Cartoonist/Illustrator - Jeff Larson
Minnesota
DONATION
BP
  • HOME
  • BLOG
  • 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
      • Revelations
  • CHURCH & FAMILY
    • CHURCH >
      • Preachers & Pastors
      • Worship
      • Church People >
        • More Church Cartoons
      • 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
  • 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 >
        • Easter Bunny - eggs baskets, and more
    • Mothers Day
    • Fathers Day
    • Memorial Day
    • 4th of July
    • Halloween
    • Veterens Day
    • Thanksgiving
    • Christmas >
      • The Birth of Jesus
      • Santa & Friends >
        • Stocking Stuffers
  • MISC.
    • ANIMALS >
      • HOUSE PETS >
        • Dogs
        • Cat
      • FARM ANIMALS >
        • Cows
        • Horse & Donkey
        • 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
  • 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
  • HOME
  • BLOG
  • 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
      • Revelations
  • CHURCH & FAMILY
    • CHURCH >
      • Preachers & Pastors
      • Worship
      • Church People >
        • More Church Cartoons
      • 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
  • 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 >
        • Easter Bunny - eggs baskets, and more
    • Mothers Day
    • Fathers Day
    • Memorial Day
    • 4th of July
    • Halloween
    • Veterens Day
    • Thanksgiving
    • Christmas >
      • The Birth of Jesus
      • Santa & Friends >
        • Stocking Stuffers
  • MISC.
    • ANIMALS >
      • HOUSE PETS >
        • Dogs
        • Cat
      • FARM ANIMALS >
        • Cows
        • Horse & Donkey
        • 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
  • 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
Picture

11/1/2020

1 Comment

Pathetic Prayers 2020

 
Picture

A while back my wife Mary and I were reading Max Lucado's book He Still Moves Stones.  Let me paraphrase the words of Max. 

The honest prayer of a hurting man, the feeble prayer of a righteous man.. the awkward prayer of the average joe/jane, the timid prayer of those emotionally/spiritually broken down.. the sincere prayer of a sinner, EVEN a 'pathetic prayer of Jeff' .. HAS GREAT POWER and WONDERFUL RESULTS.  

Picture

This is my rambling paraphrase of.. 
James 5:16.Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. , and gleaned from the truths found in ..
Mark 9:14-29 where the power of God is found not in what we can do but instead when we pray.

Max also writes ..Our prayers may be awkward, our attempts may be feeble. BUT since the power of prayer is in the one who 'hears' it and not the one who 'says' it, our prayers make a difference.
​
That is great news for folk like me who can get lost in my real or perceived problems juggling them in my head all while I pray.. awkwardly. These sincere prayers are highlighted with fumbling words sounding confused, anxious, and kind of pathetic
. 

Picture
So do you ever say pathetic prayers.  I am sure you don't, it's only me right?  But I would like to suggest when we feel lost and/or pathetic simply cry to God "HELP!  I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO!"  That's OK, because God does.

I actually have my prayer list hanging on a bulletin board in my office. This simple list of very few words is mostly family, friends, my church, our country, and this tumultuous world.. and gives me a visual perspective that my issues pale by comparison.. LIFE IS NOT ABOUT ME and when I pray for others and trust God I find a peace that was not there when my prayers revolved around ME.


Picture
Philippians 4:6-7 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

So let's all agree to bring our prayers to God even when our words are fumbling and our spirit is weak. Speak to God when you feel forsaken, alone, desperate, when your thoughts are riddled with doubts.. AND when life is good (do not let your guard down) . Our perfect Heavenly Father hears our word and His spirit intercedes for us. 


Picture
​Romans 8:26-27  In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.  

May God bless all of you today with the promise of .. when life is difficult.. God says, "Don't worry, I got your back.

Blessings

Jeff (praying in the Back Pew) Larson


Picture
ps - With the 2020 elections upon us.. our prayers are needed.  It matters how we vote, and who we vote for BUT our trust is in God alone, not in any man or woman.

So I pray for the people of our nation to return to God. I pray that the Christians of this nation stand strong for God's law, and become more concerned about offending God than offending man. 

1 Comment

10/16/2020

0 Comments

Ants in my Picnic Basket

 
Picture
For most everyone living in a city of any size.. RUSH HOUR is a part of your day commute. Bumper to bumper traffic with each car filled with people from all over the city living their own lives in their own neighborhoods, their own way but sharing this joint experience on the roads and rails traveling to and from their jobs.  They are EVERYWHERE like ants descending on an unprotected picnic basket each there for their take, then back to home sweet (ant hill) home.

