Writer's Passion

A Scant Five Days

2011-08-21T12:34:00.001-04:00

Hello, I am off to college in five days. I leave Friday. I do not know whether I shall continue to post on this blog, but if not, it has been a pleasure.

God Bless

Exercising My Voice

2011-08-17T09:42:00.003-04:00

I have been doing exactly what the title of this post suggests. For the most part I have been content to watch the world unfold around me. I have, however, grown malcontent with doing nothing, and have decided to do something.

I have written a letter to the editor of the paper, to a nearby radio station, and to a distributor of asparagus. I may not be making a splash, but a ripple is still a ripple, and a ripple is more than nothing.

God Bless

A Question

2011-08-13T11:21:00.001-04:00

Have any of you ever read anything by a man named G.K. Chesterton?

God Bless

The Way the World Used to Work

2011-08-03T10:11:00.002-04:00

Man has had many interesting theories concerning the nature of the world. He has thought it flat, tetrahedral, hollow, concave, and pyramidal. Now, as interesting as all those theories are, there are books about them that go into greater depth than I can. I am here to-day to add my theory. It is far from complete, and I do not even know if it would 'count' as a world system. Nevertheless, it is below.

When I was much, much, much younger, I was certain--certain, I say--that I had figured out the workings of the world.

Every day was bright and sunshiny. This I knew because my teachers did not encourage drawing storm clouds when we would draw on paper plates. Therefore, all the rain and lightning and thunder must come at night, every night. And that was the weather.

I knew that everyone ate Cheerios for breakfast with a glass of milk. I knew that everyone ate a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for lunch with a glass of milk. I also knew that everyone ate spaghetti and meatballs every night for dinner with a glass of milk. How did I know this? Simple: I did (I thought).

I regret that I never made it quite so far as to postulate things about the planets and their operations. Did the sun really revolve around the earth? At such a tender age, I did not really care, so long as it was bright enough for me to see at recess.

But there you have it.

God Bless

The Discarded Image

2011-07-31T14:58:00.002-04:00

Not many people have read C.S. Lewis's The Discarded Image. It is not fiction, it is not a theological treatise. Therefore, most people do not know it exists.

It is, however, a book that has shed some light on my literary life. In it, Lewis, simply and succinctly, examines medieval literature and the beliefs expressed therein. I found it in the middle of reading Paradise Lost and took a break to peruse its pages. When I returned to Milton, I felt I could grasp it just a bit better. Now I am reading The Faerie Queene, and I am delighted. It is like standing behind the curtains of a drama and seeing every mechanism, every winch, every actor fall into place.

Thankfully, this book is still in print and can most likely be found at a local bookstore.

Just a thought.

God Bless

To Kill A Mockingbird

2011-07-30T11:58:00.002-04:00

I was comparing the first sentences of great novels when I recalled there was a copy of Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird in the house. I found it, opened it, and without any previous intention of doing so, sat down and read the first nine chapters without interruption.

Most contemporary books cannot do that to me. They are advertised as thrilling, fast-paced, et cetera. They are last-ditch efforts trying to stimulate interest in a market for which the authors themselves have lost hope. It is a shot in the foot, or, perhaps, a shot in the head. We do not need more books like those. It is inflation.

A wise man told me that for every new book I read, read two old ones. That was years ago, and if he had said it to-day I would think it generous of him; read ten or twelve old ones.

Quality requires dedication and time. To bring about a renaissance in the publishing world, there must be a quality to attract the masses, people who would rather play Angry Birds on their iWhatevers. I have not given up yet.

I used to be frustrated that Harry Potter sold more than four hundred million copies in print, but I maintain a different perspective now: it can be done, and I thank God for it.

God Bless

I Won

2011-07-29T13:47:00.003-04:00

I received some interesting mail to-day: I am one of eighteen artists whose entries were selected as winners for the 2011 Graceful Envelope Contest's Junior category.

I thought that was worth sharing, anyhow.

The image you see is a scan of my entry. The theme this year was Time Flies.

The Graceful Envelope Contest, now in its seventeenth year, is a competition in which participants decorate an envelope by hand in coordination with the year's theme and with the stamp(s) attached. Any stamp from any year can be used. The contest is organized by the Washington Calligraphers Guild and the National Association of Letter Carriers.

This year's winners will be available for viewing beginning August fifth at calligraphersguild.org.

Perhaps some you will participate in the 2012 competition; I hope so.

God Bless

Stamp Issues

2011-07-27T15:52:00.002-04:00

Hello, all. As you know by now, I love stamps and writing letters, and I want to impart my joy to you.

The Post Office has recently released the Pioneers of American Industrial Design stamps, a twelve-design issue depicting various products of American industry. My favorite stamp of these twelve is the flatware stamp; I find something winsome about cutlery. I do prefer more artistic designs on stamps, but even I would find an oil painting of a desk lamp a little out of place.

Also, the Post Office will release to-morrow a four-design set of stamps commemorating the United States Merchant Marine. I am going to treasure the Clipper Ship stamp; I cannot think of anything I would like to see afloat than a tall ship in full sail. I do not know what to do with the Auxiliary Steamship; the other two I might use to mail a package. Or, I might buy two of each--we shall see.

God Bless

Back From Mississippi

2011-07-26T12:20:00.002-04:00

I am back from Mississippi. I wish I were still there. I walked in the woods behind my friend's house, saw a snake swim across a stream, and experienced life in the country and in a small town. Coming back to the suburbs has been something of a disappointment. Wherever I go, all I see are houses that look the same.

Anyway, I have to leave soon to celebrate my grandmother's birthday.

God Bless

And I'm Off Again

2011-07-21T12:52:00.001-04:00

I have spent the last week relaxing and recovering from my trip to Brazil, and now I'm off for Mississippi. I feel like all I've done this month is travel.

God Bless

Well, I'm Back

2011-07-18T11:50:00.001-04:00

I am back from Sao Paulo, and boy, is it good to be home.

God Bless

Bon Dia

2011-06-27T17:35:00.002-04:00

I leave on Wednesday for Brazil, so this is my last post until mid-July, which is a shame because I have so much to say.

God Bless

A Professional Story

2011-06-23T11:53:00.003-04:00

I recently saw My Fair Lady, which is based on G.B. Shaw's Pygmalion. What makes it so unique? Professor Higgins's job.

Higgins is set apart by his profession. He is not a member of a covert ops team, nor a forensic scientist, nor a police detective, nor a martial arts expert, nor the coach of a sports team with no hope, nor a paranormal investigator, nor a practitioner of any overused vocation. He is a phoneticist, and there inlies the story: he must teach a girl to speak English well enough to pass her off at a high-brow party.

Originality is crucial to a story. This year, Hollywood is releasing more sequels and remakes than ever before. If I were to advise them as to how they could improve matters, I would say this: try something different.

A character's adventures usually stem from some incident in their line of work. There is no limit to the stories than can be told. The King's Speech (which I did not watch but heard lots about it) features a speech therapist as a key character.

There are thousands of jobs that are rarely featured in stories. Take a postman, for example. How many stories can be told?

God Bless

Back to Brazil

2011-06-22T13:32:00.001-04:00

Yes, I am headed back to Brazil. To be more specific, I shall be traveling to Sao Paulo, the third-largest city on Earth and the largest city in the Western Hemisphere.

I leave in one week and shall be there two.

God Bless

Hinds' Feet on High Places

2011-06-20T12:53:00.002-04:00

A story written by Hannah Hurnard, Hinds' Feet on High Places is a first-rate allegory, in the same class as Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress. It tells of the journey of Much-Afraid as she escapes her relatives, the Fearings, and travels to the Kingdom of Love.

