Into the Fire

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

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

  • Judge me not?

     

    Christians are always being accused of judging people. Rarely is the world accused of judging Christians.

     

    In the famous words of Jesus:

     

    “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

     

    “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

     

    Matthew 7:1-5 (NIV)

     

    If you’ll notice in this instruction, Jesus is talking about a Christian (brother) judging another Christian (brother) for doing something wrong when the first is guilty of the same or another sin which he’s apparently blinded to in himself. Later on in Romans, the second chapter, Paul writes:

     

    “. . . Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment?”

     

    Romans 2:2-3 (NIV)

     

    What the world doesn’t seem to understand is that defining sin isn’t judgment. There’s no question all of us Christians and non-Christians alike judge one another. Some of us do it silently, but God hears. Some of us do it vocally and vehemently. We’d be wise to memorize the scriptures which tell us the measure we use on others will be used on us. The whole reason for these warnings is to identify our potential hypocrisy in condemning others for the same sins we’ve committed.

     

    We might not expect the world to point out our sins to us, thinking perhaps that they’re oblivious to the lines drawn between right and wrong. However, the world is usually the first to recognize sin in those of us who’ve proclaimed our faith because in spite of all the denials of God and His Word, in varying degrees unbelievers are well aware of what the bible speaks of as wrong or evil. And certainly with the enemy of our souls rejoicing in our failures and prompting the condemnation of our actions, we cannot escape the judgment of those watching our sinful behaviors.

     

    We who believe walk a fine line between identifying sin in our lives and in others’ lives. Our first obligation is to take care of our problem(s) and not to hide behind the “everybody’s doing it” smokescreen or the “holier than thou” finger pointing while concealing our guilt.

     

    There’s no shame in revealing or declaring what sin is in this world. It’s sinful to murder babies in the womb just as it would be to kill infants once they’re born. It’s sinful to have sexual relations with the same sex. It’s sinful to sleep with another’s mate. It’s sinful to tell a lie for selfish gain or to hide sin. The list goes on, but those who offer condemnation in their private judgments fail to admit their levels of secret sin. Christians are required to judge themselves first. To take care of their own problems. To judge what sin is, not who’s doing it—because we all are in some capacity.

     

    I know this topic seems far removed from our discussions of writing, but it’s something to keep in mind as we look at the Christian publishing industry and point out whatever successes and failures exist in the business of producing books. It also ties in with the way reviews are presented, opinions expressed.

     

    Just some thoughts . . .

     

     

    Father, forgive me. Continue to convict my heart. I’m desperate for you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

     

  • The Critical Christian

     

    Since we discuss both Christian fiction and God here, can we take a few minutes to discuss the problem with critical Christians? Hear me out here. I see no problem with reviewers telling the truth about their preferences in reading. Each individual who engages in voicing his/her opinion about a novel which didn’t meet the personal standard set by the reader—whatever it might be—must decide how to relate the disappointment. When making public disclosures, it would seem there’d be an unspoken guarantee that a Christian would be tactful and respectful of the author’s efforts even when the story doesn’t appeal or the writing is unimpressive. If a person reads a novel, he/she is entitled to an opinion of the book.

     

    I’ve given a few bad reviews because I honestly felt the novels were sub-par. I’ve also given some reviews where I held back most of my opinion because I recognized the novels would be favorites for their specific targeted audiences. It’s hard to fault an author for delivering the type of novel which speaks directly to those people who are expecting exactly what they’re going to get.

     

    The problem which has surfaced and which I faced specifically with one of my “bad” reviews is the response of those readers who disagree with the reviewer’s opinion of the book. Apparently some Christians can get quite ugly in voicing their objections to those who don’t like the same books as them. Or other Christians who don’t like a novel criticize the author and question the author’s salvation. I’m told some of these bitter discussions take place on Amazon.com for all the world to see. Isn’t that special?

     

    No one has to like a book. It’s true. I expect some brutality can show up in assessments given by those “in the world”. I expect honesty laced with respect from a Christian who doesn’t like a story and decides to give an opinion. And I expect other Christians who disagree with a reader’s assessment of a novel to either be silent or express their opposing opinions with class and regard for both the author and the reviewer. It should go without saying, shouldn’t it?

