Cartoonist/Illustrator - Jeff Larson
Minnesota
 As a Cartoon Curmudgeon I often lament this glass half empty 24/7 ENTERAIN/TEMPT me society compromises my values. SIN is just a mouse or tv remote click away. BUT then I realize my glass is also HALF FULL, Jesus is everywhere!  In this world of countless ways to go to 'heck in a handbasket' I realize I am also presented with a 24/7 FILL/BLESS me self indulgence for the spirit. Just a click away are Bibles, studies, prayers, sermons, support groups, ministries, and worship music serving up God's Truth in more ways than I could have ever imagined. What the Internet meant for evil against me; God meant for good, to bring God's Truth to this high tech, high speed world. Genesis 50:20 (paraphrased for all you browsers of the web). I love using Google to enter a scripture phrase or topic and I am just a mouse click away from the links, references, and/or rescources I was seeking. This is priceless for my spirit and in turn supports my involvement in church and community.  Also I have my Bible and all the other internet resources with me pretty much 24/7 in the wonder of my smartphone. And what would it look like if Facebook and social media shared the gospel message and supported the Christian journey more instead of inundating us with political ads, personal gripes, and i love my cat videos.
So take a look for yourself. Jesus and the gospel message of salvation is everywhere. Even in the glass half empty (void of God) world of technology there is a glass half full where God's Truth is shared to a world that needs Jesus. May God bless your life journey and your browsing habits. May you find God's truth and personal growth 'even' in the wonders of this modern world. Jeff  What has been on TV will become a rerun, what has been watched will be watched again, and there is nothing new to watch on TV.. under the sun. Ecclesiastes 1:9 (If Solomon had Cable TV) It is winter here in Minnefrozeta where the sun is down around 5pm, and outside it is as the saints call it 'blessed' cold. So I hunker down in front of the TV to pass the time. I have cable TV so my selection is about 500 (million) channels of HD nothing new under the sun movies, concerts, game shows, comedies, dramas, horror flicks (no), adventures, thrillers, mob movies, history documentaries, or the dreaded 24/7 news (propaganda) channels as pretend I am being informed. Well, this aint working for me. I guess in hind sight I know TV can be a welcomed diversion, but it is too often NOT a source of satisfaction or time well spent. Our cable provider runs a commercial stating they are the future of awesome. Awesome?.. I would settle for it being pretty good.  Then to complicate this buffet for the senses sameness, there is the mediocre, and sometimes down right bad. Not only bad quality, but bad content and this flies in the face of the scriptures. Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Phil 4:8. Hmm, I am pretty sure Paul is not referring anything 'remotely' (insert pun here) to channel surfing.  The simple solution is turn the TV off (gasp), and read a book (double gasp).. maybe even more time reading my bible. (double gasp + clutch heart)
So it is January, and I am attempting to read through my Bible again. Like most worthwhile resolutions I understand the challenge of seeing it through, but so far so good. Actually very good as the Scripture Reading Plan I am using is accompanied by a short devotional that infuses my day with a truly spiritual focus. Of course there are many other worthwhile things to do also. Start or complete a project, enjoy a hobby (unless it is tv watching), spend time with a friend. There are so many better ways to spend with your time than sampling 500 channels of cable while your brain turns to mush. But to be fair, Solomon did also write .. For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace... and a time to see what's on the Tele as I am bone tired after a long day at work and just want to Veg Out. - Ecclesiastes 3:2-8 (or so) - Ecclesiastes 3:2-8 or so (again, If Solomon had Cable TV) May God bless each of you as you balance your life with faith, family, and friends without your TV getting in the way. Jeff 10/21/2017 Some call me.. TRON? In this modern world 'good parents' monitor the time their kids play video games, and the content of those games. After all, staring at a screen for hours clicking on buttons living a virtual existence stimulated by role playing, and first person shooter games while never interacting with a real person is not healthy, wealthy, or wise. And let me add my 2 cents. "Hey video playing KID, turn off your Xboox/Playstation/Nintendo game thingy, get outside breath some air, talk to real people. build something, read a book, do something, ANYTHING that does not involve electronic brain manipulation." Kids these days.  Then I settle in after another long work day. I'm tired per usual and plop down in my comfy chair and with one hand I turn on my HD TV to watch the evening (all bad all the time) news, followed by 3 hours of channel surfing. I then order pizza delivery from my smartphone with my other hand while tweeting with my 'peeps'. By my side I have my laptop to browse for any nook or cranny of input my overloaded brain may have missed with my smartphone and HD TV. -gasp- I am like the movie Tron! Then I hear tapping on my window the above mentioned kid who shouts to me.. "Hey OLD MAN, turn off your TV, smartphone, and laptop too. Go outside make some friends that are not on Facebook, and stop tweeting. Build something, read a book, do something, ANYTHING that does not involve electronic brain manipulation". I hate that kid.. "GET OFF MY LAWN."  So for evenings like this I am reminded of Paul writing. whatever is true, .. noble, .. right, .. pure, .. lovely, .. admirable, AND if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—I will think about such things. Phil 4:8.
Well there is no Philippians 4:8 channel on my TV, so (and I hate to say it) it's time to start listening to that kid. Lord I desire to stay informed but pray I am not sucked in by 24/7 gloom and doom fake or baked news. God I thank you for my very REAL family, friends, and a church home that desires to serve you. I even thank you for that smart mouthed kid on my lawn. - Amen - Jeff (not Tron) Larson 4/28/2016 High Speed TRUTH! As the official Christian Cartoon Curmudgeon of the Back Pew I often lament (aka whine) this world where SIN is just a mouse or tv remote click away. This 24/7 ENTERTAIN/TEMPT me self indulgent society often compromises my Christian ideals. BUT.. then I realize.. HEY my glass is actually half full.. Jesus is everywhere!  In this world of countless ways to go to 'heck in a handbasket' I realize I am also presented with a 24/7 FILL/BLESS me self indulgence for the spirit. Just a click away are bibles, studies, prayers, sermons, support groups, ministries, and worship music serving up God's Truth in more ways than I could have ever imagined.  What the Internet meant for evil against me; God meant for good, to bring God's Truth to this high tech, high speed world. Genesis 50:20 (paraphrased for all who browse the web).
I love using Google to enter a scripture phrase or topic and I am just a mouse click away from the links, references, and/or rescources I was seeking. This is priceless for my spirit and in turn supports my involvement in church and community. Also I have my bible and all the other internet resources with me pretty much 24/7 in the wonder of my smartphone. And what would it look like if Facebook and social media shared the gospel message and supported the Christian journey more instead of inundating us with political ads, personal gripes, and i love my cat videos. So take a look for yourself. Jesus and the gospel message of salvation is everywhere. Even in the glass half empty (void of God) world of technology there is a glass half full where God's Truth is shared to a world that needs Jesus. May God bless your life journey and your browsing habits. May you find God's truth and personal growth 'even' in the wonders of this modern world. Jeff |
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5/1/2018
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