tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33325729.post7780823483066954577..comments2023-11-05T03:47:03.674-07:00Comments on The Lost Genre Guild: Writing as Unto the Lordcynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15514785429568086047noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33325729.post-85981421954177846792007-11-17T14:16:00.000-07:002007-11-17T14:16:00.000-07:00Amen!Amen!Martin LaBarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14629053725732957599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33325729.post-56248671241794853392007-11-10T00:20:00.000-07:002007-11-10T00:20:00.000-07:00For anyone following this drama, this is a convers...For anyone following this drama, this is a conversation that's leaked out of the Lost Genre Guild's headquarters--our private newsgroup.<BR/><BR/>Andrea--<BR/>I've read through the e-mail debate, and never understood what people were arguing about. I sense you don't either. I totally agree, and have your back, little sis. I'm proud not only of how you've handled yourself here, but that you've stayed the course. I know you well enough to know how much you wanted to run away. I also know you well enough to know you'll fight the good fight. Honored to have Graham Crackers at my elbow. (sorry--that nickname's been coming a long time and this tension needed a lil comic relief about now).<BR/><BR/>A Sports Analogy<BR/>Stop groaning, it's short.<BR/>At the end of my first little league season, I got a pocket sized trophy for "most-improved on the team. That meant so much to me--I'm so clumsy. We here are a team, and I'm hading-down this trophy to Andrea. I cannot believe how much God's grown you in the last twelve.<BR/><BR/>I wonder if your use of the term "waffle" may the issue? Is there a psychographic of our subculture so entrenched in a dichotomy of life's spheres that you've offended? No idea why this "debate" goes on-and-on.<BR/><BR/>On this point, word had gotten back to me weeks ago about first-impressions. You very-much offended and injured when you first joined a year ago. People who are as dear to me as you are. There seems to be forgiveness issues. For anyone who's still toting a chip on their shoulder because Andrea turned a flamethrower on you in the past, this is not the same woman you once knew. She and I spoke privately--at length--about some things, and I cannot believe the change in her presentation.<BR/><BR/>Andrea's (and Adam's), message is scripture-pure. Anyone who wants a piece of this gotta run me over first.<BR/>John 13:34-35 34"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." New International Version (NIV) Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society.<BR/><BR/>If anyone can please clearly communicate what's wrong with Christian authors glorifying God for either a secular skill audience or an overt Christian please do it. I see this as a colossal waste of time because I don't understand what's driving this. What am I missing y'all?<BR/><BR/>Faith,<BR/>frankcreed.com<BR/>Novelist, and founder of the Lost Genre Guild.Frank Creedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11635583213577356111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33325729.post-85900365345065709462007-11-08T22:13:00.000-07:002007-11-08T22:13:00.000-07:00That conversation should always be between Creator...<I>That conversation should always be between Creator and child.</I> <BR/><BR/>Yes, I agree with both you and Andrea and I like how you both articulate this in slightly different ways. <BR/><BR/><I> The danger I see comes when WE try to tell someone else that this tale or that one is not godly enough.</I><BR/><BR/>. . . which is the great thing about belonging to the Lost Genre Guild. None of us judge the calling of the other authors. It could happen, e.g. if one of us was to submit erotica for critique and try to pass it off as "Christian," I, for one, would feel it encumbent on me to point it out;-)cynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15514785429568086047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33325729.post-12519830792948747682007-11-08T19:44:00.000-07:002007-11-08T19:44:00.000-07:00Um, Deb, you are you arguing with? You're protest...Um, Deb, you are you arguing with? You're protesting something no one has said here. To the contrary. <BR/><BR/>As for your work or anyone else's being Godly, there's only one basis we can make such a judgment on: how the message/theology/worldview of the particular work lines up with the Scriptures. <BR/><BR/>Otherwise, on content, if you've sat down and written the story God gave you (in whatever way He works with you) what else matters? If He gave it to you, He knows someone who need it, and He'll get into their hands. If He's in control, and it doesn't suit someone's personal preference, then it just wasn't for them.Andrea Grahamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15704143681030568711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33325729.post-45600274753136334462007-11-08T19:01:00.000-07:002007-11-08T19:01:00.000-07:00As the adult child of an alcoholic, I can complete...As the adult child of an alcoholic, I can completely relate to the control issues you've mentioned, Andrea. And I think most (if not all of us) do try to let the Lord work through us.<BR/><BR/>However, I think God IS in all my work -- even the stories that are "darker", or where the message is more subtle. Most of my stories have a "hook", or an arc where they turn a corner and **WHAM!!** the reader sees stars! If that style keeps them coming back for more, then those "other" stories(the less blatantly Christian ones) have served a purpose. <BR/><BR/>As you've said, if we are allowing God to rule in our hearts, then He will appear on the scene ANY time we are using the skills He gave us. The danger I see comes when WE try to tell someone else that this tale or that one is not godly enough. That conversation should always be between Creator and child. If we take the judgmental "high ground", we might just find the earth giving way beneath our feet. I prefer to leave that up to God. He can handle it much better than I can!Deborah Cullins Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05432072631277861967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33325729.post-76347748875173916152007-11-08T14:13:00.000-07:002007-11-08T14:13:00.000-07:00Cyn: It's a no-brainer, yeah, so long as we're wil...Cyn: It's a no-brainer, yeah, so long as we're willing to surrender control of this area to Christ. It's when we're the ones in control, like it that way, and feeling convicted that we tend to make excuses/respond defensively. That's my dear sister's chief barrier to really giving her life to Christ. She likes being in charge of it herself too much.<BR/><BR/>Cathikin: Ditto here. I think we all trip up in this area from time to time, precisely why I'd post a no-brainer ;) We just have to pick ourselves up and get back on course when we've found we've slipped.Andrea Grahamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15704143681030568711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33325729.post-6017632701047781782007-11-07T18:06:00.000-07:002007-11-07T18:06:00.000-07:00I'll add another amen to that. This is the way I w...I'll add another amen to that. This is the way I want my life to be, although I sometimes try to use my own brain. Bad idea if I haven't hooked it up to the Spirit first. Whatsoever I do, I want it to bring Him glory.cathikinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12180306267340755443noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33325729.post-31301653896498073062007-11-07T13:38:00.000-07:002007-11-07T13:38:00.000-07:00Again, "Christian writing" can't rightly be define...<I>Again, "Christian writing" can't rightly be defined in terms of the actual content of what we write. Rather, in the simplest of terms, it is our relationship with Christ that truly defines our work . . . Yet, even at the same time, where we are walking in right relationship with Him, everything we do, say, and write truly does honor Him--whether sacred or secular. And if that be true, what distinction is there between the sacred and the secular for the Christian?</I><BR/><BR/>A big <B>amen</B>, Andrea. To use one of my favourite colloquialisms: seems like a no-brainer to me. If there is a difference in some minds, it must be a very subtle one.cynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15514785429568086047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33325729.post-75253977127993874972007-11-07T11:23:00.000-07:002007-11-07T11:23:00.000-07:00Or to quote an old cliche', "God doesn't require p...Or to quote an old cliche', "God doesn't require perfect vessels, only submitted vessels."Andrea Grahamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15704143681030568711noreply@blogger.com