Snow Fire Creative

Undeserved...

2006-08-16T07:38:00.000-07:00

Is love ever deserved? Is it mandated? If love were such a thing would any of us want it? Would we want to "give it" to others?

Love to me seems to be sweetest when it is undeserved. The last few days have been a huge struggle and wrestling time with God over the idea of love and grace. I think these two are inseparable. Grace seems to me to be the idea that even though there is no way I should be loved - I AM! Though there is no worth in me or merits that I can do - I am still loved by God.

Talk about blowing the mind! I wish I could say that it is easy as just saying okay. But it seems that I have never really grasped this concept growing up. I always thought that I had to be a certain way, think a certain way, and act a certain way in order to get God to hear me. I must say that this is why I have lived the past 10 or so years in constant defeat and in shame and guilt. I have never been able to really grasp what the joy of being a christian was. Why would I want to be a Christian if I always have to do these things or if I always feel guilty and shame over who I am.(this will be covered in a whole other topic). But then - God started showing me through various means and ways this radical new idea of love undeserved.

I know that it is not a new idea or even news to some people but this will forever change me. I know that it will take time and there will be many hard days ahead BUT I have my God and His love will never fail. The fact that He knew where I was when He decided to love me. The fact that He still claims me when I fall. The fact that He sent the Holy Spirit into my life to help me out. This is the idea of grace. It is hard to describe or define grace because there is no one on earth that can exemplify what grace truly is. We have seen some examples and have experienced it from people but we all have a warped sense of grace. We always try to justify why we did something - usually if not for their sake we say we did it for ours (under the auspices of "we were doing it for the right reasons").

But there was an example - His name is Jesus. A name so sweet and far above any other name. The grace that flowed from him is the undeserved love that has burst forth in my heart anew yesterday. It didn't come from a huge epiphany that burst into me. As I have said, this is something I was struggling with for quite a while. Only in the last few weeks and days have I become desperate in my prayers for God to show me Himself. I have cried out numerous times to Him and have left many times crying. At first the tears were because I was hurting so much. It seemed as if my body was in pain because I couldn't get ahold of what God wanted to show me. But in His perfect timing, as usual, He flooded over me. It happened when I least expected it.

Last night I was reading "In the grips of Grace." A book I have been working at since January. God knew though that I would not be ready until last night to see with His eyes what He wanted me to see. The chapter was on the War within the soul. It discussed what I had been thinking of and what I had been begging God for. And it came. It finally came. That voice of the Holy Spirit that comforted me. The tears came. But now they were tears of overwhelming joy at the fact that I am who I am and that God still loved me enough to send His Son. He still loves me when I mess up and scrape my knee in the spiritual sense. But like a loving Father He picks me up on His knee and comforts me and tells me that it doesn't seem like it but it will be all right. Because I am going to be home with him soon.

As I was writing this I was listening to Shawn McDonald's song "Have you Ever." What a blessing. Every time I listen to it it brings tears to my eyes and longing in my soul. It talks about wanting to be someone else. Wanting to reach your dreams. Wanting to life to be more than it seems. - this was what I wanted. I wanted it to be more than what I had built up around me. - The answer is tasting the love so deep. So deep that it blows my mind. The sweet love of Jesus.

This is love my friends. To love, not when it is deserved, but to love because it is right.

Divisionary Love...

2006-08-13T20:24:00.000-07:00

So I've been writing a lot of songs lately and been praying about the whole idea of me and worship leading. The Lord's been really gracious as I pursue Him in my personal times of worship when it's just me, the Bible and My God. Soon I will be part of helping out lead worship for 4th and 5th grade kids. What a great age to learn how important it is to worship our Creator!

But back to the actual topic: Divisionary Love. This may take up a few days of pondering and working through the idea that is in my head, so bear with me as I allow you to come on the mental journey through this topic.

