Wake!

Tosca Lee's second novel tells the story of Eve, the first woman. Lee's lyrical prose tells of the first man and women in the Garden, their temptation, and fall. Lee then goes on to tell their story as they wander from the Garden and struggle to live in the fallen world. Through Havah's (Eve's) eyes, the reader learns about the beginning of mankind as a family is begun, and multiplies. Then the reader weeps with Havah and Adam as they witness the first death.

This is a story that at first we think we know well, until we read Lee's story and realize we hardly know it at all. Tosca Lee left me weeping and laughing, and wondering what it would have been like to live in a world such as Adam and Havah lived in. I could hardly keep myself from reading the book all at once. I could not pry my fingers from the pages, and the beautiful story occupied my thoughts long after.

Just as Tosca Lee's first novel, Demon, changed the way I thought about the fall of angels, Havah has changed, forever, the way I will think about the fall of man, and the story that followed. This is the kind of book I dream of writing - it kept me up reading, made me think, weep, and laugh. Someday, I will write something like this, but I can only dream of writing it as well as Tosca Lee does.

Wake!

Photography

Before it got all cold and snowy here, my fiancé and I made one last trip up to the mountains. I convinced him to stop and let me take photos of a graveyard on our way back down the mountain. Maybe it's weird - I don't know - but I think the shapes and colors of the older gravestones are interesting. Plus, sometimes one finds interesting things on the stones.

I thought this design was beautiful - especially with the varying shades of gray. :)

I like the curving lines in this photo. And the stones in the background.

This next photo I did not take for its aesthetic interest, because it is not interesting at all in that sense. It was a plain headstone, a different color from all the others - light tan instead of gray. The only thing written on it were the initials S.L. I am very intrigued by this stone. Who is S.L.? Why are there no dates, and only initials on the stone? Why is it a different material than all the others? I'm so intrigued, I may just write a story about it.

FInally...

I know it has been forever.... Oh well.

This is inspired by Van Gogh's "Starry Night." It was an in class activity.

"A cold wind tumbles over a sleepy town. A few twinkling candles, in a few dim windows, mimic the lights looking down. The moon, with its chestier cat smile, looks down bathing the church with its pale light. A song rises from the ancient church to meet the stars in the sky. They tumble together mixing pale colors. Nothing else breaths. Kay stared up at those dancing lights from the stone steps. The beautiful music that shimmered with the stars sent a shiver down her spine. She wished she could fly up with the music and join the stars just as love had done before."

Kutless - It is Well

Kutless had much to live up to with their second worship album. Their first, Strong Tower was a success, bringing the band some deserved recognition. However, their rock projects since have disappointed many, myself included. When I heard about the band's new worship project, I was anxious. I expected great things from the band, but worried the previous lackluster albums would be reflected in the new record. From the first sounds of "It is Well" my fears vanished. It is Well may not surpass Strong Tower, but it did not disappoint.

Kutless covers some old and new ground on It is Well. Both the title track, and "Remember Me" are old hymns that the band has reworked and updated. Kutless seems to do its best work at this, and I would like to see a project of only updated hymns in the band's future. There are also some modern worship songs that the band has made their versions of- such as "God of Wonders" and "Hungry." These tracks are well done, and catchy to listen to. It's hard to say if they will stand up next to the numerous other recordings of these songs.

Kutless originals make up the rest of the album. They are all good songs, but none of them creates the impact of "It is Well." All together, Kutless has created a cohesive enjoyable album. They did not disappoint this time. It is Well is an album I'm happy to own in its entirety.

Sunset Before Fireworks

I went to watch fireworks last night, but before the show starting, we got to see a different kind of light show.







I love sunsets... especially when there is water involved. :)

Succumbing to Silly Bands

I resisted. I really did.



But the pink guitar was just too cool.
I feel like I'm sacrificing my free thinking by indulging in a fad... especially at age 20. Haha.
But it's only one!
But will it stay one?

We shall see....

More Jewelry

Here's my third completed creation! (I don't have a picture of the 2nd yet...)
I love the pearls on this one :)




I'm still trying to figure out how to turn my glass chess pieces into pendants... I think I need stronger glue.

Au revoir!

