The True Meaning!

Through out the holiday season I watch many people try to place God in their exciting "party time." They say something like, "now we can't forget that today is little Jesus' birthday." But I truly wonder if they are trying to place "little Jesus" into this holiday solely because they feel guilty. What is it we usually see them making a big deal over anyway? The presents? The food? The family?(surely not) We watch the kids running around in frantic excitement over what Santa Claus has put under the tree, or shooting their marshmallow guns like crazy... which, I can't slam them for that one. But if we look at the children we will see the image of the parents (this is always true, mostly when watching the kids actions and how naughty they are being), and find out what the parents are really instilling into their children. Do the kids ever bring up Jesus into the conversation? If they happen to, what exactly are they saying? Are they even understanding the true story of Christ's birth, or are they just placing the name of Jesus and the thought of a manger with a huge shining star hanging over it into the framework of the holiday of Christmas? Before we start placing this story of Jesus (which so many times leads children to look at it as just a fantastical story) into the holiday we call Christmas we need to be careful. If we do celebrate this holiday we need to check ourselves for not putting the wrong image of Christ into other people's minds (mostly when around many lost family memebers). We should treat (such as in speech or prayer) Christ as we have always done, and not adding in an extra "silly god" such as Santa. Are we celebrating this holiday for the sole reason of giving glory to God? And when we do bring God's name up are we placing the correct amount of honour to it.

It is very easy to get caught up with the Christmas tree, the stockings, the presents, and Santa but we need to make sure that even in our prayers we aren't thanking God for sending Santa all the way down here from the north pole to give our kiddies something nice. Very shortly Children begin to reverence Santa more than they do God. "He sees you when you're sleeping, he knows when you're awake. He knows if you've been bad or good, so be good for goodness sake. You better watch out, you better not cry, you better not pout I'm telling you why, Santa Claus is coming to town." Wow, Santa sounds just as powerful as God, and we better not "sin" cause Santa will give us a lump of coal otherwise.

I thank God for giving us this time of fellowship with all our family so that we can share the true meaning of Jesus' birth without adding the fairy tale stories into it. I hope that everyone was able to "preach the Gospel everywhere and if you must use words!"

Weirock, A Tale of Sklaire's Nest

The story continues, only this time the reader is swept back 300 years before the story of Redshift Hive was told. The darkness of the Lord hornet is beginning to cloud all of the Western area of Weirock, and there is one nest left in Shatuf's domain that he must conquer. A Lord hornet is preparing for battle, a prophecy is unfolding, a small band of companions journey off into the Western world, and the race for time is about to begin!

"A shadow stole silently down the corridor. It slipped passed the hanging wall fixture and out into the courtyard. Night slept on in its full slumber, not waking to find the figure stealing up to the Pool of vapid water. Not even the wind would stir on a night like this, dark clouds were moving in unnoticeably. The short figure never dared to pull the hood from her head. Her head was seen to bob back and forth, making sure no one was about. The hour of the night was late, giving her unwatched freedom to do as she pleased. The small wings thrummed in the night air and landed the young Yellow Jacket down beside the Pool. She sat down cross-legged near the water’s brim. She sat with her claws folded in the lap of her cloak like the young maiden she was. Her large almond shaped eyes closed… the silence waned on. Suddenly underneath her lashes the girl’s eyes flitted and her face grew tense. Her claws clasped each other tighter as the heat from her body quickly rose. The water rippled, much like something had been dropped into the centre of the Pool… all grew still once more. The girl’s eyes snapped open and her head lurched around. She was gazing at the dark sky in the deeper West. Like a flash of lightning a spiral of blood-red and poison-like green shot up into the air from the far reaches of the West. The girl could not move from where she sat, her eyes were fixed to the spot and her heart pounded as if it were ready to burst. She clutched the cloak tighter about her and stood in amazement at the spectacle before her. The spiral of colour flamed in her eyes as a great fire; it seemed as if perhaps the colours were burning and flickering as they shot up towards the heavens. Something inside of the flames called out to her, reaching for her, yet she wanted to run and hide. Suddenly the flames of red and green were sucked in together and vanished. The small girl’s eyes still burned with the picture she had witnessed. Her wings and limbs were weak with fear and her eyelids could no longer stay open. She crumpled to the floor in a dark sleep."

