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Oh, the Weather Outside is Frightful...

Posted by Billy Wamsley on January 3, 2008 at 3:26pm
I have decided that the daily topic idea was definitely the way to go with a blog. The topics are general enough so I have plenty of wiggle room, but just narrow enough that I don't drive myself crazy trying to come up with something to write about.

Speaking of crazy, that leads us into the topic of the day! (What a segueway, I tell ya!) Welcome, friends and countrymen, to Therapeutic Thursday!

Man, I tell you, I wish I had a trumpet sound that would automatically blow when I come to announcing these daily themes. Of course, it would have to be able to sense when you came to the right moment in your reading. Oh well.

Anyway, where was I? Oh, yes, Therapeutic Thursday. What is it? Basically, it is a day I can talk about anything pertaining to me or my life, to help keep me sane. Some weeks it might be deep and meaningful, talking about a near forgotten memory, and other weeks it will be as deep as a frisbee.

Like today.

Oh, sure, I could've busted out with some childhood emotional scarring for today, but I figured I'd talk about what is really affecting me right now. What's that?

The cold.

I have a horrible confession. As I sit here, born and raised in Michigan, it is January 3, 2008, and the temperature sits in the single digits, and I AM MISERABLE.

That's right. No fronting, no posturing about being used to this cursed weather due to my north central upbringing - I hate it. I hate the cold weather. I hate it, I hate it, I hate it.

I used to bear the weather better. I used to not be bothered by it so much. I don't know what happened. Perhaps it was four and a half years of living in Kentucky, where winter didn't stretch from October until May and storms don't tend to drop 15 inches of snow in 36 hours.

(Yeah, that's right, I'm sick of the snow, too. I wouldn't mind a couple of inches that would stick around for a while, but we don't get that. We get these stinking "bring the world to a standstill" storms that only make driving a terrifying adventure. I'm reminded of the wisdom of a line said by Alex P. Keaton on Family Ties, "How is it we can put a man on the moon, but we can't stop this white slop from falling out of the sky?!?")

I know some of you don't understand. You live in warmer climates and have done so all your lives. You think of the snow and cold with wishful thoughts of snowmobiling and skiing and snowboarding and fireplaces and wooly sweaters.

That is all propoganda.

The governments of the frozen tundra states are trying to fool you into thinking that vacationing in these places is a good idea.Don't buy into the hype. Go somewhere nice and warm where the sun comes out.

This is a public service announcement from the Anti-Tourism Board of Michigan.

I'll type at you later.

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(My first request - Red Sonja. Sorta.)
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Kurios Reigns #1

Posted by Dusty Catlett on January 2, 2008 at 3:28pm

In a diverse world of humans and creatures, a conquering force of evil hopes to turn all living things into its slave. The slow rise of this plot has started to take on momentum and has reached half of the planet. But like every evil force of pride and power, there remains the goodness of those who stand up for the peace and freedom of all life. They fight for Kurios, their mysterious unseen King who will lead the worlds most unlikly beings to fight the darkness of lost hope.


Chapter One of Kurios Reigns will have an April 2008 release with Chapters published every 3 to 4 months.

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The Overflow of Personal Devotion

Posted by Billy Wamsley on January 2, 2008 at 1:05pm

Welcome to Wednesday, the second day of the new year. Two blogs in a row, and it feels like I'm on a roll! And, with this new day, we have a new topic... er, topics. I was searching for one word that would be perfect for what I wanted to talk about today, but there wasn't a single word that would do it. Actually, I take that back. There may very well be a word, but, as a minister, I do love my alliteration, so for Wednesday, it had to be a "W" word. Failing to find a single word that would encompass the idea for the day, I went with three.

Welcome to Wisdom, Worship, and Wonderment Wednesday!

A very wise preacher once told me that ministry is the overflow of personal devotion. It is a simple enough statement, but one that has vexed me.

Vexed me?!? Yep. See, it is possible to serve in a ministry without being right spiritually. When that is done, it becomes very much a chore, an earthly job... but it can be done. Is it effective? In as much as it does for others, it can be.

