THE "little" ANIMATOR

2012-02-14T01:24:00.002-04:00

Valentines Day - Stickman Theology

2012-02-10T01:50:00.005-04:00

Francis Chan at Founders Week
Wednesday night was the big night of Founder’s Week 2012. There have been many great speakers throughout this week – You go Jill Briscoe! – but tonight, Francis Chan spoke. Not only Moody church and all of its overflow rooms were full, but also Moody Bible Institute overflowed as upwards of 6000 attended with countless more listening online to hear a word from Francis Chan – in a suit. Really?

It looked odd as he walked onto the stage. He must have sensed it because he addressed it right away. “Funerals and Founder’s Week - the only times I have worn a suit in the last fifteen years”, he joked.

His participation, however, in Founder’s Week was anything but dead. He began to speak about his difficulty in harmonizing. The Getty’s had just led the church in a song where they had encouraged and taught us to sing harmonies. This musical ability is something that Francis Chan has pursued most of his life. Often running home excitedly to his family, he would present the possibility of a successful harmony that he had imagined during the day only to have his musical family laugh at him.

Some people get it, and some people don’t.

It’s the same with the gospel.

Chan remembered back to his time in college learning the Word of God. Awestruck by the truths that were revealed, he didn’t understand how other students could head off to intramural football, or lunch, or anywhere so casually after hearing what the Bible held. Had they not heard the same thing he did? God Almighty - Ruler of the Universe – becoming man. Wow! He had to do something! So he would go off wandering the city alone needing to tell someone about this God.

Some people get it, and some people don’t.

Francis Chan was struggling with several thoughts as he spoke. On one hand, he had never felt like his life was more congruent with Scripture then at this time and he wanted to share the joys it brought. On the other hand he was greatly troubled by what he saw in today’s church. He asked if we ever have that nagging feeling, as we profess and live out Christianity, that something is not quite right. Do we read the Bible, look at our lives and our culture, and realize they don’t quite match up; that something is off? Deep down we know that we are not really living like the Bible commands. We don’t resemble the church in Acts.

How can the number of Christians far outnumber the foster kids that need a home? Did we
miss something in the reading of the New Testament and how Jesus commanded us to live?

How about the command to make disciples? Instead of putting in the difficult work to build community, sharing our faith boldly, and entering into situations that are impossible apart from faith, we have changed the system so that evangelism can be done without courage. We let pastors and programs do discipleship.

In a moment of transparency, Chan stated how he hates sharing his faith. It scares him. He hates continually bringing a message that will only garner rejection. He said he would rather “pet a cat” or “run a triathlon”. It is difficult, but we are disciple-makers. Not only did he challenge us to get into the Scriptures, but he also challenged us to actually do what the Scriptures say and not let people talk us out of it. Read it and do it. Get outside the Christian circle. Get into the world.

As he reached the end of his time Chan had saved perhaps the toughest rebuke for the older generation. He admitted that he had not expected to be speaking to a room with so many “mature” people. He assumed it would skew younger.

After thinking for a moment, He respectfully stated, “I meet very few elderly people whose lives make sense to me, biblically”. Chan stated that as he gets older he is playing “hot potato” with his possessions. He doesn’t want to end his life and have “stuff” hoarded. He said it should only make sense to risk more than ever as you grow older because you will soon be meeting Jesus.

Chan asked the older people straight out if they know who they are going to meet? Do you get it? Every person in the Bible who has ever met God has been terrified. Have you really read His Word? It commands that we give to those who are needy and take care of the fatherless. Knowing who God is, and that we will be meeting Him soon, should we not err on the side of caution and risk everything to do what He commands? The older we get the more we should realize that the world has nothing left for us. He challenged them to live like this. Be crazy, and take risks. Show young whippersnappers how to live.

Young people are reading their Bibles and seeing this incongruence between what they read and life as they have been taught it. Instead of radical Jesus following they are being taught how to age comfortably. Retire, relax, enjoy.

Francis Chan’s frustration was as clear as his passion. He is not happy sitting down to a comfortable life, and he is not comfortable seeing this attitude so rampant among the church. He addressed, at a later question and answer period with the students, some of his critics who accuse him of promoting a poverty gospel. Instead of softening, he pointed out how ridiculous it was that a man – clearly in the top five percent of the world’s wealth – could be perceived as being radical as he lives with less to give away more. He stated how clear the situation would be if the starving families of the world literally sat outside our door as we ate. Our distance from them does not negate responsibility.

“That’s stupid” he said of people who had saved up thousands in stocks and bonds just to lose them in the economic downturn. If the money had been given to the needy as the Bible commands, they would still have treasure in heaven. Stewardship is not putting your arms around and protecting the wealth God gave you; it’s giving it wisely.

It is clear, As Francis Chan spoke and the students discussed afterwards, that he strikes a chord with this generation’s mindset. Francis Chan is one voice, but one that is motivating a generation to radical and complete obedience to the Bible – something that seems to be lacking in the western church.

2012-02-07T01:55:00.004-04:00

It's Founder's Week at Moody! All week long we have speakers coming in and preaching and teaching. Tonight was the first session and our president, Dr. Nyquist spoke. I recapped it below. There is way more coming this week. Check back on Thursday for Francis Chan, and Friday for Ravi Zacharias! I know right? It's going to be a great week!

“Hostile Happens”.

With these words from Moody Bible Institute’s president, Dr. Paul Nyquist, Founder’s Week 2012 began. After being led in worship through some of the great Christian hymns celebrating our hope in God, and witnessing an impressive display of flags representing Moody Bible
Institute’s vast international community, Dr. Nyquist took the stage. The theme this year is “The Hope Within Us”, and it is centered around 1 Peter 3:15.

Hostile happens. For Christians in today’s culture, this is a reality. As we hold to the words of the Bible yet see the culture around us change and take on increasingly ungodly values, we find ourselves out of step with society. If we do not mimic the culture around us: hostile happens.

“Tebow”. Dr. Nyquist dropped the name with a knowing smile. Nothing more needed to be said, and everyone laughed. Of course he was going to go there.

Sick of hearing about him or not, everyone is aware of the hostility Tebow has faced as he lives out his faith in front of the world, and Dr. Nyquist reminded us of some of the scathing criticism that has been directed at Tebow for his belief. This is hostile happening, and with this reality, we are faced with the questions: What do we do? How do we face it? How would God have us live in the midst of it?

Thankfully, we are not the first to face this challenge. Dr. Nyquist directed us to our theme passage in I Peter and the story of others who have faced the same problems.

In I Peter 3:13-17, Peter answers our questions, but first asks us a rhetorical question. “Who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? (ESV I Pet. 3:13)” The answer should be a resounding “No one”. If we really are doing good, and if we are passionate about doing good, then no one should want to harm us. God has placed a moral code in every one of us. If you rob the poor it is bad and if you give to the poor it is good. We all recognise the good in an ideal world so – when we do good – no one should cause us harm.

Unfortunately, it’s not an ideal world.

It is a fallen world.

When we are zealous for good – hostile happens because good reveals wrong.

But wait, we have a clear command from God to be passionate good doers, it is simple right?

Problem: We don’t do hostile well. The responsive laughter from the audience at Moody Church showed that each one of us know that this is true. Continuing through 1 Peter 3:13-17, Dr. Nyquist presented three simple points to help us do hostile well.

1.) Be strong. Don’t fear them; rather take courage in our Sovereign Lord.

2.) Be ready (to give an answer). Nyquist pointed out that since we are told to be ready at all times, we can infer that we will indeed be asked. People will be curious or furious, but they will ask.
At this point Dr. Nyquist offered a personal tip as we attempt to give an answer. “Leave the church words in church”. He proceeded into a nonsensical speech filled with “blood of the Lamb’s”, “sanctifications”, and “imputations”. These are words that will not inspire hope in anybody. They will simply confirm our weirdness. We need to be prepared to take the church to the streets and approach people with the gospel of God where it impacts and applies to them. That's what it's for.
Before moving on to the final point we must note a further requirement from Peter. As we give an answer, it must be done in gentleness and respect. We are commanded to win souls, not arguments. – Not sure how to do this? Take a look at the life of Christ.

3.) Keep clean. We are commanded to keep our consciences clear – so that – those who slander us will be put to shame when they see our good works. That may happen immediately, or we may never see it happen. Again, we are called to trust God.

“Tebow”. Yep, we're going there again. Nyquist shared with us an article from The Chicago Tribune. The writer, observing the controversy that is Tim Tebow’s faith on the field, stated that you could rip on him all you want, but it’s clear that he pursues humility and goodwill and for that, people will have his back.

Unwilling to start the week on a downer, Dr. Nyquist confessed that his intent was not depression.

Reality is.
Hostile Happens.
How do we face it?

Face Hostility with Hope! A hope that gives courage when attacked. A hope that gives an answer when questioned. A hope that assures us that God will make all things right.

What are your thoughts on hostility? Do you face it? Can we call what we face hostility in light of persecution around the world? Do we really live differently enough from the world to merit hostility or have we blended in so well that we are accepted? Is the “suffering Christian” just a lofty concept we experience in theory but distance ourselves from in life? Any favorite verses about the hope within us?

2012-01-31T00:34:00.002-04:00

A project I am working on with a friend... It's his story so I will say little about it... but here are the first drawings that I attempted for it!

2012-01-27T19:21:00.002-04:00

Here are some designs that I've done for work. Each day we post an article on various topics. You can see here that it ranges from Dr. Who to the Jeff Bethke video. Each one needs a title card. These are small and simple but I enjoy doing them.

2012-01-24T20:29:00.004-04:00

Here is the final Stickman Theology that I created for the social media campaign at work. I am already thinking of some fresh ideas for our next topic... Anxiety.

Also, Valentines day is coming up pretty soon and I want to have a few for that day as well! The drawing part of these is easy because it's simple stickmen, it is coming up with ideas and presenting them in a unique or funny way that is challenging me.

2012-01-22T17:49:00.006-04:00

Ok... so where did I leave off?

How Does God Meet Us

How does God meet us? Accoprding to Exodus 19-20. It is with distance.
This is different, because you and I, when meeting someone we really want to meet, will do and say things to draw that other person close, yet the first thing God reveals when meeting us is the distance between us. For some reason it is the most inportant thing He must communicate.

Why Does It Matter

Why does this matter at all? Why is it important to see the way in which God meets us?

Most people want to meet God, and the only book that He gave us that tells us about Himself and the world He created says that everyone will meet Him someday. To say there is a God is not a stretch, most people know that and believe in a higher power or a spiritual reality. It's the same thing that happens when we look at a beautiful painting or sculpture and we know instinctively that there is a creator who made it; when you look at nature, the world, other people, you know that there is a creator who made them.

But how we get to know this power, or creator is a different matter. Some think there are many ways that one can get to know God it just depends on the person. Others don't think they have to do anything and just belive that they will end up in His arms the moment they die. Do a poll at a funeral sometime. ( I am just kidding, thats probably not the place for it.)

But what does the Bible teach. It is for sure neither of these options. It is important because the only control we have over what happens to us after death, when we meet God, is our choices right now. We can't flip through the Bible for the 101 on meeting God while standing in line at the gates of heaven like so many comics depict. It is settled by that time.

The problem is that most people don't know the terms that God has laid out to meet Him and they try many different ways, thinking that these methods will eventually allow them to meet God. For some, it's living a good life, if the good outweighs the bad then God will accept them. For others, they believe that God is good and loving and so regardless of how they live or what they do, when they meet God they can arrange a deal and be accepted by Him.

Where do your methods of meeting God come from? Check them out... it's kinda a big deal. From reading the text in Exodus again, seeing God, even from a distance pretty much terrified the Israelites. There is no record of any of them trying to work a different deal that the others had. God sets up the standard and this is not something you want to get wrong.

This section of the Bible shows us that there is distance between our Creator and us, between perfect happiness, perfect fulfillment and us. The only method given so far is perfection on our part. Which is not even possible.

That sucks. Simple logic tells us that it is in His hands alone to solve this problem. As He first meets humans He highlights the difference that lies between and gives an impossible set of laws to keep as the only solution. Even God recognises that it is outside the reach of any human to ever maintain the perfect standard needed to be in the presence of God. Thankfully we don't have to read much further to see that God has solved the distance problem.

A New Kind of Meeting

If perfection is the solution, and we cannot attain it, then we must look to God to help us - to do something more, or something different.

But God already had a plan, even back then at this meeting, for fixing the gap between us. The solution was a person. Jesus. All through the Old Testament God makes promises to close the distance between us and He finally does it in the form of Jesus. God has always required a life in place of sin. It is the cost. In olden times, the Israelites would sacrifice an animal to make this payment. Yearly, daily, they did this and God forgave their sins. However, 2000 years ago, Jesus, God's son, died. Because He was perfect God allowed that death to pay for all the sins of those who accepted this truth. He became the animal, so to speak, that was sacrificed, paying our sins and so erasing the distance from God those sins had made.

Thats it. Done. When you realize the significance of what this means, your life will not be the same.

This is the big turning point in history, and it revolves around how we meet God. He no longer meets those who desire to know Him with distance. If we hold on to what Jesus has done, with everything we have, it is our doorway into a restored relationship with God. Instead of seeing sinful humans that He must distance Himself from like He did with the Israelites, God sees the death of His son that has covered our sins and allows us to freely access Him.

Groupon Has Nothing On This Offer

Because of Jesus, we have a whole new way of approaching God. The only way of approaching God. God is the one who has put the distance there for the protection of His perfection, and He is also the one who has offered a solution for each one of us to bridge that distance. He has simply not offered any other way besides Jesus.

This is good news!. All you who get excited about groupon or flyers that come in the mail? This is the offer you need to celebrate!

2012-01-19T20:25:00.006-04:00

How do you meet someone?

A better question is, "What do you do when you meet someone that you want to get to know?".

I have been observing this lately, deliberately watching people's first meetings. It's quite interesting actually, I would recommend everyone doing this.

What is your body language?
Do you hold eye contact. Do you shake hands? hug? kiss on each cheek? I am not a very physical person with others. I shake hands but that's about it. Sometimes I will even just opt for a wave with no contact at all. However, I am pretty deliberate to give off body language that shows my interest. I turn towards people and stay focused as they talk.

What do you say?
Conversation is usually a little panicked at the start. After initial "Hello's", both parties are quickly trying to find that point they have in common. Whether is it a past experience, a hobby, or a country that both have visited. It is a rush of topics till that one subject that can secure further conversation is revealed. It can get awkward if nothing in common comes up within the first few tries. If all else fails we fall back on the weather.
It's a search to relate, what do I have in common with this person.

There is an interesting story in the Bible about a first meeting. It's fascinating. How would God meet humans? The Deity meeting the dust people He created. How would He meet people the Bible says He loves so much. It should be a perfect model to follow as we meet others we love.

Not so much.

Take a look at Exodus 19:17.

Then Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they took their
stand at the foot of the mountain.(ESV)

What a meeting! You think you are nervous meeting royalty, a celebrity, or your girlfriends parents? The Israelites were about to meet the Deity who had just miraculously rescued them from the harshest slavery they had every known. And Moses facilitates this meeting.

Yet God does not greet them with a warm handshake or a strong embrace confirming His unconditional love for them.

