Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) and Andrews McMeel Universal today announced the launch of the first Comic Strip Superstar, the international competition in search of the next popular comic strip artist. The winner will receive a publishing contract from Andrews McMeel Publishing, a $5,000 advance from Universal Uclick and a monthly stipend for the development of 20 comic strips that will be considered for syndication.http://blogs.gocomics.com/2009/08/amazon-and-andrews-mcmeel-universal-announce-first-comic-strip-superstar-competition.htmlRead more…
Posted by David Duarte on August 19, 2009 at 8:29am
Ok, so I have finally found a name for my comic or series of graphic novels I would like to do: Modern Christians. I looked it up on yahoo and found no books, shows or anything under that name. And I hope no one else is using that name on here. Read my last blog to get an idea of how I want this comic to be kind of like.So recently I got the book "Making Comics" by Scott McCloud and it helped me get a better idea of how to express my ideas and how to connect with readers and much more. It's a great book and I highly recommend it.I want this comic to be the kind of comic readers will think about and remember and hopefully apply to their lives. Maybe one of the most stand out Christian comics around?Though sometimes I am even questioning if some of the things I want to show are Christian like. Like showing how much some Christians can be hypocrites. Basing it on my experiences and those of others. Like wondering why does it seem like many people seem to consider you important only when you're at church or a church related event and you don't seem to exist any other time. Or a Christian friend ignoring you on purpose. Ending friendships out of nowhere without any real good reason. Begging for forgiveness from a Christian brother or sister and not seeming to get any. Catching someone using profanity. Catch a respected Christian or even a pastor looking at porno. Things like that. And then solutions are found. Sometimes funny ones or that ones that make the reader think deeply or maybe push it to the point that could be controvesral? Not that I am bitter, but to show theres like that are what people can expect out of the Christian life.Maybe some characters doubt God's existance through the trials they go through and question their experiences based on what characters from the Bible have went through.But yet I still want to show that being a Christian is amazing when its done right. That having a relationship with Jesus is still worth it all, even through all the trials one has to go through.
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The guys over at No Greater Joy ministries have made a Bible comic book to reach other cultures with the Word of God, and now are working to develop it into a motion comic as well.
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Posted by Mike Bullock on August 15, 2009 at 2:54am
Since we're all plugged in to a visual medium, I thought of this group as soon as I read my devotional today. What a visual story Bayless Conley relates here:No Unbelievers in HellIn Luke chapter 16, Jesus tells a very sobering story,"The rich man also died and was buried. And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom... Then he said, 'I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house, for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment'" (Luke 16:22b-23 and 27-28).Everyone in hell believes in evangelism. They are crying out lest their loved ones end up with them.Two thousand years have passed and this rich man has had no relief. A billion years from now he will just be getting started in his torment and pain. Listen to his cry, "My brothers! Send someone to my family!"Hell is for unbelievers but there are no unbelievers in hell!Several years ago a man came weeping to the altar of our church. A message had been preached that night from these very Scriptures. After giving his heart to Christ (and after a long time of almost uncontrollable weeping), he told us this story:He said, "I died twice on the operating table during heart surgery. Each time I died, I left my body and went to hell. It was so horrifying that I tried to put it out of my mind. As the message was preached tonight, all the details of my experience came flooding back into my mind."He did not need to be convinced that hell was real. That night he accepted Christ and was liberated from the fear of returning to that place of torment.Jesus alone can rescue us from the terrors of hell and bring us safely to heaven. Shouldn't we be telling people there is a heaven to gain and a hell to shun? Shouldn't we be warning them and encouraging them to accept Christ--while there is still time?!Read more…
This has been out since late June, but I forgot to post it here! This is our last issue, as we've been picked up by a Canadian publisher and are currently working on the first print edition, for release in January. Thank you Lord! Issue 3 has an interview with the man behind Gestalt Publishing, as well as with Brian Cronin from comicbookresources.com about his new book and with Christian novelist Robin Parrish regarding his new sci-fi novel, Offworld. There's also heaps of great art and reviews. Check it out here:http://issuu.com/extrasequential/docs/extrasequential3His,Kris
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FullArmour Comix OK guys August is the BIRTH month of FullArmour so for ALL OF AUGUST i have issued a challenge to myself. ☆I'm posting a PAGE a DAY all month☆ I'm doing this because i keep letting life get in the way of FA, when that comic is supposed to be my life. So join me in this daily posting of the best comic book that hasn't been read yet! http://www.facomic13.com/Comic.htmRead more…