The person doing the work can convince themselves that that is enough... for a while.

But, ministry isn't designed to just be work. It is supposed to be a sacred duty that, when performed, helps others, but also renews the spirit of the individual in service. Without both aspects, it becomes an increasingly stressful task that can cause the one attempting to do it to become bitter and resentful.

That's the dangerous part. I've known a lot of people that have burned out in ministry because they were focused so much on the work that they neglected their own spiritual wellbeing. To those around them, it looks as if they are doing what God wants them to do. In truth, the strain of service coupled with their own spiritual struggle is crushing their spirit.

And, in case you didn't know it, folks, God has no interest in crushing your spirit.I mean, c'mon, this is the same God that promises that if we wait on Him, we will run and not get weary, that we will soar on wings like eagles (Isaiah 40:31)! That is not spirit crushing, that is uplifting.

We sometimes want our ministry to be successful, and we'll work toward that, pushing and shoving our way through... neglecting the most important aspect as we do. And, then, when we burn out for lack of spiritual renewal, where is the ministry left? Without a leader, it dwindles and fades.

The ministries we are involved in depend on us, but not merely for those things that we do. Remember that before you get busy and skip you daily devotional time with God.

Type at you later.

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2008 - A Fresh Start

Posted by Billy Wamsley on January 1, 2008 at 7:51pm
Hi there, and welcome to 2008. This is my first blog entry for the year, and the first blog entry I've made here. I've blogged before... but not as consistently as I would like.

Hopefully, my lack of regular posting is a thing of the past. Now, I'm not saying "resolution," because, well, we all know how those turn out, especially for the New Year, but I have been thinking about blogging for a while.

I like blogging. I really want to be consistent with it. I've been thinking of ways to do that.

I have set up, for my own sanity and convenience, a sort of schedule of what I'll be posting about each day. That way, I'll be able to narrow my focus and not spend two hours surfing the web before typing a word searching desperately for an idea. Generally speaking, the schedule isn't that restrictive, but it will give direction.

And, don't we all need that, sometimes?

So, for this, Tuesday, January 1, 2008, what is the scheduled topic? If it is Tuesday, it must be Tuesday Tunes.

What is Tuesday Tunes? I'll tell you. I have a pretty substantial CD collection.

Unfortunately, I don't listen to it.

It's true. I enjoy music, I just don't think to put it on as often as I should. This next year, though, I'm going to focus on one CD a week, and at the end of that week, I'm going to talk about it.

Sadly, I didn't think of this topic a week ago. I don't have a CD I was listening to over that time. But, I'll modify it for this week, with a single song that I've heard a lot in the last 24 hours – Auld Lang Syne.

First off, I'm (likely) about to educate the majority of the readers of these words by saying this – Auld Lang Syne means "Old Long Since" or "Times Gone By."

Yep, that's right. You can never say you don't know what that means again.

You're welcome.

The words are credited to Robert Burns, a Scottish poet, and was set to a variation of a traditional Scottish folk tune. The lyrics (and I'll throw in some translation helps, too) are:

Should auld (old) acquaintance be forgot
And never brought to mind?
Should auld (old) acquaintance be forgot
And days of auld lang syne (times gone by)?

Chorus (repeated between stanzas):

For auld lang syne (times gone by), my dear,
For auld lang syne (times gone by)
We'll tak (drink) a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne (times gone by).

We twa hae (two have) run about the braes (hillside)
And pou'd the gowans (picked the flowers) fine
But we've wander'd mony a weary fit (wandered many a weary foot – or, its been a while)
Sin' auld lang syne. (since times gone by)

We twa hae paidl'd i' the burn (we two have paddled the streams)
Frae mornin' sun till dine (from morning sun until dinner time)
But seas between us braid hae roared (us broad have roared)
Sin' auld lang syne. (since times gone by)

And here's a hand, my trusty fiere (friend)
And gi'e's (give here) a hand o' thine (yours)
And we'll tak a right good willy waught (drink a drink of good will)
For auld lang syne. (times gone by)

As I've gotten older, the song has come to mean more to me. The separation of friends, moving away, moving on… it is the key to appreciating the song, I suppose.