     

    I’m just sayin’ . . .   

     

     

    Father, help us to be more like Jesus. Dying to self. Daily. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.  

  • There’s clean . . .

     

    . . . and there’s not so clean. “Clean” can often be used as a synonym for “safe” in literature. “Safe” for me is a misnomer because of its application to certain works of fiction. “Clean” on the other hand means or suggests a lot of things in writing.

     

    In no particular order, the word clean in the broadest sense often refers to stories without cussing/swearing and/or explicit sexual situations. It’s also used to describe a certain type or style of prose which consists of lean writing techniques and very little variations in common language usage. Light on descriptions and grammatically correct typifies “clean” writing.

     

    I’ve said many times I’m not a fan of Hemingway’s writing. Never liked it. The leanest writer of contemporary fiction that I do like is that of Brandilyn Collins. Even though I prefer her early suspense novels which were longer and not so lean, I’ve enjoyed her most recent novels. The staccato brand of writing suits her stories, and it’s her unique style of rat-a-tat-tat word usage that makes it all work.

     

    Getting to the “clean” reference in subject matter. I’ve exhausted this topic here. Sexual attraction, tension, interaction, etcetera, all of it. However, I acknowledge the delicate, intimate, and private nature of tackling sexual issues in fiction, especially Christian fiction where many readers wish to escape the banality of its depictions in secular or general market literature. I’ve always maintained that readers should have a choice of what they want to read. And Christian readers do. To a point. There is a multitude of “clean” fiction from which to choose.

     

    Again, there’s clean and there’s squeaky clean. Squeaky clean does not fulfill the role of good fiction for a lot of us readers. We see the contrast of this kind of story to the way life is really lived for many people, and we don’t react well to the unbelievable aspects of squeaky clean when applied to romance novels.

     

    And there’s not so clean—at least according to those who read squeaky clean and delight in it. I don’t write for them. And neither do I enjoy their brand of literature. But I’m glad they have it to read because my choices in this arena are slim and none. That’s why I write what I do.

     

     

    God, you give me words. What can I say but thank you? I love you, Lord. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

  • Sunday’s Offerings

     

    Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: "Rulers and elders of the people! If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, then know this, you and everyone in Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you completely healed. . . . "

    Acts 4:8-10 (NIV)

  • ****Political Update****

     

    Yesterday [February 23, 2011], President Obama unilaterally declared the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) unconstitutional, instructing the Department of Justice not to defend the statute in court.

    One of the problems with this: The President doesn't get to decide what laws are constitutional in our system of government.

    The idea that the President of the United States can order the Department of Justice not to defend a law, duly passed by Congress and signed into law by a former President, then-President Clinton, should send shockwaves through anyone who is concerned with civil rights and civil liberties. 

    Just a few weeks ago, the White House Press Secretary told reporters, ''[W]e can't declare the law unconstitutional … [W]e … have to represent the viewpoint of the defendant.'' President Obama's policy reversal in such a short time is stunning and sets a disturbing precedent.

    The President isn't a king. He doesn't get to make decrees. He is the chief executive with the responsibility to enforce existing laws – even laws he may not like.

    President Obama cannot simply choose which laws his Administration will enforce. This is an out-of-control move that exceeds constitutional limits.

    The sanctity of the rule of law is something we must protect. Our nation's Founders developed a purposeful process in which the legislative, executive, and judicial branches pass laws.

    The President and his Department of Justice have an affirmative obligation to defend every law unless the Supreme Court of the United States were to declare it unconstitutional.

    No matter what side of the debate you are on, the fact that President Obama thinks he can decide this himself – despite a duly-enacted law passed by Congress and signed by a former President – is outrageous and sets a dangerous precedent.

     

    (Courtesy of ACLJ; American Center for Law and Justice)

     

    God, once again we ask forgiveness for every effort to destory what you have set in place. To corrupt what you have sanctioned and made holy. To allow those things you find detestable to be labeled "good". Please forgive us for our oh so many sins. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

     

  • Lines . . .