I was writing a song about love and the idea that it takes you higher and to a more intimate place than pretty much anything else in the world. This got me thinking about what types of things love takes you through. Which are more important than the others. Are the easy times? Are the hard times? Does it really matter? The more I think about it and read through scripture and listen to what the Lord is showing me in my own life, it is the hard times in love that bring you to a higher and more intimate part of the relationship. I termed this divisionary love.

The whole idea circles around the fact that when you work through something that could possibly be divisive to the relationship with someone you love it creates a whole new level in the relationship. This applies to anything. Your relationship with your spouse, boyfriend, girlfriend, best friend, etc. The whole premise is that through the hard times in a relationship and through the times where you can't seem to get out and break through, it happens.

You don't really know when it will happen or how it will happen but it does. And those times are the sweetest and most dear. When you break through divisionary love makes you feel like you are soaring above the trees, the clouds and anything else below. It takes you to a place you've never seen before and makes you feel what you never thought possible...

It's a girl...and she's ALL MINE.

2006-07-13T21:48:00.000-07:00

That's right folks. Nathan has finally strapped himself into a long-term relationship with lots and lots of committment(sp? -it's really late). She's reliable, won't ever leave me hanging and won't stand me up ever. She's pretty much perfect.

She is as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside. My family loves her and thinks that I've made the right decision.

A lot of planning and careful thought went into this relationship. I hope that you all will embrace her with the same sincerity and devotion that I can only hope to give her.

She's pretty high-maintenance - that's about the only thing I can't stand.

So here she is folks. My new girl.

1. The New Girl

2. The Back-side.

3. Me and my girl.

4. Dramatic Pose
(My girls got style and she knows how to pose for the camera.)

My only problem right now is that I don't have a name for her. She's nameless...

So soon!!!!

2006-07-12T21:45:00.000-07:00

Well today I officially started classes again.

It was pretty eventful. They gave me the wrong teacher and tried to switch me into his class and then -- huh! -- they realized that the teacher wasn't teaching it this quarter.

So I'm stuck with a new teacher. It should be good. Because I'm a transfer student they are making me take the fundamentals of visual communications course again. phooeee!

Other than that it's been crazy busy in my life as usual.

(I have not forgotten my promise to put up more of my artwork. It is coming soon....)

Festivities of the 4th Variety

2006-07-05T17:57:00.000-07:00

My brother and I had a blast hanging out on the 4th of July.

We actually just hung out with some of my friends from church at the lake front in Chicago. Everyone was waiting for the fireworks but we had to leave early because of my puppies.(will put pictures up at another time.)

The night before Shane and I went to see the Superman in the IMAX downtown. We got to see the end of the fireworks too.

Here are some pix from that:

1. Fireworks =-) ooh ahhhhh

2. The Bro and I.

It was a pretty fun and uneventful day.

Charicature

2006-07-05T17:54:00.000-07:00

So my mom and I decided to get a charicature done while we were in Atlanta a couple years ago.

I decided to play with it and put color into it.

It was a lot of fun. I've always wanted one, but my mom wasn't too stoked about it.

Where does the music come from

2006-06-28T18:49:00.000-07:00

Seriously!! How many of you have ever found yourself watching an old movie and the lead actor(actress) began singing and then wait, an orchestra joined them.

I have always found this odd. I ask myself where is the orchestra and how did they know when to come in. Was it fate? Was it luck? I'll never know.

Also, I love in old movies when they act like they just happened to decide to dance or sing and then everyone else in the nearby vicinity knows the whole song or dance too.

These are the many quandries that haunt me when I watch old movies and musicals.

One day soon I will be able to understand it all.

Until then. Quandries Away!

Sweet Movie Intro

2006-06-28T18:45:00.000-07:00

WOW!!!! Have to say that this has one of the most fabulous movie intros. I love the typographic play.

To all those who don't understand what I'm saying...I only watch movies for the introductions. i thought that's what everybody did.

Well, this one is fabulous. It is fairly simple, but again, for back when it was made it had amazing transitions.

