Without End is a part of Trinity Grace Church (of NYC)’s Citywide Worship team.
In order to win this CD, simply post a comment on www.margaretfeinberg.com. The winner will be announced and contacted on Friday!
Archive for the ‘Life’ Category
Giveaway: Without End CD
Sunday, September 5th, 2010 by adminArt and Fear: Observations on the Perils (and Rewards) of Artmaking
Tuesday, August 31st, 2010 by admin“Fears about artmaking fall into two families: fears about yourself, and fears about your reception by others. In a general way, fears about yourself prevent you from doing your best work, while fears about your reception by others prevent you from doing your own work. Both families surface in many forms, some of which you may find all too familiar.” – from Art & Fear: Observations on the Perils (and Rewards) of Artmaking David Bayles and Ted Orland (p. 23)
My friend, Bill, sent me this quote and I’ve been gnawing on it for more than a week. Creativity-whatever form it takes-forces you to face your wide selection of fears. As I write, I find I must stare down countless fears. Fears of creating something ugly. Fears of creating something I don’t like (or anyone else for that matter). Fears of placing so much of myself in a creation I won’t have anything left. Fears of success and acclaim, failure and anonymity. Fear tethers yet compels. Fear buries and exposes. Fear is both friend and foe when it comes to creating art.
In what ways does creativity-whatever outlet you choose-make you face your fears? Thoughts?
Media Monday: To Save A Life
Monday, August 23rd, 2010 by admin
This Monday, I wanted to feature a movie that just came to my attention. To Save A Life is a film about the harsh realities of high school, teenage depression, and suicide. I would recommend this film to anyone that works with teenagers or is a teenager: parents, youth leaders, and teachers alike.
Head to your local Redbox and grab a copy of To Save a Life. Let me know what you thought.
Deeply Theological Whimsical Wednesdays
Wednesday, August 18th, 2010 by admin
At the beginning of the summer, I introduced Deeply Theological Whimsical Wednesdays. Now you’re probably thinking, um, Margaret, those words don’t go together. You’re right. But they should.
And G.K. Chesteron is a reminder that it’s not impossible.
Each Wednesday this summer, I’m asking a Deeply Theological Whimsical Question. Something for you to play with, bat around, and explore. At the end of the summer, we’re going to select winners from posts at www.margaretfeinberg.com for each question and post a “Best Of the Deeply Theological Whimsical.”
Here are the ground rules:
-You are invited to open the Bible and think about each question.
-You are invited to be fun, thoughtful, snarky and highly creative.
-You are invited to respond with multiple answers.
-You are invited to be clever and creative.
-You are invited to respond with non-Sunday school responses.
-You are invited to treat others as you would like to be treated - no nasty grams folks.
Here is the question:
Mr. & Mrs. Smith are having a baby…
…they want a good, sturdy Biblical name for their baby…but not a common one. What’s your best name combo for them? Be sure to include verse reference.
(Example: Hephzibah Obed Smith (2 Kings 21:1 & Ruth 4:17))
Media Monday: 1000 Awesome Things
Monday, August 9th, 2010 by admin
I can’t get away from this blog. Every weekday, you’ll find a new oh-so-awesome (or oh-so-not awesome) post. I resonate with some posts right away, but others are a little more odd. Consider #533: Taking a spin on a shopping cart. Or #643: The sound of steaks hitting a hot grill. Or one of my faves #937: The smell of rain on a hot sidewalk.
1000 awesomethings.com offers quick, sweet reminder of the good, simple things in life.
What would you add to the 1000 awesome things list? What are some of your favorite awesome things?
What Does Color Communicate? More than You Imagine!
Tuesday, June 15th, 2010 by Margaret
When we think of communication, we often think of words. But communication is so much more including tone, loudness, facial expressions, body motion, speed, repetition, and images.
Colors are also used to communicate. When it comes to color, you may be more influenced than you realize. Consider the following:
Yellow is the first color the eye sees and responds to–which is why you’ll see so many fast food restaurant signs (McDonalds, Burger King, Wendy’s–even Taco Bell) include a touch of yellow.
Blue-based reds (raspberry or darker reds) are often associated with more exclusive, valuable, and expensive products whereas a yellow-based red (think tomato hue) is used to catch attention to the product but not the price.
Green conveys movement and hope. Did you really think it was an accident that the Geico lizard is green?
Blue denotes confidence and safety. Think Blue Cross/Blue Shield.