Briar Frost, from the book of Weirock, A Tale of Sklaire's Nest." (ch. 4 pg. 22)

A Cup of Tea and a Book

How can one explain this title and even begin to touch the first spots of it all? A cup of tea and a book? For those of you who are wondering what I mean by this, I hope you will find a bit of reality splashed in with imagination after this post. But for those of you who are already in this beautiful world of serenity, read on.

"Writers are first of all readers-- avid, life-long readers who consume books the way other people do hamburgers or beer. As children we crave the cool silence of libraries and Summer afternoons draped over an armchair, the hours we spend suspended between the real world and the one we hold between our two sweaty hands. We covet the feel of books, their rigid covers and the pages that blow in the breeze. When our eyes scan a book we've just borrowed or bought, we writers feel buoyed with anticipations, hopeful, and content." --- Sharon Oard Warner

This statement was found one day and just had to be posted in my room. Something about writing, something about reading, something about that deep and earthy aroma of a cup of your favourite tea brings back so many memories that you had either forgotten, or ones that have never played apart in your life. My best friend once wrote something about this exact topic, I truly wish I could bring it into words as well as she.

The feel of the page, the smell of the publisher's ink, the slant of the page, the rough cover in your hands blended with the warm clay pressed up against the palm of your hands, the warm steam blurring your eager eyes, the tempting and sleepy aroma of that perfect tea, the box sitting by with that exciting quote pasted on the side, and the feel of the smooth liquid draining down your throat creates a world unexplainable.

With as many parables and examples that Jesus came up with and told to listening crowds I am sure He understands the incredible feel that one possesses as these things pass through our senses. He has given us amazing imaginations and awesome minds, perhaps this Utopian feel is just a glimpse of what we are to look forward to after death as Christians. God gave us our senses, our minds, and our imaginations for a reason, and if we use these means in glorifying His name we should be thankful to Him for allowing us to have this precious time with "A cup of tea and a book!"

A Worm-Hole In A Ship

A man was at work in a ship-yard, in company with other men, in the building of a vessel,. He was preparing one of the planks for the bottom of the ship. "There," said he to his comrades, "is a worm-hole," as he planed off the rough outside of the plank. The workmen examined it, but concluded the hole was so small it could never do any injury. The plank was put in the vessel. Some years afterwards, as that ship was at sea, there came up a violent storm, and the ship sprung a leak. On examining the bottom, it was found that the water had for a long time soaked into a worm-hole, and rotted the wood for some distance around, till now, in the time of trial, when the waves beat furiously against the ship, it had suddenly given way. The men on board made every exertion to get her ashore, but were obliged to abandon her, and she sunk to rise no more. Many a person has been ruined in consequence of a very slight deviation from propriety, which has led on to others of a more serious nature, till, at length, their principles have been corrupted, and in the hour of temptation they have given way, and they have sunk to rise no more! A sad warning to others to watch against the beginnings of evil. It is the "little Foxes," as Solomon says, that "spoil the vines." The old foxes eat the grapes; but the little foxes, running on the tender parts of the vines, as they put forth to bud and blossom, spoil them before the fruit grows. It is thus that the character is corrupted and secretly undermined, by little causes, in early life. When one consents, in a single instance, to step beyond the bounds of propriety, they expose themselves to the most imminent danger of ruin. The following rule, if adhered to, will save you from a multitude of evils, while out of your parents' sight:

"Always conduct as you would if you were under the eye of your Parents, and never forget the one Eye that is always upon you!"

"How to be a Lady," by Harvey Newcomb (ch. 6 "General Behaviour," pg. 68)

The World of Dreams

“You have entered the solemn world,
Of peace and tranquility,
Where the mind races faster than the body.
Where worlds unimaginable
Become reality,
Where creatures unexplainable
Are no longer fable.
The time has come
For these worlds to be unlocked,
And the time is now,
For you who believe.
Let your hands run quickly
Over the keys of time.
Let your eyes soar swiftly,
Over the letters of life.
Read on dear reader,
Read on through the night.
Write on dear writer,
Let your dreams unfold
Before your sight.”

