Then came the Feast of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was in the temple area walking in Solomon's Colonade. The Jews gathered around him, saying, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly."
Jesus answered, "I did tell you, but you do not believe. . ."
John 10:22-25 (NIV)
Our current missile defense: counting on the enemy's missiles blowing up in space.
Lord God Almighty, we're counting on you to reach us with your mercy and grace. To supplant evil with good. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
Yesterday we discussed our reasons for returning to an author after reading one of their novels. Admittedly, some of us will only partially warm up to one book by an author but enough to make us go back for seconds, to give them another chance to rock our worlds. If they don't manage to score with their second effort, it's likely we'll never return for more.
Now let's examine what bugs us the most. What are your button-pushers in novels? Sometimes they can be the opposite factors of those things which draw us, but for some readers, especially those who are writers, it can be things like ignoring the "rules".
Here are my button-pushers:
1. Protagonists I don't like. And characters in general that I don't like. You won't salvage the story for me if I can't engage with the main character(s).
2. A plot ploy which abrupts the story, doesn't fit with the character(s), is convenient.
3. Writing that is too "clean" and serves all the "rules". It feels like cookie-cutter writing.
4. Formulaic. Predictable.
5. Lacks emotion, passion.
Phew. Who knew I had so many?
God, only you can provide the necessary inspiration, tools, and direction to write compelling stories. Only you. Help me to touch those you have in mind for me. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
What will make you pick up another novel by the same author? Maybe it's their first or maybe it's their 10th, but even if you start in the middle of their creations, what's in it that makes you select another of their books?
There are so many novels I want to read. I can't read them all if I want to continue to write my own. Believe me, at times I'm tempted to quit on mine and indulge myself solely in the work of others. Tempted but not convinced I'd be totally satisfied.
With the huge selection of available and new release novels, what makes you continue to read a particular author? Or try a new one?
Trying a new author can be a result of another's recommendation or a simple investigation. I enjoy promoting books I love because maybe I can help someone find an author they can love. Reading experiences are individual especially to those of us who choose our novels carefully, but oftentimes we connect with others who share our tastes.
Here are the two main features which cause me to return to a sampled author:
1. Characters: they have to intrigue me one way or another; I have to care about them.
2. The way the words are written. This can be voice, but it can also be the lovely prose or the unique style.
What does it for you?
Father, please place a blessing on those who write for you. For those who labor over words to satisfy the need to fulfill the calling you've given them. Let us feel your heartbeat for the story. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
Snapshot. Flash.
A picture in time.
Moment. Expression.
Caught in mime.
Impression. Sight.
Collected in a glance.
Silence. Breath.
Eyes that dance.
Father, all beauty comes from you. Let me see through your eyes. Just once. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
I wonder sometimes if all of the hoopla around social networking within the writing community is really necessary? I even contemplate if it's constructive. I mean most everyone who sends a "Friend Request" on Facebook will get an acceptance even though we all know most of them within the writing community do it to compile numbers for professional inspection and evaluation as to platform and potential sales. Some like Twitter but most tweets are links to other sites or ridiculous accounts of what we had for lunch or how proud we are of completing our 52nd chore on our to-do list or a plea to buy our latest book.
I'm obviously a blogger. And I truly do appreciate blogging. Some individuals and groups contribute all kinds of interesting information, premises, concepts, and conversations on their blogs. I have my preferences where I visit either daily or on their posting days.
I'm on Facebook, but it's not my favorite even though I enjoy keeping track of old friends and those who contribute more to Facebook than to their websites or blogs, so it serves a purpose for me.
How 'bout Linked-in? Google +? Yahoo Groups? And the beat goes on . . .
Is it tedious for anyone else? Does it wear thin for others. How 'bout seven of the exact status updates in a row?
It could be – probably is - just me. A lot of it's bugging me at present. Honestly.
Lord, as I continually say – and mean from my heart – I'm desperate for you. In the Name of Jesus.
Monday morning. The church finished with its big deal. The concert. The play. The excerpts from Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ. The shock value or the gentle call. The sin forcing the crucifixion or the risen forgiveness of the Resurrection. The performance. Done.
Back to normal on the next day? The beauty and depravity contained in each day should never warrant "normalcy" in the church. The celebration of the Risen Christ takes place on one day each year just as His birth is acknowledged on one day each year. Both events are assaulted and peppered with secular holidays attempting to match the importance of the One who was born and who died and rose.
Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Sin reigns just as intense. Forgiveness remains just as accessible.
Rising from the dead, while worth celebrating, is not the biggest miracle. After all, Jesus raised a little girl, Lazarus, and how many others from their deaths. Elijah raised the only son of a distraught woman. It happened. Not often or common, but it happened. Even today there are stories of people of faith praying for a corpse and watching their prayers propel a soul back to life.
These miracles should be documented, recorded, and read to fellow Christians around the world. These things which bring pause to almost anyone, these things which cannot be explained away with scientific conjecture – these are things that should be occurring in the church today. Celebrated. Looked forward to with hope, faith, devotion to prayer, and humble receptions of God's amazing grace.
But a large portion of the church sleeps. Stands on formula and predictability and man's scheduling and structure struggling to interpet a far more freeing order of God's preference for His people to listen to the Holy Spirit and be led by Him. Instead the church shushes the Spirit of Truth, insisting their way is best for this culture or this day and age or the expectancies of today's churchgoers. Indulging "the traditions of men".
"Easter" is past, but the Resurrection is always present in the Christian's eye. We know that Jesus rose with healing for our sin stained hearts if only we embrace the sacrifice He made for us. For everyone. We're just as filthy as the rest of mankind, but that crucifixion of our sins and the shedding of that holy Blood made us new because we believed in God's love. Not man's definition of love. God Is Love. Embodied. Defined. He decides what true love is, and we can never attain its perfection in our corrupted flesh or presume to understand its eternal riches, but Jesus showed us what it looks like. The Holy Spirit helps us understand our failings and works with us to step into His greater love and live beyond this physical realm both now and forevermore. To hear Him. In the church and out of the church.
So I ask you: why don't we?
God, I honor you. I'm desperate for your Spirit's leading. Help me to walk in the fullness of what you desire for me. Jesus, thank you for being the friend I need at all times. For your constant love. Show me your ways. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"
John 11:25-26 (NIV)
For those who give the ultimate:
http://www.ijreview.com/2012/04/3228-soldier-makes-ultimate-sacrifice-killed-saving-afghan-girl/
And to our Lord Jesus Christ whose sacrifice saved us all: thank you is never enough.
Deceptive darkness
paints a portrait of the shadows.
Smoldering smell of my soul
creates the taste of ash in my mouth.
Refuge in the distance
shines dull as fading dusk.
No visible path
forces my reckless pursuit.
Cunning divets
trip me to sprawl across a painful surface.
Familiar ground
repeats this journey I've taken too many times.
Wordy retorts
don't reply to my condition.
Hurting heart
reminds me I am
Lost.
Jesus, you gave it all and forgave. Thank you for rescuing me. Your Name is above all names. Holy Spirit, please continue to call the lost and show them Jesus.
