by Jason Joyner | Oct 4, 2007 | Biblical worldview, Blog, fiction, writing craft
Real Christians don’t get “pissed off,” they have “righteous anger.” Or perhaps disconcerted, infuriated, or provoked might be better.
I was checking out the new design for the Relief Journal (cool new digs gang!), when I read a post from the editor. He talks about a little controversy regarding Reconstructing Natalie, by Laura Jensen Walker. Apparantly a site called The Timothy Report is run by a pastor/webmaster/Christian book store employee. He had the book by Ms. Walker brought to him by a distraught customer, because the main character is battling breast cancer and gets “pissed” at some point, or says she’s “pissed off.” So this gentleman is posting a notice on his site to complain to Thomas Nelson, the publisher, if other people are tired of such lines being crossed in Christian fiction. The charge is that this book is lower standards for the CBA.
This reminds me of the discussion I had concerning the “Christian Marketplace.” Now this person is responsible for this book not being available at his bookstore and making it sound like it is some horrible tome, corrupting people as they read it. It is frustrating to see a book about a subject that really is ripe for use in Christian fiction, yet it is torn down for a choice of one word.
*Cough* Excuse me, I think I just choked on a gnat…
I haven’t read Reconstructing Natalie, so I don’t know if it is any good as fiction, as a work of art. I do know that I wouldn’t condemn a book on the choice of one word like in this situation. What I did do is write the editor listed on the Timothy Report and supported her for producing fiction willing to tackle difficult subjects.
/end rant
You can see the letter in question at the Timothy Report here.
You can find the original post at Relief here (look for the second part of the post):
by Jason Joyner | Oct 4, 2007 | Biblical worldview, Blog, fiction, writing craft
Real Christians don’t get “pissed off,” they have “righteous anger.” Or perhaps disconcerted, infuriated, or provoked might be better.
I was checking out the new design for the Relief Journal (cool new digs gang!), when I read a post from the editor. He talks about a little controversy regarding Reconstructing Natalie, by Laura Jensen Walker. Apparantly a site called The Timothy Report is run by a pastor/webmaster/Christian book store employee. He had the book by Ms. Walker brought to him by a distraught customer, because the main character is battling breast cancer and gets “pissed” at some point, or says she’s “pissed off.” So this gentleman is posting a notice on his site to complain to Thomas Nelson, the publisher, if other people are tired of such lines being crossed in Christian fiction. The charge is that this book is lower standards for the CBA.
This reminds me of the discussion I had concerning the “Christian Marketplace.” Now this person is responsible for this book not being available at his bookstore and making it sound like it is some horrible tome, corrupting people as they read it. It is frustrating to see a book about a subject that really is ripe for use in Christian fiction, yet it is torn down for a choice of one word.
*Cough* Excuse me, I think I just choked on a gnat…
I haven’t read Reconstructing Natalie, so I don’t know if it is any good as fiction, as a work of art. I do know that I wouldn’t condemn a book on the choice of one word like in this situation. What I did do is write the editor listed on the Timothy Report and supported her for producing fiction willing to tackle difficult subjects.
/end rant
You can see the letter in question at the Timothy Report here.
You can find the original post at Relief here (look for the second part of the post):
by Jason Joyner | Sep 10, 2007 | Biblical worldview, Blog, Islam, ministry, missions, prayer
This week marks the beginning of Ramadan, the month of fasting for Islam. It is one of their holiest times of the year. As such, they fast from sun-up to sunset, spending time seeking Allah during the day and breaking fast at dusk with feasting.
The last 15 years has seen a coordinated effort by Christians to pray strategically for Muslims around the world during this time. This is the 16th edition of the effort, which has a worldwide reach.
We know that the conflict between the world of Islam and the West is a huge issue with lots of complexity and challenges. I encourage everyone to look into this material and participate with the prayers of thousands of Christians during this time. It has always been an insightful time of learning and blessing for my wife and I as we treat the prayer booklet as a nightly devotion.
