Back Safe and Sound · 9:48pm May 15th, 2015
Happy Friday everyone!
I'm back from a wonderful week at camp, a lot more mentally and emotionally exhausted than I left. 
It was an uplifting week for myself and I've certainly grown in my faith. I even made some wonderful new friends! ^.^ I finally feel as though I've got my priorities squared away. 
Anyway, I did manage to write something over the week, but to say it's rough would be an understatement. Trust me, you don't want to read it just yet. O_O But, I did gather a direction for my mature fic and I hope to write some of that. It's going to be a bit of an emotional roller coaster ride. For Slow Fade . . . I got nothing. 
Now that I'm out of school and not so busy, I should be able to pound out some more chapters soonish. Soonish being generous . . .
Side note! I am looking for pre-readers for my mature fic, PM me or comment below if that's something you'd be interested in. I'm working on my independence as an author, so apart from start-up help from my editor buddy Nomad_Sigma, I'm not taking ideas or suggestions for this one. After the first chapter, it's going to be all my own ideas. If it ends in a train wreck, it shall do so spectacularly. 
Last topic before I let you go. If you're still interested in my contest, the deadline is this Sunday (I might extend it if I get interest). I don't know if any of you still want to enter, but yeah, there it is. So, read the prompt and give her a shot! [points to earlier blog post]
Thanks for being patient with me, everyone! I can't wait to show you what I've been cooking up.
Have a blessed weekend,
-Bluegrass
That's great! Glad to see you're back and stronger in your faith too!
-ThePortalPonies
Glad you're back!
Welcome back!
If you don't mind me asking, are you in college or highschool? I'm thinking college, but ya never know.
3071881 I just finished my senior year of college. I'm going for a "victory lap" as my cousin calls it. I'll graduate in December.
3071890 Awesome!
Maybe I'll go to college someday, too. Is there anything you're specializing in (i'm sorry, i don't know what the correct term is)?
3071921 No worries. I'm majoring in Animal Science - production. Pretty much, I'm learning a TON about animal agriculture from the genetics to the animals, to the feed, to the breeding, and to the products we get from them. It's an involved major, but totally worth it. I plan on going into state meat inspection when I graduate, though I could pretty much do anything I wanted to in the industry.
3071931 So cool!
You must feel very empowered!
3071940 He, he. I honestly think society places college education on a pedestal. Certainly it's useful, but it by no means guarantees you a job, especially if you choose a "softer" major like "English Education" or "Women's Studies." Even with my major, there's a possibility I won't get a job. But, God gives me the courage to push through it and I know He's got a plan for me even if this whole inspection thing doesn't work out.
3071983 That's a great attitude to have throughout life, and I can definitely admire it.
My mindset is-- unfortunately-- rather unfaithful, and I always expect to have the butt end of everything in life. 
Just the way I am...
3072122 Lands, not that kind of inspiration, heavens no. What I mean is that I've found a plot that I feel will allow me to incorporate some heavy Christian themes into the story. It's not going to be your typical mature romance fic (they hook up and have fun end of story). I hope to use the mature bits to point towards how the world's concept of companionship and intimacy is broken. And they won't even be that bad, I'm just labeling it mature to be safe. It's not to celebrate the wrongdoing, but to show why it's wrong and revealing how one can move on and rebuild a right relationship from the broken pieces. I can't really explain it well, and I understand if you don't think a mature fic can have such messages in it, but I'm willing to give it a shot and see where it goes.
3072210 Hazzah? Man, I'm tired, I couldn't even tell. Seven hours in a car will do that to you.
3072199 Sounds interesting. I may have to turn off the mature filter for this one.
I have to say, I never really expected to find so many open Christians on FimFic when I signed up. It's very inspiring and cool. I'd like to be more that way, but it seems like faith is such a strong no-no conversation topic in most areas of life.
3072427 You just might.
You can always turn it off when you're not reading the fic.
It is encouraging to hear from so many Christians on the site. Though, often times I feel that so many of us are afraid to speak out. The backlash can be intimidating to be sure, but furious opposition to the church and it's message is not new. Acts 4 is a good example (as is most all of Acts actually). We are challenging people to relinquish every bit of control they think we have of their lives. It's a big sacrifice to ask, especially in a world so focused on self and making it on our own. The irony is that it is only by letting go can we find true peace and all that we've been thirsting for.
As for missioning to others. I ask you this, what have we to fear? Consider for a moment the apostles and what they endured, and yet they continued to profess the faith. Something we talked about at camp is that we Christian's in the first world have developed this poisonous fear of rejection, so much so that we make an idol out of comfort and acceptance. We are commanded to go out and plant the seed of the gospel to those around us. It is not our responsibility if they do not accept the word, that is between them and God. But, how can they accept God's word if they've never heard it? Think of the parable of the sower.
What's the worst they can do? Write angry letters? Block you for being a "Jesus freak?" Stop talking to you? No matter what happens, they can never pluck you from God's grasp. Pray for the courage to go out and witness and be open to what opportunities God puts in your path. I know I'm going to be doing just that.
Sorry about the ramblings, but it is what I think on the matter.
If you'd ever like Christian advice on anything at all, feel free to PM me. I know a fair bit about everything from basic doctrine to apologetics.
Welcome back we missed you