tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-166269732024-03-23T12:46:46.224-05:00Hill Country WriterHusband, Father, Writer, Editor, Teacher, ReaderMarcus Goodyearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07255781957722144278noreply@blogger.comBlogger183125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16626973.post-64894900674040331582011-10-05T14:00:00.002-05:002011-10-05T14:19:01.753-05:00Laity Lodge Consultation on Technology - March 2011<div style="padding: 0; overflow: hidden; margin: 0; width: 500px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rosie_perera/5549146803/in/set-72157626199123303/" title="Eugene Peterson, Albert Borgmann, David Wood, Arthur Boers" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5262/5549146803_6856fdea02_s.jpg" alt="Eugene Peterson, Albert Borgmann, David Wood, Arthur Boers" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rosie_perera/5549724180/in/set-72157626199123303/" title="Approach to Laity Lodge" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5257/5549724180_a38d4f1721_s.jpg" alt="Approach to Laity Lodge" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rosie_perera/5549724354/in/set-72157626199123303/" title="Approach to Laity Lodge" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5260/5549724354_051f9c88ed_s.jpg" alt="Approach to Laity Lodge" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rosie_perera/5549724568/in/set-72157626199123303/" title="Approach to Laity Lodge" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5056/5549724568_e84806ccec_s.jpg" alt="Approach to Laity Lodge" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rosie_perera/5549141695/in/set-72157626199123303/" title="Laity Lodge" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5261/5549141695_1ce1e226c5_s.jpg" alt="Laity Lodge" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rosie_perera/5549141891/in/set-72157626199123303/" title="Laity Lodge" style="display: block; padding: 0 0 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5260/5549141891_d85bb64544_s.jpg" alt="Laity Lodge" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rosie_perera/5549142063/in/set-72157626199123303/" title="Laity Lodge" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5024/5549142063_8d04c89a6d_s.jpg" alt="Laity Lodge" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rosie_perera/5549725374/in/set-72157626199123303/" title="Laity Lodge" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5136/5549725374_24ae75e8ae_s.jpg" alt="Laity Lodge" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rosie_perera/5549725570/in/set-72157626199123303/" title="Laity Lodge" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5293/5549725570_4aa1fcb236_s.jpg" alt="Laity Lodge" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rosie_perera/5549142749/in/set-72157626199123303/" title="Laity Lodge" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5294/5549142749_37bb49608d_s.jpg" alt="Laity Lodge" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rosie_perera/5549725926/in/set-72157626199123303/" title="Laity Lodge" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5253/5549725926_998cc47751_s.jpg" alt="Laity Lodge" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rosie_perera/5549726108/in/set-72157626199123303/" title="Steven Purcell" style="display: block; padding: 0 0 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5251/5549726108_a5eb5a1e5e_s.jpg" alt="Steven Purcell" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rosie_perera/5549726314/in/set-72157626199123303/" title="Attentive audience of techies, theologians, philosophers, writers, and academics" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5012/5549726314_1ab457ddc0_s.jpg" alt="Attentive audience of techies, theologians, philosophers, writers, and academics" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rosie_perera/5549726478/in/set-72157626199123303/" title="Tim Blanks (Laity Lodge Director of Operations)" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5222/5549726478_2df35a77b3_s.jpg" alt="Tim Blanks (Laity Lodge Director of Operations)" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rosie_perera/5549143565/in/set-72157626199123303/" title="Pierce Pettis, Jill Phillips & Andy Gullahorn" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5052/5549143565_4838eaa445_s.jpg" alt="Pierce Pettis, Jill Phillips & Andy Gullahorn" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rosie_perera/5549726768/in/set-72157626199123303/" title="David Wood" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5143/5549726768_37a19f2687_s.jpg" alt="David Wood" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rosie_perera/5549143877/in/set-72157626199123303/" title="Eugene Peterson" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5262/5549143877_0d0e2bd0c7_s.jpg" alt="Eugene Peterson" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rosie_perera/5549727056/in/set-72157626199123303/" title="Arthur Boers" style="display: block; padding: 0 0 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5187/5549727056_b5418132a2_s.jpg" alt="Arthur Boers" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rosie_perera/5549727220/in/set-72157626199123303/" title="Albert Borgmann" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5258/5549727220_3ec31c0847_s.jpg" alt="Albert Borgmann" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rosie_perera/5549144311/in/set-72157626199123303/" title="Laity Lodge" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5264/5549144311_f928c62781_s.jpg" alt="Laity Lodge" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rosie_perera/5549144547/in/set-72157626199123303/" title="Steven Purcell" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5222/5549144547_17069a2fcc_s.jpg" alt="Steven Purcell" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rosie_perera/5549144757/in/set-72157626199123303/" title="Steven Purcell" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5261/5549144757_3a2b4a1205_s.jpg" alt="Steven Purcell" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rosie_perera/5549727954/in/set-72157626199123303/" title="Eugene Peterson, Arthur Boers, David Wood" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5139/5549727954_c7947bc004_s.jpg" alt="Eugene Peterson, Arthur Boers, David Wood" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rosie_perera/5549145109/in/set-72157626199123303/" title="David Wood, Kenny Benge, Wan How, Mark Purcell" style="display: block; padding: 0 0 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5023/5549145109_88f5c0c834_s.jpg" alt="David Wood, Kenny Benge, Wan How, Mark Purcell" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;" /></a> </div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 5px"><p>A few months ago, I was privileged to be at the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rosie_perera/sets/72157626199123303/">Laity Lodge Consultation on Technology - March 2011</a>. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rosie_perera/">Rosie Perera</a> just posted this set of photos on Flickr.</p><p>I attend a lot of incredible retreats at Laity Lodge, but this was hands down one of the best. Eugene Peterson is always great, but Borgmann challenged me to think in ways that I could not have imagined--so that my family now engages regularly in focal practices (like walking to school, playing board games, etc.) We have even tried to create some focal practices around technology, too, sharing movie night, watching youtube videos together, and working on Lego stop motion movies with their ipods.</p><p>You can hear all of the talks from this retreat at the <a href="http://www.laitylodge.org/2011/03/12/consultation-on-technology/">Laity Lodge website</a>. I highly recommend them, but at least listen to the panel.</p><p><br /></p></div>Marcus Goodyearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07255781957722144278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16626973.post-77662585005701174702011-09-02T16:22:00.001-05:002011-09-02T16:22:01.224-05:00Zombies<div style="padding: 0; overflow: hidden; margin: 0; width: 500px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/eturior/4945116267/in/gallery-goodwordediting-72157627454526811/" title="Zombies!" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4153/4945116267_67fcc9faa7_s.jpg" alt="Zombies!" