M. D. Maisey's Photographs

These images are part of the Spring 2012 Art Show at First Baptist Church in Vancouver. The show is called "Seeing the Spoken: Visions After the Sermon: An Exhibit of Responses in Art to Jesus' Sermon on the Mount by Artists at FBC."

The show opens officially on May 20 and runs through June 30th.

1. Windows.

The image was taken of Connie Riley while she was receiving guests to FBC mid-week during Open Sanctuary in Summer, 2010.

2. Development Reflections.

Knowing the correct password – saying ‘Master, Master,’ for instance – isn't going to get you anywhere with me . . . I can see it now – at the Final Judgment thousands strutting up to me and saying, ‘Master . . . our God-sponsored projects had everyone talking.’ And do you know what I am going to say? ‘You missed the boat.’ (Matthew 7:21-23, The Message).

A contemporary password of the Western world is “development”. It is the language of progress; the language of growth. Doesn’t everyone believe in this stuff? Aren’t these concepts intrinsically good? Or could there be a cost of development that is greater than the multi-millions of dollars estimated by our best number crunchers?

The image was taken from atop the FBC tower. It is a reflection of the FBC building (and neighboring buildings) in the windows of Wall Centre.

3. Veil Vale

This is a meditation on suffering and how profoundly it can change perspective, often through a veil of tears. Loss affects everyone at one time or another, but it rarely feels like the world is suffering when we are – indeed, others appear to go on with everyday life, apparently unaffected by what is troubling us. I believe Jesus says in Matthew 5:4, 'Only in deep loss will you be desperate enough to receive my embrace.'

The image was taken through the glass of a bus shelter on Burrard near Smithe.

The 2400 Motel on Kingsway has been a Vancouver fixture since 1946. It is unlikely to last much longer, however. See this link for details.