Warriors of the Most High

Blog Change

2010-09-08T20:39:00.002-05:00

Just FWI, I, Rien, am moving over to a new blog. If you still wish to follow, come along for the ride. I'm over here now. Join me as I travel out of the shadows and into the light of God's glorious word.

Boundless Summer Challenge—Task 2

2010-07-11T20:58:00.000-05:00

The second task in the Boundless Summer Challenge was to read a series of articles entitled “Biblical Dating” by Scott Croft, think about them, and then discuss the ideas presented in the articles. The series consisted of the following articles:

An Introduction
To Kiss or Not to Kiss
Are You Ready to Date?
Just Friends
Navigating The Early Stages of a Relationship
Growing in Intimacy
Tips for Engagement
From "Hi" to "I Do" in a Year

I had read them once before—when they were originally published—but that was some time ago. After re-reading the, I find that I agree with the points Mr. Croft makes. I don’t know how to actually live what he has written about, but I trust that God will show the way.

An Introduction
In the first article, appropriately titled “An Introduction,” Mr. Croft states “Surveys consistently indicate that professing Christians behave almost exactly like non-Christians in terms of sexual involvement outside of marriage (in both percentage of people involved and how deeply involved they are — how far they're going), living together before marriage, and infidelity and divorce after marriage.” This fact is very sad. It shouldn’t be this way. As Christians, we are called to be different.

To combat this sad state of relationships among Christians, Mr. Croft suggests a different approach to dating—what he terms “Biblical dating.” He bases his arguments on various portions of Scripture that command us to put others first in some form or fashion in relationships.

Another thing I found interesting in the intro was Mr. Croft’s stance that commitment precedes intimacy on any level. That is, one should not begin to become emotionally intimate with someone outside of a committed relationship (dating/courtship, engagement, marriage) and physical intimacy at any level must wait until marriage. It makes sense. Emotional entanglements outside a committed relationship will lead to pain. If your goal is to build the other person up and treat them in a way that is glorifying to God, why would you engage in activity that does the opposite?

To Kiss or Not to Kiss
My opinion: Not to kiss.
Croft’s opinion: Not to kiss. Specifically he says “I believe the Bible to teach that all sexual activity outside of marriage is sin, and all romantically oriented physical activity is sexual activity. In my view, this includes premarital kissing.”

His reasoning: Kissing is a precursor to sexual activity and thus to kiss someone to whom you are not married is unwise. It makes you want more.

I think that for a lot of things, we think we can justify it as being “ok” before we do it. That while others may be doing it for the wrong motives, ours will be pure. But then, if we look back on our actions honestly, we find that we are no different from anyone else.

What is the point of asking how far you can go, how close to the line can you get, before sinning? Is there anything God-honoring in edging as close to sin as you can without actually committing the act? Did not Jesus say that to look with lust is to commit adultery, to hat is to murder, and such? Therefore, I would say that the act of getting close to the obvious sin is sin.

Rather than ask “How close to sin can I go?” we should ask, “How close to God can I go?” And the closer to God, the further from sin.

My reasoning is simpler—I want the first man I kiss to be my husband. This means not kissing until after “I do.” Even engagement is not close enough. I may want to kiss him before we’re married, but, God willing, I will wait. We can practice after the wedding.

Are you ready to date?
Croft: In my view, if you can't happily picture yourself married within a year, you're not in a position to date.
Me: Not necessarily married to a particular person, but just married in general. It shouldn’t be a “someday I’ll be ready so I’ll start looking” but an “I’m ready so I’ll start looking.”

Croft: First, the man should initiate asking the woman out
Me: Yes please. But please be bold about it. I’ve been asked out once and the guy was several car lengths away across the parking lot and not even looking at me. I wouldn’t have gone out with him anyway but if he’d had the courage to look me in the face when he asked, I wouldn’t have come away from the encounter thinking him cowardly. I don’t know any guy that wants to be thought of as a coward.

Croft: He should talk to some of her friends, see if she's been asking about him, have one or two subtly suggestive conversations with her to see if she gives anything away.... NO! This is not initiation.
Me: Indeed. And in my case, it wouldn’t do any good. I don’t talk about such things and tend to be pretty guarded so “putting out feelers” wouldn’t even help.

Croft: Part of your role even at this early stage is to protect the woman of your interest from unnecessary risk and vulnerability by providing a safe context in which she can respond.
Me: I appreciate this greatly. It shows strength in the man that he is willing to risk my rejection and it makes me feel more worthwhile to know someone is going to stick their neck out for the chance to know me.

Croft: The idea [of talking to the girl’s father] was to protect the woman from potential hurt or awkwardness, to aid her in evaluating a man whom she might not have known well at the time of his initiation, and to help ensure that the relationship was carried out honorably.
Me: Yeah. If you go to my dad first, then he gets to deal with the awkwardness. I don’t have the “Uh…what do I say?” moment. Plus, my dad can see things that I can’t. And I love my dad and he loves me so I know he’ll evaluate a potential suitor carefully. He may see something worthwhile in a guy that I hadn’t. Or he may see flaws that need work before he’ll trust me to the guy.

Just Friends
Croft argues that there should be no close, intimate friendships between persons of the opposite sex outside of marriage. I agree. Even in friendships that aren’t particularly close, it is easy for one party to develop romantic feelings for the other. And that leads to pain for the “unrequited” party and, should the feelings ever be known, awkwardness for the other. Croft puts it well when he says “Why risk harm to your own heart or to that of a brother or sister in order to have a type of companionship that, outside of marriage, is arguably questionable anyway?”

