Customer Reviews

See You In The Funny Papers

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Pam Kumpe is a woman who bubbles over with the joy of the Lord. It comes through in her sparkling, effervescent prose, her light-hearted and carefree attitude to life and her ability to turn even the most embarrassing moments into spiritual lessons. As the writer of an inspirational newspaper column in East Texas, podcaster, and public speaker, Kumpe's enthusiastic fans asked her to print a collection of her special style of inspirational entertainment, and See You in the Funny Papers was born.

Drawing upon her column material and adding unique content, Kumpe has drawn together a collection of short 74 short humorous vignettes drawn from her own life. Not shy of poking fun at her own shortcomings, foibles, and insecurities, Kumpe playfully fills each two to three page chapter with lessons the Lord has taught her through her day-to-day life. Some are also accompanied by topically related grayscale Christian cartoons, which provide a splash of additional jollity wherever they appear.

Quite a few of these stories are thigh-slappers. They're the sort of tales you pull out at family dinners to get everyone smiling and talking. Some are so memorable I doubt that I'll ever forget them - such as a memorable encounter with a flaming baton gone dreadfully wrong. Hers is not what you'd call a deep devotional book. Kumpe, in fact, terms her little tales God-light - she aims instead to encourage believers and remind them of God's goodness through her sense of humor.

Despite this open, friendly writing-style, younger readers may find some of her anecdotes a bit distant from their personal experiences and therefore somewhat more difficult to relate to. I'm not sure if it's the age-difference, or if it's cultural disparity (yes, Texas and Alberta both have oil and beef in common), but I found myself thinking that a more mature reader might be able to glean additional layers of understanding if their own personal experiences more closely mirrored Kumpe's than my own do. My own Grandma comes to mind - I can imagine her laughing as she reads it even now.

While reading See You in the Funny Papers, I was struck by how open and personable Kumpe is. After completing her book, I'd be surprised if anyone can fail to see her as what she aims to be - a "Pray & Play" friend. Flipping through the pages of her book is like receiving a fabulous email from a good friend - full of family foibles, God's goodness, and a happy heart.

This book is lighthearted and fun, but also full of inspiration. It has seventy-four one- to three-page object lessons. Pam is a master at taking everyday happenings and turning them inside out to show how God is at work in all things.

I read the book in one sitting, but would suggest that you ingest and digest this book at a more leisurely pace. Read one chapter at a time and let it sink in. It's the perfect read for those times when you're feeling a little down and out!

If you haven't yet had the opportunity to read this delightful little book, then I would highly recommend that you do so. Good news is tucked between each and every page!
See You In The Funny Papers

See You in the Funny Papers by Pam Kumpe is a funny devotional with a great deal of heart and intelligence. Kumpe writes a column for a Texas newspaper; she's compiled several of her stories here. Each story is 2-3 pages long, perfect for reading one a day, and they range from serious to hilarious, but all are filled with Kumpe's deep faith and sense of humor. She takes everyday situations and turns them into learning opportunities, just like Jesus did with the parables in the Gospels. By exposing her clumsiness, insecurities, and ability to laugh at life, she teaches the reader something about faith and how to take each day as it comes. She's the kind of woman you would love to have as a best friend, because she knows how to laugh and cry with you. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and learned something about my own faith as well.

The comics or "funny papers" is the safe area of the newspaper. You can count on the comics to bring a smile or a funny thought.

In the same way, you can count on inspiration and encouragement from the pages of SEE YOU IN THE FUNNY PAPERS by Pam Kumpe. In over 70 chapters, she has written a series of moments from everyday life yet with a twist of humor and much more. The "much more" is the surprise ending to each of these stories. Each chapter concludes with the God moments of life and reminds us of our need to trust God for our everyday situations.

Whether you need a short reading for a coffee break at work or something inspirational right before you fall asleep at night, you will find it in this book. I recommend it for yourself or a gift for a friend.