:.Through the valleY.:

I Couldn’t Resist

Joe Fenton — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 21:25:42 +0000

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?

Extra’s, Extra’s!

Joe Fenton — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 06:15:04 +0000

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’.

A View of the Promised Land

Joe Fenton — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 06:51:00 +0000

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.

10 Years Now

Joe Fenton — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 15:08:57 +0000

It was 10 years ago this very night that I was home, at my apartment, contemplating weather or not I REALLY believed that the Bible was REALLY God Almighty’s inspired and inerrant Word. Word Up! What a question to ponder at the tender age of 19. If it isn’t already made obvious by the work I’m doing on this site then I’ll tell you plainly that I did, in fact, make this foundational decision.

It’s one thing to think the Bible as a “good book” with some “good teachings” that have been defiled by interpretation over the ages. It is something entirely different, and many would even call foolish, to believe this ink & paper book to be the direct message to us from the eternal and omnipotent God of all creation. Well I say, if having faith to know and obey the living God who called me to walk with Him is wrong, then I don’t want to be right.

So I took a little adventure with the fam a couple weeks ago to the very place where God powerfully interceded in my Memorial Day camping trip, crushing my tent with mighty winds and crushing my head with a splitting headache.

You might call this place my “burning bush”. Although rather than have me stay here and listen, the Lord saw fit to cut my trip short and hastily send me home to meet the BBQing disciples of Christ in front of my apartment; which led to an invitation to church the following Sunday, which led to studying the bible with Mike Gambeski the following Monday, which led to belief, repentance and baptism into Christ. Now, 10 years later, I am still celebrating God’s outpouring of grace and holding on to His promises.

I Love Stickers

Joe Fenton — Fri, 21 May 2010 06:55:50 +0000

I don’t know what it is exactly…
It might be the smell of the vinyl, or the allure of the sticker-crazy surf & skate culture from which I was raised, or the simple and effective shock value of the on-demand, renegade, advertising resource they are; but the fact is I LOVE STICKERS.

So I made one of my own!

Let’s call this “Phase 2″ of my guerilla marketing campaign.

Summit Summary – 2010

Joe Fenton — Tue, 18 May 2010 06:11:27 +0000

I don’t even know what to say this year except, “God is good!” I am so grateful for the opportunities to make a difference with my life that God has given me. There’s nothing like work produced by faith, forgiveness, redemption, unity, and (most of all) love. If you really want the lo-down on what’s happening through the work of HOPE worldwide and the International Churches of Christ, I recommend these sources:

www.dtoday.tv
www.disciplestoday.org
www.icochotnews.com
www.hopeww.org

A lot of other people can tell the stories, much better than I can begin to. As for our little group of trying-to-do-gooders, onward and downward as we strive to humble ourselves to the role of servanthood. I am honored by the privilege to represent and serve with such a great group of Christians. May we march on to another year of hope and healing, which is the gospel of Christ.

Prepare to be Overwhelmed

Joe Fenton — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 04:39:57 +0000

I’m all signed up to attend the HOPE worldwide Global Summit. Last year was amazing! We were introduced to the Chapter Model in an effort to restructure and fortify the many already existing and dormant U.S. Programs. Their effort was very successful and fruitful as they’ve grown, in just a year’s, time from 45 functioning programs to 102 official Chapters.

So I’ll be heading back out for more training and inspiration on May 12th. I feel like I’ve barely digested last years Summit and here I go, back for more. I recall the expression, “It’s like drinking from a fire hose.” coming up a lot last year. This year there will be church leaders from Haiti, the Philippines, and Chile sharing about the nitty-gritty aid being provided to some of the poorest and the sickest in the devastated parts of the world. No inspires me more than those who are on the front lines of care and compassion for the most needy and neglected out there.

And, check it out!… I’m even on the banner. See the frames of my glasses poking out between the two smiling faces? If your interested in how the world’s being changed through compassion or if you want to be part of the change, sign up and fly on out.

Molly, Sent Out

Joe Fenton — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 04:12:49 +0000

I’m so proud of, and happy for my friend, Molly, who was a great member/sister of Christ here in Sacramento for the past few years. She came by way of Spokane, Washington and was called late last year to move to Cambodia to help teach English to children. She was on the initial advisory board, of the HOPE worldwide Sacramento Chapter, which we started last year; and it was hard to see her go. Her joy, zeal and faith were a welcome ingredient to our fledgling Chapter.

It is my conviction that the more you serve the needy, the more you are transformed into a full and compassionate person. I’m excited that Molly is chasing her dream to change the world and in the process being changed in a place with so many great needs. I just found Molly’s blog, where we can follow along and watch the transformation take place. Go Molly!

For the Kids

Joe Fenton — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 06:18:19 +0000

It’s been a while, but I’m going to start teaching the 3rd & 4th grade class in our churches’ children’s ministry class this Sunday. Last year my church began using a new curriculum that seems like a great asset to our classes. It’s called Faith Weaver and it seems like a lot of time and thought went into the lessons. I was checking out some the illustrations in the packet by Gary Locke. He has a very impressive body of biblical works.

Prevented From Doing So

Joe Fenton — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 06:09:25 +0000

This year life has been steadily sucked up into all kinds of valuable and exciting projects, activities and responsibilities. My strips have been put on the back-burner; actually more like the lids been put on and they’ve been stuck back in the fridge. That doesn’t mean they won’t get cooked up again soon. But I can’t believe the year is almost a third over already. There’s so much exciting stuff to tend to. One key factor, for me is that this is my second day having the internet. Yes, that’s right; just yesterday I got internet service at home for the very first time. This means so much…

For starters it means that these blogs I’ve started may actually get written on semi-consistently. Secondly, being able to spend time reading up on and learn interesting things, my blog may actually contain some info worth reading. Up until now I feel like I had become prevented from this avenue of expression, and now I’m in a state of mind to really appreciate it. Maybe I’ll offer the world something of value; or at least I’ll get some thoughts and ideas out.