http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBZu8Y3NwD4
This is a song I wrote in a time of doubts and questions and comes out of a very personal place. I hope my words can connect with you wherever you are and encourage you to say "I'll Still Sing"
We are so much more willing to listen to a clever fool than we are a awkward wiseman
In the wake of the tragic events of a fellow actor and beloved artist (in what appears to be) taking his own life, at the behest of a lethal addiction- I watch the reaction of the world around me; I read in the status's of peers, expressing sadness and remorse for the loss of such a bright life. But in doing so, I also see something else- Many of those commenting on the tragic events seem to think the reason for this loss of life was because of the individuals fame, career and a life of being known by many and the pressures that came with that. At first glance, I mentally okay the logic and scroll on, but then I feel a catch in my mind.
It suddenly occurs to me... How many overdoses are there every year we will never hear about because the individuals involved are not famous, well known, or in blockbuster movies- But each having just as much or more "pressure" in there family, personal, or professional life as any celebrity we know?
After coming upon this realization, I am forced to maybe think that maybe the tragic events of us humans losing the fight to addictions, or even taking our own lives; fall upon something so much more serious than a job description.
While I don't pretend to know all the factors that played a part in these tragic events that happened over this past weekend. What I can speak to are the relationships around me and the tragedies I have witnessed first hand in lives of those whom I love and loved. I think it so often comes down to simply this. We live in a broken world, and no matter what this world tries to promise us this world does not fill the void we forever long for. No matter the amount of money, fame, respect (all the things we think would satisfy us) we were made for something else, that until we realize, we cannot find peace.
Someone once said
“If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world.”
Another wise person noted "There is a God shaped hole in all our hearts." The poor and the rich... The famous and the unknown.
We will never know what we were created for until we know who we were created by. We can never fill the void we feel in the depths of our souls until we invite the one who created them, in.
Remember today that you were designed- Intentionally and beautifully.
You were not carelessly just thrown here, you are not the result of a random molecular happening, or a thoughtless mass of cells.
Instead realize this
You were made, designed and created with passion and love, you were given a purpose and will, your life has meaning, and you have the ability to live fully the story you were MADE to tell.
Let this effect you today, let this inspire you to know your creator more and find the purpose encoded on your heart.
Cold and tired and completely drained I suddenly realized that I was right where my maker had designed me to be.
I Just got back from my first acting gig of the year (9pm-6am) it was cold, late and very tiring... But somewhere around 3am as I and 8 only 8 other guys were walking down the middle Broadway Ave in downtown Los Angeles, all of us holding movie weapons feeling very heroic, was when I realized how blessed I am to get to live out my dreams. I love the person God created me to be and when I started living the story he had for me, is when it really got fun.
Go and begin to move towards the person that your creator has designed you to be. In the meantime I will be playing pretend and getting paid for it! AMAZING!
As a new year looms on the horizon, new thoughts, visions, and wonders fill our mind. For some it can cause excitement, a wind of a new beginning, but for many an uncertain new year brings something else; For some of us the this new year is a shadow that is impossible to see into, containing the unknown and bringing about uncertainty with every step closer into the mist we take.
As I lay in bed counting the things I'm iffy about in this coming year- the tasks I need to get done, and the feats I must accomplish, I suddenly feel a knocking at my brain. It's God. My creator the one who made me, and holds the entire universe. He waits patiently for me to finish up what I'm doing and answer him. I do, and cordially invite him in. He walks confidently in keeping his eyes knowingly on all the things going on around me in this house I call my mind. And without so much as a sogoodtoseeya he rests his eyes on me and in his gentle and powerful voice, says"fear not".
At this point I have a choice, I can allow my God the one who has made me, and everything, who knows all, sees all, and lives outside of time with perspective that sees The epic spectrum of the galaxies; to stay here with me, in my thoughts, and worries, and let him comfort, reconcile, heal and lead me. Or... I can say "well it was great to see you, thanks for coming, but I have this thing, so I got to ask you to leave" and God being the gentleman he is, will. Leaving me to the company of my nagging worries, intrusive fears, and ever present shortcomings.
We will all stand facing the shadow of the unknown at some point, but is then that we have a choice to either walk through it with the creator who has perspective or to go into the fog alone with only our ideas and strength on how to make it through.
