We--and our books--are the only Jesus some will ever see.

What do we owe the reader, besides an entertaining read? Some laughter and tears and new insights about people and places?

As the Hippocratic Oath allegedly says, but actually doesn't, LOL, but does imply:

"First, do no harm."

Well, obviously, we don't show kids playing with matches and gasoline. At least, not without consequences.

But I also ask myself this:

Do I lead anyone astray with my story? And if my story is the only one a non-Christian ever reads, what impression does she have, now, about the Gospel?

Does it make her want to learn more about Christ and Christians--and how to become one? Or does it turn her off to Christians, pastors, church, and therefore, without knowing what she's missing--the Gospel?

This article brings good non-news: clean stories sell.

The bad news is, as we all know, while Hollywood and publishers still produce the other kind, they also produce stories that make the Gospel look bad. Or make Christians look stupid and/or evil.

Do we? Not on purpose, of course, but--do we?

My main character, Maggie, sees someone die in a plane crash. Angry at God, now, she turns her back on Him and looks for answers in the spirit realm. Obviously, this is not the ideal example to set for a reader. I give the readers credit: Many would know better. But not all. And I don't want to be responsible for anyone going where we're forbidden. So I show Maggie miserable on two fronts. On top of her grief, she is assaulted by fear. Horrible headaches and panic attacks come as a result of her dabbling. Her sunny, funny personality grows dark. And others around her express their misgivings and try to persuade her away from this quest. And she does not find answers there. She finds answers when she turns back to God.

Of course, not everyone feels called to spell out in their stories how to be "saved." Many choose simply to write wholesome stories about people who at least acknowledge God, maybe go to church and pray. How we need those!

But the least we can do is show most Christians as ordinary people with good intentions. They may slip, stumble, sin, but they rise again in God's forgiveness, and go on with their good intentions. And perhaps allude to the power of the Gospel to transform lives and give eternal life.

Because our story may be the only Christian book someone reads.

I think Dan Brown is a genius. But he also takes pleasure in writing stories that make the Catholic church look bad. I'm thinking of _The DaVinci Code_ and _Angels and Demons_. And little "Opie," Ron Howard, takes pleasure in making movies of these unflattering books.
While not a Catholic, I appreciate good Catholics as good people. Moreover, much of the world sees all Christians the same. To the world, all people of the cross believe the same way. Catholics, Evangelicals, Charismatics, Fundamentalists, and everyone in between.

So, what is bad for Catholics is bad for all of us.

It's not PC on television, in books, in movies, in news stories, to disparage any group--except Christians. That would include many people reading here. Us.

Persecution of any group--like us--always begins with disrespecting and disparaging that group.

May our books never, even accidentally, do the same.

A song says, "You're the only Jesus some will ever see." Like it or not, that goes for our books, too. Especially when we are known to be Christian.

I love to write. To get my thoughts down in black and white. I love to have written, too, LOL. To have finished something and maybe had a lot of fun doing it. I've even been paid for some of it, LOL.

In non-fiction, local newspapers, I've interviewed Randy Alcorn, Henry Mancini, Chuck Colson. I even had a walk-on scene with Dennis Quaid in Jaws 3 while covering the filming in Orlando.

In fiction, I'm fleshing out characters with quirks and dreams and problems and ambitions in challenges and funny situations. It's all so much fun. And work.

And some responsibility, too.

May our books never cause anyone to stumble away from the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If it does turn a reader off, are we guilty of causing a little one to stumble? Because then, Jesus says, we're better off having a millstone tied around the neck and cast into the sea.

And that is not my idea of the fun of writing.

Heaven-Thursday Translation

That Wordless Wednesday picture (please scroll down to Wednesday. ) was taken during a comedy choir presentation, "Heaven."

For costumes, we wore anything we wanted, to represent ourselves, plus wings and haloes. Some were pretty wild. I wore my kilted skirt, sash and tam from Clan Carmichael.

We sang wonderful songs about--heaven--and told jokes in between. Such as: This Scottish woman's husband announced he was taking alllll his money to heaven with him when he died, and he hid it. After he died, she found it in the attic. "That old coot." She shook her head, laughing. "He should have hidden it in the basement."

Randy Alcorn wrote a wonderful book about Heaven.





