A Couple of Things One Can Do with Bible Study Notes

    Note-taking is great. It can be a little rushed, sometimes, but when there's no serious pressure to catch every single bit of information, the process is fun and the result is satisfying. And when the subject of the notes is the Bible, or a sermon given by someone talking about the Bible, it's particularly special. Because the material we're taking notes on is the written word of God, and His wisdom is relevant and applicable to every aspect in life.
    But what does a person do when they've got a bunch of Bible study notes though? It seems sad to gather up so many gems of knowledge only to put it in a folder and not look at it again. Finding ways to keep the notes in mind and in constant application is a nice goal, but how to go through with it?
    Well, one thing a person can do with Bible study notes is sort the information into topics like faith, Christ's divinity, or verses about family relationships. This way, key verses and biblical concepts are easy to locate, and each piece of information has personal significance to the person who arranged it.
    Another use for study notes is to make copies and share them with others. One week there was a really popular study series going on at my church, but a family member couldn't make it, so I typed out my notes for her. She kept them, read them, and then gave it to another relative who didn't make it to the study either. The notes obviously weren't a word-for-word transcription of the study, but it got the main ideas down, and they said it was informational.
    It's also really nice to sit down every once and a while and reread notes just for the sake of revisiting the particular study. It's an opportunity to recall lessons learned, figure out the solution to unanswered questions, and memorize concepts supported by God's word. Plus, notes make very nice material for meditation.
    In addition to these things, there's a wonderful concept that creates a nice idea. Very recently, the leader of a Bible study I attend  said that when we read something in God's word that seems directed right at us, we should write it down because it's a personal lesson from Him. Having one particular document or even a book full of these special  things learned would be amazing not just because it'd help remember specific things the Lord has pointed out to us, but because it's really touching to be able to look back and point out all these moments of instruction He's given.
    So there are a couple things one can do with notes from Bible studies. Do you do any of them? Do you have any other ways that you utilize study notes?

John Rogers: Understanding the Antagonist

Some antagonists see the world with a view that differs
 in only one or two areas; but then there are some
who see everything in reverse--and those are the
tough ones to write!

"You don't really understand the antagonist until you understand why he's a protagonist in his own version of the world."

~John Rogers

    Writing antagonists can be tough. Because we want to write characters that are realistic and relatable on at least a few matters, but it's difficult to relate to someone who does horrible things and has a poisoned perspective on life. And when someone's mindset is that foreign to you, writing about them is like describing a place you've never been. The risk of using clichés and cheesy dialogue is probably at least twice as large for antagonists than it is for other characters. So it's pretty helpful how John Rogers phrases the claim of his quote so simply; that the key to understanding an antagonist is to understand why they think they're right.
    There are basically two ways to understand something: intellectually, or personally. Between them, understanding intellectually seems a lot easier. Because it's just gathering data from observations and maybe some backstory and putting it together to form a conclusion, a simple label. President Snow from Suzanne Collins's Hunger Games, for example, sends children to their deaths to remind the Districts of the Capitol's strength, and uses the surviving "tributes" as pawns for his own gain. Diagnosis: he is power-hungry, and his heart is too hardened to show any sympathy. Coming up with that conclusion was easy; it just involved looking at his actions and making connections.
    But how would you come to understand why he's a hero in his own mind? How would you understand his actual thoughts on his behavior, how he justifies his actions so he can live with himself? This would take some digging that goes beyond the surface of his actions; it would call for actually knowing what he's thinking personally, being aware of how he treats matters when he's not putting on a show for others. One way that might shed light on such personal thoughts would be to write a scene where the antagonist is acting outside of the story, out of view of the other characters, just doing what s/he does in regular life. Another way to understand their beliefs is to hear it from their own lips--maybe in an interview-style dialogue. Those bring out the distinctness of their personality, and they're good for learning new things about the character.
    So, have you ever given much thought to understanding the mindset of an antagonist on a personal level? Do you take extra time before starting the story to write something where they explain why they think they're in the right?

Psalm 26:12

 

"My foot stands in an even place; in the congregations I will bless the LORD."

Psalm 26:12 (NKJ)

    Does anyone else read this verse, hear "congregations," and think of church? It seems like a good comparison; David was likely referring to the crowds that came to the temple of God to worship Him, and that's what we do at church, along with growing closer together.
    And the statement about standing in an even place also seems a lot like being a part of the Lord's church. With Christ being the Head, church is a sturdy, reliable, safe place to be. It's founded on sure, unchanging principles, it's filled with other believers who love the Lord like we do, and they love us as brothers and sisters. Church is a good place to assemble, a good people to be part of, and a good thing God created when He came to earth as Jesus Christ. Amen?

