Whats on your mind...?!

[dayhiker]

I figured it was servant68.

 

[quietpraiyze]

Quiet, I've thought often about being alive now thru many American wars and the church hasn't opposed one of them.
How is that following Jesus' example of loving our enemies?!

Ya, I hear you. Have wondered about that myself.

I know...I know...I've been awake for a long time now...

 

[quietpraiyze]

Just wanted to make sure you realized my post was made in complete jest... I was not judging you for watching Friday the 13th....

Oh I knew you were kidding. I saw the little smiley face. It just made me think about how some Christians run around poking their moral chest out talking about how they don't watch R rated movies/TV but then they're involved in all this other stuff which sometimes (I believe many times) is way worse.

I haven't seen a Friday 13th in years but I did do a college paper once on Jason and why he doesn't die. My Professor loved and wanted me to read it to the class but I chose not to.

Don't worry we're cool. Hey I noticed you were a writer, published at that! I'm a closet writer. I've published some poems but never one of my short stories. I'm such a chicken.

 

[quietpraiyze]

I'm still angry (not with anyone in this thread), so it's taking me a minute to forgive and that's okay. My anger has always signaled to me when someone has crossed the line. In part that's why I like it...

 

[Servant68]

Hey I noticed you were a writer, published at that! I'm a closet writer. I've published some poems but never one of my short stories. I'm such a chicken.

Due to the internet and the advent of Amazon.com and E-readers, it is the Golden Age for writers. A good friend of mine has always encouraged me to write. He was impressed with some papers I wrote in college and thought I should try my hand at writing a fiction novel. I resisted for years. Finally, after decades of him and other people saying I was a natural, I submitted an article to a national magazine. They published it and gave an award for Best New Writer. That bolstered my confidence in my skills, so I began writing a mystery novel.

A lady I worked with earlier this year introduced me to the process of e-publishing and was an accomplished writer in her own right. She gave me all sorts of tools and tips on writing a novel and I began studiously reading various novels from popular writers from the perspective of crafting my own novel.

I pounded out the first chapter in a couple of hours and my friend reviewed it. I discussed with her the characters that were developing in my mind, the basic plot, setting, etc. She said to me that what I had crafted so easily in a matter of hours was on par with the work of some of the most popular and successful mystery writers of the day...

I was elated and my mind went crazy with ideas and plot twists and turns. But, I realized my hero was in a profession that I had only a surface knowledge of, and to craft a quality novel, I needed more in-depth information. Luckily, I had a good friend in the business that my novel concentrated on. Due to his schedule and mine conflicting, we were unable to arrange a quality sit-down to discuss the nuts and bolts of his job.

I got busy with work and my new home and months slipped by. My lady friend who was so helpful in providing resources encountered an insurmountable health issue and committed suicide a few months ago. I haven't looked at writing since...

But, I will finish this novel. And I have two more book ideas that will follow it, so I will have a three book series. I just need to commit to it again...

There are opportunities for e-publishing short stories; I would encourage you to look into it and at least get a couple out there. You never know... You come across as having excellent writing skills. Usually, when I post in forums on the internet, I'm lazy and don't put much thought into the process. People can't believe I'm actually quite good at it. But based on your posts, I can believe you'd be pretty darn good at writing...

 

[dayhiker]

Servant .. thanks for sharing that story. Interesting how your mind works to form stories with plot twists.
I can't remember my mind ever doing that.

 

[quietpraiyze]

Due to the internet and the advent of Amazon.com and E-readers, it is the Golden Age for writers. A good friend of mine has always encouraged me to write. He was impressed with some papers I wrote in college and thought I should try my hand at writing a fiction novel. I resisted for years. Finally, after decades of him and other people saying I was a natural, I submitted an article to a national magazine. They published it and gave an award for Best New Writer. That bolstered my confidence in my skills, so I began writing a mystery novel.

A lady I worked with earlier this year introduced me to the process of e-publishing and was an accomplished writer in her own right. She gave me all sorts of tools and tips on writing a novel and I began studiously reading various novels from popular writers from the perspective of crafting my own novel.

