tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post9003925013936209161..comments2024-02-17T17:59:25.010+10:00Comments on Christian Writers Downunder: Easter - The Same Old Story? by Nola PassmoreJeanette O'Haganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11057798704247611224noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-56151382335087447922015-04-06T20:36:28.182+10:002015-04-06T20:36:28.182+10:00Thanks for that Adele. That's so true. It...Thanks for that Adele. That's so true. It's easy to trod those familiar paths when writing, but stepping out of our comfort zones can bring a fresh perspective and possibilities we hadn't thought of. Looking forward to reading your next plot twist!Nola Passmorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08425394685430146759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-3734408060856736132015-04-06T18:44:11.284+10:002015-04-06T18:44:11.284+10:00A valuable post, Nola. It can be all too easy to t...A valuable post, Nola. It can be all too easy to think we've heard/know everything about a story or even topic, but it's that willingness to dig deeper, examine things from different angles, and shed fresh light on an account that truly brings it to life. Same applies to any of our writing really. We can too often write only what we know (or a comfortable with), forgetting that a whole new world of characters, plot twists and points of view are just waiting to be penned to life and, like the Easter story, bring fresh perspective to readers.Adele Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15413445554710215786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-2806926042213567292015-04-06T17:57:10.255+10:002015-04-06T17:57:10.255+10:00Thanks for that Susanne. I'm glad it encourag...Thanks for that Susanne. I'm glad it encouraged you. I think it's something we can all learn and I need to apply it more myself as well. Writing blogs is always a good reminder to me too :) Thanks for your feedback.Nola Passmorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08425394685430146759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-53367850319801093572015-04-06T16:34:13.454+10:002015-04-06T16:34:13.454+10:00Yes, I agree. A new slant makes all the difference...Yes, I agree. A new slant makes all the difference.Paula Vincehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02079952414990463270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-57367788437451850202015-04-06T15:14:32.302+10:002015-04-06T15:14:32.302+10:00Hi Nola, I too reiterate the comments of the above...Hi Nola, I too reiterate the comments of the above writers. Your post was a great encouragement to go deeper in my work, ever seeking to find new and creative ways to write about God's work. Thank you so much.Susanne Timpanihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05162067477435010962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-70575326036241583912015-04-06T11:49:53.309+10:002015-04-06T11:49:53.309+10:00Thanks Jenny. Yes that's so true. As others ...Thanks Jenny. Yes that's so true. As others have said, the Holy Spirit can bring fresh insights each time. Really appreciate your feedback :)Nola Passmorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08425394685430146759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-77010739588939857712015-04-06T11:47:02.470+10:002015-04-06T11:47:02.470+10:00Thanks for that encouragement Anusha. I really ap...Thanks for that encouragement Anusha. I really appreciate it. You're so right about the Holy Spirit. There have been many times when He has shown me something new in a passage. A couple of years ago, I did a two-month Selwyn Hughes' study on the 23rd Psalm (yes - 60 meditations on one psalm!) and it was amazing how many fresh insights he brought out of it. It's just a matter of finding that new perspective and the Holy Spirit is definitely our guide in that. I'll look forward to seeing what you come up with. Take care xxNola Passmorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08425394685430146759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-68957189520715843932015-04-06T11:37:27.935+10:002015-04-06T11:37:27.935+10:00Hi Nola
I loved your poem on Barabbas and the remi...Hi Nola<br />I loved your poem on Barabbas and the reminder of how we can draw fresh insight from biblical stories we have heard a hundred times. I'm often surprised at how many times I can read a biblical passage and still find something new or a new way to apply it. <br />Thanks for your post :)Jeanette O'Haganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11057798704247611224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-2304747057071097952015-04-06T11:33:32.300+10:002015-04-06T11:33:32.300+10:00Great post Nola. And thanks for the encouragement ...Great post Nola. And thanks for the encouragement to try to retell old stories with freshness - something God calls us writers to. It's so easy to think 'we've heard it all before' - but no - we haven't. You have only to ponder on the same passage in scripture 10 different times - and find God speaking in 10 different ways to know that.