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.

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.

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[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.

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.

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.  

Meaning, A Poem

After a brief break from my poem-writing streak mostly due to homework, I have a new poem to share with you all. This one is entitled "Meaning", and it certainly is something that we all search for in life. Considering the convulsion in the world as we find our countries, homes, and even our very lives under fire of trial and tragedy; it is imperative that we seek the Lord for wisdom and understanding. Fear will always try its hardest to control our lives and blind us from the truth, and no matter what, we cannot give into it. 

Every day we live and breathe on this earth,

We must strive to make the most of our time.

In the great struggle to find our own self-worth,

We ask, "Will I find what stirs this heart of mine?"

We long to know that we matter,

In a jaded civil war of ideals.

We hear the echo of laughter,

When we need words that heal.

Unnoticed in the empty crowd of humanity,

We are cast aside as too far gone to save.

We beg for someone to recognize our depravity,

And reach down to lift us from our graves.

But no one turns from the highway of progress,

To lend a helping hand to the downtrodden.

In a cruel world of hurried incompetence,

The wounded are left behind, forgotten. 

I was lost in the darkness and felt my life leaving,

I tried to grasp it with ragged fingers, failing.

I cried out in terror as I felt so alone, believing,

That I was abandoned forever, unraveling.

Then someone took my bruised hand,

And spoke words of life despite my fears.

He took me away from this diseased land,

And tenderly wiped away all my tears. 

He set me aside for something greater then myself,

And stood like a beacon for those the world had denied.

In his presence, a knowledge so deep I never could delve,

And despite my condemning sins, for me He selflessly died...

Now we can walk in freedom if we so choose,

In our bitter world, there is a brilliant guiding light.

It breaks my heart when terribly blinded, people refuse,

To see the truth that their wrongs can be made right.

Now in a land divided by hatred and confusion,

I march with a purpose sent down from on High.

A banner held in healed hands, I stand against the delusion,

That hopelessness cannot lose in this fight for our lives. 

Terror and Uncertainty; and a Reflection on the Fragility of Life

First and foremost, I must admit that this article's writing is purposefully delayed, considering the subject matter. God lay the horrific events of Las Vegas heavy on my heart over the past week, as well as many of the other heartbreaking tragedies occurring around the world. Before I posted my thoughts on these situations, Las Vegas in particular, I wanted to be certain that it was written with the utmost respect. 

The loss of life should never be taken lightly, regardless of the situation or circumstance, and in this particular case, my heart still hurts just to think of the mindless horror that occurred. In that vein, I found myself reminded of my own humanity, as well as the all-too-real reality of the evil that dwells in our world. 

In times of great darkness, we are presented a tremendous choice that has no easy answer. When we battle with such intense fear and anger after we are thrown in situations that remind us of our fragility, those feelings often turn into hate. We want to hate the one who slaughtered innocents. We want him to die, and we wish for him to pay the price for his grievous actions. 

However, if that the right action to take? Are we to hate the man, or should we look far deeper then the surface? In order to answer such questions, I will firstly turn to the Bible, which talks in depth on such things. I have been pondering on Romans 8 for many days now, and the truths found in that chapter are quite eye-opening. For starters, we will begin with Romans 8:1-2, which says, "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death."

While that verse is certainly comforting for those of faith, we still see a tremendous amount of sin and death in our world, it surrounds us and fills hearts with dread. The situation in Las Vegas is a very stark reminder of the enemy's tactics, as well as the saddening reality of living in a sinful world.  And that particular situation is not isolated; it does not take one long to look at the world and see the widespread effects of fear and violence. Evil is merciless and will not hesitate to claim lives and wreak havoc, as well as instill fear in our hearts and minds.

Fear is a powerful foe, but even it cannot claim victory over the cross. And in continuation of that thought, neither can the darkness of evil conquer the light. When we see the terrible effects of evil in our world, we quickly can grow cold, fearful, and distant; choosing to view the situation merely through human eyes. The truth is, when we fall from love, and fall from God's Word and give into fear, we lose more then we ever would hope to gain.

We are in danger of mediocrity when we let our perception of our reality cloud our futures. Through expectations, we set for ourselves lofty heights that can never be met, and when they come crashing down, we are faced with the very fear we tried to run from in the beginning. Such is the irony of life, we run from what we cannot escape, and try without success to convince ourselves that we will never face what is inevitable.

