Finding Elim

The party's over, now get back to work.

2012-01-18T05:51:00.000-08:00

It's a fact of life. As we get older, birthdays become less and less important. After about 20, other people only make a real effort at the decade mark and then it ends up some sort of morbid roast to the "nearly departed". Black balloons, images of the grim reaper ... Until you hit 70 - then it's too close to the mark and people go back to celebrating your long life. Finally, after hitting 90, every year becomes a milestone again.

Oh well, when you're a teenager, life is just a series of reality-checks. This comic depicts just one of the many. Happy birthday.

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Game on, stringbean!

2011-08-01T06:51:00.000-07:00

Growing up, I was a huge fan of the daily comics. I read 'em all including the soap-opera ones like Rex Morgan. Blondie is a classic strip that does everything right. The art is well crafted, the main character has his famous idiosyncrasies that makes him endearing to the reader. His ability to make and eat sandwiches has permeated into society to the point that most people know that a "Dagwood" is going to be a big sandwich when listed on a menu.

Also, I've always loved crossovers in comics partly because it immediately gives the reader a connection to the artist. As you read a comic, if the artist is true to the strip's universe, you get so into the characters that you forget the artist behind the scenes. But when Hagar shows up in Pearls Before Swine you are exposed to the artist's thought process. As a cartoonist myself, I really appreciate that connection.

If you are a fan of Finding Elim, let me know by sending me an email, or joining the fan club at http://www.facebook.com/FindingElim

Careful what you pray for

2011-02-14T11:56:00.000-08:00

It's a concept as old as Genesis but somehow we need to be reminded every day. I sometimes wish Finding Elim would be more popular or even syndicated but when I really think about it, It's also a frightening thought being committed to do a more frequent or even (gasp!) daily comic.

If you are a fan of Finding Elim, let me know by sending me an email, or joining the fan club at http://www.facebook.com/FindingElim

Coffee Chemistry

2010-12-09T08:57:00.000-08:00

This one was just fun to draw - I've always loved the look of the movie laboratories with the bunson burners and test tubes.

But really, my morning "coffee" is pretty complicated: coffee, chocolate milk, too much sugar, extra cocoa and whipped cream on top. All served in a cup that's so big that other people in the office have mistaken it for a soup bowl.

If you are a fan of Finding Elim, let me know by sending me an email, or joining the fan club at http://www.facebook.com/FindingElim

Funraising Opportunities

2010-11-17T05:18:00.000-08:00

Well, let's face it. That money's not going to just fall in our lap. Finding the right way to raise money is tricky, especially for a church.

If you are a fan of Finding Elim, let me know by sending me an email, or joining the fan club at http://www.facebook.com/FindingElim

A great idea ... for you.

2010-11-09T05:14:00.000-08:00

Visions, grand plans, wish lists ... phooey! I've sat in my share of these types of meetings and personally I think they're frustrating. Churches have a mission and it's not to erect a new gymnasium. Years ago, our church wrote a mission statement that was pretty good: "... to make disciples and meet human needs." But when attendance is down and giving is down, the attention turns to the cold, hard numbers and the questions turn from "how can we make disciples?" to "how can we balance our budget?"

It's a fair question to be sure but adding programs that require the resources of an already tapped-out congregation can be counter-productive. And in the end, it seems the program in question gets a cool reception at best when people are attempting to assume what the "outsiders" would be attracted to.

So here's my suggestion: If you have a group of ladies that like to scrapbook, allow them to use the facilities and invite their friends. If some of your youth love frisbee, suggest they invite others for a game of ultimate on the church grounds. The point is to rely on your strengths, make use of your interests and enjoy what you do. And ALWAYS be inviting friends and neighbors to join in the fun.

If you are a fan of Finding Elim, let me know by sending me an email, or joining the fan club at http://www.facebook.com/FindingElim

Another Bored Meeting

2010-10-19T05:27:00.000-07:00

There is so much good that Christians can do to demonstrate their faith. Volunteering to help the less fortunate, visiting the sick, befriending the lonely ... but personally, I find sitting in a meeting is just spinning my wheels. Of course we need to connect to do things efficiently but that doesn't mean I have to like it. 'Nuff said.

If you are a fan of Finding Elim, let me know by sending me an email, or joining the fan club at http://www.facebook.com/FindingElim

Face to face, not facebook

2010-09-28T05:56:00.000-07:00

Let's all get back to reality, shall we? Cyber pets, sim farms, online romances - they're all a waste of time. Real life doesn't have an undo button. You can't quit this game and start over. Invest time in the short life that you have.

