In the beginning, God spoke the universe into existence.  Some of those present claimed they heard a loud crackling sound like thunder, but most simply described it as sort of a.. BANG.. actually a BIG BANG! 

and it was GOOD

Recently, I was hiking with my son Curtis at the Grand Canyon in Arizona. After a few short hikes along the South Rim, we began to trek down switchback paths from the rim down to the canyon floor.

Well, my 68-year-old body was doing okay until we decided to return to the top after traveling maybe halfway down to the canyon floor.

Been there, done that. I am a 'good people’ who has bought bad presents. There are just too many ways to go wrong.

As a guy, I should see little flags for BAD PRESENTS, but still, at times, do not even recognize them if they have lights glaring and horns blaring… in plain sight.

FEAR NOT!

Before Felix and Oscar in Neil Simon’s ‘The Odd Couple,’ there were the Shepherds and Angels that first Christmas Night. 

Never has there been a starker contrast between major players in any significant moment in history. 

Come join me in celebrating the Twelves Days of Christmas as seen through The Back Pew lens.

Like that ugly ornament, or Christmas sweater I cannot bear to throw away, so is my retelling of a Christmas Concert from a few years back. 

(It's like the year 2020, UGLY & unforgettable)

I must confess, I really like AI.

AI (short for artificial intelligence) is a powerful tool for assessing almost any situation, topic, or discipline, with nearly instantaneous response time.

HOWEVER,

Ohhh.. you better watch out, you better not cry, better not pout, I'm telling you why. Jesus Christ is coming Again,

— recent sermon excerpt

Like the tradition of watching a Charlie Brown Christmas or It’s a Wonderful Life, I like to share the story of when…

my dog almost ate Baby Jesus.

This story is near and dear to my heart, and I make a point to share it almost every December. 

Back in December of 2001, on the icy, snow-covered roads near Hayward, Wisconsin, a young mom with her preschool children in the family car was heading home to the nearby town of Drummond.

She spotted an older man with his car's hood up along the side of the road.

IMAGINE the buzz around the coffee maker in HEAVEN.. a little over 2000 years ago, when God's plan for 'saving' mankind was revealed? 

We all think of Thanksgiving, pondering God’s blessings of family and friends, but back on the farm, Thanksgiving is that dirty little secret, especially among the poultry.

Admittedly, this falls short of the Holy Sacraments,

but instead is my celebration of the Green Bay Packers' 23-6 victory over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, November 23, 2025.

For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body

--PACKERS or VIKINGS,

slaves or free-- and all were made to drink of one Spirit. 1 Co. 12:13
- BETTER CHEDDAR Translation 

This is my modern-day paraphrase of Matthew 13:3-8,

where Jesus taught lessons from the world in the days of the Gospel. Of course, I have added a cartoons illustrations with a 2025 flair

GOOD NEWS: “I finally updated The Back Pew!

“Hey friends, after 20+ years, I gave the site a fresh coat of paint, and I removed much of the clutter. I have become a bit of a hoarder with my website design (mostly text everywhere… jokes, comments, etc.), but after a ‘website intervention’ by a friend, you will not recognize The NEW Back Pew.

• Same old cartoons sharing Clean Humor & God’s Truth, just easier to read and share.”

• Please take time to check it out. NO HOUSE WARMING GIFT NECESSARY. :)

• Stop by when you have a moment, and ‘say “hello” in the comments below.’ <— I am a poet

Blessings

Jeff

SKOSH.. From the Japanese word "sukoshi," pronounced SKOSH. That also MEANS A LITTLE BIT.  e.g.  "I'll have a SKOSH of that pie."

​​SKOSH is an underutilized word, that I don't recall it making it into any Bible Translation. It is implied though, and rest assured, SKOSH will be in my Back Pew paraphrase. 

In fact, I would like to use a Skosh-Meter to measure a SKOSH of... stuff that cannot be measured with your standard ruler or scale.

LIKE FAITH

This is my modern-day paraphrase of Matthew 13:3-8,

where Jesus taught lessons from the world in the days of the Gospel. Of course, I have added a cartoons illustrations with a 2025 flair

YOU INTOLERANT CHRISTIANS

You are un-WOKE, anti-LBGTQ right-wingers who are Neanderthal in your treatment of women and their right to choose. You are bible-thumping, gun-toting nut jobs voting blindly Republican every election like lemmings heading off a political cliff.

​The only progressive thought in your life is considering a Progressive Insurance policy.

As I ROLLER COASTER through this amusement park of life past the sideshows of a bearded lady, the two-headed cow, and the tattooed sword swallowing vicar, I realize again.. LIFE IS A RIDE.

I am a big fan of Redneck Jokes and Humor, as my upbringing in rural Wisconsin will attest.

I grew up in very rural Wisconsin, in my hometown of Cable, population 280ish, where…

• ​Flannel shirts were often worn (even w/ ties) by the ushers at my church, like whiskered runway models.