My family and I had just moved cross country to Franklin, Tennessee. We did not know a soul, and we were lonely for it. One night the rain caught us downtown and we ducked into a little organic mattress store called Sage Sleep to wait it out. We were soaked through. The store was technically closed. But inside, a few people were sitting around with guitars, singing worship songs. The owner came out from behind the counter and embraced me like he had been waiting on me to walk in.
His name was Gregg. He prayed with us right there. He never did get around to mentioning a mattress.
It made me think of baptism. The act of being claimed. The hope of fellowship with God and new friends.
When Jesus came up out of the Jordan soaking wet, the Holy Spirit came down in the form of a dove, and a voice from heaven said, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Out loud. In front of everyone. The Father did not whisper it in a closet. He named Him in public, and the family of believers heard.
Before I left the shop that night, Gregg asked if he could hang one of my pieces on his wall. I gave him "Joy". (The black and white images of John the Baptist and Jesus hugging)
He kept it displayed in the store for six years, until he sold the business.
For six years, anyone in Franklin walking in to his sleep store for "better rest" found it on several levels.
The Baptism collection offers you the hope of being claimed...
the joy of being named...
a family of believers
and a reminder that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is indeed, 'The Good News'
And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, 'This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.' — Matthew 3:17 (NKJV)
This collection contains original photography by Mark Mabry and also original painting by Pieter Van Tonder.
My family and I had just moved cross country to Franklin, Tennessee. We did not know a soul, and we were lonely for it. One night the rain caught us downtown and we ducked into a little organic mattress store called Sage Sleep to wait it out. We were soaked through. The store was technically closed. But inside, a few people were sitting around with guitars, singing worship songs. The owner came out from behind the counter and embraced me like he had been waiting on me to walk in.
His name was Gregg. He prayed with us right there. He never did get around to mentioning a mattress.
It made me think of baptism. The act of being claimed. The hope of fellowship with God and new friends.
When Jesus came up out of the Jordan soaking wet, the Holy Spirit came down in the form of a dove, and a voice from heaven said, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Out loud. In front of everyone. The Father did not whisper it in a closet. He named Him in public, and the family of believers heard.
Before I left the shop that night, Gregg asked if he could hang one of my pieces on his wall. I gave him "Joy". (The black and white images of John the Baptist and Jesus hugging)
He kept it displayed in the store for six years, until he sold the business.
For six years, anyone in Franklin walking in to his sleep store for "better rest" found it on several levels.
The Baptism collection offers you the hope of being claimed...
the joy of being named...
a family of believers
and a reminder that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is indeed, 'The Good News'
And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, 'This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.' — Matthew 3:17 (NKJV)
This collection contains original photography by Mark Mabry and also original painting by Pieter Van Tonder.
