tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29560026389705949252024-03-08T12:25:01.931-08:00The Age of Ornan BlogAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15429028802554743347noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2956002638970594925.post-62872038807178610772014-08-12T07:57:00.003-07:002014-08-12T07:57:40.023-07:00Good News from The Age of Ornan
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Greetings again!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I come today with a somewhat late but
exciting post as things have been moving fast in the two weeks since I last
updated. The first thing to mention is that I plan on adding a new section to
my blog. I would like to post on a semi daily basis devotionals based off of my
daily devotions. Keeping up with a daily post will be difficult so it will take
a while before I get it up and running but you can expect it in the near
future!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I would also like to announce that <em>The
Age of Ornan: The Prophecies of Oruras Fulfilled</em> will very soon be complete. I
expect it to be available for purchase in less than a month, though I cannot
say anything for certain!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Finally I would also like to mention
that one of the most exciting stages of the publishing process is when you receive
the interior and exterior design of your book. Working on these has been the
main reason that I have not posted in so long. But with that said I do in fact
have the cover for the final book in the <em>Age of Ornan</em> series!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I am grateful to God that he has allowed
me the opportunity write and have these books published. Now as it is drawing
to a close I just want to praise him more for it! I will also keep everyone
posted on the progress of the book as it is finishing up and I hope to have the
devotional section of the blog up soon and until then, God bless and have a
great day!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15429028802554743347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2956002638970594925.post-49218031121232081742014-07-15T05:41:00.000-07:002014-07-15T05:43:44.188-07:00Age of Ornan Update and The Mercenaries of Domus-Lux<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">This week I have a post that is less
theological and more Age of Ornan/Domus-Lux focused. I just wanted to let you
folks know that the book is now in the design phase of publishing which is one
of the later stages. This has me and hopefully those who have already read it
excited!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I also would like to announce that I am
working on my fourth book. This one is also set in Domus-Lux somewhere around
five thousand years before <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Age of
Ornan.</i> This one will be titled <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Mercenaries of Domus-Lux</i>. Ironically this is the first story I ever created
for Domus-Lux. I actually began work on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Age of Ornan</i> first but it was set in another world that really was not
working for the story and so I transferred it over to Domus-Lux.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I would not encourage readers to get too
excited yet as I work full time with a lot of overtime and I only write when I can.
But I am pleased to announce that chapter one is complete and to give you folks
a good taste of the book I will include this chapter in the below for FREE!!! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I hope you enjoy, and in the meantime,
God bless and have a great day!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Warning! This Content is highly unedited. Errors
contained within are the result of being a first draft and is therefore only
slightly the result of a stupid author.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Mockery of said author due to his authorship or
absurd face is prohibited.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 22pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The Mercenaries of Domus-Lux<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 22pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Chapter 1<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 22pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">A Waking of the Dark<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 22pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The land of Osdoger, a place of wild, untamed, wilderness is a land
where brigands, thieves, mercenaries, and all sorts of unpleasant folk make
their dwelling. Osdoger with its vast forests, high cliffs and deep canyons
make the land unsuitable for commoners but a place most befitting the life of
those who wish to lay low or organize mischief if that is something one’s
occupation might require. Indeed Osdoger is such an unpleasant place that the
descent folk of Domus-Lux never pass through it intentionally. Even if it is
necessary to take a path through it they prefer to go north through Osgedy and
Osurisim or south through Osroddim or Osdod, even though these routs could
easily add weeks to ones traveling time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The unfortunate towns situated near Osdoger are constantly plagued by
the villains that make their home there. Seeing that there is no king and the
governors of these cities are at best inept the people have learned that losing
possessions due to crime or fleeing their homes when word of bandit raids comes
round is just a way of life. Yet not all who wonder the paths of Osdoger are so
ill intended. On the western boarder of Osdoger one can find a quaint little
road. It leads into the pine forests and winds it’s way north and south but all
the while taking an eastward rout through a valley, with lower lands towards
the south and high cliff to the north. Then all at once the path turns
northward around that mountain and the path leads steady upward. If one were to
follow that path to is height they would discover that it would take them to
the very top of that cliff. They would also find atop the plateau a small
wooden fort, little more than a camp or outpost at the most, but to a man named
Saxon it is home. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Saxon of Osmocdrem was a mercenary, and while this seemed like an
unpleasant and even corrupt occupation for any decent person to hold decent was
quite the word to describe him. Saxon was a man who in former days was one of
high standing. And even though those days were past one could not tell it by
the way he bore himself. He stood taller than most in the land and he carried
himself high. He was a well-educated man for one who was a mercenary and he
preferred spending time in books as opposed to warfare. In fact Saxon found war
very distasteful, but you see this was the reason why he fought. He had been a
military man in his former life. He had fought wars and killed men, and
goblins. He found it all distasteful and decided that these problems would not
go away on their own. After the fall of Osmocdrem and the rise of powerful
bandits and brigands Saxon decided to wage war on these misfits and protect the
towns surrounding Osdoger. He only called himself a mercenary because that is
what the peoples from the surrounding towns labeled him. But they only bequeathed
that title upon the man because they were not sure what to call him exactly.
You see Saxon would come into a town that was struggling with brigands and
would drive away the enemy. He would never demand payment and would in fact
only accept it if he absolutely needed it to continue his work. While this
meant many lean years when he first began people started to learn that if they
paid Saxon then he spent less time raising support and more time protecting
them. Saxon’s kind and generous ways won the hearts of the people surrounding
Osdoger, and while raids were still a way of life for them the people had hope
that one day people like Saxon would rid them of their troubles.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">At noon on a mid-summers day Saxon was about doing a daily survey of his
fort. Just a few evenings prior he and his men had fought off a band of
brigands and mercenaries who wanted to bring an end to the only opposition they
had faced in the last number of years. As he observed the escape rout of the
defeated bandits, which looked far more to him like a gaping hole in his wall,
he concluded that training could be skipped that day. After all what good would
better honed skills do them if they were completely open to attack? So Saxon
went inside where he found his small band of helpers. His ranks had risen and
fallen throughout the years but at this time in particular he was at his
lowest.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">In the center of his fort where a few makeshift training dummies had
been set up Saxon found his warriors sparring each other. One of them in
particular was standing out from the others. He was a young man called Fadez.
He had been an orphan left on the streets. He used his natural speed and
athletic ability to do what he needed to survive and help out his fellow
orphans until the day he crossed the most powerful mercenary in the land,
Arbor. Rather than killing Fadez or giving him a thrashing Arbor saw the
potential in the lad and employed him. Fadez had made a name for himself over
the years and since Arbor had also discovered and trained Saxon, Fadez met his
future employer. Eventually Fadez left Arbor’s company and joined with Saxon
because it was clear to him that Saxon was out to help people, as opposed to
Arbor who had a rather lucrative business going. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Fadez, while a young man, was the most experienced in Saxon’s group. He
was easily distinguished from the others because of his skill and the fact that
he wore a cape and a plumed hat which certainly hid all appearance that he was
at one time a homeless orphan.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Saxon shook his head as he looked at two more of his men, brothers
called Miles and Taurus, who were locked in epic combat. Taurus rushed towards
Miles and took three wild swings at him with his axe. Miles took a step back
with each as if it were the simplest of maneuvers. With the last he stepped in
and slapped Taurus in the face. “Think Taurus! Think!” he shouted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Taurus leapt towards him swinging down with his axe but Miles knocked it
aside with his halberd and kicked his brother in the shin. “Use your head!” he
commanded.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Taurus took another strike at Miles and this time as Miles blocked it
Taurus took another step in and smashed him with his oversized cranium. As
Miles fell to the ground Taurus laughed, “good idea!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Though Miles and Taurus would defend each other to the death it was
difficult to tell it by the way they treated each other. Both of the zealous
youths were younger than Fadez and had very little experience in battle. Miles
had always wanted to be a soldier but could never bring himself to serve one of
the local governors or mayors because of their reputation for corruption.
