Writing Stuff

People often ask me how the writing is going and I never quite know what to say. Although I have been writing a lot, it hasn’t been what I envisioned. Several months back I wrote a post about how I was starting a novel, and honestly I haven’t done much with it since. I went back over what I originally wrote and ended up scrapping it all and started over. My original intent was to write it in the first person, but I felt limited by that so I started over in the third person with a new approach. I cranked out the first 5 pages and was extremely pleased, and then for some reason I quit. I thought announcing to the world that I was starting a novel would maybe light a fire under me, but I guess stage fright settled in instead. I think I am about over that at this point though and one of my goals for this year is to try and complete this book. I still love the story idea and I think it’s something people will enjoy reading….at least it’s the kind of story I enjoy reading. Hopefully within the next few weeks I will have enough written to be able to share with anyone who is interested in checking it out. I will need plenty of quality, unbiased feedback (except from you Mom….feel free to shower me with ridiculous amounts of praise and adoration). Stay tuned for updates on the book….I hope.

So what’s the writing I have been doing? Book reviewing…and tons of it. I started reviewing books on Amazon and for various review sites about a year and a half ago. I just started doing it for fun and for free books and I guess you can say I got hooked. I reviewed for a few different websites for awhile and then I started my own website that now even has it’s own official dot com address. (I’m so proud). I kept track of all the books I read in 2007 and the final count was 74. Most of those were books that I was sent for review, so you can imagine how that has kept me quite busy. I currently have a stack of about 10 novels I need to read and review…and the number keeps growing. The cool thing is that my reviews have started appearing on different websites and I have even been quoted in a few books. To date I have reviews quoted in Tosca Lee’s Demon: A Memoir, Robert Liparulo’s Deadfall, and Ted Dekker’s Chosen and Infidel. My name actually appears in the Tosca Lee book, but the others just say “Bookshelf Review”. (My mom is still upset about that). Nevertheless I am thrilled and I never thought my measly little reviews would ever be considered quotable. I do love reviewing though. Part of being a good writer is being familiar with various genres, what’s selling, what works, what doesn’t, etc. This gives me a great opportunity to do that. I am starting to realize however that if I really want to finish writing my novel, then I will probably have to cut back on the reviewing a bit.

How’s the writing going? Not too bad. Let’s just hope it gets better!

 

Time Sure is Flying…I Must be Getting Old!

Angie and I celebrated 8 years together yesterday. 8 years! I’ve heard people say that the older you get the faster time seems to go by. Man I must be getting old then. It’s been an incredible eight years though, I must admit. Why, you might ask? Well if you know my wife, then it’s a no brainer. She is quite simply an amazing woman. I honestly don’t know anyone who has as much heart or compassion for other people. Especially for me (it blows my mind too). I married way out of my league, but you won’t hear me complain. God has truly blessed me.

Angie and I would both agree that as fast as life has flown by before Madelyn came along, since May 14th, 2007,  it has gone into warp speed. I look at my 7 month old princess and all I can think is that she is growing too fast. I know what all you other parents are saying..”Just wait until she gets older. You haven’t seen anything yet”. I have no doubt that is true, but for now, for me, I am already overwhelmed with those feelings. It is so amazing how you actually see her growing and developing on a daily basis. She is now at the stage where she no doubt knows who Mommy and Daddy are, and that is so much fun. She loves to laugh now, and nothing warms my heart more than her giggle. She can now roll like a champ and she loves to sit (by herself now….sniff..sniff) in the floor and play. Almost every day now she gets up on her hands and knees and seems ready to take off. It hasn’t happened yet, but I know it’s coming soon. It’s so amazing, yet so bittersweet. I  love every minute of it, but I also know that these minutes will be gone before I can blink. I just pray that I will make every effort to cherish each second God gives me with my little girl.

Well enough of that for now…I’m starting to get choked up. Yeah, God has truly blessed me.

 

How Can I Stand Here With You And Not Be Moved By You?

The question posed above comes from the lyrics of the song Everything by Life House. When I first heard this song several years ago I was struck by that line. Everything is a powerful song that explores the depths of our faith and reminds us that Jesus truly should be everything to us. However, the song also is a hard reminder of how we can walk so close with Him, yet still remain unmoved.

The past several weeks I have been doing a sermon series on the 12 apostles. Tomorrow I am finishing the series with the 2nd part of my sermon on Judas. The man is an enigma to me. How could someone spend every day with Jesus, hear the things he taught, and witness all the miracles and remain unmoved by Him? How is it possible that a man could be in the group of 12 that was so close to Jesus, the group that walked with Him, ate with Him, set around the campfire with Him, prayed with Him…..how could such a man not get it? How could he betray the Son of God?

Then I think of my own life, and if I am really honest with myself I find the answer. It is frighteningly simple. Judas let the world get in the way, just like I do in my life so often. Even when we are close to Him, we still have the ability to take our eyes off of Him. Judas may have had eyes for Jesus when he began following Him, but in the end he only had eyes for money. It was his passion. It drove him and controlled him. He gave up being with Jesus for some cash; the worst bargain imaginable.

