This issue has gotten out of control and I want to talk about whats REALLY going on. With love & humility, to explain, rebuke & challenge our Christian family on this issue. The websites that offer the free Jesus art.. and the folks who use it. Even though the website may say its ok for non-commercial, if its newer than 1924 its not. So here goes..

As the spiritual war increases, the devil attacks with his best most subtle ploys.. greed and power trips disguised as Christian works. The TRUE motive for “Free Pictures of Jesus” is ALL about traffic. Surprised? Read this entire post before you object. The greed stems from how many folks will click on a website so the “ads” there pay the owner. And the power? who has the most followers! Like any social network, followers help spread your message.. but when you are cheating to get them, what message are you truly sending? And this seemingly small sin is then shared with all those who download the beautiful art because they know it must be copyrighted… and they think about this each time they use the free art.. just small sins.. in sheep’s clothing? humm..

What bothers me is that some of the sites doing this have really great content. Much info, great links and creating deep discussions about Jesus. How very sad.. Lets look at all angles. First of all, it is illegal! Just type in “pictures of Jesus” in your search engine. Notice these sites 1st page- Spirit Lessons, Lost Seed and TurnBackToGod. If you click on these sites, you will see beautiful copyrighted artworks offered as Free Jesus picture downloads and/or Free Jesus wallpaper… but ALSO notice the “ads” on the pages. Do you really think they have permission to offer all these images? or even just to show the images on their site? Noooo.. So why do they? Because its worth the traffic versus the risk that the artists will prosecute.. and they may cover this greed based use with the excuse that the Art is “for God’s people” anyway! Humm.. ok, lets consider that..

There are tons of great legal public domain art they could use, but nooo.. they include newer popular artworks because it draws more visitors & sharing (and ad views) and thats the REAL point here. TRAFFIC.. Show me one site that offers free Jesus art without ads or social sharing! Lets consider the art being God’s and not the artist’s right to control. If we go with that thinking, then everything we create is God’s and should be given away free. Whatever way/talent the Lord gave you to make your living.. whatever product or service you produce should be free, as its all from God’s hands anyway. Its all or nothing folks.. I like the ALL FREE idea but we are not in Heaven yet.. how would you make your living? What did God intend? think on this.

I’ve been a Christian art dealer for over 10 years so I know many artists well. And always drawn to the creative, I also know many musicians, writers and other artistic types. You surely know some too. Have you noticed what most have in common? They are all VERY sensitive.. they feel life & emotions on very deep levels and so are able to touch us with these emotions through their art, words & song! But they pay a price for this great talent from God.. this great sensitivity. Have you noticed it too? They are often withdrawn from main stream society.. too sensitive to deal with daily pressures.. often unsuccessful in “normal” vocations.. and some are long tormented souls. They live to create.

I’m just saying that God gave us all talents to use and weave into the fabric of life… and to support ourselves financially. Most artists I know need their art to support them. How sad it would be if Greg Olsen or Simon Dewey had to work construction and damaged their very gifted hands. What magnificent images we would miss? NO! Their talent & work contribution IS their art.. and they deserve to control it and be paid, just as we do for our work. If you know any artists, you know this is true. Are we not all artists with our talents before God?

So whats the answer? Surely we want to spread the love & message of our Lord, but lets not corrupt it. Again, I feel certain that most folks know they are downloading illegal art and the point is that now they and all whom they share it with are brought into the sin these “Free Jesus Art” sites offer. Because each time they want to ”just” print it for a friend.. or on a flyer for a small event.. or whatever, they hear that small voice that says they could get in trouble.. that its not right.. that they should ask somebody.. and they often call me. Ahh.. sly Satan.

I challenge these “Christian” sites->  If you are truly just offering these images to share Jesus with the world, CONTACT the artists to ASK for permission (I can help).. and then SHOW on your site that you TRULY HAVE permission so folks won’t feel guilty or worry. Also consider removing the “ads” that are paying you from these “Free Pictures of Jesus” pages.. without the ads, the artists may consider your motives more true and agree. Do it right and make the Lord’s message PURE for His sheep that find you. How can you do otherwise?