My webcomic (Ace of Diamonds, a "remix" comic using artwork from an old public domain western called Balck Diamond Western, but with rewritten dialogue and plot by me) is still going strong.Currently, every Wednesday and Friday, a new Ace of Diamond page will be posted.So far, I am up to page 11:http://aceofdiamondscomic.blogspot.com/The first page is here:http://aceofdiamondscomic.blogspot.com/2009/07/cover.htmlBlack Diamond Western was a pretty derivative "masked lawman in the Old West" comic, obviously "borrowing" elements from the Lone Ranger and other comics of the time. It featured a guy who decided to put on a mask and fight lawlessness simply because he could shoot well. The lawman was called "Black Diamond" because he had a black diamond on his shirt. Black Diamond Western has fallen into the public domain, as I said, meaning it's ripe for me to take it and "remix" it!In my remix, Ace of Diamonds features a masked lawman in the Old West who recently woke up with no memory of where he came from or who he was. But he had a mask, a badge, and a gun . . . so while he had not idea what his past was, he knew what his future held. Now he rides the West, seeking criminals and clues to his past. His name is "Ace of Diamonds" because he's a shooting ace and has a diamond on his shirt . . . but also because that's what people call him!In the current story arc ("Hot Lead, Cold Tin"), Ace is going up against a criminal called Faro Kid, a ruthless and fast gunman . . . but Faro may also have a vital key to Ace's past.I'm doing Ace of Diamonds as a part of my local comic shop's "Monday Funnies", where every other Monday we get together and some of us create a comic strip or two. Since I cannot draw, this is what I have chosen to work on.Of course, I'm also doing it because I love webcomics. (And I'm trying to figure out how people actually make a little bit of money from it -- right now all I have are Google ads that I hope interest people enough that they click on 'em.)Finally, I'm doing it because it's hard to find artists! Here's some ready made art for me! :)All in all, it's pretty fun.~ Ben
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If you'll buy one, I'll send you a free hard copy!go to my webpage for graphics. it's on the blog..but you can get the info on my front pagehttp://www.theservantcomic.comHere's the link:http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=303491945&mt=8Feel free to include my contact information in your PR, since I'm at the Con and available for interviews. I'm also demoing the app as part of the Digital Comics NOW panel Tuesday at 3:30 in Room 4 at SDCC.Contact info: David Steinberger, 917-749-9540About Iconology, Inc.Since 2007 Iconology, Inc. has been working to expose more people to the world of comics, through comiXology.com and related applications. comiXology.com, brick-and-mortar comic book retailer tools, iPhone and Blackberry apps and digital comics are all connected through the comiXology platform.Thanks!David917-749-9540Facebook App, you can now browse your weekly comics through Facebook.Facebook Product Page, visit our Page on Facebook and become a fan!Express yourself, you can now write reviews of your favorite comics, trades, toys and DVDs.Got an iPhone? Now you can view your comiXology pull list anywhere and everywhere.
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Are there wolves among you giving out Judas' kisses of death...Act 20:29For I know this, that after my departingshall grievous wolves enter in among you,not sparing the flockAct 20:30Also of your own selves shall men arise,speaking perverse things, to draw awaydisciples after themAre all the wolves gone now?Of course not—there will always be wolveswherever there are sheepWolves come in "sheep’s clothing,"full of smiles, and hugs, and kissesYou will not see their teeth until it is too lateJudas was a wolf in sheep’s clothingThe apostles saw a sheep—Jesus saw a wolfWhat was Judas’ ultimate sheep’s camouflage?Why, wasn’t it a simple,sincere, pure, godly "kiss?"Mat 26:48Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign,saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss,that same is he: hold him fastMat 26:49And forthwith he came to Jesus,and said, Hail, master; and kissed himah yes...but was this "kiss"a simple little peck on Jesus’ cheekThe five Scripturesusing the word "kiss" from Paul and Peter,always used the Greek word "philema"which means "kiss" and nothing elseIn Luke 22:48 we read this:"But Jesus said unto him,Judas, betray you the Son of man with a kiss[Gk: a simple ‘philema’ kiss]?"But in Matt 26:48, we find something totally differentJudas told the elders and chief priest:"…whomsoever I shall[PHILEO—passionate fondness] kiss, that same is He…"Judas did not have a "philema" kiss in mind at all!!The "kiss" in Matt 26:48 is a "phileo" kiss,and it means a fond, affectionate, passionate kiss,not a simple "philemo kiss"And the elders and high priestknew the different in these two wordsOne was a peck on the cheek,but Judas determined to use a more a passionate,huggie huggie kissie kissie displayin his attempt to betray Jesusto the devouring and ravaging wolvesThis is really intriguing stuff!!Now after Judas tells the priest and elderswhat kind of a kiss he will give Jesus[a phileo kiss] to betray Jesus,He actually delivers this kissAnd how does he do that?He does it with yet another Greek word for kiss,which is, "kataphileo" mean "to kiss EARNESTLY"This "kataphileo kiss"is used three other times in Scriptures:Luke 7:45"You gave me no kiss[no affectionate ‘phileo’ kiss,Jesus