The arts are in limbo, nearly at a crisis in educational systems. Funding for arts in public education for children has been reduced to literally nothing the last three decades. Colleges and universities struggle to validate the existence of art programs and socio-economic forces marginalize the financial ‘return-on-investment’ of liberal, performing or visual arts higher education. It is taunted as incompatible with career stability and economic viability, unless one goes

In an age where societies are consumed with “the big,” attitudes frame around “large is in charge,” which introduce the need to measure against others. From “how many likes and shares” to “the amount of followers,” from the fasting growing ‘this and that’ to the top ten of whatever category, pop culture creates an obsessive drive for more, for the viral, for the most notable. This cultural mania suppresses the mindset of contentment. It seems as if it is not enough to "jus

Jesus Christ described himself as the Bread of Life in John 6:35 NLT: "I am the bread of life. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty." The phrase, "I am the bread of life," is one of the "I AM" statements that Jesus spoke in the gospel of John. However, it is more a function of life than a title in the life of a follower of Christ. Bread is a symbolic representation of the life-provision of Christ. When you become born again, you receive the Bread of Life and become a

How do we forget who we are? It is possible for us to get caught up and distracted in other people's lives and overwhelmed in the "roles" we fulfill. Some may ask, "isn't there more than this?" How did we get there? Many times it is because we set our own limits and we aren't aware that we have done that. We end become the roles we play and then when those roles shift or even end, then we begin another search for who we are. This moment I encourage you to make this declarati

James 4:6 TPT "God resists you when you are proud but continually pours out grace when you are humble." In a day of self-centeredness, leaders must have a centered self. The Sign of Insular Thinking -When leaders lack the capacity to function in relationship when others have different and unique concepts, ideas, methodologies and perspectives from their own. Figurehead leaders become the gurus and experts, further proliferating the clergy/laity dualistic, dichotomous distinc

Is freedom the “free domain?” The freedom to dominate? The dominion of the free? The highest law of freedom is the law of responsibility. As I reflect on the greatness, goodness, graciousness, grievousness, greediness and giftedness of the United States and its citizens, I can trust and not trust you at the same time. I might trust you to drive me to the doctor and not trust you to conduct the medical procedure. Humanity was created as trustees in the earth: to be fruitful,

In the world, everything from atoms to molecules to cells change to match our beliefs. Our belief inform our thinking. Then, our beliefs impact our physiology at a cellular, subatomic level, shaping outcomes and outputs. What we believe impacts who we are in the natural, physical world. Thus, we are limited by the way we think of ourselves and others in that world. If a group of human beings believe that another group of human beings are subhuman or inhuman, then the preju

I am done. I am undone. Why, Oh why the repetition. Why do I feel there is no answer to my repetitive petition Like a splinter in my soul that I can't pick out I erupt from the pain sometimes through my mouth Hope seems delayed - feeling like denial Tired of the mask that hides disgraceful betrayal BUT You can lift us up to be the Image before the world's foundations Even if there is not a change to the world's situations I put my life on Your altar and say Consume the excess

Jesus sought to transform his social world by creating an alternative community structured around compassion, radicalized love. As Prophet, it also involved him in the radical criticism of his culture’s present path and warning his people of the catastrophic historical direction in which they were headed. The prophetic is a revitalization movement rooted in love, revealed Spirit maturity and manifested fruit of the Spirit in hearing, seeing, thinking and then speaking. As

Taking a look at the ego is an important truth to understand if you wish to grow emotionally, mentally and spiritually. As culturally defined, the ego is really our self-importance. Ego draws us away from God and our neighbors and toward ourselves. On the other hand, to deny self by immersing ourselves in Christ moves us beyond ourselves toward the love of God and others. Jesus was discerning in saying that everything boiled down to the Greatest Commandment: Love God and lov

In Luke 17:20-21, the scriptures states, 20 Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; 21 nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.” The religious leaders were concerned with when will God come and reign. Christ would remind them that the kingdom of God is not of this world. The kingdom of heaven is a realm where G

In foundational collegiate communication courses, students are introduced to the ABC's of Communication: Accuracy, Brevity and Clarity. Accuracy includes both accurate information and accurate expression. The information should be correct and well-expressed. Accuracy demands precision in writing. Precision is the quality of being exact and accurate. Brevity is the quality of being brief. It is a striking feature in communication. Brevity means giving maximum information in

Romans 13:11 "And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed." The subconscious mind is like a garden. The seed that is planted there will grow. We've been planting many different seeds there. There are many tares among the wheat. MIND = GARDEN WORDS = SEEDS Some tares or weeds are obvious and they need to be rooted out. Sometimes it's hard to tell the bad from the good. Sometimes it's har

Everything that is experienced with your five senses is to be creative. Your consciousness is rooted in Me. You can influence the responsible “effects” that appear in your reality. You are designed to create. You are designated to generate and to produce. As I AM Creator and you are created, you are sent to demonstrate My first nature revealed to you: in the beginning I created light from My Words. To the degree that light penetrates your mind will be the degree that you know

It may seem in certain seasons that the winds in your life might be churning like a sea with huge, roaring waves, crashing into the boat of your life threatening to capsize it. My Voice will keep you steady. Howling, splashing sounds punctuated by exploding lightning and thunder may fill your mind like the exhausted disciples experienced all night. They were yelling to one another to be heard above the storm, the worst was not over. My Voice is as the sound of many waters. In

The opportunities to make less of myself are almost unlimited--but each on of them is also a change for me to better and improve myself. It's all in how you look at yourself and your desire to continue to grow. I know it can be heartbreaking to see others in heartbreak, your kids hurting or family members in retreat, and to understand "what happened here?" or "who is responsible?" Here's a suggestive question: What good do you do charging around and rewarding pain with more

You are unique. Unique from what--everything else in creation for there is not another in existence that is exactly like you. You are different from every other creation of God, because you came out of God. Before age and time came into the earth and you were formed in the physical realm, you were known of God. You are a vital part of I AM. You are worthy. Worthy of what--everything that your Creator has designed for you to be, to become and to receive. You are spirit, the

Psalm 8:4-6 "Why would you bother with puny, mortal man or care about human beings? Yet what honor you have given to men, created only a little lower than Elohim, crowned with glory and magnificence. You have delegated to them rulership over all you have made, with everything under their authority, placing earth itself under the feet of your image-bearers." TPT I AM mindful of you. As the Most High, full of splendor, in glory, in wonders and works, I AM incomparable and omni

When you believe in ME, out of you, your innermost being, rivers will flow. That water, those rivers are My Spirit. Why doubt who I am in you when I have declared in My Word that rivers, reservoirs in you, shall emerge? You are now in a pivotal moment of revelation and realization-the revelation of the River in you and the realization of the Flowing from that River. When it is revealed to you, you will not shrink back again, for you will know that your intent and even moti

Because I AM, you now are. I stand strong in you, strong with my power and authority to bring my kingdom in the earth, my domain, my dominion, my deliberations in My creation. Because I AM, you will not be distracted by internal stories no longer. You will not be disappointed by external discussions. You will be directed by I AM. You might ask, "Who is this I AM?" And I say, "the Essence of all that is" that you have access to WITHIN. I will reveal and show you wonders pa