I pounded out the first chapter in a couple of hours and my friend reviewed it. I discussed with her the characters that were developing in my mind, the basic plot, setting, etc. She said to me that what I had crafted so easily in a matter of hours was on par with the work of some of the most popular and successful mystery writers of the day...

I was elated and my mind went crazy with ideas and plot twists and turns. But, I realized my hero was in a profession that I had only a surface knowledge of, and to craft a quality novel, I needed more in-depth information. Luckily, I had a good friend in the business that my novel concentrated on. Due to his schedule and mine conflicting, we were unable to arrange a quality sit-down to discuss the nuts and bolts of his job.

I got busy with work and my new home and months slipped by. My lady friend who was so helpful in providing resources encountered an insurmountable health issue and committed suicide a few months ago. I haven't looked at writing since...

But, I will finish this novel. And I have two more book ideas that will follow it, so I will have a three book series. I just need to commit to it again...

There are opportunities for e-publishing short stories; I would encourage you to look into it and at least get a couple out there. You never know... You come across as having excellent writing skills. Usually, when I post in forums on the internet, I'm lazy and don't put much thought into the process. People can't believe I'm actually quite good at it. But based on your posts, I can believe you'd be pretty darn good at writing...

Wow what an awesome testimony. It seems like God has lead you on such a plain path where there is no doubt that you have a writing talent and what to do with it. Congratulations on winning the award for Best New Writer. That is no small feat. I am so sorry to hear about your friend. That is so sad. I hope you have everything you need in terms of your grieving process.

Thank you for your kind words of encouragement. I don't put a lot of effort into my internet post either but I've done a lot of professional technical writing and it's like night and day difference. You have given me a great deal to think about. Especially considering the many options that are available now. Publishing and maintaining control of your work isn't so far fetched. I actually think being independent is the better way to go for those of us who are creative. I just have to get my courage up. Knowing me, one day I'll wake up and say “today is the day” and then like Nike I'll just do it Lord willing! That's often how I do things. Incubate, do the mental gymnastics/legos, then hit the floor running...

 

[Lotuspetal_uk]

Another reason I can't stand this kind of behavior is because it makes some Christians (I believe many) afraid to share with other Christians. So they hide and when they do talk they say all the proper things. It's like a dysfunctional parallel universe where honesty and transparency is wrong. It would be nice to see Christians share openly and honestly with one another without fear of reprisal from other Christians.

Have been lurking behind the scenes until work has finished (5 more days to go Woo Hoo!!!)

QuietP, the above had so much resonance with me. I fellowship currently at a church where I am not confident to share some things because I have had my fingers burnt so many times now.

I do not normally watch 15 and above movies, purely because I have such a vivid imagination and wouldn't sleep afterwards but recently I watched the 'Dracula - Untold story' at the nudging of the HS. It was a personal lesson for me as to how much/high up I place my kids on a pedestal (for those of you who have watched the movie, you'll understand how far Vlad went in order to protect his wife and son which was the gist of the movie). Now, I personally learnt to redress my pecking order when I had my next quiet time with the Lord and I gained much from it. Aside from here now, I had only shared the experience with another sister in Christ offline and we did have a giggle about how the Lord uses some movies to teach the two of us some rather sober lessons. But I could and would never share that at church because I would be frowned at - or at worst - humiliated.

I just wish they would read and digest Romans 14 more.

 

[dayhiker]

Ya, Rom.14 is amazing ... but I've never had a church who said this or that was a disputable topic. They always know what other people are suppose to do.
Well, I shouldn't use always, as one sister told me how the pastor supported her but have her no advice on what to do with an abusive husband until she divorced him and then
was willing to say she made a wise decision.

 

[Travelers.Soul]

Bad thunderstorms = no beach time for me this afternoon. Sad day.

 

[Servant68]

I miss the thunderstorms from when I lived in Iowa. The dark green boiling clouds, torrential rains, hail, lightning... I love dangerous weather.

The closest we get around here is a good blizzard in the winter and an occasional thunderstorm.

 

[Servant68]

Got a horse yesterday... Beautiful medicine hat mare. Picking her up and moving her to her new home this week... I am now officially a Good Guy (white horse and all)...

 

[quietpraiyze]

Have been lurking behind the scenes until work has finished (5 more days to go Woo Hoo!!!)

