The Great Wave

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Detail of Observed and Recorded Permutation of The Holy Spirit XII

Observed and Recorded Permutation of The Holy Spirit XII

Image #11

Physical Inspiration: The Great Wave

Many hours of video footage scared me into making this erasing. It is 3.8ft. x 7ft. and one of the largest of the bunch.

The most recent Tsunami in Japan March 11, 2011 - At 2:46pm, a 9.0 magnitude earthquake took place 231 miles northeast of Tokyo, Japan, at a depth of 15.2 miles. The earthquake caused a tsunami with 30 ft waves that damaged an estimated 25 trillion yen or $300 billion and took many lives.

I've always been enamored with a wave image made by the Japanese artist Hokusai which was published sometime between 1830 and 1833 titled "The Great Wave off Kanagawa" (神奈川沖浪裏) or "In the well of a wave off Kanagawa", also known as The Great Wave or simply The Wave.

My wave confronts the viewer almost straight on, with a gentle strength and an impending power about to drop its force.

Spiritual Inspiration: Raging waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame; wandering stars for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever. Jude 1:13

Jude, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James wrote a letter to people of faith and reminded them that God saved them out of Eygpt but shortly there after, God destroyed those who did not believe. There are many examples of waves in the Bible; the wave of destruction, in the form judgement, that ran through Sodom and Gomorrah or when Mark and Luke recorded Jesus rebuking the wind and the waves saying, "Quiet! Be still!" and they were.

Jude's passage is difficult to contend with.  For me it is much like reconciling why God allows natural disasters to occur because of the suffering that they cause. Waves both natural and spiritual can be seen as destructive and cleansing. But as the Psalmist says to God, "You rule the raging of the sea; When its waves rise, You still them".

May we learn to see the signs of life's impending waves as a warning that will ultimately bring forth a spiritual cleansing once we return our gaze toward God.

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Title: Observed and Recorded Permutation of The Holy Spirit - XII

40 inches x 82 inches-pastel erasing on dura-lar

Location: Bakersfield Museum of Art

Event: #OpeningReception Extended

peace be with us all...

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Detail of Observed and Recorded Permutation of The Holy Spirit IX

Observed and Recorded Permutation of The Holy Spirit IX

Image #10

Keep in mind this image is pretty large 3.5 ft. x 6.3 ft.

Physical Inspiration: Aurora Borealis or "Northern Lights"

The aurora was named after the Roman goddess of dawn, and was long thought to be produced by sunlight reflected from polar snow and ice, or refracted light much like rainbows.

The aurora or “Northern Lights” occur along ring shaped regions around the north and south geomagnetic poles. The scientific explanation is that the aurora is a physics phenomenon taking place 50 to 200 miles above the Earth.

According to the Univ. of Alaska, research seems to indicate that energy particles from the sun collide with the Earth’s magnetic field. That kind of atom determines the color. It also appears that the sun has an influence: auroras become brighter, more distinctive, and are spread over a larger area two days after intense solar activity. Two days is the time it takes the "solar wind" to arrive in Dec. through March when nights are longest and the sky darkest. Solar winds flow across the Earth's upper atmosphere, hitting molecules of gas lighting them up much like a neon sign.

Spiritual Inspiration: "When He utters His voice, There is a multitude of waters in the heavens: "And He causes the vapors to ascend from the end of the earth. He makes lightning for the rain, He brings the wind out of His treasuries." Jeremiah 10:13

If you look closely, the yellow is present in many places and is evidence of solar activity. The lines at the bottom of this erasing are whispering and gliding on the earth as it is described by the Prophet Jeremiah. The physical and the spiritual inspirations are connected in this image more than any of the past images. It was a major break through for me as I entered the realm of large format erasings.

As for the spiritual, may we all continue to devote our lives to God and may we all see that this image is direct documentation of fact and evidence that Jesus is God.

peace be with us all...

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Title: Observed and Recorded Permutation of The Holy Spirit - IX

36 inches x 78 inches-pastel erasing on dura-lar

Location: Bakersfield Museum of Art

Event: #OpeningReception Extended

Breath of All Mankind

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Detail of Observed and Recorded Permutation of The Holy Spirit III

Observed and Recorded Permutation of The Holy Spirit III

Image #9

Physical Inspiration: Corals

Corals live in tropical waters throughout the world, generally close to the surface where the sun's rays can reach the algae. While corals get most of their nutrients from the byproducts of the algae's photosynthesis, they also have barbed, venomous tentacles they can stick out, usually at night, to grab zooplankton and even small fish.

