H is for Heaven

On By auntyamoIn April AtoZLeave a comment

A writing friend of mine bought me the Mitch Albom book, ‘Tuesdays with Morrie’. It might be one of the most beautiful books I’ve ever read. My friend had considered buying Albom’s other popular work,  ‘The Five People you Meet in Heaven’ but didn’t.

I was glad she plumped for Tuesdays. It wasn’t long after my father died and I couldn’t cope with reading fictional portrayal, even a gentle one, about Heaven.

My dad would be 88 today, he’s been gone just over 4 years now, and though I picked up a copy since, it’s still sitting unread on my shelf. I don’t disapprove of anyone writing fiction about Heaven, I just can’t bring myself to read it. I’m not fussed on non-fiction work about the subject either. I was never a fan of it, but since my dad (and also a dear friend) died at the beginning of 2014, I’ve completely steered clear of it.

I find it interesting that, though there are records of people seeing glimpses of heaven from earth, but there is no record of anyone raised from the dead and describing what it was like. What a pity. 🙂

I’m happy to wait and see for myself.

G is for Gollum

On By auntyamoIn April AtoZ2 Comments

Day 7 of the April A to Z Challenge. Having been blogging from a hotel room for the last few days, it’s been a challenge to keep up. But I’ve just about managed to 🙂

Today, I hope you’ll forgive me for directing you to someone else’s writing for ‘G’ post. I’ve recently found a blog called ‘Wisdom from The Lord of the Rings’, which I’m enjoying going through. I’ve only seen the films, once each. I was never a sold out fan, but I’m planning on watching them again, since starting to read about them.

I loved Stephen C Winter’s post about Gollum, and hope you enjoy it too. I recommend going through some other posts, particularly if you’re a TLOR fan 🙂

As I’m just back from a few days away, and trying to get sorted for church tomorrow, I shall leave you to click here  for some Gollum wisdom 🙂

I’ll see you on Monday for the H post; and I promise to catch up on some reading too. x

F is for Frank and Francine

On By auntyamoIn April AtoZ4 Comments

Sorry folks, this one is a bit of a rush as I’m away at the mo, with not much internet available.

The first Christian fiction I read was This Present Darkness, by Frank Peretti. I was a new Christian and it was a treat to read a story that tracked the activity in the spiritual realm, as well as what was happening on earth. A precursor to my experience reading The Screwtape Letters maybe? The situation happening on the ground was being driven by something way beyond human influences, and an actual battle was taking place. To this day I remember the storyline when I’m going through tough times, and wonder about the battle going on unseen to my human eyes.

The last Christian fiction I read, I’m afraid I did not enjoy so much. It was the Francine Rivers novel, Redeeming Love. I gave her another go with Lineage of Grace but I couldn’t get on with it. It’s not a comment on her writing; Rivers is a New York Times Bestselling Author; me not being a fan won’t dent that 🙂 It’s a style and genre preference thing for me. I don’t enjoy that style of storytelling.

Peretti’s stories are clearly about the Kingdom of God – in both realms. There seems to be no hesitance by readers to accept the other-world-ness of series such as Harry Potter and Twilight. Tolkien and Lewis, though Christians, have made their respective kingdoms completely fictional. I suspect that Peretti is only truly appreciated by Christians as he specifically deals with the earthly and heavenly realms as many Christians understand them. That type of other-world-ness isn’t quite so palatable to the masses… 🙂

Though  Rivers has more general appeal, my preference is for Peretti. I have a copy of his book, The Oath, sitting on a shelf somewhere. It’s time I read it! 🙂

Must dash as internet is coming to an end – so is Day 6! x

E is for Edmund

On By auntyamoIn April AtoZLeave a comment

Though I did say in Day 3’s post, The Screwtape Letters is my favourite of the works of C.S. Lewis, my favourite of his characters is Edmund.

