## Co-laborers with God The Way of Creativity runs parallel to The Way of Bliss found in the via Positiva.  In the Via Positiva, we first encounter images of our faith and heart then learn to trust that our hope is found within them.  As we take our first steps down the Via Creativa, we learn to ride those images into reality. Emerging from the Via Negativa, we now know that reality is not limited to what we can see.  Our temporal existence is only a small piece of the great expanse of the cosmos.  The greatest gift God bestowed upon all Rational Beings is our ability to have communion with those things unseen.  This makes it even more important that we learn to name our experiences wisely. In the beginning, God created all natural things.  And he brought them before humankind "and (humanity) gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him (Gen 2:20)."  We co-labor with God in Christ, naming all the can be seen and all the cannot be seen.  This is [[the great work]] of the Way of Creation. ## Wisdom of the Heart Creativity is the wisdom of the heart, not the mind.  It is the creativity of God made manifest through our workmanship.  It is the duty of the [[Pastor]], the teacher, the apostle, and the Prophet to listen to the voice of God and help the artisans in their community to do all that God has called them to do.  As God said to Moses: > “And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, To devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, And in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship. And I, behold, I have given with him Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan: and in the hearts of all that are wise hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded you; The tabernacle of the congregation, and the ark of the testimony, and the mercy seat that is thereupon, and all the furniture of the tabernacle, And the table and his furniture, and the pure candlestick with all his furniture, and the altar of incense, And the altar of burnt offering with all his furniture, and the laver and his foot, And the cloths of service, and the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, to minister in the priest’s office, And the anointing oil, and sweet incense for the holy place: according to all that I have commanded thee shall they do.” > > — Ex 31:3-11 It is also the sacred duty of the artisan to discern the will of God in their own life.  The creative spirit that has been placed within us by the very hand of God is subject to the will of the artisan as well as the will of God, not to the dictates of the society or of the church.  Our creativity must always be in service of God through the charge and through the holy instruments given us but we must always be ready to follow the calling of our heart.  In the end, we're accountable to God for all that we have done with all that has been given us. > “And Moses said unto the children of Israel, See, the LORD has called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; And he has filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship; And to devise curious works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, And in the cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of wood, to make any manner of cunning work. And he hath put in his heart that he may teach, both he, and Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. Them hath he filled with wisdom of heart, to work all manner of work, of the engraver, and of the cunning workman, and of the embroiderer, in blue, and in purple, in scarlet, and in fine linen, and of the weaver, even of them that do any work, and of those that devise cunning work.” > > — Ex 35:30-35 ## Our Ministry to the Saints God has given each and every one of us a calling, a vocation, and motivating spirit to lead us through this life and to help us live a fruitful, productive, and fulfilled life.  We are called by Christ to be vitalized people.  Through his resurrection, and through the power of the most holy spirit that dwells within us, we come alive again to the deep and abiding mystery of life, of the very cosmos itself.  Living with a sense of our own mystery and wonder, life itself takes, a new direction.  Loving kindness becomes natural.  Our desire to participate in the ongoing and never-ending creation of the cosmos grows and moves us to do the work of God in Christ in the church in the world. > “For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, which you have showed toward his name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that every one of you do show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: That you be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” > > — Heb 6:10-12 ## Parable of the Talents > “Jesus said: “For the kingdom of heaven is as a man traveling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one went and dug in the earth, and hid his lord’s money. After a long time the lord of those servants comes, and reckons with them. And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, you delivered unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His lord said unto him, Well done, you good and faithful servant: you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things: enter into the joy of your lord. He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, you delivered unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things: enter into the joy of your lord. Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew you that you are an hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not strawed: And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the earth: lo, there you have what is yours. His lord answered and said unto him, You wicked and slothful servant, you knew that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: You ought therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which has ten talents. For unto every one that has shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that has not shall be taken away even that which he has. And cast the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”” > > — Matt 25:14-30 How many churches today have buried their talent out of fear for their Lord?  They abhor mysticism.  They reject the light that shines through the Scriptures when they are read as poetry, rather than prose.  They buried the truth of God, under the literal words, that the prophets and apostles as handed down to us.  They are awaiting the return of Christ and expecting him to say, "good and faithful servant" but they have rejected the Spirit of prophecy that still moves within the churches today. Each of us, out of reverence for the holy Godhead must seek out the talents that we have been given.  Never forget that all of our gifts are for the benefit of the whole world, not just for our own immortal soul.  We inherit a great responsibility with each and every talent that we receive to use it wisely, justly, and for the benefit of the community. We must never forget the lessons we learned in the Via Negativa.  For and silence, the worlds came into being. ## Birthing with God Where can God be found?  Where does the spirits so move?  Where do we learn wisdom that passes all understanding?  Where do we find the roots of peace?  "In the Via Creativa. In our generativity we co-create with God; in our imaginative output, we trust our images enough to birth them and ride them into existence. This is Path Three (Matthew Fox, Creation Spirituality, p 18).” Together as the church, we move ourselves forward, ever seeking a way to share these experiences that are truly beyond words. ## The Wisdom of Insight In Proverbs 1:2-7, we are taught the four pillars of wisdom.  In the Via Creativa, we build up the pillar of Wise Behavior (Sakal).  Sakal means "to be prudent, be circumspect, wisely understand, prosper; to give attention to, consider, ponder, be prudent; to have insight, have comprehension (The NAS New Testament Greek Lexicon)."  This sort of Wise Behavior is gained through practice and insight.  It is a deep wisdom that arises within us. ## In the Ministry The Via Creativa is the Way of the Evangelist.  An Evangelist brings the Good News of the Gospel to those who will listen (Eph 4:11-13) ## Symbolism During his life, Father Abraham built 4 altars.  Each one represented a phase of his life.  In the Via Creativa, we visit the Altar of the Walk of Faith at the Great Oak of Strength and Increase from Genesis 13:17, 18. The Eagle represents the Gospel of John, who focused on the Via Creativa through the Divine Logos and the glory of Christ Jesus. > “Creativity is the child born from the erotic union of the Via Positiva and the Via Creativa.” Matthew Fox, Class