But in this moment of rush hour madness I pondered the complexity of our 'ant farm like' society. On just one city road (in a world of countless other roads just as busy as this one), carrying so many drivers and passengers in this great big TERARRIUM called Earth... and I am just ONE of the many ants living in a northern city/ant-hill suburb of Minneapolis Minnesota.  This ant hill sits right next to another big ant-hill/city St Paul.

Picture
Are you feeling SMALL and INSIGNIFICANT YET and maybe a bit creeped out by this bug analogy?  Sorry, my bad.

It is mind boggling to grasp in contrast to any colony of ants.. each of our lives are important and significant in God's eyes. So during this rush hour moment with all of God's people, I prayed a broad prayer for everyone so busy in rush hour in all directions for safe journeys, a successful day, blessed and led by God.  I took time to ponder the significance of each life in the eyes of God. This moment of prayer was peace, perspective and thanksgiving for me in recognition of all God's people.


This was admittedly a strange analogy, but you are reading a blog by Jeff the cartoonist not C.S. Lewis... that sorta rhymes.

Picture
My prayer today if for all of you out there. May the realization of your significance to God, and the blessings of God be in ways that are truly beyond your dreams.
and.. 
may He keep you safe from those who would attempt to step on your ant hill, and that kid with the 
magnifying glass trying to burn you up. 

​But I digress


Jeff (Ants in the Back Pew) Larson

0 Comments

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

8/27/2020

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

7/25/2020

0 Comments

AIR breathing, BLOOD pumping, PRAYERS unceasing

 
Picture
I like to read from Oswald Chambers classic devotional 'My Utmost for His Highest'.  This is one of the VERY BEST daily devotionals that I would highly recommend to anyone needing focus for each day. 

Today’s reading was titled ‘Thinking of Prayer as Jesus Taught’.  Let me share the first two sentences from this devotional ..   

“OUR THINKING ABOUT PRAYER, whether right or wrong is based on our own mental conception of it.  The right thinking is to think of prayer as the breath in our lungs, and the blood from our hearts.  Our blood flows and our breathing continues without ceasing.  This is how prayer should be in our lives.

Picture
This message spoke volumes to me on the place of prayer in the midst of this summer 2020 of turmoil.  I spend so much effort thinking about Covid-19, masks, elections, racial tensions, closed churches schools and businesses, and worrying about tomorrow without taking time to breath/pray.  Being one with God, being in tune (or in my case toon) to His Spirit is where I should be.   

I do not want to be living in this fallen world hindered by it's pitfalls, my limitations, or hyper focused circumstances.  Instead I want my thoughts, prayers, and actions to be in sync with God’s will.  Easier said than done, but this is my prayer today. 

Picture
Picture
Picture

May God bless and lead each of you in a way that makes a difference with a life that loves God and others as intended. and... live full and satisfying lives where PRAYING is as natural function as your lungs breathing and hearts pumping.


Jeff (prayerful today) Larson
Picture
Picture
Picture
0 Comments

7/3/2020

0 Comments

Speck on a Blue Ball (rr)

 
Picture
I have this  prayer prep that I recently  turn to when my mind  is busy and  unfocused.  I slow  my mind to take a glimpse  of  my significance.
Specifically, I am a speck on a blue ball (Earth) that spins at 1000 mph orbiting  around our  sun in our  Solar System of  8 (or 9) planets, which is  one of countess  galaxies in our  infinite Universe. ..

AND this existence.. my existence is  just  a  microscopic blip on  the timeline of .. eternity!
​
So while I admit I should lose like 25 pounds I  also am feeling very small.  Then to  think of  the intricacies  of the human body, the human condition,  that  I have a  free will, and  I believe a His spirit makes me a very special speck on this  blue dot.

Picture
While I attempt to grasp this  perspective of significance.. I  pray Psalms 8:4  Who am I that  you are mindful of  me?  .. and I am in awe of creation and  more importantly our  creator and His inexplicable  love for each of  us. Better yet, y'all best read all of  Psalms 8

Now .. I  am ready to pray as  the  world  slows  down.. I am  an awe  of God,  and  thankful for this  day (even the bad  ones), and  pray  that my life, my family, my friends, church, community, state, nation, and world come to realize the significance, purpose, and place as their own speck like roles on this  blue dot.
​​

Love  God, love others (less social media).. and all glory to  God  on this  day!  Cuz ya know, the rest is trivia by comparison.

