5.21.13

Anchors Stories :: Jenni R

AW :: Tell us a little about yourself…

JR :: I am Jenni, I live in Colorado and grew up in Florida. Two places that display God’s beauty in nature – I am one blessed lady. When not working or hanging with high school students, I am usually baking. The mailing list for my baked goods continues to grow longer the more cities I live in and people I know.:)

 

AW :: How did you find out about AWCreative?

JR :: I know of AW Creative because the AW of it is one of my dearest friends. Not because it is the easy answer, but because it is genuine – While Alex is one of the most creative people I know, he is even an even greater person. The grace and forgiveness he has shown over the years despite the hurt and trials I know in his life have taught and challenged me. I see Christ in him more than any other quality and I see Christ and His story in all of his creative ideas and ventures.

 

AW :: What inspires you?

JR :: Love, Grace & Beauty. I see love in so many people and moments in my day – mostly because I am looking for them. The love of God, the love of family and friends, but mostly seeing people love their stranger neighbors and enemies. The more rare case is seeing Grace in action. I think we lean towards our version of loving others, but showing forgiveness and going further to show grace is harder for a lot of us – including me. To know of and see someone move past themselves and their own hurts and choose to show not just mercy but grace is one of the most beautiful acts of love. And Beauty – it’s everywhere. Our Creator wove beauty into all He created – from nature to animals to people. The beauty found in structure, in chaos, in suffering, in kind words and helping hands makes me look forward to everyday. The beauty on this earth is just a glimpse of what is to come – and that unforeseen beauty is what inspires me to move forward toward Christ – not matter how beautiful my life might be at a given moment.

 

AW :: How does the Anchors shirt tell your story?

JR :: I jumped at the anchor shirt design because the anchor is one of the most meaningful symbols in my spiritual life – enough that I just got “hope anchors my soul” tattooed on my left shoulder. Having suffered from depression early in my teenage years, my anchor has been my faith and hope in Christ. I have learned that what I feel is the not the reality of my life and identity – the hope of Christ is my reality

 

AW :: If you could give an Anchors shirt away, who would you give it to?

JR :: My mother suffered a massive stroke two years ago and my greatest prayer for her was and is that she would come into a saving and growing relationship with her creator and healer. I would give her a shirt for Mother’s Day. She has been an anchor in my life and I pray she finds her anchor in Christ.

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4.30.13

The Story Behind the “Anchors” Shirt

Being involved in worship ministry has, many times, brought forth huge insecurities in my life. When I’m up on a platform, there are often so many thoughts going through my head about people’s perceptions of me. Any worship leader that doesn’t recognize that they have to constantly keep these thoughts in check is just lying to themselves.

In 2012, Hillsong released a new live record entitled Cornerstone. The verses of the title track are derived from the hymn “My Hope Is Built On Nothing Less” written by William Batchelder Bradbury. There is a line in that old hymn that states “my anchor holds within the veil.” While this line may seem a bit silly at first, because a heavy object like an anchor would completely rip a veil, we have to understand these terms in the context of Hebrews 6, which gives that line a whole new meaning.

Hebrews 6:19-20 states, “We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.”

In the time when the book of Hebrews was written, an anchor was a common metaphor for stability, endurance and resoluteness. Here, the writer of Hebrews uses anchor to refer to the secure and trustworthy hope of the promise of Salvation through Jesus being the high priest. The veil refers to the curtain, which was in a temple, separating the inner place (or holy of holies) from the rest of the temple. So, in context, the passage of scripture (and the lyric) communicates that, as believers, our hope is found in the presence of Jesus.

After a period of my life that was full of hurt and confusion, I found myself struggling with my identity and gauging my self worth based of what I thought people perceived of me. It was so easy to get caught up in believing that my identity was found in what people thought of me, which people wanted to hangout with me, and what opportunities people gave to me.

For me, the Anchor shirt is a story of identity. It reminds me every time I put it on, that my identity is found in who Christ is and how He has changed my life. My relationship with Christ frees me from an overwhelming pressure to perform. I am no longer a slave to the belief that I need to become who people want me to become. Because my hope is anchored in Christ, I can be identified in His accomplishment and not my own. The amazing thing about my anchoring my hope in Christ is that it doesn’t just free me from how other people perceive me, but it also frees me from what I think about myself.

“Together, we are His house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus Himself” Ephesians 2:20

I would love to hear how the Anchors Shirt tells your story! If you would like to share your story leave a comment or email me at hello(at)alexworkman(dot)com.

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4.10.13

Why Design Apparel?

Clocks Shirt AWCreative

Last week, I was sitting with a good friend and mentor, and as I was handing him the AWCreative Clocks shirt he preordered, he asked, “So why design apparel?” I was surprised and a bit taken aback. No one had ever asked me that question before. Immediately my mind flooded with random thoughts and answers, mostly centered around myself.

-To make super hip shirts for super hip people. (Which is a bit ironic because I was sitting with one of the least “hip” people I know)
-To have a creative outlet.
-To make extra money.

Just to name a few.

He laughed at my self centered responses, telling me, in his great wisdom, that I was completely wrong. He let me know that those responses are just things that I do. I design things. I create. I earn money. But none of it answered why I was doing it. He finished with the thought, “People don’t buy what we do. People buy why we do it.” I left our conversation feeling like my creative process had been smacked in the forehead with a 2×4.

When I got home, I opened my journal and really began to think about the things that inspire me, motivate me, and push me to create. I quickly realized it all centered around storytelling. Every shirt I design tells a story and makes me really think about some tough truths, such as where is my identity found, and what truly matters. As a follower of Christ, I am commanded to tell His story, as well my own story. Why can’t the things we wear be objects to help tell those stories? In reality, these designs don’t belong to me. They belong to each person who puts an AWCreative shirt on and I am excited to hear about your stories (more info soon :: because I want to hear your story).

I am so excited to share with you soon about the stories behind Anchors and Clocks, as well as some projects that are happening! Thank you so much for all of you who have bought a shirt, shared encouragement and offered feedback! I’m so excited about what the future has in store!

Let’s tell a story together! Pick up an AWCreative shirts AWCreative Store or on ETSY.

-AW

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May 17, 2013 - 12:13 am

Yuliana Torres - This is awesome Alex! Congrats!

3.30.13

While On The Cross :: 7 Things Jesus Said

Alex Workman Creative

While Jesus was on the Cross there were seven things that he said… It is interesting to see how Jesus finished well. As I have been thinking about this whole Easter season I have put a lot of though into what it means to finish well and in all that we do have the end in mind.

- “And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34)
- “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:43)
- “Woman, behold, your son!” (John 19:26)
- “Behold, your mother!” (John 19:27)
- “I thirst.” (John 19:28)
- “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46)
- “It is finished,” (John 19:30)
- “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” (Luke 23:46)

While Jesus was on the cross there were nine things said to him by seven different people groups. These seven people groups represented all of the Jewish and Roman culture. I think it is extraordinary to see how our Saviour interacted, constantly showing love, until the moment he died.

- Soldiers—”Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.” (John 19:24)
- People passing by — “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” (Matthew 27:40; Mark 15:29)
- Chief priests and elders—”He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” (Matthew 27:41-43; Mark 15:31, 32)
- Soldiers – “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” (Luke 23:37)
- First Criminal—”Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” (Luke 23:39)
- Second Criminal—”Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” (Luke 23:40-41)
- Second Criminal—”Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” (Luke 23:42)
- People at the foot of the cross—”This man is calling Elijah.” (Matthew 27:47; Mark 15:35)
- Centurion – “Truly this man was the Son of God!” (Mark 15:39)

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