And the Award Goes To...

Who doesn't enjoy a good movie song or book History is filled with stories of exceptional artists performers and athletes who have moved entertained and inspired us in profound ways There is little doubt that artistic and physical excellence are gifts from God intended for humanity's enrichment and growth Throughout historyuntil recent timesmuch of art and literature was devoted to exploring and depicting God Himself as well as the human condition A brief tour of European museums or a reading of Shakespeare's works readily confirms this However the life of an artist or performer is fraught with emotional and spiritual danger These pursuits inevitably invite the snares of fame pride and wealth each of which can wage war against a heart seeking the kingdom of heaven For many artists and performers the pinnacle of success is to have their talents acknowledged and rewarded Of course there were exceptionsthose who remained indifferent to recognition or acclaim JD Salinger the reclusive writer Clyfford Still the uncompromising artist and Paul Newman the humble actor all pursued their crafts purely for the sake of creation itself They remained "poor in spirit" seemingly unaffected by the relative success or failure of their work Others like AC Green a three-time NBA champion with the LA Lakers and Tim Tebow the football and baseball player turned influencer used their platform to proclaim the spiritual realities found only in Christ They managed to keep their eyes fixed on eternal rewards despite the world's temptations Unfortunately for many the glitter of fame success and wealth becomes a blinding distraction obscuring the true purpose of their gift How many artists and musicians have become unwitting pawns surrendering their talents to the enemy in exchange for fleeting worldly acclaim A word of caution to those who excel in performance: Your gift is intended to bless others and glorify God through your witness If not used for this purpose it can become the very vehicle by which you speed past the narrow waywithout even noticing