----Briar Frost

The Soft Breeze in Heliopolis

"The soft breeze whispered across the water and up into the face of the young girl sitting by the brink of the Nile. Annoying honking echoed across the water and the flapping of wings was heard as the Meidum geese had been abruptly disturbed and rapidly took to flight. Mara’s eyes were intent upon the whirling of the water and the bright chuckles that laughed at her from the slapping of liquid against liquid. Shimmering sparks of sunlight darted here and there until they found their perfect spot to rest, either on the rippling water, or the swaying reeds. Mara sat contentedly near the quiet gurgling of the water, watching each insect make his way to his own unknown destination, or to sigh deeply within as the swaying of the flags and reeds tipped in the wind. A long strand of dark hair caught in the wind and was cast frivolously into the girl’s face. Mara slowly brushed it aside as if she hadn’t a care in the world, but deep within something great was booming inside her, ready to burst forth into tears and sobs."

From the book "Bondage," by Anna Michael (ch. 5, pg. 30)

What made this paragraph so enrapturing to write was that Mara's thoughts blended in with mine at the time. This young girl could find no words to describe the "sigh" that echoed in her heart at the breeze and the peaceful life on the water's of the Nile. She was so content, yet there was something tugging at her heart, allowing the reader to empathize with her feelings. It is incredible how God can place a thousand (or what seems to be a thousand) feelings in ones heart all at the same time, and only a few of those thoughts and feelings could ever be expressed outwardly. I thank my Creator for placing these beloved senses into our body, even when these feelings are so overwhelming that I practically cringe.

The Isle of Inesfree

I've met some folks

Who say that I'm a dreamer,

And I've no doubt

There's truth in what they say.

But sure a body's bound to be a dreamer

When all the things he loves are far away.
And precious things

Are dreams unto an exile,

They take him o'er

The land across the sea.

Especially when it happens he's an exile,

From that dear lovely Isle of Inisfree.
And when the moonlight

Peeps across the rooftops

Of this great city

Wondrous though it be,

I scarcely feel its wonder or laughter,

I'm once again back home in Inisfree.
I wonder o'er green hills

Through dreamy valleys,

And find a peace

No other land would know,

I hear the birds make music fit for angels

And watch the rivers laughing

As they flow.

And then into a humble shack I wander--

My dear old home--

And tenderly behold.

The folks I love

Around the turf fire gathered,

On bended knee

Their prayer to God is told.
But dreams don't last

Though dreams are not forgotten,

And soon I'm back

To stern reality.

But though they pave

The footways here with gold dust,

I still would choose My Isle of Inisfree.

Prism With A Promise

Light changes speed as it moves from one medium to another (for example, from air into the glass of the prism). This speed change causes the light to be refracted and to enter the new medium at a different angle (Huygens Principle). The degree of bending of the light's path depends on the angle that the incident beam of light makes with the surface, and on the ratio between the refractive indices of the two media (Snell's law). The refractive index of many materials (such as glass) varies with the wavelength or color of the light used, a phenomenon known as dispersion. This causes light of different colors to be refracted differently and to leave the prism at different angles, creating an effect similar to a rainbow. This effect can be used to separate a beam of white light into its constituent spectrum of colors. Prisms will generally disperse light over a much larger frequency bandwidth than diffraction gratings, making them useful for broad-spectrum spectroscopy. Furthermore, prisms do not suffer from complications arising from overlapping spectral orders, which all gratings have.

But there is another way to look at the prism's light...

We are in a sense the prism. We started out as a hunk of ugly and distorted looking rock. Once God chose us to be one of His children he began chipping away at us. (As one of my College Professors stated from a book, "To be healed one must first be shattered."). He smoothed and polished us until we looked clear and beautiful, we then became the glassy prism. We went for awhile looking clean and sweet, but nothing ever came from us, nothing grand, nothing glorious. Christ then washed us with his blood and we became His children; it was now time for His glory to shine through us. Christ's light burst forth and shone brightly through our glassy figure. We were now hid from the world, and all they could see was the shimmering light from Christ hiding our form. Christ was ready to use us, and to show His power. Once God is using us others will soon see the vivid rainbow pouring through our lives, glimpsing the promise God has given. Much like the promise He set in the rainbow after Noah's flood, the prism's rainbow shining through us is also a promise to the lost world showing them that he is a loving God, yet He is also a righteous Judge. The lost world will find that God's promise for His children will never fail, and that at the end of our life we will resurrect and live eternity within His Kingdom. And at the same time they will find that there is a promise for those who do not follow after Christ, and this promise is spending eternity in hell-fire. But we have hope as Believers, God's promise will never fade, it as if the sun should never set and continued to shine through the prism forever, plastering the glorious rainbow throughout the world for eternity. God and His promise will never change, once we are His children He will continue to shine His light on us, and we must use this light to direct our prism, or body, towards pleasing Him. We must ask Him to show us where His light should be shown through us.

