Into the Fire

Am I so hard to please?

Or am I too out of touch?

Time and time again I lash out at the clichés and platitudes offered by professionals in the publishing industry. Sometimes I’m amazed at the stable of authors certain reputable agents manage because there seems to be such disparity in quality between the best and the . . . not-so-best.

Not so often I read certain novels and truly wonder why and how they made it into print. Please understand this is not a statement borne out of a critical spirit. Honest. I don’t begrudge any author who jumps through all the hoops and works hard enough to be published. More power—and reprintings—to them!

What puzzles me the most is when I do encounter one of these novels which I consider to be inferior winning lavish praises from other readers. And I’m not talkin’ about novels outside of my preference zone. I’m talkin’ about novels which appear amateurish in use of dialogue and characterization.

So this conundrum furthers my opinion that the average reader of either CBA or ABA fiction could care less about the things we writers work so hard to perfect. If there’s something within a story for the individual reader to latch onto and identify with, they’ll like the book. If it happens to be a glorified short story and they prefer novellas, they’ll like the book. If it’s a saga, and they love long novels with all kinds of characters and side stories, they’ll like the book. Written well or written poorly, if the ingredients are there for them, they’ll have a new favorite book and author. No wonder the publishing industry is a crap shoot. And no wonder editors with literary skills and tastes insist that “literary novels” don’t sell.

Of course there are always exceptions—to nearly every rule or opinion. But just when you think there is a huge response to a “well-written” book, another not-so-well-written book with far-out God concepts like The Shack plunges the entire industry into confusion and chaos. Who knew?

The problem with reading a lot of novels is that few become exceptional. They fall into four-star categories: great, good, average, and poor. The thing is, this is based on opinions, and the opinions of writers will differ significantly from the opinions of the average reader, and it’s very possible that either of these opinions will differ again from the publisher’s opinion.

Since a writer/author struggles to get his words right, labors over plot, character, theme, dialogue, pace, and everything else to do with his story, all in an effort to create to the best of his ability and to catch the eye of an admiring editor/pub board, we who do this tend to be the harshest critics of our fellow writers/authors. We don’t like it when we see others’ errors staring at us from the published page as we wallow in writing obscurity.

So, anyway, I wonder sometimes if I’m too hard to please as a reader now that I’ve written several novels. The Lord knows my writing won’t appeal to all readers and that other writers' scornful eyes wait to dissect my words and ways and figuratively spit on them. I try to be careful for precisely that reason in how I take apart a book I don’t like. Because I trust the author worked hard and attempted to do all they could to make it right, to make it good.

So, then I wonder if I’m out of touch with the publishing reality. It’s unpredictable and it’s based on personal opinions, preferences, and possibilities. Sometimes I think the industry is out of touch with the readers. Most of the time I just don’t know.

Father, I can trust that you know all things, and that you have reasons for what happens in this life. Leaving it in your hands is the best thing I can do, and I’m grateful for that. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Sunday's Offerings

Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.

. . .

I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray.

1 John 2:18-19;26 (NIV)

In your spare time . . . :)

Check it out:

http://www.examiner.com/x-7385-Seattle-Christian-Fiction-Examiner

The Lord loves you passionately . . .

The shedding of innocent blood.

The Word of God indicates that children are holy and a blessing from God: Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children are a reward from Him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are son’s born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man who’s quiver is full of them (PS 127:3-5a).

There are many instances of the Lord blessing people by “opening wombs” and cursing people by “closing wombs.” The concept of children being blessings from God is indisputable. Regarding holiness; the Lord apparently made special provision for children: For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise, your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy (1 COR 7:14).

Additionally, it is clear that unborn children are valued by and known by the Lord. There is the beautiful story of Mary’s visit to Elizabeth when Elizabeth was carrying John the Baptist: At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!” (LK 1:39-45).

Some people might suggest that this was a special situation because the unborn babies were Jesus and John the Baptist. However, many other scriptural examples show otherwise. The Lord himself told Jeremiah: Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations (JER 1:5).

King David in thanking and praising the Lord said: For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be (PS 139:13-16).

Even Solomon explores the splendor of creation with: As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things (ECC 11:5).

Therefore, unborn children are made by God and are holy, blessings from God. Could anyone possibly be more innocent than an unborn child yet being “knit together in his mother’s womb"; in the process of being “fearfully and wonderfully made"?

When we practice abortion we are shedding innocent blood.

When we elect leaders and select judges that promote, approve and encourage abortion, we are suppressing the truth regarding the shedding of this innocent blood. We are demonstrating the behavior outlined in scripture: Furthermore, since they (mankind) did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them (ROM 1: 28-32).