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27118863@N06/2557774750/in/gallery-goodwordediting-72157627454526811/" title="Zombie front" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3255/2557774750_6f7510b5d6_s.jpg" alt="Zombie front" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/julie_coulter/218759214/in/gallery-goodwordediting-72157627454526811/" title="Soccer Mom Zombie" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/84/218759214_8dd3b782ea_s.jpg" alt="Soccer Mom Zombie" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/james-mannequindisplay/5109324978/in/gallery-goodwordediting-72157627454526811/" title="Toronto 2010 Zombie Walk" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1344/5109324978_6bbfee8747_s.jpg" alt="Toronto 2010 Zombie Walk" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/brosko/4751270663/in/gallery-goodwordediting-72157627454526811/" title="Zombies" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4122/4751270663_e8fde44fc4_s.jpg" alt="Zombies" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dunechaser/2918021174/in/gallery-goodwordediting-72157627454526811/" title="Zombie Apocafest 2008 - Overall" style="display: block; padding: 0 0 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3033/2918021174_93cd915aa3_s.jpg" alt="Zombie Apocafest 2008 - Overall" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><br clear="all"/><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/50304076@N04/5981401852/in/gallery-goodwordediting-72157627454526811/" title="Zombie survival sheet (Xan's Version)" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6149/5981401852_f56aabb188_s.jpg" alt="Zombie survival sheet (Xan's Version)" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><div style="padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://l.yimg.com/g/images/gallery-empty-icon.gif" style="margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"></div><div style="padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://l.yimg.com/g/images/gallery-empty-icon.gif" style="margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"></div><div style="padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://l.yimg.com/g/images/gallery-empty-icon.gif" style="margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"></div><div style="padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://l.yimg.com/g/images/gallery-empty-icon.gif" style="margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"></div><div style="padding: 0 0 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://l.yimg.com/g/images/gallery-empty-icon.gif" style="margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"></div><br clear="all"/></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 5px"><p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/goodwordediting/galleries/72157627454526811/">Zombies</a>, a gallery on Flickr.</p></div><p>This is a sample gallery for Claire on my favorite pastime.</p>Marcus Goodyearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07255781957722144278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16626973.post-84405968944594748922006-12-21T19:59:00.000-06:002006-12-21T20:05:56.503-06:00Taking a Break HereI'm taking a break from HillCountryWriter. I may come back, I don't know. In the meantime, I'm spending some time launching a new blog in WordPress over at <a href="http://goodwordediting.com">GoodWordEditing.com</a>. If you get a chance, drop a comment over there. I'll be posting several times each week.<br /><br />I'll also continue to upload chapters to my <a href="http://entirebookinablog.blogspot.com/2006/11/table-of-contents.html">Entire Book in a Blog</a>. I'll also continue to use blogger for short-term, self-contained blog projects like that.<br /><br />And everyone remember, the same Mark Goodyear that posts here is posting there. For all the title changing and whatnot, I'm still me. I just need to explore whether WordPress can work the way I hope it will. Here's hoping.<br /><br />Part of that hope will be to see what happens when I grab my archives here and take them there. It sounds like a kind of blogger armageddon, but I want to give it a try. If the world of HillCountryWriter ends suddenly, you'll know that my little archive grabbing experiment failed.<br /><br />So anyway.<br /><br />Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16626973.post-42794341690874674002006-12-16T09:43:00.000-06:002006-12-16T09:56:31.438-06:00I Need Your AdviceA friend of mine built me this beautiful blog over in Word Press. I like the Word Press platform a lot better, but I could never have learned it without my blogger training wheels.<br /><br />Originally, my thought was to run HillCountryWriter here and a separate blog there, GoodWordEditing. Similar to what Camy does with Camy's Loft and Story Sensei. But now I worry that I will not be able to keep both blogs running.<br /><br />So I'm thinking of bringing HillCountryWriter to a close. I'll still be writing over at the other site as myself, plain ol' Mark Goodyear. I still post the same kinds of content, but the new platform will give me many more options for design and content uploading.<br /><br />So here's the question. What do you all think I should do? Is it a travesty to close HillCountryWriter? Do you think <a href="http://goodwordediting.com">the other site</a> looks good?<br /><br />Also, does anyone know what would happen to inbound links if I moved HillCountryWriter archives over to WordPress?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16626973.post-31100762905812814402006-12-13T11:48:00.000-06:002006-12-13T11:55:46.969-06:00Does Your Work Help Others or Harm Them?Andre Yee raises some interesting issues about <a href="http://everysquareinch.blogspot.com/2006/12/spurgeon-on-choosing-your-occupation.html">work as a calling</a> over on his blog. (I'm a bit slow in responding, but better late than never.)<br /><br />In the comments, he recasts Spurgeon's statement about "trades which are injurious to men's minds" in 21st century language: "whether it does good or harm to our fellow man."<br /><br />Now, I don't think marketers, actors, or grocery managers who sell alcohol are immoral. I've just heard people call them immoral professions. I've also heard people throw such stones at public school teachers (really!), nuclear power, and businesses that they deem "too financially successful."<br /><br />I like Andre's idea that our work must not do harm to others, but I wonder how much we are held responsible for the decisions of others to harm themselves with our work.<br /><br />For example, Andre suggests that working as a bartender may be immoral. I can imagine seedy bars where that would definitely be the case. But what if I were a bartender at Chili's or some similar restaraunt? Does my specialization within the restaraunt make my work there inherently immoral?<br /><br />Can someone mix margarita's for God? Can they brew beer for God? Can they ferment wine for God?<br /><br />And more importantly, if they can't, then am I depending upon someone's immorality before I can order up a margarita?<br /><br />These questions are rhetorical really. I think people <span style="font-style: italic;">can </span>mix drinks for God. It's strange to say. And it's a job that would certainly require a high level of integrity, but it is conceivable to me.<br /><br />(I should add a reminder here that my views on this blog are not the opinion of my employer or the websites that I edit. Whew. Had to get that off my chest.)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16626973.post-89242317046504651352006-12-12T15:39:00.001-06:002006-12-12T16:16:06.777-06:00Darkness and Truth - CSFF Blog Tour Day 2First, if you haven't read the first chapter of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/asin/1595540407">Trackers</a>, <a href="http://jerkrenak.blogspot.com/">Stuart Stockton</a> posted it over on <a href="http://specfaith.ritersbloc.com/2006/12/12/csff-blog-tour-day-2-trackers-chapter-1.aspx">Speculative Faith</a>. (Ok, that's a lot of links for one sentence, go <a href="http://specfaith.ritersbloc.com/2006/12/12/csff-blog-tour-day-2-trackers-chapter-1.aspx">here</a> to read the first chapter. And as long as we're sharing first chapters, consider reading the first two chapters of <a href="http://entirebookinablog.blogspot.com/2006/11/table-of-contents.html">my fantasy novel</a>. And I fully admit that link is shameless. ; )<br /><br />Here's my favorite paragraph from the first chapter of Trackers:<br /><blockquote>"Twenty paces high and a hundred deep, the Wall of Traxx ringed the stronghold with a vast stretch of flowers and thorns. The flowers bloomed on the outside—tiny but profuse blooms of roses, lilies, sunflowers, daffodils, and flowers even an experienced tracker like Timothy couldn’t name, all infused with intoxicating fragrance. But beyond the blooms lay a maze of thorns the size of a strong-arm’s lance and briar thickets that a mogged rhinoceros couldn’t pass through. Many men—indeed, full armies—had been fooled by the wall’s enticing exterior, only to be impaled by the thorns and die tangled in the briars."</blockquote>Yesterday, <a href="http://rebeccaluellamiller.wordpress.com/2006/12/11/csff-tour-trackers-day-1/">Becky LuElla Miller</a> commented on the darkness of the imagery in <span style="font-style: italic;">Trackers</span>. A lot of the Christian market shies away from dark imagery. Even Anne Rice, the Queen of Dark Fantasy, felt she had to distance herself from such images once she returned to the faith.<br /><br />Consider this New York Times quote from "<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/10/movies/10gros.html">A Once-Feared Kingmaker Called to a Different Battle</a>": "After announcing in 2003 that she would no longer 'approach the altar of God in convolution' by writing books about vampires, Ms. Rice in 2005 published Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt, the first of several planned novels about Jesus."