admonishes His disciples]but this woman since the time I came inhas not ceased to kiss[‘kataphileo kisses’—earnestly] My feet"Luke 15:20"And he [the prodigal son] arose, and came to his fatherBut when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him,and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck,and kissed him [earnestly and passionatelywith a ‘kataphileo kisses’]"Acts 20:37"And they all wept sore,and fell on Paul’s neck, and kissed him[with ‘kataphileo kisses’ of great passion and earnest]"Is it not abundantly clearthat this super emotional use of hugs and kisseswas used only on the most RARE occasionsof deep and profound emotional circumstances?But this is not proper conduct for everyday behaviorAre there such over-pious charlatans in your church??Be suspect of those who use super-piousand sanctimonious hugs and kisses every day of the weekNow back to the Judas Kiss of Death:"And forthwith he came to Jesus,and said, Hail, Master; and KISSED HIM"The Greek is "kisses"multiple kisses, with ‘kataphilio kisses,just as we find in every single use of this wordin Scriptures I showed you aboveNo, Judas did not betray Jesus with a peck on the cheek;he deceitfully delivered a "huggie huggie kissie kissie,fraudulent hugs and KISSES OF DEATH!!!What must we learn from all this?Whenever we pretend to be Christ-likebut it’s all a charade,we too are guiltyof giving Christ a Judas kiss of death!!!What a disgusting displayof the carnal mind and flesh, Judas has left usSome have vengeance in their heart,others vanity, others bitterness and hatred,and yet others uncontrollable sins of the flesh,but they try to camouflage their evilswith a plethora of hugs and kisses to allDon’t be afraid to hug;don’t be afraid to kiss,but beware of such phony displays of pious emotions,as they could be your "KISS OF DEATH"
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WHO ARE THE "FALSE CHRISTS"Who are they...who almost deceivethe VERY ELECT and DECEIVE MANY?We read that they are"false Christs" and "false prophets"But WHO are these false Christs and false prophets?How will we know them?What IDENTIFIES them asfalse prophets, liars, and deceivers?Here are just two Scriptureswhere Jesus gives us the IDENTIFYING SIGNSof the these false teachers, and deceivers:"MANY will say to me [Jesus] in that day,Lord, Lord [Master, Master], have we not:A: PROPHESIED[taught, preached] in Thy Name [Jesus]?B: In Thy Name [Jesus]have CAST OUT DEVILS [demons]?C: And in Thy Name [Jesus]done MANY WONDERFUL WORKS [miracles]?And then will I profess[plainly, openly, tell them to their face]I NEVER KNEW YOU: DEPART FROM MEYOU THAT WORK INIQUITY [lawlessness]" (Matt 7:22-23)"For MANY shall come in my name,saying [that], I [Jesus] am Christ,and shall deceive MANY" (Matt 24:5)Who are the "MANY" today who,(1) Teach and preach in the name of Jesus Christ?(2) Cast out demons in the name of Jesus Christ?(3) Do MANY (not a few, but many) WONDERFUL WORKS(not evils works, but good and wonderful works),in the name of Jesus Christ?...Who?The Russians? The Chinese? The Muslims?The Hindus? The Confucianists?The Buddhists? The Jews?The QUARTER BILLION Ethnic Religionists?The HUNDRED AND FIFTY MILLION Athiests?Do ANY of these worldwide religions"teach, preach, cast out demons,and do many wonderful worksIN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST?"No, they don’t!!Well then,WHO ARE THESE "MANY" who do these things?Do not "MANY"of the TWO BILLION CHRISTIANS in the world today,"teach, preach, cast out demons, and do manywonderful works IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST?"Then I would say that we have identifiedthe "many" that Jesus warned us aboutIt is not enough...to preach, teach, heal, and cast out demonsin the name of Jesus Christ-One has to also OBEYthe commandments and teachings of Jesus ChristJesus said that it is the "many" who do good words,but are guilty of "iniquity" which means "lawlessness"Next, who are the "MANY" today who say that,"Jesus IS THE CHRIST, THE MESSIAH?"No, don’t be deceived;it is not those few who occasionally claimthat they themselves are "Jesus the Christ"They don’t deceive the "MANY"Only some fool would ever be deceivedinto believing that some carnal idiotreally IS the ChristBesides, there are NOT "many"who make such a claim in the first placeBut there certainly are "MANY"who say and teach that JESUS is the REAL CHRIST!!And so it is not only thosewho "teach and preach and cast out demonsand do many wonderful works in the name of Jesus"who are DECEIVING THE MANY,but also there is a large group (many)who teach that "Jesus really IS THE CHRIST"and yet Jesus said it would be thesethat are also DECEIVING THE MANY!!Millions of Christianshave heard these Scriptures quoted all their livesBut, God forbid that they would pause a minute or twoto consider WHO REALLY ARE THESE PEOPLETHAT JESUS IS TALKING ABOUT THAT REALLY DOTHESE MANY WONDERFUL THINGS AND YET-DECEIVE THE MANY!!Jesus Christ said"I will BUILD My church..."