Did you even LISTEN to that song before you elected it to be your THEME!

Here’s the deal: that song is a GOOD song. In fact, it’s one of my favorite songs off Jars of Clay’s first album (arguably their best). But the song is called “Love Song For A Savior”, the key word here being “savior”. In other words, it’s a love song for JESUS. When Dan Haseltine sings, “I want to fall in love with You”, you can’t forget that there’s a capital “Y” on that “You”, you know what I’m sayin’?

Now, don’t get me wrong: as much as I like the song, it did weird me out a little at first. The idea of a love song being written and sung for Jesus seemed just a tad creepy to me. But after a few listens I quickly came to love the song and it’s meaning.

But then you guys decided to turn it into the theme song for your dating website that matches Christian couples, and now the song is just straight up creepy.

Thanks, Christian Mingle. Thanks for ruining music.

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I want to take elements of this, what you’re experiencing here. I want to put it all in a blender, and throw in a little Lost, maybe some TED Talk and maybe some Letterman and do something that’s never been done before.

I don’t know about you guys, but that sounds like a crazy awesome TV show! White people are gonna love it!

Speaking of RELEVANT, last week the magazine began featuring Insert Image on its website. Right now, it seems that the comic will appear weekly or semi-weekly on Wednesdays or Thursdays. I’m really excited about this collaboration and I’m looking forward to what I hope will be a long and storied relationship with RELEVANT. If you like your Insert Image comic strips piping hot, however, this website is still the best place to see the freshest episodes updated every Monday.

On a sidenote (and completely unrelated to anything I’ve previously been discussing), I downloaded the new Armin van Buuren album. It’s kind of amazing. I’ve had a miniature rave going on all weekend-long in my basement studio. This song in particular has been my JAM. Good times.

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As a small groups pastor and leader, I’ve noticed that there are a few recurring characters that show up in each group. A few of those characters are as follows:

The Dominator. This guy can’t stop talking. He answers EVERY question, sometimes more than once. He has a story that relates to every topic that’s brought up, and – in the rare case that he doesn’t have a story – he’ll repeat an old story that you’ve heard several times and could probably recite back to him. He means well, but he’s an over-sharer.

The Non-Talker. This person never talks. They show up EVERY week and even sign up to bring snacks from time to time. Regardless, you still have no idea what their voice sounds like even though they’ve been attending your group for months.

The Guy With The Kinda Weird Theology. This dude is a tough nut to crack. It’s not that his theology is necessarily bad, it’s just . . . odd. Or maybe even pointless. Who knows? All you know is you feel bad interrupting him when he goes on one of his spiels.

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A lot of aspiring cartoonists (and parents of aspiring cartoonists) have asked me what books I recommend for drawing/cartooning reference. I love this question because my answer is the same for both novices and pros. There are three books that I highly recommend for anyone who wants to improve their cartooning skills. They are as follows:

Action! Cartooning by Ben Caldwell – This book covers a lot of the “basic” stuff that most how-to-draw books cover. Stuff like shapes and faces and body types, etc. What makes this book so much better than other books on cartooning is its author, Ben Caldwell. This guy is a fantastic cartoonist and the artwork in this book is beautiful and inspiring. If you’re a novice, you’ll gobble up the lessons in the book. If you’re a pro, you’ll use Ben’s artwork as reference for your own art. This book deserves a spot on your shelf for easy reference and inspiration.

The Character Mentor by Tom Bancroft – This book takes the essentials that you learn in books like Action! Cartooning and takes them a step further. Tom Bancroft shows you how to add weight to your characters, how to do layouts, and he even offers a lesson on coloring! If you’re a novice, some of this stuff might seem overwhelming but you’ll definitely be inspired by all the little “tweaks” that will brilliantly enhance your cartooning. If you’re a pro, you’ll find a wealth of information that will help you dig deeper into your cartooning skill set so you can create characters that feel like they could walk off the page! I love this book!

The War of Art by Steven Pressfield – While this book doesn’t teach you how to draw, it will kick you in the butt and encourage you to chase your creative dreams. It’s an easy read. It’s a quick read. It’s chock full of wisdom and inspiration. If you’re a creative person, this book not only deserves to be on your shelf, but it needs to be read once a year every year for the rest of your life!

I love these books so much that I want to give a set away to one lucky winner. Simply log-in to the Rafflecopter widget below and follow the steps! I’ll announce the winner on Thursday!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Are you guys in a small group? What recurring characters have you seen in your groups?

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That said, I want to tell you guys a few things that Bob Goff does (or has done) that I have no plans of ever doing:

I will not do a fully-clothed cannonball into a lake or pool. Bob Goff does this on a fairly regular basis. It’s documented on videos on the web as well as in Donald Miller’s A Million Miles in a Thousand Years. As fun as it sounds, I will not freely participate in this activity. Have you ever walked around in wet clothes? It’s the most uncomfortable feeling in the world.

I will not say “yes” if someone asks me to get involved with international politics. Even if I think it’s a joke. Bob Goff is the Ugandan consulate, and he accepted the position because he thought it was his buddy prank calling him. LESSON LEARNED: Do not say “yes” to any offers of international responsibility, even if you think it’s your pal, Steve, on the other end of the phone.

I will not give you my cell phone number. At the end of Love Does, Bob Goff has published his cell phone number and he encourages people to call him. He says he’ll answer if he’s not on an airplane . Guys, I will not be giving you my phone number. The only person who has my cell phone number is my wife, and I gave it to her reluctantly.

What’s the best book you’ve read recently?

The post Love Does appeared first on [IMG] Insert Image.

When I was in high school (and during my short stint in college), Five Iron Frenzy was one of my Top Five Favorite Bands. They were in the company of the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Less Than Jake, Reel Big Fish, and Goldfinger. I loved them with all of my heart and soul.

In 2003, Five Iron decided to break up and, in turn, destroyed the hopes and dreams of its legion of fans. But those hopes and dreams were restored, however, in 2011 when the band held a Kickstarter campaign for a new record of original material. The Kickstarter was a success, the band has started touring again, and the new record comes out this year. All is well with the world.

While reading the January issue of RELEVANT Magazine, I discovered that two members of Five Iron Frenzy no longer call themselves Christians. Though a simple internet search will give you the names of the two guys who have renounced their affiliation with Christianity, the article in RELEVANT didn’t name them. So I found myself staring at the band’s picture trying to determine who was “in” and who was “out” based solely on the info in the photo.

That’s shameful.

It dawned on me that I should spend less time trying to judge people and more time praying that God will show Himself in profound ways to the folks who don’t believe in Him.

I’m gonna start doing more of that.

On a sidenote, I’m totally psyched for the new FIF album.

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