Weirock, A Tale of Redshift Hive

“Bar those doors, hurry, lock them tight. Get the spears and arrows from the east section and bring them up front. Take that trolley of darts back and refill their cartridges.” Captain Skie was bellowing out orders when a volley of arrows struck the wooden door with a thud. Many of the guards out front had been killed or wounded from the unexpected approach of Lord Dane’s army of eight-hundred. Captain Skie had no time to count the loss of his men, but he was sure that over ten had been slain, just from the arrows of the army without.
After some time, only the noise of rain, thunder and wind was heard out of doors. Those inside waited agitatedly for what was to come. All was silent for five minutes, as each archer strung their next arrow and each sling was re-loaded.
A young scout from up front bounced from foot to foot waiting for what was to come. His hand itched closer to the slat in the door with none around noticing. He quickly pulled the slat upwards, giving vent to the hole. Before anyone could lay their hand on him to pull him from the slat, he had succeeded in leaning up against the door and poking his eye up to the hole. Nothing was seen through the hole from the errant scout, for just as his eye popped up to the peep hole all those inside the tower could see an arrow growing out the back of the scout’s skull. He slowly crumpled to the floor. A gurgle erupted from the dying scout as blood foamed from his mouth. A trickle of green liquid dripped from the scout's eye and down the side of his face.
“Poisoned… they have poisoned arrows! The slimy maggots!” A guard cursed as he noticed the green poison issuing forth from his dead comrade's pierced eye.
“How dare he open the slat!” Captain Skie stomped across to the dead scout. “I warned you all not to do such, and now we have one less scout. You see what has happened to him, and if I catch any one of you betraying my orders I will kill you myself!” An angry yet somber salute was given by all to their Captain’s orders.

--Briar Frost, from the book "Weirock, A Tale of Redshift Hive." (Part II "A Tale of Slavery," ch. 37, Pgs. 288,289)

“He teacheth my hands to war,
So that a bow of steel is broken in mine arms.
For by thee I have run through a troop;
And by my God have I leaped over a wall.”

---Psalm 18:29, 34 (KJV)

“There is no hope for the ones we love,
For all have passed on into dimness.
But a still small voice that we dream from above,
Comes to us like a light in the darkness.
When I kiss the one that I love so dear,
I pray this will not be the last,
She is taken away in the tears of her fear,
The years we spent grew too fast.
So I’ll sing to you love, in the dark of the night,
When the clouds of sadness seem so strong,
I will come for you and for your life I shall fight,
But for now sleep on in my song.”

--Briar Frost

The String Theory

The string theory says that we have six dimensions that we cannot see, and they are put into smaller forms than a cell. Now, we know that we have three dimensions in the universe (width, length and height), but they are claiming that the other six dimensions help everything to stay together, like water in its liquid form. Now this sounds pretty reasonable and why not? But they are also claiming that the six dimensions are in everything around us and we just don’t know it. Like in our water, so we are drinking six dimensions. Supporters of the string theory suggest that the reason we do not normally see the other six dimensions (which there has to be because the quantum mechanics are such small particles they must be in string form, or elementary form, to work however these "strings" would require at least six additional dimensions’ of space, we already know that the universe has three normal dimension of time) is that they are tightly curled up and hidden within the tiny particles themselves. At extremely high energies however the extra dimensions could manifest themselves. Therefore, particles physicists can predict what kind of behavior strings exhibit when they accelerate particles to extremely high energies. And since water is broken down into the molecule to the hydrogen atom and then to the proton, inside... this proton is the string, or quantum mechanics, meaning that this is where we get the other six dimensions, inside the strings of that water cell, for the string to actually work, they need more dimensions because the strings vibrate and send so much energy out at one time like the universe.

