Into the Fire

A great quote . . .

From "Christian Reflections" by C.S. Lewis:

"Great authors are innovators, pioneers, explorers; bad authors bunch in schools and follow models. Or again, great authors are always 'breaking fetters' and 'bursting bonds'. They have personality, they 'are themselves'."
Further into the read he says "we certainly have a picture of bad work flowing from conformity and discipleship, and of good work bursting out from certain centres (sic) of explosive force--apparently self-originating force--which we call men (people) of genius."

Missing the obvious?

It must be that time of the month. No, that’s not what I meant. It’s October. The 31st. A day set apart to celebrate all kinds of evil and get away with it. For the spiritually perceptive, it’s a time when one can feel the undercurrent of demonic activity. Others scoff at such “nonsense”, but it’s as real as The Joker costumes which dominate the selections.

Not surprising that the criticism of Christian fiction, its limitations, its readers, and its writers, surfaces on the e-waves again around this time. Maybe its critics and the rest of us are missing the obvious concerning Christian novels. Aren’t they written and produced for Christian audiences? Well . . . DUH! . . . you all respond. Christians should have something of their own to read. Why not? No problem.

This is only a problem when Christians address the quandary of not writing for Christians. Eric Wilson, multi-published author, has just begun a new trilogy which focuses around the “undead”, vampires to be specific. He claims his hopes are to reach those on the “fringe of faith” and “unbelievers as well as believers”.

Let’s stick with believers for a moment. You can’t sum us all up in the same category. There are some, yes, even possibly the majority, who expect “safe” novels: stories that won’t scare them, stories that don’t question faith, stories which take place in a limited scope without superfluous depictions of violence, fornication, adultery, and any inclusions outside their recognizable rigid doctrines/denominations. Chaste romance. Predictable conflicts. Gratifying conclusions. However, there is a huge audience in this crowd of CBA readers who demand depth and a more real presentation of life in general, who love thrillers, fantasy, speculative, sci-fi, non-category romance or even category romance which touches on all the conflicts of sexual relationships, hard-hitting mysteries, legal and medical suspense, and anything but “safe” stories, and who appreciate writing which dives deep into characters, metaphors, symbolism, complexities of plot, concepts, motives and POVs.

Okay, so now let’s address reaching unbelievers. Not an easy task. By including subtle references and symbolism to indicate a Christian theme or worldview without overtly including evangelical language or direction, the author easily expands his potential audience but it’s arguable whether or not he actually “reaches” unbelievers with the stories. If the objective is simply to present an unbeliever with a story they might read without any gospel references, if they write a good story, the possibilities for their publication probably increase in ABA circles. But the odds of “reaching” unbelievers for Jesus seem just as audacious as they might be from books coming from within CBA houses, albeit more easily attainable from said consumers.

And, now how ‘bout CBA? One of the main objections for those who write fantasy, specfic, horror, and sci-fi is the restriction inherent in CBA publishing. What I don’t understand is why these authors want to pursue CBA publishing if they don’t technically believe in its ability to reach the audience they seek. These restrictions which are noted by some refer to language, potential violence, possible gore in certain topics/genres, particularly horror or speculative. These writers find the ABA more user-friendly to what they desire to write. And in many cases this is probably true.

I read in a number of genres in CBA but mostly thrillers, mysteries, suspense, some women’s fiction and all contemporary. In this group there are a number of novels which do not present the gospel or really even point to God. Others skirt around Jesus in vague references to God and/or prayer. There is considerable violence and some horror in the thriller genres I’ve read and not all of them present evangelical terms or concepts. There is some use of language such as “crap”, “hell”, and “damn” which doesn’t appear in certain other CBA imprints. From what I understand there are some serious language barriers broken in the FaithWords (Hachette Books) novel by Stephen Baldwin and writing partner Mark Tabb which caused a fury by CFBA participants who ordered the book, prompting this response:

“Normally, it is not the policy of FaithWords to include foul language in our fiction titles. The Death and Life of Gabriel Phillips has dialogue which reflects the heart of the main character. His transformation and ultimate conversion to Christ throughout the book is key to the story and the author’s intention was to make that transformation clear. We apologize if this inclusion offends our readers. We are committed to publishing fiction that depicts the power of Christ’s love in even the darkest life and situation."