That said, know this – I'd rather have stayed ignorant of the meaning of the song if I could have kept all of you near me.

Still, things being what they are, I'll just follow the advice of the song. I'll take this moment, remember those good times from the past, and raise my glass (well, can of Encore, the Meijer brand, diet cola) to you all for all the blessings of the new year.

Now, this next week the album of focus will be Hold You High from By The Tree. If you have any suggestions for future albums I need to rip onto my computer and load into MP3 player for the week, feel free to let me know. Hey, I'll even consider buying a new album if it sounds interesting!

Oh, and one more thing. Along with the new schedule of topics I'm going to try, I'm also going to try to include one sketch a day on the blog. So, even if you aren't interested in reading me going on ad nauseum about whatever, you can take a look and laugh at my artistic attempts. I'll take requests for this as well, if you have something in particular you want to see me sketch. And, the sketch for today is none other than the Crimson Scarab:

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(The color is thrown in for the illusion of higher quality.)

That'll do. Type at you later!
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2008: Happy New Year!

Posted by Kevin Yong on January 1, 2008 at 4:53pm
Hi everyone! I hope y'all have enjoyed the Christmas holidays and had a happy start to the new year. I confess that I've been letting my web presence here sit idle since this CCAS site went online -- mostly because I already spend all day in front of a computer at my job and thus am very reluctant to spend more time at a computer updating blog entries or forum discussions after a long day of work.

But now it's a new year, I have a rare day off of work, so now's as good a time as any to dive in. I don't know how frequently I'll be able to update this blog, but we'll see as 2008 unfolds.

Nothing big or important to share as my first blog post, other than to note the fact that I've always disliked the word "blog", but I guess I'm stuck with it. Seriously. The word makes me think of something smelly and squishy, like a "blob" or a "bog". In fact, I think it would have worked fine as a name from Marvel's old monser comics: "Beware the wrath of Blog, behemoth of the swamp!"

That's all I've got to start with. God bless you and yours in all that lies ahead for 2008!
-- Kevin Yong
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Eyewitness (Book 2) Acts of the Spirit (2006), Head Press Publishing, Robert James Luedke, 104 pp., $13.99. Spiderman 2, The Empire Strikes Back, Star Trek:The Wrath of Khan. Sometimes the sequel is

Posted by Donald Ensign on January 1, 2008 at 1:48pm


Eyewitness (Book 2) Acts of the Spirit (2006),
Head Press Publishing, Robert James Luedke, 104 pp., $13.99.

Spiderman 2, The Empire Strikes Back, Star Trek:
The Wrath of Khan. Sometimes the sequel is better
that the original. In 2004 Robert James Luedke/Head Press
published Eyewitness: A Fictional Tale of Absolute Truth.
This full color 94 page graphic novel tells the story of
Terrence Harper, a world renown forensic
archeologist who is called to Israel to examine a
recently discovered ossurary (bone box) dating from
the first century AD. The ossurary contains ancient scrolls
and other artifacts. The scrolls once translated appear to
be an independent account of the New Testament gospels
written by Joseph of Arimathea. Luedke weaves a story of
modern day international intrigue with extended visual
glances of the Biblical story presented in the scrolls.

The scrolls’ Biblical story begins somewhat before the last
Supper and proceeds through the Trial, Passion, Crucifixion
and Burial of Christ. The book concludes with Harper making
a confession of faith in Christ, in a car with his good friend and
assistant Raj, immediately before being caught in an explosion
triggered by a suicide bomber.