Coral reefs teem with life, covering less than one percent of the ocean floor, but supporting about 25 percent of all marine creatures. However, threats to their existence abound, they provide a home for  fish, mollusks, worm, crustaceans, sponges, tunicates and much more.

Spiritual Inspiration: Breath of All Mankind

“But now ask the beasts, and they will teach you; And the birds of the air, and they will tell you; Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you; And the fish of the sea will explain to you. Who among all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this, In whose hand is the life of every living thing, And the breath of all mankind? (‭Job‬ ‭12‬:‭5, 7-10‬)

If you are skeptical that Jesus is God and the one who created this earth or that He is the life of every living thing including us...Ask and He will show you through His creation that He is the only true and living God.

Amen.

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Title: Observed and Recorded Permutation of The Holy Spirit - III

9.5 inches x 21 inches-pastel erasing on dura-lar

Location: Bakersfield Museum of Art

Event: #OpeningReception Extended

Powers and Principalities

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Detail of Observed and Recorded Permutation of The Holy Spirit IV

Observed and Recorded Permutation of The Holy Spirit IV

Image #8

Physical Inspiration: Squat Lobster

Two species of Squat Lobster are found along California coasts. They look like lobsters, but are more closely related to hermit crabs. Squat lobsters don't carry shells on their backs unlike their relatives. Instead, they squeeze into crevices and hide under rocks to protect their bodies. Safe from hungry fishes, they wait and leave their claws exposed to keep other lobsters away.

Spiritual Inspiration: Helmet of Salvation 

Much like the Squat Lobster we are also exposed, living without a shell for protection but never fear! The Book of Ephesians was written by the Apostle Paul as a formal letter to the Christian community of Ephesus. Paul explains in chapter 6 that when we struggle (with addictions to food, greed, pornography, drugs and much more) we struggle because we are fighting against powers and principalities. This is whether or not we are addicted or we trying to help those that are. These invisible forces are an impetus for all that is corrupt in the world.

Paul gives clear instructions to those that are sober. He provides a "Step by Step" process on what to put on to protect ourselves. In one of the last steps he says in a command like tone, "TAKE the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." But what I love about this is that a few verses later, he essentially says to GIVE the helmet of salvation to others in need by, "making known the mystery of the good news of Jesus Christ."

The helmet of salvation is two fold; it is meant to protect the believer, while in battle on behalf of those that struggle, but is also meant to be given, so that protection is multiplied.

If you struggle with an addiction of any sort, the helmet of salvation is for you. Take it. Jesus will provide the protection you desire.

Pray. 

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Title: Observed and Recorded Permutation of The Holy Spirit - IV

9.5 inches x 21 inches on dura-lar

Location: Bakersfield Museum of Art

Event: #OpeningReception Extended

 

A Straining Mental Leap

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Detail of Observed and Recorded Permutation of the The Holy Spirit II

Observed and Recorded Permutation of The Holy Spirit II

Image #7

Physical Inspiration: A Thunderstorm-Supercell from Glasgow, Montana

Supercell Definition: Supercells are highly organized storms characterized updrafts that can attain speeds over 100 miles per hour, able to produce extremely large hail and strong and/or violent tornadoes, downdrafts that can produce damaging outflow winds in excess of 100 mph - all of which pose a high threat to life and property.

Spiritual Inspiration: "The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

The definition of a Supercell and the scripture read together are a straining mental leap that I can not imagine but try to understand by faith - Jesus is the power behind the Supercell and the words in the Bible.

This passage is in the Book of John and he is quoting Jesus talking to a man at night named Nicodemus. Jesus simply said, "Everyone must be born again." He qualified that by saying, people who are born of the flesh are one with their flesh, and those who are born of the Spirit are one with the Spirit.

Essentially what he means is...when we were all born, we were born of the flesh, we are slaves to our carnal desires indefinitely, however tame or destructive they are - which pose a high threat to our lives and loved ones. But, if we choose a life with Jesus Christ, then and only when we ask to be saved we are finally born of the spirit.

"The Holy Spirit comes like the wind-not visible, but absolutely felt. Sometimes in a powerful storm, sometimes with the faintest stirring. He fills whomever He will to accomplish the Father's will. Whether a savage storm or a calm breeze, the Lord's presence is made known to those who can feel." R.Ehrke

That is amazing grace!

This was the very first of thirteen erasings-drawings in the series.

Enjoy!

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Title: Observed and Recorded Permutation of The Holy Spirit - II

9.5 inches x 21 inches on dura-lar

Location: Bakersfield Museum of Art

Event: #OpeningReception Extended

Last Quote: Roxanne Ehrke, Lover of Christ