BABY MONKEY

Baby Monkey,

Baby Monkey

Riding on a pig baby monkey

Baby Monkey

Baby Monkey

Backwards on a pig baby monkey

The world has gone insane.

And you don't know what is right.

You've got to keep on keepin on

So get on that pig and hold on tight.

Baby Monkey,

Baby Monkey

Riding on a pig baby monkey

Baby Monkey

Baby Monkey

Backwards on a pig baby monkey

Every morning I send my wife an e-mail with something animal related to let her know I'm thinking about her. It is especially important here at the end of the semester when I'm so crazed. I found this thing about a monkey riding on a pig, and she got such a kick out of it I decided to draw this for my wife. It helps me blow off steam and I hope it puts a smile on my wife's face.

Blowing off Steam

When I was in high school I think the last comic I collected faithfully was Leave It To Chance. There was something about a kid with her own dragon tromping around sewers in a town where her father was the head ghost buster, and defender against the occult that held my attention. When I saw DrawForce was dong a hot rod theme I started playing around with ideas and then I remembered Chance's air car, and decided it needed to be souped up a bit. I've actually been working on it five minutes here, ten minutes there for weeks. The end of the semester is kicking my butt and I really needed to blow off some steam so I thought I'd put the finishing touches on this one and post it.

Constantine killed the church?

You know churches are always asking for money. They're always asking for your tithe. They're always asking for a special collection for this, that, or the other. On the surface it always sounds like a good thing. Then I found this quote while writing a mercy and justice paper for a class on John Wesley's theology.

 Persecution never did, never could, give any lasting wound to genuine Christianity. But the greatest it ever received, the grand blow which was struck at the very root of that humble, gentle patient love, which is the fulfilling of the Christian law, the whole essence of true religion, was struck in the fourth century by Constantine the Great, when he called himself a Christian, and poured in a flood of riches, honours, and power, upon the Christians; more especially upon the Clergy...Then, not the golden, but the iron age of the Church commenced.ⁱi John Wesley sermons., 2:462-463. (The Mystery of Iniquity)

Wesley goes on to emphasize money and power are not the best when trying to give aid to the poor, to educate the ignorant, to bring food to the needy. Without a doubt money helps make those things happen, but without people to step out in faith, to answer the call saying, "Here I am am. I will go," money is just another trap.

This being said I never thought of Constantine having such a negative effect on the church. Thanks to Constantine the church stopped being persecuted by the Romans. Thanks to Constantine the way was paved for Roman Christianity which is Roman Catholicism. Why was this a bad thing? Putting that much money, power and influence into the hand of any human - Christian or otherwise, is a whole lot of temptation. Through the centuries the "Church" supported forcing the lower class into near slavery under the guise some people are born to lower station, and it is God's will they were born to be serfs. The Church strong armed countries in Europe to fight the crusades by refusing their people the sacraments, and then didn't provide for the spiritual development of the soldiers to prevent atrocities like the sacking of Constantinople. At Constantinople European Christian crusaders roasted Turkish Christians on spits outside the city walls. These are just the first of many atrocities committed by Christians (not just Roman Catholics) in the name of God. 

Money and power are not evil in and of themselves, but they are an awful temptation for misery - even in the hands of Christians. I'm not saying everyone should be poor. I'm saying at some point we have to be grateful for what we have, and generous enough in spirit to go to those who are hurting with more than our wallets. Perhaps we need to do more showing up for the gospel, and less looking for a handout.

The Tooth!

Evan has been pretty fussy lately, and he's only been teething for four months, but today I found it. I had started to feel something sharpish in Evan's mouth a day or so ago, but today I felt the rough edge of a front tooth. Then when I finally moved his tongue out of the way there it was. The tooth is certainly not all the way in, but the tooth has broken the gum line. If you're looking right at him it's bottom right. Finally, the tooth has broken through!

On a separate note I am pleased to announce my brother and his family now have power at their apartment in Madison. Ryan has gone back to work so I imagine Amber will gather the flock and reclaim their apartment - and then probably hit the grocery store since the had to throw everything in their refrigerator out. Still, the fact they can move back home on the fifth day when most of Harvest, Alabama, will probably be without power into next weekend is a good sign of hope. Maybe the power companies will be able to get power to Harvest sooner.

