Get ‘em while they’re hot! Available at my Official Store. Enjoy!
Yep, you guessed it! Through the valleY is getting printed! Vol. 1 will be rolling out this month, just in time for Christmas. This Limited First Edition is a rare treat for those of you who have been faithful friends and followers of my web comic. I’ve decided to do a limited, 240 copy, signed, stamped, and numbered edition for the first-time-ever printing of Through the valleY comics.
The book will be 54 pages, featuring all the strips (and related posts) published on the site since it’s launch in 2008. It’s been beautifully reformatted and type set; underscoring, but not emulating, its digitally published counterpart.
To peruse all the strips at a glance check out these sets on Flickr, or dig through the past few years right here on the site. But, stay tuned for ordering info! The book will be printed and available in the next week or so.
My church’s first ever conference is coming up in less than three days. The festivities start on Friday night and will be lasting through the weekend. We have invited the Bakersfield, Fresno, and Reno Churches of Christ and anticipate visitors from other surrounding churches as well. We have been working hard to get our church looking great. I even did a mural of the Yosemite Valley in one of the class rooms.
Hope to see you there. It’s going to be an amazing time of fellowship, unity and worship.
Parable has finally been published! I’ve been sporting the link to this project’s website, and the links of many other talented Christian cartoonists since I first began this website. I never did get a story put together for the debut of the book, but I am still proud to be among those founding members who started brainstorming this project on the Flight Forum many moons ago.
It’s been fantastic to see Mike’s perseverance with this project. That’s the way God like’s to roll out his projects anyhow; with a lot of time-testing and character building. And Mike’s career in cartooning and comic arts has sure blossomed in the mean time. Lamp Post is an up-and-coming Christian publisher who is uncovering some great talent in art and story telling who truly honor the Lord. If you want a taste go buy a copy of this book.
Well, if you’re like me I’m sure you’ve asked, “Why the heck do dogs eat their puke and poo!?” Well I think God scratches his head and asks the same of us.
Think about it…
Why do we smoke when we know it makes us ill? Why do we eat things that we know will have a terrible impact on our body? Why do we try so hard to stop these vomitous habits in our lives and end up eating over and over again the same disgusting meal. I couldn’t find a good explanation of why dogs eat their vomit, but the description that always made sense to me was that dog stomachs could only half-digest their food. This gives good reason to eating it again. Even though it’s COMPLETELY DISGUSTING! Similarly we fall into our same awful repeating habits because we have not fully digested out sin. Many times, unfortunately, we have to feel the full consequence of our sin before we vanquish it completely. Only then do we realize how yucky what were doing was; and sometimes not even then.
So, here we are again. January is behind us. The enthusiasm and determination of the New Year– that moved you to make lasting change in your life has probably been compromised already. You may feel hopeless, ashamed, or like you were crazy to even think you could change.
But check this out, “Anyone who is among the living has hope—even a live dog who sometimes eats his vomit is better off than a dead lion!” (emphasis not in original text) -Ecclesiastes 9:4
Keep living with hope, Dawg! See the comic.
Went to a great recap/what’s next rally for the Convoy of Hope tonight. I’m really looking forward to the October 15th target date for this years service event; and all the amazing things God will do among us between now and then. There was some inspiring worship going on too. We sang this song…
So inspiring! I love this animation of this video too. Can see how it would work really well for the audience.
The KVIE Art Auction is well under way and my piece will be going up for bid tomorrow night at 11:30pm. It’s the 2nd to last piece to go up for sale of the entire event. So if nothing appeals to you tonight or tomorrow you’ll have this lovely painting to hold out for.
It’s 18″x24″, acrylic on canvas. I painted it in 2002.
I know it’s been waaaaaay too long since I put a new strip up here. Besides the excuses of other things that dominate my time, the phrase, “Well, you haven’t put one up all year.” really puts the nail in the coffin of why NOT to take time and make a darn strip. It’s quite a knot I put myself in. However, early in the year I couldn’t help myself from buying this notebook.
It just seemed like I was meant to be using it as a dedicated Through the valleY journal. So I branded it, and have been hauling it around jotting notes and thumbnails for strips that I WILL DRAW. It’s even giving me some cool ideas for how to design a cover when I’ve drawn enough strips to justify a book.
I’ve also been scribbling out some notes and sketches on a deeper and very rewarding study of Abraham; his faith, covenant, and the people he met along the way. So if you’ve been feeling abandoned by Through the valleY comics just persevere with me a little longer. It seems like God’s people are always having to do that. Go figure?
This Saturday at my church there will be some people filming a scene for a new Christian production called “Saved and the City”. If you want to be an extra in the film stop by between 9am and noon and get in scene. This could be your ‘big break’.
I’ve been living out in the great big valley for quite some time now. Many great things have happened hear despite the heat and flatness of it all. But I believe there will come a time for us to move on. So this summer we’ve been doing a little exploring, listening and watching closely for God’s apparent direction.
We spent some time here on this vista, looking for any and all signs of the future.
Sometimes it’s signs and wonders that just appear on our path. We can read a lot into them at times. Sometimes the shear inspiration of natures magnitude speaks to our created souls deep down inside.
Practically though, we really want to find that special place where we can envision our family thriving and fulfilling its purpose.
Lead the way, Lord. Lead the way.
