tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-197522072024-03-12T22:57:35.971-05:00Enter The Door WithinFor Fans of Wayne Thomas Batson Fiction, Writing, Faith, and Good Conversation.WayneThomasBatsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15837713579691260482noreply@blogger.comBlogger563125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19752207.post-74098576950333918722023-07-01T11:11:00.000-05:002023-07-01T11:11:04.438-05:00Want to Walk on Water? <p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space-collapse: preserve;">This is my brother-in-law, Andy Dovel, and his incredible creation! For years, he's been toiling away on a revolutionary new fitness / watercraft idea. Today, he's launching the water walker! Come check it out!</span></span></p><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="anf8u" data-offset-key="cf7i6-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="cf7i6-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="cf7i6-0-0"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="anf8u" data-offset-key="6eq0b-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="6eq0b-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="6eq0b-0-0"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">What’s WaterWalking?!!!🇺🇸🌊🇺🇸 </span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="anf8u" data-offset-key="4ubkm-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="4ubkm-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="4ubkm-0-0"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Check out the video to get just a taste of the rush. Water Walking is going public in beautiful Ego Alley in Annapolis. </span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="anf8u" data-offset-key="191te-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="191te-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="191te-0-0"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Book your adventure today!!!</span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="191te-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="191te-0-0"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="anf8u" data-offset-key="21kac-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="21kac-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><span class="x1fey0fg" style="color: var(--blue-link);"><a href="http://www.gowaterwalking.com">www.gowaterwalking.com</a></span><span data-offset-key="21kac-1-0"> or call 804-986-3164</span></span></div></div>WayneThomasBatsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15837713579691260482noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19752207.post-24723246847798879842022-09-05T11:22:00.009-05:002022-09-05T11:22:58.676-05:00Rings of Power: Spoiler Free Review (Episodes 1&2)<p> <b style="font-size: 22px; text-indent: 28px;">Rings of Power {Spoiler Free} Review</b></p><p class="p2" style="font-size: 22px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 8px 0px 0px; min-height: 28px; text-indent: 28px;"><b></b><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf62TTsEn-WORO_6La1M41LpIc6nQv4K5t_pkIZocYfgJFEU0mODE1kNB8CDe2-h8T6PXkjlTQihpE7s90FFlRX-q-TKzQWR2yiZ_3xdpvM8lAYaQzKajt4HUd3e_AoqdQ23GMXJSshgE1HADRKNxa5ekbI2rkIM4paFV8lSSJYHivdDYM_Q/s225/download.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf62TTsEn-WORO_6La1M41LpIc6nQv4K5t_pkIZocYfgJFEU0mODE1kNB8CDe2-h8T6PXkjlTQihpE7s90FFlRX-q-TKzQWR2yiZ_3xdpvM8lAYaQzKajt4HUd3e_AoqdQ23GMXJSshgE1HADRKNxa5ekbI2rkIM4paFV8lSSJYHivdDYM_Q/w200-h200/download.png" width="200" /></a></div><br /><p class="p1" style="font-size: 22px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 8px 0px 0px; text-indent: 28px;">Amazon’s epic new series “Rings of Power” released on Thursday, but I was busier than a bedbug in Graceland for several days. Three actual days went by without me getting to watch. I spent any surfing time speed-scrolling to avoid any possible spoilers, but finally FINALLY got to enjoy the first two episodes last night. You will find NO spoilers here, but hopefully some fellowship!</p><p class="p1" style="font-size: 22px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 8px 0px 0px; text-indent: 28px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg94sqYGiflVfrEr5g-XOj8H_M3dMB_psNCbYzbO744eYBzZH5mot4PU62RPI7lIphcV6xMXe-j4bkCffmiAs8LQjX-2AURlU04z0tZhbd8x9IOSUclwjmvYoqqvpg-KCJ7yAM9NVbzQRO1LAX2LX625mGP96mqVUu7h_wE_NYX4mk0GwmZlA/s800/RoP.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg94sqYGiflVfrEr5g-XOj8H_M3dMB_psNCbYzbO744eYBzZH5mot4PU62RPI7lIphcV6xMXe-j4bkCffmiAs8LQjX-2AURlU04z0tZhbd8x9IOSUclwjmvYoqqvpg-KCJ7yAM9NVbzQRO1LAX2LX625mGP96mqVUu7h_wE_NYX4mk0GwmZlA/w400-h300/RoP.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p class="p2" style="font-size: 22px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 8px 0px 0px; min-height: 28px; text-indent: 28px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-size: 22px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 8px 0px 0px; text-indent: 28px;">I’ve read The Hobbit at least a dozen times, Lord of the Rings somewhere north of twenty. When the original Peter Jackson LOTR movies were being planned, I scoured TheOneRing.net and any other site I could, looking for all the intel I could get about the movies. I must sheepishly admit that I had my doubts, sometimes vocally, about Jackson’s take on “my” beloved series. When it was announced that Sir Ian McKellen had been cast as Gandalf, I gave birth to kittens. He was all-wrong, I crowed. I mean, I mean… look at his nose. His nose is all wrong. Gandalf is supposed to have a pointy nose. Now, of course, I feel like a blooming idiot for those original misgivings. Jackson’s LOTR movies are my favorite movies of all time. I’ve watched them countless times. And well… Sir Ian, I apologize. You are Gandalf.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-size: 22px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 8px 0px 0px; min-height: 28px; text-indent: 28px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-size: 22px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 8px 0px 0px; text-indent: 28px;">So when Rings of Power was announced, I heard all of the griping ahead of time. I heard the fears and the accusations of how Amazon would turn Tolkien’s legendary work into “Game of Thrones: Middle Earth.” Knowing how wrong I was back in the late 90s, I kept a positive “wait and see” attitude. I read somewhere that Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’ son took his father to task about the potential for the Tolkien series. I believe the quote was, “Dad, don’t ‘F’ this up.”</p><p class="p2" style="font-size: 22px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 8px 0px 0px; min-height: 28px; text-indent: 28px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-size: 22px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 8px 0px 0px; text-indent: 28px;">I’m happy to report that, as of two episodes in, Rings of Power is an absolute marvel. Bezos, so far anyway, has not “F’d” the series up. I know there are Tolkien “purists” who have complaints, but honestly… so what else is new? You will never please everyone, and you’re mad if you try. Here’s my take:</p><p class="p2" style="font-size: 22px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 8px 0px 0px; min-height: 28px; text-indent: 28px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-size: 22px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 8px 0px 0px; text-indent: 28px;">Rings of Power is absolutely brilliant. I was instantly taken by the breathtaking visuals, the magnificent casting and acting, the clever easter eggs, rich dialogue, and thought-provoking themes. All of that and more speak to something spiritual within me. I had a long conversation with my son this morning about Rings of Power, so many of these observations come from him, but I wholeheartedly agree. If you come to Rings of Power with modern demands and even an inkling of entitlement, the show will disappoint you. The modern storytelling palette craved by many is fraught with gimmicks: blood, gore, action, frantic pacing, joke-telling dialogue, sex, lust, jump-scares, and more sex. Tolkien painted his stories from an entirely different palette. Tolkien’s rich tales paint with beauty, honor, bravery, grandeur, faith, platonic love, nobility, sacrifice, and scope. Rings of Power may not be chapter-and-verse Tolkien’s Silmarillion, Appendices, and notes, but it absolutely shares that wonderful rare-these-days palette.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-size: 22px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 8px 0px 0px; min-height: 28px; text-indent: 28px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-size: 22px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 8px 0px 0px; text-indent: 28px;">You will drink in lush visuals, and the storytellers know better than to rush it. You get to enjoy the scenery, stop and smell the flowers, and start pining away for that “far away land” whispered about in our own souls. I read one review who said the first two episodes were boring, tediously slow. Compared to some of the schlock we call entertainment today, maybe so. Forgive me for sounding (and being) a little condescending, but as a middle school teacher of 32 years, I can’t help but make this observation. In my experience, the adolescent readers I work with tend to complain that a book is boring… when they don’t understand it. When it’s hard. I suspect there’s a little of that going on with some early Rings of Power complainers. So far, this series wants to take its time and deliver an epic EPIC tale. Thank you, Lord! Bring on the epic-goodness!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-size: 22px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 8px 0px 0px; min-height: 28px; text-indent: 28px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-size: 22px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 8px 0px 0px; text-indent: 28px;">I thought there was plenty of action, nice bits of intrigue and mystery, and oh so much thematic nobility. This is not a show to binge and be done with. Like the Jackson movies, these are classics meant to be enjoyed over and over again, each time finding some new detail to savor. I suspect, I will pause each episode a dozen times to take screen grabs to use as desktop images on my computer. Seriously, Amazon should simultaneously release every episode in theaters. I wasn’t able to get a ticket for any of the local showings of the first two episodes, but I can only imagine the increased grandeur of seeing them on the big screen. I may have to buy a new higher resolution projector just to watch these episodes as they should be seen. Immersion is the way to go, my friends. Tolkien knew that. We laugh that he sometimes took two pages to describe a tree! But, DUDES, that’s really a big part of why we love Tolkien’s work. He took us away to whole knew worlds and sometimes let the plot simmer while he was busy wowing us with sensory description.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-size: 22px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 8px 0px 0px; min-height: 28px; text-indent: 28px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-size: 22px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 8px 0px 0px; text-indent: 28px;">A word about ethnicity. Um… yes. Including people of color and of diverse ethnicities in the cast of Rings of Power is not woke pandering. If you think so, you might need to check your Phariseeical worldview. Tolkien’s worlds are extraordinarily rich and welcoming. I’m a white dude, but I was so enchanted by the WHOLE Rings of Power cast. I adore and applaud the people of color being a part of Middle Earth. A wise writer friend once told me, when you write a novel and release it to the world, you grant subjective ownership to each and every reader. In that sense, Middle Earth has become a refuge for many millions over the years. If you insist that Middle Earth should only ever be populated by Indo-European white peeps, you are missing the point of Middle Earth, Tolkien, and creating in general. All are welcome in Middle Earth.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-size: 22px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 8px 0px 0px; min-height: 28px; text-indent: 28px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-size: 22px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 8px 0px 0px; text-indent: 28px;">To conclude, I am reminded of a brief dialogue in Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.” Scrooge’s nephew Fred is talking to friends, explaining that each and every year around Christmastime, Fred invites Scrooge to come and join his family and friends for Christmas dinner and a party. Scrooge says pretty much the same thing each year: “Bah, humbug!” Fred observes that he actually feels sorry for his uncle’s negativity because each year, that bitter attitude rewards the man with missing out on a warm, rich happy time, something in which his old crotchety soul could perhaps find healing. That’s how I feel about those who are dissing Rings of Power. In their critical spirit, they are truly missing a masterpiece and perhaps, a bit of a reprieve from the world degrading all around us.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-size: 22px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 8px 0px 0px; min-height: 28px; text-indent: 28px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-size: 22px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 8px 0px 0px; text-indent: 28px;">Can Rings of Power keep this up for the rest of this season’s eight episodes? Or continue to provide such amazing content for five planned seasons? I don’t know. That is truly an epic aspiration. I not only hope they can, I pray they can. Until I check out of this earthly plane, my world-weary soul needs more Middle Earth.</p><p class="p2" style="font-size: 22px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 8px 0px 0px; min-height: 28px; text-indent: 28px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-size: 22px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 8px 0px 0px; min-height: 28px; text-indent: 28px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-size: 22px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 8px 0px 0px; min-height: 28px; text-indent: 28px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-size: 22px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 8px 0px 0px; min-height: 28px; text-indent: 28px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-size: 22px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 8px 0px 0px; min-height: 28px; text-indent: 28px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-size: 22px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 8px 0px 0px; min-height: 28px; text-indent: 28px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-size: 22px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 8px 0px 0px; min-height: 28px; text-indent: 28px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-size: 22px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 8px 0px 0px; min-height: 28px; text-indent: 28px;"><br /></p>WayneThomasBatsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15837713579691260482noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19752207.post-34236028804915984662022-08-11T09:26:00.000-05:002022-08-11T09:26:00.451-05:00Myridian Constellation Reader Art! <p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(5, 5, 5);"><b><span style="color: #990000; font-size: x-large;">R</span></b><span style="color: #050505; font-size: large;">eceived a very encouraging email from a young writer / artist who has read and enjoyed many of my books. He's particularly enthusiastic about The Myridian Constellation series and sent along some fantastic artwork. See if you recognize the MC story aspects Noah captured!</span></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(5, 5, 5);"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGFdUb80VtEfG8cOqLqm6g5Gn0hyfjz6RiAFjhsb-8nNr1JDRUuMfxoXBHmx5V4WLVBM907Qy2ERePtm6anMu7IzIwJI30lK_rl8rkNkEoDG5zN7Ks0OGJKirRlEIeqOOQ9V3JhmAKpzvjwsl875ouJIrvdWy5JCmISgWqOdMT_Y7EQvAs9Q/s3300/Dragon%20Fire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2550" data-original-width="3300" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGFdUb80VtEfG8cOqLqm6g5Gn0hyfjz6RiAFjhsb-8nNr1JDRUuMfxoXBHmx5V4WLVBM907Qy2ERePtm6anMu7IzIwJI30lK_rl8rkNkEoDG5zN7Ks0OGJKirRlEIeqOOQ9V3JhmAKpzvjwsl875ouJIrvdWy5JCmISgWqOdMT_Y7EQvAs9Q/s320/Dragon%20Fire.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjugT8XLXV_KwW8jqfgKkLMHUBwctkYamceG98F9jlIRgBW90WYKqzSD7j-aGA_lwG8ZC2wsJfxEpf14hgqrbD0L11v8wEUggdCYL-Hfq-twGK0UPmnrmBPqyzG0j-S4EEnPzfY04ZtYG8j22hBBurLFxRM2KcNlqV5kFCDUBe8h-1oufEm-Q/s3300/Frosty,%20the%20Drake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2550" data-original-width="3300" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjugT8XLXV_KwW8jqfgKkLMHUBwctkYamceG98F9jlIRgBW90WYKqzSD7j-aGA_lwG8ZC2wsJfxEpf14hgqrbD0L11v8wEUggdCYL-Hfq-twGK0UPmnrmBPqyzG0j-S4EEnPzfY04ZtYG8j22hBBurLFxRM2KcNlqV5kFCDUBe8h-1oufEm-Q/s320/Frosty,%20the%20Drake.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV1yvgSsR1KUZHaMmsq4Pws1n_WkGIoyN-pNUShX00qD9k98vpXtWquwdrfxDS7f9U6PR-MeoyiUqGXiN_oCWUTf5RqpEtSeoLuJFX4u43wgr3fLHbKz86zxyI3J9POPq5TMgTM1EszeZA9cHDT2AVLCYNV0Ov8Uq1gBvOP7Hp_0C_B5FKkQ/s3300/Glaive.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBohqpyBCEdukaMVS1BZblw2mXogeTFXLFxhvchhUqJXbdE3JkGYZfolwxNdo1vuB73TKK1M76refZkK80-PcZGVp0h5KfIOTwvaVaMbgAO2oSU0ac5cxMePDpt8xJDJJd7l5sjn3_XwOuC8pgIFw_H0afIJ57djHxmtZ7Dp-90ZMMA_e9ZA/s3300/The%20Death%20of%20RQ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2550" data-original-width="3300" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBohqpyBCEdukaMVS1BZblw2mXogeTFXLFxhvchhUqJXbdE3JkGYZfolwxNdo1vuB73TKK1M76refZkK80-PcZGVp0h5KfIOTwvaVaMbgAO2oSU0ac5cxMePDpt8xJDJJd7l5sjn3_XwOuC8pgIFw_H0afIJ57djHxmtZ7Dp-90ZMMA_e9ZA/s320/The%20Death%20of%20RQ.