“Vision without action is merely a dream. Action without vision just passes the time. Vision with action can change the world. ”

Back in March, Jocelyn Edlin and myself banded together and began working on a piece on foster adoption for Christian Family Adoptions of Oregon and Washington. We were really excited about the piece. We knew it could make a tangible difference for the lives of children in our own communities - if we could build a piece that inspired adults to open their hearts and "Risk Love".

We had no idea when we began this journey that it would take us 6 months to complete.

Now, "Risk Love" is a piece that we hope inspires and challenges everyone who views it. Whether you can adopt or whether you are a philanthropic artist, the message is the same. It's hard to "Risk Love" but it is a.l.w.a.y.s. worth it.

Special thanks to everyone who was involved in this piece, and who supported it. The Edlin family, Camilla, Jocelyn, Aaron Dodson, Christian Family Adoptions, and especially Joannie Shrader.

May we all continually "Risk Love" just as Jesus has done for us.

Watch "Risk Love" NOW on Youtube.

Hello everyone! It's summer and what happens in summer? Breaks! Rest! We think everyone needs a little solstace now and then. Just wanted to let you know that the writers here at RevMedia are taking the week off!

After the successful completion of our adoption piece 'Risk Love', we'll be working on a premier for September; brainstorming ideas are taking place for the release of Dear World; and several members are either on vacation or on the middle of 'move week'.

That said, RevMedia will be taking a week off. But don't worry. We promise to keep building toward a weekly broadcast schedule to start in September. And until then, stay tuned for updates and articles on artistic philanthropy!

Blessings to you this week in your journeying!

Artistic World Changers.

These are the ones who understand that every life has the potential to change the world. That every person on earth affects someone, who in turn affects someone else. They realize that our lives are like the sparks of a chain reaction whose existence is certain but it's affects are not always so.

The question Artistic World Changers seek to answer is not if we are capable of changing the world but rather to what degree we take the opportunity to change the world.

Visual artists have the gift of sight. This is a gift that must be harnessed, a gift that must be directed and developed, and a gift that ought to be capitalized upon. The gift of sight is one that revolutionizes the life of it's holder, but more so than even this. With the gift of sight, Artist World Changers have power in the multiplier affect: Others are drastically affected as their sight is opened and they can never see the same way they did before.

Artistic World Changers know that their identity is the core center for their impact. Their sight spiritually and physically affects their perspectives; their perspectives affect their spiritual and physical sight.

These individuals dare say that those who believe in the Heroic Rescue of humanity by Jesus Christ are those who have the power and obligation to Change the World in the most dynamic way possible. By His death, burial, and resurrection, we are given the gift of new life, and with it, a new way of seeing, of existing, and of affecting.

Artistic World Changers are those who hold this truth to be self evident. And it is the passion which fuels the creation of their art.

Artistic World Changers must not be perfect. But they must be committed to the Rescue of Humanity. They must relentlessly pursue truth. They must passionately hold fast to a better way. They must never give in to apathy. These attributes color all they are, all they see, and all they do.

As such, Artistic World Changers must band together and take part in a revolution. This revolution is not for the glorifying of their own art, nor the guilt provoking that rages rampant within visual communication today. This revolution is one that will harness the multimedia tools of our day and combine them with social media networking to produce a dynamic and lasting social change.

We are Philanthropic Artists.

And we change the world.

Sometimes, the "real world" makes it very clear that you can't rely on ideals. When everything you are hoping for doesn't work out; when you are forced to constantly re-evaluate your direction, your goals, your plans. In those times, you feel a dynamic tension between what you want, and what you think will really come about.

Hope is a funny thing. Delicate. Fragile. Powerful. Igniting. I once read from Brennan Mannings book "Ruthless Trust" that hope is the marriage of faith and trust. Faith that believes not everything is as its seen. Trust that God will indeed work out all things for our good. Hope comes about as we practically live these beliefs.

And hope is the most powerful force of endurance known to mankind.

Jocelyn and I have been working together on the project "Risk Love" - a multimedia piece promoting Adoption from the Foster System. Originally, we "hoped" to complete the piece in 6 weeks. We worked tirelessly with multiple meetings, shoots with children, and long phone brainstorm sessions. While extreemly busy personally, the piece was a priority.

But sometimes, you can do everything possible to complete something, and find that there are many factors outside your control.

The piece came to a halt. We waited for photos and contacts. Health issues and communications. Two months passed without the means or opportunity of finishing.

