According to Universal Press Syndicate, the comic strip FoxTrot (created by fellow NCS member Bill Amend) is switching to a Sundays-only format. Bummer.
Questions Santa is Sick of Being Asked at Parties
Need some Christmas humor? Check out these lists from Cap’n Wacky:
Questions Santa Claus is Sick of Being Asked at Parties
Supervillains, What Are Your Plans For Ruining Christmas?
There ya go. Some jolly for your holly.
Christmas: From the Archives
This illustration is from one of my very first freelance projects after graduating from college (1997). Even though my artwork is much more cartoony nowadays, I though this would be an appropriate image to wish everyone a very merry Christmas.
If you look past the Santas and the shopping and the stress, the story of Christmas is really amazing to think about: The God of the universe humbled Himself to become a little baby! He was a King, yet instead of a palace He chose to be born in a cattle stall. His birth was announced not to dignitaries and heads of state but to working-class shepherds. From the very beginning He set an example of complete humility. (This is even more remarkable to me now that my wife and I have our own baby to feed, change, and care for. She is totally helpless in almost every way.)
It’s also remarkable that His birth actually fulfilled many Bible prophecies, including specifics about his ancestry, his place of birth, and the events surrounding it. It was foretold that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem to a virgin who was a direct descendant of King David, and that there would be a celesstial event to mark His birth (the star) and also a great tragedy involving dead children (Herod’s “slaughter of the innocents”). And it all came to pass!
And what’s with the virgin birth anyway? Well, Christian teaching is that had Jesus been born in the normal way He would have inheritted the sinful nature that has been passed down to every human being since Adam and Eve. But because He was conceived supernaturally, Jesus remained sinless and could therefore be a worthy sacrifice for our sins. I can’t pay the penalty for your sins because I’ve got my own sins. But because Jesus was perfect, He could take our punishment upon His shoulders at the cross. All who repent and come to Him in faith can receive complete forgiveness and eternal life! “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15).
Sorry if I’m starting to sound “preachy”, but that’s why Christmas is one of my favorite holidays. Warm Christmas wishes to one and all!
Christmas Promo
This year I decided to do a Christmas self-promotion campaign. My plan was to buy jumbo chocolate bars, replace the labels with new labels illustrated by me (see above), throw in a card (also designed by me) and ship them to my various clients and friends. But then our beautiful baby girl was born early. We love her immensely, but now wiith the late-night diaper changes, doctor visits, Christmas shopping, and deadlines, I’ve barely had time to slap the promo together. I did get a few out in the mail but unfortunately not as many as I wanted to send. Here’s what they looked like:
A few of the packages went to warm states like Arizona, Texas, etc. so I hope the chocolate doesn’t melt in transit. Next year I hope to send something to everyone, especially the people I missed this year.
Anyway, warm Chirstmas wishes to one and all!
Clever Advertising in a Bowling Alley
This really made me laugh. Thanks to Ernie Schenck for the link.
Tagged!
I’ve been tagged by illustrator Doug Jones for the Christmas Song game. My job is to post my five favorite Christmas songs, and then tag five other people. It’s hard to pick just 5, but here they are (in no particular order):
1. The Muppet’s version of The Twelve Days of Christmas. Miss Piggy’s “five golden rings” is classic.
2. Tie: Have a Holly Jolly Christmas and Silver and Gold. Specifically the versions sung by Burl Ives as the Snowman narrator in the charming Rankin-Bass special “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”. They don’t make ’em like that any more.
3. Zat You Santa Claus? by Louis Armstrong. I just discovered this song last year, but I love it. Not only is it an upbeat, jazzy number, but it’s so different from most other Christmas songs (which all start to sound alike after a while).
4. Do you Hear What I Hear? I was in the church Christmas program as a kid and this was my favorite song to sing. Not sure why, but it brings back warm memories.
5. Finally….Handel’s Messiah. Ok, it’s not just one song, it’s a whole album. But it’s beautiful music inspired by the true reason for Christmas: not Santa, shopping, or sleigh bells, but the Savior. “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners…” (1 Timothy 1:15)
There ya go. Merry Christmas and happy singing to one and all!