There are two kinds of allegorical stories: the first kind (and the kind which I like) involves characters whose name is their attribute (i.e. Obstinate, Pliable) and tells a story which seeks to prove something about those attributes and is not simply a retelling of another story; the second kind (which usually annoys me) involves an attempt to retell a story I have already heard, substituting names and places which fool no one.

This is an allegory of the first kind. Hurnard narrates the journey of a woman who longs to soar above her fears, depicting her fight against the more subtle adversaries that we face, enemies that come from within ourselves. I was satisfied by its resolution.

God Bless

A First

2011-06-16T09:02:00.003-04:00

For the first time in my life, I baked a batch of blueberry muffins, without my mom's help! Oh yes, it can be done.

Not only that, no one got sick from eating them!

I just thought I would share that.

God Bless

The Humorous Story

2011-06-15T10:45:00.002-04:00

I consider Mark Twain to be the greatest American author. I also hold him to be the funniest. His humorous stories are prone to leaving me laughing, sometimes to the point of tears. The key to his stories, as he himself explains, is that they are humorous, not comic.

A comic story is, essentially, a joke; a story with a punchline.

On the other hand, a humorous story is one in which the author's narration is the chief source of the laughter. He tells the story as if he were unaware that what he is saying is extraordinarily funny. It takes much more skill and much more time. It is worth it, nonetheless.

If you see a copy of some of Twain's short works, buy it and read it. My favorite thus far is How I Edited an Agricultural Paper. The title does not imply humor at all, but I have read it thrice and have laughed each time.

God Bless

I Graduated

2011-06-07T17:54:00.002-04:00

I have graduated. There is not much else to say, except to detail the prank that my fellow seniors pulled during the ceremony, specifically during the presentation of the candidates.

As we were all getting ready beforehand, straightening ties and the like, one of my classmates approached each and every one of us and handed us a marble. He then explained what we were to do with that marble.

When the graduate's name was called, that person walked across the stage and shook the principal's hand. He then dropped his marble, which he had held concealed in his hand, into the principal's hand. The principal was wearing a robe without pockets, and had no place to store the accumulating marbles. The chaplain was sitting off to the side, laughing as quietly as he could.

Between candidates, the principal threw the marbles off to the side, which occasionally could be heard clattering throughout the entire gymnasium.

I have to say--and I did not participate--that this prank came as a relief. Previous senior pranks have been extremely offensive at my school. This hurt no one.

So anyway, I'm done.

God Bless

Book-Lovers' Paradises

2011-05-30T10:18:00.001-04:00

In my last post, I mentioned my love of beautifully-bound books. But where can they be found? I shall list a few:

The Easton Press: This is a company that specializes in printing classic works, binding them in leather, and gilding them in gold. Yes, it can be expensive, but these books are so beautiful that it is worth the extra dollars to own them. I have an Easton Press edition of The Pilgrim's Progress by Bunyan (John, not Paul). I enjoy merely looking at the cover, and the story inside is splendid as well.

AbeBooks: This is a database of booksellers all over the world. One can look up any book, any author, any year, any price, and any format desired. I have found books that I cannot find at local used bookstores. Capital. I found my mother's birthday present there.

Half Price Books: I buy most of my books at Half Price locations. The key to Half Price is that I can find not only an author's famous works, but also their lesser known works. I found minor works of Nathaniel Hawthorne and Bram Stoker. Do you know how hard that is? All you'll ever find of Stoker's is Dracula. But Half Price stores also boast a shelf of collectible books. You can find Easton Press editions, Harvard Press editions, rare books, and first editions.

Once, while at Half Price, I found a copy of A Houseboat on the Styx by John Kendrick Bangs, from the 1890s. It might have been a first edition. I found out later what it was that I had let go. It spawned a genre called Bangsian fantasy. It was also very cheap compared to what I found online. But that is simply an example of what you can find there.

Also, visit library sales and local used book stores.

Do you know of another place to find nice books? Please drop a comment. Thank you.

God Bless

Paris in the Twentieth Century

2011-05-29T13:01:00.003-04:00

The Major Prophets of the Old Testament are Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, and Daniel, but sometimes I think that there should be a sixth: Verne. Jules Verne's novels, nearly seventy in number, present visions of the future that are eerily accurate. Ironically, they seem less fantastic now that their events have actually come to pass.

Verne wrote Paris in the Twentieth Century in 1863, only for his publisher to tell him that no one would believe it. It remained unpublished for more than 130 years, but I am glad that it was, at long last.

Verne foresaw carriages without horses, magnetic trains, photographic telegraph machines (fax machines), and more. He presents, however, a dystopian society where art has been buried by Progress and money. Languages are breaking down, few people read fiction or poetry, and life is lived for accomplishment. This attitude, I find, is exactly what we are seeing to-day.

"If no one read any longer, at least everyone could read, could even write."

The protagonist and hero, Michel Dufrenoy, is a man born too late for his time. He loves to read poetry, but alas! no one publishes real poetry anymore. There is no profession for him. He attempts to join a company that produces all forms of entertainment, only to discover that the company takes old plays, old stories and re-writes them for "docile audiences." This also is taking place before our eyes, as Hollywood releases more sequels and more remakes than ever before.

I feel I am kin to Michel Dufrenoy. I want to be an author and a poet in an age when writers are defecting by the dozen. I do not want to pour my heart into something that someone else will simply download and scroll through before accidentally dropping their electronic book reader and breaking it. I want people to crack open a beautifully-bound volume instead of a cheap paperback with a computer-designed graphic on the cover. I want to write, and write, and write. I want to publish my books the traditional way, not through some publish-it-yourself website--anyone can do that, regardless of ability. I pray that God instills a love of reading books into hearts. Some people choose to read electronic books, but I choose not to give up.

God Bless

Out of the Silent Planet

2011-05-26T14:12:00.003-04:00

Of all the books I love, I find that the ones I like better tend to involve little to no violence or romance. They are so refreshing, being free of the stock elements that pervade the stories being told to-day. One of these is C.S. Lewis's Out of the Silent Planet.

This is a wonderful work of science fiction, the story of Elwin Ransom's kidnapping from Earth to far-away Malacandra and the adventures that follow.

I am reading it for the third time. All the ingredients are fresh and unique. One of my favorite elements is Ransom's profession; he is a philologist, not the quirky paranormal investigator or the perpetually-angry forensic analyst that we see ad nauseam these days. This opens up vast fields of imagination that other authors bypass in favor of the more-trodden paths that others have left them. This is why I love Lewis; none of his books overlap.

I realize that this post has hardly anything to do with Out of the Silent Planet, but I have no desire to reveal any more of its pleasures; you will have to do that yourself.

I shall conclude this post by listing a number of capital works which are almost, if not wholly, devoid of violence and romance, just to prove that they do exist:

Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions by Edwin A. Abbott ('romance' in this instance referring to the 19th-century romantic movement)

20,000 Leagues Under the Seas by Jules Verne

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

the stories of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad

The Man Who Was Thursday by G.K. Chesterton

And there are so many others. I do not say that violence or romance are wrong to put in stories, but rather that they are rather overused and I often find them boring and wish I could cut them out of an otherwise good book.

God Bless

Stamp Releases

2011-05-25T09:40:00.004-04:00

I am afraid I've been rather negligent in my promise to keep you all informed about new stamp releases. I must do better.

The Mercury Project/Messenger Mission stamps are already out; be sure to ask about them at your local post office.

