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I have discovered a bit more of what prayer really is and have decided to use this blog to pray. Few people read it anymore since I've moved to my website so I think I can do this carefully. Dear Lord, You know my heart's desire. You know that I want to write for you--that I want my words to glorify you. I know that our soul purpose in life is to glorify you so I know that this is in line with your will. You know the shortness of funds for my next book and my CD. You know that this book could change so much and the CD could give hope to the hopeless. Your word says that you hold your word above your name--that your promises written will be fulfilled because your integrity is at stake. Your word also says that you will provide all our needs according to your riches in glory through Jesus Christ. The finances are a need. I have held back from asking you because I have wanted to rely on me. So now I am asking. You know the cost. You know the needs. Your word says you will supply according to your will and the purpose of glorifying you is in line with your will. And so, I will trust you. Please provide the needed funds and thank you in advance. In Jesus' name. Amen. |
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In view of the changes in my world I thought that it would be more sensible to move this site to homesteadblogger.com. I would be thrilled to visit with you there. It allows me to blog about anything while still keeping up with my Bible study postings on my website at www.authordonnadawson.com I will miss this site but sometimes God moves us on. |
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This week is the week of the happy dance. Last fall I took the plunge and entered a writing contest. I placed my novel Vengeance in three categories in The Word Guild Awards. This is Canada's biggest Christian writers' guild and I took a deep gulp as I dropped my entry into the mail slot. And then came the waiting. It isn't easy watching the days tick by, knowing that a panel of people are reading your work and judging its merits. The book was entered in September; the contest judged in June. Sigh. And then came the shortlist. Released this week it contained the names of the two finalists for each category. I scanned the pages looking for the categories. Best Contemporary Novel. There it was--Donna Dawson, Vengeance. I let out a whoop nearly giving my hubby a coronary. I moved on. Best Mystery/Suspense Novel. Again! Another whoop and my daughter scrambled up the stairs from her bedroom in the basement. Her hair stuck out at odd angles telling me that my vocal calesthenics had aroused her from sleep. I shared the great news. My book was a finalist novel in both categories. I held my breath. Dare I hope for a third? Alas, no finalists had been chosen for the last category but all is was not lost as that category--Best Independently Published Novel--is to be announced at the Awards Gala in June. While I still have a bit more waiting to do, I am enjoying my week of dancing. God led this book into being and he blessed my obedience this week. I am more than content. |
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"Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people." Matthew 24:9-11 NIV
The persecution of Christians began with Nero. It was no wonder that the believers at that time thought they were in the end time prophecies. Nero was accused of setting the city of Rome on fire in 64 AD. In order to shift the blame, he said the Christians did it. The following excerpt was taken from the Annals of the historian Tacitus and documented the beginnings of the persecutions.
"Therefore, to stop the rumor [that he had set Rome on fire], he [Emperor Nero] falsely charged with guilt, and punished with the most fearful tortures, the persons commonly called Christians, who were [generally] hated for their enormities. Christus, the founder of that name, was put to death as a criminal by Pontius Pilate, procurator of Judea, in the reign of Tiberius, but the pernicious superstition - repressed for a time, broke out yet again, not only through Judea, - where the mischief originated, but through the city of Rome also, whither all things horrible and disgraceful flow from all quarters, as to a common receptacle, and where they are encouraged. Accordingly first those were arrested who confessed they were Christians; next on their information, a vast multitude were convicted, not so much on the charge of burning the city, as of "hating the human race."
When Jesus stated in verse nine that Christians would be handed over to be persecuted and put to death that was only the beginning. He finished the sentence by saying that all nations would hate Christians because of him. The phrase 'all nations' was key in this portion of his prophecy. It was a disclaimer of sorts. He knew full well that the Roman empire was only a portion of the world's nations and yet he said ALL nations. It is one more verification that Christianity would have to reach a global size before we could begin to assume we were near the end of the age. What is referred to as the 'free world' is quickly losing its love for Christianity and there has never been any love lost from other religions toward Christianity. Much of that is due to the complacency that runs rampant in our churches.
As of 2000, Christianity is now the most persecuted religion world-wide. More than 200 million Christians around the world suffer from beatings, imprisonment and death for their faith. But Jesus saw it all. And he warned every generation to be prepared. The world hated him. Why should it love us?
