Dr. Jessica Peck talks about faith and creativity on American Family Radio

>> Dr. Jessica Peck: Hello and welcome to the Dr. Nurse Mama show, prescribing Hope for Healthy Families here on American Family Radio. Here's your host, professor, pediatric nurse practitioner, and mom of four, Dr. Jessica Peck. Well, hey there, friends, and welcome back to my favorite time of day, getting to spend time with you, prescribing Hope for Healthy Families. And we've got such a fun topic for you today. I am really excited to dive into this because today, today we're going to be talking about where faith and creativity meet at the crossroads of calling and craft. And we are going to step into a world where ink and brush become instruments of worship and where artistry becomes a doorway to deeper communion with our creator. Doesn't that sound exciting? We are going to explore the breathtaking work of Jake Weidmann. He is a certified master penman and one of the world's finest artists of sacred creativity. Let me tell you a little bit about Jake, because this is something that is very rare, and you probably don't know someone with this skill set in your social circle, but he is a professional artist. He is certified as one of only nine Master Penmen in the whole entire world. Nine. That is like 09  Only nine. And he was certified through the International association of Master Penman Engrossers and Teachers of Handwriting. He. He holds the title as the youngest master penman by three decades, and he is the youngest ever to even get the title. And a few of Jake's peers who were other masters have done work for the White House, for Queen Elizabeth and even the Pope, which is, of course, something that is all over the news when we're looking at, at that world. But today we're going to look into Jake's world and his journey into calligraphy. And I'm so excited to talk about this, because as we look at a world, we're where content is so driven by AI. And we have people like me who are old souls who are sad about losing the art of penmanship, the art of creating. Even when we have AI creating for us. We're going to talk about that. So he has a new book where you can get beautiful copies of his work. His book is called Old Soul, New Creation. Experiencing God through a Life of Art, Art and faith. Now, this book is more than a coffee table piece. In my, in my opinion, it's an invitation. It's an invitation to slow down and to breathe deeply and to see your creative gift. And I know there's so many creative souls out there, whether you're writing poetry or you're sketching, or you're designing digitally, even as part of God's divine fingerprint on your soul. So we are going to talk about his life built around the pursuit of excellence in art and a deeper walk of God and really the idea that we are created to create.

Jessica: I have so many questions for Jake on this show

So, Jake, I have so many questions to ask you. I'm so glad you're here so that I can ask them. Thanks for joining us.

>> Jake Weidmann: Well, absolutely, Jessica. That is quite, the intro. But it was, wonderful. I think. I, think I'm intrigued just to be a part of this conversation as well. So thank you so much for the wonderful setup and having me on your show.

>> Dr. Jessica Peck: Well, I was telling my daughter about you earlier today. She was asking me about my guest on the show, and she said, didn't you go to calligraphy camp in high school? And I said, yes, actually. Yes, I did. One of my friends had a calligraphy camp where we all went together. In high school. Yes.

>> Jake Weidmann: I was out as a kid. I didn't know that was even a thing.

>> Dr. Jessica Peck: I know. It's like I lived in Houston. Could have been space camp. Could have been any kind of camp. No, I was at calligraphy camp. I've always been an old soul, Jake.

Being a professional artist is nothing I ever imagined I would be doing

But tell us about you. How did. How did this calling come. Come on your life? What is an artist pathway look like? Where did you come from, and how did you get to where you are now?

>> Jake Weidmann: you know, honestly, being a professional artist is nothing I ever imagined I would be doing. And, And I actually addressed that in the opening of my book. You know, it was. It was this thing that was like my constant companion, my first language. but the thing that I took most for granted in life and, you know, even growing up, you know, I. It was. I call it sort of the golden thread upon which all of my passions, were linked together. but, But all the while I sort of. I sort of overlooked it. And, you know, I was like. When I was really young, I wanted to be a cowboy, so I drew pictures of horses obsessively. And then I kind of grew out of that phase and wanted to follow my. Following my father's footsteps as an Air Force pilot. So I drew fleets and fleets of airplanes. And then, that. That fell away. I didn't make it into the academy, but I discovered this love for psychology and the complexities of human relationship and emotion. And so I thought I'd get my degree in psychology with a specialty in art therapy. And, so it was Always, like, it was always on the side, but never, you know, in the forefront. But, eventually, like, you know, I. I graduated from College in, 2008. It was the middle of a. Of a recession. And, you know, I had this shiny new degree from a private school. but the only thing, ironically enough, that I was. I was actually able to, like, make ends meet with was doing art. And so in a lot of ways, I say that it chose me long before I chose it. and, you know, there's. There's an aspect of that that is like a true confession to God to, like, here. You know, it's like you have given me this great talent, but I buried it in the sand, for so long. And so it was just. It was something that. That I kind of denied and put off for so long, but at the same time was like, God was growing in me for years and years, over my development, until finally, it. It blossomed into a career. And that's obviously a very shortened version of that story, but, yeah, here I am.

