​
Cartoonist/Illustrator - Jeff Larson
Minnesota
SUPPORT
BP
  • HOME
  • BIBLE
    • OLD TESTAMENT >
      • LAW >
        • Genesis >
          • Genesis - Garden of Eden
          • Genesis after the Garden
          • Noah
          • Abraham
          • Isaac, Jacob, and Esau
          • Joseph
        • Exodus >
          • Exodus - text & toon
        • Leviticus
        • Numbers
        • Deuteronomy
      • HISTORY >
        • Joshua and Judges
        • 1 Samuel
        • 1 Samuel - David and Goliath
        • I & II Kings
        • Nehemiah
      • POETRY >
        • Job
        • Psalms
        • Proverbs
        • Ecclesiastes
        • Song of Solomon
      • PROPHETS >
        • MAJOR PROPHETS >
          • ISAIAH
          • Jeremiah, Daniel, Ezekiel, Lamentations
        • MINOR PROPHETS (ie Jonah)
    • NEW TESTAMENT >
      • GOSPELS
      • Acts
      • EPISTLES OF PAUL >
        • Romans
        • 1st Corinthians
        • 2nd Corinthians
        • Galatians
        • Ephesians
        • Philippians
        • Colossians, Thessalonias, Timothy, Titus, Philemon
      • GENERAL LETTERS >
        • Hebrews
        • James
        • 1 Peter, 2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, Jude
      • Revelations
  • CHURCH & FAMILY
    • CHURCH >
      • Preachers & Pastors
      • Worship
      • Church People
      • Baptism
      • Communion
      • Offerings, Giving & Tithing
      • Church Potluck
      • Coffee
      • The Church Body
      • Theology & Church History
      • Sunday School & Kids Ministry
    • FAMILY >
      • Dating & Marriage
      • Parents - Moms & Dads
      • Senior Citizens
  • FAITH WALK
    • PERSONAL >
      • BIBLE Reading
      • PRAYER
      • PRAISE
      • PURSUIT of God
      • Diet & Exercise
      • MONEY & Budget
    • SERVING - God & Others
    • SHARING - the gospel
    • The Christian Battle
    • ANGER v PEACE
    • Worry - stress, anxiety, etc
    • Faith
    • Forgiveness
    • Honesty
    • Temptation
    • The Holy Spirit - Gifts & Fruit
  • MISC.
    • ANIMALS >
      • HOUSE PETS >
        • Dogs
        • Cat
      • FARM ANIMALS >
        • Cows
        • Horse & Donkey & Camels?
        • Pigs & Hogs
        • POULTRY - Turkeys & Chickens
        • Sheep
      • Birds
      • Fish
      • WILDLIFE - deer, moose, bears, etc
      • Mosquito
      • Reptile - snakes, turtles, etc
    • TECHNOLOGY >
      • Computer
      • Smartphones & telephony
      • SCIENCE - math, cosmology, etc
      • TV - audio & video
    • Minnesota >
      • Snowman
    • Canada
    • Cars & Driving
    • Dear Crabby
    • Fashion
    • Politics and Elections
    • Redneck
    • Schools & Teachers cartoons
    • SICKNESS >
      • COVID-19 cartoons aka Coronavirus cartoons
  • HOLIDAYS
    • New Years Day
    • Valentines Day
    • St Patrick's Day
    • April Fools Day
    • Tax Day
    • Earth Day
    • Holy Week >
      • Palm Sunday
      • Last Supper & Gethsemane
      • Good Friday
      • EASTER
    • Mothers Day
    • Fathers Day
    • Memorial Day
    • 4th of July
    • Halloween
    • Veterens Day
    • Thanksgiving
    • CHRISTMAS - JESUS
    • CHRISTMAS - Santa >
      • Stocking Stuffers
  • SPORTS
    • OUTDOOR Sports >
      • Camping
      • Fishing
      • Hunting
    • TEAM Sports >
      • Baseball & Softball
      • Basketball
      • Football
      • ( FOOTBALL ) Packers & Vikings
      • Soccer
    • Running
    • Fighting
    • OTHER sports
  • ETERNITY
    • Heaven is home
    • Hell
  • More
    • USING CARTOONS
    • SUPPORT
    • Comments Welcome
  • BLOG
  • HOME
  • BIBLE
    • OLD TESTAMENT >
      • LAW >
        • Genesis >
          • Genesis - Garden of Eden
          • Genesis after the Garden
          • Noah
          • Abraham
          • Isaac, Jacob, and Esau
          • Joseph
        • Exodus >
          • Exodus - text & toon
        • Leviticus
        • Numbers
        • Deuteronomy
      • HISTORY >
        • Joshua and Judges
        • 1 Samuel
        • 1 Samuel - David and Goliath
        • I & II Kings
        • Nehemiah
      • POETRY >
        • Job
        • Psalms
        • Proverbs
        • Ecclesiastes
        • Song of Solomon
      • PROPHETS >
        • MAJOR PROPHETS >
          • ISAIAH
          • Jeremiah, Daniel, Ezekiel, Lamentations
        • MINOR PROPHETS (ie Jonah)
    • NEW TESTAMENT >
      • GOSPELS
      • Acts
      • EPISTLES OF PAUL >
        • Romans
        • 1st Corinthians
        • 2nd Corinthians
        • Galatians
        • Ephesians
        • Philippians
        • Colossians, Thessalonias, Timothy, Titus, Philemon
      • GENERAL LETTERS >
        • Hebrews
        • James
        • 1 Peter, 2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, Jude
      • Revelations
  • CHURCH & FAMILY
    • CHURCH >
      • Preachers & Pastors
      • Worship
      • Church People
      • Baptism
      • Communion
      • Offerings, Giving & Tithing
      • Church Potluck
      • Coffee
      • The Church Body
      • Theology & Church History
      • Sunday School & Kids Ministry
    • FAMILY >
      • Dating & Marriage
      • Parents - Moms & Dads
      • Senior Citizens
  • FAITH WALK
    • PERSONAL >
      • BIBLE Reading
      • PRAYER
      • PRAISE
      • PURSUIT of God
      • Diet & Exercise
      • MONEY & Budget
    • SERVING - God & Others
    • SHARING - the gospel
    • The Christian Battle
    • ANGER v PEACE
    • Worry - stress, anxiety, etc
    • Faith
    • Forgiveness
    • Honesty
    • Temptation
    • The Holy Spirit - Gifts & Fruit
  • MISC.
    • ANIMALS >
      • HOUSE PETS >
        • Dogs
        • Cat
      • FARM ANIMALS >
        • Cows
        • Horse & Donkey & Camels?
        • Pigs & Hogs
        • POULTRY - Turkeys & Chickens
        • Sheep
      • Birds
      • Fish
      • WILDLIFE - deer, moose, bears, etc
      • Mosquito
      • Reptile - snakes, turtles, etc
    • TECHNOLOGY >
      • Computer
      • Smartphones & telephony
      • SCIENCE - math, cosmology, etc
      • TV - audio & video
    • Minnesota >
      • Snowman
    • Canada
    • Cars & Driving
    • Dear Crabby
    • Fashion
    • Politics and Elections
    • Redneck
    • Schools & Teachers cartoons
    • SICKNESS >
      • COVID-19 cartoons aka Coronavirus cartoons
  • HOLIDAYS
    • New Years Day
    • Valentines Day
    • St Patrick's Day
    • April Fools Day
    • Tax Day
    • Earth Day
    • Holy Week >
      • Palm Sunday
      • Last Supper & Gethsemane
      • Good Friday
      • EASTER
    • Mothers Day
    • Fathers Day
    • Memorial Day
    • 4th of July
    • Halloween
    • Veterens Day
    • Thanksgiving
    • CHRISTMAS - JESUS
    • CHRISTMAS - Santa >
      • Stocking Stuffers
  • SPORTS
    • OUTDOOR Sports >
      • Camping
      • Fishing
      • Hunting
    • TEAM Sports >
      • Baseball & Softball
      • Basketball
      • Football
      • ( FOOTBALL ) Packers & Vikings
      • Soccer
    • Running
    • Fighting
    • OTHER sports
  • ETERNITY
    • Heaven is home
    • Hell
  • More
    • USING CARTOONS
    • SUPPORT
    • Comments Welcome
  • BLOG
Picture