Taurus on the other hand was more of a simple minded hunk of muscle who just
liked fighting because it was fun. Their town had been attacked when they were
children and Saxon had saved it. From that day forward they had determined that
they would join Saxon if they ever got the chance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The last member of Saxon’s mercenaries was a girl named Luna. While she
never talked about her age to the others she seemed very young, almost
childlike in appearance yet she had been with Saxon’s group longer than the
others. Throughout the years she had not seemed to age a day, and while this
was strange to her comrades they figured that being a senior member she was not
to be questioned. Luna abhorred violence, and avoided battles as often as she
could. She preferred to cook and mend wounded warriors. She had done an amazing
job throughout the years in her work. Her food and medicine seemed to have a
magical quality about them. Just a sip of Luna’s soup could reinvigorate a
mercenary who trained the whole day and make them want to go out and do it
again. And Saxon’s wounded mercenaries always healed twice as fast as any of
their bandit enemies for which Saxon was grateful.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">After observing his men practicing Saxon spoke up, “Very good,” he said,
“But I think we have more important matters to deal with today.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">When the mercenaries heard their commander they all jumped in line and
bowed low. “Yes sir!” they said, “What would you have us do sir!?” Miles asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“If you haven’t noticed there is a massive hole in the side of our
wall,” Saxon said, “If it is not repaired soon the bandits will return and we
might not be as blessed as we were before.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“A brilliant idea sir!” Miles said, “May I suggest you send Taurus. He
works wonders with an axe.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“Indeed he does,” Saxon agreed, “Taurus will be the muscle but we need
to send someone who will do most of the planning, and seeing that you were so
eager to volunteer your brother I suppose you will be equally eager to help him.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“Aww man!” Taurus moaned.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“please, send me with anyone other than him!” Miles said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“You heard the man!” Fadez laughed, “Hop to it!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Reluctantly Miles and Taurus grabbed their axes and left towards the
woods. As soon as they were out of Saxon’s sight Miles pushed Taurus which
turned into a shoving match all the way to their destination.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Once the brothers had wondered deep into Osdoger Taurus asked, “Why
don’t I just cut one of those trees down.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“Because their pine stupid!” Miles said, “That wood is as soft as your
head!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“You didn’t act like it was so soft when I knocked you across creation
with it a while back.” Taurus said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Miles was preparing to drop his axe and settle the argument with his
fist when there was a sudden feeling like they were being watched. “Who goes
there!?” Miles shouted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Other than the wind rustling through the trees and birds chirping there
was no sound. Just as Miles was ready to forget it and blindside Taurus, from
the trees Luna bounded.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Miles and Taurus jumped, “Whoa!” Miles said, “Don’t startle us like
that!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“What you doing here anyway?” Taurus asked, “You can’t use an axe!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“Saxon sent me.” Luna said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">There was a long pause as the brothers expected a little clarification
on the subject but Luna seemed to think, as was common with her, that the less
information she gave the brothers the better. “So why did he send you?” Miles
asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“Because if I did not come then you two would never finish the job for
fighting.” She said as she drew out a flute and sat down to play.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The two stared at her with confused countenances for several minutes
before she frowned, “Get to work now.” She said, “I would rather be home doing
something other than babysitting you two.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">So Taurus turned about and raised his axe to take a chop at a tree that
Miles was not about to approve of when Luna stopped them. “What was that?” she
asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“What was what?” Miles asked having not heard a thing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“Are you scared!?” Taurus laughed as he did a jig.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Suddenly there was a loud rustling that was loud enough for all three to
hear. “Taurus!” Miles said, “Ready your axe.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“Taurus?” Luna called as there was no sign of the brother.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Miles looked back to see Taurus’ broad shoulders sticking out on both
sides of the tree he was formerly preparing to fell. “I can see you!” Miles
said and the shoulders turned sideways making his chest, back, and nose visible
instead.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Before Miles could scold Taurus further they heard screaming from down
the path. The three whirled around to see two small girls running up the path
with several green creatures behind them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“Are those goblins?” Taurus asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“Nonsense!” Miles said, “they haven’t shown their faces in years!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“Then what would you call them?” Luna asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The goblins charged ahead and shoved the two girls to the ground. One
raise his sword to slay them when the other stopped him, “No, no!” he shouted,
“Let’s torture them a little while!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“Follow me! Charge!” Miles shouted and the three rushed the goblins.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The green creatures were caught off guard by the mercenaries and were
quickly slain.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“Who are you?” Taurus asked the girls, but before
they could answer they heard the sound of goblins shouting in the distance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“Let’s get out of here.” Miles advised and the
mercenaries led the girls back down the path.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">It did not take long for Miles to realize that his
fighting with Taurus had caused him to forget where he was in the forest. And
knowing that Taurus’ mental compass had been broken since birth he asked Luna
to lead them. She said nothing but stepped ahead to guide them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">As they wound between hills and over mountains it
became clear to Miles and Taurus that they were wondering in circles. Miles was
ready to let his quick temper boil over in a fit of name calling when they came
to the base of the hill on which their home rested. “What took you so long to
get us here?” Miles scolded.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“Why didn’t you take the lead?” Luna asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“I…I uh” Miles stammered, “I had to watch our back
to make sure there were no goblins.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“In that case I am sure that you were aware of the
figure pursuing us.” Luna said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“We were being followed?” Taurus asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“Of course we were!” Miles said, “That goblin
thought he was hidden but the sun was clearly bouncing off of his armor!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“It was no goblin.” Luna said, “And there was no
armor. And besides I know that you never saw him otherwise you would have been
shouting who goes there alerting all of Northwood to our presence.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Miles mumbled to himself and then asked, “Did we
lose him?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“I hope.” Luna answered, “I’m not sure what he was,
but regardless of his race he is very good. I haven’t seen him in an hour but
that does not stop him from tracking us.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“Blast it!” Miles said, “If Saxon finds out finds
out it will be a month of watch duty for me!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“Haha!” Taurus laughed, “Then I’ll get the top
bunk!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“Let’s just pretend nothing happened and show these
kids to Saxon.” Miles said and led them into the fort and from there into the
simple yet homely living quarters.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“Ah there you are.” Fadez said, as he watched them
come in, “I hope you finished the work.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“Yeah,” Miles sighed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“I’m not sure what took you so long.” Fadez said,
“But time is not a gift to be wast-…” He stopped mid-sentence as he spotted to
the unknown girls behind his comrades. “And who are those two little girls?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“I don’t know.” Miles answered, “We found them on
the road. They were being chased by… goblins.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“Goblins!” Fadez laughed, “Not very likely. Goblins
do not leave Silva-Nox anymore! They have no need to seeing that the majority
of our race sides with Dux-Mala. But at least this is different than what I
expected. I feared that you had been foolish enough to let someone follow you
home. You know how Saxon feels about that.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Miles laughed nervously but said nothing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“We was followed by goblins!” Taurus said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“What?!” Fadez asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“Nothing!” Miles said, “He only meant to agree that
we had seen goblins earlier.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“Did you see them Luna?” Fadez asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“Ugly green creatures bent on inflicting torture on
children seems to fit their nature.” She answered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“That can’t be good.” Fadez said and then paused
for a moment, “Maybe we should take them to Saxon.” He said at last and then
led them all towards a door at the end of the room. They entered to find
Saxon’s office, the kitchen, and the dining hall for this one room served as
all three. In the center of the room was a long battered table which was more
than large enough to accommodate the whole band of mercenaries. Seated at the
end of the table was Saxon reading a large book. At the sound of the door
creaking open Saxon’s eyes glared up at them, “Unless the matter is of the
upmost urgency it can wait until morning.” He said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“I believe this might be urgent.” Fadez answered as
he pushed the two children forward.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“And who are these children?” Saxon asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“Well apparently these dear little ones were being
chased by goblins.” Fadez said as he rolled his eyes in a wide circle as if he
was not even sure he believed what he was saying.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“Goblins?” Saxon asked, “Please, sit them down.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The mercenaries and the children sat at the table
and waited in silence as Saxon looked hard and long at them. At last he finally
spoke, “It is strange to see goblins here these days. They keep themselves busy
in the north fighting the Elves. The only way the Black Mirus would ever
concern himself with our lands is if it were a matter of great importance to
him. Yet the object of the goblin’s pursuit is only two small children. What am
I to make of this?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“It is perplexing.” Fadez agreed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“Indeed,” Saxon agreed, “So tell me you names.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“Awis.” The younger said followed by the elder,
“Lucy.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Saxon seemed to think for a moment and then asked,
“Your clothes may be old and tattered but they do not bear the mark of
peasantry. Who were your parents and how did you find yourself in the position
that my men discovered you in?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“Our father was a king.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“Indeed.” Saxon chuckled, “The king of Domus-Lux is
Dux-Mala. Surely you do not belong to him.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“Father was king first.” Avis said with a level of
knowing too great for her age.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“If you mean to imply that you are the daughter of
the last king then you must be mistaken.” Saxon said, “After all I was once in
his service. I was relieved of my duties when Dux-Mala relieved him of his. But
all those years in the castle the king had no children and no wife for that matter.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“He did not die in the siege.” Lucy said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“Saxon,” Fadaz said, “Remember the rumors.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“I do indeed.” Saxon answered, “Some believed that
the king escaped. If that did in fact occur then that would provide him more
than enough time to find a wife and have children the age of the two sitting
before us.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“Then they’re princesses then?” Miles asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“That’s quite the claim.” Fadez laughed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“A claim anyone could make.” Saxon added, “If they
are in fact the king’s daughters I would prefer to have some proof.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“Does this work?” Lucy asked as she pulled out a
medallion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Saxon’s eyes fixed on the golden object and stared
as if in a trance, “Where did you get that?” he asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“Our father.” Avis answered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“Let me see it.” Saxon said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Lucy seemed hesitant to hand it over but eventually
did. Saxon took the medallion and rose from his chair and paced as he observed
its markings. In the center was a picture of Osmocdrem standing tall and strong
with the majestic mountains of the west in view. Above the fortress four stars
were shining. On the other side there were many names engraved. While to the
average person the names would have meant nothing but to Saxon, a historian of his
land he knew that it was the names of the kings of Domus-Lux beginning with the
first Tecer going down to not the last king but to two names, Avis and Lucy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“What is it.” Fadez asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“It is true.” Saxon said, “This proves that they
are the daughters of the king!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“How do you know it is not fake?” Miles asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“Because this is not the first time I’ve held this
medallion.” Saxon said, “Every scratch and imperfection that had ever been on
it is still here in its proper place. If it were fake it could only have been
done by someone who had known the king and no such people survived the siege of
Osmocdrem accept for me and a few friends of mine who are now all dead.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“Then that’s why they were being chased!” Taurus
said, “They’re princesses!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“It’s not that simple.” Saxon said, “If they were
being chased by Dux-Mala’s men then I would not be surprised. After all these
two have the right to dethrone him. But these goblins answer to the dark one
and if he is pulling his defenses from his stronghold in order to chase them
then either it has nothing to do with Dux-Mala or he and the dark one have a
shared interest in them.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“Then let’s ask them.” Fadez said, “So tell me
girls, why were goblins after you?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“I don’t know.” Lucy answered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“You don’t know?” Miles asked, “Or are you hiding
the truth!?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“Silence vermin!” Awis said, “We know nothing.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“What should we do then?” Fadez asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“The goblins are following them for some reason.”