So often we invite God into our hearts, but forget to invite him into anything else. God wants to walk with you through everything. Your Creator holds peace, love, joy, overcoming truth, and redemption in his hands, which he holds freely out to you, are you have to do is take hold.
Help Bring a Prodigal Home (Film)
Support by visiting - http://www.gofundme.com/598bwc
Confessions of a Prodigal Son is a cinematic story of young man who is lost and found, ruined and redeemed, broken and restored. It is a modern retelling on film of the parable of the prodigal son from the Bible. I wrote the screenplay simply to encourage prodigals to come home.
This 90-minute Indie film is almost finished, but I can’t bring this Prodigal home to DVD and distribution without some help. I hope you will take a minute to learn more about my first journey into filmmaking, and to help me bring this project to completion. See some of the amazing screen shots below.
Kevin Sorbo
Michael Bolten and Rachael Lee
Nathan Clarkson (Me)
Real life is the best source for good fiction, and I wrote Prodigal out of my own experiences and observations as I journeyed through film school in NYC and tried to break into the film industry in LA as a 22 year-old unknown newbie. When I decided to try writing my own film, I wanted to create a role I could believe in, tell a story others could believe in, and make a difference in the lives of other prodigals.
To make a long story short, I put my idea on a crowd-funding site last spring. With God’s help, and the support of many amazing friends, the first round of funding allowed us to film the entire story in two weeks in LA. We had very little money, but we had a committed and talented director and some amazing talent who wanted to be involved, including Kevin Sorbo, Michael Bolten, and Tanya Chisholm, all recognized Hollywood actors. We wrapped filming on August 30.
As a first-time filmmaker, I am humbled and excited to see my story coming to life on screen. I named my new production company Lighting Dark, because that’s what film should do.
But here’s where you, and the wonderful GoFundMe community, can help me make sure this film actually does light the dark. I have enough funds to start the editing of the film, but then I will need new funds to finish the edit, pay for the film score, sound editing, mastering, and production.
Joel Clarkson my brother (composer), Aaron Eberhardt (Sound Engineer), Sean Waldron (Editor). All of which are lending their professional skill, working tirelessly behind the scenes for next to nothing. We would love to reward their passion and dedication.
To finish this project, I need a minimum of $3,000 in additional funds. No donation is too small, and every dollar will be gratefully and faithfully used to pay the editors, composers, musicians, sound mixers, and other providers who will move this film from dream to reality. If you believe in the power of returning prodigals, and you share my passion for storytelling in film that can write new stories in people’s lives, then I hope you will consider helping me bring this Prodigal home. Thanks!
http://www.gofundme.com/598bwc
Remember this today.
You are not an accident, you are not some random collection of cells wandering life aimlessly. NO, you are "fearfully and wonderfully made" designed by the master artist with purpose and intent. You are LOVED SO much, that no matter what your past holds or your present feels like or your future threatens you are NEVER to late to find redemption and live a beautiful story that was made JUST for you. Know that today, TODAY you have a creator (think on that for a second, you were CREATED) that has given his life just so you could have a personal connection -a RELATIONSHIP- with the one who powerfully holds the galaxies, masterfully engineered the atom, beautifully spins (at a perfect balance) all of nature and with passion and love created..... You.
We cannot justify existence without intention. Think of one thing aside from nature in existence that had no intention behind it. There is no piece of art, not one computer or paper clip made without a determination from a intentional creator. Why would we think any less of our universe, world or even ourselves. What a difference it would make if we lived with the knowledge that our very existence was intended. That we were created and everything around us is a masterpiece designed by a masterful artist. Look again at the yourself and the beautiful universe surrounding you and ask, was this, was I intended?
Living believing the world owes us something, is to ignore the gift of life we have been given. God gave so we could give. It is only when we lose our self for others -in the way our creator did for us- will we ever find the satisfaction we so deeply long for. But doing this means (with God's help) letting go of everything we think we are owed, letting go of what is fair for us, letting go what is best for our selves and putting the needs of the ones around us before our own. It is then we can begin the journey of finding who our creator has made us to be.
A behind the scenes shot of filming Confessions of a Prodigal Son
What are trying to say with your life? What is the statement you are declaring with the choices you are making. In an effort to be heard are you just joining in while adding the the deafening noise? Or are you listening to the story your creator has given you to tell?