Ford's Chapel United Methodist Church

Ford's Chapel was one of six Methodist societies created in 1808. The congregation has met on the same spot for over 200 years. In the late 1980s and most of the way through the 1990's Ford's Chapel was my church home. I was in middle school and high school, and just beginning to learn about who God is for myself. A friend, Angie, invited me to come to UMYF. I began attending worship because we needed to show the congregation there actually was a youth group. In September of 1992 there was a grease fire in our home. My Dad suffered 2nd and 3rd degree burns over 70% of his body. Pop spent six weeks in the burn ward at UAB. My family didn't attend church at the time. It was just me. When it was time for prayer concerns that next Sunday a 13 year old boy stood up among so many older congregants to ask for prayers for his father. I don't know why I did it, but it happened. Call it a prompting of the Spirit. The outpouring of love and compassion from that congregation who really didn't know me from Adam's house cat made a huge impact on my life. I did my Eagle project for that church. My brother came to Christ in that church and my Mom reaffirmed her commitment to Jesus Christ in what they now call the old sanctuary. There are so many memories attached to that building. There were Christmas Eve candle light services, and the celebration of the church's 200th birthday. I can still remember hearing the bell in the bell tower when I pull up for church. However, Wednesday nights storms put an end to the bell ringing at Ford's Chapel United Methodist Church.

I no longer live in Alabama. I haven't for over ten years. Seeing these images is difficult. For me, Ford's Chapel was like the steps to the threshold of the Kingdom of God. However, I am trying to remember the Kingdom of God is not built with bricks and mortar. The Kingdom of God is more than pianos and pews. The Kingdom of God means more than crucifixes and communion kneelers. The Kingdom of God is placed in the hearts of believers. The Kingdom of God is made manifest when the Spirit of God bears witness to the spirit of believers that these are the children of God. The Kingdom of God comes alive when the storms of life rage, and the darkness - though it may tear down our church buildings - cannot tear down the hearts of the faithful. If Ford's Chapel has suffered at the hands of Wednesday nights storms how much more must the people in the community of Harvest, the city of Huntsville, the people in Madison County? All those who have been spared have a tremendous task ahead of them, but the task is not to rebuild with brick and mortar. The task ahead is to build up the faith of those who question in the face of adversity. Which is the greater storm? The twisters which tear down brick and mortar, or the doubt that fills so many hearts and minds in the wake of these storms? It is my prayer the Spirit would blaze in the hearts of those who call Ford's Chapel their church home. I hope Ford's Chapel will reach out to their community in the same love and Spirit of God they used to reach out to a scared thirteen year old boy.

Blount Family Update

Just a quick update. I spoke with my brother Ryan and he is returning to Huntsville tonight to be with Amber, Abbie and Jacob and to figure out how to handle the no power situation. New estimates are the area will probably be without power for a week give or take a day. Ryan told me there is also a curfew in effect for Huntsville which runs from sun up to sun down. I imagine the curfew is to stop looters, break-ins and vandalism while the power is out. I will keep you posted as I find out more information.

Family Tornado Update

Since I am the only member of my family who is not in North Alabama at the moment I thought I would share this update about Mom, Dad, Ryan, Amber, Abbie and Jacob. I spoke with Mom and Pop last night from 8:30-9. Mom, Dad, Amber, Abbie and Jacob are fine. They are at home and do not have power. Ryan is in Birmingham taking depositions for a case he's been working on for four years. Ryan is the one who has done all of the background research for these depositions so he could not get out of it. Luckily everyone is safe. Mom and Pop lost two trees on the back of their property and their neighbors have water within 30 yards of their back door.

The forecasters are calling it the worst storm in 40 years with over 200 twisters on the ground. As I understand it all of the network television stations are down, and most of the local radio stations are down. There is one station in Athens which is still able to broadcast and they are now the source of information from the national weather service. CNN is giving okay updates about Alabama, but without power there are no updates with specifics out of Huntsville.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/04/28/severe.weather/index.html?hpt=T1&iref=BN1