>> Dr. Jessica Peck: Well, tell us about your path to become a master penman. I confess, Jake, I did not even know that such a thing existed. But when I saw how difficult it must be because there's so few people. What. What does that look like? How did you do that?

>> Jake Weidmann: Yeah, you know, not many people do know about a master penman. But, back during the golden age of penmanship, and yes, there was such a thing as the golden age of penmanship, it was from right about the end of the American Civil War up until about the 1930s. that marked the golden age. And, and so during that time, you could actually go to different business colleges or art colleges and get your degree as a penman. Because every business, every institution needed somebody who could write legibly. someone whether it was keeping the books or doing certificates of merit, you could go to school to learn any of that and become, proficient and prolific as. As a handwriter. But the ones who went above and beyond, the ones who were able to do, you know, with a pen, what nobody else could dream of at the time, were regarded as master Penman by their peers. And so this title sort of stuck. And while it was born during the time of American heritage handwriting, it reaches back into the disciplines of the ancient scribes who used to deal with the manuscripts. And, so it borrows from all of that tradition and kind of brings it forward. And so it's just. There was just this small association that was keeping this Tradition of master penman alive. And, and it was while I was in college, you know, getting my M Degree. And at that point, you know, I'd worked on my art as a side passion, but my handwriting as well. You know, I had sort of this conviction that it's like if I was going to be an artist, I would be an artist in all things. And even if I was writing my notes in class, then they had to be a thing of beauty. And so it was one fateful day, I was in cognitive psychology class and this, this girl leaned over to me and she said, you know, she said that she had just gotten engaged and she was shopping out, you know, wedding calligraphers for wedding invitation. She said, I've looked at like, probably a hundred different calligraphers and nobody's writing is as beautiful as your class notes that I've seen all semester. Would you design my wedding invitation? And I was like, look, you know, I'm working with a ballpoint pen here. Like, I don't, I don't know any traditional method. But, I went, I said, I'll, I'll do some research and see if I can, you know, if I can come up with a, a true form of calligraphy. And and so I went and scoured the Internet and I found this one video of one of the existing master penman who happens to be a dear friend now. his name is John de Colobus, and he was writing with this unbelievable instrument. It's called an oblique pen holder. It's a dip style pen. And when I saw him write, he was in the even more romantic. He was writing with white ink on black paper. So it was just stark and magical. But, he wrote in this super fluid motion and the line would go from super hairline thin to these big bold shades and taper back, just based on the pressure. And so it looked like dancing on paper. And you know, as soon as I, I saw it, I was, I was absolutely in love and just, knew that that was the thing that I wanted to pursue. And master, penman was the thing I wanted to be.

>> Dr. Jessica Peck: Well, Jake, you may be a master penman, but you are also a master storyteller. I am so engrossed and I think about how many stories that started out with, well, this girl came, you know, and just asking that question, and it just empowers me as a girl to think about how, just those little moments of obedience, those little moments of interaction can literally change the course of someone's life. That is really exciting to think about. Well, tell us about this book then. How did you come to write this book and to capture some of this beautiful art that you've created in a collection that we could all enjoy?

>> Jake Weidmann: Yeah, absolutely. The, you know, writing this is of all the different mediums that I do, writing is the newest. And it was such a wonderful experience, super challenging. and I really, you know, when I first dove into this, I was like, I didn't want this to be the Jake show. I didn't want it to be all about me. and so, you know, I, I had great encouragement from my editor. He's like, you know, think about St. Augustine's Confessions here he was, he was basically the, the forefather of every autobiography. And in his confessions he was incredibly vulnerable and he, he framed his whole story all the way through, in all of his failures, foibles and frailty and, and, and you, you get the idea that by all the way through that, you know, he is not the hero of his story. It's not St. Augustine. The hero of his story is actually God. because it was all these times that God came to call him back, to redeem him. And and so that's, that's so much of what my story, reflects because that is, that is true of my own story is that God is the ultimate hero. And and just as I've like, as I dove into my story and looked at all the different ways that I was creating, I realized how much more so God was creating something of me.

