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motivation

Crazy Faith

Cartoon of a boy about to jump off a roof with handmade wings

The other day, my wife and I were talking with a friend about recent decisions. My wife was led to step away from a flourishing ministry to make room for the next step in her life. My wife commented on how some decisions require faith. The friend replied, “Or requires being a little crazy!” Hmm… crazy faith? That sounds about right!

I suppose any faith looks crazy to many people. After all, we live in a world that touts Seeing is believing! Yet, if everyone lived by this mantra, we would create nothing new or innovative. Without faith, there is no hope. Without hope, what’s the point of living if the present looks bleak?

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:1 (KJV)
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Adobe Illustrator cartoon children cartoons church cartoons gag cartoon single panel cartoon webcomic

Making a Joyful Noise

When my youngest sister was still a toddler, I could tell she inherited our mother’s musical talent and proclivity. As soon as the worship music began, she was up and ready to belt it out! This led to my idea for this making a joyful noise cartoon.

Making a joyful noise: Cartoon of a boy and girl toddler at church. The girl is enthusiastic. The boy says, "That's quite a joyful noise you're making there."

The phrase, “joyful noise,” comes from the King James version of Psalm 100:1. It’s a short chapter that packs a powerful message of why worship music is an important part of a church service.

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.

Psalm 100:1 (KJV)
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Categories
church cartoons

His Thoughts Are Not Our Thoughts

Close up of Spear Cartoon 4180: His thoughts are not our thoughts.

One of the factors I love about creativity is how it brings out the many unique perspectives in the world. I thought about that and Isaiah 55:8-9 when I drew this His thoughts are not our thoughts cartoon.

His thoughts are not our thoughts cartoon. Man says, "His thoughts are not our thoughts. Then again, your ideas are pretty unique too."
Published in the May 2022 CHOGNews

I like eccentric, non-conforming characters. When I was in art school, I admired those students with the courage to be unique. At least I thought they were unique. It turns out they got their cues from others too. It just wasn’t the characters or culture I was used to in the Midwest.

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Categories
teaching

The worst advice I’ve ever heard about teaching in church

Cartoon of a boy talking to a guy dressed in a while outfit.

Over the years, I’ve searched for all kinds of advice on how to teach effectively. But the worst advice I’ve ever heard about teaching in church has actually been the most helpful for me.

Have you ever found it hard to get the attention of a room full of kids? It can be a loud place. However, if you have the class on a Sunday morning, it can also be a quiet place that would make a crypt sound like an ideal place for a party.

How do you keep the kids engaged, whether the kids are rowdy, or just waking up after a rowdy weekend night? One piece of advice I have heard over the years was actually the worst thing I could have tried. What is it?

Be formal, show little emotion and take yourself very seriously. Don’t be a clown! This is church, after all!

Did I hear those exact words? Not exactly. But it was something I believed. for some time. When I first got into children’s ministry. I tried it for a while with disastrous results!

This just doesn’t work for me. And I would dare say it won’t work for anyone who is teaching elementary-age kids.

Cartoon of a boy and a teacher. The student says, "You're goofy, Mr. Schmeltzer! I like that in a teacher."
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Categories
Parenting Cartoons

Should You Change it or Replace the Whole Thing?

Cartoon of a dad and a baby at a chancing table. The dad says, "We have a dirty diaper! Instead of changing it, should I just replace it?

My wife and I love fixer-upper shows. It’s impressive to see the transformation of a ramshackle, abandoned home into a mini palace. But sometimes I wonder if they should raze the house. Similarly, it takes discernment in many situations to ask ourselves, “Should you change it or replace the whole thing?”

Difference between Change and Replace

According to Wiki Diff, change means to make something different. While replacing means restoring to its former self, position, or condition. It means to place again, naturally.

Dirty Diapers

So the whole phrase, “change the diaper,” sounds strange to me. Should we replace a dirty diaper with a clean one? Can you change a dirty diaper into a clean one? I suppose you can if it is a cloth diaper. But today, we’re most likely to just replace the whole thing with a clean one.

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