Many of you know I have been writing for the last couple of years. I recently started a writers group – up to 24 members! – and it has helped each and every time. I have always felt like in some ways I was writing in the dark, without all the rules, tools, and guidance needed. Finally, I feel like I am writing at 90% of competency to get published. I would be happy to print / email anyone out a few pages so they can tell me what they think.
High school and college are about making friends. A few years out of college it is about a career and marriage.
I remember when I was 8 years old I told my family with utter conviction that I would NEVER stop playing with Legos.
I was probably more stubborn than most and I stopped when I was 15. (Kudos to those who never stopped!)
The same is true today. Just as my friends stopped playing with Legos, now the people around me are less concerned about making friends and are “playing” with their own family and career.
((Thankfully, I made a lot of great friends before the making friends period was over and they remain as valuable as ever. I’m also speaking in generalities and to my own experience (should be obvious:))
But I miss that easy connection with people, people who are focused on inviting others to their table, focused on finding instead of keeping, discovering instead of succeeding. And I wonder if I am looking at the Legos again, and once more need to set them aside; if I need to grow up with the rest of them, find a family and succeed.
Or should I hold true to the Legos, believing I will discover new stubborn Lego players?
Check it out. : )
Portland Fiction Writers Group
Each persons brings 3 copies of their fiction latest work to share and reviews 3 other people’s latest works. They bring no more than 10 printed double spaced pages (no laptops). The goal is to motivate authors to write regularly by providing a weekly reader base for regular critique, motivation, and help. |
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Portland Fiction Writers Group Monday Meetup Monday Meetups at Sound Grounds Coffee Shops Each persons brings 3 copies of their fiction latest work to share and reviews 3 other people’s latest works. They bring no more than 10 printed double spaced pages (no laptops). The goal is to motivate authors to write regularly by providing a weekly reader base for regular critique, motivation, and help. Sound Grounds Coffee Shop has tea, smoothies, coffee, basic sandwiches, soup, something for everyone! Thank you. See the full event details, including location, at http://www.meetup.com/PortlandWritersGroup/calendar/11682595/. |
In America we preach the freedom of religion as one of the pillars of our society. Religious preference is a protected class of people, and every Thanksgiving churches across America thank God for their religious freedom. Despite these laws and claims I would venture to say religious freedom in America is at risk. Let us ask some tough questions.
How free are we to express our religion in the public sphere?
We free are we to express our religion in the governmental sphere?
How free are we to express our religion in the occupational sphere?
What happens when we try to exercises religious freedom in any setting that is not private?
This is not a Christian question alone. This is a question for all religions in America.
What is the state of freedom of religions in America today?
I just bought the domain > freedomofreligions.com< and I’m contemplating what I want to do with it.
What follows those three words has a high chance of being wrong. It’s almost funny, almost, how wrong they can be.
For years I have preached to any willing ear the errors of the consumer based church. We have forgotten, in large part, the significance of the unity of Christ’s body. Each goes his or her own way to that gathering that best fits their felts needs, and so did I.
I came to Portland with a group of fantastic people and a fabulous bag of innovative ideas ready to bust out in the open. At first, we followed our convictions and visited churches as a whole group, wanting to immediately practice the unity of the church on a small scale. When the desire for ministry and a stable paycheck, a desperate felt need, grew large in my heart, I started apply for ministry positions, and the consequences never crossed my one track mind.
There was absolutely nothing wrong with applying to various churches and getting accepted by a wonderful congregation, except I was betraying my convictions. I had a need and I found the one particular church that could meet it. I led the example, blazed the path, and left my friends behind without a second thought. Perhaps I was arrogant enough to believe they would follow me where ever I went. (gross!) Now, my beloved friends are at as many different churches as they number, and I think I could point to one or many strong felt needs for their particular choices.
We have all found ourselves in the exact position we spoke against, close relationally, spiritually, and geographically, but divided in the body of Christ. I bring this up, not to highlight what I may consider their mistakes (forgive me), but to highlight my own. After all, I left first.
What now? My circumstances have changed drastically due to another numbered mistake and the limited number of my friends are scattered throughout the city. I can’t help but wonder what the future might have held, if I was considerate enough to myself and my friends to practice what I preached at the beginning. Now, there is little point to consider “what might have beens,” and I won’t dwell on it. I can only move forward, hoping this time to hold to my convictions and pray, knowing that circumstances are forever changing.
For those of you I’ve missed hanging out with lately here is a run down of what’s been happening.
Did someone forget to mention that it is an honor to have the President of the United States visit your school? Have we lost all respect for the position of the Presidency? I suppose we should also stop educating our children on political positions. Surely we can’t allow a democrat to promote his political opinion in a government run institution, it might pass for education.
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