Thank Goodness the Lord Made Weekends!

Weekends are just like early mornings: serene, pleasant,
and a good time to rest.

    God invented the weekend when He invented the world. The first six days of planet Earth's existence, the Lord spent the hours creating species and constructing ecosystems; but on the seventh day, when the work was complete and satisfactory, He rested and just enjoyed all the things He created. Clearly God didn't need to rest since He doesn't get worn out, so it's generally been concluded that the Lord took a break on the seventh day of the first week as an example for mankind to follow.

    Fortunately, that example has been followed in most if not all places. Not every country in the world specifically has Saturday and Sunday as their days of rest, but every country has at least one day where people don't have to work; where they can relax, recharge, and spend time with loved ones. Everyone has a weekend.

    And those weekends are so good. Life can get extremely hectic sometimes, so full of things to do and places to go. Some days it's like you have to run from place to place until it's time to go to sleep; everything's fast-paced and nonstop. It's definitely not bad to have a bunch of things to do in the day, or even bad to be a little busy, but having a lot of days where you just work, eat, work some more, and finally sleep can really run a person down--especially when those days are stacked against each other. It's so important to be able to slow down, rest, and enjoy free time on a regular basis.

    It's a downright necessity. Aren't you glad we have weekends? :)

Second Drafts!

    Ah, the second draft. A milestone in the writing process, a stepping stone to becoming published, and sometimes the equivalent of a sharp rock in a person's shoe. Somewhere out there in the big world, there must be someone who can whip up the second draft of their manuscript with ease. But for the rest of we mortals, it's usually not so easy, right?

    It takes longer (or seems to), because we're rewriting parts and even whole chapters of a story we already know back and forth. It's not like re-reading a story; we're taking each scene apart and trying to figure out how to phrase it best. And since we know what stage of the story we're actually writing, we can easily be aware of just how many more major story events we have to work through before reaching the end.

    And in the second draft, we really have to focus on fixing the small problems. Back in the Draft Number One, we could just throw these over our shoulders trilling "the edits are later!" and write what we want to push the plot forward. But now (unless you save those kind of edits for a later draft, of course), we have to start dealing with the little consistency issues and grammar problems. Now we have to slow down from world-building and make sure John Doe doesn't have blue eyes in Chapter One and green eyes in the epilogue.

    And then there's the word count! Ulgh, when there's over 100, 000 words! We want to keep all the good stuff we've spent time thinking up, right? But of course, 100,000 plus words is a little hard to swallow, so into the "Extra Scenes" file it goes. And then there are the times when the manuscripts are too short; that's not too fun either. Because we want everything to be quality material--no plot clutter, and no scenes that seem to pop out of nowhere--and that can take quite a bit of time to come up with.

    But even with the tricky parts of writing a second draft, there are still a lot of great things about them! They're a stage in the creative process that's full of possibilities, for one. It's the part where we mold with the material of the first draft; organizing the plot structure to the way it needs to be, shaping the characters' personalities, and building up the settings more. We get to develop and focus on more aspects of the story than we probably could have while getting the main plot down in the first draft.

    Plus, now that we're well into the second draft of the story, we probably know the characters a lot better. Having worked with them for hours and seeing where their actions take them in the plot, it's most likely gotten easier to know how they think, what they believe, what they would do, and all the other awesome things that make up a character. They aren't as much of a mystery as they might have been during the first draft.

    And on top of all those things, the very fact that we've gotten so far in writing the story means something good. Because finishing one whole draft and choosing to soldier through another is probably a pretty good sign that this story is something special. It shows that it's worth investing more time and focus on; that it isn't just a slightly interesting tale that we'd like to try out, but that it's a really good story that's worth sharing with the rest of the world.

    So: second drafts. What do you think of them? Do you kind of get hung up on them sometimes? Or do the less-than-awesome portions seem small in comparison to all the other awesome stuff?

Proverbs 3:19-20

"The LORD by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding He established the heavens; by His knowledge the depths were broken up, and clouds drop down the dew."

Proverbs 3:19-20

    This verse sounds so eloquent it could be part of a psalm, don't you think? It's fit right in with one of David's worship psalms, glorifying the Lord for His creation of the universe, and for His incomprehensible wisdom.
    Both are intricately beautiful. The natural world is extremely detailed with various ecosystems, terrains, and different styles for each place, but God's wisdom has much of its eloquence in that it's consistent; it's always been the way it is, unchanging. And another great thing about His all-knowing intelligence is that it's kind, merciful, and loving; not tightfisted or cold like a computer's intellect would be.
    The natural world and the wisdom of God are both so wonderful to behold; amen? :)

G. K. Chesterton: Fallacies

"Fallacies do not cease to be fallacies because they become popular."