​Blessings!

Jeff (A Big  Speck) Larson

Picture
Picture
Picture
0 Comments

7/1/2020

0 Comments

Prayer.. What if?

 
Picture
If MILK does a BODY good, then.. PRAYER does a CHURCH BODY good. 

President Harry S. Truman proclaimed a National Day of Prayer to be observed on July 4, 1952. Each year since that date, Americans have observed the day in their own way. The observance moved to the first Thursday in May by President Ronald Reagan and has been proclaimed each year since, and so this year, May 7th 2020 was the National Day of Prayer.

OK, (IF) we believe prayer is powerful and (IF) we prayed for our nation.. why is our nation is such a mess.

Picture
A few weeks ago as our Country and this world continued to implode over all things Corona-19 and Race related and where any resemblance of truth was blinded by a cocktail of panic & blind rage I received a social media request to pray for our nation every night at 8PM.  My wife and I have been mostly faithful to praying for our nation since then, but to be honest I have missed a few times.  With this request in mind.. 

What if each of us prayed for our nation and the world everyday.  Many of you I am sure do, but I am sure many others of us do not.
What if we asked God to show America mercy as we are in many ways so far from His will., 
What if we prayed for those we do not honestly like nor their politics, hidden agendas, and religious beliefs that conflict with our 'Christian' sensibilities.  What if we prayed for (not at) those caught up lifestyles contrary to God's will. 
What if we prayed for all these things rather than just complain to God about those less 'enlightened' than ourselves. 

What if? 
and if not What if?.. then Why not?

As I continue this blog I find the prefect reminder of who am I when I pray and who I pray to in the lyrics from the song Who Am I by the group Casting Crowns. click here to listen to song-> WHO AM I


Who am I, that the Lord of all the earth
Would care to know my name,
Would care to feel my hurt?
Who am I, that the Bright and Morning Star
Would choose to light the way
For my ever wandering heart?

Not because of who I am
But because of what You’ve done.
Not because of what I’ve done
But because of who You are.

CHORUS:
I am a flower quickly fading,
Here today and gone tomorrow.
A wave tossed in the ocean.
A vapor in the wind.
Still You hear me when I’m calling.
Lord, You catch me when I’m falling.
And You’ve told me who I am.
I am Yours, I am Yours.

Who am I, that the eyes that see my sin
Would look on me with love and watch me rise again?
Who am I, that the voice that calmed the sea
Would call out through the rain
And calm the storm in me?

Not because of who I am
But because of what You’ve done.
Not because of what I’ve done
But because of who You are.

CHORUS:
I am a flower quickly fading,
Here today and gone tomorrow.
A wave tossed in the ocean.
A vapor in the wind.
Still You hear me when I’m calling.
Lord, You catch me when I’m falling.
And You’ve told me who I am.
I am Yours, I am Yours.

Not because of who I am
But because of what You’ve done.
Not because of what I’ve done
But because of who You are.

CHORUS:
I am a flower quickly fading,
Here today and gone tomorrow.
A wave tossed in the ocean.
A vapor in the wind.
Still You hear me when I’m calling.
Lord, You catch me when I’m falling.
And You’ve told me who I am.
I am Yours, I am Yours, I am Yours.

Whom shall I fear?
Whom shall I fear?
‘Cause I am Yours, I am Yours. 

Picture
Think about it, Prayer is access to God. If you believe this, then this is the time we collectively say.. "WO!"

So please let's not reduce prayer into a hocus-pocus moment, making wishes to a Genie in a Lamp, or reduce it to casual words spoken quickly before an evening meal or in moments of desperation. 

Instead follow the instructions of Jesus on how to pray..
“This, then, is how you should pray:
“‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,  (GREAT IS OUR GOD)
your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. (YOUR WILL NOT MINE)
Give us today our daily bread. (PLEASE MEET OUR NEEDS) And forgive us our debts, (FORGIVE ME)
as we also have forgiven our debtors. (FORGIVE OTHERS) And lead us not into temptation, (STAY FROM TEMPTATION) but deliver us from the evil one.’ (PROTECTION)


Pray knowing who God is, and who we are to Him. Pray humbly for mercy for the people in this nation and world and for revival.

