Psalm 1—Artwork

Learn more about Christ in the Psalms weekly artwork and see previous pieces here.

Person: Drew Button

Drew Button grew up in Colorado drawing pictures of animals and became interested in pen and ink artwork in high school. His first ‘sketchbook’ contained all the quintessential imagery you’d associate with an ’emo’. Drawing became a way for that angsty teenage Drew to reconcile his faith and morals with the world around him. Family members and teachers encouraged Drew down a creative path early on that has led him to where he is today; operating an art business alongside his wife, Emily here in Denver. His life as a husband, father and artist is a dream come true for that hopeless romantic emo version of his teenage self, lost in the tide of young adulthood. His works today still pull from the same themes as before but now include inspiration received from his wife and son; including but not limited to people, animals, Christianity, machines, architecture, landscapes and dinosaurs.

Piece

I call this piece ‘OA515’ (oasis) in response to Psalm 1’s presentation of two life paths for a person to live and walk. One path leads towards rootlessness and death, while the other towards a rooted, abundant, fruitful life in Christ. While reading Psalm 1, a ‘split screen’ image formed in my mind initially, giving the viewer a clear choice to walk down one path versus the other. Upon more readings, I began imagine an oasis in the desert, that one could step into our out of. This vision brought me closer to what you see in the drawing: an overlap of both realities in which we choose to live as sinners and believers. While we strive towards a life committed the Word and aligned with our Father’s desire for us to drink and eat of him, we still wander out into the heat and desolation of the world beyond the lush garden. We follow and become fixed to a windswept track that takes us swiftly towards our own desires. Therein lies the struggle and the choice. With His hand on our shoulder, we may yet again decouple ourselves from that sinful train of thought or action and find ourselves back at the water’s edge.

PROCESS: Ink Pen

I experienced a great challenge in creating this piece. Prior to drawing ‘OA515’, my collection of pens had accumulated a year’s worth of dust. Breaking the rhythm of churning out work, and finding space to let myself draw for Christ in the Psalms is something I haven’t done enough since I began working for myself. Once I began imagining the oasis in my drawing, it only became easier for me to come back to the drawing in order to finish it. I drew inspiration from my son’s current obsession with ‘choochey trains’ and our enjoyment of God’s gift of time. He gives us rest and shade where the palm trees sway, where the flamingos flock, and even in the city, where the trains trundle on the trestles over the trail, down by the river.

in Blog • Christ in the Psalms Artwork

Psalm 1

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Christ in the Psalms is a yearly reflection on how the people of God pray, engage emotion, and offer all elements of life to the God who dwells with His people. As we learn and reflect, we wondrously find unmistakable glimpses of Christ throughout the process.

This past Sunday, June 1, we kicked off the series for the summer. We began with Psalm 1—returning to the start again after finishing the Psalter last year.

in Christ in the Psalms • Gary McQuinn • Sermons

A Sabbatical for Joel Limpic

Joel Limpic, our Pastor of Liturgy and Arts since 2013, will be starting a three-month sabbatical next week. We’re glad for him to have this opportunity to pause and spend time with his family.

Sabbaticals provide a time to slow down, reconnect with Jesus, and focus on areas of healing, growth, and family life. We’re delighted to offer Sabbaticals to all full-time staff every seven years. This will be Joel’s second sabbatical.

It’s hard to communicate how thankful we are for the ways Joel has cared for and served our community. Please join us in prayer for Joel, Morgan, Tally, Alex, and Eleanor that this season will be restful and meaningful for them. We’ll miss them while they’re away and look forward to welcoming them back!

in Blog • Joel Limpic

Seek First the Kingdom: Time (Luke 10:38–42)

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In a culture that constantly demands more—more productivity, more entertainment, more commitments, more distractions—many people feel stretched thin, exhausted, and unsure whether their time is being spent on what truly matters. The way we use our time reveals our deepest values, yet many of us are caught in patterns that leave us anxious, hurried, and spiritually malnourished. In this third portion of our Seek First the Kingdoms series, we will explore what it means to “redeem the time” (Ephesians 5:16) by centering our lives around God’s Kingdom. Rather than being ruled by cultural expectations, we are called to wisely and intentionally steward our time in light of God’s Kingdom.
in Joel Limpic • Seek First the Kingdom • Seek First the Kingdom: Time • Sermons

Seek First the Kingdom: Time (Matthew 7:24–27)