Likewise, we try to ignore the sovereignty of God, for humanity would rather dodge accountability in any way possible then be held responsible for our actions. Despite our efforts to evade such things, they are in vain. God is not some distant deity who holds no regard or concern for His creation. He is personal, and He has invested His shed blood into every single one of us. He died so we can live free, and yet many die never knowing this truth. What a travesty indeed when we fail to focus on the importance of this fact. Where have we gone wrong?

We believe that we are invincible, and that we never will face difficulty and hardship, even when it stares us down and makes us realize our grievous mistake. We turn the truth away in favor of a comfortable lie, and yet we fail to see that the truth is what we so desperately need. As clearly stated in Proverbs 12:1, “Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, But he who hates correction is stupid.”

‭‭I pray we seek the truth, have a hunger for knowledge unveiled through God’s Word, and refuse to fall into mediocrity. As Christians, when a great crisis draws us to our knees, we are called to rise. For who else will stand against the darkness, when evil rears its ugly head? What can we do but stand and fight against the monstrosity of sin through prayer and action? We are called by God to reach out to the hurting, aid the broken, and stand against the evil, as is clearly stated in Isaiah 58:6-8, which reads, "Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; When you see the naked, that you cover him, And not hide yourself from your own flesh? Then your light shall break forth like the morning, Your healing shall spring forth speedily, And your righteousness shall go before you; The glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.

Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; You shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am. ’ “If you take away the yoke from your midst, The pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, If you extend your soul to the hungry And satisfy the afflicted soul, Then your light shall dawn in the darkness, And your darkness shall be as the noonday. The LORD will guide you continually, And satisfy your soul in drought, And strengthen your bones; You shall be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. Those from among you Shall build the old waste places; You shall raise up the foundations of many generations; And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach, The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.”

We must not give into fear. Even when it swallows our hearts and drowns our minds with the melancholy of hopelessness and the numb terror of helplessness. Regardless, we must not give in. For the day we do, we will lose ourselves in the madness that is humanity lost without a savior. With fear, there is no hope. And with no hope, there is nothing worth living for. 

Inerrancy of Scripture and the Question of Hell: A Millenial's Perspective

When a society forgets that which is true, it will fall into rapid decline, especially when matters of faith are concerned. Regardless of the attempts to stem the tide of such ignorance, if one does not understand the root cause, they will fail to see the extent of the effects that a situation like that will create. Such a topic is the matter of the reality of hell, as well as the rising lack of disbelief in its literal existence. The dangers of ignorance and blatant disregard of such a critically important place cannot be ignored. This issue will be discussed in depth in the following article, as well as the implications of the lack of belief in a literal hell will cause.

Before any other statement can be made about the subject mentioned above, it is imperative that one understands the importance of the Word of God as a whole. Without it, the backbone of an entire belief system would crumble, and the world along with it. In order to validate the previous statement, research must be presented that argue for and prove the inerrancy of the Bible. 

To begin, we must understand what inerrancy even is. According to Ericson, the author of “Introducing Christian Doctrine”, “The inerrancy of Scripture is the doctrine that the Bible is fully truthful in all of its teachings.” [1] For many, the topic of the Bible’s inerrancy is a critical point of differences in belief, and great argumentation, but why is this the case? Why is the inerrancy of the Bible so important that it causes the spinning of theories and the clash of differences in thought? Simply put, the whole of our faith, as well as the understanding of God and His word, depend on whether or not the Bible is true. How can we determine whether or not it is factual in its entirety? First off, we will explore the pages of the Bible itself. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 states that “ All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” To say that all scripture is God-breathed is to say that the Bible, as a whole, is true. For if God were not true in all He says and does, this would mean that His Word cannot be regarded as inerrant truth, and thus, we would be prompted to call God a liar. 

However, this is simply not the case. There are many more sources that point to the Bible’s inerrancy then the scriptures themselves. The whole of creation, as well as humanity’s own history, attests to the realities of the truthfulness of God’s Word. Ericson states that, “The church has historically held to the inerrancy of the Bible. While there has not been a fully enunciated theory until modern times, nonetheless there was, down through the years of church history, a general belief in the complete dependability of the Bible.”[2] Many figures of notability in history also championed an inerrant view of the scriptures, including Clement of Rome, who stated, “Look carefully into the Scriptures, which are the true utterances of the Holy Spirit. Observe that nothing of an unjust or counterfeit character is written in them.”[3]

Why is this important to the Christian, and why should we care about the inerrancy of the Bible as a whole? Without it, we would be lost in disbelief and confusion. If the entirety of the Bible is not true, then who is to define was is true, as opposed to what is false? Such questions can quickly send the topic spiraling out of control with no recovery. 

