Patrick Todoroff's Blog, page 41
August 2, 2012
On having a female protagonist
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A couple of my favorite books you’ve never heard of are James Strickland’s “Looking Glass” and “Irreconcilable Differences”. And while we’re mentioning esoteric cyberpunk authors, I also appreciate Marc Giller’s “Hammerjack” and “Prodigal”. Aside from the fact both those authors were completely gracious to a newb writer, their novels feature strong female leads. Something I appreciate and am emulating to some degree in Clar1ty Wars. Seeb, the street-smart Iranian woman who fenced the black market Clar1ty shipment is in the center of this vulgar little brawl that’s spilling out into the streets, and I want her to be a tough but captivating character.
As a male writer, the challenge is to avoid rendering her as some androgynous drone, or worse, a man with boobs. I need info on how/where to get intelligent advice on creating a distinctly strong, female lead. Any input would help. Thanks.
Love means saying ‘You’re wrong’.
MORE CONTROVERSY AND THEOLOGY. SKIP IT IF NEED BE.
I have a hard time with folks who single out homosexuality as a peculiar evil, quite literally demonizing it as responsible for everything from 9/11, to KIAs in Iraq/Afghanistan, to the national debt. Why? Because it is included in the 1 Cor.6:9-11 list, along with numerous other types of conduct/attitudes of heart, that are all unacceptable to God.
I also have a hard time with people who deny homosexuality is sinful or displeasing to God… because it is included in a list (1 Cor6:9-11) along with numerous other types of conduct/attitudes of heart that are all unacceptable to God.
Some Christians seem to delight in pointing out sin; others seem afraid to call it what it is.
“I want to love people. Not judge them.”
Fine, except the Jesus who said “Judge not lest ye be judged” also said “Judge a righteous judgment.” The first referred to not jumping to conclusions, the second to examining the evidence. Christians are commanded concerning both.
LOVE DOES NOT EQUAL SALVATION
There is confusion in Christian circles as to what “Love” and “Salvation” are. Lines are getting blurry.
According to John 3:16 and Romans 5:6-11 God loves you before you’re saved. That is a tremendous comfort, but notice you’re not saved because He loves you, rather He loves you and made a way (Jesus) for you to be saved. There’s a Hell of a difference there.
God’s Love for us stems from His very nature, despite our hostile heart and sinful conduct. Salvation is a specific gift accessed by personal repentance (turning away from sin) and putting faith in Jesus’ Death, Burial and Resurrection. (turning towards God) The distinction is crystal clear throughout the entire New Testament.
The entire Gospel Story is God coming down and saying to sinful man – “You’re wrong. In fact, you’re making yourself my enemy, and are utterly unable to save yourself, but I love you so much I’m going to pay for your crimes with my life. This will provide you not only with a way to escape Divine Justice, but complete transformation and adoption into an Eternal Family as well. Choose which road you’ll take.”
SURRENDER
C.S. Lewis summed up the Mankind’s dilemma when he said we aren’t simply broken creatures who need mending, but rebels who must lay down their arms. God offers a full and complete pardon in the Son, Jesus. This is free to any who confess their crimes and want to leave the ranks of the traitorous. God Loves you and offers Salvation in Jesus Christ.
Even Pardoned, we’re subject to the struggles, flaws, foibles common to all Humanity. We still wrestle with the Frankenstein of our fallen nature, an imperfect life in a broken world. Yet we are redeemed in our imperfection.
However, the fuzzy theology of Moral Equivalency insists anger/adultery/duplicity is the same as sexual immorality, then demands that grace either writes us all a pass, or none of us see Glory.
That’s correct – in a way. Sin is sin, and Grace does indeed cover our imperfections. But if I persist in lying, or adultery, or stealing, or whatever, then rationalize sinful behavior with some brand of mental gymnastics that helps me evade the conviction of the Holy Spirit, I’m kidding myself to think I can use Jesus as my “Get out of Jail” free card.
That isn’t some legalistic tightrope salvation-by-moral-perfection theology. It’s salvation-by-transforming-faith theology.
What Gospel are we preaching, believing in, if not the Gospel that forgives and transforms? What happened to 2 Cor: 5:17-21?
I will show the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Sovereign LORD, when I show myself holy through you before their eyes. – Ezekiel 36:23
I’m puzzled and not a little concerned when Christians – ministers included – mince around the issue of same-sex sexual immorality these days. It isn’t ‘hatred’ to call the liar, the thief, the adulterer, the proud, the murderer, to repent and believe God to forgive and transform their particular sinful inclinations or addictions. Yet how is it we succumb to the accusation in this one area? Do we expect good intentions or sincerity will compensate for deliberate trespass over a very clear Scriptural boundary?
Christians do a tremendous disservice to their Savior, to the Gospel, and to the Holy Spirit when they neglect to point out the tragic, eternal consequences of deliberately continuing in behavior symptomatic of a sinful, rebellious nature. Like the ones mentioned in 1 Cor 6:9-11. To paraphrase the Apostle, he’s telling believers not to kid themselves; a person cannot deliberately continue to engage in such conduct and go to Heaven. The unregenerate past is under the Blood, but the verse “Love covers a multitude of sins” doesn’t apply here.
God’s heart is always toward redemption, but salvation is for those who admit their sin – not those who deny it.
