CaroleMcDonnell

Book on Asperger's: Look Me In the Eye

2012-02-02T07:54:00.000-05:00

Look me in the eye
by John Elder Robinson

Here's the blurb:

Ever since he was small, John Robison had longed to connect with other people, but by the time he was a teenager, his odd habits—an inclination to blurt out non sequiturs, avoid eye contact, dismantle radios, and dig five-foot holes (and stick his younger brother in them) — had earned him the label "social deviant." No guidance came from his mother, who conversed with light fixtures, or his father, who spent evenings pickling himself in sherry. It was no wonder he gravitated to machines, which could, at least, be counted on.
After fleeing his parents and dropping out of high school, his savant-like ability to visualize electronic circuits landed him a gig with KISS, for whom he created their legendary fire-breathing guitars. Later, he drifted into a "real" job, as an engineer for a major toy company. But the higher Robison rose in the company, the more he had to pretend to be "normal" and do what he simply couldn't: communicate. It wasn't worth the paycheck.

It was not until he was forty that an insightful therapist told him he had the form of autism called Asperger's syndrome. That understanding transformed the way Robison saw himself — and the world.

Look Me in the Eye is the moving, darkly funny story of growing up with Asperger's at a time when the diagnosis simply didn't exist. A born storyteller, Robison takes you inside the head of a boy whom teachers and other adults regarded as "defective," who could not avail himself of KISS's endless supply of groupies, and who still has a peculiar aversion to using people's given names (he calls his wife "Unit Two"). He also provides a fascinating reverse angle on the younger brother he left at the mercy of their nutty parents — the boy who would later change his name to Augusten Burroughs and write the bestselling memoir Running with Scissors.

Ultimately, this is the story of Robison's journey from his world into ours, and his new life as a husband, father, and successful small business owner — repairing his beloved high-end automobiles. It's a strange, sly, indelible account — sometimes alien, yet always deeply human.

This is a book written for educators by someone who has Asperger's.
The author has a blog here

There's an audio excerpt from the book here. IF you click this link the excerpt will play.

You can buy it here

Psalm 11

2012-01-28T07:10:00.000-05:00

The verse that jumps out at me is "if the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?"

The prophet Hosea writes Hosea 8:12 I have written to him the great things of my law, but they were counted as a strange thing. Hosea 8:11-13

Romans 14:16 Let not then your good be evil spoken of: Romans 14:15-17

If the world calls good evil and evil good, where and how can Christians ever begin to show them what Christ wants?

Psalm 11

For the director of music. Of David.

1 In the LORD I take refuge.
How then can you say to me:
"Flee like a bird to your mountain.
2 For look, the wicked bend their bows;
they set their arrows against the strings
to shoot from the shadows
at the upright in heart.

3 When the foundations are being destroyed,
what can the righteous do [a] ?"

4 The LORD is in his holy temple;
the LORD is on his heavenly throne.
He observes the sons of men;
his eyes examine them.

5 The LORD examines the righteous,
but the wicked [b] and those who love violence
his soul hates.

6 On the wicked he will rain
fiery coals and burning sulfur;
a scorching wind will be their lot.

7 For the LORD is righteous,
he loves justice;
upright men will see his face.

Footnotes:

Psalm 11:3 Or what is the Righteous One doing
Psalm 11:5 Or The LORD , the Righteous One, examines the wicked,

Okay, so what's with all these tsunami dreams

2012-01-27T11:05:00.000-05:00

So, lately... there have been this glut of dreams and visions in the Christian world about Tsunamis, Floods, Big Waves.

Of course, this could all be a response to the Indonesian and Japanese tsunamis. Plus end of world fears and hopes. But I gotta say that when I had my vision of the terrible flood it was three weeks before the Japanese tsunami and I wasn't thinking of any floods. Plus I don't think my vision of the large rivershore (or seashore) filled with bodies and birds pecking at and eating those dead bodies had to do with Japan. So I'm thinking it still is to come.

Basically, what I'm thinking is this. The Bible often links spiritual and physical things together. For instance symbolic famine in a dream or vision often means that physical/geographical famine will arrive at the same time there is a famine for the word of God. So I'm really thinking now that these tsunami dreams are saying both, that there WILL be some big devastating physical tsunami and at the same time a devastating tsunami of false teaching in the Christian world ...and maybe a flood of trouble in the world.

Now, the Christian world is generally unprepared about how to respond to a flood of bad theology. And lately, because we humans have always been herd-minded and with the media...well...the community that influences us has gotten larger and we have found it difficult to see the Bible clearly. I mean we have Christians all thinking it's okay to talk about pre-trib, post-trib, etc... when Jesus himself told us not to start putting dates on "the gathering away." (Best to use "gathering away" because we don't know if we'll be caught up in the air or if we will be saved in a kind of Noah's Ark scenario.) And we also don't know what proportion of tribulation we will have to go through.

Anyway, back to theology and Christians not knowing their religion. Whether it's the Baptists, the Catholics, the Mormons, the Jehovah's Witnesses, the Seventh Day Adventists, the Evangelicals, the Charismatics, the Mainstream Churches, the Eastern Orthodox Churches, the Western Orthodox Churches.... or Christian television, all demonimations have incredibly bad theology. Worse, they all are followers of their traditions and their ministers who blindly follow the wrong core beliefs of their ancient founders or the trendy beliefs of new theologians. Seriously, I tried to tell someone who watches Christian TV that a lot of that theology is wrong and well, she had this confused look on her face. But the wrongness is just everywhere. Yes, yes, I know... the Mormons think they are the only true church. The SDA's think they are the only true church. But they're wrong as well.

Christians haven't learned to think. We have a very bad habit of looking at things in a kind of black and white way. This makes us very easy pray for anything that is subtle. Witness the success of the Prosperity Gospel. It's very right, Scripturally...but it is also very wrong Scripturally. And as Christians we have to begin to understand subtlety. I mean, we should not forget that Satan deceived Eve by telling her the truth, and (some think) by making her think that perhaps she had mistaken God's decrees. Are you really sure God said that? Perhaps he wants you to be like him. Well, yes, God does want us to be like him...but no, he does not.

So, yeah, we have to learn how to rightly discern, and to rightly divide the word of truth. Consider, the Christian habit of using hand-me-down platitudes is also a sign of the propensity of people to simply repeat what everyone else is saying. I'm thinking the time is now here when we will have to wake up. We are asleep. Or rather, our minds are asleep. We have to read our Bibles to be aware of the traps one can fall into. The book of Colossians, for instance, warns us about what can happen in a Christian community that goes all syncretist to match its surroundings. The historical books warn us of what happens when we mix spirituality with tribal idols (and that could be ancient gods like Baal or traditional ones like crucifixes and the Virgin Mary or modern gods such as money and modern "wisdom.")

One only has to listen to how Christians pray to see how they are more influenced by tradition than by what the Bible says. I recently told a woman that if she is fasting she shouldn't be telling everyone. She behaved as if I was nuts. Why? Because -- despite what Jesus told us about not telling that we're fasting-- the typical Christian always makes a big production of telling everyone he/she is fasting. Seriously, folks!

If we can't see through the deceptions in the modern church, how will we make it when the floods of theologican deceptions come in?

Old Dog Learning New Tricks or Everything Old is New again.

2012-01-26T16:11:00.002-05:00

Okay, so many new things in life! So many new and flaky habits!

So there goes the old adage, uh? The funny thing is that some of these new tricks or habits I've learned are totally new and Lord knows where they came from. And others were kinda dormant.

For instance I've always loved foreign films. But whence this new love of Korean films and is it really new? As a kid I used to watch Korean saegeuk dramas on PBS. But I totally dropped watching them for 40 years, only to have them return in full force. What the heck is that about?

A lot of these new tricks I keep to myself. But some...well, they're there for all the world to see. For instance, I've always had a thing for dreams. I have anthologies of dreams by famous writers for instance. I have anthologies of famous literary and religious dreams. But now I've gotten totally into listening to folks on youtube talking about their dreams, visions, and prophecies. Curiosity? Lord knows. Maybe.

Then there is this new thing about designing fabric. Back in the day I used to paint. So what to do with these new tricks?

Well, it certainly makes me long for a long life so I can enjoy and explore them. Maybe that's why new habits pop up. To give us new interests in life alongside our old long-continuing interests. But it certainly makes me smile that these aren't really new tricks or new habits, that these habits were lying dormant in my soul all this time.

I'm wondering if I should buy a violin. Yeah, I used to play the violin way back when.

Great Things

2012-01-25T06:03:00.000-05:00

Last year I dreamed of sitting with an angel at the table. She pushed corn, hot dogs, and ham off my plate and said to me, "Expect Great Things."

I thought that it meant "Expect great things from God, Do great things for God."

A month later, a girl from church brought some food over. Corn on the cob, mini hot dogs, and ham.

I kept asking what the great things were. My fame as a writer? Healing for me and son? Then I was outside and opened the Bible to this. Seekest thou great things for thyself?

Jeremiah 45:5
And seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not: for, behold, I will bring evil upon all flesh, saith the LORD: but thy life will I give unto thee for a prey in all places whither thou goest.
Jeremiah 45:4-5

A good confirming point. Jeremiah lived in such an incredible time; I cant imagine how he dealt with it emotionally. So, we are to expect great things. But we are also part of the world. The great things we do or that happen to us aren't meant for us alone. And if the world around us falls, are we to expect great good things for ourselves while all around are suffering? Heck, I'd like to be super-wealthy and to have my books be famous. But only to help others. I'd like my son and my healing to manifest...but only so we can help to heal others. Will see. In the meantime, here are some other wonderful great thing verses.

