Ramblings of the random kind

There are times when i really do not have any idea of what i am going to write about on my blog. No really. I know this will come as a shock, but there are times when i just sit down and start typing and see what comes as i go. Other days i don't have a lot to say about whatever it is i do know what i want to write about. On those days i just start a new entry and put down some cryptic sentence, and then when i have between 3-5 of them i begin. If i remember what i mean all the better. Today is of the later... The Carolina Panthers have their 'by-week' early this year. I am very grateful for that as they head into it with a record of 0-3. *sigh*. Heading into the season their scheduled was considered the 2nd hardest so that is not really raising my hopes for them getting to 9-7. Granted, they play the Bucs (twice), the Redskins, and the Miami Dolphins. I am pretty sure they will win at least one of those. I have seen Coach Fox turn this team around before, and i am not really confident that they are as bad as their record currently shows. But they are going to really have to come out of the gate of the by-week and win at least three out of their next four for me to change my feelings on this. Yesterday i had some maintenance work so i came into work about a half hour before midnight and worked until i was done. Which in this case was only about two hours - a real blessing. Not knowing how long it was going to go i asked for a personal day off during my regular shift and used up some comp. time. I would like to say it was spent with my beloved on a romantic luncheon, but it was not to be. I knew i had things to do at the local government offices, and i had to get the grass cut (hopefully for the last time of the season), but then my poor love has come down with my summer cold. So i made her some tomato soup and got my errands done. When i finished the lawn i realized i still had about a dozen or more logs left to split for our firewood stock so i knocked that out too. There is something therapeutic to me about chopping wood. I have no idea why. I may need some more so i need to contact my friends who own a full size pickup and several acres north of where i live. See about getting another dozen or so logs... While running my errands i was thinking a little bit more about my 'novel'. Thinking over where i want to go with it, some more personal background information on the characters (most of which will probably never be "seen"), etc. i began to wonder if there were other Christian writers of science fiction out there. I've never really scoured the local Christian book store for such books. I've seen different genres, but it's just not a place i've thought of to go for recreational reading. Deep theological sure, but not for casual stuff that doesn't really matter. So last night, as i am running around getting the last few items done before (the kids) bedtime i typed in a quick Google search "Christian Cyberpunk". I am not sure why i chose that particular group of words, but there you have it. The first interesting return gave me Frank Creed ~ he has written a book titled FlashPoint: Book One of the Underground. When i read the summary it sounded a little too much like the Left Behind series. I like that series, but i was looking for cyborgs and that kind of thing so my search continued. I clicked on a few more links and i was beginning to get discouraged. I read about a few titles but all of them (so far) have very similar settings. Formal religion is being severely suppressed. Not just Christianity, but Islam and Judaism too (and probably several others). The hero is a non-believer who is actually a "Paul-like" character who has some sort of conversion experience and then champions the cause for Christ. This is beginning to sound a lot like Contemporary Christian music back in the early '80's ~ or at least my perception from back then. There is only one real 'flavor' and there is really not much depth to it. I continued on and found another author, Kirk Outerbridge, who has authored Calamity Falls. I've read the Chapter One and his 'hero' character reminds me a lot of the Deckard character from Blade Runner. I like how it starts so far, but i am not sure i will buy it though. One thing i did notice was that all of the Christian Science Fiction sites i found did not refer to themselves as Science Fiction writers, but writers of 'Speculative Fiction'. Really? I know that science fiction in general can get pretty raunchy. (I SO wanted to like and watch the Sci-Fi Channel series Battlestar Gallactica, but had to stop watching it because of the incredibly overt sexual situations), but why such a hard push to differentiate? There is probably a reason for it, but i've not discovered what that reason may be yet. I did find, what i hope to be, a good writing source/support page: The Lost Genre Guild. It is a blog for Christian writers of 'Speculative Fiction' (aka Science Fiction). There are several resources there like a mentor and critique group, a writers tool kit page, and a "Library" (a list of books published by fellow members). Overall a nice find as an encouragement for me to help stay grounded in my Faith, while exploring my interest in writing science fiction.

Happy Friday the 13th, and Valentine's Day!