The Singing Nun

Wonderful without Words

2006-06-28T17:04:00.000-07:00

I had the wonderful, and new, experience of watching a silent film in its entirety. I can't say that I have ever done that.

It was quite enjoyable. After a long and hard day I sat down to watch some movies I had recorded from the TCM channel. And Sparrows, with Mary Pickford, came on.

I wasn't really interested right off the bat, but the movie with its wonderful screenplay and its incredible musical score drew me in. They also had exceptional typography throughout.

It really floored me how great this movie was, especially after I thought about how they had no special affects or anything to help them. It had to be exactly as they taped it.

The plot was pretty good. And then, I got the biggest shock of all.

Throughout the entire movie they used scripture and applied to their lives. This has to be one of my favorite points about this movie. As all good movies of old, this one had a great end. The good overcame the bad.

Check it out. I definitely will be adding this to my movie library.

Inspiration can come from the most seemingly mundane things. This movie has inspired me to explore how to communicate effectively in visual communication without the use of speech. And with minimal type.

Off to work.

bombarded with eye-candy

2006-05-25T16:32:00.000-07:00

I think I will be making up for lost time in the next few weeks - mainly because I can upload things while I wait for my mini-mac to keep up with my high file size loads.

SO!!!!

I will start by putting up one of my most recent photographs. I took this picture at one of the weddings I attended as an apprentice.

This couple was great and the day yielded inordinate amounts of very very good things(pictures)

take a looksee.

Canada Dry Redesign

2006-05-25T16:30:00.000-07:00

So here it is. The infamous wall hanger.

which reminds me of cliffhanger - the movie - don't ask me why.

I redesigned the Canada Dry soft drink and water line.

Feast your eyes on the bottles!!!

WooHoo!!!!

2006-05-22T18:51:00.000-07:00

Snow Fire CreativeHey all, been awhile. How r u doing?

I'm fine. Wicked busy, but good.

So, I'm gonna start off by not saying that I'll be faithful to this blog, because I probably won't. I'm not going to get your hopes up, but I will try to stay up to date.

Whats new...
Well, I got one of my projects put on the wall!!!! I know, I know. This doesn't seem like an incredibly huge thing, but I've been kicking my butt in all of my classes and I'm in packaging design class right now - which I love. So my teacher decided that my work was worthy of the wall. I'll post it sometime soon.

Hopefully tonight.

But for the few that are faithful in checking this almost obsolete site(i.e. Tim F.) i'm back.

Have a great day!!!!!

Snow Fire Creative

2006-02-28T06:27:00.000-08:00

Snow Fire Creative

Launched my new firm's website. There is only a filler page right now. Keep going back to see the full website soon though!

www.snowfirecreative.com

Waiting on God

2006-01-28T23:07:00.000-08:00

Began a new book today - "Waiting on God" by Andrew Murray

It start with a poem before you actually get into the chapters. I have started this book twice now and it always gets me to stop and think on it. Here it is for your reading pleasure.

"Wait only upon God"; my soul, be still,
And let thy God unfold His perfect will,
Thou fain would'st follow Him throughout this year,
Thou fain with listening heart His voice would'st hear,
Thou fain would'st be a passive instrument
Possessed by God, and ever Spirit-sent
Upon His service sweet--then be thou still,
For only thus can He in thee fulfil
His heart's desire. Oh, hinder not His hand
From fashioning the vessel He hath planned.
"Be silent unto God", and thou shalt know
The quiet, holy calm He doth bestow
On those who wait on Him; so shalt thou bear
His presence, and His life and light e'en where
The night is darkest, and thine earthly days
Shall show His love, and sound His glorious praise.
And He will work with hand unfettered, free,
His high and holy purposes through thee.
First on thee must that hand of power be turned,
Till in His love's strong fire thy dross is burned,
And thou come forth a vessel for they Lord,
So frail and empty, yet, since He hath poured
Into thine emptiness His life, His love,
Henceforth through thee the power of God shall move
And He will work for thee. Stand still and see
The victories thy God will gain for thee;
So silent, yet so irresistible,
Thy God shall do the thing impossible.
Oh, question no henceforth what thou canst do;
Thou canst do nought. But He will carry through
The work where human energy had failed,
Where all thy best endeavours had avaiuled
Thee nothing. Then, my soul, wait and be still;
Thy God shall work for thee His perfect will.
If thou wilt take no less, His best shall be
Thy portion now and through eternity.