Edmund Pevensie almost gives away the whole of Narnia, and Aslan’s plans, for Turkish Delight. He is taken in by the White Witch’s false promises and but for the mercy of Aslan, would have been a prisoner of hers for the rest of his life. In the realms of Christian fiction, I believe Edmund is ultimate character. He is easily tempted, he lies, he betrays, he is captured, publicly shamed, rescued, forgiven, and restored. He is then crowned a King of Narnia, just as the prophecy had foretold.

At his coronation towards the end of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, he is named ‘Edmund the Just’. Who better to rule a land with justice than one who saw another take the punishment for his own betrayal.

In the following two stories, Prince Caspian and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader we meet a young man growing in maturity, wisdom and patience. In Dawn Treader when Eustace finally starts to change, apologising for his ‘beastly’ behaviour, Edmund immediately tells Eustace of his own earlier failings. He had not forgotten, and it made him a better person for it. In The Horse and His Boy, Edmund becomes a strong leader in war; outshining his brother Peter, High King of Narnia, in battle and in insight.

In Edmund we hear echoes of Luke 7:47 “… whoever has been forgiven little loves little.” He had been forgiven a great betrayal and went on to show great love for Aslan and Narnia. One of my favourite fictional portrayals of mercy and redemption in action.

D is for Dan Brown

On By auntyamoIn April AtoZLeave a comment

My guilty secret 🙂

We can’t talk about Christian and Fiction and leave out Dan Brown; even though you may prefer I did.

I loved The Da Vinci Code movie, and the Angels and Demons book and movie. I think Brown tells a great story, and his other works are definitely on my TBR pile. (To divert from the church-y stuff… have you read his first novel, Digital Fortress? I thought the end was a fab twist.)

There has been a lot written about the Da Vinci Code. Endless articles and critiquing of the story. Understatement alert… it does not show some parts of the Roman Catholic church in a good light. Nor does the suggestion that Mary Magdalene and Jesus were married, thrill many Christians. Numerous writers  have been at pains to point out the errors and exaggerations.

It does bring up again, the question raised by Nick Park in his article which started me off on this theme (click here for the post the explains my AtoZ theme)… is the reason Christians don’t write good fiction, the fear of the heresy hunters? Brown is not worried about getting theology wrong; he’s far more concerned with getting his historical facts straight. He is extremely well researched so much so, he says himself in an article on bookbrowse.com, he has little or no time for reading fiction His time is concentrated on reading, “non-fiction-histories, biographies, translations of ancient texts.”

He has taken actual organisations like Opus Dei, the Illuminati, the Knights Templar, together with some associated conspiracies, and built works of fiction around their history. He has done the same with the NSA and the Freemasons. He’s a fan of secrets and telling stories about them. I believe he does it very well. He spins a good yarn, as they say in Ireland.

The Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons are engaging entertaining reads that kept me guessing. They had added spice of religious imagery, religious history and a big dollop of religious conspiracy. Christian Fiction they certainly are not. They are fiction about Christianity, and I confess, confession being good for the soul, I love ‘em.

C is for C.S. Lewis

On By auntyamoIn April AtoZ4 Comments

C is for C.S. Lewis

Day 3 of the A to Z Challenge. Click here to see my post about this year’s theme – Christian Fiction.

It may well be that I’m going to peak early in this year. I reckon we’re starting at a very high point with Mr Lewis. He was a prolific writer of both fiction and non-fiction. His official website says he abandoned his Christian faith before he turned thirteen. When he was thirty, he abandoned atheism for theism and converted to Christianity two years later. As an academic and writer, I can’t imagine he did any of those things lightly; particularly in the later years.

‘The Chronicles of Narnia’, are usually the first to stand out when we think of his Christian Fiction; but for me, ‘The Screwtape Letters’ is the work that continues to have an actual tangible effect on my Christian life. Uncle Screwtape’s lessons to Wormwood in how to trick and trip the Christian are all recognisable to me. Even the simple label of ‘patient’ assigned to the soul Wormwood is working on. A subtle insult maybe, that this person is sick because of their spiritual move towards God?

