But the Greatest of These is Love

Some of you may see this on the board it was originally posted on. But for those who might not, I'll post it here.

The following appears on Dragonsinourmidst.com/forums::

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I just came out of a time quite a bit like what you just described. I did a discipleship program with my youth group, and it was absolutely awesome, but at its end, I felt...empty. Stagnant. I was sick and tired of all the protocol, and I wanted something fresh. I had done it all, had been doing it all, and there was nothing.

So, I decided to rebel against religion. No, not against God; two different things. But against religion. Against the stuffy dos and don'ts. Against the box that religion pushes us into. I'm a Romantic; I like doing things the unconventional way. And I want to literally fall head over heels in love with God. One of the reasons why I love the Circle Trilogy so much is because they let me glimpse that Love. That perfect, ever fulfilling Love.

Finally, after two weeks, I picked back up my Bible; actually, I lifted the brand new one I had received just that day after it was presented to me in church, for completing the discipleship course. And I went to where I had last stopped reading in the Old Testament, and just started to read.

My goal? To read out of the Bible, for the first time, the indescribable Love and Beauty that I know is there. God wrote it; how can it not be there?

And I've found it. And I've never been so excited about reading the Word.

I was feeling hypocritical too. I had just finished a discipleship course, for goodness sake. And now I'm feeling like this?

But that emptiness, that lack of peace; it's gone. Because I've found Love. And man, it's good, baby. Because only God is good.

My advice? Don't try to fit a mold. Make it your own. We don't experience friendship in the same way as everyone else. Why do we seem to think if we do this, this, and that, we'll experience God in a fresh way? We won't. All we'll get is lukewarm water, and I want it hot.

Seek Love, and seek God. Everything else springs from there.

Now, when I say do away with the mold, I'm not talking about dispensing with the Law, which is good when used properly. I'm talking about not trying to do as the Pharisees did it, but rather as the Rich Man who approached the wall and gave a simple, genuine prayer.

Love, baby. That's what matters.

"And the world will know you are my disciples if you Love one another."

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Right now I'm reading 1 Kings. Before, when I read the OT, God had always seemed aloof. Which didn't make any sense, because he's God. He's the Same Yesterday, Today, and Forever, and God is a God of Love, of Grace, of Justice and of Truth. He's the God of Mercy. The God of Hope.

And, honestly, that wasn't what I was seeing.

But now I get it. It's like Proverbs 3 says, "The LORD corrects the one whom He loves, as a father the son he delights in."

Why did God punish David for his sin with Bathsheba and the following murder? Because he loved him. God's our father; he won't let us get away with doing wrong for the very reason that he Loves us.

That's why the Israelites were oppressed, time and time again. Because of Love.

And it was because of Love for his people that God saw fit to remove those who would be bad examples. Just as earthly parents keep you from hangin' with those who would have a negative influence.

Love.

Elyon's Strength, et Deus paxque vobiscum.

Grace Juice, Baby.

Born of Black and White.
Eaten with worms.
I'm a Saint, a Sinner, a Siren of the Word.
The Circle knows me,
the rest just wanna trip on grace juice, baby!
Showdown at midnight.

You wanna trip?

My mind is swirling. Why? I finished Renegade, the third book of the Lost Books of History by Dekker earlier (I read Chaos yesterday. They didn't get here in order, which is why I didn't read them in order).

Wow.

You wanna trip?

Renegade and Chaos, like Chosen and Infidel, were everything I had hoped for and more. Black, Red, White, Showdown, Saint, even Skin and House, all entwined in this web of story birthed from the mind of Ted Dekker.

Wow.

I'm fairly giddy.

And, while I'm away in my little "la la" land, my room suffers for it.

I'm in the process of moving to the room in the basement that has been "mine" for some time now, I just never got to move down there. We're remedying that, but right now, the room I share with my sister looks as if Hurricane Katrina's twin sister landed here and tore the place up. I've got books scattered absolutely everywhere, have papers and textbooks and my wallet and a laptop strewn across my desk, a huge pile of clothes in a basket and spilling out over the floor, and for the past three nights I've slept with my feet shrouded in a blanket made up of a binder and more books.

Oh, not to mention the Barnes and Noble.com receipts.

I'm not sure I can really function in such a war zone, but at the same time, I love it. It's me. This melting pot of everything.

Now I'm giggling.

You wanna trip?

The indescribable beauty of Love...of the Great Romance.

Dekker gets me every time, without fail. I see threads of it throughout every single book of his.

And I blame Dekker for the reason I'm now a sap. Ah well.

I want to inhale Elyon's waters. I want to drown, and live.

You wanna trip?

I do. I so do.

I believe!! I believe!!

I grin like an idiot when I see Samuel or Elyon or Justin. I want to dance like Caleb, drown like Thomas, breathe like Billos. Love like Johnis and Silvie.

You wanna trip?

Hallelujah, Amen, you're dismissed.