Saxon answered, “And seeing that they are the ones we owe our allegiance to as
servants of Domus-Lux we are bound by duty to protect them.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Everyone nodded in agreement and waited for Saxon
to give the next order. The stern mercenary’s hard face softened as he looked
on the children with compassion. “You must be tired.” He said, “Fadez! Show
them to a place where they can rest.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“It will be done sir.” Fadez said as he led them
out of the room. He returned shortly and Saxon spoke once more, “I fear that
this has set in motion something greater than we have ever faced before.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“Pardon me sir,” Miles said, “But does that not
sound a little dramatic?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“How many times have you seen goblins in this
wood?” Fadez asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“Never of course!” Miles answered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“That is Saxon’s point.” Fadez said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“Well there is no sense in continuing to discuss
this.” Saxon said, “We should retire. We have a full day tomorrow.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“If we have a tomorrow.” Luna said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“What do you mean?” Saxon asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“We were followed most of the way home by a man in
black.” She said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“Miles.” Saxon said, “Were you not in charge of
this task?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“Yes,” Miles answered, “But it’s not my fault!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“And whose is it?” Saxon asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“I guess mine.” Miles answered, “There was just too
much going on for me to focus.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“Perhaps a month of watch duty will help you
focus.” Saxon said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“As long as I don’t get stuck with Taurus I’ll be
fine.” Miles said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“Top bunk for Taurus!” the broad brother rejoiced.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“Indeed,” Saxon answered, “Regardless of where we
all sleep I suggest we do it lightly. For goblins and a man in black to arrive
in one day suggests that the goblins are not finished pursuing their prey. We
could soon have visitors of the most unsavory sort.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“We will keep our weapons nearby.” Fadez said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“Very good lads.” Saxon said as he rose from the
table. “It is late. We had best be getting to bed.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The mercenaries departed to their rooms as Miles
went to watch through the long, cold, night.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15429028802554743347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2956002638970594925.post-3222607822128230402014-07-08T07:32:00.003-07:002014-07-08T07:32:53.208-07:00How Close is Too Close Part 2
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">So last week I was talking about the
world and how far Christians should be removed from it. I said that this week I
was going to delve deeper into the practical applications of this though I will
admit up front that I am not expert in this area, but with that said let’s dive
right in.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I am one of those guys who like black
and white but I realize that in many realms there is a lot of grey. Things that
are good can become bad though things that are sinful only get worse. What I
come to realize as I think on this is that we are really talking about
idolatry. We often see idolatry as bowing down to a little wooden statue and
thus think that Americans have that commandment down. But an idol basically is
whatever you have in your life that takes the place of God. I am not talking
about things that are overtly sinful either. These things can be things that
would be considered alright or even good. A great example of this is that I
used to listen to a lot of sermons. Of course there is nothing wrong with
learning about God’s word and how to live it out, but I found myself listening
to so many that I was neglecting my relationship with God. I had to stop
listening to sermons in order to actually learn from God. In this scenario
something good, listening to sermons, became a sin because it became more
important to me than my relationship with God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">There are many other things that fall
under these sorts of categories. Is it sinful to watch TV? Not if you are
careful about which programs you watch, but if you watch too much of anything
it becomes an idol and then becomes sin. Is it wrong to play a video game? Not
in many cases but once again it can consume your time and affections and then
becomes a sin. Probably the greatest idol for Americans today is sports. There
is nothing wrong with watching a football game but if it becomes more important
to you than spending time with God then it becomes an idol<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I am aware
that as a Christian we do have “liberties”. But my experience is that Christian
liberty is the backsliders favorite doctrine. So putting liberty aside lets
deal with what would be the best God has for us, as that is what we all want I
would hope. I have found in my own life that the things that I prefer to excuse
under the banner of Christian liberties are the things that have become, or may
soon become idols in my life. If there is anything in our lives that is too
precious to us to let go of then it probably will be best if we sacrifice it
for God. I know that every one of us has things that immediately come to mind
when we hear something like this and our first reaction is to say if it is not
a sin than I will not be rid of it but I think whenever we give up something to
grow closer to God it will only amount to good in our lives. God bless and have
a great day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15429028802554743347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2956002638970594925.post-54434024405925252632014-07-01T10:46:00.001-07:002014-07-01T10:46:47.859-07:00How Close is Too Close<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The other day I was reading my favorite
devotional, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Morning and Evening</i> by C.
H. Spurgeon and I came across an interesting devotional. In it Spurgeon says<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">"Yes,"
says the world, "be spiritually minded by all means, but do not deny
yourself a little gay society, an occasional ball, and a Christmas visit to a
theatre. What's the good of crying down a thing when it is so fashionable, and
everybody does it?" Multitudes of professors yield to this cunning advice,
to their own eternal ruin. If we would follow the Lord wholly, we must go right
away into the wilderness of separation…When the town is on fire, our house
cannot be too far from the flames. When the plague is abroad, a man cannot be
too far from its haunts. The further from a viper the better, and the further
from worldly conformity the better. To all true believers let the trumpet-call
be sounded, "Come ye out from among them, be ye separate.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I believe this to be good advice and yet
the question I ponder today is how far must a Christian be separate from the
world and its ways? Obviously you can take this to two extremes. You can argue
for Christian liberty and live the life of a lost person even though you are
saved which will render you useless for the kingdom or you can be so separate
from the world that you might end up something like the Amish and just like
them have little to no influence on the world. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The question then is how do we be in the
world and not of it? How do we know if our past times are right or wrong? While
I do not presume to understand this matter perfectly here is what I have
learned about it. Paul says, “All things are lawful for me, but all things are
not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.” And
another time he says the exact same thing but ends it saying “I will not be
brought under the power of any.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The simple answer is that if anything
does not edify, or build you up spiritually it is something that you would be
better off not doing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Come again next time and I will try to
make apply these verses a little more practically. In the meantime God bless
and have a great day!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15429028802554743347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2956002638970594925.post-33626998857616027302014-05-26T09:21:00.004-07:002014-05-26T09:21:58.212-07:00Back to the Blog/Ornan Update!
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Greetings! And welcome once again to the Age of Ornan Blog!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">It’s been a while since I last posted. School and work have
had me busy! But I am very glad to say that I have finally graduated with a
masters in Theology! So with that my twenty years of education is over! I do
not plan to cease learning but I do not see myself earning any more degrees
unless someone sees fit to pay for my doctorate or God provides an awesome
paying job!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Either way I have now got a lot of time on my hands and so I
should be doing more posts and will be doing a little more work on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Age of Ornan</i>. Don’t hold me to this
but I might even make a video trailer for it if I can get the right equipment!