Space has three dimensions. Space is not "nothingness"; it has three dimensions-- width, length, and height. When an object moves, it moves through these three dimensions of space. (If we measure a room, we are really measuring the three dimensions of space.) Now, Time also has three divisions. Past, present, and future, we would not necessarily call these dimensions, but only divisions. (And then Matter of course has three types of particles, atoms except for hydrogen are composed of protons neutrons and electrons, but this really has nothing to do with dimensions). These three dimensions of space can remind us of God and His triune nature. Jason Lisle says that this may be the reason for God creating the dimensions in space, and in Romans 1:18-20 it says “Being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.” And one verse combines them all... “In the beginning (time), God created the heavens (space) and the earth (matter). So the universe itself is a three-in-one of sorts, thereby reflecting its Maker. The logical, orderly way the universe behaves is also a reflection of the One who made it and sustains it by the Word of His power! (Hebrew 1:3)

A Bit Of Science

"Gravity bends the path of light because light travels through space, and space is "moved" by gravity. We don't notice the effect of gravity bending light here on earth because earth's gravity is very weak compared to the speed of light. But the bending of light by gravity has been detected in space. This effect is merely one of several verifications of Einstein's physics; so we can have some confidence that gravity really does bend space and time as Einstein claimed. Since space itself is pulled by gravity, modern physics indicates that it is indeed possible to have a gravitational field so strong (and thus, space would be moving so fast) that light itself cannot escape. And since nothing can travel through space faster than light, nothing would be able to escape from such a powerful gravitational field. This is a "black hole"- a term coined by physicist John Wheeler in 1967. Although they may seem counterintuitive, black holes are a real phenomenon.---- AIG, Jason Lisle

The Voyage Of Our Life

Ships which sail for years with a great captain at the helm have many stories to tell in her lifetime. Voyages to unknown lands, or pillaging performed by buccaneers, corsairs, or pirates fill books, fiction or non fiction. But there is more to the life-span of a ship than the amount of time it spends cresting the waves. Her stories go deeper… under water.

“Shipwrecks have long served preachers as an analogy for human condition, because it is not until we see our lives as corrupted, and act correctly upon this knowledge that new life from outside of ourselves can take up residence in us." --Anonymous

The great ship has died, her life above the water has ended and her sails no longer furl in the wind. Her life begins anew, and naught but the still and silent marine life give praise to her beauty as a home. Where once mighty masters lashed themselves to her strong helm now only small and distant life-forms dwell inside. But there is a far greater meaning to this beloved ship now that it rests on the ocean’s floor. Much like our earthly bodies, this ship held many a drunkard or thief. Inside this small wooden home dwelt sin and corruption, and daily it was being washed over with the footsteps and the handprints of those vile humans. The lovely ship was slowly beginning to be looked upon as something worthless. The outsiders who knew what dwelt inside cared no more for the beauty on the outside, and eventually only the master of the ship (and sin) and his followers would set foot inside. After years of labour through sin this ship which was so beautiful on the outside, died while out at sea. The sinful men inside had no where to look to for safety and eventually drowned in the ocean’s current. The lovely ship gave up her hold on the life outside and sank to bottom. This ship is now cleansed of her sinful state, and the washing of the ocean’s water continues to cleanse her daily. Now all that dwells inside the truly beautiful wooden body are sinless beings, the marine life that God has created.

If we will let go of the worldly pleasures in this life and “sink” into the strong hands of Christ then that sinful being that we once were will be washed from our body. But to be cleansed daily as the ship now is we must wash our body in much of the same way. Daily we must delve our minds in the Word, washing what grime may come into our bodies away. Much like this beautiful ship we now have something new living in our body; this is the sinless Holy Spirit. Many of the outsiders view this ship as ugly and twisted, and they may never see the true beauty that lies within. We cannot allow the world to pull us back up out of the water, only to bring us back into the sinful state that we once were. Thankfully though, the Word of God tells us that once we are saved from our sins we can never be pulled back up out of the cleansing water. Just like the ship must be wary of strange divers entering her beloved walls, we too must watch ourselves so that no temptation enters in.

