Towers newspaper

Boyce student uses artwork to promote adoption, spread of the Gospel



August 18, 2008
For Boyce student Melissa Konemann, creating art is a ministry. Konemann is donating the proceeds of four charcoal drawings to an adoption agency. Photo by John Gill


Many children are known for their drawing prowess. Nearly all parents could recall a time when they discovered a mural constructed by their child with red, yellow and blue crayon on a bedroom wall.

With Melissa Konemann, however, things were different. Konemann says she "remembers always painting and drawing," just not on bedroom walls. Konemann said her grandfather has a piece of art saved that she made at age three.

For Konemann, a sophomore at Boyce College, art is a ministry. During the month of July, four of Konemann's charcoal portraits were on display on the walls of Java Brewing Company's Frankfort Ave. location. The drawings depict orphans from four different countries, with Konemann planning on donating the proceeds from the sale of the pieces to a non-profit adoption organization.

"I have a heart for adoption and missions," said Konemann, a biblical and theological studies major. "I see a need for adoption, especially for us in America who are so blessed. I would love to see people in the United States bring kids into their homes.

"I know financially adoption is a challenge, so I want to do whatever I can to help. I see it as a Gospel mission, not just adopting a kid because you can't have any, but also bringing them in to share the Gospel with them. There is so much need."

Konemann said the four drawings represent orphans from Romania, Armenia, Korea and India. Using pictures of children from those different countries for inspiration, Konemann said she particularly focused on the eyes in her portraits.

"They are close-up pictures," she said. "I wanted to give it up an up close and personal view of the orphans. Something that jumped out from the page and grabbed people's attention. A lot of focus is on the eyes, which I thought was important because we express a lot through the eyes."

With each portrait, Konemann posted a Bible verse related to orphans, such as James 1:27, which tells believers to look after widows and orphans in their distress.

While Konemann said she grew up doing artwork, age 14 is when she really began taking drawing and painting seriously. Konemann said she took a few classes at a local art store, but has no training other than that. Konemann does a variety of art — including Sumie, a Japanese art style — but said she particularly enjoys composing oil paintings and charcoal drawings.

Konemann's father Robert is a master of divinity student at Southern Seminary. Robert Konemann came to Southern in the fall of 2007 after pastoring 12 years in a church he planted in Jacksonville, Fla.

Melissa said she had been looking for inspiration for her artwork for quite a while before she had the idea of donating her earnings to a non-profit organization. She said she would like for these four drawings to be the start of something bigger, of a lifelong ministry.

"I would like to expand on the orphans. I want to do some more drawings and paintings," she said. "I want to do very real, very personal pictures depicting missions, whether that is people groups, missionaries or converts. I would like to do several different aspects and several different series of people from different countries. That would be non-profit as well, with the money going to missions."

Ideally, Konemann said she would be able to generate enough income from some of her pieces to enable her to create a good number of non-profit items.

From an early age, Konemann began creating art that lasted, a talent she is glad to use.

"It is exciting for me to do a piece and watch it come alive," she said.

NEW ROSTER POSTED ON THE ACADEMY WEBSITE

http://goairforcefalcons.cstv.com/
go here and click on football then the next page has links on the right just click "roster"

This is a link to the new roster that was listed today. Caleb and his friend AJ are on this roster and we are so excited about going to see him next week on parents weekend and having the honor of meeting AJ and his parents. The drive is 19hours and we are going straight through UHG! We will have the joy of bringing Caleb's girlfriend Alex with us which will help break up the boredom. She is a saint to even attempt it. Good thing she comes from a family of 6 kids or else she would probably jump out of the car half way through Kansas.
Becky

New Air Force Falcons Depth Chart # 52!!!

Air Force ~ The Colorado Springs Gazette's blog for Air Force Academy sports
New Depth Chart Released
August 18th, 2008, 4:11 pm by jschaller

Here it is. Barely any changes on offense. A few intriguing ones on defense.

I’ll have comments/analysis in a later post and in my story for Tuesday’s edition of The Gazette once I talk to coach Troy Calhoun.

Offense

WR-X 81 Sean Quintana (Jr.)

26 Spencer Armstrong (Sr.)

TE 85 Keith Madsen (Sr.)

81 Sean Quintana (Jr.)

LT 79 Keith Williams (Sr.)

59 Ryan Gonzales (Jr.)

LG 61 Tyler Shonsheck (So.)