Now that we understand why it is critical for the Christian to believe that the Bible is the fully inerrant word of God, that leads us to the titular topic. Why is it important for Christians to believe in a literal hell, and why does it matter to the world as a whole? It is far more imperative then we might think. According to the Pew Research Center, 74% of Americans believe in heaven, but only 59% believe in a literal hell.[4] In another study conducted by Barna Research, it has been revealed that 28% of Christians believe that good works alone will get them into heaven.[5] Even though those numbers might not seem to drastic, when it is broken down even further, the implications of such data is concerning. 

The Bible is very clear when it describes hell as a very real place. Revelation 21:8 is such a verse, states, “But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” There are a plethora of verses in the Bible that speak of hell as a very real place, a place where those who did not serve God in their lives would spend an eternity of torment separate from Him. In 2 Thessalonians 1:9, a very chilling picture is painted. “They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might.” 

Jesus himself spoke often about hell, and the realities that awaited those who turned away from salvation. The early church also upheld the belief in a literal hell, and as time passed, people began to grow skeptical of its existence, much like they did concerning the inerrancy of the Bible. Many ask the age-old question, “how can a loving God send people to hell?” While it is true that God loves us and doesn’t wish for us to spend eternity in hell, he also is a just God. He cannot let the sin of man go unpunished, and through Jesus’s sacrifice, He offers all salvation to rescue us from our self-crafted fate. If we do not believe that hell is every bit as real as heaven, we are setting ourselves up for a grievous mistake with terribly eternal consequences. Christians cannot ignore this issue, and it cannot be glossed over as unimportant when the state of people’s souls are at stake. 

I must be honest that when I wrote the main body of this article, I was struggling with my choice of topic. After hearing about the unimaginable horrors of the Las Vegas shooting, the concept that many of the concert-goers not experiencing Jesus’s salvation, and going to hell, was horrifying. Watching videos play memorials of all the victims, and seeing the life in their eyes, brought tears to my own. How could I write a topical piece on the reality of hell when many innocents had just lost their lives; their eternal destination unknown? However, the importance of believing that hell is a real place and cannot be seen as fiction still stands. Hell is not a simple fantasy horror, and whether we would like to believe that or not, it doesn’t change the fact that it exists. 

When we choose to ignore the ramifications of our actions, as well as erroneous beliefs, we are not only setting ourselves up for failure, but others as well. Our society is an obvious example of a people who are running from the truth. Topics such as heaven and hell are commercialized, but rarely believed. Because of this, Christianity is often ridiculed and taken lightly, as nothing other than a fairytale. Jesus’s message of salvation is regarded as fiction, while people continue to search for something to fill the hole in their hearts with all manners of things. We as a society run from the truth, deny Christ’s kingship, and all the while dig ourselves further into sin. We live in a time that desperately needs the inerrant truth found in God’s Word, and if we do not believe it as a whole, including the topic of hell, we find ourselves in grave error. 

Thankfully for humanity, God did not wish for us to suffer eternal separation from Him. Jesus shed his blood as the perfect sacrifice to save us from our ill fate, and if we so choose, we can one day spend eternity with Him, the horrors of sin a long forgotten memory. Jesus is the only one who can fill that hole in one’s heart, He is the saving grace that washes us clean of our impurities and makes as like new. Through His salvation, we discard the ugliness of sin and take on the light that pierces even the mightiest of darkness. To solidify this fact, Jesus Himself said in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

_________________________________________________________________________________________

[1] Ericson, CH 6, “The Dependability of God’s Word”, Introducing Christian Doctrine (Ericson, 1992, 2001, 2015)

[2]  Ericson, CH 6, “The Dependability of God’s Word”, Introducing Christian Doctrine (Ericson, 1992, 2001, 2015)

[3] Clement of Rome, The First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians

[4] Pew Research Center, U.S. Religious Landscape Survey: Religious Beliefs and Practices

[5] Barna Research, “The State of the Church, 2016”