8/30/2020

0 Comments

Distracted Prayers

 
Picture
​I love Matthew 6: 5-15, where Jesus teaches how we should pray, and I return to it often to remind me how I could better pray.

5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
9 “This, then, is how you should pray:
“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,

10 your kingdom come,
your will be done,
    on earth
as it is in heaven.

11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation,
    but deliver us from the evil one.’

14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.


Picture
Those are the beautiful calm words of Jesus on prayer and the power of prayer. In contrast this world plows forward without purpose like an rusty old truck without a muffler, blowing it's horn, leaking motor oil while all ready being two quarts low. This world is distracting, and without prayer, without our Lord this life does not go well.

So this brings me to a lazy Saturday morning where I was discussing life with my wife while eating an egg with toast, and drinking my daily allotment of coffee. Mary is a school teacher anxiously preparing for school that starts next week.  Also in our conversation Mary shared about a little baby boy born last week with some serious health unknowns.  With this in mind and  other issues in life we decided we should pray.  

Picture
As I started to pray out loud, our dog Cooper sniffed over to Mary's breakfast plate she was holding and started licking it.  Mary moved the plate across her body,  but Cooper was happy to move too.  So she then stacked it on the table out of reach. As we chuckled I  continued to pray only to be drowned out by loud engine sounds like on a race track from not too far away.  There are no race tracks near me but a classic car show was being held that day, and while a classic car show sounds like fun, it was distracting.  We chuckled again, then Cooper heard a neighbors car, a chipmunk crossing our yard, and/or maybe a gathering of 'nefarious cat lovers' up to no good at the end of the block.  No matter what it was he ran to the door barking.  We chuckled again, calmed our dog, and continued to pray.. finally my wife inserted.  AMEN.

It was funny, but we did persevere though if there was an angel nearby my wife and I could have been pulled over and ticketed for 'Praying while Distracted'.  Sorta like distracted driving for our prayer lives.