But to make something that won’t embarrass the book will once again require
money. Now I understand what Solomon meant when he wrote, “money answereth all
things.”(Eccl 10:19)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">All that aside the best piece of
news I have is that the final book in the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Age
of Ornan </i>series has been sent to the publisher and is currently undergoing
the theological review, to check it for offensive materials. I plan on giving
updates as the book progresses and until next time! God bless and have a great
day!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15429028802554743347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2956002638970594925.post-32404396848850161252014-04-05T13:40:00.001-07:002014-04-05T13:40:50.475-07:00
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Greetings!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Today I am going to review the new film
God’s Not Dead! This movie is about a Christian who goes to university and is
challenged by his professor, who is an atheist, to defend the idea that God
exists. When I heard about this movie I was excited and yet somewhat skeptical.
Not that I disagree with the premise of the film but knowing that it would take
place in a philosophy class I could pretty well predict how the debate would
follow.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Before I get too far in my review I will
say that I liked the movie a lot. I say this because I will come across as
pretty brutal in dealing with it. But to keep things a little more positive I will
begin with the downside of the movie first and then move to what I liked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The first weakness of this film was the
fact that the main character in this film says that he is going to put God on
trial. This I think is very wrong as scripture commands us not to put God to
the test (Luke 4:12). We should remember that God is judge and we should therefore
not judge him. But this is the way that he moves forward in the debate. Instead
of using the Bible as his starting point he uses philosophy and “science” and
mostly ignores scripture.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">What is the problem with this? The
problem is that if our starting point is our own ability to reason we will
never reach the point of salvation. No one gets saved apart from the name of
Jesus, “For there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we
must be saved (Acts 4:12). Philosophy and reason will never get us to that
point. What this movie attempted to do was prove philosophically that God
exists and even though they may have done it they only argued for God in a
general sense and not for Jesus. At the end of the film when everyone rose
saying God’s not dead the only thing that had been accomplished is a conversion
to theism not Christianity. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Some would say is not this a good thing?
Not really. There are going to be more theists in Hell than atheists. With regard
to theists James the brother of Jesus said, “Thou believest that there is one
God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble (James 2:19). James is
saying that belief in God only makes you equal with the devil. In order for a
person to be saved we must start with scripture and preach Jesus and not
philosophy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The second issue with this movie is that
the argument is used that the big bang is what the verse let there be light
would look like. This is absolutely false. There is no room in scripture for
the big bang. For brevities sake I will link an article that deals more fully
with this. <a href="http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/ud/problems-with-big-bang"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/ud/problems-with-big-bang</span></a>.
It is true that god could have used the big bang, but it is also true that the
God of the Bible would and could not have.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Another issue related to this is that it
is argued that God could have guided the process of evolution. Once again this
is anti-scriptural. The God of the Bible did not use evolution at all. Any
child reading Genesis will know that God did not use evolution.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The final objection that I had with this
movie was the gospel presentation at the end. I found it very weak. I was glad
to see that they did make mention of sin as that is often omitted. But I was
also sad to hear no mention of repentance. Sadly this is an epidemic in gospel
presentations today. There is no salvation apart from repentance yet we fail to
mention it so often. This is why we see so many people get saved and then fall away
a short distance down the road.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">So to lump it all together the weakness
with this film is too much respect for man and too little respect for God. We
should not tell God that He had to use evolution, the big bang and other pagan
ideas and we should not think so highly of ourselves as to think our own
reasoning can lead us to salvation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">With all that said here are the things I
liked about the movie! I thought that it was incredibly well made. If it were
possible to watch the movie without being able to pick up on the Christian themes
you would not be able to tell it apart from secular films today. The acting was
top notch. I certainly want to say that Kevin Sorbo did an amazing job as
Jeffrey Radisson the professor. The whole time I was watching I was asking
myself, Modec, Gwain, or Frederick? Read the Age of Ornan to figure this out!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">In fact I have to say Radisson is one of
my favorite parts of the film! He was a very well written and deep character
and made me feel somewhat guilty as I thought, “Is it right to say the atheist
was my favorite character?” Radisson does become a Christian by the end of the movie
which some said was unrealistic for a person who hated God so much and while I agree
it is unlikely we must always remember that salvation is a work of the Holy
Spirit and he can soften even the hardest of hearts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">For another good review that goes a
little deeper into detail I would suggest this article, <a href="http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/2014/02/25/review-gods-not-dead-movie"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/2014/02/25/review-gods-not-dead-movie</span></a>.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">In the end I must say I am amazed at how
good Christian filmmaking is becoming. I have to say good job to Pure Flix! If
they need a new project to work on and want to make the world’s first epic, Christian,
film trilogy then I have a suggestion for them… maybe The Age of Ornan? God
bless and have a great day!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15429028802554743347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2956002638970594925.post-36764448635125871102014-02-28T10:32:00.001-08:002014-02-28T10:32:10.424-08:00What Religious Educatio Does not Do
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Religious Education Does Not:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Greetings and welcome once more to the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Age of Ornan</i> Blog! Today I would like to
talk about education as I am now about halfway through my final semester with
Liberty University. I would like to make several posts dealing with what a
religious education does do and what it does not do. Throughout the years of
being in church I have found some gross understanding of the purpose of
education for Christian leaders and with that said let us begin with what a
religious education does not do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">A Religious Education Does Not Cause Godly Character<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Many of the people that congregate in
our churches today act as if a preacher or teacher who has an education must
walk on water. They act as if he can say or do no wrong, but this is simply not
the case. People who are educated are as much if not more susceptible to sin
than anyone else.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">We know from 1 Corinthians 8:1 that,
“Knowledge puffeth up.” It is sad but true that some of the most arrogant and
high minded Christians I have ever met are those who are well educated. Satan
knows that one of the best ways to bring a man down is through puffing him up
for he knows that “Pride goeth before destruction and a haughty spirit before a
fall.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">It is also important to remember that
whoever is in leadership will receive more spiritual attack from Satan. While
Satan and his demons are mostly overlooked in our churches today he is alive
and well and attacking leaders. We should pray for our leaders not only for
this but also because James says that teachers will be held to a higher level
of accountability.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">A Religious Education Does Not Perfect One’s
Understanding of God’s Word<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">This is very similar to the first point.
We often assume in our churches that because a man has more education he is
more qualified to teach. Perhaps this is true from a human standpoint but is
not truly the case. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Unfortunately from my experience I am
learning that a religious education is often one of the most detrimental things
to a young church leader. While I think that the school I attend is a solid
church I also understand that Liberty University is one of the rare exceptions
today. It seems that most Seminaries are breeding grounds for liberal,
heretical theology.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">In light of this we should remember what
Jesus said, “The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is
perfect shall be as his master. (Luke 6:40)” What Jesus is saying is that when
a man is trained by another by the end of the training he will become like his
teacher. That is why governments throughout the history of mankind wanted to
control schools because it gives them the power to shape the minds of the next
generation to their mold.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">With this thought in mind it is better
in most cases for a young leader not to be seminary trained. In most cases it
will be harmful to him. It is only advisable if he finds a Bible believing
college where the truth of God’s word is taught. This would also rule out
getting a religious education from a secular school. There is no such thing as
neutrality. Secular is simply another word for humanism and a secular school
will teach humanistic theology.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">While I have learned some good things
from my time at Liberty University I can say whole heartedly that I do not
think every religious leader ought to be seminary trained. While for brevities
sake I will not list them here I think there are many ways to learn that are
superior to our modern college system.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Religious Education Does Not Qualify One to Preach<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">This final point more than any other
fills me with righteous indignation. There is a powerful heresy straight from
Satan that is growing in our protestant Churches that says that a person is not
qualified to teach on a subject unless he has a degree in that area.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">This is a scheme of the devil that has
been affective from the very beginning. Satan cause Adam and Eve to sin because
he promised them knowledge. Years down the road pagan priests came along
telling the common man not to think about religious things. That was the job of
the religious experts and all the people had to do was allow those leaders to
dominate and govern them. This led to the common man offering their children to
Molech and other heinous sins against God. But by the grace of God he sent
Israel, a nation of priests, to demonstrate that every man is to learn the ways
of God through his word.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Many years later the Pharisees used
their education and “knowledge” of the scriptures to lord over the rest of the
people. While they were not able to keep the Jews ignorant about the scriputres
they bogged them down with so many of their own rules that they were more or
less clueless. By the grace of God Jesus came in the flesh and set things
straight and chose twelve unlearned men who would have been seen as religious
rejects by the Pharisees to lead the early church. Once more the understanding
of scripture was in the common man’s hand.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Down the road in 313 A.D. Emperor
Constantine converted Christianity into what became the Catholic Church. In
this system the Bible was left in a dead language so that the common man could
have no chance of learning the word of God for themselves and once more the
“enlightened” clergy oppressed the common man. But by the grace of God the
reformation came and the common man received the word again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">As can be seen it has always been
Satan’s plan to set up religious elite, especially in the church, to keep the
laity ignorant. This is becoming more common in our churches today. I heard of
a story in a conservative church where a lady wanted to play some DVDs on a biblical
topic to her class at church. She told one of the leaders in the church about
it and he told her that she could not as the man did not have a degree in the
field he was speaking on. This is becoming common. This is sin. This is
Paganism. This is of the devil.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">A seminary is nothing more than a group
of men, albeit well learned men trying to groom the next generation but nothing
they do will ever qualify a person to teach or preach. I would rather see a man
spend his life dedicated to reading the word than four to ten years studying at
a university.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">On one particular Sunday morning at my
church I was feeling rather proud of my educational accomplishments and was
waiting for an opportunity in my Sunday School, which my dad was teaching, to
show off what I had learned. He was teaching in John chapter fourteen which is
one of my favorite passages in the Bible. I had taken several classes and read
many books on John and I waited for the moment to spew forth my knowledge. By
the grace of God that opportunity never came as my father, who is not “trained”
and several member of the church explained the passage and the contextual and
historical background as well if not better than I could. They already from
their own studies had learned more about the scriptures than my masters level
education ever did. I was force fed a large dose of humble pie.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">In light of this I have become very
righteously angry. Why? This is because throughout the years my dad has
struggled to get churches. He has never preached in a church that regularly
held over one hundred on a Sunday morning. Why is this the case? This is so
because whenever churches larger than one hundred seek a pastor they require at
least a masters level education or more. Ironically if my dad is ever allowed
to fill in at a larger church they want him as their pastor. Why is this?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The simple answer is this, my father is
called of God to preach. It is a gift. It is a calling. He may not be educated
but that is alright because God has given him by that calling all of the
qualifications he could ever need. Unfortunately most churches will not give
him the opportunity to use his God given calling because he has not been to one
of their schools. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">This troubles me greatly as I know that
I have not been called to preach. Yet I could get many churches that my father
never would even though in God’s eyes he is qualified and I am not. The simple
fact is that churches are lazy. They look for something like a lack of
education as a reason to throw out an application without prayerfully seeking
whether God would have that person preach or not. In other cases it is because
they are prideful and they want to brag that they have a pastor who has a Dr.