>> Dr. Jessica Peck: That is absolutely beautiful. And so it makes me want to ask you, Jake, because I think there are likely a lot of parents listening who have kids who have artistic giftedness from God the way that God has gifted them to create. And especially I think if you are not artistically, Ben yourself. You know, I think about my husband who is really sweet and precious, but is an engineer, Jake. So he's all about the numbers and the graphs. You know, he is not the artistically bent kind. How, and looking at, you know, parents wonder about things like can you make a living out of this? And how do I encourage this? And, and all of those kinds of things. I want to know what you think or what you would encourage parents to encourage their children to seek those artistic talents.

>> Jake Weidmann: Absolutely. Well, you know, and I think part of my life's message is that even if you are, even if you're not artistic, you are still creative. And that same human ingenuity that is alive in Me as an artist might manifest itself completely different in you. so you might not be artistic, but you are absolutely creative. And you were created in the image of God. You bear the, ah, the imago day. and, and so in that you automatically were created to create. And so it, it might look different in, you know, you might not be painting pictures. You might be engineering bridges or skyscrapers. You might be building a business as an entrepreneur or, or forming a family as a mother and a father and deciding disciplines and traditions in your home. that creative spirit is alive and active, active in you whenever you put your hands to those things. so I'll say that,

>> Dr. Jessica Peck: Well, I'm gonna hold you right there. I'm gonna hold you right there because I want to hear the rest of your answer. We're already at our first break, but don't go away. I have a lot more questions for Jake Weidmann We'll let him finish giving that encouragement to parents. And as Jake writes, God is creating in you. How will you join him? And whether you've never picked up a bridge brush or you are creating daily or you don't even know that you're creating, just like Jake shared with us, this message is for you. So stay with us as we are talking about the sacred studio of the soul. We'll see you right on the other side of this break with more from Jake Weidmann

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>> Stronger by Mandisa: Hey Heard you were up all night Think about how your world ain't right and you wonder if things will never get better and you're asking why is it always raining on you when all you want is just a little good news Instead of standing there stuck out in the weather oh, don't hang your head it's gonna end that's right there. Even if it's hard to see him I promise you that he still cares when the waves are taking you under hold on just a little bit longer he knows that this is gonna make you stronger Stronger.

>> Dr. Jessica Peck: Welcome back, friends. That is Stronger by Mandisa. And we are having such a great conversation today. I am so excited to bring to you Jake Weidmann He has a new book called "Old Soul, New Creation: Experiencing God Through a Life of Art and Faith." And I'm looking at this, it is a number one new release book and religious arts and photography. So congratulations on that, Jake. And we've been talking about his journey as an artist, as a master penman, how God has divinely orchestrated his path and to have him where he is.

You were talking to parents on how they can nourish budding artists in their home

And before the break, before we were so rudely interrupted by a break in live radio, Jake, you were talking to parents and encouraging them on how they can nourish maybe young budding artists they have in their home. So I'll let you finish your answer.

>> Jake Weidmann: yeah, I mean, to, to the parents, I, I really have to point back to my own parents. my own parents were incredibly supportive, when it came to my own artistic skill. Even though, you know, it's like my, my mom had beautiful handwriting. And that was something that inspired me early on. So it was, it was easy to connect in that way. But my, my dad, you know, he is, he too is an engineer. He graduated from the Air Force Academy. You know, he was, he was captain of the football team and and it flew C130s and so, you know, he's like, he always talked to, he was like, I was raised in the locker room and, and you know, he's like, and he's, he's, he doesn't have an artistic bone in his body. I mean he, and his handwriting is something of an ongoing joke between us. It would, it would make a chicken blush. so like, we kids always, like, whenever we get a card from our dad, we always kind of laugh and figure out who can decipher dad's handwriting. So obviously, you know, not something that I'm, ah, I'm. That's a bit of an awkward point when it comes to my pedigree before the other master penman. But as, even though he was, he was not artistic himself, he was one of the most creative men I've ever met, but he was also one of the most supportive parents. And so even though he didn't understand art and he would say, jake, I have no idea how you do it, but it's incredible, you know, the work that you're doing. And he was actually, when I was 12 years old, he was the first one to ever commission a work of art from me. And so there was like this, this painting, that was done by, I think it was Disiani. And it was this picture of this angel standing, this guardian angel standing over this boy's bed while he's asleep. And so hung next to my brother's in my room. And he's like, well, I want one for the girls room because we have two younger sisters. And he's like, jake, I want you to recreate that painting. Just do it in pencil. That was like my one medium at the time. And he's like, I want you to do it with two girls in the bed. And then he said, I'll pay you a hundred dollars to do it.