Croft: But even if you don't accept that premise [that engaging in the types of emotional intimacy and companionship involved in close male-female friendships — outside of marriage and for their own sake — is wrong], such intimacy is still inadvisable in the sense that it delays and discourages marriage
Me: And if you really want to get married, why would you want to engage in behavior that discourages it?

Navigating the Early Stages of a Relationship
Croft: Guys, tell her why you have initiated or are initiating with her, tell her that you intend to pursue the relationship to determine if marriage to her is the right choice before God
Me: Please! I want to know why you asked me—out of all the girls you could have chosen, why me?

Croft: In these early stages, people should not be spending long hours looking into each others eyes over candle-lit tables or being alone together at one another's apartments. To do so courts temptation
Me: And you want to court the person, not temptation :-P

Croft: Also (and this may seem counterintuitive), I advise folks not to spend long periods in prayer together. Prayer is a wonderful thing, but it's also inherently intimate
Me: Prayer is when you should be most open and bare before God. If you’re praying with someone, then you’re going to either be extremely open toward them or your prayers will be stilted because you’re not willing for them to see that much of you yet.

Growing in Intimacy
Croft: Remember those long candle-light dinners in restaurants I suggested were unadvisable in the early stages of a relationship? They can actually be good at this stage — especially when compared to long nights "chatting" on the couch at one of your apartments
Me: Yeah, not a good idea—until you’re married.

Tips for Engagement
Croft: Also, what do others (those that both of you have been seeking counsel from, under whose authority the relationship has taken place, Christian friends or family) think of the relationship? Does it look solid to them? Does the relationship seem to be good for both of you spiritually, glorifying to God, and Christ-centered?
Me: Please, please, please do not skip this step!

Croft: The wedding day is just like every other day in the Christian life — it is primarily about God
Me: Yes! I have been to weddings where this was so clear. They were the best weddings that I’ve been to. You get the chance to rejoice for and with the couple and worship the God who created marriage to begin with. Wonderful.

Croft: Just keep in mind the core principles: holiness, care for the other person's soul above your own needs, not defrauding one another, headship and submission beginning to play out and be pictured in a godly way for the world to see, relationships being played out corporately and under counsel, lack of inappropriate emotional intimacy, no physical intimacy, leaving marriage for marriage, being different from the world, bringing glory to God
Me: I think this about sums up the whole series

From “Hi” to “I Do” in a Year
Croft essentially says that a dating relationship shouldn’t last more than a year. In part this has to do with his assertion that you shouldn’t start such a relationship unless you can see yourself being married in a year. But it also has to do with the fact that temptations are lessened (it’s a lot easier to wait a year for your first kiss than for two or three or more). And you should know by that time if you’re going to marry that person.

Obviously, this is not a rule that must be followed. But I think it is wise advice.

We All Settle
Croft argues that we all “settle” for a less-than-perfect mate because no one is perfect. And at the same time, no one “settles” because all we deserve is death.

My Conclusion
Overall, I found the articles interesting and full of good advice. I appreciated the fact that Mr. Croft puts forth his articles as advice and guidelines not rules. Situations are different for everyone, but the main point of the entire series applies to everyone: Put others first and honor God in all your dealings with others.

Boundless Summer Challenge—Task 1

2010-07-08T20:43:00.003-05:00

I’m taking the plunge.

Boundless.org, a ministry of Focus on the Family, is sponsoring a month-long summer challenge to encourage its readers to grow in their spiritual walk. Today is day one. I have only the faintest idea what the daily challenges will entail but I want to try. It’s not easy for me. I don’t like not knowing what is going to happen. Not knowing what I’ve signed up for. But, as God is willing, I will face each day’s challenge when it comes—and not waste time worrying about what tomorrow’s will be.

Discipline in my walk with God is something I’ve struggled with for a while. I hope from this challenge to increase my discipline and grow closer to my God at the same time. I know if I seek the Lord with my whole heart, He will reward. And I look forward to that. :-)

Today’s challenge included the following steps:

1. RSVP
2. Invite at least 3 friends or family members to join
3. Publish a note telling folk that I’m doing it (Now you can hold me accountable too!)
4. Spend 20 minutes praying about the challenge and for the participants

I’ve done the first three and am working on the fourth. Will you pray for me too? I would appreciate it.

Now for the journey.

On Women in Stories

2010-04-08T13:11:00.004-05:00

I posted this first as a comment on Whispered Roars and then decided it was plenty long for a post in and of itself.

Ah, women in stories. A very interesting topic. I would agree that they must be strong of spirit and of character to be interesting heroines. I do not think they must be strong of body. Not that they can't just that they don't have to be.

I find that if the female characters are as good as or better than the guys in all physical activities, I don't like them. It isn't realistic (assuming your guy doesn't have a reason to be weak or isn't a wimp). Girls may be strong but, to borrow from Beowulf "Her strength--the battle-strength of a woman--was less than a male whose sword can shear through a helmet."

This is not to say that I think the heroines should be weak and soft, unable to defend themselves without the hero. Far be it from me to say such! My heroine can wield a sword with considerable skill and has made several attempts to brain uninvited visitors to her tent but it is only when she must fight that she does. And she doesn't act like a boy. And I think that if a spider does come crawling over her things, she just might freak out a little--much to her brother's amusement.