And then Jesus goes on to make a very sad statement. "At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other". Jesus' life on earth was a living, breathing example of what was to come. He gathers us to himself if we are willing. He calls to us as he called to the disciples. We can choose and many did choose to follow him. And yet it was only the most persistent that stayed to the bitter end. The world hated him. It hates us. And many will fall away like many abandoned Christ then. As we look back through recent history we see that a wide-spread apostacy has swept through a number of nations. The most predominant faith in Europe now is the Muslim faith while North America is quickly shifting its weight toward humanism. There are a few silent and persistent Christians who still cling to Christ and his word but the ranks dwindle as the persecution is beginning. It's too easy to settle for the luke-warm variety of compromise Christianity.
In the final verse of our selection Jesus talks about false prophets. The first false prophet showed up on the scene all those centuries back shortly after Jesus died. And now, we see an abundance of false prophecy. We have leaders who stand in front of TV cameras and pulpits and preach their ideas instead of what scripture really says. They teach an idea and twist verses around it until that verse appears to compliment it--in spite of the preceding and following verses. And we have the masses of "Christians" who don't read their Bibles any more because they don't have to do so leaving them open to false teachings and beliefs. There is an abundance of false faith such as history has never seen before. So are we there? Well, let's read on. |
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You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains." Matthew 24:6-8 NIV
This portion of scripture can be vague while at the same time being very pointed. Here, Jesus made it plain that this was the beginning of the end. But what exactly does that mean? There have always been wars and rumors of wars. All through history mankind has vied for world dominance--at least dominance of the world they knew. But there is a dividing line in this scripture reading. Jesus began with the vague prophecy of wars and rumors of wars. He wasn't kidding. From that point on the Roman Empire made a deliberate attempt to conquer all of the known world. They had managed to succeed in many nations and yet those nations rebelled. Jesus said that his disciples shouldn't be alarmed because such things must happen. And then he enters that tiny word. 'But'. A word that changes the tone of any writing. When you see the word 'but' you know that there will be a mood shift. He tells the disciples the end is still off in the future and with that statement he begins the description of the distant future time when his kingdom would come.
During this time period North America was unknown. Britain was only a vague island at the far outskirts of the Roman Empire. Almost every known nation was under the might of the Roman Empire. It was unfathomable that nation would rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. Jesus knew, as he made that statement, that there would come a time when the kingdoms of the world would rise up against one another--that war would envelope the world. And since North America wasn't on the map until Columbus, the end couldn't come. Because his salvation was meant to cover the earth so was his kingdom. But that couldn't happen until all nations became known.
It was no surprise when WWI started that many theologians began to declare the end of the world. After all, two key elements to Jesus' prophecy in Matthew 24 had been fulfilled. All the nations were known--or at least the continents were--and they were all prepared to go to war against each other. But something was missing. Something held back his return. It was the rest of the prophecy that many chose to ignore. The earthquakes and famines. Even when WWII hit, the world hadn't yet experienced world wide famine and earthquakes. And now according to the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UN/ISDR) in a report released in 2004 natural disasters are on the rise globally. It is blamed on global warming as though man is still in control--as though it is all centered around us. Is there historical precidence for it? Apparently not. History records isolated disasters but no where is there a record of world wide natural trauma such as we have seen over the past five years. Does that mean we're at the end yet? No. We are only beginning to enter into the birth pangs according to Jesus' words. Stay tuned. |
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"As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. 'Tell us,' they said, 'when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?' Jesus answered: 'Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many.' " Matt 24:3-5 NIV I don't know about you but when I read that Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, I pictured a softly rolling knoll covered with lush grass, but in reality the Mount of Olives is a mountain ridge that runs east of Jerusalem. It has three peaks that run north to south, the highest of which is 2,683 ft high. It is well known for its olive groves and has quite a rocky terrain. Interestingly enough it was a place of burial--a strange choice for a Rabbi to preach his sermons. And it was also the perch from which the Romans camped during the 70 AD seige. When we read this portion of scripture, it's important to remember all that has come before it. Jesus just delivered the seven woes to the Pharisees. He just finished