<br /><br />It seems to me that <span style="font-weight: bold;">Christian fantasy always approaches the altar of God in convolution.</span> Or is this simply a matter of degrees?<br /><br />I love literal novels about Jesus, and I love writing <a href="http://hillcountrywriter.blogspot.com/2006/04/another-easter-poem.html">poetry about Jesus</a>. Don't get me wrong. But what I love about this genre. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Speculative fiction gets underneath people's defenses. </span>Public school teachers read <span style="font-style: italic;">Narnia </span>to their students. Tolkein's faith comes to life through the redemption of Frodo and the shire.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">That's the power of speculative fiction.</span><br /><br />I read an essay by William Edgar in <span style="font-style: italic;">It Was Good</span> (Square Halo Press) about how Christian artists wrestle with the issue of evil.<br /><br />Edgar wrote, "C.S. Lewis once said that <span style="font-weight: bold;">the Christian writer should have blood in his veins, not ink.</span> What he meant was that if an artist sets out to make a Christian statement in an art object, the chances are it will not be art, but a contrived pronouncement. Rather, the believer, like anyone else, should first be passionate about his chosen medium, work in it, and let any ‘message’ emerge almost as a by-product. . . . Living in the real world, being human, knowing about life and people, <span style="font-weight: bold;">believing in truth, and wrestling honestly with the troubles and sufferings that inevitably come along, these are the best ways to prepare to create.</span>”<br /><br />I agree with William Edgar. Too often Christian artists "don’t quite dare walk between the flames trusting that God can guide us and deliver us. We refuse to admit of tension and ambiguity. Because of that we can’t honestly ask with the Psalmist, ‘<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2088:14-18;&version=31;">Why, O Lord?</a>’ <span style="font-weight: bold;">Our artistic production is not surprisingly one-dimensional. Being real in art is only possible when we can be real with God. </span>The slaves in the antebellum South were… They are among the many in ‘misery’ to whom the light has been given. And so they have asked, ‘Why?’ When we have recovered their candor we may be able to say it in our artworks.”<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The world is a dark place. Speculative Fiction allows us to discuss that darkness in ways that won't dangle temptations before the reader.</span><br /><br />Here's a good example. My wife is terrified by realistic violence in movies. But she adores <span style="font-style: italic;">Lord of the Rings</span>. "Oh, that's fantasy," she says. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Somehow, the genre trick of setting the morality tale in another world contains its literal dangers without diminishing its moral power.</span><br /><br />That's the power of speculative fiction.<br /><br />Yesterday I confessed that this market for Christian speculative fiction seems to be wide open. Who can doubt the market for Christian fantasy? Becky emailed me with this comment (because blogger comments were acting buggy),<br /><blockquote>"It seems evident to me that there is a demand for these books, but publishers who haven't picked up CSFF before are watching the few who have and telling us at writers' conferences that the books don't sell.<br /><br />"My response is, <span style="font-weight: bold;">fans of the genre don't know it's out there</span> and aren't going to Christian stores to look for it, so our first job is to educate the public.<br /><br />"Once readers find an author like Mackel, I think it will be like the bursting of a dam. But first ... there's this "get the word out" stage."</blockquote>Finally, I should let the author of <span style="font-style: italic;">Trackers </span>speak for herself on this very issue! <a href="http://bethgoddard.blogspot.com/2006/12/interview-with-kathryn-mackel-part-i.html%20">Beth Goddard</a> posted an interview, in which Kathryn Mackel says,<br /><blockquote>"What I love most off all is <span style="font-weight: bold;">using the vehicle of fiction to portray the daily provision and deliverance by which a Spirit-led life</span> is blessed. Niki huddling under a piece of shroud to escape the fire of wrath is an exciting scene but more importantly for me, it’s a picture of the covering that Jesus Christ gives me. Fantasy gives the writer so many opportunities to portray spiritual truths—and joys."<br /><br />"Imaginative literature gives us the tools to<span style="font-weight: bold;"> show truth in so many compelling ways.</span> People perceive truth in different ways. Jesus knew this, which is why he taught some in parables and others in harsh tones. The apostle Paul geared his teaching for different cultural groups. Certainly Tolkien, Lewis, and Charles Williams used fantasy (and a little science fiction, in Lewis’ case) to great effect."</blockquote><span style="font-style: italic;">What do you think? Is there a market for Christian fantasy? Does the Christian market have room for the dark truths of the world?</span><br /><br />(And keep your fingers crossed that blogger comments start working.)<br /><br />Here's that list of participants again: <a href="http://jimfictionreview.blogspot.com/"> Jim Black</a>, <a href="http://www.journeyintograce.blogspot.com/"> Jackie Castle</a>, <a href="http://invalslittleworld.blogspot.com/"> Valerie Comer</a>, <a href="http://afrankreview.blogspot.com/"> Frank Creed</a>, <a href="http://genecurtis.blogspot.com/"> Gene Curtis</a>, <a href="http://writeandwhine.blogspot.com/"> Chris Deanne</a>, <a href="http://janey-demeo.blogspot.com/"> Janey DeMeo</a>, <a href="http://projectinga.blogspot.com/"> April Erwin</a>, <a href="http://bethgoddard.blogspot.com/"> Beth Goddard</a>, Mark Goodyear (Yours Truly), <a href="http://anewnovelistsjourney.blogspot.com/"> Todd Michael Greene</a>, <a href="http://www.karenhancock.blogspot.com/"> Karen Hancock</a>, <a href="http://clawoftheconciliator.blogspot.com/"> Elliot Hanowski</a>, <a href="http://writingchristiannovels.blogspot.com/"> Katie Hart</a>, <a href="http://sphibbs.blogspot.com/"> Sherrie Hibbs</a>, <a href="http://www.sharonswriting.blogspot.com/"> Sharon Hinck</a>, <a href="http://www.faithfiction.blogspot.com/"> Joleen Howell</a>, <a href="http://www.spoiledfortheordinary.blogspot.com/"> Jason Joyner</a>, <a href="http://www.karenee.blogspot.com/"> Karen</a>, <a href="http://blog.myspace.com/Oliver_King"> Oliver King</a>, <a href="http://tinakulesa.com/weblog/"> Tina Kulesa</a>, <a href="http://lostgenre.blogspot.com/"> Lost Genre Guild</a>, <a href="http://www.kevinlucia.net/bookreviews/"> Kevin Lucia</a>, <a href="http://thebookshelfreviews.blogspot.com/"> The Bookshelf Reviews 2.0 - The Compendium</a>, <a href="http://wayfarersjournalblog.blogspot.com/"> Terri Main</a>, <a href="http://www.shadowofthewood.com/happenings/"> Rachel Marks</a>, <a href="http://shenandoahdawn.blogspot.com/"> Shannon McNear</a>, <a href="http://rebeccaluellamiller.wordpress.com/"> Rebecca LuElla Miller</a>, <a href="http://reviewsplus.blogspot.com/"> Caleb Newell</a>, <a href="http://questwriter.blogspot.com/"> Eve Nielsen</a>, <a href="http://www.leastread.blogspot.com/"> John Otte</a>, <a href="http://www.unseenworlds.blogspot.com/"> Cheryl Russel</a>, <a href="http://hannaslifeiscool.blogspot.com/"> Hannah Sandvig</a>, <a href="http://mirathon.blogspot.com/"> Mirtika Schultz </a>, <a href="http://www.jamessomersonline.com/"> James Somers</a>, <a href="http://jerkrenak.blogspot.com/"> Stuart Stockton</a>, <a href="http://christiansf.blogspot.com/"> Steve Trower</a>, <a href="http://specfaith.ritersbloc.com/"> Speculative Faith</a>, <a href="http://chriswalley.blogspot.com/"> Chris Walley</a>, <a href="http://www.danieliweaver.com/blog"> Daniel I. Weaver</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16626973.post-43912059148323801692006-12-12T09:51:00.000-06:002006-12-12T09:55:58.669-06:00Comment ProblemsI was so excited to switch to the new blogger. And now people are emailing me saying they can't comment.<br /><br />This isn't a shameless attempt to get comments, but I need some comments on this post to check some things.<br /><br />And of course, I love you all!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16626973.post-59190549815551380092006-12-11T17:30:00.000-06:002006-12-11T16:58:22.911-06:00Christian Science Fiction and Fantasy Blog Tour!Recently, I joined the CSFF blog tour. It's a group of folks dedicated to helping the publishing world see the validity of this genre. I'm still puzzled though. Why do we need to convince publishers that there is a market for books like <span style="font-style:italic;">Lord of the Rings</span> and <span style="font-style:italic;">Narnia </span>and <span style="font-style:italic;">Wrinkle in Time</span>?