C 63 Andrew Pipes (Sr.)

65 Michael Hampton (Jr.)

RG 62 Peter Lusk (Jr.)

73 A.J. Wallerstein (Fr.)

RT 60 Chris Campbell (Jr.)

77 Ben Marshall (So.)

QB 14 Shea Smith (Sr.)

7 Eric Herbort (Jr.)

FB 25 Todd Newell (Sr.)

42 Jared Tew (So.)

TB 2 Savier Stephens (So.)

28 Kyle Lumpkin (So.)

WR-Z 4 Kyle Halderman (So.)

8 Reggie Rembert (So.)

Defense

LE 95 Jake Paulson (Sr.)

51 Myles Morales (Jr.)

NG 93 Ben Garland (Jr.)

89 Brad Connor (So.)

RE 91 Ryan Kemp (Sr.)

90 Rick Ricketts (So.)

OLB 32 Hunter Altman (Sr.)

36 Andre Morris Jr. (So.)

ILB 48 Brandon Reeves (Sr.)

43 Justin Moore (Jr.)

ILB 47 Ken Lamendola (So.)

55 Clay Bryant (Jr.)

OLB 37 Will Keuchler (So.)

52 Caleb Konemann (Fr.)

CB 22 Brenton Byrd-Fulbright (Jr.)

5 Anthony Wright (Fr.)

CB 8 Reggie Rembert (So.)

6 Kevin Rivers (Sr.)

SS 34 Chris Thomas (Jr.)

16 Jon Davis (Fr.)

FS 23 Aaron Kirchoff (Sr.)

30 Luke Yeager (Sr.)

Special Teams

PK 13 Ryan Harrison (Sr.)

94 Zack Bell (So.)

P 13 Ryan Harrison (Sr.)

98 Brandon Geyer (Jr.)

DS 50 Scott Howley (Sr.)

40 Ryan Southworth (So.)

H 98 Brandon Geyer (Jr.)

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To Caleb

If you ever get a chance to check out this blog I just wanted you to know how much we all love you.We are praying hard for your success on and off the field.I can't imagine how hard your schedule is right now with all the football and so many academic classes combined with all the military stuff you have to do. We are confident in your ability to handle it but I am sure it is hard at times. We have heard that many people have a bad cough that went around at Jacks Valley and pray you don't have that. The boys each had a game Saturday. They had moved Calvin to defensive end last week during practice but changed him back to middle linebacker.He wants to play linebacker I think mostly so you will be proud of him. Joshua played middle linebacker and running back. He got a few carries and some great tackles.They both lost their games and we had a sad Saturday afternoon around the house due to the losses. Joshua reminds us of you out on the field...very fast and smart about where the ball is.Calvin is a powerhouse.Last week he had a quarterback sack...a recovered fumble and an interception that he ran in for a touchdown.They miss you a lot. Melissa is busy with working and classes begin this week. Lee is back so she is busy trying to spend the little time they have together. He was over last night for small group and stayed to watch some of the Olympics which I am sure you have not had time to watch. grace is about to start dance for the year and it looks like she will be there everyday of the week. Papa has 3 clients now and is hoping to add a few more as God sends them his way. Grandma is recovering well from her surgery last week. Dad starts classes today and I ma teaching at the churches homeschool meeting tomorrow night. So that should catch you up on our current activities. I would have sent the big box of protein bars but someone said you had to pay package pickup so I will bring a couple of boxes full next week when we come to parents weekend. Is their anything else that you need us to bring. I know you don't have regular email yet so maybe you can let us know through face book. Dad has a face book now...I know...hard to believe and kinda funny.
Even though we don't know much about what your days are including and all we do trust that you are doing well and pray for God's continued blessings in your life. You have been given much and the hard part of that is now much is required but we are sure that you can handle it. Please know that even though we are confident we still pray for you many times a day.We know that God will direct your paths exactly where he wants them and we can rest in that.We miss you terribly but our aching hearts are soothed by the knowledge that you are happy.Have fun ...study hard...and work hard on the field.Looking forward to seeing! I love you.
love mom

My mom's Surgery

My mother had surgery yesterday. This was scheduled for the 28th of August but was moved up suddenly. She has had some problems with her right eye being very irritated by an in turning lower lid. The eyelashes were turning directly into her eye making it always painful. The plastic surgeon cut across the lower lid and turned it back out and then took a piece from her lip and sewed it to the inside of her eyelid to prevent the lid from turning back in. They had to do this with just local anesthesia because she is high risk for general due to the Muscular dystrophy. She had to endure multiple shots of local anesthesia in her lower lid as well as her lower lip. The biggest problem she had was she kept feeling the knife and the stitches OOUUUCCCHHH!. She said she never wants to do that again. She is healing fine but will be swollen and bruised for a while. What a trooper! Thanks to those who were praying and please keep praying for a short recovery.
Becky

GREAT NEWS!!!