Now while this distracted prayer did not fit nicely into the Lord's teachings in Matthew 6 I know this sometimes is how our prayers look. I confess too often my prayers are fit into my day without setting aside a time to be QUIET.  Yes this world's dogs may bark, the engines roar, there is 24/7 entertainment and news available to us on our literal fingertips via our smartphones, TV, and the internet calling for our attention, but I know I should do a better job of being quiet, and pursuing God in this quiet. 

Again read..  
Mt 6:6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 

I am not at all saying, those quick prayers, and impromptu conversations with God are wrong.  I am simply wanting to encourage us to seek our Lord in the quiet without distractions using Matthew 6 as our model. Let the dogs bark, phones rings, and the world rage all while finding God's people quietly pursuing to be obedient to the Lord, and not man.
Picture

​May God bless each of you with a relationship with Him where your prayers become adoring conversations with our creator.  May we seek and are blessed with the quiet alone times with our God knowing He hears our prayers.

Jeff (distracted in the Back Pew) Larson

0 Comments

8/28/2020

1 Comment

Bring out your DEAD

 
Picture
First off for Covid-19 and this no good very bad year 2020 I claim Psalms 91:2,5-6
2 I will say of the Lord, 
He is my refuge & my 
fortress, 
.. 5 YOU WILL NOT
FEAR the terror of night,  
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the 
darkness, nor the plague that 
destroys at midday. 


Now onward and forward I go with today's blog..
​

Picture
Like a curbside garbage collection, Bring out your Dead was the title of a skit from Monty Python’s movie ..The Search of the Holy Grail. The setting was ‘Medieval Times’ where the Black Plague is running through the land. Those of you who have not seen this bit are rightfully cringing.. and it is dark humor done only Python can do.  

Well in my cartoon brain I segue to.. 'Bring Out Your Dead' is the message of the Gospels. Again, I am NOT making fun of sickness or death, but SIN is the Spiritual Black Plague on mankind since Adam .. separating man from our sinless God.

​

Then the Gospel of Jesus Christ calls out ‘Bring out your Dead!’ and I will give you LIFE.” In fact Jesus said..
"The thief (Satan) comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." John 10:10  

HOPE where there was despair, and LIFE in place of death.
​

Picture
I must admit in the face of this truth .. I am not always living the victorious life God intends because I am a bit of a worry junkie which flies in the face of the peace that passes all understanding that God intends for me (see 2 Corinthians 10:5, and Philippians 4:7) I am good at borrowing trouble from tomorrow and if not careful with all that borrowing.. I build up a 'trouble' debt!

BUT I WANT LIFE AND WANT IT TO THE FULL! Not full like a protestant at a potluck dinner.. but instead full of God's peace and perspective and love that goes beyond any earthly circumstance. 



Picture
So today is a good day to Bring out the dead in my life.. confess my fears failures, sins and trust that God's Grace, and be assured He is ALL THAT I NEED.  Jesus is LIFE in a world that is DEAD.  

Like Lazarus physically rising from the grave we are made spiritually alive in Christ.


Oh Death where is your victory? 
Oh Death where is your sting? 

I Corinthians 15:55



Picture

​May God bless each of you with LIFE TO THE FULL.. motivated by a love for God and others.

Jeff (I'm not dead yet) Larson




1 Comment

8/27/2020

0 Comments

My Freaky Fast Faith 2020

 
Supersized and drive through meals ... delivered freaky fast your way that are finger lickin' good. These are a few fast food 'conveniences' for our fast paced lives in the fast lane.  I am guilty of participating in both ordering my share of supersized McArtery Clogger Value Meals, and using the drive through for lunch, lattes, and my banking needs. Life is busy and there is a time and a place for fast food, and fast service but there is a time and a place to SLOW DOWN.  

Now as I segue to my faith journey.. I find awkward parallels to our fast food society.  
1. I want the blessings on my life supersized now please, 
2. I sometimes pray like I am using a drive thru window. I don't even slow down to say hello to God but place my order/prayer list with the angel stationed at my drive thru prayer window. And..
3. my patience for His answers rivals my belief that microwave popcorn still takes waaay too long. 

Picture
Picture
Picture
Moral of this blurb is..  God does listen to and answer my freaky fast faith moments (sometimes that is all I have), BUT how much better my perspective is when ..
  1. I slow down and savor quiet times with my Heavenly Father.
  2. My Prayers are not distracted and hurried, and
  3. My devotions/Bible reading is not fit in just before I go to bed and can hardly keep my eyes open. To slow down is good for my soul is like a great meal prepared for me.

Just like a home cooked meal prepared by my wife is something I savor, in the same way.. slowing down to listen to God and truly meditate on Him is delicious for my soul.  Think .. Thanksgiving Dinner for the Soul Psalms 23:5

There will be those times where freaky fast faith is all we have time for, but let's purposefully  slow down and make time with God that is more than a microwaved/reheated moment of spiritual nourishment.  Maybe a home cooked God's Family Meal... with desert.

Hmm.. I am getting hungry.
   