Psalm 71:19
Thy righteousness also, O God, is very high, who hast done great things: O God, who is like unto thee!
Psalm 71:18-20

Psalm 126:2
Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them.
Psalm 126:1-3

Job 37:5
God thundereth marvellously with his voice; great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend.
Job 37:4-6

Psalm 126:3
The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.
Psalm 126:2-4

Job 9:10
Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.
Job 9:9-11

2 Samuel 7:21
For thy word's sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou done all thesegreat things, to make thy servant know them.
2 Samuel 7:20-22

Which doeth great things and unsearchable; marvellous things without number:
Job 5:8-10

2 Samuel 7:23
And what one nation in the earth is like thy people, even like Israel, whom God went to redeem for a people to himself, and to make him a name, and to do for you great things and terrible, for thy land, before thy people, which thou redeemedst to thee from Egypt, from the nations and their gods?
2 Samuel 7:22-24

O LORD, for thy servant's sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou done all this greatness, in making known all these great things.
1 Chronicles 17:18-20

Jeremiah 33:3
Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

Daniel 7:8
I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speakinggreat things.
Daniel 7:7-9

Hosea 8:12
I have written to him the great things of my law, but they were counted as a strange thing.
Hosea 8:11-13

Joel 2:20
But I will remove far off from you the northern army, and will drive him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the east sea, and his hinder part toward the utmost sea, and his stink shall come up, and his ill savour shall come up, because he hath done great things.
Joel 2:19-21

Joel 2:21
Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things.
Joel 2:20-22

Mark 3:8
And from Jerusalem, and from Idumaea, and from beyond Jordan; and they about Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they had heard what greatthings he did, came unto him.
Mark 3:7-9

Luke 1:49
For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.
Luke 1:48-50

John 1:50
Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these.
John 1:49-51

Acts 9:16
For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.
Acts 9:15-17

1 Corinthians 9:11
If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?
1 Corinthians 9:10-12

James 3:5
Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, howgreat a matter a little fire kindleth!
James 3:4-6

Revelation 13:5
And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
Revelation 13:4-6

Mary and Martha

2012-01-24T14:35:00.001-05:00

38Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. 39And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. 40But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. 41And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 42But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. Luke 10:38-41

Is there anything more annoying than a Christian going on about having become more of a Mary person than a Martha person?

There is no such thing as a martha personality, that this is one instance in a person's life. Mary and Martha's personality we don't know. We are only given a glimpse of this exchange. Mary did something, Martha did something. So at most, we have Mary moments and Martha moments.

We have moments when we are too busy for the Lord, and we have moments when we think we should be busy but we manage to stop in the middle of all the pressures and quiet ourselves.

I guess this bothers me because this is one of those stories which Christians use to define themselves. In jokes, in sermons, in conferences. And when they use this story to make the trait a Martha trait or a Mary trait it is often a way to subtly pat themselves on the back. Christians have a gift for patting themselves on the back while appearing humble. And they have a gift for turning Bible stories into sound-bites. I f I hear one more Christian say, "I'm a type A personality, I have to get some more Mary into me." Or, "I love taking time to just sit before Papa. There are so many things to do but I want to choose the better part."

I can be a pain when I hear people getting all into self-praise (they don't think they are getting into self-praise but they ARE) and I often say to the person describing herself as a type A personality, "You do understand that that is a medical diagnostic term, don't you? It means you're going to have a heart attack by age 53. Have you prepared your family for that contingency?" Yep, I can be quite the bitch when I'm in the mood. Or when someone says, "I'm a left brain personality... I'm very rational and I really have to have things just organized and as a doctor/lawyer/indian chief I have to have things proven to my intellect." Everything in me wants to say, "You do understand that neuroscientists have proven that if someone gets damaged in the emotional centers of their brain that the first thing to go is their reasoning, that reason is rooted in the emotional?"

The supposed "Mary personalities" like to think they float around loving Jesus. They take on this flaky New Age persona of "peace" and "openness to God." But again, there is no such thing as a Mary personality or a Martha personality. These are aspects of every Christian's life. So a person is not to say "I am such a worker trying to be a Mary." Or "I wish I weren't so yadda yadda."

I suspect this false dichotomy was created by religious folks who wanted to make it appear that God created certain kinds of spiritual personalities, or intellectual personalities...that somehow some folks were more born who listens to God more readily (MARY) and some folks are born who are naturally more active at doing work (MARTHA) The contemplative versus the active life, etc. But I think we were all born with all these traits. The problem is we either are praised for being Marthas (type A's supposedly) or for being Mary's (she's so sweet and not of this world) and once we grow up, our human pride use these so called traits. Yes, PRIDE. And so I have returned to the begnining of this post. We humans are darn slick at using "spiritual" matters in a very proud way.

Why do I Love Magical Realism and Alternate History

2012-01-23T09:18:00.000-05:00

So why do I like Magical Realism and Alternate History type of speculative fiction?

First Alternate History
I love, love, love Alternate History. For me, it's like a game. I like Dr Who fooling around with time. I like redux, films such as Groundhog Day and Run, Lola, Run..Technically, Groundhog Day and Run, Lola, Run aren't really Alternate History stories but you get the idea. Alternate History stories are like a great game of "What If?" in an analogue earth. And "what if" games in the hands of minorities are fun, insightful, and satisfactory. "What if the Civil War had turned out differently?" What if Thomas Jefferson --because of his love for Sally Hemmings-- had argued against slavery?" and the old "What if Kennedy hadn't been assassinated?"

In my novel Wind Follower, I tried to do an alternate history but it turned out to be more an analogue Africa because I had to admit that while I understood the folklore and spiritualities of many African culture, my knowledge of African history was pretty limited.

Much of Alternate History is about challenging the conceptions found in history books or repairing the past It's a hard thing to do. Sometimes writers of Alternate History fail because they don't consider certain aspects of history important. For instance, I was reading Steven Barnes' Lion's Blood, an alternate history world in an analogue Africa. In his novel, Christianity didn't rule the world and Islam reigned. I was willing to go along with that but then he made a very crucial error and I couldn't finish the book. (I can finish almost any book but when a crucial error is made it makes me lose my faith in the author's research. I've been known to lose faith in a movie within ten minutes because the screenwriter made some crucial historical error. Yeah, I am a bit of a pain like that.) In the book, he somewhat snidely says something about a small religion whose adherents worshiped some carpenter they thought was the son of God. The trouble with that is that Islam considers Jesus Christ a great prophet, and the one who will judge the world. So in his effort to diss Christianity by showing a totally Islamic Africa, he had ignored one of the great tenets of their faith. I realized I was dealing with someone who didn't understand what he was writing about, so I put the book away. It's no fun when you're dealing with someone who doesn't know history.

Secondly, Magical Realism (or Natural Supernaturalism)

I like it because, for lack of a better word, it is the closest fiction to real life. Real Life is full of odd happenings. Magical Realism Stories are like those stories told by the old folks on the family's back porches. Or like the testimonies one hears in churches. As a Christian writer, as a Black girl growing up in Jamaica, one hears magical realism all the times because the world of christians (or any religion that hasn't lost itself in rationalism) is a world peopled by angels, demons, djinns, coincidences, signs, omens, family curses, and inexplicable stuff that can never be utterly defeated by mere human rational agencies. Latin American fiction is full of such things: For instance, Julio Cortazar, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Borges, and others. American fiction should have more of this, I think. And, definitely, African-American fiction should have more of it. Sadly, Christian fiction doesn't have as much of it as it should because many Christians equate the imagination, fantasy, dreams, ghosts, and such like with sin or -- for the Christians who are much too indoctrinated with rationality-- plain "untruth." That is not to say that this type of speculative fiction is utterly forsaken by some modern authors. "Living with Ghost" by the English author Kari Sperring is a great example of Magical Realism. Peretti's "The Oath" is a good example of Christian Natural Supernaturalism. And Nalo Hopkinson, a Canadian-Caribbean author writes excellent Magical realism. I've been trying to experiment with the form and I did manage to do a kind of fantasy story for Warren Lapine's "Fantastic Tales of the Imagination" but as yet I don't quite have the form down. I'm hoping my graphic novel "My Life as an Onion" will be a good entry in this field when I'm finished with it.

Please post the link to this article to twitter using any of the following hashtags. Pass the word on about Blackscifi.

Twitter hashtag: #blackscifi2012 #blackscifi #christianspeculativefiction #fantasy #blackfiction

Other participants

Check out the other members of this Online Black History Month Event:

Winston Blakely, Artist/Writer-- is a Fine Arts/Comic Book artist, having a career spanning 20 years, whose achievements have included working for Valiant Comics and Rich Buckler's Visage Studios. He is also the creator of Little Miss Strange, the world's first black alien sorceress and the all- genre anthology entitled - Immortal Fantasy. Both graphic albums are available at Amazon, Barnes and Nobles and other online book store outlets. Visit him: http://blakelyworks.blogspot.com/ or http://blakelyworkstudio.weebly.com/

L. M. Davis, Author--began her love affair with fantasy in the second grade. Her first novel, Interlopers: A Shifters Novel, was released in 2010, and the follow-up Posers: A Shifters Novel will be released this spring. For more information visit her blog http://shiftersseries.wordpress.com/ or her website www.shiftersnovelseries.com.

