Cartoonist/Illustrator - Jeff Larson
Minnesota
 It is election time in America... READY or NOT and so I am sharing my '2022 Voters Guide'... READY or NOT At a glance, it appears again to be a choice between candidate 'Tweedle-dee' or candidate 'Tweedle-dum'. Over the last few months my US mailbox has become a fire hazard as the daily collection of election flyers pile up. And Nightly my senses are bombarded with the TV political ads filling almost every bit of commercial air time declaring which candidates are the 'chosen' and which ones by contrast were purely Satan's spawn.
 Then, just like that. POOF all the advertisements are gone after election day. It's like the circus came to town, then in the night the big tents and carnies are all packed up and gone not to be seen again until the next election in two years. The question is... Does my vote matter? After all my choices were tweedle-dee and tweedle-dum. Do we just pick a 'tweedle' or do we vote on issues? It is discouraging as it appears nothing ever changes after those 'tweedles' are elected. They seem to fit right into the government grid-locked like all the other previously elected tweedle lego pieces in a 500,000-piece government bureaucracy lego set.  But ironically even with all the above being true... It matters greatly who we vote for. Those elected officials, write the laws that govern our country, and to a large extent the collective morality in our society. Please don't vote just for a party because you always have been a democrat or republican. Vote for candidate who most closely has a Biblical World View.  Of course, the media and many progressive churches call voting according to a Biblical World View something that smells of Christian Nationalism. The term Christian Nationalism has become the new boogie man attempting to shame Christians who vote with God in mind. Personally, I love my God, and I love my country.. but I do not confuse the two. Just like I love my wife and I love pizza, but do not confuse the two. Nuff said. So I would like to encourage all Christians to... Pray, Listen to God, understand the issues, repent, and then Vote. And sadly, never in my lifetime have traditional Biblical morality been under a greater attack. Let me cite a few obvious examples.
 Those tweedles we vote for will legislate on the above issues and so many more. So again, choose your 'tweedles' wisely and prayerfully. Please pray for election integrity, and our country returns to a Biblical World View. In the mean time I know no matter the outcome of this or any election, my God is sovereign and this is where I place my faith not in any tweedle-dee or dum. So this concludes my 2022 Back Pew Voters Guide. Jeff Below are a few straggler election day toons.
10/20/2022 Shootout at the Ludzack CorralAbout once a year I like to share MY TALE from the Old (1965?) Mid-West, but just like any Clint Eastwood Western ie... The Good the Bad and the Ugly, or The Unforgiven.. this story of Justice with six-shooters blazing begs to be retold. A while back a TV docudrama on the history of the American West. It was a time when Wyatt Earp, Billy the Kid, and Jesse James 'with theirsecond amendment rights intact' lived large in the tales of lawman versus Lawbreaker.  This brought my mind back to 57 years ago on the (MID)Western frontier of Cable Wi (population 280-maybe) when I served as an 8-year-old lawman working with my deputy and 6-year-old friend David Larson. It was a time of lawlessness where 'big talk' and 'big guns' (cap & pop alike) were a way of life. Bad blood had been brewing since Sunday School the previous Sunday when Dastardly Dick Ludzack and BadNews Bryan Anderson AGAIN refused to sing Jesus loves me this I know and talked big about "singin' is for girls." This type of brash defiance of our Lord could not be tolerated. The time for words (or singin' Jesus loves me) was over. Justice must be served. So just a few days later September 14, 1965 (right after school) Deputy Dave and myself traveled to the Ludzack Farm on the east side of town to bring these brazen lawbreakers to justice. If justice came at the end of a rope or smokin' guns... So be it. This day would later be known as The Shootout at Ludzack Farm. (kinda like an elementary school version of the Shootout at the OK Corral)  When we arrived at the Ludzack Farm we learned Dastardly and BadNews were camped out on the North side of the family barn, so we quickly set up just on the Southeast corner as news traveled they were heading south along the east side of this same barn. We were ready but knew they would not surrender without a fight. Both sides brandished enough Guns & Ammo to make the NRA blush.