The Love stamps are to be released on the thirtieth of this month. I can't wait to mail something with them.

Mailing letters has become one of my greatest joys. I meet people at the post office, waiting to have my letters hand-canceled. Some of my friends keep my letters pinned to their dormitory wall. One woman saw my handwriting and loved it so much she commissioned me to letter her daughter's graduation announcements.

Why do I say all this? It is something about which I am passionate, and I want as many people as possible to know about and perhaps share it. I encourage you to take your thoughts to the post office.

By the bye, I should be writing a copious amount of book reviews soon now that I'm free. I apologize for the scanty amount of such posts this year.

God Bless

Done

2011-05-20T19:30:00.001-04:00

I have spent all my life at that school. I have loved it and hated it and not cared about it, and now am I through with it and miss it.

God Bless

Five Days

2011-05-14T16:29:00.002-04:00

I have one week left of high school, and I intend to enjoy it. I have changed quite a bit over the last four years, and of all those changes, one stands out: I am looking forward to the future.

Now, I've heard that college is the best four years of life--rubbish. Make each day better than the last, and thus each year will be better in succession. I am going to follow my dreams.

Naysayers, beware.

God Bless

The Essence of Being Genuine

2011-05-09T14:57:00.004-04:00

George MacDonald, the author of Phantastes, influenced many brilliant people, notably C.S. Lewis.

In said book, MacDonald freely gives the formula to becoming a genuine person. He says:

"I learned that he that will be a hero, will barely be a man; that he that will be nothing but a doer of his work, is sure of his manhood."

Whenever I have striven to become someone else, someone whom I want to be like, I never feel satisfied. The reason is simple; I cannot succeed at completely becoming someone else. I can never be someone else. When people hail a writer as "the next Mark Twain," I would have that author say, "No, I am the first me."

The solution is to keep on keeping on. When you come across a defect in yourself, work to change it. Be reassured by your role models that it is possible, but do not attempt to cross the gap between you and that role model in a single night; the stretch will lead to a sprain. You are not called by God to be that person, but rather yourself.

I used to be very frustrated with myself. I looked at other young men and reflected on how much friendlier they were, how much more X they were than myself. I tried to be them, and I failed miserably.

Then, at the Homecoming football game this year, I saw a piece of trash lying on the ground. I picked it up and threw it away. I saw a paper plate. I threw that away. I starting making rounds, picking up garbage whenever I saw it. By the time the game had ended, many people had paid me compliments, and two others had joined me in cleaning up the area. We were able to help the maintenance crew wrap up. One gentleman approached me and told me how much he appreciated and was impressed by what happened.

I have rarely felt better in my life, and I have never felt as good having won a contest or knowing the right answer. Knowing that I have done something that honours God and made it a part of me is so much more rewarding and fulfilling.

God Bless

The Cause of Crime

2011-04-29T17:34:00.003-04:00

What causes crime? During the twentieth century, some of the greatest minds and powers in the world ran into this question--and crashed.

The idea that pervaded society for decades was that poverty caused crime; people who were poor saw that others had more, wanted it, and stole it. That sounds both possible and plausible, but is that the case?

Crime in America prior to World War I was so low compared to to-day that it seems mythical. After the war, however, two remarkable events happened: one, the crime rate soared; and two, the economy exploded. In the decade prior to the Great Depression, Americans were richer than ever. And yet, during the Great Depression, the crime rate fell.

Allow me to draw your attention to President Lydon Johnson's famous (or perhaps, infamous) War on Poverty. The belligerents: the Federal Government versus Poverty. The objective: eliminate Poverty and create a Great Society. The result: Poverty won.

After all the programs, the handouts, and the creation of a welfare state, not only people were still poor, but the crime rate skyrocketed and continued to rise during the next few decades to rates no one had ever imagined they would reach. If poverty causes crime and affluence prevents it, what am I missing? Perhaps poverty does not cause crime, but rather something else.

Not many would say it, and less would like to hear it, but what if people committed crimes because they were sinful? 'Sin' is not a popular word or concept, because it means responsibility for one's actions. According to God's Word, mankind was once inherently good but fell and became prone to doing the wrong thing. When Jesus made salvation possible, He created a treatment, but not a cure, for sin. Through Jesus and Jesus alone can sin be resisted.

During the Second Great Awakening, the jails in many towns were completely empty, and police officers complained of having too little to do. There is a town in South America like that to-day where the jail cells are used for Bible studies.

In order to prevent crime, virtue must be instilled. If there were six billion policemen in the world, the official police would have next to nothing to do. That is a hopeful thought.

God Bless

A New Phrase

2011-04-26T19:52:00.003-04:00

Two days ago, I believe, I ran across an interesting phrase in Charles Colson's Justice That Restores, which is a startling work and I see no reason why every lawmaker should not read it, learn it, and agree with it. But, for the time being, I am not here to discuss the entire book.

"Practical Atheism" is the phrase, and it is simply this: a man may confess to believe in God, but in every way he acts as if there is no God. And thus the vast majority of America claims to follow some form of Christianity while supporting abortion, homosexuality, and a naturalistic philosophy. Theoretical atheists and homosexuals comprise only a fraction of the population.

Some Christians, trying to separate their identities from practical atheists so as not to be considered one of them, have stopped calling themselves Christians, saying, "I am not a Christian, but I follow Jesus Christ." But to be a believer is to be a Christian. Jumping ship, as opposed to repairing the hull and bailing, only leaves an undermanned crew and a lot of people in the water. If you are a Christian, call yourself a Christian and behave in the manner that God calls His people to behave.

God Bless

Go Green Stamps

2011-04-20T19:08:00.002-04:00

I am quite sorry to post this nearly a week late, but the Post Office has released a pane of stamps encouraging ecological-efficiency. By the end of April, the U.S.P.S. will have also released stamps of Wedding Roses, Helen Hayes, and Gregory Peck (as he appears in the adaptation of To Kill a Mockingbird).

Again, there is a new poll available for your voting pleasure.

God Bless

The Benefit of Knowing Greek

2011-04-19T17:16:00.003-04:00

Greek is a wonderful language to know. Now that I have learned a good deal of it, I have found a great use for it: defining words correctly without looking them up. For instance, I came across the word, "epizootic". Yes, that is a word. I thought about it for a while and arrived at this conclusion:

'epi' can mean 'on' or 'against', and 'zoo' means 'animal'. You may have been able to guess that. 'On-animal' made no sense, so 'against-animal' remained. I conjectured the word in question referred to a disease that comes against animals and was rewarded for my deduction.

Although I knew (and still know) the meaning of Pangaea, I, to-day, took it into consideration and broke it down into 'pan' and 'ge', meaning 'all-earth', and quite rightfully so, for Pangaea was all the earth!

There is a new poll waiting for your votes.

God Bless

The Heartbeat Bill

2011-04-11T17:25:00.002-04:00

Here is something to pray for: the Ohio State Legislature is going to vote very soon on the Heartbeat Bill, a measure which would prohibit abortion as soon as a heartbeat is detected. If it is passed, it is possible that seven other states will make an attempt to follow suit.

Although not outright abolition, its passing would be a huge step in the right direction.

God Bless

Two More Days

2011-04-10T16:09:00.003-04:00

In two days will occur the sesquicentennial of the Confederate attack on Fort Sumter, marking the onset of the American Civil War. More Americans died in this war than in any other, and most notable among its results is the abolition of legal slavery. Also, the war is known for the first combat of metal warships, the use of the railroad in transportation, and the first use of the submarine to sink an enemy vessel.

