of instructions is not easy. it's probably why most of us would rather wing it. It requires purpose, dedication, desire, humility and patience.

But it's time for us to step across the threshold to be a doer, love our wives the way the manual maintains — and we will find that we understand her on a deeper level than we ever thought possible. We will have sincere care, concern, and a desire to see her become the person she was meant to be in Christ. With that kind of love she will become radiant.

And we will also discover the truth of 1 Corinthians 13. That kind of love never fails.

PS. I love you Shirley.

Pressed Out of Measure

Once in a while I come across a song or poem that grabs my attention. The following was one which my mom encouraged me with recently and it speaks to me deeply. What experiences did this unknown author go through in order to express and articulate both the pain and the joy that comes from submitting to Christ in the most difficult circumstances?

Not only can I identify with the first verse in my own experience, but I also recognize something else. My perspective has shifted — and I find myself presently discovering the deeper truths of the second verse.

Here is the song: Pressed Out of Measure


Pressed beyond measure and pressed to all length;
Pressed so intensely, it seems beyond strength;
Pressed in the body, and pressed in the soul;
Pressed in the mind, till the dark surges roll.
Pressure by foes, and pressure by friends -
Pressure on pressure, till life nearly ends.

Pressed into knowing no helper but God;
Pressed into loving the staff and the rod.
Pressed into liberty where nothing clings;
Pressed into faith for impossible things.
Pressed into living a life in the Lord;
Pressed into living a Christ-life outpoured.


Please share a song or poem that has spoken to in your own walk with the Lord.

Learning Lessons

My wife just finished reading a book entitled Humility: True Greatness — by C.J. Mahaney

It had impacted her, she said. Which made me curious. Finally, the other day, I got around to asking her about it. I found her at the sink, up to her elbows in dishes. Singing along with the music in the background.

"Well, it's the reason I have the music on," She told me. "That book has helped me to see that staying in the discouragement of my situation is really just pride, and if I stay in my selfish pride — then God resists me," She set a dish in the drainer and continued.

"I put the music on so I would stop being discouraged and begin to share His thoughts."

I could hear "Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet," playing softly. And I marveled at the lessons the Lord had been teaching her.

They seemed somehow familiar.

seeing The Man about a horse

With an uncooperative computer and whiny kids, I was smack in the middle of a frustrating morning when it took another turn for the worse.

Honey was out. And I put my work on hold to go catch a horse.

As I searched for her, I shared my list with the Lord. That sweet honey of a thing is anything but. She's mean. Unruly. Unsubmissive. I aired my feelings of injustice, self-preserving righteousness, and why me? Complaining.

My self-talk went nowhere. If I wasn't careful this was going to set the mood for the rest of my day. All because of a stupid horse!

"She's a lot like you."

The thought came out of nowhere. Certainly not the Holy Spirit.

"She is, you know. She wants to do her own thing. She doesn't want to be fenced in. She doesn't want to submit. Do you?"

"Lord?" the truth of what He had whispered slowly dawning.

"Yes, I'm a lot like her," I agreed tentatively, shaking the bucket of grain I was carrying and calling to her.

Where was she? I didn't know. But as I searched, I also recognized that the Lord was also searching for me. Calling out to me. Caring. Wanting me to come.

"Lord?" I began. "I'm consciously thanking you in the middle of this. It was tentative at first, like priming a pump. Pulling and pushing, until praises spilled forth and worship began. Soon I recognized that I was no longer under the situation. But far above it.

All because I saw The Man about a horse.

I Am a Soldier

Author unknown

I am a soldier in the army of God.
The Lord Jesus Christ is my Commanding Officer.
The Holy Bible is my code of conduct.
Faith, Prayer, and the Word are my weapons of Warfare.
I have been taught by the Holy Spirit,
trained by experience, tried by adversity,
and tested by fire.

I am a volunteer in this army, and I am enlisted for eternity.

I will either retire in this Army or die in this Army;
but, I will not get out, sell out, be talked out, or pushed out.
I am faithful, reliable, capable, and dependable.
If my God needs me, I am there.

I am a soldier. I am not a baby.
I do not need to be pampered, petted, primed up,
pumped up, picked up, or pepped up.
I am a soldier. No one has to call me, remind me,
write me, visit me, entice me, or lure me.

I am a soldier. I am not a wimp.
I am in place, saluting my King, obeying His orders,
praising His name, and building His kingdom!
No one has to send me flowers,
gifts, food, cards, candy, or give me handouts.
I do not need to be cuddled, cradled, cared for, or catered to.
I am committed. I cannot have my feelings
hurt bad enough to turn me around.