Milton Davis, Author – Milton Davis is owner/publisher of MVmedia, LLC . As an author he specializes in science fiction and fantasy and is the author of Meji Book One, Meji Book Two and Changa’s Safari. Visit him: http://www.mvmediaatl.com/Wagadu/ and www.wagadu.ning.com.

Margaret Fieland, Author-- lives and writes in the suburbs west of Boston, MA
with her partner and five dogs. She is one of the Poetic Muselings. Their poetry anthology, Lifelineshttp://tinyurl.com/LifelinesPoetry/ is available from Amazon.com Her book, "Relocated," will be available from MuseItUp Publishing in July, 2012. The Angry Little Boy," will be published by 4RV publishing in early 2013. You may visit her website, http://www.margaretfieland.com

Valjeanne Jeffers, Author -- is an editor and the author of the SF/fantasy novels: Immortal, Immortal II: The Time of Legend and Immortal III: Stealer of Souls. Her fourth and fifth novels: Immortal IV: Collision of Worlds and The Switch: Clockwork will be released this spring. Visit her at: http://valjeanne.wordpress.com andhttp://qandvaffordableediting.blogspot.com/

Alicia McCalla, Author- writes for both young adults and adults with her brand of multicultural science fiction, urban fantasy, and futurism. Her debut novel, Breaking Free will be available February 1, 2012. The Breaking Free theme song created by Asante McCalla is available for immediate download on itunes and Amazon. Visit her at:http://www.aliciamccalla.com

Carole McDonnell, Author--She writes Christian, speculative fiction, and multicultural stories. Her first novel is Wind Follower. Her short fiction has appeared in many anthologies and have been collected in an ebook, Spirit Fruit: Collected Speculative Fiction. Visit Carole: http://carolemcdonnell.blogspot.com/ orhttp://writersofcolorblogtour.blogspot.com/

Rasheedah Phillips,Author--is the creator of The AfroFuturist Affair in Philly. She plans to debut her first spec/sci-fic novel Recurrence Plot in Spring 2012. You may catch her ruminating from time to time on her blog,AstroMythoLosophy.com.

Nicole Sconiers, Author-is also a screenwriter living in the sunny jungle of L.A. She holds an MFA in creative writing from Antioch University Los Angeles, and she recently published Escape from Beckyville: Tales of Race, Hair and Rage. Visit her: http://nicolesconiers.com/index.html

Jarvis Sheffield, M.Ed. is owner & operator of TheDigitalBrothers.com, BlackScienceFictionSociety.com & BlackCommunityEntertainment.com. Visit him: http://www.blacksciencefictionsociety.com/profiles/blog/list?user=2stjwb1h216fd

Thaddeus Howze, Author-- is a veteran of the Information Technology and Communications industry with over twenty-six years of experience. His expertise is in re-engineering IT environments using process-oriented management techniques. In English, that means he studies the needs of his clients and configures their offices to optimize the use of information technology in their environment. Visit him: http://ebonstorm.wordpress.com or http://ebonstorm.weebly.com

Balogun Ojetade, Author—of the bestselling “Afrikan Martial Arts: Discovering the Warrior Within” (non-fiction), “Moses: The Chronicles of Harriet Tubman” (Steampunk) and the feature film, “A Single Link”. Visit him:http://chroniclesofharriet.wordpress.com/

And the Old Women Gathered by Mari Evans

2012-01-17T09:21:00.000-05:00

The Declension of Words

2012-01-16T10:10:00.001-05:00

Declension is a linguistic term describing how certain words are pronounced. What I'm writing about is not declension in the real literal sense of the word but there really is no English word (that I know of) which can explain what I'm thinking about. The spiritual declension and downgrading of words.

It was C S Lewis who clued me into this. He basically said that many words begin with clear meanings, glorious meanings, but then after a while, the meaning of the words descends to "the man side of things." Something like that.

I forgot what word he used but I'll show you an example.

Condescension.

Condescension WAS originally a word which meant "God was in heaven and he "descended" to earth in order to be one "CON" with man. Therefore the word has a glorious beginning.

Then the man side of things began stealing the word. God was pushed aside, then the sinful boasting aspect of man took the word over. Rich people now "condescended" to help the poor. Smart people "condescended" to speak to ignorant people. It's a case of human vanity accidentally changing the meaning of a word because the human soul needs this change. Why? Because the human soul cannot understand or endure the idea of God condescending. Condescension devolved even further and is now used to show our offense when some proud person speaks to us as if we were not equal to them. This is understandable. People who condescend don't have the love God has toward their fellows. Yes, a beautiful word has fallen far.

Words such as patience (which used to mean endurance) and charity (which used to mean holding someone dear) have all fallen along the spiritual roadside.

Declension can happen because of lack of comprehension and word change caused by ignorance of historical or theological truth. Or because of man's pride. The man side of things.

For instance, we are told in the Bible, "The light shines in darkness and the darkness Comprehended it not."
The original meaning of comprehend is "overcome." This is a spiritual issue. Dark cannot overcome light. But the man side of things lowered the meaning of the word...by pushing rationality atop something spiritual. The meaning of "Comprehend" now becomes "understand." The rationale mind can understand this concept, much better than a darkness which is overcome by light. Therefore the misunderstanding rules.

Consider also the word "Swaddling."
The prophecy was "You will find the Babe (Jesus) wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger.
Originally, the meaning of swaddling is "clothes used to wrap the dead."
But the word descended from its glorious meaning to something the rationale mind could understand. After all, why should the baby be wrapped in dead-cloths? So now swaddle means babylike.

Consider the word "adorable." Why does a word that originally meant "Something to be adored" now mean "cute?"

Think of the words "believe" and "hope."
They have slightly shifted from glory. When one says "one believes" it doesn't have as much power or strength or umph as when one says "I do not believe."

When one says "I hope" the word "hope" doesn't have the glorious power it should have. Nowadays, we consider "hope" a frail things with wings. But the Bible's definition of hope is stronger and more glorious. If a thing is hoped for in the Bible, it is a confident strong expectation of good.

What is the State of Black SciFi?

2012-01-16T07:47:00.000-05:00

Black faces abound in scifi nowadays. One can hardly turn on one's TV without seeing Will Smith battling robots or Vhing Rhames or some other big name actor or actress saving the world. From the living, the dead, and the undead, from aliens, evil monsters of flesh, flora, or metal. (For the purpose of this blog tour, I'll lump all Black speculative fiction under the category of Blackscifi.)

Of course, it's great to see Sanaa Latham battling and then bonding a predator. Black power meets Girl power. But is that really Black scifi or black specfic? Sure, there is the charge to see her, and I remember the charge I got when I used to watch Mantis. He was Black, he was disabled (but not overwhelmed by that paralysis because) he was also a superhero. And really, he was one of the first scifi Black nerds on television. (Barney in Mission Impossible didn't count: that was espionage and contemporary science. Lieutenant Uhura in Star Trek kinda counted but she was in repeats and really --although she broke all sorts of color barriers back in the day-- she was really only a glorified secretary in a world made by white writers.

Which leads me to the whole State of Black scifi thing.

What is the difference between Black characters in scifi movies/books/animation and Black scifi? The best answer is that Black scifi is written by Black folks with Black culture, Black issues, Black traditions, and sometimes Black artistic formats.

It's a good time for Black scifi, I think -- especially in the self-publishing community. Writers such as Nnedi Okorafor, Nalo Hopkinson, and Nora Jemisin are traditionally published with big publishing houses. Other writers, such as Milton Davis, are paving new ways in indie publishing.

Just as there's a departure from traditional publishing houses, there is also a depart from the "white" norm. Often, the white world tends to think that if they have explored a trope or an issue, then all the world should move on. For instance, because white women are tired of being put on pedestal or being considered objects of admiration or homemakers, it is often expected that Black women should not write about such matters. But Black women have not been on pedestals as beauties for a while in the present age. The same can be said for art forms. The white fantasy world -- at least in publishing-- often eschew epic fantasy. They have had their fill of warriors. But Sword and Soul, a phrase coined by the great Black writer Charles Saunders, has not had its chance to explore epic fantasy or the warrior ethics and stories in an African (or African analog) setting.

Now, with indie publishing, self publishing and outlets such as amazon and lulu.com there is a way for Black writers to explore many genres and themes the gatekeepers of publishing are tired of. No longer do writers of all colors have to endure European fairies and elves. Black elves also exist. As do Asian and Native American elves.

So for me, Black scifi is doing well....it is stepping up to show readers around the earth a brave new world

For more on the state of Black SciFi, check on Twitter -- hashtag: #blackscifi2012 #blaskscifi

Other participants

Check out the other members of this Online Black History Month Event:

The Thirteenth Step by Robert Hayward

2012-01-14T12:39:00.003-05:00

The Thirteenth Step: Ancient Solutions to the Contemporary Problems of Alcoholism and Addiction using the Timeless Wisdom of The Native American Church Ceremony

by Robert Hayward

Paperback: 346 pages

Publisher: Native Son Publishers Inc. (April 18, 2011)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0983638403

ISBN-13: 978-0983638407

The Thirteenth Step is a powerful and true recounting of the life of Robert Hayward. Hayward's life story weaves the real and the mysterious, the personal and the universal into a uniquely gripping story of self-discovery through his spiritual awakening within the Native American Church; an awakening that saved his life. The Thirteenth Step documents, for the first time ever, ancient ceremonies that have been conducted in the same manner for thousands of years, yet never shared with outsiders. Through Hayward's own journey of redemption, the reader will experience the words, wisdom, and teachings of The Native American Church, and encounter a spirituality that until now, has been accessible only to those born into the traditional Native American culture.

