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Hey CCAS members............

I was reading the Bible today and felt God speaking to my heart and I believe He has a message for all of us. I was reading Daniel 6:1-9 and this is what was pressed upon my heart to anybody on this site.

Daniel is an outstanding example of one who showed his faith by his works. The kingdom of Babylon had fallen to Darius the Mede, who had placed it under the jurisdiction of 120 princes. They in turn were under three presidents, and Daniel was No. 1. He conducted himself so honorably in his high office that Darius "thought to set him over the whole realm." The other presidents and princes, however, were jealous and began to devise means of getting rid of him. I wouldn't be surprised if they placed Daniel under constant surveillance. They may of told their agents, "Watch that man! Investigate him thoroughly! Report anything we might use against him!" But hard as they tried, they could find nothing. The Bible says that "he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him" (Daniel 6:4). What a record! What a testimony! He was loyal and conscientious in his secular employment -- all the while giving God first place. Daniel's life was so far above reproach that his enemies had to create a situation in which his "religion" would come into conflict with his "government job."

I wonder, how would we stand under close examination like this? Are we so faithful in our work that our fellow employees can "find no occasion nor fault"? It's wonderful to speak about Christ. But consider the influence of a godly life and a job so faithfully performed that others can find no fault. It silences our critics and glorifies God. like Daniel, our behavior should be unblamable. Then we too will have works that witness!

This has been an Overcomer's moment..............God Bless.................Howard Kent

Hello CCAS members,

I hope everyone is doing well this week. I just finished reading Luke 15:1-7.

It reminded me when I was just a kid, I went with my father to visit U.S. Army Chaplain Steve Arnold on one of the bases he frequently visited. He was a mighty preacher of the gospel and, what I can remember, an effective soul winner. Recently I read an account of how this man of God helped a woman find salvation -- a person who had been dragged down by terrible sin. Late one night a man came to Chaplain Arnold and asked him to go and pray with a dying girl. He accompanied the stranger to a house located in a district of the city noted for its prostitutes. There he found a desperate soul named Mary who said to him, "Isn't there something in the Bible about a sheep that went astray and a shepherd who went out and brought it back again?" The chaplain gladly recounted the story and made the gospel application. As he knelt to pray, several other girls slipped to their knees, sobbing by their companion's bed. Arnold said that when he looked up after his prayer, the dying girl's face was radiant. Over and over she exclaimed, "Oh, it is wonderful! The Good Shepherd has found me and is holding me to His heart!" Later, Arnold was told by one of Mary's friends that she had died.

Several years afterward in another city, a young woman came up to Arnold at the close of a service. "Don't you remember me?" she said. "I'm the girl that told you of Mary's passing. But there's something else I want you to know."

"What is it?" he asked.

"When the Good Shepherd brought Mary in on one shoulder, I came in on the other!"

Yes, CCAS members, the Good Shepherd is still seeking lost sheep!

This has been an Overcomers moment.........Talk to you soon, Howard Kent

Community Comics’ Chosen Mortals is the featured comic preview of the week at www.ZGraphicNovels.com. This preview features two stories from the Gospel accounts, and is written by Ben Avery with art by Darren Brady and Sherwin Schwartzrock.

Check it out at http://www.zgraphicnovels.com/exclusives/

And please take a few minutes to answer the survey that will follow the comic. Zondervan is very interested in getting feedback from fans of this type of material.

This comic cover is copyrighted by Bruce Yeo, 1995.

Hello Overcomers of CCAS,

Read Psalm 46.

1 Kings 18:44 says: "Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand."

Many unique applications can be drawn from familiar scripture passages. For example, an unknown author wrote, "It is well if we can see the form of a Man's hand in every cloud that arises in our lives. It is good if we can discern the figure of our Lord, the mighty Maker of Heaven and earth, in every shadow that spreads it's wings above us. For then our clouds will leave abundant blessings in their wake, and our dark days will reveal the glory of God in all His protecting and comforting power."

A Christian woman was always so bright and cheerful that everyone wondered at her joyous spirit. "But sister," said a friend, "you must have some clouds in your life."

"Clouds?" she replied. "Why of course. If there were no clouds, where would the showers of blessing come from?"

This saint of God, like the poet of old, had learned to "trace the rainbow through the rain."

Many believers reach the place of unquestioning faith in Jesus and can sing Joseph Gilmore's hymn with assurance:

Sometimes, 'mid scenes of deepest gloom,

Sometimes where Eden's bowers bloom,

By waters still, o'er troubled sea,

Still 'tis His hand that leadeth me.