During Christian Book Expo, he told me that once we know what the Bible says, we can speculate on the rest. He suggests we may be able to chat with Christians from other times and places.

For those of us who would love to travel more, that should be fascinating. I'd love to talk to artists in Renaissance Italy. And in Paris, the Impressionists.

And I'd really love to talk to the first-century Christians. I wonder how far we've come in 2000 years from living in their obedience and Holy Spirit power.

"Teaching them to do all things whatsoever I have commanded you...." "

Heal the sick, raise the dead, cast out devils..."

"Until the end of the age/cosmos/world." Wow. The power in the Great Commission. But that's a topic for another time.

My husband took that choir picture used in Wordless Wednesday. Nice camera angle just happened to place me under the cross. That's where I live my life--in the shadow of the cross. Not because I'm so good. But because of what Jesus did on the cross for me, I know I will go to Heaven forever.

Do you have this assurance? If not, please click on the red button in the right margin.





So, if I don't get to see you around here, maybe I'll see you in Heaven.





Leave a comment. Let me know what you decide. : )

Have a great Thursday--and a wonderful Forever.



(If you know who the artist is, please let me know.)

"IF MY PEOPLE..." God's Conditional Promise

I just read the latest about AIG and I feel the frustration, to say the least, along with everyone else. So, I think this bears repeating:

We have a God who is "slow to anger," because He "remembers that we are dust."

But He does have His limits. He does promise to "scourge all that He receives." (Never mind, right now, what He promises to the others.)

That's why He writes this startling promise to His own followers:

If MY PEOPLE who are called by my name [like all those who follow Him and claim His name. In my case, Christ-ian. Christ follower.]

will humble themselves [as in, "Don't make me come down there and humble, or worse, humiliate you."]

and pray [like, "Spend time to sit and talk to me."]

and seek my face [like, "While you're talking, try listening, too--find out what I love. Try obedience, John 14:21, and see me move in your life. And find out what really bugs me. I make it clear in in Deuteronomy 18. Quit turning to the occult for amusement, for starters. I HATE it. Instead, 'shine like stars,' Philippians 2:14-16. 'Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.'" Acts 2:40]

and turn from their wicked ways [like, "I'm talking to you, too, Margo. I love you, you are one of mine, you are saved because your sins were nailed to the cross with Christ and your life is in Him. But as for our fellowship, I cannot look upon sin. You might not do big, horrible, scarlet sins. But the tiniest dingy gray sin still put Jesus on the cross."]

then [like, "You determine when."]

will I hear from Heaven ["I look forward to hearing from you all."]

and forgive your sin ["every last one, dingy gray or huge and scarlet--again, if you'll repent. And I'll work with you and help you."]

and HEAL YOUR LAND. II Chronicles 7:14

I leave that last line to others' interpretation.

On the one hand, I want us all to put God's ways first in our lives so He will heal our land. Bring back some integrity and truth--and a little courtesy and modesty. And reverence. And I believe, up to a point, He will. That's why I bring it up here.

On the other hand, I wonder if we have time for Him to fully heal our land. I read this website every few days: Rapture Ready . To me, things are falling into place.

My friends do not need to agree with me. But just what if I'm right?

What if this is the time? For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 1Peter 4:17

Some may need to push that red button in the right margin. We may be running out of time.

Wordless main character, not! "If MY PEOPLE...."

My main character, Maggie, would not do well with Wordless Wednesday.

An emotional artist, she accepts the stereotype. She has deep feelings, and some of them pop out of her mouth and get her in trouble. When someone she loves dies in a tragic accident, she tells God to just leave her alone. Turning her back on Heaven, she strides into her house. And from the corner of her eye, she sees a dark shadow.

How many of us have ever felt anger with God? Moses and Jeremiah both did. And God understood and loved them anyway.

How many of us have turned our backs on God? The Prodigal did, and when he turned back to God, God received him home.

We have a God who is "slow to anger," because He "remembers that we are dust."

But He does have His limits. He does promise to "scourge all that He receives."