About the Author

Robert Hayward was born August 23, 1959, the ninth out of ten children, to very loving and devoted parents. His parents were animators who met while working for Walt Disney. They were part of the original crew that developed Mickey Mouse, Pinocchio, The Three Little Pigs, and many more. In the late 1970 s Robert studied at Laguna College of Art and Design, in Laguna Beach, CA. In August of 2000 he was commissioned to design and build a memorial to honor a fallen Native American firefighter, who lost his life while protecting the La Jolla Indian Reservation in San Diego County. Robert graduated from Palomar Community College in San Diego, CA, in 2011 earning a Certification as a Licensed Drug and Alcohol Counselor (CAADAC). Robert has been studying and writing about Native American history and religion for over 30 years. Linked to the Native American community by blood, he has been mentored by traditional Medicine Men and Roadmen since his youth.

When I Have Fears That I Might Cease To Be

2012-01-12T18:27:00.000-05:00

When I have fears that I may cease to be
Before my pen has glean'd my teeming brain,
Before high piled books, in charact'ry,
Hold like rich garners the full-ripen'd grain;
When I behold, upon the night's starr'd face,
Huge cloudy symbols of a high romance,
And think that I may never live to trace
Their shadows, with the magic hand of chance;
And when I feel, fair creature of an hour,
That I shall never look upon thee more,
Never have relish in the faery power
Of unreflecting love!—then on the shore
Of the wide world I stand alone, and think
Till Love and Fame to Nothingness do sink.

Okay, seriously, I can't do that. I simply cannot do what John Keats does here. It is his remedy against his fears. It cannot be my remedy.

I've always had fears that I may cease to be before my pen has gleaned my teeming brain. Alas, alarmist mother. Hypochondria. And ill health. What can I say? Seriously, I have moments when I can't get out of bed, the fear can be so paralyzing.

But I cannot sit around trying to think until love and fame sink or shrink to nothingness.

So when I have these fears that I can't start yet another book because I might not live to finish it, I hold to God. I hold to His power. I ascribe to Him glory and strength. I trust in His miraculous power to heal and preserve me.

In this way, I'm different from Keats. And I have to be aware of this difference.

Sometimes we have to search then separate ourselves from our favorite poems because those poems and songs however lovely or sweet or hooked into our souls are simply wrong for a Christian to think.

I used to love Simon and Garfunkel's "I am a Rock" when I was a kid. But now I must yank the roots of that song out of me. I like the tune of Imagine. It feels almost like a hymn. But it's not a hymn. It's nihilism disguising itself as life and joy. Just as this song by sweet Keats is a giving in to despair. He prepared himself to die...and perhaps he had no other chance because the Christian faith of those around him had not been wholly severed from its rationalistic non-miraculous moorings. But I have spent 52 years, trying to find the power of God in my present life. And I believe I have found it. I'm holding on to hope and faith and to the idea of miracles and healing because that is what my Christian faith promises me. Lord, I ascribe to you, glory, power, love, and strength.

The Eleven Books that have influenced me and my writing

2012-01-06T20:11:00.000-05:00

The Bible
Complete Shakespeare
Complete James Joyce
Complete Flannery O'Connor
Portable Edgar Allen Poe
Washington Square by Henry James
The Pilgrim's Regress
The Pilgrim's Progress
Pensees Blaise Pascal
Training in Christianity, Soren Kierkegaard
Eternity in their Hearts, Don Richardson

Yeah, i know... I wasn't into modern books at all.

Fiction Anthologies I'm gonna try to submit to this year

2012-01-06T12:12:00.001-05:00

Sometimes one gets all caught up in writing a novel and one forgets about short stories, so here goes...the short fiction anthos that look interesting to me and that I'm gonna try to write something for.

Childhood Nightmares Anthology

UNDER THE BED
They haunt us all. Those whispered tales of monsters hiding under the bed, or of the demons lurking in the shadowy corner where we dare not glance for fear that seeing them will make them all too real. Oh, how the innocent landscape of a child’s imagination lends fertile soil to horrors ready to be sown on the slightest of sounds; the tales and the terror they wreak on our youthful minds never quite leaves us.

Reach into the forgotten recesses of your twisted mind. Share with us the tales of nightmares that can only thrive in the hidden corners of a child’s imaginings; the bogeyman under the bed, the outlandishly fiendish clown perched upon a rocker, the slight murmur of sound coming from the closet… did you close the door completely? Explore the myriad terrors that only a child can twist from nothing into some ‘thing’ in the span of a single rapid breath.

Do you dare delve into your own memories for inspiration? Perhaps you’ll start sleeping with the lights on again... Tell us, who is Under the Bed?

Submission guidelines;

Deadline for submissions - Monday, January 30th, 2012.
4000 - 10,000 words.

Please submit your manuscript as a *.doc or *.docx file in Verdana; 12 point font; single spacing and standard formatting. Graphic gore must be kept to a minimum unless it is integral to the story; absolutely no incestuous or sexual abuse storylines will be considered.

Only stories previously unpublished may be submitted. Upon acceptance into the anthology, you agree that Sirens Call Publications holds exclusive publishing rights for twelve (12) months from the date of publication; after that date has passed, all intellectual property rights revert to the author with the proviso that Sirens Call Publications retains distribution rights in the format of the contracted anthology.

An eBook copy will be sent to all contributors and up to 5 paperback copies per author will be available to purchase at cost. 50% of the royalties will be distributed between all contributors.

Email your submission as an attachment to; submissions@SirensCallPublications.com

The email subject line must read "SUBMISSION - Under The Bed - ‘your story title’" or your submission will not be considered for this anthology.

http://www.sirenscallpublications.com/anthology_nightmare.htm

Since its early days, science fiction has played a unique role in human civilization. It removes the limits of what "is" and shows us a boundless vista of what "might be." Its fearless heroes, spectacular technologies and wondrous futures have inspired many people to make science, technology and space flight a real part of their lives and in doing so, have often transformed these fictions into reality. The National Space Society and Baen Books applaud the role that science fiction plays in advancing real science and have teamed up to sponsor this short fiction contest in memory of Jim Baen.

CONTEST RULES:

-Write a short story of no more than 8,000 words, that shows the near future (no more than about 50-60 years out) of manned space exploration.

-No entry fee. But please only submit one story...your best one!

-No reprints.

-All entries must be original works in English. Plagiarism, poetry, song lyrics, or characters from another person’s works will not be considered.

-E-mail submissions only. Send entries as .RTF attachments to: baen.nss.contest@gmail.com

-Please put the word SUBMISSION in the subject line when sending a contest entry and QUESTION in the subject line for questions to the contest administrator.

-Please include the following in the body of your email: The title of the work, the author's name, address and telephone number, and an approximate word-count. The manuscript should be an RTF attachment, in standard manuscript format and should be titled and numbered on every page, but the author's name MUST BE DELETED to facilitate fair judging.

-Employees of Baen Books, NSS and previous Grand Prize Winner are not eligible. Previous Second and Third place winners are eligible.

-Contest opens for submissions on October 1, 2011

(entries sent before that date will be deleted unread)

-Deadline - February 1, 2012.

WHAT WE DO WANT TO SEE:

Moon bases, Mars colonies, orbital habitats, space elevators, asteroid mining, artificial intelligence, nano-technology, realistic spacecraft, heroics, sacrifice, adventure.

WHAT WE DON'T WANT TO SEE:

Stories that show technology or space travel as evil or bad, Star Wars type galactic empires, paranormal elements, UFO abductions.

JUDGES:

Judging will be by Baen Books editors Hank Davis, Jim Minz and a yet to be announced Baen Books author.

PRIZES:

- The GRAND PRIZE winner will be published as the featured story on the Baen Books main website and paid at the normal paying rates for professional story submittals. The author will also receive an engraved award, free entry into the 2012 International Space Development Conference, a year's membership in the National Space Society and a prize package containing various Baen Books and National Space Society merchandise.

- SECOND and THIRD place winners will receive a year's membership in the National Space Society and a prize package containing various Baen Books and National Space Society merchandise.

- Winners will be announced and notified no later than March 15, 2012. (only the winners will be notified) The winners will be honored at the 2012 International Space Development Conference in Washington D.C., May 24-28, 2012.Huntsville. (though we would prefer the winner attend the conference, it is not required.)

( * Note: Publication details will be worked out between winner and Baen Books. In the unlikely event that none of the stories qualify for professional publication, a cash prize, of an amount determined by contest organizers, may be substituted in lieu of publication.)

http://www.williamledbetter.com/contest.htm

AVON IMPULSE

Around her hair she wore a yellow ribbon

She wore it in the springtime

In the merry month of May

And if you ask her why the heck she wore it

She wore it for her soldier who was far far away

Calling all writers! Avon Impulse is looking for manuscript submissions

for a collection of Yellow Ribbon romance. Just as the song indicates,

we’re looking for stories where a soldier is returning home from war.

Who is waiting for him/her? What was left unsaid? Where do they go from

here?

If you’ve got a story (up to 25k words), we want to read it. Be

creative. Be sexy. Ready. Set. Go!

Deadline is January 31, 2012.

1 – The submission process is open to all writers, not just US residents.

2 – Submit through our Impulse tab – that is how we’re accepting queries and submissions, both for digital-first and print.