In every cloud that darkens our horizon we may discern the nail-pierced hand of the Man of Calvary. Surely the One who died for us can be trusted to lead and protect us, even in the worst storms of our life.

Victory and perfect peace will be yours if by faith you look for the mighty hand of God in your cloud.

This has been an Overcomer's moment. God Bless.............Howard

"I dreamed instead of did. I hoped and i wished instead of tried."

Max phillips, also know as "Pops" said that in an episode of The Twilight Zone entitled "Vietnam", i believe. Which reminds me, i should probrably put Rod Serling on my list of favorites. That man was a genius and if he wasn't saved i will be very surprised. Anyway, This episode and this particular line has great sentimental value to me. I'm a procrastinator. I've been a procrastinator all my life. Always wanting more, never doing what it took to get it. It wasn't until late one night, during the last hours of an all day Twilight zone marathon, with my wife asleep on the sofa and the kids asleep on the floor around me, that i heard the single line that would stay with me for the rest of my life. I nearly dropped my can of grape soda right on my sons head.lol Max Phillips has just found out about his sons death and looks into the sky filled with regret and weeps over his wasted life. That was all it took to scare me straight. The prospect of me looking back and weeping over my wasted life did not appeal to me. I guess i just needed to see it from the outside. I guess the best thing i can do is something, anything.

I would no longer wait for the circumstances to be right. I would no longer wait for a convention to come by so i could get my portfolio critiqued. I would no longer wait until i could afford the "right" equipment and tools. I would not wait for someone else to hire me. I wanted to make a comic book, and i will make it. Jack Chick wrote and drew his first CHICK Tract on his kitchen table. Joe Casey wrote Marvel Comics in his living room on a tv dinner stand. I have all i need; A pencil, Some paper, and God.

Read 1 Peter 2:13-20

A sure test of a person's character is how they respond to false accusations. If you, a believer, is faithfully serving Christ, you will be critized; and the more work you do, the more adverse comments you hear. Your value is measured not only by the friends you have but by the enemies you make as well. God pity the Christian who has no opposition at all - of whom it is said, "Everybody speaks well of him." No believer should want the world's praise or the devil's flattery. A pastor friend of mine once said, "Criticism is the muck in which the plants of the Lord grow strong." A child of God can profit more from criticism than from flattery, especially when it reveals your weaknesses and faults. Even if a charge is untrue, it can help you grow and bring glory to Christ.

The apostle Paul had his share of false accusations. In Romans 3:8 he spoke of slanderous reports. Some people were completely distorting his message of salvation by grace and thereby casting reflection of his apostleship. Servants of God in every age have been maligned: Noah, Moses, Joshua, David, Elijah - none of them escaped. And the most severely criticized of all was the Savior Himself. Yet He was unique, for every criticism leveled against Him was unjust!

The Bible says, "If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you" (1 Peter 4:14). Whenever you are falsely attacked by others, be sure your response is Christlike. You are being proven by your critics!

This is an Overcomer's moment. God Bless............Howard Kent (Matthew 5:11)

One of my favorite Christian comics out there is the featured comic of the week at www.ZGraphicNovels.com, Faith: Warrior Princess by Layne Toth, Chris Yambar and Levi Krause.

Check it out at http://www.zgraphicnovels.com/exclusives/

And if you really like it, we have copies available at Community Comics: http://www.communitycomics.com/cc_partners_fwp.html

Here is a fan art I did for Jeremy Lee Atkinson(who is a member of our wonderful CCAS Social Network) based on his "Second Chances" story. You can read "Second Chances", along with other fabulous stories like JCServant's "Wildlight", Shan Kodger's "Lightning Prophetess", and many others at:

http://www.cyberlightcomics.com/

God bless you all, and may you have wonderful weeks!

Gerry Lee

Hello CCAS members....

I just wanted to encourage you all that what God has started in you, He will also finish in you.

Hebrews 6:10 says: "God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him as you have helped His people and continue to help them."

What ever part of the ministry you are doing, continue to the very end. I have seen and read a lot of what you have done and I think it is just great. I would love to hear from more of you and I pray for each one of you everytime I log on to the site. Christina Cheek is working with me on a project called "The Overcomers." It will hit different parts in our lives and hope when you read the series, you can relate to the characters' situations and thoughts. More on that later.

I would also like to add that Christina is a wonderful artist and has a great eye for detail. Some people say that she has two.

Just keep up the good work guys and gals and don't let ol'slewfoot get in the way. OK?

God bless you all..............Howard Kent