I think that the heroines can and often do inspire the heroes to fight harder. As I understand it, guys want to protect their women regardless of said women's ability to protect themselves. (I have five brothers so I think my source on this is fairly reliable :-D) I'm no weakling--my brother's know it--but still they will defend me if they think I am in any way threatened, be it physically or just by disrespect. The guy I admire most outside my family--though he might as well be another brother--has done the same thing. Even if they are not physically present, a simple token can remind the guys what they are fighting for (think Aragorn when he receives the banner Arwen has been weaving for him for years). So while other motivations do spur the heroes on, knowing there is a girl looking on/waiting to hear about it/joining him in the fight can inspire them to even greater deeds.

And what’s to say that physical fighting is the only way a woman can fight? Or a guy for that matter. What if your heroine isn’t a swordfighter but can wield words with such skill that the enemy is confused, or the hero gets the much needed aid. Perhaps the hero is on the battlefield while she remains at home guarding the keep, inspiring the men who remained behind for age or weakness, refusing to give up hope that her hero will be successful.

Modern literature seems to have forgotten that there is more than one way to fight and has placed the heroines in the battlefield alongside the hero at every turn. The stories in which I admire the heroine most are not the ones in which she is fighting with the hero at every turn, proving herself as good as a man. Rather, I enjoy those wherein, even outnumbered and with no hope of escape, the heroine holds firm to her convictions and fights back with every means available and does not give up hope that her hero, be it Christ or a man, will deliver her. There is no weakness in admitting you cannot wield a sword. There is in yielding to the slightest pressure and losing hope in the darkness.

So, it is my opinion that the heroines should be strong of spirit and character, as stated above, and when they are fighting physically, they should not be besting the guys at every turn. I also argue that there are other ways to be a strong character than simply physically.

After I had posted the above, "Squeaks" wrote:

"I agree with much of what you said, but I do disagree with some of your comments about the physical strength of women. I myself know a lot of girls who are more physically courageous at doing things than guys are. And that's here on earth. I think the whole girl vs. guy thing started back during the suffragist wars."

To which I respond:
I agree that there are many girls who are more physically courageous than guys. That, however, I would classify as strength of spirit, not strength of body. I simply wish to point out that it is usually unrealistic to have the girl be stronger than the guy at every turn. In general, a average strong girl will be weaker than an average strong guy. I am fairly strong for a girl but my brothers could all best me at feats of strength by the time they were in their teens. Hence my statement that guys are generally stronger than girls.

Now, on the subject of simple courage, far be it from me to say that guys are always braver than girls. That is a far different matter entirely. In fact, I think it may deserve a post of its own on my blog. :-) Courage is hard fought for some and easy for others. Some have it in greater measure. Some can face certain things but not others. (For instance, I would fight tooth and nail if someone tried to harm me or any member of my family but I cannot stand spiders. I have trouble getting within a few feet of those tiny creatures.) So a girl may be more physically courageous, but it does not mean she is more physically strong.

I would also add that I don’t think the girl vs. guy thing started with the suffragist wars. Rather, I put it much, much further back—the Garden of Eden in fact. Genesis 3:16b states “Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.” So I think that is where it started. Sin has exacerbated the problem and the feminist movement hasn’t helped. But it began there in the garden long ago.

What say you?

Castles in the Air (Pt 1): A Reflection

2010-03-22T19:42:00.000-05:00

A journal entry from some years ago that is as true now as when I wrote it.

Castles in the air. Everyone has them. The building blocks are formed throughout our lives and we slowly build them as we grow. They are built with our dreams and desires. Some castles are destroyed by unforeseen circumstances; some are realized in their entirety. Others still become real in a manner completely different than that which the dreamer envisioned. Many castles are torn down when we dreamers hand over our blocks to the Master Architect. Only the Master can lay the foundation that will never alter for it is the Rock. He alone knows the plan that is best for our castles in the air. He knows how they must be built to become real, solid castles of realized dreams and fulfilled desires.

Often we try to change the Architect’s plans and build our castles according to our plans. When this happens, the Architect must cause what we have built amiss to be torn down so that He can replace our former desires with something greater and more noble than we could have ever dreamed. Many who will not submit to the Master Architect, find that though their castles are built, their dreams fulfilled, and all desires met, they still lack fulfillment and cannot find peace. Only the Master Architect can truly solidify our castles in the air.

The Lion Vrie: A Review

2010-02-10T20:21:00.000-06:00

War still rages in the once pristine land of Dionia. Morgui’s forces of Dairne-Reih have overwhelmed the few who withstood them. Luik and his fellow Dibor are fleeing for their lives, gathering what survivors they can find as they search for refuge. But a new threat has emerged. Now the Dibor and faithful Dionians must fight not only the demonic Dairne-Reih but also men—their once brothers who have chosen to side with the enemy. All seems bleak. But hope is not lost. An ancient sect of warriors, the Lion Vrie, return from the dust of history to help the weakened resistance. Hidden fortresses open their doors to the tattered bands of survivors. The Dibor regroup and prepare to face the enemy again.

The stakes are higher in this sequel to Rise of the Dibor. The effects of the enemy’s presence are seen more fully in poisoned lands and poisoned minds. Faith seems useless—but appearances can be deceiving. The Lion Vrie is a heart-wrenching story of perseverance amidst doubt, of struggles to understand how and why a loving God would allow such horror and pain to descend upon those He claimed to uphold. The answer is not simple nor is it complete—it cannot be for we are only in the second act and have yet to see the conclusion of the story—yet it still offers hope for the hopeless.