- Freda Hanbury

let those thoughts soak in for a while.

I will try to voice some of my thoughts in a few days from just the introduction of the book. Andrew Murray truly was a man of God. He grasped some things that we currently scratch at.

Neglectful I am....

2006-01-27T16:49:00.000-08:00

Okay, I will totally be updating this more regularly now. If anything I will just throw some artwork I've done so that you all can see what I've been up to and also make your comments - whether they be nice or just plain mean... i'm not thinking of anyone in particular either.

Wow - there is so much going on in my life right now. I will have to suffice to say the God is Awesome and that He is doing ever so many things in my life. Pray. Pray. Pray. That God would continue His work. Everyday I am reminded of the fact that I need Him so much.

First Installation of my work.

This is a poster I finished recently for a competition at my school - The Illinois Institute of Art Schaumburg. The topic was the Chinese New Year.

This year it is the year of the dog. I found out some pretty interesting things while researching...

First - I was born in the year of the pig =-) funny I know.

"People born in the Year of the Pig are chivalrous and gallant. Whatever they do, they do with all their strength. For Boar Year people, there is no left or right and there is no retreat. They have tremendous fortitude and great honesty. They don't make many friends but they make them for life, and anyone having a Boar Year friend is fortunate for they are extremely loyal. They don't talk much but have a great thirst for knowledge. They study a great deal and are generally well informed. Boar people are quick tempered, yet they hate arguments and quarreling. They are kind to their loved ones. No matter how bad problems seem to be, Boar people try to work them out, honestly if sometimes impulsively. They are most compatible with Rabbits and Sheep." know any sheep or rabbits - j/k hahaha

Well 'nuff said. more to come...

The Night Before

2006-01-01T21:42:00.000-08:00

How great are friends!!! I am sitting here with 6 of my new friends from my church college group and a guy named nick that I just met. The brotherhood of Christ is truly amazing. We are sitting around talking about God and the things of God and I am hearing every argument that I have ever heard and it is showing me a lot of my stupidity. I am hearing for the first time many of the things that I myself have gotten heated up about being said outloud. It is enlightening to hear yourself outside of yourself.

We are getting geared up for our trip tomorrow... so I am going to go back to our hangout time and discussion

ONLY 7 MORE HOURS TO GO!!!!!!!!!!!

Passion 06

2005-12-30T21:23:00.000-08:00

I have never been this pumped about a conference before. I am going to the Passion conference this next week and I can't wait. I get to hear John Piper, Beth Moore, Louie Giglio, Chris Tomlin, Charlie Hall, Matt Redmon and the David Crowder Band. WOW! This is going to be an amazing event.

And I only am able to go because God moved mightily on my behalf. I didn't have the money, and I began praying to God to make it clear that I was supposed to go... Needless to say, God brought in more money than I could possibly have needed and I am off in 2 days. Yayyyyyy!!!!!!!!!!

I can't wait to see what God is going to do with my life and the life's of all of my friends that are going. It will be amazing to worship my God with 18,000 other students/pastors of like mind. This conference is actually sold out! Pretty amazing to me. Whenever you think that you are alone in this Christian life, you are not. There are thousands out there fighting for the cause of Christ and we are loved.

check out all that is going to go down - www.268generation.com

Christmas Time like no other time...

