journal #3 - Carol Gardner

Carol Gardner - Charleston, SC

Journal #3 - Robyn Blaikie Collins

Taylor John lost his battle with depression on March 9, 2010. He was 28.

Known for his beautiful voice, humorous spirit and endless pranks... the memories and "taylor" stories have flowed on the Taylor John Memorial Page on facebook.

Taylor's life has been celebrated and remembered for these days following his departure to the "best place".

Those left behind are crushed in spirit. Lonely. Longing for their son, brother, uncle, friend who suffered in ways that were unknown. The hope and promise of an eternity together is the thing that is left behind.

May they be the ones that rest in peace knowing this... they will see him again. while Taylor is most likely doing what he does... singing... laughing... experiencing true joy...waiting for the rest to join him.

Pray for those suffering from depression. It is a very real pain.


— Robyn Blaikie Collins, The Colony, TX

Journal #3 - Kathy MacDonald

Kathy MacDonald - Memphis, TN

Journal #3 - Charlie Forrester

Charlie Forrester - Memphis, TN

Journal #3 - Jess Erickson

Jess Erickson
Memphis, TN

Journal #3 - Stefan Wolf

Stefan Wolf
Portland, OR

You also asked if working in the journal had inspired us to start something. I have been doing more finished worship/prayer art lately- it has been a very good for me as a Christian artist and for my friends who I share it with. I don't know if you like classical music, but Rachmoninov's 'Vespers, Op.37' has lately made entering into a place of worship and art very easy for me. It's very worshipful, even in Russian.
---Stefan

Stefan is currently an under grad. student at Portland State University, studying fine art with an emphasis in drawing and printmaking. His primary interests and influences are God, nature, English and Russian Literature, and expressionism. For several years he has been exploring the personal nature of art- largely though his own sketchbooks. Most of what appears is taken from two recent sketchbooks. The image was originally drawn late last summer during a service at Imago Dei, accompanied by the title: The Great Pursuer. Except for Psalm 27, which is buried neath a lot of cross hatching, the writing comes from thinking during walks around SE Portland.
http://stefanwolf-selfotheringpt2.blogspot.com

Journal #3 - Anneli Anderson

Anneli Anderson
Portland, OR

A note from Anneli:

Recently, I've been reading through a devotional bible called The Holy Bible Mosaic. It goes by the liturgical calender and starts off with Advent. I was struck with the section on Hope. Not ever really meditating on what hope really is I found this part written by Alex Davis, a friend of mine, enlightening.

Here, then, is real hope: not that we passionately want to be more and do more, but that the one who creates and sustains and cares for the universe waits for us to create and sustain and care, too. So consider: Hope doesn't start with you , depend on you, or end with you. It starts, depends, and ends in Jesus Christ. He connects you to the Father and fills you with the Spirit, empowering you to meet others with the grace that every relationship will require. And when grace is mutually given, hope begins moving afresh.

Journal #3 - Kathy Park

God has blessed me through these two pages of journal. I got the journal just in time that I was starting a new direction with patterns of my life and my works. It was when I just got back from a short trip to the Sequoia National Park to just empty my mind hoping to fill that vacuum with His inspiration.

For some reason, that limited space in the journal made me feel more freedom. I will continue to try hard to experience that freedom by practicing emptying myself so His inspiration just take charge in my works. thank you.

Blessings,

Kathy Park

Corona, CA

Journal #3 - Rochelle Renee Brown

Rochelle Renee Brown

Pahrump, NV

Journal #3 - Joyce Stewart

Joyce Stewart

Dripping Springs, TX

Joyce has a deep interest in visual arts through all forms as a window to the soul. Her pilgrim travels abroad have enriched her passion for photography, collage and painting through the eyes of faith. She seeks to encourage church initiatives in bringing together spiritual renewal and artistic expression.

Journal #3 - Jessie Miles Corbitt

Jessie Miles Corbitt

Memphis, TN

Journal #3 route: I must admit I'm behind on posting images from #3. It went on a long trip and when it got back i gave it to an artist in Memphis who kept it too long. So the route was a 5692 mi trip starting in Memphis, Tn to Dripping Springs, TX to Pahrump, NV to Corona, CA to Portland, OR and back to Memphis.

Video of Eli Morris and Richard Fudge discussing journal project

Video of the journal project (all slides to date) with audio of a Q&A from The Stirring Oct 11th. Senior pastor Eli Morris talks with Richard Fudge about the To Send a Prayer journal project.

You will probably need to up the volume. Eli is wearing a mic and I'm just holding one. So I sound a lot softer.

Journal #3 - Ellie O'Connor

Joey O'Connor's fifteen year old daughter, Ellie, created this pencil drawing.

Journal #3 - Amelia Whaley

Amelia Whaley
Mt. Pleasant, SC

Oddly enough Amelia and April dont know each other and yet they live 2 miles apart. Both paint regularly during worship services. I'd say that Mt. Pleasant is a very artsy area.

Journal #3 - April Knight

April Knight
Mount Pleasant, SC

April is a live painter too. Here's a little about her taken from her web page:

April feels God has called her to use art as a visual element in worship and also to influence others to worship God through their creative gifts. April graduated from CSU in May 2008 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religion and a minor in art. At the present time she is using her gifts as an artist at Seacoast Church in Mount Pleasant, SC where her husband is a worship leader for the student ministry.

Journal #3 - Michael Winters

Michael and I have never met, but I think he's a cool guy. Just look at this arts program he leads at his church. http://www.sojournvisualarts.com/ I need to go visit him.

Journal #3 made its way from Arian Armstrong in Ft. Thomas, Ky
to Michael Winters in Louisville, KY.
Distance = 103 miles.
Total miles = 590
Trips: 2


From Michael's blog:
The picture above is my addition to the project. I came across a striking song lyric that inspired a prayer in me that inspired me to make this image. There is a Mount Eerie song 'Lost Wisdom' in which the writer has a mystical experience in nature. At one point the song sings, 'I open the front door and the back door and let the wind blow through.' For whatever reason this line really stuck with me. I didn't even consider that he might be talking about a physical door. In my mind, the door in this line refers to a door to a human spirit. The doors are opened and the Wind comes through, the Pure Spirit. I hope this image conveys both an emptiness of the human spirit and the capacity for God to dwell within us.

I'm sure some people will read it as a t-shirt that doesn't say anything, but that's what I get for not putting any words on this spread. -- Michael

Illustrated prayers by Daniel and Arian Armstrong

After Arian Armstrong finished her pages in Journal #3, she had it couriered 30 feet to her husband Daniel. Making the total distanced traveled so far 487 miles and 30 feet.

Journal No. 3 - Memphis, Tn to Ft. Thomas, KY

Map of Journal routes
Journal #3 makes its way from Memphis, Tn to Arian Armstrong in Ft. Thomas, Ky.
Distance = 487 miles.
Total miles = 487
Trips: 1

Painted Prayer by Emily Marriott

Entry by Emily Marriott, Memphis, TN
http://www.myspace.com/battlevictorious

breath of life. tree of life. never again will all life be cut. you must spare his life. that light of life may shine on him. the Lord is the stronghold of my life.

Painted Prayer by Richard Fudge

by Richard Fudge, Memphis, TN

"I don't want a paycheck. I want a passion!
I don't want a career. I want a calling!
I don't want a different job. I want to make a difference!

Jeremiah 29:11
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Matthew 7:14
But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.

"I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference." Robert Frost