December 5, 2003 journal, artist discussion at the Circular Congregational Church at 150 Meeting Street. After a full breakfast at Town & Country Restaurant I proceeded down town to the church and joined the artist panel for two hours addressing the question of "Is there tension between art / religion in contemporary culture? Do artist feel uncomfortable expressing ideas about their spirituality? As an artist, why have you chosen to deal with issues of belief and faith in your work? Who is your audience? Or there groups you are not interested in addressing? What do you hope to convey with your work? There are artist here who represent many different religions and belief systems, can we communicate with each other?" More questions from Rev. Joseph Darby from Morris Brown AME: Church "What role does art play in your faith tradition? How do those in your faith trad-ition react to nontraditional art? Do you feel that the shared appreciation of artistic ex-pression can bridge gaps between faith traditions?" The man behind me spoke of being an atheist and when the mike was handed to me I felt compelled to say "I am a believer". I am a believer in Christ as Lord and savior. I am proud to witness this fact of my faith. I believe we are saved by Grace through faith in our Lord as Christ who was the sacrificial lamb that was and is sufficient for our redemption forever more. Had I not been here the atheist view would have dominated the audience without being challenged and I believe God put me there to say those words and speak my heart to the audience and to the man. I spoke of the power of the brush and how that visual art is a universal language. I spoke about the heartbreak I feel/have when the church rejects my Christian art, that the secular world is my market and audience, the museum's and universities across the country. My art is outside the church and maybe that is where it needs to be. I was invited to appear on camera after the session by Larry Litt in the making of a video wherein I was asked if I would be willing to die for my profession of faith in Christ. I answered spontaneously yes. I must confess that I am not eager to sacrifice myself on some altar of any man's tradition. Painting art has become a ministry for me and I hope to point people to Christ and to true salvation through visual art. Psalm 14-1 "The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God" If God withdraws his breath or gravity from amount us, we will drop dead and float away. How can a man say there is no God when God sustains us in life up to a hundred years and forever if we are committed to him through faith and living a godly life meditating upon him and believing in him for all things giving thanks to God for all of the marvelous Creation. Even atheism is considered a religion as all people are religious in some way. Some people do not believe we have a spirit within us. The fathers of our nation were religious but not Christian other than as a secondary religion having committed their soul to Osiris in a secret Masonic vow by swearing on a hawks head and being put in a coffin. Let everybody express themselves through art and let the glory of God reveal the truth.

Let the art bridge the gap in this multi-cultural world and let there be peace among us all.

For those who have tapped the power and cleansed the inner temple of the heart to house the glorious Spirit of God, know that it is real and above all other that man can provide.

Let us rejoice in the Lord who gives us life. Let us communicate with God through prayer. Let us be faithful to the cause of Christ and to the Gospel of Salvation which is our hope. The evening was spent in the art walk of Broadway and East Bay Street near City Gallery. I had the privilege of the second time to visit an artist friend at Folly Beach, 'Roberta' who paints icons of his Catholic faith. Roberto shows his appreciation for my art in such a kind and gentle way. The Catholic Church has Commission more art than any other entity.