I cannot be discouraged enough to turn me aside.
I cannot lose enough to cause me to quit.
When Jesus called me into this Army, I had nothing.
If I end up with nothing, I will still come out even. I will win.
My God will supply all my needs. I am more than a conqueror.
I will always triumph. I can do all things through Christ.
Devils cannot defeat me. People cannot disillusion me.
Weather cannot weary me. Sickness cannot stop me.
Battles cannot beat me. Money cannot buy me.
Governments cannot silence me, and hell cannot handle me!

I am a soldier.
Even death cannot destroy me.
For when my Commander calls me from this battlefield,
He will promote me to a captain.
I am a soldier, in the Army, I'm marching, claiming victory.
I will not give up. I will not turn around.


There are four kinds of soldiers:
1. Active Duty: Serving the Lord faithfully, daily, and on duty 24-7-365.
2. Reserve Status: Serving only when called upon,
or twice a year: Christmas and Easter.
3. Guard Status: Backing up the Active Duty group.
4. AWOL! Absent With Out the Lord.

Which kind are you?

Destroying Passivity

I'm the typical guy. I love to channel flip. If I don't have to sit through seven minutes of commercials, I'd rather not. That being said, why is it that on any given evening, guys can and will do absolutely nothing but channel flip? Nothing interests us. We're bored. We're lazy. And we're prone to passivity. 

I have read articles by researchers who have hooked monitors up to guys while they watched television. You know what they found? Not a lot of brain activity. In fact, about as much as someone trapped in a coma. So when asked what we did last night, it makes sense a lot of sense to say we vegged. 

So how do we kick the habit? Stirring up a little enthusiasm to get out and do, sometimes lasts about as long as the thought. But lately I have been viewing my own tendency toward passivity as a trouble light, an indicator that I am spiritually hungry. Instead of reaching for the remote, I have determined to reach for my bible or a christian book. And it has worked.

The takeaway I offer from this post is a list of five books that have challenged me over the last couple of years to pursue real life and true godliness. And I suspect that they will challenge you as well.

Not in any particular order:

1. Wild at Heart, by John Eldredge
2. The Search For Significance, by Robert S. McGee
3. A life God Rewards, by Bruce Wilkinson
4. Our Jealous God, by Bill Gothard
5. Experiencing Spiritual Breakthroughs, by Bruce Wilkinson

As usual, comments are welcome, and warmly encouraged. Feel free to add to my list of five. What books have influenced your life? Please share them here.

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Experiencing Spiritual Breakthroughs

It's rare to find a book so full of 'aha' moments that I can't put it down. But Bruce Wilkinson's Experiencing Spiritual Breakthroughs is such a one. It's 245 pages of insight and biblical truth have fanned into flame the desire to see myself more clearly. From that seeing, has come a decisive commitment to action — to be not only a hearer of the Word, but a consistent doer.

I am now in my second read and just as impacted by the 'aha' moments as I was the first time. It's a book which speaks to where you are in your relationship with God, your spouse and your children. It's for anyone who, like me has asked, "what's missing? Why isn't my Christian life working." And anyone who desires more of the reality of Christ in their lives. I highly recommend it.

A four part video series by author Bruce Wilkinson, is also available here.
The kit includes the book Experiencing Spiritual Breakthroughs.

A Quote from My Four Year Old

Remember that television show Kids say the Darnedest Things? I do. From serious discussions on the meaning of life to where babies come from, the show was a humorous and candid look at how children view the world around them. 

Just last night my four year old told me she was sad. "Oh?" I asked, hesitating. "Yes, I'm sad daddy, she said. "I wish God would come visit, cause I love Him and want to give Him a hug." 

There are many ruminations of childhood wisdom and innocence that ought to be written down, yet we parents have neglected or forgotten to do this more often than not. So I ask, can you remember what your child/children have said, that caused you to smile in wonder, with that dawning realization that kids really do say the darnedest things?

Blogging Etiquette

Confession: I'm new to blogging. I read a few regularly, comment occasionally. And just recently, I decided to take the plunge. I have joined the blogosphere...adding my voice to the conversation.

To kick start this blog and with the help of good friend and veteran blogger, Jim L. I have begun a list that I will call:

Rules to Blog By

1. Be yourself, not your favorite blogger.
2. Post regularly.
3. Keep your posts short. Sweet. And to the point.
4. Engage your reader.
5. Don't make a point or accusation you can't back up.
6. Poof read.
7. Proof read again.
8. Respond to comments.
9. Give appropriate credit.
10. Ask questions.

So in keeping with these rules, I'd like to ask: What are the rules you blog by?