Sketchy Sermons

I tried to think of some pithy caption to write here but in…

2025-12-31T17:06:06Z

I tried to think of some pithy caption to write here but in honor of the verses presented it’s probably best I keep my mouth shut. 🙏🏻

Coming out next year!

2025-12-23T01:41:18Z

Coming out next year!

I haven’t really talked about it but I illustrated a Bible! It was a ton of work of and the people over at Harper Collins were not only super patient with me but just an outright joy to work with. Just high quality people all around. I’ll make a better post when I have one in hand but my creative director @katealbie shared this and I’ve been watching it on repeat ever since. 🥹

Internet epistemology continues to be thought poison

2025-09-02T15:08:21Z

“Internet epistemology continues to be thought poison. Please read books and curate a reputable news stack from sources with various perspectives and for different purposes.”

@ianharber on Threads! Or X. Maybe both? I’m not on X anymore. 🤦🏻‍♂️

Also, the caption is in the carousel, I’m trying something new!

Much has been made of the religious imagery in the Superman…

2025-07-09T16:45:54Z

“Much has been made of the religious imagery in the Superman mythos, especially the Old Testament echoes of Moses in the basket. Some have suggested that Superman is a Christ figure, a concept implicit throughout the Superman Returns film and elsewhere.

As a Christian, though, I think we identify with Superman not so much because he is godlike but because he is, underneath it all, so very human. We might be thrilled to see a superhero flying upward in the skies above us, but really, we’re looking past him for Someone else.

We all like to be saved from danger by a real or imagined Superman every once in a while. But Supermen have come and gone. This character has persisted for almost a century. That’s not because we think he can save us, but because we know, deep in our hearts, that a Superman needs a savior too.

From @russellmoore in a revised, expanded, and updated version of “Who Will Save Superman?” published on his website on April 17, 2018, on the 80th anniversary of the creation of the character.

Sometimes I make a drawing and something goes wrong, the quote doesn’t work or the caption doesn’t work or just something doesn’t feel right about it. I try not to fight it or overwork the concept.

This was one of those. I drew superman but the rest didn’t feel right. Then Dr. Moore’s email dropped in my inbox this morning and I was like “this is it.”

Something to think about if you head into the theater this weekend.

I hate, I despise, your feasts!

2025-05-19T12:22:18Z

I hate, I despise, your feasts!
I can’t stand the stench
of your solemn assemblies.

Even if you offer me
your burnt offerings and grain offerings,
I will not accept them;
I will have no regard
for your fellowship offerings of fattened cattle.

Take away from me the noise of your songs!
I will not listen to the music of your harps.

But let justice flow like water,
and righteousness, like an unfailing stream.

Amos 5:21-24

I’ve never spent a whole lot of time in Amos but wow…it’s poetry and fire in there.

I’m not one that would lay ancient Bible verses on top of modern day happenings and say “Look what God is telling us!” However, I think chapters like this do reveal God’s heart and we would be remiss not to consider modern applications. You know what really jumped out to me here?

The word “hate.” He *hates* it? I’m no theologian, but when God says “here’s something I hate” as a layperson I definitely take notice.

Woe to those who would offer up songs while withholding justice. 🙏🏻

Now if any of you lacks wisdom

2025-05-16T11:17:09Z

Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly and it will be given to him.

James 1:5

I gotta be honest; I’ve been talking to AI quite a bit lately.

What started as “Can you write a SQL script that does this?” or “Can you write a regex that does that?” has turned into:

“I’m really frustrated I’ve got all these projects”
and
“I keep buying cameras and returning them what is wrong with me?”

And you know what? It’s been really helpful in ALL of those questions. It’s great for planning, it’s great for one-off questions or even letting you know that being stuck in a gear loop of buying cameras is totally normal and it’s a mix of idealism, consumer psychology, and misaligned expectations! Too personal? That might be too personal.

Moving on….

I’ve been amazed at the insight it provides; it’s very influential. It normalized my struggles.

And that’s the problem.

Nothing AI has told me so far was something I couldn’t have arrived at without some quiet research, contemplation and prayer. And in many cases having a short cut is advantageous. But aside from just information; it will decide for you if you let it.

One of the real struggles that’s unique in our humanity is the need to make a decision and for that I need wisdom which only comes from God.