Tension was in the air as Dastardly & BadNews turned the southeast corner and were met with our guns a-blazin'. BLAM, BLAM, PEW, PEW, BANG, BANG. and POP. This gunfight was over before it started. As the smoke from our cap guns lifted it was clear by their (imaginary/implied) bullet-riddled bodies both Dastardly & Badnews had their 'come-up-ins'. There would be no trial, and no chance for dem boys to redeem themselves and sing like choir boys next Sunday morning cuz... THEY WUZ DEAD. Except.. out of the silence BadNews Bryan (always hated him) shouted "Uh-uh" you missed me, and you are both DEAD cuz I shot you both in the HEAD." BadNews was always good with a Rhyme. This was such a grand lie! Such a big fib that 57 years later I am surprised Bryan thinks he has a chance at Heaven. This just ruined my day. I came to this town to bring law and order, and I am thwarted by a 7-year-old and those weak words. Uh-uh! I was so mad I went home and told my MOM. Thinking back to those lawless times in the fall of 1965 I am haunted by my failure to bring to justice those no-good lyin' snakes Bad News Bryan Anderson and Dastardly Dick. What kind of civilization do we have when we refuse to be dead. Though I am no longer a lawman the story is not over as BadNews was the best man and Dastardly an usher in my wedding in 1984. And I now meet BadNews almost every week for lunch where we reminisce on those days gone by in the Wild Wild mid-West. You know what they say, keep your friends close, and your ENEMIES closer. Better sleep with one eye open BadNews. Happy Trails Jeff (dreaming of exercising my second amendment rights since 1965) Larson note: Spiritual lesson for the day? Make your peace with the Lord before you have your 'come-up-ins'. 10/14/2022 PRAYER is ... and is not For some time now I have been using The Lord's Prayer as my prayer model. After all, Jesus taught His disciples this prayer and it covers all the bases (adoration, service, needs, forgiveness, and avoiding temptation). The Lord's Prayer is wise also in that it keeps our prayers from becoming simply narcissistic endeavors. Without structure, our prayers often meander down life's road while we mumble off and on to God who we have sitting in the way backseat of our prayer mobile (such as it is) Between songs on the radio and checking our Twitter feed we barely say "Hi" to God and so truly seeking Him is not on the radar.  Oh without a doubt we can turn to the Lord in times of need, we can cut to the chase nd cry "HELP ME LORD!" and know that He always hears us, and God's answers are wiser than our prayers. But over the years I have from time to time treated prayer as if I was the center of the universe. I would not think that was true, but.. now that I model my prayers after 'The Lord's Prayer I realize my prayer life was weak. Like a kid sitting on Santa's Lap with my Christmas list than I did someone who foremost desired to be a servant of God.
 Q. So, am I in love with the creator of the world that loves me, or just a needy churchgoer looking for a Genie in the lamp with unlimited wishes? So how should we pray? Jesus instructed His disciples.. in Matthew 6:5-15 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, (REALIZE HOW GREAT GOD IS) 10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. (HOW CAN I SERVE YOU, GOD? 11 Give us today our daily bread. (LORD PLEASE PROVIDE FOR MY NEEDS) 12 And forgive us our debts, (FORGIVE ME OF MY SINS) as we also have forgiven our debtors. (BE FORGIVING OF OTHERS) 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ (LORD KEEP ME FROM TEMPTATION) 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. I am curious what others of you use as a model for your prayer life. Please share as I would love to learn more from others. No matter the method I pray we all become men and women known for our prayers to our God who is deserving of our worship and adoration.