The Devil’s attitude towards us humans is derogatory. We see how he spoke to Jesus himself, One he knew to be God’s Son; so of course he thinks little of the rest of us. Lewis writes this disparaging attitude with excellent skill. Screwtape encourages Wormwood to keep things abstract, while attacking his ‘patient’ in the areas of everything from hunger to worry to prayer life, church life, even the facial expressions of his mother. Anything and everything that can be used for mischief is encouraged. I recognise myself in what I read and feel a teensy bit better prepared, or at least better aware of some of the tricks that are tried on me.

‘The Screwtape Letters’ is entertaining, engaging, informative, practically helpful, and just a little bit scary in how I can see myself in the ‘patient’. I love this work so much, and can’t recommend it highly enough.

C.S. Lewis himself has left an amazing legacy. Here’s a quote from the  C.S. Lewis Foundation website.

Inspired by the life and legacy of C.S. Lewis, the C.S. Lewis Foundation is dedicated to advancing the renewal of Christian thought and creative expression throughout the world of learning and the culture at large.

“Christian thought and creative expression…” I wonder if he even realised what his words would lead to. I hope so…

B is for Belated…

On By auntyamoIn April AtoZ4 Comments

I’ve been a bit under the weather lately and so the start of AtoZ kinda snuck up on me. My A post from yesterday was off topic from my ‘theme.’ Hope you can forgive. I felt I had to get that one off my chest 🙂

My ACTUAL theme is inspired by an article I read about Christian fiction. The article was written by Nick Park, the Executive Director of Evangelical Alliance Ireland.  He asked the question, “Whatever happened to Christian fiction?” and talked about the heritage of people of faith, writing epic tales.

The post really challenged me as I write a lot of fiction but hardly ever write anything you could call Christian. In the intro to my first collection of short stories  I wrote, “To God, though you are not explicitly mentioned in this book, every redemptive moment, every opportunity for forgiveness and every glimpse of home are inspired by your Good News!” It’s the nearest I get to Christian fiction. After reading Nick’s article, I decided to challenge myself to try my hand at it.

Spoiler alert – I don’t think I’m any good at it.

In my posts, I’ll be looking at some writers who’ve made better strides than I ever will. So I won’t pain you with too many of my novice efforts.

Nick finished the article with a prayer that Christian writers will be brave. “The church needs writers who will refuse to play safe, who will not be cowed by those who are suspicious of imagination and creativity, and who will dare to dream of producing great Christian literature that can reach and inspire the world around us.”

No pressure then! 🙂

If you’d like to read Nick Park’s original article you’ll find it on the VOX website, click here.

Tomorrow we’ll start properly, right at the top with C.S Lewis.

April Fool!

On By auntyamoIn Getting to grips with God stuff3 Comments

OK so my ‘A’ post is not sticking to my AtoZ theme.
I’ll just say this and get back to my theme tomorrow…

This year Easter Sunday is on April Fool’s Day.
I can see the memes already.

But you don’t need to tell me I’m a fool. I know who and what I am. I’m an eejit. 1st class, top quality. I’m in a constant state of eejit-ness.

I read some incredibly sad ‘In her shoes’ stories as part of the campaign to repeal 8th Amendment of the Irish Constitution. I too believe women deserve better that the current options they have, but I still believe that ending the life of the unborn is wrong. Many people I know and love disagree. If the law needs to change so that pregnant woman are better cared for then, YES! Let’s do that. But a complete removal of protection of the unborn is just wrong.
I don’t say it often enough. If I did many would call me a fool, and worse.

I second guess and question myself all the time. Even as I write this, I dread anyone reading it. Weight loss is at a bit of a stand still. And though I’m determined not to go back, I’m annoyed not to have reached my first main goal of minus 6 stone. I worry about my writing, I worry about my performance in work. I worry about my role as a deacon in the church. What kind wife I am. What kind of Pastor’s wife I am. What kind of Christian I am.

I spend most of the time feeling like a fool.
Regrets…? I’ve had a few, too many to mention!

