Drawings by Jesus

August 26, 2015
Link to Actual Drawings by Jesus 
(and a deal on some land in Arizona)

Those that know me know that I love “the stories of Jesus.” I love to hear them. I like to tell them – and I have, in any number of YouTube podcasts. Not videos! Podcasts. It’s a story; listen to it.

The story of the woman taken in the act of adultery.

I did think about illustrating this one – with the actual sand-drawings of Jesus! But I couldn’t get permission from the estate to put them up on YouTube. However, by agreement – for a limited time only! – you can see them here: DRAWINGS OF JESUS!

There is also a list of TRV Bible podcasts – with links – here: The List.

Now without further ado-doo –

What I learned at church this Sunday.

August 23, 2015

What I learned at church.

"But as Tertullian once said . . . ."

It was one of those Sundays that come to me often in Presbyterian churches: I’m more than reasonably certain the preacher knows what he is talking about; I’m much less certain I do. But what I got this Sunday – from the story of the woman taken in adultery, the one Moses says should be stoned - was this. It was much less than the preacher meant, I’m afraid, partly because I couldn't quite keep up. He was a tall, narrow, nervous man in a hurry, pushing one word against another against another and another with never more than a sliver of breath in between.

    This is only what I got: Jesus has no patience for condescending overweenery (pun intended). What he’s drawing in the sand is a line he is labeling “Pompous Ass Free Zone.” And what he wants to tell pompous asses every-where (and the pompous assery in every-one) is this, “Put your stones down (pun also intended) and go home. Tell your wife and children that you’re sorry for being such a hot-air balloon and try to mean it.”

    What he wants to tell sinners when he’s made the zone pompous ass free is this, “You can start all – all – over again. Go anywhere but home and make a new beginning.” That’s it, right? That's the end of story.

    But, there are not many preachers that slow down enough to stop where the story does. There’s always something to add. The narrow man in the broad hurry was not the exception that tested that rule.

Figure 8

Figure 8 - Quarter rest on weather map of India.

  Coming soon: Ted Riich bobble-head dolls.

Dis onne t

August 17, 2015

Dis onne t : more dots

••••

You put your left foot in.
You put your left foot out.
You put your left foot in,
And shake it all about.
You do the hokey-pokey
And you turn yourself about.
That's what's all about!

                                                      •••••

 

                            ••••••

Dumb Show

You are standing at the crossroads. You wait. An arrow: a man arrives carrying a placard arrow on what looks like a mop handle. He looks at his watch, signaling It’s time, don’t you think?

     You do think, looking at him looking at his watch. You point to the arrow. He nods. You take a step, tilt your head: Are you coming? He shrugs his shoulders. You raise your eyebrows to say Please!

    He shrugs again but makes to follow, though he is the one holding the arrow – the way, the map – which you cannot see without turning and looking over your shoulder.

     The road stretches before you, dirt road in a dirt field, not a tree in sight – there is only the one you’ve left behind, the dusty maple with a scattering of purple leaves at the crossroads.

     You look again over your shoulder. He is still behind you, carrying the arrow.

Connecting the dots.

August 15, 2015

Connecting the dots 

                 •

Away with your proverbs, your morals, and rules,

Your proctors, and doctors, and pedants, and schools.
                                                                              -Scottish Folk Song

                                                           ••

Daisy Dukes with Yellow Fire Hydrant.

                                                                                  •••

Growing Uncertainty.

Figure 6

Figure 6 - Bad minton equipment

Figure 5

Figure 5 - WE-CO-- B--ER-

Figure 4

Figure 4 - ø of Clubs

Figure 3

Figure 3 - Johnson County Courthouse, Tecumseh, Nebraska