Harry Helm, Associate Publisher, FaithWords

This is the very thing that infuriates some writers who are Christians. Why should the language even be a point of contention, they wonder? Well, let me give you my take on it. I used bad language before I was saved. Really bad, ugly words. After becoming a Christian, I stopped. I stopped because the words didn’t glorify God or exemplify Jesus and the change He rendered in me. I still had to listen to the ugly language day in and day out at the racetrack or wherever I worked in the off season. I understood the motivations, the laziness or lack of discipline, the intent to shock, the “hip-ness”, and/or the carelessness involved in speaking foul or vulgar words. So, if I can’t write around these words effectively, much like author T. L. Hines referred to in a response to Mike Duran’s post on “Novel Journey”, I’m not much of a writer.

Here’s the deal: write what you write, your passion. If publishing is your goal, find an agent who can work both sides of the publishing aisle. See where you fit. My novels don’t fit comfortably into CBA romance/women’s fiction, but these are what I write. God gives me stories, and I write them. He has a plan. He’s the One I follow. Not man. Quit bashing Christian fiction--because it serves a lot of readers. There’s some great stuff written for CBA, and it certainly isn’t all the same in depth, wisdom, or talent, but disparaging the writers or readers seems mean-spirited. If you want to head hunt, make your case to the publishers. Proportionately, there is just as much junk written in ABA, maybe more.

Go wherever God tells you to go. Do what He says to do. Write what He wants you to write. Be blessed for your obedience.

Father, give us sensitive hearts. Lead us in your ways everlasting. Remind us to put others’ needs before our own. Increase our discernment. Help us to desire obedience above all else. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Random Quotations

When nothing seems to help, I go and look at a stonecutter hammering away at his rock, perhaps a hundred times without as much as a crack showing in it. Yet at the hundred and first blow it will split in two, and I know it was not that last blow that did it, but all that had gone before. Jacob A. Riis

Success and failure. We think of them as opposites, but they're really not. They're companions - the hero and the sidekick. Laurence Shames

Chance favors those in motion. James H. Austin

Sometimes the best helping hand you can get is a good, firm push. Joann Thomas

When we have done our best, we should wait the result in peace. J. Lubbock

The strongest warriors are these two...time and patience. Leo Tolstoy

Success is not to be pursued; it is to be attracted by the person you become. Jim Rohn

Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass...it’s about learning how to dance in the rain. Unknown

The nose of the bulldog is slanted backwards so he can continue to breathe without letting go. Winston Churchill

Every thought is a seed. If you plant crab apples, don’t count on harvesting golden delicious. Bill Meyer

Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the staircase. Martin Luther King, Jr.

We learn to walk by stumbling. Bulgarian Proverb

It’s our attitude in life that determines life’s attitude toward us. Earl Nightingale

You can have anything you want in life if you just help enough other people get what they want. Zig Ziglar

Habits are first cobwebs, then cables. Spanish Proverb

Failure is not fatal, but failure to change might be. John Wooden

Kindness is more important than wisdom, and the recognition of this is the beginning of wisdom. Theodore Isaac Rubin

To be what we are, and to become what we are capable of becoming, is the only end of life. Robert Louis Stevenson

I attribute my success to this: I never gave or took an excuse. Florence Nightingale

Progress always involves risks. You can’t steal second base and keep your foot on first. Frederick B. Wilcox

Father, you shine the truth on all things and carve the gems from unrecognizable stone. Help us to be discerning, Lord, by your Spirit. Teach us and lead us into all Truth. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Selfish and Greedy?

