Driven by Eternity

Shortly after reading John Bevere's Driven by Eternity in January 2007, I joined the Christian Writers Guild and began a quest to expand my technical writing career to include writing for eternity. I recently read it again and reflected on how it motivated me. 

The book opens with a discussion about eternity and how, even though we can't comprehend it with our minds, we somehow know internally that it exists. The introduction and the first chapter started my thought processes down a path of contemplating life and eternity, but it was the allegory in chapters two through eight that motivated me to take action.

The allegory is set in the kingdom of Affabel and the school of Endel. At the end of ten years, students are given wealth and responsibility for a five-year period that determines how they'll live for 150 years. The allegory follows five students (Independent, Deceived, Faint Heart, Selfish and Charity) during the five-year period of testing and ends with the day of judgment.

Hunter's Moon

Hunter's Moon was the 14th book in the Doc Ford novels written by Randy Wayne White, a local Southwest Florida author. I've always been drawn his books because they are mystery novels with a familiar local setting. Instead of reading about some far away exotic location or imaginary place, it is amusing to read about places I grew up around.

In this novel, Doc Ford saves a former United States president from assassination on one of the local private islands. He then springs the former president loose from his security team and travels with him to South America to prove the president's wife was murdered by an arsonist instead of killed in a plane crash as reported. Adventure and suspense follow the two of them from Southwest Florida to the Florida Keys to South America and back to the States.

I enjoyed the story - the mystery and suspense. However, like many other secular novels - including previous Doc novels - I found the foul language, sparse as it was, distracting and unnecessary.

"The Shack"

I read "The Shack" because of the controversy surrounding it. I wanted to find out for myself what was so good (according to some) and so bad (according to others). Since finishing the book, I went online and read some of the posts concerning the book. Wow! There are certainly many heated discussions with very strong, opposing views out there.

You'll be disappointed if you're looking for an opinion supporting either of the extremes in this blog. I do, however, have multiple opinions about the book. As a writer, I thought the writing was okay, but not excellent. As a woman, I thought it was a good story because the conflict was resolved. I, like most women, want to fix everything and have resolution to circumstances and problems. As a Christian, I was comforted by the personification of personal relationships with God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, yet, at the same time, disturbed by the humanistic portrayal of the Holy Trinity.

In summary, I think the book is a very edgy, fictional story about having a relationship with God. Do I recommend this book, think it is life changing, a great novel, etc.? No. Do I not recommend this book, think it is heresy, from Satan, etc.? No. I leave it up to you to read it or not. However, if you do decide to read it, prepare to be affected - either positive or negative.

One final thought. While parts of the book disturbed my personal belief system, I kept thinking "... for whoever is not against us is for us." Thus, in the end, if one soul is won for Christ because it was written and read, then it fulfilled its Christian fiction purpose. If lukewarm Christians find passion because they read it, then it fulfilled its Christian fiction purpose. If strong Christians become more passionate and resolute in their faith because they read it, then it fulfilled its Christian fiction purpose.

SNOOPY and "It Was a Dark and Stormy Night"

The phrase "it was a dark and stormy night" was originally penned in 1830 by Edward Bulwer-Lytton's novel, Paul Clifford. It has since been used in many books, movies, television shows, and campfire settings, but the most famous use of this line is linked to Charles Schulz and his Snoopy character.

The book captures the essence of writers block, scattered thoughts, and run-on sentences. I can so relate to Snoopy, the writer. Take a moment and enjoy this delightful morsel of extravagance.

I love it! Thank you Shirley.