In and of myself there are no redeeming qualities. I am so disappointed with myself. All. The. Time.

But… the very reason I’ll be called a fool on April 1st is the only redeeming quality I can claim.

I don’t believe in self-reliance. If I am all I have, then I am in big trouble! There is only one person I can 100% rely on, and that his God. But I cannot come near him because I am a fool. I am an imperfect blundering blithering idiot. That’s where Good Friday comes in. That’s where the Cross comes in. Not just my idiocy, not just my idiosyncrasies, but all my sinful shame. All dealt with. On the cross. The only redeeming quality I own, does not belong to me. The only redeeming quality I can claim is Jesus’ redeeming work on at the Cross. He took it all, and in Him, only in Him, am I worth anything.

The Apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 1:25, “For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.” On this Easter Day, I’ll be praising God for all He has done for me, and praying that His foolishness, replaces mine 🙂

Happy Easter x

World Book Day 2018

On By auntyamoIn Writing, Blogging etcLeave a comment

It’s World Book Day!

I hope you’re intending on reading a book today. Here are some suggestions…

My book… The Long & The Short of it… my 1st collection of short stories, published at the end of 2013. I’m currently editing my second collection and very excited to release it to the word soon…

The book of the moment… New Life: Reflections for Lent… I’m delighted to be part of the Association of Christian Writers and proud to have a piece in this Lent anthology. All the more because I’m in the company of some great writing and writers.

 

Next book on the TBR pile… Lincoln: The biography of a writer… I’m cannot wait to get stuck into this. I had no idea that Lincoln was a writer. I mentioned the book in passing to my brother in law, and lo! I got it as a Christmas present. I confess, it has skipped the queue 🙂

My fave fiction book… Pride and Prejudice… Jane Austen is incomparable, IMO. She writes her time, culture and characters in the most excellent way. It’s the best fiction read of my life, and the one book I’ve read more than any other.

My fave true book… The Bible… God’s Word! I love it. I should love it more. I pray God gives me a hunger for it every day.

Whether you read fiction or fact, make sure to do some reading today. If you’ve read a book and can recommend it, please leave a review. Some people think, if they can’t leave a five star review then they shouldn’t leave one at all. I disagree. An honest review of whatever star rating you deem the book worth, is the best gift a writer can receive.

So, read a book, buy a book, borrow a book, review a book, and if you’ve got one  burning inside you… write a book.

Happy World Book Day! 🙂 x

Five Minute Friday – Why

On By auntyamoIn Five MInute Friday, Health, weight & wellbeing1 Comment

It’s a long time since I’ve done a FMF, but here’s goes.
Five mins of free writing on the word ‘why.’

My makeshift bravado sank like a tent without pegs recently when I was sent for a CT scan. It was routine. No one expected anything to come of it. It was just ruling stuff out. I only mentioned it to a few people, I didn’t want a fuss. But as I lay in the machine I remembered the last time I had one of those tests. It was almost exactly 16 years ago. I’d had bad news and they were testing to make sure there wasn’t worse news. It all came flooding back as the large metal donut surrounded me. I thought back to holding my breath, and my tears, as the guy’s voice was kindly asking me to stop moving so they could run the test. Those memories turned what I had dismissed as a routine scan, to one that filled me with fear. Why am I here again? What if it is something? Why would You do that to me? What if I’m sick again? They don’t send you for these tests for nothing. It could be…

I fretted and questioned for a few days until I heard that it was all normal. Then my feelings were mixed with relief and frustration.

What was that for? Why Lord? Why put me through that? Dragging all that old pain and panic for nothing.

I’m still not sure. Maybe to show me that it was nothing – giving me peace of mind. Maybe to strengthen my prayer life – nothing like worry to do that. Maybe to strengthen my faith, or test it.

I don’t know, but it wasn’t for nothing. Nothing is wasted. Even if the ‘why?’ is never resolved. I trust that nothing is wasted.

Find out more about Five Minute Friday here 

photo credit: iwishmynamewasmarsha Why? via photopin (license)