Love God, love others and the rest is details. ... AMEN Blessings Jeff 9/18/2022 A Change in SPIRIT This Christian Journey is not for cowards. I have found myself often on that roller coaster of highs and lows, good times and bad with the constant being our God who exists from everlasting to everlasting Ps 90:2. This Christian Journey is hard work and should be a constant cycle of PRAYER (James 5:16), OBEDIENCE (Deuteronomy 13:4), LOVE (1 Corinthians 13:4-7), and then REPEAT ... until that day our journey ends in Heaven. Note: My theology above is gleaned from a favorite T-Shirt of mine.  I continue to make mistakes on this journey and am a good old-fashioned sinner. I don't do it right but by His Grace, I am forgiven and led further down this beautiful Christian Journey. This brings me to today where I have great angst over the state of this world and the church of which I am a part. The moral compass of America today is far from God, and the church as a whole in my opinion is much more concerned about offending our secular/pagan society than they are about offending God. So without going into details this week has brought me to the point of screaming. Well screaming inside my head. God, please save us!  Then just this last Thursday after praying and reading my Bible I was back to reading (audiobooks) a novel by Ted Dekker called the Rise of the Mystics. In this book, the main character Rochelle learns to see the world not through our physical eyes, but through spiritual or spirit-led eyes. Doing this allowed Rochelle to see everything differently and through eyes of love instead of her physical eyes seeing how bad everything and everyone was. The fear she had was now replaced with a new perspective that her life or death was not the end. Rochelle was led to listen to the promptings of her spiritual eyes, and trust in God for the answers. Like the movie the Matrix times a billion.  It is like the story in Daniel where Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were to be thrown into the fiery furnace Daniel 3:16-18 16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us[c] from Your Majesty’s hand. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” spoiler alert: God did deliver them. THIS is God's Spirit working mightily in man. God delivered Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego BUT even if He did not they would obey God and not compromise with Godless Laws even if it cost them their lives in a FIERY FURNACE.  So this finally runs full circle to me. I choose today in this world where wrong is the new right to obey God not man no matter the consequences. I pray for the church to open its spiritual eyes and be obedient, unapologetic, and strong when the world persecutes us. Remember John 15:19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Ok, that's it. I pray for all of us to 1. daily seek the Lord in prayer, 2. be in His word, and 3. ask for His Holy Spirit to fill each of us so that we see this world through His Eyes, not our physical ones. Let's change our perspective from lost hope to total HOPE IN HIM.
May God bless each of you and lead you with His Spirit, AMEN! 9/5/2022 Back (Pew) to School again School Days, School Days.. Dear old Golden Rule days ' Reading and 'riting and 'rithmetic Taught to the tune of the hick'ry stick' hick’ry stick? So NOT politically correct! but.. I LIKE IT! Back to school begins traditionally the day after Labor day here in Minnesota. Parents, students, and teachers transition from vacations, picnics, and the beach to a world of chalk dust, text books, report cards, and a possible trip to the principle's office.  CHALK DUST bites the DUST Of course chalk dust is becoming a part of old school urban legend. I-Pads and smart phones are the tools (and distractions) of today's student. They say.. You are only as smart as your.. smartphone? Then the timeless excuse 'My dog ate my homework" has been upgraded for our high speed high tech society with.. "my wi-fi was down", or "a computer virus ate my homework". Also, Notes passed between students has been 'HI-TECHED' by texting and/or social media posts.  My wife Mary is a school teacher who taught for 15 years in the public schools before moving to a small Christian school these last 6 years. A teacher is truly how God wired by wife as you can tell by the hours she spends prepping or talking teacher talk with her other teacher peeps. Now this is my 4th year as a school bus driver. What a treasure trove of new cartoon ideas I have wandered into. God bless all of you gifted educators in the public school systems (you are so important), but for my wife she could not be happier where she is now still teaching the 3 Rs, but blending this with a Christian world view, prayer, and worship of the God of our Bibles. Truth be told it has become as much of a ministry as an occupation as evidenced by her pay cut moving from the public school system. My Prayer of Blessing for all you dedicated educators (public & private) that Jesus be first and foremost in your lives. May your faith and God's truth guide your words and deeds. Kindness, compassion, and loving discipline are the marks of a Godly educator. My Prayer of Concern for public schools is for the language and tone not minimize or apologize for our nation's Christian heritage. Public Schools in their determined quest to remain NEUTRAL in matters of faith have instead become NEUTERED in respect to our Christian heritage. While there is no question we are all to respect the differing faiths of others but it's a MISTAKE to become so SECULARIZED that we are void of the one true God.  