What a beautiful site to see tonight in the Hollywood hills. If you look to the far left you can see the Hollywood sign looking out over the city where so many come looking for meaning and lose their way. But if you look to the far right you'll see a cross looking over the whole of the city as a symbol to God's unfailing presence and willingness to become apart of our world, save us and bring the prodigals home.
I believe in life.
I believe in tasting good food, hearing beautiful sounds of music and watching inspiring movies. I believe in feeling the first snow of winter on your arms and watching the first bloom of spring with your eyes. I believe in exploring this vast and wonderful world, climbing mountains and splashing in the ocean. I believe in laughing until you cry when a joke is told and crying until you laugh when someone you love is holding you. I believe in chasing dreams, meeting a beautiful girl, and I believe in falling in love.
Weather you are made up of a few cells or a trillion, I believe that life is a precious gift that that has been given to ALL of us, no matter how small or large. It is a gift to be lived, and loved to the fullest - And that every day we must protect and value EVERYONE's right to experience this beautiful thing we call life.
I believe in life.
What do you believe in?
"As humans we have such a hard time moving forward, simply because all we can see is where we have been. But when we take hold of our Creators hand, suddenly we are being lead into the person our Creator knew we could be all along. Our designer has the amazing ability to see our past knowing who we were, but also see our amazing future and who we could become. Take ahold of the Creators hand today, so that you can one day sooner be on your way to becoming the beautiful creation you were designed to be."
for me
for you
for the broken
for the lost
for the good
for the bad
for redemption
for freedom
for love
We are whole beings, made uniquely, beautifully and completely connected to every part of our being.
When it comes to our entity, we are not separated from any part of ourself, we are not categorized into different sections.
Just like our physical form, our hand is not part of a different body than our eyes. In the same way our mind is not separated from our heart and emotions.
We were created and designed complete.
But so often we live in a way where we believe this not to be true, we willfully compromise what we know to be true, right, good; fully believing it will have not effect to the rest of who we are, and who we will become. But if every part of us is connected, compromise in one area is to comprise our entire being.
We can not sequester the "guilty pleasure", "one time thing" or "just tonight" to one part of who we are locking it away in hopes it will have no effect on the rest our inner person. Can the head fall to the ground and expect the rest of the body to stand upright?
So we must live with the knowledge that everything we do, every path we take effects ALL of who we are.
BUT when we grasp this reality, we soon find that, every hard choice we make for the better, every exercise in strength, every healthy decision we make doesn't simply benefit us simply in that moment...But rather, they are the decisions that affect our whole being, and actually artfully creating who we are and who we will become.
Claire: What's going on in your life this year? (Family, work/career, etc.)
Nathan: Hmm, well, a lot actually! I just got back from speaking at two of my family's conferences, showing a promotional trailer, raising funds, and getting the word out about a new film that I wrote! It was a lot of fun and is really encouraging to get positive feedback. And as always, it was so nice to still be involved with my family as they continue to use their lives in ministering to other people!
Claire: When and how did you get interested in acting?
Nathan: To be honest I feel like I have always been acting, whether it was as a boy pretending to be Superman or dressing up as one of my favorite historical figures, I have always loved falling into characters and telling stories. Hearing/reading/watching stories was what lit my heart on fire since I was young, so it was only natural that I would grow up and search for ways to tell stories with my life. Somewhere in the middle of high school, I realized that I also loved people, and I saw what an impact the movies and stories had on all of us—shaping our decisions and feelings by inspiring, connecting, sympathizing, and moving us. So, I decided I wanted to be a part of the movement that was telling the stories that connected with my generation. In high school I attended MasterWorks, where I began to realize I could use my passion and natural gifts for God’s purposes. A little after high school I attended an acting/music commutation called AMTC (Actor Models Talent for Christ) where I was invited to attend The New York Film Academy. And the rest, I guess, is history!
Claire: What about your experience at MasterWorks most influenced you?
Nathan: I think the thing that so inspired and influenced me about MasterWorks was seeing and getting to take part in this amazing community of people who had realized they had been given amazing gifts and had decided they were going to use them for a bigger purpose than simply acclaim, fame, money or recognition. They had decided to use their God-given gifts to praise our Creator and bring people closer to Him. I think it is so rare for people to see their gifts and talents as something given by God and for God. Being at MasterWorks set the foundation for how I could use my God-given gifts.
