When I thought of this idea, I thought how technology has changed the church. If you walk into most churches today, you’ll at least see a projector on the wall. They have replaced hymn books with Powerpoint and lyrics projected on a wall. I see it as a good thing. The way we process information and interact with speakers is changing. Powerpoint, and similar programs, have made it possible for us visual people to see a sermon as well as hear it. My pastor can weave a story like no other, but visuals still can do what words can’t. You can tell me about Red Square in Moscow, but I won’t have a clue what it looks like until you show me a picture of St. Basil’s Cathedral.

There’s a whole industry devoted to this stuff:

• http://www.usingpowerpointinchurch.com/
• http://cmtechguide.wordpress.com/

That was the most obvious way technology has changed things. Then I wondered how social media has changed things. Does your church have a Facebook fan page? How about a Twitter account? And what’s all this stuff about Google+ ? It’s one of the many ways that have changed the way we communicate, whether person to person or church to the congregation. Instead of a postcard or mailer, do you text your latest event? I thought of how I get information from my church now. Sometimes, I’ll get a note in the mail along with an announcement on Facebook. I find that the more ways I’m approached with a subject, the better I’ll remember it. How many ways do you reach out to people? There are so many articles just about those topics:

• http://collinharbour.com/2010/03/social-media-strategy-for-churches/
• http://samluce.com/2011/07/why-everyone-should-use-google/
• http://www.childrensministryonline.com/fresh-ideas/how-much-is-social-media-integrated-in-your-ministry/

Social media led me to Angry Birds. It seems like such a silly game. Who would have thought a game where you use a slingshot to fire birds at pigs would be a sensation? Oh, the many facets that would make a sermon topic sing! Well, maybe not. You could perhaps do one Sunday on anger, then another Sunday on inertia. After that, perhaps you could do a topic on treating pigs the way you want to be treated, or birds before swine. Hey! Maybe you COULD make a whole sermon series out of Angry Birds!

I drew this for the Church of God newsletter. You can find a copy of the newsletter here: http://www.chog.org/chognews/CHOGnews-aug11.htm

Cartoon of a grandfather and grandson on a roller coaster.

I drew this for Illustration Friday. This week’s word is “perennial.”

When I heard the word, I thought about some people who may be up in years, but still love the amusement park rides. It’s always fun to see a senior citizen tackle a roller coaster. I also thought of the perennial summer traditions like county fairs and trips to amusement parks.

Cartoon of to angels in a cloud. One says, “Just when I thought I got away from PC’s, along comes cloud computing.”

I drew this for The Church of God E-Newsletter. This month’s edition is here: http://www.chog.org/chognews/CHOGnews-july11.htm

I drew this activity a couple of years ago. It was fun working on this one. I imagined how the kids would act out the story as one child would “rock” the ocean and another child would add voices to the scared disciples. I’ve always admired Peter’s chutzpah in this story too!

Cartoon of  boy with a bandaged dog. The boy says, “Do you want the real remedy? STOP CHASING CATS!”

I drew this for Illustration Friday. This week’s word is “remedy.”