I don’t know anyone who is not selfish or greedy or both once in awhile. There is always something which tempts us in these ways. Not admirable traits. Certainly not the traits of Jesus Christ. They reside in our sin nature.

When we were small children, we took what didn’t belong to us and thought nothing of it until either our parents or our friends’ parents gently removed the thing from our hands and gave it back to its rightful owner(s). Other times we were instructed to share what we had, but when the play time came to an end, the friend left without our thing because it belonged to us.

As we grew a little older, we observed that some of our friends owned things we wanted, maybe things our parents couldn’t afford to purchase for us or things our parents decided weren’t worthwhile for us to have. We might have experienced a little envy due to the fact that we really liked that thing and enjoyed playing with it when we visited those friends. Sometimes that jealousy caused a bit of resentment toward the friend(s) who seemed to get or have anything they wanted. However, our parents explained to us why we were not in possession of that particular thing and either gave us the option of finding a way to earn the money to buy it for ourselves or told us in ways they thought we could understand why that thing would not be allowed a place in our home.

If we decided we truly wanted that thing and it was acceptable to our parents for us to save whatever money we were able to earn to buy it, after a time we learned whether or not we valued it enough to work for it. If we did, we diligently kept at whatever odd jobs we could hustle and proudly counted up the dollars and cents to make the purchase. The thrill of buying it and playing with it usually lasted about two weeks before this prized possession became just another thing we liked before the lust for a new thing took its place. Or we discovered it took too much time to earn the money so the desire for the thing faded and was easily satisfied by the occasional visits to the friend’s house who owned it.

Approaching young adulthood, we realized there was no easy way to acquire things. Work was a requirement. The task then became to determine what kind of work satisfied the soul while providing a way to make a living. For some of us it required schooling, some more, some less. For others of us we worked several jobs before finding the one which led to the completion of our goals. We also learned life had its ups and downs, and the old adage which some of us heard more than others—that innocuous “money doesn’t grow on trees”—became a reality we hadn’t really taken to heart until then.

As adults, we know there will be hardships and crises and things which require more money than we make. Homes, cars, children, illness, broken limbs, storms. There will be sacrifices. Some of us will overcome monetary setbacks with acquired wisdom from previous errors in judgment. Most all of us at some point in time will need some assistance from parents, loans, or short-term credit choices. If we choose the wrong means for our aid, we can end up with greater problems than our original need.

Christians are equally prone to make mistakes. The only difference is we can call upon God and ask for His forgiveness for our errant decisions, request His wisdom, count on His companionship through the fiasco we’ve created. He determines whether or not to provide a miraculous deliverance from our messes or if it would benefit us more to plod through the mire with His assurance that one day “this too shall pass”.

You see where I’m going with this?

As adults, if you’ve worked for everything you’ve ever gotten starting out at minimum wage and gradually climbing up the income ladder to provide for a family, do you want to give a larger portion of your earnings to the government to redistribute to someone who doesn’t work or won’t work or who works but not as hard as you do or in a job that doesn’t pay what yours does? This has nothing to do with being selfish or greedy. This has to do with enabling. The selfishness and greed come from those who want some of what you have because they don’t have it for whatever reason.

Socialism puts in place a dumbing down of the people. It seeks to equalize the work force and bring down the wealthier members of an economy, using their money to redistribute it to anyone who has less. The problem with that is the people in government always suffer from corruption when large sums of money become available to them. Think Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae: Franklin Raines, Barney Frank, Chris Dodd. So what inevitably happens is certain members of government skim off the top of this acquired money and pad their pockets before redistributing it to those they deem should receive a portion of it. Franklin Raines was fired from the management of Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae because of the poor job he did, but he left with something like a $19 million dollar payoff to soothe the black mark to his résumé.

Shame on you if you covet the wealth of your neighbor. Whether or not they worked for it, God will determine what becomes of them and their money. It’s not yours. Period.

