INKBLOTS - one of those nights that particularly reminds us why we're doing this

INKBLOTS – 11/10/11

Cold, clear November evening, full moon, crackling fire, five men, bottle of Domaine Boudau, Cuvee Henri Boudau Cotes du Roussillon Villages, Languedoc-Roussillon, France (no kidding?) 2009, John’s French son-in-law’s father’s work mate’s wife’s vineyard (got that?). Making wine, I think, must be something like writing: art, to be sure, but heaps of back-breaking labor.

I told the gang about Ian Thompson joining us for a special Inkblots, week from Saturday, November 19, 2011, 7 pm at the Bond’s house (3010 N Proctor, Tacoma). Bring along your favorite wine or cheese or bread or crackers or dark chocolate. This is open to writers who might be interested but we would appreciate an rsvp if you are not a regular (douglas@bondbooks.net).

How to research for future projects? How to plan ahead for what to write next. We talked about Tarawa and the horrible casualties there and at Iwo Jima, D-Day, so many others.

John S reads a new short chapter to his contemporary fiction work. Based on Rick’s episode with his college entrance exam being cancelled and good for him because he was anything but ready. John’s tale is a fine effort to show the evils of abortion and of racism. Emma is pregnant with an African American boyfriend’s baby and her dad despises AA. Now Emma needed to pass her exams or else no college. Near despair, she awoke. “Death warmed over,” is a cliché and we ought to avoid them like the plague. “Dead meat,” “Wits End”… kill ‘em. Create something fresh for imaginative comparisons. Good job showing her reluctance to pray and then her giving in, feeling stupid, but praying anyway. Show broken and defeated; how does her imploring God look in body language. What does her test anxiety look like? Looking at clock. What are some of the questions like? Does she try to cheat but can’t? Drops her pencil, several times in a row. Specific questions about human biology (so it ties in with the larger thematic issues in the story). Show her being confused, racking brain but not much to dig up. Bite fingernails that long ago ceased to be there. Movie reference? Don’t use film’s name, refer to episode.

David McCullough as non-fiction writer who for considerable time now wields sufficient weight to tell his publisher not to change so much as a semi-colon. I next read chapter 17 of my 8^th century Anglo-Saxon tale, the heavy-duty chapter that I think is so important to what I want to communicate but that is heavy none-the-less. Doug Mc suggested having Cynwulf think about the implications of Pelagianism. Show in Godwine’s facial expression and posture his distaste for Pelagius’s error. Which I take to mean that it needs more human life, body language, showing nuances of reaction to what is being said.  

Dave talked about his stall on his healer tale, which we all were enjoying. He thinks he’s going to go back to a sequel to his futuristic political thriller. Dave is going with Winepress (self)publishing on his book that Writer’s Edge thought had publishable potential. 

We talked about writer’s block. Does it really exist? Yep, sort of. My method is to solve the gnarly problem of not knowing what to write next, or thinking that what I have just written is not fit to be the fine print on a box of tater tots—my solution? Keep writing. And sometimes stop and read a favorite passage from a favorite author (Lewis, Chesterton, Sayers…). But always, keep writing.

Marines talking trash about not getting a second shot at the bad guy. Short riff that is designed to connect to the ending of the last tale. 

Jim read his Sci-Fi tale, The Voyage, chapter one, The Awakening. Joachim is the protagonist. Gradually reviving mind: can you show what that feels like? Use a simile, what his mind feels like compared to what a it looks like a lump of raw dough must feel like when it is being punched and thumped into shape for a pizza… Something like that. Golf-ball-size: is there a way to create a metaphor that connects more to the sci-fi context. Joachim seems oddly non-plused by the death of his crew member. Is it a flash back to his wedding? You lost me a bit there. Okay, I think I’m seeing his flashback. He sees the death of his fellow crew member and it reminded him of the death of his friend’s wife on their wedding day? Did I follow? Unless he is supposed to be Spock, he would have more emotion at the death of his best friend. Kirk… should you use this given how every sci-fi aficionado will think of Star Trek and Captain Kirk. Though I am not a sci-fi guy: I would leave the room when my dad and sister wanted to watch an episode of Star Trek when I was a kid. I know this will sound like cardinal sinning to a sci-fi initiate, but there it is. Please take this into account when you read these comments: I am not fit to comment on the genre, if the truth were told.

The theory behind Inkblots is that we all gain by bringing together our various interests, areas of expertise, and genre we’re writing. True confession: I’m sci-fi challenged—okay, I’ve said it. I love Lewis’s writing but have never been able to get through his space trilogy (sorry Ransom). Nevertheless, I gain from hearing what Jim is writing in his interest and genre. I’m excited that we have a serious sci-fi guy joining ‘Blots. 

