Through a series of precipitating personal events, in the fall of 2008 my wife and I found the Lord.  For most of the 50 years prior, I had been searching for God.  Although I was raised as a Catholic, I developed an early distrust of "church-goers."  Throughout most of my adult life I quietly rebelled, thinking church-goers were puppets, or weak people who needed to believe because they used faith as a crutch to make it through life.   I had a very strong pull toward God, but my search for God was in every other corner of the world.  I explored Buddhism, Taoism, Shintoism, Hinduism, and numerous branches of what might be termed "general spiritualism."  I attended American Indian sweat lodges, yoga classes, eastern medicine workshops and practiced many forms of meditation.  My bookshelves are filled with writings on everything from shamanism to crystal healing methods. 

In my first book, interspersed in the description of becoming an artist, you can see my personal struggle, my constant craving to find the source of life, to find the ultimate love, to find home.  Privately though, I had promised myself there were two things I was not going to do: go to church and read that book.  That best selling book.  You know the one.  I was sure that book was filled with lies that weak puppets needed to believe because they had no faith in themselves.  It turns out I was wrong.  It turns out that people often find faith in their weakest moments because they finally let their pride down long enough to let God in.  The irony: had I just read the book, the Bible, I would have known--pride and a relationship with God don't mix--that dynamic is very clearly described in there.  Instead, for 50 years, I had held firmly to my pompous view-the weak need church and the book, but I, I will find God on my own.    

In 2008, after a series of personal, business and family events I found home.  Finally, I found home.  My second book, which I am writing now, will chronicle that journey--reaching beyond the artist, to find that source of warmth, compassion and joy.  I have also recently returned to painting, after a three year hiatus, to find Christ's face begging expression.  The first in that series can be seen below, and the others I will share when ready. 

Becoming a believer has been the most joyous and the most tumultuous experience of my 51 years.  As I progress in my faithfulness to Christ, I consistently find the Lord has something in store for me that I didn't expect.  As one example, I had promised myself long ago to never produce prints of my work.  But recently, as I was reading my Bible, I felt the Lord leading me to distribute prints, together with scripture, to do my small part in spreading the word of God.  I have begun to lay the groundwork for that project, I am in one local store, and I am looking for a manufacturer and national sales group to take the project to a large scale.

In the meantime, Judy and I are going on our first mission trip in August 2010 to Brazil.  We are selling signed prints direct to the public for a limited time to finance that trip.  They are beautiful-I think you will really like them.  Click here.

Admitting I was wrong, for as long as I was wrong, isn't easy.  Humility was never my strongest characteristic.  Don't get me wrong, I am a good guy, but I really believed in myself.  It is good to have confidence, but I believed in me, I believed I could solve any problem, I believed I could do everything, including finding God, my way.  I was searching for God my way.  The path of sanctification can be a long bumpy road.  But I am making progress, and I am writing a lot-and will be looking forward to sharing in my second book. 

In the meantime, may God bless you and your path, may you find the humility to sit quietly and read and accept God's word, may God draw you into his loving arms through the warmth of the millions of good Christians waiting to welcome you, may you find solace in knowing all of your past is forgiven, may you find peace in knowing Christ is who he said he is and may you find indescribable joy through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. 

With love,

Randy 

P.S.  I have recently started a business for God, by God.  Please link to www.heartforgod.net