This next statement will cause problems too, but here it is: The mission of the church of Jesus Christ is not to love people. It’s to preach the Gospel of Repentance and Salvation through Faith in Jesus Christ. Loving people is the heart, the posture in which we carry out that task, but Jesus said if it comes down choosing between to Him or someone else, we must pick up our cross and stand with Him. We are commanded not to be ashamed of Him and His words in a sinful and adulterous generation. Like Peter said in Acts 4:12 – “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
Standing with Jesus isn’t hatred, it’s love. And He’s the only hope for broken, sinful Humanity.
“Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. If I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, in order to save his life, that wicked person shall die for his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. But if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, or from his wicked way, he shall die for his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul.” Ezekiel 3:17-19
August 1, 2012
The Clar1ty Wars pre-release notes.
Several thoughts on The Clar1ty Wars.
1. It’s on the installment plan.
The series is being released in three segments. Consequently, while each section will be complete in itself, the entire story won’t tie up until the third and final portion. Each act will be available as an inexpensive e-book, and there will be a larger single volume compilation at the end. Some readers might not have the patience for the serialized format, but that’s how the story is unfolding. Apologies in advance if you expect an entire novel right now. “One Bad Apple” puts the pieces on the board. The rest is on the way.
2. Wear your water-wings.
I love immersive fiction. Novels like Neuromancer, Finch, or even Kingkiller Chronicles makes me sit up and pay attention. They force me to use my brain and interact with the story. Now the challenge in writing that way is to throw someone in the deep-end but leave enough floaties bobbing around so they don’t drown. I believe I did so, but if you’re looking for a traditional linear plot with build-up and clear explanations, these aren’t for you.
3. It’s an EVENTS story
The Clar1ty Wars focuses on people caught up in huge events, in this case, the event of a covert, civil war between a planetary government and the massive financial entities that have dominated them for nearly a century. It’s a mosaic composed of various incidents, characters, points-of-view that individually seem disparate but actually form a larger picture. There are recurring characters who will develop over the course of the story, it is divided into a traditional three-act sequence, but I wanted to capture the feeling of multiple individuals caught up in a rip-tide of history.
4. Spiritual Dynamics and Christian Themes
My desire to integrate faith and fiction hasn’t lessened. I simply want to make sure such characters and themes are organic to the storyline, rather than tacking on obligatory “Come to Jesus” moments at random intervals. The seeds are there. They need time and room to grow.
Thanks again to everyone who read them, provided feedback, and took the time to comment. I truly hope you enjoy The Clar1ty Wars series and stick with them to the end. It’s going to be a wild ride.
Amazon willing, OBA will be out in a week.
July 26, 2012
We’re all in trouble
WARNING: Theological Post. If this doesn’t interest you, give it a pass. Thanks.
RTFM*
The latest furor over the owners of Chick Fil A supporting traditional marriage has me puzzled. (Read examples HERE and HERE) Put aside the fact that in a free society both sides have the right to hold and support values in-line with their conscience/convictions, however disagreeable to the opposition, I’m wondering if anyone has actually read the New Testament. The whole thing, I mean. Not to cherry pick Scriptures appropriate to their position, but simply for what it says.
Where the Old Testament essentially divided the world into the ‘righteous and unrighteous’ (righteousness being a standing and conviction towards God by adhering to moral laws and ceremonial regulations. Such things made you legally right but failed to address deeper issues of the heart) Jesus in the New Testament divides the world into ‘those who admit their sin and those who don’t.’
Those who do are invited to come to Him for complete forgiveness, a new nature and relationship, and Eternal Life, regardless of what those sins were. It’s all free of charge. He’s paying. Those who are “All set. Thank you very much.” fall off Life’s last cliff and have to try and build their own wings on the way down with whatever they have at hand. Good luck with that.
It’s customary to trot out Scriptures here like validating props, but I’m not in the mood. Go read all of the third chapter of John’s Gospel out loud later and hear for yourself what Jesus said. I am compelled however to point out that Christianity rests on an individual’s response to the Person of Jesus Christ as revealed in the New Testament, not on their reaction to people’s sexual choices.
The simple fact is we’re all in trouble. Every single one of us, for various, very primal reasons. Grading sins and leveraging moral behavior for brownie points with the Lord doesn’t work. (Props to Dante for dropping the mad prose, yo. But there’s nothing even remotely like that in the Bible.) And before you blame me as a hater and bigot, claiming I’m the reason people reject Christianity, you must understand folks will be be weighed and found wanting on Judgment Day long before they ever get to the “Pat was a big, fat meanie” part. The Good News for all of us is that God Himself has provided an antidote, a free and complete pardon in Jesus to anyone who wants it.
This debate isn’t going away. People on both sides believe what they believe, want what they want, and hate to admit when they’re wrong. I’m sure the usual Scriptures will get airtime: Romans 1: 18-32, 1 Cor 6: 9-11, 1 Thess. 4:3-8, etc, etc. Invariably, someone will exclaim “Jesus never said anything about homosexuality. So there!” as if it’s a trump card. (Now Jesus didn’t say anything about insider trading, dealing heroin, child porn, or brushing your teeth. But…) In fact, He did:
“Remember Lot’s Wife.” – Luke 17: 32.
FWIW, here’s my advice: Flee to the Savior and don’t look back.
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*RTFM = read the flipping manual
