Seeds Of Responsibility

I gave a devotional at a men's breakfast at our church this morning,
This was the result:

A Facebook friend shared a picture on Facebook a couple of nights ago
which got me thinking about a couple of things.

 The First is this scripture verse:

 John 12:24

Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies,
it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.

The picture was a couple of pieces of fruit, long past their prime for eating.
But if the seeds (unless it were some oddball hybrid) were to be planted, then
if they received watering and fertilising, they could, in time, feed people.

 Then another scripture came to mind:

 Isaiah 45:9 (the second half)

Does the clay say to him who forms it, ‘What are you making?’
or ‘Your work has no handles’?

What came to mind is this, what would be the consequences if
I, as the seed planted by the farmer, were to demand I be placed
in the shade? Or complained I didn't like water? Or said that the
fertiliser tastes funny? Supposing I refused to cooperate with the
farmer, who knows just where I should be planted?

 What would happen to me?

 First, if he complied, and moved me to the shade, my growth would be stunted.
 Secondly, I wouldn't grow any fruit.

As to the water and the fertiliser, the result would be the same or worse,
I could wither up and die.

 More importantly, what would happen to those relying on my fruits?

Well, since I am using fruit as an example, those wanting my fruit may
not starve, but fruit is required as part of a healthy diet. In the days of
wooden sailing ships, sailors who didn't get a balanced diet, especially
including fruits, could suffer from malnutrition, including an ailment
called 'Rickets'.

It was an interesting week for me as I watched people, one of those
days I had an IV stuck in my arm.

I had to ask myself: have I been in the Son getting watered and nourished,
or have I been in the shade? Do people see palatable fruits?

 Here's a worse thought; what if the farmer reached for me, or called on
me, and I scurried away, out of his grasp, saying, I'm happy and warm enough
in here; I don't wanna be in the cold, nasty dirt! It's icky out there.

The people need our fruit, and as men, it seems to me to be doubly important.
We are called on to be leaders who set an example. We all need to ask
ourselves: are we, specifically, am I?

What happens if I am called to move on? Will someone step up to the plate
and take my place, so I can head the call elsewhere?

 A couple of verses to think about:
1 Cor 11:1
Ephesians 5:25
1 Cor 16:13

Selah

A Little Writing

I have been neglecting my blog a bit of late, though my Facebook page is updated daily. It seems difficult, at times, to put pen to paper (or in this case, finger to keyboard) and write something. My mind is always on overdrive, it seems. Now to just make the connection routinely. I have friends who have the discipline in this area to put me to shame... (Sue :) ) I guess I need to push myself a bit more.

I have been organising my story ideas a bit more lately, and pushing out book proposals and query letters though.

So maybe I will get inspired here a bit more as well.

Mood music, I need to find some blogging mood music.

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

I John 3:1

An Inkling

One of the greatest things that C.S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, Owen Barfield and a few others had going for them was a little group called the Inklings. Now certainly the very best thing many of the group (such as Lewis and Tolkien) had going for them was that Jesus was at the core of their lives. When you are a writer, or wanna-be writer, there are a number of things which come in handy, indeed some are essential:

1) Trusted friends who you can trust to critique your writing.

2) A trusted individual or individuals who can help with your initial edits.

3) Drive.

Having a trusted individual, or group of individuals to critique your work is essential, and while they don't have to share your interest in a topic (remember, Tolkien hated allegory in all its forms, yet he still critiqued Lewis' works such as Narnia) they will go through your work with an eye not necessarily to subject, but to such things as flow, grammar, timelines, continuity etc. The inklings would gather over a pint, those who smoked would smoke and they would have readings of their latest works, then they would critique. These men trusted each other, and with good reason, they had become friends and while doing so, gained that trust. Now the Inklings did more than that (Tolkien taught some of them old languages) but at its core, the Inklings were about literature.

Someone who can do a preliminary edit for you, before sending it to your agent's editor or the publisher's editor. They will check some of the same things as those who critique your work, but with more of a focus on spelling, grammar and other such details. They will also point out such things as continuity errors and so on. The editor is generally more involved in the technical side of your writing.

Drive. Don't stop, have thick skin.

Oh for a group like the Inklings.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year Everyone!

Felicem Annum Novum, tibi exopto!

Isaiah 40:30-31

30    Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;
31    but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They
        will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary,
        they will walk and not be faint.

Merry Christmas!

I wish all of you and yours a very Merry Christmas, and a happy New Year!

Isaiah 9:6-7New King James Version (NKJV)

6 For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of His government and peace
There will be no end,
Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,
To order it and establish it with judgment and justice
From that time forward, even forever.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

My Blogging of Late

My Blogging of late seems to consist mostly of inspirational quotes, maybe that will be the way I write for a while, I don't know for sure. What flows from my keyboard often surprises even me.

---

It gives me great pleasure, a good name. I always in writing start with a name. Give me a name and it produces a story, not the other way about normally.

J. R. R. Tolkien

No Need To Shout, Even During Sorrow...

“We need never shout across the spaces to an absent God. He is nearer than our own soul, closer than our most secret thoughts” 

― A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God