Stone Speak A symposium on worship, arts and the prophetic,
here and across the pond...

Recently I have been trying to challenge myself and figure out where I want to go with my art. I realize that art is much more powerful and enjoyable when it is well communicated especially to those who aren’t usually “artistic”.
I pull most of my inspiration from music. Some of my favorites are Angels and Airwaves, Adam Young, and Switchfoot. If I get a new cd, I usually listen to it for the first time with my eyes closed; imagining things that go along with the sound. I love
delay pedals and guitar loops; I love stage lights and sunsets. I hope to capture this type of energy with my art.
I love that God blesses us as artists and as his co-creators. I love that I can pull inspiration and beauty and truth from anywhere because God has already blessed my passion to create when he created me.
I am a sixteen-year-old. I am active in the drama department at my school, Xenia Christian High School, and I work at Tim Horton’s. I live with my fantastic parents, Jeff and Annie, and my hilarious brother, AJ. I like to dance for fun, and I enjoy eating with chopsticks.
Thank you so much for reading. I’m willing to sell my art, so contact me if you’re interested and we’ll decide on a price. If you have any comments or things to say to me, I’d absolutely love to talk to you or receive an email from you.
Sincerely,
Laura Hoke
ImageNation@hotmail.com

We recently witnessed the dramatic act of nature on I-75’s sculpted Jesus that burned to the ground. Lightening hit the $300,000 sculpture constructed of Styrofoam and plaster over a metal frame covered by a thin skin of fiberglass. The sculpture had been the centerpiece of the front lawn of the Solid Rock Church, and was the talk of media across the country, referring to the piece as, “Butter Jesus” or “Touchdown Jesus.” According to Newsvine.com, church leaders are vowing to “rebuild the iconic King of Kings statue.”

The enormous, sculpted form has been a shock to many over the years. My daughter’s response, after seeing the sculpture for the first time was, “Oh Jesus!” She had been napping in the back seat and was startled by the sight. It was probably most people’s response even when they were awake.

Strangely enough, the same week I received phone calls and emails about the meltdown of the statue, I had a vision of a man on a ventilator for life support. The Lord asked me if I knew who he was. I said no. He said it was Jesus. The problem wasn’t that Jesus needed assistance to breathe or maintain life. The problem was assuming our assistance was needed to keep Him alive in our ministries. The vision was metaphorical to the fact that people had discovered how to keep ministry self-sustaining by life support techniques of their own-making. With these techniques, Christians are able to monitor the life and breath of what they are doing for Christ. In fact, the Father said that an epidemic had developed in the body of Christ; an epidemic I have decided to call the “Ventilator Jesus Syndrome.” It is the syndrome that occurs from self-reliance as the life support that powers our ministry.




How did we get here? The answer is not as simple as it may seem. Self-reliance is spreading through the country like a disease. The following are a few symptoms to help you evaluate your spiritual health and see if you have caught the Ventilator Jesus Syndrome.

1. Blurred Vision
This symptom is revealed when people find themselves creating good ideas that are not God ideas. We borrow perspectives that work outside of our own sphere and then things get cloudy as we try to make them fit our own environment. If you find yourself stumbling around trying to make something work that keeps tripping you up, you may have blurred vision.

Jesus said, “I only do what the Father says to do.” Actually, Jesus goes deeper than this when speaking to the mother of John and James in Matthew 20:20-23,
“Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him. ‘What is it you want?’ he asked. She said, ‘Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.’ ‘You don't know what you are asking,’ Jesus said to them. ‘Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?’ ‘We can,’ they answered. Jesus said to them, ‘You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father.’”

Jesus clearly saw whose vision He was to align Himself with. He did nothing on His own. When we think we can create, build or establish government or a church apart from the Lord’s voice, we will always have blurred vision.