They are met with distance. Physical distance.

And you shall set limits for the people all around, saying, ‘Take care not to go
up into the mountain or touch the edge of it. Whoever touches the mountain shall
be put to death. No hand shall touch him, but he shall be stoned or shot;
whether beast or man, he shall not live." (Exodus 19:12-13 ESV)

As God descends on the top of the mountain He commands that the people not approach. They are to keep a strict distance upon punishment of death. Even animals are not allowed to step on the mountain or they too will die.

What does He say? If His actions seem alienating wait till He speaks.

There is no "Hello"
no... "What did you think of the plagues? Pretty nice?"
no... "How are you guys feeling... you have been walking for a while?"

Instead He gives the law. The 10 commandments
Thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not commit adultery. You know how they go. Not only has God greeted them with a physical distance, He has now added a moral distance to this greeting. He is outlining the kind of perfection needed to be in His presence. With any human meeting this would not go over well. By the time you finished your 5th commandment the person you were meeting would be long gone. But God is different, and He needed to establish this with His people. God loved the Israelites unconditionally. He had chosen them when they did not choose Him and had done nothing to earn His favor. We know this because He said it over and over again.

The problem was the same problem that we still face today when we want to meet God. He is perfect and we are not. We have chosen to sin, to choose what we want over what God has told us is the best plan for us. We can't help but sin and every one of us does it. We are unable to recognise that He created us and He has already established the conditions in which we will be fully fulfilled and happy. They are only found in closeness to Him. But, to be in His presence, in our current condition would make Him not perfect. So while He loved the Israelites with a mighty love, the fact that they were imperfect sinful humans, kept this from being a close meeting. God needed to maintain an impenetrable barrier of distance.

He was at the top of the mountain, they were at the bottom.
Physically separated.
He is perfect, and He gave the law that they would have to keep in its entirety to be perfect themselves. A necessary impossibility.
Spiritually separated.

As we seek for God and want to "meet" Him, the exact same barriers are still in place.
Born here on planet earth, each one of us comes in the same way.
Physically separated.
Spiritually separated.

But.... there is good news. A lot has happened since the 1400's B.C. Ever since God's first creations chose to disobey God this barrier has existed but when God chose the Israelites. He started a movement that was only the beginning of breaking down this barrier. And since this first meeting He has done a lot more work in removing it.

This post is getting kinda long... I will continue in the next!

2012-01-15T22:13:00.003-04:00

I was going to blog tonight.

But then I started to crave chocolate chip cookie dough.

So I am going to make a batch of cookies and eat most of the dough instead.

Here is another comic.

2012-01-08T17:58:00.003-04:00

Here is a pregnancy announcement that I was asked to do for some friends. They liked a drawing I had posted of My wife and I and wanted me to do something similar. When I draw Celeste and myself, it takes very little effort... either because I have done it so many times, or because I know us so well that I just know what to draw. When I draw for others, I find myself laboring over the drawing far more, and the end result ends up looking far more realistic. In part, because I reference photos, but also because I don't want to offend the person I am drawing with too exaggerated a characteristic. It is an interesting experiment. I think my drawings of myself capture personality over image, and drawings of others capture image over personality. Not quite sure how to alter this pattern.

2012-01-04T22:57:00.005-04:00

Alright... Here is another post of Stickman Theology. I like how this one turned out!

2012-01-04T22:29:00.003-04:00

A New Plan...

I picked a different Bible reading plan this year. I am going to read it chronologically; like a story. If I have learned anything in school this past semester, it is that the Bible is a narrative, the history, certainly of the Jews, but even larger, the history of God's working to make us right with Him once again.
This reading plan means I start in Genesis and begin to work through... it gets kinda muddled in the middle but it will be fun to work through!
I think it has been too long that I have understood the Bible in segments and individual verses which can be manipulated to the point of the user ... hopefully this helps. You can't pull from the second half without understanding the first half, it is pretty much directly related. Jesus didn't just show up out of nowhere and make a massive impact on the rest of history... worldwide... with no warning. There is a complex history that He is the fulfillment and completion of and I really want to understand that better!

A short, I guess you can call it a "cute" verse that I liked was Gen 2:9 (ESV), speaking of His purposes in creating:

And out of the ground the LORD God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant
to the sight and good for food

Beauty AND function, God cares about both. I knew this, but it was cool to read. I guess this would be the Biblical support to "take time to smell the roses"... er... view them anyway

2012-01-03T19:56:00.006-04:00

I have an idea for a comic strip. It is called Stickman Theology. Basically it is just comic observations about the Bible and the Christian culture.

At my work, Moody Publishers, we just released a book this week about social media. In an effort to try and promote a healthy way of thinking about our use of it, and in an attempt to increase marketing awareness about the book, we have been encouraging discussion from our writers and asking them for their thoughts on social media.

In an effort to keep this discussion from becoming too serious, (and because I am an animator who is adamant about infusing cartoons into all areas of life), I had this idea to do a comic strip that tied in with this social media conversation.

Over the next few days I will post what I came up with. I hope you enjoy them! Most of them were emptied into a sketch book at 2:30 in the morning. (Why is that always the time that ideas present themselves?}

2012-01-01T22:50:00.000-04:00

I read a few verses in Hebrews this past week that I want to carry with me into 2012. Not necessarily as resolutions, but maybe as a theme for thought.

Hebrews 10:32 - But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened,you
endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed
toreproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated.
For you had compassion on those in prison, and joyfully accepted the plundering
ofyour property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possesion and
anabiding one.

I have one thought every time that I read these verses. These Christians are crazy.

Literally... they have no grip on reality. Once they had been clued in to Christianity, and truely understood what Jesus secured for them when He died on the cross, they lost all grip on reality as they had known it.Why? Because they had been let in on an even better reality. Once enlightened, what they saw was so great that everything they had in this world was comparitively worth nothing.

Am I supposed to be this kind of crazy too? I am enlightened to the same truths that these Christians were.

Their attutude was a proof of God's greatness. When their possesions were robbed, and when their bodies were mistreated they joyfully accepted it. Of course this is unatural! Go take some ones jacket or randomly slap someone because of what they believe. Probably 10 out of 10 will not joyfully accept it. (and it would be kinda strange that you actually did that to ten people). But... if someone DID joyfully accept it ... you would notice. And if they told you that what they have in Christ and their future in heaven with Him is so awesome that stuff on this earth... well... it didn't really matter in comparison. You would call them crazy! Yet you would have to admit that what they think is coming must be pretty amazing - at least in their own minds - to make them act in this way.

The truth is that Christ dying for our sins and enlightening us to this ultimate reality - this spiritual reality - and making the way for us to be at peace with our Creator really is that great. It IS that big that it should have major implications on our lives here. Everyone should see that we are not living for things on this earth - for family, for possesions, for retirement, for a better earth in furture generations. They should see us so focused on our future with Christ that they think its crazy how much it affects our life. The other stuff is good, but nowhere near the greatest.

Anyways, I am encouraged to have a lighter grip on things in life around me, and a stronger focus on Jesus! These early Christians believed that their earthly possesions were both comparitively and literally nothing when looking at life after death. If anyone were to ask me I would gladly say that yes, comparitively, my possesions are nothing. But literally, as in do my actions say the same thing? Well I kind of work to own alot of them, it bothers me when I don't have what I want sometimes and I would not joyfully let go some of my favorites. Do I really believe it then? You know the adage... Actions speak loader than words... this rings true loud and clear througout the Bible.

A final verse to share from the next chapter of Hebrews. Speaking of some of the faith giants of the Bible it says they acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. They desired a better country, that is a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared for them a city. Wow! not ashamed to be called their God because they had their priorities in the right worlds.

As I go into the next year, may I remember that this life's reality is only short, and that the joys it has for sale are pale in comparison to the joys Christ has for those who submit to Him. And may my life show that truth to others, yes... even if it looks crazy.

2011-12-28T00:03:00.003-04:00

I was walking around the house yesterday trying to figure out why I was so sore. It felt like I had done an intense lower body work-out at the gym.

I couldn't figure it out until that evening when Asher finished feeding and was ready for some play time. He was passed to me, and as I threw him up in the air I understood where the soreness was coming from.

I had just disovered a few days ago how much he enjoys being thrown in the air. However, it's pretty much like doing squats. One or two times is no where near enough so I had been doing these squat/ throw-up-in-the-air thingys for quite a while. Apparently it uses muscles that I don't use enough.

The strange things that a parent does to get their child to sleep or stay asleep are hilarious. This is just one of a few unusual workouts that I will post.

I imagine that by the time he weighs 25-30 pounds I will be pretty solid. Unfortunately, his enjoyment of the activity far outlasts my ability to continue doing it. Perhaps that will increase with time as well.

2011-12-27T12:33:00.007-04:00

Are we being tricked by the Old Testament? Is God not really
there as much as the stories claim He is?

I had a thought while watching The Story of David last night. One that I have had many times while reading the Old Testament - I wondered, would events that happened then (in OT times) that were written clearly as happening by the hand of God, pass by us today, completely unnoticed as supernatural interference?

Could one transport back in time and live for a day with the Israelites and end the day thinking -"There is nothing supernatural here at all; you guys just view everything that happens as ‘by the hand of God’"?

The writers of the OT knew very little about the world and how it worked; at least about the scientific explanation of how things worked, how rain is formed, what causes thunder etc…They simply attributed everything to God! He was the cause and deliberate force behind all that happened in the world around them.

We know so much today but I think the scientific explanations have lessened our spiritual interpretation of events. If we were to write the Old Testament today, with our "enlightened" view of nature and the workings of the world around us, would/could God be non-existent from some of the same stories?

Like I was saying, it was during this "David" movie that I began to think this through again. The book of Samuel says that as Saul “King of Israel” disobeyed God, losing his right of kingship, the Spirit of the Lord left him and an evil Spirit from the Lord came upon him. It is clear from the writer’s perspective the extent of God’s work in this story. Everything in Saul's kingship and the loss of it comes by the hand of God. However, if someone was an observer of this story and they did not believe in God, could they view all that happened and not see God in it at all? Could they have a completely different and natural explanation for what happened?

Could it be that Saul had an illness, much like we have modern conditions that bring on migraines and severe head pains? Since medical science and technology were not existent, and all was viewed as by the hand of the Lord, the diagnosis was: Saul had an evil Spirit from the Lord.

How about the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah? Could this be a volcano? Could this be something that we would pass off today as functions of a broken world, yet that the OT writers saw clearly as the hand of God.

How about thunderstorms in the book of Psalms? David saw them as 100% supernatural. They were the voice and movements of God. Could it have been just a normal thunderstorm we witness all the time?

When Ezra makes a trip to Jerusalem (Ez 8:31) could it be that he had a completely boring uneventful trip? When he writes that the hand of the Lord was upon him and delivered him from ambushes and enemies, is he expressing a perception of what he believed about God?

In some of these cases there are certainly more considerations to take into account. With Sodom and Gomorrah the Bible says that the destruction was foretold and expected to occur. Certainly God also intervened in massive unnatural ways. I don't write this to discount those. We do not have Red Sea partings in our lives, however, we do have thunderstorms, we do have earthquakes, floods, job promotions, safe travels, granted petitions.

Often I read the Old Testament and think "Wow!" God was in their everyday lives, involved in everything. They certainly wrote it that way. Yet perhaps we read more perception than literal angel/demon, heightened spirituality. I am not saying that these things were only perception. I believe 100% that God was directly involved as much as the stories say. What I am saying is that perhaps their lives didn't look so different then ours. They were not any more full of miraculously spiritual realities than our lives are today, they just viewed events with a heightened spiritual perception that we have lost.

At the start I asked: “If one could transport back in time and live for a day with the Israelites would they end the day thinking - "There is nothing supernatural here at all; you guys just view everything that happens as ‘by the hand of God’?”

Probably... at the very least they would be amazed at how much was attributed to God, things that we have lost because of our "knowledge".

I think they had the right view and I think this is an interesting thought to read through the Old Testament with. A view of how things work through the lens of God in the driver’s seat is truly the enlightened view.
Don’t let the everyday workings of God become lost in expectation or knowledge of how the world works. Try and view all things as they are: coming from and sustained by God. Whether its snow, sickness, or a job promotion, give thanks to the One who is over it all!

We have been tricked, but not by the OT writers. We are tricked when we see a thunderstorm that rips open the sky and fail to acknowledge it as the hand of God. We are tricked when we face death and hurt and think that God has lost control or doesn’t care. We are tricked when we
live through another day safely and still breathing and don’t see it as a gift from God!

2011-12-22T22:41:00.003-04:00

More student budget cards!
Along with babies, of course, comes baby showers.
I got the chance to do some sketching the other day while Asher was sleeping, so I decided to make our thank-you card for all the shower gifts with the sketch. Here it is!

2011-12-17T16:58:00.004-04:00

Part of my new job at Moody Publishers will be working on our team's website. The plan is to add free stuff, videos, interviews from our authors, and specific conversations from our writers. Already, we have a great group of writers that contribute insights, knowledge, and random thoughts.
This January, my team releases its first book, unfriend yourself by Kyle Tennant. From there it just keeps going all year long.
Anyways, besides an inteview and a few guest posts from Kyle, we are trying to initiate conversation from our authors about social media; its goods and its bads. I am looking forward to the thoughts that come in... I am attemptig to design some banners for the website for each writer that links the articles on social media together.
I had fun trying to design these... I am not great at this but I think these will look good on the site. I imagine I will be doing alot more of these in the future, as we post new posts almost everyday on Thrive 80. Right now I am looking at sites like Creation swap and The Resurgence for inspiration. Their stuff is brilliant and if I can create some stuff even half as genius, I will be happy!

2011-12-16T14:18:00.002-04:00

Research has shown...That licking candycanes is absolutely the best way to get creativity flowing.

2011-12-14T19:13:00.006-04:00

Wow, the last few days have been a tag team effort between my son and exams to give me as little sleep as possible.Unbelievably, 1 of 8 semesters at Moody Bible College is finally finished. That is hard to even process as it went by so fast. I imagine the rest will be the same.
I have a brain full of drawings and ideas that need to get out over the next few weeks! They have been building but exams have kept the lid on tight.
For now, here are a few Christmas photos. Some good friends James and Quincie took these for us. I love them!

2011-12-08T23:18:00.005-04:00

This is a bit of a downer, just so you know. ( Sorry if these are thoughts I should keep to myself)

Anticipation, planning, blue elephants on the wall

Research, heritage, the perfect name

A blessing from God

Family, friends, showers of gifts

A walk, a waddle, a rest on the bench

A large gasp of breath

Pushing, straining, labor pains intensifying.

Helping, preparing, squeezing her fingers tight.

A baby is delivered,

but there is no first gasping cry for breath.

just silence,

Stillness...

now the Mom is empty.

Dad is empty too.

It was expected, but not prepared for.

What do you say...

It's a boy? Do you want to hold him? You did well?

The nurses leave,

there is just 2.

It was supposed to be 3

The silence is far louder then imagined.

I met someone who is having this happen in their life this week. Her sister was 8 1/2 months pregnant when the life in her ended. She still has to deliver this weekend. It has pretty much wrecked my thought process for a few days so I needed to write. The birth of Asher is too near to not dwell on it.