I want to believe that I am not like Judas…that I am so far separated from that enigma of a man. But like Judas, I often let the world in and I let it consume me. I don’t really want it to happen, and I actually abhor the reality of it. But I can’t deny it happens. Thankfully though, there is some good news. Some great news.

Even though I may let the world in, Jesus doesn’t leave. He is always there with His eyes on me waiting for me to turn back to Him. And when I do, He is right there with open arms. All it takes is the realization that He is Everything to me, and suddenly He is there showering me with His undying love.

The video below has been online for awhile, but I think it wonderfully describes the thoughts I have been sharing. It’s an amazing message set to an amazing song, all made possible by an even more amazing Love.

 

98,500 Words To Go…..

For the longest time I have dreamed of writing a novel. I have always loved to read and I’ve always been in love with a good story. Our lives are indeed a story, for at their most basic level they consist of a beginning, a middle, and an end (Although for Christians the end is really the beginning, no?). I think this is part of the reason why Jesus chose to teach through parables. We understand stories. They entertain us, they challenge us, and they move us. If you think of your favorite book, movie, play, TV Show, etc…..no doubt you will find those elements in some form or fashion. I want to be a part of that. I want to create stories that will make readers think…stories that will make them wonder and dare to dream….stories that will inspire…….stories that will make their hearts pound and their spirits soar….stories that will open their eyes.

So, I’ve decided to pursue my dream. I have started a novel. And when I say “start”, I mean start. The typical length of the average novel (appx. 300 pgs. give or take) is about 100,000 words. There are exceptions to this of course..but that is the average…or so I’m told. I’ve written about 1,500. So I’ve only got about 98,500 more words to go. Gulp…

This blog has taken a few different directions since I started it last fall. From this point on I will mostly use this blog to journal about the novel writing process and all that is involved. I really have no idea what this will be like. I do know it will be very difficult, very challenging, and very intense. But I must see this through. The “what-if” is killing me and If I don’t give this a shot, I will forever regret it. I will also use this blog to share devotional thoughts, and I may even write about being a Daddy from time to time.

Meanwhile, I have 2 other blogs going. I have just started a new book review blog that I am pumped about (Bookshelf Review). I have been in contact with several major publishers and they have agreed to send me books for review on a regular basis. This is a great way for me to grow as a writer and it gives me the opportunity to share great fiction with other book lovers. The site will focus primarily on Christian Fiction (mystery, suspense, thrillers, supernatural thrillers, etc.). I will also be posting author interviews and book related news. I am not limiting the site to Christian Fiction however, and I hope to be able to provide a good variety as the site grows.

And don’t forget about Madelyn’s Blog. Every now and then she somehow sneaks off and “borrows” my laptop so she can communicate to all of her adoring fans. I have a feeling that blog is going to be around for awhile.

As far as the book I am writing….I’m not ready to say too much about it a this point. I don’t even have a title yet. Here is what I can tell you: At this point it will most likely be a modern mystery/suspense novel with a supernatural twist. I am writing with the Christian Fiction market in mind, but I hope to write it in such a way that it could be published outside of that market as well. I want to explore spiritual truth without being preachy or too “in your face”. I want to stretch and challenge people..not spoon-feed or force-feed them.

Like I said…I don’t want to say too much yet. But I will tell you this much about the story: There is a boy, a dog, and a girl. And it all started way back in 1985. (Of course everything I have just told you about the book is subject to change at any moment).

So there you go…I’m writing a novel. I wrestled a long time about whether or not to make this known. But I figured if people know then I will be encouraged that much more to keep on going. So please…I beg you. Ask me how it’s going. Bug me about it. Don’t let me quit! Even if I never get published, at least I can say I gave it my best.

98,500 more words to go….

 

Loving This Daddy Thing…

I’ve been a Daddy for a week now and I’m absolutely loving it. Madelyn is the sweetest little thing and I’m head over heels for her. I can’t get enough of her and I just want to hold her all the time. God has blessed me with an amazing daughter. Angie is such a great Mom, too. I love watching her with Madelyn. She is such a natural at this Mommy stuff.

We took Madelyn to her first Dr.’s appointment yesterday and she is doing great. She is already back to her birth weight, and let me tell you…that kid can eat. We are flying through the diapers! Madelyn is also extremely intelligent. She has just started her own blog and you can check it out by clicking here. She’s very insightful for a week-old baby.

Everyone that comes to visit always tells me that Madelyn is never awake. Well, I now have video evidence to prove them wrong. Enjoy:

 

I’m a Daddy!!!

She’s here!!!! Madelyn Grace was born on Monday, May 14th at 6:19pm at Denton Regional Medical Center in Denton, TX. She was 6lbs and 19 inches long. She is our first and she is such a cutie! Thank goodness she looks like her Mom! Unfortunately, she does have my feet…………

Angie and I couldn’t be happier and God has truly blessed us with a beautiful daughter. We are so thankful! I’m crunched for time now but here are some of the pictures we have. I will write more and post more pictures when we get home from the hospital. Thanks so much for all the prayers and support!

 

So Much Stuff…So Little Room..

