Week 7: April 1-April 6- Crosses

From atop cathedral domes, to cracks in the pavement, to these telephone poles at sunset, the image of the cross appears everywhere this week (and always). See what happens if you look for it. Where do these simple intersecting lines intersect with your life? How is Jesus' cross present to you now during Holy Week? We'll use all the images we collect at the Good Friday Vigil from 12pm to 3pm.

Instructions: Click on "comments" write a brief description or story, and then click "+image". You'll be prompted to upload a file from your hard drive (sorry you can't post it from a URL or from a smart phone). The click submit as and put in your email address and name. If this doesn't work just email your photo to benjamin.p.white@gmail.com and I will post it for you.

Week 5- March 26-April 1- Branches

This Sunday is Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week.

From Mark 11: "As they approached Jerusalem... they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, 'Hosanna!'"

Hosanna means "Lord save!" In laying their branches before Jesus they honored him as King and recognized his power to save them. Many probably had a different sort of salvation in mind-- one of military victory over foreign oppressors, but Jesus saved in a different way-- a way that even saved us fromthose violent expectations of power. Jesus looks around at everything when he gets to the center of power and then heads back out of town.

Let's collect some branches this week with our images. It's a great time of year to document flowering trees and praising God for the beauty of creation, but let's also bring them to Jesus and lay them beneath him recognizing our need, his power to save, and the great mystery of how he chooses to save--death and resurrection!

Instructions: Click on "comments" then type a short explanation or story about your image. You can submit your own photos or images you find on line. It's cool to give credit to artists if they're not you. Click on "+ image" and you can upload an image from your hard drive. Sorry, you'll have to right click an image from the internet and save it onto your hard drive; you can't use the URL. Sorry also, this platform does not support smart phones. If you have any trouble just email me your picture to benjamin.p.white@gmail.com and I'll post it for you.

Week 5- March 19-26- Hidden Things

Lent is a time to go deep and expose that which has not yet been seen. The drama we are participating in with Jesus' story heads toward the ultimate exposure of God's self giving love when Jesus dies on the cross. Our own inner drama heads toward exposing our true selves by throwing off the masks that sin makes for us.

This week lets look for hidden things either being exposed or poised to be exposed--a forgotten alley, a mask, a discarded coin, or a buried treasure. Relish the things that it seems no one is paying attention to in that moment. Open your eyes to the things you haven't paid attention to either. In this looking and sharing, we hope to see more of how God is revealing that self giving love to us and those around us here and now.

Instructions:

Share a picture you created or a picture you found elsewhere and post it with a story maybe of what it means to you. Click "comments" type what you want to say in the box and click "+ image" to add your picture/s. Sorry you have to save it to a hard drive so you can't do this from your phone. The software that drives this comment platform does not support smart phones.

Week 4- March 12-18- Rising

Jesus brings us back to life. We remember how he brought a little girl back to life and told her to rise. We'll do that by engaging the world around us look for things that are on the rise. From the sunrise in this picture, to smoke stacks, to flowers to balloons. Let your imagination loose. May your vision for rising things this week raise some dead things in you.

You can look with your camera phone, with your real camera, you can create your own images or you can find images and share them here.

Instructions: Click on "comments" say something about your shot/find and then click "+image". Post the image from your hard drive.If you're working with an image from the internet, you'll have to right click it and save it in order to upload it from your hard drive. Also, i discovered that "Disqus", the comment engine that allows for images in the comments does not support mobile viewing. Sorry.

Week 3- March 5-11- Touch/Connection

Humans are made for touch. As one of our five senses touch is one way we experience the world. It is a powerful way to show love and something we need for our hearts to remain healthy. We need to be touched and we need to touch.

In the gospels, Jesus' healing touch was a big part of his public ministry and though his touch is different today, it is still very real. Let's reach out to Him in a way this week.

Look for humans connecting this week through touch, yes, but don't limit your vision to just that, there are many ways to demonstrate connection. Look for anything coming together. Lips aren't the only things that kiss; hands aren't the only thing that hold. Let's let our imaginations lead us in seeing connections around us. Hopefully our new found vision for connection will help us connect with God and with each other.

(Click on "comments" and in the window that appears, click on "+ images" button- then you'll be able to add images from your hard drive. If you find an image on the internet that you want to share you'll have to right click it and save it to your computer in order to upload it.)

Week 2- February 27- March 4- Change/Transformation

Lent is a time for letting things go and for taking things on. Many of us fast to remind ourselves of this reality. Many of us are taking on disciplines and habits that help us get closer with God. Lent is a time for change. How are things changing around you? How are you changing?

What is being shed, stripped, melted or taken? What is being built up, re-made, wiped clean or transformed?

God is doing something new. God is promising new life in Jesus Christ. Let's look together for ways that the old is passing away making room for the new. Look for things in need of transformation or maybe in the process of being transformed.

Check out the posts below and post your own images by replying in the comments and give us a brief description.

(Click on "comments" and in the window that appears, click on "+ images" button- then you'll be able to add images from your hard drive. If you find an image on the internet that you want to share you'll have to right click it and save it to your computer in order to upload it.)

Week 1- February 20-26- The Human Body

Jesus came to be with us as a human. He took the human body as his own. He walked, sweat, ran and bled. He cried, touched, healed and hugged. He showed us what it was to be fully human.

Let's look at the humans around us in a different way this week. How are the beautifully broken joyous creatures. Appreciate them in all their forms--from close ups to huge crowds.

Share your vision and maybe a story to go along with it by posting in the comments below.