His Word In Wood

14-Dec-2018  Bible-Study Almost Complete

Amid the rush to get carvings made and shipped in time for Christmas, I have just finished the recording of Chapter 12 of our book, Understanding the Foundations which discusses God's Calender - The Fall Feasts.  This chapter is unique because it deals with prophecy.  The book is complete in PDF format and if you purchase the audio series, I will send you an email as the recordings of the final three chapters are available.

Click Here for more information and to purchase either the illustrated book in PDF format alone or in combination with the MP3 audio book.  Click Here for a free download of the first chapter in both PDF and MP3 formats so you can preview it.

12-Dec-2018  Micro-Menorah

A few days ago, the Father stirred me up to make this miniature version of our large Yeshua Menorah as a gift of encouragement for a friend.  I have never described my carvings as "cute" or "adorable" but this little dude totally fits that description!  Just like the full sized version, it is made from a single piece of white oak.  Yes... those are birthday cake candles!

03-Jan-2017  Work Progressing Rapidly

Work is progressing rapidly on our shop expansion.  The foundation has been laid, walls erected and we are under roof.  Sheetrocking will be starting as soon as we are fully "dried-in".  To save money on the project I am doing all the electrical work.  As an added benefit, I can get everything just the way I want it.  The shop has some really nice and innovative features such as dust collection headers and electrical lines running through the slab.  I will create an open house video when it is all done but... for now... it is utter chaos inside with everything having to be moved around to make room for new doors and windows.

01-Nov-2016  Breaking Ground

We reached an important milestone today as we broke ground to expand our shop!  The expansion doubles the size of the shop and I'll love having more room to work.  However, the really exciting part is that it will allow us to begin teaching woodworking as well.

The "remodeling" actually began three years ago when the Holy Spirit began preparing our hearts for this shift.  It is clear that He has a much bigger plan than I have ever imagined but He only reveals small parts of it at the right time.  

At first, I only saw this as a business expansion by helping people get started in woodworking with paid lessons.  That will still be part of it but the primary focus will be teaching the art of woodworking (along with the art of living) to kids who don't have a father in their lives.  While I am teaching them about tools and wood, the Holy Spirit will be teaching them about the Father who will never leave them nor forsake them.



24-Mar-2016  Expanded Product Line

This spring I am expanding our product line with projects turned on a lathe.  This little 7" mahogany and maple bowl was my prototype of a carving combined with a turning.  I still have a lot to learn but, as you can see, it will be worth the effort.  The Hebrew word in the bowl is "grace" or "favor"... something I dearly treasure!  The letters were cut into the maple and then filled with clear epoxy and emerald green glitter.

01-Dec-2015  New "Best Price" Option

Our website is not very sophisticated so it cannot add tax when needed, calculate shipping costs based on your location, or offer discounts for multiple items.  Setting up a website like that is costly and time consuming to maintain. Therefore, we are introducing a much cleaner system using PayPal Invoicing. 

To get the best possible price, click on the "Best Price" link at the bottom of each item's description.  That will take you to a form which will email your order to me.  I will calculate the best price and send you an invoice from PayPal via email.  You can then complete the transaction by clicking the "Buy Now" button in the email paying by PayPal or credit card.   



30-Oct-2015  Irish Inspiration


Carol and I just returned from a trip in southwest Ireland.  The scenery was spectacular but the most inspirational part of the trip were three people we met. Each were crafts people who truly loved their trade. There was Anna from Blackwater Turners who not only showed us her extraordinary wood turnings but also shared her struggles to continue their business after her husband passed away a year ago. Garry from Goose Island Workshop showed me how he made the most incredible bent laminations for constructing Windsor chairs. 

But inspiration comes in unexpected ways too. We stumbled across "The Sewing Shed" and had a wonderful time talking about quilting with Sarah. Yes, Carol bought a lot of great materials to work on when she got home but even I was really excited about the little "Cead mile Failte" quilted wall hanging. In Irish that means "A Hundred Thousand Welcomes!" Can you imagine that design made in wood?!  

Truly, it is the warm and enthusiastic people like Anna, Garry and Sarah who make any place special.

03-Sep-2015  Relief Carving Class

This weekend, I am privileged to be taking a course in traditional relief carving at the Heritage School of Woodworking near Waco, TX.  I am looking forward to adding new styles and products as my skills in these techniques increase.

The school is operated by a wonderful community that lives and teaches traditional crafts.  Their excellent classes include bee-keeping, blacksmithing, cheese making, carving, pottery, fibercrafts, furniture making and much more.  Check out their website at www.sustainlife.org!



01-Apr-2015  New Reflections Video

I have created a new video that doesn't have any explanations at all.  Simply quick video clips showing a project from start to finish set to beautiful, relaxing music.  Enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nelRLuebdVU

09-Mar-2015  West Side Christian School Auction

West Side Christian School in El Dorado, Arkansas was having a fundraising auction so we decided to provide a few carvings.  We didn't know "what the fish might bite on" so we provided a wide variety.  Turns out the fish were really hungry and almost every carving sold!  

 

08-Feb-2015  More Fixed Price Items

I am moving many of our "Made to Order" carvings to PayPal pages where you can order them at a fixed price rather than the normal $15/hour plus materials pricing.  The price is based on the amount of time it took to make the last one.