We’ve recently had 2 baby showers and we have been amazed at the generosity of all of our friends and family. Here’s what Madelyn’s room looked like after the 1st shower:

Video: Madelyn's Room

Here is her room after the 2nd shower:

And we still have 2 more showers to go! Where are we going to put it all? I guess it’s one of those great problems to have. We are so thankful for all of the love and support from everyone. God has truly blessed us!

 

Lost: Catch 22

This episode reminds me of the reason why I love this show so much: the characters. Sometimes I get so caught up in trying to figure out all the mysteries and connections that I forget how much I love all of the flashbacks. If we get to the end of the series and not all the loose ends are wrapped up (and I don’t think they will be), Lost will still be one of the best TV shows in my book simply because of the characters.

Desmond is becoming one of my favorite characters and I love every glimpse we get into his background. Desmond struggles with the concept of meaning in his life and his search for purpose has isolated him from his friends and loves ones. I love the way Desmond continues to save Charlie’s life even though he thinks its a pointless endeavor. His dilemma of to save Charlie or not to save Charlie was intriguing. Is it possible that Desmond’s purpose is to save Charlie’s life? I hope this storyline is explored more in the future.

I loved the campfire scene were Jin was telling a ghost story in Korean and he still scared Hurley. Things between Jack, Kate, and Sawyer are still confusing and it seems that maybe Kate is using Sawyer to get to Jack.

I did some research on this episode and picked up on some things I didn’t notice when I watched it.

1. The head monk (Campbell) has a picture on his desk of him and Ms. Hawking. You will remember her as the woman from the antique shop in Desmond’s previous episode. She seemed to know everything about Desmond.

2. The Catch 22 book that was found with the Sat phone was written in Portuguese. The 2 men from the very end of the season finale last year (that apparently work for Penny) were speaking Portuguese.

3. The picture of Desmond and Penny found in the book was in fact the same photo Desmond has. That is obvious. But….if you will remember back to when that photo was taken there was only one copy made!…..Hmmmmm….

4. Here’s a crazy theory that I found……If Desmond did in fact time travel in his previous episode, is it possible he told Penelope everything he could about the island while he was with her? Is she now searching for him based on that information? Crazy!!!!!!

This article goes into a lot more detail about all this stuff. Very interesting reading….

Well, as always I can’t wait for more. Who is this stranger that fell from the sky? She obviously knows Desmond. Maybe she works for Penelope..

“Hope I’m not interrupting. You two arguing over who’s your favorite Other?”
-Sawyer

 

Quick Update and Prayer Requests

We’re almost at 36 weeks and Angie and Madelyn are doing great. We are now going to the Dr. every week. Today the Dr. told us that Madelyn is now positioned head down. Of course I was thinking to myself, “Huh? Is that normal?”, being the clueless first-time dad that I am. She assured me that everything was normal and that put me at ease. The Dr. estimates that Madelyn is close to 5 lbs at this point. Heartbeat was normal…so far so good. Please continue to pray for both Angie and Madelyn over the next few weeks. Angie has to make some tough decisions about when to stop teaching soon, so pray for guidance for us in that area as well.

Since we’re talking prayer please remember to pray for all of those who are grieving and hurting after the Virgina Tech tragedy. During these difficult times it is hard to know what to do or say, but one thing we can do is ask God to comfort those who are hurting. God Bless….

Psalm 17:6
“I call on you, O God, for you will answer me; give ear to me and hear my prayer.” NIV

 

I Don’t Get It………………….

There’s a lot of things I don’t get. Take Nascar for example. Millions of people are obsessed with the sport, and for the life of me I can’t figure out why. I’ve even watched it in High Definition. Still puts me to sleep in record time. Watching someone walk 26 miles on a treadmill would be far more exciting.

Or how about those Bluetooth wireless ear pieces? I don’t get ‘em. Granted, I understand that they make driving while talking safer for motorists, and I gladly applaud anyone behind the wheel who uses them. But the dude in the grocery store walking around with one protruding from his ear….is that really necessary? Congratulations! You have a Bluetooth ear piece….and we all know it. (But just in case we missed it please talk loudly to yourself so we notice). I don’t hate you if you are one of the aforementioned Bluetooth flaunting grocery store dudes….I just don’t get ya.

Also, I really don’t get all you people out there who don’t watch Lost. How can you not watch the absolute best show on TV? You are an enigma to me……

But what I really don’t get is how someone can claim that there is no God. During our extremely LONG child birth class the other day, we were flooded with facts and information on pregnancy and labor. I was amazed at how many things I didn’t know and at how complex the human body is. All of the details of Madelyn’s development and growth are so fascinating. Thinking about the way a mother’s body changes and adapts throughout the whole process is simply mind-blowing. While on the one hand it all seems so complex, on the other there is an incredible sense of order that is so evident. It all points to a Creator.

Many choose to explain the miracle of life away as just an act of mother nature, or even an amazing accident. But every time we hear Madelyn’s heartbeat or feel her move we experience something different. We behold the beauty of God’s creation. How anyone could deny that I will never know. I just don’t get it…..

Genesis 1:1
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” NIV