Never Let You Go

Erin Healy has been behind many of Ted Dekker's books as his editor. Then she co-wrote Kiss and Burn(which I LOVED) with him. Now she has written her own novel, proving she can write write on her own. Never Let You Go is suspenseful, and chilling at times, but not without lighter moments. Basically the book is about love. Love between mother and daughter, father and daughter, and between husband and wife. Lexi Solomon is doing everything she can to survive and provide for her daughter, but when an old friend comes back into her life, she almost loses everything.

The story was engaging and I loved some of the more understated spiritual elements of the story. My only complaint is that I'm not entirely certain the ending was believable, but maybe that's just me.

Jewelry Making

My first creation. The mini bottle holds watch parts, then a pair of watch hands, and an antique key all dangling on a copper colored ball chain. I couldn't find exactly what I wanted, so I made it myself!



Hopefully there will be more jewelry to come this summer. :)

Au revoir!

The Dekker Scale

I recently finished reading Ted Dekker's newest novel The Bride Collector. Fully prepared to be disappointed, as a whole I enjoyed the book. Of course it was similar to Dekker's other serial killer books, but his story telling was as powerful as ever. Dekker purposefully leads the reader to believe that his main character is the same as his villain a la Thr3e. This book of course does not measure up to Thr3e, being the canon that all other Dekker books are measured against. I mentally rate each of Dekker's books...

...so I present to you the Dekker Scale. (Of course--this is only my opinion)

1............5.............10
Kiss - - - Green - - - - Thr3e

I would rate Bride Collector about a 7: One of Dekker's better books.

Looking forward to Immanuel's Veins this fall!

Article

My first publishing!
Rise of Resale

Tosca Lee - Demon

I picked up Demon: A Memoir after reading the announcement from Ted Dekker that Tosca Lee and he would be writing together. After reading the book, being blow away, intoxicated with her writing, and my life altered, I can say my expectations for Forbidden are extremely high. But this post isn't about the upcoming book--it's about the spiritual trip that is Demon.

The basic plot of the book consists of two characters-Clay and Lucian. Clay is a newly divorced editor, and Lucian is a demon. Lucian tells his story-the fall of Lucifer to the death of Christ-to Clay who writes every word and publishes it. The perspective of the well known story from a fallen angel is intriguing. Lucian tells Clay about his wonder and amazement at God's creation, his bewilderment at God's love and forgiveness for "the clay people," and his own hatred for them because of it.

All of this is told in Tosca's lyrical writing style. It was almost intoxicatingly beautiful. The way it was told and what was told, blew me away and left me pondering long after I had pried my fingers off the pages. The book has literally changed my life as well. Never before had I considered what God's love for us mere mud people must look like to a fallen angel- a being that had not been given forgiveness.

I cannot wait to read Tosca's other books, and I'm looking forward to the team of her and Ted Dekker even more.

Interviews

Wednesday I had my very first interview. I think I'd rather pull out my finger nails than do that again, but life doesn't work that way...
I can't stand having to "sell" myself like that. That's part of the reason i majored in writing. I don't like talking, I'd much rather write. Ask me all those questions and I will write you eloquent, thought out answers, but if I have to answer you verbally, I'm going to freeze up. That's just the way it is. I know it was a good experience, though, because whether I like it or not, that won't be the only interview I have in my life.
Unfortunately, I have a presentation in my British Literature class this Thursday, so I'll have to do more talking this time in front of a group of people. Again, I think I'd rather shrivel up and die. Why must teachers force this upon students? I wish I could just write a paper... Well, I do have to do that too, so I better go write some more of that....
I cannot wait for this semester to be over.

Pear Blossoms

I love new flowers in spring. I walked through campus the other day, only to have my sprits lifted by the sweet alluring smell of lilacs. Lilac, after mango, is probably my favorite sent. These pear blossoms are blooming on trees here on the farm. I really need photoshop; I'd love to make a few of the pictures I took black and white.




I love this setting sun behind these delicate white flowers.












This photo is a little too dark, again, I'd fix that if I had photoshop. I love the flower with the pink center.