Doug Mc’s turn. Kid from Texas joins army, friend killed, in Italy, at a battle at Monte Casino, trying to cross the Repeto River. He is a victim of blast-lung from blast coming out of a mud hole that really messes up lungs. He is evacuated. Allies call a cease-fire and wounded and in a Catholic hospital where he meets a RC family and he likes their daughter. In hospital and feeling better and hoping to go visit the family that has befriended him. French employed Muslim troops who abused the Italians. That’s context. He is recovering and feeling better, out of action. He’s interested in Maria, her legs, her curves, God forgive me. Algerian soldiers pounding on Maria’s door. They’d been drinking. He knew what was on their mind. I’m instantly gripped in rage… can you give this in more emotion. He shoots the guy who is on Maria. Luigi’s manner confuses me. Does he not like your protagonist? Another thought comes to my mind 3x over. Need to further legitimize the killing of the Algerian soldiers: one has a knife at the mother’s throat, another pulls his sidearm on John—ramp it up so that even the most vein-bulging pacifist will agree that these were legit killings to defend the innocent. Some explanation of the sound of the shooting not really causing a stir in the community, so war-hardened, “All pity choked with custom of fell deeds.”   

Doug has sent materials to Steve Laube, literary agent. Greenleaf Literary Services is a great website for preparing a manuscript for submission to a publisher. Doug’s done lots of research on submission: complete manuscript if it’s fiction; approach without saying that the Spirit gave you this book in a vision; have website, blog, facebook, and willingness to promote your book.     

SPANKING, a means of grace?

Having thoughtful Christian friends is such an encouragement to me. And even though I'm loathe to admit that electronic technology has its advantages, being able to keep in touch with a friend who is living and serving on another continent by means of electronic media is a great blessing. Just yesterday a good friend of mine wrote and opened the discussion about when a child may be too old for spanking. Here were my responses in two installments:

Spanking. So counter-intuitive feeling sometimes (maybe all the time), isn’t it? We use it for blatant disobedience and defiance, not for a kid being an immature kid. Looking back, I wish I had addressed some issues of pride and self-righteousness in my kids hearts more intentionally, but no spanking will help there. I tell Giles (almost 9), “do you want Moses or Jesus?” Moses and the law is where the spankings come in. 

The Law is important and we all need it: but as Paul David Tripp has it, “The rules reveal and restrain sin, but they have no power to rescue us from it.” Yet God has consequences for our violation of the law, and so must we have in our homes. If his heart is hard and he refuses grace by defiance, then I must spank him. But that’s not the end of it, of course. I then want to do what the law is designed to do—lead us to Christ! So then it’s the gospel and showing him the ugliness of sin and guilt, what it cost Jesus on the cross, and then showing him the beauty of forgiveness, the freeness of grace, we don’t deserve it, can’t earn it, and then I want to dazzle him with that grace, the only means by which his hard heart can be softened. 

And Pray without ceasing. I’ve been recently convicted about having a deeper, more genuine sense of my own weakness and neediness, which leads me to crying out to God in prayer. I want to be more intentional about praying with and for my family, and doing so on the moment: “let’s stop and pray about this,” and then doing it.

Spanking, when it comes to that, and praying—they go hand in hand. I don’t think there’s a date-on-the-calendar cut-off for spanking. Each child is so different. [name omitted to protect the guilty] I had to spank last (sure hope it’s last—he’s almost 18 now and I’m convinced past spanking) when he was fourteen: issue? He had shot Giles at close range with an air soft gun and left a welt on the then 5 year old kid. But it wasn’t that in itself. It was the culmination of escalating unkindnesses to his little brother that verbal rebuking and encouraging had not halted. As much as I would hope that 14 is too old for spanking, I was very grateful that I had that in, by then remote, reserve so that the rod of the Law could be laid on his backside. Graciously the Spirit used the spanking as a means of grace in his heart. There has been good fruit as a result of that foretaste of pain and suffering in hell that awaits the intractable rebel encased in a spanking.    

[2] We realize that we are approaching parenting differently in some respects with our younger family than with our older ones. And the key difference is that we care a great deal more about the heart now than the outward behavior. Before, I must confess, I was more concerned about outward conformity and how my kids made me look to others (I’ll pause while you run to the WC and throw up, but there’s the facts, to my shame). And the only way to a kid’s (or a parent’s) heart is by the unconditionally free grace of the gospel. Period. I think there was a guy named Schaeffer-something who kept haranguing on that one, wasn’t there? 

Spanking motivated by a desire to alter behavior to placard my great parenting will fall far short of the mark. But when necessary, spanking as a loving means of grace to show how ugly, how self-destructive, how enervating, and how much a slap in the face to Jesus sin is, sanctified by the Holy Spirit, will bear the fruit of the Spirit in the changed heart of our kids. We have the promise of God on that one. BTW, I had to spank [name omitted to protect the guilty] just last night, though it has been several weeks before that. Sometimes the long stretches are times of growth in grace in his heart. Other times it is my sinful reluctance to believe what God says about this less-than-enjoyable means of grace. Thanks for praying.