The Post Office is starting a five-year commemorative stamp program of the Civil War, releasing two stamps each year. This year's issue depicts the attack on Fort Sumter and the First Battle of Bull Run.

Be sure on April 12 to check your post office for these stamps. Sometimes, however, they can arrive a day late, so do not be discouraged if they are not there at first.

God Bless

Herbs

2011-04-06T15:52:00.002-04:00

I have little to say to-day, but I would like to announce that the Post Office is releasing 29-cent stamps (enough to mail a post card) to-morrow depicting various herbs.

God Bless

Equality

2011-03-30T15:20:00.005-04:00

Mankind, having mapped the whole Earth, put a man on the Moon, and descended to the bottom of the ocean, has made a move to explore itself. Along the way he has set up monuments to his latest discoveries, such as political-correctness, relativism, et cetera. I have been thinking over some of these ideas, having recently seen the effects of the agenda for equality.

Is equality just? What is equality? What does it mean to be just?

Equality necessitates that everyone receives an equal share, chance, amount. Thus, they are equal.

Justice demands that the right thing, morally and ethically, is done.

The original intent of equality was to end racial and sexual segregation and balance the spectrum. Nowadays, universities display their diversity statistics, proud that they have a certain percentage of blacks, Asians, South Africans, men, and women. Companies are required to hire specified numbers of employees from certain races and genders to ensure that they are not engaging in racial or sexual discrimination.

That sounds all well and good, but is it just?

Consider this: pretend that you are married and have, on this very day, welcomed a newborn child into your family. But instead of rattles, picture books, and a brightly-painted nursery, you tell your child to get to work in paying for his share of the family's food, clothing, and shelter. Although a ridiculous illustration, this is a good example of equality. In your family, everyone does the same amount to get the same amount. This, however, is child abuse. A baby cannot support himself straight from the womb. It is not just.

Thus, when we look at race and sex, we find that we are still in the same old ruts in which we have always wallowed. Instead of enslaving a man because he is black, we hire him because he is black. Racial discrimination is still very much alive in America.

The same goes for sexual discrimination; in order to ensure that there is an equal number of men and women at a company, some are hired based on their sex despite the fact that better applicants are available from the other.

Not only is this bad for business, it is bad for humanity. Yes, God did create us as equals, but not everyone has an equal amount of skill or aptitude, and they were not meant to. Why should a job be given to someone who is not as proficient as the next man?

When the 2008 presidential election was in swing, many decided to vote for Barack Obama simply because he is black, and others for Hillary Clinton simply because she is a woman, regardless of their beliefs.

This is no way to run an election, or a country, or a business, or a school.

God Bless

Jazz and Celebrate

2011-03-25T14:07:00.004-04:00

Hello, I just returned from a relaxing Spring Break, where I rode a horse for the first time in my life. I did not die. You might have noticed.

To-day the United States Postal Service is releasing the Celebrate stamp, and to-morrow the Jazz stamp.

Also, while I'm on a philatelic roll, I would like to draw the attention of all you who like to create art to a nationwide contest, the Graceful Envelope Contest, which is sponsored by the Washington Calligraphers Guild.

In order to participate, visit THIS LINK for details. The deadline is April 30, 2011.

Have fun!

God Bless

Letter Writing

2011-03-19T14:18:00.003-04:00

As I have said before, I have resumed writing letters in place of email.

Many people are unaware of how fulfilling letter writing can be. I do it for many reasons:

1. It has been practiced all over the world for millennia.

2. It allows for more creativity.

3. Letters are much more fun to receive, especially when away from home.

4. I can use calligraphy.

5. I can bless my friends.

6. I can also bless the postal workers.

When I write a letter, I use a quill pen and inkwell, and when I address the envelope, I use callligraphy to design an address that matches the stamp. I shan't show any of the ones I've created because that would mean revealing the addresses of my friends, but I shall direct you to something very similar that I think you will like.

If you are interested, visit alanblackman.com. Mr. Blackman is a San Francisco calligrapher whose envelopes have been part of exhibits. Each one is artistically done.

I encourage you all to start writing letters. Yes, it takes more time, but it is worth it. My friends tell me that they look forward to receiving my letters.

The stamps above have just been issued by the United States Postal Service. If you visit your local post office, they should be there. I plan to make announcements whenever a new one is issued.

God Bless

Mutually Exclusive

2011-03-18T11:19:00.004-04:00

Theistic evolution had been a source of great perplexity to me. I was sure that it did not fit into the Christian worldview, but I was not able to support that idea or argue it effectively. Now, I believe that I can.

To lay the groundwork, theistic evolution is the idea that God created the world using evolution, that He set everything in motion and caused it to evolve over four billion years into what we have to-day. A great many Christians have adopted this stance.

A while ago I said that Christians are able to belief false things without affecting their salvation. Still, it is necessary to find out the truth, especially in this case.

If man evolved from apes, and apes from pre-apes, as evolution dictates, there can be no literal Adam and Eve among the thousands of emerging generations. Indeed, a man would be an ape and and ape a man; there would be no actual difference aside from a few years and proteins.

Thus, there could be no literal Fall of man from perfection; in addition to the trouble with Adam and Eve, things evolving continually to higher lifeforms are by nature not perfect. One might argue that God saw the evolved ape and took it and made it a man--if that is the case, I would like to see his proof and documentation.

Finally, if no Fall took place, there would be no need for salvation. Jesus' death and resurrection would be meaningless. How can anyone save something that does not need to be saved?

So, the idea that God used evolution to create the world eliminates the need for salvation, and therefore the need to believe in God in the first place. It commits logical suicide, but people do not see it. Mixing oil and water does not work. Christianity and evolution are mutually exclusive.

God Bless

Violin

2011-03-14T15:18:00.002-04:00

I am very tired. I have been studying for Latin and Greek for quite some time, but I thought I would take the time to say that I have taken up the violin once more. Huzzah!

Yes, for a whole five minutes I scratched away on my sister's violin which at first had three strings. Now it has two.

But, when there are four strings on it once again, I plan to return after my four-year hiatus with gusto.

Do any of you play an instrument?

God Bless

The Scarlet Pimpernel

2011-03-09T15:12:00.002-05:00

In 1905, a new literary hero took to the stage, the Scarlet Pimpernel. This creation of Baroness Emmuska Orczy had his adventures during the days of the Reign of Terror, relying on his wit and his mastery of disguises.

I cannot say that I have always been impressed by the cleverness employed by the Scarlet Pimpernel, although some of his escapes have been quite extraordinary. My favorite is the one related in the beginning of the first book, which is actually told in retrospect--but it is brilliant nonetheless.

Orczy wrote a good number of sequels; there are eleven books overall. I have read four of these, and have found those four to follow the same basic storyline. Four, however, is too small a sampling to make a generalization.

Perhaps my reflections make these books sound dreary--it is true that they are not all first-rate in my eyes--but if I have not been able to enjoy all of them in their entirety, I have found something unique in each of them that has in no wise done me any harm.

If the chance ever comes your way to read these books, take it.

God Bless

Sherlock Holmes

2011-03-06T13:09:00.002-05:00

Whenever we think of detectives, we think of Sherlock Holmes. We think of a magnifying glass, a lit pipe, and that odd hat of his. (I recently discovered the double-brimmed hat which is inseparable from this famous literary character is called a deerslayer.)

But despite the fact that Holmes pervades our culture, even a century after the publication of A Study in Scarlet, how many people have actually read the stories which contain his legendary exploits? All too few, I'm afraid.