Happy Friday the 13th

Personally i am not superstitious. When i was a kid i would drive my mother nuts! I would go out of my way to walk under ladders, i would pick up pennies no matter which side was up, i would walk on the other side of posts/poles/etc. from her. I would befriend any black animal i came across, especially black cats (hmm... a thought just came to mind... maybe that's why i am a Carolina Panthers fan). My mom would just plain freak out. I'm not sure if it had to do with the fact i was born in the month of October, but that stuff just doesn't bother me. I have silly habits that i like to do, but i know they ultimately do not affect the things of the universe. Some call religion in general, to include Christianity, a superstition. To be honest, i don't have a well thought out rebuttal to such a statement. I guess that makes me 'superstitious' after all... at least according to such a definition. And if all it takes is to be identified as a Christian for such a 'label', then i shall wear it proudly. A genre of movies often closely associated with superstitions (using the broad definition of black cats, etc) are Horror movies. When i was younger i watched NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, and the NIGHTMARE and FRIDAY, movies. I don't think i ever understood what attracted me to them. But i do know that i will never watch the movie BIRDS ever, ever again! Since then i've grown out of it. It evens bothers me as it draws close to my birthday. Most of the movie advertising is for horror movies to coincide with the upcoming 'holiday' (Halloween), and now i am seeing it more and more around Valentine's Day. :/ *sigh* Horror movies are also closely related to my favorite genre - Sci-Fi. I enjoy the Sci-Fi channel, but there are seassons where i just avoid that channel all together. Speaking of which... Tonight season 2 continues for Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. I like this series a lot. The story line is stretched because of the writers really trying to pursue too many story arcs (IMO), but i like how the charecters are drawn together. I'm having a hard time with Riley character, but i've liked how she's turned John's head a little. You feel for the guy. He's lived a pretty messed up adventure of a life, and she has helped him feel just a little bit normal. Tonight's episode is supposed to be pretty good, some plot twists. You will get to see more of the terminator side of Catherine Weaver (played by Shirley Manson, who belted out a great rendition of the old-time gospel song, Sampson and Delilah - written by Rev. Gary Davis). I have been following the Terminator blog and there have been some nice tidbits of information coming out by Fox, and i am particularly liking how the fan base is rallying around the show. Critics haven't been sold/convinced, but i am enjoying it very much so far. This show, and of course Terminator Salvation (4), coming out in May - which i guess can be construed as part Sci-Fi and part Horror. For my money though, my favorite charecter of the show is James Ellison. I like this guy because he is a man of faith. A man who has seen some incredible things, things that are pretty hard to swallow. And he has an on-going dialog within himself to reconcile the things he knows from scripture, and the things he sees in his "new found" world of reality. It gives me the creeps seeing him so close to the clandestine terminator (Catherine Weaver), but only because he is so close to danger and he has no idea, but what an interesting plot line of him teaching "John Henry" (aka Cromartie)! The A.I. that Catherine has brought under her protection was at one time exhibiting the characteristics of a child. It shall be interesting to see how the verse "Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6, ESV) will play out, and more importantly, how it will affect James. I think one of the things that really draws me into the show is how the writers incorporate Christian concepts and themes within the show. Several of the 'theme songs' have been gospel-like (Sampson and Delilah, and When the Man Comes Around, come quickly to mind), and there have been several story-line 'connections' if you will. That does not make the show Christian, and i am not real sure if any of the writing team are Christian, but it does bring Christian concepts up... and that can cause one to think. And when one thinks about the things of God - this is a good thing. Often my prayer is that when such things come up, that God would move in the hearts to whom He has brought such things to the fore. Ok, well... i've rambled on long enough. Although i do not have any plans for my beloved and me for Valentine's Day - i hope you all have a blessed romantic time with your own beloveds. May God draw each of you closer to Him, and as a result, closer to each other.

"No one is ever safe"

I have been rewatching season 1 of "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles" this past week. (Again, I blogged on my bent towards this kind of genre... lol) I am glad that the series is more on a non-cable channel. This way I am able to enjoy the series without as much needless showing of "extra" "stuff". It was because of such things that I could never really get into "Battlestar Galactica" over on the Sci-Fi channel despite some seriously good plot lines, cinematography, and special affects. But such comparisons are not the purpose of my blog today. Last night, while my beloved was hosting a Tastefully Simple party I was able to catch the second episode. The one where they come to grips with being transported eight years into the future. An exchange between Cameron and John and Sarah Connor. Cameron states, "relax, you're safe", to which both the Connors reply, "No one is ever safe". This response actually got me to thinking about my life in general, and my walk with God. What is "safe"? Around the world there are millions of people who are not safe. They are lacking shelter, food, security. The lack community or friends to help them. But is our ultimate safety found in these things? No, not really. Our flesh craves these things because these are the things that comfort it. And trust me, when I get hungry I am not always the nicest person. ;-) Jesus shows us that our lot in life is not determined by our righteousness:

There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:1-5, ESV)

A book that was recommended by my Pastors when I attended Covenant Life Church was "The Discipline of Grace" by Jerry Bridges. This book speaks really well on that whole topic of grace and things that happen, or things that we do. In the end, are we really ever "safe"? No, not in this world. Our 'securities' can fall out from beneath us. Our bank accounts drained by identity thieves, our homes could be lost due to an unforeseen accident that leads to such an event. An accident can take friends or loved ones. Even our health can fail. But can we feel secure? Yes. I cannot remember exactly where I heard this quote but it goes something like this, "A samurai views his life already as forfeit. When he enters into battle he is already dead so there is no longer a fear of death. He can focus strictly on his duty." To me this is pretty profound, especially in light of my personal view of myself as a "Christian samurai". I am in service to my Lord, Jesus Christ. I need to keep in mind that I am already dead (to the world), but that I am now alive in Christ. My ultimate safety will never be found in this world, but in the next where I get to see my Savior face to face. Does that mean I go out to hasten that event? In light of eternity this life is pitifully short. Even when man lived four hundred plus years, that is only 4% of all the recorded history of man thus far. God knows the day when I will be seeing Him in person and it is not up to me to try and pick and choose such a rendezvous. Am I safe? Do I feel secure? Yes, but it is not found in the things of this world - in which I am never "safe". Verse for today: Romans 12 : 1-2, ESV I appeal to you therefore, brothers, [1] by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. [2] Do not be conformed to this world, [3] but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. [4]