As a nation, since the early 1970’s the people of the United States, under the leadership of the United States, have killed over 40 million unborn babies, filling the United States with innocent blood. The abortion rate currently sits at about 4000 babies per day. Note as a comparison that we have lost approximately 4000 US soldiers in Iraq since that war began. In other words, every single day in the United States of America we voluntarily kill as many of our unborn children as the fierce enemy fighters in the mideast have been able to kill our born children in many years. One might wonder who is more evil... Al-Qaeda or the Supreme Court of the United States?

As another comparison, please note that Hitler, Stalin and Mao have all been recorded in history as the vicious murderers that they were, yet none of them reportedly killed as many as 40 million people. One might wonder who is more evil... Hitler, Stalin, Mao or those leaders of the United States that promote “a woman’s right to choose?”

As a nation, we are filling the United States with innocent blood. There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers (PR 6: 16-17).

The Lord hates the shedding of innocent blood. Does not the proverb seem to literally describe the type of politician or judge that promotes the “pro-choice” agenda?

The children of Israel sacrificed their children to Molech and Baal. They did it for the same reason that people get abortions today. They did it to try to get what they wanted out of life. It’s called living for our earthly nature: ...your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming (COL 3: 5-6).

Let us take a moment to remember the work of our Glorious Saviour, the Lord, Jesus Christ. As individuals, we must rejoice and remember that: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 JOHN 1:9).

And: For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son (JOHN 3: 17-18).

For we know that the blood of Christ cleanses us from all sin. This letter is not about condemning individual people that may have participated in abortion: There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of Life set me free from the law of sin and death (ROM 8: 1-2).

This letter is about the national policy of abortion and the terrible consequences that must surely follow.

Let us see what happened to the children of Israel... The Lord said through his servants the prophets: “Manasseh king of Judah has committed these detestable sins. He has done more evil than the Amorites who preceded him and has led Judah into sin with his idols. Therefore this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I am going to bring such disaster on Jerusalem and Judah that the ears of everyone who hears of it will tingle. I will stretch out over Jerusalem the measuring line used against Samaria and the plumb line used against the house of Ahab. I will wipe out Jerusalem as one wipes out a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down. I will forsake the remnant of my inheritance and hand them over to their enemies. They will be looted and plundered by all their foes, because they have done evil in my eyes and have provoked me to anger from the day their forefathers came out of Egypt until this day. Moreover, Manasseh also shed so much innocent blood that he filled Jerusalem from end to end - besides the sin that he had caused Judah to commit, so that they did evil in the eyes of the Lord (2 KINGS 21: 10-16).

During this time the leadership of Jerusalem and Judah were promoting the shedding of innocent blood and provoking God to “wipe them out.” Is this not what we are doing in the USA?

Let's explore how this actually turned out: Some time later, after the reigns of all of the following kings: Manasseh, Amon, Josiah and Johoahaz; then Jehoiakim became king of Judah. Then: The Lord sent Babylonian, Aramean, Moabite and Ammonite raiders against him (Jehoiakim). He (the Lord) sent them to destroy Judah, in accordance with the Word of the Lord proclaimed by his servants the prophets. Surely these things happened to Judah according to the Lord’s command, in order to remove them from his presence because of the sins of Manessah and all he had done, including the shedding of innocent blood. For he had filled Jerusalem with innocent blood, and the Lord was not willing to forgive (2 KINGS 24: 2-4).

We must rid our nation of this terrible, evil practice of abortion. We must insist on leadership that opposes filling our nation with innocent blood.

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land (2 CHR 7:14).

Michael G. Nielsen

10-11-08

Today if we stand up for the unborn, we are labeled "right wing extremists", "right wing Christian fundamentalist extremists". How can that be? This article by Michael Nielsen illustrates the standard and forgiveness of our God. There can be no justifiable reason to promote the killing of unborn babies. For the victims of rape and incest, the tragedies acted out upon them by perverted individuals, there are other solutions for such atrocities than adding yet another victim to the horror of it all. Please consider the words of our God, the consequences of killing the innocent. God loves you. He gave His Son Jesus Christ that His innocent, unstained by sin, Blood would cover your sins and restore you to righteousness and right relationship with your Father. Ask Him. He'll be there for you.