<a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/asin/1595540407"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/132/319924913_ace58cf848_o.jpg" width="240" height="240" alt="Trackers" style="float:right"/></a><br /><br />Speculative Fiction was part of Christian fiction long before Christian Publishers organized themselves in the mid 1980s.<br /><br />Still here we are. Over the next few days, I'll be posting more about this specific blog tour and the <a href="http://www.kathrynmackel.com/">Kathryn Mackel's</a> book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/asin/1595540407">Trackers</a>. <br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">As much for myself as anyone, here is the complete list of people participating in this blog tour.</span><br /><br /><a href="http://jimfictionreview.blogspot.com/"> Jim Black</a><br /><a href="http://www.journeyintograce.blogspot.com"> Jackie Castle</a><br /><a href="http://invalslittleworld.blogspot.com/"> Valerie Comer</a><br /><a href="http://afrankreview.blogspot.com/"> Frank Creed</a><br /><a href="http://genecurtis.blogspot.com/"> Gene Curtis</a><br /><a href="http://writeandwhine.blogspot.com/"> Chris Deanne</a><br /><a href="http://janey-demeo.blogspot.com/"> Janey DeMeo</a><br /><a href="http://projectinga.blogspot.com/"> April Erwin</a><br /><a href="http://bethgoddard.blogspot.com/"> Beth Goddard</a><br />Mark Goodyear (Yours Truly)<br /><a href="http://anewnovelistsjourney.blogspot.com"> Todd Michael Greene</a><br /><a href="http://www.karenhancock.blogspot.com/"> Karen Hancock</a><br /><a href="http://clawoftheconciliator.blogspot.com"> Elliot Hanowski</a><br /><a href="http://writingchristiannovels.blogspot.com/"> Katie Hart</a><br /><a href="http://sphibbs.blogspot.com/"> Sherrie Hibbs</a><br /><a href="http://www.sharonswriting.blogspot.com/"> Sharon Hinck</a><br /><a href="http://www.faithfiction.blogspot.com/"> Joleen Howell</a><br /><a href="http://www.spoiledfortheordinary.blogspot.com/"> Jason Joyner</a> <br /><a href="http://www.karenee.blogspot.com"> Karen</a><br /><a href="http://blog.myspace.com/Oliver_King"> Oliver King</a><br /><a href="http://tinakulesa.com/weblog/"> Tina Kulesa</a><br /><a href="http://lostgenre.blogspot.com/"> Lost Genre Guild</a><br /><a href="http://www.kevinlucia.net/bookreviews/"> Kevin Lucia</a><br /><a href="http://thebookshelfreviews.blogspot.com/"> The Bookshelf Reviews 2.0 - The Compendium</a><br /><a href="http://wayfarersjournalblog.blogspot.com/"> Terri Main</a> <br /><a href="http://www.shadowofthewood.com/happenings/"> Rachel Marks</a><br /><a href="http://shenandoahdawn.blogspot.com/"> Shannon McNear</a><br /><a href="http://rebeccaluellamiller.wordpress.com/"> Rebecca LuElla Miller</a><br /><a href="http://reviewsplus.blogspot.com"> Caleb Newell</a><br /><a href="http://questwriter.blogspot.com/"> Eve Nielsen</a><br /><a href="http://www.leastread.blogspot.com"> John Otte</a> <br /><a href="http://www.unseenworlds.blogspot.com/"> Cheryl Russel</a><br /><a href="http://hannaslifeiscool.blogspot.com/"> Hannah Sandvig</a><br /><a href="http://mirathon.blogspot.com/"> Mirtika Schultz </a><br /><a href="http://www.jamessomersonline.com/"> James Somers</a><br /><a href="http://jerkrenak.blogspot.com/"> Stuart Stockton</a><br /><a href="http://christiansf.blogspot.com/"> Steve Trower</a><br /><a href="http://specfaith.ritersbloc.com/"> Speculative Faith</a><br /><a href="http://chriswalley.blogspot.com/"> Chris Walley</a><br /><a href="http://www.danieliweaver.com/blog"> Daniel I. Weaver</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16626973.post-5167628661604752022006-12-11T16:15:00.000-06:002006-12-11T16:22:17.781-06:00Modern Day NoahFor better or worse, it's The Office meets Noah's Ark. A 21st century sit com interpretation of holy writ. Of course, I still haven't seen Bruce Almighty.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Z0hfd0rfQa0"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Z0hfd0rfQa0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object><br /><br />To the point. For now let's assume good faith about the movie, which is to say I figure it contains no obscene heresy or ridiculous denials of God's basic goodness or justice or what have you.<br /><span style="font-style:italic;"><br />Are movies like this helpful to the gospel or harmful?</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16626973.post-1165519976939781672006-12-08T18:18:00.000-06:002006-12-08T11:14:12.166-06:00Darn It, Men Can Be Thankful Too"A damn'd mob of blogging women." That's a paraphrase of <a href="http://www.mansfield.ohio-state.edu/courses/view.cfm?id=337">Nathaniel Hawthorne</a>'s feelings about women. <br /><br />I don't feel that way.<br /><br />But, man, these ladies are blogging fiends. I'm talking about productivity here. How do they do it? Tip of the hat to Camy Tang for leading me to the One Thousand Gifts. <br /><br />(The only guy I know who even comes close is Scot McKnight. I'm convinced Scot is actually a team of preachers spread across denominations. Scot must be a conspiracy. It's the only explanation for his prolific abilities.)<br /><br />Have you seen this?<br /><center><a href="http://www.christianwomenonline.net/One_Thousand_Gifts.html" ><img border="0" src="http://www.christianwomenonline.net/giftsgraphic.jpg" /></a></center><br /><br />It's sponsored by <a href="http://www.christianwomenonline.net/index.htm">Christian Women Online</a>. Their expressed purpose is to unite women of faith. That's a good purpose, but I'm not a woman.<br /><br />Still, I couldn't find any rule that said their One Thousand Gifts project was specifically to unite the <span style="font-weight:bold;">women</span> of faith. It seemed to be more inclusive than "Finding the Me in Mommy" or "Scriptural Fruit Cake," for example.<br /><br />So, I'm going to list One Thousand Gifts, too. Try and stop me.<br /><blockquote>1. My wife, Amy, who keeps me in line.<br />2. My daughter, Carroll Jane, who we call CJ and who reminds me to slow down.<br />3. My son, Lyle, who reminds me to run (the pre-school teachers at our church call him "4 by 4").<br />4. My dad, the FedEx pilot, who taught me to dream.<br />5. My mom, who taught me to love.<br />6. The resurrection of Jesus Christ. (Wow, am I a bad Christian for not thinking of this until #6?)<br />7. My friend, Dan. (Who apparently ranks just under Jesus.)<br />8. In fact, the entire communications department starting with Keith (you're the best, man)<br />9. And Vicki (she is a Llama farmer!). I can't say how much you all mean to me in #7-9.<br />10. Oh heck, I can't leave out the development people. Like Perri. She taught me about dispensationalism.<br />11. And Connie, who gives me chocolate kisses and a poinsetta!<br />12. And Sherry, who just retired to be with her grandkids full time, but I miss her.<br />13. Let's see. More people. My sister, Renee, OF COURSE. She lives in San Antonio. And I love her to death. She can't tell a lie.<br />14. My brother-in-law, Greg, her husband. We had a good time at Laity Lodge. We need to kill each other on the XBox again soon.<br />15. My other brother-in-law, Rob. Amy's brother. You keep me honest, man. And we can watch slasher flicks together. Cool.<br />16. And OF COURSE, my blood brother, Nathan. I love you, bro. Enough said.<br />17. His wife, Tammy, who is still trying to help me understand the perspective of a Southern Belle. I'm trying (and I love you too.)<br />18. Their wonderful four kids. My daughter can't wait to spend Christmas with you all.<br />19. My sister's wonderful kid(s). The one that's out and playing with Lyle . . . and the one that's still cooking.<br />20. The sudden feeling of being overwhelmed by the tremendous blessings of my friends and family and the knowledge that none of them will think I'm ranking people here. This is a stream-of-conscious list.</blockquote><br /><br />More later. (If I'm crashing a party by doing this, I'll stop. I just think the idea is too good to limit to one gender, even if they are the <i>fairer</i> sex.)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16626973.post-1165600378088172962006-12-08T12:23:00.000-06:002006-12-08T13:28:15.968-06:00Open Letter to a Kid Discouraged with the CelloDear Barkat Kid,<br /><br />First, I think you should seriously consider becoming an outlaw. "The Barkat Kid" is a moniker that is just too cool to pass up.<br /><br />So, here's the deal. <a href="http://seedlingsinstone.blogspot.com/2006/12/cello-cares.html">I heard you are discouraged with the cello.</a><br /><br />Your mom says you are good at the piano. Yea! I wish I could play it well.<br /><br />Knowing that you are good at the piano, I'm going to make a little leap here. But I also suspect that your talent with the ivories is partly to blame for your frustration with the cello. You know what good music should sound like. And you know that the squeaks and sqawks coming from your cello are something else entirely.<br /><br />The cello is so hard. Hard even to play in tune. And you probably feel like you are years away from sounding the way you know good music <i>should</i> sound.