You may have figured out that I don't point fingers without some introspection, and yes I'm guilty of fantasizing too. So let's make an effort together. You get your hands dirty in a real garden and I'll log off of facebook and go meet the neighbors!

If you are a fan of Finding Elim, let me know by sending me an email, or joining the fan club at http://www.facebook.com/FindingElim

So, when DOES the youth group start breaking things again?

2010-09-15T05:54:00.000-07:00

I'm surprised youth groups don't have to have their own insurance policy. If you have a great youth group story, drop me a line and maybe I'll use it in a comic.

If you are a fan of Finding Elim, let me know by sending me an email, or joining the fan club at http://www.facebook.com/FindingElim

Love your neighbor, OR ELSE!

2010-09-01T06:41:00.000-07:00

Not all my comics have a moral but this one ...

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... you might be a redneck.

2010-08-12T12:00:00.000-07:00

Look, we all do stuff that we know is the lazy way out and yet temptation gets the better of us. This comic is about me. There is a line where the amount of leaves clearly requires a rake and I've crossed it - big time. Oh well. Call me a redneck, call me lazy. Just don't call too loudly, I'll be busy relaxing on the couch.

If you are a fan of Finding Elim, let me know by sending me an email, or joining the fan club at http://www.facebook.com/FindingElim

The lock-in

2010-08-02T15:06:00.000-07:00

Nothing has contributed to my aging like the tribulations of the lock-in. It is some kind of requirement that the kids come up with some kind of prank or outrageous stunt. I keep telling myself that I'm too old for these things and yet I keep on doing them.

Do you have any lock-in stories? Send 'em to me, I can always use the inspiration.

If you are a fan of Finding Elim, let me know by sending me an email, or joining the fan club at http://www.facebook.com/FindingElim

Water fountain from (you know where)

2010-07-22T05:08:00.000-07:00

Sooo ... this is my church. Seriously, the thing shoots like 2 feet in the air in two separate streams. If I had a camera, it would be total youtube material.

Do you have any equipment malfunction stories? Send 'em to me, I can always use the inspiration.

If you are a fan of Finding Elim, let me know by sending me an email, or joining the fan club at http://www.facebook.com/FindingElim

budget and finance

2010-06-29T11:17:00.000-07:00

Nothing causes more conflict in a church than finances. Let's face it, most churches are run like a business - it's hard not to. And yet, Jesus makes it clear that money should be our last concern. What's a poor congregation to do? Ya gotta pay the bills.

Tell me, what do you think?

If you are a fan of Finding Elim, let me know by sending me an email, or joining the fan club at http://www.facebook.com/FindingElim

Perils of surfing the web.

2010-06-16T14:39:00.000-07:00

Ah, the internet ...

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Young, skinny blonds need the Word too.

2010-06-08T05:10:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite people of all time was Dan Vigus. He had a way of recognizing the humor in just about every situation and on one occasion, while vacationing on the beach he made the above comment to his Father in law. The midwesterners in us had been practically shielding our eyes to the bathers on the beach and his impromptu quip lightened the mood. It's a small thing, but it's all the small jokes and observances from people like Dan and others that have formed my sense of humor and inspired Finding Elim.

So remember, God's beauty is all around us: in the sunset, the mountains and in the fleeting, vibrant beauty of youth. Appreciate His creation! (but don't get too enthused or your wife will give you her own thoughts on the matter).

If you are a fan of Finding Elim, let me know by sending me an email, or joining the fan club at http://www.facebook.com/FindingElim

Happy Mother's Day!

2010-05-07T05:24:00.000-07:00

Have a happy Mother's Day!

If you are a fan of Finding Elim, let me know by sending me an email, or joining the fan club at http://www.facebook.com/FindingElim

Lent is almost over...

2010-03-29T08:57:00.000-07:00

Easter is almost here, have you suffered enough? I don't usually give anything up for Lent, but I do think it's a good idea. The real challenge is making it into something that is meaningful to you spiritually. If you are focused on the day when you can get back to chocolate and Cokes, you're missing the point. Instead, try using your cravings as a trigger for a quick prayer. Always remembering the sacrifice that Jesus made for our sake. I'd be interested to hear what you do to make the time of Lent more meaningful.

