Know Jack #345 Don’t Shoot the Messenger

 Your patience please with my paraphrase of an old story.

God was taking a stroll one day and not finding his son Adam where he should be called out, “Where are you?” Of course, being God, He already knew the answer, but He was interested in what the boy had to say.

Adam stepped out of the bushes, head bowed, kind of dug his toe around in the dirt, and blushed with shame. He knew he was in trouble and decided his best bet might be to employ his natural cuteness. He looked up with huge, puppy dog eyes and guilt written all over his face. (You know the look.) “I heard you coming and hid because I was naked.”

God raised a divine eyebrow in an is-that-so look. “Who told you that you were naked? Did you eat from that tree I told you not to eat from?”

Adam’s eyes lit up the way only a child’s can when he thinks he has found a way out of the trouble he’s gotten into. “That woman, he said pointing a finger Eve’s way. The one that you gave to be with me, she did it, she gave it to me.”

For you see to err is human and to blame it on someone else is even more human.

In a time when it is the accepted response to be offended by opposing opinions and indignant about every perceived slight, it is especially difficult for some writers to deal with criticism. One bit of well-known advice is to grow a thick skin.

Lately, I’ve read some writers interpreting this as a call to indifference or to “reject” the rejecters. Follow this line of thought at your own peril.

Accepting honest criticism can be a catalyst for growth as a writer. In order for that to happen, you must first admit to the possibility that it might be true. That’s not to say it must be true, only that you are open to the possibility and are willing to listen.   

If criticism of the writing has merit, there is only one place to lay the blame—atop the writer’s desk. Yes, there were editors, proofreaders, and publishers involved and they are not infallible. Lord of the Flies was rejected 20 times, one editor wrote it was “an absurd and uninteresting fantasy which was rubbish and dull”. (Just one of many great novels panned by editors and publishers.)

But, fellow scribes, we are ultimately responsible for our work’s success. When no one wanted his book, Herman Melville self-published. Perhaps you’ve heard of his novel—Moby Dick. “Adapt, improvise, overcome,” to quote a line from a favorite movie of mine. Rejection and criticism are a stone upon which to hone your skills, don’t let the opportunity to use them pass you by. All criticism is not mean-spirited, bigoted, and pointless oppression of you as a writer. Don’t get offended, get even—use it to better yourself and your craft.

Maranatha

Lost Crusader #133 The Problem of Morality

 “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.”

James 4:17

 

If the word “sin” offends you, substitute “wrong” for it and you have the inescapable problem of morality—the human internalization of the notion that nobody’s perfect, that people do “wrong”. There is in us a sense of right and wrong that is not a product of culture. Not only do we judge ourselves thereby, but we expect others to know, and abide by, the rules as well.

The immediate argument with this thought is that there are too many diverse cultures, religions, beliefs, and opinions to settle on one “right” idea. The problem with that argument is that the differences are fewer than proponents would have us believe and agreement across all these lines is greater than we acknowledge.

The atheist may not believe in a god, but purposely trip him as he passes by, and you will discover he has a very keen sense of right and wrong that agrees with that of Jesus.

My friends into quantum mechanics or reincarnation rely on people vibrating at a higher vs lower frequency or being reborn as a higher of lower life form. Though they may deny it, they get the idea of “higher and lower” from their personal idea of morality. If they behave according to their standard (which like the atheist’s view mirrors Christianity) they will vibrate at a higher, more universe pleasing frequency. If they don’t, if in a moment of weakness they lie, cheat, or deceive, well… they don’t really talk about that. Somehow it gets erased or is balanced out if they give alms. 

Even the sociopath has a sense of right and wrong—unfortunately he only applies it to “real” people and there’s a good chance he’s the only real person in the world. What he does to others doesn’t count because they are not real in the same way he is.

Contrary to the general opinion of Christians, they are among the few who face up to their sins. They do not deny they sin, but their disciple allows for a means of dealing with it other than indifference or willful ignorance. I am not saying that they don’t try to hide their sins. I just mean that they, like most folks, discover this just doesn’t work well.

Absolution of sin within Christianity means more than, “Oops, I’ll do better next time”. Sin cannot be “made right.” However, it can be atoned for by Godly sorrow for the sin, repentance (turning away from that behavior), restitution or atonement with the injured party, and behaving differently the next time they face the same temptation—and believe me, face it they will—until they do get it right.