The Pledge and Patriotism And while we are at it, I pledge allegiance to the flag and the United States of America. And to the Republic for which it stands, one nation UNDER GOD.. This pledge needs to be in schools. Patriotism and honoring our country (flaws and all) needs to be an integral part of education. Christians should not think the pledge is as a sign of Christian Nationalism. It is not! The pledge clearly states one nation UNDER GOD. I am seriously miffed at a movement in the 'progressive' Christian community that has a problem with God and Nation. Again, read the pledge.. one nation UNDER God. OBTW, please don't kneel during the Star Spangled Banner. Save your kneeling for your prayer time. IN SUMMARY .. Happy/blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord Psalms 33:12,.. and so it goes without saying happy/blessed is the SCHOOL whose God is the Lord. When our nation and/or schools compromise Psalms 33:12 there in lies the erosion of all God intends for His people.  May God bless all of you educators this coming year. Be faithful and sensitive to God in your lives as He leads you. Good Teachers are a true blessing to the foundation of our country!
Jeff (semi-educated/bus drivin') Larson note: For a complete look at all things school from a Back Pew perspective, click here-> SCHOOL 8/16/2022 This Inconvenient Truth 2022 In 2007 (former VP of the USA) Al Gore won an Oscar for his Documentary on Global Warming entitled 'An Inconvenient Truth'. This blog is NOT about Big Al, his Oscar, or his documentary film. But on an awkwardly ironically amusing side note there was a North Pole expedition in 2007 meant to bring attention to Global Warming but was called off after one of the explorers got frostbite. The explorers, Ann Bancroft and Liv Arnesen called off what was intended to be a 530-mile trek across the Arctic Ocean after Arnesen suffered frostbite in three of her toes, and extreme cold temperatures drained the batteries in some of their electronic equipment. but I digress. The real inconvenient truth America does not like to hear is.. THERE IS ONLY ONE GOD! Our Oprah Winfrey-esk society passionately believes in respecting all paths to god (note the small g) at the expense of compromising honor and worship due to the one TRUE God (notice the capital G)of our Bibles.  Society says all paths to 'truth' are equal, and deserve equal respect. Hmmm, well 'your truth' may be your passion, hobby, your so called peaceful center, but still the INCONVIENT TRUTH remains there is only ONE TRUE GOD. I like the analogy of the sincere mountain climber who summits Long's Peak in Colorado at 14,259′ believing he just climbed the world's tallest mountain, BUT.. in reality world's tallest mountain Everest 29,032′ is in Nepal. Well, sincerely believing in another god aka 'truth' will find you just as WRONG as this mountain climber in Colorado. In both cases YOU CAN'T GET THERE FROM HERE. Many say "THIS IS WHAT IS WRONG WITH CHRISTIANS!! They are so JUDGEMENTAL!" Well same logic would then shame first grade teachers for teaching 1+1=2 when you want 1+1 to = 37. The above Mt. climbing, and simple math analogy, OR.. the fact I can no longer fit into the same pants I did 20 years ago all face an inconvenient TRUTH. note: In my defense I believe they make pants with a 34 inch waist SMALLER now. Maybe it has to do with the metric system? Of course that is my wishful thinking about my waistline.  But back to important truths.. You don't have to be a GENIUS to realize Nature screams that there is a God who was the creator of this world. CREATION was not happenstance, and our universe is NOT the random existence of matter and space…. Our creator is not Buddha, Zeus, or the Kemp’s Cow for you Hindus. It is not the Sister Sun, Mother Moon, or any New Age / Oprah Winfrey wild haired scheme found on a Hollywood Astrology Hotline. The creator of this world and of all things is the God of our Bibles, and may the glory and honor be His and His alone. This is TRUTH no matter if it is convenient or not. As believers let's celebrate and share this BEAUTIFUL TRUTH of our loving Heavenly Father to a world Hell bent (literally) on being inclusive to every nook and cranny 'truth'. There are so many lost in their own secular humanistic LOGIC while attempting to fit the concept of a God in a nice little man sized box.
