"Specter" Bookmark

Amber Hill sent me the preliminary sketches today for a bookmark illustration of Specter in the temple of Al'un Dai. The mood of the sketch is exactly as I'd hoped . . . dark, foreboding. This illustration is contracted to be completed by March 20th.

Mike Huckabee for President

Among the candidates for the presidency of the United States of America, Mike Huckabee, former governor, stands out from his peers. He stands for a traditional America where pro-life is rewarded, homosexuality is discouraged, and income taxes are removed in favor of a national sales tax.

I had the privilige of hearing Mr. Huckabee speak last night in Rhode Island at the Crown Plaza Hotel (I think I got the place right). His speach conveyed a confidence and ease reminiscent, to many present, of former president Ronald Reagan.

The evening began with the candidate playing his guitar in a band and ended with his very well-presented speach. He spoke on his belief that government should support families, not undermine them. He expressed his disgust with the way that taxation is penilizing the average American and making it easier for foreign manufacturers to put them out of business. At the end of his condemnation of the tax system, Mr. Huckabee tore up a 1040 tax form and threw it on the stage, saying that, were he president and the changes he proposes implemented, there would be no more need to fill out that dreaded piece of paper.

Governor Huckabee deserves our ear, he deserves our votes . . . he deserves the chance to implement his reformative proposals. He has my vote. Will he have yours?

All photos are property of the author

Coming Soon!

My website is nearly done! I've put a lot of time into it these past couple days and, in the process, have learned a whole lot about aspects of web publishing that had previously eluded me. But after several calls to my web hosting service, and perusing through one of the books for "Dummies" I've learned how to publish web pages. But, my oh my, it is time-consuming!

"The Spiderwick Chronicles" Movie Review

Last year I reviewed a series of small children's fantasy books called "The Spiderwick Chronicles" and this year, yesterday, the movie was released.

In a refreshing way, this movie did not so much retell the story in the books, but rather condensed all five books into one movie. The creature designs stayed fairly consistent with the artist's vision and the feel of the books. The actors did a nice job (there were a couple spots where I thought the boys could use some extra work). I absolutely loved the manner in which the actor portraying Arthur Spiderwick played his role. I wish I could remember his name but it eludes me.

And they used the field guide with the illustrations from the book you can purchase on store shelves. That, I think, was ingenious! Think of all the kids that'll want to buy the Field Guide . . . even some of the kids at heart (I unashamedly count myself among them!)

This movie has the most natural movements and interaction of fictional creatures that I have seen since Lord of the Rings. The Gryphon was absolutely fabulous and they inserted a long scene in which it takes the children for an exciting flight. In Harry Potter & the Prizoner of Azkaban they did a nice job with the Hypogryph . . . but this movie's effects with the Gryphon beat it (in my humble opinion) and the movement of the wings was natural, not a hint of the stiffness usually accompanying such special effects. They also did a marvelous job with Thimbletack . . . marvelous!

Overall, I give this movie a great rating. It didn't make my top ten, but it certainly was enjoyable and will find a special place in my collection. Please note: there were several uses of God's name in vain, even by the children in the movie. Thank goodness that wasn't in the books (though the authors' latest book has one instance of that in "Beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles." This movie was a worthwhile investment for my 6 dollars!

A Redirection of Spiritual Focus

I do not read from Oswald Chamber's "My Utmost for His Highest" as often as I should. As with all man-written books, this one contains truth and error. But the grains of wisdom sometimes startle me.

I don't read according to the date and today I picked up this little book, opening to January 31st "Do You See Your Calling?"

Lately I've felt spiritually low. And, as with all such moments in my walk with the Lord, the fault is on my side. I have failed to maintain daily devotions and prayer, letting other things of an entertaining appeal take their place. So today I opened "My Utmost for His Highest" as a starting point of spiritual renewal . . . and I found a precious grain of wisdom from Oswald Chambers that I'd like to share:

"Personal holiness is an effect, not a cause, and if we place our faith in human goodness, in the effect of Redemption, we shall go under when the test comes. Paul did not say he separated himself, but, 'when it pleased God who separated me...' Paul had not a hypersensitive interest in his own character. As long as our eyes are upon our own personal whiteness we shall never get near the reality of Redemption. Workers break down because their desire is for their own whiteness, and not for God . . .."

How often are you at fault for this? I know I have been, often, too often. And I am ashamed of that. Do I seek my own personal glory and purity, or the glory and purity of Christ? My eyes have been inward, not outward. So focused on the goal of establishing my own path that I neglected the One who blazed that path so that I might live. It is good to meditate on the attributes of Christ, for it is not our own goodness that brings us closer to him, but the humbling of our own selves in order to praise and honor Him.