Christians, be generous with what you earn, but remember this: “You will always have the poor among you.” Why? Because this is a fallen world. Everyone is not the same, nor were they intended to be. Socialism elevates an elitist government and is nothing more than selfish and greedy tyranny.

It’s appalling that a candidate for the presidency of the United States of America is blind to the devastation of socializing a free nation and taking from those who’ve gained some kind of “wealth” and deciding who should receive a piece of it after individuals in the government pocket their share, but it’s even more devastating to know that so many of this country’s citizens can’t see the horror of such selfish greed hidden under a pseudo altruism.

Father, we place ourselves in your able hands and once again plead for your mercy upon this great nation. What has made it great is founding it upon your principles and establishing you as its Leader and ultimate Provider. We are desperate for you, God. We need your mercy and acknowledge that our hope is in you, not in man. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

A man of peace?

In its purest form we might agree that communism equals a utopian existence. However, nothing on this earth is in its purest form, and so-called Communist nations of today and yesteryear are and were nothing more than dictatorships with those in leadership possessing the opulence secured by the required sacrifices of the work forces of their nations and the corruptions of their governments’ acquisitions. We are a fallen people, and each one of us struggles with sin. Some of us are capable of atrocities because our conscience governors are skewed and have been manipulated by demonic impulses and indulgences. As leaders, mankind falls prey to greed and the lust for power when he bends to the notion of usurping his position of authority to gain monetary increases and to impose his perceptions and desires upon those he leads to forcefully gain their allegiance.

Jesus Christ is known as the Prince of Peace, but that peace is not a reference to a lack of war or fighting. It is the reference to the reconciliation to the Father by His death and resurrection. Where there was an impassable chasm between mankind and God due to the fallen/sinful nature of man, Jesus came to pay the price for redeeming the lost. We who are Christians understand that this “making peace” was universal—in other words for all mankind. But God required an acknowledgment of this huge sacrifice in order to attain this peace and that was to accept His Son’s sacrifice and resurrection and to yield one’s life back to the purposes and designs of our Creator. We die to our self-led lives and become regenerated followers of Jesus Christ through the indwelling power, comfort, and counsel of the Holy Spirit. By so doing, we have made peace with God through the efforts of His Son.

So what about this supposed “man of peace” who will become the “abomination that causes desolation”? He appears to be someone who can unite not only those in his place of origin but the entire world under the guise of world peace and a world economy. He will possess the charisma to convince the masses he is a messiah of sorts, the solution to the economic woes and the warring conflicts which rage the world over.

Who can deny the desire to see peace at hand? Even the heartiest fighting machine comes to the place of seeking rest for his battle weary soul. The problem with the world peace mantra is that the concept cannot exist without Christ’s kingdom here on earth. The wars and rumors of wars are a sure sign that the prophesied coming of the Lord draws ever closer, but we are not privy to His exact timing. We know at some point when a leader asserts himself into our midst with qualities and claims which oppose those of Biblical truth, there will be a segment of the population who is blinded to the deception, and they will choose to overlook the errors of this person and put him in power. Many of these will rise up from within the church which has succumbed to apostasy. “They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.” (2 Thessalonians 2:9-11 NIV)

And so I wonder after seeing the full effects of sin in action in this world during our times, the fulfillment of many prophecies already come to pass, what is behind the desire to unite this country with others who practice evil, who commit atrocities to their own people, who passively allow the growth of corruption within their borders and do nothing to defend liberties, and who desire to pacify and appease those who seek the destruction of this great country? What is the draw of a leader who purports a desire to bring troops home but refuses to even visit them? How do you honor the dead by not visiting the living? How do you not support the fighting which has kept those battles from happening within our borders? How do you feign a concern for the living soldiers when you support the slaughter of unborn children?