Too busy to pray?.. I sometimes think this as my busy mind in this busy society overwhelms my thoughts, BUT how long does it take to just say the Lord' Prayer which outlines perfectly all things we daily need to pray for. 1. Honoring God 2. God's Will 3. Sharing our needs 4. Forgiveness 5. Deliverance from Temptation and Evil Then after I say amen I can feel peace. PEACE BE STILL.. are the words Jesus used to calm the sea, and PEACE BE STILL is the challenge for all of us when life is raging like a stormy sea.

Picture
What if.. we prayed the Lord's Prayer Daily and not as a rote process but instead meaning each part? I believe it would CHANGE THE WORLD. I have featured a cartoon of a business meeting in Hell where there is great concern regarding Hell's lack of influence when faced with Christians praying.  This is a ScrewTape letters sorta image that I believe captures the true (too often untapped) power of prayer.

Everyone of us have challenges, stress, loneliness, sadness, tragedy, debt, sickness, and/or death that greet us daily. This is a fallen world and I know for myself I make this worse as like Peter I take my eyes off Jesus and focus on the problems (the raging sea) of my day.


Picture
But no matter your circumstance, know that our prayers are heard by a God who loves us, and wants what is best for us like the PERFECT father that He is.

One last reminder.. let’s be as the Bible teaches in an attitude of prayer. Pray without ceasing.. meaning we communicate with God throughout our day. This type of prayer should be the natural communication of thanksgiving & praise, repentance, for protection & guidance, and the desires of my heart. Flowery lofty language is not needed, but instead honest ongoing communication about our worries, doubts, and dreams with our loving God.  

Blessings (PRAYING in the Back Pew) Larson

0 Comments

3/22/2020

0 Comments

Sick Days v Pandemic Days

 
Picture
SICK DAYS: 
Back in my working days.. I would sometimes say with a smile.. "I never met a sick day I didn't like." And let's be real, no one wants to waste a sick day with strep throat, or a 102 fever. It makes more sense to be 'a little under the weather' and call in sick when the sun is shining.

Looking back I realize so many followed MY LEAD that Human Resources departments across the country coined a more user friendly term.. PTO (personal time off) days.

So I personally believe I was the catalyst in the creation of PTO. No more calling in and fake coughing.. no more intentional weak voices. Now with PTO you can simply call in to work with a strong voice and say .. "I'm not gonna come in to work, there is Netflix binge watching that needs my attention.
​
So for all of you that have benefited from PTO ..

YOU ARE ALL WELCOME.


Picture
Don't look at me that way.. Are you saying you never feigned a sick day? Hmm.. how about did you ever take such a day off and called it a 'mental health day'?  Ok then, at least I was not claiming to be 'sick in the head' .. LIKE YOU! 

PANDEMIC DAYS: 
But more far reaching than any random sick or PTO days you may have there is a much more concerning is the today's headline where Coronavirus (aka COVID-19) has been declared a global pandemic by the Center of Disease Control, and the World Health Organization. This sobering bit of news has put our lives on hold until further notice.


In response to COVID-19 were are closing of schools, stores, restaurants, sporting events, churches, and  about everything else you can think of.  The practical affects of this  troubling news are the shortages of canned goods, cereal, and.. toilet paper.  TOILET PAPER? 

​side note: I heard  someone say if you are hoarding TP you most likely have a greater 'problem' (rogue IBS?) than catching COVID-19.



Picture
But very seriously.. the real health risks of Coronavirus are not to be ignored. My understanding is those especially at risk are over 65 years old, or with compromised immune systems.

BUT.. honestly I am even more concerned with the over-zealous domino overreach of governments, schools, churches, etc etc.


This will fuel far reaching economic and societal problems that may be more serious than the very real health risks.  The longer this continues the greater damage is done.

So I pray.. for God's protection, and His wisdom to be displayed in ALL our leaders at all levels, and that it is not reduced to a partisan issue instead of it being an American issue.


Picture
So I pray ALSO.. for a return to God as this is a time where we can be quiet (we are like on a government timeout). This is a time to pray, read God's word, and then.. pray some more. A time to un-clutter our lives, our minds, and unplug from many of the subtle entrapments of our modern life.  Maybe.. LESS is  MORE.