The problem with morality is that it hinders people from acting guilt-free and behaving in any manner they choose. Which is a real downer when you really want to do something a bit shady, and you know in your heart it isn’t the right thing to do. Morality binds us to responsibility for our actions and bars the way to escaping guilt and shame for our wrongs.

The heathen rage and in vain people imagine that they can break the bonds and cast away the cords of the law of right and wrong. God, having a sense of humor, laughs at their efforts. (Psalm 2)

Speaking only for myself, I’d like to see the sane, rational soul living free of all morality. That would be the most unique human being in the world. Of course, I would test the tenacity of his belief knowing he cannot call me (nor even think me) unfair, cheater, hater, bigot, racist or apply any other tag to my “wrong behavior”. Wrong does not exist except in conjunction with right—ah, the problem of morality—again.

Maranatha 

The Colonel #95 Child Predators

 “…2022 has been a year of high inflation, exacerbated by a predatory student debt system which forces many to at the very minimum to put their lives on hold for years to pay it off.”

Oliver Povey

A glowing full moon throws a silvery light over a narrow sidewalk where a shadowy figure stalks an unsuspecting teenager walking home alone. The youngster is lost in fanciful dreams of the future—the university he will attend, the high-paying job he will hold, how he will change the corrupt, oppressive world around him.

Unseen by the youth, his parents push the figure stalking him from the shadows and into his path. Mesmerized by the tales he told of how easily the life he is entitled to will happen; he signs upon the line pledging to pay tens of thousands of dollars.

Years later the stranger returns with demands that he pays up. But it’s soooo hard, he will have to delay buying all the trappings of success he’s entitled to. It’s unfair! He has been victimized—again, preyed upon by greedy capitalists.

Thankfully, he’s not alone, there are millions like him and they can get the government to make the bad men wanting money go away with their magic eraser.

A President once said Americans should ask what they can do for their country. That’s a ridiculous notion of the past, young people are more evolved now. The country owes them for deigning to even participate in society. They should not be asked to pay for college. How dare you!

Given the size of the national debt, politicians who dare to entertain the thought of dismissing student debt need to be hung as traitors. Predatory loans, the idea of lurking bankers slinking around in dark alleyways and waylaying unsuspecting youth, is ridiculous.

Perhaps that’s why Americans\ waited for a senile fool to be elected to not only seriously broach the subject, but to actually do it. Let’s go Brandon!

Sic Semper Tyrannis.

Know Jack #344 How Do You Get to Carnegie Hall?

 “Don’t spend too much time researching good writing.”

Stephen King

Some of the biggest moneymakers in the writing business seem to be those who are selling books, webinars, and courses on how to write, and how to be a writer. While I don’t advocate ignoring good advice, these self-help gurus are about as much help as diet gurus. By the way, how did your last diet go?

Ultimately writing, like a diet, is a lifestyle that you adopt forever. This means you have to work it out yourself from material gathered from a lot of trial and error. There are no magic pills, no magic formulas, and no overnight successes. That is unless you wish to count just sitting at the keyboard every day and gutting it out.

It sounds like a Catch-22, but actually writing is the best way to become a better writer. Well, that and a willingness to show your work to people unafraid to call it crap to your face. (So beware of woke groups who only say positive things.) Honest criticism is the ignition for research into good writing—find out why critics think your stuff is crap. They might be wrong, but don’t count on it, and they can’t all be wrong.

They are being honest. You be honest too--honest with yourself. You don’t have to admit your faults to the critics, but you owe it to yourself to do so. It may be just my personality, but someone panning my writing inspires me to say, “Hold my beer and watch this @*%$!”

I may write this little advice blog every week, but I’m no expert. I’m not convinced there are any real experts. There are only writers who have found what works for them and have a clear vision of how they measure success. That does not mean it will work for you no matter how slick it is marketed.

It’s not a cop-out to decide that you’re not going to be the next big thing in the world of literature. The only real cop-out is settling for being less than the best writer you can be.

I will close with one final note about writers and research. While you don’t need to be distracted from writing to study writing, if you wish to write well, you must do research. This is true of all fiction, not just historical fiction. Find out when moonrise and moonset happen with each phase of the moon. Can silver really be crafted into bullets? If there’s a song playing on the radio, or a slang term in a conversation was it part of the time period you’re writing about?

Find out.

A young writer in a group I once belonged to shared a dialogue that was supposed to take place in 1970 San Francisco. It was well-received by the group, except for this one old guy who lived in that area that year. I had to temper my comments while letting the man down—it didn’t sound like that in ’70.