>> Dr. Jessica Peck: Wow.

>> Jake Weidmann: To me, you know, to a 12 year old kid, I was like, you know, I thought I was rich. And and so I, you know, I did my absolute best. And it was just, it meant the world to me that my dad like saw that in me and, and would not only allow me to do my gift, but he would actually commission my gift and be the first one to do so. And so that was, that was massive. So I, I would say, you know, there's there is something in your kid that is wanting to get out. Whenever we create, it is. It's a bid for connection. You know, we are trying to find the things that we find good and true and beautiful and articulate them, if not with our lips, then with our fingers. and so I would definitely suggest to parents, you know, lean into that, you'll get to know your kid in such a special way, and, you can awaken something in them that is absolutely, powerful, but also leads them back to. To their creator, as it has for me. Because this is, you know, art for me is not just a pastime, it's not just a vocation. It is a calling. And it is my first language of worship before God.

>> Dr. Jessica Peck: Jake, I am so moved by that story of your dad commissioning your first art piece. What a beautiful point. And now here you are, so many years later, looking back at that and saying, that was a pivotal point, point in your journey. And with your dad putting so much money behind it, I mean, what a vote of confidence, saying, I don't understand it, but I believe in it. I see your talent. I see the ways that God has gifted you to create. And I just. It actually brings tears to my eyes thinking about the power that parents have in being able to nurture the gifts that God has given their children, even when they're not gifted in that way. That was. I'm so grateful for you sharing that. That's really amazing. And I'm sure your dad takes a lot of pleas. Pleasure in the fact that you are so successful now, and he can have the honor of having that first commissioned piece, and you still have a long career to go. Who knows? That could be worth a lot of money someday. And he could be saying, see, I know, I know that investment.

>> Jake Weidmann: I mean, they do still have it hanging up in the house, up in the. Up in their, like, hallway upstairs. So, yeah, it's. It's still there. And he just. And they're still that way. You know, it's like no one. No one can gush over my artwork. even as I am a grown man and in the throes of my career, like my parents can. They just. They're such encouragement to me.

Jake Weidmann's artwork is absolutely breathtaking

>> Dr. Jessica Peck: Well, speaking of gushing over your artwork, really looking at some of these pictures that you've done, Jake, they're truly amazing. And there was one in particular. You. It looks like you've titled it the Suffering Servant in a Single Stroke. And it's a picture of Jesus with a crown of thorns. And it is such an intricately drawn. And I'm probably going to use the wrong words, so please feel free to correct me, but I'm looking at it. This is a black and white portrait. And did you draw this whole thing without picking up your pen? Is that what that means?

>> Jake Weidmann: well, I did have to pick up my pen. That is a Question. But it is done in one continuous line. And so it's a spiral that starts in the center of his nose, and it contours the face of Christ almost like a topographical map. Simultaneously, the line gets thicker and thinner to create shadow and highlight using the pressure of the dip pen. and then in the end, it evens back out to a perfect oval. And so, it is one continuous line. I had to pick up my pen. In some ways, it'd be easier if I didn't because the dip pen will only hold so much ink at the time. At the time. So you have to, like, dip it, refresh the pen and then meet the line right back where you left off and continue in this spiral motion while contouring the face. And, it's is a very difficult process. It's like humming three songs at once because you're. You're having to think about moving in a spiral, creating shadow and highlight like you typically would, but in this rotational fashion. And so, yeah, it's definitely been, a seminal piece in my career that, that marked, you know, my trajectory towards master penman.