telling his disciples about the hypocrasy of the religious leaders and how they dressed for the sake of importance while their followers were spiritually dying. He mourned over Jerusalem longing to "gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings". He finished off chapter 23 with a direct quote from the book of Psalms where the prophetic teaching is a direct reference to the coming of the Messiah and his rejection. I'm sure his disciples must have been stunned. In verse 39 of 23 he declared himself as the fulfillment of that prophecy and then he went on to pronounce his own prophecy about the temple. The disciples were primed and ready to listen. And as he sat on the Mount--a graveyard and the outlook for the very army that would fulfill his prophecy, his followers wanted to hear more. When they asked in verse three for Jesus to tell them about the end of the age, they thought they knew what he was telling them. They were Jews after all. They had been raised to know the Torah and the Psalms by rote. It didn't matter that they couldn't read. Every Jewish boy was taught to memorize since God told Moses to proclaim the Word to Israel's children and to tie that Word on their foreheads. So these men--these fishermen and doctors and lawyers and commoners--they knew exactly what Jesus was telling them. That he was ushering in the Kingdom of God. The problem they had was in thinking in earthly terms while Jesus was thinking in heavenly terms. The kingdom they wanted was one that would rid them of the Romans and set up a King on the throne of David. Jesus fit the bill on both sides of his family tree. We can see that in the genealogies of Matthew and Luke. He was of the line of David through and through. He had just proclaimed himself the Saviour through reference to the Psalmist's prophecies. And they were ready to forge ahead and reclaim the land of Israel. If we could re-write their words, they might lsound something like this: 'Jesus, tell us when you will come in the name of the Lord. How will you publicly announce your kingship? And how will you end the Roman age?'
But Jesus offered a different interpretaion as he spoke. "Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming 'I am the Christ' and will deceive many." What did Jesus mean? They were waiting for a hero but Jesus was preparing them for the ushering in of a kingdom that was immensely more far reaching than just to the Jewish nation. And in his statement, again, he prophecied. He saw clearly into what would happen. Just as the fall of the temple was fulfilled in 70 AD so was the beginning of the deception that would follow. Jesus knew that with the destruction of Jerusalem would come a scattering of its peoples--and its faith. He knew that usurpers would come calling themselves the Messiah. Men like Simon Bar Kokhba who rose up against the Romans to fight and ultimately lose. So when Jesus began to summarize the signs that would precede his coming, I'm sure the disciples were overwhelmed. The first sign of his coming would be a long line of deceivers who wanted to take his leadership role. This sign carried horizontally through history. It was not a single event. Jesus tried to show his disciples that there would be a large span of time between his pronouncement and his rule and he did so by saying 'many would come'. He reminded them that these 'many' would 'deceive many'. He knew that these 'many' would ultimately point the way to the one--the anti-christ. He wanted his followers to be prepared for the spirit of deception that would plague the Christian church in centuries to come. |
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In view of my last post, I thought it might be interesting to do a bit of a study on Matthew Chapter 24. Why would I pick this one chapter? Well, this just happens to be the chapter where Jesus explains the signs that would come with the end of the church age. I thought it might be beneficial to do short segments and simply dissect them. So without further adeu, let us begin.
Matthew 24:1-2 "Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its building. 'Do you see all these things?' he asked. 'I tell you the truth, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.' " (NIV)
We initially look at this portion of scripture and it seems pretty simple but Jesus was beginning the first of a series of prophecies that would lead us through church history. At the time that Jesus was uttering this particular prophecy Jerusalem was a busy hub of activity for the Jewish nation. But it was also under the authority of the Roman Empire and it was this very empire that allowed the extravagance of the temple to remain.
A few mere decades later the Emperor, Nero, also known by then as Imperato Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, decided he needed more money so he ordered his Judean governor, Gessius Florus, to confiscate it from the temple treasury. Gessius Florus proceeded to do as he was told but ended up crucifying some innocent bystanders over a joke made by Jewish citizens who 'passed the hat' to help poor Florus. That began the rebellion which likely wouldn't have started had it not been for the Roman Empire's penchant for starving Jewish citizens. The war began in 66 and carried through to 70.
In 66 a man by the name of Menahem, who, incidently, was referred to as the king of the Jews, raided the fortress of Masada. He was then declared openly as king of the Jews and he and his men, the Sicarians or dagger men, laid seige to Jerusalem. Menahem had Ananias the high priest killed and then very shortly after found himself dangling at the end of a rope. That nicely ended his short-lived reign.
