Tangled Yarns
Breath-taking
In this story there are two main characters. One is a girl who finds she has only one talent above all her classmates, and a penguin, who has similar talents. Both characters are victimized, but one s . . .
[ read more ]
In this story there are two main characters. One is a girl who finds she has only one talent above all her classmates, and a penguin, who has similar talents. Both characters are victimized, but one saves the other. For the girl the discovery of her talent is a whole new area in her life, which opens up for her as a sort of salvation from the low self-value she feels. I wrote this story as I was thinking about how so many times I have come across individuals who have wonderful special talents, but who have been ignored or shunned by society because those talents are not perceived as valuable or important- to society's great loss.
"And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; (only one!) to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey." Matthew 25:15
"If then you have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church." 1 Corinthians 6:4 Notice it is the least esteemed members of the church who get this really important job!
"Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teaches, on teaching; (and so on down the list - each member has a talent of some sort)Romans 12:7
[ close ]
Failures
A hilarious story about really dumb aliens and their total failure to invade Earth successfully. The aliens however are incredibly optimistic, and completely fail to see that they are hopelessly defea . . .
[ read more ]
A hilarious story about really dumb aliens and their total failure to invade Earth successfully. The aliens however are incredibly optimistic, and completely fail to see that they are hopelessly defeated, even when they are exiled to the dark side of the moon. There were no serious thoughts involved in this story, and no Bible verse triggered it. I could however say that laughter is a gift of God, and happiness is a wonderful blessing.
"All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart has a continual feast." Proverbs 15:15
"A merry heart does good like a medicine: but a broken spirit dries the bones." Proverbs 17:22
"Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The Lord has done great things for them. "Psalms 126:2
[ close ]
Flashback
This story is rather convoluted. It jumps from one person to the next and then further back and finally returns to the first character. The flashbacks are moments in each person's life when they were . . .
[ read more ]
This story is rather convoluted. It jumps from one person to the next and then further back and finally returns to the first character. The flashbacks are moments in each person's life when they were almost killed. The theme of the story is the fine thread that hold each generation to the next, Many readers I am sure will be able to attest to the fact that they came very close to dying at least once in their lives.
In the case of our Lord Jesus, the thread was sometimes down to just one person, such as Ruth, or one family, such as Noah's. Many times in the course of history Satan tried to cut off the Messiah's bloodline, but every time God managed to maintain it. (See my essay Thread of Gold)
[ close ]
Hidden Talents
This humorous story is about a fairy who will not grant wishes unless the person who wishes actually does most of the hard work! I was thinking of people who gamble, or who think they can actually gai . . .
[ read more ]
This humorous story is about a fairy who will not grant wishes unless the person who wishes actually does most of the hard work! I was thinking of people who gamble, or who think they can actually gain something by cheating their way through life. Several klutzy crimes later the main character realizes that the best way to get the wealth he desires is through good, honest labour.
"There is that makes himself rich, yet has nothing: there is that makes himself poor, yet has great riches." Proverbs 13:7
Will thou set your eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven." Proverbs 23:5
"He also that received seed among the thorns is he that hears the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful." Matthew 13:22
[ close ]
Monday's Child
A grim futuristic story with a tragic ending. I think this story is about love, and the lengths some people will go to for love. The story is about the love of two parents, who are prepared to give up . . .
[ read more ]
A grim futuristic story with a tragic ending. I think this story is about love, and the lengths some people will go to for love. The story is about the love of two parents, who are prepared to give up everything just to spend one day with their son - in a pale sort of way this echoes the love of God, who literally gave up everything in order to redeem His children.
"Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God:" 1 John 3:1
"But God commends his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8
"Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:39
"Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." 1 John 4:10
[ close ]
Sleepytime Freezers
In this rather creepy story a freezer is brought into the life of a Very busy housewife and the thought is gradually introduced that if people could only freeze their problems, life would be much swee . . .
[ read more ]
In this rather creepy story a freezer is brought into the life of a Very busy housewife and the thought is gradually introduced that if people could only freeze their problems, life would be much sweeter. The trouble is, freezing a problem is really just another way of avoiding dealing with it, and as a solution it has huge shortcomings. As the boy in the story says, "What if the president puts everyone to sleep?" A lot of today's technology could be put to terrible use in the hands of a ruthless dictator, but by the same token the same technology could be a great blessing to millions. Technology itself is neutral -neither good nor evil. But all humans have a bias towards evil, so logic suggests that there ought to be built in safeguards with all technology, to prevent it from being abused.
"And the LORD was with Judah; and he (Judah) drove out the inhabitants of the mountain; but (Judah) could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had chariots of iron." Judges 1:19
"And the staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam; and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron: and one bearing a shield went before him." 1 Samuel 17:7
"And I will prepare destroyers against you, everyone with his weapons; and they shall cut down your choice cedars, and cast them into the fire. "Jeremiah 22:7
[ close ]
Winning by Losing
Two boys make a deal to try and win a good manners competition. Although the story has a funny twist at the end, I was thinking about how it is possible to pretend to be good, because 'being good' is . . .
[ read more ]
Two boys make a deal to try and win a good manners competition. Although the story has a funny twist at the end, I was thinking about how it is possible to pretend to be good, because 'being good' is an act of choice. Even a very bad child can appear to be good. Jesus had some scathing things to say about the religious leaders who appeared outwardly to be good men, but were quite the opposite on the inside.
"But the LORD said to Samuel, Look not on his countenance, (face) or on the height of his stature (body); because I have refused him: for the LORD sees not as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7
"But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments." Matthew 23:5
(God) has saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began." 2 Timothy 1:9
[ close ]
