Sunday, November 19, 2017

The Cry for Freedom: A Poem

While this poem is shorter then my usual length, I felt it necessary to keep it short and succinct. We all find ourselves captive by different things through our lives, and we long to find freedom. What we all must discover is that true freedom that lasts is only found through Christ. 

Am I feeling numb, or is this a state of denial, 
A living contradiction, my heart burns with fire.
Is it too much to ask to witness true revival?
Or has society fallen too deep in the mire?

My tongue is a sword and I cut where I choose,
Is it false bravery? Or am I a loose cannon?
Am I holding power, or do I have the most to lose?
Or am I starving in an intellectual famine?

Regardless of which is true, the reality is the same,
Only one power will ever conquer the shadow.
And I refuse to step in line with the dark's game,
For God's truth sets hearts and minds aglow.

So break from formation, sever the chains,
That keeps our minds captive, makes us slaves.
There's something more then blood pumping in my veins,
It's time these old demons were sent to their graves.

Wednesday, November 15, 2017

God's Creation and His Involvement in our World: An Author's Perspective

In the beginning, there was God. This statement, as we are often so frequently told, would strike the match of enlightenment and spread its blaze across the world. What information could be so vital, so poignant, that it would topple regimes, lay nations low, and be bravely sacrificed for time and time again? No other book then the Word of God has proclaimed a message so powerful, and no other tale rings with such truth. Without the account of creation standing at the forefront of God’s Word, everything we as Christians believe would be established on unsure ground.

While the creation story itself is certainly the subject of heated debate, one question still stands above all others; is God truly the creator of all things, and is He still actively involved with His creation? This question will be discussed in depth in the following article, as well as how a proper belief in the subject is critical in the author’s vocation, as well as a writer’s in general.  
To put it concisely, without God at the forefront of creation, nothing that exists would be. While many would wish to argue with this, one must first use the Bible itself as their starting point, as a proverbial compass to guide their way through the sea of uncertainty that is life. While one certainly should not use the Bible as their singular authority in a debate of origins, as there is plenty of proof of creation in science, it must indeed remain our central focus.
As Genesis 1:1 so clearly states, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”  In the following verses, the beginning of our saga unfolds, telling of God’s creation of our world. Regardless of one’s personal views on the subject, the Bible is clear in its statement of God’s creative acts, as well as His direct involvement in humanity, and the world at large.
To further establish this concept, theologian Robert W. Cadwell wrote, “Creation is an ideal world in the divine mind, that God creates continuously ex nihilo…God is the ultimate cause of everything which comes to pass in creation.”[1] The Christian’s belief regarding creation is highly critical in a scientifically-driven world, not simply for applicational purposes, but for the fundamental structure of faith. Jesus himself spoke of God’s creation, including the Apostle John, who in John 1:3 said, “All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.” If we were to disregard the creation account as a mere fable, and not truth, we would be calling Jesus himself a liar, as well as his disciples.
Regarding God’s continuing involvement in creation, theologian Terence E. Fretheim compared the connection between God and His creation to that of a spider web, in such a way that “any act reverberates out and effects the whole, shaking this web with varying degrees of intensity.”[2] Dr. Kenneth J. Archer reflected on Fretheim’s words with a statement of his own, saying, “It is not a tight causal weave because there is room for God to be at work presently in creation as creation moves towards its future destiny…God has not predetermined every event in history. God acts in and through creation…”
God is not, as the Deists would claim, a disconnected being with no care or concern for His creation. He is actively involved in His creation, and as Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Having a proper understanding of God’s creation and His close involvement with us, His created people, is truly astounding, but how can it be applied to our daily lives? To narrow the question down further, how can a solid understanding of the subject be applied to one’s job?
For an author, have a solid foundation in creation, as well as God’s involvement, is incredibly vital. One might not think that a writer needs such things in order to excel at their craft, and perhaps some writers seem to manage well without it, but the truth is that they can only go so far. Regardless of what genre an author writes in, or what discipline of writing they choose, every single writer must have a worldview. If they do not have an understanding of creation and the God who oversees all, their thought process will be one-sided and nowhere near as deep or impactful as it could be.
The vocation of a writer is not one to be taken lightly, as words are incredibly important. As a crafter of words and a proclaimer of truth, an author implements their beliefs, faith, and worldview into everything they write. Regardless of whether or not they’re aware of this fact, that does not change the reality of the gravity of words. Words can breathe life into a discouraged soul, and they can likewise drag one’s hopes into the depths of despair. An author holds a powerful calling of influence, and the ability to uplift and inspire.
Why does creation matter so deeply to the writer? One word comes to mind before any others; foundation. As the Christian needs a solid foundation for their belief system, so the author must have a firm grounding in the truth, so that their words are a reflection of that truth. How else can the truth be spread then by pen and word? Whether dealing with fiction or non-fiction, the creation account shapes one’s foundational beliefs, and without it, what are words but mere ink on paper? As said in Colossians 3: 17, “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him”
 In closing, it is truly a blessing to study the creation account and learn more about God’s story, in which we all share a part. Whether it is applied simply in one’s daily life, or even in the vocation of an author’s, it is just as critical. The truth must be upheld regardless of any opposition, and as Christians, it is our duty to stand for it. Whether it is a Christian defending God’s Word in the workplace, or an author penning a tale that gives God glory and tells of His creation, and involvement in our world, both are incredibly valuable.
As so clearly stated in 2 Timothy 3:17, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction, in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
God is actively involved in our lives, and He is not a distant figure with no care or concern of His creation. He loves us so deeply, that He became the victim of sin in our place. How can we even begin to fathom such a selfless act? What more can it do then compel us to fall to our knees in gratefulness, and then back to our feet in blessed assurance? Armed with this knowledge, we must indeed rise, and stand as a bastion of truth against the darkness of ignorance and deception, in whatever form it may take.