Claire: You wear many different hats: writer, actor, film producer/director, musician, son of two popular speakers/writers… As a result, have you found it difficult for you to determine who you are as a person? Who or what defines you? Describe that journey of finding your identity.
Nathan: Being in LA, each day I see a city looking for identity: everyone scrambling, chasing, and doing almost anything thinkable to find themselves, to discover purpose, and to create their identity. And because of that, everyday I see people wrapping up their entire identity in such temporal and fading things, whether it's their talent, their ‘art,’ their sexuality, or even their popularity and money. I see people building their foundations of identity on things that will surely disappoint or disappear eventually. I have even found myself falling into the trap of finding my identity in things of this world, like my acting, music, writing, and even my family! But somewhere along the way, after I had been brought to my knees by the humbling process of failed acting jobs, losing friends, and a career with nothing to show, God found me and has been leading me down a path of finding my worth and identity in Him. This is the most life-changing, freeing experience I could ever feel, because He is the one thing that will NEVER fail. Even if everything else does, I know my worth is found in Him!
Claire: You recently wrote a modern-retelling of the Prodigal Son, and now you are in the process of raising funds to make this into movie. What inspired this, and what is the message that you want to portray through this project?
Nathan: Awhile back when I was going through one of my hardest times, I randomly found myself reading the story of the Prodigal Son, and little did I know what a powerful, recurring tale it would be in my life. In the months to come, I found myself trying to follow God but often getting lost in my own desires and foolish decisions, wondering what I was supposed to do. BUT, every time I found my head in my hands as a result of my decisions, I felt God’s loving arms holding me and His voice calling me back to the man I was made to be—just like the Prodigal. So, as I began to look, I realized I lived in a city and really, a world of prodigals, not bad or evil people—just people looking for meaning, purpose and love. Often, letting the deep desire we all have for those things led them into places, situations, and answers that too often turn out to be false, temporary, or even destructive.
I decided I wanted to be more intentional about what kinds of projects I would be in, which led me to look for projects that intended to bring light to a dark world! But unfortunately, I found out quickly that projects with the messages I desired to tell, messages I had been brought up to tell, were few and far between. So, one morning, I woke up and felt a gentle stirring in my heart to write a screenplay (something I had never done) with the messages I truly believe the world needs to hear. Long story short, a month later I had a script that had been written as a modern retelling of the prodigal son entitled Confessions of a Prodigal Son. Shortly after, some amazing people and I shot a trailer (in one day) for raising funds... and here I am!
Claire: You have a desire to use film and acting to influence the world for Christ. What needs do you see in the Hollywood scene, and what would you say are effective ways to accomplish this goal?
Nathan: I would love to see more people truly realizing the knowledge that God has created us individually with love and care to use our gifts to praise Him, and in doing so, bringing other people closer to Him as well. Hollywood needs people with a vision bigger than themselves, but one of eternity with a passion to create quality reflections of God’s amazing love through whatever medium possible.
Claire: What challenges have you faced as an actor in the professional world? How has your faith influenced how you live?
Nathan:
Claire: What are your long-term goals/dreams (acting or otherwise)?
Nathan: To be honest, I would just love living a life that brings light to a dark world and shows God’s amazing love for me and everyone with whatever I am doing! Though, making and acting in films that do that would be super awesome!
Claire: How can we be praying for you?
Nathan: I would love prayer for wisdom in every situation I come across as well as the continued ability to use my passions and gifts to connect with people!
Claire: What is your favorite movie, style of music, food, and place to travel?
Nathan:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dWqxSJBeJE&w=420&h=315]
This is a video of me telling my journey into my love of story and how I came to write Confessions of a Prodigal Son. I am also interviewed by my amazing inspiration of a mom at the WholeHeart Conference in Irvine, CA.
ALSO from now on all proceeds from buying a printed copy of my first book Wisdom Chasers (A collection of essays from a young man finding his God and chasing Him) will now go to funding Confessions of a Prodigal Son.
Buy your copy here at the Whole Heart Store.
Please visit the our Website to help support and find out more about this awesome project.
(Screenshot and Quote from the trailer of Confessions of a Prodigal Son - Click on Picture to support project and get involved)
Facebook - Kickstarter~
If you have ever been a prodigal in need of grace, or an outcast with the longing for home, please 'SHARE' this to remind this world that there is always a way to find you way back home into our creators arms.
~
