Timothy J. Pruitt's Blog, page 445

iPainting: Wall Art

I was in a showroom the other day, and I saw all kinds of artwork with an abstract look to it.  They were big elaborate pieces in a style that I’ve never been a huge fan of. Still, it was a challenge to see if I could paint something like it myself.  Here are the interior design pieces “Staying The Course”, “Mammoth”, and “Man Of Steel”.  Please let us know what you think of our art experiment @ pruittwrites@gmail.com, with the subject “Wall Art”.

 

 

 

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The Iron Conference

We are excited about the Iron Conference this November 6 & 7! Check out the video @ here

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The Italian Hatmaker: I Wouldn’t Have To Ask

“Then we will make camp here. Princess, after we and your soldiers setup camp, they will tie Ethan and myself up. If either King investigates, they will find their cousin a hero. You will give us to whichever King arrives first. This will rescue your life, and buy us the time.”

Giuseppe didn’t wait for an argument, he simply started gathering wood for a fire. Ethan froze in place. As the Italian Hatmaker walked into the woods beside their new camp, the Princess spoke to Ethan. “He’s brave isn’t he? To volunteer for captivity is gallant.”

Ethan looked at her, aroused from his shock. “It’s better than dying isn’t your Majesty?” This time it was the Princess who froze momentarily, then she whispered. “Perhaps, but captivity is not easy.” “No your Highness, I guess it isn’t, even if it’s from a palace.” With that, Ethan went off to help his friend.

Now, Henri joined her. “You take to many risks your Highness.” “I suppose I do Henri, but my brother knows how desperate I am. I left him a letter before I volunteered to be ‘kidnapped’ by our English cousin. In it I explained that I would die if I married for any reason other than love.”

Henri looked at the strong young lady that he had grew up serving. “What do you suppose his response would be?” She laughed a laugh that was both painful and cruel. Although the cruelty was not hers, it was a mimic of her brother. “Then marry for love of your kingdom my sister. You’ll learn to love my ally in time.”

“I take it you’ve had this part of the conversation with him before?” “The night before I left Paris, I escaped, I suspected that I would never find love if I hadn’t.” Henri smiled. “I suspect that the hat maker’s friend was right, you think you may like him?” “I don’t know him Henri, but I would like to see what he looked like minus the beard and mustache.”

“I suspect, it would have to be but spoken, and he’d be willing.” She shook her head no. “I would not ask that on a whim. If he loved me, I wouldn’t have to ask at all.” With that remark, the Princess walked towards her horse.

Henri found Giuseppe and Ethan. “The Princess favors you my friend, but not your companion.” Ethan immediately took offense. “I’m not partial to her either!” Henri laughed. “Not you my friend, the one that protects Giuseppe’s chin. She does not like his beard, nor his mustache for that matter.”

Giuseppe flashed with an anger of his own. “I have had them both since I was a young man. Why should I shave them for a woman that called me ugly!” Henri laughed. “It was not you of which she spoke, it was of your companions.” “Why should I care?” “Oh, but you do don’t you. I know it is asking a lot, and she did not ask. The Princess would not be pleased that I am here.”

“Then why are you?” “My Wife and I were walking through Paris one day. We passed by a small flower cart, filled with the most beautiful flowers. I commented on how I enjoyed the carnations, but my wife preferred the lily.” “And Henri?” “We have such beautiful rows of lilies outside our home.”

“I can say goodbye to the beard, but not the mustache. My Mother remarked how much it made me look like my Father.” “I wonder what your Father gave up to see your Mother smile? For now, remove the beard. See if the reaction you receive will warrant saying goodbye to the other as well.”

He handed Giuseppe a razor, and walked away. The Italian Hatmaker returned to camp minus his beard. He would forget the other old friend, the one under is nose, just as soon as he saw the smile that graced the Princess’ face.

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iPainting: Guarding Gotham

We hope you enjoy our gift to you on our birthday. The new Sketch of the artist’s favorite hero as he fights the elements to keep the city safe in the Sketch “Guarding Gotham”.

 

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A Huge Thank You

I wanted to say a huge Thank You to an incredible designer for our new logo! Brittany Livingston Potter has a natural eye for design. She has given us an iconic look that will spear head our site towards the future. “A digital pen for the modern world.”