3 – No restrictions in terms of explicit material.

http://www.avonromance.com/impulse/

http://www.avonromance.com/2011/10/12/open-call-for-submissions/

Submit here:

http://www.avonromance.com/impulse/

Want to be an Avon writer? Follow these easy guidelines and you’re one step closer to making your dreams come true.

Avon is looking for stories of emotional complexity, written by authors with unique voices. Books with humor, drama, suspense; with sizzling sensuality and irresistible characters—all types and tones can be right for Avon. If your manuscript is exciting, electrifying, and exceptional then we want to see it. Take us to the darkest depths or make us laugh out loud—everything is welcome!

We’re actively seeking all genres of romance of all lengths, including (but not limited to): historical, paranormal, contemporary, and erotica.

How To Submit A Manuscript

To submit, go to AvonImpulse.com and follow the instructions to fill out the form and upload your manuscript. Due to time constraints, we will not be able to respond to every query. If you do not receive a response after three months, that means your story is not right for us at that time. However, times change, so keep trying!

Genres:

Gothic

Steampunk

Shifter

Vampire

Ghost

Magical

Futuristic

Time Travel

Western

Small Town

Suspense

Fantasy

Submissions FAQ

How long does my book need to be?

We are looking for stories of all lengths, from short stories to full length books, and anything inbetween.

What font/margin/size should I use?

Your formatting choices are up to you. As long as your manuscript is readable, it’s acceptable.

Which editor should I address my submission to?

There is no need to specify an editor. However, if you have a past relationship with someone on the Avon team, or one of our editors specifically requested you submit your manuscript, please note that on the submission form.

Do I need to specify which Avon imprint I am submitting to?

No, all submissions are vetted by the same team of Avon editors, who will decide which imprint is the best fit.

How long will you take to respond?

Due to the volume of submissions, we will only be able to contact you if your project is the right fit. If you have not received a response in three months time, unfortunately your project wasn’t right for our current list.

Can I still submit to the avonromance@harpercollins.com email address?

No, please go here.

Will you accept manuscript even if the subgenre isn’t listed?

Yes, on the submission form, choose “other” and write in your subgenre.

I’m an agent. Should I use this to submit my client’s manuscript?

No, this submission form is for authors only. Agents should pitch and submit projects in the usual fashion.

King David & the Spiders from Mars: Submission Guidelines

Due to the positive response to She Nailed a Stake Through His Head: Tales of Biblical Terror, I will be editing another Bible-themed anthology. Tentatively titled King David & The Spiders from Mars: More Tales of Biblical Terror, this will be a Bible-themed horror anthology specifically based on The Book of Samuel. Some of my favorite stories from the first anthology were David centered including Elissa Malcohn's "Judgement at Naioth" and Christi Krug's "As If Favorites of Their God."

What I'm Looking For: Short stories, ideally between 1000-12000 words. All stories must be based in some way on the book of Samuel (usually edited to be 1 & 2) which is the story about how Israel transitioned from a Judge based society to a kingdom under King David. Even though this is primarily a horror anthology, I'm willing to look at stories that fall into different categories including bizarro, science fiction, fantasy, literary and romance (although if you write a romance between Tamar and Amnon, I'm going to be worried about you and not in a good way). There are several stories within Samuel including the madness of Saul, the end of Eli's family as the major priesthood, David & Goliath and the death of Absalom so feel free to use whatever inspires you. Also, even though the Book of Ruth is a completely different book, it serves as a prequel to the David saga so if you got a great Ruth story, I will read it.

Check out this Amazon List for reading suggestions. Please at least read the book of Samuel once to get the flavor of the stories. If you only know the story of David & Goliath, you will be at a disadvantage since that's the most popular story in the bunch and you will have a lot of competition.

Also, if you are going to do a David & Goliath story read the original. This is a much more interesting story than the children's books would have you believe and all that "come from behind victory" blather is inaccurate (not to mention boring as hell).

Other Suggestions:

Retellings of Biblical Stories from the perspective of another character.

Kiastic Storytelling

Deconstructionist Commentary akin to Rashi

Biblical stories retold in different literary styles (high adventure, Victorian, Romance, Mystery, etc.)

Modern stories told in the Biblical style (Best use Robert Alter's Art of Biblical Poetry and Art of Biblical Narrative if you want a crash course)

Parodies of Prophets

"Queen Esther vs. The Brain Eating Penis Monster from Outer Space" (note that just sticking this title on a lame story is not going to endear you to me. Write a story that would justify this kind of title and I'm interested)

Biblical Movie Parodies

I am also impressed by the following: original takes on classic stories, strong female characters, stories that actually understand the original tales, style.

Formatting Guidelines: Please use Standard Manuscript format. I am going to be a little more hard on people not using this format since the last time I had stories where I couldn't get back to the writers because they neglected to put their emails on the stories so I had no way of knowing how to tell them that they were rejected. One even made it to the Maybe pile. Please submit in .rtf or .doc.

What I am not Looking For:I have a blog post for the first Bible anthology where I go off on the "do not want" list. It basically comes down to "no preachiness" which is the major pitfall for people tackling these kind of stories. I don't want a story with an agenda - whether it's atheist, Christian or Jewish. I am not interested in other stories in the Bible. Do not set a Sodom & Gomorrah story in San Francisco. Do not send poetry. Do not retell a Bible story from a character's perspective that adds absolutely nothing to the narrative. In the last anthology, I got a bunch of stories that had to stop to tell me that "Jesus is love" but since this one is about King David, I figure there will be less of those in this slush pile. Still, don't do that.

Also note that all snotty replies to rejections will be aired publicly on this blog and mocked mercilessly.

Pay: $50 advance against equal share of royalties - to be paid out no later than publication.

Reading Period: November 1, 2011 - January 31, 2012. All stories submitted before November 1 will be deleted unread. Although that's the best case scenario. If I do read them I will mock them on this blog. I am using a three month window as well as waiting until November 1 because I don't want trunk stories and I doubt anyone has been submitting their awesome King David Rips Off Foreskins story to markets until now. This gives you time to write an original story and send it by November 1 or to spend about 4 months perfecting it until it's ready at the end of January.

Reprints. Yes. Same price. Make sure you tell me where it was originally published and that it is available for reprint right sales.

Send to: timlieder1 - at - gmail.com

Feel free to repost these Submission guidelines where ever there are interested parties.

http://marlowe1.livejournal.com/1953612.html

NEW ANTHOLOGY: Bibliotheca Fantastica opens for submissions Dec 15, 2011

November 14, 2011 By Dagan Books Leave a Comment

We are pleased to announce that we have acquired the services of renowned author, Claude Lalumière, to edit a new anthology for 2012, with co-editor Don Pizarro! We are thrilled to see what this editorial team will bring to Dagan Books. With an original cover by Art Director Galen Dara, and a commitment to bringing the same kind of diversity and originality that you’ve come to expect from our publications, we are sure this anthology will be wonderful. Wouldn’t you like to be a part of it? Details are below:

Bibliotheca Fantastica

What we want: Stories having to do with lost, rare, weird, or imaginary books, or any aspect of book history or book culture, past, present, future, or uchronic. Any genre. Although the fantastical is not essential per se, stories should evoke a sense of the fantastic, the unknown, the weird, wonder, terror, mystery, pulp, and/or adventure, etc.

Originals only, no reprints. We would appreciate no simultaneous submissions. Accepting stories of up to 10,000 words in length, though shorter stories are preferred.

We will accept submissions from December 15, 2011, at noon EST, to midnight EST on March 31, 2012. We are taking submissions through an automated system that will not allow you to submit before December 15, but the link to do so will appear here: http://daganbooks.submishmash.com/submit

Dagan Books is paying 2 cents per word for each accepted story, plus contributor copies. Bibliotheca Fantastica will be available in both print and ebook, and is scheduled to be published Fall 2012.

About the editors:

Claude Lalumière is the author of two books – the collection Objects of Worship and the novella The Door to Lost Pages – as well as the co-creator of Lost Myths, and is the Fantastic Fiction columnist for The Montreal Gazette. He has edited numerous anthologies, and has sold more than 50 pieces of short fiction in the last decade.

Don Pizarro is an author of short fiction, and editor for Dagan Books. In addition to this anthology he is also editing Cthulhurotica 2 in 2012.

http://daganbooks.com/2011/11/14/new-anthology-bibliotheca-fantastica-opens-for-submissions-dec-15-2011/

MVmedia, LLC

Presents

Griots II: Sisters of the Spear Writers Guidelines

The purpose of the Griots II: Sisters of the Spear Anthology is to pay respect and homage to women of color and continue to expand the definition of Sword and Soul. Our hope is that the anthology will become an annual publication which will inspire more writers to take part and expand the readership. We also hope to increase the diversity of the Sword and Sorcery genre by publishing quality stories with rich characters that transcend the barriers of mainstream publishers.

1. Story Length: 2,500 to 15,000 words

2. Deadline: May 31, 2012

3. Story Description: Stories must contain a woman or women of color as the main protagonist(s) and portray her/them in a positive, heroic light. The story must be based in African culture, history and/or mythology and contain original characters. We will not accept fan fiction or stories based on previous characters unless they are your own. The stories must contain an element of high adventure, action and supernatural encounters, (monsters, demons, spirits, etc.). Romance can be included as well but mustn’t overshadow the action. Preference will be given to female authors; however the final selection will be based on the quality of the story submitted as deemed by the editors.