before his name.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">So in conclusion God’s calling is
greater than an education. A lack of formal education should never disqualify a
person from teaching. There are many other legitimate ways to learn and simply
holding a high degree of some sort does not make someone a more qualified
teacher. More often than not it is a hindrance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15429028802554743347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2956002638970594925.post-25901015837846935852013-12-26T08:45:00.001-08:002013-12-26T08:45:20.008-08:00
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">So in my last blog/vlog I showed off my new
knife from Cold Steel, the True Flight Thrower! Just saying Amazon has better
prices than Ebay and Overstock.com. I said that my knife throwing habit had a
way to tie into Domus-Lux and the Age of Ornan so here it goes!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I really enjoy writing, but I think I enjoy
playing characters from my stories even more. As you folks can see I have done
a few vlogs recently where I attempt to portray Burdep and Gallar who are major
Characters from the Age of Ornan. Of my characters my two favorite to play
would be Burdep and another character only briefly mentioned in the Age of
Ornan. By the time of these books he has been dead for thousands of years but I
am currently working on writing the story that he is involved in. While Burdep
is the hesitant Vashaarite (Christian) who battles with himself knowing he
should do the right thing but preferring only to look out for himself this
other character called Lupas is simply no good. He is a mercenary, assassin,
and spy who could not care less about anything than what might please him in
the moment. Considering his occupation this fellow I imagine as having a truck
load of knives on his person at all times.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">So for me throwing knives is a way to connect
in some way with my characters. It also means I will be more comfortable with a
live blade in my hands. For anyone in martial arts who has seen a beginner pick
up a weapon there is always a very apparent awkwardness and fear involved. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">A lot of actors like to find items that tie
them in with their character and find that connection and while I might not be
in a film as these characters I still enjoy connecting with them in order to
portray them accurately in my books.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15429028802554743347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2956002638970594925.post-53425999304946976772013-12-20T08:55:00.000-08:002013-12-20T08:55:15.523-08:00
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Greetings!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I know that I said my next blog/vlog was to be
on the connection between my throwing knives and my books but in light of the
recent controversy I have decided to post this and return to the knives next
time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">As most of you know by now Phil Robertson from
Duck Dynasty was banned from the show because he made comments about the sin of
the homosexual lifestyle. I know that there are probably vlogs and blogs
everywhere talking about this issue so I simply want to cut to the chase.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">We live in a politically correct society which
means that adults have not grown up and want to cry whenever someone disagrees
with them but here is the fact of the matter regardless of what people may
think. There is a God. There is only one God. This God is the God of the Bible.
The Bible is true in every detail and is absolute. Therefor when the Bible
speaks to an issue if you disagree with it you are wrong. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">With this in mind I am not overly upset with
A&E. After all it is a humanistic television channel run by lost people who
naturally hate Jesus. You do not get upset when a pig insists on rolling in the
mud because that is what pigs do. Being a liar a murderer an adulterer or gay
is the least of lost people’s trouble. Their constant rejection of Jesus Christ
is what condemns them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">With that said I am mainly writing to those who
claim to be Christians yet stand against the views that Phil expressed in his
comments. I acknowledge that there are issues in the scripture that are not
black and white. Issues like which spiritual gifts are still in effect. But on
this issue there is absolutely no doubt what the Bible says. Romans, Leviticus,
and 1 Corinthians all speak on this issue and every time it is mentioned as a
terrible sin. The Bible cannot be any more plain on this issue and for so
called Christians to try to muddy the waters on the issue or to dismiss what
the Bible says on it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I just want to say this to such people who call
themselves Christians. The only person you are helping by supporting the gay
agenda is Satan. Satan desires to see lost people go to Hell and by telling a
gay person that it is alright for him to remain in sin is to give him the
excuse he is looking for to walk right into Hell.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Please do not use the excuse about loving
people either. To let a person remain in their sin is not love. If you see a
child playing in a busy road you do not turn a blind eye to it and say I love
them and it’s not hurting anybody so let them be. On the contrary you would
warn them and perhaps chastise them because the lifestyle they are living is
destructive and will only end in their demise. This is the kind of Love Jesus
showed. He never condoned sin put lovingly pointed it out and then showed them
how to be free through him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Honestly if you call yourselves Christians and
condone the homosexual lifestyle you either hate these people greatly, are
incredibly selfish or you are a fool. It is time for more Christians to stand
for the truth and if that means persecution as in Phil’s case then so be it.
They killed Jesus for loving people. If your stance makes you friends with
people like A&E you can be sure that you are not showing the love of
Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">In closing I am not advocating simply beating
down on any sin when it comes into view. But if we should be clear on what the
Bible says and if that offends people that’s okay. Lost people hate the truth.
But by God’s grace there will be some who believe and will be saved!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15429028802554743347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2956002638970594925.post-78568958511487278682013-12-18T08:46:00.003-08:002013-12-18T08:46:56.658-08:00
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">Greetings!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">Just posting to
let people know to check out me newest Vlog! I would write about it here but it
is one of those things that better to see than to read!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15429028802554743347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2956002638970594925.post-60650865151125795182013-12-18T08:46:00.001-08:002013-12-18T08:46:43.739-08:00
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">Greetings!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">Just posting to
let people know to check out me newest Vlog! I would write about it here but it
is one of those things that better to see than to read!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15429028802554743347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2956002638970594925.post-75706442251003564942013-12-07T20:17:00.002-08:002013-12-07T20:17:43.430-08:00The Foolsh Farmer Part 2
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">In the
land of Osdod there was an ornery old farmer. He had lived there for years
owing allegiance to nothing but his own desires. One day a rider came to his
farm.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“What do
you want!?” The old farmer asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“Hello
my man!” the rider said as he dismounted, “Today is a great day for you! I come
on behalf of the king!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“King!”
the old man laughed, “You’re mad! There’s no king in these lands.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“Well of
course there’s a king. It cannot be called a kingdom if there were king.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“I never
called this forsaken land a kingdom. If there was a king we would not have this
infernal wilderness everywhere. There would be towns and prosperity as there is
in other kingdoms. So don’t come around here telling me that there’s a king!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“I must
say it comes hard for me to tell you my purpose if you deny the fact that there
is a king.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“Then be
gone!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“But
friend you must believe. This is a matter of life or death.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“Let me
save you a world of trouble kid. There is no king! If there was he would have
shown himself to us!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“Denying
the reality of the king does not make him go away!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“Why?
