cats

Daily Drawing #239, Getting the World to Sing

| Whitt’s End Art

This cartoon entitled, “Working on the Cat’s Meow,” is a homage to the old Tom and Jerry cartoons where Jerry is always getting the best of Tom. Here the mouse is teaching the cat to meow in tune. We are supposed to be the mouse. The ones who as the old Coke commercial tells “teaches the world to sing in perfect harmony.” The key is living a life which is in perfect harmony with the Lord. People will sing along with whatever we are doing not what we’re preaching. So a life out of tune will create others who are also not singing the right notes.

Daily Drawing #235, Hanging On To What We Love

| Whitt’s End Art

In life there are many things we try and hold onto like our youth, close friendships, the perfect job, memories and those close to us like family members. Still no matter how hard we try to hold tightly the rope of time slips through our fingers and the thing we have cherished in our hearts is gone. This week I lost a new friend. He lost his battle with cancer. The one regret I have is I would have loved to get to know him and his family a little better. My friend was a great man of God. His words could inspire and touch the hearts of those who knew him or heard him.

One of the great mysteries of life to me is why men such as him are cut short of their ministry in the church. I have countless questions about this but I have come to understand that God knows what He is doing and has a purpose for everything. So as long as I trust Him I will be okay. I know someday I will see my friend in Heaven and give him a big hug. Until then all I can say is enjoy your time Jesus Pastor Tim you are home, you are home.

 

Daily Drawing #224, We’re Not All Cat People

| Whitt’s End Art

Growing up I had a good many cats. One of my favorites was a from the breed known as Manx. I don’t remember the cat’s name but it was one of my favorites. Still even with all those cats I had quite a few dogs. Two of my favorite dogs was one I called Hobo named after the dog in the show of the same name. I named the dog Hobo because he looked like the dog in the show.

The other dog was a Shetland Sheep Dog or miniature collie. I loved the dog. In fact we were inseparable up until the day the dog disappeared. I had no idea what happened to the dog until years later when my mother told me the dog followed me the bus stop and was run over by the bus. She didn’t have the heart to tell me. The whole point of this reflection is the fact we are all different. Some of us like both dogs and cats but their are others who like either dogs or cats. We are all different and need to learn to look past our differences and learn to live each other for who we are not who we want the other person to become.

Daily Drawing #213, A Human And Their Pets

| Whitt’s End Art

Millions of Americans love their pets. They spend billions of dollars each year taking care of their pet’s needs. In my lifetime I have had many pets. Most of the pets I owned were cats or should I say I was the cats personal care giver instead? Every cat that has graced my home has had a unique personality but have all had one thing in common, their attachment me. Cats show love differently then do dogs.

The dogs I have owned are always there when I open the door, wagging their tails with what looks like a grin on their faces. Cats love by gracing you with their presence every once in a while or letting you know they need something like food or their litter box changed. I currently don’t have any pets but would love to get another cat someday. My drawing entitled, “A Wizard and His Dragon. is dedicated to all pet owners out there no matter what the type of pet you have. I hope you like the drawing.

Daily Drawing #204, Where Have All the Churches Gone?

| Whitt’s End Art

Back many,many years ago I first accepted the call of Jesus and asked Him into my heart. Soon after I started attending a church where many people listened to what was at the time labeled Contemporary Christian Music or CCM. One of my favorite artists of the genre was Steve Taylor. His music was to say different than anything I had ever heard before. I look back from many years later and think of one song of his which I really liked entitled, “This Disco Used to be a Cute Cathedral.” The song to me was about the decline in attendance at many churches which seems to be on the rise. Years ago attending your local church was something you did without question. Back then the church in turn to care of the needs of the people.

In our modern society over 80% of Americans claim to be Christians but only 20% attend church. That leaves 60% of the people who claim to be Christians not filling the seats in local churches. This means as Steve Taylor sings many churches empty and being converted to other uses.

This is sad my friends because a church is not just a place where we worship, it is a place called to be in service to God in the local community. So we need to get our you know whats back into the seats to worship but also out of the seats and into the streets in service to serve God by helping those in need.

 

Daily Drawing #201, Folk Art is Very Cat-chy

| Whitt’s End Art

Today’s drawing was done with one thing in mind, “Folk Art.” I live in the Lancaster, PA area which as an artist makes me very interested in the genre known as folk art. I used to think folk art was restricted to those interesting landscapes done without any thought to perspective. Recently however I have found folk art has many forms and subject matter. The title of today’s drawing is “Folk Art Cats #1.” It was done in colored pencils instead of acrylic paints. By the title you can gather there will be more folk art cat pictures coming. Cats have become one of my favorite subject matters.

Daily Drawing #199, Summer, A Time to Enjoy?

| Whitt’s End Art

I must admit again I am not a big fan of the summertime. I used to like summer but only because it meant we got out of school for 3 months. Today, I still get off for the summer because I work for a school district, but now I spend my days off working around the house, mowing grass, painting and a whole lot more. Not the way I would like to enjoy my summers. I would much rather spend some time outside, lounging around on a patio or deck, drinking a cold sweet tea, while conversing with my friends. The title of today’s offering is entitled, “Little Red and Her Cat in the Sunshine.” Little red and her cat are enjoying being outside on a nice summer day. My hope is you’re doing the same. Happy summer to all and to all have a good bright (and sunny summer of fun).

 

 

Daily Drawing #194, Seeing Eye to Eye is Sometimes Hard to Do

| Whitt’s End Art

There are times I like to draw things just to draw them. This is one of those times. I just thought the picture of the cat and mouse was interesting. Here are two creatures a cats and mouse who are not normally close friends. In fact most of the time a cat will play with a mouse, by play I mean bat it around and around, until it is ready to finish the mouse off. In the picture the cat and mouse seem to be conversing with each other. Maybe just  asking each other, “How are you doing on this fine day?” To which they’d both reply, “Fine,” before going a little deeper into their comings and goings since they last met. This little meeting also got me to thinking what if we could all look at each other and see through the supposed differences which keep us apart instead of playing cat and mouse games with each other. Here’s to letting God’s love shine through in all circumstances and all our interactions with the people we meet each day.

Daily Drawing #192, Time to Cat-ch A Break

| Whitt’s End Art

My favorite part of this drawing challenge is I never know what I am going to draw. Sure I use prompts but sometimes, like today, I just draw whatever comes to mind. The drawing for today is entitled “Trying to Cat-ch a Break.” it is modeled off of the old Popeye cartoons where Wimpy always asks :I’ll pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today.” In the Bible God tells us in, Proverbs 21:13 ESV, “Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered.”

What does this have to do with my drawing? The answer is simple. We are called to care for those who can’t care for themselves. If this means buying someone a meal, then that is what God calls us to provide. The one thing I am reluctant to do is to hand someone money only because I don’t know what they will use the money to buy.  Instead I would give them a grocery card, or take them to an agency where they can receive the deeper help they need. The life of a follower of Jesus is all about giving.