2. Irregular heartbeat
This symptom is a result of not getting to the heart of what Christ desires. It is manifested when our personal interests over shadow God’s heart in a situation creating an abnormal heart pattern and rhythm that is unlike His. The systemic problems are revealed in these verses of Philippians...
“If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Philippians 2:1-4

Jesus desires that we have nothing tugging at our heartstrings other than His heart’s desire. Over time we can become calloused to this, thinking we have things figured out or that our ideas are the right ideas. This symptom makes us territorial and arrogant toward others. If you find you are having trouble getting to the Father’s heart due to your heart beating differently than His, you may be experiencing a heart irregularity.

3. Restlessness
This symptom is related to those aspects of ministry where you are not satisfied with how things are going. You may find you react instead of waiting for answers. You may also experience boredom and lack motivation. Many times when a person is operating out of their own strength, restlessness is the result. Restlessness is directly related to the need to push forward when you should be patiently preparing your spirit for the next God move. The tendency is to “jump the gun”. This is a serious symptom to address. Such conditions stem from having no “God time” on your radar. It happened to Cain...

“Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth...” Genesis 4:14

This symptom of restlessness mutates into fear when you become concerned about others getting ahead or becoming more successful.

“Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways.” Psalm 37:7

If these symptoms persist, they will inevitably lead to other side effects. The tendency is to get busier, fueled by driven ness, when the remedy is to stop moving.

4. Confusion
This symptom is of a more serious nature and is a result of the first three symptoms persisting over time. Unless this is treated soon, confusion will lead to chaotic responses and disorder in choices. This is the development of old patterns of worldly thinking...

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:2

The result will be a type of spiritual, cognitive dissonance where we act and do things out of a fuzzy state of understanding and imbalance, placing our trust in our own thinking and becoming double-minded.

“But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.”
James 1:6-8

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6

“And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 2:1-5

Confusion creates the illusion of right thinking. We fabricate in our own wisdom ideas we attribute to God. It is the substitution of relevance for genuine revelation.

5. Shortness of breath
With this symptom comes burnout. Anytime we are operating out of our own strength, we begin to find ourselves short of breath. It will not be long before we experience sleepless nights, anxiety attacks and other related conditions that are a result of shortness of breath. In time we breathe artificially to sustain our existence and eventually lose the strength to withstand the forces around us.

“We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.” Colossians 1:28-29

"The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.” Acts 17:24-25

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

Shortness of breath is a clear signal that you have the Ventilator Jesus Syndrome. This symptom has developed as a result of striving in ministry to the point of exhaustion. When we operate out of the spirit, “His burden is light and our joy is made complete.” He really is the one who “holds all things together.”






So what is the cure for the Ventilator Jesus Syndrome? On the spiritual health-meter, how do you score?


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We have become so clever, finding so many ways to be self-reliant. This is surely why Paul said we must “labor into our rest.” The reason for such a declaration is because of how hard we struggle to get the job done or how guilty we feel when we don’t. Here is a remedy you may consider if you are struggling with this syndrome:

• Take daily doses of the Bread of Life.
• Exercise the eyes of your heart.
• Get a lot of Sabbath rest.
• Meditate on God’s word.
• Don’t forget to breathe.

Warning: Take no supplements to this lifetime plan. If symptoms persist, increase the remedy till the problems are eradicated.

Acts 2:42 "They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer."


In this post, I will address the third part of Acts 2:42: "They devoted themselves to the breaking of bread" When looking at this statement, we must look at it in 2 parts. First, breaking bread is symbolic of sharing a meal together. Secondly, breaking bread is symbolic of communion. As we have been looking at what it takes to sustain a revival that will last an entire generation, we see a significant theme. This theme is the importance of intimacy. As we talk about breaking bread, I really want to drive home the importance of intimacy.


Intimacy can be defined as a close association with, detailed knowledge or deep understanding of a person, place, or subject. How do we gain detailed knowledge or deep understanding? We do this by spending time with a certain person or in a certain place. We can also study subjects to gain knowledge and understanding. The main theme in defining intimacy as we see here, is spending time with who or what we are trying to know and understand. As we spend time with each other, we begin to know and understand each other on new levels.