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqL20RgbQBWWy6ypUNCj2ob-J5iyAZXONFdoC9l8aOWXOAmjYUe4uoMi4c3FTGoa_M-s9csjnkiRxw65eIWNz881Xw6qyujsUF0VQenHfhmN0e28oe_riErmO5XtbtJ88TrBY5BHaix7br5dkIajL0pnIm_raCLFMRPtxzlLdNKfUolkdhyg/s3300/Venture%20Inn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3300" data-original-width="2550" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqL20RgbQBWWy6ypUNCj2ob-J5iyAZXONFdoC9l8aOWXOAmjYUe4uoMi4c3FTGoa_M-s9csjnkiRxw65eIWNz881Xw6qyujsUF0VQenHfhmN0e28oe_riErmO5XtbtJ88TrBY5BHaix7br5dkIajL0pnIm_raCLFMRPtxzlLdNKfUolkdhyg/s320/Venture%20Inn.jpg" width="247" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #050505; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><p></p>WayneThomasBatsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15837713579691260482noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19752207.post-53676124135417038482022-06-05T12:37:00.002-05:002022-06-05T12:37:15.540-05:00What is YOUR Heresy?<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsyLv-cbs-EMsitoyG6ioN4d8lH8hX0VJHIZAirJTQRarU-8xux6Rix9j9DtSfooUkScZGDgxf9ZG6JWCclOVbc3z469dRMDms1JoSOLdsf8jHEp74t2I7Bmv_5ZzhonEwlXe4GhGdoiUSWvpLqevn_ZZB4SDQA3f7E9I_rdkEV7INTubxWA/s453/Cool%20Text%20-%20Heresy%20412504788316139.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="161" data-original-width="453" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsyLv-cbs-EMsitoyG6ioN4d8lH8hX0VJHIZAirJTQRarU-8xux6Rix9j9DtSfooUkScZGDgxf9ZG6JWCclOVbc3z469dRMDms1JoSOLdsf8jHEp74t2I7Bmv_5ZzhonEwlXe4GhGdoiUSWvpLqevn_ZZB4SDQA3f7E9I_rdkEV7INTubxWA/s320/Cool%20Text%20-%20Heresy%20412504788316139.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-size: large;">What is YOUR Heresy?</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-size: large;">My pastor began a sermon series this morning based on a book by a popular Christian author. This prolific author, who shall not be named, writes Christian Living, Theology, Devotional, Inspiration, etc. I’ve read a couple of his books and found them very thought-provoking and encouraging. I recall being so profoundly struck by one particular passage in one of his books that I took to social media to share the encouraging perspective. A few days later, I was very discouraged when someone commented that this author was a heretic. Or maybe the commenter said the author had “heretical beliefs.” Normally, I blow such comments off because well, it’s social media and… haters gonna hate. But the person who commented was not a stranger to me and cited several articles that I went and looked up, read, and found pretty solid. And yet…</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The author in question has had (and continues to this day to have) an incalculably powerful impact, drawing people to Jesus. I am one of them. I am the first to admit that I am not the most spiritually touchy-feely, but I know that I have felt my soul tweaked by this author’s writings. I fully believe the Holy Spirit is at work in this author’s life and teachings. Multiple thousands of reviews offer similar support. As Paul might transition, “So what are we to say, brothers?” Can a genuine Christian have a heresy? Can an otherwise devoted follower of Jesus have a heretical belief or perhaps more than one? And, if so, does that invalidate everything else that person is or does?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-size: large;">My conclusions are as follows—first question: yes; second question: absolutely not. At this point, some of you are probably deciding that I am a heretic. Or maybe your being nice and saying, “Yikes, he has a heretical belief.” That’s both okay and not okay. It’s okay, because, like as not, I’m probably guilty as charged. If the heresy isn’t the point I’m making in this message, then, I am quite certain there is something else in my theology that qualifies.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-size: large;">I once went on a trip with one of my best friends, a person I also consider to be one of the most learned Christians I’ve ever met. We had been friends for many years, ten at least, and I thought we pretty much had the same biblical belief systems. In an unguarded moment, when I was already in a bit of a mental maelstrom, my friend admitted a tenet of his Christian theology that gutted me. It was the antithesis to a major belief upon which I had pretty much hung my eternity. I was crushed and admitted such. I very nearly ditched the trip and drove home. One thing stopped me. My friend, learning my intentions to leave, said, “That’s not Jesus.”</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-size: large;">On a book tour with several Christian fantasy authors in the early 2000s, we attended a huge homeschool gathering that might have led to another, even more massive opportunity with a substantially larger homeschooling group. The authors had all FedExed copies of our flagship books to the president of the group. Unfortunately, this woman, a Christian leader, told us not to bother coming but that she was in fact, grateful to have screened our books, particularly my book, The Door Within. She called it a “tool of the devil” and promised to warn every other Christian homeschool association to avoid us and our evil books. Now, occasionally, I might accurately be described as a “tool.” But… “a tool of the devil?” Sheesh, I sure hope not.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Another writer I know has a very peculiar Christian belief that permeates his life and, to a detectable degree at times, his writings. It’s a belief so uncommon among American Christians and so personally troubling to me that for a season, I had to cut ties with this person. And yet, I know this man and his writings have led many thousands to Jesus. I’ve witnessed testimonials of young people who turned away from suicide to the hope of the Lord due to this man’s stories. And, I have witness the love of Jesus in this man, time and time again. For about a year, God started nudging me, okay, poking me. Well, if you really must know, slapping me upside the head, so that I would restore fellowship with this man. Thankfully, he was receptive and I can again call him friend.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-size: large;">These are just a few of the anecdotes of one man’s Christian experience. I suspect you have several of your own, events or discoveries about people, even friends or family members that caused you to question the sincerity of their faith or even whether the person ever had genuine faith in the authentic Jesus at all. Here is where the title question “What is your heresy” reveals its depth. Do you have a heresy? Do you believe a heretical belief? Are you honestly convinced that you know the bible well enough and God well enough that you can say with complete assurance that you have no dangerous false beliefs?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Whatever your answer to that series of questions, consider these: Are there certain beliefs that you immediately notice in other Christians and call into serious question, maybe even thinking the “H” word? What about certain sins? What if in all other ways, a person seems to be glowing in the dark with the love of Jesus, but there’s one certain sin they are committing and it doesn’t seem to bother them? How quickly do words like “pagan,” “abomination,” “heretic,” or “blasphemer” come to your lips or even to your mind? What about falsely accusing someone of heresy? Surely, that would be sin, but does it undermine the Gospel enough to also be a heresy?</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-size: large;">I raise these questions because I think that a lot of us go through the Christian life, picking up tidbits of theology all over the place. We might learn a foundation from parents or family or a certain church, but surely other leaders, friends, or important faith figures will add influence. Of course, a big source of our private theologies is our own private research and study of the bible. Along with those potentially credible sources, however, come a motley crew of other “moralistic” beliefs, axioms, and gut feelings that we seldom examine with due caution. In that great mixture, we have the Holy Spirit to guide us into truth, but we also have, if we’re honest, a kind of knee-jerk pride that leads us to believe we don’t have to clear the planks from our own eyes before addressing the splinters found elsewhere.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(41, 44, 46); color: #292c2e; font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;">To quote the prophet J.R.R. Tolkien, as spoken through the priestly wizard Gandalf, “</span><span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;">Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends.”</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(41, 44, 46); color: #292c2e; font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(41, 44, 46); color: #292c2e; font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">To that end, I add, leave room for God to work on people. If my understanding of scripture is accurate, discipleship is a process, holiness, a journey. If you see the fruit of the Spirit is someone’s life, don’t go a’hunting for the peach pit. Rather, ask God to gently reveal our own “peach pits” and gracefully help us learn and grow.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></p>WayneThomasBatsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15837713579691260482noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19752207.post-23481038435612136282022-01-11T19:28:00.000-05:002022-01-11T19:28:00.856-05:00Microdecisions. Be careful. You've been down that road. You know exactly where it ends. <p> <span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Something about this scene from The Matrix continues to resonate with me year after year. Without rehashing the whole plot, there's a scene where Neo waits in the rain until picked up by Trinity and friends. Threatened at gunpoint by the character called Switch, Neo opens the car door to leave.</span></span></p><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Trinity tells Neo to wait. "You've been down that road before, Neo. You know exactly where it ends, and I know that's not where you want to be." In the middle of that dialogue, the camera shows us a rainy, forlorn dark city street. Neo decides to stay.</span></div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">All hail the might of the microdecision. In a high-concept science fiction action flick, that decision seems awfully small, but it's actually very potent.</span></div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Neo knows that the reality he's been sold is wrong, somehow less than it should be. He doesn't know what Trinity knows, but he knows that she's offering hope. He also knows, perhaps with a hollow ache, that going back down that same old road is a very dead end.</span></div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Every day, we are faced with dozens of these microdecisions, but we rarely recognize what's at stake. For example, I worked a full day today, teaching middle schoolers a variety of subjects. Teaching is exhausting work. Fulfilling, but draining. When I came home, I made dinner, thinking that I need to get some writing done tonight. After eating, I was tired. I flopped down on my bed and started meandering on my phone. This scene from The Matrix kept coming to mind. I realized with crystalline clarity that I could easily call it a night. The bed is comfortable, the covers warm, and I have a pile of TBR books calling my name. But I know that road. I know exactly how it ends. I'll read for an hour, maybe two. Then I'll fall asleep, and the day will be gone... like tears in rain. </span></div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I bounced out of bed, and here I am at the keyboard. I'm opening up Scrivener to write. I believe it was Stephen King who said, "If God has given you something that you can do, why in God's name wouldn't you do it?" Sometimes, we're lulled to sleep by the matrix and we don't even realize the decision we're making. It's greater than we think. Stay frosty, my friends. The thing that you do will not get done unless you do it. </span></div><div dir="auto" style="color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><br /></div></div>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hT-ImYlGEng" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>WayneThomasBatsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15837713579691260482noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19752207.post-79823124612024030192021-10-24T13:54:00.000-05:002021-10-24T13:54:00.033-05:00Have You Been Tested? <p class="p1" style="font-family: "Iowan Old Style"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Have you ever heard of the Solomon Test?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Iowan Old Style"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20px; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Iowan Old Style"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Living in the era of pandemics, we are probably all a little tired of getting tested, but the Solomon Test is something we should consider “getting over with––and sooner rather than later.”</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Iowan Old Style"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">King Solomon, David and Bathsheba’s son, has been described in the Bible and elsewhere as the wisest man who ever lived. He was also one of the wealthiest, most prolific, most epicurean, and most vexed. The Book of Ecclesiastes records Solomon’s trial and error discovery of what, from here on out, we’ll refer to as the Solomon Test. Here’s the basic structure of the test:</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Iowan Old Style"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Step 1:</b> As a human being, recognize that you need “something” to give meaning to your life.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Iowan Old Style"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Step 2:</b> Try every earthly solution you have access to or can work hard enough to obtain to see if it/they can finally fulfill you.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Iowan Old Style"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Two steps. That’s it. Seems innocent enough but beware! If you aren’t careful, you can spend your entire life taking and retaking the Solomon Test. And in the end, find your soul… vexed.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Iowan Old Style"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Iowan Old Style"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7qERp6CkBVvSyMp-wF2jgg88Q1S3rAhCXJL63EQmRDu-S-yvgd-nX8ROTUBG81jDILLiLjM_cPj8JySBWVrz-2l0vvRwcwUFQPictw-Kc5CQbqj3UPOWvcGdwvoDZAEwL_64j/s360/Test-form-1600x1063.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="239" data-original-width="360" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7qERp6CkBVvSyMp-wF2jgg88Q1S3rAhCXJL63EQmRDu-S-yvgd-nX8ROTUBG81jDILLiLjM_cPj8JySBWVrz-2l0vvRwcwUFQPictw-Kc5CQbqj3UPOWvcGdwvoDZAEwL_64j/s320/Test-form-1600x1063.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Iowan Old Style"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In the dieting world, we are often advised to “fail fast.” I know something about this theory because I’ve tried just about every diet under the sun. The theory proposes that dieting is a very individualized experience. There is no one-size-fits-all diet because human beings are so unique. Therefore, if you try a diet, it is best to “fail fast,” ie: to discover, “Hey, this doesn’t work for me.” Why waste a year of your life to discover that the diet just isn’t for you when you could instead… fail fast.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Iowan Old Style"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I think Solomon in the book of Ecclesiastes is trying very hard to help us all to fail fast, or maybe even take some good advice and avoid the fail altogether. He tells us all about HIS “Solomon Test.” As King, Solomon had every earthly desire and goal at his fingertips. He decided to put all things to the test to see if anything could provide meaning. Spoiler Alert: Solomon discovered that there is nothing new under the sun and that all is vanity.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Iowan Old Style"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Solomon tried to find meaning in wisdom. He tried to find meaning in work. He tried to find meaning in physical pleasure. He tried to find meaning in food and drink. He tried to find meaning in money and possessions. His conclusion: it’s all like chasing after the wind. As soon as you reach out to grasp it, you’ve lost it. Solomon is honest. The things he tried did fulfill him… for a time. For a very fleeting time. Those pleasures and riches were fun, but the fulfillment came and went.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Iowan Old Style"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It reminds me of the rock concerts I went to in my late teens and early twenties. I had my favorite bands and became so excited to see them live in concert. The day arrives. The show begins. Euphoria! Especially when the band does some of your favorite songs. Then, the lights come up. The band leaves the stage. And you join the thousands stuck in traffic as you try to depart the arena. The aftermath of the concert can leave you with a warm glow for a little while. You feel spent but satisfied. For a time. A few days later, the concert is little more than a fond memory, the satisfaction is mostly gone. Vanished.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Iowan Old Style"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In Chapter 1, Verse 2, Solomon tells us the conclusions of ALL of his research: “Vanity of vanities! All is vanity.” Did you know the word “vanity” and the word “vanish” come from the same root, meaning empty, idle, or futile? That connection makes sense if you think it through. The vain person who spends his life on himself will ultimately come to nothing, will ultimately… vanish from meaning. Ouch. That stings a little, at least, to me it does. If I’m honest, I’ve tried the Solomon Test. In fact, I’ve taken the test and failed. And yet, I still sign up and take the test again. I think I’m a prime example of what Solomon was trying to warn us about: we can waste our entire lives pursuing self.