I hereby declare August to be Beowulf Month!

All things Beowulf are to be celebrated!

Beginning with the original epic poem, we'll move into books, films, graphic novels, toys and other sundries inspired by Beowulf!

How can you get involved? How can you beholden such a wonderful month? Why . . . right here of course! All throughout the month of August I will post thoughts and comments on Beowulf-related materials!

Not good enough?! Okay! You are invited to blog, tweet, facebook, tumbl, or create memes. Contact me and I'll post a link to your thoughts!

Still not enough?! Fine! The Untold Podcast has a brand-new, unannounced forum on Christian Geek Central. While we wait for the network to launch, lets jump on this whole Beowulf discussion over there too! Here's the direct link.

So start reading the original poem! You can find plenty of free versions on the Kindle, Nook, or on the Web. For my money, I prefer the Seamus Heaney version.

In addition to the original poem I plan on also enjoying:

• Beowulf (1999) starring Christopher Lambert
• The 13th Warrior (1999) based on the Michael Crichton novel
• Beowulf & Grendel (2005) starring Gerard Butler
• Beowulf (2007) by Benjamin Bagby with an Anglo-Saxon harp
• Beowulf (2007) computer animated film directed by Robert Zemeckis
• Outlander (2008) a science fiction film starring James Caviezel
• Grendel (1971) Novel from Grendel's point of view  by John Gardner
• Beowulf  Graphic Novel by Gareth Hinds
• Beowulf: Gods and Monsters comic series by Brian Augustyn
• Beowulf Graphic Novel by Stefan Petrucha
• Beowulf the Video Game (UBI Soft)
• Beowulf the Board Game
• Beowulf the Movie Board Game

Recommendations also appreciated!

Who's in?

I wrote a review for Jason Brannon's latest book, The Maze, a few months ago.

My audio recording of the review was featured in last week's Spirit Blade Underground Podcast.

Go check it out here.

(Also, Jason Brannon's short story "The Fourth Key" is being produced for the next episode of the Untold Podcast!)

Summary: Covering Psalms 1-88, Exploring Psalms is a part of the John Phillips Commentary Series.

Review: Kregel is republishing this series of commentaries by Dr. John Phillips. This volume is sometimes helpful and contains some good exegetical insight to the texts. Phillips is also a solid, eloquent writer, which makes reading this volume a somewhat enjoyable experience.

Overall, however, I found myself in disagreement with Phillip’s approach to the text. First, every psalm features an alliterated outline. I know these were (and unfortunately still are) popular, but they have to use synonyms or be really stretched far out to try and fit the text. I’d rather use the language of the text, rather than relying on this sort of teaching gimmick. Second, far too often Phillips tries to hunt down the original context in which the psalm was written. This is a noble undertaking and can be helpful in interpretation, but by adopting one definitive historical context for some of the more ambiguous psalms, the entire interpretation of the psalm changes and is in some ways limited in a way David or the psalmist did not intend. Also, Phillips often neglects to consider that many of these psalms were written during a historical event that does not have a corresponding text in the Bible.

I appreciated how Phillips used metaphors to describe certain sections/movements of the Psalms. This is often very helpful. But these metaphors are also sometimes dated, and out of step with contemporary audiences.

I found this volume sometimes helpful during my sermon preparations, but only moderately so. Right now, I’ve found Kregel Exegetical Library: A Commentary on the Psalms, Volume 1: 1-41 by Allen Ross much more helpful.  

Rating: 3/5 Stars (I liked it)

You can find the book at Kregel or on Amazon.

Note: I received a physical copy of this book for free in exchange for an unbiased review.

The worst day in my life was October 20, 2009.

I have experienced much pain in my days on earth. Illness, disease, deep depression, persecution, hatred, scorn and torment. But no pain that had come before or since can compare with October 20, 2009.

Several weeks prior, I met Kristin for lunch at the Red Robins in Valencia. After we ordered (I had a teriyaki burger with pineapple) my wife handed me a tube wrapped in Christmas paper.

I smiled.

I knew what it was. “This is a pregnancy test isn’t it?” To this day she still has a hard time surprising me.

We’d been trying to get pregnant for only a short while, and in that moment, as I pulled out the digital test and read the word “pregnant” I was a father.

I was also a health-code violator because I was waving around a tainted instrument in the middle of an eating establishment . . . but no one seemed to care.

The next few weeks were a flurry of events. Doctor’s appointments, early pregnancy classes, decisions about moving to a new home, vitamins, boys names (I liked Hrothgar), girl’s names, excitement, energy, and exuberance!