Somebody in Rome got the hint and decided to replace Gessius Florus but the new guy, Gaius Cestius Gallus, decided that force was the best remedy to free Jerusalem. He wasn't prepared for the ambush by Eleaser son of Simon and managed to lose his standard and his pride. Over the next three years the two forces would struggle for dominance.
By 70 Nero had committed suicide, Vespasian ruled the army and his son Titus was doing the political tapdance to get in good with the new emperor Galba. Before he could get there Galba was lynched and the fight for the throne was on. Before long Vespasian slipped into the emperor's clothes and order was restored. This left Titus as the head of the army and on April 14, 70 which happened to coincide with the Passover, he laid seige to Jerusalem. With the city surrounded, the Jews finally united and prepared to defend their city. Starvation became the rule of the day for the Jews and some tried to escape only to find themselves nailed in various poses to crosses--nearly 500 per day were crucified.
Historian Josephus Flavius stated that the fire to the temple was set deliberately by the Roman soldiers however it has been questioned that perhaps he documented it this way to help Titus who was his friend. Cornelius Tacitus who later was appointed to the senate made it very plain that Titus had ordered it done. According to Josephus, the Romans levelled all the walls around Jerusalem right down to the bedrock. While many believe that the existing wall is one of the temple walls, both Josephus Flavius and Emperor Titus declared that the temple was completely destroyed. In Josephus' writings you will find: "It [Jerusalem with its walls] was so thoroughly laid even with the ground by those that dug it up to the foundation, that there was left nothing to make those that came thither believe it [Jerusalem] had ever been inhabited" (War VII.1,1).
So that first portion of scripture we just read was loaded with far more information than first thought. It was a profound collection of words and thoughts. Not only did Jesus say the temple would be destroyed--a blanket statement that time could have fulfilled without a prophet's utterance--but every stone was thrown down with not one left on another--exactly as Jesus had said. |
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I just had the coolest news. It appears that Hot Apple Cider--the Canadian anthology--is about to appear on 100 Huntley Street as the feature book of the month for February. Why is that so cool? Because I'm one of the 30 authors who contributed to the book! Woohoo! If you want to find out more go to http://www.hotapplecider.ca or go to the crossroads website listed below. http://www.crossroads.ca/broadcas/video2.php
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In my strange collection of busy moments I seem to have missed posting that my novel Vengeance is in the process of a blog tour. To find out what they are saying (and I haven't yet looked myself so I could very well be shooting myself in the foot) go to http://cfrblog.blogspot.com/ and see what they have to say.
Moving on from there, my apologies for all of you who came to my site only to find that the post I had written wasn't there. So, we'll try again.
Recently, my daughters went shopping in a nearby mall. They took our oldest grand daughter who is not yet two but is quite proud of her attempts at toilet training. The girls were trying on clothes in a particular store when my grand daughter informed them she had to go potty. Imagine our surprise when the girls found out that they could NOT use the store washroom. That it was only for employees. Needless to say, the clothes went unpurchased and the girls found another store only too willing to accommodate the little tyke's needs.
Does this ring true to you? I must admit, I kind of squirmed when I thought about it. How often do we sit in our church pews and surround ourselves with that feeling of exclusivity. We're members after all. We get the priviledges of church membership. While I understand the need for membership, I sometimes wonder if we lose peoples' interests in our determination to keep the lines firmly in place. Yes, I realize that we have to be careful to place people of sound theology in teaching positions but does it really hurt to have a non-member helping on the potluck dinner committee? Is the church going to collapse if the janitor hasn't signed on the dotted line or if a VBS camp incorporates helpers who haven't yet made that step? Of course not! I don't remember Jesus telling us anything about membership. But he did tell us to love one another as he loved us and that through that love others would come to know him.