Have you seen him?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“Actually
no. There are only a few privileged people who have seen him.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“That’s
my point. You haven’t seen him so he’s not real!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“But in
my hand is a decree from the king written by one of the king’s scribes and it
bears the king’s seal.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“So you
have a piece of paper written by a commoner like us. And as far as that seal
goes anyone could have put that on there! It was probably you!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“Of
course I didn’t! Don’t be absurd.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“And you
stop intruding on my land!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“Ah yes
your land. That is the reason I am here. The king has decreed that you are
living in rebellion against him. You, along with all of his subjects refuse to
pay your taxes.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“Just
what I thought. You’re just trying to rob me!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“If you
would listen I would explain. The king says the debt you have racked up is
greater than you could ever pay off and the penalty for that is death.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“Then
why doesn’t he just come here and kill me? Oh wait. Maybe it is because he’s
not real!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“It’s
because he does not delight in the death of the wicked! You have transgressed
his law and as king he is bound by duty to punish you. He owes you nothing but
a swift and silent death. But our king is a good man. He loves his people so
greatly that he sent his son into the world. This son obtained a fortune
through the most bitter toil and has saved enough to pay the king back for all
that his servants have robbed from him in taxes. The king says that he will
accept his son’s gift on one condition. If you forsake your evil ways and swear
your allegiance to him then he will make it as if you had never done wrong!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“There
is no one who would do such a thing! If someone owed a lifetime of debts no one
would be willing to forgive that!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“But the
king and his son are true men. Take me for example. I too have never paid my
dues to the king but I accepted the princes gift and am now in allegiance to
the king. He was true to his word I am forgiven. And there are many others just
like me who have also received this gift.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“If
there were such a king I would never ally myself with him! Look at this land we
live in! No good king would leave it in such a wreck!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“All
that is evil in this land has come about because of the rebellion of the king’s
subjects. It is not his fault that things are this way. Please listen to me.
The king has defended you against many attacks from our neighbors, he has sent
countless messengers out who have been killed or persecuted, he has given you
all so many chances but you refuse to see!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“I
believe what I can see. Therefore I will not believe until I see the king face
to face! And then I will let him know how terrible of a king he has been.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“How
dare you! He is the king! You are his subject! He owes you nothing! To see the
king is a blessing greater than anything we could dream to ask! To demand to
stand before the king is the most insolent thing a person could ask!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“That’s
my final offer. He can show himself or I will not serve him.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“The
king has said that he will show himself to the people. He will show himself on
the Day of Judgment! But at that time it will be too late. You will have made
your choice and may you have a change of heart before that day lest he come to
judge you!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“Go
speak your nonsense in someone else’s ears! I will not change what I think!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“And so
the messenger left.” Gallar said, “The king was true to his word and forgave
the debts of those who offered their allegiance. But upon the foolish farmer
and others like him a most dreadful judgment fell.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“It
makes me glad I am a Vashaarite.” Burdep said, “If I had not been saved at such
a young age I think I could have been one of them. Believing only in what I
see. But that is the way of a fool.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“If only
the people of the world would come to realize that Vashaar does not need them
nor does he owe them anything. In fact it is they who owe the debt. Only by a measure
of love and mercy beyond anything the races posses can we be forgiven. If any
of us were in Vashaar’s place and could see how absolutely disgusting our sin
is we would all have no mercy. We would all drop the hammer.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“It does
makes you want to tell that man about Vashaar. You want to warn him about what
he’s walking into. But he would never listen.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“Tell
him anyway. He will probably refuse but Vashaar has called you to tell not to
convert. What a person does with the message is between them and Vashaar.
Preach my lad preach to all who will hear. And let death be the only thing to
silence you!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15429028802554743347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2956002638970594925.post-4847135632542452012013-11-28T10:55:00.002-08:002013-11-28T10:55:38.478-08:00
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Greetings!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Burdep
Feliwafdir sat staring out the window of his room in the great fortress of
Osgedrom. It was a Sunday and many people were dressed in their finest and
making their way to the temple. Amongst the crowd he spotted a man who stood
with his arms folded laughing at the people going in. Every now and then he
would shout that they were wasting their time and that no God existed. He
called them children who refuse to give up on their childish fantasies. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Burdep
shook his head in disgust when he heard the sound of his door swing open. His
intruder had not even done him the courtesy of knocking. But Burdep did not
bother looking back to see who it was, for he knew that such an entrance meant
that his visitor had to be none other than Gallar the guardian.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“Good
morning Burdep!” Gallar sounded<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“I
suppose you could call it that.” Burdep answered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“Why are
not in the temple worshiping?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“I don’t
think the people would take too kindly to a Mirus joining their services.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“Unfortunately
you are correct. For safety purposes I am glad to find you here. Though I would
much rather have had to hold you back as your love of Vashaar draws you to the
temple.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“I would
have a hard time going with that idiot out there mocking!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“What do
you mean?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Burdep
pointed out the window at the mocker and Gallar took a glance at him. He shook
his head and sighed. “Poor fool.” He said, “Honestly I don’t know how to take
him.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“Have
you seen him before?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“I have,
every Sunday in fact, though he usually brings his friends.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“If what
he says about there being no God is true then there would be no point in
objecting to people worshiping.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“Unless
of course he’s just mean spirited.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“Even
amongst my foolish kinsman I only found but a few who would dare to say
something as nonsensical as that.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“I take
pity on such people. A strange sort of pity with a mixture of a desire to chastise
as a parent would. He and others remind me of a fool who once lived in one of
Cansillia’s southern kingdoms.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“I know
that sound. I am guessing you want me to listen to one of your stories.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“I am.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“And I
am a little past the age of hearing stories. You will lull me to sleep.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Not when
I am the one telling the story. And besides I have lived over six thousand
years and still feel the need for a good story from time to time so listen
closely.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15429028802554743347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2956002638970594925.post-23873282737692640012013-11-24T20:00:00.003-08:002013-11-24T20:00:38.690-08:00
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">Greetings!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">I am vlogging today
to remind everyone that I am not dead! I thought this was important as I have
not posted in forever. But I’ve been moving, schooling, working, and teaching
so things have been somewhat hectic. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">So I am posting
this short and sweet thing to remind people that there is this little holiday
that has been devoured by Halloween and Christmas that is very important. We
call it Thanksgiving and we should remember that we are to ever be thankful to
God for all that he has done for us! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">Ps 95:2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let us come before his presence with
thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15429028802554743347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2956002638970594925.post-18055973467055453302013-10-30T21:29:00.001-07:002013-10-30T21:29:07.944-07:00
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Greetings! Here is a short story that I hope gives everyone a better understanding of the day we call Halloween.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">You are outside your home. It is October the 31<sup>st</sup>
and the evening is setting in. As you gaze upon your surroundings a chill runs
up your spine. But the chill is not from the biting nightfall, nor is it from
the icy breeze sweeping across the landscape. Rather it comes as the
realization dawns on you that “They” will soon be here. You gasp at the
realization and rush inside your home where the rest of your family is
gathered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone
huddles together and waits in silence. The air in the room is so thick that you
feel as if you would have more luck trying to swim through it than walk. You wish
to converse in order to lighten the mood but you know that everyone is
listening intently, hoping, and longing for the silence to continue.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Then you hear it; a most terrifying and
dreadful sound. One so horrific that once again a chill plays the xylophone
along the disks of your backbone. You strain to listen hoping that you had made
a mistake in your hearing but the sound continues. It is the subtle clip clop
of visitors coming down the way. “No!” your brother cries, “Not them!” but he
is quickly silenced by the patriarch of your family.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">You wait in silence as the sound of feet come
ever closer to your door. You peek out the window but see nothing. Just as you prepare
to duck back in you catch an orange glimmer. You stare hard at the glow as it
takes the shape of a sinister grin. Your fears are confirmed as this is a tell-tale
sign of who is coming. Soon figures emerge from the darkness wearing costumes
and masks of all sorts of dreadful things, ghosts, goblins, trolls and demons.