In the buisiness of our everyday life, how do we find time to get to know and understand each other? The answer is quite simple. Slow down and make time for each other. One of the best ways to make time for each other is by sharing a meal together. Sharing a meal invites people into our home. When we are in our home, our defenses come down and we tend to open up who we truly are to each other. Conversations during the meal provide opportunities to bond, plan, connect, and learn from one another. Meals provide an atmosphere of warmth, security and love, as well as feelings of belonging. When we feel like we belong to something greater than ourselves, we become free to open up, explore, and become who the Lord has called us to be.

Exploring, with each other, who the Lord has called us to be is where the concept of communion comes into play. Communion can be defined in two ways. First, communion is an act of remembering what Jesus did for us and our connection with Him. When we accept Jesus, we come into communion with Him.

Matthew 26:26-29 says, "While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is My body." And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins. "But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom."


Secondly, the word communion comes from the words common and union. Merriam-Webster defines communion as mutual participation; an act or instance of sharing; intimate fellowship or rapport; and, having a common faith and discipline. When we come into communion with each other, we share a common ground and are able to strengthen, encourage, and help each other become who we are called to be.


In my next post, I will be addressing the final point of Acts 2:42 – the importance of prayer.

by Graham Cooke

When the Gospel came to the Greek people, they had no language for unconditional love. No word could adequately represent the magnitude for the concept. They had to make up a word that defines God's loving nature. That word is Agape. The most important thing about love is what we do with it.

Agape is unselfish love which expects no return We love for the sake of loving. Love begets love as surely as hate produces hatred. Love grows when given but diminishes when withheld. Agape is the unconditional love that God give us because of Who He is in Himself. He absolutely loves His enemies. The absolute proof of which is John 3:16 and Ephesians 2:1-10.

We love those who have lost sight of themselves and as a result have no clear idea of how to behave around people. The selfish, the arrogant, the abuser, and the miserly; people who are stingy, narrow-minded, and ungenerous. Love catches all and touches everyone. The difficult people are the proof of love since they need the most to be changed by it. Loving the nice is good practice; loving the unlovely is a sure sign that we know that we ourselves are the Beloved.

Love is feeling good about ourselves in the eyes of the Father and seeing what He sees in other people. It takes patience to love some people. Time is required for us to get over our prejudice, open our heart to God, and make life decisions about who we are going to be for the people who get on our last nerve. Christians are not renowned for thinking patiently. We preach about love but practice the worldly kind. We do not set people free with God's love; we imprison them with our own fleshly habits of anger, judgment and blame. Love does not make people pay. We confuse judgment with justice. Judgment revolves around blame, punishment, and condemnation. Justice is the mix of righteousness with integrity and dignity. It is about fair treatment and impartiality. Love enable people to be advantaged even in ways they least deserve.
Such love is not weak. It is powerful but meek, kind but firm, generous and righteous. Meekness is not weakness; it is strength under control. Love will not abandon others to their fate. Love changes the course of life. It does not wash its hands of people. Agape love will never diminish another human being, but will make a point to enhance their quality of life.


When we love as God loves we are most connected to our truest identity. We discover ourselves in God. We are always more free when practicing love and always more bound when we imprison other people by guilt. Agape love is not self-conscious, overly sensitive or self-righteous. We must expect to be criticized for real love. The sure sign that we are manifesting God's Presence in Agape is revealed in our vilification by the super-spiritual and the religious minded.

We cannot pretend to love people; that is unreality. however we can practice the nature of God on everyone, and in so doing, be transformed ourselves. Agape is a very deliberate choice. It cannot be merely spontaneous — it must be consciously planned. Such love is not simply a feeling but a definitive act of the will. We choose love regardless of how we feel. We love because of who we are now and because of who we want to become in Jesus.

