Customer Reviews

The Heart of the Artist

5 star:		(35)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"The Heart of the Artist" is an indispensable guide to understanding artists and the struggles they face in Christian music ministry. It is not only suitable for artists themselves, but for anyone trying to figure out those "artsy types".

This book contains valuable insights into many areas that I have not found addressed by any other source. Chapter titles include: Servanthood versus Stardom; Excellence versus Perfectionism; Handling Criticism; Jealousy and Envy; Managing Your Emotions; Leading Artists; The Artist and Sin; and The Spiritual Disciplines of the Artist.

Issues are dealt with from a biblical viewpoint by the author, who leads a huge team of artists and technical people at Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, IL, a suburb of Chicago.

The most encouraging thing to me that came out of the book is that as artists, we serve a creative God, and we should be creative. Because Bible-believing Christians have things to say that have eternal significance, we should be neither ashamed nor stifled in our expression. Yes, artists are created differently, as evidenced by our sensitivity, our temperaments, and our personalities, but we must not allow those things to be an excuse for bad behavior and bad character. God knows we're different, and He made us that way on purpose. Winning people to Christ is the only thing we can do that has eternal significance, and He has given artists a way to communicate His truth to people in a way that speaks to the hearts of people like nothing else does. God deserves our best, most creative, and most powerful work.

"The Heart of the Artist" can be read individually, or used as a small group study guide since it comes complete with group discussion questions, follow-up questions, and personal action steps.

Rory Noland display keen observation and broad experience in human relations. Inter-personal conflict is not limited to artistic types, although his examples are drawn directly from that venue. For that reason, the book is a MUST for anyone in creative work. Not theological jargon and religious hype, but a book of straight-forward, practical life applications. The situations make you say "Ouch!" as you recognize your own responses and shudder to think you aren't as perfect as you'd like to think. Rory describes the selfishness problem of all humanity and specifically prescribes the affective treatment with Biblical reinforcement. Solid stuff! I am a clergy-person who found that this book targeted areas in life where character-building and personal growth needed to take place. I am better for having applied these principles. I marvel at the insight of Mr. Noland and am grateful for this concise approach to becoming a better person and shaping a better world one-person-at-a-time. A MUST-READ for church staff, creative types, growing Christians, human beings...

"The Heart of the Artist" is written in an easy-to-digest style by long-time music ministry leader Rory Noland. It is a nice guide for artists, musicians, poets, actors, dancers, etc., who want to use their talents in a Church or "ministry" setting. There are some helpfull chapters in this book that deal realistically with the sort of problems that Christians in the arts (or anyone in the arts) will have to deal with, such as "excellence verses perfectionism" and "handling critisism". However, Noland deals ONLY with the role of Christian artists within the somewhat "safe" church environment. What about the role of Christian artists OUTSIDE of the local church body? What is the proper role of the Christian artist in a secular, or even a hostile setting? Should a Christian artist create ONLY works of the "sacred", or should they be afforded the same artistic freedom as their secular peers? These are really the types of issues that I would have liked to see Noland deal with, and with the same level-headed approach that he tackles Church-related issues. Perhaps he should write a follow-up book that deals with these concerns. However, if you are a Christian with an interest in the arts, or in the responsibilities and problems of public ministry, then this book is well worth a read.

Somebody once called me a "high-maintenance artistic type". And, I suppose it's true. Not that it's an excuse for anything, mind you. But creative types are often overly sensitive, vulnerable to temptations and addictions, insecure, prideful, and have a host of other tendencies that do nothing to promote good, harmonious working relationships with others in the church (and with God). Guilty as charged. Well,this book gets right to the heart of the matter in dealing with every conceivable situation that arises among groups of artists (whether worship team, drama team, or dance team)that attempt to work together for the glory of God. The fact is, there is no place for jealousy, envy, and backbiting among artists or any other Christians. Rory Noland pinpoints issues that often arise in the life of the artist, and gives good, Biblical solutions. A must-have for Christian artists in any field.

amazing book... really makes you look inward.

Liked it so much i bought 10 and started a book study with the worship team at my church...

Recommend it to anyone!!!

This book talks somewhat about art issues, but the main focus is on Biblical character. Most of this material can be found on any book about discipleship. It wasn't specific enough about artistic issues. Furthermore, the author's approach was very simplistic, and did not produce any profound insight that an artist might derive benefit from. It would be good for someone who is a brand new Christian, but other than that, I wouldn't recommend it.

I sincerely appreciated the authenticity of Rory and his commitment to holding true to a strong set of core values. While his task of leading talented people requires give and take and some degree of "tolerance", Rory was encouraging leaders not to sacrifice on core matters just to hold on to talented people. Often times the best action for a person who has lost site of his/her talent and value is the shock of realizing life is full of performers who need a reality check.

I just finished the book, and I would highly recommend it for anyone in creative arts ministry. It is the first book I've seen that addresses issues that face those of us who are in some form of "performance" ministry. It is put together in a way that it very conducive to group study. Each chapter begins with a situation that probably every Minister of Music has faced, and then the character issues that cause these situations are explored, with an emphasis on the appropriate scriptural response. Pride, envy, false humility, and the need for deep, daily communication with God are some of the topics discussed. We are going to have all members of our Fine Arts department purchase the book, and we are going to study it during our arts home groups.

I'm a worship leader/band leader at my campus fellowship at the University of Illinois. This book has helped point out amazing truth both in my heart and in those of the musicians I have had the chance to lead. Rory Noland attacks really tough issues including: how to lead and resolve conflict with other artists; how to strive for excellence without binding yourself to perfection; how to get out of emotional, sinful mental traps; how to recognize and work with jealousy or competition among musicians (artists). Any music leader should have this on their shelf!

I wish I had read this book when I was a worship director--I would have been so much more effective. What makes me appreciate Rory Noland's education so much is that he is breathtakingly personal, practical, and poignant. I feel like I know him better than I know a lot of people, since reading his book.

In teaching about worship ministry, he defines true worship, requisite relationship building with God, the process of spiritual searching and maturity, and relational dynamics within the church.

Don't let the "artist" moniker dissuade you from reading this book. I'm an engineering school graduate who works for a bank, i.e. non-artist, and this book has clarified truths about worship, ministry relationships, and my walk with Christ. This book will help you worship better, and will help you worship better with others.