Categories
motivation

I Never Met a Man I Didn’t Like

I never met a man I didn’t like.

Will Rogers

The other day, I read the book, I Never Met a Man I Didn’t Like: The Life and Writings of Will Rogers. I’ve been interested in his work since I was a teen because he had a way of sounding plain-spoken, funny and thought-provoking all at once.

I find this quote quite profound. Is there truly something likable about everyone no matter how bad or evil they appear? Can you say the same about a serial killer? A dictator?

To me, this is another way to say, Love your enemies. Pray for those who persecute you. There is something in the soul of every man and woman that is good, whether they show it or not. At the same time, each human heart has an evil, dark side, whether they show it or not.

During this Christmas season of love, hope, and joy, may we find the likable in everyone. May there be peace on earth, goodwill to all.

Categories
church cartoons motivation

Flagrant Use of Emojis

Emotions are tricky things. We all have them. It’s how we express them that gets complicated. In the workplace, it can get even dicier.

  • Do you let someone know you are going through a hard time?
  • Will it be used against you?
  • Is it appropriate to shed tears of joy when a coworker brings in doughnuts?

One thing I know for sure is the use of emojis at work is still considered inappropriate in most places. A smiley face just doesn’t look right in an email discussing the next round of employee appraisals.

You can try your hand at it if you feel daring. But I have a feeling there are too many guys like the one in today’s cartoon that can’t discern when it’s appropriate to use certain emojis and to whom.

Emojis require interpretation. The sender and the receiver of a message need to be on the same page when communicating. Is the communication clear? Can a heart emoji be misinterpreted as sarcasm or a sincere love? Know your audience before you send that emoji of a pig or a cow!

I drew this for the November 2019 Church of God Newsletter.

Cartoon of a pastor with a disgruntled couple. The wife says, "He can't express his feelings. he even uses emojis incorrectly!"
Categories
love

What is Love?

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 1 Corinthians 13:6-7

The kind of love the Apostle Paul talked about in 1 Corinthians 13 is in short supply but so needed in the world. It reminds me of a Burt Bacharach song. It’s the kind of love every person hopes they find, but can be so difficult to show to others.

It’s the kind of love that is the only hope for humanity. It takes humility and a higher power to give. Every time I feel selfish, disgruntled and entitled, I know I have fallen short and need a heaping dose of it to I can give it out once again.

It is why I will be in a house of worship this morning. Because I need to feel it in order to give it away.

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Sermon Notes Sketch notes

He Holds the Future | Sketch Notes

On Sunday, April 30, Pastor Nathanael Lyon (Twitter: @nolyon) preached on Because He Lives, He Holds the Future.  at Salem Church of God. Here are my sketch notes from his sermon.

My big takeaway was purpose must be connected with love. He did a great job combining the spiritual gifts chapter of 1 Corinthians 12 with the love chapter of 1 Corintians 13. The hinge of the two chapters is found in 1 Corintians 12:31
Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. And yet I will show you the most excellent way.
1 Corintians 12:31 (NIV)

Sermon Notes
Copyright ©2017 Kevin Spear. | Sermon Copyrighted ©2017 Nathanael Lyon

Thank you, Pastor Lyon, for Sunday’s sermon!

Categories
love Sketch notes

What is Love, Anyway?

When it comes to love, 1 Corinthians 13 paints a much more complex picture than the love our society likes to talk about. What do you mean love is patient and kind? You mean envy boasting and pride has nothing to do with love? What about all the duels and fights history has recorded?

The love our culture pursues is so selfish and fleeting. The kind of love the Apostle Paul talks about is so much more effective and world-changing than the romantic love of trashy novels and Hollywood. 

It’s the kind of love that heals the world. May we all receive this kind of love as well as give it today.