Research helps make your story believable. You want your readers to believe all the lies you’re telling. The way to do that is to mix it with a heavy dose of truth. Bottom line, research your subject, not your writing.

Oh, if you don’t know the answer to the title question—Google it.

Maranatha

Lost Crusader #132 Touching the Resurrection

 “Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God…But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.”

Matthew 22:29-32

The greatest mistake one can make in approaching the scriptures is to read them with a made-up mind. Jesus’ audience in this instance were the Sadducees, biblical scholars, teachers, and religious leaders who prided themselves on their knowledge of the scriptures.

Yet, in their zeal to defend their beliefs, failed in the most basic of applications of what they read. These men had doubtless read the passage Jesus quoted to them countless times and boasted (at least to themselves) about their lineage from Abraham.

It was not I was the God, but I am the God of Abraham. That is, He continues to be the God of Abraham because Abraham still lives and worships Him as such. This relationship of human sharing in the eternal divine nature has always been the plan of God for humanity.

Today we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus as a demonstration of the truth of scripture and testimony to the power of God. Make no mistake about that. The angel told the women at the tomb, “He is risen, as He said.” He came to die as the true sacrificial Lamb of God to restore peace on earth and God’s goodwill toward humanity (with all its imperfections). He rose again, as He said he would, to prove the power of God in sealing the deal.

Because Jesus lives beyond the body of flesh, so too shall we. In that life beyond the mortal flesh, we will live in harmony with God or be separated from God as we choose, or more accurately, as we have already chosen.

Sifting the meaning and relevance of what we read has everything to do with how we approach the text. This is true with any writing, fiction or nonfiction, and is never truer than when approaching the scriptures.

If a person steadfastly chooses to disregard the veracity and power of God inherent in the scripture, reading the Bible will only evoke that predetermined vision. The Sadducees had decided there was no resurrection and refused to see it when they read it, and had it explained to them.

By way of contrast, the unlearned multitude, without a scholarly reputation to defend, heard it and were amazed by its simple truth. In a polarized society such as ours, this lesson is for more than some far off eternity, it is the key to modern understanding and peace.

Maranatha    

The Colonel #94 The Spirit of ‘76

 “Man was born free, and he is everywhere in chains.”

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Adopting Rousseau’s dark complaint that freedom is everywhere thwarted by the enslaving effects of human society and culture seems to me to lead only to more of the same chains. Ample proof is evident in the daily lives of many of my fellow countrymen.

Despite their freedom, they see chains and oppression tightly woven into the fabric of their existence without plausible remedy. They are forever in chains, held back by the insidious tendrils of those natural-born oppressors who refuse to share their opinions, philosophy, and lifestyle. Helplessly bound, they await deliverance at the hands of rewritten history, and the rise of a government of the victims, for the victims, and by the victims.

Even with the advent of a government insanely steeped in the adoration of victimhood and dedicated to the proposition that equality of opportunity is not enough, man is, predictably, everywhere still in chains.

Building a future in which one is not responsible for his own failure, and has at hand a readymade scapegoat, rather than producing a go-for-broke struggle to succeed, robs people of incentive, and gives way to the “why bother” attitude common in today’s wards of the State.

This is not the spirit of freedom upon which America was built—it is the road back to the tyranny from which we sprang. In juxtaposition to Monsieur Rousseau, I offer his American contemporary, Samuel Adams, “all might be free if they valued freedom and defended it as they ought.”

Freedom is valued at a personal level and, though men are born with it, attainable only to those willing to defend their right to it. Freedom and the exercise of personal liberty are not the gifts of governments—they are gifts from God.

In 1776, the rag-tag group of armed citizens who rallied to the call for freedom had no realistic expectation that they could defend the freedom they proclaimed. The king had at his disposal the mightiest army and navy in the world. He had loyal subjects within the country who were willing by force of arms to defend his sovereignty.

Nevertheless, men like Adams, believed that their fetters could be thrown off. They expected no one to ride to the rescue and do their duty for them. If freedom was to be won, they must win it themselves. How very different that is from those, on the one hand, who expect the government to hand them freedom and those on the other side who expect the government to guard it for them.

Sic Semper Tyrannis

Know Jack #343 Slaughter of the Innocents

 “In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.”

Matthew 2:18

Novels are like children. We give birth to them with much patience, pain, and travail, and that’s just the beginning. We tend to their every need, rush to their every cry, dress them, feed them, and mold them. Then, one day they go off into the care of well-meaning strangers who say they have only the best interests of the children in mind.

