Monday, October 27, 2014
Online Plot Generators Come Up Short
I'm working on my two short story ideas for 2015 by developing plot outlines and characters. While doing a little online research I discovered something called a "plot generator." It promises to come up with a short story for you! All you have to do is enter a few names, adjectives and place locations. Even you are really lazy, it will come up with those for you.
So I gave it a try and put in a few names and details related to a story I'm calling "Tragedy at Coleman Corner." I think the story that was generated leaves something to be desired, but I'll let you decide. Here it is:
A Short Story
by David Burton
Duncan Early was thinking about Zarilda Farmer again. Zarilda was an intelligent school girl with big nose and sweaty hand.
Duncan walked over to the window and reflected on his old-fashioned surroundings. He had always loved rural Coleman Corner with its outrageous, obedient one-room school. It was a place that encouraged his tendency to feel Excited.
Then he saw something in the distance, or rather someone. It was the an intelligent figure of Zarilda Farmer.
Duncan gulped. He glanced at his own reflection. He was a confident, honest, tea drinker with bloody nose and soft hand. His friends saw him as a tiny, terrible teacher. Once, he had even rescued a tight grandmother from a burning building.
But not even a confident person who had once rescued a tight grandmother from a burning building, was prepared for what Zarilda had in store today.
The snow flurried like sitting birds, making Duncan sad. Duncan grabbed a polished chalkboard that had been strewn nearby; he massaged it with his fingers.
As Duncan stepped outside and Zarilda came closer, he could see the bumpy glint in her eye.
Zarilda gazed with the affection of 8177 sympathetic hushed horses. She said, in hushed tones, "I love you and I want love."
Duncan looked back, even more sadness and still fingering the polished chalkboard. "Zarilda, you are my student," he replied.
They looked at each other with feelings of guilt, like two sharp, solid sheep thinking at a very bold funeral, which had piano music playing in the background and two friendly uncles running to the beat.
Duncan studied Zarilda’ s big nose and sweaty hand. Eventually, he took a deep breath. "I'm sorry," began Duncan in apologetic tones, "but I don't feel the same way, and I never will. I just don't love you Zarilda."
Zarilda looked confident, her emotions raw like a sore, slimy school bell.
Duncan could actually hear Zarilda’ s emotions shatter into 9470 pieces. Then the intelligent school girl hurried away into the distance.
Not even a cup of tea would calm Duncan's nerves tonight.
So I gave it a try and put in a few names and details related to a story I'm calling "Tragedy at Coleman Corner." I think the story that was generated leaves something to be desired, but I'll let you decide. Here it is:
A Short Story
by David Burton
Duncan Early was thinking about Zarilda Farmer again. Zarilda was an intelligent school girl with big nose and sweaty hand.
Duncan walked over to the window and reflected on his old-fashioned surroundings. He had always loved rural Coleman Corner with its outrageous, obedient one-room school. It was a place that encouraged his tendency to feel Excited.
Then he saw something in the distance, or rather someone. It was the an intelligent figure of Zarilda Farmer.
Duncan gulped. He glanced at his own reflection. He was a confident, honest, tea drinker with bloody nose and soft hand. His friends saw him as a tiny, terrible teacher. Once, he had even rescued a tight grandmother from a burning building.
But not even a confident person who had once rescued a tight grandmother from a burning building, was prepared for what Zarilda had in store today.
The snow flurried like sitting birds, making Duncan sad. Duncan grabbed a polished chalkboard that had been strewn nearby; he massaged it with his fingers.
As Duncan stepped outside and Zarilda came closer, he could see the bumpy glint in her eye.
Zarilda gazed with the affection of 8177 sympathetic hushed horses. She said, in hushed tones, "I love you and I want love."
Duncan looked back, even more sadness and still fingering the polished chalkboard. "Zarilda, you are my student," he replied.
They looked at each other with feelings of guilt, like two sharp, solid sheep thinking at a very bold funeral, which had piano music playing in the background and two friendly uncles running to the beat.
Duncan studied Zarilda’ s big nose and sweaty hand. Eventually, he took a deep breath. "I'm sorry," began Duncan in apologetic tones, "but I don't feel the same way, and I never will. I just don't love you Zarilda."
Zarilda looked confident, her emotions raw like a sore, slimy school bell.
Duncan could actually hear Zarilda’ s emotions shatter into 9470 pieces. Then the intelligent school girl hurried away into the distance.
Not even a cup of tea would calm Duncan's nerves tonight.
Monday, October 20, 2014
Do Not Lose Heart
The news headlines these days are downright depressing. Ebola outbreaks, hurricanes, famine, wars, threats of war, rogue nations with nuclear weapons, growing hatred for the Jews worldwide, expanding terrorism that knows no boundaries, the crumbling moral foundation of our nation, leaders that fail to lead, a growing debt that threatens to cripple our nation and our ability to respond to danger, and cancer that seems to be impacting friends at a younger and younger age.
The answer isn’t just turning off the news reports or the Internet (although taking a break from the 24-7 news cycle can be good). The answer is developing a different perspective or paradigm about what all this bad news means.
In my Bible reading this week I read a series of verses that impacted me in regard to my outlook when reading all of this bad news. Here it is: 2 Corinthians 4:16–18: “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
Let’s chew on that text for a while. Paul’s God-inspired words still have meaning for us today.
First off, he tells us: “do not lose heart.” The news is depressing much of the time and reading all of the bad news can get you down. Part of the reason it is depressing is because we feel helpless to do anything about it. But still, we need the reminder: “do not lose heart.”
Then Paul tells why we should not lose heart. “Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”
Paul makes the assertion here that inward renewal overcomes the outward destruction and ultimately overcomes even death itself. Seen in the perspective of eternity, the Christian’s difficulties whatever they may be, diminish in importance. By comparison the eternal glory is far greater than all the suffering one may face in this life.
