A Song of Joy by Caroline Furlong
Writing for Joy
Over at Helping Writers Become Authors, K.M. Weiland offers a very good treatise on why stories aren’t “just” stories. She posits that they serve four functions: life, a “map” of human consciousness, mirrors of reality, and a force for subliminal communication. That is, the subtext of a story sticks with a reader or viewer because… Continue reading “Just a Story” and Malicious Storytelling
Okay, so Halloween is over. Don’t tell me that with Christmas on the horizon you have forgotten Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol? Ghosts don’t only appear on Halloween. They show up when it suits them or when they are sent somewhere. Yes, I do mean sent. It depends on where the ghost is, of course;… Continue reading Close Encounters of the Spiritual Kind
“The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.” ― G.K. Chesterton Sacrifice and service tend to intertwine quite a bit. It is easy to forget, however, that they did not always meet in the manner we think of them today, as… Continue reading Further Thoughts on Sacrifice and Service
An important reflection, readers: Christianity and Poetry by Dana Gioia August 2022 When I became a man, I put away childish things. —St. Paul, 1 Corinthians 13 Most Christians misunderstand the relationship of poetry to their faith. They consider it an admirable but minor aspect of religious practice—elegant verbal decoration in honor of the divine.… Continue reading Poetry in Worship
We have discussed Nice Girls, but what about Nice Guys? The standard response to that is: “Yeah, well, you know where Nice Guys finish – last.” Depending on the definition of “nice” in use, this can be quite true. But as with Nice Girls, Nice Guys do not all follow the perceived pattern of “nice”… Continue reading Nice Guys Finish Last? Depends on One’s Definition of “Nice”
This piece by Mr. John C. Wright was too good to pass up, readers. Enjoy! Orwell and Lewis: The Supernatural Keeps Breaking In A longtime reader with the Latinate yet indecipherable name of Nostreculsus, while discussing THAT HIDEOUS STRENGTH by C.S. Lewis, writes: George Orwell reviewed Mr. Lewis’ book, with great appreciation of the concept,… Continue reading Reposted – Orwell and Lewis: The Supernatural Keeps Breaking In
One may think of this Bible passage when viewing these photos. Or he may remember the tale of Thumbelina, written by Hans Christian Anderson*. Certainly, I am reminded of The Lilies of the Field, both the film* starring Sidney Poitier and the book.* Whichever item this story brings to your mind, treasure what you see,… Continue reading “Consider the Lilies of the Field….”
Enjoy this thoughtful piece by R. J. Sheffler, readers: Factors to Consider Before Including Physical Manifestations of God in Fiction The divine is an elusive subject to capture, yet humans have been fascinated with it since the beginning of time, exploring it through poetry, stories, music, art, and various other mediums. Whether God shows up… Continue reading Reposted: 4 Factors to Consider Before Including Physical Manifestations of God in Fiction
“What I have written, I have written.” That is the response Pontius Pilate is said to have given when the Pharisees told him to alter the inscription on the sign nailed to the cross above Christ’s head. They wanted him to write that Our Lord had said He was king of the Jews, not that… Continue reading “Quod Scripsi, Scripsi.”
…but that does not preclude the inspired authors of the Bible from signing the books they penned at His direction. Check out the link below to learn more on this, the Second Sunday of Advent, readers: The only “signed” book in the Old Testament Daniel Esparza | Sep 01, 2019 It is also the largest wisdom… Continue reading God Signs His Name Anonymously….
A Song of Joy by Caroline Furlong 