tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post8043875879642366572..comments2024-02-17T17:59:25.010+10:00Comments on Christian Writers Downunder: Greater ExpectationsJeanette O'Haganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11057798704247611224noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-85253726798149604752013-09-25T08:02:11.301+10:002013-09-25T08:02:11.301+10:00Thanks Di and Paula. Yes, the enemy does love to s...Thanks Di and Paula. Yes, the enemy does love to stop us doing what God has called us to, Di. We have to be careful not to let him. Sounds like you have had a hard week too, Paula. I needed some encouragement this week, so thanks Di and Paula. It's good when we can encourage and support each other.Dalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14217918666756258037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-59091365732656526642013-09-24T19:43:15.121+10:002013-09-24T19:43:15.121+10:00Hi Dale,
Thanks very much. I appreciated this mess...Hi Dale,<br />Thanks very much. I appreciated this message too, especially after some experiences I had this past week. And I think some of the best Christian fiction is that in which characters struggle in these areas.Paula Vincehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02079952414990463270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-62983874924487084712013-09-24T13:58:37.550+10:002013-09-24T13:58:37.550+10:00Thanks Dale, seems like we all struggle with the e...Thanks Dale, seems like we all struggle with the expectations we place on other Christians and how critical it is for us to take a look at ourselves in light of this.<br /><br />Quite often I have to remind myself of what it says at the end of Romans 12. Not to repay evil with evil to vindicate myself but to live peaceably with others, as far as it depends on me. <br />Importantly the chapter finishes off with Overcome evil with good.<br /><br />Certainly the evil one wants to keep us busy holding onto grudges and pointing fingers to put us off what God calls us to do - Love Him and others!<br /><br />Great challenge for us all Dale....thank you for your post!<br /><br />Di Rileyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01288915294738813579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-60340077165757834682013-09-24T08:54:26.978+10:002013-09-24T08:54:26.978+10:00Thanks Rita and Geoff for your encouragement and i...Thanks Rita and Geoff for your encouragement and input. Holding grudges does hamper prayer. Praying for the person helps dissolve the grudges even if at first it seems almost hypocritical to do so. And yes, thank God he is sovereign indeed!Dalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14217918666756258037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-28144482703811113632013-09-23T19:51:08.209+10:002013-09-23T19:51:08.209+10:00I enjoyed your article. Grudges and gossip are ver...I enjoyed your article. Grudges and gossip are very destructive, but thank God He is sovereign! In a novel of mine soon to be released, a schizophrenic teenage boy runs away from home, and is eventually brought back to his Christian home by another delusional schizophrenic boy. God can use anyone he chooses to do His work. Thanks. Geoff.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07128324011467626564noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-85310214905273150282013-09-23T16:49:08.542+10:002013-09-23T16:49:08.542+10:00Thanks for such an in-depth post, Dale. I have jus...Thanks for such an in-depth post, Dale. I have just finished reading Peace Child and the struggle of the new Christians of a stone age tribe to learn forgiveness when for thousands of years they viewed revenge as a quality to be admired.<br /><br />Holding grudges when we need to forgive is exactly on the same level. I've discovered that really hampers prayer.Rita Galiehhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14586506137798711397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-57734847365588055142013-09-23T14:55:56.555+10:002013-09-23T14:55:56.555+10:00Thanks Nola, Jo-Anne, Carol, Margaret, Ian and Anu...Thanks Nola, Jo-Anne, Carol, Margaret, Ian and Anusha for so many encouraging comments on this post. It seems it struck a chord with a number of you. That's very encouraging, as I was initially hesitant about writing this. But then, isn't that the way God works when we are obedient? He uses it to challenge and bless others. What a mighty God!Dalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14217918666756258037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-17172950788329521912013-09-23T12:49:10.745+10:002013-09-23T12:49:10.745+10:00Wow Dale. That was exactly what I needed to hear. ...Wow Dale. That was exactly what I needed to hear. I have been in a situation of late where the expectations I have of another Christian are not being met. I choose at times to let go of my expectations. But then.. struggle at other times because it's not just me - but a whole bunch of others who are affected. It is a dilemma.<br /><br />Thanks for sharing and thanks for the challenge. Yes, there are no stereotypes in life are there? Each person is unique and made in the image of God. I loved it that you mentioned that often there is conflict in our lives when we hunger after God and try our best to please Him. It is so true.<br /><br />Thanks for speaking to me.<br />Bless you Dale,<br />AnushaAnusha Atukoralahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00859837228901127984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-19756992359850097402013-09-23T09:45:14.956+10:002013-09-23T09:45:14.956+10:00Thank you for that post, Dale. It was very timely ...Thank you for that post, Dale. It was very timely for me as I attended a church meeting just yesterday where I witnessed a whole church in this situation...divided right down the middle. I so agree with Carol about the need for relationship and conflict management skills in the Christian arena, and not just for leaders. Even church mediation is often just a band aid job to make things look good on the surface, with the cancer continuing to grow under cover. Satan is certainly active among the church, and also our own lives. Thanks again for the reminder, Dale, and for encouraging realistic Christian fiction.Margaret Lepkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08147233663724759684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-36773342207919390292013-09-23T09:42:04.346+10:002013-09-23T09:42:04.346+10:00Dale, wonderful post. When I find myself grappling...Dale, wonderful post. When I find myself grappling with a critical spirit about another person I remember a little saying, "Everyone needs healing" and this some how humbles me to start praying for the other and my own sinfulness.<br /><br />And yes complex characters in fiction are always best, however, I find are very challenging to write. I'd suggest that may be the reason why so many of us struggle with not producing stereotypes. But this is what makes writing so much fun and hard work.<br /><br /><br /><br />Ian Ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00192687613923596829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-77530057090043661572013-09-23T09:24:07.027+10:002013-09-23T09:24:07.027+10:00Thanks for sharing Dale. I can see how disappointi...Thanks for sharing Dale. I can see how disappointing it is for you when you find Christians unable to deal in a healthy way with relationships. It can be very hurtful, I know. I think it's a great reminder that Christian, just like other people, need to keep learning about healthy, safe relationships and practicing good conflict management. It's more important for us if anything, as we need to be good examples. Good on you for raising this. And of course I agree, in our writing we should betray the reality of relationship difficulties, and personal growth issues. Otherwise readers will quickly see that we're not in touch with reality. Carol Preston https://www.blogger.com/profile/00306981583283008014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-58221718655041210512013-09-23T07:54:41.642+10:002013-09-23T07:54:41.642+10:00Thanks for a very wise and thoughtful blog, Dale. ...Thanks for a very wise and thoughtful blog, Dale. I can hear your pain too over the severing of that relationship and the resultant fallout--God comfort and bring good out of that situation. Such a good point that, as we shape our own fictional characters, we need to keep them real and remember the daily struggles we all go through and how God still uses us. It has been an ongoing journey for me in my writing to make my characters less 'good'! I tried hard in that area in writing my latest novel 'The Inheritance' and I hope I've succeeded.Jo-Anne Berthelsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09775045057529728396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-1975518148826462782013-09-23T06:24:25.092+10:002013-09-23T06:24:25.092+10:00Thanks for those thoughts Dale. I've read a f...Thanks for those thoughts Dale. I've read a few books where the Christian characters were just too good and it was hard to relate to them. Terri Blackstock is one of my favourite Christian authors. She often shows Christians struggling with issues, arguing etc, but God works through them (e.g., the Cape Refuge series). I think that comes across as a lot more real. May God continue to bless you richly as you write about real struggles.Nola Passmorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08425394685430146759noreply@blogger.com