I cannot believe that Office has decided they must know my password, and keep track of what my blog is before it will allow me to post from Word. I wrote many of my posts on my computer first and uploaded it. Big brother has indeed come. These type of things is what makes me nervous when they say they have a new thing that must redo my version of word, or whatever program they want to insert new material into. Yes, it may merely be a protection against viruses, but then again we must ask who sends viruses and why?
If I have such paranoia in America where we have much freedom, I am not sure I could live in places where someone looking over your shoulder is a given. You certainly have to learn to have greater control of what you say or write, or greater courage to speak anyway.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Why I haven't been posting
For a couple of years I have been writing a novel about the period in which Mohammed lived. Without bringing in the characters of the Prophet, Aisha, Omar, Abu Bakr, or any of the known personages of that time period, I found the people revealed within the Koran, or their types. The men who heckle and harass those who repeat the revelations are combined with an assortment of those who represent the opponents spoken of by the Allah's Apostle. The work required for that was combined with a nonfiction work of apologetics, called the Questions of the Koran. Hopefully that allowed the conversations to be less contorted, and have my objections documented at the appropriate time. But the characters do have detailed interactions about the issues that were tearing families, not to mention the society apart. Trying to be fair, I present Muslim and Christian points of view, along with Jewish beliefs. Still it is written from a Christian perspective.
The questions are the problems that the Kuffar pose to the Messenger, and that he addresses. Since that is not large enough to make a book of itself, I've included the types of errors found that are not consistent with the characters in the Biblical stories. Terms and expressions copied from the Bible is another section, with the Gospel Hidden Within the Koran as the last.
As I worked on editing these, a situation occurred to force me to deal with these issues for children. My grandchildren who are being raised as Muslims started it. One had begged me not to burn in hell. I had assured her I would not, and joked about it to lessen her concern. It did not help. Another told me I served Shaitan.
Rather than throw my knowledge at a three and five year old, overwhelming them, I went home to seek the Lord. How should I explain theology to them? Clearly they were ready for some conversation, but it should be on a level they would understand. Having walked around many sections of the Muslim school and daycare they attend, I was aware that many groups of children were being indoctrinated.
A few weeks later I got a glimpse of how to do so. In a little over a month, I wrote four children's books, and have added a couple more since then. But I have not read them to my grandkids yet. I am hesitant to put them at risk, whether they believe me or not. My artwork is seriously limited and picture books require decent illustrations. I have worked on paper and on computer. None are satisfactory, but I do have some ideas recorded. My favorite book uses the person of George Washington to make a point. (Of course these are only files, but someday, somehow ....)
Most of these were things that were not included in my blogs. However, I have returned to them to gather bits that need repeating. I wrote a couple of pamplets for evangelistic use. Lately I have been assembling Psalms that I had meditated on, memorized and written about. Many of my writings were recorded first on Word and then uploaded. In fact most of my early ones were, having been written on paper first. However, they were refined as I posted these thoughts.
So, you should know I have not given up the fight. It is just going in another direction. And I still wrestle with how to address it. You see, insulting someone is not the best way to get their attention or hearing. But neither is lying to them about what you have to say. I consider speaking honestly a compliment to the person I hope to address. I hope you do too.
The questions are the problems that the Kuffar pose to the Messenger, and that he addresses. Since that is not large enough to make a book of itself, I've included the types of errors found that are not consistent with the characters in the Biblical stories. Terms and expressions copied from the Bible is another section, with the Gospel Hidden Within the Koran as the last.
As I worked on editing these, a situation occurred to force me to deal with these issues for children. My grandchildren who are being raised as Muslims started it. One had begged me not to burn in hell. I had assured her I would not, and joked about it to lessen her concern. It did not help. Another told me I served Shaitan.
Rather than throw my knowledge at a three and five year old, overwhelming them, I went home to seek the Lord. How should I explain theology to them? Clearly they were ready for some conversation, but it should be on a level they would understand. Having walked around many sections of the Muslim school and daycare they attend, I was aware that many groups of children were being indoctrinated.
A few weeks later I got a glimpse of how to do so. In a little over a month, I wrote four children's books, and have added a couple more since then. But I have not read them to my grandkids yet. I am hesitant to put them at risk, whether they believe me or not. My artwork is seriously limited and picture books require decent illustrations. I have worked on paper and on computer. None are satisfactory, but I do have some ideas recorded. My favorite book uses the person of George Washington to make a point. (Of course these are only files, but someday, somehow ....)
Most of these were things that were not included in my blogs. However, I have returned to them to gather bits that need repeating. I wrote a couple of pamplets for evangelistic use. Lately I have been assembling Psalms that I had meditated on, memorized and written about. Many of my writings were recorded first on Word and then uploaded. In fact most of my early ones were, having been written on paper first. However, they were refined as I posted these thoughts.
So, you should know I have not given up the fight. It is just going in another direction. And I still wrestle with how to address it. You see, insulting someone is not the best way to get their attention or hearing. But neither is lying to them about what you have to say. I consider speaking honestly a compliment to the person I hope to address. I hope you do too.
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