That store manager didn't get it. She didn't understand that her callous behaviour lost her several customers--not just one. And often our churches don't get it either. When we live in our elite little worlds that don't allow non-members to become actively involved in the ministry we are at risk of losing those workers and the people around them. What is a soul worth these days? A bit of humility? A bit of mercy? Perhaps an overlooking of the letter of the law for the sake of grace? Something to ponder. |
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I never thought I would see myself writing. And then I never thought I would see myself speaking or singing--oh yes, God is working in that direction too--and now I sit here flabbergasted because it is sinking in that I will be writing. I remember asking God to give me a full-time career. As my daughters left home and my house emptied I clearly remember begging him, "don't let me become obsolete. I don't want to just sit at home and spend my life in a never ending cycle of household chores. I want my life to matter beyond the walls of my home." And he has answered that prayer in full measure. This year will bring a flurry of activity. I will be teaching night courses in creative writing at Fanshawe College. Who would have thought that those online university writing credits would have brought me so far? March will find me in the preliminary stages of cutting a CD. Yes, that's right--a CD. Over the course of 30 years, I have written songs--24 of them in fact--and God has placed people and circumstances in my path that will bring about the publishing of those songs. I'm excited and nervous. Excited because I know that God is using the gifts he loaned me and in using them others may just come to know of his great love, peace and forgiveness. Nervous because I am human and in being human my will can often get in the way. When that happens things usually start to fall apart at the seams. Not only are continued prayers appreciated but praise also that God is big enough to move beyond our shortcomings and work through us anyway. And that he loves us all so much that he tries over and over, in so many ways, to win our love in return. Many blessings as you go forth in the calling God has chosen for you. |
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I recently read a news article about a 90 plus man who was accused of brutally assaulting his children in their younger years. The children have finally overcome their victimized hesitance and the trial is in process. It isn't my place to say one way or the other whether or not he is guilty. I want to address the process itself. Should an aged abuser face prison time? After all, he or she is frail and the abuse took place so long ago. There are those who feel the answer should be no. The victims want to see justice done so they can move on with their lives so their obvious reply would be yes. What do I think? It's deeper than just a simple yes or no. We need to analyze the whole picture. Here we have the abuser. He or she was in their right mind (for the most part) when they performed the abuse. And then there's the victim/victims. They are scarred and damaged--sometimes too damaged to stand up and address the abuse immediately. Sometimes it takes years to see clearly enough to even acknowledge that their abuse was wrong and not their fault. And then we have time. They say time is a leveller of all things. Not necessarily so. Time give the victim a longer space of victimization--unless they choose to forgive. That's not an easy task when the abuser is still walking free. And then the abuser is left feeling he/she is not accountable--no matter how old they are. And then there are the other possible victims that can fill that space of time. So should this old man be imprisoned? In my view, if he is found guilty--yes. My mother, on her deathbed, said something so profound it has never left me. Through a wrinkled face yellowed with jaundice she whispered, "I still feel like I'm 20 inside." In that brief sentence, she reminded me that age doesn't change views--choice does. If the evidence points, without a shadow of a doubt, that this man abused his children, he should pay the penalty not because of law verses grace but because we all need to understand the consequences of our choices. And because the victims need to see that someone is championing their victimization. Can they forgive him? Can society forgive him? Most certainly and Christ would tell us to do so. And in forgiving, the victim can find healing and freedom from the ongoing after effects of abuse. But to trust him is another story. To blindly release him from the consequences of his actions is opening a door to allow other abusers a chance to ignore the cruelty they have performed on another human being. In imprisoning this one man, if he is found guilty, the judicial system sends a message to all who abuse. The message is this: "We will not tolerate this. In any form. At any time." And the Christian can still try to reach him through the consequences of his actions. |
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Often when we think of worship, we think of music and I have pondered on many occasions about its significance. What power does it hold over us? I have studied music all my life. With a 97% in preliminary theory, a third place in the Canadian National Vocal Competitions, certificates in bronze level ballroom dance, eight grades of piano, four years of flute and three years of guitar under my belt, I am well aware of the effects music can have on a person and it is no wonder that it plays such a prominant role in worship. What other venue engages all parts of the human species? Does work encapture our souls? Does academic study steal our attention? Can a movie or book move our emotions quite the same? Not really. While we can pour our efforts into our work and we can study the scriptures--something I whole-heartedly encourage--while we listen to sermons and read literature that is designed to uplift, only music permeats all parts of us at once. Have you been busy at a task