I have an issue with dream scenes – not with their fairly common use in literature and film, but with how dream scenes are almost always presented. They are almost never truly dreamlike. They’re too consistent. Last night I had another of those pastor nightmares where I was repeatedly frustrated in attempts to conduct worship […]
Assignment: Draft a short story around a conversation between an adult and a child. Pastor, my Science teacher says that creation isn’t science. Well, Johnny, he’s right. We believe God created everything because the Bible says so. That’s faith, not science. What your teacher probably doesn’t realize is that his denial of creation isn’t science
Creation vs. Science? Read More »
Assignment: Craft a short story from the following prompt: “Jason was no stranger to a crisis situation. He had always lived life on the edge. Until now, his experience and acumen were the basis for his judgment. But this was different. After three months in a chat room, what was Lisa really like?” One result:
Assignment: Draft a short story from the following prompt: Richard loosened his tie and rested his head on the back of the seat. He opened the car door and heard the surf pound against the sea wall. He could feel the stress drain from his body. What a day this had been. One result: It
Assignment: Craft a short story from the following prompt; “Matt glanced at his wrist. It was exactly 3:15, but this was not his watch.” One result: Matt awoke with a start. Something was making a racket topside. Starboard. He thought about getting up to investigate… (Matt glanced at his wrist. It was exactly 3:15.) but
Authors like words. Authors need words. They are the means by which we communicate thoughts and ideas, inform, encourage, motivate, comfort, admonish, teach. Most people need words. All God’s creatures can communicate to a limited degree without words. A facial expression. A sound. A scent. A motion. But only people can communicate with the precision,
“Progressive” too often doesn’t mean progressive Read More »
I am a Christian author. What does this mean? (Sorry, I’m also Lutheran.) What does it mean to be a Christian? What do people who hear that adjective think of those to whom it applies and of those who adopt it for themselves? Does it refer to what a person is, or to what a
January, 1955 Pastor’s dog repeats her ways. Another Sunday morning litter. Two young boys pleading with their mother. “Please. Pastor says we may if you permit.” “But I don’t like dogs.” “We’ll take care of him.” “I don’t know.” “We’ll be good.” “He’ll have to stay outside.” “Oh, thank you, Mom! Thank you!” Two boys
God moves in mysterious ways, he knew. But what was he doing now? At 40, David had pretty much resigned himself to the idea that the one big void in his life would never be filled. But there, leaning against the passenger door of his truck as he drove through the snowy night, slept a
Had it been a “whoosh!”? Or maybe a “whoomph!” Dusty couldn’t tell. All he knew was that one moment everything seemed fine and the next Gramps was standing there with a blank expression, his whiskers, eye brows, and the hair around his face tipped in small curls of an ashy kind of tan. In all
