Janet Sketchley's Blog: Tenacity, page 103
January 17, 2014
2014 Writing Goals
Do or do not. There is no try. ~Yoda
Master Yoda is my favourite Little Green Man, but I disagree with him on the subject of trying. I think his context uses try in the sense of “maybe, I wish I could, we’ll see.”
Sometimes we try honestly and in our full strength—and we fail. Because of ourselves or because of things outside our control. We have tried. Our best. But it wasn’t enough.
I’m learning to hold my plans lightly, knowing God reserves the right to redirect my schedule. As such, I keep i...
January 15, 2014
Into the Inner Sanctuary
This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary. Jesus has already gone in there for us. He has become our eternal High Priest in the order of Melchizedek.
Hebrews 6:19-20, NLT*
The hope this verse mentions is the hope of our salvation, of eternal life in restored relationship with God.
Think about the Temple imagery for a minute: only the High Priest was permitted to enter the Most Holy Place, and only once a year. First he...
January 13, 2014
Review: The Emperor’s Soul, by Brandon Sanderson
The Emperor’s Soul, by Brandon Sanderson (Tachyon Publications, 2012)
Shai is a Forger. On her planet, that means a whole lot more than it does on ours. Instead of fabricating a reproduction of an original art piece, these Forgers replicate it through magic.
Forging is convenient. The Imperial Palace is furnished with junk—junk that’s been Forged into beautiful, period pieces. Unfortunately, humans can be Forged too. Thus it’s illegal outside of carefully-controlled use.
Shai is one of the best....
January 10, 2014
Picks from 2013
My favourites from 2013:
Books
Best of the year: also most satisfying series wrap-up
A Memory of Light , by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
MOST SATISFYING MYSTERY, AND VERY CLOSE TO BEST OF THE YEAR:
How the Light Gets In , by Louise Penny
most can’t-wait-to-read-the-next-one mystery:
Speaking from Among the Bones , by Alan Bradley
Most life-changing (fiction):
The Merciful Scar , by Rebecca St. James and Nancy Rue
Most life-changing (non-fiction):
A Better Way to Think , by H. Norman Wright
Most satisfy...
January 8, 2014
Unbelief, or Rest?
So we see that because of their unbelief they were not able to enter his rest.
Hebrews 3:19, NLT*
“They” were the Israelites, led by Moses. The people who heard God’s voice on the mountain and begged in terror not to hear it again. The people who experienced the plagues in Egypt, the parting of the Red Sea, the manna in the desert. The people who swore to follow and obey God.
Hebrews 3:16-18 says they rebelled, made God angry, sinned. Disobeyed Him. Not just with the golden calf, but by refusin...
January 6, 2014
Review: God’s Daughter, by Heather Day Gilbert
God’s Daughter, by Heather Day Gilbert (Createspace, 2013)
If all you know about Vikings are the names Eric the Red and Leif Ericsson, God’s Daughter is a great way to learn more and to perhaps break some stereotypes. For example, I didn’t know they had any exposure to Christianity. Or that Eric’s name is properly spelled Eiric.
Many of the novel’s characters are genuine historical figures, and their voyage actually happened around 1000 AD. The setting and events have been meticulously research...
January 3, 2014
Highlights of 2013
The best way to live is in the present, not dwelling on the past or straining to reach the future, and so we step prayerfully into a new year and into each new day and embrace what we find.
But there’s something about the frenzy of “out with the old year, in with the new” that seems… hurried. Ungrateful.
It sounds like “good riddance!” Some years, that’s how we feel. But even in the bad there may be some good.
[image error]Looking back over 2013, I find much to be thankful for:
God’s presence in the good, the...
January 1, 2014
Listening? Or Drifting?
So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it.
Hebrews 2:1, NLT*
The writer of Hebrews has been refuting a false teaching that has crept into the church. It sounds like some form of angel-worship, but the warning applies just as well today and to a variety of falsehoods.
We can be led astray by error, or by lies. We need careful attention to the truth to keep us anchored.
One of the best ways to stay focused on the truth is to make Bible reading and pr...
December 30, 2013
Review: The Adam Quest, by Tim Stafford
The Adam Quest, by Tim Stafford (Thomas Nelson, 2013)
Science and faith should be allies, not opponents, in the search for truth. (from the publisher’s website)
In The Adam Quest, Tim Stafford profiles eleven scientists whose work qualifies them to speak on the mystery of human origins. These eleven are Bible-believing Christians, and their respective stances range from Young Earth Creationism to Intelligent Design Creationism to Evolutionary Creationism. Mr. Stafford says they “live at the cen...
December 27, 2013
Heaven’s Prey at Clash of the Titles
Five novels, one winner, as chosen by readers. I’m excited to announce thatHeaven’s Preyis December 2013′s champion atClash of the Titles(for November releases).
Check out the other titles (in the link above) — they all look like good reads. I’ll be reviewing one of them here soon.