Christopher Hopper’s writing improves in this second installment of the White Lion Chronicles. While he still struggles with some homonym errors, they are rare and not as jarring as in the first book. More of the intricate world of Dionia is revealed and we are allowed to revel in its beauty despite the destruction that lurks in the shadows.

My absolute favorite part of The Lion Vrie comes when Luik explains to his fiancée why he would have her not fight in the coming battles despite her own warrior training. Hopper manages to get to the heart of the matter and I admire him for it. Once again, I would recommend this book to older teens and adults who enjoy fantasy with a solid Biblical worldview. But be warned—this story leaves one hanging and longing for the final installment.

By: Christopher Hopper

Rise of the Dibor: A Review

2010-02-09T21:55:00.000-06:00

In a world where the first man and woman never disobeyed God and refused the serpent’s cunning, everything is perfect. The relationship between Creator and created is unmarred, beautiful in its simplicity and seen in every action. Treachery is unknown as are pain and suffering—and death. Luik, son of Lair has lived an idyllic life, never wanting, always joyful. But an ancient evil that has lain in wait since the beginning of the world and has at last found a chance to strike. The peace of Dionia is shattered. War ravages the land. Luik and eleven other young men, sons of kings, are gathered together and sheltered on a secret island. Trained as warriors, the twelve return to their homelands to find destruction and evil everywhere. And so they throw themselves into the fray, trusting to the Most High to guard their backs and hold them close when all hope seems lost.

Christopher Hopper weaves and interesting supposal of a tale in Rise of the Dibor. What would it be like in a land where sin was unknown? What would happen if evil did invade? Nobility and honor abound among Luik and his companions—a stark contrast to the treachery and selfishness of the enemy. Though long, the battle sequences are intense and intricate and one is frequently left wondering how the heroes could possibly survive the mess they’ve gotten themselves into.

Rise of the Dibor does suffer from some grammatical errors such as homonym substitution (hear vs. here) and poor punctuation (daggers weight vs. dagger’s weight) that can jolt the reader out of the story. However, Hopper quickly draws you back in with the intricacy of his tale. I would recommend this book to older teens and adults who are not “Grammar Nazis” and enjoy fantasy with a solid Biblical worldview.

By: Christopher Hopper

Curse of the Spider King: A Review

2010-02-08T21:46:00.000-06:00

Allyra is lost. 800 years ago, the Spider King’s forces swept in and destroyed the seven Elven Lords and their children. Driven into hiding, the elves have all but given up hope that they will ever be able to regain their homeland. Without the Elven Lords, what can they do? But then, there are stirrings in a distant land. Hints that perhaps the heirs of the lords yet live come from another world—Earth. Sentinels and Dreadnaughts—elite warriors of the elves—set out to find their lost lords before the enemy can.

Meanwhile, on Earth, only thirteen years have passed for the unknowing heirs of the Allyrian thrones. As far as the seven teens know, they are perfectly ordinary humans. Until dark creatures begin to stalk their footsteps and strange powers manifest themselves in startling ways and everything they know is turned upside down. Then, they must band together with their elven guardians in a desperate race to return to the homeland they never knew.

In this intriguing tale that turns portal fantasy inside out, Wayne Thomas Batson and Christopher Hopper manage to weave their different writing styles together into a smooth tapestry of story. There are a few knots in the weaving—minor grammatical errors or not-quite-explained plot points—but they do little to detract from the whole picture. Since I have read all of both Batson and Hopper’s books, I was curious to see how they managed to mesh their writing. I was pleasantly surprised. The weakness of one writer was effectively balanced by the strength of the others. Batson seems to lean toward exaggerated characters in his writing while Hopper’s characters tend to be understated to the extent that it is difficult to tell them apart. Combined, we have an excellent cast, each with their own quirks and foibles but distinct without being exaggerated.

As for the story itself—I found it a bit slow to get started in some ways though the tension was set from the beginning. The two characters that the book stayed with the most, I found least appealing though still interesting. Because of the large cast, we often leave a character for long stretches of the book and can almost forget about their existence—almost. That said, I found this book an enjoyable, if light, read and look forward to finding out what happens next in the sequel Venom and Song. A second reading makes one realize how much foreshadowing the authors wove into the early chapters. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys lighthearted fantasy with deeper themes but especially to those of Junior High age.

Death to Spiders!

By: Wayne Thomas Batson and Christopher Hopper

Isle of Fire: A Review

2009-10-25T20:47:00.000-05:00

"Isle of Fire" picks up shortly after the conclusion of its predecessor, Isle of Swords. Cat is staying with the Brethren Monks, training with them while trying to regain his memories of his past life. But he isn't all that certain that his past is something he wants to remember.

Meanwhile, Captain Declan Ross and his daughter Anne sail the sea recruiting pirates for his "Wolf Pack," a group of former pirates paid by the British Government and the Brethren to hunt down other pirates. Villains, new and old, make their appearance quickly as well. Some are brutal and heartless, consumed by their desire for revenge; others are more subtle, content to wait until the proper moment to strike.

Wayne Thomas Batson paints a broad, sweeping tale that spans the Atlantic Ocean in this tale of treachery, truth, and tempests. Things are not always what they seem--even chapter titles can be deceiving. One rarely sees the newest--and cruelest--villain, The Merchant, but his influence is felt nonetheless.