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Iowan Old Style"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We can take the Solomon Test over and over and over again. Even the band Loverboy knew about this human tendency. We learn to work for the weekend. Or we learn to work for the vacation. Or we learn to work for… fill in the blank. And it all seems fun and satisfying until it doesn’t. It’s time that’s the killer. So very many things in life can feel meaningful. But over time, it all loses its luster. You can win the Super Bowl, you can write the bestseller, you can marry the pretty girl, you can get the big house, you can have a lovely family, you can eat the best foods, drink the $15 cocktails, and you can even live to a spritely, ripe old age, but time will burn it all down. We all die. Solomon wasn’t being morbid. He was being realistic. He thought it through and realized he could amass the greatest fortune, the greatest kingdom, and the greatest stockpile of “anything people want,” and in the end, someone who comes after him will get it all.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Iowan Old Style"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">At least Solomon had the wisdom to recognize this dynamic and the courage to admit it. If anyone is like me, we don’t usually sit around and think, “You know what? I’m going to live my life all about food.” And yet at times, functionally, I have lived that way. If it’s not food, it’s likely to be something else, but it’s the same dynamic. We seek meaning, sometimes unconsciously, through anything and everything under the sun, but if it’s under the sun, then it is bound by time and decay. It is fleeting. It is vanity. It will vanish.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Iowan Old Style"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Feeling depressed yet? By God’s grace, Solomon had a chapter 12 at the end of the book of Ecclesiastes. If everything time-based, everything under the sun can never satisfy us or give meaning to our lives, what can we turn to? Must we despair or medicate until time turns us to dust? Solomon tells us emphatically, no. The opening and closing verses of Chapter 12 offer us a hope and a strategy. In verse 1, Solomon says, “Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near when you will say, “I have no delight in them.” If time-based pursuits are vanity, like chasing the wind, we must seek something outside of time, something that doesn’t decay or die. God. Seek Him now. Invest all of those other pursuits in Him, but let your meaning come from Him not the activities. Do not make an idol of work, but make work an avenue to serve God. Do not make food and drink into idols of temporary satiation, but rather give thanks to God for every morsel, every dram.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Iowan Old Style"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In verse 13 at the end of Chapter 12, Solomon summarizes, “The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person.” In this case, fear does not mean run around in stark terror but rather to give God His due respect and due thanks. Spend your efforts and investments on this Earth in the context of loving God, loving people, being obedient, and giving thanks. Only then, can we infuse the temporal, the time-based pursuits of life, with the eternal. His eternal.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Iowan Old Style"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I don’t know what it is about human nature that some of us so easily discard the advice of “people who have been there, done that.” Those who traveled this path before us, like Solomon, often offer us a window to hard-earned wisdom. And yet, we often have to “learn things the hard way,” ie: learning things ourselves through experience. If that’s the case, fellow travelers, go ahead, take the Solomon Test. But fail fast. Fail fast, turn to God, and live for Him.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Iowan Old Style"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20px; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Iowan Old Style"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20px; text-indent: 18px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Iowan Old Style"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20px; text-indent: 18px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Iowan Old Style"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20px; text-indent: 18px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p>WayneThomasBatsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15837713579691260482noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19752207.post-91881088955335382002021-07-30T11:01:00.000-05:002021-07-30T11:01:05.587-05:00The Myridian Constellation Continues to Grow, thanks to YOU. <p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><span style="color: #990000; font-size: x-large;"><i>30</i></span></b><span style="color: #050505; font-size: medium;"> years ago, even before The Door Within, I had an idea for a fantasy story centered around an assassin seeking redemption from a haunting past. The story began with "A Sword in the Stars." Here's a peek at the new cover concept.</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_-4qK_oUpEWgI8ez-zpW9zmiegJnpLmHkPh7JLxv6uuVLULrFF9d4xy1AiSWQS9p8pVCk9hjoJEQR_5Tnu_267LPYXMm9KYd7GhSql9JM_zsRgfMI-ZJyoOrqOuria4LxzeFe/s2048/A+Sword+In+The+Stars+2+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1238" data-original-width="2048" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_-4qK_oUpEWgI8ez-zpW9zmiegJnpLmHkPh7JLxv6uuVLULrFF9d4xy1AiSWQS9p8pVCk9hjoJEQR_5Tnu_267LPYXMm9KYd7GhSql9JM_zsRgfMI-ZJyoOrqOuria4LxzeFe/w400-h241/A+Sword+In+The+Stars+2+-+Copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The story begun with "A Sword in the Stars" continued to reveal itself to me with a reluctant young king, trying to live up to expectations and struggling to avoid his father's mistakes. Before I knew it, there was a really nasty red dragon and a devastating unexpected invasion. A sneak peek of "The Errant King" cover concept is below.</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwBD3Iglwtcp1PI4N-apLIW4ebweajhgtZsLrk7DJ3Nlv2r5z_0w8wZNIiCGedywygagbilOYeotmT0rix0gY77JAQHstXlHkvs7MejH5mbRWVXi45EaNXID2RD6QBc0WpM5bb/s2048/The+Errant+King+3+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1238" data-original-width="2048" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwBD3Iglwtcp1PI4N-apLIW4ebweajhgtZsLrk7DJ3Nlv2r5z_0w8wZNIiCGedywygagbilOYeotmT0rix0gY77JAQHstXlHkvs7MejH5mbRWVXi45EaNXID2RD6QBc0WpM5bb/w400-h241/The+Errant+King+3+-+Copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">From the very beginning the Dark Sea series (now The Myridian Constellation), had 7 books outlined. Book 3, however, took me by surprise when it became such a behemoth that Amazon wouldn't even publish it in paperback at its size. It became clear that there were two very unique story arcs, and so I made the decision to split the third book into book 3 and book 4. I never imagined how much work and time it would take to re craft those tales into individual books of the series. "The Forsaken Continent" became book 3 and took nearly 5 years to complete. Here's a peek at the new cover concept for TFC:</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCj5xR3zHrMI7ZVr698d2bykOR4-qe5wMJ-rWOekNkHNkJlDHrowJaFTt7Yq64wF71aZJCsRsUpaADbadr03IlP3lyo9R_qqWHhjT0Uav5x6TmRArDvQj6TS4U6MqBh8v_9aD-/s2048/The+Forsaken+Continent+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1238" data-original-width="2048" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCj5xR3zHrMI7ZVr698d2bykOR4-qe5wMJ-rWOekNkHNkJlDHrowJaFTt7Yq64wF71aZJCsRsUpaADbadr03IlP3lyo9R_qqWHhjT0Uav5x6TmRArDvQj6TS4U6MqBh8v_9aD-/w400-h241/The+Forsaken+Continent+4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"Mirror of Souls" was going to be book 3, but I quickly realized that too much needed to happen to lay the groundwork for what I think has become the turning point of the series. Here's a peek at the full cover of Book 4, Mirror of Souls. <b>Release date is August 9th! </b></span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Author's Note: Thank you, readers for the opportunity to write for an audience. I'm no Tolkien or Rowlings, but you've all been so very kind to make it clear that these books have an audience. God made my dream come true and gave me a mission, but I'd get nowhere fast without knights and swordmaidens like you. I'm forever grateful.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEddAPMnTbBQTKjQIaFqRTrhMQ9nb2F2s58_KlKDpu2nNeOlWIeKRW-NbtfKENC_WF1Gm8c4cFpGV0JOiaopqlSl9IAShPgZZ-MVACgIeHlmYRfkmo_R9DfbTKMtu3za-2qyUe/s2048/Mirror+of+Souls+3+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1238" data-original-width="2048" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEddAPMnTbBQTKjQIaFqRTrhMQ9nb2F2s58_KlKDpu2nNeOlWIeKRW-NbtfKENC_WF1Gm8c4cFpGV0JOiaopqlSl9IAShPgZZ-MVACgIeHlmYRfkmo_R9DfbTKMtu3za-2qyUe/w400-h241/Mirror+of+Souls+3+-+Copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div></div><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p>WayneThomasBatsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15837713579691260482noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19752207.post-52050184019019826772021-05-29T11:43:00.002-05:002021-05-29T11:43:22.665-05:00Paying it Forward: Ads for Your Book in Mirror of Souls<p><span style="color: #990000; font-size: x-large;"><b> W</b></span><span style="font-size: large;">hen my first book, The Door Within, was knee-deep in production prior to release, it came time to start promoting. Fortunately, my agent, then Gregg Wooding (Miss you, man!), had done some promotional work with Josh McDowell––the "More Than A Carpenter," Josh McDowell. Mr. McDowell was absolutely gracious and kind enough to write a promotional blurb for The Door Within. I also had wonderful endorsements from Donita K. Paul, Christopher Hopper, Bryan Davis, Booklist, School Library Journal, and several others. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmcZ2MCiMMLjSCGStXP6AYgZJ_NnUYKKGFrUs-fjCWgRc0eIsOmiJVG_TFPPvSi49ZoCzENJDY-CYhZVi0QcDNSpOo8ZaD8jO_cw7GEuQKHFRV0ipPIWsmiO6_mmEjo1xxFwcs/s959/MoS+Ad+for+Ads.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="959" data-original-width="834" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmcZ2MCiMMLjSCGStXP6AYgZJ_NnUYKKGFrUs-fjCWgRc0eIsOmiJVG_TFPPvSi49ZoCzENJDY-CYhZVi0QcDNSpOo8ZaD8jO_cw7GEuQKHFRV0ipPIWsmiO6_mmEjo1xxFwcs/w557-h640/MoS+Ad+for+Ads.jpeg" width="557" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Please understand the kindness of these talented people. No one in the world knew me or my books from Adam. So for these already-busy folks to give me a little leg up in the early going of my writing career was absolutely path changing.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Since then, I've worked hard to try to return the favor, to pay it forward, so to speak for other authors. To continue in that way, I'm offering a <b>full page ad for your book</b> to be included in both digital ebook and paperback versions of <i>Mirror of Souls</i>, the fourth coming <i>Myridian Constellation</i> novel, due out in early July this summer. <b>The cost is $25 for the full page ad</b>. That will help me pay for the interior design for the book, as well as, contribute to the cover art and design. If you are interested in an ad, here's what I need from you:</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">• a roughly 6X9 ad for your book(s) that can work in color and grayscale B&W. Email the ad to: batguy21784 (at) yahoo (dot) com</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">• $25 sent to us via PayPal, Venmo, or Zelle.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Paypal</b>: mdbatfam@yahoo.com</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Venmo</b>: @mdbatfam</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Zelle</b>: 4102457998</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">• Ads and payment due by June 10th. </span></p><p><br /></p>WayneThomasBatsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15837713579691260482noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19752207.post-37919990379128252522021-02-26T00:20:00.001-05:002021-02-26T00:20:04.653-05:00Quiet Desperation...<p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> <span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;">Poet, philosopher, naturalists, etc., Henry David Thoreau once wrote, "The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation." I think his observation is both brilliant and woefully short-sighted. He might have an escape clause, if by "men" he meant the "mankind" all-of-humanity kind of men. I would argue we all live lives of quiet desperation. We can only deaden the ache so much, for no matter how much food, alcohol, and pleasurable company we may procure, the ache still remains. </span></span></p><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="1auni" data-offset-key="cqher-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="cqher-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="cqher-0-0"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="1auni" data-offset-key="5srdi-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5srdi-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="5srdi-0-0"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">CS Lewis calls it the "inconsolable longing" for something we've smelled, heard, tasted, or felt from an agonizing distance. We find some comfort in structure, in routine, in "what I ought to be doing," but we can't help but feel that, in the end, we know we're in "The Matrix." We know that something isn't right. We know that we're incomplete. We know that we're missing out...on something. </span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="1auni" data-offset-key="25k63-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="25k63-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="25k63-0-0"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="1auni" data-offset-key="6o3g7-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="6o3g7-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="6o3g7-0-0"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Most of us succumb to the idea that...if I could just get, become, achieve, or acquire "the next thing," then, all will be well. I think somewhere deep down, we all at least suspect that, even if we do get the greatest thing, find the most loving person, or reach the highest heights...we'll still be left with that nagging ache. Movie stars, rock stars, lottery winners, super bowl winning teams, and billionaires have shown us over the years that whatever earthly height we can imagine will never be quite high enough. </span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="1auni" data-offset-key="sbub-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="sbub-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="sbub-0-0"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="1auni" data-offset-key="6fcp5-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="6fcp5-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="6fcp5-0-0"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">I'm an English and Reading teacher, but somehow, over the last several years, I've been teaching middle school students about careers. In that study, we take an in-depth look at careers over the years, how historical events, technology, and culture influence careers. Studying history can be very revealing. One of the aspects of history that I've noticed is this: as affluence and privilege increase, so does immorality. Don't get me wrong. I am not shaking a judgmental finger, as if I somehow know better than all of humanity. I'm likely just as immoral as any other person on the planet. Honestly, the older I get, the more I feel like we human beings really ought to be cutting each other a little bit more slack. </span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="1auni" data-offset-key="8i9op-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="8i9op-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="8i9op-0-0"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="1auni" data-offset-key="efn6f-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="efn6f-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="efn6f-0-0"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Honestly, beyond lives of quiet desperation, I'd argue that we're all just stubborn, needy, desperate souls throwing shit at the walls and hoping...praying that something sticks. Why are we pushing up against any and every cultural norm? Why are we searching for alternate identities? Why are we starting to try to identify as things we are not? Why are we aggrandizing sexuality to the point that it is all we identify with? I believe it's because we're all hoping beyond hope that we'll find "something to make sense of it all," whatever "it all" is. </span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="1auni" data-offset-key="79v9g-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="79v9g-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="79v9g-0-0"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="1auni" data-offset-key="8o8pe-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="8o8pe-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="8o8pe-0-0"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">It's at about this time that you expect me to start preaching, right? Batson is one of those born again Christian folk. Of course, he's going to say, turn to Jesus, right? </span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="1auni" data-offset-key="4k4f7-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="4k4f7-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="4k4f7-0-0"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="1auni" data-offset-key="mocu-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="mocu-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="mocu-0-0"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">To be quite honest, Jesus is my ultimate conclusion, but I wouldn't dare to presume upon your lives. I will urge you, however, to be more purposeful searchers. This is no joke. Life, this day-after-day thing that adds up to a lifetime is the most vital thing we have. Invest it in the "finding out." I've done my homework. I've researched science. I've researched world religions. I've investigated claims. I explored my own psyche. In the end, I can't get past God. I can't fathom a world of ten trillion trillion intricacies...that didn't have a lucid cause. Of all the world religions, only one speaks of grace. Only one offers a Christ who would go through all the hell on earth that we're all going through and then cap it all by being tortured and murdered...for me. Only one rose from the dead. But...that's my conclusion. I've done my homework. I am satisfied. </span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="1auni" data-offset-key="7fjj1-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="7fjj1-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="7fjj1-0-0"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="1auni" data-offset-key="2q3go-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="2q3go-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="2q3go-0-0"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">And yet...the ache remains.