Pastor Jon Burnham: A Journey to the Temple of Apple (and more) in Houston

Check out his great narrative of a pastor's personal pilgrimage to the temple of Apple. Very funny!
Pastor Jon Burnham: A Journey to the Temple of Apple (and more) in Houston

More Committees Than Members

Church "work" is a tricky thing to manage. I've seen more active members of churches suddenly drop off the roles because there are simply so many things that they are asked to do that they just decide to chuck it. It's easier to stop going to church than it is to tell some committee chair that they don't really want to participate in their new program. So do yourself a favor, please don't pressure members to accept responsibilities that they aren't really jazzed about. Don't eye new members as fresh blood for your committee. Make it clear to people that you'd like them on your team but you understand they might be busy with other things and, please, take no for an answer!

Recently I've heard rumblings from other people bringing up this very issue, so I'm not alone in this. Churches are seeing declines pretty much across the board and ours is no exception. But just be aware that adding a program to bring in new members could be counter productive if you burn out the ones you have. By the way, I belong to the Presbyterian Church and while it's very democratic in its process, I think we are the committee champions. We have committees that nominate people for committees including the members that will be on next year's committee-nominating committee.

Well, after all that, at least I've learned how to spell committee. ;)

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Lenten sacrifice

Lent. I know lot's of people who give up one thing or another for Lent. Usually it's something that they really like: sugar, chocolate, Cokes. Sometimes it's more traditional like meat or it's an activity like watching TV or video games. Whatever. Going without is healthy for the body and mind but to get the full effect, replace the void with a dialog with God. If you're fasting, use that hunger to help you focus on your relationship with Christ. Consider all the people who HAVE to go without and use your want to better understand their plight and remember them in your prayers.

Yeesh! Not a very funny commentary. I hope you like the cartoon anyway. Peace to you this Lenten Season.

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The unspoken assigned seating of congregations

If you go to church, you know how it works. Everybody has their preferred seating. I often wonder if visitors sense that when they come in for the first time. Do more stubborn members shoo people out of their place? Does it drive them crazy to see a different rear where theirs should be? Anyway, if you don't regularly go to church, try it and let me know what happens.

BTW, I sit in the choir, so my seat is truly assigned.

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

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!

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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Careful what you pray for

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