As in Batson's other books, some of the secondary characters are so much "larger than life" as to feel almost caricatures of reality and yet they seem perfectly real at the same time. However, the main characters internal dilemmas are as clear and real as their external ones.

Overall, I preferred Isle of Fire to Isle of Swords. There were fewer extreme characters--or perhaps I just knew the characters better and so they felt more real--and the story is less obvious. One knows the good guys have to win, but how is very much uncertain. Also, I liked the fact that Declan, Anne, Cat, and the others, aren't searching for treasure but rather truth. And they all find Truth and therefore, true treasure.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys adventures on the high seas. But make sure you read "Isle of Swords" first!

By: Wayne Thomas Batson

Isle of Swords: A Review

2009-10-20T14:19:00.000-05:00

Bloodthirsty pirates. Buried treasure. Mysterious monks. Hidden islands. Daring escapes. Perilous searches. All these things and more are found in Isle of Swords. As Captain Declan Ross tries to discover a way to leave piracy behind, his daughter tries to persuade him to let her join the crew and his newest deckhand tries to recover his memory. A strange monk offers Captain Ross his chance to escape piracy if he will grant him passage to an island no one has seen. But the ruthless Captain Bartholomew Thorne also wants the treasure and will do anything to get his hands on the map now in Captain Ross' possession.

I had a little trouble at first with the manner in which Batson constantly shifts the point-of-view from which the story is being told. Hearing from half a dozen different characters who I barely knew was a bit confusing and frustrating. However, as the story progressed, I quickly lost sight of the point-of-view changes and lost myself in the story.

Isle of Swords is first and foremost an action and adventure story populated with memorably quirky characters. Secondly, it is a tale of what is really important in life--not the adventure, but those family and friends who share it with us. The message is smoothly interwoven into the story with the same skill Batson has shown in his Door Within trilogy. Nearly every reader should be enthralled by this fast-paced story set on the high seas.

By: Wayne Thomas Batson

The Final Storm: A Review

2009-10-13T12:08:00.000-05:00

Imprisoned in the fortress of Paragor, Antoinette Reed still tries desperately to convince Kearn that Paragor's promises are empty. Meanwhile, Aidan loans the Scrolls to Robby in hopes that they will convince him that The Realm is real and that King Eliam is the one to follow. But Robby is not easy to convince. In The Realm, Kaliam readies Alleble for the assault by Paragor's forces that is sure to come, bringing all of those loyal to King Eliam under the protection of the city's walls. But with the ancient Wyrm Lord and the Seven Sleepers on Paragor's side, will the walls of Alleble be enough to with stand the storm?

The Final Storm brings together the best characters from the two previous books and introduces us to still more. Each of the three travelers from the Mirror Realm--Robby, Antoinette, and Aidan--have their own strengths and weaknesses keeping them from becoming copies of each other. The Glimpses too are clearly defined. While the characters retain their boisterous natures from previous books, the looming war tempers them making this my favorite of the trilogy. Amid the darkness of war, there is hope.

Beneath the shadows of ruin, there is life. These concepts and more are a foundation to this story of Alleble's great stand against the evil of Paragor. I love the way Batson illustrates the fact that though evil times will come, there is only one place to put our trust--In the King of kings. He will see to it that the evil will be used for good, no matter how bleak things may be. The Final Storm reminds us all that the end is only the beginning. Readers will love this gripping conclusion to the Door Within trilogy.

By: Wayne Thomas Batson

The Rise of the Wyrm Lord: A Review

2009-10-12T11:59:00.000-05:00

Uniting familiar characters with delightful new ones, "The Rise of the Wyrm Lord" chronicles the further adventures of Aidan Thomas as he readjusts to life in our world, the Mirror Realm, as well as detailing the journeys of headstrong Antoinette Reed. When the teenagers meet at school, they quickly discover a mutual love for King Eliam and his ways. Convinced that Antoinette is being called to the Realm, Aidan secures her promise to search for Robby's Glimpse and persuade him to join them while he tries to persuade him in their own world. Never dreaming of the trouble it would cause, Antoinette gives her word and soon her adventures in the Realm begin.

Like "The Door Within," "The Rise of the Wyrm Lord" works with a broad cast of twelve knights, each with different strengths. This book introduces my favorite character, the herbmaster and pyromaniac knight Sir Oswyn. Batson manages to keep his main characters--both the Glimpses from each other and Antoinette from Aidan--very distinct so that we do not lose track of characters for the number of them.

Teenagers who enjoy fantasy will love this second book in the Door Within trilogy. Woven within the fast-paced tale is a lesson of trust and obedience--and the consequences of ignoring wise counsel. The only problem with the book is that it is the middle of the sequence. The ending leaves one wanting more! And that is hardly a true problem.

By: Wayne Thomas Batson

The Door Within: A Review

2009-10-09T13:00:00.000-05:00

When Aidan Thomas and his family have to move halfway across the country to care for his aging grandfather, the disgruntled teenager knows that life will never be the same. What he doesn't know is exactly how different life will be. The discovery in the basement of mysterious scrolls with a fascinating but unfinished story leads Aidan to seek the Door Within and travel to a world of noble knights and fair maidens. In The Realm, he learns more of the story found in the scrolls and faces the choice that will define his life forever--follow King Eliam or Paragor the Usurper.