Why some and not others?

God is in control, He is sovereign and He is good, seems so small at a time like this, yet it is the only thing large enough to understand this through. To say it seems insensitive, yet it is the only comfort big enough to offer. Tears beside tears is the only place I can start.

He gives and takes away. How can the one who He has given to offer consolation to one He has taken from?

2011-12-01T23:39:00.008-04:00

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Let me share with you two of the stranger things that I enjoy as we approach the holiday season.

Obese squirrels and gingerbread men deaths.

-My wife and I were having coffee the other day with gingerbread men, and we were dunking the men in our coffee. I just started laughing when I saw how we were sitting there just holding their heads "underwater". It looked quite morbid. Christmas time is not the safest time of year for gingerbread men! I imagine there is a lot of stress within their cupboard communities as to how each one will go.

I have always had a strange enjoyment of gruesome gummy bear deaths. Perhaps gingerbread men are just the holiday expression of this ... Please don't read too much into my character based on this.

And fat squirrels? I don't know ... they are just not supposed to be.

I guess they have extra weight because they are going into hybernation soon, but every year it catches me off guard and gives me a laugh to see them so large.

2011-11-28T18:41:00.003-04:00

Celebrated my first Thanksgiving in the US this past week. My son, Asher Timothy Little was born. (I can't wait to call him Ash.... I love it!) This is our 1st child. It was a pretty sweet day, and I had a lot to be thankful for. I am praying that he grows up to love and know God more than anything else and that his life shows it. I am also praying that I will be a usable example and teacher in this process!

Here he is..... I realise that I am probably drowning in a sea of bias when I say that he is pretty much the cutest thing ever. I will definitely be doing some sketching of this little guy over Christmas

2011-11-22T18:01:00.004-04:00

Here is the final poster. I had to cut the design and color process short as my wife went into labor, however I still like this one better than the first pass. I love drawing!!

Here is a poster that I am designing for a school event! It is a work in progress and I am not sure where to go with it. I am not great at designing this sort of comic book style graphics, or color actually.

The intent was to de-saturate the zombie like students, and up the color saturation on the ice cream students. That effect works OK, but I don't think I used the best color choices for the ice cream students part of the picture. The blue and orange is not quite working for me.

Any of you who are good with color or want to suggest something I'd love to hear it! Otherwise I will just be stuck color picking for the next few days till something clicks.

There is more text coming so I have not done much with the text design, it is mostly the image, and the numbers I am looking at right now.

2011-11-19T17:16:00.003-04:00

Young and old. Innovative methods and tradition. Is it difficult to mesh the two of these? I observed something interesting during my time as an animator. Animation had changed. It had been done on paper forever and suddenly what was once drawn by hand, frame by frame, was now being done on the computer. Themethod had changed. There were animators that had worked their entire career onpaper and now had no idea how to translate their experience to the screen.There were also students who had no idea how animate, they had no experience and yet they knew the software inside out. Who do you hire? You need both of these and yet neither one in himself is sufficient.

An amazingtransaction took place! The older guys relied on the younger ones for their methods,
their tips and techniques, to get what they knew on the screen authentically. The younger guys looked to the older for their experience, for their keenly developed eyes to help improve their animation. They knew how to do anything they desired with the program yet their work often lacked the realness or authenticity of the older guys who had developed this skill over a life time. When a balance and interaction was successfully implemented, magic happened.

What good is an experienced animator if he has no idea how to get his knowledge on the screen? And what good is a young animator who can get anything on screen that he desires but it is awful?

Interestingly enough I have found this same balance is required in ministry for the church. Yet we don’t work it out nearly as well. In fact in many cases there is a divide and both parties are moving further apart. The older have elevated tradition to doctrine and the younger broadcast immaturity. Ok … before you tar and feather me, let me just say that this is by no means an across the board stereotype, it’s just a general observation. This is probably my emotions speaking louder than my logic as it often does. There are many older guys I know that make every effort to relate to those younger than themselves and do it very successfully. Women who live out Titus 2:4. Thank-you … we need it!

There arealso many young people who are not only wise (as much as they can be with limited experience) but also submit themselves to the leadership of those older than them. This is wise, 1 Peter 5:5.

The younger generation relate to…. the younger generation. They know how to get and hold their attention; they know the climate and what is relevant. Yet, they lack the experience of walking a life time with God, and the wisdom of walking through difficult times with Him. The older generation has much experience. They know what it means to trust God on bigger issues than a midterm. Yet many have lost the connection point, and have no idea how to make it of use to those who need it.

On my first day of class I think my college did a great thing. The class was run by two people, an older professor, and a sophomore student. It was genius! One had wisdom and control and the other helped relate it exactly to the student. It was almost like a translator for another language, and it was really great and very smart. This is what I am talking about.

It is not about one person having everything; experience and methods. It is more of a mentoring, or a team. This is not a new observation by any means, but just something I have been noticing lately. Most often to be honest it has been in ways that are working which is encouraging! I guess while it reminds me of so many times when it hasn’t worked in my past, it gives me hope that this old and young balance is being figured successfully in some cases and that it is totally worth working towards.

2011-11-17T18:36:00.007-04:00

Here are a few more images I was playing with. Basically, again, I just took my camera out and snapped these photos and then I played around with some text and transparencies to see what I can create.

mmmm... coffee!

mmmm... Christmas trees!

2011-11-14T23:21:00.005-04:00

I am continually amazed at the ways in which God answers prayer! I am even more amazed at how I usually completely miss it and not even realise there has been an answer.

Celeste is nine months pregnant! In less that a week we will welcome our first child into the home. Exciting? ..... very! Even more so realising how God brought this pregnancy into our lives, and how he brought our heart into sync with His own before granting it to us.

I have been praying that God would reveal Himself to me through the birth of this child. I want to know more about God as a Father, as Creator, and I want to better understand His unconditional love for me even when I did not love Him back. (That one scares me a bit to ask for). It is not every day that an event like childbirth comes into my life and so through even the next few weeks as it is born, I want God to use the time for His glory by growing my view of who He is.

Two Sundays ago, at our church we had a sermon on what the Bible says about the end times; the return of Christ. We have been going through the book of 2Thess. and the text for the day came out of ch 5:1-11. The pastor was talking about another area of the Bible where the disciples asked Jesus how they will know when He is returning. When?

Jesus enters into a several chapter discourse about the end times but He never answers their when. In fact, He says He doesn't know the when. What He did answer, however, was the how. How are we to live, knowing that Jesus will return at any time. This cued us back to 2Thess 5:3. It's talking about the wicked who are enjoying a time of peace and security. Suddenly, destruction comes on them like labor pains come upon a pregnant woman. The pastor began to describe these pains in detail and then stopped when he noticed Celeste and her pregnant belly. He laughingly re-assured her of the guaranteed ease of delivery she would most certainly have. It was a funny moment, however, the point had been made. Jesus return will come on us like labor pains come upon a pregnant woman.

Celeste and I are completely prepared for our babies arrival. the crib is built. We have purchased (or been given) baby clothes, bed sets, blankets, toys, a diaper bag, nail clippers, and even diapers. Oh and a cute little monkey towel blanket thingy. I love it! Everything we can think of is ready.We have arranged rides to the hospital, Celeste has spent hours creating a birthing plan, a menu is planned out for the days after we have the baby. We have researched and prepared ourselves so that we will know what it happening when it comes. As it is only a week away, everyday, at almost every moment I am thinking about it. It could be at any time. While I go to work, while I am in class, when we walk to the grocery store, or even as I am typing this right now the baby could come. Celeste could go into labor. The baby's coming is imminent. It will come. We just have no idea when and must be prepared at all times while still going forward with our daily lives.

There is no subtlety as to where I am going with this. In the same way as labor pains will suddenly break over Celeste. So will Christ's coming suddenly break over the earth. Great news for those whom He has forgiven, but judgement on those who remain against Him. His coming is imminent. He will come. We just have no idea when and yet we are to live fully prepared and ready.

The truth of this way of living had never really sunk in before. ( I am also understanding how an apt sermon illustration can be gold to a pastor) I love this about life experiences. God has designed them to point back to Him, to fill us in on who He is and how He works. If I am honest I I'll admit that while I look forward to His return more than any other event in life, I am not as prepared for, nor do I anticipate the "anymomentness" of it as much as I do with the baby. Yet, it is just as much a reality and God has asked for this high level of preparedness. Thank-you God for these life experiences that inform us on how to live as you have commanded us to.

Every time I have a thought of baby anticipation, I now also think of Christ's return. Am I putting in equal time preparing for that as I am the baby? Am I as concerned about prepping for that as I am the baby. Am I as ready?

Anyways. finally, like two weeks later it is sinking in what a great answer to prayer that sermon was. God totally answered my prayer of using this pregnancy to teach me more about Him. So, I continue to pray that God will teach me and I anticipate with even more confidence that I will learn more about Him as I have a kid. I am excited!

2011-11-10T21:42:00.005-04:00

Since attending school I have been drawing more than ever. I love it. Often I am totally out of time because of schoolwork and so the drawings end up being done at like 2 in the morning the day they are supposed to be used, but nevertheless, I still end up spending way too much time focusing on getting the corner of a smile, or the shadow on the ear just right. Can't help it.

Here are a couple of posters and flyers I completed this week for events around campus.

2011-11-06T00:06:00.003-03:00

Free Wallpapers:

I have been having fun this weekend creating a different kind of art than normal. I am seeing what it involves to create some wallpapers. I took my camera out today and took a few pictures and then played around with them, adding color and text.....and this is what came of it. This is just an experiment, however, I am pleased with parts of each one of these. I admit I copied the design of some CD covers and other images, but hey... that's how you learn right.

Feel free to use if you like them!

2011-11-03T22:36:00.005-03:00

Here is my two cents on the Occupy Wall Street, Occupy Canada protests. As was the last writing that I posted, this is from my writing class, so it's a little bit longer that my usual post. Regardless, I hope you like it, agree with it, disagree with it, but at least think about how your own financial situation fits in!

Barely Getting By

The economic structures placed in our lives by misguided government leaders and greedy businessmen, who all but run the finances in our world, have lowered our standard of living to just barely getting by.

Only minor consolation, yet no relief, comes from the fact that it is not our fault. After all, the top one percent of America owns over 40 percent of the wealth. This is, of course, wrong and severely unbalanced. Humanity was never intended to work this way. Equality is a right that every human should have access to, and generosity a trait that all should be schooled in. Especially the one percent. When so much has been allotted to so few, who now control all further allotment, it is an unsurprising example of human nature that the rest of us are barely getting by.

I do not ask for affluence. In fact, it is wasteful to work away life in the hope of obtaining a certain status or extravagant lifestyle. Enjoyment of the simple pleasures is far more desirable. While a penthouse atop one of the great Chicago high-rises holds certain appeal, the ability to simply pay bills on time would be a luxury worth celebrating. The dignity of not having to scrape for money for food, a car payment, the cellphone bill, and internet access is a right earned by each hard-working American. It should not be considered bold to state that we deserve the simple freedom of enjoying life with friends. A date night at the movies, with my wife, that costs $60 with its ridiculous popcorn and 3D glasses costs, is a violation of that freedom. Let the rich see their movies in the VIP lounge, paying Hollywood’s salaries. They are not the ones just barely getting by.

Let’s talk clothing as well. Did you know that fur was going to be big this year? No one would have predicted that 12 months ago. Fortunately, most of what my wife bought last year will still match, requiring only minimal updates. While forced to shop sales at H&M, it still empties our pockets to barely keep within a year of being out of style. Perhaps the boldness of asking for a simple life expires at needing fur represented in her wardrobe. However, the principle remains. In every area of life the spending requirements are just beyond the limits of our reach. Greater wealth distribution and the lowering of costs by companies who are already rich would allow us a status of more than just barely getting by.

The only thing that changes faster than style is electronics. If I had been told 3-D televisions were in the womb of techie designers three trimesters ago when I bought my little flat screen, perhaps I could have waited, saved and finally been up to date with the flow of technology. Sitting on my shelf (I cannot afford to hang it on the wall), my 19” flat screen is a stark reminder of my economic status, and my inability to provide for my family. A quick walk through the city in the evening clearly displays the large screens that consume the walls of most other houses around me. Their flashing images only bring attention to what I can’t have. Phones create an even worse situation. I cannot afford to update every year with the rest of the county. In an attempt at resourcefulness, I have chosen to get by with technology that is five years old with both my iphone and ipod alike. Thankfully, due to the high quality of the company’s products, they last longer than the standard few years. I am OK with appearing dated in this area, absorbing the archaic jokes with only a little bitterness. When I am barely getting by in all of other life’s other expenses, certain sacrifices are needed.

The human right is not only to live but also to give. The desire to give to charity and help the poor exists in all of us, and yet even this is restricted. As we move our position out of barely getting by, we also will be able to make a difference in the lives of those around us who are struggling. Who has the freedom to give with Apple knocking at the door for its monthly?

Greater knowledge about economics and its politics would balance my inability to give viable solutions. Unfortunately, however, as one of so many in this country who has been forced into this lifestyle against my personal choice, I can only speak out representing what I know. Not ever having quite enough is my only reality. However, I know the unnoticeable amount it would take from the rich to ensure that other Americans like me are not just barely getting by. Perhaps raising awareness of our situation will help the cause of equality for future generations. A future of not having to limit your children to the things everyone else has and enjoys is worth fighting for.

In other parts of the world there are millions who are barely getting by. Not one of these people owns a cell phone or worries about a cable bill at the end of the month. They lack the resources to even know of a world that is so different than theirs but would be shocked if they did. They do not protest or cry out for justice when we purchase yet another item of clothing or movie. Their time is filled doing what is needed to daily survive, maintaining shelter, food and health. What we view as necessities are not even an afterthought for them. Many of these people do not get by; those who do are just barely getting by.

When barely getting by becomes about the gap between us and those above us, we lose grip on what it really means. When it becomes about not having the things we want and think we deserve, it clouds the meaning, causing it to lose effect for those who cry in earnest. As we look in the window of our favorite clothing store, rising up on our tippy toes, allowing our reflection to try on the jacket we want but can’t afford, we are not just barely getting by. The excess of others has no role in defining our status, but as we choose to view it this way, we lose a realistic picture of necessity.

It must be acknowledged, however, that we live in a different contexts and cultures. It is neither wise nor helpful to live in a dirt hut with a loincloth as our only possession. There are also, in this country, many who are barely getting by. We must simply define ourselves in context of the world. This will surely reveal us as blessed by God. We have riches and opportunity in one of the wealthiest parts of our world. We may not have all that we want, and perhaps have little of what those around us have, but we are not just barely getting by. We are privileged and completely able to help those with far less than us.

2011-10-31T19:30:00.003-03:00

Student budget = Making my own cards ( or not sending one at all ... sorry )

This is the latest

2011-10-30T00:02:00.006-03:00

I went out for a jog this morning with a friend.

I had no idea it was the Monster Dash 2011 downtown Chicago.

There were thousands of people all dressed up (or dressed down) jogging along the waterfront.

I joined them.

I am curious. What's the draw of Haloween costumes? Why dress up? It seems split to me.