when a favourite song came on the radio and immediately your attention was stolen? Have you had scripture jump at you in its full meaning once its profound words were put to melody? Even the best book or movie plot line can be side-railed by the right combination of words and tune. Worship in itself is a focusing of all parts of body, soul and spirit on our creator and all He is and has done. It is no wonder God chose music as a major form of worship. Even the least musical among us can appreciate the beauty of a well-composed song. How often do we underplay this important function in our personal and corporate worship. Perhaps, we may think, if we give it more importance we will pump up its leaders and workers to a state beyond humility. Or perhaps we will spend too much time turning our focus away from other modes of worship. And yet, time and time again, God calls us to pour ourselves out before him in music; drums, flute, lyre, tambourines and stringed instruments, trumpets and cymbals. It is no co-incidence that the churches with the greatest growth are filled with amazing music. What does this all have to do with writing? Imagine putting into song the words God has given a writer. Imagine the potent combination of written inspiration with musical inspiration. As God moves us to follow him--to worship him--let us pour all we have into whatever method he reveals in his word. He doesn't ask for perfection. None would meet the mark. But he does ask us to put our all into it. If that means learning then let us learn. If that means participating then let us participate. Let it never be said as we stand before our Lord that we didn't do all we could to "make a joyful noise" unto him. Blessings. |
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Today I watched my daughter ride our horse in the midst of a mild snow blizzard. She's an adult and a competent rider. On a sunny day, the horse would trust her. He would enjoy the warmth and the sunshine; the fresh air and the smell of growing things. And he would amble along with ears perked and the occasional contented sigh. But not this day. Today, he hunches his back. He stares cautiously at every shadow. He glares a frustrated eye up at her from her perch in the saddle. He longs for the safety of the barn. What has changed? Certainly the horse hasn't changed. He is still the individual animal content to live his life as he sees fit. Content to trust we dominant members of the herd for his food and shelter. And she hasn't changed. Her hand still grips the reins with a firm control. Her leg steadily guides the same today as it always has. What has changed? The surroundings are different. Suddenly things aren't as they should be. They aren't as safe as he would like. The wind howls. The snow sifts around him. The cold bites. A slate sky calls of more snow soon and he can smell it in the air. And he's afraid. How like this we are with our creator. When things go well, we are content to blare out our beliefs and our confidence in Christ. But when the winds of societal change stir and the bitter words of antichrist are thrown into our faces, we balk. It's safer in the barn. The cold of hard hearts can't hurt us there. And yet our Master hasn't changed. He is still willing to guide us with a strong and kind hand to the destination he has chosen for us. All he asks for is our submission to the reins. He hasn't changed. We haven't changed. Only the circumstances around us shift and alter. Will we struggle against our master's command or will we submit? Will we trust in his ability to see what we don't understand? As you enter into the Christmas season, may our Lord hem you in like the fence of a strong pasture. May he bless you with abundance under the shelter of his providence. May he teach you the truth--the eternal truth. That he is the same today as he was two thousand years ago and an eternity to come. Many blessings and Merry Christmas. |
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While I may come and visit here from time to time, I'm finding that my writing ministry is leaving me with little time for multiple websites. So...I'll be sending some of you invitations to my writing website and if you wish, you can join me there. On another note, two of my three daughters will be hometeaching:) My third isn't married yet but intends to homeschool when the time comes. What a great compliment to God's ministry within our home. Blessings. |
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For the past few weeks I have been part of a judging panel for a book contest which will remain unnamed for obvious reasons. It has been an experience to say the least. I have read excellent and not so excellent work and have had to give an honest evaluation of it all. That isn't easy because I know how difficult it is to write. I know it's easy to miss a few spelling mistakes and grammar mistakes. I know that the mind is a fickle and erratic thing that is prone to jumping from idea to idea. I know that because I write too. I have discovered that to judge a book is not necessarily to decide if I've liked that book or not. That is an unfair evaluation because I am not broad in my genre preferences. So in order to be fair I had to find a way to critique based on an unbiased preference. With each book I read I asked myself a number of questions. Does this reader subject themselves to a competent editor? In otherwords, are they so in love with their work that they aren't willing to have someone criticize it? Writers are wonderful people--for the most part--but we all have this problem with putting our hearts and minds on paper and then saying "No! Don't touch it! I want to keep the flaws because they are MY flaws!" That's what makes editing so painful. We are relying on someone to point out the flaws and it's hard not to take that personally. I give points to the writer who has the courage to let someone "murder their darlings" as my Long Ridge Writers Group teachers called it. That should eliminate the manuscripts that have serious grammatical and structural errors. Then there are the writers who don't