Then Tuesday came. It was a bright and sunny California day. I spent the morning in our one bedroom apartment studying Hebrew concepts I’d need for my class later in the day. As I tried to focus on the very peculiar text, Kristin called my name from the bathroom. Her voice shook. She didn’t scream but I heard fear in her voice.

I turned the corner down the hallway and what I saw looked like a murder scene.

Blood was everywhere.

Because we had Kaiser Permanente (a sort of uber-HMO), we had to drive outside of the Santa Clarita Valley over to Studio City. Spotting was normal in early pregnancies wasn’t it? I remembered that much from my anatomy and physiology classes. We sped as best as we could, and I cannot recall anything that may have been said in that thirty minute car ride, but I know I prayed and I thought over and over and over, It’s going to be okay . . . It’s going to be okay.

We arrived at the hospital. It’s going to be okay. We waited. It’s going to be okay. And waited. It’s going to be okay. The doctor who saw us told us she needed to perform a rather invasive ultrasound. I watched the screen and held Kristin’s hand. It’s going to be okay.

The screen was dark.

The doctor left the room, then came back in. She said, “I’m very sorry but you are not pregnant.”

She never once said miscarriage. Some of what she said lacked good bedside manner, some it made us angry . . . but then she said, “God is with you in this and I know that this won’t comfort you now, but at least you know that you can get pregnant.”

We drove home.

In my shock I realized that I had just enough time to go to Hebrew class, so I said goodbye to Kristin and got in my car to drive down to Talbot. I started the car, and the serpentine belt fell off.

I stayed home with my wife.

We were depressed. We knew that we were depressed. And we weren’t willing to “put a good face on" in the midst of our grief. But life had to go on. So, I told the staff at the church where I served as a youth pastor about what had happened. I also told the adult volunteers. I spoke with a number of the professors at Talbot, friends and most certainly our family members.

One person proceeded to tell us about the miscarriage in their family which eventually pulled everyone apart.

Another, told us that their miscarriage was the best thing that had happened to them, because they didn’t really want another kid.

Still others told us that maybe it was God telling us that we weren’t ready to be parents.

One of my mentors in seminary, after hearing the entire ordeal said, “That’s the problem with all these early pregnancy tests. Before we had them, a women would just think that she was just having a heavy period.”

And of course, everyone quoted Romans 8:28 – “all things work together for the good of those who love God . . .”

I’ve never wanted to punch people so much in my life. And these comments are just representative of the typical responses people gave to us as we grieved the loss of our unborn child.

Three people in particular consoled me, though. I know Kristin had some good people comfort her too, and there were others who comforted us, but these three in particular comforted me.

1. My pastor at the time, Mike Cobb, listened to what had happened, then got up from behind his desk and threw his arms around me and said, “I’m sorry. I know this hurts.” Tears were in his eyes.

2. My Hebrew professor, Dr. Rigsby said, “I’ve never had to go through the pain of a miscarriage, but my daughter-in-law has,” tears started streaming from his face, “And I don’t know why this happened, Nathan, but just like David said when his child died he cannot come to me, but I can go to him.” Then we were both crying. “Your child cannot come to you, Nathan, but you will one day see this child again.”

3. My pastor’s wife, Terri came into my office a few days later and we talked a little and I actually said, “We weren’t all that far along.” But she corrected me and said. “It doesn’t matter. As soon as you see the word pregnant you are a parent.” And we both cried.

Pastoral Insight

Because I’m a pastor, I need to comment on how people consoled us in our grief. When someone near you is grieving anything, whether a miscarriage, a death, a divorce or other tragedy:

• Don’t tell a story about something similar that happened to you. (This puts the focus on yourself, rather than consoling those who are hurting. If you've gone through a similar pain, you can acknowledge it, the feelings you felt in your grief, but avoid making the conversation about yourself).
• Don’t tell a story about yourself or others who went through a similar situation but turned out okay in the end. (I know you’re trying to give hope here, but to a hurting person this sounds like “suck it up and stop being sad, it’s going to work out you big baby.”)
• Don’t make promises on God’s behalf that God hasn't made. (God promises to comfort through the pain, he has not promised perfect marriages, obedient children, or fertile families. Telling an infertile couple that they’re going to get pregnant is reckless . . . you don’t know.)
• Don’t quote Romans 8:28! (Romans 8:28 is a verse about trusting God. In the midst of tragedy, many of us are trusting God, while simultaneously experiencing pain! Trusting God does not mean we don’t experience pain in our grief. When you quote this verse to a grieving person you harm them twice. First, you fail to acknowledge the legitimacy of their pain. And second, you accuse them of not trusting God.)