[1] Cadwell, Robert W. “Jonathan Edwards on God and Creation. By Oliver D. Crisp.” Journal of Theological Studies, vol. 65, no. 1, Apr. 2014, pp. 340-343

[2] Archer, Kenneth J. "God-Creation's Hope, Creation-God's Home: A Pentecostal Theological Response to Terence E. Fretheim's God and World in the Old Testament: A Relational Theology of Creation." Journal of Pentecostal Theology, vol. 19, no. 2, Oct. 2010, pp. 198-212.

Tuesday, November 7, 2017

The Crisis of Morality, A Poem


I find it truly saddening that one of the most common topics of this blog is pain and suffering. How many times have I reflected on the horrors of violence, terrorism, and Godlessness? The recent tragedy of the Texas church shooting has struck my heart as if with a knife, but that is only one incident of many. Yes, there are acts of terror in my country, but countless more drown out these incidents with daily nightmares in other nations. Yes, pain is relative, but to say that every single life lost is a mere statistic in a growing epidemic of moral evil is just scratching the surface. This hurting world must turn to God if we ever hope to see a better tomorrow, and in all that we do, we must never, ever lose hope.

No matter what rises against us, we must not give into fear, and we can't let the enemy tell us that our lives don't matter. We DO have a voice, and we do matter. Mediocrity should not be in the vocabulary of the Christian, nor anyone for that matter. We should never settle for the sickness of this world, and we must never accept that this is all that will ever be. 


When did we become so jaded, so mute and blind?
How came we gloss over the truth, such ignorance...
Why have we forsaken righteousness, left justice behind?
We run from confrontation, yet we drown in belligerence.

What on earth are we trying to hide?
We look away from the bloodstained floor.
Don't pay attention, pain can't be our guide,
How dare we consider we've opened a door?

Don't blame a higher power, what are you running from?
The mass terror in our hearts tears apart our wings.
We flee from the painful truth, but what have we become?
Are we puppet masters, or are we bound with strings?

In an age of reason, we have never been farther from the truth,
Propaganda never saves, and ignorance nary informs.
Open your eyes, see the pain that plagues our youth!
Don't turn away from the darkness that has become the norm. 

Terror mercilessly inflicts and violence emboldens,
Those who seek to destroy the lives we're meant to save.
When we find ourselves lost in a sea of emotions,
Does the future herald anything but the grave?

Where did courage go, in the face of crushing fear?
Have we lost our ability to go against the grain?
My God, when did we forget that you are always near?
When fearless, we once stood for your name?

In a nation of sheep without a shepherd,
To you, my God, I earnestly pray...
Don't let us lose our sights forever,
Help us see the light of the day.

Wednesday, November 1, 2017

Seeing Through Fictional Eyes: Why Character Development Matters




Despite my crazy busy college career, I have still managed to juggle writing my novels, as well as reading several others. During this time, I have discovered, much to my dismay, that there is a saddening lack of depth in character development in many fiction stories nowadays. 

While this realization certainly isn't as serious as the many issues that plague our world, (as I write this, I am reading about the terror attack in New York, and my heart is saddened by this news), from a writer's perspective, I find it sad that authors are sacrificing originality for sales.

By no means am I accusing all authors of this, I have read many amazing books by truly talented authors who have turned this issue on it's head and all but decimated it. However, more often then not I find that most books (particularly of the fantasy genre) have followed the same thread, time and time again.

While some books I have read have indeed had intriguing plots, the characters are choppy and one-sided, hardly relatable. Perhaps that is okay, and my concerns are just to be cast aside as odd complaints of an amateur author. Or, perhaps they do indeed carry a weight that should be regarded as truth. Regardless of one's position on the debate, I certainly believe that fictional characters need to be engaging, deep, and three-dimensional.

How does one create such a character, and why on earth does it matter?

In order to have an engaging character, they must be believable. Who cares if your character has had a bad past? (Spoiler alert, we all deal with issues in our past and present in some way or another.) If they're going to live in the present shadowed by an action of the past, it must be grounded in some form of reality. 

Now, that can be strange to say, coming from a fantasy author. How can one write realty in fantasy? It's actually simpler then one would initially think. Personally, when I create a character, I try to make their struggles as real life as possible. 

Also, personality is key. My characters range in all sorts of personalities, ideals, creeds, and cultures. Take my character Norgal, for example. (The guy in the painting featured above) He is a Kyraen, which is one of the two winged races in my series. His background is one of turmoil and sadness, but also many regrets. His people are regarded with fear and mistrust because of their past actions, and have been painted in a terrible light for some very valid reasons.

That is an example of taking very real and serious issues like racism and generalization, and turning down a fictional avenue to thicken the plot with meaning. It makes fictional worlds, cultures, and people groups far more believable, as well as relatable.

The goal of my writing has always been to create characters that are deeply complex and multifaceted. I desire for my readers to relate to my characters, and in a way, I like to view the characters as mirrors. They reflect real life, and I hope that readers can be encouraged by their stories.

Because after all, isn't that the purpose characters, as well as the story, is to serve? If it isn't to inspire, encourage, and even educate; then what purpose is there? If God isn't glorified, and if the tale doesn't reflect the grand story that is our reality, then I find that there is no reason to write.  



The Warriors of Aragnar isn't Gone and Neither am I!

  This. Has. Been. A. Year. I have wanted to write so much on this blog over the past months. So, so, many things have taken place. In many ...