Love expressed increases. Love withheld declines. Love is not about having the right person in front of us, who can see us in the right way. If God has loved us first (1 John 4:19) then we must look inward, not outward, for Agape. Love, like the Kingdom, is within us now! Accept it, receive it, and rejoice in it. Love being loved. The best way to express love is to do it.

Giving love demonstrates Jesus. Agape is not contrived and it is not selfish. Love always returns to us by use. We have love now - give it! nothing makes people more dependent, self-pitying, bitter, cynical and emotionally crippled than thinking they don't have love unless someone gives it to them.

We must start where we are slowly. It is vital to let love be a conscious act that defines who we want to become in our own identity. Love needs no reward. It does not keep score. It bears, believes, hopes, and endures all things. It needs no fanfares, grandiose statements, promises or resolutions. We do not need to draw attention to ourselves. Love from within the shadow of God's wings. Quietly, unannounced, in secret. The Father who sees in secret will multiply Agape to us. When we love, we bless ourselves. Just do it, quietly, for God's sake!

-Graham Cooke

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I was at the Winds Cafe with good friends, some I have known for a while, some new. We were sharing about life, about art and our spiritual journey. We had an amazing moment to speak prophetically into the life of our waitress whose name happened to be "Genesis".

As the evening quietly moved along, a storm hit with torrential rains that a member of our party said looked like the floodwaters of India. The storm took out the power, so we sat by candlelight and inspired conversation. Taylor, my son, pulled out his journal and began to read his poetry, and we all sat in a moment of wonder hoping the rains would not stop anytime soon.

It was art, a God moment. It felt timeless... it was being in dreaming... a convergence of who we really are and all that God imagines for us to be.

It is as one fine poet said, "We must learn to reawaken and keep ourselves awake, not by mechanical aids, but by an infinite expectation of the dawn, which does not forsake us in our soundest sleep."

Imagine using your time to express the gifts God has given you as you walk through life everyday. What would that look like? What if being naturally supernatural had nothing to do with anything other than you simply being and living out of the Spirit's power within your creative edge? How would that change your journey?

When I consider God's purpose for me on this planet, the art I am to be as well as create, I hear something quite different than the white noise that presses me to think that doing is more important or more powerful than being. When I think about those who inspire me most and challenge me to live a life that expresses God in all the areas of my life, they are the people who have walked a simplistic road of wholeness and creativity. To live as Christ is not as hard as we make it. It is only when we compartmentalize who we are from what we do that we find the struggle.

Paul said we have to "labor into rest" because the toughest thing for believers to do is to stop being busy and just be. It takes Sabbath reflection to see we are created to be God's masterpiece and to sculpt out what His vision is for our destiny. The ebb and flow of our lives requires personal time of meditation and creative expression.

I know that I most touch the lives of others when people see my gardens, my art and my passion for intimacy with Him. If we move through the world like cattle, becoming domesticated and calculated, we quickly lose sight of our true north. Jesus said, "Consider the lilies of the field." Imagine taking the time to ponder what that looks like for your life? Would you change? What would your response be?

My response is to get down on my knees before the Father, this magnificent Father who parcels out all heaven and earth. I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit—not a brute strength but a glorious inner
strength—that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite
him in. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love,
you'll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant
dimensions of Christ's love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test
its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives,
full in the fullness of God. God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us. Ephesians 3:16-21 (Message)

I want to truly live. This does not require neck-breaking effort that guilts me into a performance-based understanding of the Gospel... in fact it is just the opposite. As Thoreau said, "I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived."

This is a challenge to you for the season we are in...to live more deliberately, to labor into His rest, to fan into flame your gifts. It is time to step into the picture of the dream God has for you. As you watch this video by Andy Goldsworthy, artist and sculpting poet, imagine what it would be like if you left all behind to live the abundant life Christ died to give you...? Imagine "being in dreaming"... where all of the dreams you have, become the reality of who you are.

Cheers,
Rebecca