I was recently blessed with a complete set, however, and am endeavoring to drink it all in. I am quite impressed.

I think what makes these stories so successful is the narration of Dr. Watson. If he did not provide such a link for the reader, I do not believe Holmes would have been as successful or memorable. I often find myself puzzling over how the Great Detective managed to deduce what he does, but when he undertakes to explain himself, it all seems so simple that I wonder how I missed it myself. Because of Watson's presence, Holmes is forced to explain his methods; if he were left to himself, the reader would be quite confused and would set aside the story.

Also, Holmes is extremely realistic. Pilgrims to Baker Street are often surprised to discover that Holmes's apartments are fictitious, as is the man himself. He is not perfect, nor is he infallible; he does not pop off the page but rather seeps from the words into the mind until the reader can imagine a lean, weather-beaten man smoking his pipe by the fireplace.

Thus far I have read nine of the short stories and The Hound of the Baskervilles. I am going to try to use his methods of deduction as best I can at school, and perhaps see some pleasing results. Who knows?

God Bless

Bipartisanship

2011-02-23T15:53:00.004-05:00

Nary a week goes by without a new call or urge for the acceptance of a bipartisan spirit in our Congress. Cooperation, compromise, consideration.

A century ago, this would not be as much of an issue. Nowadays, we have war. We vote for our champion to go out and fight the other party. What changed?

To be entirely succinct, we have. Our nation is no longer what it was, and it has changed quickly. During the 1800s, the majority of the population was Christian, and quite a bit of the remainder held that Christianity was a good thing, even if they were not Christians themselves. There was a common worldview that pervaded the nation's mindset on every level. That is the key. Whether a man was Republican or Democrat, Federalist or Anti-Federalist, Jacksonian Democrat or Whig, he almost certainly believed in the Christian God.

Now that every group imaginable has revolted, that cannot be truly said. Some still hold to the Christian faith, some think all faith is nonsense, some think they are a god, and so on. America lacks a single, uniting worldview.

Observe the Arab world; even amid the recent protests in Egypt, the protesters, the soldiers, and the late government would all pray in the same way to the same god. There, more than three-quarters of the country holds the same worldview.

In America, different parties represent different worldviews. Thus, they cannot cooperate on a plethora of important issues.

The only way anything can be done is for both sides to examine what is true and what is not, and act accordingly. But until that happens, little will happen.

God Bless

Mission Accomplished

2011-02-21T15:22:00.003-05:00

I have done it. I can now recite the forty-four presidents of the United States, as well as their vice-presidents. Why have I done this? It seems that I owe something to the country wherein I was born, and if that country sets aside a day to honor its presidents, there is no conceivable reason why I should not pay them due respect as well--but I first must know their names, and now I do.

Happy President's Day.

There is a new poll.

God Bless

Presidents' Day

2011-02-16T16:24:00.002-05:00

What do people do for Presidents' Day? Is there anything to do? I have not heard of any particular custom, and so I have made my own plans.

For Presidents' Day I plan to memorize all the presidents and vice-presidents who have governed the United States of America.

It's something, and a good place to start, I think.

God Bless

A Tidbit About Egypt

2011-02-13T16:09:00.002-05:00

February 11, 2011 was not merely the day that Hosni Mubarak of Egypt stepped down from power. It was also the day of Moses's birth. It was also the day of his death, which was exactly one hundred and twenty years later. How incredible is that?

I do not for a moment believe that was a coincidence. So many sorts of incidents of the same sort happen on the same day. If you look at a "This Day in History" section in the paper or elsewhere, it is amazing how many similar events take place on the same day, albeit years apart. I think it is one of God's mysteries, and it is wondrous to see it all unfold.

God Bless

Lincoln's Birthday

2011-02-12T12:54:00.003-05:00

To-day is the birthday of Abraham Lincoln, who was originally born in the year of grace 1809. Were he still alive, he would be 202 years old. By the grace of God, he saved our country.

God Bless

Two Unassiociated Remarks

2011-02-09T15:16:00.005-05:00

Brian Jacques, the author the Redwall books, has died, at the age of seventy-one. He will be missed and his books will be cherished.

Also, I have given some thought to a matter that has repeated itself several times. When discussing issues with others, a common retort I hear is this: "Well, you can believe in evolution and still be a Christian."

I wholeheartedly agree. But the statement is a non-sequitur in that believing in evolution will not affect whether or not one is saved. Salvation hinges on whether or not Jesus is accepted as Lord and the only way. Christians can believe erroneous things to be true without losing salvation.

For instance, some Christians have believed that the sun revolves around the earth. They were wrong in so believing, but they were not condemned to Hell for it. A Christian can believe the moon is made of blue cheese, that Hitler was justified, or that William Shakespeare was a prophet who predicted the death of Julius Caesar (yes, I have heard that) without any effect on whither they are bound after death.

I hear "Well, you can believe in evolution and still be a Christian" so often. It is true, but it does not prove anything.

God Bless

A Miscellany

2011-02-04T17:05:00.003-05:00

I am now eighteen. Aside from a complete collection of Sherlock Holmes, I think the best present I received was the breaking of the fever that had kept me in bed for two days. I am still tired. I missed four of five days of school this week recovering. It was almost a perfect record, but I have no desire to make another attempt. I hope the rest of you are in good health.

I smell pizza, I'm leaving. I apologize to all of you who wanted something meaningful. But there is a new poll up.

God Bless

What Is the Root of It All?

2011-01-23T15:42:00.002-05:00

Quite simply, the world is raging because of people's conceptions and misconceptions about God. All other issues stem from the question, "Does God exist?"

If I believe that God is not, I will seek the answers to my questions elsewhere, and if I believe God is, I will seek Him for those answers. The answers to these questions form all the worldviews we have to-day: why am I here, how did I get here, and where am I going.

If God does not exist, the logical conclusions are as follows:

I.Why am I here: no reason in particular.
II. Where am I going: nowhere special.
III. How did I get here: presumably through Darwinian evolution, an unguided process which leaves us as cosmic accidents, though no one knows for certain.

How then shall you live? Any way you want to live, whether that be by shooting your classmates or building charitable organizations, though you will not have any reason for doing either other than, "I want to."

If God (and for now "God" shall refer to the God of the Bible) does exist, the logical conclusions, drawn from the Bible, are as follows:

I.Why am I here: To love God above all others.
II. Where am I going: To paradise or damnation, depending on whether or not you accept Jesus as God's Son and the only Savior for mankind.
III. How did I get here: By God's special design, a unique and wonderful creation.

How then shall you live? You can still live in the manners describe three paragraphs above, for you have a choice in the matter, but the shooting will be condemned by God as murder, and the charity will be operated, if apart from God, for perhaps the right reasons, but on a non-existent moral foundation.

If, however, you live according to God's Word and allow the Holy Spirit to operate within you, then you will have a reason to live and a reward in sight, a Friend that will never leave you, and a hope for the future. If you think I am being overly optimistic, I'm not.

Quite a contrast, eh? The chief conflict is that of worldviews, and all worldviews depend on the question of "Does God exist?" The answer to that question has staggering consequences.

God Bless

Frustration

2011-01-19T14:51:00.004-05:00

Frustration can be a useful incentive for progress, but too much of it is like consuming too much salt; it starts to wear a man down. Since the resumption of classes, I have felt it increasingly. I have tried to write about it and post it on this web-log, but I have not known where to start. There are so many things that must be said, but the root must be dealt with first, a weed from which sprouts thousands of others. This is forthcoming.

There is a new poll up, enjoy exercising your free will.