<br /><br />But your mom has these free lessons. Maybe you can agree to a trial period? Maybe you can set some specific goals you need to achieve during that time measure your progress? To feel better about the instrument? Maybe lessons for a year allows enough time to test it?<br /><br />You know. I'll bet your mother secretly wishes <i>she</i> could play the cello. Maybe you feel like she is forcing her ambition on to you. That's a divisive way of putting it, but it raises another question. What if your mom took cello lessons with you? She'll probably kill me for suggesting this. [UPDATE: in the comments, L. L. Barkat reveals that <b>her husband has the cello ambitions</b>. Hey, man, I can't blame you. I have similar guitar ambitions. But no guitar discipline.]<br /><br />Also, the cello can feel like a very serious instrument. Try to remember what it means to <i>play</i> an instrument. Don't work the cello. Play it. Enjoy it--even when it feels like the cello is always winning. Eventually, you'll get it. Someday, you'll play that game and win. Checkmate. If you can learn to love it, you'll master it slowly, but surely.<br /><br />Finally, see if you can find some cello mentors. Not your teacher, of course. He or she is hopelessly prejudiced toward the cello. Older high school students who play well, might work.<br /><br />Finally (that's a second finally), you may be interested in the music by our youth minister and his wife. <a href="http://cdbaby.com/cd/ladyjanegrey2">Lady Jane Grey</a>. They play Texas Folk with guitar and--you guessed it--cello. And if you get a chance, you should definitely read <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Hour-Encores-Bruce-Brooks/dp/0064470210/ref=ed_oe_p/104-9085245-9022300">Midnight Hour Encores</a> by Bruce Brooks. It's about a young cello player.<br /><br />Sincerely,<br /><br />Marcus<br />(just another adult who wants you to keep playing cello because he wishes he could play cello)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16626973.post-1165332777661720172006-12-05T09:27:00.000-06:002006-12-07T13:17:44.036-06:00Read Christian Fantasy Online - Light on Trite<span style="font-style:italic;">Reader beware: I've been a little obsessed with a larger book project lately, so the post you are about to read is shameless navel gazing and self-promotion. Enjoy the lint!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">"Light on trite."</span> That's a summary of L. L. Barkat's comment on chapters one through four of <a href="http://entirebookinablog.blogspot.com/2006/11/table-of-contents.html">Into the Mountain</a>, my Entire Book in a Blog. <br /><br />And isn't our tendency toward trite cliché the big challenge in Christian fiction? <span style="font-weight:bold;">How do we write moral tales, avoid immoral descriptions and immoral characters, and still present a truth</span> that is real enough to be honest?<br /><br />Too much Christian fiction ends up being trite.<br /><br />We want to avoid pain in our books. It's only natural. The world has enough pain. So why would we create more pain for people to read about?<br /><br />The reason is simple. <span style="font-weight:bold;">If our characters don't work through real pain and suffering, then their redemption will be cheap. And cheap grace only leads to self-righteousness and apathy.</span><br /><br />Thanks also to <a href="http://www.emdashery.com/emdashery_blog/">Patrick Borders at Emdashery</a> for <a href="http://www.emdashery.com/emdashery_blog/2006/12/free_books_for_.html">inviting his readers</a> to check out EntireBookInaBlog. <br /><br />Be sure to <a href="http://entirebookinablog.blogspot.com/2006/11/do-you-like-what-you-are-reading.html">subscribe to guarantee your chance to read the entire book</a>. (If NavPress asks for the full manuscript, I will stop posting new chapters. UPDATE: NavPress asked to see the second half of the first half of the novel on Tuesday!--um, that would be the second quarter of the novel, I guess.)<br /><br />If you haven't read much, I'd invite you to start at chapter 1, <a href="http://entirebookinablog.blogspot.com/2006/11/into-mountain-1-dreams-begin.html">The Dreams Begin</a>.<br /><br />Here's a teaser for <a href="http://entirebookinablog.blogspot.com/2006/12/into-mountain-6-mountain-on-my-blanket.html">chapter 6</a>...<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">“I went to the Iska this morning,” I said. “She took one of my mountain blankets and told me the creation story again.”<br /><br />“The Iska took a mountain blanket?” Jena looked confused. Looking at my display, she must have realized the reason for my strange folds. My blankets were folded to hide their designs. “How long, Beka?” she asked.<br /><br />“What do you mean?”<br /><br />“Are you dreaming?”<br /><br />“Everyone dreams. Sometimes I dream the traders will steal me away. Sometimes I dream my parents will work again. Sometimes I dream Adam will decide to marry us both. Then at least I would have a friend in my own family.”<br /><br />Jena rolled her eyes. “You know what I mean, Beka. Are you dreaming about mountains.”<br /><br />“I would be his second wife, of course. That would make you third.” I laughed, “Pour me some gepa, Third Wife!” but Jena ignored me.<br /><br />“Do you think you will leave the village?” she asked.<br /><br />“I don’t know,” I whispered.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16626973.post-1165243261808202382006-12-04T07:55:00.000-06:002006-12-04T08:41:02.206-06:00Camy Tang on Dialogue and Action Beats<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://static.flickr.com/103/314003110_ef895a325b_o.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://static.flickr.com/103/314003110_ef895a325b_o.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://storysensei.blogspot.com/">Story Sensei</a> has pointed out something so true--and yet so obvious in her recent series on dialogue. Some writer's tend to qualify their dialogue with too many action beats. (Be sure to read her short post about <a href="http://storysensei.blogspot.com/2006/12/dialoguetoo-many-action-beats.html">action beats</a>.)<br /><br />Camy then discusses both appropriate and inappropriate uses of action beats. Sometimes the dialogue needs a pause. Sometimes the characters stop speaking for a moment, and the writer must insert some description to create that moment for the reader.<br /><br />But usually dialogue makes the story move quickly--in part because of the short paragraphs, I think.<br /><br />When we add too many action beats, I think it actually slows the reader down even more than normal description--because now the reader has to switch mental gears from dialogue to description and back again.<br /><br />I only know one way to learn the art of dialogue. Read plays! And the best way to find the best plays is to look at the <a href="http://www.tonyawards.com/en_US/index.html">Tonys</a>. <a href="http://www.tonyawards.com/en_US/archive/pastwinners/index.html">Search by winner of best Play</a> in the drop down list and you'll find 70 to choose from. Now get some used copies! Often these will come with several plays in one book, like <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Beauty-Queen-Leenane-Other-Plays/dp/0375704876/sr=8-2/qid=1165242104/ref=pd_bbs_2/104-9085245-9022300?ie=UTF8&s=books">The Beauty Queen of Leenane</a>. (If you are feeling stout of heart, check out other works by Martin Mcdonagh--especially <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Pillowman-Play-Martin-McDonagh/dp/0571220320/sr=8-1/qid=1165242104/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-9085245-9022300?ie=UTF8&s=books">The Pillow Man</a>.)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16626973.post-1165012397653049502006-12-01T17:28:00.000-06:002006-12-01T17:02:32.476-06:00Flesh Eater - a new poemCrackers snap against brass plates and scatter<br />crumbs across paper doilies while we meditate.<br />Dan, my preacher uncle, believes in water<br />like his Dunker grandpa, demanding holy baths<br />to seek God’s face and favor. Catholic Dan,<br />my friend, once explained transubstantiation.<br />I wish I could believe this<br />communion mush mixed with my spit transforms<br />to flesh in my throat. God's power could turn<br />symbol into fact, surely, but his Word<br />spreads fire hotter than literal truth.<br />Burning symbols leave bushes whole,<br />green and fragrant with Spring. Why<br />do I want the bush to burn? Why<br />do I want God’s power to leave ash<br />in the land and a scar on my heart?<br /><br />Some verses I was thinking about when I wrote the poem.<br /><br />John 6:53<br />Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you."<br />John 3:5<br />Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit."<br />John 16:13<br />But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.<br />John 18:37-8<br />"You are a king, then!" said Pilate. Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me." "What is truth?" Pilate asked.