Sketches 18

Billy

Wyse1

Camer

Camerone

Blazefest Video

There's a movie done by Gospel Graffiti showing kinda what the whole new york trip was about. There's a good cross section of the different parts of the events. Check it out there's a few parts to it:

Blazefest New York Video Part 1

Blazefest New York Video Part 2

Piece #17

Then Jesus cried out, "When a man believes in me, he does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. When he looks at me, he sees the one who sent me. I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness. As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it. There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day." John 12:44-48

Piece #16

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10

The Birth of Battle Murals

I was painting a piece (piece #15) for a business and while I was painting two middle aged men approached me and asked what I was doing, what it said, why I was doing it and if I got paid for it. I told them that the bussiness owner is just paying for the paint and that I've never gotten any money for it. He reached into his pocket and gave me a five dollar bill and said "now you've been paid for it, God put it on my heart to give you $5". That night I finished the piece and the next day I went to the business to collect the paint money. The Secratary/accountant said that she would need reciepts for the paint in order to pay me. I didn't have the recipts, I was a little frustrated and told the story to my Mom who told me if I just write up an invoice it'll be good enough for thier books, you just write your business name here and this and that. Battle Murals was born. It's just a way for me to stay responcible to the government for my taxes and possible future revenue. Yeah right, Graffiti has only financially given me an empty bank account so far. If the future is any different it'll be a miracle.

Piece #15

The text along the bottom reads: "There must be more to life. In a world filled with so much pleassure we feel so much disatisfaction. Ecc 2:1"

"I thought in my heart, "Come now, I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good." But that also proved to be meaningless. "Laughter," I said, "is foolish. And what does pleasure accomplish?" I tried cheering myself with wine, and embracing folly—my mind still guiding me with wisdom. I wanted to see what was worthwhile for men to do under heaven during the few days of their lives. I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards. I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees. I bought male and female slaves and had other slaves who were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me. I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I acquired men and women singers, and a harem as well—the delights of the heart of man. I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me. I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless." Ecclesiastes 2:1-11

New York Trip: Day 3

Well all the events were over and by the time I woke up Fasm had left and Zion was on his way out the door. So I packed up my stuff and Tim gave me a ride to the bus station. When we got there I realized I hd left my sketch book at Tim's house and Tim has to go to work so he calls is Mom to get the book and drop it off. Tim said she'd come though and she'd be here in 15 minutes. Half an hour later the bus I was supposed to get on was loading up and she hadn't shown up yet. I released it to God and said if you don't want me to have it or if you want me to come back here to get it that's Ok. I started thinking about all my work and more importantly all the pieces other guys had done in my book that I'd never get back and that couldn't be replaced. I prayed that I'd get my book back. I'm the last in line getting on the bus and before I get on the bus I take one last look around just in case she showed up in the last 20 seconds scince the last time I checked and there she was just pulling up to the parking spot on the street. I grabbed my book and made it on the bus. After it was all finished and the whirlwind of the event and the trip subsided I felt empty as I waited on the buses and in the stations and temptation came on hard. Some things that Big City said were very applicable. I just gotta remind myself that I have the ability to be a Lying, Alcholic, Fornicator if I take the path of immediate gradification.