>> Dr. Jessica Peck: Well, it is absolutely beautiful as I'm looking at it. I can see that now. Just one spiral motion. It is absolutely breathtaking. I really encourage you to get a copy of the book or to go to Jake's website and you can look at some of his work. It's jake weidmann . com. That's weidmann.com. dot com. Look it up. Because you are missing out if you don't see this beautiful creation that he's made. And, you know, Jake, this leads me to think about the way that AI is driving our world and how much content creation is driven by AI, how much automation we have, and really the decreased appreciation for arts like this, for things that people are creating with their own minds, with their own hands, some of that craftsmanship. You know, I think about it when I visit, I live close to Galveston, Texas, and when we go down and visit houses that are over 100 years old, they always say they don't make them like they used to, because there was such an appreciation and admiration at that point in culture, like you were talking about with the golden age of penmanship for craftsmanship. And, you know, that has decreased a little bit in culture. But how do you see that now? Even though we know that there's, AI is driving content creation? How do you still see the value and what God has called us to create? Where's the push pull in that for you?

>> Jake Weidmann: well, that. That is a good question. And, and another one that I get quite often. I think the. I think the age that we are living in with artificial intelligence really coming on board fast and furious, I'm actually quite hopeful that it's going to stir some deep conversation as to what we value in art. because I don't think it is just about the end product. I don't think it is just about generating some sort of image that might look pretty and dynamic. And if you ask my opinion, you know, if you want to see an example of art created by a soulless being, that is AI Art. You know, it's just. There's always something about it that falls flat. And But I. The conversation that I hope it stirs is, is what we value in art. And what I believe that. That we do value is that it points back to the existence of an actual artist. Just as J.R.R. tolkien said, the reason that we love an, a narrative is because it points back to the existence of a narrator. And there is. There is connection and value in that. And so in the same way, like, I think there's going to be almost this inflationary effect to AI Art, meaning that AI art will be so easily generated it can spit out an image in a matter of seconds. But what we're actually looking for is the investment of time from a human soul. And it's like that's what we really. We really value. And so I think it's actually going to cause an increase in the value of analog art because there is something that is true about it. You know, there is something that is real about it. There is something that is authentic. And I just believe in, I believe in the animating spirit of the imago day within us, the spirit of God within us to create, that it doesn't matter if, if we can have machines that, that can do it for us and do it faster, there's still going to be this. This utter compulsion to create within us. And I think that that is why it is. It's all the more important to lean into that. and. And to that I would say, like, there are many, lost and dying art forms that are actually seeing a renaissance in our digital age. And part of that is due to the fact that we, we are in, in such a larger world network where it's like, I get to see what, what another artist is creating on the other side of the world in a matter of seconds. or just like my own story, I wouldn't have discovered that this lost art form had it not been for YouTube. And so it's like credit where credit is due. You know, it's like this digital platform has inspired me to go even more analog. And, and I think that there is, there is that draw. And I feel it even in my. In my, own creation. Like, all of the language models were coming on, on board right at the time when I was, contracted to write my book. And so I was like, you know what? Just to prove that every word is mine, that every word has come from me and not generated through some language model, I'm actually going to write the first manuscript, of my book using a dip pen and Spencerian script. And, you know, my, my publishers were not really excited about that. But, you know, it's like, to this day, you know, and it's beautifully typeset now and has to go through all of its changes and make it legible for. To the modern eye. But, it's so wonderful that in my drawer I have this stack of pages and I can point back and say, every word of that was mine and it was placed in my heart before it was ever put on the page. And, and I. And that is testament to the work that God is doing in me. so much more than me training some artificial intelligence, God has trained me, him being the ultimate intelligence, into something that is, that is true, authentic and a new creation.

>> Dr. Jessica Peck: M. That is so inspiring. And I'm sure that's a precious keepsake for you now to have that, that your, words that came from your own hand. And when we think about artificial intelligence, Jake, that first word is artificial. And I think that's something that we really have to think about because people have asked me, you know, if I generate a prayer on AI, is it really a prayer? And I think, you know, the real question is, is that an act of worship? And you said something earlier. I wrote down, you said that creating art is an investment of time from a human soul. And I see that as an act of worship. Jake, as you are reflecting back God the creator and what you are creating, how do you see God and what you create?

>> Jake Weidmann: Oh, gosh. I, mean, I guess. How long is your radio show?

>> Dr. Jessica Peck: This is apparently not long enough.

>> Jake Weidmann: Truly. I mean, he shows up in some of the most miraculous ways. you know, it's like there is like this constant presence that I feel from God whenever I am creating with him. Just as like, you know, People talk about it in general, of getting into that, that state of flow, where it's like hours melt away into minutes. But, for me, it's heightened by the fact that I acknowledge the presence of God when I am creating and I feel his pleasure, when I am creating. And that is such a powerful thing. but there are so many stories where he has shown up in miraculous ways.

