House On Rocks vs House On Sand

My friend John asked if I could draw something that he hoped to use with his two sons as an instructional guide. He wanted an illustration depicting the two houses that Jesus talks about in Matthew 7:24-27. There He describes two houses—one built upon sand and the other built upon rock. A storm comes along and, of course, the house built upon the rock fares much better than the one built upon sand. The story raises the question about what we're building our lives upon—something solid, or something lacking substance?

I put this doodle together and sent it to John. He wrote, "I think you are perhaps the most gifted cartoonist I have ever known! Wow! Excellent! Thank you!" Now, I think John was a bit over the top there—just a bit, but I really appreciate the remark and just had to share it with you.

John was kind enough to allow me to post this doodle here for your viewing pleasure. Drop by his blog and tell him that you think that he is the most gifted blogger ever, or something to that effect.

Overcoming Evil

Just do it.

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Move That Mountain!

I really needed to get some- thing up quick tonight. It's been a long day and I've got another one facing me tomorrow.  I don't think that I've posted this one before.  To tell you the truth, I really don't remember.  So forgive me if I've posted two reruns in a row.  I try to keep things fresh.

When Jesus talked about His followers moving mountains I don't think He was talking about landscaping. I think He was challenging us to believe that He can do something about the figurative mountains in our lives. I will be honest with you, and I mean this, I have discovered that God can do amazing things in our lives, IF we will only trust Him. Try it—I think you will find it to be true too.

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Thank you for all that have been voting for me at Blog Interviewer.com.  I am hearing from a number of people that the "Vote Here" button doesn't always work—even after they've waited for 24 hours.  I don't know why that's true.  I would appreciate it if you just keep on trying.  I'm in second place and catching up on the guy in first.  But, the gal in third is gaining on me as well.  She may be deserving, but I may be more deserving.  So keep those fingers a clicking!

A Bridge Called Grace

A friend sent me this set of illustrations depicting the concept of following Jesus' directive to "carry your cross."  I've seen it before, perhaps you have too. The problem that I have with it is that it is wrong. It's hard to see but in the images we see a man carrying his cross.  He complains that the cross is too heavy so he whittles it down a couple of times to make his burden lighter.  In the end we see that it is the person that dutifully carries the full weight of their cross to the end that is able to cross the gap. The one man's cross is now too short to cross it. The problem is that's bad theology. The Bible tells us that we can't do anything to earn our salvation.  We are able to gain access to the Father only by His grace—which is appropriated for us by placing our faith in him.  I responded to my friend's e-mail by sending back to him this Bible doodle I drew sometime ago. In the background you see a bridge that the man tried to build himself. In the trash can are the plans for his bridge that he discarded because his efforts are turning into a disaster.  With hammer still in hand he contemplates the idea of crossing the bridge of grace already provide for him.  I don't a lot of "preaching" on this blog, but it is my recommendation that you cross that bridge for yourself. I did and have never regretted doing so.

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The Sting is Gone

Tomorrow is Good Friday—a very special day for many people.  For those who follow Jesus, it is a time which commemorates the day when He destroyed the sting of death.

My wife thought this doodle was a bit strange.  Maybe a should take that as a compliment.  I like to create images which provoke thought.

You are welcomed to Copy & Share If You Dare this doodle.  I hope that it provokes some thought from the readers of your blog as well.


(And BTW, it's suppose to be a wasp and not a bee.  Wasp are a lot meaner than bees.  At least in my opinion.  It was three wasps that hit me the first time I got stung.  So, I've had it out for them ever since.)

He Wraps Himself in Light

There is a song that we sing in church that uses a line from Psalms 104:2 - "He wraps Himself in light as with a garement; He stetches out the heavens like a tent." One Sunday we were singing the song and the concept for this doodle hit me.  I started on it as soon as I got home.  To tell you the truth, I'm not totally happy with it.  On top of that, I'm not happy with how my scan of the illustration turned out.  So, I've been holding on to this for sometime.  Here it is for your viewing pleasure.

Having said all that, if you would be interested in purchasing this original bit of doodlery, then I would be happy wrap it up and ship it your way for the mere price of $49.99 (Plus $3.01 shipping and handling).  It's an 11x14 piece, drawn a card stock paper, in pen and color pencil.  So Purchase and Share (your money) If You Dare. (And yes, Eggy is included.)

Otherwise, feel free to express an opinion.  We artist types live on the comments from the larger public out there.

P.S. I'm kind of stoked about reaching 200 followers.  I'm always amazed that anyone would want to follow my madness. Thank you all.

Mo On the T'

This is just a quick doodle I did for the nice lady that is in charge of the Children's Bible Quizzing team at our church. She wanted something for the team's t-shirts.

I'm pretty much the resident doodler at our church. I don't mind. For me, it's a way of giving back something that I consider to be a gift from the Lord to me—my doodle-ability.

The children are studying Exodus this year and, as you Bible scholars out there already know, contains the story of Moses.

Haven't read it? Go ahead. It's a great read. I love the part about the frogs.

Copy & Share If You Dare. You might find a reason to use Mo on a t-shirt of your own.

In other news: I got another caricature done last night. Now I'm working on another t-shirt design that shouldn't take me too long. Then it's back to the request list and heading towards Christmas.

Be sure to check things out at the beginning of January. I'll be giving away another caricature and some prints to celebrate two years of blogging.

So stay "tooned!"

Even Us Wimps Can Be Strong

It is a reoccurring theme of the Bible that when we are weak, then we can be strong.

The challenge for me on this particular passage was to figure out how to illustrate God's power making a weakling strong. How would you do that?

Fire is often used to represent God's power and His presence. So, I decided to doodle a 90lb weakling surrounded by a body of fire on steroids. (Not that God would ever need to use steroids.)

I promise you that the truth of this verse has become real to me many times in my life.

Zechariah 4:6 “'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty."

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Blessings

I have many blessing in life. My wife. My children. My home. My halfway decent looks... to name just a few.

The friendships that I have made through this blog are some other blessings I am enjoying.

I love to draw. I consider my gifts in that area (such as they are) a blessing from God as well. I enjoy sharing that with you, and if you receive a blessing out of it, then I am blessed too.

It's another Copy & Share If You Dare doodle. Just bless me by dropping a note to tell me you're doin' it.

What more can I says, except... God bless you.

(Who sneezed?)