God Bless

The Censored Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

2011-01-05T15:39:00.003-05:00

Happy New Year! Though it may be 2011, it feels more like 1984.

It has been said that those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. It is also said that the only thing we have learned from history is that no one learns from history. This has become quite obvious, as we are now rewriting history.

Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, is being censored. What is being changed? The 'n'-word is being replaced with 'slave.'

Let me be clear; I do not at all believe that racism is right nor honoring to God. I am not defending racism. I, however, strongly hold that censorship is wrong. Saying that someone wrote something they actually did not is lying. The book that will soon be published will not have been written by Mark Twain, though it will sound very similar.

You might protest and state that more people will be able to read the book without being offended, that this is some sign of positive change in race relations, et cetera. But consider first that if people are now empowered to remove bad words, they are now empowered to remove good ones, including references to God.

For instance, most school children are required to memorize Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, originally delivered by the president on November 19, 1863. In it he referred to America as "this nation, under God." So why have some children learnt the speech without "under God?"

This is due to the existence of several copies of the speech handwritten by Lincoln which do not include the phrase, and to avoid mentioning God, these were used as opposed to the actual speech given. Apparently he added it in as he stood on the platform.

So, which is the Gettysburg Address; the speech Lincoln wrote, or the speech Lincoln said? If it is the speech he wrote, he might have given the address as it is ("Four score and seven years ago..."), but have written "Once upon a time...." Or to take it further, he could have written a short story about a talking frog on a railway trip from Great Britain to Antarctica and still delivered the speech we know to-day. The true text of a speech is that which is spoken, and the true text of a book is that which is originally published.

Now, some might still protest that editing, translating, and updating spelling all fall under the category of censorship. This is not so. Where these differ from censorship is the fact that they all are efforts to make the author's intended meaning clearer, whereas censorship's goal is to change that meaning.

But let us return to Twain. Many Americans were extremely prejudiced against blacks, and many still are. Do you see that pretending they were not does not change the fact that they were and is, indeed, a lie?

I made reference to George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four at the outset of this little discourse. Allow me to provide you with some passages that I find most applicable to this situation:

"Who controls the past", ran the Party slogan, "controls the future: who controls the present controls the past."

This quotation is perfect; If the people of to-day rewrite history so that the people of yesterday did not use the 'n'-word, or 'God,' then the people of to-morrow will not believe they ever did, or even that such words exist.

The sole defense of the dead is the conscience.

"'If he thinks he floats off the floor, and if I simultaneously think I see him do it, then the thing happens.' Suddenly, like a lump of submerged wreckage breaking the surface of water, the thought burst into his mind: 'It doesn't really happen. We imagine it. It is hallucination.'"

Mind over matter does not work. If you don't believe me, try climbing a tree without using your arms or legs. If we pretend that people did not call blacks horrible things, we have not changed the past. We have only fooled ourselves and our children.

God Bless

73 For the Year

2010-12-31T12:29:00.002-05:00

Well, if I didn't post more than I did last year, I shall at least post as much as I did last year, seventy-three posts.

Next year I shall post a higher number of book-reviews. I intend to be merciless, so be sure to stay tuned.

I suppose I could resolve not to make any resolutions, but that would be rather self-contradicting, eh?

Have a great rest of the year...all one day of it.

God Bless

Quills

2010-12-15T17:13:00.008-05:00

Hello, I am about to fulfill my promise. Here are pictures I have taken of my quill-work, particularly how to make a quill. If you should try to do the same, make sure you have your parents' approval:

Neat, eh? Well, I think so.

God Bless

Christmas is Coming

2010-12-11T12:34:00.002-05:00

I write for my school newspaper, but our December issue is postponed until January, making my article about Christmas useless. Thus, I thought I would release it on my blog. Here it is:

"Where did Christmas originate? This subject has raged back and forth between secular humanists and Christians for years. Did it begin as a pagan festival? Why is it what it is? And what is the truth?

At the root of all the traditions and customs, Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, nothing more—though that fact is significant enough. The name ‘Christmas’ is derived from the Catholic Christ Mass. And that is that.

But what of the revelry, the pomp, the festivity?

The Roman festival of the Saturnalia was a seven-day event in December that fell upon the week of what is now Christmas, which was originally observed during the springtime. Church leaders, however, were concerned about the temptations that the Saturnalia offered to believers, and decided to move Christmas Day to the same time as the pagan festival. The goal was twofold; the Christians desired not only to help believers fight the temptations but also to make an effort to redeem the wild merrymaking.

Thus, Christmas is not a pagan holiday but rather a holiday that honors God while involving non-biblical elements. It is like making a movie; many films depict things that are contrary to God’s will, but that does not prohibit Christians from making films that bring glory to Him.

Furthermore, if Christians had to avoid anything associated with non-Christians, none of them would survive the week; non-believers live in houses—thus Christians would have to give up houses, along with food, clothing, and common sense!

Finally, what of the atheists and humanists who find ‘Christmas’ offensive? There is nothing to stop them from abstaining from celebrating Jesus’ birth, and it is highly unlikely that anyone will try to force them to do so. But does the fact that they are offended give them the right to remove all references to Christ from the public square? And if they do decide to hold a celebration on December 25, what, exactly, are they celebrating? If not Christmas, then something else; and if something else, why the big fuss over something that does not concern them?

Merry Christmas."

God Bless

Laugh It Off

2010-11-29T17:57:00.003-05:00

When a duck becomes wet, the water simply rolls off its back. Why? Because the duck has a natural layer of oil on its back that repels water.

There's a funny thing about being a Christian; at one point or another, you actually need to believe you are saved. That is our oil-coat. When we know beyond doubt our identity in Christ, we no longer heed the enemy's temptations; they are but shadows on the wall.

On Mondays, I have a habit of dressing more professionally; tie, vest, watch and chain. This morning I was clad so, and came under attack almost as soon as I entered the building.

First there came the nausea. I rebuked the enemy in Jesus' name, felt worse, kept praying, and eventually felt better, although I came too close to vomiting for my liking.

I take notes and write assignments with a quill pen and ink (I know promised pictures. I'm working on it). Anyway, I keep my ink bottle in a pocket, and for the first time there was a small leak, although the cap was tightly screwed. I felt tempted to become frustrated, but moved on before I took that road.

Then, during art class, my first bell, we were using airbrushes, and my paint cup fell off my brush. At this point, three 'problems' had occurred within perhaps twenty minutes. I might have become wroth (angry, ye modern readers), but decided that this was all so ridiculous. I just started laughing. Sometimes you have to force yourself.

So keep that in mind the next time something happens. Let it roll off your back.

God Bless

O The Times

2010-11-10T19:41:00.003-05:00

If anyone can tell me from memory which Roman orator inspired my title, I will be impressed.

Two hundred students at the University of Central Florida were caught cheating on an exam, potentially barring them from graduating and leaving their professor disappointed and disillusioned.

When the media caught the story, it interviewed the professor and several students on the campus. If you watch the video here, you can see the whole story up to now.

But what interests me is the comment of the second student interviewed (2:10), which I have transcribed below:

"This is college; everyone cheats. Everyone cheats in life in general. I think you'd be hard pressed to find anyone in this testing lab who hasn't cheated on an exam. They're making a witch-hunt out of absolutely nothing as if it were to teach us some kind of moral lesson."

I was not expecting to hear anything so blatant and was shocked. Here's the problem with what he is saying:

1. "Everyone cheats" -- First, that isn't true. Other students were also disappointed by their peers, and the two hundred who cheated are but one third of the entire class of six hundred. But the main point is that simply because many or everyone does something does not make it right. If the majority of the population were murderers, would murder then be morally right?