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">A note on this poem for Dan Goodyear and Dan Roloff. I love you guys, and I hope it is okay that I used you as symbols in my poem. I'm not trying to critique your specific beliefs here. I'm just thinking about my own. One thing I know for sure, God's grace is big enough for all who call on the name of Jesus as their savior. And I like that you are both named after the eldest son of Israel. It seemed important somehow.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16626973.post-1165003465820210972006-12-01T12:15:00.000-06:002006-12-01T14:04:25.996-06:00Shhhh, Let's Go Blog TippingApparently, it takes the force of 4.43 people to <a href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-1858246,00.html">tip a 1 ½ ton cow</a>. And cows are also incredibly light sleepers. Only an urbanite could believe such a ridiculous idea. Here in hill country slow towns, we know better.<br /><br />Blog-tipping is no urban myth. This week I'm going with the tip of the hat metaphor rather than the food service metaphor. So no advice to sub for the 20% markup on my meal. Just a nod and a smile.<br /><br />Also, I'm too tired for more than two.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" >Patrick Borders at the <a href="http://www.emdashery.com/emdashery_blog/">Emdashery</a></span><br /><ul><li>He guided me back to the ever enlightening and <a href="http://jakonrath.blogspot.com/2006/11/ebooks.html">controversial J. A. Konrath</a>. Who is now giving away books online just like me! I'm part of a bandwagon and didn't know it.</li><li>His article <a href="http://www.emdashery.com/emdashery_blog/2006/11/muse_i_dont_thi.html">Muse, I Didn't Think So</a> part of the <a href="http://writermominterrupted.blogspot.com/2006/11/carnival-of-christian-writers-2.html">Carnival of Christian Writers #2</a>.</li><li>His cat hisses at passive sentences. <a href="http://www.emdashery.com/emdashery_blog/2006/11/writers_distrac_3.html">My kind of cat</a>.</li></ul><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" >Darren Rouse at <a href="http://www.problogger.net/">ProBlogger</a></span><br /><ul><li>He's a <a href="http://www.problogger.net/archives/2005/01/06/about-darren/">former Baptist pastor</a> turned problogger. A little like my friend, <a href="http://www.reallivepreacher.com/">Gordon</a>.</li><li>He's transparent about what can and can't be done with a blog. This guy works hard. Now <a href="http://www.problogger.net/problogger-disclaimer/">read his disclaimer</a>!</li><li>He's one of the <a href="http://www.problogger.net/archives/2006/12/01/top-10-technorati-blogs-layout-composite-map/">top ten blogs on technorati</a> because he's a visionary. Consider his <a href="http://jobs.problogger.net/">blog job board</a> and his involvement with <a href="http://www.b5media.com/">b5media</a>, an exciting network of bloggers. </li></ul><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">More blog tipping:<br /><a href="http://hillcountrywriter.blogspot.com/2006/11/friday-friends-blog-tipping.html">Week 1</a><br /><a href="http://hillcountrywriter.blogspot.com/2006/11/friday-friends-blog-tipping_10.html">Week 2</a><br /><a href="http://hillcountrywriter.blogspot.com/2006/11/friday-friends-blog-tipping_17.html">Week 3</a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16626973.post-1164983608490657382006-12-01T07:30:00.000-06:002006-12-01T08:33:28.626-06:00Scot McKnight on ForgivenessScot McKnight has <a href="http://www.jesuscreed.org/?p=1750">a wonderful post this Friday about forgiveness</a>. I don't post things like this very often, but I felt the need to respond to Scot and my thoughts would have hi-jacked his comment section. I'm trying to link to posts more often rather than ramble in long comments or introduce new links. (Thanks to my friends like <a href="http://seedlingsinstone.blogspot.com/2006/12/bereft.html">L. L. Barkat</a> and <a href="http://everysquareinch.blogspot.com/">Andre Yee</a> for tolerating this in the past.)<br /><br />I barely know how to forgive because I<span style="font-weight:bold;">'ve had so few opportunities to do so</span>. My life has been almost completely free from hardship.<br /><br />My mother on the other hand, <span style="font-weight:bold;">God bless her</span>, escaped an incredibly abusive family. She says <span style="font-weight:bold;">she doesn't remember many details</span>, but we know it was bad because she ran away from home when she was only ten. (She thought she was twelve. Unbelievable.)<br /><br />Every so often we ask if she would like us to look up her blood relatives. Find out what happened to her parents and her four siblings. <span style="font-weight:bold;">She just wants to forget</span> them. And in many ways, she seems to have succeeded.<br /><br />So here's the trouble. Our family tree has no branches on her side. I know a few names, but they are <span style="font-weight:bold;">like characters in a book</span>. I find myself needing to forgive people I never knew. People I don't want to know. And I need to forgive them for disappearing so completely.<br /><br />My grandmother never baked me cookies.<br />My grandfather never read me stories.<br />They aren't ghosts.<br />They aren't bad memories.<br />They just don't exist at all.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;"><span style="font-weight:bold;">How do you forgive that?</span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16626973.post-1164834303237664042006-11-29T17:15:00.000-06:002006-11-29T15:05:03.353-06:00New Chapter in My Fantasy NovelWorking on preparing my manuscript for NavPress. Here's an early polished chapter.<br /><br /><blockquote>4—Preparing for Market<br /><br />I stepped over pieces of Iska’s story fish on my way to the first circle. Where the judges of the village lived. They were all watching the people hurry to prepare their goods for the market. The more attractive the display, the more likely the traders will make a purchase.<br /><br />Adam and his first wife, Nora, sat on a blanket, next to strips of deer meat and a stack of deer skins. Adam was the trophy of her display. His bare chest, dripping with sweat and darkened by the sun, left no one wondering who had chased and killed so many deer.</blockquote><br />Click here to <a href="http://entirebookinablog.blogspot.com/2006/11/into-mountain-4-preparing-for-market.html">read the rest of this chapter</a>.<br />Be sure to <a href="http://entirebookinablog.blogspot.com/2006/11/do-you-like-what-you-are-reading.html">subscribe</a> to ensure that you get to read the entire manuscript.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16626973.post-1164659990621872952006-11-27T12:30:00.000-06:002006-11-27T14:39:50.810-06:00NavPress Expressed Interest!<span style="font-weight:bold;">First, the good news!</span> It's the birth of Jesus. And more recently in my life, it's the title of this post. Jesus loves me, and NavPress is thinking about it.<br /><br />Here are the details. <a href="http://www.nunncommunications.com/about/Leslie.html">Leslie Nunn Reed</a> has been acting as an agent for me since January 2006 . . . sort of. We have no formal contract, but she pitched the proposal at the <a href="http://hillcountrywriter.blogspot.com/2006/07/turning-tables-but-not-cheeks-history.html">ICRS</a> this summer. Tyndale and NavPress both expressed interest.<br /><br />A senior editor at NavPress just got back with Leslie. To paraphrase his email, he is sorting through the large stack of proposals on his desk and he likes <span style="font-style:italic;"><a href="http://entirebookinablog.blogspot.com/2006/11/table-of-contents.html">Into the Mountain</a></span> by Marcus Greenberg. (I'm assuming he meant me.) This guy, a senior editor, wants to know if it is still available.<br /><br />As if it might not be available anymore!<br /><br />NavPress!? The same press that published <a href="http://ragamuffindiva.blogspot.com/">Ragamuffin Diva</a>'s great <a href="http://www.navpress.com/Store/Product/1576839788.html">Murder Mystery</a>? Needless to say, I'm excited. Like dancing in my chair excited. I'm trying not to get too excited. I'm trying to limit myself to feelings like this: [clears throat and adopts a serious tone] I'm encouraged that someone likes the book or is thinking at least that they might like it.<br /><br />I immediately told Leslie to jump on it. Half the book is polished. (I'm repolishing it a bit more this week.) She expects he'll want the first half. Which will give me time to finish polishing the second half. (New writers should know this: I have rewritten this book about five times.)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Second, the bad news.</span> It's not really bad news. But you can imagine that NavPress may not want me posting an entire manuscript online before they publish it. So here's my plan. Lean in close, and I'll whisper it in your ear: If you <a href="http://entirebookinablog.blogspot.com/2006/11/do-you-like-what-you-are-reading.html">subscribe</a> to "Entire Book in a Blog," I promise to send you the pdf for the manuscript even if I have to shut the blog down.