<br /><br />And so as we writers look to the Holy Spirit for inspiration, there is no doubt He will show us how we can use the same well thumbed passages to bring fresh inspiration.<br /><br />I loved your poem on Barrabus. Well done!<br /><br />You've encouraged me afresh to seek new ways of communicating old truths so thanks for that. I have no doubt God will use your blog in my writing life and I look forward to what He's going to do! Bless you. And by the way A very Blessed Easter to you and Tim.Anusha Atukoralahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00859837228901127984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-81685488524848281902015-04-06T11:32:11.361+10:002015-04-06T11:32:11.361+10:00Hi Mary. Thanks for the tip about the Easter Lego ...Hi Mary. Thanks for the tip about the Easter Lego story animation. A great resource.Jeanette O'Haganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11057798704247611224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-3898491017951814552015-04-06T11:28:15.452+10:002015-04-06T11:28:15.452+10:00Thanks for that Mary. Yes you're absolutely r...Thanks for that Mary. Yes you're absolutely right. There have been many times God's spoken to me anew through a familiar passage. Even though I mentioned The Prodigal Son and the Parable of the Sower, I can think of times when someone has preached on one of those and then I have still gotten something new out of it. Yes, the work of the Holy Spirit is amazing.<br /><br />I'm glad you were able to recite one of Ray's poems. Sometimes a poem, song or story can touch people in a different way and open them up to the message they're about to hear. Tim and I were just talking about that this morning. I haven't seen the Lego Easter. I'll go and look that up now. Thanks for your comment Mary. Take care xxNola Passmorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08425394685430146759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-6134852319867013002015-04-06T11:24:06.423+10:002015-04-06T11:24:06.423+10:00Hi Ian - Those podcasts sound really interesting. ...Hi Ian - Those podcasts sound really interesting. That would be interesting to reflect on what Jesus was thinking earlier in the week. We can know all the facts, but trying to think about the thoughts and feelings behind it brings a totally new dimension. And yes you're right about the Biblical fiction titles. There's certainly a market for it and it can shed a different perspective. Thanks for sharing. Nola Passmorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08425394685430146759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-90399151528198393602015-04-06T11:23:50.920+10:002015-04-06T11:23:50.920+10:00Hi Robyn
We glad you've been part of our too. ...Hi Robyn<br />We glad you've been part of our too. I imagine that you could related to the agony of a mother's heart that Mary would've felt. <3Jeanette O'Haganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11057798704247611224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-26713915007869119032015-04-06T11:20:30.360+10:002015-04-06T11:20:30.360+10:00Thanks for that Robyn. We're so glad we met y...Thanks for that Robyn. We're so glad we met you through MOPs too. I'd love to read your poem when you're done. That sounds like a great idea. I've been writing quite a few poems from the perspectives of different people in the Bible. I think I shared some of them at MOPs. I find it really helps me to think more deeply about a passage as well because you have to try to imagine what they were thinking and how it would have felt. Look forward to reading your poem. I'm sure you'll do a brilliant job xxNola Passmorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08425394685430146759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-4163097476615199642015-04-06T11:17:41.365+10:002015-04-06T11:17:41.365+10:00Thanks for that Jo. Glad you liked the poem. And...Thanks for that Jo. Glad you liked the poem. And thanks for the tip about the Walter Wangerin Jr book. Looks like there are a few I'll have to chase up. Take care.Nola Passmorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08425394685430146759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-20274184900627368782015-04-06T11:16:36.542+10:002015-04-06T11:16:36.542+10:00Hi Paula - Thanks for that encouragement. I'l...Hi Paula - Thanks for that encouragement. I'll have to look for some more of Walter Wangerin's books. I'd forgotten about that book until I was preparing this post.