This goes back to the question: "Whence do we derive morality?" If we say 'humanity', then morality is a shifting sand of preference that changes daily. Humanity cannot account for morality. Rather, right and wrong are established by God and then passed down to us through the Bible. We must adjust our beliefs accordingly.

2. The student also draws off the idea that we should not legislate morality. But why should we not? Observe:

"You can't legislate morality."
"Why not?"
"It's wrong."
"Do you see that you have just legislated morality?"

That idea fails to hold its own weight.

3. Finally, what would that student say if someone cheated him? Would he wave it off? I don't think so. A relativist flourishes until he experiences it himself. If someone stole his car or his computer, I think he would be quite upset.

Something to ponder and compare with what you believe.

God Bless

Pros and Cons and God

2010-11-07T14:11:00.002-05:00

Many of us create lists of pros and cons when we make decisions. We weigh the potential good and bad aspects and then pick the option with the most pros or the least cons.

But I realized something. Jesus never made a pro/con list in all His time as a man. He bypassed that step and went straight to the source of good decision-making, His Father in Heaven.

In John 5:19, the Bible reads, "Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does."

As Christians we are co-heirs with Christ. Whatever the Father gives to Him, He also gives to us. The Bible says that we will rule angels one day! But when it comes to making decisions, we don't need to make lists of pros and cons. That is walking by sight, and when we walk by our own sight, we run into all the things we cannot see with our own eyes--we need God's perspective on everything.

What the Father does, that's what we do. Company policy.

Now there's some food for thought.

God Bless

Numbers

2010-11-03T15:55:00.003-04:00

What impresses you? Likewise, what disappoints you?

One answer that falls under both categories is numbers.

We, as humans, tend to find our worth and the worth of others in numbers. But, if we are impressed with numbers, we will be disappointed by numbers.

If you are a pastor and you hope to see your congregation grow to 1,000 members, you will be disappointed if it stops growing at 999. Why is that? Why be unsatisfied because one person doesn't exist?

What does this say about us?

Many times throughout the Bible, God tells us not to worry (Matthew 6:25) and that He has a plan for us (Jeremiah 29:11). Amazingly, in Psalms 139, David writes, "and in Your book all the days [of my life] were written before ever they took shape, when as yet there was none of them." Did you know that God has invested a lot of thought in you? He has recorded your future as if it were history!

So, when we are disappointed by the number of people in our congregation, the books we have sold, the friends that we have, et cetera, does that show we truly trust that God has worked everything out?

Remember the servant who was given one talent (amount of money)? He looked at the other two, who had been given more, and then buried his money in the ground and did nothing with it. Who knows what he could have done?

If you sell one book and one book only, but it changes a person's life--if it does nothing more than make them wonder, even--more has been accomplished for the Kingdom than one million books sold that did not. You yourself may not see the fruit and think your time has been wasted--but that's not true.

God Bless

Sense

2010-10-25T16:35:00.004-04:00

I will be out of town for the next week or so, in case any of you wonder where I am. Not that I'm interrupting a rapid-fire stream of posts, but I thought I would mention it.

Anyway, I was thinking a while ago (not that I am not thinking now) and this occurred to me:

It makes sense to follow God, but following God makes no sense.

Think about it. Is it not true? After all, we look around at the world, we see the order and the logic and we experience the conscience God gave us--it makes sense to believe in and thus follow God. But then, once on the other side, things get weird; marching around walls to make them fall down, striking a rock to get water, donkeys talking, et cetera. Where is the sense in that?

Let's take a gander at Isaiah 55:8-9. Those verses are as follows:

"For My ways are not your ways, neither are your thoughts My thoughts, says the Lord. For just as the heavens are above the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."

Neat, eh? Make sure to keep that in mind.

God Bless

A Simple Truth

2010-10-18T16:16:00.001-04:00

Did you know that God loves you? I'm sure you've heard it before.

Did you know that God likes you? I hope you do, because He does, more than anyone else can.

God Bless

A Double Dactyl is Not a Dinosaur

2010-10-14T13:34:00.003-04:00

Despite that this blog is called Writer's Passion, I realized that I rarely discuss writing. Though I may talk about my favorite books and poems, I hardly ever mention writing.

But first I would like to draw your attention to the sidebar, where a new poll has been added.

As of now, I am up to my shoulders in poetry, and every day I am composing a new verse or riddle. Yesterday I wrote a double dactyl about George Washington crossing the Delaware. What is a double dactyl, you may ask?

A dactyl is a metrical foot of three syllables, long-short-short. It derives its name from the Greek word for finger. Hold up your hand and extend your index finger. Look at it. You'll notice how the segments, from its base to its tip, are long, then short, then short. Clever, eh? Oh yes, I am learning a LOT at school!

A dactyl, then would read as follows: Burn the bridge.

A double dactyl is a parlor game in which eight lines divided into two equal stanzas are composed. It is much harder than I thought, for in addition to these stipulations the fourth and eighth lines must be a single dactyl with an additional syllable tacked on the end, and one of the lines in the second stanza must be a single, hexasyllabic word. Furthermore, the first line is nonsense, like 'higgledy-piggledy', but I find that a waste of a good line. If you want a purist example, go find a purist's blog.

Here is an example I have contrived solely for your learning enjoyment:

Praise For The Arkbuilder's Society

Noah escaped from the
Flood which God sent upon
Mankind as punishment
For heinous sin.

Thus was he saved from the
Antediluvian
Tragedy claiming the
Lives of his kin.

Not bad, eh? I wrote that as I sat here. The first time I wrote a double dactyl, it took three hours.

Write on!

God Bless

A New Old Treasure

2010-10-12T17:46:00.004-04:00

Well, I have the next three days away from school, thank God, and I have found a treasure--a treasure, I say--at Half Price Books!

While perusing the selection of collectible books, I came across a weathered copy of George Elliot's Silas Marner, perhaps the only assigned book I have enjoyed during my four years of high school. When I opened the volume, I turned to the back of the title page and there discovered that the copy was printed in the eighteen hundredth and ninety-eight Year of Our Lord. Zounds! Yes, the book is one hundred and twelve years old, and now a part of my library.

Seeing as I now own a piece of history that only cost me ten dollars, I consider it a great find, for the cheapest that I can find said book from said year online is more than twice what I paid, not including shipping.

Half Price is such a great bookseller. Have you ever found something special there? If not, I encourage you to find the nearest location and browse for a few hours...

God Bless

Mustard...

2010-10-03T13:25:00.005-04:00

In Matthew 17:20, Jesus compares the faith of a believer to a mustard seed. Many believe He said, "...if you have faith as small as a mustard seed..." Not so. Rather, He said, "...if you have faith as a mustard seed..." What's different?

As a result of this mistranslation, it is commonly believed that Christians only need small faith, that only a little bit of faith will move mountains. The correct translation, however, holds an entirely different meaning.

If we have faith not as as small as but rather as a mustard seed, it means that our faith is growing. It means that we are pursuing a relationship with God that is getting stronger and stronger and stronger. If our faith is not growing, then it is shrinking. Small faith isn't going to work.

I might have enough faith to believe God can supply $10, but not $100. Ergo, I must grow my faith until I can believe with all confidence that He can provide $100. Then a year later, I might owe $1000. I saw the $10, I saw the $100, but I've never seen $1000. What do I do? I press in, I look beyond my sight, and I petition the Lord until that $1000 comes. Next month, I am short $10, and I think to myself, "That's easy..." Our faith must grow, always.

