This blog shares my belief that COFFEE is a blessing from God. And while some coffee is better than others I am certainly in the Pro-Coffee camp.

"In our 60s, my bride Mary and I play a daily game: 'I HURT, You HURT… Amen.' We list our aches—back, knees, migraines—then read Genesis to remember Abraham at 99 and Sarah at 90. Suddenly our pains feel small. A lighthearted look at aging in marriage, full of laughs and thanks to God for the good life!"

We are called as Christians to be servants with a servant’s attitude, not a chip on our shoulders like the guy in this cartoon.

• Am I qualified as a NOBODY? 

• Can God really use this NOBODY? 

• What if my NOBODY self-esteem in a Monday-Friday-RUT?

DIVISION IN THE CHURCH!

Ever since the day the Apostle Paul found math problems scribbled on a bulletin in the first-century Church in Corinth, he knew…

DIVISION was going to be a problem.

Every year around this time, I like to share the story of our firstborn’s birth.

40 YEARS AGO, my wife and I were anxious parents-to-be expecting our first. We had already made a few typical false alarm trips to the hospital (aka Braxton Hicks practice contractions),

But on February 13th, 1986, it was the real deal, and life would NEVER be the same.

A COMPELLING STORY can give us hope and/or inspire us.  But over time, doubts may creep in, and we ponder whether this story is true or a fable.

This will require some investigative work to bolster our faith. And the most compelling story we can ever investigate is knowing God and trusting in His love.

BUT… this will require some work on our part. Hollywood will NOT fill in the gaps of knowing God.

I would never claim to have a great memory… and I am horrible with names.  I confuse and/or forget names at an embarrassing rate. 

BUT I DO REMEMBER

clearly my past mistakes/blunders/boo-boos and/or 'SINS'. AND… these memories are often hard for me to let go.

​This 'Jeff Larson blooper reel', when played, can spur on all sorts of regrets, often accompanied by those uncomfortable feelings of shame and failure...

BUT.. this is NOT what God intends.. 

'A Whole Lotta Life' …

has been lived in these past 35 years. It has been a ride filled with precious moments along with a few dips in the road.

So let’s travel back in time to February 5, 1991, when this story begins. After a high-risk pregnancy, including 5 1/2 months on bedrest, our daughter Erin was born 10 weeks early, weighing in at a lean, mean 3 lbs. 13 oz.

Well, inspired by GIECO TV ads where it is surprising how much you can save when switch to Gieco Insurance I would like to share

A few ‘Surprising’ Back Pew Toons

<— "Heavy Metal Yodeling? ​Surprising. What's not surprising? I don’t have any Heavy Metal Yodeler tunes on my playlist.

Watching for the "Shadow" of His Coming (a Spiritual parallel?)

Watch faithfully without date-setting, fearmongering, or checking out spiritually if the "winter" feels too long. Live ready every day—repenting, loving others, sharing the gospel—because Christ's return will burst forth like an eternal spring when God says it's time, sudden and glorious,

"like a thief in the night" (1 Thessalonians 5:2).

Narcissist… aperson with an excessive interest in or admiration of themselves.

Good news… BABIES get a free pass on being selfish/narcissistic. Then, there is a graceful curve of expectations until as adults we realize that life is not about me.

Now this WORLD is full of Narcissist, but what about the CHURCH?

The Back Pew is…

more than my hobby, it's uniquely how God wired me to serve Him by sharing Clean Humor & God’s Truth. That said, I am writing today to request YOUR SUPPORT.

A LITTLE BY MANY…

It could make a Big Difference in covering the costs of hosting, tools, and time needed to create new content without the constant hustle.

SPECIFICALLY, I AM PRAYING FOR more $5 & $10 a month BP Partners. I believe I need to connect with those of you who would be interested in this ‘relatively painless commitment’. I know, there are many other ministries to support, BUT I BELIEVE… there is a need for Clean Humor & God’s Truth in this crass, irreverent, and growingly pagan world.

So… please consider becoming a BP Partner. Thanks!

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,