>> Dr. Jessica Peck: Well, I want to hear one of these stories. We're already at our second break. Can you believe it? This is going by way too fast because I have too many questions. I want to hear a miraculous story of how you saw God in the art that you created. And I also want to talk to you about your classical hymns series. As I am a self professed old soul, I've already made that confession. I absolutely love hymns. There's something sacred about sharing something with centuries of faith, speaking words that have been spoken by saints that have gone before us. So I want to talk about that. We'll be right back with more from Jake Weidmann, author of "Old Soul, New Creation: Experiencing God Through a Life of Art and Faith" Here's Dr. John Oswalt from the American Family Studios documentary The God who Speaks.

One of the remarkable things about the God of the Bible is that he is a God who speaks. The writers of the Bible again and again talk of him as the living God. And when they do, they include. This idea that the idols are dumb, they cannot speak language is an incredible mystery. Really. What is it that makes human beings able to communicate in word? Personally, I think that is the image of God in us because God speaks. Right at the beginning of the Bible, God spoke the world into existence. It did not somehow evolve from his body. It was something that he spoke,

Visit thegodwhospeaks.org.

>> This is my Father's World by The Worship Initiative/Davy Flowers: This is my father's world and to my listening ears all nature sings and round me rings the music of the spheres this is my father's world I rest me in the fire of rocks and trees of skies and seas is in the wonders rise.

>> Dr. Jessica Peck: Welcome back, friends. That song is this Is My Father's World by the Worship Initiative featuring Davy Flowers. And we are talking about the world our, father God created and the ways that artists. Jake Weidmann sees that beauty in the world that God created and the ways that he is creating beauty through the ways God has gifted him. And he invites you through his new book, "Old Soul, New Creation: Experiencing God Through a Life of Art and Faith" to renew your soul through the beauty of art and creativity. He is certified as One of nine master penman in the world. And he gives you a really beautiful invitation to immerse yourself in the centuries old tradition of communic of communing with God through creative work in this incredible art driven book. I think it's m. Way more than a coffee table book. This is like a devotional. Jake, it's so good. And you were just about to tell us one of the miraculous ways you've seen God show up in the art that you've created. So I can't wait to hear what you're going to share.