~G. K. Chesterton

    I love this author so much; he wrote the Father Brown mystery stories, where a humble, small town Catholic priest goes about solving murders. The stories are really awesome not just because they're well written, but Chesterton has a talent with balancing the pure, precious subject of faith and the gruesome topic of murder. In his writing, he also reflects biblical principles without bluntly preaching in the readers' faces.

    Which gives a bit of foundation work when considering this quote he wrote. Chesterton clearly had a solid faith and a strong awareness of spiritual matters and people; he wasn't ignorant to God's truth, or to the way people think, and he specifically stated that fallacies--practiced characteristic flaws--are not good, but that they tend to be thought of as acceptable.
    That's definitely happening today. A lot of things that are common now were unthinkable a hundred years ago, particularly things that the Bible deems sinful. Taking the Lord's name in vain, getting into brutal arguments with parents, idolizing rebellious figures, entertaining inappropriate humor. Issues like this have somehow become so common that everyone seems to take it as the norm in life.
    And it's not just the non-Christians who go with it. A couple years ago I started hanging out with a classmate who said she knew the Lord, and had a testimony of a genuine conversion (meaning that she recognized her need for a Savior, asked Christ to redeem her from sin, and became serious about her faith), and finding this fellow believer was really awesome, a cause for celebration. But the happy dance I was inwardly doing kind of faltered once I heard this fellow believer sprinkling cuss words into most of her sentences. It was a little shocking, to say the least, for someone who's grown up being taught that cussing is something we're never supposed to do.
    The other Christian acknowledged that the profanity wasn't exactly Christ-like, but didn't seem to think it was that big of a deal.
    Wasn't it?
    I'm not a preacher, and neither was G. K. Chesterton, but Chesterton was well acquainted with them. And from the way he spoke about fallacies in this quote here, it's very apparent that he thought fallacies are not acceptable at all, even when everybody else doesn't see what the problem is.
    And just what is the problem? Well, let's look at cussing. Foul language can be identified as wrongful in the Bible; in Colossians 3:8 (NKJ), Paul says that believers need to take "filthy language out of [our] mouth;" and in Exodus 20:7, one of the Ten Commandments reads that we are not to "take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain" (NKJ).  Plus, there's the fact that Christ never cursed or used the term h-e-double-hockey-sticks unless He was actually talking about the place. So with these examples in Scripture, it's clear that cussing displeases God, and since we want to please Him, it'd make sense to not practice it, right?
    Another thing to consider is that the way we behave affects how people view us, and in turn, how they view God. As Christians, we represent the Lord; the Bible calls us His ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20). If I wasn't a believer and I looked at that Christian who cussed as a prime example of a follower of Christ, I wouldn't see the Lord the way He truly is. I would see someone who uses more profanity than my war veteran grandfather; and if things got really bad, I might think about all the Christians who have said that cussing is wrong, and come to the conclusion that the church--and basically the whole Christian faith--is full of hypocrisy.
    So there are two serious problems that come from embracing a fallacy; but yet it can still be so tempting to think that some of it is just a natural thing in life.
    All I can say is: thank goodness we have God's word. The Bible is so clear cut and detailed that it offers explanations for every aspect of life. And with the discernment it gives, whether we just abstain from practicing a fallacy, or if we actually speak out against it, we'll understand where we're standing and why.
    So what are your thoughts? What do you think of fallacies?

Writing Games: Once Upon a Time

A dramatic event, or just a couple years, can make someone
into a completely different person; what was your main character like,
once upon a time?