QuietP, the above had so much resonance with me. I fellowship currently at a church where I am not confident to share some things because I have had my fingers burnt so many times now.

I do not normally watch 15 and above movies, purely because I have such a vivid imagination and wouldn't sleep afterwards but recently I watched the 'Dracula - Untold story' at the nudging of the HS. It was a personal lesson for me as to how much/high up I place my kids on a pedestal (for those of you who have watched the movie, you'll understand how far Vlad went in order to protect his wife and son which was the gist of the movie). Now, I personally learnt to redress my pecking order when I had my next quiet time with the Lord and I gained much from it. Aside from here now, I had only shared the experience with another sister in Christ offline and we did have a giggle about how the Lord uses some movies to teach the two of us some rather sober lessons. But I could and would never share that at church because I would be frowned at - or at worst - humiliated.

I just wish they would read and digest Romans 14 more.

Me and a Sister were just talking about Romans 14. The thing for me is that I don't expect people to always agree with me and I'm okay with that but when people attack my Salvation and morality over a TV show then I know something is wrong with them. I've noticed for years how many Christians aren't honest with one another and live in fear. It's like you can't even have a conversation with them outside of saying the name of Jesus or Scripture. It's like they're Stepford Christians. Like I told my friend, I don't live in some kind of mindset of “one day” I'm going to stand before the Lord. No, for me God is omnipresent right here right now and I am very aware of Him. I do realize that some people don't know what that's about but that has nothing to do with me. My life is an open book, I don't feel the need to hide and I'm not going to.

For me it is not about the ratings of a movie/TV show. It's about the story that they're trying to tell, the social politics and the family dynamics if present. Some do it well and some don't. Profanity and nudity are not automatic dis-qualifiers for me because I view all of that as the world or society the characters live in and that's where it stays. I know there are movies that I wouldn't go to the theater to see because I needed to be able to control what I was experiencing if I needed to. As was the case with the movie Precious because I had read the book. I have watched movies that really made me think long and hard. There have been R rated movies that ministered to me. I've also seen Christian movies that I felt were done poorly.

I just wish we could have an honest conversation without some Christians attacking other Christians for watching something that in truth they don't even really know what the movie/TV show is about because they've never watched it. I can't respect that. They should at least have the guts to say they've never watched the movie/TV show without trying to attack you first. You can't even have a civil conversation with some of these people because they're so hostile. As usual they're straining at gnats and swallowing camels. Unfortunately people are black and blue by the time they get through.

I know what it is to have to hide from self righteous Christians just for living and I'm not talking about doing anything unseemly. No, just for living. They are control freaks and they could care less about Christ or anybody else. I've already been through it, God delivered me and by the grace of God I am going to stay free. I'm not going to let people like that rule in my life ever again. I don't even necessarily believe some are talking about Christ when they say morality. It just seems like a way to beat people up. What I do know is Christians stop sharing. It's like someone comes along and sucks their liberty right out of them. I feel like these self righteous Christians would take you're Salvation if they could. It also made me angry because not only was the behavior allowed, it was co-signed and I continue to feel that was wrong. In the meantime many Christians will keep hiding, trying to protect themselves from both the enemy and the family of God.

 

[dayhiker]

Quiet .. that speaks to the people in this room more than you will know ... Tho some are not her because they left over this very issue over a year ago!

 

[quietpraiyze]

Trying to get from here to

 

[quietpraiyze]

I still feel so blown away by what God did for me today. I wanna shout it from the rooftop. God is truly amazing...and

 

[quietpraiyze]

Maybe it's just me but I feel this summer is going by really quick. I was going to start a thread asking everybody how their summer is going and now it's almost over! lol

 

[Lotuspetal_uk]

LOL! Me too!!!

I've woken up this morning thinking the same thing. So far this summer, I've managed to complete things in part, thinking that I've still got lots of days to go back to them. I NEED to get the garden under control today and then finish MC's bedroom before spending some more time on work prep ready for 3 weeks time

 

[quietpraiyze]

I remember June, July was a blink, and now I keep forgetting it's August!...lol

 

[dayhiker]

Its been a very busy summer for me. This is the 1st weekend I don't have something planned with a friend or a GF.
I am so glad tho I have so many friends that want to do things with me.