Scottsdale Bible Church » The Voyage of Life

Old Age

admin — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 20:00:30 +0000

In Cole’s fourth and final painting entitled, Old Age, the scene now opens up to the vast ocean of eternity. It is a calm scene, with the rough waters of life now behind the voyager and the peaceful waters of eternity before him. Through years of riding the rough waters, the boat is now battered and worn, and the man is now an old man. With arms out-stretched toward the ocean, for the first time he recognizes the Guardian Spirit as she shows him the way. Another angel awaits off in the distance to welcome this weary traveling home. It is a breathtaking scene. With much more detailed description and analysis of Cole’s painting, combined with a look at the Scriptural allusions this all points to, this message will explore what the senior years are about from God’s perspective and how we can all enter them with the hopeful expectation of eternal life with Jesus Christ.

Adulthood

admin — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 19:00:09 +0000

In Cole’s third painting entitled, Manhood (we should probably call it “Adulthood”), the scene experiences the most stark changes as the landscape is now rugged and rocky – storm clouds fill the sky. Before the person in the boat, who is now a man, is a steep, swollen stream that, as Cole describes, “rushes furiously down a dark ravine.” The man is shown in a kneeling position, hands folded with a gaze up toward heaven, with a look of absolute desperation on his face. He is pleading to God for help and mercy in his time of need. The Guardian Spirit is now much further off – still watching over this voyager, but not nearly as close. There are also demonic faces formed in the clouds, looming over this frightened man. It is a scene of trouble, intensity, desperation and, finally, hope (for far off the ocean of eternity is finally within view).

Youth

admin — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 20:00:08 +0000

In Cole’s second painting entitled, Youth, the scene now changes to a more expansive world with a young youth (i.e. teenager in our day) at the helm of the boat. The Guardian Angel is now out of the boat, standing near on the shore. Through lush vegetation, an increasingly swift stream, and a sturdy boat, the youth sees before him visions and dreams of earthly palaces and prospects. It is a scene filled with hope. Yet “reality” looms on the horizon as well. Unbeknownst to the youth, the stream takes a sharp turn up ahead and heads toward the tumultuous waters of adulthood. With much more detailed description and analysis of Cole’s painting, combined with a look at the Scriptural allusions this all points to, this message will explore what the teen years are about from God’s perspective and how we can help those hope-filled youth in our lives stay the course as they pursue their dreams.

Childhood

admin — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 22:00:34 +0000

Download the Mud Puddles Poem

Cole’s first painting, Childhood, depicts a little child joyfully coming out of a dark and mysterious cave, riding in the center of a beautifully adorned, wooden boat. The landscape is brimming with life and springtime freshness. The whole world, filled with endless hope and possibilities, stands before this little child. A “Guardian Spirit” escorts and watches over the child as he/she embarks on the Voyage of Life. With much more detailed description and analysis of Cole’s painting, combined with a look at the Scriptural allusions this all points to, this message will explore what childhood is about from God’s perspective and how we can help keep it so in our own children’s (or grand-children’s; niece’s; nephews; etc.) lives.

The Voyage of Life

admin — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 22:00:30 +0000

The idea of a life being a “voyage” or “journey” is rich indeed. In a world that is all about “doing life” today – that seemingly cares more about techniques and formulas than it does process and flow—Cole’s idea of life being a “voyage” is welcome and needed. This message will introduce Thomas Cole and the Voyage of Life paintings. Using biographical material from Cole’s own life, as well as selected Scriptures, we will set up this entire series by getting people focused on this idea of life as a journey. But this is not just any journey, it is a journey with a purpose, a determined course, and it is definitely overseen by the One who started it all in the first place.