Building the Future
HISTORICAL PRECEDENT
Isambard Kingdom Brunel — Painting by J. C. Horsley
Great Works to Inspire Us
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I'll bet if I asked you to think of some different types of ministry and ways to build the Kingdom of God, you probably wouldn't think of Economic Development. Pastor Tim Keller, in his book: Resources for Deacons, sees it clearly as a part of the Diaconal ministry. Our church helps women in Zambia get sewing machines. To be sure, the gift of the ability to earn their living as seamstresses is an act of ministry to these ladies.
But think bigger! Here is the story of how a nation turned from a great evil and one city suffered greatly in doing so. God provided a provider! Then God provided provision for the provider by inspiring great innovation that came to revitalize that great city. Should we dare to pray for such innovation and inspiration in our own day? (read more)
Marc Brunel first had the idea of how to tunnel underwater…
…and a variation of his invention dug the Chunnel.
Inspiring Our Students
“Ent Dance” — Painting by Bob Kirchman
Sometimes the hardest thing for our students is to jump into the freedom of creative expression. Here I threw out a challenge of sorts by throwing myself into a bit of composition, loosely painting the figures. Usually I’m pretty much explaining technique.
This time, however, is an exercise in using what has been learned to — can I say it — “branch out.” It’s time to develop ideas on your own. That is why I’m “working without a net.”
When some of them caught the allusion to J. R. R. Tolkien, they were won into the world of creative exploration. In the end, they did some fine paintings.