Share and talk with friends about important issues, and about life. Pray for God  to speak to you and to others without the 24/7 din of life. Spend more intentional time with family regaining perspective on what is important.

Let go of things.. minimize the madness, rethink your financial priorities, and just say no to the evening news SHOWS/PROPOGANDA.

AND of course be careful to stay safe and healthy without letting Corona run your lives.

Picture
ETERNITY:
​Also, I have heard it said more than a few times.. 
​
  • We listen intently to the CDC when it warns us there is a pandemic. We must take precautions to minimize COVID-19 from taking lives.  BUT
  • ​We don't listen intently when the Bibles warns us the wages of SIN is death. Wide is the road that leads to destruction, but narrow is the path to Heaven.
​
I am concerned that our society and even the church is more focused on a possible pandemic than a pending panDAMNit. (Maybe a poor choice of puns, but you get my point.)

May God bless and protect all of you during this time. May the  peace  of God be realized in your lives through this pandemic and anything that comes our way. 

Blessings

​Jeff (not even a sniffle.. yet) Larson
​​
​With this all being said  I would not be a true Christian cartoonist if I did not also share what  I will call...

' All Things ILL in The Back Pew'
Swine Flu/Flew?
Picture
Computer Virus?
Picture
Bird Flu?
Picture
Sneezing Ref?
Picture
Death Toll in the early Church
Picture
Missing School?
Picture
Sicker as a DOG?
Picture
Worms?
Picture
Bless you!
Picture
Worship Quarantine
Picture
0 Comments

11/7/2019

1 Comment

Those Pesky 'Sorry-Buts' (rr)

 
Picture
Note of Clarification 
The following blog commentary is about the little word 'BUT' ..but.. it is not to be confused with the word 'BUTT' (aka bottom.. aka buttocks, ) which always makes Minions laugh. 


I recently read a quote by Tim Keller on Twitter.. 'Repentance is crucial for renewal and restoration', and full disclosure honesty is required for true repentance.

Very true, BUT it is often easier to say "I am sorry, BUT.." then insert my favorite excuse/rationalization of what I am supposedly sorry for.    Here are a few I am sorry BUTs.


  1. I am sorry I lost my temper, BUT that jerk in the car next too me honked his horn at me while I was texting my mom.  He had it coming when I flipped him off and shared my four letter vocabulary.
  2. I am sorry I am 15 minutes late to work today, BUT the coffee line was long at the Starbucks drive through window.
  3. Yes Mr. Bill collector, technically speaking I did not pay my electric bill on time, BUT I thought my wife took care of it.  She said she would.
  4. I know those two donuts were not on my diet BUT I did not want them to go to waste. .. I want them to go to my waist.
  5. I want to give more to the church, BUT I just purchased a new I-Phone 50! and a new 120" HD TV to follow Joel Osteen on.
  6. Yes officer I know you stopped me for speeding, BUT I think my speedometer maybe needs calibration or something.​
Picture
Picture

Picture
Next let me share a couple gender specific 'sorry but' prayers.
  1. As a man I can simply repeat the Man Prayer from Red Green.. "sorry I'm a man (and a slob),  but..  I can do better, if I have to,  AMEN."   
  2. In contrast the Woman's Prayer tends to be more compassionate.. or maybe just passionate, as she concludes "sorry I am so upset.. but.. he is driving her nuts! JUST LOOK AT HIM!"

(see cartoon on the right)

Hmmm, maybe we should raise the bar and strive to do better than either of the above man, or woman's prayers.

Picture

​Back to Tim Keller's words of wisdom. 'Repentance is crucial for renewal and restoration', and full disclosure honesty is required for true repentance.  Not much wiggle room for any sorry buts.  

BUT.. Hey I am a pretty good guy.  I go to church, love my wife and stay out of trouble. 

​But who am I fooling?  Not God. He knows my secret doubts, rage, anxiety, envy, mumbled profanities, and other more quiet rebellions against what I know is right in my heart. I have too often compromised time, resources, and talents that were truly a gift from God. This does not include bigger sins (ie alcohol) that almost killed me. For all these and more I am sorry.. no buts.

Mark me down as a work in progress.

What would be possible if we all were truly repentant and inspired by the love of God?  It could be a revival this fallen world needs.. like.. NOW!

