“While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table. When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. ‘Why this waste?’ they asked. ‘This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.’” Matthew 26:6-9 (NIV) In a world full of real human need, art is sometimes seen as an extravagant gesture. Artists spend hours, years, decades, honing their craft and producing their work. Time …
I have Stubbornness Issues
For any of you who have watched How to Train Your Dragon, you’ll recognize my post title (actually, the exact quote is “Vikings have stubbornness issues”). Lots of good quotes in that movie. If you haven’t seen it, you need to check it out. Anyway, this quote always stuck with me for two reasons: a) most of my family is Norwegian descent, thus making me viking, right? and b) I definitely have stubbornness issues. I have a hard time letting go. Sometimes that’s a good thing, and sometimes that’s a bad thing. How can stubbornness be good? It can give …
Sunday Devotional – Variety
“Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with timbrel and dancing, praise him with the strings and pipe, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals.” Psalm 150:3-5 (NIV) What strikes me about Psalm 150 is the variety of tones, sounds, and instruments. There are so many things to praise God for – so much to convey – that we need a variety of means to express it all. That’s also why I’m grateful for the variety of genres that Christian writers are using to communicate …
Sunday Devotional – Seeking Him
“God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’” Acts. 17:27-28 (NIV1984) God delights in “being found” by us – in revealing Himself to us. He is so awesome and multifaceted that we will never stop discovering new aspects of His mercy, grace, strength, and holiness. I love the moments in writing where a scene, a character, or an event …
Why Isn’t Marriage Romantic Anymore?
Dan and I were watching The Event one night. Afterwards, I turned to Dan and told him they should have had two of the main characters married instead of just dating. I would have pulled for them more. Then Dan pointed out something: most of the world does not see the romance or permanence of marriage anymore. Dan’s words saddened me. I guess I’m one of those that still believes marriage can be the strongest human relationship in the world. Where a man finds a woman and chooses to love only her the rest of his life. Where a woman …
Sunday Devotional – Beauty
“And the Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground–trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food.” Genesis 2:9a (NIV1984) Reading this verse, I realized God could have created a food source that was a little gray box that popped out fruit as needed. Instead He made a lush variety of shapes, colors, and types of trees–trees that stir as the wind tickles them, trees that change color. In short, He designed trees that are not only utilitarian, but beautiful. Lord, thank You for creating beauty. Help us go beyond utilitarian uses of …
Goodreads giveaway of “Broken Sight”
Hi there — this is MLP author Steve Rzasa. I’ve got a giveaway going on at Goodreads for the entire month of July. Stop by this link and sign up for a chance at one of three copies of Broken Sight, my third novel by Marcher Lord Press. Broken Sight continues the saga that began in The Word Reclaimed and The Word Unleashed of a future in which the Bible and all printed books are banned. What happens when that freedom of religion gets restored? You’ll have to read to find out! http://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/28436
Sunday Devotional – Love
“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.” I Corinthians 13:1 When writing a novel, there are zillions of concepts to keep in mind. Craft, creativity, diligence and skill are vital, but I’m glad for this reminder of our key focus. Our writing is an overflow of God’s love for us. If I’m not motivated by love for Him and for the readers of the book, the words are just more noise in a world already full of clamoring. Lord, thank You for …
Sunday Devotional – Called Craftsmen
“So Bezalel, Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the Lord has given skill and ability to know how to carry out all the work of constructing the sanctuary are to do the work just as the Lord has commanded.” Exodus 36:1 (NIV1984) When I first stumbled across the euphonious names of Bezalel and Oholiab, I felt an instant kinship. I’ve worked in various arts most of my life. I was delighted to see that as early on as the construction of the tabernacle, God valued the talents of artists and craftsmen and gave them a way to use their …