Some of the characters are rather broadly drawn so that they seem rather exaggerated and thus unrealistic, but they are delightful nonetheless. Captain Valithor, Sentinel of Alleble, employs hilarious adjectives as he urges those in his charge to work harder. One fun thing about the characters is the way their build and temperaments tend to mirror their weapons. Archer brothers Nock and Bolt are slight and quick, while hammer-wielding Mallik is built like a rock.

In this adventurous tale full of truth and treachery, rambunctious and hilarious characters, Aidan learns what it means to never be alone. Though written for Junior High and early High Schoolers, the story contains enough depth to satisfy an older reader while remaining simple enough for children many years younger. "The Door Within" is sure to delight any reader of adventure and fantasy.

By: Wayne Thomas Batson

A New Anti-Burglary System

2009-09-30T21:24:00.001-05:00

Dehydrating jalepeno peppers in the garage. Talk about potent.

He's at it again

2009-09-29T14:46:00.000-05:00

Author Wayne Thomas Batson is sponsoring a new contest. This time with friend and co-author Christopher Hopper. Why, you ask? Simple, they've a new book coming out in October. And the stakes are higher than before. Where last contest (for Isle of Fire), the highest prize was books for life and naming a character, the grand prize this time includes a private book signing party for the winning tribe. How cool is that? I plan to post a review of each book before the next month is out.

And now, the books:
By Wayne Thomas Batson:
The Door Within
The Rise of the Wyrm Lord
The Final Storm
Isle of Swords
Isle of Fire

By Christopher Hopper:
Rise of the Dibor
The Lion Vrie
Athera's Dawn (coming soon)

By Batson and Hopper:
The Curse of the Spider King (coming November 2009)
Venom and Song (coming soon)

Engedi

2009-08-26T13:59:00.000-05:00

Engedi. A place to which David fled as a refuge from Saul. An haven of life in the midst of barrenness. An oasis renowned for the richness of its produce. And the name of a retreat at the end of Summer's hot days.

This past weekend I helped other members of our church host a retreat for folks aged 16-32. It was amazing. Having been in on the planning and preparation made it even more wonderful. See, on the day of the registration deadline, no one outside our church had signed up. And I mean no one. Zip, zero, nada. And we'd promised the camp 80ish. What could we do? Nothing. So the main leaders prayed about it and decided to keep trying--and to keep registrations open. Folk visited other churches, called them, sent letters, and, above all, prayed. And you know what? God answered. The registrations started coming. From a trickle to a downpour they came. In one month we went from zero people outside our church to sixty. Some even registered the day before the retreat started!

And that's not all. Most of us had never put on a retreat of this sort before. Stephanie, Peter, and Rita have done massive homeschool conferences and the like but they're the only ones. The rest of us had been to them but never hosted. And the only difficulty we had was getting people to show up on time. Really. Everything went so amazingly smoothly. I had a one person who has been working on conferences say that she was learning things from us!

But wait! There's more! (Had to do that after our skit...) I'm not the most social person. That is, hanging out with complete strangers is very difficult for me. Usually, I'll hang on the outskirts, listen in on one of my other friends talking to the other attendees but not really get involved myself. Not so this weekend. Rather, I was in the middle of things. True, I didn't actually carry on much by way of conversation with a lot of people--I was playing v-ball, or other games during the little free time we had--but neither did I hesitate as to where to sit at meals, wonder if I would be welcome in games, or feel awkward flitting around the crowd to talk briefly to other people. God was good to me. I was nervous about not knowing anyone on my team but I really liked them. The guys--and gals when they showed up--were great. We just needed some help on the artistic side... :-)

Add to all that encouraging speaking from Brady and Eric on a purpose worth living--and dying--for and you have a marvelous weekend. Both reminded us that Christ alone is worth following and His kingdom worth living for. As Eric pointed out, we are His sheep. And His sheep are supposed to hear and obey. So get up off your seat and obey!

On the way down to Engedi, I prayed with a friend that God would show Himself mightily over the weekend. I think He did.

In Christ alone,
Rien

Music and Words

2009-07-20T21:31:00.001-05:00

Music. Haunting, joyful, despairing, joyful, chaotic, rich. It can reach to the depths of our souls, pierce even the thickest walls, touch the most closed heart.

Words. Long, short, awe-inspiring, groan-inducing, hilarious, cruel. They can linger in our minds for a lifetime, break a heart or mend it, honor or defame.

How will you use your words and music?

My Dad

2009-06-21T17:42:00.000-05:00

A little tribute to my dad that I wrote a couple years ago for him at Christmas:

A pillar of strength
On whom many rest
A father of children
Who counts himself blessed

Born to a family
That was torn into two
Adopted again
By God made anew

A man whose heart
Seeks after his Lord
Bound forever
By an unbreakable cord

Drawn ever to service
To others he gives
Especially his family
At home where he lives

A warrior at heart
One of God’s mighty men
He fights for men’s hearts
For his King them to win

Eyes full of laughter
Deep wells of love
Endlessly filled
By the Love from above

Spending time with his family
To him brings more joy
Than getting the newest
Gadget or toy

A playground for children
Always ready for fun
A comforting presence
From whom nightmares must run

Husband and father
Mentor and friend
Servant and teacher
Prince to the end

Happy Father's Day, Dad.

Running the Race...