Finally, I just liked this photo. :)

Summer Dreams

At this point in my life, I’m finding myself struggling between what I want to do and what I think I “should” do. I’m nineteen and already a junior in college. Next spring I will (hopefully) graduate and be thrust (willing or not) into the working world. I have decided that it would be prudent to attempt to acquire an internship this summer. The experience would certainly be valuable and it would probably aide me in finding a job post-graduation. That is what I should do, however, I would much rather take my savings and take a trip to Europe. I want to see and do so many things and I’m becoming more and more concerned that I’m going to graduate, get a job, and get on with my life without accomplishing any of my dreams. I’m young - shouldn’t I have some adventures before I’m bound by work and family?

Ok, I take that back… partly. I’m looking forward to my life post-grad. I hope to eventually write what I want, and eventually have a family. It’s not a terrible thing to want to do some things first though…

So many people I know have already been to Europe, once or twice even! I want to see Paris, and London. I want to drive through the English countryside. I want to see Roman ruins in France. I want to step inside a castle. I want to set foot on Normandy beach and imagine the horror that happened there. I wouldn’t mind experiencing living in an urban environment, but I doubt I ever will. I want to see plays, musicals, and concerts. But. I’m faced with the hard reality that all those things cost money that I don’t have. Money must be earned this summer.

But that’s life, whether I’d like to accept it or not. I’m sure I’ll have the opportunity to do some of those things eventually, I just wish I could do them sooner rather than later.

Flyleaf: Memento Mori

After about four years, and voice troubles for Lacey, I was beginning to think I'd never see another Flyleaf album. Memento Mori has everything I could have asked for from Flyleaf. The songwriting is a step up from their first album, and this is one album that I can put on shuffle in my car and listen to every single track. The only thing slightly disappointing was that most of the tracks are slower paced compared to Flyleaf's previous work. Lacey doesn't scream once. Her singing is still powerful though. Maybe, she is just taking it easy since she had all that trouble with her voice a while back.
"Beautiful Bride" and "Again" are a fantastic pair of songs to open with. They are two of the more forceful songs on the album, and also don't lack in lyric content.

Here you are down on your knees again
Trying to find air to breath
Right where I want you to be again
See and believe

Those lines are from "Again," probably the catchiest song on the album. "Arise," another striking song, reminds the listener that there's some hope still left in the world, and exhorts "Arise and be, all that you dreamed, all that you dreamed."
"Circle" is one of the more moving tracks. It deals with Jesus laying His life down, and the narrator who ends the song asking for forgiveness.

I left his arms empty and tied
Outstretched for me until he died

The lyrics remain with the listener long after the music has stopped.

A Review: "The Road"

I admit I was a little reluctant to read The Road at first. I have read Mccarthy’s No Country for Old Men and enjoyed it, but The Road was obviously somewhat of a departure from Mccarthy’s other books. It is post-apocalyptic fiction where as most of Mccarthy’s other books are westerns. I was almost expecting something similar to I Am Legend. I was, however, delightfully wrong.

The Road is post-apocalyptic fiction and is just as bleak as the genre should be. Mccarthy lets his reader wonder what brought the world to this point. His focus is on one man and his son and their struggle to survive. These two are only ever referred to as “the man” and “the boy,” and are never given names. This adds to bleakness of the novel. As with all Mccarthy novels, there are some disturbing elements here. Plants will no longer grow on this version of earth, so some have been driven to cannibalism. This leads to a few chilling scenes. Mccarthy could easily leave the reader without hope at the end of this novel, however, he chooses not too. While the book is bleak, and there is no happy ending, there is still life. The Road is not an easy read, but it is brilliant, compelling, and haunting.

A Review: "Gates of Fire"

"Tell the Spartans, stranger passing by, that here obedient to their laws we lie."
So reads the epitaph on the stone memorial left at Thermopylae. That phrase sums up the Spartans quite nicely. In his book, Gates of Fire, Steven Pressfield crafts a breathtaking, brutal, and captivating tale of one of the greatest military stands in history. It is the tale of the stand of the three hundred Spartans at the pass of Thermopylae against the vastly more numerous Persians.

Pressfield retells a tale of these ancient people that is brutal, and compelling, heartbreaking, and heroic. His descriptions are expertly detailed, even the gory battles. This detail allows for a vivid recreation of a moment in history. I thought the characters were believable and human despite the almost super-human feats that are expected of the Spartans. The Spartans live a brutal life with each man being trained for and serving in the military nearly all their lives. However, these hardened soldiers also reveal moments of tenderness.

