Categories
sketch journal

How to Take Captive Every Thought

notes on taking captive every thought

My wife and I have been reading a devotional from Mark Batterson called Draw the Circle.

I sketched my notes while she read. We took notice today about the verse in 2 Corinthians 10:5. We are surrounded by so many thoughts each day. When I’ve read this verse before, I thought about the thoughts of temptation. But Mark points out it could be all thoughts, including positive ones.

Just as we need to take captive the negative, we need to be sure those positive thoughts don’t get away either. That’s just one of the reasons I use a sketchbook. We need to grab those good thoughts before they disappear. Too many times, I thought of an idea I was sure I’d remember only to wrack my brain and wonder what it was.

I’d encourage everyone to write down those dreams and thoughts you want to remember to make them captive on a page so you can go back to them.

Categories
webcomic

See how easily you can spot an unfair rule

Cartoon of a cat executive and a dog employee
© 2013 Kevin Spear

Cartoon of a cat executive and a dog employee. The cat says, “We have a ‘No Panting Policy’ around here.”

I thought of this idea several years ago when my kids were watching the movie, Cats and Dogs. It’s about dog spies and an evil genius cat that is planning to take over the world.

I thought of what would the world look like if cats were in charge and dogs had to bow to the felines’ whims. Then I wondered how many rules and laws are skewed towards the majority culture and we don’t even realize it.

Is it easy to spot those rules? I’m not so sure it is. What seems perfectly normal to one culture could look like oppression to another. It’s mighty hard to abide by The Golden Rule when you don’t ask the other party how they want to be treated.

So how do you spot an unfair rule?

  • Seek the input of all parties involved
  • Listen without being defensive. Besides, is that rule really worth defending?
  • Ask whether an old rule still makes sense
  • Ask why the rule was instituted in the first place
Categories
church cartoons

How to Show Appreciation to Your Pastor

Cartoon of a boy wanting show appreciation to his pastor

 

Cartoon of a boy speaking to his pastor. He says, “I want to show I appreciate you, Pastor. How about I give you a ride on my scooter?”

October is Pastor Appreciation Month. When I thought of this cartoon, I thought of the various ways people may try to show appreciation that is a little self-focused. Then again, maybe the pastor needs a scooter ride!

I drew this cartoon for the CHOGnews – October, 2013 newsletter.

Categories
sketch journal

How to have a happy career

Sketch of two guys. One has a wizard's hat

 

Sketch of two men. One has a wizard’s hat on. He says, “I’m going to stay into farming until the magic is gone.”

That’s good advice no matter what career you’re in. Whether it’s farming, banking, construction or widget making, keep the magic in whatever you do.

We can work to keep the magic in our career, especially if it’s something you had a passion for before. If we’re always learning, always finding a way to do something different and better in our career, the magic will still be there.

Our society is making it easy to keep the magic in our careers because we must change if we are going to stay in our industry. Technology and globalization requires it!

So what are you doing today to keep the magic in whatever you do?

Categories
webcomic

Why it is so hard to face our fears cartoon

cartoon of a girl and a monster. The monster is eating someone

Cartoon of a girl and a monster. The monster is eating someone. The girl says, “You see, Roger? This is why I don’t like facing my fears!”

Fears, whether real or imagined can stop us in our tracks. We adults forget that children’s fears are just as real and debilitating to them as any adult-sized fears. They can consume anyone (and either our friends). What do you do?

  • Acknowledge you have the fear. It does no good to pretend a fear isn’t there when it is affecting us. Denying the fear monster doesn’t make it go away.
  • Realize courage doesn’t come from the absence of fear. Many a person has broken through a fear because they chose to be courageous in the midst of their fear.
  • Talk about it with a trusted friend, teacher or pastor. You may be surprised to learn you are not the only one facing that same fear. And acknowledging a phobia or anxiety with someone else breaks the power of the fear monster