“Basically getting my hands dirty.” - Mike
Perhaps the most prominent shortfall in worship theology today is that most people think worship in terms of music, as though the two were synonymous, rather than worship as expressed through art. A leader in the endeavor to broaden our worship horizons is The Jesus Painter, Mike Lewis.
If you’ve been living in a box in the basement and haven’t heard of this guy, Mike Lewis performs live by painting pictures of Jesus where the process of painting is as important as, if not more than, the finished product. He has toured the country and partnered with Glory Revealed to create a video for By His Wounds.
This morning the Jesus Painter helped lead worship at my church and the experience was astounding. I wasn’t planning on it, but on a whim I petitioned Mike after the service to answer some questions. He was kind enough to grant my impromptu request for an interview.
Here’s how it went down:
As the service ended a heavy throng of people jostled their way to the front to speak to the artist. After waiting for the crowd to thin significantly, I put myself last in line hoping to take up just a few more minutes than the average hand-shaker.
When I finally clasped hands with the man soaked from his shoelaces to his armpits in splatter paint I was immediately impressed with his friendly and cordial demeanor. Mike reminded me of that next-door-neighbor-who-always-invites-you-over-for-barbeque type of guy.
After a brief introduction, Mike agreed to let me blog about him. I pushed, record on my Palm and asked,
What are the things that you make a part of your personal spiritual rhythm to keep you connected to God?
Mike paused for a moment to gather a thought and replied,
First of all, constantly being at events like this. I do six of these a month. Today was actually really refreshing and energizing. But also just my involvement in my local church. We do a couple of mission trips every year.
At this point a woman interjected to thank Mike and talk about her daughter’s mission trip.
I parroted,
So actually doing the painting is a time of refreshing for you and you do mission work through your local church?
The painter continued,
Certainly doing mission work is one of my ways to get focused and back to where I started. My involvement with my youth group is another. Basically getting my hands dirty. My small group at church also keeps me focused.
Finally, my wife and I have a little time together every night. Right now we’re going through a book for married couples. It’s not always the same thing year after year, after year, but it’s just keeping those activities alive.
During these words a line began to form again and as I looked at a mass of impatient eyes I started to realize I was going to have a one-question interview.
I quickly tried to squeeze in,
What kinds of resources are out there for someone who wants to do what you do or what words of encouragement do you have?
Mike empathetically sensed the crowd and tactfully responded,
Well if someone is reading this interview and is interested they can go to jesuspainter.com and get touch with me there or poke around the site.
I hit up jesuspainter.com when I got home and I have to admit I was a little disappointed. For someone who is so innovative in their expression the website was a pretty lackluster.
Where Mike Lewis’s online presence really shines is his Jesus Painter videos featured on YouTube. My favorite video from the site is posted below, although none of the videos quite compare with the experience of worshiping God this morning led by Mike’s hands. Go see him live now.
lovely blog you have here yourself! thanks for dropping by…
To say that the experience was astounding doesn’t even do it justice. It was astounding, yes. It was also refreshing, intriguing, illuminating and hard-hitting.
This is a great example of the church pushing the culture forward, and the parable of the talents in action. But it was also the painting in conjunction with the messages of encountering God and wondering what it would be like to have the Saviour of the World embrace you with a lingering eye contact. That was what made the “Christ Eyes” painting so powerful to me.
I completely agree with you. I broke down and wept when Mike painted in the irises during “Christ Eyes.” I would not have had the same reaction had Dale Beaver not given his introductory remarks regarding eye contact as a lost art.
Thanks for the kind words. (lackluster???) sorry I am better at painting than web design. Anyone want to help… for free? Keep it real, I am having a bar-b-que next week if anyones in Nashville.
Hey Billy -
Great blog - I’ve added to my GoogleReader .. and thanks for stopping by TheWorshipCommunity.Com
Jesus wasn’t pale white!! Hahah…just joking.
That video is pretty awesome. I especially like the eyes, which, gathering from your post above, was incredibly moving during worship. I wish I could have been there to gather with you guys.
What a gift he has…it’s awesome to see him using it.
Definitely refreshing to see and hear of the various endeavors of how the word “worship” is being redefined in it’s more broad understanding, rather than the conventional idea of just music.
Thanks for posting this interview and the video. It speaks wonders and I found it to be totally cool.
Great blog Billy… it is incredible!
Great interview. I love staring at one of Mike’s paintings at church. Although I’ve only seen a recorded worship painting, I must say I am moved everytime I see Mike’s painting at Woodmont.
Thanks for the interview!
As an artist myself, seeing Mike paint has really tempted me to dust off my brushes and markers and help spread the gospel. Mike has been a great inspiration to me.’
I see you record on a Palm too…..I’m begining to record a podcast on my Palm TX. I’ll keep you posted.
Good interview. He’s pretty sweet. Have you seen The Sand Painter, Mark Demel? He doesn’t have it on the site, but his sand art was amazing!
Lewis,
No I haven’t see Mark Demel, but I can admire that although he is clearly influenced by Mike Lewis, he is still being original.
I’ve see straight up plagiarized versions of Mike’s work. It was not cool.
Yeah. How can you be in contemporary (not nec. modern) Christian art today and not be influenced in some way by Mike Lewis.
Wow! I am really flattered that you guys would say these things. I REALLY must say that I did not earn my status. It was a GIFT. Therefore anyone influenced by me is really directly influenced by God.
I still don’t like it when people steal my exact images. I just pray that it won’t get out of hand.
Billy,
I wanted to ask if you would be willing to review my new DVD. It is called the OneWay project. Email me from my site if you are interested and I will mail you one.
Thanks,
Mike
Love that Mike does this in a way that is not “in your face” but out there for all to see; on their own timing, in their own way. Whether it be from a distance, from around a corner, out in the open or from behinde a bookstand. I beleive that you could not help but be pulled into this painting. It simply calls you from the screen while watching from the computor…I cannot imagine how powerful it would be to see in person. Maybe I will get the chance one day to experience this for myself. What a gift you have been given Mike. You are blessed and you bless others. God is good!