May God bless and use each of you for His glory in SUPERSIZED ways

Jeff (McBack Pew) Larson
0 Comments

8/25/2020

1 Comment

My First Marathon

 
Picture
As a sophomore in High School I was mistakenly selected as a runner for our varsity cross country team. In response to this challenge I finished..LAST in my very first race.  I could not see even with superman vision see a trace of the runner I saved from being last. I was quickly demoted to the Junior Varsity team for the rest of the season as I simply was not physically a strong enough runner to compete with varsity athletes.

My senior year I returned to cross country running with the goal of conditioning for the upcoming basketball. I ran JV again while the varsity team made it all the way to run in the State Finals finishing 6th.  Me on the other hand was an alternate for the state team but then broke my BIG TOE in a pick up game and.. missed most of the entire basketball season. 
Hence, my high school accomplishments as an runner were underwhelming.​

At this point in my young life.. running is treating me badly!  Running is not my friend... UNTIL

Picture
Then the running community was all a buzz (not really) as I returned to competitive distance running by participating in MY FIRST MARATHON. Yes, on October 4th, 2009 I participated in and completed the Twin Cities Marathon. Thank you, thank you.

Ok, let me clarify, I participated as a fan only cheering on my daughter in law Laura and her sister Erin, BUT HEY.. it was a long day for me too.

There were several times where I did not think I would make it as I drank too much coffee at the different mile stops and the lines to the porta-pots were long. BUT.. in the last few miles we drove to a local restaurant where I sat down to eat some sweet potato fries with my wife, daughter and son at mile 21. After this much needed nourishment I could see the finish line was in my reach, and so completed my first marathon just over 5 hours after I first began.

Picture
Admittedly watching the Twin Cities Marathon, and running it are not the same thing, but let me share that I was tired, and did go home and take a nap. 

Marathon Runners: Now on to those who do like to 'say' they like to run. I once had a  pastor friend who has run many a marathon. My good friend Bryan Anderson combines long distance races with winter weather by participating in cross country ski races. Hmm .. COLD WEATHER + ENDURANCE SPORTS.. in my way of looking at it.. 'two negatives do not equal a postive'... and 2 wrongs don't make a right.  Bryan's brother Jim has ran marathons in all 50 states, as well as  marathons in other parts of the world including China.  

Picture
While most of us have not run one marathon kudos to those who have.  BUT for runners and non-runners alike we need to all be about what the Apostle Paul describes as... Running the Good Race.. but I take this scripture as an excellent spiritual metaphor.
​

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.  1 Cor 9:24
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:7
However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me. Acts 20:24
​


Picture
I do remember the discipline of training for Cross Country races in High School. I did not enjoy it and was not a gifted runner, but it did prepare me for the upcoming races.  The exhaustion and pain found in training and competing I would not call it happy, but it was satisfying when I found I was prepared for the competition.

Very much in the same way to prepare my body, mind, and soul to run this life for God takes discipline. It will be met with hardships, and the race will not be easy. This secular world has IMO is against (not just indifferent to) Christians. To be faithful to our God in these days and in the year 2020 is a race that we must take serious. This is not the time to stop off for sweet potato fries at mile marker 21. This is a time to press on and to honor God with all the moments that make up our days.  In all things TO GOD BE THE GLORY

So this completes my running ramble. This is not a call to be sedentary, but this is a time to run the good race and fight the good fight. 
.
May God find us all faithful, and REMEMBER running is a spiritual metaphor.. no need to buy new running shoes.

Jeff (Happy Trails) Larson

1 Comment

8/24/2020

2 Comments

The Great FLAME MAIL of 2011

 
Picture
Today, I am remembering the great FLAME MAIL of 2011.

let me begin by saying I do not expect everyone to agree with me and in fact I would not advise everyone to agree with me all the time, BUT.. bottom-line I believe God loves everyone, but requires a repentant heart seeking Him.... as outlined in John 3:16.


So with all this out there, I want to post the last words from my disgruntled reader from 2011. I am not doing this to mock him but I think it is interesting how upset this man was. I do feel sorry that he was this upset with me, BUT.. what's a cartoonist to do? <pause>.. DRAW!

I tried words, the replied to his email with images and comments from the Back Pew. Forgive me if you think this is taunting or mocking.. I do not intend this, but I do want to put this to rest.. as my frustration has subsided,


As any reader of the Back Pew realizes, I am not a theologian, I am not a pastor, but instead I am just a guy who 'draws' (cartoon) unto to the Lord so he will draw near to me.

note: Twitter & Facebook have now become the home of spiritual flame-throwing.  These are places where disagreements escalate into cries of FALSE TEACHER or HERETIC.  Maybe many of these tweets are true, but I am not sure Social Media is the best forum for deciding who goes to Heaven and who goes to Hell.

now without delay.. here is the flaming email from 2011.