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In a culture that constantly demands more—more productivity, more entertainment, more commitments, more distractions—many people feel stretched thin, exhausted, and unsure whether their time is being spent on what truly matters. The way we use our time reveals our deepest values, yet many of us are caught in patterns that leave us anxious, hurried, and spiritually malnourished. In this third portion of our Seek First the Kingdoms series, we will explore what it means to “redeem the time” (Ephesians 5:16) by centering our lives around God’s Kingdom. Rather than being ruled by cultural expectations, we are called to wisely and intentionally steward our time in light of God’s Kingdom.
in Neil Long • Seek First the Kingdom • Seek First the Kingdom: Time • Sermons

Seek First the Kingdom: Time (Matthew 11:28–30)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

In a culture that constantly demands more—more productivity, more entertainment, more commitments, more distractions—many people feel stretched thin, exhausted, and unsure whether their time is being spent on what truly matters. The way we use our time reveals our deepest values, yet many of us are caught in patterns that leave us anxious, hurried, and spiritually malnourished. In this third portion of our Seek First the Kingdoms series, we will explore what it means to “redeem the time” (Ephesians 5:16) by centering our lives around God’s Kingdom. Rather than being ruled by cultural expectations, we are called to wisely and intentionally steward our time in light of God’s Kingdom.
in Gary McQuinn • Seek First the Kingdom • Seek First the Kingdom: Time • Sermons

Seek First the Kingdom: Time (Ecclesiastes 3:9–13)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

In a culture that constantly demands more—more productivity, more entertainment, more commitments, more distractions—many people feel stretched thin, exhausted, and unsure whether their time is being spent on what truly matters. The way we use our time reveals our deepest values, yet many of us are caught in patterns that leave us anxious, hurried, and spiritually malnourished. In this third portion of our Seek First the Kingdoms series, we will explore what it means to “redeem the time” (Ephesians 5:16) by centering our lives around God’s Kingdom. Rather than being ruled by cultural expectations, we are called to wisely and intentionally steward our time in light of God’s Kingdom.
in Marwan Aboul-Zelof • Seek First the Kingdom • Seek First the Kingdom: Time • Sermons

Liturgical Audit

A liturgical audit (or habit inventory) is simply an honest account of how you are spending your time during the week. The goal is not to foster comparison or shame, but to help you see the habits and rhythms that are shaping you, and to consider what they reveal about your values and desires.

WRITE: Make a list of your time spent during the week.

  • Write down what you do in the morning, during the day, and in the evening. Include the first and last things you do every day.
  • Write down how much time you spend on each activity, including the small things (time spent sleeping, getting ready for the day, on your phone, watching TV, getting kids ready, preparing & eating meals, exercising, time with Jesus, commuting, podcasts, time with friends, etc.)
  • Consider how frequently or infrequently you incorporate various activities. Consider how your weekend habits are different than weekdays.

CONSIDER: Consider your daily and weekly habits and write down some observations.

  • What is encouraging or discouraging about your habits?
  • What do they reveal about your values and desires?
  • How might these things be forming you, your family, or your community?
  • Are these things cultivating a deeper love for Jesus and for His calling in your life?

PRAY: Talk to Jesus about what you are seeing and feeling about these things.

  • Remember that Jesus loves you and is inviting you into deeper communion with him and a more meaningful life.
  • Ask Him if there are habits that should change in some way?
  • Tell Him about what feels challenging.
  • Ask Him for help as you continue to try to orient your life around His presence with you.

DISCUSS: Take time to talk about your observations and thoughts with a friend, spouse, or people in your Gospel Community.

in Blog

Seek First the Kingdom: Time (Ephesians 5:15–16)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

In a culture that constantly demands more—more productivity, more entertainment, more commitments, more distractions—many people feel stretched thin, exhausted, and unsure whether their time is being spent on what truly matters. The way we use our time reveals our deepest values, yet many of us are caught in patterns that leave us anxious, hurried, and spiritually malnourished. In this third portion of our Seek First the Kingdomseries, we will explore what it means to “redeem the time” (Ephesians 5:16) by centering our lives around God’s Kingdom. Rather than being ruled by cultural expectations, we are called to wisely and intentionally steward our time in light of God’s Kingdom.
in Gary McQuinn • Seek First the Kingdom • Seek First the Kingdom: Time • Sermons