     

    What came to mind when you read the word “lines”?

     

    Parallel lines? Aesthetic lines? Great one-liners? Pick-up phrases? Opening lines? Geometric lines? Clothes lines? A-lines? Wichita Lineman? Standing in lines?

     

    Do you think of lines for stories and write them down to use in a future book?

     

    I don’t think I’ve ever known a movie that had so many memorable lines as the first Pirates of the Caribbean Curse of the Black Pearl. So many zingers. Almost a language all its own. Terrific lines. Outstanding writing and acting.

     

    Do you have favorite lines from books or movies?

     

     

    Father, thank you for the beauty of words when used to glorify you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

  • The Art of Writing . . .

     

    Since writing is considered one of the arts along with music, dance, drawing and painting, sculpture, and whatever else you might include in this most generous of creative terms, I’d like to point out its difference to the other vehicles for expressing creative abilities, geniuses, or the lack thereof . . .

     

    I know this could provoke disagreement but I state this as only my opinion about writing. Unlike the other “arts”, writing does not “evolve”. Writing, regardless of how it began and what it’s become, has its basis in words. Words come in different languages and symbols, but they’ve always been designed to communicate, to illustrate, to define, to suggest, and to eventually be read.

     

    The other arts have morphed through innumerable changes in tools, in equipment, in the ever-changing landscapes, the regions of peoples and their advancements—or failures to do so—and the choices available for use in the expressions of artists.

     

    The one thing these arts have in common is the desire to communicate. However, words serve communication as their sole purpose and this becomes the basis for the art of writing.

     

    We could discuss the ancient trends or the current styles and all those that have been used in between, but the objective remains the same. Some have written in diaries, hidden them away only to have them discovered and celebrated or decried by future generations. Nevertheless, those secret words communicated the thought processes of individuals who chose to write them; committed them to a form for later reflection or to express the emotion of that moment. The words become art or treatises or heresies or tragic recollections, but they communicate something good, bad, or indifferent.

     

    When writing transcends to “art”, we can usually find those who reject each piece selected for such acclaim, and in this way all of the other arts concur there is always the subjectivity of those who observe, judge, and often partake of each skill. There is no pleasing the entire audience of art—or artists. The fateful journey of each artist takes odd twists and the results of these travels often lead to tragic ends or joyful ecstasies. The writer cannot be pigeon-holed in his efforts, his intentions, or his psyche. His unique approach can be smothered in self-loathing, embraced with great passion, or methodically outlined and administered with determined practicality.

     

    As a writer, I’m not laying claim to my writing as art. I know it communicates. I know I hope it is read. I know I labor over some pieces and not so much over others. I care for the words. I write with passion. I am one writer amidst thousands. Unnoticed for the most part but recognized by the Lord of all creation. I’m doing what He asked, and the results, whatever they will be, belong to Him.

     

    The art of writing hasn’t changed. It’s as meaningful and thought-provoking as it’s always been and will always be. Words cannot be underestimated. After all . . .

     

    In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God . . .

     

    John 1:1 (NIV)

     

     

    Father, may my words honor you, my writing given back to you, a meager gift. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

     

  • Tone it down . . .

     

    Ever take one of those surveys where you can check either “Strongly agree” or “Strongly disagree”? Well, don’t expect to see the soft-spoken side of this blogger on writing issues. Telling a passionate person to “tone it down” only raises their response in volume, words, or looks that can freeze, ignite, or kill at will. See what I mean? Prone to exaggeration we are.

     

    There are times when repetition is just that. Pointless, endless, and monotonous. This could be said about publishing complaints offered by writers. We’ve all seen the exact same topics make the rounds year after year, and we’ve heard or written our versions of the issues multiple times. Chances are after awhile we all sound the same to one another. And, alas, we do arrive at some mode of impasse at least half of the time on similar subjects.

     

    I think part of the reason for certain repetitious efforts—or follies—is the hope that in addressing these difficult issues, progress can be made. We assume that at some point the multiple voices airing the same problems with certain aspects of Christian publishing will be noted, considered, and acted upon to the betterment of the industry. We can’t help but think it.

