The Lord is my Shepherd, Psalm 23:1

Large image

Larger image (take shower while downloading)
Even larger image (organize 2005 taxes while downloading)

Like me, a little cluttered on the right side. Replacing some of the detail with areas of ice and snow should improve the composition. That or have a Yeti cart away a few of the sheep.

I apologize that this image lacks penguins.

The new Planned Parenthood cartoon meant for today is delayed until sometime after Hurricane Rita exits the stage.

Faithmouse fan Kevin Lauer has launched Poly-Ticks, which features the weekly adventures of Polly-Tick, Luna-Tick, Psycho-Tick, and the rest of their bloodsucking friends. Kevin is mixing photo resources with cartooning to very good effect, especially in his Kayne West cartoon (best pronounced Con-Ya). Kevin reports that his cartoon was inspired by faithmouse, which should inspire a weath of interesting emails in his inbox, including some which should read a. your characters don't look like ticks, and b. your cartoon isn't funny. All the best.

One must come to the conclusion that America is still very strongly blessed after a major terrorist attack, two wars, hurricanes, high gasoline prices and the incarceration of Martha Stewart haven't conspired to 86 our economy.

Gosh darn, have to blacktop the driveway....

Everybody's talking at me, and Terry Schindler Schiavo

Larger version.

A longtime fan of faithmouse has been inspired to create his own socio-political Christian toon, which I'll plug on both sites in a day or two. I think he's off to a grand start.

Did someone say links?

Much appreciated observations by Veronica Nichols can be found in her Inadvertent Masterpiece post at Aldalhia and also by Alex at Blog On The Run.

I intended to update the illustration but now I suppose I shouldn't touch it. All I can say is that it's partly about my own father and that I'm sorry I didn't make it more obvious that the veteran is blind.

The 522 offers this recent comment on the cartoon-

If you're keeping score at home, Faithmouse is an interesting and thought provoking Christian political cartoon ... I've used the cartoonist's work before on this blog ...

I'm saying a St. Michael the Archangel for highschooler Craig at Craig's Crazy Life and posting his very nice link from last Monday. Sirc-Valence at ForewardUSA posted last week's Inri Katrina toon under an agreed Amen. Amy Wellborn at Open Book gave me a plug I overlooked last month-thanks Amy!

Grateful She's Dead

Draft version of a full color toon I'm planning on posting tomorrow.
Tomorrow's version should be much cheerier.

Rosary Powered Helicopter

The second cartoon still in progress references the seven children found wandering alone in New Orleans, later reunited with their mothers. This cartoon and the one I have planned for Friday will be the last in the Hurricane Katrina series. Onwards!

T-Boi has posted an older Timothy toon from last year's paper doll series to his Zupp site. Thanks also to Bobbie Joe at Life As Bobbie Joe for adding the regularly updating toon. MasterP7777 at Clan Boxroom gave faithmouse a nice thumbs up, as did a young man from Xavier high in Ohio who posted the recent Hurricane Katrina/9-11 toon on his blog, and who for the time being will remain in stealth mode.

And while we're discussing Stealths, thanks to Craig at Black Anthem for adding the cartoon to his links page. Faithmouse has fans in the services, including a number of military chaplains, all of whom have stumbled over the cartoon by way of Christian or conservative news sites. It's nice to have the opportunity to directly reach out to this group of heroes.

No Christian approves of war or killing, but we have a duty to encourage those who strive for the protection of the innocent, which is the real, everyday work of our armed forces both here at home and overseas.

Hurricane Katrina / 9-11 Commemorative Illustration

A larger image of the above illustration can be viewed here.

This is a revised version of Sunday's post. The Life magazine is the November 5, 1945 U.S. Navy Returns Home issue featuring on the cover a photo of a sailor eating ice cream; the Purple Heart box is similar to the ones used during World War II. Dr. Nut is the cola favored by Ignatius J Reilly in the New Orleans based A Confederacy of Dunces.

New work will be posted on Tuesday.