People like to dress up to be part of a group or to partake in community. We do this at every holiday, it's an event or celebration that people all around us are participating in, and in order to be part of the party we must meet the requirements of it. For Halloween, it is showing up in costume. With this motvation, I have dressed up many times for work. Each time was to promote team spirit, involvement and a bond between myself and my coworkers. Do I love the holiday? No ... I prefer Christmas, but I love community and think building that is more imortant that my specific holiday preferences. These people who dress up for this reason usually dress up like a pirate, a clown, a cowboy, or the creepy rubber masks and long black robes. Dressing up may be outside of their character comfort zone but the costume usually is not. I love this kind of dressing up and providing its not a celebration of gore or evil I say everyone should take part in it. It's innocent, its community, and its fun.

There is another side of dressing up at Halloween that I understand less. This is the dressing down, wearing less, "sexy" costumes. Those who dress up for community or for participation in a group of friends usually don't go this route. I am curious what is the mindset behind this. A person who is a normal dresser all year suddenly shows up to work in lingerie on Halloween. Why?

I noticed at the race that many were dressed as pumkins, jailers, superheros (These were the community supporters). There were also those who were wearing hardly any clothes. This was intended to be their costume. I don't understand the mindset behind it.

Either way... It made for an interesting jog.

2011-10-18T02:23:00.002-03:00

In honor of my first October in Chicago!

I promise I will put up a picture of how the actual carving turns out..... for better or for worse...

I might have to change the eyes on this drawing before I send it out. Celeste says I look angry at the pumpkins..... that may be true by the end of the night, but for now I am simply trying to decide which one I should carve.

2011-10-11T19:15:00.002-03:00

Let me share with you a story. I have realized how heavily my brain leans to the creative. It's probably a developed habit from doing animation for so long, however, out of all my classes at Moody Bible Institute, my favorite has been my writing class. I love writing, thinking of creative ways to describe things. This is one of my writing assignments. The assignment was to write a narrative paper describing a short but significant time in your life. I chose to write about my first few moments in Chicago! It's a few pages but I hope you will enjoy the story--- I loved writing it :)

The radio was playing the remaining lines of Chris Tomlin’s “Your Grace is Enough”, and I was singing along at the top of my lungs. If I had felt more confident driving with one hand, the other would have been raised in worship. My wife sat beside me in the spacious cab of the U-Haul truck. At six months pregnant she was radiant. Slightly more reserved, she sang along. Putting her music education into practice, she wove various harmonies around my voice. I love when we sing and drive. Six years of marriage and many miles had formed Celeste and me into an intuitive duet.

We entered the city of Chicago. After leaving everything from our old lives far behind in Canada, we looked forward with eager anticipation to a new start at Moody Bible Institute. We had been feeling an increasing leading from God’s Word to enter into a stronger trust relationship with God, and this is where it had brought us. From acceptance to Moody to finances covering our time here, we had seen God miraculously provide in every way. Everything had been handed to us, and a baby on the way cherried the top. I was being introduced to trust but still knew very little about how it worked. Like the Israelites of old who doubted God’s provision of food, after walking on dry ground though the parted Red Sea, a difficult situation would soon test the genuine nature of my trust.

As I pulled the moving truck up to Moody Bible Institute, I leaned far over the steering wheel attempting to take it all in. Our new home. Faith had brought us here, and trust would sustain us for the next four years. God was good! I parked the truck, kissed my wife and hopped out. Excitedly we walked to Jenkins Hall and approached the front desk, eager to see the apartment we would call home.

“Hey!” I said with a Christian smile. “We are moving in today.” A quick conversation with the young security guard secured us two sets of keys to apartment 5F. Quickly we stepped into the elevator, rushed down the hallway, jammed the key into the lock, turned it, and swung open the door, stepping into our new home.

It had carpet.

A large crack in the window shattered the Chicago skyline. A knowing glance from my wife confirmed the hesitations I knew she was having.

The room, however, had a beautiful view, and this was the place that God had provided for us. Our comfort would no longer be the driving force in our life, so we would be content.

The second conversation with the security guard was less helpful. The loading dock was not available that morning. We would have to park out on the street and drag our belongings through two sets of doors into the lobby. This was a lot of extra work.

“Thanks,” I said, forcing a Christian smile.

At six months pregnant, Celeste had serious limitations on what she could lift. The majority of what waited out on the street would have to be escorted to the apartment by me.

God would provide, and I was sure of it. I had prayed specifically for help with packing and unpacking the truck. Others had prayed for it as well. God had already provided, at the last minute, unexpected help in loading the truck. I was confident He would provide the same as I began to unload. Sort of confident.

Without another option, I parked out on the street. Edging sideways, pressing my body tight to the exterior of the truck to avoid being swept away by the stream of traffic, I inched my way to the back of the truck. Lifting the back door, I was suddenly overwhelmed at the amount of boxes. Imitating the tall Chicago buildings that surrounded the college, they loomed over me. Moving them would be a huge challenge. Surely there were not these many boxes when we left Canada. There were a few odd-shaped items near the back of the truck that Celeste could lift, so we began to load them onto our moving trollies. These odd-shaped items were the end of the truck pieces that didn’t fit into the packing structure, so they had been thrown in at the end. They did not fit the trollies either. The uneven Chicago sidewalk juggled the contents of the carts, dropping some of the pieces. This approach was not working, and I was getting frustrated. We had been given the elevator for three hours, and this balancing act was taking far too long.

In an attempt to speed up the process, I stacked my cart beyond the point of reasonable balance. Celeste objected. Assuring her I had the situation under control and that I could balance the load, I jerked the cart over the curb. The sound of the contents hitting the ground was muffled by the sound of my assurances backfiring. Embarrassed yet maintaining my determination, I began to restack the cart.

“Let me take some of these”, Celeste offered as she began to pick up some of the pieces.

“I’ve got it covered,” I said deeply.

The Christian smile was gone.

Taking the pieces from her, I reloaded the cart, struggling to maintain balance but knowing I had no other choice. I awkwardly rushed the cart into the building. Hurt by my lack of impatience in a growingly stressful situation, she began to break. I could see the tears beginning as she attempted to look away while moving her cart toward the elevator. There was not time to address the issue right now. An entire truck of unpacked boxes advised me to ignore the tears until the truck was emptied.

Boxes give horrible advice. Ignoring the issue only intensified it. As we reached our apartment with an elevator’s worth of belongings her tears were freely flowing. She wasn’t hiding it.

This was not how our time at Bible College was supposed to begin.

We exchanged abrupt words, and refusing to deal with the escalating frustration, I left her in the apartment. The awkwardly shaped items were finished. The rest of the truck was mine.

As I walked back to the truck alone, my mind was spinning. I was frustrated with my wife and frustrated with how I had handled her. The truck was still three-quarters full of boxes. I was panicking. The time was too quickly slipping away. I couldn’t lift the couch by myself. I was exhausted from weeks of packing and a long drive to Chicago. I didn’t know where to begin. I was mad. Mad that God had not provided what I asked for. I was angry that He did not see that I was unable to do this alone.

“Why don’t you pass me a few of those boxes?” said a voice from the sidewalk.

“I’ll help you carry them up.” It was not God’s voice, but it was certainly His hand. Clearly and recognisably as this stranger spoke, God rebuked, disciplined and provided.

I realized that every part of my being lay naked and exposed before God. He had seen every part of it. Like a rotten buffet, I had laid the worst of me out before Him, and He had still proven faithful.

“Thank you,” I said humbly. “That would be a great help.”

I smiled again. There was nothing specifically Christian about it except that it came from a heart immensely aware of a great God and His faithful care for His children.

The man waiting at the foot of the truck had been helping his daughter move out that morning. She was not fully packed, so while he waited for her, we unpacked the entire truck. Quietly, I led him to our apartment, delivering box after box and gratefully thanking him after each load.

Once the truck was empty, we shook hands and parted. I had nothing left to say, and no energy left to say it anyway. Yet, I was completely revived. As I walked back to the apartment after returning the truck, I realized the immensity of the task of completely trusting God in all things, and I was completely aware of my utter weakness in doing so.

This was exactly how Bible College was supposed to begin.

2011-09-25T17:51:00.003-03:00

We made an attempt to get to know some people on our floor this past weekend. Here is the note I put under everyone's door. (yes... I reused a bit of an earlier drawing) The night went awesome! 3 couples came by and spent the evening just talking. We didn't even get to the games. That will have to wait for a later night!

2011-09-14T22:20:00.004-03:00

I am at Bible school now.... so along with posting drawings... I also want to post some stuff I am learning... It will be good for me to be able to read these posts back in many years and remember where I was and what I was learning!

Isaiah 57:15
For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.

I came across this verse in my studies of God's attributes (what makes God, God) and I loved it.
There is so much info being jammed into my head right now and the teachers are ruthless and they threaten us with future exams to make sure the information stays there. It is easy to treat the Bible as text book information that I have to know to pass the next test. The hard part is letting go of that and getting to know God and then let that shape my life, if good marks come out of that... and they probably will.... then that's super, but if not... growth in knowledge of God that changes me into someone who serves Him as He would want is the higher priority.

So as I am cramming info into my head for an upcoming test, I came across this verse and it just was a great reminder of who God is. I am studying and wanting to know the one who inhabits eternity. He is huge, in charge of ALL.... everything, and yet He is interested in, He resides with those who are of a contrite and lowly spirit. Those who are humble and responsive to Him.
That's crazy! In my mind the 2 don't fit, I can't reconcile this........in any context. The God of the universe, who created all, holds all power, is with and sees and cares about one little human, who is regarded as nothing and insignificant in the world.

This is our God! and that's really sweet!

Needless to say, I put my text books aside for just a moment and asked God to make me humble and responsive to what He asks of me, and I thanked Him that He cares, and I was amazed that I had just prayed to a being so powerful than I cannot comprehend, and He heard me.
WOW

2011-09-10T19:13:00.005-03:00

Going back to school as an adult is definitely a different experience than the first time. I have to say, I love the energy around the college with all the freshmen, BUT, it has been a while since I have made so many friends that are under 19. I had forgotten the amount of energy it takes to keep up. I am definitely feeling my age a lot more than I was a month ago.

My entire first week at 'Moody Bible College' was FILLED with orientation. They wanted to keep us busy so that we would not miss our parents and get homesick. There were many valuable things that I learned. Finding the post office, that was a big one! I wouldn't have received mail till Christmas if I was on my own with that one. I also got a bike permit....also important. However, I also got 5 days of sensitive dialogue with teachers and student about the big changes in our lives and how we are coping with them. Here are some of the highlights!

1.) I learned tips on how to deal with life away from parents.

2.) Since there is a very real possibility of dating this year, or the next, I received tips on how to balance growing homework with budding relationships.

3.) I also learned how to resolve issues with my roommate though thorough communication.

4.) I learned that candy may be super fun, but I should balance my eating with healthy stuff too.

Needless to say I was ready to start class by the end. I really can't fault such a young orientation though because the majority of students are in fact 18ish and in need of these talks. It just definitely made me feel older and far in life to re go through these adjustment talks.

That being said I am gaining lots of friends that are young, and have only been married for like 2 months or are getting engaged this coming year. This is cool cause I am able to give them insight on whats coming up and be there to talk to them and pray with them when they need it. It's also awesome cause they give me insight on passion and trust in God, and being bold and just walking out on the street telling people about Jesus. They are crazy!!! and it's great!!!

Living in the married residence has helped counter this onslaught of puberty though! Celeste and I have been getting to know so many married students here that are in the same stage of life (and further) than us. While young may be the majority, there is no shortage of older students to and it has been really great to meet them and start to form community here.

2011-09-05T11:32:00.003-03:00

So the other big change that is coming up fast is the little baby on the way! I know.... a lot of new all at once. Celeste is due on Nov 22nd, and we are getting more and more excited! Celeste and I can be sitting on the couch now and actually see the baby moving around inside her. It is very strange and amazing all at the same time. Especially to think that she still has over two months to go. The nice thing is....... that now that we are living in a tiny 1 bdrm residence apartement there is not a whole lot to get ready. There is just anticipation. And considering we don't know boy or girl yet......much anticipation!

2011-09-03T22:46:00.005-03:00

Define "minister"......... Can you? I came up with the picture on the left. Mulling over what this word means has been something that I have had to do frequently over the last few months.

Lets start with where I am right now. I am studying at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. I just started my first of four years in the World Missions program. My major is Evangelism and Discipleship. The point being, is that I am no longer working as an animator. I'm not quite used to saying that yet... it has only been a few weeks.

I have had some big changes in my life over the past year or two, a lot of priorities shifted around, and all of it resulting from reading one book - the Bible. That whole story I will tell at a later time. Needless to say, all Bibles should come with a major warning........ Understanding will lead to change.

So over the last 5 months as I gave notice at my animation job that I was leaving, as I told friends and family that I was heading of to Bible college, by far the question that was asked the most was, "So.... you are going to become a minister?"

I did not know how to answer that. What I drew (above) is the first thought that came to my mind when I think minister, so no, I am not becoming that........ yet, technically in many ways yes, I am becoming a minister. So I looked up a definition. I like the dictionary, we are friends.

Minister: One who is authorized to perform religious functions in a Christian church, especially a protestant church.

Yeeeah... not quite. Not what I am here for, though that may be part of it. However, when I scroll down the definition page a little and get to the definistions of "ministers" as a verb, this is what I found

Misisters: To attend to the wants and needs of others.

Now this is closer. You see over the last few years as I read through the Bible and compared what it said to my life I realised the only person I was "ministering" to, was myself. I also realised that this was not the way a Christian is to live. In fact, the reason I was made a Christian was so that I would show how excellent Christ is to those around me, by living like He lived, loving like He loved.... you get the point. Its the purpose of every Christian. Christ making us into who He is.....from the inside out. That's the Christian life.

Interestingly, as a Christian, one who follows Jesus, I saw that I don't really have needs. What I read in the Bible is that we all share one need. Thats it. Our sin separates us from God. Without the whole sin/separation thing being taken care of we are not living the way we were designed to, and not only this but if we leave this life without our sin/separation taken care of it becomes an eternal problem. And so the long and short is that I saw how Jesus fixed the separation problem for me, freely forgiving everything that was separating me from God, and the reason He did it is certainly not so I can live for myself. It is so that I can serve others, thats the way it should work. When you have your needs met you are free to serve others.

So it is in this sense that I am going to be a minister. I want to meet the practical needs of others. I hope you will see me more often behind the counter of a soup kitchen serving supper to those who need it, or teaching kids who have no dad that in reality they have a perfect Father. Even more importantly I want to "minister" to the need that every single person on this planet has if they do not know about God, how our sin separates us from Him, and how Jesus has already fixed it for those who will accept it.

I also got a new tablet to keep up my drawing, and I am excited for that. I am not sure of how this will all mash up on this blog, but I have a new school, a new city, lots I want to remember at a later date and so I write it here.

2010-04-17T14:45:00.003-03:00

Celeste and I have been taking out our new bike quite a bit over the last week..........?
meant to say bike's'.....2 of us riding on one would be cute yes.....but no...

There are a lot of benefits to bike riding... Getting exercise, getting out in the sun, getting to explore the close by areas that you probably wouldn't with a car, but they are too much to walk. Saving on gas and car use. Bikes are perfect for this.