As the symbiotic venom-suit of AI starts to coat our minds; I can’t help but feel the disciplines of prayer and reading and fasting become even more important. It helps to remember who has the information and who has the wisdom and whom to ask for each. 🙏🏻

Note: I don’t know if that’s the proper use of “whom” - I never get that right. 🤦🏻‍♂️

Another note: You’ll see in the Timelapse I actually started with a different quote from chatgpt. Seeing the influence and the potential it has made me shift fire to this.

Yes we could. But will we?

2025-05-15T13:01:13Z

"Yes we could. But will we?"

I originally posted this ~4 years ago and good news; There ARE people known for their love on the internet!

Bad news; those spaces of public discourse where we can present our faith confidently and listen to our critics carefully and humbly? We're still working on that. It doesn't help that social algorithms seem to trend toward agitation and mildly interesting soma-like short form content.

I used to think being known for love meant presenting the better arguments but I'm more and more thinking better digital citizenry is the path forward. Posts and comments should look more like Galatians 5:22-26...

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control

...and a lot less like Galatians 5:19-21...

The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.

One get's more engagement than the other, but while one will build a platform, the other will build your soul. 🙏🏻

Frankly, I don’t care about your content if you have no…

2025-05-14T17:53:08Z

Frankly, I don’t care about your content if you have no character.

“They hear your words but they do not obey them! Their mouths go on passionately but their hearts pursue dishonest profit.” Ezekiel 33:31-32

I had this whole caption in my mind but when I started to write it out, the story of *another* scandal in Western Christianity Land, I just stopped. The details change but the story is the same; a person with great content was found to not have any character. I’m sure this person will be back. They always come back. I mean, Jim Bakker is still asking for your money and he’s been doing this for decades.

We are swimming in content, but we’re starving for character. Lord I pray that changes.

Well look at that; I DO have a post that's appropriate for…

2025-05-04T22:39:12Z

Well look at that; I DO have a post that's appropriate for May the Fourth! 🫡

Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength

2025-04-29T16:23:00Z

“Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles: they will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not be faint.”

Isaiah 40:31

I was very fortunate to work on a book together will Pastor @challies and it’s available today!

It’s a fully illustrated graphic novel about the life of Eric Liddell. At first when I took on this project all I really knew of Liddell was his participation in the Olympics and refusing the run his best event because it fell on a Sunday.

I didn’t know his story was going to have me illustrating a life of missionary work and service that spanned multiple wars and different locations across the globe. 😰 Truly a remarkable person and I can see why he has multiple movies and books written about him. I’m sure he’d want to see all of the attention on him redirected to Jesus.

Thanks to @harvesthousepublishers and Tim for bringing me in on this; what a wonderful group of people to work with. 🙏🏻

I’ll try to get some copies to sell in my shop but in the meantime it’s available wherever you buy new books.

Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus

2025-04-20T12:13:25Z

"Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said."

Matthew 28:5-6

Happy Easter Everyone! 🥳

I’ve seen AI punch through a concrete wall

2025-04-17T17:25:25Z

“I’ve seen AI punch through a concrete wall. Men have emptied entire magazines of tweets at it and hit nothing but air, yet its strength and speed is still based in a world that is built on rules. Because of that, it will never be as strong or as impactful as you can be.”

I mangled Morpheus’ quote but you get the point. While I don’t agree with all of the theory put forth in the Matrix I’ve always loved this quote so I’m going to co-opt it here. The 90's was awesome.

Your art will always have the ability to outperform AI generated art. This is the heart of the Morpheus quote. AI art is what I refer to as “big art” - it’s art that appeals to a large number of people in a small way. I’ve always sought to create “small art” here - art that appeals to a small number of people in a big way. The machine can scale virtually infinitely but to touch someone’s heart requires effort that is difficult and personal which seems to be something we as humans are great at. When we’re not looking at our phones all day that is.

If you’re creating art for likes and engagement then that will be your reward. I can guarantee you; making a piece that helps someone find biblical truth or brings them closer to Jesus or just encourages them when they’re down is worth more than all the likes on this platform. It is fun when something takes off but it’s vapid in the end. The relationships, the true fans, the people that encourage you, making art for something bigger than yourself; that’s the real gold to mine on this platform.