If you are a fan of Finding Elim, let me know by sending me an email, or joining the fan club at http://www.facebook.com/FindingElim

Lately I've been feeling a little pregnant.

2010-03-17T05:38:00.000-07:00

With hot chocolate and poptarts for lunch, I shouldn't be surprised...

If you are a fan of Finding Elim, let me know by sending me an email, or joining the fan club at http://www.facebook.com/FindingElim

Indoor sports

2010-03-08T15:16:00.000-08:00

Unfortunately, one of my very bad ideas was an indoor frisbee game. Turns out the rubber frisbee wasn't the problem, it was the kid who went through the window. Well, lucky for me, he didn't kill himself.

If you are a fan of Finding Elim, let me know by sending me an email, or joining the fan club at http://www.facebook.com/FindingElim

I remember when flying was fun.

2010-03-03T11:11:00.000-08:00

I'm not a big guy, but anymore, anyone over a hundred pounds is likely to feel squished in today's air travel. Economy dictates more seats in a smaller space, with fewer flights. Maybe trains really will make a comeback...

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Careful what you wish for

2010-02-26T07:11:00.000-08:00

There are lots of ways to make your life more exciting - most of which leave you wishing you had listened to those nagging doubts...

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The financial planner.

2010-02-11T15:18:00.000-08:00

In THIS economy ... Investing is risky no matter how you slice it. Investing your money, your time, your talents. Ask me, I know. Whatever you do, the safest investments tend to be the long-term ones. Education is the perfect example of a huge monetary and time investment, but it can have great rewards in the end. So, stay in school, read your Bible, and chances are good that your future will have many rewards.

If you are a fan of Finding Elim, let me know by sending me an email, or joining the fan club at http://www.facebook.com/FindingElim

Our church frowns on drinking ...

2010-01-29T05:14:00.000-08:00

Growing up, I was always taught that drinking was a sin. Looking back, while the theology might be questionable, it wasn't a bad thing to teach a kid. Since my parents didn't drink, I associated alcohol with drunkenness which is essentially bad whatever your beliefs. As I got older, I found that like most vices, the sin is pretty much in the excess. Throughout college, I stuck with soda instead of beer, and found that most people admired my abstinence as long as I didn't look down my nose at them.

What do you think?

If you are a fan of Finding Elim, let me know by sending me an email, or joining the fan club at http://www.facebook.com/FindingElim

Harry Potter haunts the house.

2010-01-25T05:29:00.000-08:00

Harry Potter is sinful, evil and the work of Satan! ... Uh, but Aslan is an allegory for the story of Christ ...
When JK Rowling starts a leading a cult of witches and wizards, we might need to rethink her intentions, but until then, remember that authors like Tolkien, Rowling and Lewis are not only encouraging millions of kids and young adults to read, but they are also giving us great models for Good and Evil in stories that allow us to put ourselves into their beautifully (and sometimes beautifully terrible) worlds. As parents and teachers we have the opportunity to discuss huge issues, like agape love and self-sacrifice through the stories that kids love.

If you are a fan of Finding Elim, let me know by sending me an email, or joining the fan club at http://www.facebook.com/FindingElim

The church treasurer

2010-01-22T05:40:00.000-08:00

Even a small church can have a relatively large budget. Unfortunately, my joke is not so funny when embezzlement happens in real life. But beware, there's a special place in Hell for people who steal from God ...

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Please help me out!

2010-01-15T05:23:00.000-08:00

You can help support me by voting for my t-shirt design by clicking on the illustration below. Please hurry, the voting ends on 1/20/2010.
Thanks!!
-dave

Inflation trickles down ... and makes a sticky mess!

2010-01-14T10:33:00.000-08:00

Make no mistake, inflation is coming. The question is will anyone still be working? Nope, I don't have an answer, just a lot of concern for those who are still looking for jobs.

Have a happy New Year! If you are a fan of Finding Elim, let me know by sending me an email, or joining the fan club at http://www.facebook.com/FindingElim

In trouble again

2010-01-04T12:25:00.000-08:00

Welcome to 2010! For some people, staying out of trouble just isn't an option.

Have a happy New Year! If you are a fan of Finding Elim, let me know by sending me an email, or joining the fan club at http://www.facebook.com/FindingElim

Happy New Year!

