Kenton J. Kutney

It was such a privilege to share this sermon after so many years on hiatus.  My heart was so full - as a result, the editing process was so painful!  (Yes, this  is  only the half of it. The full manuscript is available. What Child Is This? https://clyp.it/vfbmp2hf

PERHAPS THIS IS   how the angelic hosts sang that Holy Night, in reverent jubilation... Come, Thou long expected Jesus Born to set Thy people free; From our fears and sins release us, Let us find our rest in Thee. Israel's strength and consolation, Hope of all the earth Thou art; Dear desire of every nation, Joy of every longing heart. Born Thy people to deliver, Born a child and yet a King, Born to reign in us forever, Now Thy gracious kingdom bring. By Thine own eternal Spirit Rule in all our hearts alone; By Thine all sufficient merit, Raise us to Thy glorious throne. ...This version, featuring Christy Nockels with the choir, just gives me chills every time I listen. Honestly, it chokes me up so I can barely manage to sing along. George Frideric Handel’s ‘Messiah’ (I had to Google the lyrics) is quite the extraordinary meditative journey on the Incarnation; such inspired creativity. Hearing it live at the Vancouver Orpheum so long ago is still a vivid

Perhaps it was the cumulative years of writing Advent sermons, gradually building up such a vivid sense of anticipation, that a creative outlet of joyous expression was bound to happen despite the tremendous adversity that lay ahead in my journey... Apparently, you can count on the biased CBC to mock Christmas. But the comic rant decrying those auto-generated carol playlists does have a point. Malls + holiday songs do not equal cheer. Rather, for me, they stir a rising cynicism like the 4 progressive stages of hypertension! The antidote is a necessary exercise of deeper reflection in response to the frenetic consumerism and the tinney holiday trappings of secularist attempts to replace Christ, the very reason for my joy in celebrating this season.  I do love Christmas. This is the season for imagining what is possible, for dreaming new dreams, for hoping beyond hope. But someone observed that it is also the season when hope can be hardest to find, dreams hardest to believe. The

After I posted some reflections about a surprisingly renewing nature walk (following yet another series of medical tests), the serendipitous detour inspired me to write out my thoughts and then try creating this narrated poem. This is my first attempt at putting together poetry into a multimedia format . ... May you be inspired on your path to renewal. My second project, upon request for something to present at a special Christmas Eve service, is entitled ‘ What Child Is This? ’ Feel free to share it around for the holidays! https://youtu.be/XMmxQpX0Tdo (Also, you can visit my newly launched website to find links to recent original artwork) https://kkutney.wixsite.com/artbykenton

There’s a saying (in Norway, I think) where the winters get long:  ‘There’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing.’  Kinda fits with today’s rainy day reflection... See the next blog post for the new video I posted of the resultant poem.

Original Art By Kenton J. Kutney Check out some of my recent artwork at my new website.  There you will find a slideshow video of this year's projects:  https://kkutney.wixsite.com/artbykenton

Also see slideshow progress:  Making 'The Empty Tomb' I spent the last part of Lent home alone, pensively working away at this watercolour painting of the empty tomb of Jesus, getting it ready for the dawn of Easter Sunday to be able to say with millions of believers around the world: He is Risen!   ...What an engaging, enriching experience. I had to force myself to stop and eat. Shaping each crevice of stone was a slow, deliberative meditation on the marvelous implications of Christ’s death and resurrection. In this process, I almost heard the echo of Jesus telling the religious leaders that if his followers were to silence their praises, the very stones would cry out (Luke 19:37-40). Then something quite strange happened. As I tilted the wet paper, the watercolours slowly ran down the rock layers like tear-stains and I felt a profound re-connection to the scripture about creation groaning with us in eager anticipation of all things being made new (Romans 8:22-23)

One of the inescapable things that haunts me at Easter is the question: If I were part of Jesus’ inner circle, could I have been Judas?  ...At Easter I have loved re-reading the book by author and playwright, Dorothy Sayers, ‘The Man Born To Be King’. (This is the perfect script for a movie!) One of the things she does is cast Judas as intelligent, the brightest in the group. Jesus did choose him as one of the 12, so there is good in him. He’s in charge of the finances. He’s calculating, a step ahead. This makes his betrayal even more of a heightened contrast.  If I was in the place of Judas, would I have so misunderstood what Jesus meant with his talk of the Kingdom that I’d betray him and turn over an innocent man -- perhaps to get the revolt against Roman oppression going?  How close am I really to Jesus? Do I try to force his hand? Do I assume too much? What will my true legacy be?  In the end, it turns out ALL of Jesus’ disciples scattered and fled. We all need the grace of God. P

I worked on two acrylic experiments with rich fall colours, inspired by a monochrome photo I saw somewhere online. I don’t know who took it, but it is an incredible perspective! To me it shows the brevity of our time on this earth, and the need for humility in our role as (good, hopefully!) stewards of creation. The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field;  the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.  But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children—  with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.  ~ Psalm 103:15-18 'Portal' progress video clip

See below for the progress work done on my first tattoo commissioned by Tom Harbor. There are 7 symbols (Fish, Dove, Scripture, Pulpit, Chalice, Cross, Refining Fire)... make that 8 if you triangulate the Flames (Trinity)! Tom's New Tatoo

18x24" Acrylic on canvas, commissioned by Aga Karst.  Click link below: Progress Video

Ya, I’m that guy who picked Feb. 14th to propose...   Allow me this tribute to a wonderful woman:  So this month I’ve been reaching back in my mind 30 years to relive our Engagement-Valentine with great fondness. The memories are still so vivid, despite the woeful lack of selfies in the 90’s, of how we surprised each other with much the same romantic plan... only, I had the grand end-game in mind by proposing we do Life together. And silly Joy, she said Yes! For better or for worse -- and I have to say it is ALL GOOD. All of it a gift, as the widow of former MP Paul Dewer reflected on his terminal brain cancer: ‘You move forward with what you are given and do it as well as you can.’ And all Paul could tearfully add to the interview was, ‘The gift is every day.’ ...I concur. Somehow Joy entered my young life at just the right time for me to be mature enough to recognize her deep worth and she enlarged my world with Smiles & Play & Laughter, all sooo generously dishe

 (Warning: This stunning video from space might just make you emotional.) I’ve felt inspired this winter to write the following verse. Proud to be Canadian. 🇨🇦  100 Winter Midnights One hundred nights  In the true north  Light Oh, come set me free Aurora sweep over my horizon  Borealis necklace around our sleepy planet  Firelight flickering  Flare  From parent star  Beacon in seeming endless dark A message on the winds to remind us  How small we are  Yet  Part of something grand and beautifully alive A swirling dance to celebrate   Ruach  Breath of life around this singular blue marble Cosmic rainbow  Promising hope in the grand mystery  Stop, look up and Remember You are not alone      --- by kenton j. kutney  Here’s a link to 5 minutes of 4K ultra high definition video released by NASA: https://youtu.be/PBJAR3-UvSQ