Wisdom Past

Here's my strategy on the Cold War: We win, they lose. - Ronald Reagan

The most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the government and I'm here to help. - Ronald Reagan

The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they're ignorant; it's that they know so much that isn't so. - Ronald Reagan

Of the four wars in my lifetime, none came about because the U.S. was too strong. - Ronald Reagan

I have wondered at times about what the Ten Commandments would have looked like if Moses had run them through the U.S. Congress. - Ronald Reagan

The taxpayer: That's someone who works for the federal government but doesn't have to take the civil service examination. - Ronald Reagan

Government is like a baby: An alimentary canal with a big appetite at one end and no sense of responsibility at the other. - Ronald Reagan

The nearest thing to eternal life we will ever see on this earth is a government program. - Ronald Reagan

It has been said that politics is the second oldest profession. I have learned that it bears a striking resemblance to the first. - Ronald Reagan

Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it. - Ronald Reagan

Politics is not a bad profession. If you succeed, there are many rewards; if you disgrace yourself, you can always write a book. - Ronald Reagan

No arsenal, or no weapon in the arsenals of the world, is as formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women. - Ronald Reagan

If we ever forget that we're one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under. - Ronald Reagan

Oh God, please restore this kind of wisdom to those who occupy the White House. You established this country, you have offered your grace throughout its history, or we wouldn't have survived this long. We know your love for the individuals in this country and every nation, and you are no respecter of persons. We know you look upon the hearts of mankind, and I pray more hearts would turn fully to you. All true wisdom comes from you, Father. We are desperate for you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

A trip to . . . Rose House

As I’ve mentioned to you before, if I accept a book from the CFBA for their promotional tour schedule, I will review it. Occasionally I must post a review I really don’t want to do, and this is one of them. Rose House written by Tina Ann Forkner and published by Waterbrook Press is the follow-up novel to Ruby Among Us which I haven’t read.

Although I read fewer romance novels than I used to, I enjoy a good romance once in awhile. The last great romance/women’s fiction novel I read and reviewed here—and yet it was so much more—was The Passion of Mary-Margaret by Lisa Samson. I suppose Rose House would technically be classified as romantic suspense, but I’m not sure of that.

Since I didn’t read Tina’s previous novel set within the Frances-DiCamillo Vineyards and the small tourist town of La Rosaleda, I have nothing to compare this one to. I know there will be readers who will enjoy this story, but I am definitely not the target audience for this book.

We first see Lillian, recently widowed by a horrendous car accident which also took the lives of her toddler twins, a son and daughter, at the unique Rose House on the property of the Frances-DiCamillo Vineyards. The striking little house is nearly covered in magnificent roses and holds a special tragic history for the owners of the vineyard. Anyone who’s ever had the pleasure of driving through California wine country, whether or not they got the opportunity to stop, knows this is some of the most beautiful land in the entire United States, so it’s easy to imagine the glamour and beauty of the setting in this story. Having said that, I found the description of the flowers overdone, tedious, and repetitive.

Recently I did a few posts on the value of characters with character. I stipulated how difficult it is to read a novel in which I don’t have empathy or respect or some connection to the hero or heroine. One of the reasons I’m not the target for this story is because of Lillian. Wanting to engage in her suffering because of the horror of losing her husband and children with an extenuating circumstance that added to the pain of her ordeal, I found her one dimensional and annoying. Her conduct and drama queen, over the top focus upon herself throughout the novel with the brief exception at the end failed to elicit sympathy or empathy from me. There were only one or two peripheral characters that intrigued me, and they rested in the background for most of the story.

The reason it’s difficult to discern if this should be called romantic suspense is because there was minimal suspense in the beginning and just a smattering of it throughout the fairly short novel which mostly explored the possibility of romance between Lillian and the local artist. Near the very end the suspenseful portion of the story makes a leap into the forefront in a dangerous situation which implicates one of the minor characters. It is resolved rather quickly and unbelievably with none other than Lillian taking the lead.

I know that as Christian writers, most of us desire to honor God with our writing—however He directs it or allows us the opportunity. Therefore, please understand I am not criticizing Tina’s efforts or even her abilities here. However, for me, this novel didn’t work. The characters were one dimensional with very few exceptions. The dialogue in many places failed to use normal conversational contractions so felt stilted and unnatural. I couldn’t establish even a hint of connection to Lillian because she seemed so shallow and self-centered. And once an author takes the rapport with the heroine or protagonist away from me, it’s a struggle for me to enjoy a book. This story and the writing felt amateurish. To counterbalance this review, her previous novel Ruby Among Us is said to be quite good.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1400073596

Father, it’s difficult to criticize the efforts of a sister in Christ, and it gives me no pleasure. I ask your blessing upon Tina’s career and her desire to serve you through her writing. Please continue to give her the stories you have for her to write and encourage her all along the way. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

One person's edgy . . .