</span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="1auni" data-offset-key="fvk9s-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="fvk9s-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="fvk9s-0-0"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="1auni" data-offset-key="9bigd-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="9bigd-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="9bigd-0-0"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">I once believed and, for a long, long time, stubbornly held on to the idea that once I became a Christian, my life would all come together. The ache would be so satiated by Jesus that I would never long for more. Here I tread dangerous ground because I'm sure there are many believers who would say unequivocally that Jesus fulfills their each and every need. With all due respect, I salute those contented beings and...I say, "well, that is not my experience." My experience is much more of what the bible describes. "In this world, you will have trouble." Yes, I have Jesus, but I'm living in decay. Yes, I have Jesus, but it still hurts when my children are sick. It still makes me weep when I watch the news. It still feels like everything has gone terribly, horribly wrong. I'm just being honest about my experience. Sue me. </span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="1auni" data-offset-key="2prn0-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="2prn0-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="2prn0-0-0"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="2prn0-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="2prn0-0-0"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigwaKqruZBkMbwJEcbzApvMQ4ilEneeRgVAGTFJTlKDEqIs4h3E36rvdK9ak0CeJ4vRVs7D4_5Z9zU2eWthU1OACfurRfw2ksodrgIk9HMfMMq9Xzz_QI-CRcRSMsTb3KvDxta/s1280/drops-of-water-578897_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigwaKqruZBkMbwJEcbzApvMQ4ilEneeRgVAGTFJTlKDEqIs4h3E36rvdK9ak0CeJ4vRVs7D4_5Z9zU2eWthU1OACfurRfw2ksodrgIk9HMfMMq9Xzz_QI-CRcRSMsTb3KvDxta/s320/drops-of-water-578897_1280.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="2prn0-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="2prn0-0-0"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="1auni" data-offset-key="c5ujr-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="c5ujr-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="c5ujr-0-0"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Jesus once said to the woman at the well, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life." In my experience, the thirst comes back. Some might argue that I never really "drank the water that Jesus gives." Maybe I never really believed. Maybe I lost my salvation. Maybe...or maybe not. Maybe what is shortsighted is the popular understanding of the type of thirst Jesus was talking about here. There's physical thirst when our bodies actually need physical water or...we'll dehydrate and die. And then, there's felt thirst. We might not be on the verge of death, or even remotely close to dehydration, but we still want something to drink. In my experience, in whatever version of Christianity I've lived into, Jesus has satiated the physical-need thirst. I have an anchor in my soul that is steadfast, ironclad, trustworthy, and loving. But this isn't heaven. I still want things to drink. </span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="1auni" data-offset-key="6ai6c-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="6ai6c-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="6ai6c-0-0"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="1auni" data-offset-key="1b9la-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="1b9la-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="1b9la-0-0"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">And here, to me, is the difference that Jesus makes. I am hard-pressed, but not crushed; I am perplexed, but not in despair; I am persecuted but not forsaken; struck down but not destroyed. My thirst has been quenched, but I am still thirsty. The wound that causes the ache has been ultimately healed, but like the phantom pain of an amputee, I still feel the ache. But, for the last time, these are my conclusions after almost 50 years of searching. I've done my homework. I am content to live with the ache. </span></span></div></div>WayneThomasBatsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15837713579691260482noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19752207.post-76041001365852447762021-01-18T11:31:00.002-05:002021-01-18T11:31:57.335-05:00Dr. King's "The Fierce Urgency of Now," Reflections. <p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> <span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;">"We are now faced with the fact that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now. In this unfolding conundrum of life and history there is such a thing as being too late. Procrastination is still the thief of time. Life often leaves us standing bare, naked and dejected with a lost opportunity. The "tide in the affairs of men" does not remain at the flood; it ebbs. We may cry out desperately for time to pause in her passage, but time is deaf to every plea and rushes on. Over the bleached bones and jumbled residue of numerous civilizations are written the pathetic words: "Too late." There is an invisible book of life that faithfully records our vigilance or our neglect. "The moving finger writes, and having writ moves on..." We still have a choice today; nonviolent coexistence or violent co-annihilation."</span></span></p><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="26mau" data-offset-key="ek9da-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="ek9da-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="ek9da-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="26mau" data-offset-key="7rnss-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="7rnss-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="7rnss-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Speech delivered by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., on April 4, 1967, at a meeting of Clergy and Laity Concerned at Riverside Church in New York City.</span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="26mau" data-offset-key="a6gko-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="a6gko-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="a6gko-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="26mau" data-offset-key="afggb-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="afggb-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="afggb-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">One year later, to the day, Dr. King was shot and killed. </span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="26mau" data-offset-key="fb4ev-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="fb4ev-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="fb4ev-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="26mau" data-offset-key="29bem-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="29bem-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="29bem-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I've always been a "seize the day" kind of guy. Ask my students over the years, and they'll tell you that I preach to them, somewhat ad nauseum, that time is our most precious commodity. Dr. King's words declaring "the fierce urgency of now" resonates so deeply with me and in so many different ways that I don't know where to start. I do know, however, where I want to end. </span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="26mau" data-offset-key="djobb-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="djobb-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="djobb-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="26mau" data-offset-key="5ct37-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5ct37-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="5ct37-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Of all the myriad aspects of life for which God might judge us, I suspect that how we spent the time given us will be accounted quite heavily. Time is an unknown, finite quantity for each of us. Since we don't know how much time, we ought to recognize every minute as it approaches, as precious. The Lord has given each of us gifts, but gifts not to clutch, cover up, or spend on ourselves only. These are gifts to share. God gave me imagination, worlds to create, and hope to spread. As I look back over my life, I'm convicted that if I hadn't wasted so much time, I might have doubled the number of books I've written. But the past is not the way. (Thanks, Mando)</span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="26mau" data-offset-key="85cji-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="85cji-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="85cji-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="26mau" data-offset-key="3i9bq-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="3i9bq-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="3i9bq-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">There is only now, only the way forward. What is your gift? Use it. Use it now. The "moving finger" continues to write. What do I want it to write? In the end, I hope it writes, "Well done, good and faithful servant." </span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="3i9bq-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="3i9bq-0-0"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="3i9bq-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="3i9bq-0-0"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFqB0ysYrIHiXoJ5cw95K1JSrojaU5UqzYDd0tgx8gZn5XH0rVR9Id_AaSerF5CbXgCdDwAUExLM2S8Pfl2LGK7fZ718x7wUz1imS5cz46KcexNHVAIElPD3tx6mYG5zwNMJE0/s1600/Path.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFqB0ysYrIHiXoJ5cw95K1JSrojaU5UqzYDd0tgx8gZn5XH0rVR9Id_AaSerF5CbXgCdDwAUExLM2S8Pfl2LGK7fZ718x7wUz1imS5cz46KcexNHVAIElPD3tx6mYG5zwNMJE0/w400-h225/Path.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div></div>WayneThomasBatsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15837713579691260482noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19752207.post-85888043009290943102021-01-03T14:19:00.001-05:002021-01-03T14:20:36.247-05:00For the World-Weary and Heavily Burdened...<p><span style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;"> <span style="color: red;"><span class="text Matt-11-28" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-NASB1995-23488"><span class="woj"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">28 </span>“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.</span></span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial"> </span><span class="text Matt-11-29" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-NASB1995-23489"><span class="woj"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">29 </span>Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">you will find rest for your souls</span>.</span></span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial"> </span><span class="text Matt-11-30" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-NASB1995-23490"><span class="woj"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">30 </span>For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”</span></span></span></span></p><p><span class="text Matt-11-30" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial"><span class="woj"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p><span class="text Matt-11-30" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial"><span class="woj"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;">I don't know if there are any verses in scripture more comforting than these. And, at least for me personally, I'm not sure if there are any verses in scripture that I've ignored more than these. </span></span></span></p><p><span class="text Matt-11-30" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial"><span class="woj"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;">True Confession: I am a card-carrying, senior member of the Burden Builders Club, no affiliation with the BBC, makers of fine British entertainment. (Have you seen Sherlock? Holy cow!) But, I digress. </span></span></span></p><p><span class="text Matt-11-30" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial"><span class="woj"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p><span class="text Matt-11-30" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: black;"><span class="woj"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLUghVg6L6KfWFEk-HbtV2g-zK0T6ctTk68kCbb9v4-WuLo7KM2tc17bAf6TndxhQVdQIABcE-PEy-PhAql2vJ1r0348jnh0ZqQSF5CE_IvFAUmrgVvMaEo1mKdcrV_spo4Bes/s640/male_crossfit_athlete_dropping_barbell_on_head.jpg" style="background-color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="363" data-original-width="640" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLUghVg6L6KfWFEk-HbtV2g-zK0T6ctTk68kCbb9v4-WuLo7KM2tc17bAf6TndxhQVdQIABcE-PEy-PhAql2vJ1r0348jnh0ZqQSF5CE_IvFAUmrgVvMaEo1mKdcrV_spo4Bes/w400-h228/male_crossfit_athlete_dropping_barbell_on_head.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="background-color: black;"><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p><span class="text Matt-11-30" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial"><span class="woj"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;">These verses from Matthew 11 are in red as a reminder that JESUS SAID THIS. And yet, how many times have we said, "Nah, no thanks, Lord. I think these burdens look great on my shoulders. In fact, there are a few more heavy ones over there I'm going to go pick up."???</span></span></span></p><p><span class="text Matt-11-30" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial"><span class="woj"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;">Part of my problem is that I'm a control freak. Yes, there's horrendous crap going on in my life, but if I've got hold of the steering wheel, I'm certain I can fix it. And part of <b>that</b> problem is a lack of faith. "Lord, I don't really believe you will fix this, so I guess I'll jump in." And part of <b>THAT</b> problem is me thinking I'm smarter than God. "Lord, there's this problem in life, and well, it's been going on for a while. I'm not sure why, but you don't seem inclined to fix it. Clearly, an error on your part. So, I guess I'll take up the slack and attempt to do what you ought to be doing."</span></span></span></p><p><span class="text Matt-11-30" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial"><span class="woj"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;">Do you see the chain of errors there? Do you have any idea how HEAVY that chain is to bear? I can hear Jacob Marley screaming at me right now, </span></span></span></p><p><span class="text Matt-11-30" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial"><span class="woj"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p><span class="text Matt-11-30" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: black;"><span class="woj"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMLax-DwrqaNwRQcxjFMSoR_AvqySAS2ZXEDWD6po8J6s6KGneQqCweKDyjEd3erMKNcCwo_WFtzzGoGVcNFBZrVmvcqetMtGxO4O058N7ZJuIiMM3HR-krXK_5RIHARSxoiQM/s560/christmas-carol-16.jpg" style="background-color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="560" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMLax-DwrqaNwRQcxjFMSoR_AvqySAS2ZXEDWD6po8J6s6KGneQqCweKDyjEd3erMKNcCwo_WFtzzGoGVcNFBZrVmvcqetMtGxO4O058N7ZJuIiMM3HR-krXK_5RIHARSxoiQM/s320/christmas-carol-16.jpg" /></a></div><span style="background-color: black;"><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p><span class="text Matt-11-30" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial"><span class="woj"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;">Bearing the burdens in life that are beyond our control, beyond our ability to fix—or even change—is indeed a ponderous chain. Bearing these burdens makes us weary. It's exhausting. And...it's pointless. </span></span></span></p><p><span class="text Matt-11-30" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial"><span class="woj"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;">There's a reason the "Serenity Prayer" is so popular. </span></span></span></p><p><span class="text Matt-11-30" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial"><span class="woj"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p><span class="text Matt-11-30" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: black;"><span class="woj"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ2jjESgAWG1WeADP7eA_Ov-EfuOWyFlNdHskAMh58TEvYn0JlIiIRTN3QmJmiTxTbKfyOXdbuKHEd_IlPXuqOjf1ckzjIBZ88WWCTJ7mYqw5KMMbDRG3k15GBdBaAtVCK5Mhr/s800/183_pd3824830_1_.jpg" style="background-color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ2jjESgAWG1WeADP7eA_Ov-EfuOWyFlNdHskAMh58TEvYn0JlIiIRTN3QmJmiTxTbKfyOXdbuKHEd_IlPXuqOjf1ckzjIBZ88WWCTJ7mYqw5KMMbDRG3k15GBdBaAtVCK5Mhr/s320/183_pd3824830_1_.