Story Salad is On Sale Now!
Recorded live at Maple View Church of Christ, Feb. 13, 2022
A Prayer Video from SMOP!
Season 4, Episode 13 of Monday Meanders on April 3rd
Join us on Monday nights at 8:00pm for a half hour to Meander through the Scriptures with Tommy Oaks.
We'll sing a little bit, too!
We'll sing a little bit, too!
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If you would like to get regular emails, materials, and updates from me, subscribe today by emailing me with the button below.
In the email, just say something like, "Hi, Tommy! Subscribe me!" or something equally as clever.
I will link you to a folder online that only subscribers will have access to. I will regularly upload MP3s, videos, scripts, and updates to that folder for you to access and download at any time, without limit. I will also send you updates when new material is in the folder.
Thanks for your interest in my work!
A message about filling up jars from the story of Elisha and the widow's cruse of oil in 2 Kings 4
Photo by CHUTTERSNAP on Unsplash
Happy...Happy...Happy?
MP3 Download
Tommy & Jt, December 27, 2020 Sunday Morning at Park West Dutch Valley
"Take 10 for 10"
April 26, 2020
Re-watch the Story Salad Live Broadcast Hosted by John Branyan
Jeremiah & Lamentations
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Ezekiel
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I don't have much to say about these two illustrations.
Lamentations is a hard one for me to even consider since I have been lamenting for two years. I simply used a question mark on a sackcloth to illustrate the book. There seems to be a lot of questioning in a state of lament. Jeremiah is illustrated with an image of a street preacher warning the masses. The background is worn to represent a worn people with a lone man crying out desperately. —Amos Oaks 
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Artwork by Amos Oaks | ||||
Isaiah
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Song of Solomon
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Ecclesiastes
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It is common to associate prophets with images of doom, gloom, and destruction.
Isaiah is no exception, but there is a balance with visions of peace, calm, and restoration. — Amos Oaks Isaiah 11:6 “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them." |
This illustration is intended to be taken lightly. The 'censored' title of this book indicates its subject matter. What I believe is about this book is that is should be exposed and not censored at all—especially in this day and age. In Mark 10:9, Jesus said, "Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate." The act of marriage and participation in marriage is holy and sacred. The act of sex in marriage has been hijacked and has infiltrated every facet of our world's network of media.
People need to read and reread this song. People need to embrace and cherish and adore the person they have made vows with. This needs to be clear to everyone around them. Their children need to know it, their friends need to know it, the world needs to know that their love is a sacred bond and that nothing in the world could be better or more beautiful than that bond. — Amos Oaks |
Ecclesiastes is a tough one for me to swallow. It is loaded with a truth that I, personally, am very aware of.
Everything is meaningless. I’m guessing that the message is pretty clear, though. Live your life. Live it well. Love your Creator. Love others. I culled an image from an ad for an electric train for this one. The idea of something delightful going around and around—doing the same thing over and over again—was a wonderful illustration of “nothing new under the sun.” It’s fun to pull out of the box and set up. It’s exciting to play with for a few days. After a while, it becomes mundane. The repetition leaves you looking for a new thrill. Since we are all on that train whose course never changes, we need to take in the scenery. We need to look out the window. We need to get out of our seat and visit all those other folks in the other cars—whether they are in coach, first class, the kitchen, shoveling coal, traveling alone, or just there for the adventure. Find out who they are. Find out what they need. Help them find meaning on an otherwise meaningless ride. — Amos Oaks |
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Job
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Esther
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Nehemiah
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Ezra
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Chronicles
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Kings
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I’m sure you’ve seen the bumper sticker that reads, “Coexist”. The characters are made up of religious symbols and aims to include every religion implying this false idea of progressive change. The truth is that we have coexisted with people of different backgrounds and beliefs since the beginning of time. The Bible is packed full of stories, all kinds of stories, about people coexisting and what that reality entails. Frankly, that bumper sticker annoys me.
I’ve culled and re-purposed an old engraving of Ezra rebuilding the temple with the word "Coexist" for this illustration. As this image points out, this was a period of cleaning up a big mess from wars related to coexisting. It is about rebuilding identity in the midst of all of this destruction and figuring out how to put all things back in order. I think what we, as Christians, should take from that word displayed in that way, is a heavy heart. What is today’s Christianity in a Coexisting world? How do we stick to our personal values while associating with people different from us? The answer is very clear: Jesus. If we truly live like him, not only can we Coexist, but we are like a rebuilt temple. We stand out - new and bold. People don’t see us and all the mess we can be, but they see Jesus and want that. I love the lyrics of Keith Green’s song, "Because of You." The opening verse says, “People smile at me ask ask me what it is - That makes them want to be just like I am - So I just point to you and tell them, yes it’s true - I’m no special one, I’m just one man…” So you can rebuild and rebuild all you want, but you will never successfully Coexist without that firm foundation. -Amos Oaks |
Chronicles can lull you to sleep if you aren’t careful. It opens up with a really long list of names. Then it gives you a really long list of names. On in to 2 Chronicles, you get bunches and bunches of names. I guess that’s what it’s about though. Names. What’s in a name? A person, a lineage, a king, a history, and everything that goes along with that - good and bad. These names go all the way back to Adam and are the root of what has brought Israel where it is at this point. There are unforgettable names in this list that are the pulse driving God’s story.
I culled the beginning section of Adam’s Chart of History for 1 & 2 Chronicles illustration. (I highly suggest you buy a copy of this chart for your own enjoyment and a nice visual shot of history.) This chart is wonderfully and richly illustrated with images and…names! These names are brought to life in this chart in a way that helps a visual person like myself connect dots. Chronicles may translate as dull in the beginning, but it is so unbelievably full of life. I hope that as you connect with this book that visuals will overflow in your mind and give you a sensory overload. I hope it engages you with the importance of who you are, what you are, and where you are in this history. -Amos Oaks |
"Fanboys would have loved to have lived during the 400 or so years that cover First and Second Kings. The content is rich with heroes, villains, gods, wizards, magicians, mystics, and…kings. It is very much like what quite a bit of fanboy material has its roots in. Everything from Star Wars to Lord of the Rings to The Avengers. These are classic tales of good versus evil. It might be summed up by quoting the Book of Luke - From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded, or by quoting the Book of Spiderman - With great power comes great responsibility.
I chose to continue this idea of pop culture with an image of a gritty Steve McQueen type dude on a motorcycle pulling an eccentric on a chariot. I guess it’s a tough angel pulling Elijah to the heavens in a bizarre chariot of fire. With so many stories and images to ponder, I figured this one might be the most memorable, and could easily be paired with imagery like Gandalf battling the Balrog…Enjoy!" -Amos Oaks |
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"The Prayer Lab: 52 Prayer Experiments"
The Prayer Lab is a PDF booklet of 52 prayer experiments for you to try this year. That's one fresh new way to pray every week! We hope this booklet brings you closer to your Father in Heaven this year, as you communicate with him in creative ways.
| The Prayer Lab |
