Cartoon: Better Cooks

Cartoon of a couple talking to a pastor. The man says, "We decided to come here when we heard your church has better cooks."

I drew this for the "CHOGnews" February, 2010 issue. You can find the newsletter at this link.

Webcomic: Clergy Appreciation Month

Cartoon of two men. A glowing halo floats between them. One man says, “Happy Clergy Appreciation Month! I polished your halo.”

I've known plenty of pastors. The very first one was my grandfather. I learned very early on they all have hearts of gold but are flawed just like the rest of us. Be sure to show your pastor appreciation. But don't put them or their families on pedestals. We're all afraid of heights.

I drew this in Adobe Illustrator CS3. I also drew this for the CHOG E-newsletter.

Cartoon: Preaching on Youtube

Cartoon of two men. One says, "Great sermon. I already uploaded the highlights to Youtube."

Technology is changing the churches I've been in. Almost everyone has a projector now and many have wireless Internet. It makes me wonder how the church will look in twenty years.

I drew this cartoon for The Church of God E-Newsletter.

I drew this in Adobe Illustrator CS3

Cartoon in "Church Laughs" Newsletter

The Church Laughs newsletter at Christianity Today just featured my cartoon for this week.

http://www.christianitytoday.com/lyris/churchlaughs/archives/08-25-2009.html

Anybody need a chocolate on their pillow?

Middle-age couple on computer

Middle-age couple on computer, originally uploaded by speartoons.

The other day, I saw a lady operating a computer at church. I drew a sketch of the scene.

It amazes me how pervasive technology is becoming. People who I thought would never have a computer are now using them. PC's now seem to be a part of every church. Hi tech has hit mainstream!

Suits and Ties

I nearly flipped when I found out there was a time in the 1800's when my church considered ties worldly. After all, when I grew up, it was the non-tie wearers who were considered the worldly ones.

I don't remember what my ties look like or if they're still in my closet. Who needs one when you are going to church?

Church moving countdown

Our church is getting ready to move into a new building this June. My boss is writing an article for our church newsletter. She asked if I could create a cartoon to go with it.

Here are the sketches in my book

And here is the final cartoon. Caption reads: "He is counting down the days until we move into the new church."

Pew-EEE

I was playing around with a sketch. This has a little more shading, than I typically. Once in a while, it's good to shake up the technique a little.


Now the pew joke... that is another matter. It was funny when I was seven, but I'm corny that way.

Ties and floppy hats

Caption reads: “It’s only fair. If boys have to wear ties on Easter, girls have to wear the floppy hats.”

So much of Easter centers around clothes. There's "Sunday best" and then there's "Easter's best." Floppy hats at Easter are the equivalent to ties. Neither have much of a use except to dress up that already new and flashy outfit.

Word of advice to the guys: don't take a hat to church, especially if it's a baseball cap. The ladies get offended when you are upstaging them.

Illustration Friday: Hide

Caption reads: "Hi, Bob. Have you seen Frank? I need him to help in the nursery."

My wife is a children's director for our church. You would be right if you supposed I have heard similar words before. About ten years ago, I would be hiding like this guy. But now I realize it's great to be in children's ministry. I like to see the future. And I'm not scared when I see it. They have more potential than us grumpy, proper grown-ups!

Church Bulletins

Caption: “If you don’t get me the copy for the bulletin in ten minutes, Sunday morning church will be canceled.”

I love church bulletins. As a child, they kept me busy. They gave me something to doodle on as I listened to my grandfather's sermons. It was fun to read the words he had typed in the bulletin while I heard him preach. It was like stereo for the mind.

Bulletins are an important part of church communications. Hey, if you need some, go to Warner Press. My employer would be so glad!

Illustration Friday: Super Heroes

Boy to Pastor: "But why doesn't our church reach out to super heroes?"

This week's Illustration Friday theme reminded me of a cartoon I did some years back. As a boy, I wondered were those super heroes were in real life. I found out later many were closer than I thought. One of them lived right in my house and went by the alias, "Dad."

Complete the caption: Cheerleader

The Christian Humor Writers group requested a cartoon for writing aerobics this week. So feel free to complete the caption!

There's been a lot of team spirit in Indiana thanks to the big Indianapolis Colts' Play-offs this weekend. Will they make it to the Superbowl? Stay tuned!

Low Overhead

"We prefer a low overhead."

It's that lovely time of year where budgets are squeezed, tested and pushed. What are some good ways to cut expenses? I know! Cut that overhead.

I thought of the ideal for this cartoon when I was in the middle of a lengthy, boring, budget meeting. Thank heavens you can doodle and make it look like note-taking!

Birdhouse plus church equals Birchhouse

When I was a kid, my neighbors had a "condo" birdhouse. I watched that thing closely. I wondered if birds actually used it, and if so, did they play nice?

As hard as a tried, I never saw any birds go in to the house. Maybe they needed their privacy and waited until the nosy kid left the backyard.

That got me wondering what a whole birdhouse community would look like. Here's the start of one right now.