Tidy, functional, smallish, and pretty. Like it? Very much like the floor, ceiling, wood tone, fixtures, glass in the cabinets, and rock borders.
Lord, such amazing creative people you've made. Thank you for the beauty. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
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I could say I don't like agenda-driven literature, but then I wouldn't be reading anything. Everything is agenda-driven, depending of course on your definition of "agenda". Whether it's agenda-lite or agenda-heavy depends on that definition. But the agenda is definitely there. I readily confess I write with one.
If the agenda speaks to the reader you have in mind, you have writing success. Those who don't - or won't - appreciate your agenda aren't your target audience. Another way to discuss this "agenda" is simply by stating the authors have a point they want to make. Whether it's the hope of happily-ever-afters or that terrorism is real, whether they "just want to entertain" or they want to "present a possibility", the purpose of fiction is to traverse the gamut of reality, surrealism, fantasy, etc., in story form.
Addressing social issues in novels is age old. It's a risk because some don't read fiction for an agenda-heavy experience. The target audience is established by the particular issue, and it conceivably could be a smaller group of readers whether it should be or not. Authors who have an established following can throw in an agenda-heavy novel successfully. How it will be received is anyone's guess. Some readers will praise the effort because it focuses on a topic they view as important. Others will quickly close the cover after the last page and attempt to file it in their not-so-fond-of memories.
When Christian authors decide to deliver the gospel in various ways, they are basically writing for those who either are believers or who are not closed off to things of God and are aware they can count on "clean" books to read in the overall genre. Secular humanists who pick up a Christian novel are generally the first to be "offended" by it. They want no suggestion or mention of prayer, God, Jesus, certainly not the Holy Spirit, and if agenda-lite, where these factors are barely there, they most likely won't recognize the godly principles presented throughout the story. If they do, they tend to resent them.
Authors must take a stand. Especially Christian authors. By that I mean define who they are in their literature. Do what they were created to do and do it well. Make statements in characters, circumstances, emotions, locales, everywhere and in everything authors need to proclaim reality, truth, sin, and the consequences of it all. Real life demands it.
Father, you are what we all need. You are The Creator. You are Life. You are Love. We need you more than we can ever know. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
John 20:29-31 (NIV)
So. These are women's tennis shoes, sneakers, athletic shoes, whatever your preference for calling them. I tried to find a blend of shoes. No Converse present, but I think this is a generally good selection. Do you have a favorite here? My favorite is the yellow/black pair. I would add the black/red pair, but I don't like the soles – I know they wouldn't work for me.
Thanks to BK Jackson for this idea.
Lord, the beauty and creativity comes from you. All of it. We often forget that. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
I'm down the road at Novel Rocket soliciting opinions about desired change(s) in Christian Fiction. Got an opinion on that topic? Join me, please, to express yours.
Father, thank you for every opportunity. I'm desperate for you as always. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
Thank you is not enough, but I do thank all who served, who honored their country, and who represented the USA with their devotion and loyalty. I thank God He allowed me to live in this wonderful One Nation Under God, and I thank God for those He appointed to be warriors and protectors. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
Johnny Depp is superb in this movie of bank robber John Dillinger's life story.
Father, you know the hearts of all people. That's where you work. If they're willing, you always are. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
Love this rough-hewn look. Normally not a fan of greens, but this color works for me along with the natural browns.
Lord, amazing designs from your grand hands, whether or not people realize it. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
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So. Emotion is never "just" emotion. To a writer it's an essential element to lead a reader into story, into time investment for that story, to connect with that story's characters and circumstances, locales and structures, even with the weather and season. It doesn't matter if the writer doesn't consider him/herself "emotional". It does matter that they convey enough emotional investment into the story to captivate their reading audience.
Emotion touches the heart and soul. We recognize that melodrama can overdo emotion. We understand that little or no emotion puts a character into sociopath mode. Each character must establish his/her personality and the story will indicate how emotional responses play out in its telling.
Romances typically create intense emotional reactions and situations for the characters. Thrillers tend to elicit emotional responses from their readers such as fear or anxiety as they dart through the pages of roller coaster events. When humor breaks through in moments of intensity, the reader is grateful for the laugh. When conflicts are resolved, relief is present. The reader can finally relax.
Emotion must be written well in order to reach the particular audience each story solicits. Hearty historicals might only include a few highly emotional scenes while epic sagas of star-crossed lovers will warrant plenty of available Kleenexes for its readers. Whether few and far between or abundant, emotion is necessary to draw the readers into the characters' stories and make them care enough to finish the book.
Father, thank you for your emotional investment in us. We need it and we are desperate for you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
Therefore, dear friends, . . . be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory, both now and forever! Amen.
2 Peter 3:17-18 (NIV)