I have so much more to say on this…I might need to make another post. What do you think; am I in left field with this stuff? I’m just happy that AI is really good at centering DIVs. 😅

*hat tip to @faithandfandom for reminding me about the Smith license plate. 👀

I jumped on the “make yourself an action figure in a box”…

2025-04-14T22:45:04Z

I jumped on the “make yourself an action figure in a box” thing bandwagon; just without the AI. There’s not nearly enough coffee, pizza, or self doubt on there! I guess that’ll come with the expansion pack. 😅 ☕️🍕

The mercies of the Lord are here for us again this morning

2025-03-11T10:45:17Z

The mercies of the Lord are here for us again this morning. It’s a brand new day, a chance to remain quiet and circumspect and, if not wise, at least potentially less foolish. This morning, not only is it our moment to receive mercy but it’s also our moment to give it. The flesh of Christ travels easily over the internet.

@andysquyres on IG

Lamentations 3:22-23 Because of the Lord’s faithful love we do not perish, for his mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness!

If you have a moment…reread Lamentations 3. If that chapter isn’t poetic and haunting I don’t know what is.

I love this from Andy. It’s hard to express to the Lord how is mercies never end and then be a person that swipes open their phone to lay siege to those who might not actually oppose us but just think differently. I’m not even talking about Christian social; it’s *everywhere.*

Canon people fight Sony people of photo social.

PHP people fight JS people on dev social.

Marines fight Army on military social.

And on and on and on. I’m not talking about joking around and being coy; I’m talking about tapping on that comment box and spitting venom. Everywhere all day.

Sure, there are true enemies and true battles online. But every stray opinion we come across is not the battlefield even though social encourages that.

What if instead of trolling the waters looking to mark our disagreement; we were searching instead for those who need encouragement and giving it? Or if instead of venom, we just said nothing at all?

Thank you Andy 🙏🏻

There’s an expectation on me as a Navy Seal

2025-03-08T11:36:33Z

“There’s an expectation on me as a Navy Seal. There is also an expectation on all of you as men of God.”

@garrettunclebach at @ignite.men

I’m at a mens conference this weekend which means I’m seeing a lot of OD green t-shirts and beards. Like way more than you can imagine. A veritable sea of green and beards. *

Much more than that though, is seeing a bunch of great speakers, spending time with my sons, being surrounded by men of this area, and being blessed by new ways of thinking. I'm thankful to be here. 🙏🏻

Garrett had a 30+ minute talk but this quote was one of a bunch of thoughts that stood out to me.

Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about my intentionality here. I don’t post as much for a number of reasons but one of them is…it just takes a lot of time. A good sketch that hums along can easily take 90 minutes and sometimes much more than that.

That was always the point though: it was a service. In a world that wants your money and attention, I started this as a way to encourage and give to people and not ask for anything back.

When Garrett said this quote; he wasn’t insinuating we all get really big arms with full sleeve tattoos. I took it as “you need to try and live up to the expectations that come with being part of a group.”

And he was clear what our expectations are: service. Galatians 5:13 service.

I’m finding social media wants us at our worst. Angry, reactionary, impulsive, abusive, and undisciplined. It’s so easy to mouth off on stories or over on threads and you’re rewarded for it. But that doesn’t live up the expectation that Gal 5:13 lays out and it’s certainly not a fruit of the spirit.

I’m thankful to be reminded of the expectation in an environment that wants us to forget about it. 🙏🏻

*I’m not hating on OD green t-shirts; I have a few myself I just didn’t wear one of them. 😅 And I don’t grow a beard because I can’t get past the itchy phase. 🫠

We are experiencing a crisis of truth and sadly

2025-02-28T20:07:06Z

“We are experiencing a crisis of truth and sadly, Christians are among those who are perpetuation of derision.

We must be able to tell truth AND discern truth.”

@raychang502 from IG

I’ve definitely had my share of off-the-cuff social media reactions. I’m really trying to curb those though. Now more than ever with people making a living off of reactionary click-bait “content” and AI infecting all areas what we hear, see and read; it really would seem that we need to consciously and diligently work to be people of truth.

If a man has bad character, no matter how good he is at the…

2025-01-09T12:10:20Z

“…If a man has bad character, no matter how good he is at the thing he’s called to do, his bad character will lead to his demise.”

@chadwright278 on a @3_of_7project video in response to Elon Musk’ response to his critics

I can’t like this enough. YES.