There are downsides though there are not too many. Biking to church for example actually puts you in a great mood by the time you get to church, appreciating nature along the way... singing worship songs as you pedal........ great!! The extreme windswept hairstyles when we get there...ha ha ha..... not as great. We'll either be setting a new trends or asked to leave for inappropriate hair stylage.

However, the biggest downside is the bugs. In Oakville right now we are in black fly season, and they are thick. Like, so thick that when you drive by a swarm it looks like clouds. They are very fascinating to observe from the car but when you suddenly peddle through a cloud on your bike and they go in your hair, down your shirt, up your nose, in your ears, its amazing how much less fascinating it is. Not to mention that this happens repeatedly over the whole bike trip, and yet you still can't wobble off the narrow path you are driving on the side of the road, because yes getting hit by a car is worse than driving your bike through a bug swarm.
Anyways when we got to church last week Celeste and I did a bug check of each other and she had a bug that had flown into her eye and had been washed to the corner of her eye and was still there.....dead.. About half way through the sermon I thought of it again and I couldn't stop laughing cause I thought of it from the bugs point of view....What weird deaths they must endure. Ha ha... imagine your last living thoughts are......"Wow...I am about to drown in the fluids in the corner of this massive eyeball.... Totally did not see myself going like this"
ha ha....

2010-04-09T20:37:00.002-03:00

Hey... I totally forgot to mention... I have had some great comments this past week from some older posts... so I just wanted to give thank-yous for leaving a note... I can always see the amount of people that go through the blog, but I usually have no idea who you are... so it's really cool to get comments come in from people who I have never met , or people I just haven't seen in a long time..... I always read them and though I suck at responding most times ..... I appreciate them all the same.

2010-04-09T20:17:00.004-03:00

HI.....I'm HYPER right now....Just finished a busy Friday and I am still high strung from an intense day WOOOOO!!!

Here is a drawing I did for work for a project that has not really taken off. There is another version of this that I actually like better where the girl is shorter than the guy, her thick legs just work better when she is shorter and stalkier......oh well..... not always my call.

I'll replace it if I can get a scan of it... but for now.... I liked how this turned out.

I guess it's been a while since I have posted anything new......:(

Work has been incredibly busy lately, it always is when I get a team on animators in, but still alot of fun. Do you ever find yourself in the position where there are way too many things that you REALLY enjoy doing and you just can't fit them all in. That's where I am at right now. Not a bad thing I suppose........ Anyways have a great weekend. Celeste and I bought bikes last weekend and haven't really had a chance to take them out yet, so we are looking forward to doing that this weekend.....YAY.... I am excited...we are even going to try biking to church on Sunday.....BIKING EVERYWHERE!!!!. (by the way .....as I am typing this, I just realised I am getting super fast at typing.... In my job now I have to communicate and coordinate with alot of people, not all of them in the building where I work. So the amount of emails that I write each day has gone up like 62 percent over a few months ago.... I type the one or two fingers kinda way, cause I have never been taught to do it properly....but yeah just noticed how fast I am getting....sweet!!

Ok...that's it.. I had a weird night last night where I couldn't sleep and ended up getting up and writing all my thoughts down, so I'll share some of that with you a bit later this weekend... also I have been reading C.S.Lewis "Mere Christianity"...and have been loving it....like........... looking forward to getting home so I can read more of it, and I want to share some of that to.....!!!! but that's it for now

2010-04-02T11:13:00.002-03:00

Happy Easter...

When I survey the wondrous cross
on which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to his blood.

See from his head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down!
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far to small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.

WOW!!

2010-03-07T18:15:00.004-04:00

Just wanted to put an update of how my "growing things" is going. Like I mentioned in my last post, I was inspired to start my own garden this year. It certainly is not helping us save money right now, as it took a lot to cover the initial start up of things, but I am going from doing nothing, to trying to do a lot all at once. Typical Nathan style. Anyways, I am sure things will even out as I start the cirle going, and I can start getting my own seeds and stuff like that, not to mention most of the rewards will come much later in the summer. mmmmmm fresh produce.

Here is what it looks like now... I just planted a whole bunch of other things today, so we will see how that goes.... some tomatoes, spinach, basil, green onion. What you see in the picture is wheatgrass. This was a good thing to start with, cause it is super easy to grow and has been successfull every time. An encouraging start. Ha....... even if everything else fails this year at least the wheat grass worked. I am actually on my 3rd tray already. Every morning now I get up ....cut like a 3rd of a tray of wheat grass... juice it, and then my wife and I each do a shot of it. Apparently, 1 oz of wheatgrass is nutritionally equal to 2 lbs of produce.......crazy eh???It totally makes it worth the time it takes to grow it.

2010-02-16T15:44:00.002-04:00

My wife and I just got back yesterday from an amazing weekend away. We stayed at 'Little City Farm'. Greg and Karin live in this house in the middle of a normal residential subdivision, yet they have dedicated every space of it to sustainable living...including a new straw bale addition to their house....the yard is covered in garden (or will be anyways in a few months), they are working more and more to move away from needing power, Karin makes her own soaps and beauty products, They regularly hold course there on subjects from Vermicomposting to Fermented Foods ahhhh... everything about it was so inspiring. You need to check out their 'blog'. They have a lifestyle that Celeste and I are working towards and really want to have some day. We left so inspired to push harder to achieve some of the things we saw there...
We are starting some of our seeds this weekend.:)
Having breakfasts that were harvested from their own garden, even eggs from the hens they have on the farm. It was so perfect. Celeste and I don't really celebrate Valentines day in the sense of gifts or flowers or chocolates or cards...any of that.... not our thing.... however, being away at this little city farm...sitting in their little reading room stocked with a huge library of books on sustainability, vegan cooking, do it your self building projects....all this style of book and eating a fresh piece of vegan triple chocolate mocha cake Karin had left in our room especially as a Valentines day treat for us.... we felt like we were full out celebrating and it was awesome!

2010-02-11T20:28:00.005-04:00

Hey... so quick update... I am moving into a new contract and a new position at the studio I am at....and I am so busy...I am sorry blog you are the first I ignore....I'll update more on that as I can....but for now...... I'll steal a post from someone else:)
This is 'Joshua Seller', he leads worship at Harvest Oakville where I serve...... Let me say first.... I love people who are passionate... they are the kind of people I like getting to know, there are so many things people are passionate about..... art/music but to be honest there is nothing more worthy of our passion than God, getting to know Him better and glorifying him more...I am learning more and more that there is nothing more rewarding than this...it's why we are here. Anyways, what I like about Joshua is I see this passion in him. I see him lead every Sunday and things have fallen into place for him to release an EP and....well......... check out the video for yourself, I am excited cause I think great thing will be done with this, so yeah.... check it out....and peek around the blog while you are there I am sure he won't mind.

PASSIONATE REVERENCE | VLOG 1 from Joshua Seller on Vimeo.

2010-02-04T16:01:00.004-04:00

Ok....... seriously people...it is now time to unplug and take down your Christmas lights... They were nice a month ago, but its now the start of Feb....it's freezing....and I am starting to look for spring.....I no longer get that cozy "anticipation of a coming Christmas season" feeling when I drive by your house and see them.. I am oddly annoyed at them now...they need to come down :) That's my thought of the day!
oh!,
and I saw an ant dragging a giant fingernail clipping across the floor of the bathroom at work today....disgusting....

2010-02-02T09:37:00.002-04:00

AAAAAAAAA .....I AM SO EXCITED TODAY BECAUSE "LOST" IS STARTING AGAIN TONIGHT.......AND ITS THE FINAL SEASON AND IT'S GOING TO BE SO AWESOME AND IT'S STARTING TONIGHT AND I AM SO EXCITED!!!!!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAA
problem...
about 8 months ago my wife I decided to ditch cable... The TV just ended up getting turned on and many hours would be wasted by just sitting and flipping cause its there ... so ....we cut the cable... we'll just watch movies every now and then and if we want to see a tv show we will buy or rent the season later....
however, you can see how this creates problem for tonight...
I can not wait till down the road to watch "Lost" because surely I will read online about spoilers that are being revealed and that would ruin it AND because I am just to impatient AND becuase IT IS GOING TO BE AWESOME AND I DON'T WANT TO WAIT TO SEE IT'S AWESOMENESS.
so...........
where can I get it....does it stream live...can I download it... is it going to be available on itunes????
I must research..

2010-02-01T17:26:00.002-04:00

Well... this sucks....
I am totally losing my hair.... It's one of those things that has happened to me very slowly.... I wasn't positive at first, but looking in the mirror, I knew I could see more forehead and slightly less hair than there was, just 2 years ago. (Yes I even checked old phtographs... just to be sure) I assumed, naturally, that I had developed a rare case of accelerated forehead growth.... or that there was just bad lighting in the bathroom. However, as I returned home after a haircut just a few weeks back...it was clear.... it wasn't that the barber had once again done a crappy haircut ... hair is, in fact, leaving the top of my fore head....
What can I say......I blame stress.... not a bad stress, but a really busy stress that I am always a part of here.....
I have no idea how far this will go... there is no hair loss in my family that I know of... so all I can do is wait...................................................

hmmmm..... maybe I'll have to go out and change my style around to accomodate a new look ...... I like the sound of that:)....
well... I've admitted it....and now we will never speak of it again. :)

2010-01-24T20:06:00.006-04:00

What are you reading right now??

Here is what I am going through.... I always have a few books on the go at one time..... some I read through very quickly....and some are just every now and then.... thats probably why there are so many.

One of my New Years resolutions was to read through some more books that would help me as an animator.... So this one by Shamus Culhane is where I am starting...It's very old and it is focused totally on 2D animation.... It is very closed minded to what the future of animation would become... but it's a good look at the process of how it was done...and you can always learn from the guys who did it back then

I've been learning about "green housing" recently, how and why it's done.... and I am so intruiged.... I've always been so turned off at the thought of living in these mass developments of cookie cutter houses...all the same. I am sold on the concept of allowing your house to work with the climate and land around you. Using the sun.... for power... heat...crazy concepts.. I know (I just read back this sentence and I realize how idealistic, fluffy and uneducated it sounds... like a pagent queen wishing for world peace..ha ha....) but...... thats why I am reading the book and in a much more technical way these are the thoughts that are put forth... Most housing being built... are not built with any concept of using the land...the sun... the weather to their advantage there are a prepackaged set of supplies that are designed to be cheap and fit anywhere and then use the control knobs inside to change the temp and so on.... "there has top be a better way to do it...... Anyways I think these guys have it right and I want to see how it's done in the hope somedays I can have a house like this and be knowledgeable enough to have input into the design of it.

And another..."be a better animator" book. I know in TV animation there is rarely time to develop and perfect much acting in a character... but anything I can learn that I can put into my characters that makes them a bit more believable... will help my animation... so thats the hope....

and finally... one of my favorite authors is TedDekker, this is a book I have read before that is part of a Trilogy of books that are amazing. He released a fourth book to the set this past Christmas that kind of tied everything together...so after reading the 4th one... I felt I had to go back and re-read the original 3 books again....

so I am... and I love them all over again..... LOVE books you can reread and still get as much enjoyment out of them.

2010-01-19T19:53:00.002-04:00

Ok... a little bit of making fun:)
I like reading peoples shirts....obviously if they are wearing one with writing, or with a certain picture....it's supposed to say something about them... or they are trying to express a bit of their personality through it.....
so I saw this guy at the airport.... just didn't add up... I chuckled a bit.. I wondered if he picked it out... or his wife maybe.....either way it's funny....

2010-01-13T10:17:00.003-04:00

I have to say.... this new year is off to a bit of a rough start. Celeste and I came down sick over Christmas vacation and it's still sticking with me now... my grandfather passed away this past weekend... so I just got back from Saint John yesterday after being with the family there for a few days, and it's only the 13th of January:)
Anyways.. it was the first funeral that I've been at, where I've been old enough to process what it really means... I had lots of interesting thoughts
A few of them:
It was very weird to walk around my grandfathers house.... full of his stuff... his mail, personal stuff, clothing, everything....it was just left behind. It was a cool lesson on how when we die we really bring nothing with us...spending your life working to accumulate stuff, in a way, is so pointless, everything just gets left to be sorted, given away, or trashed ....interesting... 'Matt. 6:19-21'
It was also cool to see the house.... It had not changed since I was born.... 28 years ago... that's unreal...even down to the magnets that were on the fridge.... everything was identical.... Our society is all about consumption, when we are buying, the economy is good. Its marketed to us that things get outdated and we have to keep buying new versions to keep up , we need to constantly upgrade and change and buy... yet my grandparents were more than happy and did not buy into that concept.. I know it's a different generation, and they were heavily influenced by the war.. and the depression, but still...It was a good lesson on stuff, and what we really need.
Anyways.. I am back at work...here is another clip of what I have been working on the past few months. This is a trailer for a online game that is coming out soon... It was a pretty small but very talented team that worked on this trailer, and I am really proud of this final product... I did the animation in it....3D , 2D and the effects (except the clouds at the start.)
I really enjoyed working on this a lot and I hope more work comes from it because it was just a lot of fun to do.... Hope you like!!

2010-01-09T14:59:00.003-04:00

Let me share a story from my Christmas vacation to PEI....So we are driving to my sister-in-laws house. It is the middle of a really bad storm... is is snowing/freezing raining...and the winds are blowing up to 100/km an hour... Not a night for a stroll along the boardwalk. Suddenly as we are driving the brakes are slammed on because right in front of us are 2 very scared horses running along the middle of the highway. Strange... anywhere else but PEI i think.... anyways.... we drive to the nearest house and we see a couple of soaking wet, freezing cold people running across the lawn. They filled us in that the horses belong to some guy in Charlottetown (30 mins away)... he just boards them in a barn out here... the horses must have been spooked by the storm and gotten loose.... They are just the neighbours trying to help catch them...
Now I am a selfish person...I admit... for example when I see someone with car trouble on the side of the road or something I usually epmathize with them... as I keep driving by...I figure...I don't have a cell phone...I know nothing about cars... I won't be much help.... I know... i'm a bad person that way...it's a flaw. Anyways..as for the horse situation... my first instinct is "let's keep driving.... It's stormy..it's dangerous to be driving/running back and forth on the highway in the storm.....what am I going to do anyways if I get near the horse... I have had several bad experiences with horses.... they are too big and they are kinda scary up close when they are spooked....Ok I am intimidated...." However....tonight we would not just be driving by.... We pulled the car over and my brother-in-law and I jump out and go racing up the hill by the side of the highway where we last saw the horses go... We didn't realize till we were in it that the ditches were knee deep high in snow... this does not help with horse chasing in case you were wondering.
So what ensued was this small group of random strangers walking through slush... snow.... being blown around and pelted with freezing rain trying to locate the horses. We even blocked off the highway with cars because we were scared they were going to run back onto the road and get hit...would not have been cool. What did not ensue was actually finding the horses...so after a half hour forty-five minutes of searching and calling and tracing hoof prints... we gave it up.... they could be anywhere. It was too cold and gross of a night to keep searching. The neighbours would leave the barn door open and hope the horses returned. We went home after this and attempted to thaw out... so I have no idea wether or not they ever recoved the 2 horses.....I am curious to know....and I really hope they did... that would be a pretty big loss... either way it was quite an interesting adventure!!