Lying in wait along the way to those “best interests”, are merciless editors—creatures born without a heart or soul. As soon as a book begins its journey, editors fall upon their helpless prey, swords at the ready. Like savages they proceed to torture our babies: cutting off their limbs, ripping out their tongues, and chopping off their heads before delivering the bleeding remains to the author.

The scene that follows is reminiscent of Herod’s slaughter of the innocents. Weeping will not save them. Pleading avails nothing. Their only hope is that there lies within their creator the power to resurrect them from the dead.

Can the one who gave them life raise them again? The answer lies in the heart—or more precisely, the ego—of the author.

Unconditional love, the kind we have for our children, whether flesh or paperback, often requires the sacrifice of our wishes to give the child the fullest, best life possible. Not every writer is capable of that kind of love, and even for those determined to do the right thing, it’s not an easy path to walk.

Sending a book out into the world alone means trusting in the job you did bringing it to life and that you have given it what it needs to survive. There is more at stake in doing the right thing by our books than seeing them made into a bound volume with our name on the cover.

Our integrity and commitment as a writer hang in the balance. The brutality of the editors reflects directly on our parenting skills. I’m a stubborn, argumentative man who comes down hard when crossed or my goals are frustrated.

In my personal dealings, I give too little reflection upon the consequences of shooting from the hip and letting God sort out the dead and wounded. I call it my Masada complex, though I’m sure there is not such a glorious name for it.

Strangely, the only instance in which my thoughts lean first to acceptance when facing criticism is with my writing. This is so not because I doubt my skills as a writer, or that I don’t value winning. I just know when I am blind to my own faults. (I wish I could translate that into my personal dealings with people.)

I’ve read a sentence I’ve written a dozen times and not realized that I wrote “no” instead of “not”. I’ve seen it on the face of readers when my King James leaning word choices and sentence structure draw puzzled looks. Well, that has to go—because what the reader sees/understands is more important to the story than my style.

I know enough to know that I’m not completely flexible though. I don’t know how many times I’ve been told that werewolves, vampires, and haunted houses are passé. Yet, I keep on writing them the way I see them—bloody and without zing or sparkle.

Maranatha

Lost Crusader #131 God Bless the Child That’s Got His Own.

 “So when the Samaritans were come unto him (Jesus), they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days. And many more believed because of his word; and they said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.”

John 4:40-42

Perhaps you’ve read about Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well. If not here’s the gist of it: Jesus broke tradition and addressed a woman who had come alone to draw some water from the community well. After some Q&A about why he did that, Jesus pointed out her life thus far had been less than stellar. This drew from her an epiphany that he was the promised Christ.

Thrilled she had met the Messiah, she went into town and began telling people about what she had discovered. The townspeople when out to see for themselves and upon hearing Jesus drew the same conclusion as the woman. In what was probably a less than friendly way, they made sure to downplay her role in pointing out Jesus. But, in doing so, made a very strong case for Christianity based on personal experimentation.

Pastors, preachers, and priests are heralds of the good news of the gospel,

and they have a high calling of great responsibility—but…

While faith comes by hearing the word of God, faith is more than hearing. Faith is more than belief and more than what can be reasoned from the scriptures. It is even more than meeting Jesus. Faith is all of these in combination that initiates personal action.

The prime action of faith is to make peace with God. The scripture says that many are called to this action, but few take it. This is so because the peace treaty is non-negotiable. It is a take-it-or-leave-it proposition made by God that demands unconditional surrender. These are not terms well suited to those who must be in charge, must be right, must be the winner, and must be first—in a word, terms contrary to the natural state of the human mind.

Neither accepting nor rejecting God’s terms makes the Creator more or less than He already is. So, what does God get out of our making peace with Him? The satisfaction of seeing His Creation restored to the original design—a loving fellowship with humanity.

What do people get out of this surrender? It seems strange to quote Satan on this point, but—“ye shall be as gods…”—full partakers of the Divine nature.

No one can make that peace for you. Realizing true peace with God is not something you can have by listening to others talk about it, or watching other people do. Congregating isn’t enough and memorizing rules is not enough. You must hear the terms, weigh them, and accept them without reservation.

On Judgment Day it will not matter what others have said or done to you. It won’t matter how hard you tried or how close you came to perfection. It will not even matter how much God loves you.

What does matter is that you met Christ on his terms and accepted, of your own free will, the peace treaty he offered.

Maranatha