    There's a very bright, nostalgic connotation to the phrase, "once upon a time." It's a classic statement of beginnings, the opening to a story.
    Today, an editor would probably groan very loudly if they saw the first line of a non-fantasy/non-parody story read "once upon a time." But what if it's not a first line, and it's not the narrator using the phrase? I once read a book where the antagonist talked about who he was before he turned corrupt, and he started by saying, "Once upon a time, I was . . ." The way the character used that particular line to define who he was before the written story started was really dramatic.
    And it sounds like it'd make a really cool writing exercise. Not only is it great for summarizing a drastic change in a character, but it can also point out one of the most important aspects of a character, a trait that affects everything they do. For example:
    "Once upon a time, I believed in true love." This kind of statement, spoken by a character at the starting point of the story, would show a vital point in the character's history (a broken heart, perhaps). In addition, it shows what the character's attitude towards this major topic in life will be like; she may scorn the "happily ever afters" of movies with a romance subplot, and roll her eyes when a friend talks about how wonderful her boyfriend is. And since this statement showcases what she's like at the beginning of the novel, it also shows how this belief of the character is probably going to change, that she'll find herself falling in love throughout the course of the story.
    "Once upon a time, I was just a girl who hunted to provide for my family." This would be something Katniss Everdeen from Suzanne Collins's Hunger Games series would say at the end of the first novel. It shows how this was her normal life at the start--youth, a low stature in society, and that she applied her hunting skills to deer and other animals--but it also sums up how the story has changed all that. Because of the events of the story, Katniss's youth and anonymity in her community no longer exist, and her skills with the bow and arrow have been given other applications. This "once upon a time" statement not only shows what she isn't, but it portrays a vague picture of she eventually becomes.
    "Once upon a time, I wasn't afraid to talk about the things that matter." This is something the main character in one of my own stories would say, at the beginning of the plot. It shows the inner issue he has to overcome (his fear of speaking up about his beliefs), and it also hints that something happened earlier in his life that taught him to keep his mouth shut. In addition to these things, the sentence is also really helpful in summing up the character's mindset. Since certain fears can affect everything a character does (like in this situation), it's pretty important to be consistent in the way the character thinks and behaves. A short statement in the character's own words like this "once upon a time" sentence can be very helpful in getting a good idea of that quickly.
    So what do you think? Does this sound like a fun writing game? What "once upon a time" statements would some of your characters say?

Jeremiah 32:27

"'Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?'"

Jeremiah 32:27 (NKJ)

    I love how there are so many verses like this in the prophet books; sentences where the Lord speaks so frankly. A lot of the time the statements are actually sad--because these are the prophecies where God is giving warnings of imminent judgment--but there are also plenty of verses like this one, where God's kind, loving heart shines so clearly!
    "Is there anything too hard for Me?" There's something really personal about the phrasing of it, a soft kind of tone in the words that hints of fatherliness. And of course, we all know the answer to this rhetorical question. There's nothing too difficult for the Lord to build, accomplish, or bring us through; there's nothing He can't do. This lovely verse is a solid assurance that we can depend on Him, and it's given with very kindly words.
    Don't you love verses like this? :)

Running Out of Time?

    Does anyone else sometimes feel really, really rushed? Not just in a particular activity, but in everything? Like there's always a clock ticking down, draining away time to accomplish things that you really, really, really want to get done? Like time will run out at any moment?
    I'm talking about the fear that the Rapture will come before a person has done all the things the Lord has called them to do; be it a project, or another kind of goal in life. I've been having this kind of worry recently, particularly when I consider how much time I spend procrastinating or investing precious time on less important things. The idea that all this wasted time will accumulate to the point where I no longer have enough time to finish the work before the Rapture tangles me--and surely a lot of others--up inside in knots of nervousness and guilt. And it's really a conflict in the mind too, since we know that fear and worry aren't of God.
    But when one really thinks about it, oversights aren't of the Lord either.
    And in that, there's hope! God doesn't notice anything too late; He's all-knowing and infinite. Before He created any of us, He knew us and our lives inside-out. He knew exactly how much time it would take us to complete a work, even accounting all the time we might spend procrastinating from that work. From the very beginning, He's known just how many hours it'll take for the jobs to be finished, so surely He must have things planned out so that even with occasional bouts of procrastination, the good, fruitful work will be completed in time.
    Not to say that it's okay to be lazy, having the mindset that we have all the time in the world; but the fact that God's gracious enough to grant us all the time we need in spite of our lapses in focus is a real comfort. It's motivating, calming, and it gives a real hope that it's never pointless to keep working on the work God has given us to do. It puts away the fear that time is going to run out and there's nothing we can do about it.
    What do you think? Do you ever worry about the clock striking twelve too soon? Does this idea about God's foreknowledge granting us enough time, wasted hours and all, sound right?

Writing Prompts!