(Matt 16:18)Where are God’s people (My people)?"And he cried mightily with a strong voice…And I heard another voice from heaven sayingCOME OUT OF HER MY PEOPLE,that ye be not partakers of her SINS,and that ye receive not of her PLAGUES" (Rev 18:2,4)Who is the "her"that "God’s PEOPLE" are to "COME OUT OF"but "Mystery Babylon the Great, Mother [church]of Harlots [daughter churches]and the ABOMINATIONS of the earth" (Rev 17:4-6)Today’s Church threatens the world of sinnerswith eternal torture in eternal fireif they do not...COME INTO...their Great Mystery Church of Abominations!!!"Know you not thatYOU ARE THE TEMPLE OF GOD,and that the Spirit of Goddwells IN YOU?" (1Cor 3:16)That's because,"God that made the world and all things therein,seeing that He is Lord of heaven and earth,DWELLS NOT IN TEMPLES MADE WITH HANDS" (Acts 17:24)No, God does not "dwell"in temples and buildings made with hands,but SATAN does "DWELL" in carnal churchesmade with hands (Rev 2:13)The Depths of Satan is found IN THE CHURCHHe doesn't attack the Churchfrom without, but from within:Where do we find "Satan’s seat (throne)?"Why, IN THE CHURCH (Rev 2:13)Where do we find "where Satan dwells?"Why, IN THE CHURCH (Rev 2:13)Where do we find "the doctrine of Balaam?"Why, IN THE CHURCH (Rev 2:14)Where do we find them who"say they are apostles (of Christ) and are not?"Why, IN THE CHURCH (Rev 2:2)Where do we find themwho have "left their first love?"Why, IN THE CHURCH (Rev 2:4)Where do we find them which"say they are (spiritual) Jews and are not,but are the synagogue of Satan?"Why, IN THE CHURCH (Rev 2:9 & 3:9)Where do we find"them that hold the doctrineof the Nicolaitanes, which thing I (Jesus) hate?"Why, IN THE CHURCH (Rev 2:15)Where do we find "that woman Jezebel,which calls herself a prophetess,to teach and to seduce my servantsto commit fornication and to eat thingssacrificed unto idols?"Why, IN THE CHURCH (Rev 2:19)Where do we find them that"have a name that you live, and are dead?"Why, IN THE CHURCHWhere do we find them that"are wretched, and miserable,and poor, and blind, and naked?"Why, IN THE CHURCH (Rev 3:17)And were do we find "the DEPTHS of Satan?"Why, IN THE CHURCH, of course Rev 2:24)THE CHURCH OF GOD IN PRIVATE HOUSESThere was a transition periodwhere the disciples still went up to the temple,but God’s intimate dealings would now be foundin more humble surroundingsWhen the Holy Spirit was poured outon the first Saints of Jesus,it was not in a synagogue, but in a house:"And when the day of Pentecost was fully come,they were all with one accord in one placeand suddenly there came a sound from heavenas of a rushing mighty wind,and it filled all the HOUSEwhere they were sitting" (Acts 2:1-2)Church services were held in houses:"Likewise greet the churchthat is in their house" (Rom 16:5)"The churches of Asia salute youAquila and Priscilla salute youmuch in the Lord, with the churchthat is in their house" (1 Cor 16:19)"Salute the brethrenwhich are in Laodicea, and Nymphas,and the church which is in his house(Col 4:15)"Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ,and Timothy our brother,unto Philemon our dearly beloved,and fellow labourer,and to our beloved Apphia,and Archippus our fellowsoldier,and to the church in your house"(Philemon 1-2)When we come to the famous Jerusalem Conferencein the fifteenth chapter of Acts, we readthat Paul and Barnabas were"…being brought on their way by the CHURCH…"(Acts 15:3)This is the Church of Jesus Christ,not the church of the synagogue systemNotice that in this conferencetheir determination was to not forcethe Law of Moses on new Gentile converts:"Then pleased it the apostles and elders,with THE WHOLE CHURCH…" (Acts 15:22)The High Priests did not attend this conferenceThis was the first "Policy Binding Counsel"of the Church of Jesus Christ,consisting of only those who believed,who formulated policy which would be bindingon the whole churchThe Jews had "synagogues"—church buildingsThe newly converted Christians came out ofthose synagogue church buildingsand their doctrines, and met in homesWhy?Mostly because Christ was not taughtor tolerated in these synagoguesIn order to worship and followthe teachings of Jesus Christ,it became necessary to "come out of her"...the synagogue system of religionWherefore...2Cor 6:17Wherefore come OUT from among themand be ye seperate, saith the Lord,and touch not the unclean thing,and I will receive youRev 18:4Come out of her, my people,that ye be not partakers of her sins,and that you receive not of her plaguesGod is calling his people ..OUT.. of the Churchesand thus hiding them in the shadow of his handJer 6:2I have likened the daughter of Zionto a comely and delicate womanIsa 51:16And I have put my words in thy mouth, andI have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand,that I may plant the heavens,and lay the foundations of the earth,and say unto Zion, Thou art my peoplehttp://myspace.com/water_spirit_bloodRead more…
Been very busy, didn't blog in July. Things are still being settled with the printer. There's been some problems that willbe be fixed. Waiting on the proof copy for volume 1. So with volume 2 done I'm working on volume 3.Volume 3 is looking good. I'm close to the halfway point on the inking of the book. I'm trying to do 8 pgs a week. It's tough sometimes, because I work full-time and have a family and other commitments, but It's working out. I have a few more months then I'll place the finished pgs in the computer to greyscale.Now during this time Paulo Libunao will be working on volume 4. I've seen some sketches of my characters and they look good. I plan to send him the first twenty pages to illustrate this week. Each volume is about 130pgs. And the volumes stop at 5. So almost there! Pray for us. God bless!
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It's been a while since I've been around these parts. It looks like some of you had fund at the San Diego Comic Con... been dying to go for years... just never been able to. One day...Any way, just letting you know I'm available for projects. My Cintiq needs a good work out. Can do the whole nine yards if needed. (Pencils, Inks Colors, Digital Lettering, Layout, Design, character creation, book packaging, branding, etc.)Visit my site at: http://www.ihorace.comAnyone out there been putting out some new nifty projects? Toss a link to it at the bottom of this post, I'd love to see what's new on the market.
