Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. Jude v3 As a writer, I’m what’s called a “pantser”. That is, I write by the seat of my pants; no outline, or notes, just an idea. I sit down and start writing. I’ve often thought the writers of the scriptures may have done the same thing under the sudden

“It is not the responsibility of knights errant to discover whether the afflicted, the enchained and the oppressed whom they encounter on the road are reduced to these circumstances and suffer this distress for their vices, or for their virtues: the knight's sole responsibility is to succour them as people in need, having eyes only for their sufferings, not for their misdeeds.” Miguel Cervantes. Don Quixote is an interesting character. He is amiable, a well-reasoned convers

“Why don't you all fade away (Talkin' 'bout my generation) And don't try to dig what we all s-s-say (Talkin' 'bout my generation)” The Who One of the things I remember most about 1969 is how a generation proud of being better educated than their parents and sure they knew how to run the world, decided to use their self-proclaimed victimhood and exclusion was a valid reason for the violent destruction of American values. Spurred on by teachers and employing a well-develo

Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 2 Corinthians 6:17 Diversity, equity, and inclusion, the words flood our culture and spring from the lips of the people around us as if they are holy writ and to suggest otherwise is sheer blasphemy. In its day, Corinth was a very cosmopolitan city, a crossroads for races, religions, and cultures. So, it is not as though Paul was writing in a vacu

I’m a fiction writer. It’s work even though I love it. Of course, there are some aspects of it that I love more than others, like typing The End...I really love that part. As a fiction writer, there are some assumptions I make about my work. The first is that my readers understand that I am spinning…not lies exactly, but imaginary tales that sound real. I don’t expect them to make life decisions based on what I say. This last week, I found there are others who make a living r

“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world…” Titus 2:11-12 You need not be a Christian to recognize this truth. The major religions of the world do, and the minor ones generally have an amendment that says their deviations are really just another way of stating it. So, why bother with Christianity when there are easier a

“A despotic government knows no principle but WILL. Whatever the sovereign wills to do, the government admits him the inherent right, and the uncontrouled power of doing. He is restrained by no fixed rule of right and wrong, for he makes the right and wrong himself and as he pleases. Thomas Paine It is now taught that the American founding was not guided by Christian principles. The kindest reasoning behind that position is that the founders were Deists and thus more follo

I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. C.S. Lewis calle

"I, Jack LaFountain, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God." I took this oath fifty-four years ago. It is still in e

Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners… 1Timothy 1:9 I have two fathers, an earthly one and a heavenly one. I share their image and likeness both physically and spiritually. They taught me many of the same lessons and formed in me many of the same values. There, I will depart for the expected and cover some unusual ground. My earthly father was not what most people would call a relig

A line from one of my favorite songs invites the hearer to “call me irresponsible”. If you’ve ever heard me sing it, you might be inclined to call me tone deaf as well. It might be a valid comment, but we’re not here for that today. The point is that while I spend much of my time living in imaginary worlds, I am not immune to opinions in the real world. The world has changed a great deal in the last seventy years, and so have I, just not as much as some would like. One thin

Very soon, I will be installed as the Commander of American Legion Post 237 in Huntsville, Alabama. I blame my penchant for volunteering and the fact that I ran unopposed for creating this situation. There will be times when I rue the decision and other times that I will feel happy with it. That’s the way life works when you follow your heart. Whatever the next year brings, win, lose, or draw, I am convinced that the effort will be worth it. That’s because I’m proud to be a

When I became a Christian in 1974, God seemed to care about a great many things. He cared about what I read and watched. He cared about how I dressed, how I spent my time, and how I spoke. He seemed to care about everything, even down to how I thought about things. The church had an opinion about many things too. I must admit, the two were not always the same. So, I studied the scriptures and sided with God where the two diverged in the woods. If you recognize the reference

Cain was cursed by God, so if he gets a bad rap, it’s deserved. Be that as it may, the one thing that he’s remembered for saying is a legitimate question. He used it to try and deflect God’s attention from his more serious crime, and the question went unanswered. The assumption among most folks is that the answer is “yes”. It seems almost needless to say that I disagree with that assumption. I am not my brother’s keeper, and I don’t want to be. I love him too much for that.

During the closing days of 1941, the “Greatest Generation” began marching off to war. Their heroism is the stuff of legends. Their dedication, sacrifice, and patriotism are beyond reproach. They deserve to be called the Greatest Generation. Line upon line of white tombstones around the world are a testimony to that. Without taking a thing from them, I want to tell a story of faith, loyalty, and dedication patterned after St. Paul’s hall of heroes. The eleventh chapter of He

When I was born seventy-some years ago, I came with pre-loaded software. The combination of my parents' DNA determined that I was to have brown eyes, black hair, and grow to be five feet eight inches tall. If you believe writers are born, not made, there is that too. I am thankful to my parents for all those things, even my propensity to be overweight. But how much did my birth make me my father’s son? When I look in the mirror, I can see traces of him in my reflection. He

And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee. Acts 24:25 Paul was in prison (again) for being a troublemaker. The charge, as it should be for every Christian, was true. His preaching upset the established order from the synagogue to the councils of the church to the throne room. Paul’s defense struck a chord with Felix, and that is always t

What does a writer think about before starting a new work? Obviously, I can’t speak for everyone. My own answer varies from book to book. As I’m about to start book three in the Tettias series, I thought I’d let you peek behind the scenes. On the offhand you’re the one person in the world who has not read Trails of Troubles and Roads of Battle, I’ll bring you up to date. Bryn Bou, our hero, is planning to drop out of the military academy just before graduation. To complicat

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. Galatians 2:20-21 I have misquoted this passage for years. I believe I’m not alone in that mistake. My eyes and my ears led me to that conclusion. I’m not ashamed to ad

Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, the