Rev. Erudite Redneck, B.S., B.S., M.A., M.Div.

OK, I've slapped Jack Chick around enough for now, until the next time I go vote and have to walk by a rack of tracts at the local Southern Baptist church, my polling place.

But I've always liked this one. The whole your-life-is-being-taped thing at the end is a way to express the Scriptural assertion that we will give an accounting of our lives. It's hokey, but as a modern parable, it works.

Also, reducing the mystery of salvation and the start of a conscious relationship with God to the recitation of "The Sinner's Prayer" does a disservice, I think, *to* that mystery and the profundity *of* the start of God consciousness.

On the other hand, bozillions of people's Christian life has started by kneeling and praying with a preacher, or some other witness.

And while the words uttered themselves don't mean much, the attitude of surrender before God, under Grace, in redemption, as expressed in the Cross of Christ -- whether all those particulars are recognized immediately, or ever -- does matter.

And, while "Holy Joe" himself is as overdrawn as every other Chick character -- they are comic book characters, after all -- he's overdrawn as an example of Christian faithfulness and devotion, and Jesusy kindness.

Which is why I like him.

Read Holy Joe.

--ER