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Evaluate, Value, Valuable

Isaiah 46:4 (NKJV)

4 Even to your old age, I am He, And even to gray hairs I will carry you! I have made, and I will bear;Even I will carry, and will deliver you.

Isaiah 46: (NLT)

4 I will be your God throughout your lifetime — until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you.   I will carry you along and save you.

Isaiah 46:4 (MSG)

4 And I’ll keep on carrying you when you’re old. I’ll be there, bearing you when you’re old and gray. I’ve done it and will keep on doing it,   carrying you on my back, saving you.

Evaluate, value, and valuable. Those three words are weighed, both by the intrinsic value of a person or thing, as well as the perception of its value. Seven years ago, my wife would not look twice at a 1987 action figure in a thrift shop, it held no value to her. Today, she would probably leave the store with it, even if it cost ten dollars. Why? Because if it involves a certain crime fighter, she knows it is valued by her husband.

An item such as that isn’t inherently valuable, in and of itself, only in it’s perception. Truth be told, the same could be said of gold or silver. Like granite, they can be taken from rocks and caves. Society has evaluated some natural compounds to be more valuable than others. All these things have appraised value.

The question is then, what impresses a society to assess value on things that may not have natural value. The answer is that they value the opinion of the assessor. Whoever it was that once said, gold is more important than another item, they trusted their opinion. The assessor left a lasting impression in the minds of society, and humanity.

There are other things that you don’t have to convince someone to value. Water is valuable to all creatures, not because it is evaluated, but because it is vital to life. You must have water, even more than food. Water is intrinsically, naturally, valuable, because it sustains humanity.

In life, some value others because they have been taught to do so. A child may not enjoy school, so they do not value it, but their parent does. Over time, the child learns that, even if they don’t care for it, it is important to their future. In time, they will realize that learning has intrinsic value. Until they do, they will value it, albeit very lightly, because they love their Mom and Dad.

You do not have to teach a baby that their Mother or Father is valuable. You just have to hold them. You love them. You care for them. They know that they are safe in your arms. When life unkindly teaches them that everyone doesn’t value them as much as their parents do, they run to the arms of those who have always valued them.

As we grow up, in life, it may seem that we meet more people who do not value us than those that do. We will experience relationships, business situations, and conflicts that will attempt to convince us that we don’t matter. Many will try and tell you that your greatest value is in what you do.

From co-workers, to the enemy of your soul, people will whisper that you have no intrinsic or natural value. Fame is an illustration of this.  It will build you up for years, based soley on perception, until your evaluate your life, not by who you are, but whether you are in the public eye. Sadly, we value artists, not by their talent, but their popularity. Once you lose that, you will be tempted to think that your value is gone.

At those times, why not run to The God that has always valued us? From each corner, like an ocean flowing to your despair, Christ’s voice rings, “You are valuable to me!” There is One that stands from the beginning, who has never stopped shouting, that you are worth life itself.

He, The Great Assessor, felt you were valuable enough to take you from a thought in His heart to a child in His hands. God cared enough for you and I to create dust, just so He could shape us into existence. Other things He spoke into this world, including the dust that was our building material. We refer to ourselves as dust, as if we were worthless, but He created it, so He could create you. That makes the dust more valuable to God than the stars.

The ugly question hangs in your mind, you’re afraid to ask it, terrified to voice it. “What about all of my sins? What of all the pain I’ve caused? Can He still value me now?” The answer is a “Yes” so loudly that it echoes through time and space.   In the same chapter as the scripture above, He makes the following statement.

Isaiah 46:10

10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times [the things] that are not [yet] done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:

He declared the end from the beginning, to do that, He had to have seen the middle. Since He saw Revelation before He acted in Genesis, this means that He also saw Golgotha. One great Man Of God said that before He created what He said “Was good”, He heard Himself whisper “It is finished.”

Can He asses you valuable after all your mistakes? “Yes!” He didn’t approve of Adam’s sin, but gave him free will.  Knowing that giving Adam free will could lead to a free fall into corruption. God never intended for man to make the choice He did, and warned strongly against it. Yet He loved us enough to create us. Placing Adam in Eden, resulted in Christ placing Himself on the cross to save us all.