2009-05-19T14:31:00.000-05:00

Sunday night I was at some friends house watching a worldview course by Focus on the Family and it had a quote by Eric Liddell about why he ran the way he does or something like that and he said something like this - I run not for the praise or glory of man but because I can feel the pleasure of God when I run. So to all ya'll out there I want to encourage ya'll to run the race of life with endurance to the glory of the Most High and may ya'll feel His pleasure.

Tel

Orderly Writing

2009-05-11T00:01:00.001-05:00

I was at a workshop the other day listening to John Erickson (author of the Hank the Cowdog books). He spoke about what it means to be a Christian writer—and I have to agree with his points. Mr. Erickson said that as Christians, our writing—or composing, or cinematography, or architecture—should be marked by excellence and order. Being “Christian” does not necessarily mean having a form of the Christian religion in your story. It does not mean that your music says “Praise ye the Lord!” every song (or some variation thereof). Rather, it means that, regardless of “religious content” our work reflects God’s order and His greatness and leaves the person better for having experienced it.

He put it something like this: Genesis 1:1-2a says “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. And the earth was without form and void…” That is God imposing order on chaos. And then there’s Genesis 1:27 “And God created man in His own image. In the image of God He created him. Male and Female He created them.” There is us, made in God’s likeness to do as He does. Therefore, in all our art—writing specifically for me and him—we should impose God’s order on chaos. It’s the only order that works anyway. Leastways, that’s what I understood Mr. Erickson to say.

And it makes sense really. As a Christian, we should strive to be the best. Our craft should be the finest. Do we have to mention God, or Jesus, or the Holy Spirit, or church, or the Gospel? No. Why? Because in everything we do, all should be for the glory of God (Col 3:17). Would God be glorified by shoddy work? I think not. God is the Master Craftsman. His work is always good. Should not we, who are made in His image have good works as well? And I mean “good” as in “morally upright and virtuous” as well as “superior, excellent, skillful” and even “enjoyable” and “satisfactory.”

This does not mean that I think we shouldn’t write books that are “Christian” in the sense that they actually have Christians in them (or the fantasy form thereof). If I thought that, my own work would be ridiculous! But I don’t think that we can use having Christians in our stories as an excuse for weak work. There is a lot of “fluff” (as I call it) out there. Books that have mentions of God and prayer and Christians, and church—or even more than mentions—but do little or nothing to actually leave you better for reading it. There is no substance to them. And a good book needs substance else you’ll never read it again.

Does substance mean “deep theological discussions”? No. But it does mean that it reflects God’s Truth at every instance. That even in fun, God’s law is honored. Even in something as lighthearted as Hank the Cowdog one can see the struggle between what we should do and what we do, right and wrong, good and evil. Hidden unconsciously by the author (so he said) but there nonetheless.

So I suppose my challenge to you, O writer, and myself, is to ensure that your craft and your content are pleasing to the Lord. Strive to become the best that you possibly can. Show God’s order in your work. Hide not your light but rather let it shine that men may glorify your Father in heaven!

In the King’s service,
Rien Takhid

Rewriting

2009-03-22T19:33:00.000-05:00

I like writing stories. I don't like rewriting stories. At least, not that much. When I write the first draft, I feel like I'm accomplishing something. New pages of story flow with ease from my mind to the page. My friends are happy to see what happens next. I am happy to see what happens next!

Not so rewriting--especially for the sixth time. I'm dealing with storylines and descriptions that I've worked iwth before. Nothing seems fresh or new. My progress is slow. I have to resist the urge to scrap everything and start over. Sometimes I don't resist and new chapters result.

But then, when I look at what I rewrote as compared to the original, I am happy. Plot holes--even nearly invisible ones--are mended, new threads are woven in, adding richness to the tapestry of story, old threads that trailed off in ragged ends are clipped. All in all, it is a more rewarding read.

So I will keep rewriting. It is not pleasant now but the reward is far greater in the end. A bit like God's working in our lives, I suppose. "Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it." (Heb 12:11). God's always working on our lives, bringing us to a closer likeness of Himself. It isn't fun. Sometimes--oftentimes--its the same lessons that we were working on last week, last month, last year. But each time, the lesson is deeper, more profound, shaving away more of our sinful nature. And we become more like Christ. Sounds good to me!

New Purpose

2009-02-06T10:25:00.000-06:00

In the beginning, this blog contained updates on Rien and Tel's progress toward winning the prize set forth in the Isle of Fire contest sponsered by Wayne Thomas Batson. That contest is long since over and we await the time when we can reap the fruits of our labors. Now I (Rien) intend to take this blog in a new direction. From this day forth it will contain the occasional update on my writing journey. And, of course, Tel's opinion of said journey and whatever else he wants to say. For now, I leave with this summary of the first book in the Narratives of Nartanis, Sword Aflame

Draw me only in the right
Against my foes the Hosts of Night
Only then, behold my light
And strike at evil with thy might

For years, the cryptic verse inscribed along his sword’s blade and strange dreams and visions have haunted Conrad Edricson’s mind and heart. Now, with the Hosts of Night on the move and the king’s army assembling, it seems that he may finally have the chance to find answers to his many questions. And so Conrad sets out on his journey—despite the fact that he knows nothing of swordplay.

But in the land of Nartanis things are not always what they seem and even the most ordinary looking objects may contain hidden power. When the battle begins, Conrad’s sword reveals itself as one of the legendary Eliorc blades, powerful weapons against the Hosts of Night. Nothing can ever be the same for the former farmer as he his plunged into a world even he never dreamed would be his.