In their hands they carry jack-o-lanterns and their path is leading towards
your door. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">You move away from the window and rejoin your
family hoping that they will pass by your home. Yet the sound of feet draws
nearer and nearer until at last you hear them stop upon the threshold and then
all goes silent. A seeming eternity passes as you wait in denial hoping not to
hear the most dreaded phrase of this night. And then it comes. It is not a
knock on the door nor is it a good evening to you. All you hear is a three word
phrase that causes the hearts of all in your family to drop, “Trick or Treat!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The patriarch of your family rises and heads
towards the door. His wife attempts to stop him but he gives her a sad, knowing
look and she lets him go. “No father!” another pleads, “Let’s just take the
trick!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“You know what could happen if we did.” The
patriarch says and proceeds to the door. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">You realize that he will soon open the door and
another dreadful thought strikes you. Who is going to be the treat? You dare
not ask such a thing, but you soon get the idea of who it is as you feel the
burning gazes of your family upon you. You look up to see all of them staring,
“No!” you cry, “You can’t do this!” You beg and plead but your family ushers
you to the door and sends you outside slamming the gate quickly behind you. Momentarily
you stare in terror at the costumed trick or treaters before they lay hands on
you and lock you in a cage with many others who forced to endure your plight. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">You are pulled along in a doleful procession as
the trick or treaters head to many other houses collecting treats of the same
kind as was harvested from your home. Once they have their fill they turn
towards the north and set out for the bonfire glade. Your fellow treats cry out
to the trick or treaters for mercy. They beg and they plead to be set free. You
do not know what else to do so you join in the pleading, but the demonic masks
of the trick or treaters show no sign of remorse and they pull you into the
dreaded clearing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">As you gain a clear visual on the dell your
eyes are immediately draw to a giant inanimate figure constructed out of
wicker. As your gaze is fixated on the wicker man you hear a sudden piercing
scream. You nearly leap out of your cage if the bars had not given you a
painful reminder that there was no escape. You look to where the pained scream
came from and you see two lines of your comrades. One stands before the wicker
man and the other before a large black object. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">You know well what the lines mean. If you get
in line with the wicker man you are agreeing to help the trick or treaters with
their ritual. And if you get in line with the black pot, the line where the
terrible scream came from, there was a chance that the trick or treaters might
set you free! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Screams continue to come from the black object
line. You know what terrible fate awaits those in that line but you are also
aware that the black line is the only hope you have of avoiding the ritual. So you
conjure what hope you have and when the trick or treaters set you loose you get
in line with the black object. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">You wait with your head down and your fingers
in your ears hoping not to have to see or hear the work of the black object.
Even with your ears plugged you still hear the pained and hopeless cries of
your companions. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The wait seems to last for an eternity until
you realize at last that it is your turn. You find yourself standing before a
large black pot of water with apples floating in it. You never dreamed in your
worst nightmare that you would be willingly bobbing for apples. You feel an
immense heat coming from the pot. You know that the water in that cauldron has
been heated hundreds of degrees and you dare not even get close to it for fear
of the hot water boiling out on you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">As you stare in fear of the task ahead you
question whether or not you should continue. You could just agree to go ahead
with the ritual but you know what that means. You know that the waters in the
cauldron will melt the flesh off of your face but it is your only hope.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">You continue to fight yourself and attempt to
get prepared when you notice one of the trick or treaters take a step towards
you intending to lead you to the wicker man. You know it is now or never, so
you take the plunge. Your hands grasp hold of the side of the cauldron and
immediately they break out in blisters. Your eyes catch hold of the smallest
apple and you dive for it. Beneath the surface of the water your face, neck,
and shoulders boil in the terrible brew. Everything within you tells you to
come up as the apple continues to elude your teeth. But you know as soon as you
surface it is the wicker line for you and so you refuse to rise as your teeth attempt
again and again to ensnare the mocking apple. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Then all hope is lost as the apple bobs back to
the surface and with it your last hope. You jerk your head out of the water
screaming in agony. You are directed to the line before the wicker man and
continue to cry out as do the others who have already bobbed for apples. You
can hardly see. You feel as if your face is ready to fall off of your skull.
But that is when hopelessness finally sets in and you resign to the fact that
you must take part in the ritual. Even if you had of caught hold on the apple
the damage done to your face would have killed you soon thereafter or your life
from then on would have been torture.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">You stand with your eyes gazing downward
following the line as it went. Before long one of the trick or treaters lays
hold on you. You make one more plea for him to do the humane thing and set you
free, but you find that the demon he wears as a mask is only a reflection of
the legion of them that reside within this vessel. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The trick or treater leads you up some stairs
where you find there to be no lid to the wicker man. The demon lays hold on you
and casts you into the wicker prison where you land atop many of your comrades.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Soon another falls upon you followed by
another. They continue to pile helpless prisoners in the wicker man and the
incredible weight of your fellow captors makes you feel as if you shall soon
suffocate to death. You hear your comrades. Many cry out over the pain they
feel. Others plead with the trick or treaters and yet others say nothing
wearing blank faces as if they were already dead. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Instinctively you find yourself pleading for
mercy. You are twisted in such a way as only to be able to see one of the trick
or treaters in the corner of your vision. You continue to cry out to him when
you see him take hold of an unlit torch. He walks out of your sight towards the
base of the wicker man. This causes you to beg all the more when suddenly you
are struck by the scent of smoke. The cries of your companions multiply so
greatly that you feel as if you should soon go deaf.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Then you hear a crackling sound. An orange glow
appears behind you and you feel heat rising. Sweat is rolling down your broiled
face, and even though you know it might come from the amount of exertion you
have given in trying to break free you know full well what the heat is coming
from.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Your comrades from below cry out in horror as
the smell of burning flesh finds its way to your nose. Once more you battle the
wicker man hoping to break free. You rip, tear, twist, and writhe but nothing
you do avails you. The orange glow grows greater and the heat increases along
with the screams of your tortured companions. You find yourself screaming with
all you have to no avail. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">You close your eyes hoping that it is all just
a dream that you will soon awake from when you notice that even with your eyes
close all you can see is an orange glow. The pain multiplies to a level that
you never dreamed you could experience. You open your eyes to find yourself
amidst the flame. They whip you, burn you, melt you, and blister every part of
you. Once more you give it your all twisting until you dislocate your joints
scream until your voice fails and pound on the wicker man until there is
nothing left of your hand but bone. You fight harder and harder until you have
given all you have left and then…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">November 1<sup>st</sup>. All that remains of
the wicker man and his prisoners is a pile of ash and a tragic memory. Your
family gathers to mourn your passing. In this life they know there will be no
justice for you. They will forever remember what befell you that night, and
sadly they know there is nothing they can do to prevent it from happening to
others. The only relief they find on this dark day is that they know it will be
a whole year before the trick or treaters come again, the most unholy day has
passed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I wish that I could say that I was continuing
my habit of writing fantasy with this story, sadly though this story is all too
real. While these characters never existed the ritual described here is what
happened every year in various nations all over the world on Halloween. All of
the things we celebrate on the 31<sup>st</sup> go back to this horrible Satanic
practice. That is why I would love nothing more on this day than to see the
church refuse to observe Halloween.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">We would all take offense to people building
twin towers and tossing planes through them on nine eleven in the name of fun
so why is it all right to make light of impersonating the druids who murdered
countless thousands for years? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">In closing I would like to say that I am not
necessarily advocating hiding our heads in the sand on Halloween. We should
remember that, “This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and
be glad in it.” Even though Satan wishes to hijack this day it is still a gift
from God and we should use it to bring glory to him, not by impersonating
druids, but by reaching out and sharing the gospel with the lost. God bless and
may your actions bring glory to him! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15429028802554743347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2956002638970594925.post-67264927464328596062013-09-20T09:57:00.001-07:002013-09-20T09:57:14.117-07:00How Does a Vlog sound?
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Greetings!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">This is more of a business blog as opposed to talking
about things related to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Age of Ornan.
</i>I have been thinking on a way to generate more views. I am glad to see that
I am at least getting some people to look at it but as of now I have no
comments and I’m not certain if that means I am getting views or those views
are all me checking out my own blog. So I’ll just cast this thought out there
and see if I catch anything. I am thinking of doing both a blog and vlog. This
way provides an easier means of checking it out for those who are short on time
(which is probably all of us). So that’s it! If anyone would prefer to listen
to a vlog as opposed to reading a blog comment and share your opinion! God
bless!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15429028802554743347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2956002638970594925.post-32723629299462776432013-09-19T08:43:00.000-07:002013-09-19T08:43:23.127-07:00Editing Finished for Book Three!
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I am pleased to announce that at last I have
finished editing book three! I hope to send it off to the publisher as soon as
possible but I still have one more difficult hurdle to get over before then.
Keep praying as the publishing process on this one has been disastrous! But by
God’s grace the obstacles have fallen away one by one so keep praying and keep
reading! God bless!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15429028802554743347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2956002638970594925.post-49894071426586109422013-09-01T20:16:00.001-07:002013-09-01T20:16:03.384-07:00
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Hello
once again!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">While I
have yet to be asked this question I am sure that it is to come across at some
point. Not only that but I think it is something that needs to be explained
before I go into any explanation of the world and stories that revolve around
Domus-Lux<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Yes,
Christianity is all throughout the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Age of
Ornan</i> books. I do not try to hide it at all. Vashaar is simply the name
that people in Domus-Lux use for God. I hoped to make it clear through my
writing that Vashaar is not simply a god but the God of the Bible. I want it to
be so clear that a Muslim could not come along and apply Allah to these books.