2005-12-27T20:21:00.000-08:00

Here is a sketch and ink wash I did a couple of weeks ago. It is a self portrait of me thinking. Which is something I have been doing a lot of lately. It seems that in the midst of the hectic holiday season I have found more time to contemplate God. And let me say that it is a whole lot to think about. I am working right now on John Bunyan's book the Acceptable Sacrifice. WOW! it's a pretty intense read.

Life has also been awesome! God is truly amazing at taking care of His children. He has given me a few design jobs that have been fun and stretching.

Be looking for a new t-shirt company coming out - Middlecoast Inc. I have been privileged to be one of the shirt designers and will also be doing there website and logo/identity. It's a daunting task but also everything I love. They will be pretty sweet t-shirts too!So get one...when they come out of course.

i must say I stink at this blog thing. it's like I have to force myself to sit down and do it.

Wuthering Heights

2005-11-14T20:29:00.000-08:00

WOW!! This is an unbelievable book. I just finished it this past week. It was so compelling to me. I didn't think I would like it at first and then BAM it drew me in. It is so twisted but at the same time so many great quotes about love and life come from this one book. My favorite being: "I love him: and that, not because he's handsome... but because he's more myself than I am. Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same." I stopped and had to pause when I read this part. It gave me goose-pimples. I'm on to my next book in the pile - Desiring God by John Piper. I have started and stopped so many times but I must finish it this time. Wish me luck!

Appearing through the mist...

2005-11-01T07:59:00.000-08:00

Wow! life is definitely crazy right now. so many fun things to do and i can't decide which ones. I have an interview tomorrow and I can't wait. God totally brought this one to fruition. School is fun kind of slow right now though. I have been thrown back to the fundamental classes - it's cool though because I'm picking some new tricks up. I have a class that is dedicated to learning how to express your ideas through the rough sketch and thumbnail... yes Mr. Andrews and Mr. Bopp would be proud of me now. I am actually thumbnailing for my projects...

I am also looking for some cool names for a coffee/tea company that I am roughing out. If you all have any thoughts throw them my way.

Portfolio

2005-09-30T16:14:00.000-07:00

To all those who I forgot to inform about my blog - sorry! Although, you totally should have known. It's like all over the internet...

Anyway. I am pleased to anounce that I have launched my portfolio and it can be viewed at www.hollowedearthpottery.com.

Viewers requested and comments will be accepted. Welp! gotta go.

Tediously intense work.

2005-09-22T14:35:00.000-07:00

For those of you who have ever had the pleasure of doing database entry, you know what I am feeling right now. I do thank the Lord for the work He has so constantly provided. He always seems to find a way to get me work exactly when I need those few extra dollars to make ends meet. My brain feels like it is pulsating and my eyes feel a bit strained. And I have about a million different numbers and names running through my head.

I am about to head out the door to my other job as host. It is usually a lot of fun. I get to talk to a lot of new people and try to make them enjoy there time. Through it I am constantly reminded of how selfish we humans are. So many little things can make people really mad. From an exact table not being open or they have to wait a few minutes to be sat. The biggest fact that saddens me is that the worst customers are usually the church crowd right after Sunday morning service.

This crowd is excessively hostile! Now if you are not one of those people then don't get huffy about what I am saying! It just saddens me that the people who are supposed to have the love of Christ eminating through them to the world usually end up turning people off to Christ.

Gotta go... but I will definitely finish this thought later...

2005-09-21T18:45:00.000-07:00

it is hard to express how much I love Calvin & Hobbes. I remember reading and being consumed by this boy when I was merely a boy. Tonight I pay a little tribute to him.

to all of you die-hard calving fans like me you will be glad to know that on October 4, 2005 they will be releasing this much anticipated release of all the Calvin & Hobbes comics.
Check it out!

To blog is the outcome.

2005-09-21T15:50:00.000-07:00

I know! I myself never thought that I would see the day when I started to blog. But alas, it is here and I am finding it quite enjoyable. I get to post my meaningless thoughts about my existence and other people get to read them and reply. It is kind of like having many people looking at what I do ... kind of creepy, but nonetheless fun!