Into the Fire

Passionate thoughts about the world of writing and the Power of God

recent posts

about

Passionate: right or wrong. Writes love stories with a passion. Raw Romantic Redemptive

  • Amusement . . .

     

    Do Roman paramedics refer to IV's as "4's"?

    If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular?

    When someone asks you, "A penny for your thoughts," and you put your two cents in, what happens to the other penny?

    Why do croutons come in airtight packages? It's just stale bread to begin with.

    Why is a person who plays the piano called a pianist, but a person who drives a race car not called a racist?

    If a pig loses its voice, is it disgruntled?

     

    Father, thank you for humor, for laughs, for fun. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

  • Giving Thanks

     

    May your thanks be real, plentiful, gracious, and intense. A joyful Thanksgiving to you.

     

    Father, may those I love feel your presence and give you abundant thanks for the many blessings you've given us. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

  • Heroes have . . .

     

    Swagger

    Humility

    Strength

    Honesty

    Sensibility

    Honor

    but they also have . . .

    Flaws

    And it's often those flaws mixed in with their goodness that make them interesting, engaging, and real.

    Vulnerability

    This makes them human and takes them out of the "perfection" role. 

     

    Father, help us to maintain the best of ourselves through your Spirit but to remember how imperfect and damaged we are without you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

  • Talk Talk Talk

     

    What do you expect from dialogue? How 'bout POV? What do you require of that person who's telling the story? What do you expect from the characters speaking those words?

    Dialogue must be more difficult for some than others because I've read a lot of stiff conversations in some recent novels. Stiff, stilted, unnatural, uncomfortable. Unrealistic.

    My current WIP is different. For me. Another book that steps outside the box by including a huge amount of dialogue. What do you think about that?

    Lord, help me to be the one you want me to be. In all things. In all ways. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

  • Singed?

     

    I named my blog "Into the Fire" for many reasons. Here's an excerpt from a 2007 post:

    "'Into the Fire' signifies to me that I’m entering a hot zone. A place where you can get singed. A place where you empty some heart contents and discover if anyone else sifts through the smoke of your admissions and admits to feeling the same kinds of bristling heat. It’s a willful step forward into the place where your assertions, be they serious or an attempt at humor, are fair game for anyone who happens to stop by to read them. It’s definitely an avenue to vent, but there is the danger of being victimized by a flame thrower. (I have been blessed by wonderful visitors to this blog.) It is a soapbox for opinions, but it is also an electronic “pulpit” from which to preach. It is a place with a potentially significant risk factor. The risk is that those who stop by will disagree so strongly as to never return, that others will vent their strong opinions against whatever has been posted, and the even bigger risk is that I will assume that everything I have to say is worthy of reading. Make no mistake: I would love to make it so."

    I stand by that old post even though there's more to it than is quoted here. I've been singed a couple of times here and elsewhere, but all things considered, I've had a rewarding time. I've made some amazing friends across this great nation, met a few of them in person. Although it's a stretch to come up with blog posts day in and day out, it's a good stretch. Occasionally I find it necessary to extend thanks to those of you who visit here. You make my days. You're often brilliant and profound, funny and silly, kind and generous of spirit. I love you guys. Thank you for contributing to my fire.

     

    Father, please bless the lives of those who take the time to contribute to my life. As important as they are to me, they're even more important and precious to you. Thank you for them. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

     

  • Sunday’s Offerings

     

    To this John replied, "A man can receive only what is given him from heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said, 'I am not the Christ but am sent ahead of him.' The bride belongs to the bridegroom. the friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater, I must become less."

    John 3:27-30 (NIV)

  • ****Political Update****

     

    When President Obama made his promise to pro-life Democrats to get their decisive votes to pass ObamaCare, his staff knew his promise was empty and newly released internal Obama Administration emails prove it.

    One senior Justice Department advisor and constitutional legal scholar told then-Solicitor General, now-Justice, Elena Kagan that President Obama’s Executive Order promising to prevent ObamaCare from funding abortions was just “magic of what amounts to a signing statement on steroids.”It was a sham.

    Now the constitutionality of ObamaCare is before the Supreme Court, and I am working with a team of our senior attorneys as we prepare our arguments.

    Neither an Executive Order nor a signing statement – a President’s written statement when signing a bill – have the effect of congressionally enacted legislation. It is clear that the White House knew that President Obama’s Executive Order could not override the pro-abortion provisions of ObamaCare.

    For nearly two years, we have battled ObamaCare – using significant ACLJ resources – and now we have a chance to defeat it once and for all at the Supreme Court.

    This case is one of the most important pro-life cases we have seen in decades, and it comes at an important moment for the ACLJ.

    The Supreme Court has recognized the historic nature of this case and has set aside an extraordinary five-and-a-half hours to present oral arguments before them.

    Our team of senior attorneys is hard at work preparing to file multiple briefs with the Supreme Court. We are just days away from filing our request asking the high Court to consider our own challenge to ObamaCare out of Washington, D.C., and we are preparing to file our critical amicus brief in support of Florida's challenge to ObamaCare at the high Court soon thereafter.

    Thank you for your support for the ACLJ in standing up against the largest expansion of abortion since Roe v. Wade.

    Jay Sekulow
    ACLJ Chief Counsel

     

     

    Father, we have no right to take life from the womb. You are the author of life. You are the Creator. You give and take away. Help our nation to regain focus on you. What you desire is right, true, and just. We're desperate for you, Lord Jesus. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

  • Sensitivity?