Infanticide happens within our country daily. Legally. The killing of children. Under the guise of a “woman’s right to choose”, the real choice is between using the abundance of birth control methods or to murder the baby conceived inside the womb. What kind of choice is that? Did the female who is pregnant “choose” to be born? Did the male who fathered the child choose to be born? Do those who “choose” to kill the babies also choose the method of extermination? Are the multiple choices of barbarism explained to these mothers before the child is hacked, vacuumed, or shriveled in their wombs?

Isn’t it ironic that those who want the choice to kill their children also want the volunteer soldiers to stop risking their lives to protect their “choices”? Have you ever wondered what the huge defense of abortion is all about? It’s money. It’s a multi-billion dollar industry. It isn’t about the buzz words “rape” and “incest”. It’s about the careless or irresponsible or inconvenient pregnancies which occur and result in the extermination of a baby. More ironic is that the same people who rabidly defend abortion are furious that we defended a nation which was victimized by its ethnic cleansing, terrorist promoting dictator whose sons raped, beat, and murdered the local women at will, and who hated our country and desired to annihilate Israel.

Many of you have already voted in this election, but to those of you who have not . . . Consider truth. Not from the lips of man but from the mouth of God. While He can forgive all but one sin, can He truly honor the wanton slaughter of His unborn creation? By using your God-given freedom, can you really support the abortion issue? Because one of the two presidential candidates does unequivocally support the murdering of unborn children at every level. And you can’t have it both ways. Soldiers have fought for your right to “choose” your candidate. Use it wisely.

For those of you who disagree with my political leanings, this is one post I’d prefer you left your comments elsewhere. I don’t want to insult you as a person, as a brother or sister in Christ, or as a voter. The candidates are not perfect—they are people. Flawed as any one of us. But you have distinct choices to make here: one on the side of life, the other on the side of infanticide, life and death. Government control or freedom from it. Choose life. Choose freedom. Please.

God, have mercy on us. We are undeserving and a sinful nation, but, Father, we need your mercy. Please forgive us for our depravity and have mercy upon us. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Reasons . . .

A lot of writers will tell you they write because they can’t “not write”. Some writers will tell you they’ll write regardless of whether or not publication becomes a reality for them. Other writers will search out those identifiable clues which attract certain publishers and work diligently to produce the topics and styles which appeal to those houses.

Writers come in as many flavors as Baskin & Robbins ice cream. Maybe more. While styles and voice sound similar, each writer produces something he calls his own. Publishers often ask writers they’re considering for publication who they resemble in their writing. And while each one of us might not think we write like anyone else, we most certainly are similar to someone who’s picked up the pen or used the keyboard to compose a story. “Unique” is a matter of opinion.

One of the most unique novels I’ve ever read is Tosca Lee’s Demon . . . a memoir. Written in elegant prose, it’s one of the most amazing first novels you might ever read. Not only is the writing sterling, the concept is so insightful it warrants being described as “anointed”. Set apart. Holy, even. Yet I would guess Tosca had to compare it to something to pitch it, so possibly she might’ve mentioned C. S. Lewis’s The Screwtape Letters or Randy Alcorn’s contemporary version of the same, Lord Foulgrin’s Letters, but that’s just a guess, neither of which comes close to Tosca's splendid storyline as far as comparisons go.

Anointed is a term I reserve for very special novels. Something which separates them from the crowd and puts them in a space all their own. It isn’t always the writing itself. It can be the conceptual brilliance of the story. Now as I’ve just said it’s next to impossible to actually deliver a unique product because Solomon reminded us centuries ago that there is nothing new under the sun. What we can have is either an old concept with magnificent writing or an inventive concept with satisfactory writing or the luster of both.