Black connotes power and offers a high contrast against other colors. White also offers a contrast but one of formality and sophistication. Take a second look at the car ads you’ve seen lately.
Purple communicates originality and uniqueness. You’ve seen it everywhere from high fashion to chocolates to perfume.
For the rest of the day, consider the colors you’re looking at and what they communicate to you!
Finally Falling for TOMS
Saturday, June 12th, 2010 by Margaret
I know…everyone loves TOMS. You buy a pair and they give a pair. Who can’t love that concept? I’ve heard Blake Mycoskie speak a few times over the last few years and he’s done a great job. My issue is that in the past every time I’ve touched a pair of TOMS and looked at the sole, I felt like they were scratchy and thin and a bit shoddy. I love supporting those overseas, but I always wonder why does one need to drop $50 on an uncomfortable pair of shoes to send a $.75 pair of shoes to someone in need? Humanitarianism isn’t an excuse for overpriced, sub-quality products. Ouch. That was honest.
But now I’m an official convert. I’ve been sitting on a gift card for a free pair of TOMS for almost two years. I’ve been waiting for them to get softer, better, more supportive. And they’ve done it! I’m sporting my TOMS today and they feel great. I’m hopeful they’ll make it through the highly active trials of being at Cross Bar X camp this summer. (And I secretly wonder if TOMS would be willing to provide pairs of TOMS for the low-income kids who are here. You don’t need to go overseas to find kids who could really use a new pair of shoes.)
In the meantime, get your TOMS on! They are comfy and quality!
Are you Quaking With End Times Excitement?
Saturday, June 5th, 2010 by Margaret
I have some friends who love end-times, end-of-the-world prophecy. They’re the first in line to the latest end-of-the-world films, keep a close watch on 2012, and are still trying to get rid of their stockpiles from Y2K. While some of their antics may go a little far in my opinion (seriously, if it’s the end of the world don’t stick me in a cave with 500 pounds of dried lima beans and twenty-six year-old canned tofu…death seems like a better option), the Bible is clear that things here won’t go on like they are now forever. In His Olivet prophecy, Jesus taught His disciples that the last days would be marked by “earthquakes in various places” (Matthew 24:7). Earthquakes are one of the signs of the end times.
Thanks to the NiceOne.org, you can keep an eye on where earthquakes are happening around the world and their intensity. I was surprised to see how many places besides Southern California (you know I love you!) earthquakes are taking place. Look at what’s happened in just the last SEVEN days. Check it out: Niceone.com.
When the Best Intentions Go Wrong
Wednesday, May 12th, 2010 by admin
Have you ever been in one of those situations where despite best intentions everything seems to go wrong, wrong, wrong? You can’t make it stop. As hard as you try.
I’m amazed at how often this happens. I give someone a gift, one they’re allergic to. I develop an innovative idea at church, it goes over like a lead balloon dripping with mercury. I try to reach out, the person looks at me oddly.
Yet the invitation to keep giving, serving, loving, reaching out continues.
When was the last time your best intentions went oh-so-wrong?
Tuesdays with Tozer
Tuesday, May 11th, 2010 by admin
For a few seconds, picture in your mind the variety of wonderful and useful appliances we have in our homes. They have been engineered and built to perform tasks of all kinds.
But without the inflow of electrical power they are just lumps of metal and plastic, unable to function and serve. They cannot do their work until power is applied from a dynamic outside source.
So it is in the work of God in the church.
Many persons preach and teach. Many take part in music. Certain ones try to administer God’s work-but if the power of God’s Spirit does not have freedom to energize all they do, these workers might just as well have stayed home.
Natural gifts are not enough in God’s work. The mighty Spirit of God must have freedom to animate and quicken with His overtones of creativity and blessing.
–A. W. Tozer, Tragedy in the Church: The Missing Gifts
I was recently at an event where a woman pulled me aside and said, “That man said all the right things. His words were true and theologically accurate, yet when they were spoken they seemed to fall to ground.”
Her words made me shudder. Not just because they were true but because they can be true of me, true of you, true of all of us.
Tozer, with his stark prose, reminds me of the importance of God’s Spirit in all that we do-to infuse us with Himself. The presence of God isn’t meant to make us better communicators but to bring more glory to God-the one from whom all the best communication springs.
Father, Fill me with your Spirit, again, today, tomorrow, and every day after. May I never try to do things, say things on my own, apart from you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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