A Crazy Week Deserves A Crazy Post

     Greetings, all! Whew, what a crazy week it has been. 

     Because of the many comments regarding romance on my last post, I plan to write about what my beliefs are on that specific subject. I have mentioned my thoughts on it in various places, but now I want to have the full explanation here once and for all, so that you know where I am coming from. I just have not been able to write it yet. But I am hopeful that the post will be coming very soon.

     In the meantime, for those of you who perhaps do not know, Jacob Parker (a.k.a. the Yodeling Dwarf) is on the way to publishing his first book. Yesterday he finally released a sketch for his cover art. You can see the impressive picture at http://yodelingdwarf.blogspot.com/
 
     One of the things I like to think about often is the similarities between most fantasy stories and our real history. Typically, stories such as Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia have a good-verses-evil plot, kind of like the on-going battle between God and Satan. There are so many parallels to be drawn between our lives and the books we read and write. Thinking about this is one of the ways I worship the Author of authors. I am filled with awe when I compare the Bible, God's story, to any other man-written book. The Bible is so much more complex than Tolkien's works, more complex than anything man can create.

     So, a few days ago I was mulling over this subject and came up with a... a thing. I have no clue what to categorize this thing as. It's not really a song. Definitely not a poem. Not a story. Anyway, here it is. It is speaking from Christ's point of view. Let me know what you think!:

If you ever find you've grown up in Neverland; if the yellow brick road doesn't lead you home; and if your Mount Doom is too high for you to climb, let My love come and comfort you.

If your Wonderland is far from wonderful; if the winter has kept you frozen for one hundred years; and if you feel like your only friend has disappeared in the mud, let My love come and strengthen you.

I am the Author of your story; I know every word. I fight beside you in all of your battles. I am your strong Hero, the King over all, the Rider of the white steed. Won't you let Me pour my love over you?

If you fall to the enemy's strong cunning power; if the dragon is too mighty for you to fight; and if the darkness shadows you and your past comes to haunt, let My love come and carry you.

They call Me Faithful and True. Let My love come running to you.

Post Tenebras Lux!

-ST 

Book Review - Rise of the Dibor

     In the land of Dionia, something evil is stirring. An ancient menace threatens the peaceful kingdom; even the earth cries out for mercy. Twelve young men, the sons of kings, are chosen to be trained as warriors to combat the enemy. These are the Dibor.

     This story follows Luik, one of the Dibor, as he grows from a boy to a man amid the chaos of war. Horrors unspeakable, blood-filled battles, the depravity of man, and one Truth that stands forever. Will the rise of the Dibor be enough to counter the rise of evil? The answer is not what you expect.

     Christopher Hopper writes the story as if it were a song, filling it with detailed descriptions. Though some readers may be bored by the descriptions, I appreciated Hopper's original way of writing.
     The plot was also very different, as it explores the question, "What would life have been like if Adam never sinned?"
     One thing I did not love about the book was the romance between Luik and a princess. There was nothing overtly wrong about it, but I am of the opinion that stories for kids and teens are better off without romance (without getting too far into it, as this is another discussion altogether).
     Overall, I think Rise of the Dibor is a good book for teens.

     If you would like to know more about Christopher Hopper or read Rise of the Dibor, click the links below.

http://www.christopherhopper.com/
http://www.amazon.com/Rise-Dibor-White-Lion-Chronicles

Post Tenebras Lux!
 -ST