29-Dec-2014  Reorganizing the Website

Yep... I'm going to move just about everything around somewhere.  What a task!  But hopefully it will make it easier for folks to find what they are looking for.

03-Sep-2014  Emergency Relief in Pakistan

Being a follower of Jesus Christ is never easy in an Islamic country and many Christians live almost as slaves. But things get really bad when disasters such as floods come.  We were able to provide emergency food for seven families in Pakistan through Kashif Masih who is a native evangelist.  Of course, we cannot even begin to meet the massive need there but when we add our dollars to our faith, our Lord will make up the difference. Please take a look Kashif's Facebook page to see the work that he and his family are doing in Pakistan.

14-Aug-2014  Pssst... Wanna see my goat?

I had a little fun this evening. During a business dinner, I said to an associate, "Hey... wanna see my goat?" I pulled out my phone and showed him this little fellow that was bought by Bright Star Ministries in Kenya with money from my wood carvings. He was really tickled and, after hearing about the ministry, now he wants to have a goat in Kenya too!  I never dreamed that I would have goats, chickens and mango trees but I couldn't be happier!

05-Jun-2014  Widows and Orphans

When you read the Old Testament, you'll see that one of the things closest to the heart of God is caring for those who can't care for themselves.  High on God's list are widows and orphans.  I just got a bunch of photos back from Kenya showing some of the food that people received from the sale of one of our carvings.  It was really overwhelming.  Some day I'll be able to go there in person but, for now, I have the joy of knowing that I can participate a little in sharing God's love for these beautiful people.

 Check out the great work being done by Bright Star Ministries on Facebook.

09-May-2014  Collaboration of the Arts Festival

We are packing up to go to this year's Collaboration of the Arts festival in Little Rock Arkansas.   The festival features everything from music and dance to arts and crafts (and a bunch of great wood carvings!) that honor our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  It will be this Friday from 6-9 pm at the River Front Pavillion.  Admission is free.



06-Apr-2014   Bright Star Ministries now Supported

We are now supporting Bright Star Ministries in Kenya.  To learn more about Bright Star's ministry to widows and orphans, click on the "Supported Ministries" page.

12-Mar-2014   Website Upgrades and Options

Our website now accepts major credit cards such as VISA.  

In addition to the Voice of Hope Feeding Program, we are now supporting the missions work of Vickie Cline through Living Grace House in León, Nicaragua.  Vickie is one of the sweetest ladies I know and ministers to Nicaraguan ladies with Bible Studies, English classes and teaching them job skills such as sewing.  You can connect with Vickie on Facebook!  To designate that your purchase is credited to Vickie, please send me an e-mail at Richard@HisWordInWood.com.  I'll make sure the funds get to her.

11-Feb-2014   We Back!

What an incredible week!  I had six students plus my faithful interpreter. They learned a lot (I did too!) and we had a lot of fun.  Throughout the class we emphasized shop safety and covered some pretty deep subjects.  Best of all, I was able to share the love of God with them freely and two of my students accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior. It doesn't get any better than that!

While I was teaching woodworking, the medical teams saw over 400 patients and the evangelistic teams led over 500 people to Christ!  I left all our tools and supplies there and my wife and I are already planning our next trip to help build a permanent school and shop.  It is so exciting to think what the Lord has planned!

04-Feb-2014   We are in Nicaragua!

We are in Nicaragua this week teaching woodworking and sharing the Love of God.  I knew I would not have the greatest wood but this gnarly stuff totally blew me away!  I went to bed the night before the first class feeling totally overwhelmed but the Holy Spirit reminded me that my main purpose was to teach them to use tools safely and tell them how much God loves them.  The next morning, He showed me the moment I opened my eyes how to clean up that wild scrap wood with only a small tablesaw... And it worked!  Here is my group of students with our first project finished.

01-Jan-2014   The Countdown has begun!

I am getting so incredibly excited about the upcoming Woodworking Discipleship course in Nicaragua.  What could be better?  Sharing the love of God with men while teaching them new skills to help them break out of the grinding cycle of poverty.

25-Nov-2013  Woodworking / Discipleship Class in the Planning!

What does woodworking have to do with discipleship?  Plenty!  I am very excited that I will be going to Nicaragua next February to hold a five-day woodworking class for the poorest people.  These are hardworking people who have just never had a chance to learn anything beyond manual labor.  My prayer is that they will be able to learn skills to help them get better jobs.  Meanwhile, we will discuss life... from being a skilled woodworker to being a good employee, a loving husband and father... and how much the Lord loves them!!!

20-Oct-2013   New Video Series Celebrates Freedom in Christ

Our third video tutorial is now available showing how to make a beautiful walnut carving with raised letters, a smooth background and a cove cut frame around it.  This 8 part video series introduces the band saw, oscillating spindle sander and router table.  It also shows how to make the same carving without those tools.



03-Aug-2013   Another New Video

I've added a new video tutorial on how to make the beautiful "Shalom Star" carving!  This 11 part video series goes into even greater depth and demonstrates the use of the jointer, gluing up wide stock from narrow, using the table saw safely and using the scroll saw.

*

*