Category: Christianity

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books Christianity discipline

Why We All Need Some Silence

Cartoon of a boy with a teacher. The boy says, "Recess was okay, but I need a moment of quiet reflection."

Yesterday was a big day for me. I turned off the phone and I was in silence for most of it. At my wife’s suggestion, I read a book entitled, Invitation to Solitude and Silence, by Ruth Haley Barton.

I know! It was crazy. But what I feared the most actually was one of the richest days I’ve had in a long time.

It came after a busy couple of days. My wife is out of town. I went down to Florida to help him drive his car back to Indiana. And I know work will busy this morning after being out for a day.

I realize silence is a luxury these days. Our television, phones and life’s demands make it almost impossible to find some time for reflection. Yet it is so needed. We all need it.

We all need some time to meditate. We all need some time to consider where we’ve been, where we are and where we are heading. Since I am a Christian, it is even valuable for me to hear the still, small voice of God. 

So this morning, it is back to the workweek. I know I will have plenty to do, as I am sure all of you will too. Through it all, I encourage you to take some time to be silent. Even if it is five minutes during the day, It will do your soul some good.

Cartoon of a boy with a teacher. The boy says, "Recess was okay, but I need a moment of quiet reflection."
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Christianity motivation

Continual Acts of Kindness

Cartoon of a man and a puppet

This morning, I get to teach kids about kindness. We’ve been talking this month about the Fruit of the Spirit, which is found in Galatians 5:22-23.

It’s a topic that was drilled into me at a very young age. I am the oldest of four kids and unfortunately, firstborn kids are not known for being the supreme leader of kindness. At least this kid wasn’t the king of kindness when his little brother or sister just just ate the last cookie.

I was fortunate that not only my patient parents emphasized kindness, but my kindergarten teacher did too. She had us recite Ephesians 4:32 every morning before we began our class in the old King James Version .

“Be he kind one to another, tender hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:32 KJV

It didn’t always stop the playground drama. Nor did it eliminate the urge to hoard all the good, unbroken crayons. But it did make me pause and think. It was one of those kindergarten lessons that come back to me even today.

My prayer this morning is that the kids I teach will remember today’s lesson when they are tempted to be rude or react angrily to to a perceived injustice. Let’s keep learning how to be kind, tender hearted and forgiving in a world desperate for all three qualities.

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Christianity Sermon Notes Sketch notes

Sermon Sketch Notes: Colossions- Stand Firm

Sketch notes: Sermon on Colossians chapter 1

I decided to post my sketch notes from this morning’s sermon. This sermon series is based on the book of Colossians. Pastor Richard Triplett delivered this sermon. The main points I got from the sermon is we can be…

  • Reconciled
  • Restored
  • Ransomed for our
    • lives
    • hope
    • peace
    • anchored
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Christianity

Illustration for Dealing with Difficult People Sermon Series

Cartoon illustration of a man thinking about difficult people, such as The Critic, The Victim, The blamer, and The Hypocrite and the
Illustrated for Salem Church of God

What kind of artwork would you use for a sermon series that can ruffle a few feathers, yet has opportunities for humor? Well, how about a cartoon? I make no qualms about my biases, but I feel it especially worked for this series. 

This sermon series is running from May 14—June 4, 2017, at Salem Church of God

Continue reading “Illustration for Dealing with Difficult People Sermon Series”
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Career cartoon Christianity

Video: Finding God in the Darkness When I’m Waiting

I was humbled when my pastor asked me to give a testimony about the waiting I have experienced for the last two years. I proposed giving a cartoon testimony. It is a tribute to Diary of a Wimpy Kid, only my version is Diary of a Waiting Guy. 

I recorded myself drawing, then wrote a script for the video. You can see it in the first five minutes of the sermon video.

If you know anything about me, you know faith is a bit part of who I am. It is the reason we left everything we knew in Indiana and moved to Arizona. It is also the reason we moved to the Dayton, Ohio area. It is the reason I hold perseverance as an important value. You cannot start anything new without taking a risk and displaying perseverance.

Pastor Steve Southards did a great job explaining the why’s of a waiting period through the story of Joseph in Genesis. My wife and I are privileged to be serving at Salem Church of God. The last two years have challenged me, but I am glad I made the leap. Taking a risk is much better than doing the same thing and wondering what could have happened if we took a risk.