That's why He writes this startling promise to His own followers:

If MY PEOPLE who are called by my name [like all those who follow Him and claim His name. In my case, Christ-ian. Christ follower.]

will humble themselves [like, "Don't make me come down there and humble, or worse, humiliate you."]

and pray [like, "Spend time to sit and talk to me."]

and seek my face [like, "While you're talking, try listening, too--find out what I love--try obedience, John 14:21, and see me move in your life. And find out what really bugs me--as in Deuteronomy 18. Quit turning to the occult for amusement, for starters. I HATE it. Instead, 'shine like stars,' Philippians 2:14-16. 'Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.'" Acts 2:40]

and turn from their wicked ways [like, "I'm talking to you, too, Margo, and everyone else out there. I love you, you are one of mine, you are saved, but I cannot look upon sin. You might not do big, horrible, scarlet sins. But the tiniest dingy gray sin still put Jesus on the cross."]

then [like, "You determine when."]

will I hear from Heaven ["I look forward to hearing from you all."]

and forgive your sin ["every last one, dingy gray or huge and scarlet"]

and heal your land. II Chronicles 7:14

I leave that last line to others' interpretation.

On the one hand, I want us all to put God's ways first in our lives so He will heal our land. And I believe, up to a point, He will. That's why I bring it up here.

On the other hand, I wonder if we have time for Him to fully heal our land. I read this website every few days: Rapture Ready . To me, things are falling into place. Of course, my friends do not have to agree with me.

Maggie wouldn't. She has never heard of such things in her church. And she's focused on raising her child and on her career. But when her friend goes to Israel and flies in the Six Day War, some of these things loom larger than before. And Maggie begins to wonder if she made the right decision in turning her heart away from the Lord.

There is a little similarity between Maggie and me, such as our love of art, which is coincidental, and the root of our name. It has to do with what she learns about her name--that even when she rebelled, God had His hand on her all along.

And when her heart turns toward Him once more, He welcomes her home.

Wordless Wednesday

Tomorrow is Wordless Wednesday

This won't be easy. So I'm practicing....

POV and the *Fine Art* of Novel Writing

It seems to me that while we want to use the craft of writing correctly, we should also remember that writing is one of the fine arts.

And we should balance the correctness of the craft of writing with the freedom of the fine art of writing.

Grammar is important for its own sake and for clarity of meaning, especially in practical matters.

I read an article in the news wherein a reporter's misplaced modifier had the mother of the murderer committing the murders. Minor detail. Not, LOL.

But where Point Of View--meaning, the person that the scene is about, and all his or her perceptions of the scene, and hers, only--is in question about whether or not we can know that a squirrel relishes his freedom, or if two victorious fighter jets soar in a ballet, from the pilots' point of view, or a man would know his bride is wearing chiffon--I think we should think about the *fine art*--and allow ourselves a little literary license.

Most of our readers will be women who appreciate a cute little squirrel's feelings, and a bridesmaid in chiffon, and have never heard of POV any more than we did before we started writing. They're not looking for it and wouldn't recognize the minor issues we discussed.

In painting, we have to know the rules about how to mix colors, or we end up with gray or brown. I love this Matisse, but I think it's a little muddy in color--especially the faces. Plus I think it needs more contrast in brightness, for instance. And I wish I had his talent, too.

But there are many painting styles. Not all good paintings must be as realistic as a photo, as we know.

I think we can stifle creativity with too many rules.

I think POV rules should go the way of the digital watch.

Not completely, of course. But the other is much prettier.

If time is a garden, let's yank those weeds!

Writers have so much to do!

Women writers, especially, have the emotional pull of family needs. Then, we all have research, writers groups, crit groups, some necessary socializing in a lonely business, definitely, church activities to keep us going strong, and, oh, yes, writing!

And only twenty-four hours in a day.

How do we choose which to-dos to--do?

Oswald Chambers reminds us, "The good is the enemy of the best." But, carried too far, the best becomes the enemy of the good, if we let perfectionism get in the way.

One way to choose our priorities is to think of time as a garden. And we must pull the weeds in order to see our garden grow.

I read an article by Paula Eder on a business webpage about setting time boundaries using a simple visualization. She suggests we imagine that our day is a garden. We want our beautiful, colorful dreams to flourish there.

So we must pull the weeds.

We do this by setting boundaries.

Every "no" we say to something that does not further our goals--success in writing, peace in the home, time with a hobby (is that a cruelty joke?) time with God--is a "yes" to those very things. To those accomplishments, blooms that make our lives worthwhile.

