GR-SIG meet 23-5-2013

Bebionic jar getting topped up

What a great joy it was for me to get to meet this Graphic Recorders, Singapore, Special Interest Group.

And to add icing on the cake, my Bebionic Jar was heavier after the meeting!

Show and tell: tools of the trade

We had decided a few days earlier that "show and tell" was to be the theme of the meeting: We would share the pros and cons of our favourite tools of the trade:

I do it like this.....

Marker pens in holder

Bento-box makes nice holder

Colour pencils

Graphic Recording of our meeting: NOT!

I will attempt to "unpack" this cryptic "meeting notes".

Firstly, the joy, messiness and fun was real. I believe that networking between practitioners on a human level just improves our quality of life.

Plus as far as GR is concerned
tips are shared
on-line purchases might be grouped
group support is provided as we make forays to Art Friend, Popular BS & Diaso!

Just trying out each other stuff was exhilerating
Like a kid in a candy store is a GR with blank paper before him/her and uncapped marker in hand.

Markers, Neuland, Big ones, Diaso; of various tints, brilliance, 

fading water based colours were thought to be less outstanding
pungent uneco-friendly markers were cost effective
Tri-color pencil, no wood pencils,
Three varieties of pastels,  thick stick oils, soft sticks, and pan
cosmetic sponges

Some hints
Learned from Aussi friends: when using a set of double ended markers (Copic?) use masking tape to tape a row of caps together and have all markers in same direction: so you dont have to guess "is it thick or thin?"when you pull one out to use;

Use of plastic tablecloth taped to wall prevents risk of marker ink bleed thru paper staining a wall.

When supported by a client, don't stinge on markers and colours, masking tape etc: nothing but the best!

When doing workshop on GR, take at least 2 days:
Day 1 focus on the drawing:
Big mental hurdle "I can't draw"


This question prompted heated response
"What do you use to wash marker stains off your hands?"
1 Hard work, wash many times
2 Wash once only and let remanant wear off
3. Leave "battle scars" on esp when meeting client: adds street creds

Post meeting was a discussion on carrier tube for our 1.2 metre paper
a ski bag with wheels was an option. Or a fencer's foil, sabre bag?

NEXT MEETING (not written in stone)
Agenda: "Icon sketching jam session" 

Venue: Kampong Kembangan Community Centre

Date: Tuesday 30 July 2013

Time: 3-5 pm

Sketch note : Abiding... 3 Branches...

Sketch note Sermon: Dr Foo Fung Fong: 

12 May 2013, Wesley Methodist Church Singapore

Staying Spiritually Aligned by Constantly Abiding in Christ

The text was John 15:1-6

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.

Context:
this was Jesus last teaching to his disciples
He had just shared with them 4 shocking blows.
1) He had washed their feet: something no master would ordinarily do: task for the lowliest of slaves.
2) He had told them "one of you will betray me"
3) He had prophesied "one of you will deny me three times"
4) He had told them, "I am going to leave you: Where I am going you cannot follow  now"

Jesus uses a common agricultural metaphor that the disciples could well understand: that of the grape vine.

I am the vine; remain in me
You are the branches.
my Father is the gardener

 Of this portion of his teaching we can identify three branches
I) Positioned to Grow
II) Positioned to Bloom
III) Placed in his Presence


I) Positioned to Grow
He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit.
The key phrase is  "every branch in me"
Implicit is the fact that we need to be "In Christ"
Placed within him we are positioned to grow.

A viginette of the life of John Newton:
worldly slave trader prayed to God during a storm at sea and was saved, converted:
 Later wrote "Amazing grace"
Became a church pastor:
Helped William Wilberforce end slavery in Engand.

Beset by fading health in the last two years of his life, even then, Newton never ceased to be amazed by God's grace and told his friends:

My memory is nearly gone;
but I remember two things;
That I am a great sinner, and
that Christ is a great Saviour.

John Newton was embedded in Christ
He was positioned to grow.

Take home message 1
When you are "In Christ" you are positioned to grow.

II) Positioned to Bloom
Every branch attached to the vine will be pruned;
Dead, dying and diseased parts will be cut off.
Less is more:
Eg Joseph the dreamer and his multi-coloured coat
Pruned: Stripped, cast into prison.
             Works his way up to Potiphar's household
             Cast into prison V2.0 on account of Mrs Potiphar's false accusation.
             Interprets dreams for baker and cupbearer
             But cupbearer "forgot" about Joseph for a very long time
Pruning process removed pride: allowed Joseph to mature.






David, appointed and annointed to be king.
But Saul was murderously jealous.
David had to run for his life
This was pruning time for David

The timing of the pruning usually is in winter, during the barren season

Take home message 2
Are you in crisis?
Facing closed doors?
Is there pain in your life?
Are you experiencing a season of "winter"?
Going through a desert experience?

Take heart: this could be your pruning time
God has a special interst in you
He will bring you to a point where you can bear much fruit
 You are positioned to Bloom

III) Placed in his Presence
"ABIDE" in me.
The root word is μενω
3306 meno men'-o a primary verb; to stay (in a given place, state, relation or expectancy):--abide, continue, dwell, endure, be present, remain, stand, tarry (for), X thine own.

It is given both as a command and as a relationship.

Mama Maggie Gobran of Cairo said,
"The hardest task of a leader is to get to know the Almighty and to keep your heart pure." One way to do that, she said, is through silence. There "you discover a taste of eternity." Her means:
"Silence your body to listen to words.
"Silence your tongue to listen to thoughts.
"Silence your thoughts to listen to your heart beating.
"Silence your heart to listen to your spirit.
"Silence your spirit to listen to His Spirit."

We need to continually be in God's presence.
Only when we abide in him can we bear fruit

AGENT of FORGIVENESS

5th May 2013
Rev Michael Tan Forgive or not to forgive
Text John 20:23
"If you forgive anyone's sins, their sin us forgiven : if you do not forgive them they are not forgiven"

What is your reaction to this text?
Was it only for the apostles in the days of Jesus?
Does it apply to you today ?

Taken as precursor Matt 26 (great commandment) we see it applies to us today.

Yet the teachers of the law were correct: only God can forgive

So can we forgive ?
We get a role in this by being agents of forgiveness, ambassadors for Christ, messenger of the ministry of forgiveness

Our task is to share the good news, thus allowing others to receive Gods grace, Gods forgiveness .

Are you doubtful of your ability to do it?
Unwilling?
Hesitant?
Come to the Lords Table to receive grace, power of Holy Spirit to enable you.

(Sermon illustration : 1985 Louise Wong born in HK : cleft lip: many operations parents migrate to Perth : louise is autistic hyperactive : home schooled: many many hours of lessons: finally learned to talk , good at numbers: when asked who taught you how do you do it. He wrote "God".he asked to be baptized. He wants to witness and spread the gospel.parents were shocked. They had been Christians but had dropped out of church. No one had told him about the Christian faith