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Posted by David Duarte on July 31, 2009 at 10:58am
One of my goals as a christian cartoonist is to create a comic that will change how Christian comics are seen. People read the stories, relate to them, and even atheists who may not get saved from reading them, will at least respect my work because it was very entertaining and gave them a different perspective of being a Christian.Though I really hope I am not copying anyone elses work when I go for it.One of the cartoons I want to create has a group of Christian teens mostly boys. They go through high school and deal with both the difficulties of being a Christian and being a teen.They can all be considered heroes sometimes, but they are not the usual kind of people anyone would expect to be heroes.All the characters are based on some aspects of me or they are the kind of friends I sometimes wished I had growing up. I want almost every personality type used for my characters so everyone can relate to them. The stories will be based mostly from my life experiences and other's life experiences.Theres humor, drama, happiness, sadnessMy main inspirations will be mostly from my favorite anime Neon Genesis Evangelion, not only my favorite anime, but considered one of the best anime to exist. I even plan to have some situations, character thoughts, jokes and character ideas that come from the show, but of course they will be changed so it doesn't look like I am copying from them. Other inspirations will be from the life experiences of me, friends, family and others I have read about.The main characters are not the usual Christians though. Here's some character descriptions:David: The main character of the comic who is somewhat based on me. He's serious and a bit on the shy side though not as shy as me. He tries to live morally right and be there for his friends and family and anyone else who needs help. He's mostly calm and cool about things. He really loves his girlfriend Sally.Mike: A very friendly and talkative "loudmouth", Mike tends to say a lot on his mind without thinking much. He's mostly happy go lucky though he does have some disapointments though. He likes to joke a lot and is willing to stick up for his friends and isn't afraid to tell someone off if they mistreat his friends. He likes checking out girls, flirts with them and hopes for a girlfriend.Joe, Joey, Joesph?: Not sure what his final name should be. Joey plays football for the school and is a sports fan. He's pretty overweight but has a good heart. He takes some of his work seriously. He's somewhat popular at his school for helping his team out but he doesn't really enjoy the popularity. He stay mostly positive about things. I feel like I should develop his personality more.Randy:I felt theres not enough shy boys in American comics or entertainment so here's Randy. Randy is very shy and timid and worries about pleasing everyone. He has struggled with loneliness most of his life, especially at church. He wants to do God's will but is also afraid of being hurt by others. His confidence is somewhat low but I am hoping with the series, it grows. My inspiration from him comes from some of my shyness and what Shinji in Neon Genesis Evangelion has went though. I even want Randy to somewhat look like Shinji too, but not sure if I should!Rob or Robert: Rob is very confident in his work but also somewhat negative. He has a bag covering his head to hide his acne which he is ashamed of. He feels the need to get out there and accomplish his goals as soon as he can. He can appear to be "grouchy" at times but still is positive at times.Scott: Not enough asians in American entertainment, so I created Scott. Scott is Korean and teaches the Christian club at the school and is good friends with the other characters. He's somewhat serious but still very outgoing and friendly. He enjoys anime and manga, even though he's not Japanese. He struggles with his parents at home who are from Korea, who are not Christian and they are very traditional. They pressure him to get only A's in school and to become a doctor, while he rather work to be a missionary.John: John is similar to Mike but goes farther. John is very friendly and very humorous. He's not as strong a Christian as the others but he feels he's doing God's work by helping students around the school getting even for someone bullying them with the help of a couple of his buddies. He's the class clown and enjoys being around the group every so often though he has some struggles. He flirts with some girls like Mike and jokes about everything and is more than happy to put people in their place if they mess with him or his friends. Some of the others question his ideas but he's willing to defend them and claim why he thinks God is okay with his work.I called this cartoon "Life with David Spencer" but feel it needs a name change, since although David is somewhat of the focus of the comic, the other characters are just as important.I have other characters planned out but still feel the need to develop them and create even more characters. I have some story ideas but still need more. Tell me what you all think!
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Hi all. Sorry for the late report on Comic-Con, but after a very long sleepless week at the convention I dove right back in to my regular work schedule, so it's taken me a little longer than I hoped to "bounce back" from the show. For those who don't know: myself and Ralph Miley are the current leaders of the CCAS local group in Southern California that is in charge of organizing the CCAS ministry at the San Diego Comic-Con. Our group has had a presence at the show for over 13 years now -- organizing panel discussions, arranging after-hours meetings for Christian attendees, and running a table in the small press area where we sell Christian comics and give away Christian comic tracts. Here's a quick rundown of my experience at this year's show... Wednesday: Woke up around 3:30 am to pack up and meet Ralph to carpool down for morning setup at the convention. We left for San Diego around 5, arrived a little after 7. Was one of the first to arrive, and got to watch a large parade of forklifts as we waited in line to get into the loading zone parking lot. Unloaded the inventory at the loading docks behind the convention center, had the union guys shrinkwrap our stuff onto the forklift pallets, then we left to park the car, picked up our exhibitor badges (and a temporary setup crew sticker for my wife Heather, who also came down to help) and started the hike over to the small press area. The carpets were still being rolled down, all the big exhibitor booths were still being set up, and those of us in the small press area just sat around waiting for the forklifts to finally arrive and deliver our pallets of material. Once it finally arrived, it was setup time: assemble the banner, spread the tablecloths, fill the display racks with our Christian comics for sale, and spread out the tracts/flyers for the "freebie" half of our table. As we set up, we discovered that our neighbors at the table next to us were fellow Christians Ralph had met during his trip up to Wondercon earlier this year. God always finds a way of bringing his children together! The rest of the day was spent with the boring details of conventioneering: finding lunch, checking into our hotel, picking up guest badges, meeting up with the rest of our team of volunteers, and (briefly) walking around the show on "Preview Night" to see how the rest of the convention hall was set up.