>> Jake Weidmann: Yeah, you know, this story is actually I, I talk about this in my book and it's and as you mentioned, it's part of the hymn series. I was working on the Old Rugged Cross and I was commissioned to do this great old hymn and I wanted to do something that was going to be really, really special for it because George, Bernard, the one who wrote the hymn in the first place, you know, really wanted people to get this idea that Christ and his cross are seen as one, that the two are blended together. And so I was like, how do I represent that artistically? You know? and so I actually, I thought about doing the hymn on traditional calfskin vellum with gold leaf and all of the different calligraphic, treatments for the words of the hymn. But I wanted to set it into basically a full size cross, and bring all of my wood carving skills to bear. And so it would be framed within this cross. But I wanted, you know, it's, this cross is the Old Rugged Cross. I, it needed to have age, it needed to show that it had been through great, great weather. And so I looked and looked for salvaged wood for, you know, a couple months trying to source the right pieces. And what I was looking for specifically was black walnut, because I wanted it to contrast with the vine work that I was going to be carving out of basswood, which is creamy and light and buttery. So there'd be this beautiful contrast between the lightness and smoothness of the vine work and then the dark, rough agedness of the cross. and so it was actually Good Friday and I woke up that morning and I was so frustrated I hadn't found the wood that I was looking for. And so I prayed and I wrote it it down in my journal and I was like, lord, I pray that you would just lead me to the right wood today and, and you would provide. I've, I've exhausted all the different, like my regular avenues for lumber. But, I call upon you, Lord, to just provide. And I actually wrote it down, you know, and I thought that was kind of a bold thing to do. And so there was one salvage yard that I hadn't gone to, and so it was way out east in. In Colorado. So I took this long drive by myself in my truck, and. And I show up to this lumberyard, and there is, like, just bay after bay filled with hickory and pine and oak and all these different kinds of wood, but I couldn't find any walnut. And so I finally met the guy there. His name is Mike. And he. He mans the yard, and I was like, do you happen to have any black walnut? And, he says, I think I have a couple of pieces. And so we went to this last bay that was mostly empty. It just looked like scrap wood. And here he pulls out this huge beam of black walnut. And it had beautiful age. And it was. It was actually salvaged. He keeps records from all of his salvaged woods. This piece was salvaged from, an Amish barn from the 1840s. And given its length, in order to yield that kind of a beam, you can. I actually did the math on it. It would have been basically a seedling at the time of the Reformation. And so it just had beautiful age to it. It was just weather worn and tattered. And I was like, I need one more piece. And. And I couldn't find. We're looking all around. We circled the yard. We came back to the very same bay, and it was just leaned up in the corner and just covered in dust. And we dusted it away, and sure enough, there was like, essentially the matching piece. And so I bent down and I picked up this huge, splintery, rugged beam and put it on my shoulder. And with my cheek pressed to. It's like it's pitted and dark surface. Carrying it to my truck, it just. It all hit me, like I kind of forgot what day it was that here on Good Friday, that I had taken up my own cross. And I put it on and I put it in the back of my truck. And I turn around, I have, like, tears in my eyes. And Mike, was still standing there, and he's like. He's like, oh, Jake, did you. You pull a muscle or anything? You okay? Like, and I. I told him no. And. And I, I said, it's just what this. This wood is for. And I. I pulled up, the concept sketch. I, had a picture of it on my phone, and I showed it to him, and, and he ended up being this like incredible, like deep believer. And so he starts crying, I start crying. We're two burly guys in the middle of a lumberyard just crying at the miracle that God had done. And so, so we create like, so I created the whole piece set into that, into that cross. And what's beautiful is it's not only chronicled in the book, but we also created a whole video around it. You can find it on YouTube, just the Old Rugged Cross, and attached to my name and there's this beautiful rendition that plays behind it. And you get to see me actually carving the cross and writing the hymn and placing it inside and seeing the whole thing come together. And you know, it was just, it was such a miraculous thing that it's like no one will ever believe me. But it's a story that has to be written down. And it was really cool that the day of my book released I actually got a text from Mike. We had exchanged numbers and it was the first time I heard from him. And he said, jake, I love to know that our story made it in your book because he says, I've told that story so many times and very few people believe me. So I was just, you know, I was a mess again just at the work of God. And and the ways that he does provide exactly what we need with God.

>> Dr. Jessica Peck: There is no such thing as coincidence. And that is the thing that I have learned about God in my own faith journey, Jake, is that he is so kind and so loving to orchestrate circumstances so small that would seem so meaningless, but they are meaningful. When I am convinced that when we put forth our meager acts of obedience, when we put forth our faith that's the size of a mustard seed, God blesses that, exceedingly, abundantly, more than we could ever ask or imagine. And I feel like in today's world where we have AI, we have instant gratification, we're just moving at the speed of a smartphone and we drown those things out. We're not paying attention and we're not listening for them. We're not look, asking God for something and then expecting and trusting God to provide and seeing all of those miracles and that are around us, that are passing us, that we're just completely missing. And that's one of the things I had actually written down from what you said you do in your ministry. You have slow art in a fast paced world. And I think that is something the world needs such a big dose of. We need that. We are not designed to be running at the point of exhaustion. And so I love that you're doing that through so many, points of your art. But before we run out of time, I want to make sure I ask you about the hymn project. This whole story came from your hymn project and working and doing something for the old rugged cross. Tell us more about that, because let me tell you, I love hymns. I can't wait to share this with everybody, what you're doing.

>> Jake Weidmann: Absolutely, yeah. I mean, I have such a. I have such a deep love for hymns. And, And so, you know, following in the tradition of ancient scribes who used to deal with the word of God, and that was like their whole profession was to be a scribe and, to bring the light of truth onto the page and illuminate it and hold that light there with gold leaf and lapis lazuli. You know, I wanted to do the same thing with hymns and bring this light of God's truth, in the form of song, to the written page.

>> Dr. Jessica Peck: That is absolutely beautiful. What is your favorite hymn, Jake?

>> Jake Weidmann: Oh, I. I mean, can you even pick one?

>> Dr. Jessica Peck: It's like trying to pick a favorite child.