You can get involved in a couple of ways. World Christian Books publishes a handy prayer booklet that gives you information on Islam and daily topics to pray through. You can still get one in time to start if you order right away! They even have a kids version of the booklet to do as a family. I’ve ordered this for the first time to do with my boys.
If you don’t want a booklet or have time to order, then there is an online reference you can use as well. It looks to have deeper information than what was put in the booklet.
Finally, in the materials I received with our booklets (our church participates in it), it had an advertisement for The Crescent Project, a ministry that strives to educate the North American church about Islam and equips us to reach our Muslim neighbors. There is a $35 online seminar that can be done through this group. I haven’t done this yet, but I think I will. I will report back on this if I do. This looks like a good resource for anyone with a heart regarding this matter.
As the church, we all have an opportunity to do something for the gospel to shine in such dark times and regions. We may not be called to go (although be honest, when was the last time we asked?) but we can intercede for Jesus’ light to be revealed and freedom proclaimed to the captives. Please take a look at this material further over the next month.
by Jason Joyner | Sep 10, 2007 | Biblical worldview, Blog, Islam, ministry, missions, prayer
This week marks the beginning of Ramadan, the month of fasting for Islam. It is one of their holiest times of the year. As such, they fast from sun-up to sunset, spending time seeking Allah during the day and breaking fast at dusk with feasting.
The last 15 years has seen a coordinated effort by Christians to pray strategically for Muslims around the world during this time. This is the 16th edition of the effort, which has a worldwide reach.
We know that the conflict between the world of Islam and the West is a huge issue with lots of complexity and challenges. I encourage everyone to look into this material and participate with the prayers of thousands of Christians during this time. It has always been an insightful time of learning and blessing for my wife and I as we treat the prayer booklet as a nightly devotion.
You can get involved in a couple of ways. World Christian Books publishes a handy prayer booklet that gives you information on Islam and daily topics to pray through. You can still get one in time to start if you order right away! They even have a kids version of the booklet to do as a family. I’ve ordered this for the first time to do with my boys.
If you don’t want a booklet or have time to order, then there is an online reference you can use as well. It looks to have deeper information than what was put in the booklet.
Finally, in the materials I received with our booklets (our church participates in it), it had an advertisement for The Crescent Project, a ministry that strives to educate the North American church about Islam and equips us to reach our Muslim neighbors. There is a $35 online seminar that can be done through this group. I haven’t done this yet, but I think I will. I will report back on this if I do. This looks like a good resource for anyone with a heart regarding this matter.
As the church, we all have an opportunity to do something for the gospel to shine in such dark times and regions. We may not be called to go (although be honest, when was the last time we asked?) but we can intercede for Jesus’ light to be revealed and freedom proclaimed to the captives. Please take a look at this material further over the next month.
by Jason Joyner | Sep 5, 2007 | Biblical worldview, Blog, ministry
We’re also seeing a lot of folks who are involved in the worldview side of our ministry through BreakPoint and the Centurions program seizing the day by recognizing that a biblical worldview means they need to change the way they live. They are understanding that if they are going to follow Jesus they need to live like Jesus, and that means getting involved in sacrificially serving the least, the last, and the lost among them. So that’s the kind of thing that I see that motivates me: seeing people seizing the day as Christ works through them in ways that cost them something and yet result in great benefits to those around them.
Mark Early, from The Point blog.
by Jason Joyner | Sep 5, 2007 | Biblical worldview, Blog, ministry
We’re also seeing a lot of folks who are involved in the worldview side of our ministry through BreakPoint and the Centurions program seizing the day by recognizing that a biblical worldview means they need to change the way they live. They are understanding that if they are going to follow Jesus they need to live like Jesus, and that means getting involved in sacrificially serving the least, the last, and the lost among them. So that’s the kind of thing that I see that motivates me: seeing people seizing the day as Christ works through them in ways that cost them something and yet result in great benefits to those around them.
Mark Early, from The Point blog.