For those who do not believe, I pray you take time to consider these Biblical Truths ..
 May God bless each of our lives with TRUTH.. purpose, and love for God and others.
May this be the source of happiness and contentment and purpose that gives your life meaning like never before. LOVE GOD, LOVE OTHERS.. leave the rest as details... and by no means an INCONVENIENT TRUTH Jeff (inconveniently truthful in the Back Pew) Larson 8/11/2022 I do rememberIt's a big day for ME today as August 11th, 2022 is my 38th wedding anniversary. I remembered!. On that day in 1984 Mary Kay Laun said 'YES' (WHAT WAS SHE THINKING?!)... and became my wife. August 11th was a little more hectic 38 years ago. On that day before cell phones with the wedding set for 11 a.m., my groomsmen took me out for breakfast. Well, Mary could not get me on the old landline phone and assumed the worst. Either 1. they kidnapped me, or 2. I got cold (size 12) feet and ran far away.  note: I am writing about my wedding anniversary so rest assured my feet were warm, and I was not kidnapped and arrived on time for our 11 a.m. wedding. I did my part in the whole "I DO" process. This morning (38 yrs. later) in contrast, we shared morning coffee and chocolate chip muffins while lounging in our pjs after taking our morning doses of ibuprofen. We did pray together and thanked God for these 38 years which included ups and downs. Those newlywed anticipation of 'starting our lives together butterflies' are replaced with anxious anticipation for those above mentioned chocolate chip muffins. love is still in the air for us two old love birds.. but .. rumor has it.. so is Monkeypox. Our plans for today are not renewing our vows as the sunsets holding hands exchanging goofy young love grins but instead we will spend time with our daughter and very busy 16 month old grandson Ira. Then evening will be spent with various family members Mary's brother George is visiting from Illinois. We are cooking turkey on our grill. (insert prayers here) But though what happened was 38 years ago.. I do remember
 This was my tried and true 3 step plan for happiness with Mary as the love of my life, best friend, and a true gift from God. We filled those 38 years with looks, stares, glares, loving glances, rolled eyes, kisses, quarrels, while raising 3 kids that cluttered up our home with good times, great memories… and lessons learned. Our family titles have included husband & wife, mom & dad, and now.. WE ARE GRANDMA and GRANDPA. Best job ever! So in honor of our Anniversary let me share a few questions that if answered correctly are like … maybe a gift of a 1/2 dozen red roses. <pause> ok I admit they are not like roses, but there are six of-em... and your wife will like you better when you answer correctly. Behold 6.. Simple Answers by Simple Men to Simple Questions by her Q1: Are your pants too tight? A: NO DEAR Q2: Are you listening to me? A: YES DEAR.. your cute little opinion is important to me. (scratch that last part) Q3: Do you have something to say?.. NO .. NOT REALLY Q4: Do I leave the toilet seat up? MAYBE.. um no, the dog did it. Q5: Will I still love you when you are old? MORE THAN EVER Q6: Do you want to go shopping with me? OK.. I GUESS
 So in conclusion.. Happy Anniversary to Mary.. and me-self! How time flies when you are marry the right woman.