2009-11-27T14:52:00.000-08:00

It's almost time to dust off your old resolutions from 09, 08, 07 ... 96, 95 .... Yeah, I've made resolutions to do better, try harder and be nicer, but eventually I fall on my face. I don't stress about it anymore. I also have quit making resolutions that are unreal. A resolution to have a publisher print my book is too lofty, and incidentally out of my control. Instead, I focus on the nearer objectives that will give me a better chance at getting there, such as sending X submission letters a week. ... Or I might just watch Star Trek reruns all night after all.

Have a happy New Year! If you are a fan of Finding Elim, let me know by sending me an email, or joining the fan club at http://www.facebook.com/FindingElim

Mrs. Smellybottom

2009-11-23T14:03:00.000-08:00

If you're not experienced with non-profits, let me tell you that memorializing donated things are a constant issue. From Bibles to Buildings, donors like to be recognized. It must really be awful when the donor has an unfortunate name like Ima Hogg or the Pew Charitable Trust. My current favorite is actually pretty cool: The Carver Medical Research Building.

Confucius say: "Man who go to bed with itchy bottom, wake up with smelly finger."

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2009-11-14T08:27:00.000-08:00

Kids and their cellphones, I'm tempted to begin: "when I was their age ..." but when I was their age, it was walkie-talkies. When our parents were their age, it was the telephone. Shoot, I can remember stringing tin cans together. There is just something magical about communication. You feel wanted, needed never alone. The saddest kid would be the one with a fancy cellphone and no friends to talk to. So, what else can I say? Be a friend, be a communicator but never forget the importance of face-to-face and a hand on the shoulder.

By the way, I really like this strip because it came from a real life suggestion. I barely had to work at it.

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Into every life, some [rain] must fall

2009-11-11T05:11:00.000-08:00

Ya know, much of life is just plain random - or at least as far as we can tell. Good things happen to bad people, bad things happen to good people. Usually, it's just a random mix of the in-between. God provides, but He's no "sugar daddy" and I think He's got a pretty good sense of humor to boot. The point is: I can't blame God for the hard times but instead ask His guidance in the midst ... And have some laughs along the way.

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Your sermon on encouragement was pointless.

2009-11-09T08:31:00.000-08:00

Oh the patience it must take to be a pastor. I swear church members (including me) can completely lose the point of community and loving their neighbor. Unfortunately the Pastor has to just grin and bear it.

For a more recent feed of new comics, become a fan of Finding Elim at http://www.facebook.com/FindingElim

Part Time Pastor?

2009-10-22T05:30:00.000-07:00

I've always wanted to be a pastor. When I was a kid, it was mostly because I thought the hours were awesome - AND as long as I had to go to church, I might as well get paid for it. Imagine, instead of being told what to do, I'd be the one telling them! Now that I'm older, I don't think I could handle the long hours, and people telling me how to do my job ...

For a more recent feed of new comics, become a fan of Finding Elim at http://www.facebook.com/FindingElim

Yikes!

2009-09-29T05:32:00.000-07:00

Here's a Halloween comic from the archives.

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Bible Quiz

2008-09-25T05:21:00.000-07:00

At youth group last week we started creating a bible quiz game. Most of the questions are really simple, nothing like what the serious quizzers are expected to answer. Did you know they have quiz meets and rules just like any other extra-curricular club? I hate to admit it, but those guys would take me to school in a wagon.

If you spell it, it's OK

2008-09-03T06:49:00.000-07:00

Since I was a kid, my family has played Scrabble. I've never been good at it myself. But every game brings out words that make people blush. I mean, if my Mom has the letters for sphincter, you better believe she's gonna use 'em.

Sugar Frosted Flakes

2008-08-26T05:29:00.000-07:00

When I was a kid, I was put on a sugar-free diet because of a chronic cough. For the most part, I managed OK, but when it came to breakfast cereal I was one sorry little boy. Perhaps the worst part was that all the boring cereals didn't put toys in the box - a double whammy! Oh, pity the poor, poor little Midwestern boy ...

Underwear shopping is not an intergenerational activity.

2008-08-22T15:38:00.000-07:00

I'm pretty used to seeing skin thanks to the multi-media world in which we live, but I suspect shopping at Victoria's Secret is still a bit of an overload for most guys.

We're all wimps.

2008-08-20T15:11:00.000-07:00

Seriously, when we were working in Mexico, there were 15-year-old boys that were pushing wheelbarrows that I was afraid to attempt.