Winner!

2008-11-04T11:10:00.000-06:00

That's right, by virtue of hard work and helpful friends, victory is ours! Technically, it's mine since I was the official entrant and Tel didn't actually do the work. But without him pestering me constantly to get things done and then helping me post all the reviews, there is no way I could have won. So we are the victors! To see the official blog post detailing our victory click here.

Congratulations also to the others who worked hard to claim one of the top five spots. It was a pleasure "warring" against you!

We're going with "Ril Taniel" for our name in Batson's future series. What do you think?

Rien

Oh Ya its over!!! Thanks to all ya'll who helped out. Ya'll were Grrreat.

ps. Ahhhem!! I did work! I actually was the mastermind of the whole thing.

Tel

To Wait

2008-10-16T17:53:00.000-05:00

It is October 16. The Isle of Fire Contest has come to an end. Tel and I were up until after midnight on the 14th making sure we got all our posts made and points in. My thanks to the following people who wrote reviews for Isle of Fire and Isle of Swords for me:

Tel Maethanru
Erain Thayleon
mom o' 6

I really appreciate it!

Now all that remains is to wait. The Door Within blog is now my home page. I eagerly look forward to seeing who emerges the victor from this quest!

Rien

YEEEEEEE HAAAAAAAAA!!!!!

2008-09-27T14:49:00.000-05:00

First!!!! By 10 points!!!
Woooo Hoooo Ya!!!!! :)

One Very Exited Guy,

Tel

The Day

2008-09-10T20:02:00.000-05:00

September 9 has come and gone and with it, the official release of Isle of Fire. Tel and I ordered a copy for ourselves and several more for our friends. We are both looking forward to the books arrival. One advantage of ordering multiple copies is that we'll both be able to read it when they arrive!

In addition to purchasing Isle of Fire we put together a poster for all of Batson's books. Isn't it great!? That's Tel on the left and me (Rien) on the right.

I also got to go to our local Lifeway store and got a picture with the books and Kuhrt, one of the employees. He thought the contest was pretty cool--especially the prize--and was quite willing to pose with me despite his laughter. The manager of the store even took the picture for us!

That's all for now!

Rien Takhid

August 27, 2008

2008-08-27T11:32:00.000-05:00

Yikes!!!!!!!! We are spending a lot of money. we started out thinking we were only going to buy 2 books then we decided to get 3 now we are ending up getting 6 Isle of Swords, the Door Within Trilogy books, The Wilderking Trilogy by Jonathan Rogers, Ryann Watters and the King's Sword by Eric Reinhold, and one of the White Lion Chronicles by Christopher Hopper. all told we are buying 14 books. So that will total all our points up to 4530 Treasure Points and maybe a lot more.

From My last post I said we were trying to recruit people to join and some are now seriously considering joining (if you want to join please go here (Wayne Thomas Batson's blog) and also many are buying Mr. Batson's books which is good news. So the hunt is going great and we would appreciate if you prayed for Rien and I that we won't tear each other up before the Quest is over. :)

Oh almost forgot, Please Please comment on this blog! we would really appreciate that.

Tel

The Books

2008-07-28T16:08:00.000-05:00

Of Pirates and Buried Treasure:

Of Brave Knights and Noble Maidens:

After several days of doing nothing, Tel and I went today and left comments, ordered and purchased books, and posted cover art with links. So today, we have actually accomplished some things and earned some points! And there remain two of us still. I will freely admit that there are times when I feel like strangling Tel though. He can be a little too intense sometimes when it comes to getting me to do things.

Until next time, may the King of all guard you well as you put your trust in Him.

Rien

July 23,2008

2008-07-23T15:05:00.000-05:00

Ah! At last we post again! We have had some setbacks but are still pressing forward with zeal. We had planned to do the reviews first (as you all know) but then decided to keep them for later. Instead we worked on posting on the Motiv8 Fantasy Fiction Tour site and made a listmania. Today we visited several bookstores to see if they carried any of Mr. Batson's books. Unfortunately none of them did. So our next step is to recruit others to join this great quest (if you want to join please go here (Wayne Thomas Batson's blog) and to by any of Mr. Batson's books. May the Most High guide your ways.

Servant of the Most High.

Tel

In the Beginning...

2008-07-10T14:25:00.000-05:00

there were two siblings (and we hope in the end, there will still be two) who liked books. The elder was wandering through a bookstore one day and saw "Free! With purchase of Isle of Swords" stickered on an interesting looking book. She was in a book buying mood and so The Door Within and Isle of Swords came home with her that day. The younger was quite annoyed that he could not read either of them until she had. But he had not long to wait. That night, Rien stayed up late until she had finished The Door Within. Tel got it the next day. He also finished it in a day. And so it was with Isle of Swords and Rise of the Wyrm Lord and The Final Storm. Thus the fascination with Wayne Thomas Batson's work took root.

Now, many months after, we, along with many other Realmers, are in quest to help promote the sequel to the Isle of Swords, the book called Isle of Fire. If you want to join the quest go here (Wayne Thomas Batson's blog) to find the information.

July 10, 2008 we begin our "Great Day of Planning." First things first we start by printing of the "Treasure Map" aka, the score sheet. Then we began The Most Fabulous and Excellent blog ever made. Now in progress, the reviews for the DW books and the Isle of Swords.

That is all for today! (We Think.) :p

Rien
and
Tel