2010-01-08T11:37:00.003-04:00

A music video I worked on just went live today so I thought I'd share... I only worked on a very small part of this in my spare time... just the 3 shots (just past the 1:00 mark) where the girl walks up to the door and then touches the door and then her reaction... thats all.. I see some of these shots were used again through out the video so thats cool...
anyways it's a bit different that what I have normally worked on... but it was fun cause it was all out traditional animation and I don't get to do that very often... thats why I wanted to work on this in the first place..
anyways...here it is

2010-01-05T20:48:00.007-04:00

You should have this book.

One of my New Years resolutions this year is to spend more "quality time" with my wife. That is her 'love language' and something I am going to try to be better at deliberately putting into my schedule. So .....the way we are doing it is spending one night a week cooking together.... We spent alot of time making food together while we were home over Christmas and it was alot of fun. We have a habit of getting ourselves too busy during the week and end up eating too fast so we can move on to whatever we had planned for the eveing...so hopefully this will work to counter that a bit. We both love eating and experimenting/trying new kinds of food and we both really enjoy making it together. It's also a pretty good stress reliver to sit down at the end of the preparations and just enjoy a nice quit meal!! It's going to be fun..

These cookbooks by Sarah Kramer have become the center of our cooking as of late and the results have been more than super delicious so far....

mmmmmmmm

By the way...I saw Avatar last week and....well...... it blew my mind a little bit......I loved it....I am hoping to go see it in IMAX over the next few weeks....might have to work on convincing my wife that she needs to see it again though (even though she really liked it as well...:) I tend to be a bit obsessive once I latch onto something I really like..

2009-12-30T15:14:00.003-04:00

Hey

Just wanted to say Merry Christmas!!!! (a little late)

and

Happy New Years!!!! (a little early)

My wife and I are out east in PEI right now....just came from Halifax a few days ago....enjoying some time with family for the week....It's pretty great....

Check out me and my new girlfriend on Christmas morning ( I seemed to have a couple very young girlfriends this trip:).....this is actually my brothers little girl... but I think she had a bit of a crush on me while I was there.....super cute!!!)

Any News Years resolutions from anyone????

I have a few brewing.... but I'll write them out once I narrow them down....

I love the start of a new year.... I love change, and I am pumped about what opportunities this next year will bring...I think it is going to be awesome.... I want more God in my life.... I want to share what I've been blessed with ...with others more....I want to love my wife more than ever....I want to augh.....lots of things...... HA.....do more animation...paint.....I need to do some editing...

anyways... wishing you all a Happy New Year

2009-12-17T23:26:00.002-04:00

I am taking a short break from packing.... It is finally time to go home for Christmas..... I don't think I have ever needed a Christmas break as much as I need this one now... It has been so busy here that I just need to leave everything and take up a different pace for a while...

Celeste and I are flying this year, so we don't have to stress about an 18 hour straight through drive ahead of us.....so nice...

I am packing my camera but I needed to empty the pictures off of it first, and I came across pictures of our gingerbread house from a few weeks back that I forgot to post.... I am a little embarassed of this one......we did not put egg white in our icing this year... we thought that just water and icing sugar would work

It didn't..... It never actually dried or got hard....so just the fact that this house is standing is a miracle... as soon as we started to put candy on it it started falling apart, so we stopped....which is a real shame cause I had a sweet chimney built and ready to install......meh.... now we know for next year...

We had some friends over and their gingerbread houses had similar fates as ours.....it was still fun though..!!!

2009-12-11T08:53:00.002-04:00

I am super excited today....After way too long, Disney has finally released a new hand drawn movie...."The Pincess and the Frog" I have been counting down seeing this movie for years.... and sadly, that is not even an exaggeration..... I am going to the first screening here at lunch today.... and until then, I will be excitedly spinning in my chair here at work !!!!! YAY!!!!
I actually had something else interesting I wanted to post but...in all this new Disney movie exciteme.........oh yes..
I now have a brand new lap top at home....My computer, as I mentioned in an earlier post, broke, so, since it was still under warranty at Future shop, I took it in to get repaired. "Oh, it should only take 2 - 5 business days" they said....
A month and a half later I am calling them and they still don't know the status of the repairs.. however, the deal was, if they did not have it back to me by 2 months from when I brought it in, they were required to replace my computer. So 2 months later...to the day (this past Tuesday morning) I went to the store.... right when it opened, and asked for my computer, I was so, not happy, with how this process had played out..... They informed me that my (now repaired) computer had been shipped the night before, so it should be there any day.....
But no , you are talking to a guy who has all his itunes Christmas music library on a harddrive at home waiting for computer so he can finally play it... SO I told them that was not good enough.....I needed to leave with a computer that morning.... so... an hour and a half later....I left with a brand new laptop... and I am happy now, Its better than the one we had, and hey, it's new.....for free....how sweet is that.
anyways....maybe I will update more now that I don't have to do it only at work!!!!....:)
OK.....must resume excited chair spinning.....weeeeeeeee!!!!!new Disney animation

2009-12-04T18:18:00.002-04:00

It's finally time to decorate our tree.....Yes...it's December 4th, and I am just getting to it now... it has been much delayed this year.... Usually I would be all over it by now...however... I feel like I have just been too busy the last couple of weeks to really get into the Christmas spirit, or enjoy Christmas starting up.... but that will be fixed this weekend.
Last night we went out to Ikea, and picked the tallest tree in the lot... Since we have such high ceilings this year.......why not?.....So yes, it is the tallest Christmas tree we have ever had..... we were so giddy picking it out.... I put it up last night and tonight we are going to decorate it tonight!!!!!YAY!!!!!
..I think I will feel more in the Christmas mood once it is up...
We also have some friends coming over to make gingerbread houses on Saturday... and the animator side of me loves that..... I am going to have to think up some crazy things to make out of ginger bread.....
(sorry for the crappy drawing, but I wanted to post something....5 minutes at the end of work was all I was allowed....told you I've been busy:)

2009-11-27T17:57:00.002-04:00

So I am working away ..... trying to concentrate on drawing, and my animation....and I just keep getting creeped out by my long fingernails.....it's so gross.

I looked for the nail clippers last night so I could cut them (cause it really is creepy to have such long nails) but I couldn't find them anywhere.... chances are the cat batted them under the oven again.... I even cleaned under the nails last night... because long AND dirty is an even worse combination.... but that didn't help at all .It just made the white part at the end stand out more and now they look even longer.

Anyways, I don't want to bite them, cause that just never turns out well.... bloody, sore fingertips because I bit the nail too short is not a better situation to be in... I am going to have to really search tonight for the clippers or else go and buy some new ones tomorrow....

well thats all thatss on my mind at the moment.... hope you all are having a more interesting day :)

2009-11-13T17:38:00.002-04:00

Well, I am back home.
I had a great trip to Colombia....I must say it was a very rewarding experience working with the students there. I was there for the last week and a half of an 8 week process where they were making theirs first animated films. Many of them have never had an opportunity to do animation and were so thrilled to be learning about it and to have the chance to work on a film. I helped them as they animated their shots, and taught them how to use the software to get fluid looking animation, as well as any tips I have on acting and the process of animation.
For the most part I had a translator which made things pretty seemless, however I picked up a bit of the language....and of course I learned the important things, like, how to order coffee.:) I was amazed how little english was spoken there, It is a pretty big barrier to go and not know the language. I would definately want to have a better hold on the language before I ever visited there on my own
Cool things about the trip
1.) Like I said ...a very rewarding experience helping these guys with their films
2.) The food.....so many options of fruit and fruit juices for breakfast...as well as cool fruit sauces on most other things I ate. Fruits I have never heard of as well as ones that are so expensive here....were all local and cheap there.Great!
3.) The weather.... so beautiful... Even though it was "winter" season there and you could see the rains coming in off the mountains like clockwork every afternoon... when the sun was out in the morning it was beautiful and hot.
4.) Traffic...It's crazy there... there are no rules on the road, as long as you are all travelling the same direction, all is well. all sorts of cars, open back trucks, motorbikes, guys pulling carts of food...all just weave in and out of each other in this confusing yet fluid stream of traffic
5.) Christmas....just because there is no snow, does not mean they do not celebrate Christmas.... It's huge there, I think they even decorate up more than us!!!! Huge displays of Christmas characters all along the street, made of tin or these garrish shiny metals....in strange colors... blue yellow and orange...so different.. but very cool!
6.) Guns..... Its still odd to me to see a security guard at the school come in with a rifle over his shoulder, you see this everywhere.... it can be a much more dangerous place there... so you see barb wire, security guys with rifles all over the place..
7.) Partying with the guys at the school... they are crazy...but alot of fun
8.) Oh yeah... how could I forget....(see illustration) there was a llama for sale on the side of the street in this open air market style place that sold like....chickens, birds of all sorts, dogs, cats, any kind of animal...I totally would have bought the llama if I didn't think customs would have a problem with it.....Hey Celeste!!!! I'm home!!!! Look what I brought you...ha ha ha
Thats is all I will put for now, but as I think of more I'll fill you in.

2009-10-30T09:30:00.002-03:00

Wow... when things get busy....... they get busy.
I posted last that I had just gotten back from a week in Ottawa...and I walked back into work...into a crazy intense show schedule that is just ending today.....seriously like 13 hour days. Needless to say the last 2 weeks have flown by...
and now
I am off to Columbia.... on Sunday.... for a week....
crazy eh?
I am going down to a small animation studio there that has been partnering with the studio where I currently work, and I will be helping them finish up some projects they are working on and try to pass on some animation knowledge to them as well. I am very excited...This is my first time traveling out of Canada, and I definately feel as though I am jumping in on the deep end with this trip. I have been reading and listening trying to learn Spanish over the past week. Apparently, I will have a translator there and I am sure I will pick up bits here and there, but I am still nervous about the language barrier a bit. Also, it is obviously very hot there, and I do not handle heat very well, so we will see if I melt or not.
So, sorry for the no updates over the next week... but I will have lots of pictures when I get back!!!!!

2009-10-22T18:00:00.003-03:00

I spent the last week up @ the Ottawa International Animation Festival...
I had such a great time....the studio that I work with was a big sponsor there this year...and I felt proud being up there with them, and just seeing the PSI name everywhere.....I saw a lot of great screenings....films...short films....learned a lot about....writing for animation ...pitching story ideas... and I even met Eric Goldberg (and for those of you who don't nerd out over animation...Eric Goldberg animated the Genie from Aladdin ...among other great stuff), and he drew me a little picture...So that was pretty awesome....saw some panels on the making of Coraline, Up, and Princess and the Frog...ahh...very inspiring
And since then I have come back to work in the middle of a show deadline....so 13 hours days all week so far......my poor wife...not to mention another big trip coming up in the next few weeks as well... I will post more about that in a few days....cause it's a big one....
anyways....just basically stopping by to say HI...and no..I am not dead:) here is me and Eric Goldberg

2009-10-14T09:35:00.003-03:00

Very quick post today....... I am leaving for the Ottawa Animation Festival for the week ......I am excited..lots of stuff to take in, I will miss my wife though:)
Here is a picture of some characters I am starting to work with at work for a quick project...I had to design about 18 characters for this project... but here are a few

2009-10-10T15:38:00.004-03:00

Ok...so here is the post I had intended for today...Its a bonus day....2 posts.....and by bonus I mean It's a 'Nathan is at home with not much else to do' day:)
Anyways....my laptop...I mentioned it was broken....it all finally came together....
Warranty's....who buys them? I mean like the extra package that Future Shop tries to shove down your throat with each purchase???? Seriously...I think they asked me at the counter if I wanted a warranty on the DVD I was buying.....um.........no thank-you.......I do think they are a waste.....the product should last past the warranty time. However, warrantys and product life span never go together with me.... When something I have bought breaks...I never have the warranty and end up having to buy a new one..... when I give in to the warranty pimping.....the item I get the warranty on never breaks....as it shouldn't....it's only usually a span of like 2 to 3 years...but I have wasted money on the warranty just in case..
anyways....my laptop needs repaired....kinda expensive....and what did I find....????Apparently I gave in and bought a warranty package from Future Shop when I bought my laptop, for a 3 year deal... and yes it is still with in the 3 years.....So yeah ...this time the system works for me...I was probably a little to happy shoving the laptop back to them to get fixed....even though...yeah the computer is only 2 1/2 years old and should not have broken anyways.... but in this case whatever...its getting fixed... the bad news...is that I am laptopless for 2 weeks.......
awesome eh??
Well Celeste and I are staying downtown Toronto for the next few days at a bed and breakfast....lost of exploring, shopping, food... to do....it will be fun!!!!

2009-10-10T09:04:00.002-03:00

I just had an amazing morning so I wanted to share...
Its Saterday mornning and Celeste had to work this early this morning and I was up at 6:30 to drive her in...I had intended to sit by the water, after dropping her off, and read my Bible for a bit....but I had forgotten it at home, so I decided to get a coffee and walk down by the lake anyways,...I walked out on the dock, right to the very end and just stood there .... nothing else was in my peripheral vision except water and sky, and it was beautiful... every tone and shade of blue imaginable was on display in the clouds, all of them different shapes and textures, and they were all being lit in different ways....the water was just slightly wavy and was clearly reflecting every shade and color from the sky....so I stood there as the sun slowly came up....and the entire sky changed in front of me, the water moving, mirroring every change ...and I stayed there....really unable to move away... it literally taking my breath away...and I felt so aware of God who created it all.... and I just stood there and started singing every song I knew about how great is our God, especially ones about his creativity and creation.....which seemed to naturally lead into songs of thankfulness for my salvation (the guys fishing on the dock behind me probably though I was crazy..... but whatever)
and I was struck with the thought....As an artist I try to mix and choose colors properly to create art work that is impactful and beautiful.... and as an animator.... I try to create life (in a way) ...or movement that is appealing and beautiful to watch.....but standing there this morning watching the orange and yellows of the sun take over what was a cool blue morning....and being mesmorised by the movement of the water and how the waves carry the reflections of the sky ...every wave...every time, unique in its movement ...I realised how anything I do is such a inadequate, pale, reflection of what was being displayed in front of me...God really is the master animator, painter, artist....and I was so inspired by seeing his work, as it were, this morning...Really though.... we all stand around and cheer oooos and aahhhs for some cheap burts of lights in the sky every Canada day and New years..... I think we should all stand on the shore and ooo and ahh and applaud for God as the sun finishes rising each morning. Who else could fill an empty canvass like the entire sky with something so beautiful and unique every morning. Anything we can create is only initations of what He has done already.
And then I navigated back through the mountains of poop that had been deposited by about 75 seagulls who had accumulate on the dock behind me. A little scary....Hmm maybe they liked my singing :)
....Well thats all..... I could go on for a long time...and I know I don't do posts tthat are so introspective that often....but needless to say I felt completely refreshed and renewed , so humled and awestuck by God and his creation, and very thankful to Him this morning thatI had to share it here.Take some time to enjoy whats created around us...Its amazing!!