This isn’t a take-down of Elon per se; I’m not a huge fan of his but I’m not going to use what little influence I have here to debate whether or not he’s all this or all that. What I will say is this; take note when people display their bad character to you. It’s like seeing a single termite near a tree or a drop of water in the basement; it’s a sign that bad things are coming.

Chadd mentions in this video that “bad character is like rot.” How many times do we see “brilliant” people fall because the foundation they built their skills upon was rotten. How many times do (seemingly) great leaders and businessmen and athletes fall because the bad character they have can’t hold up the weight of their accomplishments?

We see it even in the church, at all levels. People rise with great preaching ability or great presence and then leave because the rotten core of their bad character is exposed.

Should we seek ability? Sure. But Galatians tells us specifically the things to look for and it’s not great business acumen or teach ability. It’s love. It’s joy and peace and patience. Kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and *self control.* These are the hallmarks of good character. This is the foundation you can build something on. Take note when these things are shown.

*Art Note: No man has ever complained that I made his beard look “too full” so I’m continuing that trend here. Also, I do my best when it comes to tattoos. 😅

Until further notice I’ve decided not to participate in outrage

2025-01-07T13:22:59Z

“Until further notice I’ve decided not to participate in outrage, only prayer.”

@johnhendrix on x back in November.

Ok…I know I know. Hendrix is an accomplished author and illustrator and makes these amazing works of art and when I finally draw him and post something he said here it’s some random tweet from X??

Yup.

If anything embodies that 1 Thessalonians 4:11 spirit it’s this right here.

I get it and I’m not immune to it; it feels satisfying to speak out on social media. To participate in anger when everyone is angry and to takes sides when lines are drawn is literally how these social media companies pit us against each other to gobble up (and monetize) our attention.

But what, in the life of the believer, is more powerful than prayer?

Sure, prayer doesn’t get attention like a reaction video does; but let’s engage in things that brings us closer to the Creator rather than what brings us closer to internet fame.

*As an aside, if you haven’t checked out “The Mythmakers” yet it’s a marvelous book. Every page looks like it had so much care and intention put into. I’m finished with my copy and am happy to give it away to someone here in the US - just comment something below and I’ll pick someone randomly to send it to. 🙏🏻

For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and…

2025-01-06T16:32:30Z

“For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had.”

John 5:4

This is part of series of archangels (well, it started at 3 and that may increase) that I’m posting. From what I can tell this is *assumed* to be Raphael. He’s not mentioned by name in my Bible but it looks like his name shows up apocryphal texts which is way beyond my current level of study.

I always thought there was one “apocrypha” like a single text but when you start digging around it’s so much deeper. You probably already know this. I’m claiming a child-like faith here. 😅

Anyway, Raphael; the healer!

Ok…this is a little off-topic but I have a host of unfinished

2025-01-03T12:18:43Z

Ok…this is a little off-topic but I have a host of unfinished, barely working projects so I thought I’d start talking about them to finish them.

Somewhere out there on IG there’s a clock made out of wood with an e-ink screen that shows a Bible verse that corresponds with the time of day. I thought it looked really cool, clicked on the link to buy because how much can a simple clock cost anyway?

It was $250. 😳

Two hundred and fifty DOLLARS. 🤯💀🪦

I noticed a couple of other things; they were exclusively targeting ads on IG and Facebook, they weren’t responding to ANY comments (what does it show at the hour like 4:00? or what about times of day that no verses correspond with?) and there wasn’t any human information about it at all which made me think, “this might be some drop-shipped/white label garbage from China.

I could be wrong, I hope I’m wrong and I’ll update if so.

Anyway, I’m a mildly competent developer so I set out to make a proof of concept instead of…you know…paying $250.

Here’s the process I went through; I downloaded a complete KJV bible in JSON format from GitHub. I wrote a ruby script that went through and converted the verse format into something that was easier to query and stuck the whole thing in a SQLite database. I wrote a single query that’ll grab a random verse, threw together a php script as a rudimentary api that’ll return a verse on the web and another php page with a timer to grab a new verse every minute. Proof of concept done.

My plan was to wire together a PICO with an e-ink screen and 3D print a case for it but I’m not there yet. Too many other projects to finish first. 🤦🏻‍♂️

So anyway, if want to visit a page that’ll give you a random verse that corresponds with the time of day (bugs and all) head over to:

sketchysermons.com/clock

I’m not a designer so I find keeping things really simple helps. I’m totally open to your suggestions though; what do you think would make it better?