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="background-color: black;"><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p><span class="text Matt-11-30" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial"><span class="woj"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;">When we hear the Serenity Prayer, we are suddenly confronted with our lunacy. How insane it is to allow ourselves to dwell upon, to mentally and emotionally toil over, things in life that we cannot change? Coronavirus, Racism, Corruption in Politics, Cultural Depravity, Getting Old, Changing the Behaviors of other people (Got you with that last one, didn't I? I am so guilty of that)...these burdens, and an infinitely long list of other concerns, are far bigger than us, far deeper than us, and far beyond our ability to change.</span></span></span></p><p><span class="text Matt-11-30" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial"><span class="woj"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;">Please don't misunderstand me. We can wear our masks. We can each do our part to love others regardless of our differences. We can do our homework, vote faithfully and intelligently. We can support redeeming behaviors. We can take our vitamins and go to the gym. We most definitely can do our best to change the things we can change, but bearing the weight of any those things <b>categorically</b> is madness. </span></span></span></p><p><span class="text Matt-11-30" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial"><span class="woj"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;">Start at the micro level, the personal level. There's someone in your life, probably someone very dear to you. You can see that there's something very harmful in that person or in that person's life. What can you do? You can love, support, offer a good example, offer advice, etc. But you can NEVER take responsibility for someone else's change. There's the whole free will thing, remember? With parents this can be particularly burdensome. We raise our children the best we can, but ultimately, they are going to make their own decisions. As my good friend Christopher Hopper is fond of saying, "You are responsible TO your children, not FOR them." You do your best and then let go. {Cue Frozen song, preferably the heavy metal version.}</span></span></span></p><p><span class="text Matt-11-30" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial"><span class="woj"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;">Here's a link: <b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVHhIgbhsxs" target="_blank">HEAVY METAL VERSION of "LET IT GO."</a></b></span></span></span></p><p><span class="text Matt-11-30" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial"><span class="woj"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;">Intellectually, on some level, I think we all know this, but we don't want to acknowledge it. We are stubborn and foolish. And the result? We are so bone-weary it can be hard to get out of bed. </span></span></span></p><p><span class="text Matt-11-30" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial"><span class="woj"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;">Jesus says, "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest." </span></span></span></p><p><span class="text Matt-11-30" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial"><span class="woj"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;">Here's where a lot of messages would end, saying, "Amen. May it ever be so."</span></span></span></p><p><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: black;">[<b>Side note:</b> does it drive anyone else CRAZY when sermons, devotions, or even whole books spend 90% of the content harping on the problem, only to gloss over the solutions? We already know about the problem. We need some help here. Throw us a fricken' bone!] Rant over.</span></span></p><p><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: black;">How? How do we release the burdens? How do we stop picking up new burdens? How do we stop exhausting ourselves with heavy weights we were: Never. Meant. To. Bear?</span></span></p><p><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: black;">Fortunately, Jesus tells us how. He says, "Come to Me." Recognize that you are carrying stuff that you cannot possibly handle, and go to Jesus. That might mean go to Him in prayer. That might mean take a walk on the beach and go to Him. That might mean listen to music that takes you to Him. This might even mean, locking yourself in a (hopefully, sort of soundproof) room and screaming, "LORD, I can't take this anymore. You take this GIANT BALL OF CRAP off of my shoulders, please!"</span></span></p><p><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: black;">Note that this is not a passive step. This is an imperative, active movement of our will and possibly physical action, as well. "Come to me." If you're carrying the weight of the world, go directly to Jesus, any way that you can. Maybe it sounds too easy, but be honest, how often in the midst of being burdened, do you actually, actively, and repeatedly, go to Jesus? And when you're with Jesus, how often do you actually cast off all that junk with the full recognition that you cannot possibly fix it yourself? Not just lip service either. There's a Polish proverb that I've come to love, and it surges to mind here: "Not my circus. Not my monkeys." </span></span></p><p><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: black;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: black;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial" style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial" style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieWo7msG18UwVLbopDxsHHHbb8hxjiUbR6kWbzTs5R9s_3rtakUZo5LMd9byVRlpZH3a3kB4iJPH-PtcfBtr54y-UfaZxq_UCII-FY0jv72P-8DcKStPX2SBQtpDZXExKNDZgI/s949/6d36e782c1b48a128f4e53d063e134aa.jpg" style="background-color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="949" data-original-width="736" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieWo7msG18UwVLbopDxsHHHbb8hxjiUbR6kWbzTs5R9s_3rtakUZo5LMd9byVRlpZH3a3kB4iJPH-PtcfBtr54y-UfaZxq_UCII-FY0jv72P-8DcKStPX2SBQtpDZXExKNDZgI/s320/6d36e782c1b48a128f4e53d063e134aa.jpg" /></a></span></div><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;"><br /><span><br /></span></span><p></p><p><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: black; font-size: large;">The phrasing of this proverb makes me smile, but the truth within is a holy 2 X 4 that we need to get smacked with repeatedly. Say it with me, "Not my circus. Not my monkeys." We need to recognize that we've done what we CAN do, but the rest is in YOUR hands, Lord."</span></p><p><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: black;">I'm not belittling physiological anxiety in the least. I understand that burden from personal experience. Some of us have predilections to anxiety and have compounded such physiological chemical problems by wearing a deep rut in our minds. The needle on our spinning record keeps finding that rut and falling into it. And we fret and we worry and we consume ourselves with the impossibility of the task without <b>recognizing</b> the impossibility of the task. We need to ask God to create a new rut. Better? Ask God to create a New Groove. The Lord's New Groove.</span></span></p><p><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: black;">{I'm hearing Kronk saying, "Riiii-iiiight."}</span></span></p><p><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: black;">That "new groove" is the second and third imperative in this pivotal scripture passage: "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me..." This is also part of the HOW. Many of us have been bearing burdens for so long that it has become a daily habit like putting on shoes, brushing teeth, or...breathing. We cannot just chuck our burdens on Jesus because our sinful flesh shoulders are burden magnets. No sooner will we dump "the future" on Jesus than "the past" will hop right onto our backs. We have to replace the burden with something else. Jesus's yoke. </span></span></p><p><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: black;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span class="text Matt-11-30" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: black;"><span class="woj"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg47azmItgl00RvqRbRqgBop2A7d2it_mwNjg4nRxI4hHiy5MQJxcY66nzqo-GZj6gXH8cPGTQkEqST-mC2IH601apZpQg5heIkNo_BjHgckeGbVTlcckLx3mOiR10_nr7yvO9n/s708/Yoke.jpeg" style="background-color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="429" data-original-width="708" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg47azmItgl00RvqRbRqgBop2A7d2it_mwNjg4nRxI4hHiy5MQJxcY66nzqo-GZj6gXH8cPGTQkEqST-mC2IH601apZpQg5heIkNo_BjHgckeGbVTlcckLx3mOiR10_nr7yvO9n/s320/Yoke.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="background-color: black;"><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="text Matt-11-30"><span class="woj">See that wooden harness-thingy in the drawing above? That's a yoke. Brannon Diebert of Christianity.com defines a yoke in this way: "</span></span><span>Essentially, a yoke was a harness used by oxen and other animals to ease the work of hauling a load. It was also meant as a designation of servitude and carrying the burden of a task or mission." Jesus tells us to take His yoke upon us, a</span></span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="font-size: large;">nd yes, IMHO, in the metaphor, we are the dumb steer who need...er, steering.</span></span></p><p><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: black; font-size: large;">How do we take that yoke, His yoke, upon us? There are certain elements that are common to all of us: learn Jesus's way. Watch the Master work in scripture and in life. And submit. Part of giving up the burden is submission. We need to realize that God is the only one who has the power to change things that are impossible for us to change. Likewise, {and this stings a little} He is the only one smart enough to know how and when, or even if, something needs to be changed. Who among us have known the mind of the Lord that we should be His tutor? Ehrm...not me, but that hasn't kept me in my vanity from functionally presuming that role. </span></p><p><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: black;">Just as I wasn't there when God tossed all the stars into their places, I don't really know which evils of the world need changing or what my "perceived" solution would cause in the world. Why did God allow a certain tragedy to occur? That is way WAY above my pay grade. I don't want it to be. I want to point fingers. I want to blame God. But that is utter insanity. I am finite. He is not. I cannot see with an eternal perspective. He can. As Gandalf says, "Not even the very wise can see all ends," but God can. So we must submit to the Lord.</span></span></p><p><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: black;">"Jesus, please let me wear Your yoke." Whatever that looks like, I want it. Similar to defining "coming to Him," I think that "wearing His yoke" can be a highly customizable act. What has God called you to do? Teach? Write? Cook? Plant? Paint? Code? Run? Build? The list is endless. Whatever you do, do unto the glory of the Lord. The thing is, you've got to own it. I am doing X for God's glory. Lord, please put Your yoke on my shoulders and steer me wherever you like. </span></span></p><p><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: black;">Jesus says His burden is light. His yoke is light. But isn't it an incredibly heavy burden to be God's ambassadors on Earth? Is it really? Think it through. Why is that such a burden? Could it be that we are (once again) weighing ourselves down with faulty expectations? Can a human being convert another human being? Are we responsible for generations believing in Jesus? No. No, we cannot and no, we are not. God saves. God recreates. God wields the power over life, death, time, salvation, and everything else! Imagine doing some gardening with a young child. You might give the little one a spade to dig a crude hole. Or maybe you sprinkle a few seeds in that tiny hand so that he can push them into the loose soil. As the adult in the scenario, you give the child what he/she can handle and you do the rest. Even more so is this true of God. He gives us all kinds of things to go out and do, but He doesn't expect us to do what only He can do. </span></span></p><p><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: black;">At this point, we may sheepishly look at our burdens and our foolishness and feel too ashamed to bring all this junk to Jesus, but He tells us He is gentle and humble in heart. He's not glowering at us scornfully as we carry our sacks of filth into His sterile throne room. He comes leaping from the throne to take hold of those sacks, to gently relieve us of the crushing weight they represent. Why should we ever doubt this? He's already humbled Himself by putting on human flesh and living in our conditions. He's already humbled Himself by taking on the most hideous, weighty burdens of all: our sin. He already carried all that evil junk off and buried it. How much more then would He now be willing to take on our worldly burdens? </span></span></p><p><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: black;">And what does Jesus offer in exchange for tons of exhausting, anxiety-producing crap? Rest. "Here, let Me take that for you. There, there, that's better now, isn't it? Of course, you're spent. Time for a nap. Rest." </span></span></p><p><span class="text Matt-11-30" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial"><span class="woj"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p><span class="text Matt-11-30" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white;"><span class="woj"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></p>WayneThomasBatsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15837713579691260482noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19752207.post-71204568740255307592020-12-28T12:20:00.005-05:002020-12-28T12:27:39.642-05:00Logo Contest for The Myridian Constellation Series<p><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>C</i></b></span></span><b><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; white-space: pre-wrap;">alling</span><span data-offset-key="9pc3q-1-0" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; white-space: pre-wrap;"> all clever and talented graphic artists! </span></span></b></span></p><div data-block="true" data-editor="ehjlk" data-offset-key="kgs7-0-0" style="font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="kgs7-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="kgs7-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: medium;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="ehjlk" data-offset-key="a0986-0-0" style="font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="a0986-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="a0986-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: medium;">Announcing the Myridian Constellation Logo Contest!</span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="ehjlk" data-offset-key="fpkh2-0-0" style="font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="fpkh2-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="fpkh2-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: medium;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="ehjlk" data-offset-key="b6699-0-0" style="font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="b6699-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="b6699-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: medium;">I’m looking for a seriously crafty artist to design a logo for my 7-book epic fantasy series called "The Myridian Constellation." </span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="ehjlk" data-offset-key="l87i-0-0" style="font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="l87i-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="l87i-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: medium;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="ehjlk" data-offset-key="8rq86-0-0" style="font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="8rq86-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="8rq86-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: medium;">Here’s the concept: since stars and constellations figure prominently in the books, I’m looking for a full logo for book covers and merch. This logo would show a seven star constellation and the text “The Myridian Constellation” is some kind of epic fantasy composition. A small version of the logo would appear on the covers of each of the seven books.</span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="ehjlk" data-offset-key="1e0h-0-0" style="color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="1e0h-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="1e0h-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="1e0h-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="1e0h-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVO9esvVW6xHsPvA4H95xGuHVdqm4cd2yNCtjrOGmpZbB5YGmjF6KQpwSvvOrGPe216HhKIQIAlULERM-6AUxk9R0LfhME6rJaAw5wQeeAhOi2mY1u89-v8pie73niPIUjyb3Q/s392/Covers.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="392" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVO9esvVW6xHsPvA4H95xGuHVdqm4cd2yNCtjrOGmpZbB5YGmjF6KQpwSvvOrGPe216HhKIQIAlULERM-6AUxk9R0LfhME6rJaAw5wQeeAhOi2mY1u89-v8pie73niPIUjyb3Q/w400-h306/Covers.