4. Authors will retain all rights to their stories.

5. We will pay $25.00 per story if accepted.

6. Once a story is accepted an artist will be chosen by the publisher to create an illustration based on the story. We have a number of artists that have asked to contribute. If you have your own artist you wish to use, please let us know.

7. Submissions should be in Word Document 97- 2003 format, rich text or .doc. Documents should be double-spaced. Please include author’s name, story title and page number on each page.

8. Go for it and have fun. Sword and Soul Forever!

Apex Publications will be publishing a follow-up to the Nebula, Bram Stoker, and Black Quill nominated anthology, Dark Faith. The book will be 80,000 words and pay five cents a word (up to four thousand words). It will debut late-summer 2012. We buy First World anthology print rights and digital rights (for three years).

Everyone believes in something and we want you to put those beliefs to the test. We’re looking for the story only you could write, something deeply personal and at the same time universal. We’re looking for smart, literate stories that don’t proselytize or stereotype. Stories that make you think, that comment on the human condition and the social order. Stories that are rich in their use of language.

However, as much as we love social commentary, don’t forget to entertain us. The best way to get a feel for what we’re looking for is to read Dark Faith.

Submissions will be accepted from 1/1/2012 until 1/31/2012. Unsolicited stories received outside this time frame will be deleted unread.

Please include a cover letter with your submission (even if we know you). Please send no more than one submission at a time. No reprints. Simultaneous submissions will be accepted as long as you tell us up front (and immediately withdraw the story if you sell it).

All submissions must be emailed as an RTF file to Maurice Broaddus and Jerry Gordon atdarkfaithantho@gmail.com

http://mauricebroaddus.com/?p=3224

Science Fiction Holiday Submissions Call

Angela James | October 6th, 2011

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Carina Press is pleased to announce a call for submissions for our 2012 holiday collections. This will be the only open collection call for 2012 and is an excellent opportunity for authors interested in participating in the normally by-invitation-only Carina Press collections.

Carina is looking for science fiction novellas with a winter holiday theme, to be published digitally both individually and as a collection in December 2012. The novellas should be from 18,000 to 35,000 words and feature science fiction elements as integral to the novella. The stories do not need to be romance, or even have romance elements, but can be straight science fiction, or science fiction with romantic elements, and can also feature elements of mystery, thriller, horror or other sub-genres. Additionally, there is no set heat level for these stories, so they can have no sex, or be ultra-sexy, or anything in between.

I recognize that saying simply “science fiction” leaves room for a tremendous amount of interpretation within the genre. However, this is preferable as I feel narrowing it down too much might leave out something amazing.

Essentially, we’re looking for interesting, creative, well-written stories within the science fiction genre that will appeal to readers’ imaginations and add to our growing catalog of science fiction stories.

The science fiction holiday collection will be edited by Angela James and supported by a marketing and promotion campaign both online and in print. In addition, each author chosen to contribute to the anthology will receive a set number of limited-edition print copies for their own use in giveaways and contests (or to decorate their own bookshelves).

To submit, please send your completed manuscript and synopsis, along with query letter to submissions@carinapress.com by March 15th, 20112. In the subject line, please put SciFi Holiday: Manuscript Title and Author

All submissions will be reviewed and final decision made by April 30th, 2012.

For questions about this call for submissions, please email Angela James at submissions@carinapress.com

For more information about Carina Press, and to read the submission guidelines, please visit www.carinapress.com

*permission to forward granted*

http://carinapress.com/blog/2011/10/science-fiction-holiday-submissions-call/

Embracing Motherhood

2012-01-06T10:43:00.000-05:00

Okay, so now I'm 52. Not really so old in the grand scheme of things, but when one considers that many African-American women die at 67, well, who knows? I am intending to live til age 115 should Jesus tarry (unless the world is really way crappy by then) Which means I will have to deal with femininity and the world's stereotypes and expectations for older black women. Unfortunately, unless one is Diana Ross, the world desexualizes older women, especially Black older women and Non-white older women. We are immediately placed in the category of wise old crone, hag, etc. Unless we go all cougar. Which I really can't see myself doing.

(I'd have to imagine life without hubby, period of grieiving, burial etc...to reach the imaginative state of being a single gorgeous cougar with young gorgeous hotties after her. And although I like looking at gorgeous hotties, I really like having hubby around. So yeah, my imagination can't go there. Yeah, for better or worse, I prefer imagining stuff that I really would like to happen. )

Ooh, that reminds me, before I forget. A dream from an online contact has really connected to me. She dreamed that she saw Jesus homeless, looking all icky and well, like how homeless folks look. So we got to talking about that dream and whether it was Jesus identifying with the poor, the prisoner, the sick and what all else? My take on it was that perhaps we the church just haven't given Jesus a home in our hearts and spirits. And that really made me start thinking about the purity of my mind, spirit, and heart. If my spirit and body and mind are temples for God, they should be clean. I'm generally good about inner cleanliness. If I find anger, malice, untruthfulness, lust, uncleanness, selfishness, etc in my personality or character, I set out to clean myself of them and to repent. But there are a few besetting sins.

Which leads to this embracing motherhood thing. I don't mean embracing motherhood for my own children, but embracing the term Moms, Mami, and all those terms which folks on the internet and on the street call me. I have one of those faces that makes strangers like me, and which makes young guys come to ask me deep questions about life, women, etc. The funny thing is on the whole I have embraced it. But there is still a part of me that lusts and I have to put that under the blood of Jesus, as we Christians say. And really, I rather like guys on the internet and on the street calling me Moms or emailing me for questions (ah thank you God for blinding them to the fact that I might actually be lusting after them1) And thank God, holiness is improving.

So yeah, Wise Motherly figure....I can deal with that. Crone, hag, not so much. Cougar....not on your life. Even if I end up being a 115 year old hottie.

Scripture versus the Word of the Lord

2012-01-04T14:44:00.002-05:00

Many Christians need to differentiate between Scripture and the Word of the Lord. Some even need to differentiate between The Law, The Laws and the Prophets, Scripture and the Word of the Lord.

IF we live only by the letter of the law and think of God's word only as Scripture, we are not living a full relationship with God who wants us to worship Him in spirit and in truth.

Think of the ways of worshiping God. A good way to think about this is to think about the historical books, I & II Samuel, I&II Kings. I&II Chronicles. In those books we find four types of people.

The school of the prophet (to whom Elijah, Elisha, Macaiah, Jonah, and all those prophets belonged):
They didn't have the Torah or the law but the holy spirit was upon them and they followed God. They didn't stray from the path because they hung out together (hence the "school" of the prophet) so they could correct each other but if they had the Laws or the Torah no one really knows.

The priests who traditionally worked in the temple.
The Book of the Law was lost until it was found during the days when King Josiah was restoring the temple. The priests basically did traditional stuff that their predecessors did. But no one really knew what the Bible was. After the book was found, the king tore his clothes in repentance and the people were told the proper way to God.

The people (who included the king and the normal people)
The behavior of the kings and the people varied. Sometimes a few did good but for the most part, the people of Israel back in the day had a strange mixture of religion. They worshiped the Brass Serpent pole. They worshiped the Queen of Heaven, Ishtar and had her prayer beads. They had fertility rites and temple prostitutes and yet they considered themselves God's people.

The false priests of Baal.
These were people who were totally sure of their God and totally sure of their own false religion and were affecting how God's people behaved.

Anyway, the upshot of this is that for most of that time, people could only follow God by what the holy spirit told to them. This is known as "The Word of the Lord." Paul uses it in the New Testament when he says, "I heard this by the Word of the Lord." Words of the Lord can be visions, dreams, deep impressions from God, audible words spoken by God, words from an angel. (Of course one has to be really sure that these words are from God.) Joseph, Mary's husband, had a word from the Lord through dreams. The Wise Men from the east had dreams and insight into the Star, also words from the Lord. Elizabeth heard the word of the Lord when the baby leaped in her womb. Simeon received a word from the Lord through a revelation from God. Zacharias received a word from the Lord from the angel.

Now the trouble with Words from the Lord is that often it is only between the person and God and the person has to hold onto this truth that God has revealed to her/him ---often in spite of what others say. This is revealed quite clearly in this passage in 1 Kings Chapter 13

This prophet was told something. He believed God told it. God hadn't told anyone but this prophet had heard it by the Word of the Lord. So he goes and does what God does. But then he meets another prophet who tells him something else. And he believes the other prophet instead of trusting God's word to him.

We are told to develop a relationship with God. This means we have to learn to hear his voice. And that isn't hard because He says, MY sheep hear my voice." So, the trouble is...when we hear the voice of God do we acknowledge it as God's voice.

If we are told something in a dream or are warned about something, that is the Word of the Lord even though it is not Scripture.

God still speaks today. And it is His Holy Spirit working in us that enables us to discern His truth. The letter kills but the Spirit gives life. The Bible can kill you if you don't come to it with the Holy Spirit, or if you listen to what ministers interpret it. The Spirit and the Written Word must agree and God will tell you in your spirit what the Scripture really means and how it applies to you or to events happening in the world.

I would've given up on certain hopes if God hadn't told me by the word of the Lord to continue. And when I want to give up on certain things, I hold on because I know God has promised me by the Word of the Lord. And I've had guidance about my health that has helped me even though doctors poo-poohed it. I've been really been given a divine rebuke lately because I haven't been doing what God told me to do.