<br /><br />I admit it is also a shameless marketing attempt to get people to subscribe to that blog. Don't worry about spam or anything. I just send one new chapter per week. You're only committing to about forty emails, plus a few more commentary posts. (I won't sell you anything. Ever.)<br /><br />To be honest, I would also <span style="font-style:italic;">really really really</span> appreciate <a href="http://entirebookinablog.blogspot.com/2006/11/table-of-contents.html"><span style="font-weight:bold;">your comments there</span></a>. They will guide my work as I prepare it for NavPress.<br /><br />That's it. I hope everyone's Thanksgiving was wonderful!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16626973.post-1164083929735046612006-11-20T22:10:00.000-06:002006-11-20T22:38:49.760-06:00Thanksgiving and Pork Rinds and Feedblitz, Oh My!Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! This is my last post for a few days. I'm just going to be present for my family this week.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Thanksgiving</span> is my favorite holiday of the year because I love food. Mmmmm. Pecan pie, hot turkey, LOTS of gravy, Mum's cornbread stuffing (yes, the same Mum who went <a href="http://hillcountrywriter.blogspot.com/2006/11/trust-your-readers-not-to-break-plate.html">duct tape crazy</a>). And family and love and none of the stress or expectations that go along with presents. Just good times and good food. My kind of holiday.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Pork Rinds</span> are nasty, no doubt. But they are yummy nasty, if that makes sense. They are also the subject of chapter 3 from <i>Into the Mountain</i>: <a href="http://entirebookinablog.blogspot.com/2006/11/into-mountain-3-gospel-of-pork-rinds.html">The Gospel of Pork Rinds</a>. With a title like that you can't go wrong. If you would like to start at the beginning, go to the <a href="http://entirebookinablog.blogspot.com/2006/11/table-of-contents.html">Table of Contents</a>. I just consolidated the book posts all on EntireBookInABlog this morning. All three chapters are available as pdfs as well, thanks to <a href="http://www.esnips.com/web/IntotheMountain/">esnips</a>. For those of you who like fried pig skin, bon apetite! For those of you who don't, you don't know what you're missing.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Feedblitz</span>. Finally, I spent this evening doing a little blog cleaning. I dusted off my sidebar and rearranged some things there. I even installed a feedblitz subscription service! (Tip of the hat to <a href="http://storysensei.blogspot.com/">Camy</a> for suggesting this.) If you are tired of checking back here for the next poem or the next chapter in my blogbook or whatever, life just got a whole lot easier.<br /><br />Just type in your email address and click subscribe. You can unsubscribe just as easily. Try it:<br /><br /><i>Subscribe to HillCountryWriter</i><br /><form Method="POST" action="http://www.feedblitz.com/f/f.fbz?AddNewUserDirect"><br />Enter your Email<br><input name="EMAIL" maxlength="255" type="text" size="30" value=""><input name="FEEDID" type="hidden" value="123897"><br /> <input type="submit" value="Subscribe me!"><br /> <font face="Verdana,Arial" size="1"><br>Powered by <a href="http://www.feedblitz.com">FeedBlitz</a></form></font><br /><br />(If you are worried about spam, don't. I barely have the time to blog much less spam anyone. I'd sooner go play cars with my two year old or dance the tango with my daughter or sit on the front porch swing with my wife. Life is too short for spam.)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16626973.post-1163804430101453882006-11-17T16:13:00.000-06:002006-11-17T17:00:30.250-06:00Friday Friend's Blog TippingSo this is week three of blog tipping. You can read <a href="http://hillcountrywriter.blogspot.com/2006/11/friday-friends-blog-tipping_10.html">last week</a> and <a href="http://hillcountrywriter.blogspot.com/2006/11/friday-friends-blog-tipping.html">the week before</a> if you like. It's been a busy few weeks--here and at my desk. I keep meaning to take a break from blogging. I may post a few chapters at <a href="http://entirebookinablog.blogspot.com/2006/11/table-of-contents.html">Entire Book on a Blog</a> and rest a bit. On the other hand, I just got the greatest link from Brian Solis, <a href="http://www.briansolis.com/2006/11/social-media-and-advanced-pr.html">here</a> and <a href="http://www.webpronews.com/blogtalk/blogtalk/wpn-58-20061114SocialMediaandPR911.html">here</a>. Funny how this place works like that.<br /><br />I felt a little weird about the "tips" part, but I'll try one more week to see how it works. Everyone must know this: I'm a hack. The only tip I should give is 20% after a good meal. But since I'm just a poor editor, you're all stuck with my words (and my email subscription or RSS feed).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" >Brian Clark, aka Copyblogger</span><br /><ul><li>He's just awesome. I first read Brian in April 2006. <a href="http://www.copyblogger.com/copywriting-101/">Copywriting 101</a> and <a href="http://www.copyblogger.com/magnetic-headlines/">Magnetic Headlines</a> had me hooked.</li><li>Then I downloaded his ebook <a href="http://www.copyblogger.com/viral-copy/">Viral Marketing</a>, still worth a read.</li><li>And he's still providing good content. Check out his <a href="http://www.copyblogger.com/10-effective-ways-to-get-more-blog-subscribers/">tips on building a subscriber base</a>. Wow!</li></ul><span style="font-style: italic;">Tip: Readers love it when you are honest. Not that marketing copy is dishonest, of course. But I can't say how much I appreciated <a href="http://www.copyblogger.com/whats-in-it-for-you/">last week's post</a> where you levelled with the readers. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" >Andrew Jones, aka Tall Skinny Kiwi</span><br /><ul><li>He took <a href="http://tallskinnykiwi.typepad.com/tallskinnykiwi/2006/08/blogfast_for_se.html">a blog fast for an entire month</a>. (I should do that, but I feel like I need to get a bunch of readers first. Odd.)</li><li>He posted a link to this funny and heartbreaking cartoon, <a href="http://tallskinnykiwi.typepad.com/tallskinnykiwi/2006/11/kiwi_the_animat.html">Kiwi!</a></li><li>He posts amazing stuff. Like this bit about the <a href="http://tallskinnykiwi.typepad.com/tallskinnykiwi/2006/10/reformation_day.html">Reformation</a>.</li></ul><span style="font-style: italic;">Tip: Thanks for posting the stuff about Mark Driscoll. Especially important to me was your comment, "mark is my friend."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tod Bolsinger, aka, um, Tod</span></span><br /><ul><li>You're always nice when <a href="http://www.thehighcalling.org/Library/ViewLibrarybyAuthors.asp?AuthorID=92">I edit your work</a>. And that goes a long long way, man.</li><li>You are a <a href="http://bolsinger.blogs.com/weblog/2006/08/lessons_from_tr_4.html">triathlete</a>. Crazy man.</li><li>You like N. T. Wright, and <a href="http://www.scpres.org/">your church</a> is stunningly beautiful.</li></ul><span style="font-style: italic;">Tip: I'm about to drive you and your wife to <a href="http://www.laitylodge.org/GroundsTour/GroundsTour.asp">Laity Lodge</a>. Buckle up.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16626973.post-1163786694523433622006-11-17T12:30:00.000-06:002006-11-17T12:04:54.620-06:00MEETfish - City on a Hill? Or Not Yoked with Unbelievers?The verdict is still out on this. On the one hand, I admire Christians who try to join the net. Certainly, I have mixed feelings about MySpace. Less so about Facebook. And you can probably guess how I feel about the blogosphere. All of these are questions of how Christians live in the world without being conformed to it. It's the big question of the web sites I edit: <a href="http://hillcountrywriter.blogspot.com/2006/08/high-calling.html">What does it look like when Christians take their faith to work?</a> How much can we engage the world and find beauty there before we conform ourselves?<br /><br />Last week, I was privileged to meet with an executive of a major Christian publishing network. He mentioned MEETfish as a social networking service to watch.<br /><br />This morning someone forwarded me an announcement about the site. So <a href="http://user.meetfish.com/profile/mgoodyear">I joined</a>. I even created a group called <a href="http://group.meetfish.com/view/faithandwork">Faith and Work</a>. (If you hurry, you'll probably see <a href="http://meetfish.com/">me in lederhosen</a> on their home page.)All of this activity is a little impulsive and potentially dangerous. I need to be careful that people know I'm not speaking for TheHighCalling.org in my comments there.<br /><br />But oddly enough, this <a href="http://hillcountrywriter.blogspot.com/2006/11/social-media-for-dummies-and-parents.html">social media stuff</a> has become an area of research for me. (My official title is "Research Editor.")