All my work is inspired by the Bible. I love to take the stories and metaphors from the Bible and turn them from words into something visual. If I do it right, that scripture passage and its meaning become real to the observer. I want people to find themselves in the Bible stories and to find spiritual meaning for their lives.
As a pastor for over 40 years, I frequently came across old Bibles. I discovered there is a vast trove of old Bibles in many languages in a state of disrepair and disuse. My desire became to somehow repurpose these old Bibles, to give them a new life and a new purpose. Turning them into pieces of art seemed to me an appropriate way to restore their beauty and transform their usefulness into something that could serve as a visual reminder of one’s faith heritage and could continue to be passed down from generation to generation. The realization that the word “religion” comes from the Latin word, Re-ligio, which means “to rebind,” further inspired me to rebind these old Bibles.
My final bit of inspiration came from the knowledge that every culture and faith group has used stories, metaphors, and symbols to communicate the history, values, and truths they hold dear. My art conveys the belief that sacred scriptures cannot be fully interpreted and applied without metaphor, symbol, and story. Jesus took what he saw around him.......animals, flowers, trees, vines, bread, wine, yokes and used them as metaphors and parables to communicate spiritual truth. I strive to do the same with my art.

Hebrews 4:12 tells us that the Word of God is not passive ink on a page, but living, active, and piercing. In Sharper Than Any Double-Edged Sword, the physical weight of an 1800’s French sword draws us into that truth. Once an instrument of battle, it is now bound to the cross, reminding us that the greatest conflict is not fought with steel, but within the human heart. The carved cross in the sword’s handle is a quiet but profound reversal of power. What once symbolized human strength and conquest is surrendered to the authority of Christ. The sword no longer strikes outward; instead, it turns inward, doing the sacred work described in Hebrews—dividing soul from spirit, truth from pretense, devotion from self-deception. God’s Word cuts not to destroy, but to heal, exposing what must be surrendered so that what is eternal may remain. The antique fleur-de-lis cross, long associated with royalty, purity, and sacrifice, anchors the piece in Christ’s kingship. This is not the rule of coercion, but of truth. The 19th-century altered Bible, worn and marked by time, testifies that Scripture has always been costly—handled, wrestled with, sometimes resisted, yet never dulled. The pages, re-bound together with waxed linen thread, the elements speak of permanence: the Word of God endures, even as generations pass and empires fade. This sacred structure invites reflection on the nature of discipleship. To follow Christ is to submit ourselves to a blade that knows us fully. God’s Word exposes hidden motives, comforts wounded places and is not meant to be wielded carelessly against others, but received humbly within ourselves. When we allow Scripture to pierce our hearts, it becomes not a weapon of harm, but an instrument of grace—cutting away what enslaves us and guarding what leads to life.

$3000 with free shipping. This piece may be purchased from my website: https://www.sacredstructuresart.com