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="1e0h-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="1e0h-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="ehjlk" data-offset-key="4c8g7-0-0" style="font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="4c8g7-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="4c8g7-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: medium;">Here’s the trick: the logo would need to be able to be subdivided on the spine so that each book gets its own numerical star. IE: the first book “Sword in the Stars” would have the beginning of the constellation with the first star alight with the number 1 imposed over the star. </span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="ehjlk" data-offset-key="7ch7k-0-0" style="font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="7ch7k-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="7ch7k-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: medium;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="ehjlk" data-offset-key="57m8k-0-0" style="font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="57m8k-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="57m8k-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: medium;">Then, when all seven books are placed on the shelf next to each other and spine-out, the entire 7-star constellation will show across the spines. </span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="ehjlk" data-offset-key="96mbh-0-0" style="font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="96mbh-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="96mbh-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: medium;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="ehjlk" data-offset-key="f5gv4-0-0" style="font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="f5gv4-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="f5gv4-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: medium;">All entries are due by January 31st, 2021 (is that enough time?) The prize for the winning entry? PRIZES (plural!) </span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="ehjlk" data-offset-key="9nj25-0-0" style="font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="9nj25-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="9nj25-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: medium;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="ehjlk" data-offset-key="5vjsg-0-0" style="font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5vjsg-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="5vjsg-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: medium;">1) All seven books of The Myridian Constellation, signed by the author </span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="ehjlk" data-offset-key="3n34f-0-0" style="font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="3n34f-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="3n34f-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: medium;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="ehjlk" data-offset-key="93cau-0-0" style="font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="93cau-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="93cau-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: medium;">2) Direct promotion for your graphic arts services via a FULL PAGE AD in all 7 books</span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="ehjlk" data-offset-key="4hbm5-0-0" style="font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="4hbm5-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="4hbm5-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: medium;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="ehjlk" data-offset-key="2plop-0-0" style="font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="2plop-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="2plop-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: medium;">3) HTML ads for your work on all my websites</span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="ehjlk" data-offset-key="c8p4-0-0" style="font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="c8p4-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="c8p4-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: medium;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="ehjlk" data-offset-key="f36lt-0-0" style="font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="f36lt-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="f36lt-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: medium;">4) Frequent social media promotions, etc.</span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="ehjlk" data-offset-key="ab4ie-0-0" style="font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="ab4ie-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="ab4ie-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: medium;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="ehjlk" data-offset-key="3n9d6-0-0" style="font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="3n9d6-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="3n9d6-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: medium;">5) Fair payment (negotiable, but keep in mind that, I too, am a starving artist).</span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="ehjlk" data-offset-key="6i3mr-0-0" style="font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="6i3mr-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="6i3mr-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: medium;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="ehjlk" data-offset-key="bmkuj-0-0" style="font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="bmkuj-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="bmkuj-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: medium;">If you are interested in entering, please send submissions in jpg, png, or tiff format to me via the email below:</span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="ehjlk" data-offset-key="5nm5f-0-0" style="font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5nm5f-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="5nm5f-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: medium;">batguy21784 (at) yahoo (dot) com</span></span></div></div>WayneThomasBatsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15837713579691260482noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19752207.post-31473936417944243372020-12-02T14:57:00.004-05:002020-12-02T14:57:36.216-05:00How's Your Christmas Spirit (or Spirits) Level? <p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: x-large;"><b>O</b></span><span style="color: #050505; font-size: large;">ne of the bright consequences of the pandemic has been the seemingly overwhelming amount of early Christmas decorating and Christmas spirit! </span></span></p><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="c4k4h" data-offset-key="31rug-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="31rug-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="31rug-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4E3pkE241oFKCEm55tlQdGJk7pyYaO851ipniesW6ciXANALs_89b0FyH9iQayezz78k2yrSVOLPld_oPbKap8eXeC8MJgqYikQVzw69BmiVDTPNfyqhY28YkGtZ_XQwcCftd/s499/ACC+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="333" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4E3pkE241oFKCEm55tlQdGJk7pyYaO851ipniesW6ciXANALs_89b0FyH9iQayezz78k2yrSVOLPld_oPbKap8eXeC8MJgqYikQVzw69BmiVDTPNfyqhY28YkGtZ_XQwcCftd/w268-h400/ACC+cover.jpg" width="268" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="c4k4h" data-offset-key="1tulb-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="1tulb-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span data-offset-key="1tulb-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">If you're looking for something to contribute to your Christmas spirit (or spirits), may I steer you toward "A Christian's Carol?" This is my modern retelling of Dickens' famous "A Christmas Carol." The audiobook narrator, </span><span class="diy96o5h" data-offset-key="1tulb-1-0" end="233" spellcheck="false" start="223" style="background-color: var(--text-highlight); font-family: inherit;">Dave Cruse</span><span data-offset-key="1tulb-2-0" style="font-family: inherit;">, absolutely crushed the reading. </span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="c4k4h" data-offset-key="2k3i6-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="2k3i6-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="2k3i6-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="c4k4h" data-offset-key="4padk-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="4padk-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="4padk-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Check out this free sample:</span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="c4k4h" data-offset-key="4or10-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="4or10-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span class="py34i1dx" style="color: var(--blue-link); font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1beBD0KnSVpy9GmavmOrFgyeQDQsqNH7k/view?usp=sharing"><span style="font-size: large;">https://drive.google.com/file/d/1beBD0KnSVpy9GmavmOrFgyeQDQsqNH7k/view?usp=sharing</span></a></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="c4k4h" data-offset-key="2chak-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="2chak-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="2chak-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="c4k4h" data-offset-key="7a7fb-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="7a7fb-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="7a7fb-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">If you like it, pick up the audiobook on Amazon or Audible.com. This link will get you there:</span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="c4k4h" data-offset-key="2v52q-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="2v52q-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="2v52q-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="c4k4h" data-offset-key="b9591-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="b9591-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span class="py34i1dx" style="color: var(--blue-link); font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/A-Christians-Carol-A-Modern-Retelling-of-Dickens-Classic-Tale-Audiobook/B07LGDHHMZ"><span style="font-size: large;">https://www.audible.com/pd/A-Christians-Carol-A-Modern-Retelling-of-Dickens-Classic-Tale-Audiobook/B07LGDHHMZ</span></a></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="c4k4h" data-offset-key="1jms1-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="1jms1-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="1jms1-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="c4k4h" data-offset-key="ekrki-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="ekrki-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="ekrki-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">PS: Please don't let the term "Christian" discourage you from giving this story a try. Like "A Christmas Carol," there are Christian themes, but also, I think, a more inclusive and circumspect view of Christians in terms of so many social issues that concern all people today. </span></span></div></div>WayneThomasBatsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15837713579691260482noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19752207.post-85653018741849764362020-07-02T13:48:00.000-05:002020-07-02T13:48:00.779-05:00Tough Love: When God Takes Out the Holy Chisel<div data-contents="true">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span data-offset-key="6o5lm-0-0"><span data-text="true"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>M</b></span></span>y daughter </span></span><span class="_247o" data-offset-key="6o5lm-1-0" spellcheck="false"><span data-offset-key="6o5lm-1-0"><span data-text="true">Rachel Batson</span></span></span><span data-offset-key="6o5lm-2-0"><span data-text="true"> was telling me how tough her job is right now. Admittedly, her work is arduous, but I couldn't just placate. I had to tell her, "When I was your age {19}, at this time of the year, I was hand-weeding quarter-mile-long strawberry rows with the sun beating down upon my back." </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span data-offset-key="3sn1q-0-0"><span data-text="true">We had a good laugh about it, but it got me thinking of how backbreaking that farm work really was. It wasn't just the weeding, but there was bailing straw, laying irrigation pipe, digging, pruning, etc. etc. Five years from my junior summer in high school to the fall of my junior year in college, I worked hard at the Darrow Berry Farm in Glen Dale, Maryland. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span data-offset-key="8tj3s-0-0"><span data-text="true">Backbreaking work, but even if it were possible, I wouldn't go back and change a thing. If it hadn't been for that farm and that job, I might not have become a Christian as early in life. One early evening during Strawberry season, a friend who used to work with me at the farm came back to visit and pick some strawberries. Instead, he told me about Jesus. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span data-offset-key="8db4s-0-0"><span data-text="true">If it hadn't been for that farm and that job, I wouldn't have met and married the love of my life </span></span><span class="_247o" data-offset-key="8db4s-1-0" spellcheck="false"><span data-offset-key="8db4s-1-0"><span data-text="true">Mary Lu Dovel Batson</span></span></span><span data-offset-key="8db4s-2-0"><span data-text="true">. If it hadn't been for that farm and that job, I wouldn't have made so many good life-long friends. I wouldn't have been in a heavy metal band. I wouldn't have led bible studies for 25+ years. The list goes on and on and on. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span data-offset-key="8ncke-0-0"><span data-text="true">Please don't misunderstand, the work was HARD. It was relentless and hot, strenuous and mentally taxing. There were times out in the July heat, I thought I'd lose my mind. Once I almost started a fistfight with one of my best friends {I'm looking at you </span></span><span class="_247o" data-offset-key="8ncke-1-0" spellcheck="false"><span data-offset-key="8ncke-1-0"><span data-text="true">Warren Cramutola</span></span></span><span data-offset-key="8ncke-2-0"><span data-text="true">}. On the rare day off, I was in recovery. My neck hurt, my back ached, my knees were on fire, and I was sunburned to the point where, eventually, I'm sure I'll look more like a gator than a man. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span data-offset-key="d6c23-0-0"><span data-text="true">In retrospect, however, I realize that it was hard work for a purpose. God had His fingerprints all over that time of my life and all over that arduous job. The experience reminds me of a couple of critically important Bible verses:</span></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span data-offset-key="btal3-0-0"><span data-text="true"> Romans 5:3-5 </span></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span data-offset-key="fbkp5-0-0"><span data-text="true">3 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span data-offset-key="e595h-0-0"><span data-text="true">God used the lever of hard physical labor to cause me to persevere, to build character, and yes, over the years to give me hope beyond hope. God wasn't finished, either. He was just warming up the holy chisel. Through parenting, married life, career issues, sickness, death, loss, depression, and even the pandemic, God has shown me who He is and how good He is. He has continued and still continues to chisel away at me for His glory and my ultimate great benefit. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span data-offset-key="6s1ct-0-0"><span data-text="true">Trials, stress, hardship—none of that is foreign to the human experience. Some of you reading right now are going through the aching, searing, trial of your lives. It's hard. It hurts...bad. It feels like it will never end and that there's no way God could ever use it for ultimate good. He can, and He will. Persevere. Look for Jesus in the midst of the pain. Ask Him to hold you, teach you, uplift, and recreate you. He will. Hey, he plucked me out of a freaking strawberry field. He can pick you up too. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span data-offset-key="6s1ct-0-0"><span data-text="true"><span><span data-offset-key="e7ppt-0-0"><span data-text="true">PS: Fuzzy and Denise Kurtz, wherever you are, thank you so much for working my teenage butt off! I miss you. </span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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WayneThomasBatsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15837713579691260482noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19752207.post-32099663503248042032020-06-09T11:37:00.004-05:002020-06-09T11:37:53.341-05:00Free Epic Fantasy Goodness! This week only!<div data-contents="true">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span data-offset-key="9h5oi-0-0"><span data-text="true"><span style="color: #990000;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></b></span>hrough Friday of this week (June 8-12), all Myridian Constellation eBooks are FREE on Kindle! 1700 pages of Epic Fantasy goodness, free!</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span data-offset-key="54vep-0-0"><span data-text="true">Sword in the Stars: </span></span><span style="color: #1b95e0;"><span data-offset-key="54vep-1-0"><span data-text="true">https://amzn.to/37fglcp</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span data-offset-key="72pr9-0-0"><span data-text="true">Errant King: </span></span><span style="color: #1b95e0;"><span data-offset-key="72pr9-1-0"><span data-text="true">https://amzn.to/3h4A8jc</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span data-offset-key="e00eu-0-0"><span data-text="true">The Forsaken Continent: </span></span><span style="color: #1b95e0;"><span data-offset-key="e00eu-1-0"><span data-text="true">https://amzn.to/2AiQJPN</span></span></span></span></div>
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WayneThomasBatsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15837713579691260482noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19752207.post-78164698228197800152020-06-02T11:09:00.001-05:002020-06-02T11:10:20.894-05:00Some Good News from ...Myriad!<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span data-offset-key="c5mdj-0-0"><span data-text="true"><span style="color: #990000;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">L</span></b></span>ike my close friend {cough} John Krasinski always says, "It's time for some good news!" I am throwing a <b>FREE</b> Kindle Sale of Sword in the Stars, Errant King, and The Forsaken Continent from <b>June 8th through 12th.</b> You can get all three ebooks free from Amazon on those dates! Epic fantasy goodness coming your way! Never alone. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Wayne-Thomas-Batson/e/B001JRVV9C?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_2&qid=1591112857&sr=1-2"><span data-offset-key="f7lu-0-0"><span data-text="true">https://www.amazon.com/Wayne-Thomas-Batson/e/B001JRVV9C?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_2&qid=1591112857&sr=1-2</span></span></a></span></div>
