Spontaneous Lego Dance!

Anyone who lives in a house with kids knows exactly how this dance goes.

'nuff said?

Church camp can be demanding.

To all my camper and leader friends out there: Have a fun and safe Summer!

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The End is Near for the Printed Word!

Oh, I do hope you're reading this comic on your Kindle!

I am fully immersed in the whole electronic media world and I sometimes wish I weren't. I just love books. If I go somewhere that has a bookshelf, I'm immediately drawn to it. Seeing all those spines lined up together just makes me happy. I'm uncontrollably intrigued about what titles I'll find. I know this sentiment has been beaten to death by old guys like me but there are great reasons to keep print alive such as:
• Giving someone an e-book is a sterile gesture compared to one that you can physically wrap with paper and a bow.
• e-books can't be personalized by the author.
• A bookshelf is a physical profile of your interests.
• Printed books are much more likely to be a good read. Anyone and everyone can create an e-book without the filter of a publisher/editor giving credibility.
... and so on.

I'm glad you like this comic, electronic or printed. For those who have purchased my book, I do appreciate the chance for my work to sit in your bookshelf. I'd be interested to know what it's sitting next to.

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Where do you come up with those jokes?

Not being on a daily schedule, I have the luxury to let jokes come to me during the course of my pretty mundane day. Within a week, I can usually find a situation that just needs a little exaggeration to make it into a joke. But some weeks, I just come up dry. I know this comic was written very literally. I probably said that exact phrase to my blank piece of paper and luckily I was open enough to recognize the action as a joke in itself.

I bet some sermons are like that. The pastor has a point to make, but try as he might, the illustrations are as elusive as ...
as hard to come up with as ...
... er, you get the idea. Anyway, there's my process for all of you who asked*.

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* well, really the only person who asked was the janitor at the bus station and I think he only wanted to break the ice before asking me to lift my feet so he could mop.

Game on, stringbean!

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.

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Funraising Opportunities

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.

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A great idea ... for you.

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.

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Face to face, not facebook

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!

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Love your neighbor, OR ELSE!

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

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... you might be a redneck.

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.

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The lock-in

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.

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budget and finance

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?

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Young, skinny blonds need the Word too.

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).

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Happy Mother's Day!

Have a happy Mother's Day!

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Lent is almost over...

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.

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Lately I've been feeling a little pregnant.

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

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Indoor sports

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.

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I remember when flying was fun.

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

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.

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