The second book, Acts of the Spirit takes up where Eyewitness
left off. We find that Harper has survived and is in crucial
condition. Luedke’s art has improved dramatically from the
first book. The coloring is much improved and the pacing from
panel to panel is better and the burdensome dialog balloons
that clogged a number of pages in the first book have been
streamlined and makes for a more enjoyable literary experience.
In the first book there are sections of pure prose copy interrupting
the flow of the graphic narrative. These sections are gone in the
second book making for a better and simpler reading experience.
Luedke effectively uses humor to lighten the heavy sense of
conspiracy and foreboding evil. He takes a lesson from Charles
Dickens and places a ‘Ghost of Easters Past’ to guide an
unconscious Harper through Christ’s Resurrection, Ascension
and the early days of the church as recorded in the book of Acts.
Luedke continues to switch back and forth between events in
First Century Israel to a modern 21st Century spy thriller
—and he does it very well.

In Acts of the Spirit Luedke tops his first effort and we can
look forward to the concluding volume in the trilogy in two years.
As Christian readers we pray that this book will cause the
non-Christian reader to seriously consider the claims of Christ.
Robert James Luedke desires this book to have ministry
beyond its entertainment value.

(This review was written in August 2006).

www.headpress.info
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Who Rules the World?

Posted by Howard Lee Kent on December 31, 2007 at 5:01pm

Hello Overcomers.....

When you get the chance, read Isaiah 40:18-31.........

In his book "Life Sentence", Charles Colson tells of strolling among the ruins where the Roman senate once met. Recalling his feelings, he wrote: "As I stood snapping photgraphs, my mind flashed back to the Roosevelt Room in the White House, a few steps across a narrow hallway from the President's oval office. At 8 o'clock each morning a dozen of us, the President's senior aides, had gathered around the antique mahogany table; it's polished surface reflected the serious, intense expressions of men who believed the destiny of mankind was in their hands."

Colson continues, " 'The decisions we must make today,' Henry Kissinger would often say, 'will affect the whole future course of human history.' We believed it. Just as the Roman senators dressed in their flowing togas believed it nearly 2000 years ago. Yet here sat their once majestic forum in dusty piles of stone and rubble. Would even this much be left of the Roosevelt Room, I wondered, in two centuries, let alone two millenia from now?"

The prophet Isaiah anticipated that question long before it was asked. Speaking to Israel when they were being threatened by powerful enemies, he looked beyond the movements of men and of nations to the great drama of God's eternal plan. "It is He who sitteth upon the circle of the earth," he wrote, "who bringeth the princes to nothing." We need to remember that. As leaders and lawmakers shape our society and determine our destiny, how reassuring to know that it is God who rules the world, and He will have the final word!

Just remember: The highway of history are strewn with the wreckage of nations that forgot God.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY!!!!

HK

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Why Do We Do It?

Posted by RabidFrog Productions on December 27, 2007 at 5:54am

For sometime, my group of friends and I have been pursuing an avenue to put faith based comic books on the open secular market. It was our desire to create an alternative that is just as fun and exciting as most non-Christian titles, but ultimately to have a message of hope that would influence the heart of the reader. Somewhere down the line, our pursuit became a vision, our vision became a passion, and ultimately, our passion became an obsession. About six months ago we realized this and we had to take a step back and ask ourselves a very important question, "Why are we doing this?" We had no conclusive answer. The obvious answer was to be a witness, but it wasn't completely true. The next thought was, to create an alternative or an option to modern comics. Yet again, not fully true. Fact is, we had lost the very reason for our motivation; which explains why we were feeling lost and unaccomplished.

My best friend and writer made a simple comment that began to pull things back into perspective for us. He simply said, "I enjoy writing." It made sense. We do it because we enjoy it. I enjoy drawing. Others enjoy coloring. It just seemed to add up. But then I felt a little guilty. You see, I had lost my joy in doing what I was doing. When my passion crossed the line into obsession it became a thing I "had" to do, not just something I wanted to do. I can't speak for everyone, but this made a big difference in my productivity and in the degree of my artwork. It became a struggle to draw. It became cumbersome to pick up the pencil and get to work on projects. Many projects were started, none were finished. Years rolled by and I was no closer to my goals than when I started. I made excuses for my short comings. Most were to blame outside events for taking me away from my work. My circumstances kept me from pursuing my passion (or so I claimed). Bottomline is simple, I wasn't happy.

