Joey O'Connor's Blog, page 7

I Love Being the Father of the Bride

Last Saturday, I had the incredible honor of becoming “The Father of the Bride.” What is there not to love about being the Father of the Bride? My oldest daughter, Janae, married the love of her life, a fine young gentleman (the whole O’Connor family loves) named Jonathan Kirchner. For all of you, my Art, Life & Faith friends, you know one of my deepest desires is to help you cultivate a beautiful life. Today is my privilege to share one of the most beautiful days of my life. Read on…

There...

A Prayer for When You Don't Know What to Pray

Do you ever feel like you don’t know how to pray? Or what to pray? If I was sitting in church or a classroom, I hope I wouldn’t be the only guy to raise my hand. I try to make it a regular practice to get up early in the morning, make my first cup of coffee and sit in the leather chair in my office to pray and read. It’s my first step into sanity for the day because I know how easy it is for me to get derailed throughout the day. But that’s just me…

Honestly, there are so many days when I’ve...

Are You An Attention-Seeking Artist?

Are you an attention-seeking artist? I know it sounds like a silly question because what artist doesn’t seek some form of attention with their art? Artists create not only for the love of creating, but for their work to be seen and appreciated. What filmmaker doesn’t want their film being seen by the masses? Does a painter paint in order to stick their canvas in the closet? Why would a composer write a score to be heard by no one? Artists are attention-seekers not unlike a salesman wanting to...

Never Underestimate the Power of Your Presence

This past weekend, I was reminded in a very vivid way to never underestimate the power of my presence. If you are prone (like me) to underestimate the power of your presence, I hope this story offers you an encouraging reminder. You’ve heard it said that ’99% of life is just showing up’ and ‘people don’t care what you know until they know you care.’

Especially when you see a man go into labor.

Well, sort of. Krista, the kids and I had just returned home on Sunday from a summer family reunion....

Have You Ever Dreamed of Writing A Book?

If you’ve ever dreamed of writing a book, I have good news for you. Help is on the way! For years, I’ve met with many people who shared with me their dreams of writing their first book. If could be fiction. Non-fiction. A screenplay. A spiritual memoir or family history. Muchas ideas. Many dreams.

I’ve sat down with a lot of aspiring writers for a cup of coffee who have asked me, “How do I write my first book? Where do I begin? Should I self-publish or go for a traditional publisher? How do I...

Have You Read Oswald Chambers, The Artist Writer?

For those of you who are fans of Oswald Chambers and his classic spiritual book, My Utmost for His Highest, did you know Oswald Chambers thought his original calling from God was to be a visual artist and musician? Oswald Chambers had a deep love for God, creativity, and the arts. Though millions have read and loved My Utmost for His Highest, many do not know that Chambers studied at London’s Royal Academy of Art between 1895-1896. A gifted artist and musician, Chambers sensed God’s calling t...

Art, Life and Faith Interview: Shiftpoints with Dean Del Sesto

If you want to cultivate a beautiful life, one of the first steps is cultivating good thinking. Have you ever killed a creative project or abandoned an artistic work by filling your mind with negative thoughts? Do your relationships suffer in any way because of poor thinking? Have you ever destroyed a dream because of the things you tell yourself? I’ve done all three of these things and more, which is why I love my friend’s new book, ShiftPoints: Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life. I thin...

Art, Life & Faith Interview: Shiftpoints with Dean Del Sesto

If you want to cultivate a beautiful life, one of the first steps is cultivating good thinking. Have you ever killed a creative project or abandoned an artistic work by filling your mind with negative thoughts? Do your relationships suffer in any way because of poor thinking? Have you ever destroyed a dream because of the things you tell yourself? I’ve done all three of these things and more, which is why I love my friend’s new book, ShiftPoints: Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life. I thin...

How to Discourage Artists in the Church

I recently read How to Discourage Artists in the Church by Wheaton College president, Philip Ryken and he graciously agreed to offer it as a guest post here on Art, Life & Faith. You’ll be encouraged to know that not only as a pastor and college president is Ryken a lover and supporter of the arts, he is also the author of Art for God’s Sake: A Call to Recover the Arts. This is a wonderful essay about understanding how artists are discouraged in the Church by other Christian’s lack of artisti...

The Generous Artist

Has anyone ever accused you of or should I say ‘complemented you’ for being a generous artist? A generous person? I certainly hope so because generosity is one of the most rarely cultivated qualities I can think of. If you want to cultivate a beautiful life, nurturing generosity in your heart, mind and life is an absolutely essential practice. Generosity is the rare wild flower that blooms after all the spring grasses of good intentions have wilted under the summer heat of our selfish preoccu...