Anyway, I have to commit. Obedience is very necessary. And this means obedience not only to Scripture but to the Word of the Lord that he has spoken to us in dreams or in visions

14 For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not. 15 In a dream, in avision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed; 16 Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction, 17 That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man. 18 He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword. Job 33:14-18

The instructions one receives in dreams prevent one from dying! To not listen to them is disobedience, and disobedience is as the sin of witchcraft. It is that bad to sin against what God has personally revealed to one's spirit.

So then, God's lists of things he has told me to do:

No restaurant food: my food is as good as restaurants
No processed food
No chocolate
No pork, cold cuts, processed meats, corn
No tomato sauce

Eat natural sweets like fruits rather than manmade foods
Eat turkey, fish, grean peas beans, potatoes
No red meat

Second Lead Syndrome -- Who should get the girl?

2011-12-28T10:38:00.000-05:00

Most readers and writers understand second lead syndrome. It's that strange feeling in the heart that perhaps the heroine (sometimes it's the hero) should choose to marry the Other Guy and not the main male character.

In some romances, the main female character has lived an unloved life. Then suddenly two perfect guys come out of the woodwork (sometimes they are friends, related, enemies) and they both want her.

Sometimes it's easy for the reader to pick the True Love our heroine should ride off into the sunset with. IF it's too easy, there's a cheat involved. Bad writing usually makes the second lead somewhat evil and unworthy of our heroine; he has an evil secret or an unacceptable flaw or he doesn't really love her for herself. Good writing makes both guys equally flawed, equally loving, equally good. Thus good SLT should divide the heroine and twist her heartstrings as much as it twists the heartstrings of the reader and the author. When writing a scene with the Second Lead, the writer should be totally confused as to whether her heroine will choose this guy. This is when Second Lead Syndrome really kicks in. Because the author is as in love with the second lead as she is with the main character. She can see that a life with the poor guy would be just as happy for the heroine as a life with the rich guy.

This second lead thing pops up in many stories. Harry Potter/Hermione/Ron Edward/Bella/Jacob Of course the choice must be made because we don't live in a world where the heroine can have both guys, even if she wants them both. Why do we always want them both? (Or is it...why do I always want her to have them both?) So for those of us living in our society with our societal norms of marriage, if the heroine keeps both her lovers, we're talking sin (to the puritanical mind), menage a trois (for the lustful mind) and piggy behavior (for the folks who have fairness issues.)

We want to choose a guy who's perfect for her. Or we want her to choose a guy because she's perfect for him.

I don't know but I have these moments where I find myself watching a movie and getting very annoyed with whom the heroine chooses. A lot of issues having to do with class, societal ideas about marriageability. Real subtle racial issues. I'll have to deal with that in another blog.

Of course, I cheated in Constant Tower. Our heroine gets the guys. <-- note: guys. Although it's a bit complicated and one wonders who the relationships will pan out in actuality, because these are truce marriages after all.

Silent Night, Holy Night (Apache Lyrics)

2011-12-24T14:21:00.000-05:00

Blessed be the names of the Lord

2011-12-23T09:23:00.005-05:00

The Lord has so many names and all those names should be blessed and are blessed because they tell us so much about Christ's work, character, and glory.

Bless the name Jesus because "God saves" His people from Sin, Sickness, Hell, and Death. Through this name, we have a Friend who sticks closer than a brother. We can speak to this great sweet Jesus who is all that the prophet Job wished for, one who has one hand on God's shoulder and the other on ours.

Bless the name "Our Great High Priest" because there is one Mediator between God and Man, Jesus Christ the Righteous and there is no other word among men whereby we must be saved.

Bless the name "Prince of Peace" because through him there is Peace between God's Justice and God's Love toward us, and He has broken down the dividing wall between Jew and Gentile. He has given us Peace that passes understanding, and through Him the Wonderful Counsellor, the Holy Spirit, has come to all men.

Bless the name Christ/Messiah because He is the anointed one whom the whole world awaited and who had been anointed by God with an anointing far above all humans to do a great work far above all humans, all angels, and all gods.

Bless the name Son of God because he is God's Dear Son and because before the world was He was -- or rather "before the world was I AM" and he lived with the father and when no human was found who could stand in the gap, the Father sent the only begotten Son, who is the image of the Father, to show us what the father is like. He and the Father are ONE, and whoever has seen him has seen the Father.

Bless the name Son of Man because He is the descendant of Adam the Son of God and is the second Adam who creates a new race of humans, because He is the awaited One who has restored the earth to humanity, taken it away from the usurper, and made manifest the true Sons of God. Through His perfect Life and death, Man has the right to

Bless the name the Great Shepherd of the Sheep because He is our Good Shepherd and is not a hired hand. He gives His life for His sheep and lead us to still waters.

Bless the name "the bishop of our souls" because He does oversee our souls and all of God's Called-Out Ones.

Bless the name "King of kings and Lord of Lords" because He has made us a kingdom of priests and has given us authority and power over all the demons on earth that trouble us.

Bless the name "Bread of Life" because He is the true bread that came down from heaven and because He is Living Water.

Bless the name Redeemer because He has bought us back from Sin who owned us and paid us Death, Sickness, and Hell for our wages. We are free and our chains are cast off and we have returned to our true owner and Father, the God of Lights, Love, Truth, and Mercy.

Bless the name "Bruiser of the serpent's head" because all creation groaned and waited for the . to whom who

Bless the name The Lamb of God because He was the lamb sacrificed from the foundation of the earth. Because of his perfect life, and sacrificial death, He has the right to open the seven seals of the scrolls that proclaim ownership of the earth. Through His sinless blood, we humans are able to stand before God perfectly righteous as if we had never sinned and we conquer the Enemy of man by the blood of this pure Lamb and by the Word of our testimony of Him.

Bless the name Lord because He is the "owner and master" of the earth and He is worthy to be praised and obeyed because He has wrestled with principalities and won. He took captivity captive and gave gifts to men.

Bless the name "Word of God" because He is everything God ever spoke about Man, the Universe, Angels made into a living human being, and Man does not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God

Bless the name "The Great Physician" because He was wounded for our transgressions, the chastisement for our Peace was upon Him and by His wounds we were healed

Bless the name "Light of the World" because the world lay in sin not knowing what or who God was. They worshiped stone and wood and demons who meant only to destroy them. But now the world can arise and shine for its Light has come and those who live in great darkness have seen His great Light.

Bless the name the Author of our Faith, because at the end of time He will have written our lives in the Book of Life.

Bless the name the Captain of our Salvation because He is The Lord Strong in Battle.

Bless the name the Friend that sticks closer than a Brother, because he knows when we sit and when we stand and he is acquainted with all our ways, hearts and thoughts.

Bless the name Emmanuel because "God is indeed with us" -- He lives within us to make us holy, He stands beside us as our Advocate and Counsellor against all the adversary's accusations. He came to earth to live and die as one of us and he has been subjected to all the temptations we have been subjected to...yet He did not sin.

12Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
13Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
15Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 18And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. 19For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; 20And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. Colossians 1:12-20

Oh, Holy Night (Lyrics in Navajo)

2011-12-22T12:24:00.000-05:00

Jesus is Lord vs Jesus as Saviour

2011-12-22T08:11:00.001-05:00

In the Bible, the confection of the early church was Jesus is Lord.

Nowadays Christians say "Jesus is my saviour." Or they say "Jesus saves." Which is all true. Jesus has saved us. But should we not obey him? And why are we so focused ONLY on His saving us from sin? Has he not also saved the earth? And is he not also to be utterly obeyed?

Jesus says, "My friends are those who hear the word and keep it."

The way the early church knew someone was converted to Christ was not that the person went around saying "Jesus is my savior" but that the person acknowledged that Jesus was Lord and to be obeyed BECAUSE he is the perfect holy son of God and the one who has redeemed his people and all the world from the power of the devil. The early church knew Jesus was Lord of all.

Another subtle stealing of Jesus' glory is the phrase "Jesus is my Lord and Saviour."

Again, all true.

But Jesus is the Lord of the whole earth. He has redeemed the earth. He is not just there for us to obey. He is now the rightful owner of the world and one day he will show it by opening the seven seals. He has become the Second Adam. He has conquered ll the usurpers Sin, Sickness, Demonic entities and ultimately death. He has brought back the earth to God and now owns the title deed of it again. Man's dominion is returned. This is what the whole creation has been groaning for: A Saviour and Lord of the Earth who is worthy to reign over it, and a return of spiritual power and authority to the sons of God to be manifested.

Therefore, it is not enough that we worship and OBEY Him as Lord. We must also see that all things in heaven and earth bow before Him.

Born to Redeem the Sons of Earth: "Avenge me of my adversary"

2011-12-19T16:51:00.000-05:00

1And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; 2Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: 3And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. 4And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; 5Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. 6And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.7And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? 8I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

Sometimes we forget that Jesus was born into the earth to avenge us against our adversary. He is a Saviour and a Deliverer. Not only does He save us from sin but because of Jesus Christ, "the prince of this world" is judged.

It is interesting that Jesus equates praying to God with a poor wounded disadvantaged widow asking God for justice. We often come to God with the words "grace" and "mercy" on our lips. It terrifies us to ask for justice. But is it too much to see that Jesus is aware that people on earth are under the bondage of a cruel oppressor? Even when Jesus destroys the works of the devil and redeems us out of the hand of the devil, we still have to wrestle against principalities and to fight the good fight of faith.

Pharoah, who typifies Satan, did not easily let God's people go. Even after all the gods of Egypt were judged with terrible plagues, Pharoah still would not let the people go. Even after the people were freed in the Passover, Pharoah pursued them. It's that way with Satan.