Picture
-- BEGINNING from the computer of the frowning flamer-- dateline: 1/19/2011, around 3pm CST
I  continued to write because you are wrong, you are a double-minded man.
I continued to write because you cannot defend what you believe.  Goodness, you couldn't even answer a few simple verses!
I continued to write because I am duty bound as a Christian to do so.
You have no idea who Calvin or Luther or Knox or Kennedy or Sproul are.
You know you're ignorant.  You know you know nothing about theology.  You have no training at all, and what you do have, is so off base on even an Arminain or Reformed perspective (you espouse a Universalist theology--  and you are bound for Hell if you persist!) .  Yet you will persist.
What a two-faced hypocrite.  And a scared one at that, writing all those verses and then telling me I couldn't respond.  What a joke you are.
What kind of man are you, where you can't even defend what you think in any kind of coherent manner?
Don't bother writing back.  I've unsubbed from your nonsense blurbs, and have blocked your e-mail.
You will be in Hell if you continue in your Universalist beliefs (again, look that term up, as you don't even know what it is).

-- END from the computer of the frowning flamer-- dateline: 1/19/2011, around 3pm CST



Picture
Ouch.. I am a bit slow some times, but .. I don't think this guy likes me. So let me post the same comments with a few Back Pew images inserted as I see fitting. I think in Proverbs it says .. 'If life gives you lemons, make lemonade.. or if you are a cartoonist, draw cartoons'.

-- BEGINNING same FLAME w/ BP Rebuttals -- dateline: 1/19/2011, around 3pm CST
- I
  continued to write because you are wrong, you'er a double-minded man.
- I continued to write because you cannot defend what you believe.  Goodness, you coulnd't even answer a few simple verses!

I can't argue this.. I know I struggle with migraines, and I bruise like a peach.

Picture
- I continued to write because I am duty bound as a Christian to do so.
thanks.. I guess.. but please put down those stones!
- You have no idea who Calvin or Luther or Knox or Kennedy or Sproul are.
and I know Kennedy was the Catholic president. (well at least I got three right.. didn't I?)
No? Really?
- You know you're ignorant. 
(note: if i am ignorant, i probably don't know it.. since isn't that the problem with being ignorant?.. you just don't know)
- You know you know nothing about theology.  You have no training at all, and what you do have, is so off base on even an Arminain or Reformed perspective (you espouse a Universalist theology--  and you are bound for Hell if you persist!) .  Yet you will persist.

Picture
Sorry, not a universalist.. I believe in Heaven, and Hell. John 3:16 gives us the great news God loves us.. BUT.. the ball is in our court. We must believe, and we must honor God with our lives... in words and deeds. Very serious stuff.. but very very good.
- What a two-faced hypocrite.  And a scared one at that, writing all those verses and then telling me I couldn't respond. 
- What a joke you are.

ahhh so you have been reading my emails. I am like everyone.. I need Jesus daily... and I like jokes. <pause> is that what you meant by me being a joke? Maybe not... again.. the above noted ignorance is bliss

Picture
- What kind of man are you, where you can't even defend what you think in any kind of coherent manner?
but i did pass the pop quiz at our church last Sunday .. so I pay attention sometimes.
- Don't bother writing back.  I've unsubbed from your nonsense blurbs, and have blocked your e-mail.
You will be in Hell if you continue in your Universalist beliefs (again, look that term up, as you don't even know what it is).

Well.. On your way out, don't let the door hit ya, where the good Lord split ya.
-- END same FLAME w/ BP Rebuttals -- dateline: 1/19/2011, around 3pm CST

Picture
So again, a cartoon rebuttal is what I do. Most of it is tongue-in-cheek.. I pray today we are kind to each other. That our words are well chosen, and have meaning.  As Christians there is a spiritual urgency that is different from our Secular world causing great angst and division.. BUT ALSO.. within the church there is also great angst and division.  It is ok (very OK ) to disagree with each other, but I pray we are respectful and kind, and understanding.

May God bless each of you in your pursuit of His truth. Love God with all your heart, and be kind to each other.

Jeff (a bit singed) Larson

Final note:  A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 15:1 ESV.
While I was flamed in the above email, I am reminded and  convicted to do better myself.  I can be direct, terse, and think skinned at times in my words. I pray for forgiveness and desire to do better.

2 Comments

8/22/2020

1 Comment

Messiah for.. President?

 
Picture
The Messiah is here! We will all be saved by the 2020 Presidential Election!  ??

hmmm .. not so much

I was listening to the radio a few election years back on the way to vote, and there was an interview with a young woman who took her daughter out of school to vote. This woman was so excited to vote for president saying.. “I have hope for the first time in my life.  I won’t have to worry about putting gas in my car or paying my mortgage because if I help ‘him’ with my vote.. ‘he’ will help me.”

I actually heard this with my own ears… I am not embellishing!  I quickly drove to  my place of voting  hopeful to see if Jesus Christ was on the ballot.  He was not.

​I hope to think her point was made with a broad brush speaking to a big picture of hope, but it still made me cringe. Truth is.. UNLESS the candidate she votes for owns the gas station chain she frequents, and owns the mortgage note on her house .. her hope is NOT found in either candidate. 

Oh, and who we vote for should be based on God's Truth,  and not persuaded by a meddling MSM.

Picture
Picture
Don't get me wrong,  it matters who we vote for. It matters who is president. Our politicians form our laws, approve judges, and in these laws either obey or disobey God's Truths.  This is why we vote. But let's be clear we vote for a President of the USA, not Pastor of the USA. 

