Elisha the Troubled Superhero
Posted by Troy | Filed under Bible Study, Work
Illustration by Troy DeShano
I’m not sure what happened in Elisha’s life that lead to his role as possibly the most troubled of prophets.
Maybe it was abusive parents or no parents at all.. maybe that’s how he ended up with his master Elijah in the first place.
Maybe he grew up devoted to religion and watched his family exploited because of their commitment to Yahweh..
Perhaps he just grew sick and tired of witnessing Elijah working so hard to turn back the kings to God.. only to be consistently threatened and exiled.
Elisha’s not going to waste his time casting his proverbial pearls before swine… so he’s quick to send man-eating bears and hurl lightning bolts on any approaching mobs.
Tags: bible, elisha, original illustration
I Swore I’d Never Be
Posted by Troy | Filed under Bible Study
Illustration by Troy DeShano
What’s the one thing you swore you’d never become?
Your mother?
“The Man?”
A corporate cog?
overprotective parent?
a fundamentalist? immutable?
deadbeat?
a leech?
an a-hole?
a Republican?
Well… how are you doing with that? From what I can tell many, many people swear in their youth that they’ll never be this-or-that… usually related to the negative character traits they see in their parents or harmful personal experiences they’ve had at the hands of another.
Tags: original illustration, snake
Eglon the Slightly Overweight
Posted by Troy | Filed under Bible Study, Culture, Humor
Illustration by Troy DeShano
Judges chapter three (in the Old Testament) specifically tells us that Eglon, King of Moab was “grossly fat.”
But in verse 20 of the chapter Eglon stands up.
He stands up?
Guess by good ol’ U.S. of A. standards he’d be described as “average” or “a little overweight.”
No “grossly fat” man in this great nation of ours would be able to stand up in the time it took Ehud to snatch the dagger from his right thigh with his left hand and plunge it permanently into Ehud’s belly.
Tags: bible, Judges, original illustration, strong odors
Meditation
Posted by Troy | Filed under Bible Study, Strong Odors
Celebrate God all day, every day.
I mean, revel in him!
Don’t fret or worry.
Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.
I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst…
the beautiful, not the ugly
things to praise, not things to curse.
Peace.
Tags: bible, original illustration, prayer, strong odors, worry
The Prodigal’s Brother
Posted by Troy | Filed under Bible Study, Books
The older brother stalked off in an angry sulk and refused to join in [the celebration]. His father came out and tried to talk to him, but he wouldn’t listen. The son said, “look how many years I’ve stayed here serving you, never giving you one moment of grief, but have you ever thrown a party for me and my friends? Then this son of yours who has thrown away your money on whores shows up and you go all out with a feast!”
His father said, “Son, you don’t understand. You’re with me all the time, and everything that is mine is yours—but this is a wonderful time, and we had to celebrate. This brother of yours was dead, and he’s alive! He was lost, and he’s found!” —Luke 15:28-32 —The Message
Tags: Faith, Parable, Tim Keller
King of Cynics: Part 1
Posted by Troy | Filed under Bible Study, Faith
Some frustrations of a world-weary and disillusioned emperor:
In the end, does it really make a difference what anyone does?
I’ve had a good look at what God has given us to do—busywork, mostly. True, God made everything beautiful in itself and in its time—but he’s left us in the dark, so we can never know what God is up to, whether he’s coming or going. I’ve decided that there’s nothing better to do than go ahead and have a good time and get the most we can out of life. That’s it—eat, drink, and make the most of your job. It’s God’s gift.
I’ve also concluded that whatever God does, that’s the way it’s going to be, always. No addition, no subtraction. God’s done it and that’s it. That’s so we’ll quit asking questions and simply worship in holy fear.
Whatever was, is.
Whatever will be, is.
That’s how it always is with God.
Tags: original illustration