    Does anybody here have a particular fondness for writing prompts? You know, the short sentences that give inspiration for a short scene (or even a whole story).
    It's fun to try to come up with some oneself, but if a person wants a new writing prompt they've never thought of before, they can always be found on the internet. Interestingly, there are not only millions of original writing prompts, but there are completely different kinds of prompts, each special in their own way. Like for example . . .
    Specific writing prompts. This would be where you're given a specific character, setting, time, and issue to write about. A basic example of this would be: "A young man wakes up on an island that looks oddly like Hawaii, only there isn't another living soul there." We're given the character (the basic concept of one anyway), we have a very specific location, and we also have a specific problem for the character to face. Some might find it restricting to have to stick to all the given rules provided by such a direct prompt, but the provision of such specifics can really be liberating (especially if you don't feel like coming up with a completely new story out of the blue). These kind of prompts are also really good for dipping into new writing adventures head first, with surprises around every corner.
    Bare bones prompts. These are very different than specific writing prompts. Rather than getting an already outlined story , this kind of prompt provides only a handful of terms. A basic example would be just: "Kenny, Valentine's Day, and cinnamon rolls." It's very vague, but this vagueness leaves a lot of power to imagination, because there's no absolute necessity for these things to have their traditional meaning in the story being written. "Kenny" can be the name of an airship instead of a person, "Valentine's Day" can be the title of a music album playing in the background rather than a holiday, and "Cinnamon Rolls" could even be the name of a town instead of food! Everything about a bare bones prompt is a wild card, an invitation to take concepts and get really creative in using them--or, of course, to write a nice, regular scene in which the terms are used in their traditional sense.
    Visual story prompts. These are basically pictures you look at to build a story from--like a picture of a sunny beach with tall plastic flamingos sticking out of the sand. A great thing about this kind of writing prompt is that it's cool to be able to have an actual picture to connect with the story, like when you find an actor or other kind of celebrity who looks exactly like you've envisioned a character in your story. Plus, with a picture, it's easier to imagine what exactly is happening in the scene while writing it.
    Dialogue prompts. These are the prompts that are just bits of dialogue. Basically something like: "I told you we should have taken the flying horseshoes!" which tasks the writer with coming up with a situation to fit this bit of dialogue into. A lot of these prompts that can be found on the web are really funny, meant to instantly catch attention so that a person will want to invest their time and effort in making a story of it. Personally, I think it kind of seems like a lot of work, but dialogue is a fantastic way to showcase a character's personality, and this type of prompt continues to be really popular.
    Isn't it cool how there are so many ways to get inspired to write? Which kind of writing prompt is your favorite?  Can you think of a type that's not mentioned here? :)

Psalm 18:29

 

"For by You I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall."

Psalm 18:29 (NKJ)

    What a great confidence-booster here!
    There isn't a single wall, army, or other obstacle that can keep God from doing what He wants to accomplish, and the Lord has taken us under His wing and equipped us so that He can use us to attain some of those accomplishments. So, as this verse boldly proclaims, as long as we're in the Lord's way, doing what He's called us to do, there's literally nothing that can stop us! We can run against the troops, we can get over the walls; we can do everything the Lord has guided us to do, because He's always with us!
    Isn't that empowering? :D

A Couple Thoughts on Reminders

Post-Its and other objects designed
for reminding people of things are
great for bringing up memories . . .

    It would be so awesome to be able to think about the Lord all the time, wouldn't it?
    To never drift off into distracted thinking, to be able to remember God's word on a matter as quickly as a person can remember their name, to just find oneself pondering God's goodness numerous times throughout the day. That kind of mindset is awesome . . . but man, is it tricky to develop naturally.

. . . but it's also really awesome to spot
something completely ordinary, like this
telephone pole, and unexpectedly be
reminded of God and His Word!

    Thank goodness there are reminders, which are really helpful for stirring up the mind. By reminders, I'm not just talking about written notes, but things, practices, objects, and even people that automatically prompt a person to go into deep thought, retrieving memories quickly.
    Objects are the most common things that serve as reminders. Christian artwork can depict God's care and proclaim truths from His word, and pencils with Scriptures printed on them do that too and are able to go with us to school/work. And sometimes there are ordinary objects that aren't meant to bring up godly concepts, but the right timing makes that happen anyway. Like a tree, for example; a person can stop to look at it and remember how in Romans 11:11, new believers are likened to branches being grafted onto an olive tree, made one with all of God's people; a really awesome description that showcases God's wonderful acceptance of us. Objects like this fit in with everyday life as decorations and as multi-purpose tools (well, maybe not the tree . . .), and the inspiration they give can be as close as a few steps away!
    People can act as reminders too. In fact, we believers are supposed to stir up the minds of our siblings in Christ; it's good fellowship, and speaking about something with another person often makes it easier to remember. Having conversations where the word of God is discussed and reflected on is also not only helpful, but it's just really awesome to be able to talk with someone about God, isn't it? And of course, there are also the people outside of church walls who speak good things of the Lord, like a certain aunt who loves to quote the Bible, and radio hosts on Christian channels who speak freely about God's goodness. They speak good words, and unlike objects, we can speak with them as well!
    So those are two kinds of reminders; what are your thoughts on the matter? Do you see a lot of reminders in daily life?