Here are a few of my votes for “anointed” novels not in any particular order:

Demon . . . a memoir by Tosca Lee

Redeeming Love, And the Shofar Blew by Francine Rivers

This Present Darkness, Piercing the Darkness, Prophet, The Oath by Frank Peretti

Deadline, Safely Home by Randy Alcorn

Secrets, Unforgotten by Kristen Heitzmann

Zora and Nicky by Claudia Mair Burney

Breaking Point by Karen Ball

In High Places by Tom Morrisey

Plague Maker by Tim Downs

Firestorm by Jeanette Windle

If I Gained the World by Linda Nichols

Defiance by Don Brown

It isn’t always the writing which qualifies a novel for this special description. Sometimes it’s the creation and execution of profound spiritual elements, principles, and/or experiences within the story boundaries.

I know this will offend some of you because it sounds arrogant, but I in no way can attribute this to my own importance or abilities which are severely limited. Having said that, I know the personal experience of writing The Famous One underwent the anointing process. Those of you who’ve read it and either picked apart the writing or weren’t particularly moved by the story, I understand why you would question my claim. I’m not professing that the novel was exquisite, I’m professing that the anointing was there while I wrote it. Some who’ve read it have experienced that kind of experience. Some have not. No matter. It was a special experience, a spiritual blessing to write it and to be involved with its conception.

Whatever your reasons for writing, God is involved in the process. The only problem arises when we turn from his directions and pursue our own. True “success” is only found in obedience.

Father, you do anoint your servants’ hands to do what you have called us to do. Help us to be obedient to your call and direction. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Sunday's Offerings

He said to the crowd: "When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, 'It's going to rain,' and it does. And when the south wind blows, you say, 'It's going to be hot,' and it is. Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don't know how to interpret this present time?"

Luke 12:57-59 (NIV)

Take a good look.

We have Christians quibbling about using Christian as an adjective. We have Christians who are Republicans and Christians who are Democrats and we have Christians who profess their Independent status, not to mention those who proclaim they belong to the Constitution party. We have nine million denominations (a slight exaggeration) in Christianity. No wonder Jesus said, “If two of you on earth can agree about anything you ask . . .” (Matthew 18:19)

We have Christians who drink alcohol and Christians who declare it as ungodly. We have Christians who struggle with certain sins and Christians who condemn them for it while other Christians extend a pseudo “grace” as an enabler to keep sinning.

We have Christians who lean toward worldly lifestyles and Christians who restrict any freedom with legalism. We have Christians who cling to ritualistic worship and Christians who decry any form of reverential dress or conduct. We have Christians who pray in tongues and use the Gifts of the Spirit and Christians who scorn them with accusations of being used by the devil.

Take a good look. The Spirit of Truth is not behind our differences. The Spirit of Truth is behind our unity and the only source of true unity. The spirit of deception is behind our differences and exceedingly active in these end times. The Holy Spirit lives within us, and we must learn to hear His voice over the rantings of our enemy.

God takes inventory of our hearts. Jesus tells us to follow Him. The Holy Spirit always wants to lead us into all Truth.

Take a good look at who you are.

God, oh God, help us all. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Comfortable? Since when?

Why the emerging need to make people who visit church “comfortable”? The whole experience for an unbeliever is uncomfortable. And rightly so. So we offer/sell them a cup of espresso, a latte, a Chai Tea, to take into the sanctuary so they can experience that coffee shop casual invitation to God? Save it for Starbucks.

The gospel requires them to admit they have no shot of reaching a place called heaven in their current states of mind and heart conditions. In fact, the gospel tells them they are sinners, born into their state of depravity, that anything previously done which they might have considered “good” or “benevolent” or even “righteous” is considered to be as filthy as the most foul of dirty rags to this God—just in case they seriously want the truth of the matter. The gospel offers them eternal life if they will surrender theirs to die to their self-righteous, self-fulfilling, self-centered, self-absorbed ways. The gospel teaches them that sacrifice will be imminent and difficult. Trouble apparent. Persecution probable. Ridicule inevitable. Hip hip hooray: let’s all get saved!

