Cartoonology Devotional 06-20-09

Share on Facebook Cartoonology 06-20-09 E. Larry Ross Cartoonology. There is great theology in cartoons and comics. Cell phone mania has overtaken the world. Does it annoy you, even just a little, when people talk in public on their cell phones as if no one else around them exists? And it seems some of them try to talk as loud as they can. Phone conversations used to be considered private, and I wish they would remain that way. It seems, rather, that everyone is now competing to be heard. Perhaps that competition is grounded in the very beginning of telephones. Alexander Graham Bell had a competitor who invented the telephone the same time he did. His name was Elisha Gray. The reason Bell is given credit is that he beat Gray to the patent office by just 2 hours. Courtesy and common decency should never go out of style or be in short supply, especially with God’s people. The old Golden Rule that Jesus gave us should never become obsolete. It still rings true and it will serve us all well to practice it. Maybe we could all take a little time out from talking to hear that golden nugget of truth once more. Matthew 7:12 (NLT) 12 “Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets. 06-20-09 Click on the link here to see all previous Cartoonology Devotionals. To receive this daily devotional by e-mail, send a message to edrynn@verizon.net and ask for it. Pastor Ross sends out the devotional every day, Monday through Saturday.

Cartoonology Devotional 06-19-09

Share on Facebook Cartoonology Devotional 06-19-09 E. Larry Ross Cartoonology. There is great theology in cartons and comics. What is it about human nature that makes us want to do the things we are not supposed to do? You know, like getting into the cookie jar when mom tells us not to. Man’s natural, sinful nature is the problem. It has been so since Adam and Eve. The Apostle Paul stated it well and I identify with him well. Romans 7:18-19 (NLT) 18 And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. 19 I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. Then, Paul asks a question and answers it. Romans 7:24-25 (NLT) 24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? 25 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin. The Apostle reveals in verse 8 of this same chapter that it is the very “Thou shalt nots” of God’s law that arouse our evil desires. Through Christ, however, the Christian receives a new nature and the gift of the Holy Spirit that enables him to do God’s will. 06-19-09 Click on the link here to see all previous Cartoonology Devotionals. To receive this daily devotional by e-mail, send a message to edrynn@verizon.net and ask for it. Pastor Ross sends out the devotional every day, Monday through Saturday.

Cartoonology Devotional 06-18-09

Share on Facebook Cartoonology Devotional 06-18-09 E. Larry Ross Cartoonology. There is great theology in cartoons and comics. There is a time to be philosophical and a time to be practical. The Bible is one of the most practical books ever written and the preaching of it should be practical as well. The Apostle Paul stumped the philosophers of his day with the practical preaching of the Gospel (Acts 17:18). The Bible warns us about giving credence to philosophies of the world. The Greek word for philosophy means the love and pursuit of wisdom or the investigation of truth and nature. Unless one loves and pursues the wisdom and truth of God, all is vain. Some of the philosophies referred to in the Bible are Epicureanism (Acts 17:18), Gnosticism (1 Timothy 4:1-5) and Stoicism (Acts 17:18). Colossians 2:8 (NKJV) 8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. There has been an onslaught new philosophies down through the centuries most of which are humanistic and new age in nature. The pursuit of truth has led man in almost every direction, but the only source of real, absolute truth is found in the Bible and in Christ. John 14:6 (NKJV) 6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. 06-18-09\ Click on the link here to see all previous Cartoonology Devotionals. To receive this daily devotional by e-mail, send a message to edrynn@verizon.net and ask for it. Pastor Ross sends out the devotional every day, Monday through Saturday.