Mexican masonry

2008-08-19T05:14:00.000-07:00

When you get a bunch of non-bricklayers laying bricks (or blocks in our case), the results aren't what I might call "up to code". But the Mexican foreman allowed us to do a less-than-perfect job, and encouraged us all the way.

I just need to carry a 3rd shoe just in case ...

2008-08-14T10:52:00.000-07:00

When I started working with youth, I realized the universal truth that if a frisbee or ball get stuck in a tree, a boy will ALWAYS throw his shoe at the object to get it down. And, if the shoe gets stuck, he will throw the other shoe. Only when the second shoe gets stuck will he consider other alternatives.

Physical labor is good for the mind

2008-08-07T10:28:00.000-07:00

Whether mixing concrete, shoveling concrete, carrying concrete in buckets, or wearing concrete on my skin and clothes, my mind kept returning to thoughts of how lucky I am that this isn't what I do for a living.

Safety before fashion

2008-08-04T05:23:00.000-07:00

I went with our church on a mission trip to Reynosa Mexico last week and despite hurricane Dolly, we still built a concrete block house for a family that was previously living in a plywood shed.

Birthday comic.

2008-07-16T07:48:00.000-07:00

When puns come into my head, I just can't resist. If you think reading them is bad, just be glad you don't live with me. It's a non-stop punapalooza. If you actually like this comic, why not go to FindingElim.com and forward it to a friend for their birthday?

Mondays Off

2008-07-09T05:54:00.000-07:00

I guess one of the perks of being a pastor is having Monday off. Of course, that doesn't always happen, and I doubt if many pastors actually keep to a 40 hour work-week ...

Having a Pool Potty

2008-07-01T11:32:00.000-07:00

I just found out what a big deal it is when a swimmer leaves a soggy log. Did you know everyone has to exit the pool and it takes a half a day of chemical treatment to make the pool safe again? When I think of all the nasty water we used to play in when I was a kid it's a wonder I survived.

Playing with the sacrament

2008-06-27T10:29:00.000-07:00

If you've never at least thought about sticking those little communion glasses in your eyes, then you've never been a kid forced to sit in a pew for a whole church service. I mean come on, even my Dad did it to get a laugh.

Dream Girl

2008-06-25T06:07:00.000-07:00

Every once in a while I see some parent driving a car that was obviously decorated for their teenager. To me, it's just too funny - but then I'm easily amused.

I am My Doctor's Boat Payment

2008-06-06T11:22:00.000-07:00

I actually went to a doctor recently where he "shared" his interest in boats and Porsches with his patients. I gotta tell you, I like to dream, but I don't want to be reminded that I'm actually financing someone else's extravagant dreams. The high price of healthcare is a real problem in my opinion, and is one of the most serious catalysts in the ever-widening gap between the classes. I could go on ...

Selective Hearing

2008-06-03T05:37:00.000-07:00

I guess we all suffer from some amount of hearing only what we want to hear ...

The Unpopular Word

2008-05-28T10:32:00.000-07:00

There are some people who say what everybody wants to hear. There are others that say what needs to be heard. Guess who gets the vote.

une boîte de vin s'il vous plaît

2008-05-25T15:47:00.000-07:00

A box of wine please ...
The older I get, the more traditional I get. That's why I'm disappointed by the whole screw-top acceptance. From synthetic corks, to screw tops - what's next, your favorite merlot in a handy Capri Sun pouch? I know it's inevitable, but if I don't have something to gripe about, what kind of old guy will I turn out to be?

For Mom ...

2008-05-23T05:50:00.000-07:00

I don't know why, but my biggest pain as a kid was making my bed. I figured out that if I asked my Mom to "show me" how to make it, I didn't have to do it myself. Hence she demonstrated several times before that little scheme wore itself out.

Undesirable Alternative

2008-05-13T09:10:00.000-07:00

Our church is adding new bathrooms, and let me tell you: it's about time.

Looking a little pale?

2008-05-06T15:40:00.000-07:00

New pastor arrives

2008-05-05T18:28:00.000-07:00

Early Sunday Morning

2008-04-30T15:27:00.000-07:00

Forgiving Trespasses

2008-04-29T05:38:00.000-07:00

Zoe's costume isn't cutting it.

2008-04-29T05:35:00.000-07:00

The Church Lady

2008-04-29T05:20:00.000-07:00

Cinnamon Toast Communion

2008-04-29T05:13:00.000-07:00