<br /><br />I was thinking about Rose's post too. It's amazing how similar ideas work in together. I was thinking about the whole idea of remakes this morning and I think one of the big differences is whether a writer has something different to say or a new slant on a familiar story. For example, I have absolutely no idea why they've decided to do a new version of The Odd Couple TV Show (though admit I haven't managed to sit through a whole episode of the new one). But there have been some great examples of writers breathing new life into an old story (e.g. 'Wicked' is a spin off of 'The Wizard of Oz' and 'Snow White and the Huntsman' puts a new spin on the classic fairytale). It's a skill to be able to find that 'new angle'.<br /><br />Thanks for your feedback Paula. Hope you had a great Easter too. We had a nice family one.Nola Passmorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08425394685430146759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-77276255079782885132015-04-06T10:37:00.598+10:002015-04-06T10:37:00.598+10:00How come we can read the same passages in the scri...How come we can read the same passages in the scriptures, including the stories, over and over, and yet the Holy Spirit uses them each time to challenge, smack, comfort, fall more in love with Jesus or whatever HE knows we need at that time? This is the Holy Spirit using the Word to minister to us what He knows we can understand and need at different seasons of our lives. Of course, we also believe He is the One who should give us the insights to present thoughts of Easter in different ways to meet the needs of different age groups, different people. Last Sunday, at a church Ray preached at he asked me to recite one of his many poems. This one was titled Conquered. Just doing that was probably more a real blessing to me than those who listened. Anyone seen the Lego version of Easter on Facebook? Great for children especially. And God keeps marching on presenting His story for each generation!Mary Hawkinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12603850711168486457noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-19623625301098125652015-04-06T10:35:39.874+10:002015-04-06T10:35:39.874+10:00Good post, Nola. I've been listening to John E...Good post, Nola. I've been listening to John Eldredge's podcasts this past week as he walks through each day of Jesus' last week reflecting on what Jesus did each day and what might be going through his mind at the time. I've enjoyed thinking more on how he spends time each night (especially early in the week) with his friends just hanging out and enjoying each other's companionship. Knowing what He knew was going to happen a few days later made this time so much more special.<br /><br />I guess the ever-expanding catalogue of Biblical fiction titles reflects our desire for old stories being re-told.<br /><br />Happy Easter, Nola and all at CWD. Ian Ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00192687613923596829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-84903976281353854692015-04-06T09:55:19.722+10:002015-04-06T09:55:19.722+10:00Oh, Nola, thank you for this beautiful post. You h...Oh, Nola, thank you for this beautiful post. You have given me a bright new perspective on this and other Bible stories. I have decided to write a poem from Mary's POV. How painful this must have been for her. She was His mother (even though He was also her Savior). Her heart had to be so crushed. Thank you, my friend. I am very thankful God brought you and Jenny into my life. <3 <br />Robyn Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17356555082768185840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-63838545639253771852015-04-06T09:43:49.034+10:002015-04-06T09:43:49.034+10:00Thanks so much, Nola. Like Paula, your post sent m...Thanks so much, Nola. Like Paula, your post sent me back to a Walter Wangerin Jr book I have on my shelf--'Ragman and Other Cries of Faith' which contains so much beautiful writing. But I also really loved your own poem--thank you for sharing it with us.Jo-Anne Berthelsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09775045057529728396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-24201679808960729572015-04-06T08:44:36.006+10:002015-04-06T08:44:36.006+10:00Hi Nola,
This post helps me think about the true f...Hi Nola,<br />This post helps me think about the true function of creative people. We may sometimes believe that we should only strive to come up with original material, but telling important old stories in fresh and original ways is just as important a skill. It reminded me of the recent post by Rose Dee, in which she mentioned that lots of stories are simply remakes of older stories. Perhaps this is just as it should be, to keep those alive.<br /><br />I like your poem from Barabbas' perspective. And speaking of Walter Wangerin Jr., I have his 'Book of God' which is the Bible written as a novel. I'm glad people keep thinking of new ways to present the stories we love.<br /><br />I hope you had a happy Easter.Paula Vincehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02079952414990463270noreply@blogger.com