“Baby Object” cartoon by nakedpastor David Hayward

I read this smart post by Lauren Martin, Ladies, The Smarter You Are, The More Likely You Are To Be Single. It inspired me to draw this cartoon.

And we all know that if this is generally true, it is specifically true in some expressions of religion and religious organizations such as the church.

We have a daughter who feels the pressure to dumb in down. But she won’t. She is aware of the cost. But to dumb it down is even more costly in an even more detrimental way.

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“Ken Ham’s Alien” (cartoon by nakedpastor David Hayward)

Some things are just too good to pass up.

Like this story about Ken Ham’s claim that aliens cannot be saved, since Jesus was Godman, not a Godklingon or Godmartian. Makes sense to me.

I wonder if the alien would say, “You must be born from above. Waaaaaaaaaaaaay above! Like, a whole galaxy above!”

So this picture of an alien popping out of Ham’s chest popped into my mind and popped out of my pens and popped onto my blog and now popped before your eyes!

Although I might agree with Ham that an alien such as this one would belong in Hell. But what about E.T.? Surely not!

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“Piece of the Peace” (cartoon by nakedpastor David Hayward)

Order a fine art reproduction of this cartoon! —> CLICK HERE! <—

I believe peace is a reality. I also believe the appearance of division is just that: appearance.

Of course, all our efforts to clearly define our differences and disagreements make the appearance of division very convincing.

I would like to contribute to peace rather than to the problem.

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“Love Yourself” (cartoon by nakedpastor David Hayward)

Want a fine reproduction of this cartoon? GO HERE!

Jesus said, “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.” I was taught that this assumes I should love myself.

But I don’t remember being taught how to love myself. I do remember being given instructions on how to discipline myself, and that this was an expression of love. But what about just loving myself? Why is religion so effective at making us feel guilty for it?

Well, when I love someone, I…

1. treat them gently
2. give them gifts
3. respect them
4. am aware of their needs and desires
5. contribute to their happiness
6. spend quality time with them
7. try to do nothing to hurt them
8. protect them
9. let them go first
10. enjoy who they are

There’s more. This is just a short, beginner list on ways I could love myself.

What would you add?

It’s not a sin to love yourself. Love yourself!

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“The Church Narcissistic” (cartoon by nakedpastor David Hayward)

Browsing the internet convinces me now more than ever that the church is showing signs of being narcissistic. Not all churches, but the church in general.

So I imagined this cartoon.

Let’s compare the church with a person. What symptoms does a narcissist display?

1. They have a grandiose sense of self-importance.
2. They are preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success.
3. They believe that they are special or unique.
4. They require constant admiration.
5. They have a very strong sense of entitlement.
6. They exploit others and don’t respect boundaries.
7. They lack empathy.
8. They are envious of others or think others are envious of them.
9. They regularly display arrogant attitudes and behaviors.
10. They react to criticism or contrary viewpoints with condescension and anger.

(Read more on PsychCentral)

The treatment for narcissism is always described as long term because often the root of narcissism is a severe lack of self-worth that lie in serious difficulties with the person’s pathological development.

It requires the patient to:

• Admit they are narcissistic.
• Seek professional help.
• Commit to the long-term for healing.

What steps can the church take?

I think it needs to begin with local leadership and percolate throughout the rest of the local community.

What are your thoughts?

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“Sophia Cleansed” drawing by nakedpastor David Hayward

This is the selection from my new illustrated book, The Liberation of Sophia, called “Cleansed”. It took a few years for me to finally feel like I was free from my years of service to the church. On the one hand I appreciate so much from that time. On the other hand there were things I needed to be cleansed from. Many of you know what I mean. You can read Sophia’s entire story from start to finish. Order your copy today –> CLICK HERE!

Here’s the selection from “Cleansed”:

“After I escaped I felt like I could shower forever.

I mean, in one way I felt clean like I’d shaken off the dirt.
In another way I felt filthy with stuff I couldn’t somehow shake.

It was the residue of all my years of slavery
and my necessary collusion with it.

I forgive myself.
I did it in order to survive.

What’s been done to me
and what I’ve done to myself. I forgive.
What I’ve been given
and what I’ve received. I forgive.

It hasn’t all been good.
It’s all been… questionable.

But here I feel the glue
of all that residue
gathered over the years
sticking to my body,
my bones,
my soul.

I’ve been caught in a rain storm. I’ve fallen to the ground. I will let it all soak in.

My many years of servitude,
my years of compromise,
my years of confusion,
my years of captivity,
my years of fear.

May they all drain out of me
and into the ground
to bury themselves.
I’ve never felt this clean,
this pure,
this complete.

I’ll remember this rainy night…
my truest baptism.”

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Sophia drawing “Bridge” by nakedpastor David Hayward

This is the selection from my new illustrated book, The Liberation of Sophia, called “Bridge”. It is not only important to sever toxic relationships. It is also necessary to sever yourself from the expectations of others, even if those expectations are intended to be good ones. You can read Sophia’s entire story from start to finish. Order your copy today –> CLICK HERE!

Here’s the selection from “Bridge”:

“This was one of the most difficult things I’d ever done.

Burning that bridge. Cutting it down. Separating myself as if permanently.

This didn’t necessarily mean forever. But I had to act as if it was. Like an axe!

Look at all those people on the other side. All those faces.
Those are the faces of people I know. People I’ve loved.

In their own ways, they cared for me.

But I couldn’t let them keep me any more.

I had to peel off the desperate fingers of all their expectations.

It was one of the most difficult things I’d ever done.
Their expectations offended me, so I cut them off.
And I did it swiftly.

Apparently it wasn’t enough to escape. I had to stay escaped. It is one thing to gain new ground, but it is another to keep it. I’d escaped to new ground. But to keep it I had to secure my liberation from all the noble hopes everyone else held for me. It was time to find, form and fulfill my own.

I’ve also heard it said that when we leave those we love, we may unconsciously create a crisis in order to justify our departure. Rather than directly betraying them, we develop a scene that makes our leaving inevitable and necessary.

When I escaped their grasp, I created that crisis.
When I cut down all the bridges between us, that sealed the deal.

I had to. I had slipped in and out before. This time I knew it had to be decisive. Final. I really had to leave as if for good. It was abrupt! I know this.

What will happen in the future? I don’t know. I don’t even want to speculate. Because I have to find myself first. Without a goal. Without a preconceived idea. I just need to know, experience, taste and integrate my freedom.

Who knows?

Bridges can be destroyed.
They can also be built.”

Get Sophia… 59 images & meditations to accompany your journey to freedom: CLICK HERE!

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