<br /><br /><a href="http://meetfish.com/"><img src="http://meetfish.com/images/full_banner.jpg" alt="MEETfish.com" title="MEETfish.com" border="0" height="60" width="468" /></a> <br /><br /><a href="http://meetfish.com/"> <img src="http://meetfish.com/images/full_banner2.jpg" border="0" width="468" height="60" alt="MEETfish.com" title="MEETfish.com" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://meetfish.com/"> <img src="http://meetfish.com/images/full_banner3.jpg" border="0" width="468" height="60" alt="MEETfish.com" title="MEETfish.com" /></a><br /><br /><i>Random note: I ran a spell check on this post. And blogger's spell check doesn't recognize "blogosphere" as a word. Hmmmm.</i>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16626973.post-1163700208294827582006-11-16T12:15:00.000-06:002006-11-16T12:03:28.363-06:00Into the Mountain - Chapter 2<table style="border: 1px solid rgb(53, 53, 53); padding: 0px; background-color: rgb(93, 124, 186); font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; float: right;" border="10" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><td style="padding: 5px;" align="center"><a href="http://www.esnips.com/doc/c7c32e6d-e58e-48b0-8903-2d628740ecde/Chapter-2.doc/?widget=documentIcon&forceView=true"><img alt="Chapter 2" title="click to ViewChapter 2" src="http://www.esnips.com//images/thumbs/thumb.doc.gif" border="0" /></a></td></tr><tr style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><td style="padding: 5px;" align="center"><strong><a style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);" href="http://www.esnips.com/doc/c7c32e6d-e58e-48b0-8903-2d628740ecde/Chapter-2.doc/?widget=documentIcon&forceView=true">Chapter 2.doc</a></strong></td></tr><tr><td style="padding: 5px; font-size: 9px; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" valign="bottom">Hosted by <a href="http://www.esnips.com" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">eSnips</a></td></tr></tbody></table>I just posted <a href="http://entirebookinablog.blogspot.com/2006/11/into-mountain-2-fish-and-deer.html">chapter 2</a> of my "Entire Book in a Blog." To avoid some clutter here, I'll be posting the mess there and linking from here. That way I can fiddle around without disturbing anyone's RSS feeds. (Someday I should set up an email subscription like <a href="http://camys-loft.blogspot.com/">Camy</a>...)<br /><br />At any rate, this is the first "fantasy" chapter. As you read, remember that the audience is intended to be young adult girls, ages 13-17. Here's a teaser:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" >Into the Mountain</span><br /><a href="http://entirebookinablog.blogspot.com/2006/11/into-mountain-2-fish-and-deer.html"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Chapter 2 - The Deer and the Fish</span></span></a><br /><br /><blockquote>“Iska, I dream of mountains.”<br /><br />The Iska is the only one in our village who has always lived alone.<br /><br />Iska smiled. She squatted over one of her storage pots in the ground and pulled out a gepa cake.<br /><br />“They’re sweet,” she said. “Nora made them for me because she’s looking for a girl to be her husband’s second wife.”<br /><br />“I’m not that girl, Iska.” I took one cake from her, and she laughed.<br /><br />“I know, but Adam can make some family very happy when he takes their daughter to the first circle.” She grabbed two cakes for herself.<br /><br />“Adam’s not a Kawa. He doesn't live in the first circle yet,” I said although I knew it was just a matter of time. His first year of marriage was over. “Won't he buy a chance at the bolu toss before he buys another wife?”<br /><br />Iska spat on the ground near her hearth. “Men do not buy wives.”<br /><br /><a href="http://entirebookinablog.blogspot.com/2006/11/into-mountain-2-fish-and-deer.html">Read more</a></blockquote>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16626973.post-1163646507282303192006-11-15T20:46:00.001-06:002011-06-29T08:41:37.974-05:00Trust Your Readers Not to Break the Plate<a title="Trust Me Not to Break the Plate by Marcus Goodyear, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/goodwordediting/5881851517/"><img class="alignright" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5273/5881851517_d9fe3c66ac_m.jpg" alt="Trust Me Not to Break the Plate" width="240" height="180" /></a><div><br /></div><div>Several years ago, my wife's grandparents move into a retirement community. In that process, they gave away little bits stuff to us.<br /><br />What you see here is a platter that they sent home with my mother-in-law after her last visit to their house before my wife's grandparents moved. It took me days to see what this platter looked like... because I couldn't bring myself to disturb this astounding duct tape wrapping.<br /><br />It was a lot of duct tape.</div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i><b>Read the rest of this <a href="http://www.goodwordediting.com/blog/2011/06/editors-trust-people-not-to-break-the-plate/">post about publishing and editing at GoodWordEditing.com</a>...</b></i></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16626973.post-1163618089211481762006-11-15T13:02:00.000-06:002006-11-15T13:14:49.226-06:00A Place of Inspiration - and a poem<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4537/1583/1024/IMG_3907.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: all; FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4537/1583/400/IMG_3907.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Here's the thing about <a href="http://laitylodge.org/GroundsTour/">Laity Lodge</a>. Normally, I have to buckle down to work. Keep myself focused with the BIC principle (get your "butt in the chair" and write).<br /><br />Not at Laity Lodge. It's a thin place. The line between heaven and earth is fuzzy, and it almost seems like God is whispering to me. If I can just get quiet enough, I can almost hear him.<br /><br />I guess that sounds cheesy or trite. Or maybe it sounds like marketing talk, but I'm not trying to get anyone to go to Laity Lodge here. Some places are just beautiful, and there is truth in the beauty.<br /><br />So here's a poem I found there. I was listening to <a href="http://www.ashleycleveland.com/">Ashley Cleveland</a> and <a href="http://www.countrystarsonline.com/reviewarchives/2005/KennyGreenberg2005_CMA.htm">Kenny Greenberg</a> in the room called "The Great Hall". And I thought of <em><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beowulf">Beowulf</a></em>. Grendel originally attacks Herot because he their music is too loud and joyful.<br /><br />This one is for Ashley and Kenny. You two are the best.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>Hurts<br /></strong></span><br />Most middle class monsters retire<br />to a country estate or a ranch in the hills<br />if they aren’t slain by god-<br />like heroes mano e mano and exaggerated<br />onto the pages of high school English books.<br />Grendel, Jr., knows the truth.<br />“Dad was a hard case,” he says.<br />“But I still wasn’t ready to lose him.”<br />20th century shrinks tired his story out<br />on their couches. Now he shares it<br />just to fill silent spaces at parties.<br />“Gram and I were reading Genesis—<br />I liked the gold leaf letters,<br />the haloed icons in the margins.”<br />Gram liked the moral: “cursed to walk<br />the earth.” That’s hope. She’d wink at me.<br />“The earth will pass away—It’s gonna<br />die. Heaven, too. Us, too.” Who knew<br />prophecy could find its way into our dark<br />lake cave? Dad came on the heel of her<br />words, blood soaking his stump of an arm<br />and the crude tourniquet at his shoulder.<br />When curses lift, it hurts.<br />I hoped for love, but Dad died<br />in anger and fear. “Get them back.”<br />He coughed. “Make them pay.”<br />Not free, just gone. And Gram thought<br />she’d help hope, bring it home, fix it tea,<br />offer her life, too. So the hero came.<br />Dad was cold on the couch where I sat<br />and watched grandaddy’s sword grabbed.<br />Gram mounted it above the door when he left,<br />for safekeeping, she said, though none of us<br />expected him back from Nod. Is that why<br />she fought so slow? stretched her neck and bowed<br />her head before the man the call a hero?<br />“Come on, kid.” He held Gram’s head<br />in one hand and my wrist in the other.<br />Years later, I twisted his ring on my finger<br />while the dragon ate him. I did not lift<br />my grandaddy’s sword. It still hurts.<br /><br />(On another note: I get to lead a poetry workshop this summer at a retreat where Ashley and Kenny will be leading the worship!) <a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16626973.post-1164118635656862042006-11-15T08:15:00.000-06:002006-11-21T08:17:15.673-06:00Subscribe to HillCountryWriter!You know you want to . . .<br /><form method="post" action="http://www.feedblitz.com/f/f.fbz?AddNewUserDirect"><br />Enter your Email<br /><input name="EMAIL" maxlength="255" value="" type="text" style="font-size:30;"><input name="FEEDID" value="123897" type="hidden"><br /><input value="Subscribe me!" type="submit"><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana,Arial;font-size:78%;"><br />Powered by <a href="http://www.feedblitz.com">FeedBlitz</a></span></form>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0