In God's Image : Author and Professor : Craig Detweiler

Earlier this year, I had the pleasure of recommending iGods, a book that explores the history of some of our modern ubiquitous technology as well as its affect on our lives. The book's author, Craig Detweiler, became head of Biola University's Mass Communications department during my last year in the screenwriting program, and he continued to hold that position when I returned to the university as a staff member two years later (we have since both moved into new employment). 

Though we never developed a relationship while we were both on the same campus, Craig always seemed approachable, and I always heard of his doing excellent work for the school. Given this Biola connection, I contacted him during Stronghold's release, and we have corresponded here and there since that time. Following my recommendation of iGods, I asked Craig to participate in 3LC's ongoing "In God's Image" series, and he took some time to share with thoughts on his work, his goals, and his faith. 

Just Crossed a Deadline, So I Am Back...sort of.

Hi All,

Thanks for sticking with the blog despite my dereliction to post regularly this month. Truth be told, I have a fair amount of content in the pressure cooker, but I was on deadline to revise To Retreat From Romance by August 16, and that took the bulk of my writing time, effort, and energy the last few weeks. That being said, I have reviews, interviews, and articles on deck for the coming weeks. Please stick with me and check back!

Additionally, I don't know about you, but the world has had a hold on my heart these last few weeks. ISIS, ISIL, ASL, Ferguson...the issues of our day are truly tragic. Frankly, it's in days like these that I feel equal parts depressed and hopeful.

The pain of those in the situations must be horrific, and I am saddened by not only my inability to affect real change but my ineptitude at participating in the small change in which I can. These matters are complex, difficult, and tragic; and I wish I could do more. At the very least, I know that I should do more than stand on the sidelines and say nothing.

Thankfully, others with more compassion than me have been moved to action, and they've done powerful things. And I take solace in the fact that all of these hardships are part of a grander, larger narrative that God is integrating into a story of human redemption across time. I know that sounds cliche, but it has helped me through some of the harder moments of these current events. Sometimes I just need to hold onto that truth.

I hope this finds you well, and I look forward to posting some new pieces in the coming days.

Thanks again for stopping by my corner of the internet,
C

Recommendation: Book of God by Kingstone Media

Book of God is my second review for Kingstone Media, whose comics, Jonah and Job, I recently recommended. I was provided a free e-book version of this graphic novel for the purpose of this article. 

If you know me personally, you know I have a few eclectic tastes--one of which is films that eschew standard narrative storytelling to provide a different viewing experience (Koyaaniquatsi and Slacker being the two best examples I can offer off the top of my head). Well, I would place Book of God in a similar vein.

The graphic novel is unlike any other I've encountered to date (though I'm hesitant to claim it's the only one of its kind). It's almost a docucomic--a seeming shot-for-shot storyboard outline for an interesting 4-part documentary series on Biblical historicity. And it works. The panel-to-panel movement creates an easy read, and the insert drawings of historical persons and events serve as perfect cutaways while narration continues.

The What and The Why: Taking Inventory in Summer 2014: Part 2

As if I needed to say more, right? Well, yeah. Kinda.

It's a funny thing the way my mind works (and my grammar too; one post I'm "Stilted McGee" and the next I just let it run). Anyway, Monday I posted about my fierce intentionality to live well based on knowing that life has eternal meaning and significance, regardless of what I do with it. That assurance, of course, comes from Christ and my deeply held belief that we are all part of his ongoing, eternal narrative of redemption.

I still hold to that truth as I type this, but I think I did myself a disservice in my last post. Here's the deal: On Monday,  I said I was not very good at executing my plans or staying on task and reaching my goals.

Truth is, I feel that way sometimes. And sometimes it is, in fact, true.

But not always.

The What and The Why: Taking Inventory in Summer 2014

Each month, I try to take an inventory of what I am doing and why. Most folks don't need to do this, but I do. I require the pause--the respite from life's busy-ness--to recalibrate, to refocus, to keep my heart and mind in check. But between you and me, I'm not very good at it.

My intentionality is not always affective. Sometimes it just reminds me of how many things I've ineptly tried to integrate (or juggle)--Home, Faith, Family, Friends, Wealth, Health, Hobbies, Novels, Blogs, Twitter, Flickr, Facebook, Articles and on and on...

Is a Brief Update Better Than None?

I struggle with that above heading. Is it better to hit the web with a quick and dirty post or would it benefit my readership more if I post sparingly but with greater depth? To be honest, I don't have an answer. I know that I feel like I'm off schedule if I'm not posting something every four days, but I don't know if I should be posting just for posting's sake.

I have a game plan come September for a shift that I think will make your visits here more worthwhile. In the meantime, here's a brief update on my other writing pursuits as of today:

BOUNDARIES and FREEDOM: My latest at x3Church

Below is an excerpt from my latest submission to X3Church, in which I extol both the virtues and possible vices of placing boundaries on one's life due to addiction.

"Boundaries are useful only to the extent that they have meaning; a meaningless boundary does nothing but impede freedom, and recovery is all about being free. This is why I treat many of my boundaries as lines in the sand rather than laws etched in stone. As habits and patterns change, so too should our mindset; addicts need to get to a place where freedom is normal again. 

"

Recommendation: Deliver Us from Evil

Deliver Us From Evil is the new film from writer/director Scott Derrickson, who continues to establish himself as a unique voice in the horror genre thanks in part to his ability to blend familiar tropes into fresh filmgoing experiences. In 2005, Derrickson became a known Hollywood presence with The Exorcism of Emily Rose, a motion picture that fused a supernatural thriller with a courtroom drama to great effect. With his latest film, Derrickson successfully blends the gore of an occult horror picture with the pace of a redemptive police procedural to create a new type of cop movie, even if it covers territory tread by other, lesser films (I enjoyed this far more than the arguably similar Fallen, despite that movie's inclusion of John Goodman, who is kind of a trump card).