And now, to return to this reality and tackle my Algebra homework.

The Lion Angel

As is obvious from my list of favorite books and the images along the sidebar of my blog, I am a fantasy addict. Most fantasy I will devour (along with science fiction. Mind you, not all; there are certain fantasy series where I honestly begin to feel a bit sick. They can be wonderfully written and have fantastic plots, but after the third sex scene, or the third time when I've tried to skip ahead only to find a different couple making out, I can't stomach it any more.) Included in those lists are the cult classics of the fantasy genre: The Lord of the Rings, and the Chronicles of Narnia.

The Lord of the Rings, I love for the imagery and the intricacy of the plot. Even before I saw the movies, I could see the tall majestic trees of Lothlorien, hear Aragorn's soft humming, and taste the lembas gifted to the Fellowship. I study Tolkien's devices, spending long hours pondering how I can apply the same techniques to give my own story-world the same depth.

But right now I want to focus on its sister series, written by Tolkien's friend and fellow Oxfordian, C.S. Lewis. With the arrival of Prince Caspian swiftly drawing near, the magical realm of Narnia has again been beckoned to my thoughts; I've watched The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe twice in the past two weeks.

When I was younger, The Chronicles of Narnia won, hands down. Four kids, one of them my age at the time (Lucy, if you're wondering), whisked off to another world of fauns and dryads, centaurs, haunting songs and parties lasting long into the early hours. Where four children are crowned kings and queens. King Peter, the Majestic. Queen Susan, the Gentle. King Edmund, the Just. Queen Lucy, the Valiant.

What kid doesn't want to kneel before their liege lord and find themselves ruler of such a glorious kingdom?

Even now, the thought brings a beaming smile to my face and causes my pulse to quicken. I'll admit it here: I want to go to Narnia. I want to meet Tumnus, and journey with Caspian to Aslan's Country. To see the great Lion, O, how wonderful!

Of course, I already know the King of the Wood. Aslan does not only exist in Narnia; no, as he told the Pevensies to do as they left Narnia after the battle against Miraz and the Telemarines, we can find him in our world as well.

The similarities between Aslan and my King continue to steal my breath. And that's no exaggeration. Especially when I remember that the director and producers of the blockbuster film version aren't Christian.

Let's review some of the parallels we see in just the movie version. I'll start with the more obvious ones.

King of the Wood, the True King of Narnia: Christ is the King of Kings, as we know from Isaiah. And like I said, I'm starting with the obvious ones.

His omniscience. In Tumnus' cave, in the movie, after Tumnus has lured Lucy to sleep out of the flames Aslan appears. Even then, he knew, and was watching out for Lucy; Tumnus stops playing and is hammered with guilt.

His Sacrifice.

This one I still love. I can't count the number of times I've read the books, and I've seen the newest Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe about ten times, but I still love it. Edmund is the most despicable of traitors. His family he has left behind, and even when the Witch's true self is revealed, he continues to feed her information. When he returns to his brother and sisters, a dark truth is revealed: Edmund must die. Or all of Narnia will perish.

We all know where the story goes after this. The Witch comes, claims him as is her right, and Aslan takes her aside and makes a deal. That night, Susan and Lucy accompany him to the Stone Table, where they witness the brutal killing of the one who was supposed to save them.

The Witch leaves to battle their brothers, and the sisters approach the cooling body that was once Aslan. Not a bone of his was broken, but he was pierced for Edmund's transgressions.

Dawn comes. The girls go to leave, and suddenly a tremendous cracking is hear; they turn to find the Stone Table upon which Aslan was killed broken in half, and Aslan missing. Then they see it; the rising of the sun, and the Lion appears, hale and very much alive. He tells of the Deeper Magic, which goes beyond the Deep Magic of Justice that the Witch knew.

Here I'll pause and just draw a few parallels that most of you have probably already grasped. The Stone Table and the Deep Magic represent the Law and the old covenant of blood and sacrifice. Without sacrifice, there was only death. Then, taking the place of all, Jesus came and died.

"When an innocent dies in place of one who is guilty, the Stone Table will crack, and death itself will be undone."

So it was with Christ. (I'm starting to think I should have posted this on Easter. Oh well.)

The story continues. Aslan sets free those previously turned to stone by the Witch, included the much beloved Tumnus. Then they hurry to the battle, where things have just taken a drastic turn for the worse. Already vastly outnumbered, Peter is locked in a battle with the Witch herself, and Edmund has been mortally wounded. Oreius has been turned to stone, the gryphons killed, and all around the True Narnians are falling.

Then Aslan arrives. All are stunned; "Impossible," the Witch breathes. As the army the Lion has brought with him engages the forces of Jadis, he throws the Witch the ground. With Peter looking on, he finishes her, and turns to the boy who will be High King. Makes eye contact. And tells him,

"It is finished."

For some reason, it took me watching the movie ten times to realize what he says here.

It is finished.