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WayneThomasBatsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15837713579691260482noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19752207.post-3154787122668297882020-04-06T13:37:00.000-05:002020-04-06T13:37:12.696-05:00My Favorite "Author Thing"<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #990000;"><i><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">M</span></b></i></span>y favorite thing to do as an author is read my books to people. I crank up the dramatic reading to 11 and absolutely LOVE seeing the expressions on listeners' faces. That's why, given our current stay-at-home crisis, I created a video reading of one of my favorite read-aloud passages: <i>Falon's Stair </i>from <b>The Door Within</b>. I hope you have as much fun watching as I had making this. And yes, I am a ham. US, Grade A Certified, Hillshire Honey-baked!</span><br />
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WayneThomasBatsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15837713579691260482noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19752207.post-65926699670960066432020-03-26T13:31:00.003-05:002020-03-26T17:35:20.316-05:00More Contagious Than Covid-19<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>T</b></span></span>here's another sickness now spreading faster than Covid-19. Clinicians have tagged it NotMeSyn-20. It is an insidious illness that simultaneously attacks the brain and heart. In the brain, symptoms include: faulty reasoning, narcissism, rage, rationalizing, and discrimination. The sickness causes a hardening of different chambers in the heart, leading to callousness, judgment, numbness, and cold. Sociologists estimate that this illness, if unchecked, will add tens of thousands of deaths on top of what Covid-19 could already produce. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br />Not Me Syndrome, as it has been dubbed, can strike individuals or large groups. How do you know if you have it? Check your thought processes. How carefully are you safeguarding yourself and your activities to avoid catching / spreading Covid-19? We're all social distancing, but if you aren't, why not? Are you thinking, "I'm young and strong. I can handle a virus." Or are you thinking, "I don't really need to take precautions because, odds are, I'm not a carrier?" If so, you are thinking small. You are thinking selfishly. And your thinking could get someone killed.<br /><br />We are reading about this kind of viewpoint in headlines every day. We see it in the stores when all the meat or medicine or tp is gone. People thinking, "I've got to take care of #1 by hoarding." All that does is deprive the needy or less able among us, or at the very least, removes the possibility of equity. Thousands of Spring Breakers drunkenly proclaim: If I catch it, I catch it. No big deal. Subsequent articles report that many of these same young people are now positive for Covid-19. Who knows how many others are infected because of such callous behavior? <br /><br />Selfishness has always been an insidious sickness. I know personally because I’ve been selfish in many ways throughout my life. It’s a struggle, especially with something so confusing and scary as this. I felt it when I went to the grocery store the other day. This particular grocery store didn’t have a hand sanitizer kiosk so you can clean your hands on the way in and on the way out. Once in the store, I kept my distance from people. I never picked up anything unless I was going to buy it. I didn’t touch my face—even though my blasted mustache chose that particular time to itch like crazy. But still, I kind of threw up my hands in surrender because I began to think: how can I possibly be safe enough? I mean, once I left the grocery store, I touched the steering wheel of the car. I turned on the running lights. I twisted the radio knob. I touched the door handle to my home…and then, I washed my hands again. It’s maddening, but I’m resolving not to rationalize. I’m going to take every possible precaution because it’s not just my life. <br /><br />I don't know anyone with this view, but I've read that there are people out there who think that "old people" dying is an acceptable risk. I mean, "hey, they already had a full life, right?" Wrong. None of us gets to place an arbitrary value on human life. That is way above our pay grade. That is selfishness on a Hitler, survival of the fittest, scale. <br /> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Trump’s proposal to reopen the American economy by Easter is insane. We’re not even close to the apex of this virus. Spurring on thousands of potential carriers to get out and mingle for the sake of economic growth is reckless at best; diabolical at worst. Any national policy that values dollar health over human health is a sign of real sickness.<br /><br />We cannot think, “Well if it’s not hurting me, then all is well.” Not Me Syndrome is deadly. It’s irrational. It’s selfish. Throughout human history, the worst human atrocities have been committed by those that dehumanize other people. Let us not, by taking chances, be guilty of such thinking now. <br /><br />We all need to do a prayerful self check. We need to protect others, not just ourselves. Stay home. Wash hands. Shop wisely and take only what you need—not what you think you might need for the next three months! We are at a point where it’s not just a good thing for all of us to work together. We’ve got a pretty stark choice: work together so that we can save each other or go our separate ways to weep alone. </span>WayneThomasBatsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15837713579691260482noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19752207.post-71838047820731610542020-03-19T15:13:00.003-05:002020-03-19T15:13:53.916-05:00He Wastes Nothing<div data-contents="true">
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<span data-offset-key="ff5gq-0-0"><span data-text="true"><span style="color: #990000;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">O</span></b></span>ne aspect of writing that I've taught my students about is "writing to find out." That's when you don't really know what you think on a certain topic, but you write to discover your deeper thoughts. It's as if your first halting words and phrases have a light tether to those deeper thoughts, and you must keep pulling that thread until you get to the heart of the matter. I'm doing that today. Here. I might delete it before I post it, but I kind of doubt it. The first time this topic came to mind, I dismissed it. The 2nd time, I took notice. The 3rd and 4th time, I said, "Ok, Lord, what do you want me to say? And, please help me not to screw it up." </span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="60dj1-0-0"><span data-text="true">The pandemic is one of the strangest times I've ever experienced in my life. It feels like 9/11 stretched out indefinitely. I'm trying to do what the CDC recommends, social distancing, washing my hands, not touching my face, etc. And yet, I'm still going out to the grocery store or to get gas for the car. We can't see the germs, can't know if someone close to us has just randomly brushed up against someone carrying the virus. It's bizarre. One moment, I'm thrilled with the time off from work, enjoying the Spring warmth, and praising God. The next moment, I feel physiological anxiety start to boil up within me, and I find myself trembling. </span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="7rcji-0-0"><span data-text="true">In a time such as this, where even the floor beneath my feet feels unstable, I collapse at the mercy of God. I know a ton of theological concepts and a myriad of bible verses that tell me "be anxious for nothing" or "lean not on your own understanding," "hold fast to the confession of your faith," etc. I recognize the truth in each. And believe me when I tell you, God's word is the sure foundation upon which everyone and everything depends. And yet...</span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="552nd-0-0"><span data-text="true">I still have questions, fears, and anxieties. I wonder, why now, Lord? Why at this time in human history? I'm afraid of what life might become or what it will look like after. And my anxiety is partly body chemistry that I have no control over. So I find myself thinking about God. Please don't roll your eyes and call me a wingnut. I'm not blaming this virus on God. I'm not seating myself in the heavens and declaring that God is punishing a sinful world or some such. That kind of lofty knowledge is WAY above my pay grade. I do know that God often allows tragedy, He allows natural disasters, He allows the due course of sin and consequence, and He allows the sun to shine on the wicked and the good. I also know that God never wastes our pain or our tears. </span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="budr7-0-0"><span data-text="true">I've lived long enough to see God work through all kinds of terrifying events. At times, He works to bring me to my knees because I've gone astray. Other times, I have no direct correlation, but I recognize that God has changed me after the fact. Two seasons of clinical depression knocked the living snot out of me, but each season drove me to Him. </span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="bq5pn-0-0"><span data-text="true">I don't know the future, but I do know that God will not waste the year 2020. Could it be that a world and nation divided will pull together to help each other? Could the social distancing and quarantine help us to recognize our priorities and our mortality? Since we can't go to the movies or the restaurant or the bar, might we attend to people and relationships that, in the end, are so much more meaningful? Is the potential spreading of the virus going to wake us up to recognize hour our action or inaction really does impact others? I don't know. I don't know the future. And I can't read God's mind. But I do know that God is good. He will not waste the events of our lives. And you watch, He will bring good out of all this. </span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="4fb29-0-0"><span data-text="true">*Amazing art by Jacobo Franger. </span></span></div>
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WayneThomasBatsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15837713579691260482noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19752207.post-86733370901684883572020-03-17T11:02:00.000-05:002020-03-20T12:18:26.974-05:00March 18 thru 22: All eBooks are FREE!<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">W</span></b></span>e are living in strange times, aren't we? I'm sure we're all tired of hearing about ...well, you know... so I won't mention it here. Still, a lot of us have a lot more alone time than we're used to, so I thought it would be a good time to give stuff away. </span><br />
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Image by <a href="https://cooltext.com/">Cool Text: Logo and Button Generator</a> - <a href="https://cooltext.com/Edit-Logo?LogoID=3522095777">Create Your Own Logo</a>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Starting March 18 thru March 22, all of my independently published eBooks, novellas, and short works will be FREE. That's $50 worth of ebooks to load up on your Kindle or Kindle app...for FREE. I'd run the giveaway longer, but Amazon won't let me. Lol.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here are the titles and links:</span><br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075BNVWKV/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i6" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Sword in the Stars</span></b></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07C1HWZCF/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p2_i5" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: large;">The Errant King</span></b></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07NZY361D/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i11" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: large;">The Forsaken Continent</span></b></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07L54T9PC/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p2_i10" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: large;">A Christian's Carol</span></b></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DS1Y5HC/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p2_i3" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: large;">GHOST</span></b></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HI513HE/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i7" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: large;">The Blackwood</span></b></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01CIUFRC0/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i10" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Isle of Stars</span></b></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ROOOK60/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p2_i7" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: large;">The Misadventures of Strylun and Xerk</span></b></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N4JNRG1/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p3_i0" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: large;">The Adventures of Sherluck Homey and Dr. Whatsup</span></b></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AAQ8M36/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p3_i6" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Storms Captured (My personal poetry anthology)</span></b></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008KP6H4A/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p3_i4" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Forget Me Not</span></b></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009QGPBJ4/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p3_i3" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: large;">The Dragon in My Closet </span></b></a><br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008I5NYZW/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i15" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></a>
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008I5NYZW/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i15" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Skeleton Project Episode 1</span></b></a><br />
<b><br /><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008QISYII/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p2_i9" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Skeleton Project Episode 2</span></span></a></b><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008YJAULI/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p3_i1" target="_blank">Skeleton Project Episode 3</a></span></b><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009HBN5VY/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p3_i2" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Skeleton Project Episode 4</span></span></span></b></a><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009LR1RZK/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p2_i8" target="_blank">Law of the Land </a></span></b><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Please spread the love by sharing this with book-a-philes you know! God bless you and keep you during these unusual days. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Never alone!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">-Wayne Thomas Batson</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"FREE" Image courtesy of: </span>
<a href="http://cooltext.com/" target="_top"><img alt="Cool Text: Logo and Graphics Generator" height="60" src="https://cooltext.com/images/ct_banner.gif" width="468" /></a>WayneThomasBatsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15837713579691260482noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19752207.post-45330427590622912062020-02-11T10:47:00.003-05:002020-02-11T10:47:56.080-05:00Not All Battles are Fought with Swords and Not All Warriors Win Every Battle<a class="mb a-button a-button--max-full a-button--large a-button--solid-yellow a-link" data-analytic-event-listener="true" data-element-id="btn_donate" href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/emergency-medical-fund-kaylas-relentless-battle/donate">Donate now</a><a class="mb a-button a-button--max-full a-button--medium a-button--hollow-yellow a-link" data-analytic-event-listener="true" data-element-id="btn_share" href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/emergency-medical-fund-kaylas-relentless-battle/share?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet&fbclid=IwAR2UijSo8BwVBef22NlqAiCpwwkI4zeGDpDlumzxeSLrWRqJOWEdTG86fqQ">Share</a><strong> </strong><br />
<br />
<strong>My firstborn daughter, Kayla Mary Batson, aka Kaydoodle is an absolute bad--- warrior! But even warriors need help sometimes. Please read on... </strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Emergency Medical Fund: Kayla’s Relentless Battle</strong><br />My
name is Summer Smith and I have started this fundraiser on behalf of my
dear friend, Kayla Batson, to help get her out of extreme medical debt
and pay for future surgeries, the medications she needs to live, and
anything that will help improve her living situation. In 2016 Kayla
endured a surgery with extreme complications. These complications were a
direct result of severe malpractice and negligence, but due to the
statute of limitations in MD, Kayla has unfortunately timed out of the
window to pursue legal action. Because of this, Kayla was left with 4
untreated major infections/super-bugs: MRSA(Methicillin-Resistant
Staphylococcus Aureus), another but different type of Staph Aureus
strain and infection, Pseudomonas Aeruginosa, and Diphtheria (despite
the fact that she was up to date on all vaccines, she became so
immunosuppressed that she was able to contract this). By the time Kayla
was able to secure a better medical provider/surgeon, she needed to be
hospitalized. She was treated with a substantial amount of IV