In fact I wanted to make the point so clear that this was biblical that I did
not even change the name of Jesus. His name is used throughout all three books
and his Hebrew name; (the one he would have heard during his time on earth)
Yeshua is used once.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Why do I
insist on writing Christian fantasy as opposed to classic fantasy that is not
bogged with all the religious worldview? After all will I not reach a broader
audience with a neutral book as opposed to a religious one?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The
first reason I wrote a Christian fantasy was because as Paul said, I am not
ashamed of the gospel! When all is said and done my stories will be forgotten
but if these books could be used to reach one person for Christ then they will
have an eternally lasting effect. I also think that if I removed the gospel
just to sell more books then it would be a sin nearly as bad as denying the
faith, because I would be holding back the truth only to get money.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The
first reason was the most important one to me but the second is one that will
probably get more people to think. I do not believe it is even possible to
write Christian fantasy. That is the tag that people want to put on my book but
I do not believe in it. Why? Because what a person believes will inevitably
come across in his art whatever that may be. Jesus said, “out of the abundance
of the heart the mouth speaketh.” Matt 12:34. What comes out of a person’s
mouth or across his art is what is down in his heart, unless I suppose he is
intentionally trying to be deceptive.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">With
that in mind I must also say that if I do not believe it is possible to write
Christian fantasy I also do not believe it is possible to write neutral
fantasy. Why? Because what people call neutrality today is in actuality nothing
more than another worldview. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Now
what’s a worldview you might ask? To make it simple a worldview is the way we
view the world. For me as a Christian I have a Christian worldview. I see
things from the perspective of the Bible. I wish I could say I do this one
hundred percent of the time but since Christianity is such a contrast from what
the natural man wants it takes intentional effort to view the world as a
Christian. But everyone who is not a Christian has a worldview as well. It
could be any religion under the sun or based on their life experiences, their
culture, and is most likely a combination of all of those. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">With
worldview in mind let’s look at the idea of neutrality. In the world of film we
would call the vast majority of movies made today as secular or neutral films
and then label movies like <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">courageous</i>,
and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">fireproof</i> as religious films.
What I am submitting is that these secular/neutral movies are also religious
films supporting a more commonly accepted religion. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 220.3pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">A good example of this would be the Disney movie Aladdin. In
this “secular/neutral” film we have characters running around saying “praise
Allah. Allah be praised,” all throughout it. Yet when we look at the way the
character Jasmine is presented it is very clear by her dress, and her
disrespect towards her father that these Allah praising characters are not
Muslim, else she would be stoned really quickly. What does this mean? I do not
know this for fact but I would be willing to bet that the film’s writers and
directors would be the sort of people who would say that religion is a good
thing, hence the praising of Allah, but do not think it should impose demands
on how we live, hence Jasmine. This is a very strong worldview/religious
statement. It comes from the worldview of Humanism which says ultimately man
decides truth not God. So in the mind of the Humanist if Islam works for you it
is a good thing so long as you do not force it on me, and the same goes for all
other worldviews. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 220.3pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">So now this secular/neutral position does not look so neutral
anymore. Why? Because it is the exact opposite of what Christianity teaches.
Why is murder, rape, and racism wrong? It is not because our culture says it
wrong, which is what the humanist would say. If that was the case then those
things can be considered good in another culture and the Holocaust was good
because it was socially accepted in Germany. But in reality those things are
wrong because the God of the Bible exists and he is good and those things are
not of God so they are not good, meaning they are sin and wrong for every
culture from every period in time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 220.3pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The sad reality is that many, if not most people in the
church today are more humanist than Christian and would believe more in line
the above description of humanism than Christianity. Why is this the case?
Because when in recent days our government started pushing separation of church
and state, which is not in the constitution, what they were really doing is
saying we do not want to be a Christian nation we want to be a secular Humanistic
nation and that is the default worldview in America today. Our public schools
are Humanist schools. Our colleges and universities are mostly Humanist. It is
amazing that with Humanism being forced on us the way it is through education
and the media that the whole of America is not Humanist. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 220.3pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I believe there are two things we must consider here. First of
all we are a lot more Humanist than we think. Humanism teaches moral
relativism, which as stated before is the idea that man decides truth. Because
of this Humanists can blend into any religious group they choose. As I said
before I suspect there are more people in the church today who live like Humanists
than live like Christians.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 220.3pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The second is that the only reason America is not completely
Humanist is because Humanism and especially its extreme cousin atheism is the
most illogical worldview known to man and people know it naturally. God
condemned all worldviews other than Christianity in the Bible saying have no
other gods before me and in many verses condemned the popular religions of the
Bible times for their wickedness. But there is only one religion that is
condemned as just being foolish. “The fool hath said in his heart, there is no
God. (Ps 14:1).” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Any honest seeker
should conclude that Humanism and atheism is illogical at its base.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">A great example of the illogicality of Humanism is the
famous film series Star Wars. In these films we see Humanism being merged with
a more Hindu or Buddhist style of religion and its irrationality shows itself
very strong in episode three,(if I am correct). In this movie we have Anakin
Skywalker who has just turned evil and is confronted by his “good” master Obi
Wan Kenobi. After Anakin says “if you are not for me you are my enemy” Obi Wan
says, “Only the Sith deals in absolutes.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Aside from being completely anti-Christian this statement is
void of all logic. Why? First of all Obi Wan just admitted to being a Sith
because he made the absolute statement that only a Sith deals in absolutes.
Also if there is not absolute truth as Obi Wan is arguing then why bother
stopping Anakin? After all Anakin is not absolutely wrong. Why not just talk
things over instead of chopping him to bits? Or did Obi Wan take this rout
because he is selfish and wanted to have his way as opposed to compromise? If
he is right though it is okay because selfishness is not absolutely wrong
either according to such a view. One thing is for certain though. He absolutely
chopped Anakin’s arm and legs off and left him to burn to death. I suppose to
Obi Wan that was not absolutely wrong nor would it have been for him to have
stayed and laughed for a while. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Humanism has at its foundation the sand of moral relativism which
is void of logic and is nothing more than a license to sin. So in closing why
do I write fantasy from a Christian perspective? Because I am a Christian and
as a Christian Christianity comes through my writing. I am not going to convert
to Humanism just to sell a book, and besides what good does it do to make money
off of a book only to keep back the most precious thing I have ever received,
the Lord Jesus Christ!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15429028802554743347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2956002638970594925.post-91456238485467585392013-08-22T20:50:00.002-07:002013-08-22T20:50:53.023-07:00
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Greetings!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">This is going to be a quick post! Just wanted
to let everyone know that as of yesterday I began the final round of editing on
the third and final book of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Age of
Ornan</i> trilogy! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I hope to have the editing done in a few weeks
and by God’s grace I hope to send it to the publisher right after that. There
are still a few things that might hinder me but seeing that I wanted to get the
book to the publisher in June I am not willing to let anything else get in the
way of this book coming out! There is one thing I can say for certain about the
publishing process and that it is a test of patience.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15429028802554743347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2956002638970594925.post-70697351074795886162013-08-13T07:42:00.000-07:002013-08-13T07:42:58.072-07:00Greetings From J. C. Pilcher!
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Greetings! I am J. C. Pilcher the author of the
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Age of Ornan</i> book series. I have decided
to start this blog and my hope is to write something at least once a week but
preferably two or more. The purpose behind this blog is threefold. For myself
my desire is to generate more interest in my book series. My intent is not so much
to make a bunch of sales. If I wanted to make money books would have been the
last thing I would have gotten into. But my desire is to see as many copies of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Age of Ornan </i>get out as possible! My
second goal is that people who enjoy the book can have a place where they can
learn more about Domus-Lux and the other elements of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Age of Ornan.</i> I am also eager to hear feedback, whether that be
constructive criticism or comments on which parts of the book you think works
well! I also would love to be able to help other young authors who are aspiring
to write or have written and are looking to get that much needed publicity. I
will be more than happy to do reviews to help generate interest in other people’s
books. Lastly the apostle Paul said, “I am not afraid of the gospel.” I am not
at all ashamed to admit that had it not been for God I could never have
accomplished this life goal of writing this book series. In my mind if <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Age of Ornan</i> ended up at the top of
every best seller list but God never received glory for it then my book series
is a failure. I have dedicated these books and as well as this blog to God and I
pray that his will is done through both! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">In closing I do also want to mention that for
me the worst part of being an author is selling books. If I had my way I would
give all my books away, but sadly as a college student working with a temp
agency money is short and I cannot afford to give away that many books. But the
good news is that I can afford to give away some! And seeing that this book
series is a trilogy I will hopefully be giving away books as soon as I get some
followers! So keep on reading and you may be the first to get a free copy!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Feel free to ask any questions in the comments
section! If you have questions about Domus-Lux, the writing or publishing
process, the author, or suggestions on how to make this blog and books more interesting
do not hesitate to post! And of course if you would like to do a book review of
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Age of Ornan</i> please let me know,
I can send you a free or very discounted copy! I would like to thank anyone who
helps in this process. God bless!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15429028802554743347noreply@blogger.com0