Son Giles and a real bear! watch KING 5 news video of him... them

Birthday sonnet from one of my students (shmoozing for extra credit)

Thanks to the many of you who sent me birthday greetings and good wishes! It is heart warming to hear from so many of you. One of you (ahem... Looocy!) especially warmed my heart with a sonnet for my birthday--all in iambic pentameter. Thought I'd share it (she's delusional through much of the thing--rabbit trails? What's that?)

Again another year has come around!
No worries: not a thing to cry about!
Despite your age, you're still one to impress,
With journals, push-ups, curry, and the rest!
And though your lectures tend to rabbit-trail,
And all your classes taught seem to entail
Opposing views on worship songs and such,
Most everyone will make it clear how much
Our favorite teacher always makes our day!
So please, allow me one more time to say,
We love to laugh at words you cannot name:
"mature, italian," it's all the same.
You cause us all at CHS to grin.
In all our hearts, we'd NEVER trade you in!!! :D

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! (feel free to give me extra credit because that was all in iambic pentameter!)

Take a tour of Wales with Isaac Watts in this awe-inspiring video

Sit back for a few short minutes and worship with the Welsh male Fron Choir from Llangollen, Wales. They sing Watts' When I Survey the Wondrous Cross like few others I have ever heard--absolutely thrilling. What's more, they sing on-location in a wonderful gothic setting, like many we will visit on THE HYMNS FOR ALL TIME TOUR, August 11-21, 2012. Early registration discount deadline approaches. Learn more here.

To listen paste in the url and sit back for a treat (would not let me inbed for some reason).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaAmYxnyZpw&feature=related

Kissing at the YMCA

While waiting at the local YMCA today, I observed something that deeply touched my heart. I'll set it down as I did then.

"He also serves who only sits and waits," said the elderly woman, her voice gaspy.

Her husband looked up from his magazine. In her left hand swung a portable oxygen bottle, defacing tubes criss-crossing her features, harnessed to her nostrils like a bridle. Easily in her middle seventies, she had spoken the words borrowed from Milton in an affectionate tone. She halted in front of the man, bending over him, her lips puckered, and partially blocked by the oxygen hoses.

What would he do, I wondered, staring at the pair. Frankly, it was not a particularly romantic moment, not by Hollywood standards.

Lifting his face to hers, the man broke into a smile and puckered his lips. They kissed.

I don't remember what else she was talking about, but with a grunt, the old man hefted himself to his feet, and the couple walked slowly toward the exit. The last thing I heard was her breathy, though cheerful, chatter as they disappeared around the corner, hand in hand.

Left alone, I contemplated the beauty of what I had just witnessed: a love that lasts through aging and wrinkles, through arthritic joints and lung disease. A man and his wife, after many decades of marriage, seeing past the oxygen tubes and kissing on the high street.

INTERVIEW podcast on HYMNS FOR ALL TIME TOUR of England & Wales

RR PODCAST 7: DOUGLAS BOND ON REFORMATION TOURS

RAISING READERS

THE PODCAST

Plenty of Americans dream of taking a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Europe…to see the Eiffel Tower, hear the chiming of Big Ben, and float along the romantic canals of Venice.  But for many devoted Christians, the idea of a Reformation Tour never crosses their minds.  Today, Douglas Bond tells us about the Reformation Tours he leads across Europe, giving us a glimpse into how they bring Reformation history alive for families–and provide an even richer once-in-a-lifetime vacation.

For our readers, Douglas has kindly provided a $200 discount for adults who’d like to join his Hymn Tour through England and Wales next August (2012).  You can talk to him about family discounts as well, if that would work better.  To get the discount, you must preregister by November 8 of this year.  Just contact him douglas@bondbooks.net or see his webpage and mention you heard about the tours on Redeemedreader.com.

THE GIVEAWAY

Of course, not all of us will be able to join Douglas on his tours.  Thankfully, he has poured a lot of his passion and knowledge for Reformation history into his books for kids!  We actually have four of his Mr. Pipes books which bring to life the history of church hymns, and we’d like to give them away to some of our readers.  Here’s how it works:  Leave us a comment telling us where you’d like to visit on a Reformation tour.  Gutenberg’s printing press?  Isaac Watts’s home?  The door on the Castle Church in Wittenberg?  We’ll choose four of you to receive Douglas Bonds’ Mr. Pipes books this Friday.

So, I hope you’ll enjoy getting to know Mr. Bond better in this podcast and through his books.  I can’t think of anyone better to introduce children to the rich spiritual heritage of the Reformation.

For more history-rich posts, see our Podcast with Douglas Bond on his Mr. Pipes series,  our interview with amazing illustrator and author Cheryl Harness, or a review of books on the Scottish Covenanters, including Mr. Bond’s.

COMMENTS

P.S.  We’re working on getting the audio to play smoothly.  For now, if you’ll just click on Download in the player below, you can listen to it on your computer or other device.  Thanks for your patience!  EW

 Standard Podcast Hide Player | Play in Popup | Download