Last- Warning & Facts- Why aren’t these website owners prosecuted?? Like any court issue, its usually too expensive & time consuming.. BUT to the copyright infringed, TAKE HEART! There is a FREE & EASY fix that few know about. All you must do is “make an effort” to contact the website to ask them to remove your copyrighted material. If they don’t show contact info, or don’t remove the copyrighted art, then you just contact the search engines to have the pages REMOVED! THINK- Being removed from Google searches is a HUGE threat as traffic is the REAL motive! 

But what about “Fair use”? In a nutshell, this loophole doesn’t apply when- a) the image is over 50% original b)the use is not intregal to a specific teaching c) and money is being made from its use. Facts are facts and fair is fair. “Fair use” is meant for school teachers, not website power plays run rampant. The mere threat of this fact of infinging pages being easy to remove from search engines should get your copyrighted work removed asap. I doubt seriously any of these websites want to disappear.

This writing may bring some bad responses, but I hope my points ring true.

Why IS the loved art of our Lord disappearing??

When I was a girl it seemed every grandma had a picture of Christ on display.. usually several! How many homes do you see like that today? And how sad when folks do seek His art, they now can’t find it! Why?? Well, just like when a Walmart or Lowes opens and kills off the mom & pop hardware stores, the same thing happened to the small Christian bookstores when the franchised bookstores came to town. Sadly unlike the mom & pops where you could order prints, these franchised bookstores offer very few artworks of Jesus.. usually nicely framed & expensive, but mainly, not the special one you seek.

Now look the other way at the supply chain. Often the old publishing companies are handed down thru generations. Lets say they have around 3,000 images. Times are tight and so they quit making their bottom 5% sellers.. and without local bookstores, the bottom sellers will include pictures of Jesus! With sales being soo low, even the very popular classics are being taken out of print. Whenever I order and something doesn’t come in, I am immediately on the phone to find out why.. and to plead the case for keeping the images in print. Worse news is when a publisher closes their doors (we loose more each year) and no one picks up the option on the religious prints.

I began this ministry in 2003 when I couldn’t find MY loved image of Christ. As I learned the facts, I shared my heart with my Lord- if folks didn’t have His art in their homes because they didn’t want it, thats one thing.. but if they didn’t have it because they couldn’t find it, thats a whole ‘nother deal.. and I wanted to help! Although I knew nothing about “art”, I had been a programer for eons, and these skills helped to start on a shoestring. Had I known what all was involved, I would have thought it was impossible! But God guided me along and your requests have built our selection. I love working with the artists & publishers.. but most I love when you write or call, so overjoyed to have found “your” picture of Jesus in our webstore! I know how you feel.. and Lord willing, I hope to keep more classics (& new Christian art) available and affordable. Praises for the reach of the internet! Who cares about the classics? We do! And your support helps us continue. Bless you all! Deb

Visit Our Store for Pictures of Jesus

ps If you want a certain artist or old image of Jesus that we don’t show, just call and ask.

I pray most for discernment.  I know the devil is running rampant and realize that things will probably get much worse before Jesus comes. Are we supposed to become activist to help right what wrongs we can? I feel we must best focus our time to spread our Lord’s love, power & salvation message to the growing bewildered & hurting masses.

I was led to a great book last week-> “The Prodigal God” by Keller. Its the story of the prodigal son, but more focused on how the elder son, who had always been loyal, ended up THE lost one.. as he would not attend the feast. Do we judge ourselves and others by how “Christian” we are? Do we expect God to keep score? Would we be like the elder son? Do we think God owes us? Or will give less to the wayward? WHY do we act good? For love or for reward?

How odd my next daily “open anywhere” bible study fell to the same type story of the vineyard workers who got mad because they came early but got paid the same as those who came in the last hour. Obviously the Lord wanted me to think further on the book’s insights. Its goal was to soften our hearts to more fully understand the unconditional love that welcomes all equally under the blood of Christ. Really great insights.. thank you Lord!  I’m working on a writing about this important concept and will add it to my “writings” page here soon.

Again I want to thank all of you who have helped support our ministry to keep the loved old prints available. With so few folks wanting the art of Christ in their homes, its a struggle to keep even the more popular ones in print. Each Christian that finds our website and tells another helps! Also be sure to tell your youth pastors and bible school teachers that we have fundraising and bulk discounts to help with all ministries.