2009-10-05T10:58:00.002-03:00

My laptop is broke I think..
It's actually been breaking for a few weeks now actually...
I used to be able to open my monitor all the way till it was flat....which is normal..right?? but slowly, the screen has been going black on me as I open it up... A few weeks ago I could only open it halfway, to about a 90 degree angle......but now this weekend I can only get it to open about 4 inches wide before the screen goes dark.
I have to contort myself into all sorts on weird angles so that I am able to view the screen....
I have such a sore neck today cause I had to do some stuff on it last night and I had to prop the laptop up on the couch and then crouch down on the floor under it in order to see the screen enough to work on it....... ANNOYING... the laptop is only 2 1/2 years old

2009-09-29T18:03:00.002-03:00

Just a quick sketch post today... the "sketch wall" theme this week is "circus" and this is my contribution....

2009-09-27T18:20:00.002-03:00

Ok I am sitting in Artisano's with a coffee...just to get some wireless action because for some reason it's not working at home...and I was asked to move from where I was sitting because someone was coming in to paint the walls.... Ok ....no big deal.....but now I am sitting watching this painter guy ...and he is sanding the walls......I can see the clouds of plaster dust practically billowing from the walls and being blown around the restaurant....Artisanos is a place where all the food is out....uncovered ...on display.....and there are people all eating around where he is sanding..... Is it just me or do these circumstances not fit well together....a layer of plaster dust on the bread surly can't make it sell better......hmph...what do I know.... maybe is good for digestion...
either way I suggest either tape off the area or do it when the place is closed and the food is not out

2009-09-27T18:18:00.000-03:00

ooooooo....Fringe just had a "sweet" ending....loved it

2009-09-25T17:33:00.003-03:00

Hey.. so its been been a busy week...you will have to excuse the hiccup in drawing postings..Here are my neighbours.... I don't really know much about them. Celeste and I met them when we moved in and they invited us to chill on their deck with a glass of wine.... but that is it.... I forget even their names..(I am not a very social neighbour...my bad)..
One thing I do know is that they like blowing leaves...... Now..as a bit of a back story..I hate leaf blowers...I am not sure where this feeling came from... but they are just too loud...and I guess I always see people using them to blow off their 2 foot by 2 foot deck...and I just think... "really..... do you need that machine and all the noise...when you could just sweep it in the same time, and probably less effort, than it took to get out and start up the blower." (and please don't try and convince me otherwise... because I am stubborn and my mind is made up....even if you provide a valid point I will not accept these machines are worth having:) )
So my neighbours.... they use it for everything at every hour of every day... the steps and the driveway in the morning... the lawn and the deck in the evening... the side of the house and the fire pit before bed...and then there are some random time where they just walk around with it on...It's like an addictive habit they can't break.... it drives me crazy.....and now that 'fall' is here I am dreading whats coming.... I picture him waiting inside his house, in the shadows.... or behind the curtain, with the leaf blower ...watching the lawn, waiting for a leaf to fall..........then bursting out the door with the blower and blowing the leaf off to the edge of the property, and then heading back to the window...HA HA
Oh well.... I suppose others are entitled to their fun....
Besides I am sure that ...... in the middle of dinner on their deck late one evening they don't appreciate the next door neighbours lights flipping on and a guy in his underwear chasing his cat around the kitchen table in full view of their window ....... would not be very appealing to them either.....hmmmm
not that that ever happens

By the way I love fall!!!! I just want to skip:)

2009-09-18T09:32:00.006-03:00

I offer no explanation for this sketch..... the "sketch wall" topic this week is Manimal.....man + animal =..... you get the idea.....and this is what came of it

Here as well are some pictures I took when Don Hahn visited Sheridan this past week.... It was so inspiring to hear him talk animation and his passion for it....as well as show lots of artwork images and film clips....
I could not believe that he actually screened the Disney short "lorenzo" for us.... It was brilliant... I don't know why they don't just release it already.
Including watching Don's film "Waking Sleeping Beauty" at TIFF this past week, I feel like I have been downloaded with enough animation inspiration to last for months.... Definately a time where it feels very awesome to be an animator!!! Love it!!!

2009-09-15T09:03:00.002-03:00

You can always tell the day after I get groceries...... (which is actually every 2nd or 3rd day) ha ha...I eat a lot of fruits and veggies.... however the day after my desk is usually extra stocked...people usually laugh when they see the pile on my desk and ask if I am actually going to eat through it all in one day!!! well, this is kinda what my desk looks like this morning... and yes I will get through it by the time I leave work....
and hey... in other news.. I am going to the "Toronto International Film Festival" tonight to see "Waking Sleeping Beauty". It's a film about the Disney Studios, the animators there, and the changes it went through during time of Little Mermaid to Lion King, Pocahontas....and surrounding times.. These films and the studio (the animators) at that time was completely the reason that I got into animation. I have always wanted, so badly, to have been a part of what was created at the time. Needless to say.... I am sure I will love this film....I will let you know how it goes.

2009-09-13T20:15:00.003-03:00

Weekends ending always sucks.......

I had a great weekend exploring Toronto though ..... went down to the Harbourfront center on Saterday to the Vegetarian food fair......mmmmmm... so many yummy samples...and so many interesting people..... why do events like this bring out the most eclectic people in society? .... I wish I had brought my sketch book....

and then I also got down to Kensington Market, which is a few blocks of old houses in downtown Toronto that are being used as little vintage stores and book stores and pretty much anything unique and interesting that you would want to find. It was pretty great...It takes alot of time to dig through the stuff and search out what you what to find.....but there is some great stuff there.....

what else............ oh yes... I bought Fringe this weekend... I didn't watch it when it aired on TV....I am not sure why.....I think it conflicted with another program I was watching...anyways... If you know me you know I am a big fan of anything J.J.Abrams has his hand in.. Alias remains my favorite TV show..... Lost, I am addicted to... so I was pretty sure Fringe would prove to be a favorite too....I am 3 episodes in already and I am pretty sure I am going to really enjoy the next few months of going through the season.....OK...who am I kidding .... I'll have finished it by next weekend...

I leave you with the best quote I heard this weekend .. by a couple of girls shopping in one of vintage clothing shops in Kensington market

Girl 1 : Wow you are really into the flannel shirts right now eh?

Girl 2 : I know, they are so like.....'lets go hunt a deer' ...... but not.... cause thats totally wrong!

I love people :)

P.S........sorry no sketch with this one:)

2009-09-10T14:21:00.003-03:00

Well.... its back from vacation....and back to work.... like it never even happened. It is so nice falling back into your own bed again after being away for a while.
I do love going home..... Its funny... my life has changed so much since moving here to Toronto.... things I do...my schedule... how I eat..... my whole lifestyle.....but there is always something comfortable, that I love, about going home. Its so nice.
Vacation was very busy seeing family, but we got to see everyone.... and that is definitely an accomplishment as it's getting harder and harder to do that as both our families seem to be rapidly expanding.
Here are a few of my favorite things from vacation.
1. Swimming outside...under the stars for half an hour before going to bed is so relaxing and very awesome!!
2. I love Halifax...I really would like to move there someday...such a great vibe from that city!
3. I love spending time with my nieces and nephews as they get older.. there is a large disconnect for me when they are babies.
4.The rug in the bedroom we stayed in felt cool to walk on with bare feet
5. Leaving work behind...if only for a few days ..... is good for Celeste and I
6. Lenny Kravitz and Natasha Bedingfield are great travel music
7. I think it's awesome that Ellen is becoming a judge on American Idol...OK that one is not really vacation related but I read that this morning and thought it was cool

2009-09-03T13:28:00.006-03:00

YAY!!!!!! it's vacation time.... we are flying out tonight to go out east for a week...it'll be short... but very sweet

makes me think of:

I was at the airport a few weeks ago... waiting for my brothers flight to come in and I saw the most awesome families....Their son had been away from them for the first time ever, for about 6 weeks, taking some sort of flying course or cadets or something like that....anyways... he had gotten his "wings" and his family was so proud of him...
All of them were there anxiously awaiting him to come though the doors... (the dad had filled all of us, standing there, in, that his son had just gotten his "wings")This guys girlfriend was there too...although she looked a little shy and clearly not used to being part of such a public spectacle. The family was holding up a big banner they had made made.... they had little flags....noisemakers. The dad kept standing in front of them analysing how they looked as a group and then re-arranging them....so they would look just right........then he'd run back and take his place....only to go out......look again......and do a bit more shifting around of the family.....or raise the banner up just a bit... everything had to be perfect..... It was so over the top but it was so great...It kinda reminded me of something my family would do.... they clearly loved him and were all so proud of him and missed him a lot... and it was just great to see such a cool family moment....
The plane was delayed for like 45 minutes...and I don't know how they kept up their enthusiasm for so long..... but when their son walked though the gates, face beaming.....wearing his newly earned uniform.... they did not disappoint......they hooted and hollered and clapped.....as did the rest of the people waiting around....and the poor guy turned soo red....
I think families like that are so important... and I loved being there to see that

2009-08-30T19:14:00.003-03:00

just an update... I finally got my animation demo reel working
not sure why its sticks for a few frames at the beginning... but hey... its working so I'll leave it at that.... I need to get better at the technical side of my blog
here you go

My Demo Reel from Nathan Little on Vimeo.

2009-08-30T17:13:00.002-03:00

I think I am a wimp..

but I'll let you decide.. My wife and I were sitting reading.....and all of a sudden we noticed our cat (Bessie) being wierd in the corner. So Celeste went over to check it out and discovered a mouse on the floor just under the sofa that Bessie had been attacking. She grabbed Bessie and quickly locked her up in the bathroom and I came over to get a closer look at the mouse...It was just about dead..... its arm would twitch a little every now and then and you could see labored breathing. All of a sudden I am in this dilema.....The mouse is almost dead already but not quite ..... so I didn't want to throw it out or just put it outside because it was obviously suffering and it would just suffer longer and die..... but the other option would be to kill it and put it out of its misery..... and here is the part where I am a wimp...I couldn't kill it....... I could not bring myself to do it.... If there is any humor in it... it would have been me standing there with a half dead mouse on the end of a spatula while Celeste and I try and think of humane ways to kill it...... "we could just throw it in the water"....maybe we could drown it first.." ......"squish it quickly outside"......"flush it"......but, no.....I could do none of the above... so I just set it outside on the ground and now its dead.....so thats all.... I couldn't bring myself to do it even though it probably would have been less painful for it..... could you have done differently????

2009-08-27T22:25:00.004-03:00

hey...I will admit.. I am tired ... I just finished 14 hours at the studio today, not all of it was work though... I got to help a friend learn a new program, so that was great to meet up with him again.. still a long day though...

Why am I even online right now?

I am going to post and go to bed

Here are my sketches from my weekly "sketch unsuspecting students while they are eating at the school caferteria but not at all in a creepy way like it sounds" session..

I am working on a bigger sketch for the blog ...hopefully I will get that up before the weekend...

OK....I said I was going to bed

2009-08-24T09:34:00.003-03:00

Hey..
hope everyone had the most awesome of weekends....
Today I am moving on to a new project in the studio...which means I am finished animating on "Guess with Jess"
Guess with Jess... was my first project working in 3-d and I am so glad I had the chance to try it out....I think I learned a lot about animation while on this show just by gaining a new perspective on how it can be done...I am not ready to decide yet if I liked it more than ToonBoom or not...(traditional 2-D still trumps both :) ) .....
but I can say I am anxious to get back to animating in ToonBoom for a bit... its still my comfort zone!!

2009-08-21T12:40:00.005-03:00

Zumba: (zoooomba)
Zumba is an aerobic workout founded by Colombian-born Beto Perez. This "potluck" dance exercise borrows music, footwork, and body movements from salsa, merengue, flamenco, cumbia, reggaeton, quebradita, belly dance, tango, bhangra, hiphop, and other dances. Zumba's tag-line is "Ditch the workout, join the party." Here is a Zumba cartoon to demonstrate this phenomenon.
There you have it ...... the dictionary definition of Zumba.... this.. over the last few months has been my wife's fitness routine.... It is pretty humorous sometimes.... when I pick her up she is still singing? the songs from the workout... not that she can't be "down" or "street" or whatever you might call it... but I certainly would not consider my wife hip hop... yet I assure you.....and she has demonstrated........ that they do indeed dance some hip hop..... The other day after picking her up from her class she got in the car ..... rolled down the window...... turned up the radio..... pushed her seat way back....and slid way down in it with her arm on the window ledge and proceeded to bob along to the music as we drove home......oh yes.... along with some questionable "rapperesque" arm movements
so...... I am not sure what this class is turning my wife into.... but I will say she is REALLY enjoying it....after trying for a long time to find some sort of fitness routine she enjoys. So... I am all for it....I think it is so important to not only eat right but also have some sort of physical activity in your life.....and if you can find something that you have so much fun doing....thats extra awesome.....
as for me...I think I'll stick to my morning runs :)

2009-08-19T08:58:00.003-03:00

My wife is amazing...
Tomorrow I will be celebrating her putting up with me for 4 years of marriage. Now seriously.. I know me... better than any one even....and I have yet to come up with an explanation of how she does it but she still loves me.
She knows what days to bring home ice cream for me...what days I need a good shoulder massage..
I can sing Hillsong at the top of my lungs for 20 hours straight as we drive to Halifax, and we are still of speaking terms when we get there. I can put in "The Lion King" to watch for the 147th time and she still doesn't leave the room screaming...
Anyways.. I know I've been given my other, and better half in her... so I just wanted to say "I Love You" to her today......Happy Year 4 :)
they are only getting better

2009-08-14T14:36:00.005-03:00

I am doing a weekend blog a bit early today..... My brother and his wife are visiting for out east and staying with Celeste and I for the weekend....so I suppose it would only be polite to not sit at the computer the whole time he is here.So I have been reading lately..... a lot. I love to read and I certainly have a few favorite writers...Frank Peretti, Ted Dekker..... however its rare that I find a new set of books that I am really into..
So I found "Left Behind"... (I know...I know..... they have been out for years....somehow I just never latched on until now) It's a series of books that deals with what the Bible says about the "end of times"Its a story about a group of characters who were left behind when Christ returns....and it follows his story for the next 7 years... using what facts there are in the Bible to create the timeline and events that take place.... I don't think that the books are nessecarily written super well... but as a believer of what the Bible says about "end times" I am so intruiged reading through the journey with these characters believing someday all this....(or something very close it ....) will happen.. (Clearly most of the characters are fictional and there stories are fictional... but the events and the timeline are accurate as possible...)
Anyways...... in the last 2 weeks I have read 4 of the books...and I am on book 6 now ....the halfway point of the series..... I am seriously reading them every spare moment I have... before bed....before breakfast.....at the coffee shop with Celeste..I love it...There is nothing better than being taken along on a really interesting story...... even better when its a 12 book set and you know its gonna take a while to get through!!!!

2009-08-12T20:43:00.005-03:00

Happy end of day Wednesday !!

Today was sketching day at work.... Every wednesday a few of us at Pipeline head to Sheridan's cafeteria and draw students for an hour or so at lunch.....I have been getting into it more and more lately and it has been spilling over into other days of the week and I am beginning to sletch more and more...... I like that

Here are some attempts from today

2009-08-09T21:34:00.011-03:00

I'm baaaack.