Every "yes" we say to other things is a weed in our garden. And they lead to a lack of peace inside us.

I would add, some weeds are even attractive. New friends. Lunch dates. Church committees. Service opportunities that lead to experience and fellowship and satisfaction. We should be flexible and spontaneous enough to enjoy them.

But when they clutter our garden, hinder our goals and steal our peace, we should pull them without guilt.

We can ask God for discernment in this, because these, and some acts of mercy may be led by him for His purposes. He could be leading us into new relationships, new knowledge to enhance our lives and therefore, our writing.

Or into mercy for His mercy's sake. And mercy is beautiful in our gardens.

Web of fear--pun intended

For what it's worth--not much--this is my 100th entry here.

Just read a news article online, of course, which says:

"I sit over my computer all day and feed my anxiety.

"The internet has created a global psyche. The web has mentally joined us at the hip, so we can no longer put our heads in the sand. If that sounds painfully contorted, it is because it is. Just as no country can decouple itself from the ailing global economy, none of us as individuals can decouple ourselves from the ailing global psyche. "

Yep, although always interested in Bible prophecy and current events, I never used to read the news this much before 9-11 and the proliferation of news sites. I do find politics and all fascinating.

If I weren't a Christian, I'd have terrible anxiety. As it is, I still fight some anxiety. If you want to pray specifically, the internet provides the specifics, all right. And the prayers come spontaneously, sometimes with wailing and gnashing of teeth.

But we are to remember 1 Peter 5:7, "Casting all of your cares upon Him, for He careth for you." And Matthew 10:29-30 NIV "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered."

Writing a few courteous and specific emails to our reps in Congress wouldn't hurt, either. They say write one topic at a time. And that one person's well-presented opinion probably represents ten thousand more just like it.

We should be guiding and chiding them, and often. I am not in the habit of doing this as often as I should, either. Men and women have died for our freedom to make ourselves known.

Unless government OF the PEOPLE, BY the PEOPLE and FOR the PEOPLE is going the way of the dodo bird. Our Constitution along with it.

It's interesting to note that in Hebrew, the letters are also numbers, that they don't have a w, they use a v, their v is also 6, and therefore, www is...666. The Mark of the Beast.

No, of course, the internet is not all bad. It provides wonderful ops for fun as well as for mischief.

It's also a venue of communication and unity around the globe.

Sort of like a reversal of the Tower of Babel.

I also think the www/666 thing is kind of a visual wake-up call about where we are on God's time clock. Signs of the Times are appearing quickly.

For a daily list of articles about events that seem to fulfill the times, go here.

Pray.

Then run outside and play!

He's nuts about ya, sis!

I was just reading the newsletter from Mary DeMuth, and her article, Life's too important to be taken seriously. So, Lighten up.

I had to laugh--I'm too serious, too. (? Well, yes. )

I fret about little things, I fret about big things, when the main thing I should dwell on is what a pastor from Florida told me.

We were waiting to enter the house of the first prime minister of Israel, David ben Gurion. The September breezes were pleasant, and palms and the lawn and the little house glowed golden in the late afternoon sun as we sat at a picnic table with our group, waiting to enter.

(Talk about a serious man. Ben Gurion's office had shelves of books, and two desks, one covered with stacks of more books, and a new--or rather, renewed--nation to lead. I showed my photo of all the books to dh, but he was not impressed with my excuse for owning a million books, too.)

Anyway, we were talking about God. I knew I was saved, my sins forgiven, because I was submitted to God and had repented--change my mind--about living my own way instead of God's way.

I just wanted to be sure God wasn't holding me at arm's length for being His kid and still not doing everything right.

And this pastor brought tears to my eyes with a smile and these simple words:

He's nuts about ya, sis.

Isn't that great! If I can just remember that, next time I'm too hard on myself.

This is what my heroine, Maggie, could not grasp. God is love, she says, and when she goes through the fiery trial, she's shocked. She turns from the One who could deliver her. Her life spirals downward into the occult, her mood and her paintings turn darker and darker, fear and pain become her constant friend. But God never lets go of her. And her sunny disposition and her life are finally restored when she CTR--comes to realize--the Lord's nuts about her.






Kinda goes along with Liz Curtis

Higgs' Embrace Grace.

The Lord's nuts about ya, sis. You, too, bro. Lighten up.