There is a good deal of scholarship woven into the story of the book. The reader learns a lot about Spartan warfare and culture almost without realizing it. As mentioned before, Pressfield presents detailed descriptions of the Spartan’s training, armor, and livelihood. The story is told from the mouth of a slave who was the only Greek to survive the fight. This helps the author teach his reader about Spartan culture since a man who was originally an outsider of Sparta narrates. The narrator is able to give an outsider’s view on the Spartan people.

Mixed with the history lesson is a dramatic story that is difficult to put down once it’s begun. The book is essentially a tale of war, but woven through are stories of love, friendship, loyalty, and heroism. This makes for a book that is not a quick read. It takes time to get through, but it’s well worth the effort.

After Casablanca..

The café had changed very little. In fact, it looked quite the same. The tables were mostly full, and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. The only thing missing was music.
Rick approached the bar, where a sweaty young bartender greeted him. “What can I get you, sir?”
“You can just tell me where the owner is. I’d like to talk to him.” Rick heard the piano start playing in the background.
“Why he’s just right back there, sir, at the piano.”
Rick turned, “Sam?”
“That’s right, sir. You know ‘im?”
“I thought I did.” Rick said with a smile, “Thank you.”

“Mr. Rick! It’s you!”
“It’s me, Sam.”
“How’ve ya been, Mr. Rick?”
“Oh, I’ve been all right, Sam. It looks like you’re doing pretty well.”
Sam smiled sheepishly, “Well, I couldn’t just let the ol’ place die, Mr. Rick.”
“Do you own the café now?”
“That I do, Mr. Rick.”
“What happened to Ferrari?”
“He just couldn’t keep both places going. I had a good bit of money set aside, Mr. Rick, so I bought the place for a good price.”
“All that money you didn’t have time to spend, huh?”
“Somethin’ like that, Mr. Rick” Sam chuckled, and played a happy tune on his piano.
“Well, if you’re the owner, why are you still sitting at the piano?”
“Oh, I like it best out here, Mr. Rick.”
“It’s good to see you again, Sam.”
“Good to see you too. I wish you had told me before you went and disappeared.”
“I’m sorry, Sam. It was quick thing.”
“I understand. What are you doing back now, Mr. Rick?”
“I don’t really now, Sam. I thought maybe I’d stick around for a bit. You need someone else to work?”
Sam smiled his jolly smile, “I think we could work something out, Mr. Rick.”

A Review of "The Other Boleyn Girl"

Most people know from experience in a history classroom the fate of Anne Boleyn. She married the divorced king of England, Henry the VIII, and was later beheaded for adultery and witchcraft. Not as many people are familiar with the story of her sister, Mary Boleyn. Philippa Gregory, in her book The Other Boleyn Girl, takes this obscure historical figure and weaves around her a tale of suspense and intrigue.

Mary Boleyn is a girl trapped into following her family’s orders. The ambitious Boleyns see an opportunity for advancement when the king begins flirting with Mary. From that point they do everything they can to get her into the king’s bed. They succeed in their efforts and Mary has two children by the king. However, the king’s interest does not last, and Mary is left behind while her sister, Anne, is pushed forward.

The book was difficult to put down. I eagerly flipped pages, anxious to know what would happen next. Near the end of the book the excitement takes a downward turn. The reader knows the fate of Anne Boleyn so her imprisonment, and trial seem to drag out. That is only a small fault in the book since Mary Boleyn captivates the reader throughout the rest of the story. Gregory has masterfully taken a character that history knows little about and fleshed her out into a person that the reader will relate to and sympathize with.

In honor of the Lost premier tonight...

This is hysterical...

"Scream" Adaptation

This poem was inspired by Munch's painting "Scream"

I know it’s coming,
I can feel it in my bones.
The sky turns to blood.
The blood of the dead,
And of the dying.

Screams rend the air.
Earth is reduced to cinders,
Crunching under my feet.
They said this day
Would come.

On the horizon I see,
Apocalypse, and Death
Come to take the world
To its grave.

Terror and chaos
Surround me.
But there is,
No escape.

Fate has
Chosen
Now.

Fear

A bit of prose... this was inspired by the question: What do you fear the most?

I am hunted by a monster.