BUT BACK to the point of this blog.  While voting is important, and who we choose will make a difference this country will move, BUT no matter who is elected neither candidate is Jesus Christ and he will NOT be the Messiah. 

​
POTUS  is NOT the chosen one. Neither Trump nor Biden is our savior.
Picture
What this country needs most is a real REVIVAL where the hearts and minds of Americans seek God's first.  Happy is the nation whose God is the Lord, not happy is the nation whose god is whoever you want him/her to be.  

There is only one God .. PERIOD, and America needs to HONOR Him not apologize for Him. 

‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets (and elections?) hang on these two commandments.”  Matthew 22:37-39

Picture

In conclusion, Pray for our leaders, pray his  will to be found in their actions and words.. but Pray to Jesus (our Messiah) as our hope is in the one true God.

Back Pew blessings to all and.. in November vote early, and vote OFTEN! ( a little Chicago politics corruption humor)

I am Jeff Larson, and I approve of this message.

Jeff (voting my faith) Larson

1 Comment

8/21/2020

0 Comments

Making fun of Pentecostals?

 
Picture
Now how is that for a catchy title?  I can divide my readership all in that one phrase.. IF I meant it.. and I do not.  I REPEAT I DO NOT!

No it was not sweeps week in the Christian blog biz, and I did not use this title to roll my eyes ( no holy roller pun intended ) at those who would are a bit more charismatic than me.  Truth be told.. WOOD is more charismatic than I am.

You see I was brought up in a wonderful small town little white church (both the building and the people) in Cable Wisconsin.. this is where I accepted Jesus into my heart when I was 6 years old.  I appreciate my church upbringing, and the people who made up my church heritage. 

Picture
The denomination was Christian Missionary Alliance (protestant) which was founded by A.B. Simpson, and like the 'Apostle' John (Denver) sang.. “Thank God I’m a Country Boy!”

So what does any of this have to do with being Pentecostal or charismatic?  Literally Nothing. 

There was an Assembly of God church in town, and they were the 'other' Christians.  There was also a Lutheran, Catholic, and Congregational church.. and truth be told I did not know much about any of them.  The funny (not funny) baggage I picked up on was that our church was the good one, and the other churches.. well .. while there I am sure are Christians in those churches.. but my church was the one doing it the right way.  This was not taught to me, but this was my tainted perception.

Picture
Now fast forward 40+ years from when I accepted Jesus at age 6, and for about a year I found myself attending a small church that would describe themselves as charismatic and Pentecostal.  

Doesn’t God have a great sense of humor?

We were there because my daughter Erin had connected with a youth group that is the best I could pray for.  In this little charismatic church my daughter was loved and taught to love God and others. Though the energy, hand raising, and some dancing of sorts during worship stretched my comfort zone.. the teaching was down to Earth, AND also recognized the healing and amazing power of God for our lives. 

Picture
I don’t speak in tongues nor do I pursue it BUT I desire to NEVER PUT A LID ON how God may work, how God may heal, how God may speak, and how God may choose to work through his people or how he may choose to work in me.

You may be wondering where I am going with this.. so here is my point.  Just like Republican, or Democrat are labels of man, so is Baptist, Lutheran, Catholic, Pentecostal, OR any other denomination man's theological labels.  Love God with all your heart soul and mind, and love others as you love yourself!  These are the greatest commandments, and all other laws and DENOMINATIONS (should be) built on this. 

Picture
So while being a Christian cartoonist and self proclaimed humorist I do find Charismatics make me smile and roll my eyes sometimes.. but I must be honest that we all are pretty funny in our differences.  And.. VIVA LA DIFFERENCE!

One body, many parts.. and plenty of room for those who want to raise their hands, dance, speak in tongues, don’t speak in tongues, cry, laugh, shout halleluiah, shout amen brother, or sit on ample butt while all worshiping God. Our God is big.  He is too big to be put into a man made box with any denomination label sticker on it.  This is the good news, .. this is GREAT news.


Picture
Love God, love others, love yourself.. SMILE MON!!  Thus declares Jeff.. Pentecostal in training.

I pray God would bless and use His people as they serve Him. I pray God gives us appreciation for those who obviously love the Lord and serve Him but may worship differently than we do.  AGAIN.. The Church is one body, many parts as He designed.


Jeff (hand raiser now sometimes) Larson

Note: Since the original writing of this email, we no longer attend this Pentecostal church, but I pray I never forget the lessons of taking the lid off what is possible when God is present. Is this Pentecostal thinking? Maybe, AND it certainly is biblical.


0 Comments

8/20/2020

0 Comments

Awkward .. Then & Now

 
Picture
THIS LIFE is filled with awkward moments. For example,
  • I am horrible at remembering names.. leaving me saying .. "Hey.. 'you' how are you doing?" and..
  • I remember a time walking briskly down a street in public on an equally brisk fall day, I could feel the cool air on my face.. and felt a draft.. realizing my pants zipper was down. 
    side note: I remember a pastor at church in my home town with a similar zipper dilemma until his teenage daughters, and his wife 'deftly' signaled to him his own 'wardrobe malfunction'.  