understand genre. It is so important to know what categories your book falls into. If I am judging an inspirational romance and someone submits something with erotic material into it, I'm going to immediately deduct points because any inspirational work has modesty at its core. If I am judging mystery and someone submits something with a heavy romance theme than I know they haven't read the categories listed in the contest guidelines and haven't seen that the contest has a mystery/romance category. This is one of the quickest ways to get dropped to a lower score. And finally, I look for flow. Flow in plot. Flow in words without being too wordy. Flow in energy. Consistency through out the book. I want to get sucked into a book no matter what the genre and jarring stops and starts are a quick way to lose me. When it is set in Hollywood and then suddenly jumps to Detroit without a chapter change or the extra space or * * * that let's me know one train of thought is ended and another is beginning, I get a bit frustrated and the points drop. I have enjoyed my stint at judging. It's been fun to read the creative new ideas out there but I have also learned alot about what to do and what not to do before submitting work to a contest. Don't just write it and send it in. Set it aside for a week or two and then read it again out loud. Have an editor read it. So what if it costs a bit of money. Better to have one critique your work than many. Ask for honest feedback from readers. "Did you see mistakes? Were there areas of the writing that left you confused?" It may not help you this time around but it will certainly help your next book or article. Writing isn't just an idea slapped down on paper. It should be an expression of one's thoughts in a way that shows the writer is constantly growing, learning and improving. It's fine to put our hearts out there but before we do, we should make certain that we offer the best we can give and if that means having a judge or editor or critiquer or publisher tell us that it needs improvement in certain areas--so be it. It will make for better reading in the end. And isn't that the goal? |
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It has been a packed summer for me with book signings (which I keep forgetting to post here) and just summery type stuff. One thing I've begun to observe is the break in the chain of publishing in Canada. I am beginning to see a sense of inferiority in the Canadian writing industry and it filters all through the chain of command stopping just shy of the reader. We have the publishers. For some reason we think that if we are published in Canada we really aren't legitimate writers. And this is sometime reinforced by book stores that have been convinced that New York publishers are the end all and be all. Then there are the distributors. Again, it is assumed that we need a US distributor to get our books into the States. Then we get to the book stores. No Canadian section. No Canadian books. No Canadian authors featured. Having said that, I do realize that there are some who have dived in and are rightfully proud of the Canadian content of their stores and to those store owners--thank you, thank you, thank you! But far too many people in the publishing process still believe that Canadians can't write, edit, publish, distribute or promote. Nonesense! I am proud to say that I have done my books in Canada because I'm Canadian. Funny thing is: the American readers understand this concept completely! They couldn't imagine using another nation's publishing company, promotion company, distribution company to get their books out there. And what do the readers of Canada think? As I have continued to chug my way from book signing to book signing, I have discovered that Canadians want to read what Canadians write. I've had people buy my books just because I'm Canadian. They didn't even care what they were about! Now how crazy is that? And yet, they are frustrated because they have to beg for Canadian books to be brought into stores. Isn't it time Canadians embraced all things Canadian? Just a thought. |
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More and more I am discovering that home taught and Christian School taught students have a love of writing. I see this as I travel teaching writing workshops in those venues. As my books are getting out there the demand is rising for the fifty minute workshops and it is so refreshing to see the enthusiasm in the next generation. No, we don't need video games or fancy lures to get our children reading books. They simply need to understand that it can be fun. At one time I thought reading was going to go the way of the dinosaur but now I don't believe so. There is nothing better than diving into a plot while curled up in a big cushy arm chair with a cup of cocoa. Our children are discovering that and it brings a song to my heart. Well done you home teachers! |
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It has been far too long since I've visited my home teaching friends. I hope summer has been good to you. I have been really busy. It appears God is expanding my ministry from writing novels to speaking in home teaching conferences to teaching writing workshops at Christian schools nation wide. It leaves me little time to actually write for extended periods but He knows what it is best for me. Drop by and let me know how you're doing. Blessings. |
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Donna Dawson Revelation 13:16 - 17 (NIV) Often, I receive, in my email, those electronic missives that smack of government conspiracy and, for the most part, I file them under the little red X. But on rare occasion, the subject matter tweaks my interest and begs me to qualify. Such was the case with the email entitled "Bill C-51?the loss of freedom". |
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So now, you are far enough along in the Bible reading to be able to carry on on your own. I am continuing on offline as well. Let's see if we can finish reading The Book from cover to cover and be in that small group of people who have done so. |