It has wild eyes, bloody horns, matted hair, and a bone-chilling scream. I can always see it lurking in the shadows. It whispers lies, taunts, and torments me. I can’t seem to hide from it no matter how hard I try.

I remember the first day I saw it. I don’t know how I never noticed it before. It came up behind me, and when I turned I froze with fright. Its cold eyes pierced my flesh and told me lies. With a hollow shriek, it leaped at me, bloody claws reaching for my heart. I snapped out of my frozen state, and jumped out of the way just in time. Then I ran. I ran as fast and as hard as I could, and the creature pursued me. I could hear it so close behind me; its hot breath brushed my neck.

I ran all the way to my house, up the stairs, into my room, and slammed the door. Quickly, I locked the door. Slowly, I backed away from the door, never taking my eyes off it. My breath came in quick ragged gasps. Relief settled in me. It could not come through the door. My blood turned to ice when I turned around.

It stood behind me, blood dripping from its talons. My heart stopped, and my blood turned to ice in my veins. With one desperate effort, I threw myself at the creature. I flailed my arms and yelled all with a vain hope that the thing would leave. But I did not collide with the bloodthirsty monster. Instead, I crashed headlong into a mirror. The blood on my hands was my own where the glass had cut my skin.

I am the monster.

Instinctive Rock

RED: Innocence and Instinct
Rating: * * * * ½

A band’s sophomore album is a good test to see if a band will endure. RED exploded onto the Christian Rock scene in 2006 with End of Silence. Of all of the new bands to release albums that year, Red is one that stood out. Few bands in the world of music have a sound like Red’s. They combine orchestral music with hard rock. Innocence and Instinct had been greatly anticipated and Red did not let their fans down.

The opening track “Fight Inside” sounds a lot like some of the songs on Red’s first album but its still a well written, well-preformed song. The next song “Death of Me” is a hard rocker but is only a taste of what is still coming on the album. The next four tracks, “Mystery Of You,” “Start Again,” “Never Be The Same, and “Confession,” though lumped together here, are each memorable songs with exquisite rock hooks, beautiful piano and strings, and haunting lyrics. The song “Shadows” is one of the most memorable tracks on the album and “Ordinary World” (a cover of Duran Duran) is also a great surprise. The last two songs, “Out From Under” and “Take It All Away,” wrap the album up very nicely. “Take It All Away” is different from the rest of the tracks. It is slower paced with quieter, but no less haunting, lyrics.

Red passed the sophomore album test with flying colors. Innocence and Instinct is an improvement on their first album, End Of Silence. Red kept the elements that captured their fans attention and even improved on them. I look forward to this band being around for a long time.

Orothoxy or Orthapraxy?

Orthodoxy is having correct belief.

Orthopraxy is behaving correctly.

So which is more important in the modern Christian church? Or maybe more specifically, modern Christian faith? Is it more important to attend church (nearly) every Sunday, read your Bible (almost) every day, and pray, or to maybe not do those things so often but to have a real relationship with God.

I began thinking about this last week when my history professor defined these terms for us. That week his lectures were focused around Christianity and its impact on Western civilization. He said that Christianity is unique because it is the only world religion to place such importance on Orthodoxy or having the right belief and doesn’t focus so much on actions. An example of orthopraxy is the Roman religion, which concerned itself with keeping the gods happy and didn’t care so much what one believed.

Is that what modern Christianity has become? One can call him/herself a “Christian” so long as she does x, y, and z. I don’t think it’s more important to read the Bible everyday than it is to have God “in my thoughts” all day. I’m NOT saying that reading the Bible isn’t important. I’m simply saying that I’ve always been taught that I should read my Bible and pray every morning. However, that becomes a routine and as with any routine, eventually, I do it without thinking. That is closer to behaving correctly than it is to believing correctly.

Say, I forget or do not have time to read my Bible for a couple days or longer. That’s bad some might say. During that time, however, what if every day I talk to God during my day and every time I go to make a decision I think about what is God’s will. If my focus is on God all day that way I’m closer to him than if I simply read my Bible and prayed without even thinking just that morning.

I don’t want my faith to be ruled by correct actions and routine. Actions certainly have their place, but these actions should come from having the correct beliefs. I would rather embrace love than rules and regulations.