     

    I still find it amazing when Christian readers slam authors for including "sensitive" material in their novels. The reasoning behind this often refers to the scriptures which expose the danger of being responsible for causing another to sin. If this logic is used to complain about the contents of a story, then perhaps the real onus should be upon the reader, not the writer. I've never known a writer of CBA novels who sits down to create a book which will imperil a future reader. When people look for ways to be offended or to be led astray, they will certainly find them in abundance. How is it that many of these readers miss the intent and content of the story from the back cover copy or the mini-synopses on cover jackets? And then whatever makes them pick up this sinful tome must also direct them to finish reading the entire story before complaining to the publisher, giving a mean-spirited review on Amazon or elsewhere, chiding the author for their poor choice of content, and questioning their Christianity while declaring they shall never read another work by this author. 

    Readers have a responsiblity to choose the right material for themselves. Readers who have a low tolerance for the conduct of the world being portrayed realistically should research their choice of authors. It's easy enough to do. There are so many CBA novels that cater to these kinds of readers. In fact the majority of novels from CBA fit this description so there really can be little excuse for readers who want to venture into new territory winding up with a novel that doesn't suit their "sensitive" tastes. Blogs and websites detail the types of novels written by various Christian authors, and informed librarians can be of substantial help

    Sensitivity to causing another to sin resides in the hearts of all Christians. However, it's not for a reader to decide the author's intent in writing the novel. It's the reader's job to make sure her own heart is right. Assuming a story will certainly cause someone else to sin goes too far. It's self-righteouness displayed for all to see. It's vanity to set oneself up as judge and jury. Only One has the right to do that and rest assured He will. 

    God, you use your writers for many purposes and you take pleasure in variety. We answer to you, Lord. Daily. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

  • Count the cost of honesty . . .

     

    It's obvious, you say. Honesty at all costs! When is it ever that simple?

    Let me clarify: I'm not going to discuss anything terribly important here, but for writers and reviewers it's a valid topic.

    As Christians we profess the necessity of honesty. However, we qualify that principle with the biblical instruction which directs us to "Speak the truth in love." It's ridiculous and degrading for us as people who love the Lord Jesus Christ to speak hateful criticisms. We can passionately disagree and speak against the evil practices of some, and we can explain our dislikes of anything we please, but it's not only to our benefit to do it respectfully, it speaks to the witness of how we live our lives seeking to serve the higher Authority. I confess it's never easy when politics play a role in conversation. I've been de-friended on Facebook twice by a liberal friend and a cousin of my husband's for respectfully disagreeing with their political posturing. Oh well.

    But let's get back to the matter at hand: writing reviews. Those of us who've chosen to do this must either find a way to be honest with our dislikes of those books we specifically receive for our reviews or we must gloss over our personal opinions of a book we don't like and give a static review of "acceptable" and mind-numbing allegiance to . . . well, dishonesty. I cannot do this. With those novels I dislike, I do my best to point out that others will no doubt appreciate what I do not. I attempt to explain my dislikes in order for other readers to decide whether or not they might have similar tendencies. It's not complicated.

    As an author, I take it hard when someone rejects my writing. So when I decide I don't like an author's novel and/or his/her writing, I keep in mind how I feel when I face criticism. As writers, we all know we can't please everyone. Sometimes we're fortunate to please our target audience, let alone those who happened to pick up our work when it was never meant for them. And this is key I think when reviewing. Are you as the reviewer the right audience for the particular novel? If not, make that clear.

    And also as an author, we must take our lumps – even if they feel like punches. But we don't have to be the ones administering the pugilistic reviews. But we can be those reviewers who speak the truth in love. Be it only one opinion, it can still be honestly stated pro or con.

    Father, help us to listen to your Spirit when we must be controversial, contrary, or complimentary. Help us to speak the truth in love, heeding your direction for our words. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.  

  • Truth and Consequences?

     

    Two blogs presented the ongoing but interesting conundrum of "preachiness" and "truth – whatever that might be". Take a look:

     

    http://spirereviews.blogspot.com/2011/11/preaching-to-choir.html#comment

     

    http://novelmatters.com/  (Post by Ariel)

     

    Opinions vary on these subjects and judgments can be made whether justified or not. Christians and non-Christians both go radical on these topics if unrestrained.

    I opt for the contrasts in my own writing. I don't like to paint the clichéd Christian characters because I find them to be uninteresting and unreal. Yes, unreal. Few things come off easy in this life on planet earth. I've known those who God has blessed with an enhanced joy, but they also demonstrate depth in understanding sorrow. Their joy is complete in Jesus, but anything that is complete in Jesus knows sorrow.

    Whether or not you write quirky, serious, adventurous, withdrawn, spunky, cold, mean, or humorous characters, you must write them truthfully. Male or female, they must capture the essence of their gender and by that I don't mean feminine must be girly-girl or masculine must be macho. I mean the author must view them and translate them at their heart level, at who they are inside and out which can sometimes conflict. Characters drive the story. Without compelling characters many readers will abandon the story. Some will not because they're used to seeing plastic people in ordinary stories and don't expect much from either other than forgettable entertainment.

    So many choices present themselves to authors and consequently readers. Some readers desire the gut-wrenching reality of trial, error, failure. Others want the lighter fluff with simple solutions. Whatever the writing styles, the preaching or the lack thereof can be a factor in telling the truth. Some like faith issues under the radar, some prefer the organic approach when exposing them, and still others like sermonizing. The irony was found in those who detest preaching/sermonizing in literature often raved about The Shack which is one long sermon.

    The conundrums of writing and reading that thing called "Christian" fiction . . .     

     

    Father, all that truly matters is what you desire from each one of us. Help us to deliver what you assign to us. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.