My point is this. He loves us enough to create us, and to save us, and to sustain us. When you are told that you are not valuable, or that your only worth is in the service you provide to others, reject the lie. You are loved enough, and more than enough.

The evaluation of your life isn’t determined by the standards of this world, but by a loving God. One that said, “I will carry you even to old age.” He bears the scars on His back to prove it. He carried our sins from the whipping post to a tortuous death, all the time carrying us in His heart.

As we are valued, we are to value. Every morning He sets in motion a plan to prosper us. Let’s seek to do the same. When you get up each day, between leaving the house and arriving for work, make a plan. Who do you know that could use a kind word today? Who needs to know that they are valued, not for what they do for you, but who they are?

To do this, we don’t have to pry into their personal business. We can start by simply sharing a smile, and lending a ear. Ask how they’re doing. Show them that you are interested in whatever is on their mind. As they see that your only motive is friendship, they will realize that someone cares. That realization, in and of itself, can lead to a salvaged life, and soul.

Galatians 6:2

 2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

God doesn’t call us to evaluate people, but to value them. We are called to share the message that they are precious to God, and to us. This simple truth will make the difference in so many lives. In the process, it will open our eyes more to the needs of others. A side effect of valuing those around us, is that it will increase our value in The Kingdom of Him, who considers us the most valuable thing of all.

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Profile: Armor

Neither The Sea Horse nor his arch nemesis, High Society know what to make of the mysterious Armor. Meet him in the adventures of The Sea Horse this fall.

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iPainting: President Lincoln At Gettysburg

We hope you enjoy our newest iPainting in the “President Series”, “President Lincoln At Gettysburg”.

 

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The Flop: César To Lose Patience

Their conversation had been brief. He showed up 24 hours later. Even though he was dressed, somewhat casually, a blazer and jeans, he looked important. I assumed that was a look he had practiced for a long period. When you’re a power broker, you want to look powerful, but not too much so. You still want those you control to think they are in charge.

“Madame Prime Minister, I’m glad you are well. How can I be of service?” She smiled, and motioned him in. “You can have lunch with me.” He gave a slight bow, Miles Cote was somewhat of a showman, and came inside. Augustus and I set on the sofa, he knew we were there, it was no use trying to hide. Jean Luc had positioned himself in the corner near them, on top of a side table.

They made small talk until the dessert came, and then Miles Cote sighed. “I had hoped this was going to take less time, but I have an appointment in twenty minutes. “Why not stop sparring and be precise?” Apparently, they both had been waiting on the other to attack first. “I was just waiting to see if I can force César to lose his patience. Apparently I’ve won the first one.”

She smiled so sweetly, he just laughed. “You are poised, I’ll give you that. How can I be of service?” I had been given orders not to speak, no matter what. It was very difficult, as smug as he was. “I would very much like not to have to worry about explosions, whether physical, or political. What price will my life cost me?”

He laughed. “Politics is an ailment. In my business, it’s a malady you wish to encourage, not cure. Still, this is one of the most wearisome side effects for a man in my profession. I constantly have to put up with politicians who assume I want them dead. Fortunately, they can rarely figure out when the sickness is true or imagined.”

I watched her reaction at this, it was ever so slight, but it was there. The Prime Minister tensed up, and I resisted the instinct to attack him. Jean Luc made a very low growl, a warning shot. Then, the Prime Minister’s face relaxed. “So, you’re saying I’m in no physical danger. Why do you not want me to die?”

“Madame Prime Minister, I don’t want to kill you, only control you. The person I want dead doesn’t even know it. I’m afraid that you won’t find out either, until it is much too late. What I offer is this. If you will agree to make two phone calls, I will not only let you live, I will allow you to keep your job.”

“First, tell me where I’m calling.” His voice never changed, but the room suddenly felt rigid. “One is to my office, and the other is the White House. Two four minute phone calls is a small price to pay to continue too, well just to continue. Isn’t it?”

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Batman 75

We would like to cap off our “Justice League Series” with one more view of the birthday boy. In celebration of 75 years of ?Batman, here is “Batman @ The Waterfront”.

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