Yet Jesus has conquered the world. And we will conquer it with out faith. We have to hold on to our belief in this aspect of Christ's work. Jesus HAS conquered Satan. He was born to conquer sin, sickness, and the devil. Therefore as we pray to God, let us pray that God's will be done! Let us pray that the victory Jesus won on the Cross will be reflected in our own victory over sin, sickness, and our many adversaries. The kingdom of heaven is taken by fervency, and the fervent take it. And how can we be fervent? Because we know the son of God -- the awaited redeemer of Man-- has redeemed Humanity. Therefore we pray that the greatness of Jesus' salvation will be shown in our lives, in our bodies, in our spirits. We fight the good fight and hold on until we see the manifestation of the Lord's speedy answer to our prayer. Remember God had speedily answered Daniel's prayer three weeks before Daniel received the answer to the prayer. But Daniel kept on keeping on because he knew the Lord was his deliverer and the avenger of Israel.

We should hold on and persist as that widow woman did because Jesus has brought us justice and power against the evil one. He came into this world to save sinners. From death. From hell. From the Adversary.

Matthew's Dreams, Luke's Visions, and Pilate's Wife's Dream

2011-12-18T11:18:00.000-05:00

When we read the Christmas narrative in the gospels, we see that Matthew writes about dreams and Luke writes about visions. Luke says he has perfect knowledge about the events around our Lord's birth, but he doesn't include everything. As John writes in his own gospel, "there are also many other things that Jesus did which are not written in this book." So John mentions the raising of Lazarus for instance. But the others leave that out. So Luke is concerned with Jesus, the son of Man, so he doesn't include anything having to do with wise men coming and bowing to Jesus or with Herod wondering if Jesus is king of Israel. Luke leaves out the Wise Men, the star, Joseph's dreams. But he talks about Jesus being wrapped in "swaddling cloths" (which were clothes used to swaddle corpses, the only thing Mary had on hand.) He talks about the events in Mary's cousin's life. He is the only one who talks about the familial relationship of Jesus to John.

So hubby and I were thinking about Pilate's wife. Yeah, i know...that's Easter. But hey, Easter and Christmas are connected.

On the night before the day Jesus was to speak to Pilate, Pilate's wife sends him this message:

"Have thou nothing to do with that good man, because I have suffered many things in a dream because of Him."

Claudia Procula is not the only one who had visions and dreams about Christ. I tend to think the man who tired his colt -- on which no man ever sat-- probably had a dream of some kind. (Since the disciples were utterly unaware of this colt being tied up. And would probably have argued with Jesus that young colts aren't easily ridden until they're broken in.)

Back in the day, people took dreams seriously.

The value given to dreams and the value given to one's wife is shown in this dream. A wise wife whom one listens to, a wise wife who hears from heaven, is a wife one should listen to.

Pilate is known in history as being very rationalistic and tough. (Of course history had forgotten all about him and people were saying the Bible made him up -- just like they said the Bible made up Ur of the Chaldees, the Hittities, David, etc...until archeology proved the Bible right)

Why should such a man trust his wife's words? This is the guy who mingled the blood of the Galileans with their sacrifices. First, his wife is Claudia Procula... daughter of a big guy in Rome. But secondly, he totally believes and trusts his wife. Has his wife had dreams before?

We see that he honors his wife in that he's trying his best to have nothing to do with Jesus. He even uses the Israelite "washing of the hands" bit to link Jesus with the sacrifice of sins in the Torah.

A wise wife who has dreams should be honored. Dreams and visions should be honored.

No doubt people in the governor's court knew about Jesus. Josephus wrote that one of Pilate's children had been healed by Jesus earlier. I'm not sure of that. And the gospels record that Herod's steward was one of the disciples of Jesus. So maybe Claudia was following all this. Or maybe she wasn't.

What I like about this is that she is told something about our Lord. She's a complete stranger but she is given a dream of him. In many ways, Claudia Procula is like the wise men. She is outside of the covenant of Israel. yet she is given a truth. This is happening all over the world today. Moslems in many cultures are having dreams of Jesus. This little child born on Christmas was sent by God to draw ALL to him. Even so, come Lord Jesus.

Conformed to Tradition

2011-12-16T09:32:00.000-05:00

We are told by Paul not to be conformed to the world. (Of course we still are in many ways conformed.) And we are told (by Paul) to hold to the traditions taught by the elders. And we are told by Jesus that certain clerical traditions (created by men) "make the Word of God of ineffective."

We really have to learn to see things as they appear in Scripture..not how we "have been trained to believe" is there.

So yeah, there is the old Three Kings error. And the Three Wise men error. Not kings, not three.

And there is the old Kings and shepherds all in the same barn creche thing. And there is the old "swaddling clothes thing" (The word "swaddle" was used in Elizabethan times to mean the clothes used to wrap dead bodies. Now it just means cute baby clothes.)

When tradition takes over, people cannot see the truth even if it's in front of them in blazing red levels. And humans are so arrogant and against change that even when the truth is shown to them they will not look at it.

For instance, try telling the typical Bible-believing Christian that Mrs. Job needs compassion. It's like pulling teeth to get them to feel for this woman (the weaker vessel) who lost all her children all at once (and who had no comforter come to visit her.) They say she was "tempting her husband." Why? BECAUSE Tradition has trained them to hate her. And try telling them that the same Hebrew word is used for "bless" and "curse" and they look at you as if you're nuts. Yet, in English we have words like that. "Cleave" means "to cut asunder" and also "to cling together." And the word Raise and Raze are homophones that mean the opposite of each other. But folks will not believe anything that challenges their traditional views, even in the name of compassion. Quite simply, they feel they have a Biblical mandate to hate Mrs. Job because tradition (and some elder or deacon or Sunday school teacher) told them to.

Same thing with Mrs. Lot. We English speakers like to think Lot delayed and Mrs. Lot looked back because they longed for the sins of Sodom. But the angles speak of Lot's unmarried sisters who are in this house, and Lot speaks to his daughter's husbands. If one reads the passage clearly, one can see that it is quite possible that Lot had more than two daughters.

Tradition affects our eyesight and our reading comprehension....and it affects our theology and our hearts. (I won't even go into the fact that the KJV translators messed up badly. After all, it's okay if we don't know Greek.) But when something is said clearly and we read the opposite into it, EVEN WITH OUR EYES OPEN, it just makes me feel we're not being mindful.

Often the bad theology comes from people reading only a part of a verse.

Paul says he has a thorn in the flesh, "a messenger of Satan to buffet me." Everyone leaves out the "messenger of Satan to buffet me" part. Why not take Paul's words at face value?

Paul says, "A woman's head should be covered when she prophesies or teaches." What do some people do? They say women should cover their heads ALL the time in churches.

Jesus says, "When you fast, don't let anyone know." YET, when Christians fast, they tell everyone they are fasting.

Jesus said, "Heal the sick" He didn't say "Pray for the sick to be healed."
He said, "When you go out, you are to proclaim, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand'."

Jesus said, "A ghost doesn't have flesh and blood as you see I have." He didn't say, "There are no such things as ghosts."
True, this opens a whole can of worms. After all most christians believe the dead either go to hell or heaven. Some others believe in purgatory or soul sleep. The whole idea of ghosts just messes with our theology.

Which reminds me:
Jesus spoke of people being turned out into "outer darkness."
But isn't hell in a contained area? I'm just asking. I'm not saying I know the answer. I'm just saying that we really have to acknowledged what is there."

John says, "Outside of the gates of the New Jerusalem are...cowards, whoremongers, the faithless"
Okay, so we have folks in hell (and hell is cast into the eternally burning lake of fire) and we have New Jerusalem. With gates? So who is outside the gates? What kind of people?

Ezekiel wrote about those who would serve the prince forever yet (because of some infraction) they will "NEVER" see his face forever. Uhm.

I'm just saying... we have to really see what it is we are seeing.

Dark Parable: And the destruction of things is also holy

2011-12-13T07:32:00.004-05:00

I dreamed I was on a dark white swampy planet. No moon or sun that I could see, just an eerie whiteness. The ground was made up everywhere of watery swamp white Madonna(?) lilies or white worms. The worms appeared to be the major sentient inhabitants. There may have been buildings around but it was only as I walked and discovered a school or station stone marker which read, "A s if to Fairmont" that I realized it was an earthlike planet.

I realized the lilies and the worms were not native to the planet and someone had brought them to the planet. This caused them to take over the entire planet. I then saw a writing, "And the destruction of things is also holy." I wasn't sure I wanted to believe that. Becaue it seemed the world had been destroyed by stupid people bringing in the innocusous lily and/or worm that had no natural enemy in that planet. I didn't think it was the earth but it could have been the earth or a parallel earth. A fellow astronaut wazs flabbergasted because the lily was so pretty and he couldn't believe that something so pretty had caused the problem. He had tken a little bit of the lily and was going to put it on the flight with us also. I wasn't sure if the lily seed had come inside the worm or the worm had come inside the lily seed.

Sometimes the story around the words in a dream matter, sometimes the words spoken in the dream are the only things that matter.

In this case, I think the story around the dream will make a good little scifi story...and I'll use the words in the dream as the title Either "As if to Fairmount" or "And the destruction of things is also holy."

But I will ponder the words and the story of the dreams.

The first) that destruction can be hidden in small things.
The second) that God also destroys as well as buildis.
the third) that even human carelessness in destroying a thing is within God's hands.

Will see how this all comes out.