If the Lord is willing, something exciting will happen in the next several months. There are several hurdles to jump, but it just might be that the comic book Larry Blake and I worked on will see print. The story is called "The New Sons of Thunder". Nobody 'can't write' more than I can't write. We live in a world where unborn children are murdered, where natural disasters kill and cripple, where wars touch the lives of ourselves and our families. So I won't tell you 'try your best and everything will work out'. Instead I will say 'trust God'. But here's the trick, trust God without conditions. I purposed to do Christian comics over a decade ago. I was filthy with sin, broke, jobless...but I loved manga, and I had a deep yearning for God. The two seemed to go hand in hand when I had a completely original(except for every one of you who also came up with the idea) idea, I would make a Christian comic! To make a long story as short as possible, here were some of my misadventures. Since I needed a job, I figured naturally the Lord would find me a paying position. This hope eventually became a demand, and I was bitter when it didn't happen. I felt like I had to get my act together before I could write a Christian comic. After all, if I was going to be inspired by the Holy Spirit, I had to get rid of the sin in my life, right? I felt resentful that I never could make myself sinless, no matter how hard I tried. I blamed God that I felt so guilty all the time. God did not initially bring me a partner. For many years I sat on my idea, feeling like nobody cared, and being confused and frustrated. The wonderful inspiration to do Christian comics turned into razor sharp shards of shattered dreams to cut and make me bleed... I went crazy and got suicidal at one point. I was diagnosed as a paranoid/schizophrenic and had to go on disability insurance. I get some financial support from my family. I hate not working, and I hate being sick in the head so that I can't even go to church. But it does give me time to write. God not only provides for me in spite of my disability, He is using it to make this dream happen. I don't believe non-believing therapists and psychologists have the answers for me. But medications do calm my raging emotions, which I am very glad of. I'm a bit more stable today, and while I backslide from time to time, I keep running back to God. And I finally begin to believe that He actually loves me! Maybe I wasn't ready for a partner way back then. I was very unstable and prone to blasphemy and doom saying. Today I have as a partner, one of the very best, Larry Blake! He is a strong Christian with tremendous knowledge of small press comics and God given talents. Initially I wanted a manga style artist for my stories, so was confused when God brought Larry and his American style of art to the project. Today, I can't imagine anyone else drawing these characters. God had something better in mind than even my fondest of dreams for the project. My dear ones, you can write Christian comics! And I can too. People aren't kidding when they say surrender it completely to God, it's the only way that works.
(Here's the scribble art I did for the storyboards of 'The New Sons of Thunder')
(Here's a photocopy of Larry's work in progress cover for the book) I think there are 3 major things that need doing. Eric Jansen is going to write the presentation of the Gospel and the invitation to accept the Lord Jesus Christ article for the book:) Eric is a devout Christian and very knowledgeable about Christianity! This is the most important part of the book. The story is silly and while it touches on Christianity, it was not written to present the Gospel, but to entertain and befriend the readers. If Larry and I have done our jobs right, we will earn the right to present Eric's proclamation of the Gospel article. The first three stories were approved by the CCAS. Larry has completed the next 3, which I want to have printed all together in one book. So as soon as I get copies of 'book 2', I will get them to the CCAS board and ask for it's endorsement. If approved, the book will be 46 pages of comic art and story, 2 pages of presentation of the Gospel, and the covers. It will be all in black and white. I hope to present a properly formatted PDF file to Joey Endres for him to look over by mid April. If he gives it a green light, off to the printers! It's my fond hope to have 300 copies printed for distribution at the San Diego con as giveaways come July. Please keep us in your prayers:) God bless you all, Gerry Lee
You don't sound like a loser at all to me Mike. You have just as many reasons as I do to not go, but you go anyway. It's not like we imagine it's supposed to be, but maybe it's okay. For myself I stopped going because I know that God does not give us the spirit of fear, and God must be worshiped in spirit and in truth. Pastors always say that God wants us to give and worship with joy. Yet, all I feel is near hysterical terror in church. God is not glorified by that. Until the day comes that I can truly worship Him in the presence of Christian strangers, I don't know that I should go back yet.
I think I am becoming more comfortable around Christians through the CCAS and other Christian comic fans. One day I will be ready for physical proximity to others during worship, I just need to learn to trust God in my relationships with other human beings. If I can learn that, their free will and tendency to sin won't be so scary as it is now.
I will pray that the Lord brings you a Johnathan or an Elisha into your life.
I actually have a fear of making friends at church cuz I feel that if they get to know me, they might realize that I might not fit in. It's an unfounded fear that I've placed on myself cuz I'M really the one that thinks that I don't fit in. But I've started going back to church after almost 2 years ( mostly cuz of work ) and I don't regret it. Today for example, I was reminded of the passion and hunger for God that I have and want more of, just by observing some of the other people worshiping. It's humbling and awe inspiring to see rough looking, big burly biker men/ cowboys / ex gangbangers with tatoo's all over their arms, lift their hands up in surrender to God. If I ever want to practice being in and feeling Gods presence, there is no better place, than among fellow believers.