“Her life is over; new life has invaded her from the outside. All her efforts to protect herself have long ended and her twisted frame now serves as a vessel not to accomplish her own plans, but to contain the lives of others.” --Anonymous

“When the great Captain is at the helm, we need not nervously pace the deck!” –Anonymous

Painting Our Lives

"All the impressions made upon your character ought to be such as will not need to be removed. Washington Allston, the great painter, had been a long time at work on a most magnificent painting. He had nearly completed it, when his keen eye discovered some defects in a portion of the piece. He hastily drew his rough brush over that portion of the picture, intending to paint it anew. But in the midst of his plans, death seized him, and his painting remains, just as he left it. No other person can carry out the conception that was in his mind. If you allow wrong impressions to be made upon your forming character, death may meet you with his stern mandate, and fix them for ever, as immovable as it left the rough print of the coarse brush upon Allston's canvass." -- Harvey Newcomb

Harvey Newcomb wrote a book on "How To Be A Lady," and one on "How To Be A Man." Newcomb shows through his writing that one is learning throughout his entire life. Whether it be sitting on a mossy bank, standing on the beach with the morning star alighting on your face, or sitting in a hot sticky schoolroom with twenty children about you and school books and papers all about you. In each of these you are learning... but there is only one type of schooling. The word "School," causes many young children (or might I say older people as well?) to cringe. But the word "Education," or "Learning," should send a thrill of excitement up one's spine. Everything we do in this short life here on earth leads up to the eternal life we shall spend in Heaven. Like this: we know that God sent His only Son to become the lowliest of creatures, man, and that while He was fully man and was still fully God, He sinned not once. And with no sin in His body He took every sin upon Him so that when we sin once we will not spend eternity in hell-fire. We are damned to hell, and there is nothing we can do about it. But God did something about it, allowing us to enter into His presence as a spotless lamb. But there is one hitch... what if we don't put our faith in Him and His saving Grace? What if we only consider this as a fairy-tale? Perhaps we think there is some other way to "reach" Heaven. If one of these is our decision, we will certainly be cast into hell after our earthly death. But if we place our faith in Christ, knowing that what He did is the only way for us to enter into eternity with Him, we know then that God has saved our souls from the lake of fire. So in reality, what we decide here leads up to our eternal state after death. What then becomes of our small decisions? If we have been justified through Christ then we are no longer living for ourselves, but living for the one who has Saved us. How can we continue in our sinful lives after Salvation? God tells us in His Word that we may know if someone is His child by watching their "fruits." It is much like a tree... we plant an apple tree and for its entire life it bears small sour tasting fruit that tastes nothing like an apple, as a matter of fact, the apples that grow are so withered and stumped that you almost wonder if you had planted an apple tree. If someone is watching our lives, knowing that we claim to be God's child, what type of fruit will they see producing from our limbs? What are we doing for Christ, and what is our goal in life? We should be producing the fruit of the spirit which is spoken of in Galatians 5:22-"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law."

Yet there is also another way to look at our lives like a tree. You plant a very small tree and begin to watch it grow. As each day passes it grows larger, but something begins to happen. The small tree will bend and grow crooked, the weather will strip it of everything, the insects will come and devour the buds and young leaves... unless we strive to keep the young sapling up. We must place stakes up around our small plant, spray the leaves and boughs with poison so as to keep the bugs away, and make sure daily that the dead leaves or withered stems are pruned or clipped. If we do not take this same advice into our own lives and daily wash our mind and soul with the Word we will soon grow into a state that may never be changed. If we allow that small tree to grow to its full height without any help, it will look gnarled, twisted, and ugly. Our lives will become the same if we do not take hold now and begin to pluck away at the sins in our life, and to restore our minds with pure thoughts and motives.

Atlantic Chorus

"There's a song that I hear every morning,

Of the boats as they roll out to sea;

As the chorus rolls on, the tide flows so strong,

Makes a natural seafaring song.

And it follows the tide down the channel,

In the wake of a fair wind to sea;

With a powerful glide, the keel it rides,

'Neath the white bows that gleam on the sea.

Chorus:

Roll on my childhood song,

Roll on to greet the dawn,

Till your engines sing their homeward song,

Of Atlantic chorus strong.

Now it's early and clear on the water,

I can see how the boats slip away;

As the sun lights the day, they're off on their way,

My dreams all sail on the bay.

And with the ocean so near there beside me,

I'm feeling the change of the tide;

My spirit's set free,

I watch from the lee,

And hear my song of the sea.

Chorus:

Roll on my childhood song,

Roll on to greet the dawn,

Till your engines sing their homeward song,

Of Atlantic chorus strong."

"Love is strange how it grasps you by surprise,
And how it can hold you in this anomalous sense,
And do you ever wonder what bewilderment truly lies,
In this fatal seeming feeling that grows so tense?
But as this strange emotion envelops your every wit,
You suddenly become numb to the sounds and sight of life,

It feels as if a weight of glory has truly hit,
And you know that nothing could ever more become strife."

