How Dare You

Why I Write

I started writing The Point of the Gospel for my kids. Growing up in our current two-second-sound-byte society, they don’t have the patience to wade through four books about Jesus’ ministry to get one story. One person complained to me that people should go to the source rather than to a blog to read about Jesus’ life, and that it wasn’t hard to read Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. With respect, I disagree. People have turned to writers and preachers for hundreds of years to help them understand Jesus’ teachings.

Each author of the Gospel wrote for different audiences and emphasized different aspects of that ministry. Not all included the same stories. Some teachings or parables are found in only one book, and at times, there are disagreements in where the stories are placed in the timeline of Jesus’ life and even a few discrepancies regarding what happened. I hope it will be useful to have that timeline written in one source.

Answering Criticism

Perhaps the problem lies in the idea of a blog. Some people are unfamiliar with them and possibly uncomfortable with a format they’re not used to. I consider a blog much like a conversation. The Bible clearly says to spread the word to others about Jesus’ teachings. When you talk to another person about the Bible or your personal beliefs, you don’t place a Bible before you to check your facts. As I write a post for my blog, I do. If I state a personal opinion, I specifically mark it as such.

I’d love everyone to weigh in with constructive criticism, advice, and just thoughts you’d like to share. All I ask is that you first read the blog before commenting on it. It really is hard to have a conversation about something one knows nothing about.

Jesus' Views on Adultery and Divorce

The Point of the Gospel

The Sermon On the Mount—con’t

Adultery {Matthew}

Jesus said, “It is insufficient to merely refrain from committing adultery. Don’t lust after a woman, for you commit adultery with her in your heart. If your right eye or hand causes you to sin, cut them away. Better that you lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into Hell.

Divorce

{Mark} In order to test him, Pharisees asked Jesus if it was lawful to divorce. {Matthew} “The Law states that a man may divorce by handing his wife a certificate of divorce.” (Deut. 24:1) {Matthew, Mark, Luke} “I tell you that anyone who divorces, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes their spouse to become an adulterer, and anyone who marries the divorced spouse commits adultery with them.”

Personal Thought: Adultery and sex outside of marriage are as grievous sins as any other. Old Testament law even said to stone adulterers. Anyone still in a position to judge other people’s sins?

{Mark} Moses wrote the law of divorce because of your hard hearts. In the beginning of creation, God made male and female, and for this reason, a man leaves his father and mother to be joined to his wife and become one flesh. What God has joined together, let man not separate.”

Oaths {Matthew}

“Said to the people long ago, keep your pledges to the Lord and don’t break them. I tell you,” said Jesus, “don’t promise to fulfill a pledge by heaven, God’s throne; or by the earth, his footstool; or by Jerusalem, the city of the Great King; or by your head, since you cannot make one hair white or black. Simply let your yes mean yes and your no mean no. Anything more than this comes from the evil one.”

Talking About Books

What I’m Reading

A friend has been loaning me Dean Koontz’s Odd series about a young man who helps dead people either get justice after being murdered or find their way to the next life. The stories follow more and more paranormal lines, usually evil, as they go along. With a secondary repeating character whose story arc remains incomplete book after book, both my friend and I thought the series must be coming to an end soon. However, with the last book, Deeply Odd, it seems the story may continue quite a while. I really like the main character, but left too long without answers to repeated teases, people tend to lose interest.

I enjoyed an older Dean Koontz novel, Sole Survivor. I wanted to see what his other stories were like. A sad story and pessimistic about the human condition and future, as is the Odd series, it still wove an intriguing tale of paranormal gifts and conspiracies with characters you came to care about.

I read the second of Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series, Dragonfly In Amber. Though a very long book, it held my interest. Have to admit I skimmed through some of the descriptive parts, but I like the characters and admire the writer’s ability to make each one an individual. I’ve always loved historical novels. I did, at times, find the moving of the point of view of the story from the main character to secondary characters confusing.

Disappointments

Generally, I enjoy Sandra Brown’s books. I found an older one, Best Kept Secrets, and was surprised that the plot left me dissatisfied and the characters came off as caricatures. Obviously, craft does improve with practice.

Another surprising disappointment, since it made the bestseller list and is now a movie, was Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl. Not my kind of book, I guess. I try to read a wide variety but traditional mysteries and thrillers are my least favorite genre. The supposed plot twists were obvious and neither main character had much in the way of redeeming qualities. I didn’t care what happened to them.

Dangling Modifiers Trip Me Up

Writer’s Status

I’ve signed up for the Write Angles writer’s conference at Mt. Holyoke College in Massachusetts the middle of October. I went last year and didn’t get as much out of it as I hoped. More experienced with the business this year, I hope to get better advice from the ten minutes allowed with an agent on how to proceed with my novel, The Devoted of Imshalel.

I’ve read a few very helpful books on craft and am almost done putting the advice to use. One grammar point trips me up—misplaced and dangling modifiers. I’m getting better at recognizing them and fighting the tendency to write straight sentences rather than make a mistake, which can make the writing sound stilted. Any English teachers out there who know how to wind through the labyrinth? Good advice would be appreciated.

What I’m Reading

On craft, I read Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maass. An older book, it showed its age when it came to advice about self-publishing and electronic books. Otherwise, it gave down-to-earth, comprehensive advice about writing, publishing, and promoting books. What I wouldn’t give to have him as an agent.

Crafting Scenes by Raymond Obstfeld spoke about the structure of scenes, chapters, and books in general. I found the advice about placing scene notes on cards to better keep track of such things as characters, plot arcs, and the ratio of dialogue to narrative especially helpful. You can move them around as a visual to decide if a scene works better elsewhere or should be cut altogether.

Writing Fiction by the Gotham Writer’s Workshop spoke about plot, characters, voice, and point of view, which I’d read from other sources. More interesting to me was their advice on a novel’s opening paragraphs and pages, and on revising. Most teachers agree a first draft should be written without worrying overmuch about grammar, style, etc. It may take you awhile to get to the core story in that first writing and a lot will be discarded, but all that comes in the revision process.

Wednesday—novels I’ve been reading.

Jesus Fulfills the Law

The Point of the Gospel

The Sermon on the Mount con’t

The Fulfillment of the Law

{Matthew} Jesus said, “Do not think I mean to throw away the Law or the Prophets. I have come to fulfill them. Not an iota disappears from the Law until everything is accomplished. Anyone breaking even the lowest in importance of these commandments or teaching others to break them will have the lowest rank in the kingdom of heaven, and vice versa, whoever follows and teaches these laws will be called great. Your moral uprightness must surpass that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law to enter the kingdom of heaven.”

{Luke} “The Law and the Prophets were officially and publicly pronounced before John the Baptist proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God. Now everyone is forcing his way into it.” (Into what? John’s teachings about Jesus’ coming, thinking Jesus meant to overthrow old ways?) “Heaven and earth would more easily disappear than the least word of the Law.”

Personal Thought: the purpose of the Law was to break down barriers in our relationship to God. Did Jesus’ death—taking our sins upon himself so we could be forgiven and receive the Holy Spirit—fulfill the Law and make this passage moot? Everything changed after Pentecost—more about that at the end.

Murder {Matthew}

“The Law long ago said not to murder. Murderers are subject to judgment. But I tell you, even being angry with your brother brings judgment and calling him a fool places you in danger of the fires of hell. Therefore if you know your brother has something against you, before seeking your own forgiveness from God, go seek reconciliation with your brother.

“Settle with him beforehand when he takes you to court lest the judge turn you over to the officer to be imprisoned, for you won’t be released until you have paid every cent.”