Not of that Camp - comment

Have you ever railed against or imputed unjust motives or lifestyle to a Christian and been knocked down pretty hard by God for it?  My personal example of this still surprises me.  I was railing on Pope Francis about a year ago. Nothing very serious - I can’t even remember what I was saying about him outloud, but to myself, as I was cleaning house.  I think I was commenting about all the free press and praise he gets for what I thought was a minor thing. (No, I don’t remember what.)  Well right at that moment my curtain rod fell down as I was pulling my curtain back and knocked me real good on top of my head.  

“That was scary,” I muttered. For I strongly felt that my Lord was rebuking me for my comments about the pope, with literally, a rod.

Now I’m not Catholic and don’t really believe in the office of “pope-hood,”  yet I felt quite strongly that I shouldn’t be criticizing this man that I really knew very little about.  Ever since then, I have felt that Pope Francis is anointed by God.  He has some type of authority that I do not understand.

I have a believing friend who has at times unjustly criticized some Christians that I know but who she doesn’t know at all.  Enough of a criticism that I felt the need to defend them.  I think - we should be cautious brethren - critiquing those in Christ. For those that the Lord says are His people and the sheep of His pasture.  Unbelievers often make harsh accusations and even lies against Christians - this is to be expected - but we should not be of that camp.

Forgive me Lord for all my unjust critiques of other believers for which you have not yet rebuked me.

The Kingdoms of Our Lord: Banners over Spokane - Painting/Collage

"And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever," Revelations 11:15.

Collage: Thai paper and acrylics of canvas - 16"X20"

I can make custom collages for any city or area that you desire proclaiming the ruler-ship of Jesus Christ.

The Annunciation - Painting and its background

It started when I found this article and photo of the oldest known portrait of Mary the mother of Jesus. http://news.yale.edu/2016/02/12/yale-art-gallery-painting-might-be-oldest-known-image-virgin-mary

This image of a woman drawing water from a well once decorated the baptistry of an early Christian house-church in Dura-Europos. It's from about 250 AD and shows the annunciation.
This surprised me since I had never heard before that the annunciation was supposed to have taken place at a well.  When I looked into this, I found out that this is a well known tradition, and that there is still a place in Nazareth called Mary's well.
This is an older photo/postcard which I imagine is closer to what it looked like at the 1st Century AD.

I am not a "classical" artist, so I hope you forgive my attempt to render the event. I used a "veil" of glowing painting to somewhat mask the angel depending on the light and direction from which you view the painting.

  

Matted 16X20- acrylic on canvas paper

Look in Wonder - Poem

March 3, 2016

Look in wonder at the blessings you are under.

I have covered you in clothes of many colours: scarlet, blue, and purple.

Scarves of silk, coats of wool, and feet protected by cushioned shoes.

Consider all the gifts that I have given you.

Can you see the tree that grows throughout the world?

Bearing fruit and bringing healing to the nations?

Have you witnessed my goodness spread abroad?

Calling for peace?

Calling for love?

My light bearers take root throughout the earth;

My goodness knows no measure.

Everything you have suffered will dissipate like dew.

The morning sun brings rebirth;

Creation now renewed.

The Sacrifice - Painting

The Sacrifice

March 4. 2016

Acrylic on canvas paper, matted, 8"X10"

Last week at Christ Church, Pastor Kenton was preaching on Deuteronomy 27, and I kept seeing this picture in my head (without the goat).  I feel sort of bad for the poor goat I added.

Notice how it sort of mirrors the painting I did last week called The Sanctification of the Saints.

Almost Dawn - Painting

Glorification of the Saints - Painting

"Glorification of the Saints" by Valerie Horner  2/25/2016

Acrylic on canvas paper  12" X 16" matted.

I'm on a bit of a medievalist kick lately. I noticed that one of the motifs representing the glory of God, The Holy Spirit, or the presence of God in Medieval art is a cloud with cherubim around the border and light coming out of the cloud.  Some people have claimed that these painted clouds are actually representative of UFO's (which they are not!) I've also been reading N.T. Wright Surprised By Hope, John Piper's article about Athanasius of Alexandria, and listening to Dr Michael Heiser's podcast in which they are all discussing the glorification of the saints, so instead of putting the Virgin Mary under the "UFO" cloud like many Medieval painting, I put glorified saints or the believing church of God in Christ Jesus.

....





This cloud/angel motif is even found in an a cave in
China. It is very old.

So it was too much of a fun challenge for me to pass up!

I get a kick out of this painting below. It appears that the artist was much more impressed with the architecture at the time than the miracle of the annunciation.

My next piece I'm working on is - Guess what?
Yep - the annunciation.
Once again I apologize for the poor photo
quality of my art.