--Briar Frost

But what's more is that without the love God has so graciously given us we could never express the simple word "love" in such powerful statements. Love is expressed through the notes and melody of musick, the simple yet life-changing words on a page, the strong and tender look in someones eyes... yet we all think back to something or someone in our life when these words come to mind. A mother's love for her child, Christ's love for His people, two young lovers who have been brought together by the supernatural working of God, the young child for his parents, or the Pastor for his Church. What more can we say, but that love has been erected by our Heavenly Father, and there has been no mistake on His part for designing it. 314 times is the word "love" written in the Word of God, we cannot abuse what God has given to us so freely and treat it as some Greco-Roman myth. As a Child of God love goes far beyond emotion, this is easily said when it comes to loving your enemies. Matthew 5:44 not only commands us to love our enemies, but to go beyond emotion... to "Bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you..."

The Battle of Mark and Agni

"The smoky haze filled the room and the earthy scent of smoldering wood wafted its way into the nostrils of the entranced listener. Great scrolls were lying unfurled on the floor in front of the whispering fire. Large and beautiful pictures were painted on to the papyrus with great care and detail. One strange creature drew Mara closer to the illustration. A creature with wings of an extraordinary size, talons as large as sword blades, scales bearing the resemblance of great shields of battle, and flames erupting from the open mouth. Without her knowing, Mara’s eyes were dancing with excitement and almost hope at the thought of seeing one of these creatures. A spark popped out and flew to the floor next to Mara giving her a fright. She jumped back with a shout, muted by her hand quickly thrown to her face. Mara shot a glance up at Grandmother Nefertari; she could see the sly gleam that penetrated through the small slits she made with her eyes. Nefertarie always seemed to grow strange at times like these. Her words would grow into a rhythmical pattern, and her stories would form pictures in the minds of her listeners. She seemed to be filled with so much knowledge, and she always had something to say about almost everything. Elioneai had always thought warily about her, knowing that she had visions and dreams, ones that actually came to pass. Mara had heard her Father speak in whispers to his wife about allowing the children to listen to the stories. Asenath always passed it off as fiction tales… but Mara wondered if her Mother truly knew that the tales were actual history, or even future."

This is an excerpt from my book "Bondage," from the "Chosen Light" series (ch. 4, pg. 22). Mara's Grandmother, Nefertari, describes this young 16 year-old girl as such: "Mara was the outgoing girl, eager to learn, and ready to imagine; yet she desired to be alone at times, thirsty for thought and words on a page." In this chapter Nefertari is explaining "Dream Scrying" to Mara, and the battle between Agni the dragon and Mark, a man of God, who later turned to worshipping the Egyptian idols. Mara and her Grandmother where very close, yet the girl's Father, Elioneai, was not so sure about the lenghty time his daughter spent listening to the old woman's stories.

"But something about Mara had drawn her particularly close to her Grandmother. Mara desired to learn about history… not just any history, but the enchanting stories from her Grandmother. They were both fascinated with animals, the odd behavior of the Egyptians, the strange gods the Pharaoh worshipped, and they enjoyed studying the word together, building their faith stronger, and learning about the one and only God so as to stand before the Pharaoh if need be and speak the truth that they had learned."

Musick is the poetry of the air!

"Musick washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life."

Musick creates a variety of moods in ones body... even when unawares. Scientists have done much research on the effects musick has on a person's body. Soothing musick such as Mozart, Bach, or Chopin releases relaxing pheromones throughout the entire body, giving one a sense of relaxation, and even perhaps sleepiness. But musick directed with a quick beat, loud sounds, and a fast tempo arouses ones mind and causes our body and senses to wake up... ready to get going. Researchers claims to have interviewed more than 72,000 business professionals since 1985, and one of the things they have learned is that incorporating "good, positive music" into the workplace—whether it's audio speakers in the parking lot, musical acts at corporate events or giving ipodes to every employee—can have a dramatic, positive effect on employee productivity. So what is behind all this anyway?

God has created the musick to "calm the savage beast," as someone was once quoted. Even David in the Bible would play his harp to calm the mind and body of Saul, and his harp playing would sooth the sheep he tended. We know that God loves musick, songs are sung and played in His kingdom, and we sing praises to honour His name, therefore, "If the King loves musick, it is well with the land." Or perhaps it should be stated, "If the King's people love His musick, it is well with the land."