Ok, TMI I know, but in reading my Bible I discover I am not the only one with awkward moments to deal with.
​

Picture
​There were miracles a plenty.. in my Bible leaving mouths hanging open speechless at the power of God. But of course as a cartoonist and self-declared humorist awkward silence in between the verses retelling these stories are a fine place for a awkward one-liners. For example, when..
  • the Red Sea is parted, and you see this moment as a SEA HALF FULL
  • you encounter a GIANT on the battle field, and SPRING A LEAK
  • God Floods the Earth and you MISSED THE BOAT 

Picture
 or when..

  • you are attacked by a Jewish Marching band
  • you go to battle armed with Jars & Trumpets
  • in battle you are KILLED BY A WOMAN!? shhhh.
  • Eve asked the age old question.. "do I look fat?"
​

Picture
  or when.. 

  • Adam and Eve sinned, but passed the BLAME
  • Camp Sanitation guidelines are detailed. 
  • Abraham is 'painfully' obedient to God at age 99
  • or explaining why you only have one hand

​all of the above and more from the the very pages of our Bibles cry.. AWKWARD!


Picture

BUT.. that was THEN.. This is NOW
The above are just a few moments that make me collectively cringe, smirk, and then realize the more things change the more they stay the same. 

Today's world is still so very awkward in response to this life and God. We as Christians are to be in this world but not to be of this world, but awkwardly we attempt to do both.  We reason.. 'Jesus is love so I should be about loving others'.. BUT.. in doing so we embrace the sins of this world.  AWKWARD.

If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. John 15:19 
​Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 1 John 2:15


Picture
So I pray we all stand strong for our God.. unwavering examples of His truth, and do so in love. To stand faithful in our words and deeds is to honor God and be a testimony to mankind.

May God bless and use each of you this day in ways that are beyond your dreams and even in the awkward moments of life.
​
Blessings

Jeff (sitting awkwardly in the Back Pew) Larson

0 Comments

8/19/2020

1 Comment

Jesus loves me.. GO FIGURE!

 
Picture
The Bible in many ways is a RULE BOOK FOR LIFE, but beyond the Bible lists of Dos and Don’ts I find JESUS LOVES ME.  Not actually beyond this but wrapped around these rules for life is the truth Jesus loves me.  

The Bible also includes many great and powerful acts of God ..


In the Old Testament there was..
  • The Big Bang aka Creation 
  • The Big Boat aka Ark and The Big Flood
  • The Big Boy.. Goliath defeated by a Shepherd Boy
  • The Big Fish (aka Jaws.. the prequel ) that swallowed up Jonah
  • The Big Crossing of the Red Sea on Dry Land
  • The Big Cats (aka Lions) and the un-eaten Daniel

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
In the Gospels Jesus ..
  • turned water into wine,
  • healed the blind, the sick, and even
  • raised Lazarus from the dead.
  • walked on water, and
  • rose from the dead after being crucified for our sins
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture

​but.. with all these jaw dropping miracles they all are just very loud clanging cymbals with the great truth Jesus loves me and He loves you! 

Jesus loves me, this is know.. cute Sunday School song, but.. why would the creator of this world love?  It’s a miracle. 

While It is nearly impossible to get to know the preacher in any modern day big church (no knock on big) but in contrast our omniscient, omnipresent creator is involved with His creation to the point where all the above mentioned miracles and all the details in between occurring from Genesis 1 through this moment is NOT indifferent to His creation, though mankind often walks the other way, God is always there.  <-- side note: I just completed a 72 word run-on sentence of truth.


Picture
The words in our Bibles shout the truth of a personal God who loves us enough to send His us his son. From the Old Testament stories of providence, to the gospels of Jesus Christ, to the Acts of the first church, to the Revelations to John of what is to come... these are all LOVE STORIES from a loving God! 

​An indifferent God would not be so involved or patient with mankind and it's often prone to wonder actions of free will.


So In this 24/7 world of distractions from our creator, let’s realize JESUS LOVES US, and live out in response God's two greatest commandments.  Love the Lord your God will all your heart, soul, and mind and others as yourself. 


Jesus love me this I know! Go figure!  Peace be Still!  Jesus love me this I know!  The rest is details.

Jeff (Jesus loves me this I know) Larson

sidepoint: I bought a coffee coaster that says.. Jesus loves you, BUT I'm His favorite. While this is of course not true ( He loves us all the same ) but I thought it was a cute smirky coaster.
1 Comment

8/18/2020

2 Comments

The Alcatraz of my Mind 2020

 
Picture
I wrote this blog a couple years ago, and found it fitting today more than ever in 2020.

2 Corinthians 10:5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

With this  great scripture in mind, I feel sometimes like I  am serving 60 years to life in the Alcatraz of my Mind. Instead of holding every thought captive obedient to Christ I may wander and become a captive to my  thoughts.  

Picture

In these times my weary brain becomes lost  in the tasks of another anxious day living in this very broken spinning out  of control world leaving me frazzled, weary, and  downright .. pouty. 