And yeah, despite my fear of not fitting it, I DO think it would be neat to actually make some friends. Even if I don't, being out among people has been healthly for me.
Geez...I sound like a total loser, don't I? LOL
Anyways, fellowshipping with you and some others here, has definately filled some empty spots in my life. Thanks.
I kind of know what you mean, I think. When I tried going to going to a real live church some years ago, I was extremely shy and very nervous. I went for several months but didn't manage to make any friends. Finally I stopped going, since there wasn't much of a difference between listening to the Pastor's radio show, and going to hear it live and sitting all by myself and being alone in a whole church full of people.
Don't ever lose your passion for fellowshipping online with us on the boards, 'kay? Or your wonderful enthusiasm for Christian comic making. You talk to me as much as, maybe more than, people I've known from the CCAS for many years, and I am very grateful to know that somebody cares about me being here. I really hope that we can do a project together sometime soon. I'll try to be friendlier myself to everyone I know too.
Other than meeting you, I'm probably too shy to actually say Hi to the other guys and say that I'm from the forum. Most people won't know who I am anyways. LOL I'll definantely try to do a con report on my blog or something.
A couple of years back I remember walking up othe CCAS table, and I must have bought 1 of everything they had and couldn't get so much as a "Hello" from the 2 guys manning the booth. I tried to say I was interested in going to the Sunday service they have and I just got a flier shoved my way, without a "thanks for coming, " or anything.
Anyways I'm just saying that I'm shy and may have a hard time saying hello to anyone else.
Dear Mike,
I wanna go to SDCC! I almost went the year way back when they had the creator of Sailor Moon as a guest(I forget her name). I actually really liked the American version they ran on Television, up to and including the episode 'Day of Destiny'. A lot of people didn't like the American version of 'Sailor Moon' 'cause it was 'censored and edited'. But I thought that made it better, ha ha:)
Anyway, I probably won't go to San Diego Con, even though I'd love to see you and all the other CCAS members there. I think I should set aside my funds to get as many copies of 'The New Sons of Thunder' printed as possible instead. But you have to post a detailed account of the con when you get back so I can enjoy it through your eyes!
Are you going to SDCC? I WANT TO SEE YOU THERE! That cover rocks!
Oh wait aminute....do you just mean the comics will be at the CCAS table and not you?........awwwwww.( sad ) Giveaways? This looks too good for giveaways! God Bless you.
Comments
I think I am becoming more comfortable around Christians through the CCAS and other Christian comic fans. One day I will be ready for physical proximity to others during worship, I just need to learn to trust God in my relationships with other human beings. If I can learn that, their free will and tendency to sin won't be so scary as it is now.
I will pray that the Lord brings you a Johnathan or an Elisha into your life.
God bless you Mike!
Gerry
And yeah, despite my fear of not fitting it, I DO think it would be neat to actually make some friends. Even if I don't, being out among people has been healthly for me.
Geez...I sound like a total loser, don't I? LOL
Anyways, fellowshipping with you and some others here, has definately filled some empty spots in my life. Thanks.
I kind of know what you mean, I think. When I tried going to going to a real live church some years ago, I was extremely shy and very nervous. I went for several months but didn't manage to make any friends. Finally I stopped going, since there wasn't much of a difference between listening to the Pastor's radio show, and going to hear it live and sitting all by myself and being alone in a whole church full of people.
Don't ever lose your passion for fellowshipping online with us on the boards, 'kay? Or your wonderful enthusiasm for Christian comic making. You talk to me as much as, maybe more than, people I've known from the CCAS for many years, and I am very grateful to know that somebody cares about me being here. I really hope that we can do a project together sometime soon. I'll try to be friendlier myself to everyone I know too.
Happy Easter Mike!
God bless you,
Gerry
A couple of years back I remember walking up othe CCAS table, and I must have bought 1 of everything they had and couldn't get so much as a "Hello" from the 2 guys manning the booth. I tried to say I was interested in going to the Sunday service they have and I just got a flier shoved my way, without a "thanks for coming, " or anything.
Anyways I'm just saying that I'm shy and may have a hard time saying hello to anyone else.
I wanna go to SDCC! I almost went the year way back when they had the creator of Sailor Moon as a guest(I forget her name). I actually really liked the American version they ran on Television, up to and including the episode 'Day of Destiny'. A lot of people didn't like the American version of 'Sailor Moon' 'cause it was 'censored and edited'. But I thought that made it better, ha ha:)
Anyway, I probably won't go to San Diego Con, even though I'd love to see you and all the other CCAS members there. I think I should set aside my funds to get as many copies of 'The New Sons of Thunder' printed as possible instead. But you have to post a detailed account of the con when you get back so I can enjoy it through your eyes!
God bless you,
Gerry
Oh wait aminute....do you just mean the comics will be at the CCAS table and not you?........awwwwww.( sad ) Giveaways? This looks too good for giveaways! God Bless you.