On Jeremiah 29:11, Again.

This post was originally published at http://www.stunksstage.com/2007/04/08/jeremiah-2911-and-a-christian-response-to-those-who-hold-to-it/, on Sunday, April 8th, 2007 at 9:50 PM.

And I still agree with it, so I'm recycling it today. I did slight editing to correct my 25 year-old, caps-lock-friendly self (the same 25 year old self who would write: "you are a jerk, and I hope I meet you so I can punch you in your face. yeah, I'm that serious about it." What was I thinking, writing that?). 

Editing aside, the message is intact. Enjoy!

Jeremiah 29:11, and a Christian Response 

To Those Who Hold To It.

More From Figures.com : On Displaying Stuff I Don't Need

So, for my monthly piece at Figures.com, I thought I'd pose a question to my fellow collectors. I asked them how they displayed their collection and why. My hope was to start a conversation and get some cool insight into how my fellow toy enthusiasts felt about getting their collections out of the bins and onto shelves.

I offered some thoughts and...received one response in return. I'll take it!

Check out the full piece HERE!

Additionally, I was able to complete another, more-industry focused interview with Rocco Tartamella!  Check it out!

Review: Touchy Subjects by Craig Gross and David

Touchy Subjects
By Craig Gross and David Dean

PLEASE NOTE: I received a review copy of this book from the ministry, XXXchurch.com

Touchy Subjects is the latest release by XXXchurch co-founder Craig Gross, who now teams with comedian David Dean on tackling the pertinent and complex subject of parents’ conversations with their children about sex. The book is divided into two portions, the first offers principles for the ongoing dialogue and the second serves as something of a printed Q&A with the authors. 

Overall the book is heavy on substance but lacking in presentation. I am on record as having an issue with the limitations of co-authored works. I always think the best choice is to have an editor come and tie the book together, making one new voice of the two individuals. But this book chose to delineate between Craig and David, which inevitably sets a strange expectations in the reader’s mind. I could not escape thinking, "Oh, I expect a joke now" or "I disagree with him on X, so I will skim his stuff on Y"(though I didn't, for review purposes). Granted, these may be my faults as a reader, but they were the fact of my experience. At the very least, the book clearly shows when either author is writing, which is helpful; however, the constant shift in authors constantly interrupts the flow of the text.

Of course, this book almost seems primed for an interrupted experience. Broken into short, topical sections, Touchy Subject feels like far more of a reference volume than anything else, a sort of shorthand manual for when "this situation" or "that new question" arise. This is not to say that such an approach is bad. In fact, given the other items I’ve mentioned, perhaps this sort of format is almost preferable.

Good but not great, Touchy Subjects will certainly serve those interested in the issue (which should be all parents or would-be parents). In some situations, I could see the book being a life-saver for those who sincerely need some counsel on how to approach these issues but do not know who to seek for it. Frankly, it may make for really good curriculum in a Sunday school class for parents of all ages and stages. The format, consistent nuggets of insight, and overall scope would benefit any church willing to enter the important discussion.

Touchy Subjects is now available at Amazon.com

Touchy Subjects: Talking to Kids about Sex, Tech, and Social Media in the Touchscreen World

Why I Write About More Than Recovery

If you've been following the blog for any amount of time, you know that I write a fair amount of content about recovery from addiction (see here, here, and a wealth of links, here). That's become my "thing". As well it should. All my studies of "branding" and "focus" tell me that recovery from addiction should be that aspect of existence about which I write so that folks who come to my "social platform" know what they are getting.

But I've had a hard go of focusing. I write reviews, updates on my books, random life musings, and thoughts on Scripture. I even write about toys from time to time. Conventional wisdom rallies against this sort of thing, and the data does not lie. My "social reach" has extended very little since 2012. I try to cover too much. People come here because they want to read about...yeah, that's the problem. They don't know; maybe I don't either.

But here's the deal. This blog is called "Living Life Loving Christ", and that is no singular endeavor. Life is multi-faceted; life is not about a brand (no matter what culture continues to tell us). A human life has its moments of reflection, of confession, of silliness, and of self-indulgence. And dear readers, I mean to live life. 

But the truth is that my doing so does have a singular focus, a narrowness. It's loving Christ. Oh how I want my life to exhibit a love for Christ! I want people to see my name and think, "that dude loves Jesus" (and I want that to be true). Granted, the blog does not always accomplish this; neither does life itself. And inasmuch as I'm guarded and mindful about what I post, I try to provide some vulnerable insights. I try to provide a holistic picture of a person living life and loving Christ while doing so. Maybe I do; probably I don't. Either way, that's the goal. 

So that's why I lack focus. That's the reason my brand consistently fails the litmus tests. For me life is more than recovery. Life is art. Life is disappointment. Life is joy. Life is love, and for me that love is Christ. 

How bout you? 

To Retreat from Revisions

Well,

Here I am...middle of summer and two months behind on my latest draft of To Retreat From Romance. The revisions team is still in place, and I am immensely grateful for it. Three months will have passed by the time I get the latest version to them. They're willingness to stick with the project has motivated me to do the same.

The fact is that it's been hard to do the real work of revising on this one. Inasmuch as overall feedback was positive, the net result of all my notes was that core aspects of the book needed to change, and I knew it would be a great deal of work to get the story where I had to get it. I used the move, article-writing, blogging, even decorating as an excuse to avoid the grind of revising, but the reality hit me this last week like rush of inspiration in itself: I can do this.

I've done it before now, and I will hopefully do it again. Now, the goal is to get it done.

And I shall. Thanks for joining me as this project runs its course; I hope it will be worth the wait!

Thanks for reading,
C