Joey O'Connor's Blog, page 12

The Key to A Happy Life: Surrender to God

Do you want to live a happy life? Though life is filled with blessings and challenges, the key to a happy life is much simpler than you think. Let me start with a story…

Last week, I had the wonderful opportunity to get away to the local mountains in Big Bear with twelve Southern California worship leaders. Hosted by The Grove Center for the Arts & Media, we had three days of great meals, laughter, music and wonderful conversations about cultivating our lives in Christ. On the final day of our...

Thomas Merton: Thoughts on Creativity & Writing

Thomas Merton is my favorite spiritual writer. This now-dead Trappist monk and brilliant writer who lived a quiet and creative life of prayer at the Abbey of Gethsemani in Kentucky, is one of the keenest theological minds of the 20th century. His thoughts and theology on creativity, the writing life, the restorative work of the Trinity and the kingdom of God on earth are elegant, weighty musings.

The best way I can describe reading Merton is this: Imagine Thomas Merton holding your head in a...

Art, Life & Faith Question of the Week #5: What has been your most challenging artistic work?

Welcome to the Art, Life & Faith Question of the Week #5. What has been the most challenging artistic work you’ve ever created? What made this artistic work challenging? Right now, I’m in the middle of one of the most challenging writing projects I’ve ever encountered. How about you? Read on…

What is the most challenging artistic


work you have ever created?

My writing partner, Ken Straw (also my brother-in-law) are doing word-for-word, hand-to-hand combat in the fourth draft of a screenplay w...

Are You Grateful for the Gift of Friends?

Yesterday I had a wonderful conversation with my buddy Roy Cochran, a dear friend of mine who leads a ministry for worship leaders and artists called the Worship Mentor Network. We had just come from a Grove planning meeting with Monty Kelso and Sherri Alden (also dear friends!) at Hidden House Coffee for an upcoming Grove Worship Leader Getaway.

As we stood in the gardens on Los Rios Street just talking and watching the sun go down, the warm light danced through the sycamore and eucalyptus tr...

Art, Life & Faith Question of the Week #4: What would you say to an artist struggling with a project?

Welcome to the Art, Life & Faith Question of the Week #4. How many artists do you know that are stuck and struggling? What would you say to an artist struggling with a project? Maybe you’re one of them? I’m interested in knowing how you get out of a creative funk and how you would help another artist? What do you do when the words on the page are a garbled mess? What happens when you can’t nail that dance move? How do you dig deep when it’s Take #19 after you’ve flubbed Takes #1-18? What happ...

Art, Life & Faith Question of the Week #4

Welcome to the Art, Life & Faith Question of the Week #4. How many artists do you know that are stuck and struggling? Maybe you’re one of them? I’m interested in knowing how you get out of a creative funk and how you would help another artist? What do you do when the words on the page are a garbled mess? What happens when you can’t nail that dance move? How do you dig deep when it’s Take #19 after you’ve flubbed Takes #1-18? What happens in your spirit when that plein air painting is more of...

Are You Becoming More Loving, Joyful & Winsome? A Great Challenge by John Ortberg

Are you becoming more loving, joyful and winsome? It’s a wonderful, challenging question asked by pastor and author John Ortberg. In today’s guest post by my friend Alan Fadling, you’ll be encouraged to consider how you are becoming more loving, joyful and winsome as a follower of Christ. Alan graciously agreed to share his notes from a recent message given by John Ortberg at the Pastor’s Forum hosted by the Center for Individual and Family Therapy (CIFT). Dallas Willard had been scheduled to...

The Art of Cultivating Your Life

How do you cultivate your life? I believe that cultivating your life is an art form because it involves vision, purpose, intentionality and commitment to your craft. Just this past weekend, a handful of artists, Grove board members and I explored this theme. We had several conversations about The Art of Cultivating Your Life at the Young Artist/Creative Leader Getaway sponsored byThe Grove Center for the Arts & Media. We had a wonderful weekend, which is why I’m so eager to share our conversa...

Saying Yes to Art: Artist Interview with Sculptor Karen Schmidt

In this Art, Life & Faith video interview with sculptor Karen Schmidt, she offered these profound words of wisdom: When you say “yes” to your art, you will face a thousand “no’s”. She is so right. Karen Schmidt is an amazing sculptor, wife, mother and grandmother. She is also one of the most prayerful, disciplined and seasoned artists I know. Karen was a guest blogger earlier this year on Art, Life & Faith with her insightful thoughts on When Creativity Runs Dry. In this Art, LIfe & Faith int...

Art, Life & Faith Question of the Week #3: As an artist, what does a good day look like?

Welcome to the Art, Life & Faith Question of the Week #3.

What does a good day look like for you as an artist? I’m a writer, so most of my work is done creating by myself. I have good days and bad days with whatever I’m working on. So, I’m always curious what a good day looks like for other artists like you? I’m interested in the rhythm and flow of your day. What is going on in your heart and mind? How are you interacting with the work you’re creating? How do you deal with creative challenges...