Instead of doing these sort of (typical) things, you should:

• Acknowledge their pain and grief. (i.e. “This hurts. This is horrible. I’m sorry.”)
• Sit with them, spend time with them, ask questions, talk about the tragedy or be silent.
• Read a Psalm or passage about comfort. (Psalm 13, 22, 23 are good starting places! The grieving process is not the time to try and perfect a person’s theology.)

It’s about four years later. October 20th didn’t turn out okay. We haven’t become pregnant. We’ve had no real foster placements to speak of. It feels like our life is on hold.

But still . . .

Still we trust in the hesed, the loving-kindness, the faithful love of Yahweh – The One Who Causes Things To Be The Way They Are.

Note: Episode 10 of the Untold Podcast "In the Bag" is based in the world of this book. Go listen to it today!

Summary: Winch and Cope Sark are brothers cut from entirely different clothes in Steve Rzasa’s steam-punk, alternate-reality fantasy novel. But Winch, the overly cautious reporter, and Cope, the ladies-man pilot, are caught up in the intrigue of city-states, locomotive conglomerates, aeroplane corporations, military operations and a supernatural force that threatens to destroy everything the brothers hold dear.

 

Review: Crosswind – The First Sark Brothers Tale, is an entirely otherworldly story. It’s sort of a western, but the setting of the story has elements of steam-punk, alternative reality and fantasy thrown in. Rzasa has created a wonderful world within the pages of his novel. What I like about it though, is how the reader is just thrown into this world. There’s no long, awkward, opening monologue about how the world functions, or what the rules are. The reader is just thrown into the story and the rules of the world slowly reveal themselves! I love it! And hats-off to Marcher Lord Press for allowing the story to be presented this way! (I’ve had many-a’-editor try and force me to write a clunky explanation.) This sort of writing enhances the otherworldliness of the story.

Even though, Rzasa has created a very rich world filled with bi-planes, airships, railroads, mastodons and branters (kind of, two-legged, upright, transportation beasts), Crosswind is character driven! Winch, the wimpy intellectual older brother contrasts well with his younger, brasher, and braver younger brother, Cope. Both of these characters go through wonderful character arcs, even in the midst of all the action and intrigue.

The religions in Crosswind certainly mirrors Christian sensibilities, with only very moderate adaptations to reflect what the incarnate son would look like in this world. The religion is functional, often powerful and poignant, but clunky in a couple of places. But Rzasa still manages to work some great theology into the story without being terribly overbearing.

I really enjoyed this book throughout. My only real major qualm was with the editing of the latter half of the book. I read the book via the kindle app and the back half of the book had regular and constant typos. Nothing too major, but things link a wrong letter, transposed letters, repeated words and the occasional pronoun jumble really slowed down the reading of the book and made the work come across as rather unpolished.

Find it here on Amazon.

(Presentation: 3/5)

Rating: 5/5

This picture embodies my philosophy and style of leadership.

I wish I knew the artist of this wonderful image. I am indebted to his or her visual representation!

In the circles I run in there is a lot of talk about "servant leadership." But in reality, it is far too easy to be the sort of leader in picture #1 -  barking out orders, trying to get people to do the work that you're not willing to do yourself, thinking yourself too high to do "that sort of labor," or micro-managing people's work.

I never want to be like that.

Sure, servant leadership carries with it the risk of failing to delegate (and that tends to be my weakness), but that's not really leadership.

The beauty of picture #2 sees the leader not merely serving, but serving with those he's been called to lead. He is the first to do the hard work, but calls others to join him in the hard work.

So, some colleagues turn their nose down at the fact that I move chairs, scrub bathrooms, and dig holes. But I'm not above any of that.

That brings me to today, and the rest of this week. I am serving with Freedom Builders and helping to improve and repair our neighbor's homes.

I have church work to do, a sermon to prepare, and add to that my wife and I need to heavily repair the new rental we're moving into because it is in severe disrepair.

So, why am I spending at least seven hours a day roofing and painting? Because it is showing the love of Christ in a practical way, and gives us opportunities to share the gospel. I want the congregation I serve to participate in this gospel-work . . . and I want to be the sort of leader in picture #2.

I found some berries in the woods. My wife advised against eating them. I thought they looked fine. So I made her a bet and ate them. I'll report back tomorrow if I won...
...no updates if I lost.

We're about to prepare some sort of dessert called "Mountain Pies." I'm told they consists of bread, cream cheese, butter... maybe some V8 (sodium free) and some "other" "stuff." And all this is roasted over an open fire!Please pray for us!

We just got back from the beach ... my pastey whiteness blinded everyone! Happy Independence Day!

Harry the Hippo says, "Have a good time... trying to start a fire with the wettest firewood known to man! (Or hippo)"