I am not a social networker.. I don’t text, facebook maybe quarterly and find it hard just to get through my emails. Just saying I am sorry my blog posts are few.. but I will try to keep them interesting & informative. Happy new year! Praise Him

Its now 2011 and time to rejoin the work of the harvest that our Lord sooo desires from us! In these troublesome times, many are looking for answers like never before. Lets not only be willing to act on His leadings but also pray to be equiped mightly for even more! This IS a huge spiritual war over earthly souls and Jesus mourns over all His lost. Ask & allow Him to prepare you to be a soldier who is ready to serve on many fronts!  

Jesus said the 2 most important commandments are to love God and our fellow man. With these written upon our hearts, all else falls into place. His instruction to us is to spread His message of His perfect sacrifice opening the door to God! With the acceptance of His complete forgiveness and joining with Him, we now have open communication with our loving Father and can ask & recieve the Holy Spirit as a gift for guidance.

Remember we are to offer to share His message with all. Those with deaf ears may later return. I know its difficult when its family or friends that disregard His message but we are not to “harp” on them. To do so only pushes them away further. Offer to discuss just once with everyone.. let them know of your faith and always willingness to share, but then drop it. Your life will be their example and constant reminder that there is an answer.  Pray that the Lord reveals to you His word for them when they finally do ask. Amen!

Our store may show “temporarily down” for short periods this week as we add all the products that have been on hold during our webstore transition. Enjoy the great new art and offerings of small framed choices on many current images. Also look for super new statue choices soon. And as always, send us your suggestions!!

Please be in prayer for the art of our Lord! On our “Read 1st” page I speak to why the art is disappearing. With this latest news, that brings this years total to nearly 30 wonderful images gone. If you would like to join our voices in emailing companys who could bring the art back, please do join our email list and we will let you know how to help. Art speaks a thousand words.. lets all keep His light shining bright!

My thought for this week- “running the good race has become a hurdle event”.. and that makes me smile? We ARE MORE than conquerors! If you only watched worldly events, it would be very depressing as it seems every facet is loosing any semblence of Christian values.. BUT in looking up, it is sooo uplifting to know how strongly our God is moving through His people to gather His flock. The troubles of these times have many searching for answers. Don’t miss an opportunity to let them know Christ IS the answer! Have you seen our great wallet cards? Art#s 235 & 451 are super to strike a chord within.. and a conversation to life!

The praise through it all is that our orders and shipments have been humming along just fine.  The only glitches are with emails & voicemails. Its a struggle to answer them all in normal times but when there are issues, it grows exponentially. Just know-

When our tech FINALLY got the switchover all fixed, we found emails & phone messages that are weeks old in our box! We hope that many are duplicates or from folks we have spoken to since. We are busy keeping up with the season’s new orders, double checking we’ve contacted all waiting orders and then digging through the pile of new & old emails and messages as best we can.

PLEASE DO click our online support link here (if showing on) or check our GREAT Help section or call our cell at 800-230-9020 ext 6 if you have any questions. All are quicker than email and its rare we can’t answer or caller ID you right back. Remember that phone messages are still glitchy so do just try back shortly or email if you can. Thank you for your patience and prayers!  We must all keep our armor of God strong in the growing warfare. Pass His peace on!

Our mission & ministries are best understood split into 3 websites, with all joined for easy navigation. The basics-

1) shop.JesusArtUSA.com- the store- You can now shop by size, use coupons, keep wish lists and maintain account info with order status & history. Also you can shop by Iphone, Facebook favorite items, reach us by our “online” chat.. etc etc. We have come from a very basic cart system to one with all the latest gadgets!

2) PicturesofJesus4You.com – the museum- enjoy spiritual time with our art slideshows & music. Coming sections are the history on many images & artists and a bulletin board with areas to let others know of art you seek or have to sell.

3) JesusArt.org- the ministry- A very special section with witnessing , God’s word & a forum to share your many effective ministry ideas. Also soon updated info on our bookstore discounts & fundraising programs.

 We want everyone to understand whats up and to know where to find what you seek. And DO please share your ideas! Blessings!