Pure Water II

Got carried away again. Still needs shading in the water and rain drops falling, but the basic elements are in place.
Cartoon finished 9/10

Pure Water

I'll add more debri and shading to this toon later this evening.

Thanks to Sharon at Yahoo News Message Boards for posting a link to the current Katrina collection, as well as to Vee at TV Clubhouse for posting yesterday's toon. Christian Homeland promoterVee at EdenNow (right down the middle with a chain saw) has posted a link to the cartoon.

Crescent of Embrace

Flight 93 National Memorial Project web site.

Power Point presentation of the final memorial design.

Episcopal Church of the Redeemer, Biloxi, Mississippi

Faith survives the storm
There’s no shortage of faith for the victims of Katrina
South Mississippi Sun Herald

The Episcopal Church of the Redeemer in Biloxi Mississippi was destroyed and subsequently rebuilt following Hurricane Camille in 1969. It has been destroyed again 35 years later by Hurricane Katrina. The photo below is of Reverend Harold Roberts speaking to his congregation during a service last Sunday.

The cartoon is an act of my imagination; other than the photo above I have no idea what's become of the historic belltower, nor do I have any reason to believe a flock of chickens have served fried eggs on the spot anytime recently. The cartoon is meant to reflect the eternal altruistic mission of the church, whether it be Protestant or Catholic, which is revitalized in times of duress.

Redeemer Church will rebuild again, even as Sacred Heart Catholic church rebuilt following the Galveston Hurricane of 1900. Churches rebuild because earthly structures are at best only a temporary home for the body of Christ.

I originally had Reverend Rhino ringing the bell in this cartoon, but he was edited out for the sake of balance. Just imagine he's off-panel a few inches to the right, coaching a squad of chickens to lay more eggs. Here's a link for anyone who would like to see a more detailed image.

I have two more cartoon in progress this week referencing Hurricane Camille, both featuring Faithmouse herself, who has been active though unseen. I should have the first online later this evening.

Pray

Hurricane Katrina Cartoon Gallery

I've added a new Hurricane Katrina gallery to the HTML site, which I'll update regularly over the next week or two. My hope is that these cartoons might be an encouragement to anyone who knows someone engaged in relief efforts in the area, or who knows of someone who might be in trouble.

My main thought about the Hurricane, and in particular concerning the tragedy which is the Gulf Coast, is that there must be many unknowns who have given their lives for others. We'll probably never know what they did or their relationship to the people they saved. Some were (are) probably strangers, others family members, possibly dying together. This is rich earth for a cartoon which claims itself to be Christian.

Adding to the current political battle over New Orleans is best left to those who also draw and/or debate and who can form sturdier arguments than I. The number of purely spiritually oriented cartoons about this crisis I suspect runs much lower, and this is the well to which I wish to contribute.


I've added a new gallery of Prayer and Encouragement cartoons to the toon site. The Berlin Wall between Church and State has posted the recent cartoon about 3 of 4 U.S. doctors believing in God, and Michael Tosh at Crazy Catholic has posted a Kerry/Abortion toon from last year. Christmania (cool name) has added the regularly updating cartoon. Thanks also to Teresa who has added the cartoon to her Bouquet of Love.
God bless!

St. Joseph's Catholic Church, New Orleans

Utterly Surreal: an assessment of Hurricane Katrina by a Baton Rouge Resident -Full Circle Blog at Early Church Fathers.org

The linked post is by faithmouse friend Bill who operates the Early Church Fathers site and who also happens to be a Louisiana resident. This cartoon is part two of two, following up on Monday's toon.

St. Joseph's is a few blocks away from the Dome in New Orleans. According to it's own web site (now offline) St. Joseph's is the largest Catholic Church in the South. The church was designed by Carl Kaiser of Vienna in the Romanesque style, and was built between 1869-1892. The towers were never completed.

My aim with the toon is to pay homage to the Catholic heritage of New Orleans and to show that the spirit of the Church remains a source of salvation. Even though the church itself is Catholic, the message of Christian spiritual refuge extends to all.