Had a great vacation... very relaxing....I will say thank goodness for this sweet little vegetarian cafe in Guelph...a town nearby... cause there were no options for healthy, eating out anywhere else.....at all... anywhere near where we stayed.....(can you tell that eating out in a big part of our vacations?)

Oh ....and the place we stayed at, was full of seniors.... we were seriously the only people under 50. It gave me quite the insight on what life could be like in another 40 years or so. There was this couple that was up the same time as us every morning in the breakfast room, and they were hilarious.... Celeste and I would be quietly eating and chatting in our corner and there would be monstrous belches .... and many other undefinable noises coming from both him and her... through out the meal ...... both of them were practically deaf...so even if we had stayed in our room I am pretty sure we would have heard their conversations..... nothing held back..... is all I can say. It was amusing anyways..... can't wait....bring on the walker:)
and I did a lot of sketching....in fact I have never done so much I brought my sketchbook with me everywhere I went....I will post some of the sketches here...I really hate posting sketches cause I am not at a sketching point yet where I like what I draw but...finished images I can manipulate until I am content to show them.... but sketches are quite an honest..raw assesment of draftsman ship....augh ...anyways ..... here ya go.... hopefully you will see the progress as I get better....

I want to be able to capture "moments" better.... *gag* I know that sounds lame..... but I want to be able to look back at a sketch book and not just see drawings .... but be able to see the drawing and remember where I was and the surrounding story along with it.... I started to draw in surroundings with my people sketches and I think that helps.... but don't feel like I am capuring "moments "yet...."gag".....Ok I am done

2009-08-04T16:29:00.004-03:00

Yaaaaaa!! It's vacation time!!!!!!
Celeste and I are planning to get away for a few days...... the rest of this week actually...
She has been covering 2 positions by herself at work over the past few months... however, being that she is amazing, she has been managing so well and been impressing people all over the place....... but it for sure takes a toll...and she has been exhausted doing it. And for myself... I didn't take time off after ending work on Grossology. So a few days of reading.... resting... canoeing... golf ...whatever, are definately what the doctor recommends right now.
So you will hear nothing from me till early next week....Good stories always come when you go away though...... and yes, good sketches..... hopefully....... maybe....... OK, don't count on it:)
I must admit now though.... I cheated on my blog... with Facebook.
Over the past year(s) as I neglected my blog I actually was still sketching and posting....but it was on facebook .....so...... in an effort to make all things right with the world...I will share them here as well.

I am aware posting old drawings may be a cheat....but hold the tar and feathers....I think it's an acceptable cheat...and besides there are more to come!!

2009-08-01T16:38:00.006-03:00

I want to show you all a guy that works at the laundry mat by our house.......

If I have a complaint, whenever I am out shopping or whatever, it's that customer service sucks......... really bad..... in fact it is pretty much non existant. Most places I encounter ...(I don't know what you'd classify them as)...... workers in the public service industry.... I am pretty confident that I could do their job 10 times better than they are doing....There are so many times my wife and I will just start laughing to each other at the counter cause we can't belive how this person serving us has a job when they are so clearly uninterested in us or what going on in the store around them. I did work at Wal-mart for like 6 years so I understand that the general public can often be ignorant and unappriciative to workers....but I also know that it is possible to be above that and be awesome at your job regardless of what it is, and I think it is just right that no matter what job you have you give evrything and do the best possible at it.

I always try to go out of my way to let someone know that they are doing a good job or I will tip really well.... or something like that...when I actually get real "customer service"

I am amazed when I go to a store shopping....even in the middle of our "economic downtime" where many store are posting losses in business...and yet the staff makes no attemt at contact....is talking on the phone or to friends....passes you off to other workers....is just rude or unhelpfull in general..... they deserve to go out of business.....its not lack of training...I mean who doesn't understand how to be helpfull...or even just pleasant???

oops... this has turned more into a rant..... lets go back to the laundry mat guy.... everytime I am there doing laundry... this guy is working away so hard... you can tell he cares about his job and wants to do it well... Its so refreshing.... there is not a moment that he is not sweeping... dusting tidying.... the other day he was even wearing a dress shirt while doing his duties....maybe he loves what he does..maybe not..either way he's giving it his best and that's amazing ... anyways... I was inspired by this guy.... how awesome would it be if every one took this guys approach to there work..... and gave thier genuine best effort....wow...it would be a very cool

2009-07-30T11:28:00.006-03:00

Hey
I just wanted to share about some new shoes I bought ...
Hey it's my blog....I can talk about shoes if I want too
seriously...
OK...so Toms shoes....
they are possibly one of the most comfy pair of shoes I have ever owned... they are like slippers but you can wear them anywear.... (anyware....how do you spell anywear....I though that was right but it keeps getting underlined in red...) anyplace (thats better) ....granted mine are boring compared to some of the other styles they have....or even the ones that my wife bought... but hey...these don't have to be the ony ones I own :)
Oh yes....and the reason Tom's are awesome..is because for every pair you buy they give a pair to kids who need shoes...and they are vegan..animal frie..........Ok you can check out the site if you care
point being I like them a lot.. and I thought you should know cause you might like them too
:)
and just so you know I realize this picture kinda looks like it came from care bears...or my little pony or something(I tried to dull it down a bit in Photoshop even)...not my intent... but the bad drawings come with the good :)

2009-07-26T13:45:00.007-03:00

So I am sitting inside...just got home from church.....its crazy thundering out right now......

*you know what....? I wouldn't actually mind a rainy summer like we are having if we got thundershowers like this every day*

so here are some pictures I drew a little while ago...my brother and his wife had a baby..... so I drew them these for their baby room.....sorry for the bad picture quality.... I think I need a new camera.... the one I am using is quite out dated I think.... I'll have to get on that...

2009-07-20T21:30:00.003-03:00

...hello.. so in the spirit of keeping the postings coming here are a few sketches I did at work today that will hopefully turn into a traditional animated demo piece for me......

I have not had great success getting traditional stuff done in the past.... but thats no reason not to try....

Anyways I've been thinking about this one for quite some time now so as I progress on it I will post!!

As for the demo I tried to upload last time.......I am lost I can't seem to get video to upload on my computer.....lets pretend it never was there... and if by some miracle I get it working I'll let you know!!!

2009-07-09T10:11:00.008-03:00

So I am thinking of trying this blogging thing once again.....I have been inspired by a lot of friends postings and such so I thought I should give it a go....and besides...I was just reading back over all my old posts...and I remember how much I enjoyed posting.....I think I just reached a really busy point in my life and left it......
but that's soooo .... like .....a year ago.....
so maybe introductions are needed again...but I will start off with my updated demo reel.... just as a jumping off point... hopefully....witty text....new sketches....a new blog look...and who knows what else will follow!!!

UPDATE... Ok.....so first post failed......I will take a look this weekend to see what I can do to make it show up.....sorry....

My Demo Reel from Nathan Little on Vimeo.

2007-06-21T17:40:00.000-03:00

hi.... so now that I finally have facebook up and operational I feel even less inclined to post here.... but..I continue.
SO My wife and I went out and bought rollerblades the other day....A good way to keep us active over the summer.....and it really has been alot of fun.....I havn't been on roller blades since I was like 13 or something like that... so we have been out each evening skating around..... I am amazed at how far you can go in 15 minutes on those things.........hmmm.... as for the picture..... I have to be honest... I was the first person to fall down..........Ok I am the only one to fall down so far.......I have the bruise on my elbow to prove it..
What else...... Oh yeah we finally are getting rid of our car so we will be vehicle free....Kinda nice to be honest.....and we just went to see Phantom of the Opera downtown last week....and I am still blown away by it being awesome...Anyways I might get to posts for these and tell you more about it...and maybe not....just had to get it out :)

2007-06-13T18:41:00.000-03:00

Goodaye!!!

Wow I finally just set up facebook for myself and it feels like me time on the computer is just filled with endless updating...Oh well... I musn't neglect my blog!

So as I mentioned... I am done Iggy Arbuckle, and with that comes the end of my contract at CORE. So I am happy to say today that I am starting a new job at Nelvana in a week. This is what I love about Toronto.... When I left the studio in PEI there was no option but to move off island to work.....Here is toronto it just seems like you migrate from place to place as they have work.... So many opportunities here and I love it.

Anyways I'll be animating on the show Ruby Gloom....looks cute...can't wait to start

2007-06-07T22:55:00.000-03:00

So here is a quick scribble I did of a little friend my wife and I found taking refuge in our bathroom yesterday!!!... I came home from work and was curious why our cat was digging so intently under the radiator in the bathroom.... until I heard what I though was a lost toy start to move..... and sure enough there was this little chipmuck hiding under the radiator..... poor thing.... the cat was pawing at it all day... but couldn't reach it enough to drag it out... anyways.... i got it out into our cat carrier and freed in onto the lawn....... I have no idea how he got into the house but I am pretty sure he had a day he won't soon forget:).....he was pretty cute though

2007-05-29T21:11:00.000-03:00

Well... I said good bye to Iggy Arbuckle yesterday .... It is finally finished...(minus of course a few more revisions here and there.... ) Anyways it will be airing on Teletoon on July 2nd I think a few times that day..... check it out... its pretty cute.... I am quite proud of the work done on it....
So now that Iggy is done... I get to have a bit of time off.... I am not sure exactly what I am doing next but all I know is for the first time since college i have a few weeks of nothing planned.... I am hoping to paint a bit.... work on some book ideas I have..... hmmmm maybe even sleep in a few days... It will be great.....

2007-05-20T20:43:00.000-03:00

So as I mentioned last week.... I have been scrolling through other blogs alot more lately now that I have internet access at home..... and I have been really inspired by the painting I have seen people post.... I think also that after working on a computer so long at work I go through these phases where I just need to sit down and do something on paper....I have always wanted to be able to paint well and I love the look of a nicely done water color painting... So I thought I would give it a try.... So I got out my "How To" paint watercolor books and gave it an atempt... This is what came of it.... I have found that I have (at least 2) major faults when it comes to water color painting that I am going to have to get over before I turn out anything that I am happy with....One is that I am impatient and don't wait for stuff to dry before I attack it with the brush again.... Two ....I keep going back and picking at the painting way too much....second guessing what I have done until it is a big muddy mess.....
Well this is just my first attempt .... I took what I did and added some pen to it to help define it a bit better and I like it a bit better but it is a bit of a cheat to make it look better....so ............I really want to try and make this a bit of a hobby this summer so we'll see if I can curb my bad habits and post something I am happy with....

2007-05-13T20:12:00.000-03:00

well... this morning I woke up and the sun was beaming in the bedroom window... and I had a brief moment of inspiration..... the leaves are fully out now outside this huge window in the bedroom and with the sun shining I wanted to paint it.... I have been checking out other artist blogs recently and I have been so inspired by thier little color key paintings of various scenery and characters.... So I though I would paint what I saw... Needless to say it didn't get that far but I did however........ manage to sit up in bed and attempt to sketch out the room... I am not great at this sorta stuff but I think it turned out only half bad......the one thing I really like about it is the little shadow on the vertical window pane. It would look nice in water color if painted right :).... Anyways I enjoyed doing this so I think I will do more..... and yes I still want to paint it .. ( I've been thinking my blog needs more color anyways) so you may see that coming up in a week or 2... who knowa... you may end up getting to see the interior of my whole house before I am done

2007-05-06T20:16:00.000-03:00

Hey .... so picture this scene...... Its a beautiful sunny day.... the start of spring .... leave are just coming out everything is just turning green...what a great day for a road trip... so you pack a lunch and get a blanket to eat on... hey even throw a frisbee in the back seat.... and head out.... The park you are going to is about a half hour drive but thats OK because.... like I said...... Its a beautiful day... that is until you hear this guy (as pictured) pull out in front of you on his bike... Not only is it loud but he is providing alot more body scenery than anyone wants to see...... So now the scenery has totally changed.... you must keep your eyes straight ahead or you will go off the road.... but when you see what in front of you and the way it moves as his bike bounces along the road......... anyways.. enough with the discriptivness I think you get the picture... this didn't happen to me... but I was one of the lucky pedestrians who got a full view of this guys rear end as he motored by the park..... and all I could think of was the drivers behind him.... could be a funny story... seriously ....with some people there must be an age you hit where it all goes south and nothing matters anymore.... so you buy a motorcyle.. I don't know..

On another note... I was looking at the book store this weekend and saw the best book I have seen in a long time... Its called " I'd really like to eat a child" Its such a great book...... cute illustrations.... an great story idea ... Stop and read it if you ever see it at the store....This is exactly the kind of story I'd like to come up with some day..... If I would have have this book as a kid I am sure it would have been my favorite.....
Ok.... I'm 25 .....and its my favorite now.... at least for this week :)

2007-04-29T23:34:00.000-03:00

Whew .... I just snuck these pictures on last night before bed... It was a very busy weekend you will have to forgive me....
So my whole family was up for a visit the past few days .... It was a PACKED place here but it was alot of fun showing them around Oakville....

Anyways... it was the start of my brothers graduation stuff this weekend... so we visited his church on Sunday.. and I witnessed the most violent baptism ever.... seriously.....So a bit of backstory.......I seem to often (especially at church) find my self chuckling at the wrong times....... It must be the animator side of me that takes something mildly funny or even a normal situation and then plays it out way to far in my own head.... to the point where I start laughing... Like I said too often at times when no one should be laughing.....
oh well..... so the baptism..... It was quite humorous..... I am not quite sure what it was that made it so funny.. wether it was the way the pastor turned the person around and dunked them before they could even get a breath to prepare for going under the water or maybe it was the towel the pastor had shoved in thier face before dunking them that made it look like some strange smothering drowning event thing...... like litterally thier head was shoved under before thier body started moving down..... So needless to say I was inspired to sketch out an animation of this event..... Trust me... its funnier if you can flip between the drawings ... no inbetweens just out of the water then staight down.... he he
anyways thats my insight for the week... you can tell its gonna be a winner of a week :)

2007-04-22T23:16:00.000-03:00

hey......well here is another post ......see ...?...I am trying... It is actually late Sunday night and I am sitting in bed typing (I love this laptop) because I couldn't let the weekend go by with out a post........

So... since summer is coming and just because its a good idea in general.... my wife andI joined the gym about a month ago ....... I have to admit I am enjoying it alot..... I decided to get a trainer to work with me for the first few weeks...... partially because he would provide a reason to keep going as well as motivation to keep pushing myself.....and 100% because I didn't want to look like an idiot using the machines wrongor backwards...ha ha... He got great joy out of making sure I would be in so much sorness and pain the next day that I wouldn't even be able to walk...(seriously...... if I could get a video of how I walked to work one morning after a hard workout...... It would win america's funniest home video's....) anyways... I finished up with him about a week ago so I am totally on my own now..... It is pretty relaxing to go in there first thing on a Saturday morning when no one else is there yet and workout for an hour or so....... and the more I do it the more comfortable I feel...... I still feel silly sometimes standing there struggling to lift a little bar when the guy beside me is doing the same thing as me with 50 times the weight.... but hey... you gotta start somewhere right????? I'll put up with a few more months of awkward......besides I am so small to start with it doesn't take more than a few workouts before I notice a change.......well.... must get some sleep.... my duty is done for this week.