When I realized this, I had a battle ahead of me; restoring my joy. Joy comes from love and without love, you cannot have true joy. I loved to draw, but when drawing became "a mission from God" rather than something I simply enjoyed doing, it overwhelmed me. I felt that because I was a Christian, I had to use my talents to witness and to testify of God's goodnes and teach others how they could be saved. From that point on, everything I did was inadequate. My art wasn't good enough, the story wasn't profound enough, the testimony was either lost or just too direct and strong. How could I possibly do what I was supposed to do and get the comic books to sell on a national secular level. It seemed impossible, and so that's what it became; impossible.

In three years, we have not finished a single comic book. Nothing was right. The studio and the vision became chaotic. What started strong, slipped into vanity and then contempt and finally into apathy. So finally, I began to pray. Imagine that; prayer actually worked. God began to help me realize that it wasn't my job to change people's lives. Its not my calling to create a story so insightful and impacting that people fall on their faces and turn their lives over just after reading my book. It wasn't my place to strive to be better than anyone else. I was not a righteous judge and I was judging myself and my work too harshly. God said simply this, "return to your joy". Four small words that reinvented not only myself but also my vision. I realize now that if I am obediant to Him and use the talents that he has given me to express my own joy, He will use it to reach others. I can't do His job. I am a tool, a vessel. God has given me a gift and the opportunity to use it. My job is to simply allow my joy to build and flow. It doesn't matter if everyone likes it. It doesn't matter if anyone reads it or is changed by it. That's no longer my concern. Drawing comic books ministers to me. It keeps joy in my life and it allows me to express myself and illustrate some really cool stories. It's fun and it's what I love to do. I draw comic books because God uses them to change me. If others are changed by them as well...

Well, that would be a bonus.

Love God, Love life, love what you do. Let God take care of the details.

In Christ,

G. David Cooper
RabidFrog Productions

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Regional Transit has a Religuous community forum

Posted by UnchartedSpirit on December 22, 2007 at 4:29pm
My subway station BART (Bart.gov) has now started a religuous debate site called GodRidesBart, or GodRides.org...It is interesting, I must say...in other news...This online magazene is now giving away free screenings for animated shorts that appeared in festivals! You can view them here:http://www.thefirstpost.co.uk/index.php?filmID=661&categoryID=4&subCategoryID=8&currentPage=1
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Two More Weeks!

Posted by UnchartedSpirit on December 21, 2007 at 4:41pm
...Before school starts up for me again...I have all this time to actually start producing something....but I get easily bored with any project and the internet is always my escape for too much of my time...I've been asking God for focus for years now....but now all I need is money for Energy drinks and I'm set! I'm asking for prayers on either one...

oh, and I don't know if I can continue on stuyding music and animation at the same time...so I also need prayers for God to let me know when is the right time to take it back up again...because I feel so driven to create in both mediums...
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My daughter's singing ability!

Posted by Roland Mann on December 21, 2007 at 10:44am

She didn't inherit her singing ability from me, but my daughter can sure sing...and her voice is getting stronger by the day!

On Sunday, she sang the below after practicing for only a day!
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SF1mSEvEkgA]

Okay...look to the left to see the YOUTUBE embedded video...I think.

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Just about anything.....

Posted by Vincent Callahan on December 18, 2007 at 9:26pm

Well I decided to start a blog....about what? I'm not sure exactly. I've seen they can be a great tool, so its whatever. LOL :-)

So right now, I'm working on paperwork to sell our condo so we can leave Alaska next year, I'm real excited and so is my wife. We are looking forward to going somewhere new together where we can build our lives somewhere fresh where neither of us have any connection too.

And just in case anyone is wondering the Air Force is sending me and my family to Keesler, AFB Mississippi! Goodbye cold, hello heat and humidity!!! But hey its only 7 hours away from home. Can't be that now can you?