May God bless each of you on your spiritual journey, where you are blessed and used by God in ways that are beyond your dreams.  My our hearts be repentant, and open to receive the promise of God's Grace.

Jeff (no buts about it) Larson

1 Comment

11/5/2019

6 Comments

Pathetic Prayers

 
Picture
A while back my wife Mary and I were reading Max Lucado's book He Still Moves Stones.  Let me paraphrase the words of Max. The honest prayer of a hurting man, the feeble prayer of a righteous man.. the awkward prayer of the average joe/jane, the timid prayer of those emotionally/spiritually broken down.. the sincere prayer of a sinner, EVEN a 'pathetic prayer of Jeff' .. HAS GREAT POWER and WONDERFUL RESULTS.  

This is my rambling paraphrase of James 5:16.Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. , and gleaned from the truths found in Mark 9:14-29 where the power of God is found not in what we can do but instead when we pray.

Picture
Max also writes ..Our prayers may be awkward, our attempts may be feeble. BUT since the power of prayer is in the one who 'hears' it and not the one who 'says' it, our prayers make a difference.  
​
That is great news for folk like me who can get lost in my real or perceived problems juggling them in my head all while I pray.. awkwardly. These sincere prayers are highlighted with fumbling words sounding confused, anxious, and kind of pathetic
. 

Picture
So do you ever say pathetic prayers.  I am sure you don't, it's only me right?  But I would like to suggest when we feel lost and/or pathetic simply cry to God "HELP!  I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO!"  That's OK, because God does.

I actually have my prayer list hanging on a bulletin board in my office. This simple list of very few words is mostly family, friends, my church, our country, and this tumultuous world.. and gives me a visual perspective that my issues pale by comparison.. LIFE IS NOT ABOUT ME and when I pray for others and trust God I find a peace that was not there when my prayers revolved around ME.

Picture
Philippians 4:6-7 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

So let's all agree to bring our prayers to God even when our words are fumbling and our spirit is weak. Speak to God when you feel forsaken, alone, desperate, when your thoughts are riddled with doubts.. AND when life is good (do not let your guard down) . Our perfect Heavenly Father hears our word and His spirit interceds for us. 

​Romans 8:26-27 
 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.  

May God bless all of you today with the promise of .. when life is difficult.. God says, "Don't worry, I got your back.

Blessings

Jeff (in need of HELP) Larson

6 Comments
Previous

    Author

    The mutterings on life and faith by cartoonist Jeff Larson

    Archives

    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
    Addiction
    Alcohol
    Anger
    Animals
    Anniversary
    Armor Of God
    Assurance
    Bible
    Bible Reading
    Big Bang
    Blessings
    Christmas
    Church
    Coffee
    Cold
    Computers
    Creation
    Creed
    Darkness
    Death
    Despair
    Devil
    Diet
    Dogs
    Drinking
    Driving
    Easter
    Education
    Ego
    Elections
    Entertainment
    Eternity
    Evolution
    Excuses
    Faith
    Faithful
    Family
    Fathers
    Fear
    Fight
    Follow
    Food And Coffee
    Friends
    Gifts
    God
    God's Word
    Grace And Forgiveness
    Happiness
    Health
    Heaven And Hell
    Heritage
    Holidays
    Holiness
    Holy Week
    Honesty
    Hope
    Humlity
    Hunting
    Insurance
    Intolerance
    Jesus
    Joy
    Judgement
    Justice
    Kindness
    Life
    Light
    Love
    Marriage
    Meditation
    Microagression
    Miracles
    Misc
    Moderation
    Money
    Music
    NEW YEAR
    Noah
    Obedience
    Obedient
    Other
    Pain
    Palm Sunday
    Patriotism
    Peace
    Pets
    Politics
    Poor
    Power
    Prayer
    Presents
    Prodigal
    Purpose
    Pursuit Of God
    Quiet
    Redeemed
    Redneck
    Repentance
    Resolutions
    Respect
    Ressurection
    Revival
    Rich
    Running
    Rush Hour
    Safety
    Salvation
    School
    Science
    Secular
    Selfish
    Serving
    Serving God
    Sin
    Society
    Spirit Of God
    Sports
    Technology
    Thanksgiving
    Trust
    Truth
    TV
    Video Games
    Voting
    Walk The Talk
    Weary
    Weather
    Winter
    Women
    Work
    Worry
    Worship
    Worship God

    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