antibiotics to rid- all infections and superbugs, and has had to endure
13+ life-altering surgeries (including a double mastectomy, different
transplants, major abdominal surgeries, hip & femur surgeries on
both legs, and operations on her spine- to name a few).* These extensive
surgeries have been ongoing over the past three years to repair the
damage done to her body and the hardships of these surgeries have
rendered her permanently disabled.<br />
<br />
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<br />
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<br />
<br />*At the end of this page, per
Kayla’s request, there are two quotes. 1. She asks that people
PRIORITIZE reading these before they click the link to her medical
pictures. 2. The second quote is a thank you directly from Kayla. <br /><br />In
the beginning of 2018, on top of all the complications presented by
these surgeries, Kayla started experiencing serious symptoms associated
with disorders characterized by deterioration of the nervous system. She
has already undergone a series of tests, the results of which are
associated with certain neurological disorders. She will need to
continue consulting with a team of specialists regarding a final
diagnosis, but at the moment is unable to until her medical debt is
somewhat alleviated.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://rb.gy/ythuek">https://rb.gy/ythuek</a><br /><br />During these past three years, Kayla has
experienced numerous tragedies and hardships while dealing with her
extensive medical issues. In the spring of 2019, Kayla’s best friend
passed away unexpectedly. Shortly after, Kayla was diagnosed with
malignant melanoma in multiple areas of her body. She had to go through
treatment, involving surgical procedures to remove the cancer, while
still healing from the previous operations. Through everything, Kayla
has tried to persevere, but the emotional, physical, and financial
burdens have taken their toll, both on her and her family.<br /><br />Until
this point, Kayla has not received any financial aid outside of her
family. She has applied and is waiting on disability income, but the
process for approval takes months, if not years, in most cases. <strong>This is an emergency situation</strong>
as she needs to continue paying for the medications she needs to live,
as well as travel expenses to get to her doctor’s appointments, since
she no longer has a working vehicle. The initial goal we are asking for
will go towards the medications she needs for the month, the copays for
weekly doctor’s visits, and towards a used vehicle, so she can get to
her appointments with more ease. Any additional funds will go towards
her and her family’s $200k+ worth of medical debt, as well as ongoing
medical expenses and imperative upcoming surgeries. Anything is greatly
appreciated; I assure you. Kayla is a kind, gentle, and giving person,
and it is heartbreaking to see her deal with all of this, especially at
such a young age. Any donations would be an immense relief. If you
cannot donate or even if you can, please share this link. And please
send positive thoughts, any type of support, and please pray over this
situation for continued healing for Kayla.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://rb.gy/ythuek">https://rb.gy/ythuek</a>WayneThomasBatsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15837713579691260482noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19752207.post-74355780908648331112019-12-05T11:50:00.001-05:002019-12-05T11:50:37.106-05:00It's Beginning to Look a lot like SIGNED BOOKS FOR CHRISTMAS!<div data-contents="true">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span data-offset-key="ftscs-0-0"><span data-text="true"><span style="color: #990000;"><i><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">L</span></b></i></span>ooking for an incredible variety of new and {cough} old authors? Come out to The Book Den in King of Prussia Mall, Friday evening, December 6th and all day Saturday December 7th. Meet some authors. Get some signed books! Fantasy of every possible sub genre: Epic, Steampunk, Contemporary, Urban—you name it! Merry Christmas and hope to see you there!</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span data-offset-key="79fgu-0-0"><span data-text="true">King of Prussia Mall:</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span data-offset-key="8g6av-0-0"><span data-text="true">160 N Gulph Rd, King of Prussia, PA 19406</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span data-offset-key="9pc50-0-0"><span data-text="true">The Book Den is on the Costco side of the mall!</span></span></span></div>
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WayneThomasBatsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15837713579691260482noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19752207.post-66336682738433719892019-12-03T18:47:00.000-05:002019-12-03T18:47:26.728-05:00December 6 & 7: King of Prussia Mall Booksigning!<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span data-offset-key="295ps-0-0"><span data-text="true"><span style="color: #990000;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Y</span></b></span>o, Pennsylvania Peeps! I'll be visiting King of Prussia Mall this coming Friday and Saturday! Brand New this year: The Book Den—the only bookstore in all of King of Prussia Mall. This is a pop up store created by </span></span><span class="_247o" data-offset-key="295ps-1-0" spellcheck="false" start="214"><span data-offset-key="295ps-1-0"><span data-text="true">Realm Makers</span></span></span><span data-offset-key="295ps-2-0"><span data-text="true">, so you know there will be a zillion fantastic books available, including many of my own. There will be other authors there too! Come join the festivities and get a few signed books for Christmas presents!</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span data-offset-key="295ps-2-0"><span data-text="true"><span class="w8qArf"><a class="fl" data-ved="2ahUKEwjFlf-L1JrmAhUQy1kKHeTQDa8Q6BMwD3oECBAQAw" href="https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=the+book+den+king+of+prussia+address&stick=H4sIAAAAAAAAAOPgE-LVT9c3NEwrKDbOzSvM0pLNTrbSz8lPTizJzM-DM6wSU1KKUouLF7GqlGSkKiTl52crpKTmKWRn5qUr5KcpFBSVFhdnJipAlQEAaav0e1cAAAA&ludocid=1730179904291751145&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjFlf-L1JrmAhUQy1kKHeTQDa8Q6BMwD3oECBAQAw">Address</a>: </span><span class="LrzXr">The Court at, 690 W Dekalb Pike Suite 2045, King of Prussia, PA 19406</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="295ps-2-0"><span data-text="true"> Author Bryan Davis at The Book Den Last Weekend!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span data-offset-key="83n7i-0-0"><span data-text="true">https://www.facebook.com/events/590626285021173/</span></span></span></div>
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WayneThomasBatsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15837713579691260482noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19752207.post-72126501643986392172019-09-26T12:10:00.001-05:002019-09-26T12:10:38.895-05:00Gobsmacked by God!<span style="font-size: large;"><span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span data-offset-key="8ddq6-0-0"><span data-text="true"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>UPDATE:</b></span></span> Color me gobsmacked! (always wanted to use that word). Yesterday, I announced a need for Door Within books so that I could actually teach the book to my Reading classes. Then, as I was teaching, my phone started blowing up with Facebook alerts. When the kids were dismissed to go home for the day, I finally got a chance to check Facebook. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHmF3m23Iu7tZoKIxAzF0ujANR4oHx-WFKUEZeH330oelsP5KplG8O9N_t9wJvDD4EGrXP3NzEpEOOdyo81X2BsPdWFVnDKkqu59kMDy2S0JGgW7L-6i7ErnRdSOJqtCW2Y6-d/s1600/DW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="328" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHmF3m23Iu7tZoKIxAzF0ujANR4oHx-WFKUEZeH330oelsP5KplG8O9N_t9wJvDD4EGrXP3NzEpEOOdyo81X2BsPdWFVnDKkqu59kMDy2S0JGgW7L-6i7ErnRdSOJqtCW2Y6-d/s320/DW.jpg" width="210" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span data-offset-key="c61f6-0-0"><span data-text="true">I sat at my desk in tears. I got chills. Witnessing God at work blew me away. In less than an hour, you wonderful readers, family, and friends had purchased more than 40 Door Within books for my classes. By the time I drove home, you had purchased 60+ books. By dinner time, you had purchased 80+ books! And that doesn't even count those wonderful souls who donated $$$ via PayPal! I'm not finished sorting it all out, but I'm pretty sure I have enough books for this year and next year too!</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span data-offset-key="3jhlj-0-0"><span data-text="true">To say "Thank you" doesn't begin to cover my gratitude, awe, and heart warmth over your generosity and kindness. You have been witnesses of God to me, in an act that I will never forget as long as I live. </span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="e30m2" data-offset-key="3up0o-0-0">
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<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="ei3tu-0-0">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span data-offset-key="ei3tu-0-0"><span data-text="true">You all literally SOLD OUT Amazon of my Door Within books, causing Amazon to order more from the publisher, not once but twice! And, in the process, you catapulted The Door Within to several high spots on Amazon's Bestseller by Category lists!</span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="e30m2" data-offset-key="d9d0m-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="d9d0m-0-0">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span data-offset-key="d9d0m-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div>
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<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="60r1o-0-0">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span data-offset-key="60r1o-0-0"><span data-text="true">And, on top of all that, with news of your book orders, many of you posted such impassioned testimonials about The Door Within books that you have given me indestructible hope, amped faith, and an uncanny sense of wonder. </span></span></span></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span data-offset-key="5dfm6-0-0"><span data-text="true">Thank you. Thank you. You have shown me that I am indeed, Never Alone. </span></span></span></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span data-offset-key="b7rm2-0-0"><span data-text="true">-Wayne </span></span></span></div>
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WayneThomasBatsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15837713579691260482noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19752207.post-63861898699723914882019-09-25T10:47:00.002-05:002019-09-26T12:07:55.506-05:00Unprecedented Opportunity - Looking for Help<span style="font-size: large;"><span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span data-offset-key="8ddq6-0-0"><span data-text="true">UPDATE: Color me gobsmacked! (always wanted to use that word). Yesterday, I announced a need for Door Within books so that I could actually teach the book to my Reading classes. Then, as I was teaching, my phone started blowing up with Facebook alerts. When the kids were dismissed to go home for the day, I finally got a chance to check Facebook. </span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="e30m2" data-offset-key="abfvf-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="abfvf-0-0">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span data-offset-key="abfvf-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div>
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<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="e30m2" data-offset-key="c61f6-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="c61f6-0-0">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span data-offset-key="c61f6-0-0"><span data-text="true">I sat at my desk in tears. I got chills. Witnessing God at work blew me away. In less than an hour, you wonderful readers, family, and friends had purchased more than 40 Door Within books for my classes. By the time I drove home, you had purchased 60+ books. By dinner time, you had purchased 80+ books! And that doesn't even count those wonderful souls who donated $$$ via PayPal! I'm not finished sorting it all out, but I'm pretty sure I have enough books for this year and next year too!</span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="e30m2" data-offset-key="a6tv-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="a6tv-0-0">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span data-offset-key="a6tv-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="e30m2" data-offset-key="3jhlj-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="3jhlj-0-0">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span data-offset-key="3jhlj-0-0"><span data-text="true">To say "Thank you" doesn't begin to cover my gratitude, awe, and heart warmth over your generosity and kindness. You have been witnesses of God to me, in an act that I will never forget as long as I live. </span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="e30m2" data-offset-key="3up0o-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="3up0o-0-0">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span data-offset-key="3up0o-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="e30m2" data-offset-key="ei3tu-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="ei3tu-0-0">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span data-offset-key="ei3tu-0-0"><span data-text="true">You all literally SOLD OUT Amazon of my Door Within books, causing Amazon to order more from the publisher, not once but twice! And, in the process, you catapulted The Door Within to several high spots on Amazon's Bestseller by Category lists!</span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="e30m2" data-offset-key="d9d0m-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="d9d0m-0-0">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span data-offset-key="d9d0m-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="e30m2" data-offset-key="60r1o-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="60r1o-0-0">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span data-offset-key="60r1o-0-0"><span data-text="true">And, on top of all that, with news of your book orders, many of you posted such impassioned testimonials about The Door Within books that you have given me indestructible hope, amped faith, and an uncanny sense of wonder. </span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="e30m2" data-offset-key="dqcia-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="dqcia-0-0">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span data-offset-key="dqcia-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div>
</div>
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<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5dfm6-0-0">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span data-offset-key="5dfm6-0-0"><span data-text="true">Thank you. Thank you. You have shown me that I am indeed, Never Alone. </span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="e30m2" data-offset-key="3k6nv-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="3k6nv-0-0">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span data-offset-key="3k6nv-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span data-offset-key="b7rm2-0-0"><span data-text="true">-Wayne </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span data-offset-key="b7rm2-0-0"><span data-text="true"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span data-offset-key="b7rm2-0-0"><span data-text="true"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Hi, Faithful Readers! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Something AMAZING has happened. I teach middle school English and Reading in a Howard Co. Public School. For the first time EVER, the Board of Ed has approved The Door Within (my first published
book) for use in instruction. My coordinator gave me permission to
use the book with my 6th graders, even though it's recommended grade 8! I am so stoked. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Unfortunately, there's no county money to purchase Door Within books for my classes. I'm trying to get at
least a class set of 30 to be shared by three different classes -OR- one for each student (approx 70 copies). </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgRj26MtoiAwF65gxfns6iCzuYsne5bQKoj4NR8LidfsDtB236f4DWJ51XeyO2z9s_r_3VmE7An3JglPn17zi73X02cntJni6LaAMrefEuqsTxsMoylK2cMxsdJmIBsu9Aa21o/s1600/DW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="328" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgRj26MtoiAwF65gxfns6iCzuYsne5bQKoj4NR8LidfsDtB236f4DWJ51XeyO2z9s_r_3VmE7An3JglPn17zi73X02cntJni6LaAMrefEuqsTxsMoylK2cMxsdJmIBsu9Aa21o/s320/DW.jpg" width="210" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I am considering paying out of pocket, but our family finances are tight right now. A friend suggested I tell my readers about the opportunity and see if you would be willing to help get books for my students. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Fortunately, The Door Within is on half price sale off its $9.99 retail. Price now is $4.99. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">If you'd like to help by purchasing a copy (or more than one) for my students, here's the link:<span style="font-size: x-large;"> <a href="https://amzn.to/2lIw54a">https://amzn.to/2lIw54a</a></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The shipping address is: </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Folly Quarter Middle School (C/O Mr. Batson)</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>13500 Triadelphia Road, Ellicott City, MD 21042 </b></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">We are planning to begin The Door Within the 2nd week of October, so I'd need the books soon. I'm trusting that God will provide just what my students need through you. Thank you for considering!</span>WayneThomasBatsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15837713579691260482noreply@blogger.com0