~VCALI~

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"For Us Who Are Hurting"

Posted by george macas jr on December 18, 2007 at 9:02am

“FOR US WHO ARE HURTING…”

There’s many in pain, this time of year –

From memories, circumstances, failures and/or fears:

‘Joy to the World’ – is something we can’t see –

Our focus is centered in grief and self-pity...

.

It’s easy, and it’s common, for us, every Christmas season –

To get buried in the wrappings, and forget, or miss, the reason:

To get depressed or angry, ‘cause our lives aren’t going ‘right’ –

And overlook, or lose, the blessing of what began that ‘Silent Night’…

.

Jesus wasn’t born to give us extended holidays:

He didn’t come to provide us with good music, food or plays –

He chose to come, to live, to suffer and, yes, die for me:

So I could choose to take His gift, and live eternally…

.

Eternal life doesn’t wait to start until this life is ended –

It began the moment I believed, and on His Blood depended:

But I get distracted, and forget; as oh, so many do –

That Christmas is a gift from God – addressed to me and you…

Don’t leave it under the tree…

John 1:12 (Amplified Bible) But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the authority (power, privilege, right) to become the children of God, that is, to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His name-

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Shelter of Wings

Posted by Donald Ensign on December 18, 2007 at 7:19am


Shelter of Wings, 2006 (1st Edition), Brethren Entertainment Media Group, Lisa Hutchinson (writer, artist), B & W, 194 pp., $14.95.

Spiritual warfare is one of the most popular genre within the Christian Comics movement. Perhaps the most notable example is the popular Archangels: The Saga produced by Cahaba Productions (formerly Eternal Studios). The notion of angels and demons battling like super heroes and super villains for the souls of man is one that translates easily into comic book or graphic novel form. It is one that seasoned and new comic book readers can readily relate to.

Lisa Hutchinson who has developed a very manga like art style has produced an excellent example of spiritual warfare comics in Shelter of Wings. Hutchinson not only draws well but her storytelling dynamics are very highly developed. This book has outstanding page to page, panel to panel action sequences that rival the best of any of its secular manga competitors. For this non-manga comics reader she is teaching me why manga is such a popular form of sequential art. Manga is a "hot" form of comics in the sense that it is very visceral—it packs a surface emotional intensity that, for the most part, western comics lack. The cartoony aspects of manga, the enormous eyes, pointy noses, spikey hair, contorted mouths, over-the-top action sequences combined with the emotional intensity of the characters make for an irresistible read for many young fans.

Shelter of Wings follows the adventures of Jenna Ruth Hadley who has just lost her mother in an auto accident. Because of this tragic event she is struggling with his faith in God as she has gone to live with her grandmother in Montana. However divine providence has plans for Jenna—plans that make her very important to the future destiny of mankind. The demonic hosts are set on thwarting those plans and the angelic realm is there to protect her. Some of the bickering and brawling among the demons add an oddly humorous element to an otherwise serious story. The story is aimed at a tween and young teen audience--perhaps mostly female- however this much older male reader looks forward to future installments of Shelter of Wings.

For those wanting to sample manga style spiritual warfare comics Shelter of Wings is a must read.



www.shelterofwings.com/
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CCAS membership

Posted by John Karnay on December 16, 2007 at 3:24pm
As a relatively new member of CCAS and have found a lot of great company on here thusfar. I am a freelance author of short fiction including comics. I havehad some previous comic book experience working for Acclaim Comics backin the late 1990's as an editorial assistant/finish up writer. Iactually worked in their video game division as a quality assuranceanalyst but also worked on the comic end of things as well. Acclaim wasa terrific comic company to be involved with. It great roots in Valiantcomics and a lot of talent walking around at the time. I only wish Ihad taken more advantage of my writing during that time. I am lookingfor any opportunities to use my God given gifts of writing andcreativity for living. If any one out there is professional or aspiringartist looking to collaborate on some projects please feel free tocontact me. Thanks and I hope to hear from you all!
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