. . . is another person’s normal. Edgy is a term whose definition depends upon who exactly is using it. One learns to decipher what someone might mean in using it attached to describe CBA fiction by knowing who their favorite authors are or what their favorite novels are. It also helps to know within what genre they’re applying the term. Is it about passion, violence, language, or plot elements?

My definition of edgy basically indicates the realistic portrayal of sinful conduct without judgment. In other words this character in the world (without a spiritual knowledge or inclination) lives this way. This struggling Christian fights this (or these) temptation(s). This is how they live, love, battle, whatever.

A lot of the professionals and writers themselves tire of the term because it often is overused in describing literature, or because it can be used as a desired goal: to produce edgy material, to push the envelope as the cliché goes, to stretch the limits of CBA. I’m convinced CBA is not done stretching, but if you’re foolish enough to think it will stretch to include erotica and consistent f-bombs, it might as well exchange its CBA nomenclature for something generic like the ABA. There is a standard in the CBA, and with some publishers it’s very tight, very restricted. But overall that standard is now far more fluid than most people know. You just have to know where—which house—to direct your reading or writing interest.

I don’t mind the term, but I’ve grown a little weary of it. Generally I don’t describe my work as edgy, but if you’re used to reading romance written by Karen Kingsbury who is able to cover “edgy” topics without actually being that way, then chances are you might find some of the “romance” in my novels “edgy”. It isn’t all clean and pretty, and it definitely ain’t fluff, and some of it is front and center “on screen”. No graphics. Just passion. But it’s not all about “romance”. It’s about contrasting the basics of relationship, romance, and sex in the world to that designed and intended by God. I’ve been both places unfortunately. I know what I’m talking about.

So . . . what does edgy mean to you? And do you write with an “edge”?

Father, the objective is to honor you in all we do. That’s the point, the goal, the purpose. Please help me to do just that. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Memorial

Who am I to pay tribute to those who’ve given their lives for me? I am the beneficiary of such an astounding sacrifice, one too great for my unworthiness. The thank-yous are inadequate, the praise insufficient, the relief too obvious. But significant.

First of all: to the One who was unstained by the sinful blood that runs in my veins, who took my punishment, who willingly covered me with his pure blood to wash away my foul acts, the very ones that put Him to death . . . to you, O Jesus, my Lord and Savior, I am grateful beyond the words I offer. The words come out small when my intent is for them to be large, enormous. Enough. But they can never be. Again the sacrifice is too big, immeasurable in human terms.

To those who fought and died whether brave or fearful, they gave all of themselves for families, friends, and strangers. They battled for a nation, for freedom, for justice and the American way. They have spread their blood on foreign soil to preserve the lives of others they never knew. They are soldiers. Warriors.

I am so thankful for the service of our military. Thank you for preserving the privilege of living in a country that fights for freedom and justice.

God, Father of all, Author of life, I ask you to minister your saving grace to those who wear the uniform. Show them the refuge they can take in you alone. Give them courage when they lack it, insights when they are empty and exhausted, hope when bleakness overtakes them, and your light when they’re in the midst of darkness. Show them the purpose you have just for them and may they know the blessing of the Savior Jesus Christ to give them security in this life and the next. I ask it all in the Name, Authority, and Blood of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Sunday's Offerings

For the revelation awaits an appointed time;
it speaks of the end
and will not prove false.
Though it linger, wait for it;
it will certainly come and will not delay.

Habakkuk 2:3 (NIV)

Dissecting

Dissection

Some writers read with a dissecting approach. They say they learn what works this way, what they like and how to do it in their stories. The only way I can read like that is if I have an assignment. And I rarely have anything assigned to me anymore. For awhile after the “rules of writing” kept blasting across the blogosphere, I “observed” some of them in operation in published novels. I also contended that novels religiously observing said rules became formulaic and dispassionate. In other words: boring.

Some of the no-nos in the “rules” don’t ring true for me. I don’t comply because they bring me no reading pleasure. Others work well but not in tedium. I’m convinced that those writers who mix it up once in awhile within their own styles and voices appeal to me more than those who follow a set method or consistently stick to the so-called rules of writing.

I overcame the observance of the rules when reading, but it’s easy to tell when a writer “lives” by them. It’s also easy to tell when a writer isn’t bound to them. Freedom is a wonderful thing when it’s obvious the writer has opted out of the rules by choice and not out of ignorance.

So how do you read?

Father, you designed us, giving us our talents and giftings. The variety in your world and your people can't be calculated by the human mind. You surpass all expectation in creation. Help me to follow the designed path you've made for me. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.