"Alas for those that never sing, but die with all their musick in them!"

:Give praise unto God, with prayer, thanksgiving, and song. Sing glad praises of His name throughout the earth, glorify His name in song!" --Briar Frost

Dr. Daniel Michael

Dr. Daniel Michael, the follower of Christ and His covenant, the head of a growing family, and the mentor I most desperately need. Dr. Michael is the pastor of "Emmanuel Baptist Church," in Alabama. Sitting under his preaching, teaching, and guidance, either in the home or at the Lord's house, is teaching me daily to strive for Christ's glory and not my own. I find myself wandering daily, desiring to follow my own path, but as my Father and mentor, he tenderly brings me under his care and leads me back to the narrow path. I find in my Father's life that he has one goal, and one goal alone... to serve the one and only God, the Creator and foundation of this world. His desires are to bring me up following Christ in all I do, "teaching and admonishing" me. His first obligation is to care for his family, his second the Church. Every day I watch him grow stronger in the Almighty God, his prayer-life, his thirst for the Word, and his sorrow over his stumblings. Watching this "Chosen Light" go daily about the Master's work causes my heart to grieve over the fact that I spend my time so frivolously each day, desiring nothing but to serve the creation and not the Creator. My goal is to grow deeper in the fellowship with my Heavenly Father, and to uplift His name wherever I might be.

Dr. Voddie Baucham

I was incredibly inspired the first time I heard Dr. Voddie Baucham speak... and ever since, I just can't stop myself from listening to his sermons. Voddie Baucham is a man of God, ready to tell you the facts, yet loving and ready to hear what you have to say. He has a growing family and is the pastor of "Grace Family Baptist Church," in Texas. A life-changing sermon that I would (and have for the past month) recommend is "The Children of Ceasar." Voddie Baucham captures what the Scriptures have to say about the "training up a child in the way he should go," and brings it to the "now and here" of our time. The number one question you get asked when your child finishes his last year in high school is, "Where is he going to college?" Dr. Voddie shows you verse by verse what the Bible has to say on these matters, causing you to see the truth with a capital T!

Words for thought...

I enjoy writing my thoughts on a simple page with a freshly sharpened pencil in hand. Something about sitting in the open air with only the trees, sky, and soft earth around me seem to call out to my senses, and words quickly form in my mind. My imagination always seems to draw me back to the ocean's crested waves, ships in flight, and the salt spray teasing at my nose and eyes. So here is a sample of something I enjoy doing while everything around me seems to be at a stand-still. My poems seem a bit childish at times, but I enjoy the simple words, or even the simple rhythmic pattern that reach back to my childhood.

"Away or' the waves we sail,

With our ship bobbing up and down,

We'll stand at the bow looking over the rail,

The crashing of waves is our sound.

The lantern it gives us light,

The bright shining stars guide our way,

In the darkness we'll take our flight,

From the mossy earth off the bay.

With our sails full of wind,

And our mast standing firm,

We'll build our home on the sea.

We'll sing our sailing song,

And we'll take our home along.

"Let fly-- in the name of God!"

God is our refuge and our strength, in straits a present aid; therefore, although the earth remove, we will not be afraid... unto the ends of all the earth, wars into peace He turns: the bow He breaks the spear He cuts, in fire the chariot burns. Be still, and know that I am God!

"King's Arrow," is an incredible read. Douglas Bond reaches out to those who have an overwhelming love for reading, writing, poetry, the Word of God, and Musick. He builds his young character "Angus" to wander in his thoughts throughout the day, creating musick or poetry, but with one purpose in mind... to glorify God. Angus is constantly growing in the Scriptures, reading God's words, and men's words about Him. Angus, and his brother Duncan, are shadows of what any young man should strive to build his character after. Douglas Bond continually reminds the reader that "Duties are ours; events are God's!"

Bondage (Historical Fiction)

"Bondage," from the "The Chosen Light" series, is the title of the book I am currently writing. The time period is 1571 B.C. My book is about the life of a young teenage girl and her family living in bondage to the king of Egypt. This story goes through the hard times of the life of the Israelites, and what became of their imprisonment.

The Writer's Tools

The love of the writer is not the crowds, nor the fame from a published book, but the scent of the page, the wood that is held in ones fingers, or the smell of strong ink creating small thoughts and words into vast oceans of pages. --Briar Frost