Creativity Is Rooted in Creation

 Article from "The Gospel Coalition" on Christian Creativity.

Creativity Is Rooted in Creation

Christians are growing more and more interested in the arts. Across the country now, we find churches with art galleries and open studio nights. We see more emphasis on visuals and aesthetics in church, and a whole cottage industry is emerging in publishing resources for Christians and the arts. Though we have a long and rich history of engagement with art and culture.... link to continue reading article from The Gospel Coalition.

Copyrighting Iggi and Omar

Back in 2009, I went throught the process of copyrighting A Fly, a Bee and a Whistle: The Adventures of Iggi and Omar. 

This is "a story told by 3 narrators"  that I wrote back in 2004 and shared originally at the Creative Worship night at my church.   I didn't have to copyright it, as I have no real plan to ever try to have it published, but I wanted to go through and understand the copyright process.   It took about a year from when I applied until I got the official paperwork, which I received recently in 2010.

The beginnings of this project came from divine inspiration of God.  Sounds pretty awesome, huh?   It was.  I was reading in Isaiah when I came across verses 18 and 19 in chapter 7.  In the New American Standard version, they read, "In that day the LORD will whistle for the fly that is in the remotest part of the rivers of Egypt and for the bee that is in the land of Assyria. They will all come and settle on the steep ravines, on the ledges of the cliffs, on all the thorn bushes and on all the watering places.”

I thought, "How cool!"  The Lord of all creation can just whistle and creation responds! I should write a story about this.   And I did. 

As I wanted it to be something interactive that could be used in worship, I added 3 narrators to tell the story, two often speaking in the voices of the main characters, Iggi the fly and Omar the bee.  The third narrator was the Voice of God.   I was pleased with the result and it became part of a very special night of creative worship.

In 2009, I decided to pursue copyrighting, again simply to understand how it works. Turns out, you can do everything through a website: http://www.copyright.gov/.   I simply needed to fill out the on-line forms, attach an electronic copy of my work, and pay the fee.  Viola!  Copyright.   Again, it took over a year from submitting the application to obtaining the copyright documents (the site says 4.5 to 15 months processing time), but I have it, and you can see it below.
  





Also, you can look it up on the http://www.copyright.gov/ site and see my info.  I think that's pretty neat!

So my story is now registered out there, and should it ever be published, can include the following tag:

A Fly, a Bee and a Whistle: The Adventures of Iggi and Omar

Copyright © 2009 by Robert Edward Wright

"Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible^®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.  Used by permission."

All in all, a fun time of creating something new to bring a little more glory to God.  And just perhaps, maybe a sequel is now in order!

Alliteration Adoration

I co-teach a Sunday School class of 9th and 10th graders, and a few weeks ago the 11th and 12th graders joined us.  Trying something different, I talked about creative ways to worship and I passed out note cards with a letter of the alphabet on them.  Each student wrote a creative phrase of praise using their letter.  Here's what happened.

Read and worship with our "Alliteration Adoration!"

You who are Awesome created all astounding beings.

Brilliant Bible writer who bubbles and beholds our souls,

Our Caring God is catastrophically comforting.

Dominant. Divine. Drastic God.

I get Excited to enter into the extremely awesome presence of the everlasting God.  I enjoy being enlightened of eternity.

He is Faithful to the fatherless in times of fear, filling them with strength.  He is full of forgiveness and reigns forever and ever.

He is Good, gracious and He is God.

The Holy Spirit is hallowed in heaven and humbles the hearts of men.

God's Incredible intelligence is displayed in creation.

My Joyful soul jubilantly jumps for joy.

He is the King of all the kingdoms.

The Lord of life loves and listens to our loquacious laments from His lofty location in the land of eternal living.

Mighty God is majestic.

We Need the neat, never-ending love of God.

Omniscient God makes otters.

We Praise a powerful prince of peace.

Quickly and quietly He created the quails and the quills and the queens and the queers.

Our Rare redeemer who rescued us from our rebellion and His roaring wrath - ridiculous!

God my Savior from sins, You wash me clean like snow and I am Your son.

We Talk to a terrific teacher.

God gives me Ultimate understanding of unknown things.

You are the Victor and you give victory to those that love You and make us victorious.

We worship whole fully while weeping wistfully with tears of utter wonder.  What word would one even whisper which would wow us? Woe? While we walk unaware of what words He wills, we worship the worldly, unworthy and wicked.

You X-ray our hearts and are excellent and extreme.

I Yearn for Your love, for You are lovely!  You are holy and heavenly, and worthy of praise,

A Zealous God that made zebras.