I can honestly say that this was the most crowded convention I ever remember. Regardless of the actual numbers, the crowd control (and lack thereof) on the exhibit hall floor gave the show a very claustrophobic feel. The big media booths (Warner, Sony, Fox, EA, etc.) were always staging different contests, handouts, and other stunts which drew such large crowds that they would completely block the aisles in all directions, leading to gridlock on the convention floor as pedestrians overflowed into neighboring aisles. That part wasn't fun at all, and made me glad I spent most of the show safely seated behind our table in the small press area. Thursday through Sunday at the Table: I spent most of the convention at the table with Ralph. Talked with people who were curious about CCAS, handed out lots of flyers and tracts. We had guest signings at our table with fellow CCAS members Buzz Dixon (whose credits range from writer on the classic GI Joe and Transformer cartoons up to the trailblazing Serenity Christian manga series) and Eric Jansen (whose work at the Foursquare Missions Press is responsible for the majority of comic tracts at our table. He is also a self-publisher of various comics through his "God & Country" imprint, and is the artist on my Tales of Hemlock comic series). This year, I didn't run into anyone who came to our table just to give us a hard time or to argue theology. I did have an interesting conversation with a Mormon cartoonist who wanted to know if his work could have a place within the Christian Comic Arts Society since Mormons considered themselves Christian. I probably stumbled over my words a bit, as I was trying to be as polite as possible in telling him "no". CCAS is open to Christians of the three historical traditions within Christianity: Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant. For all their differences, at least those three groups do agree on basic fundamentals of the Trinity, the deity of Christ, etc. Groups like the Mormons or Jehovah's Witnesses -- full of wonderfully nice people -- don't share that common ground. They may use similar terminology, but their definitions are completely different. If we're going to call ourselves a "Christian" group, we need to draw the line somewhere as to what that word means; we've opted to draw it based on traditional orthodoxy and the historical creeds. But I digress...
Weekend panels: Other CCAS events at Comic-con included a Saturday morning panel discussion on "Spiritual Themes in Comics", with panelists ranging from Chrsitian writer Doug TenNapel to self-described witch Holly Golightly. (I was able to record this panel, and I hope to make the video available online soon!). Another panel was a Sunday morning panel/chapel service, in which Buzz Dixon gave a mini-sermon tailored to creative artists and then introduced a panel discussion between himself, Eric Jansen, and Leo Partible. (I was only able to attend half of this panel, and was not able to get a workable recording of the panel. If anyone else has more detailed notes from the Sunday morning panel, I'd love to see them!) Our other CCAS event this year was a "secret" after-hours fellowship meeting at the convention center, after the hall closed on Saturday night. It was "secret" in the sense that we had asked the convention for permission to hold a meeting there, they said "sure", but then they did not actually mention our meeting in any of their on-site event programming guides. So, the only ones who knew to attend were those who heard about it from word-of-mouth at our table in the small press area. Still, we somehow got around twenty people who showed up for a fun night of Christian fellowship between a wide mix of comic fans, amateurs, and professionals, all of us coming together for laughter, fellowship and prayer. It was a great night. Final thoughts: each year at the comic-con, a pattern seems to emerge. Last year, the focus was readers of Christian comics. We had tremendous sales at the table, and people came by to snap up whole sets of graphic novels at a time. In previous years, the focus was evangelism/apologetics, as we had a large number of people who came by the table just to try arguing with us about the Bible, the existence of God, or some issue relating to the Gospel. This year? This year's pattern seemed to be fellowship. We received a surprising number of people who had been coming to the convention for years, yet this was their first time finding us. There were many sudden shouts of "I thought I was the only one!" or "I'm so glad to see there's a group doing this!". This year, we made a lot of new contacts of people indicating that they want to sign up for the social network site online to meet other Christian fans, writers and artists and -- even more surprisingly -- there were a large number of people from the local Southern California area who expressed interest in getting involved with the local CCAS group and convention ministry. If everyone who expressed interest actually follows up on it, we may end up doubling the number of volunteers working the CCAS convention ministry by the time the San Diego Comic-Con rolls around next year. As always, the path ahead is in God's hands. I'd like to give a hearty "Thank you" to everyone who prayed for us during last week's ministry, and to those who supported us through time and resources. Most of all, I'd like to give praise and thanks to God for his ongoing blessing of this ministry. Unless the Lord builds the house, the laborers labor in vain. God is good.