Thus, keep strong in the faith and keeping running--fast.

God Bless

A Clarification

2010-09-28T16:21:00.002-04:00

In my last post I posed a question that wasn't exactly clear in its wording, or lack thereof. Therefore, allow me to restate the question.

Which do you believe to be better in terms of the quality of a) style, b) imagination, c) plot: Christian fiction or fiction written by Christians?

God Bless

A Question

2010-09-27T19:36:00.003-04:00

Hello to one and all.

I have a question I'd like you all to answer: Which do you believe to be better: Christian books or books written by Christians?

Please drop a comment.

God Bless

The Way of Writing

2010-09-17T17:04:00.003-04:00

There is something un-poetic about laptop computers. Even ballpoint pens don't make the cut. I have decided to return to the good old days when writing implements were prized possessions and have made my own quill pens out of feathers.

My first attempt was not very good, and splattered ink everywhere. The second attempt spluttered a little, but was a vast improvement. Those attempts took place Monday afternoon. To-day I have carved out a dozen good pens which I use both at school and at home. I can't tell you how exciting it is to be using a real quill pen.

I should post pictures soon.

God Bless

Beowulf

2010-09-12T15:46:00.003-04:00

I have recently finished reading the epic poem, Beowulf. Sadly, I am not yet able to read the Anglo-Saxon and had to settle for the translation. Nonetheless, I thoroughly enjoyed and was inspired by what I read.

Herein is relayed the tale of a man who lives for adventure, who sails across the sea in order to slay the monster Grendel (nowadays many would say he has extreme thrill issues) to please his lord, Hygelac.

The valour and determination of Beowulf to defeat evil and prosper his people is truly inspiring, and if you have not read this amazing work, I strongly urge you to do so.

God Bless

Happy September!

2010-09-02T16:41:00.001-04:00

Hello, all, aren't you glad it is September?

Anyway, I am just quickly checking into my blog to let you know that the first two weeks of school are almost complete and I am having a wonderful time!

How are you all doing school-wise?

God Bless

Greek!

2010-08-26T16:16:00.004-04:00

"Greek to me." Those famous words of Shakespeare no longer apply to me, for now I am learning Greek!

Yes, the first week has been amazing so far! Did you know that the Greek alphabet contains twenty-four letters and, of that, seven vowels? There are double consonants like zeta, which is pronounced 'dz'! I finally know how to pronounce the 'ps' I often find at the beginnings of words.

Instead of pronouncing Psamathos Psamathides from Tolkien's Roverandom as though they began with the sound 's', I now know to pronounce the 'ps' like that in 'eclipse'. Aha! Now you, too, can pronounce words like 'Psalms', 'psychology', and 'psycho'! Ain't that just the cotton-picking end?

What courses are you taking this year?

God Bless

How to Live

2010-08-23T16:24:00.002-04:00

To-day was my first day of my senior year! In the past I have dreaded this day and have come home in a downcast mindset.

This year, however, I went into school with a different approach. Whenever someone did or said something offensive, I prayed. If I judged the person I prayed for forgiveness for being judgmental, and I always forgave the person in my mind. When I had a spare moment I would fill it with prayer.

Not only did I leave the school feeling great, I was smiling!

One of the key things that happened to-day was forgiveness. When you forgive those who trespass against you, you leave neither that person nor any demonic spirit a foothold in your heart, and so the number of openings the enemy can exploit drastically dwindles. Forgive as you go. You feel better! You are less vulnerable to depression, frustration, and despair! You honor God! And all this for the low, low price of forgiveness! It really works.

Thank God for a really great day.

God Bless

Attention to All!

2010-08-21T15:04:00.003-04:00

Hey everyone, our blogger friend over at Mommy Dot Com has just returned to the blogosphere with amazing news. But to sum it up in my words would take away from the potency of her own words, so here is the link to a most incredible story:

http://mommydotcom.blogspot.com/2010/08/starting-point.html

Is that great or what? Can I get a few volunteers to spread the word as well? Thanks a lot!

God Bless

The Phantom Tollbooth

2010-08-19T12:14:00.005-04:00

This 1961 story for people of all ages has caught my imagination. I began to read it yesterday after finishing David Copperfield and finished it this morning. I must say, staying up past midnight to do so was worth it.

This is the tale of a boy named Milo, who finds everything about life to be dull and boring. Upon entering his room, however, he discovers a tollbooth through which he drives in a toy car, into lands he never imagined before.

In the tradition of Lewis Carroll and Dr. Seuss, Norton Juster delivers a whimsical, rollicking yarn that has refreshed my mind from the sometimes-overused world of dragons and knights.

If you read this, and I hope you do, you will find page after page of laughs, logical mayhem, and clever plays on words beyond count.

I highly recommend this book.

God Bless

Good Books

2010-08-13T11:28:00.004-04:00

Hello, one and all! Be it here known that I, Araken, loved by many, liked by few, have but ten days remaining before school resumes for the last time in my life. HA!

Yes, I am starting my final year of high school, finally. Let's see what I can make of it, shall we?

Anyway, I have been trying to use the time I have more wisely and efficiently, and, as a result, have been doing many more things than I have been. It's an amazing feeling, being productive. But among my many recent exploits is reading more voraciously, which I am both enjoying and accomplishing. I began to read David Copperfield by Charles Dickens on Wednesday, and by this morning have reached the seventeenth chapter... out of four and sixty. ('Ah,' you say to yourself, 'that's why Araken has been talking so oddly to-day')

But I am thoroughly enjoying my run of Victorian novels, including Lewis Carroll's Silvie and Bruno. Although there is significantly less action (namely violence, explosions, and the like) than in more recent novels, I find it more agreeable than the lot of them. I find such books portraits of humanity; they are not over-glossed, dime-a-dozen bits but rather one-of-a-kind masterworks. The characters have quirks and oddities that make them human and identifiable, the descriptions evoke strong images in my mind, and the stories draw me back to a more simple and innocent time.

Does anyone here enjoy such novels? What do you find agreeable in them?

God Bless

Oh Boy...

2010-08-11T11:32:00.004-04:00

I feel very much like a hobbit. Yesterday, I ate five meals: two breakfasts, two lunches, and one dinner.

Now, you might be asking yourself, "Self, why did Araken eat five meals yesterday?" Say, I'm glad you asked.

I have been setting my alarm clock for seven o'clock in the morning so I can accomplish more each day, and consequently have been eating breakfast earlier as well.

After I ate my first breakfast, I returned upstairs. When I came back downstairs, mom was making French pancakes. Now, I don't know if you have ever had French pancakes, but I do know that if you have not, you have not lived. And since I like living, I had a few. Or maybe three.

I had a plan; because I had eaten so much during the breakfast hours, I would eat a smaller lunch to tide me over until dinner. But, afterward, the rest of my family was hungry, and because they couldn't eat a whole pot of chili by themselves, and because I was still hungry, I ate my second lunch. So much for that plan.

It just felt odd. Has anything similar happened to you?

God Bless

I Am CURIOUS!

2010-08-06T18:59:00.003-04:00

Good evening to all.

I was looking over my blog and at the numerous bloggers who have left comments on it. I am very grateful to all of you who have faithfully continued to read my blog and comment on what I have to say. And that made me wonder...

HOW DID YOU FIND MY BLOG IN THE FIRST PLACE?

That question has been repeating itself over and over again in my mind. How did any of you, dear readers, find my blog? What do you think of it? I'd love to know!

Please leave a comment! The best story (true, mind you) will win you eternal glory and fame!

God Bless