It’s not up to man to make them feel “at home” with this Truth. That job belongs to the Holy Spirit’s convicting power. Christians are supposed to give them the opportunity to choose God’s way or the highway to hell. And if Christians make it comfy cozy and full of frills, they’re not doing the lost any favors. Nor are they essentially revealing truth. While the walk toward Jesus is strangely difficult due to the warfare for the soul, the relief in embracing Him equals nothing humanity can provide. But at the same time that very relief can be short-lived because of the pitfalls of serving Christ in a fallen world where we are tempted day in and day out to fail in that service, to deny what He has done for us by our very countenance, activities, judgments, attitudes, and lifestyles. And fail we do. Witnessed by others or not, we fail. To gloss over these failures is to add to them. To diminish our pension for succumbing to temptations is to welcome more of the same.

To mislead the lost by tolerating sin in order to make them “comfortable” is to dismiss grace and the essence of the brutal death suffered on that ugly cross for our and their behalf. To belittle resurrection power, the conviction by, and the grieving and quenching of the Spirit of God is to present a half-hearted pseudo gospel which anyone might believe but it will not save. The instruction to “crucify” oneself on a daily basis is not attractive or even desirable, but it is the necessary crux of becoming a Christian. It’s giving up our man-made selves and becoming the God-made creation we were intended to be. It is a choice. One that can’t be taken lightly. Once made in favor of Christianity, it’s a commitment to an ever-increasing refining process which is often painful and always humbling. The perks are heavenly, but in the physical realm often invisible. Faith comes hard sometimes. Stark. Simple. Huge. Necessary. Difficult for human nature to yield.

Any Christian worth his salt will tell you it’s hard. But he will also tell you there is nothing else equal to the relationship with the mysterious God who prepares hearts, calls people to choose His Son, and allows a part of Himself to dwell within human hearts in supernatural occupation to give divine counsel. Yeah? Crazy to actuate in mindful matters. Wonderful to experience in actuality.

No one wins the worldly person to Jesus by being exactly like him in conduct and lifestyle. That goes for the church atmosphere as well. If stepping inside the “holy” place feels like walking into a coffee shop, maybe it is like that. And if it is, there should be cause for concern. Church is where the church meets with God and submits to Him, not to each other. It’s not about being “comfortable” and it never has been except where God is absent and pleasing man resides in full control recognizable by the exercise of the “traditions of men”.

God help us all. In the Name of Jesus by the power of the Spirit. Amen.

To be expected . . .

“Things” have gone along fairly smoothly for awhile here. A good season. But as is often the case, poof! “Things” erupt and the smoothness disappears. It’s subtle at first, but then it becomes blatant. “Things” go awry. To be expected . . .

As Christians, we face unpredictable trials at any given time. The enemy of our souls is eager for revenge and the destruction of our lives. It’s no secret.

This evening our mare became distressed with some intestinal difficulties. This can be very serious for a horse. Life threatening, in fact. No fun either. I first noticed the problem after feeding them their evening meal. Uncharacteristically, she was lying down instead of continuing to finish her hay. Totally not her. All was not well.

This horse has never been bothered with colic. Not in all her life. Her grain and hay were no different than yesterday or the day before or the day before that. So why today? I gave her some medication and my husband gave her a shot when he got home. My son helped keep her walking. It got dark. We had all been praying for her and finally we left her in the Lord’s hands when she no longer seemed distressed. If you don’t have a problem with praying for animals, please pray for her complete relief and that this might be an isolated incident.

Prior to this, there have been some other “things”. Not fun either. Spiritual challenges. Troublesome times. Not new. To be expected . . .

This isn’t about writing or books today. It’s about life. It’s about the Lord’s faithfulness and grace. His touch when no other works. His hope when hope seems like a dim pinpoint of light far far away. Yet it’s unchanging, unblinking, not flickering. Thank the Lord of all Creation. In our weakness, He is made strong. Praise the Lord.

Thank you, God, for watching over us, for keeping us safe, for your kindness, mercy, and hope, for your unbelievable generosity to us. You are magnificent, and we praise you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.