Caleb called today and the new depth chart came out and was posted in the locker room today showing the #1 and the #2 slots for each position and Caleb is in the #2 slot for the Varsity Falcons team. He let me know that this could change in the next couple of weeks but if he sticks in this #2 slot he will be able to travel to all the away games and have a great chance of playing which is a great accomplishment for a freshman. His friend AJ in the picture below has also made the #2 on the offense. Please continue to pray for their success in the next couple weeks as they approach their first Division 1 football game!
Becky

Acceptance Day is here! No longer a Basic Cadet!

Here is Caleb and his friend AJ Wallerstien a fellow Cadet and football player. They are in full pads for the first time today! Pray for their success! We are so proud of Caleb and all the cadets that made it through basic.
Becky

TO THOSE WE LOVE

As I prepare to preach on the morrow there is a vortex of emotion swirling within. Those emotions range from apathy to sadness to anxious anticipation. The temptation toward apathy comes from fighting for years to proclaim God’s word to only see the labor of my heart vanish like a zephyr of smoke. I know this is not true, but it is how it feels. The sadness comes from realizing that this next sermon will not be delivered in the context of a congregation that I dearly love and from whom I have felt dear love. I so do miss our congregation. I miss it like one that longs for the sacred; a longing to be in the midst of the cloud of His presence enjoying the communion of the saints with their God and experiencing the fellowship of their love. The anxious anticipation comes from a great desire to proclaim the truth of God through His Word. To walk with Jesus again along the shores of the sea, to watch Him speak, to see hearts changed, to be overwhelmed by fear and then to have that fear transformed into shear delight. This is what preaching is for me. It is to know and proclaim the worth of the kingdom, but in an existential way. It is a desire to stand at the threshold of His glory and see the beauty of His presence transported by His Spirit through earthen vessels. The artist paints, the musician plays, the singer expresses their soul through melodies that echo through the hearts of men. So how do I express my heart? I long to roar like the lion, not with empty vibrato, but with soul emptying expressions, to this end, not for the praise of men, but to know and feel the pleasure of the God whom I desire to praise. Maybe these are the musings of a childish heart, but they are the thoughts of one who is a son of the Lion of Judah. I pray that God may use them and me to glorify Himself. Lord help me I pray, will You stand with me on the morrow.

Please pray

The above link is the passage he will be preaching on Sunday

I wanted to ask you all for prayer for Robert this Sunday. He has been asked to preach at a church right here in Taylorsville that is without a pastor. We are not looking for a church right now as he is very focused on finishing school. but we are open to the Lords sovereign leading. Pray for clarity and wisdom. Once again God has provided in mysterious ways. I have had a bad tooth ache and was taking an old prescription for an antibiotic so that I could avoid the high cost of going to the dentist. ..I know not to smart but we are on a very tight budget while he is finishing school. I was supposed to go with a friend to a book sale when the pain was just too bad so I had to call and cancel. Without going into great detail with her about our situation we agreed to try and go next week. Well as the day went on the pain continued to get worse.I had to drag myself out the door to get Robert since our truck was in the shop and he had no way home. Well...on our way home I received a call from the friend from earlier in the day.She said that she and her husband talked to their dentist about me and that if I could get to the dentist by 5:45 then he would see me for no charge! He did not only see me they did xrays and shot me up with Novocain so that I would not feel any pain for many hours. It was such a relief. I know one tooth has to have a root canal but the one that is hurting the most has a spot on the root that they won't be able to tell what it is until the infection is cleared up. If you remember that a couple of years ago I had a tumor in that same exact spot that was removed but the Dr. said it may grow back again.It was benign the last time so that is good but the surgery is very costly. So please pray for that as well. I am just so amazed at how God provided for us yesterday.Please remember to pray for us and we will certainly continue to pray for you..