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CCAS TABLE/STREET COMIX UPDATE I took 500 of each comic (Street Comix, PARAMAN, etc.) we do at work (FMP/Foursquare Missions Press) and dropped them off at Ralph's house the week before the Con. Ralph and Kevin would drive down early Wednesday morning to unload and set up. Wednesday night was a special Preview Night where they only let in professionals and exhibitors from 6-9pm. Then, the regular main floor hours would be 9:30am-7:00pm, Thursday thru Sunday (5:00pm on Sunday). Here are the details, book by book-- LONELY LADY--I didn't get to the table until Thursday evening and I noticed there weren't any LONELY LADY displayed. I was curious and asked "We're not putting out LONELY LADY?" I was told "We did! They're already all gone!" THE CHRIST OF PROPHECY--I only packed 250 of these because they take up so much more room than the rest. They were all gone halfway through Saturday. HOMELESS HARRY--Kevin mentioned to me that he noticed that people either took one of everything or, if they only took one thing, they took HOMELESS HARRY. I was skeptical, but not 20 seconds went by before a woman came up and asked if she could only take one, which one should she take. She didn't wait for my answer before she snatched up HOMELESS HARRY and walked away! I think HARRY was also more popular with the kids. A PARAMAN HALLOWEEN--This "sold out" about halfway through Sunday, being a little more popular than PARAMAN. (Kevin pointed out, however, that some of the foot traffic were return visitors from previous years who already have PARAMAN. It does show the value of always having something new.) PARAMAN--I actually think there were 550 PARAMAN in the box I gave Ralph, and there were two packs of 50 left over. VENGEANCE IS MINE--I think there were also 100 left of this one. Ralph will be sending the leftovers to Don Ensign in Arizona for a smaller con coming up soon there. It's interesting that this was probably the LEAST popular for people to pick up of their own free will, but is possibly the 2nd (after PARAMAN) most popular to be ordered at my work. (Of course, most of our orders for it are from prison chaplains!) JACK CHICK TRACTS--Ralph is a big fan of Jack Chick and he buys a lot of Jack Chick Tracts (NOT the controversial ones) and puts out piles of three different ones at a time. Numerous unbelievers would take only these, laughing and smirking as they walk away. But, still, they TAKE them and read them. SUMMING UP--Now, there's no telling how many of the people who took the comics were Christian and how many weren't. It was obvious from comments like "I'm so glad you're here!' and things like that that many of the people who stopped were already Christian--BUT they were often getting the comics to give to somebody else! It was also obvious, by the looks on their faces as they walked by, that many of the people were NOT Christian! (Including director John Landis, who mocked us a bit and left.) However, a large number of these people--at my cry of "Free Comics!"--would often turn around and come back and get one/some. CCAS MEETINGS/PANELS UPDATE SPIRITUAL THEMES IN COMICS PANEL (Saturday Morning)--This went well. Leo Partible did a good job organizing and moderating it. The big names on the panel were outspoken Christian Doug Tennapel and friendly witch Holly Golightly. (Sorry I don't remember the names of the other two panelists.) Holly is our favorite witch! (And her kind of "witch" seems to be more of a naturalist/in tune with the earth kind, not pagan or wiccan.) She's very entertaining and pleasant. Doug Tennapel used some profanity and said he would never buy a Christian comic. (Perhaps he's never found the right one.) Obviously, I tend to disagree with him on some things, but I was quite impressed by his brave and vocal stand against abortion. CCAS OPEN MEETING/"MEET AND GREET" (Saturday Night)--Unfortunately, the Con neglected to put this one in the program guide and we only had about 20 people show up. But that might have been a blessing in disguise as the 20 of us all got to share and pray for each other. (See photo.) CCAS CHRISTIAN COMICS MEETING (Sunday Morning)--After worship music by Janae Miley and her friend, we had a good message from Buzz Dixon on giving God your best. Buzz Dixon moderated and then joined Leo Partible and myself on the panel. Our starting off point was the novel "THE SHACK" and that led to topics such as how to properly portray the Trinity in fiction, etc. PERSONAL UPDATE I always am very blessed to stay with friends of the family at their home on Coronado. The drawback to this was always that the best way over the bay was a ferry that would let me off about two miles away from the Convention Center. However, (mainly because of the newly-built Hilton, I was told) they have instated a new ferry stop RIGHT BEHIND the Convention Center! It only runs every two hours, but it worked for me! My (new-to-me) car did not want to start halfway through the Con to drive me to the ferry landing on the Coronado side--which necesitated me walking TWO MILES to just barely catch the morning ferry! Sigh--things have a way of evening out, don't they? (Of course, walking two miles on EACH side of the bay would have been too much!) This worried me no end, but then it started fine that night! It turns out that I just have a weak battery, which is much better news than I expected. We met a lot of new people this year at the Con, and I would say that would have to be the high point for everybody. A lot of them are from the SoCal area, so we might have a fresh influx of people at our monthly meetings in the near future. There was another high point for me. I'll admit, every year I seem to have a new celebrity crush. This year, I have been quite enamored (but you know, not in a crazy way) of the actress/model Diora Baird (TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE remake, WEDDING CRASHERS, a very funny and impressive episode of TWO AND A HALF MEN--and numerous magazine covers). Friday night, I made sure to attend a panel on the new movie spoof STAN HELSING, starring Diora Baird, Kenan Thompson, and Leslie Nielsen. I was looking forward to seeing the great Leslie Nielsen in person, but I was mostly there to see Diora--even if it was from over 100 feet away and I could barely see her head without the giant projector screen. I felt bad for her as most of the questions/comments from the audience were directed at Nielsen and Thompson and none for her, and the director made a big deal about the OTHER female star of the movie being a great comedic actress! Cut to Sunday morning after the CCAS panel. It had gone well, and my friend Josh and our new friend Danielle and I were talking and VERY slowly making our way out of the room and up the hallway. (I noted at the time that it was much slower than I normally would have done.) 50 feet up the hallway, a beautiful blonde walks right in front of me and sits down against the wall. It took a moment to fully hit me--it was Diora Baird! I asked Josh and Danielle to excuse me for a moment. I walked over to Diora and she looked up. I introduced myself, we shook hands and we had a very enjoyable conversation! Enjoyable for me for sure, but she also seemed to very much appreciate me telling her what a great job she did on TWO AND A HALF MEN and how I thought that SHE was the next great comedic actress. Unless I miss my guess, I think I made her day. It certainly made mine. (A number of things went wrong for me all week, but this more than made up for them!) Other celebrity sightings included: Kevin Sorbo (Hercules) and Leonard Nimoy (Mr. Spock) sitting at a booth together, Adam West (Batman) kept walking by the CCAS table (as his booth was near ours), George Lazenby (2nd James Bond) and Maud Adams (Octopussy), Gil Gerard and Erin Gray (both of BUCK ROGERS), Brandon Routh (SUPERMAN RETURNS), Elvira, the new Elvira, Meredith Salenger, all the voices from FUTURAMA, Lou Ferrigno (Hulk), and a LOT of people I didn't see! So, that may be more than you wanted to know, but that's my whole update for my visit to COMIC-CON 2009.
