Cartoon: Home Among the Wise

Cartoon of Dad napping on a couch with the dog. A child is about to drop a cat onto Dad. He says, "I'd think twice before you do what you're about to do!"

If you listen to constructive criticism, you will be at home among the wise. Proverbs 15:31

My dad is a guy of few words. But he makes his words count. Whenever he's had some constructive criticism, I could usually count on it being solid advice. Many times, that sage advice came out about the time I was going to do something I'd later regret. 

You know, he was right. Dogs and cats don't make a good combination on a couch. In most cases, there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth! 

I drew this comic in Adobe Illustrator CS2

Criticism for Bullies

Cartoon of a bully threatening a boy. The boy says, "The problem with you bullies is you don't know how to take constructive criticism."

Whoever stubbornly refuses to accept criticism will suddenly be destroyed beyond recovery Proverbs 29:1 (NLT)

It seems the more stubborn and inflexible someone is, the harder it is for them to take criticism. We need to be flexible and take the good along with the criticisms in life. 

God made trees to be flexible. When the wind blows, a tree sways in the wind. Dead branches on a tree don't have the same flexibility. They are the first to go in any strong wind storm. 

Engineers took a lesson from nature and learned long ago tall structures need to be flexible. A rigid skyscraper wouldn't stand the pressures of the wind anymore than a large tree. The best defense against the storms of life is flexibility.

When criticism comes our way, we need to be flexible as well. If the criticism has merit, let's learn from it. If the criticism is unfair, roll with it and wait until the wind dies down. 

I drew this comic in Adobe Illustrator CS2

Super Help

Cartoon of a girl and boy. Boy wears a super hero costume. The girl says, "Do you have to wear that every time I ask you to kill a spider?"

I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD,the Maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1-2

Everybody needs some help once in a while. Some of us have no problem admitting this, while others just as soon don a costume and pretend they are invincible.

If we are honest, we will admit we need help one in a while. There are some things we can't do alone. Fears get in the way. Bugs and spiders were never a problem for me. Rodents, however creep me out. Even squirrels look a little sinister. I think it's because they are small, fast and can go where we never could. Not only that, they are smart. The critters know how to get out of sticky situations. Mice and rats are even worse for me. 

I can rest at night knowing God is the source of all help. He can do for me what no one else can. It's comforting to know the same God who made it all knows exactly how to help me. I know I can do everything through him who give me strength. That includes walking by the trees of dive-bombing squirrels. Those critters can bean you with an acorn from ten yards above. They're that smart.

I drew this in Adobe Illustrator CS2

Christmas Confession

Cartoon of  a boy on Santa Claus' lap. Boy says, “If I confess stuff, will I get more loot?”

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

Everybody likes a good confession, that is, as long as someone else is doing the confessing.

I read where celebrities are having to rethink how they use social media sites like Twitter and Facebook. Some celebrities have gotten in trouble when they said something that created controversy. At the same time, people are subscribing and friending celebrities so they can get a little tidbit about their favorite star. People love to see it when a celebrity confesses something. It makes them human.

At the same time, we have our own secrets we just as soon never divulge. We fear retribution. We want to look good even when we know our heart has sin.

If we knew we could get more stuff like the boy in the cartoon, that could change our minds. That's why 1 John 1:9 is such a great verse. We DO get something if we confess our sins to God. He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us. Now THAT'S something worth getting!

I drew this comic in Adobe Illustrator CS2

Proverbs 3:13-15: Expensive Wisdom

Cartoon of  boy and man in a store. Boy says, “I’d like a million dollars worth of wisdom, please. Can you just bill me?"

This cartoon is based on Proverbs 3:13-15

Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. Proverbs 3:13-15

It doesn't take long to realize how valuable wisdom really is. How many times could we avoid heartache and hassles if we just listened to wisdom?

When I was a boy, there was a neighbor kid who was giving me a hard time. He was taunting me about something so trivial I can't even remember what it was about. What I did remember was I told my dog to "sick 'em!"

I knew better. It would be unwise to try such a thing. But I blocked that from my mind. Instead, I thought my dog would never obey the command. After all, I didn't teach her to attack anyone.

Unfortunately, my dog picked up on my anger and the tone of my voice. She turned on the neighbor boy and began to attack. I had to grab my dog, pull her away and apologize for an embarrassing situation that could have become tragic.

Wisdom is very valuable. But it loses its value if I don't heed it. Today, I'm going to treat wisdom like the gold it is and do the right thing.

I drew this comic in Adobe Illustrator CS2

Proverbs 1:7 Beginning of Wisdom

Cartoon of  two boys in school. One says, "We must be getting knowledge. It smells a lot like fear."

This cartoon is based on Proverbs 1:7

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. Proverbs 1:7

I used to wonder what it meant to fear the Lord. When I thought of fear, I thought of scary movies. Usually, some evil force would terrorize the hero in those movies. It didn't make sense to fear God if he was good.

Now I see that the fear comes from knowing God is all powerful, all knowing and yes, He's all good. He knows my strengths and weaknesses. It is by his mercy I am on earth in the first place. 

It's too easy for me to forget that in a world where modern conveniences make me comfortable and science attempts to explain everything away. I may think I have an answer for everything and a way to take care of myself in any situation.

I need to remember God controls my life. By his will, he placed me at this time and place in the world. Just that fact is enough to make me fear Him and be thankful for what he's done for me.

I drew this comic in Adobe Illustrator CS2

Proverbs 26:12-Wise in Our Eyes

Cartoon of  two boys. One wears a robe and mortar board. He says, "You wouldn't believe how much smarter I feel since I changed my wardrobe."

Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him. Proverbs 26:12

There have been times in my life when I thought I had all the answers. When I was six, I was convinced I knew how to get to the moon. All I needed was a rocket. I began building one in our backyard. It looked a lot like a tree house. I tried to convince my dad to get me rocket fuel. When that didn't work, I tried to "borrow" the lawn mower gas. Luckily, it was too heavy for me to carry. Mom wasn't any help either. She refused to get me a space suit for Christmas. I abandoned my plans in the fall when it started getting cold and the leaves fell from my rocket.

Nobody could convince me that I should leave the space exploration to NASA. They made it look so easy, I was sure a six-year old like me could blast off to the moon too.

There have been other times when I've caught myself acting like I knew it all. Pride can convince me I have all the answers and anyone who has a different opinion must be a space cadet.

I put on my robe and mortar board and act like the scholar I'm convinced I am. It's during those times I need to get a grip and realize I don't have all the answers. I may be able to learn from someone. It's okay for someone to have a different opinion. Today, I will act like a student and learn a few things instead of fool myself into thinking I'm Mr. Know-it-all.

I drew this comic in Adobe Illustrator CS2