Recent sketches...

Random sketches...and a few class work sessions.





















Here are some done with ball point pen...my favorite is a Zebra.

Watercolor study #1

This is a study . . . to learn to control watercolor. In this case, the secret is controlling the water first, the color and then edges.

Blindness....slavery versus freedom

⁴For the god of this world has blinded the unbelievers' minds [that they should not discern the truth], preventing them from seeing the illuminating light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ (the Messiah), Who is the Image and Likeness of God.

This is heavy on my heart today. How true. Blindness.

ADDITIONAL THOUGHT....R E L A T I O N S H I P S
¹⁴For the whole Law [concerning human relationships] is complied with in the one precept, You shall love your neighbor as [you do] yourself.

¹⁵But if you bite and devour one another [in partisan strife], be careful that you [and your whole fellowship] are not consumed by one another.

¹⁶But I say, walk and live [habitually] in the [Holy] Spirit [responsive to and controlled and guided by the Spirit]; then you will certainly not gratify the cravings and desires of the flesh (of human nature without God).

¹⁷For the desires of the flesh are opposed to the [Holy] Spirit, and the [desires of the] Spirit are opposed to the flesh (godless human nature); for these are antagonistic to each other [continually withstanding and in conflict with each other], so that you are not free but are prevented from doing what you desire to do.

Come, let us reason together. . . if one is a slave to his/her flesh, does that one really have a free will? Can there be a choice?

That is why God has to intervene. Every good work and every good deed is orchestrated by God in this world . . . ponder that. If you think you are the originator of goodness in your life, you do not give credit where credit is due and there is no recognition of man's true plight and why he must be saved from himself.

God has to step in and do for man what he cannot do for himself.

If one is born again by the Spirit, he/she will finally gain a "freed will" to choose righteousness over unrighteousness. With a new spirit, a new heart, he/she has the power to choose and the flesh is conquered and subdued.

Otherwise, if one can save himself within his own power to choose, why would you need the Holy Spirit or Christ's cross? In essence if man can save himself, he gets all the glory and can boast . . . when clearly salvation is "not of works lest any man can boast." Salvation is a gift given man by God. A gift.

Ponder that. . . a deep thought.

¹⁸But if you are guided (led) by the [Holy] Spirit, you are not subject to the Law.

¹⁹ Now the doings (practices) of the flesh are clear (obvious): they are immorality, impurity, indecency, ²⁰ Idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger (ill temper), selfishness, divisions (dissensions), party spirit (factions, sects with peculiar opinions, heresies), ²¹ Envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you beforehand, just as I did previously, that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

²² But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness, ²³Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law [that can bring a charge] ²⁴And those who belong to Christ Jesus (the Messiah) have crucified the flesh (the godless human nature) with its passions and appetites and desires.

²⁵If we live by the [Holy] Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. [If by the Holy Spirit we have our life in God, let us go forward walking in line, our conduct controlled by the Spirit.] ²⁶Let us not become vainglorious and self-conceited, competitive and challenging and provoking and irritating to one another, envying and being jealous of one another.

AMEN . . . there is therefore no condemnation to those who are in Christ. If you are free, you are free indeed....not unto perfection and sin-lessness but free from the slavery to sin. Freedom to choose.