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JUDGMENT BY FIRE MUST BEGIN AT THE HOUSE OF GODActs 17:31Because He hath appointed A DAY, in whichHe will JUDGE THE WORLD(Greek-inhabited earth)in righteousnessBefore God brings this final judgmenton the entirety of the world,he must first perform another judgmenton another group of people...This judgment is going on right now,yet many are not even aware of itJUDGMENT BY FIREMUST BEGIN AT THE HOUSE OF GOD1Pet 4:16-17Yet if any man suffer as a Christian,let him not be ashamed;but let him glorify God on this behalfFor the TIME IS COME thatJUDGMENT MUST BEGIN AT THE HOUSE OF GODJohn the Baptist said that Jesuswould be baptizing repentant believers with fireMatt 3:11I indeed baptize you with water unto REPENTANCE:but He that comes after me is mightier than I,Whose shoes I am not worthy to bear:He shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit,AND WITH FIREPeter said:1Pet 4:12Beloved, think it NOT STRANGEconcerning the fiery trial which is to try you,as though some STRANGE thing happened unto youPeter also said:1Pet 1:7That the trial of your faith,being much more precious than of gold that perishes,though it (your faith) be TRIED IN THE FIRE,might be found unto praise and honour and gloryat the appearing of Jesus ChristPaul said:1Cor 3:13Every man’s work (including believers)shall be made manifest; for the day shall declare it,because it shall be revealed BY FIRE, and the FIREshall try every man’s work of what sort it isJesus said:Mark 9:49For EVERY ONE (sinner and saint)shall be salted with FIREChristian will NOT escape beingrevealed, tried, salted, and baptized by FIREWhatever this "fire" is,it is going to be used ON EVERYONE (Rev 21:8)And are these non-believersjudged differently from believerswho are revealed, tried, salted and baptized IN FIRE?Just HOW are these non-believers judgedin the book of Revelation?How are the "fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable,and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers,and idolaters, and all liars..." JUDGED?Answer: ...In the lake WHICH BURNS WITH FIREIs this "fire" in the book of Revelation DIFFERENTfrom the fire that tries the works of believersin the book of I Corinthians?NO, The word "fire"used in the four examples above concerning believers,is the SAME word "fire" used in the book of Revelationconcerning non-believers:STRONG’s Greek Dictionary of the New Testament:page 219, #4442, pur; a primary word; "fire"(literally OR FIGURATIVELY) Pur is used(besides its ordinary natural significance)Strong’s Expanded Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible:in Rev 3:18 it is SYMBOLIC ofthat which tries the faith of saints,PRODUCING WHAT WILL GLORIFY THE LORD;NOTE:It is NOT the "believer" who "produces" these glorious things,but it is the "SYMBOLIC FIRE" that produces themAnd just Who is this "symbolic fire?"It is, of course, GODFor OUR GOD IS A CONSUMING FIRE (Heb 12:29)Also from Strong's:of the fire of DIVINE JUDGMENT upon the REJECTERS of Christ,Matt 3:11 (where a distinction is to be made betweenthe baptism of the holy Spirit at Pentecostand the "fire" of divine retribution;Acts 2:3 could not refer to baptism); Luke 3:16In conclusion...Unless God Almightythrough the purging power of His FIERY SPIRIT,is BURNING OUT the lusts and passions and vanityand haughtiness and greed and self-righteousnessand laziness and weakness and hypocrisy and wickednessand pride and materialism and cynicism and depravityand carnality in your life,then Jesus Christ is NOT choosing youto reign with Himas the Sons of God in the Kingdom of Godand to bring ALL Heaven and Earthto repentance and salvationOur character flaws of the mind and spiritare going to be burned out of us allGod will either BURN OUT these filthy impuritiesfrom our hearts and minds NOW,or He will BURN THEM OUT IN THE LAKE OF FIRE,but either way, make no mistake about it,THESE THINGS ARE COMING OUT!!!Come read:Most Christians will die in their sins(the greatest deception of Satan)http://myspace.com/water_spirit_bloodRead more…
Hi Paul here from the BAP.I know you have not heard from me in months but was dealing with some family issues that really rock my world. But God is good and things are getting better but with trials added to them. Be praying for me that i may be strengthen through this time in the desert. God is trying to teach me that he is in control i just have to stand a side and let him do his perferct will. I was reading in the book of Hebrews chapter 11 about faith and how our brothers in the past deal with trusting Him for everything. We just have to belive his word is true. But above else obey his word. So far the BAP is on hold but working it's way back into my family life. The Messiah's Chosen Preview comic will be a small ashcan(I still don't know ashcan or magazine. Be praying for me on this issue), The Armor of God Poster is finished an some are printed on hard stock paper an will be available.(Their is a sample sketch on my blog on this site. HEY COME SEE AND MAKE A COMMENT OR TWO. Would love some honest critizism on my ideas.), Lastly The word says, "I can DO ALL THINGS through Christ who strenghthens me". Philippians 3:13(Read the chapter it awsome dude). God Bless BAP out!!!!
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