God's Green Light

[wiggins]

As some of you know, I'm considering learning Japanese and making a Christian manga like Ink and PsychoAnn, however, for some reason, I felt that I needed to pray for God's Go-Ahead before jumpintg into these two things. Part of my last prayer included saying I would post a question here to ask what you guys feel God would do : Give me the go-ahead; say no; wait, etc. Maybe God will show me His Will through you guys here at CAA. After all, I think God has already blessed me through CAA with some reminders by different peopele's threads. Special thanks here Valerie, Simon, and of course, God! I will keep on praying for His answer until I get it clearly, but in the meantime can you tell me your opinions? Thanks!
Wiggins

[shooraijin]

Well, consider the practical aspects as well. How are your technical/art and writing abilities? How would you get the word out? How would it be published? God's green light involves the path to completing what He's telling you to do, too.

[wiggins]

Publishing... I was thinking post it on a website for all to see, like Ink and PsychoAnn.

[ShiroiHikari]

Well, my opinion is, give it a shot, and if it doesn't work out, then it wasn't meant to be. But, I could be wrong...keep praying.

[inkhana]

I think the most important part is if God has given you a story to tell, tell it. If not, then don't. Don't bog down your life with unnecessary, uninspired stories if you can (since they take so long to turn out, you could be impeding progress on a story that's truly inspired). But if God has given you something wonderful and glorifying to say, then go for it!


Note: I know very little about Japanese, so it may not necessarily be a barrier to your making a manga. You may be able to con...er...convince someone to help you translate it...XD

[wiggins]

Just to tell you Ink, my goals for learning Japanese and making a Christian manga are unrelated.

[inkhana]

Oh, I see...^^ I thought you might have been intending to get your manga to a Japanese-speaking audience as well. Although it would be great if you could do that too...

[cbwing0]

Since you are posting it on a website, rather than trying to get it drawn, written, and published, I don't think there should be a problem with this. Unless God tells you not to create manga, it should be ok.

[Michael]

I don't know what God thinks. Go ahead and make a manga if you want to.

[wiggins]

I think the most important part is if God has given you a story to tell, tell it. If not, then don't. Don't bog down your life with unnecessary, uninspired stories if you can (since they take so long to turn out, you could be impeding progress on a story that's truly inspired). But if God has given you something wonderful and glorifying to say, then go for it!

How do you know if something's inspired or not? I can say it's been stuck in my jead for more than a month,which is unusually long for me when it comes to my own projects.
Wiggins

[Kokhiri Sojourn]

I don't know what God thinks. Go ahead and make a manga if you want to.

Yeah. I think that if God doesn't want you to create the manga, something would happen, but if it is something you want to do, go for it, and work to the glory of God. Do your best. I don't think a manga has to be Christian to glorify God, but if you use what gifts God has given you to their full potential, In my opinion, this will be glorifying to God.

[Gypsy]

I think if something is directly and spiritually "inspired" you'd know it without a single doubt. However creativity and imagination is a gift from God, so even if something is not divinely plugged into your brain, you can still bring glory to Him through the talents He has given you.

It's easy to think and talk about, but the big thing with making a manga is to simply do it. Best wishes on this project of yours!

[wiggins]

Thanks guys! I think God gave me an answr on the manga part of it today. It was a yes, as the poll, I made seems to indicate. I believe God said yes to me because today my mom came home from a school briefing on college, fretting about my lack of extra-curricular activities short of watching anime, reading comics and playing videogames. I had earlier told my dad, that I was planning on making a manga, but later, when doubt crossed my mind and heart, and I started praying for God's green light, I didn't tell him about that. Today, when my frantic mom, was confiding in him about her fears for me because of my lack of E.C. activities, he tolf her about what I had said to him, something, I had almost completely forgotten about, and she immediately said tome, Jonathan, whatever comic you're planning make it. I know for my mom, it was strictly about worrying for my future, but I think God was also telling me straight to the face, "Go ahead make it!" Anyhow, that's my interpretation. I'm still praying about learning Japasnes though. If any of you guys think that I'm misinterpreting my Mom's actions and God's will, please tell me, because I don't want to be so excited abpout my little project and get blinded my excitement. Thanks!
Wiggins

P.S. I'll keep on praying about learning Japanese...

I might post a more eleborate post abpout this later when I have more time, because it may also answer my learning Japanese question, but I'm not sure, so I'll keep on praying.

[Mave]

Hi there....looks like I might be too late in replying to this since you seem to have the answer already. However, do allow me to share this...

I learnt that drawing christian manga would be part of my purpose in life last Oct. How I saw the green light was three things:

1) Overflow of ideas that came to mind didn't require much thinking.
2) Sincere desire to spread the message
3) Surprising support from my boyfriend, family and friends

I was especially shocked with my mum since she wasn't too keen about my drawing hobby during high school as she thought it affected my studies negatively). But last month, she said, "Oh it's wonderful! Go ahead and use what God gave you. Oh yeah, your brother supports you too."

However, I've been facing this big obstacle. Lack of time. Serious lack of time. I am currently swarmed with a lot of other priorities. Work, school, ministry.....So I'm confused. God, I thought you gave me the green light....how come I'm struggling with finding the time to do it? My manga has been on the hold for like 'forever' and am not happy about it myself. I've got the ideas and I wanna kick them out but I have to delay it to other priorities.

Maybe I'm bad at time management or prioritizing and God wants me to learn something from all this. But I'm going to do my best for now and wait for God to reveal what He wants for me. So, like some have said, I also say to you "Just do it." We'll help you along the way with encouragement and constructive criticism (if you don't mind it).

I cheer on what Inky and Psycho Ann are doing...it's AWESOME. I admit that I'm frustrated and disappointed that I can't catch up with them but I'm sure God has a purpose in allowing this. Wiggins, it'll be nice to have you join the crew as well...you have my support ^^ Gambatte!

[wiggins]

Thanks Michiru T, but before I join the crew, I'm going to learn abit more about drawing first. Thanks! My dilemma was suprisingly similar to yours...Wow, It's almost like a confirmation. I have been having ideas that kind of spring to mind, like I see some cool thing or read something in a manga that I like, and my mind seems to go that would be great to incorporate in your manga...- hold it right there, You mean God's manga-...-that's right!- ...but only if God gives it the green light. Regarding the spreadinig the message, after seeing Ink's and PsychoAnn's work, I felt inspired and just felt like doing something like they did, and hopefully God will use it to further His Kingdom as I'm sure he has done with Inks's and PsychoAnn's. As for family support, well, I posted about it earlier. BTW, I', also horrible and time management and juggling school stuff, quiet time, and other stuff too, but I do eventually get it done by God's Grace. To make my time issues worse, I often get distracted and go do other things: in my mom's words, skive. However, I'm sure if this is what God wants me to do, I'll make it through His Grace and by His Strength. Anyhow, Thanks!
Wiggins

[Michael]

Sweet Wiggins. Go for it.