Okay, so this has next to nothing to do with “where faith meets life.” But I still thought it was really cool and, well, it’s Friday, so why not? I grew up playing soccer so am a huge fan of Ronaldinho’s nearly inconceivable skills as a player. He is one of the finest to have ever graced the pitch. And, I have to admit that ever since I first saw a flip work as a kid – a kid totally used to TV – I’ve been kind of amazed by them. Not to mention that I’m in utter awe of the amount of time and care it must taken the artist who goes by the name Etoilec to put these flip books together. So…incredibly human artistry on the...

…you can build it. 🙂 I don’t know why I love this TED Talk from artist Janet Echelman so much. I just know that I do. Maybe it’s her perseverance. After all, she was rejected by seven art schools after college and yet didn’t give up but struck out on her own. Maybe it’s her resourcefulness. When her paints didn’t show up for a show she promised to do in India, she turned to the local fishermen and solicited their help in producing a new piece of art…and art form. Maybe it’s her relentlessness. Again and again, there weren’t materials or technology yet suitable to execute her ideas, so each time she found partners to...

NASA has been taking pictures of the earth from its environmental satellites for the past 50 years. They provide stunning views of the earth’s distinctive patterns and colors and, ultimately, transform the planet into a work of art. Recently NASA gathered a number of these pictures, added brief but helpful commentary, and bound them together into a book. Even better, they made the book free via an e-book (pdf) that can be viewed on any e-reader and as an iPad app. So if you have a little time, you can treat yourself to a unique view of many of the distinct landmasses and waterways that remind us that this good creation is not only our...

Have you ever heard of “disability art”? Neither had I. Sue Austin is an artist, a performance artist, to be precise. And she is disabled, confined to a wheel chair. Except that she won’t allow it be confining. Actually, that’s not quite right. It’s not so much that the goal of her art is to transcend her wheelchair, but to repurpose it. To actually make use of it to see – and help us to see – the world differently. It’s a striking idea. That while one can certainly approach challenge, hardship, suffering, and disability as things to be resisted, overcome, and transcended, those aren’t the only options. Another valid...

To aid in Sabbath rest and reflection, I usually only post a prayer for the day on Sundays, something connected to one of the appointed readings. But I stumbled on this last night and couldn’t wait to share it. It’s a virtual 3D tour of the Sistine Chapel that the Vatican has produced. It’s almost like being there. Actually, given the music, lack of crowds, and ability to zoom in on some of the most famous paintings in Western history, it might just be better than being there. 🙂 If you want to visit, click the picture below and then click and slide your cursor in the direction you want to move; the zoom controls are at...