Now pouty may be cute when it is  my 4 year old granddaughter, but when it is 63 year old Jeff.. just ask my wife Mary, it's not cute.


So what  do I  do?  I read aloud again 2 Corinthians 10:5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Picture

To be very frank, 2020 a dumpster fire of a year. It is the year of Covid-19, race tensions rivaling the 1960s, anarchist groups like Antifa, and BLM , and civil disobedience all wrapped up in an Election year where the MSM has become the National Enquirer with an agenda that has little to do with reporting the news.  When STORY is more important to the MSM than TRUTH, we have a problem.

So how does 2 Corinthians 10:5 fit in to 2020?  I believe It fits in perfectly.
  • My hope is not in man and certainly not the goodness of man.
  • My hope is my Savior Jesus Christ not any man
  • My hope is in my Creator, not the 2020 elections.  and..
  • My hope is my God who is greater than any pandemic panic.

When 2020 shouts "PANIC.. It's the end of the world!".. I must take that panic and make it obedient to Christ. My prayer is to be found faithful and trusting in Him now more than ever.  ​

Picture
This will be my life long process  of returning to  this scripture truth when my anxious, jealous,  lazy, angry, compromised etc etc thoughts occupy the podium in my brain. Christ must be the answer.. He is my hope. So here ya go Jesus.. THANKS!

May God bless  each of you this  day where God's perfect Truth & Love  is  the answer when your thoughts are have you locked in the cell next to mine on the  Alcatraz of  your Mind.

​Jeff

2 Comments
Previous

    Author

    The mutterings on life and faith by cartoonist Jeff Larson

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014

    Categories

    All
    4th Of July
    Abraham
    Addiction
    Adoption
    Alcohol
    Angels
    Anger
    Animals
    Anniversary
    Anxiety
    Apostle Paul
    Armor Of God
    Assurance
    Attitude
    Awkward
    Baby
    Bible
    Bible Reading
    Big Bang
    Birth
    Blessings
    Boredom
    Cell Phones
    Christians
    Christmas
    Church
    Coffee
    Cold
    Computers
    Creation
    Creed
    Darkness
    Dating
    Death
    Despair
    Devil
    Diet
    Dogs
    Donkey
    Drinking
    Driving
    Easter
    Education
    Ego
    Elections
    Entertainment
    Eternity
    Evil
    Evolution
    Excuses
    Faith
    Faithful
    Family
    Fathers
    Fear
    Fight
    Fishing
    Follow
    Food And Coffee
    Free Will
    Friends
    Full Armor Of God
    Gender
    Genesis
    Gifts
    God
    God's Love
    God's Word
    Good Friday
    Gospel
    Grace And Forgiveness
    Happiness
    Health
    Heaven
    Heaven And Hell
    Heritage
    Holidays
    Holiness
    Holy Spirit
    Holy Week
    Honesty
    Hope
    Humlity
    Hunting
    Insurance
    Intolerance
    Jesus
    Jesus Loves Me
    Joy
    Judas
    Judgement
    Justice
    Kindness
    Life
    Light
    Love
    LOVE GOD
    Loving God
    Marriage
    Meditation
    Microagression
    Miracles
    Misc
    Missions
    Moderation
    Money
    Mother
    Music
    NARCISSISM
    New-year
    New Year Resolutions
    Noah
    Obedience
    Obedient
    Old Testament
    Opinions
    Other
    Pain
    Palm Sunday
    Patriotism
    Peace
    Pets
    Politics
    Poor
    Pouting
    Power
    Prayer
    Preachers
    Pregnancy
    Presents
    Prodigal
    Profanity
    Psalms
    Purpose
    Pursuit Of God
    Quiet
    Redeemed
    Redneck
    Repentance
    Rescue
    Resolutions
    Respect
    Ressurection
    Resurrection
    Revival
    Rich
    Right And Wrong
    Running
    Rush Hour
    Safety
    Salvation
    Santa Claus
    School
    Science
    Seat Belts
    Secular
    Seeking God
    Selfish
    Senior Citizens
    Serving
    Serving God
    Sin
    Small Town
    Society
    Spirit Of God
    Sports
    St Patricks Day
    Suffering
    Tax Day
    Technology
    Temple
    Thanksgiving
    Tradition
    Trust
    Trusting God
    Truth
    TV
    Victory
    Video Games
    Voting
    Walk The Talk
    Wealth
    Weary
    Weather
    Winter
    Witness
    Women
    Work
    Worry
    Worship
    Worship God
    Wrong

    RSS Feed

Back Pew - Draw Close to God
116 pages of cartoons of 'Clean Humor & God's Truth'

CRITICS ARE SAYING..
  • The Back Pew (vol 1) offers spiritual insights rarely found in 'most' coloring books.
  • On a good day The Back Pew is.. Gary Larson's The Farside goes to church!
  • On a bad day The Back Pew (vol 1) is still useful under the leg of an uneven coffee table.
Laughter is just a CLICK away
-click- HAHAHAHA! 

$9.99
christian cartoons, the back pew
PERMISSIONS
COMMENTS
DONATE
©2019 Jeff Larson - All Rights Reserved