Retired Nurse & Active Artist

The title about sums it up for two important areas of my life, and I also want to give you an idea for what brought me to CC:

I retired 4+ years ago from a 40+ nursing career and have been allowed to pursue my love for art. My Wife retired from nursing recently and wanted to get back into going to church, as attending church would have been difficult since we worked 12-hour weekend midnight shifts. I am comfortable in my relationship with God, regularly practice spiritual readings, but was supportive of her desire to become involved in a congregation.

We attended a couple of local churches, but I didn't feel the pull toward them, but when we went to the third, I was truly moved. The environment, parishioners, and the Pastor, all drew me in. Since then, we have become active members, attending about two church functions per week and donating some of our time and resources.

As an artist, I am continually looking for inspiration and Pastor Jay's interpretation of the Gospels have provided just that and returning to church has filled a void in my life. My wife gifted me a hand-made leather-bound journal two Christmases ago, but it sat on the shelf, waiting for a worthy enterprise. That worthy enterprise was, and is, Jesus.

Belonging to an Art's Forum and an Old Folks Forum, I've submitted some of my so-called New Testament Art with some minor, good responses. However, there seemed to be a lack of discussing the background inspiration for these works, predominately, Jesus.

I thought, "What better place to discuss religion, beliefs, and Jesus than a Christian website?"

I will leave you with two of the first works, not done in a chronological order, but an order of inspiration.




I look forward to being a member of this community.

Hi DaveyDo, yayy another artist in the mix, welcome to CC! Your displays are awesome, looking forward to your artwork and posts. God bless you and yours always🙏✝✡

amazing story and great work as well another fellow artists to join us this is fantastic a very warm welcome to you my friend

We are certainly fortunate to have another artist join our fellowship, a very talented artist. We look forward to getting to know you and your artwork. Welcome DaveyDo and God bless you!

Thank you, @TabinRivCA @Blain @Isny for those warm welcomes, as I learn to navigate this site, I look forward to the experience of fellowship & sharing.

If you are interested I have an art thread in the misc. section feel free to post your art

https://christianchat.com/threads/this-side-of-the-glass.182929/post-5416783
https://christianchat.com/threads/prayer-message-today.183763/post-5415044

my wife is a nurse too, so welcome.

Welcome!

Welcome, DaveyDo!

Thank you for the invite, Blain, and I checked out your art thread which held some beautiful images.

My art, as can be had from the posted image, is an analog grunge style. I've played around with digital, mainly the same grunge style in a two-dimensional format, using MS Paint, the very basics, and animations also. I like to feel the media with my fingers, so create digitally depending on my mood and the inspiration.

This an example of a Jesus-theme of an ink stamp which I was heavily into a couple of years ago:



The vast majority of my illustrations are comic character-like, unlike your magically realistic images. Our styles are markedly different and I'd feel more comfortable not mixing them.

However, thanks again for the info and invite!

Best artists are Jesus and Body of Christ. They always tell you the truth. Those involved in traditions of men will lie, and deceive. Those who have Holy Spirit. In Hosea, God tells Christian people to stay away from Beth aven. Some churches are stagnant and teach traditions of men. You won't achieve spiritual growth and knowledge in stagnant church. Im not knocking churches down, there are few good churches left. A beautiful church, or charming preacher means nothing. Unless God's word is being taught, sound doctrine. Best artists in bethel. The apostates are in beth aven. If they want there prayers heard, and God's blessings, they will seek bethel, and not Beth Aven. Peace.

Wow! What a great post, @j55, for it caused me to expand my consciousness and vocabulary! Thank you!

Please allow me to interpret your post in my own words. The best artists are Jesus and the Body of Christ, in that They "manipulate their media in order to achieve a desired effect"- Jesus, in His teachings, Christ in His redemption.

Those involved in the traditions of men- those seeking worldly pleasures- will lie and deceive- in order to get their "fix"- immediate & external gratification or what have you.


Beth-aven is no longer a house of God, but a house of idols, whereas Bethel is a house of God. We are encouraged not to worship idols but the true God, to sing our praises on high, which has many Biblical references. If one cannot carry a tune in a bucket, but can express themselves other artistic ways, we are encouraged not to hide our light under a bushel, which is done with God's specific gift of artistry.


A Pastor's charm can lay in his ability to proclaim the Word where it touches the hearts of his congregation in order that they may go out and lead greater lives in the service of God.

An apostate- one who renounces a religious principle does so in action, not following the teachings of Jesus. As Pastor Jay said, "It's not who we are, but it's what we do", as John the Baptist encouraged to the crowd, the soldier, and the tax collector in Luke 3, which was, basically, share your wealth, do your job, and be fair about it.

Wow, once again J55, thanks for a thought-provoking post!

Your welcome. Samson was manipulated by deliah, in judges. In spiritual matters, Galatians chapter 3:1, 2 Peter chapter 2:2, and 2 Timothy 3:6. False brethren. Jesus warned us about them in Matthew chapter 7, and apostle Paul warns us in 2 Corinthians chapter 11. We're warned about false teachers. Thanks again for sharing your insight. Take care.

Glad to have you join our community. Welcome to CC.