>> Jake Weidmann: Oh, it's so. It's so hard to choose. I mean, I would say, like, be thou. My vision was an incredible one that I got to do. And it was, And I actually said it. It's. It's one of the oldest hymns in existence. And, it comes from Ireland. And so I actually wrote that hymn as strings of a Celtic harp. And, and then that the harp itself is adorned in these, like, these beautiful little icons that come from the Book of Kells, which are actually rooted, in the Book of Ezekiel and in Ezekiel's like, vision of God. And, they're used as sort of a motif over Scripture to represent the four Gospels. And so it's just woven with so much deep symbolism and tradition. but all, you know, presented in this way that really exemplifies that. That Irish spirit, and the hymn itself, I mean, it has this incredible backstory that very few people know. Even though it is one of the oldest hymns, it was written by a man named Dallin Forgale, who is believed to be like, sort of a convert of. Of St. Patrick. and so, and near the end of his life, Dallin Forgale had such a love for Scripture, and it was believed that he. He used to read it obsessively, even in low light, that by the end of his life, he was going blind. And so here he writes this. This incredible hymn that's been serving the body of Christ for generations. Be Thou My Vision. And that's. That's incredible coming from a man who is losing his own sight. And, so that just drew me into this deep, like, worshipful experience all my own. You know, it's. It's one thing to sing it in, you know, in the pew of a church, but. But talk about slow art. You know, I took months working on this piece and layering the oil paints and writing the calligraphy, as. As just a testament to what God has done through one faithful person who heard the word of God and wrote it down for the rest of us to partake in.

>> Dr. Jessica Peck: It is so amazing because when you think about some of those stories of the hymns that were written, they come from such a place of tragedy, often a pain of hardship, of things that are difficult. But God. But their faith is unshaken. You know, you think about Horatio Spafford writing, It is well with My Soul, even though he had lost his business in the Chicago fire and his daughters had drowned on a boat trip. And you think about Fanny Crosby writing things, even though she was blinded as an infant. And actually, my favorite hymn is the Love of God. I love that song. I love the words with that. And according to the stories that the man who wrote that, his name is Frederick, Lehman. And he. He had written the first two verses. This is according to the best historical account that I could find. But he and his daughter were traveling, and they were. They were trying to write a third verse because that hymn had really resonated. And they went to, actually, a German insane asylum. It had been an insane asylum, at that. At the time when those were there. And one of the prisoners had penciled the words of that on the wall. And when they put it to music, it was exactly the cadence that they needed. And so they took those words off the wall and thinking, could we.

>> Jake Weidmann: With gosh.

>> Dr. Jessica Peck: I know. Isn't that amazing? Could we. I know. It says they were amazed. The words etched onto the wall match the rhythm of the new hymn. And they published this. Could we. With ink the ocean fill and were the skies of parchment made Were every stalk on earth a quill and every man ascribed by trade to write the love of God above Would drain the ocean dry Nor could the scroll contain the whole though stretched from sky to sky. And it just. Oh, yeah, I got goosebumps just now.

>> Jake Weidmann: So do I. I'm like, okay, that. I gotta add that one to my list. Absolutely. Especially the talk scroll and the quill.

>> Dr. Jessica Peck: That's right. That's exactly what I was just thinking, Jake. And, and just the beautiful work that you've created that can just be a little glimmer reflection of the love of God. We'll tell our listeners where they can find you, where they can get the book, where they can connect more with your podcast and the rest of your ministry.

>> Jake Weidmann: Yeah, absolutely. I mean, you can always go to jake widemann.com Weidmann is always, hard, to spell, but it's Weidmann So jakeweidmann.com and on there you can peruse, through my online gallery and see all works that I've done. You can purchase the book. We just, started. We just released signed copies of my book, this week. And so, I've been busy signing those away and and then you can also follow up with us on different social media platforms and, see the current projects that I'm working on, one of which is my massive, carving of a family crest.

>> Dr. Jessica Peck: So I cannot wait to see that. I can't wait to see it, Jake. I cannot wait to see it.

Get Jake's book for Mother's Day or Father's Day

Thank you so much for joining us. Listen, may the Lord bless you and keep you and make his face shine upon you and get a copy of Jake's book for it. Be a great Mother's Day or, Father's Day gift or just to put on your own coffee table. I'll see you right back here tomorrow. Jeff Chamblee: The views and opinions expressed in this broadcast may not necessarily reflect those of the American Family association or American Family Radio.

Master Penman Jake Weidmann talks with Jessica about his journey as an artist, God's goodness, and his book "Old Soul, New Creation: Experiencing God Through a Life of Art and Faith"

Rx for Hope: Experience God Through a Life of Art and Faith

https://www.jakeweidmann.com/