Tag: Kidzmatter Magazine

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children's ministry cartoons

Why Inviting a Friend is so Powerful

This cartoon was for a magazine series on encouraging kids to bring their friends to church. It demonstrates why inviting a friend is so powerful.

cartoon on why inviting a friend is so powerful. One boy says, "I brought a friend today. Just call me 'The Great Commissioner.'"
©2013 Kidzmatter Magazine and Kevin Spear

When I first wrote this blog post, I had been going to job and career seminars in a new city. One thing I’ve heard repeatedly is that job postings on Internet sites are not nearly as effective as finding work through a friend. Since this was my first big move, I had no idea how crucial that was. It took a few months to make friends and find good work.

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K! Magazine Kidzmatter Magazine Magazine motivation Parenting Cartoons teaching

The Best-Laid Plans Never Go as Planned

Cartoon of two people waist deep in water. A woman says, "I've learned there is a fine line between potty training and preschooler vandalism."
Published in "K! Kidzmatter Magazine"

If the last two years have taught us anything, we have learned that the best-laid plans never go as planned. There are circumstances and surprises that come out of nowhere. In fact, we may be tempted to utter along with Curly, “I’m a victim of circumstance!“

Children and the Best-laid Plans

I thought I had life all figured out until I had children. Planning was easy when my wife and I started our lives together. For the most part, we were on the same page and had similar goals. But when we had kids, I discovered they didn’t always share the same goals like when was the proper bedtime, how to behave at restaurants, and when was the optimal time to begin potty training.

Cartoon of two people waist deep in water. A woman says, "I've learned there is a fine line between potty training and preschooler vandalism."
Published in Kidzmatter Magazine
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children's ministry cartoons K! Magazine love Magazine

Loving your Neighbors the right way

Alas, if you get slapped with a restraining order, you probably aren’t loving your neighbors the right way! What does it look like to help those around us when society has become very suspicious of anyone offering help?

Cartoon of a boy and a teacher. The boy says, "Every time I try to love my neighbor, I get hit with a restraining order!"
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children's ministry cartoons K! Magazine Kidzmatter Magazine Magazine

The Things We Do For Kids

Injured man on a hover board says, "A hoverboard and a fractured ulna are a small price to pay for connecting with kids."
Published in "K! Kidzmatter Magazine"

Yes, I’ve been on a hoverboard before. But for some reason, I escaped unscathed. Still, it was enough of a harrowing experience to create a cartoon about it.

Parents and teachers do a lot of things to relate to kids. The other day, my sister sent a video of her dancing with her daughter. She was doing what she needed to do to keep her kindergartner entertained. There has been a lot of that activity going on while we have been cooped up in our houses and apartments for the last two weeks with a COVID-19 quarantine.

I’m willing to bet it will be worth it when you share the memories in a few years. It may seem things are dire at the moment, but kids will probably remember this time as a fun break that allowed them to connect with their parents in a way they never would have been able to do otherwise.

So embrace today and find another new way to connect with your son or daughter. Just be careful of those hoverboards. You don’t need a broken ulna right now!

Injured man on a hover board says, "A hoverboard and a fractured ulna are a small price to pay for connecting with kids."
Published in “K! Kidzmatter Magazine”
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children's ministry cartoons K! Magazine Kidzmatter Magazine Magazine worship

Kids Worship in Mysterious Ways

Cartoon of two adults watching a dancing boy. One adults says "I didn't know you could breakdance to 'Amazing Grace.'"
Published in "K! Kidzmatter Magazine"

One of the things I will miss this morning is the unique ways kids will sing and dance with worship music. I’ve seen kids do The Worm. Others are experts at The Floss. The creativity flows when the music plays. I’ve heard some adults complain that it could become less of the worship experience and more of aerobic activity. That’s fine with me. Keep the kids engaged.

When I drew this, I thought of the many times adults try to make kids behave like little adults. Sure, Amazing Grace is a wonderful hymn and is rich in its meaning. But it is difficult to get a seven-year-old to sit still and sing all six verses slowly and solemnly. Sooner or later, one of the kids will break out into dancing.

Cartoon of two adults watching a dancing boy. One adults says "I didn't know you could breakdance to 'Amazing Grace.'"
Published in “K! Kidzmatter Magazine”