     

    As writers, we want to matter. We want our opinions to be recognized as thoughtful and meaningful. We want them affirmed because they make so much sense to us, and we “strongly agree” that some of the changes we suggest could improve the current state of publishing. Right or wrong, we believe in what we write and say.

     

    This writer has no intention of “toning it down”. How ‘bout you?

     

     

    Father, help me to be respectful and truthful. Help me learn what you have for me. Your ways are higher. Help me climb to your mountaintop. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

  • No Kool-Aid Drinking Here . . .

     

    Those of you who recall the Jim Jones cult recognize the Kool-Aid reference. It was the method used to exterminate a group of messed up followers. A few drank what Wikipedia reports was grape flavored, cyanide-laced Flavor Aid willingly, knowing it was laced with poison. Others were forced at gun point to down their death mixture. If they refused, they were executed.

     

    Many years later the expression “drinking the Kool-Aid” refers to buying into a philosophy that’s off the mark. Those who follow the leader(s) of said philosophy, even when its weaknesses and untruths are glaring, are referred to as having “drunk the Kool-Aid”.

     

    Publishing has its Kool-Aid drinkers too. For the consummate article on writing, trendy rules, and the sometimes off the mark claims by the powers-that-be, read this by Award-winning author Athol Dickson:

     

    http://noveljourney.blogspot.com/search/label/Athol%20Dickson

     

    Brilliant.

     

     

    Father, watch over us. Help us to follow your rules and to enjoy your measure of creativity invested in us. May we honor you with our words. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

  • When did it happen?

     

    We’ve all heard the condescending comments about “the Western church” in comparison to exploding churches with miraculous happenings in other areas of the globe. Yes, occasionally different churches across our nation have experienced revival, but by the time these exciting, life-changing events slip away, there seems to be evidence of some damage or ill repute in the wake of great healings and the testimonies of many.

     

    Most of the time it seems American Christians attend church for “x” amount of minutes on Sunday mornings and expect a routine that’s clocked down to the seconds. There are always exceptions, but they’re not the norm. If there are multiple services, the congregation is obligated to restrict their overlap by doing the courteous musical chairs and making sure the “fellowship” is conducted out of the hearing range of the sanctuary where the repeat service will begin as close to on time as possible. Somehow it's become as formulaic and predictable as many of the novels I discuss here.

     

    “Cafés” selling Lattes and other coffee drinks hold court before and after services in the various atriums or fellowship halls. Drinks can be carted into sanctuaries and sipped on during services.

     

    It’s all about being “comfortable”.

     

    When did worshipping God Almighty shift from the importance of true worship to the comfort of mankind? When did true worship move to making sure no one is offended? When did it happen that we care more about making visitors comfortable than making sure we’re giving everything we’ve got to corporate worship? When did man’s structure and tight schedule replace God’s order which is far less rigid than man’s version of it? When did God’s order which encompasses time spent waiting on the Spirit of God change to pastors hurrying worship leaders and apologizing for going two minutes over his “allotted” time to preach? When did it happen?

     

    What happened to:

     

    He [Jesus] said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes . . . will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” Mark 16:15-18 (NIV) ?

     

     

    Father, forgive us for our “routine” worship. Fill us up with your Spirit. Help us to worship you in Spirit and in Truth. Lord, we live because of you. We are desperate for you, yet some of us don’t even know it. We need. We need you. We need so deeply to partake of your living water. We settle for so little of you and call it “good”, but it’s not even close. It’s lukewarm. It’s putrid. God, draw us nearer to you and let us not falter in our pursuit of everything you are and everything you have for us. Help us in our desperate states to give ourselves wholly to you. We are not our own. The price paid for us is incalculable. Help us to realize that apart from you, we can do nothing. Help us not to be satisfied with “nothing”. Oh God. Lead us and help us to follow. Please. Spirit of God, convict our hearts of our negligence and fill them with your power and the desire to surrender to you and serve you only. Jesus, you’ve done so much for us. How can we forget? Please, Lord, forgive us for abandonment. Help us to serve you without reservation. We ask it all in the powerful Name, Authority, and Blood of Jesus. Amen.