The published and unpublished works of writer Cynthia Hilston
by Doug Lewars
Best seller lists are tricky. They can be manipulated and sometimes are. Nevertheless, they do serve a purpose. For one thing, I suppose, they inform people of what other people are reading, thereby generating a sort of herd effect that might drive up sales, but more importantly from a writer’s perspective, they provide a touch stone as to what readers are interested in.
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Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you. Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh. For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh— though I myself have reasons for such confidence.
Philippians 3:1-4a
Chapter 3 starts out with Paul urging the people to rejoice in the Lord, and that seems simple enough, but then the subject seems to turn. What follows is a denunciation of those who would teach the Philippians that they must first become Jews before they can be saved.
The word that jumps out at me in the second verse is the word “dogs”. So, catch this spectacle: Paul the…
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In this section, Paul moves back into some personal comments. He is talking about two other men who are with him, but who are not prisoners, Timothy and Epaphroditus. In the first several verses, Paul is telling the Philippians that he is planning to send Timothy back to them so that he can bring more news back to Paul about how the Philippians are doing. Then comes what is probably the most significant part of the passage from our point of view:
I have no one else like him, who will show genuine concern for your welfare. For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel.
Philippians 2:20-22
Isn’t it interesting that Paul says he has no one else…
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The theme for Cee’s Black and White Challenge this week is: anything music related.
Live in concert:
Roger Waters:
Peter Murphy:
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
John 8:12
John used light and darkness in his Gospel to refer to God’s presence or absence in the world. Throughout Jesus’ ministry He said that His disciples were in the light and warned that darkness would soon arrive. Here once again Jesus equates His presence with light only now He is speaking in much broader terms for both the people who heard His voice literally, and those who would follow Him later on.
As His followers, we are always in His light, for we are in His presence.
Yes, that statement can be slightly intimidating, for He is with us always; we have no secrets. Yet if you think about it, that statement is not only reassuring…
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Eternal Flame: A Rose of Anzio Story by Alexa Kang
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This story is a YA, romance, time-travel, historical fiction. And I love the premise: a soldier from 1944 and a teenage-girl from 1989 in love!
I don’t read many time-travel stories, but time travel is something that intrigues me, so I went into this novel expecting to enjoy it, and I did.
The protagonist is 16-year-old Julia Olsen, who lives in a suburb of Chicago, and is pretty much just skimming by in life, like most teenagers. Coming off a bad breakup, she’s spending her time reading teen magazines, obsessing over why Trey (her ex) dumped her, and watching her grades slip. Her family recently moved into a new old house, and among the furniture left in the residence is a New Hampshire clock in Julia’s room. She can’t wait to be rid of the clock (and the other old furniture in her room) and get some new Ikea models.
She winds the clock in her boredom, goes to sleep, and wakes to a young man in her bed–a soldier from World War II! Alarmed, she runs from her room to alert her parents, but when she returns, he’s no where in sight. When the young man returns, things get interesting. It doesn’t take long for them to realize that time travel is at play, and it involves the New Hampshire clock. The soldier tells Julia his name–Edmond Ferris, although he goes by Ed.
Before long, Julia and Ed strike up a friendship, and as the holidays approach, they fall in love. Julia not only falls in love with this handsome, brave soldier who’s putting his life on the line (Ed returns to his time and comes back to 1989 several times), but she starts feeling a confidence in herself she hadn’t in a long time.
As they grew closer, however, the stakes get higher. Julia discovers some alarming truths about the past, about time travel, and about Ed. Ed promises her that they will be together in her time after he’s done fighting in the war. He’s committed to the cause, after all, and can’t just leave the other men. But Julia worries for Ed every time he goes back to 1944.
The story is an easy read and is well-researched for both time periods. The romance is believable, and you want nothing more than for Julia and Ed to have their happily-ever-after; however, is that possible?
The end really captures the reality of what would or could happen when two people from two time periods fall in love. I cried. I won’t tell you why, but this story will stay with me for a long time.
by Allison Maruska
I saw an interesting quote on Facebook this morning.
“Some days you don’t feel like doing your job. But there is no ‘teacher’s block’ or ‘dentist’s block.’ I can’t figure out why we have created this mysterious phrase..only for writers..which only means ‘don’t feel like doing this right now.” Lois Lowry
I’ve been chewing on it all day and decided maybe “The Block” is reserved for creative pursuits – creating something from nothing can go off the rails sometimes. Are Painter’s Block and Quilter’s Block a thing?
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