#jack baumgartner

[beguines]

Jack Baumgartner, Sanctuary

[beguines]

Jack Baumgartner, The First Beautiful Day

[beguines]

Jack Baumgartner, Go On, Old Pilgrim

[ghoti-and-us]

Jack Baumgartner - Flying fish

[robbiepruitt]

[sethwieck]

Thomas is known for his incredulity and doubt, but I think it was less doubt and more what Paul called the "working out of your salvation with fear and trembling." There must be trepidation when God expresses in a personal event that He is concerned for one singular person, even in the midst of a great crowd (the humiliation of grace and favor). Imagine Thomas's fingers trembling in the spear wound. Look at Peter's discomfort (turning his head) at witnessing the scene, perhaps because of his own fear and trembling.

The painting in process is by Jack Baumgartner, a farmer-craftsman-artist in rural Kansas, who I think captures the mystery of that simultaneous fear and comfort that attends faith. I like the fact that this work is in process, much like faith always is, but I look forward to the painting's completion as I anticipate the completion of the good work begun in me. Until then, my fingers tremble in the wounds.

[sethwieck]

Renaming the Reader

The Bible won't be reduced to mere representations and symbols, although it has those. The Bible is much like the angel that Jacob wrestles, refusing to be pinned. Refusing to be named or seen completely. Able with a touch to ruin the reader and able to bless him forever. Even to rename the reader.

And the name it gives the reader? One who struggles with God.

 Jack Baumgartner, an artist from Kansas, engraved this linocut print called Jacob Wrestling with the Angel of God.  (A special thanks to Jack for allowing me to use an image of his print.)