the art of helping others

my friend doug mann is one of my favorite creative people in the world. i had the pleasure of working with him overseas in ireland, during my time with MAP in 2002-2003. and had god not led both of us down different paths than the ones we thought we were heading for, we'd have probably spent another 5 years or more working together in the arts community in ireland.

recently doug has begun painting under his irish name, dubhghlas (pronounced dove-gloss). josh and i were sad that we were unable to be there for the opening of his exhibit at a memphis gallery earlier this year. (someday i'll make it to graceland, someday!)

what is even more exciting still is that doug has created an organization called "the art of helping others", which

"is dedicated to contributing funds from the sale of fine art prints and merchandising to charitable humanitarian and advocacy organizations such as Concern Worldwide and World Vision, which tackle the causes of poverty and injustice, and to the human rights agency, International Justice Mission, which secures justice for victims of slavery and sexual exploitation."

so check out http://www.theartofhelpingothers.org/, or click on the link to doug's related blog at the top of the list of blogs i love to visit. what a wonderful way to support the arts and such worthy causes at once! (i know that if i had a few dollars to spare, i would love to have a couple of these beautiful, emotive pieces on our walls.)

here's my current favorite dubhghlas painting, titled "Castaway":

a father's love

be forewarned, you will probably need some tissues when you watch these videos. but they will be the happy, life-changing kind of tears, and those are the best kind. this is how much god loves us!

"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!" -1 John 3:1

"...how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ!" -Ephesians 3:18