Proverbs 31:10 An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. Jeff (I found a gem) Larson 8/8/2022 Just a Glimpse in 2022 Just a Glimpse please! There are those grey overcast days where I think the sun will never shine again. Maybe a little foggy, drizzling still morning but then a spot on the clouds glows and just moments later the sun peeks out. I now see the sun and feel it’s warmth. Amazing how that feels especially on that cool grey day, but sometimes as quick as the sun appears the clouds return and the sun is gone and so is it's warmth.  This glimpse of the sun describes often my pursuit of God. I read, and pray and the story of God and the Gospel message makes sense. This time of clarity is beyond refreshing until.. circumstances and the world distract me, along with my inconsistent pursuit of God until my perspective is clouded and poof my moment of clarity is gone. Does that sound familiar, or am I the only one? A simple check on Twitter and Facebook and the social media posts of Christians and I will conclude this line looking for Glimpses is a very long line. I am among friends. In my defense I find Isaiah 55:9, and 1 Corinthians 13:12 . I feel like Winnie the Pooh, a Bear of very little brain creator of cartoons attempting to grasp Almighty God creator of the Universe. Advantage God
It does not seem fair to have only glimpses. I even have my share of questions about God and scriptures I do not understand. note: While I have questions, I want to be clear I place my trust and hope in Him and the answers found in His Word. There is a big difference between having questions and doubting. So while I realize in this life I cannot and will not fully understand many things, but when those clouds part that glimpse of God like the sun through the clouds on a grey day is priceless. This glimpse of God's truth, and love speak to me like the warmth of the sun. My shoulders relax, there is sudden clarity and perspective. Lord I pray for more glimpses, and prolonged glimpses found by quieting myself, reading God's Word, praying without ceasing, listening to worship music, spending time with other believers, and serving others. In contrast I quickly can lose sight of God when I focus on the waves of this post-Christian culture instead of Jesus. No matter how cloudy your day is in this broken world of sickness, conflicts, family issues, greed, racism, and/or POLITICS (please pass the bucket).. pray for Glimpses (and more) of God and His purpose and perspective. Find peace in knowing the Lord as your Shepherd Psalm 23, and the live out Phil 4:8 dwelling on and pursuing what is good.  May God bless each of you this day with more than glimpses of Him that pierce the clouds in your life and this DARK world. And.. rest in the promise of what He will reveal to us fully someday.
Jeff (glimpse chaser) Larson Note: The Apostle Paul given a tad more than a glimpse of the sun/Son on that road to Damascus. So on your Damascus Road.. wear SUNBLOCK. 8/4/2022 Bunny Trails 2022A few years back my wife and I lived in Roseville, a suburb of St Paul MN. Nice neighborhood, easy access to highways, shopping, dining, but there were RABBITS everywhere. Sounds like the beginning of a Gieco commercial.  These friends of Bugs (bunny) crisscrossed our yard constantly. We did not have a garden so they were harmless and cute.. I guess... but what goes on in their little minds as they scamper from here to there and back again. All this is done of course as they travel their literal bunny trails. Then I wonder.. are there 'BAD BUNNIES'.. you know, with tattoos, wearing leather, all in black hanging out under the corner street lamp smoking cigs, harassing squirrels, and taunting dogs as their masters take them on walks Saying stuff like "Aaa What's up doc?.. yer' a really dumb dog!" ??..Sorry, my mind just went on its own bunny trail.  Ok, while I am obviously NOT a bunny I have traveled my share of bunny trails meanderings. I even have the 'gift' of veering off topic railroading a conversation 'deftly' interjecting my thoughts that have wandered away from the original subject. How did I get here?.. and now how do I find my way back?.. I don't know, maybe I will ask a BUNNY. Even those involved in the conversation may with a bewildered look on their face respond with .. "whaaa.. and If no bunny can be found to help me I will segue back by saying "but I digress" Of course for the most part the literal bunny trails in my yard and the nonsensical bunny trails in my head are harmless. They may be puzzling, possibly frustrating, but seriously no harm no foul. But what about the more serious bunny trails we take? In a world that needs to be focused on Jesus we wander on bunny trails... maybe drifting far from God. How do we find our way back? Prone wander Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love - from the great Hymn 'Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing' by Robert Robinson (I think) So it's time to get off the bunny trails with the words of Jesus Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. Js 1:27 and “‘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 hang on these two commandments.” Mt 22:37-40 .  There you have it.. all that is important shared economically in just 5 verses, BUT..