During this time, we never believed the piece wouldn't be finished. In fact, the opposite was true.

We knew we had to finish it.

In the US, there are 114,000 children who are ready for adoption. Any child who spends a single night in Foster Care is labeled "special needs". This definition is not what we automatically may think. The "special need" of these kids is complex, but the bottom line is this:

They need a mommy and daddy.

The kids in Foster Care understand the conflict of hope. They hope that someone will choose them. Love them. Want them. They live every day with the hope that "this will be the day". The live every day with this hope disappointed.

Hope is resilient because it rests on the belief that what is to come will be better.

RevMedia wants to help these kids.

For we believe in hope.

“The most important key to achieving great success is to decide upon your goal and launch, get started, take action, move." —Brian Tracy

Revolutionary Media is in process of revamping. We appreciate all the support you have given us throughout the last year and a half. It's time we return the favor.

Our question of the week for you: How can Revolutionary Media best give support in y.o.u.r. personal artistic philanthropy?

Answer by commenting, or send us an email.

Please. Let us help you. We really do care.

"So just a quick blog post before I leave. With 17 cameras (2 of them my professional SLR’s), a laptop, two mics, two hard drives, and two 50lb. bags (exactly) I am packed. I leave in for the airport in under 5 hours, and am ready for some sleep. I shot a wedding all this morning and this afternoon and have backed up those images. What a day and what a three weeks. It was three weeks ago Sunday, that I decided to step forward in going on this trip, and it has been one of the wildest rides I have ever been on. I am so excited about this trip and all that God has promised to do. " - Joshua Seale, on July 26th, 2009

On June 30th, 2009 I had the honor of meeting photographer Joshua Seale at Dane Sanders Fast Track Workshop in Portland Oregon. By the end of the day, it became obvious that this man was a fellow Philanthropic Artist - and a really awesome one at that. The more I was able to chat with Joshua, the more I discovered that sometimes, you find the most kindred of spirits in the most unusual places.

Like many fellow artists, Joshua first endeavored to live a life that counts. Graduating from Biola with a major in Theology with an emphasis in Missions, he ran the Student Missions Department during his Junior and Senior year. During that time he also was involved with short term missions to 22 countries around the world. He loved missions, but it seemed that there was something missing from his work.

Fast forward 4 years and you would see Joshua working actively in his church, saving on the salary of a Peets Coffee barista, and diving whole heartedly into the world of photography. On Sunday, July 26th, Joshua left the US for a trip to the war torn African country of Congo for 6 weeks. His mission: working with a local NGO and holding a photography workshop for Congolese children.

Joshua's goal is to come away with images from the Congolese children as a visual narrative of their lives. Coupled with imagery he will shoot of the children and their families, Joshua hopes to pull together a book that will raise support for the NGO.

Oftentimes it's easy to think that the seeming glamorous work of a Philanthropic Artist "just happens." Joshua would tell you different. For four years after graduating, God took him on a journey that seemed to be wrought with disappointment. He was not living the life he dreamed of, the life he knew he was capable of. But it was during those times that God stripped Joshua from who he thought he was, to the person God wanted him to be.

Now, that person looks like a Philanthropic Artist. A photographer who loves photographing weddings just as much as he loves visual storytelling for a cause.

Even still, the path is a challenging one. Exactly 3 weeks from the day he stepped on the plane bound for Africa, Joshua made the decision to go. He spent 3 weeks raising funds, writing about the upcoming trip, picking up donated digital cameras, and thinking through everything involved with a Philanthropic Art trip.

On his departure date, he missed his connection to London due to a previously delayed flight. He had to book a hotel, and work with a hesitant airline to re-issue another ticket to Kenya. In the middle of all this, I asked Joshua how he was doing. His response: "I am totally exhausted, but feel God's presence, and can rest."

Pray for Joshua. That God will grant him strength, and grace; inspiration and joy. If you want to hear about his adventures, be sure to check out his blog, or find him on twitter.

Every World Changing Philanthropic Artist living out this call of God on their life will face a difficult and challenging path. But in the end, we realize that God's purpose is not the art, and it is not the philanthropy. It is for our development and our relationship with Him. And the best road for those purposes, is the one in which all glory goes to Him.

Every World Changing Philanthropic Artist living out this call of God on their life will face this.

"I feel in such a deep way that I am journeying with God. I feel as though the Father has orchestrated every aspect of this trip and I am excited to see what he is going to do. It is really a mystery to me, but I am excited to walk and experience this adventure with him. "