So I got scolded by a writer friend because I blog too much. Of course, this is the same person who often bemoans not blogging enough. Such is the affliction of many novelists, a condition which I call Schizo-blog. Do you have Schizo-blog? Here’s some of the symptoms: You feel guilty for blogging because you [...]
If some novels are “Christian,” then the rest of them are not. We have chosen to call those “not-Christian” novels “secular.” Secular novels aren’t necessarily bad (in the moral sense), they’re just not “Christian.” Or “Christian” enough. Early in an author’s career, they are forced to make a choice and decide what kind of novel [...]
I recently took my first peek at the cover design for my debut novel and, when I saw this title font, about fell off my chair. Gotta say — I love it!
So one Sunday, while leaving church, a father scolded his son. “Your eyes were open during prayer.” To which the son replied, “How did you know?” When it comes to prayer, everyone has their habits and traditions. Closing our eyes is one of them. For some reason when it’s time to pray we automatically fold [...]
http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=14145962&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=1&color=&fullscreen=1&autoplay=0&loop=0 The Resurrection by Mike Duran from Mike Duran on Vimeo.
Perhaps the best argument for “Christian horror” is atheism. While both believing and unbelieving novelists acknowledge, and write about, the horrific — they share distinctively different views as to its nature. And ultimately, those different worldviews are what makes their stories genuinely dreadful. Of course, the debate about “Christian Horror” rages on. Is the label [...]
Here’s the latest entry to my gargoyle collection. I unearthed this at the Santa Cruz swap meet. I think it’s the first gargoyle I’ve ever found who happens to be reading. And no cracks about our similarities either!
As I mentioned recently, in a post entitled Parenting vs. Micro-Managing, our church will be holding a parenting conference later this month and Lisa and I were asked to lead a workshop on “Parenting Teens.” We have an hour to address a subject that requires, oh, eons of wisdom. Despite the time constraints, it’s an [...]
Several weeks ago my pastor mentioned that Christopher Hitchens, one of the leading, most outspoken atheists in the world, had developed esophageal cancer. I hadn’t heard this and must admit, I got choked up. But why? After all, Christopher Hitchens is an avowed enemy of Christianity. His best-selling God Is Not Great — How Religion [...]
The Bible never talks about a “call to write,” though many writers and artists describe their occupation in those terms. Writing is never mentioned as a spiritual gift in Scripture, nor are writers ever singled out as having strategic roles in the world or Church (unless you count the “inspired stenographers” who actually penned the [...]
