"To Rate a Series" is a series of blogs dedicated to reviewing, analyzing, and understanding fantasy and sci-fi series I have completed. Any series that appears here I have read in its entirety. My third fantasy series and my first adult fantasy series I completed was the "Wheel of Time" by Robert Jordan later finished … Continue reading To Rate a Series: The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan (Part 1)
Writing Chronicles: Getting Organized
I have to admit that I am excited about my current novel in progress. One of the reasons is that it is not a maelstrom of chaos threatening to suck everything into its bulbous literary vortex. I have written long-term stories before. I think one was technically a novel. I may have mentioned this before, … Continue reading Writing Chronicles: Getting Organized
My Second Conversion: What is Sin? (Part 1)
Sin. Sinner. Sinful. These words do not have modern secular equivalents. Even among those who are well-versed in religious language, sin is widely debated and little understood word. We could do some Hebrew/Greek word studies, but my purpose is for you to continue to come back to my blog. Nothing lowers the view count like … Continue reading My Second Conversion: What is Sin? (Part 1)
My Second Conversion: What is Salvation? (Part 1)
Salvation. The word conjures up images of being snatched from the burning pits of eternal fire and being placed on the path of eternal bliss forever. In the Christian tradition, this means different things to different groups. The early Church's position on salvation is encapsulated in Cyprian's theology that those who remained were real and … Continue reading My Second Conversion: What is Salvation? (Part 1)
The Amoral Minority: The End of the Evangelical Pseudo-Moral Highground
It would be easy to call Evangelicals immoral for their support of the modern Republican Party and Donald Trump. I disagree with this label because I don't think Evangelicals are typically immoral people. Donald Trump did not make Evangelicals into demons, as much as some would like to make such connections. The better term for … Continue reading The Amoral Minority: The End of the Evangelical Pseudo-Moral Highground
I am a Flame: My Sordid Association with Liberty University
I wrote this back in September, it just now getting published on here. So, yes the mascot for Liberty University is a flame. Those who mocked LU often called us "flamers" a derogatory term for flamboyant, effeminate males. The former Jerry Falwell Sr. was not a fan of the LGBTQ+ crowd, so it was an … Continue reading I am a Flame: My Sordid Association with Liberty University
My Second Conversion: A Meditation on Knowledge (Part II)
In the last post, I talked about what I consider to be the five pathways of knowledge. Here they are again: 1. Revelation 2. Reason 3. Empiricism 4. Experience 5. Relationship Okay, great philosophical discussion. So, what does it have to do with how I live, and how I see the truth? How useful is … Continue reading My Second Conversion: A Meditation on Knowledge (Part II)
The Noob Dungeon Master: You Start in a Town (Part II)
In the last post, we looked at what a town is and why you should begin your campaign in a town rather than a city or village. Here we are going to discuss who lives in a town. Before we begin, some assumptions: Your world is a medieval or early renaissance setting. Your world has magic in it. So, a town is going … Continue reading The Noob Dungeon Master: You Start in a Town (Part II)
Worldgasm: The Genesis of a World
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. (Genesis 1:1-2 NIV) Nothing garners more views on a blogpost about fantasy worldbuilding like starting off with a religious text! … Continue reading Worldgasm: The Genesis of a World
My Second Conversion: Facing Jesus (Part IV)
In my last post, I talked about how spirituality or lack thereof should derive from the priority established by Jesus: love God and love others as ourselves. This means there are three dimensions of love involved: Love God Love Your Neighbor Love Yourself Hmmm...is this a coincidence that three parts are involved? God exists in … Continue reading My Second Conversion: Facing Jesus (Part IV)
Gazing through Opaque Windows 