The same words Christ used on the cross, when he defeated the Predator (Gotta love dragon-boy) once and for all. Aslan has just killed the Witch.

I got chills.

C.S. Lewis had done a masterful job of portraying the Lion. And Andrew Adamson, with his staying true to both the books, and by adding little pieces that merely enhance Aslan's character, has done just as well.

As the years pass, my reasons for things change. Yes, I am still in love with the idea of journeying to another world. But more and more, I appreciate and stand in awe of how God works his hand, even in something like a fantasy novel.

"Remember, he's not a tame lion."

"No. But he is good."

God cannot be tamed. But he, and He alone, is good. His grace goes beyond my every failing, my ever mistake and moment of clumsiness. When I stumble, his grace and love are there to pick me up.

Yet his justice is swift, and his Truth the only truth.

Deus paxque vobiscum.

New Page Element

I realize I'm due for a real post, and I'll get to it as soon as possible. Until then, however, I'd like to draw your attention to a little something at the bottom of the screen. The Prince Caspian widget.

*grins* I'm such a nerd. Bear with me, however.

Deus paxque vobiscum.

Worlds Apart

Kaci and I decided to start a blog hosted by, at the moment, two of our characters. Others will follow, in time.

So then, without any ado whatsoever, may I present Worlds Apart.

Deus paxque vobiscum.

A Little Update

I swear, I posted more in the first three days of my last blog than I have in over a month of having this blog.

As the title says, a small update.

For those of you whom I haven't informed already, I am severing almost all ties to the computer. IM is deleted. Permanently. The Dragons in our Midst forum...Let's just say that as soon as Messiah is over, I'll be leaving there, too. As it is, you won't see me anywhere other than Dragon Academy, really.

In the past couple of days, my world has revolved around school and online sermons. Kaci introduced me to Matt Chandler's podcasts. Haven't stopped listening to them since. For once, a senior pastor who is real. (And I'll get kicked out of my church for that one. Not really, but I think you get the picture.) Someone who is dynamic.

An overview on how the writing is coming:

Unfortunately...I haven't been getting as much done as I would have liked. I've worked some on a short story for a contest, and edited a couple of my poems. Other than that...Just plotting. And some DA, of course.

On the bright side, I finally have the official title for the first book. And a tentative overarching series title. "Light of Terros." For the few of you who know the story line, tell me what you think.
So far, it looks like:

The Kindred Blade
Terror's Shadow
Lightbringer

And I'm beginning to write up a summary for a set placed a few generations after the above cycle. (Yes, Kaci, I'm copying you. What's a Mini-Me for?) I'm excited for that one.

I've been studying Tolkien quite a bit lately. I got three of the "History of Middle-Earth" books for Christmas, and ordered most of the rest in January. I've poured over them, studying his style, how he develops the story, the characters, the worlds--even the language. As one of the world's bestselling authors, I thought it might be a good idea to see how he created this masterpiece of literature. On my Amazon wish-list I also have a list of books on plot and character development, as well as setting and dialogue.

Oh, that money grew on trees...

As it is, I'll have to wait on those. And on the contents of the Barnes and Noble.com wish-list.

I'm also delving into 1 Corinthians. I wanted to get to the "Love" chapter, but thought it might be best just to start with the beginning of the letter. Work my way through the Epistles.

Finally. Yes, I realize I have to go back and do Romans first. I'll get there.

Another thought that's repeated itself over and over again is on "I surrender all." My second post concerns itself with that (as there's only four, it shouldn't be too difficult to find.)

So that's my world nowadays.

Deus paxque vobiscum.

"American Pie"

I am not yet sure if the title has anything to do with this post. I'm listening to the song, however, so I decided to use it.

In this note, I've decided to dispense with some of the eloquence seen before hand, and allow some of the edgier, "Cali beach baby" talk come out. It's fun, it's colorful; what's to lose?

At least, I think I will.

But to give this as of now bare post some meat on its bones, I'll fill you in, I suppose, on life.

Three things make up most of my day. School, which is going well. Writing, which I wish I was doing more of. And...my arch nemesis, the dishes.

God, why were plastic cups invented? Why does paper have to come from trees? If it didn't, I'd probably dispense with all dishes save that which can go in the dishwasher.

Hardly anyone really *likes* the dishes. But why do I have such an abhorrence for them?

Simple, really. I'm too slow, and it takes forever to do a simple load.

Now I'm rambling.

To leave the dishes behind, a few more items will soon be added to the list of what takes up my time. Included, rehearsals.

I have again committed to another production at my church. This one is much smaller than our presentation of "The Gospel According to Scrooge" at Christmas; a shorter script, less rehearsal time, and only one weekend of performing. Easter weekend; Good Friday, Saturday, and Easter Sunday.

I'm looking forward to it. What my role will be, I cannot yet say. Tomorrow night, ask again.

Well, I owe a friend a game post, and will now take my leave to do so.

Deus paxque vobiscum.