All of the above can be definite bunny trails that have nothing to do with Js 1:27 and/or Mt 22:37-40. These verses encompass the focus of a good life. I am a big fan of the devotional 'My Utmost for His Highest' by Oswald Chambers. His daily readings are amazing bits of truth that return focus to what is important. Oswald's message is that life begins and ends with a devotion to God. What we say and do matters, and stay off the bunny trails that keep us from this truth. Another great read is 'The Pursuit of God' by AW Tozer. In this book Tozer makes clear the pursuit of God is a direct path with focus and purpose and any bunny trails are mostly found in the pursuits of man... and his folly. My prayer is to live a life that loves God in words and deeds (Js 1:27 and Mt 22:36-40) where I give my utmost for His highest in my daily pursuit of God while keeping my bunny trails to a minimum.
I also pray your life's journey has focus and purpose. May God provide hope, and a way back when you find ourself on a bunny trail by using His Word and our Prayers as our map. Blessings Jeff Final bunny trail note: I no longer live in Roseville, have noticed many rabbits moving into our neighborhood and they are EATING OUR HOSTAS PLANTS! Time for me talk to Elmer Fudd and his gang of Wabbit Hunters! 7/28/2022 Bryan's FOUR Principals for Life My very good friend Bryan Anderson is a Biology professor at Bethel University. He is a smart guy from my home town of Cable Wisconsin population 280ish. Bryan lives the good life with his family now in the Twin Cities faithful to God, family, and friends. I repost this blog about once a year around his birthday on July 28th and this year he is like 448 years old in DOG years. And he certainly is an old dog. Bryan was the best man in my wedding, and I have known him since I was 6 or 7 years old. It is a good thing to have such a good friend, but note while we are good friends, and I love him like a brother BUT we never HUG. That would be creepy weird. Anyways, like I said Bryan is my very good friend, and we meet for lunch often, and when we meet he has shared with me his secrets for a happy life. I have summed up his secrets in what I would call..
 After all Bryan is a Biology professor, a man of science,.. he knows.. STUFF For myself, I cheerfully own a cell phone, read email, and wear a seat belt.. but I believe Bryan is on to something regarding this 'sign happy world'. Also, I do social media.. and Bryan is right, I should just say NO. So there you have The Four Principles of Bryan (aka 4PB) for a world looking ironically for a sign? Not sure the 4PB will have the same impact as let's say.. The Four Spiritual Laws by Bill Bright, but there are four of em'. So my advice to this unprincipled world.. consider the 4 Principles of Bryan, it will change your life. For remaining 95% of society may God bless you with a fully charged smartphone, a manageable email inbox, seat belts in your cars, a life uncluttered by excessive 'signage'... and good friends to be used as blog fodder. Jeff (SIGNing off for now) Larson  Final (Bryan) note: I met for lunch with Bryan recently on his birthday (I paid) and he just came from working on restoring his old classic car. He washed his hands (I think), but there was still engine grease under his nails and he has a good tan from being outdoors this summer. Me, on the other hand.. (insert hand pun here) have the hands as white as a ghost.. or.. JOE BIDEN (the whitest man in America).
His hands were calloused and his fingers have marks of healed cuts from working and being busy in the sun. My hands in contrast are the hands of a man who is recovering slowly from 2 recent back surgeries while drawing cartoons and blogging in his air conditioned home. My hands no longer soft like a baby, but maybe soft and white like new printer paper. I have attached a picture of our hands to prove my point. |
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Back Pew - Draw Close to God
116 pages of cartoons of 'Clean Humor & God's Truth' CRITICS ARE SAYING..
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11/8/2022
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