Paul puts it on a personal level for those who are saved and have Jesus as their personal savior. But the same words could also be applied to our fallen world.
Then Paul delivers the information we need to explain what we can do and inspire us to change: “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
You see, we often have our eyes fixed on what is seen: Ebola outbreaks, hurricanes, famine, wars, threats of war, rogue nations with nuclear weapons, growing hatred for the Jews worldwide, expanding terrorism that knows no boundaries, the crumbling moral foundation of our nation, leaders that fail to lead, a growing debt that threatens to cripple our nation and our ability to respond to danger, and cancer that seems to be impacting friends at a younger and younger age. You get the idea.
In focusing on the things that are seen we end up focusing on the temporary things of life.
Instead, Paul tells us to change our focus to the things that are unseen yet eternal. We are to focus on the spiritual and on God’s kingdom.
Know what else is neat about focusing on the things that are unseen yet eternal? We tend to talk about the things we are focused on! So change your focus and go tell someone about God’s kingdom and what must be done to enter it.
The answer isn’t just turning off the news reports or the Internet (although taking a break from the 24-7 news cycle can be good). The answer is developing a different perspective or paradigm about what all this bad news means.
In my Bible reading this week I read a series of verses that impacted me in regard to my outlook when reading all of this bad news. Here it is: 2 Corinthians 4:16–18: “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
Let’s chew on that text for a while. Paul’s God-inspired words still have meaning for us today.
First off, he tells us: “do not lose heart.” The news is depressing much of the time and reading all of the bad news can get you down. Part of the reason it is depressing is because we feel helpless to do anything about it. But still, we need the reminder: “do not lose heart.”
Then Paul tells why we should not lose heart. “Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”
Paul makes the assertion here that inward renewal overcomes the outward destruction and ultimately overcomes even death itself. Seen in the perspective of eternity, the Christian’s difficulties whatever they may be, diminish in importance. By comparison the eternal glory is far greater than all the suffering one may face in this life.
Paul puts it on a personal level for those who are saved and have Jesus as their personal savior. But the same words could also be applied to our fallen world.
Then Paul delivers the information we need to explain what we can do and inspire us to change: “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
You see, we often have our eyes fixed on what is seen: Ebola outbreaks, hurricanes, famine, wars, threats of war, rogue nations with nuclear weapons, growing hatred for the Jews worldwide, expanding terrorism that knows no boundaries, the crumbling moral foundation of our nation, leaders that fail to lead, a growing debt that threatens to cripple our nation and our ability to respond to danger, and cancer that seems to be impacting friends at a younger and younger age. You get the idea.
In focusing on the things that are seen we end up focusing on the temporary things of life.
Instead, Paul tells us to change our focus to the things that are unseen yet eternal. We are to focus on the spiritual and on God’s kingdom.
Know what else is neat about focusing on the things that are unseen yet eternal? We tend to talk about the things we are focused on! So change your focus and go tell someone about God’s kingdom and what must be done to enter it.
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
Lazarus: Now That is a Testimony!
I’m sure you have heard people give powerful life-changing testimonies before. I’m thinking of people who were taken out of an alternative lifestyle or saved from a life of drugs or crime when they met Jesus Christ. The truth is, we all have a powerful testimony because anyone who has given their life to Jesus has been saved from death.
It doesn’t get much better than that does it?
If you are saved, there is no need to waste time wishing you had a “better testimony.” Your testimony is your own and it is powerful because Jesus has saved you from the wages of sin, which is death.
But still, some testimonies are special.
Take Lazarus for example. You are probably familiar with his story in John 11:1-44. Lazarus is sick. His sisters send word to their friend Jesus to come heal Lazarus. Jesus waits and Lazarus dies. But when Jesus does show up and He calls Lazarus out of the tomb, grave clothes and all!
We never read about what Lazarus thought of being called back from Heaven or what he experienced during that time of death. Many people think the story ends when Lazarus is given new life by Jesus. But actually, the story of Lazarus has one more chapter that often gets overlooked.
Check out this verse in the Bible (John 12:9-11): “Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him.”
Did you read that last part: “for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him.”
Turns out Lazarus had one of those fantastic testimonies and he was out sharing it. I would have loved to have heard Lazarus give his testimony!
It is fun to speculate about these things, but don’t miss this part: Lazarus’s testimony was moving people to follow Jesus. But better yet, his story reminds me that I need to be out sharing my own testimony and how Jesus has saved me from death too!
It doesn’t get much better than that does it?
If you are saved, there is no need to waste time wishing you had a “better testimony.” Your testimony is your own and it is powerful because Jesus has saved you from the wages of sin, which is death.
But still, some testimonies are special.
Take Lazarus for example. You are probably familiar with his story in John 11:1-44. Lazarus is sick. His sisters send word to their friend Jesus to come heal Lazarus. Jesus waits and Lazarus dies. But when Jesus does show up and He calls Lazarus out of the tomb, grave clothes and all!
We never read about what Lazarus thought of being called back from Heaven or what he experienced during that time of death. Many people think the story ends when Lazarus is given new life by Jesus. But actually, the story of Lazarus has one more chapter that often gets overlooked.
Check out this verse in the Bible (John 12:9-11): “Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him.”
Did you read that last part: “for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him.”
Turns out Lazarus had one of those fantastic testimonies and he was out sharing it. I would have loved to have heard Lazarus give his testimony!
It is fun to speculate about these things, but don’t miss this part: Lazarus’s testimony was moving people to follow Jesus. But better yet, his story reminds me that I need to be out sharing my own testimony and how Jesus has saved me from death too!
