To Think On Things

A particular TV show has been recommended to me quite often of late, several of the recommendations coming from Christians I respect.  I don’t have cable, satellite or Netflix, though, so my only way to watch would be through the purchase of DVDs.  Before plunking down that kind of money, I thought I ought to do a little research to see what the show was like.

Adventure, swords … “A lot like ‘Lord of the Rings’” one good friend told me.  That did sound intriguing.  Based on what I had read, though, I asked him, “But doesn’t it have a lot of nudity and graphic sex?”  He replied, “I don’t pay attention to those parts.”

Based on the fact that he is a male, with a wife and children of his own, I immediately concluded that he was lying.  More on that (maybe) in a minute later.

Another person who I talked to about this show assured me that “I don’t let my kids see those parts.”  He didn’t deny seeing them himself.  And secondly, notice that neither of these people denied that the show contains copious amounts of nudity and sex (not to mention graphic violence—something I don’t have as much trouble with but maybe I should).

Before I go any further, let me be clear (as a politician with a particularly opaque behavioral pattern is fond of saying), I am in no way advocating for censorship of this show (or any other) or even a boycott of it.  I realize that freedom of speech is easily abused, but I have a great fear that if it is infringed upon (in the case of a TV show like this, for instance) the next infringement will be on my freedom to preach the gospel or write things like this.

Still, I can’t help but think of the Apostle Paul’s words when he wrote (or said, I happen to think he dictated his letters), “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”  (Philippians 4:8, for those of you keeping score at home.)

Is this a command?  Even if it’s not, even if it’s just a suggestion on Paul’s behalf, I think two questions are worth asking in light of the current discussion: 1] what benefit is gained by following it; and 2] what are the consequences of ignoring it?

The benefit of following is a mind (and heart and life) filled with light.  The danger of ignoring, is that we let darkness—even if it’s just one hour’s worth of darkness a week—into our lives.  The same thing could be said of much of the TV, movies, music and books we let into our lives.  Does every word we read need to be Scripture or written by Max Lucado or CS Lewis?  No, but I think it’s worth asking what this “entertainment” I am choosing puts into my head [it stays there, I can’t pretend it doesn’t when I hear a song—even a worship song—I haven’t heard since high school and still can sing along with every word] and how it is influencing further thoughts.

Here's the final cover for my new western novel (coming in July). Artwork by Mike Ray of Ink Tycoon!

Thinking of having him re-do all my covers. What do you think?

Western Vista

Here's what the town of Como, Colorado (the setting for my new novel "Overstreet") looked like in the early 1900s.

Imagine it twenty years before when the tents occupied by miners swelled the population to almost ten thousand. If you were to see it today, you'd notice that it's not much more populated than in this picture. In fact, the amazing thing may be that it's still there at all, with it's lack of commerce and industry.

There was a time, though, when it was teeming with people and was even one of the three finalists for the capitol of Colorado. "Overstreet" is about John Overstreet, but you'll learn a bit about Como as you read. It's an exciting story of boom and, sadly, bust.

Would I move there? In a heartbeat.

Como

I was stringing some fence near Como, Colorado, a couple decades ago when, way back in the forest, I tripped. I started looking for what I had tripped over and, when I had cleared away the brush, found the outline of a small cabin.

Emphasis on small.

Back in it's day, it must have only been about eight foot by eight foot in size. When I found it, all that was left was an outline, two logs high. It was located about equidistant from the (still existing) town of Como and the (long gone and mostly forgotten) town of Hamilton. Both were mining towns, and both sported some pretty impressive populations and accomplishments during their day.

So it made me wonder: who had built that cabin? Was it someone who worked in one town or the other, but liked a little bit of privacy? Could it have just been a tool shed and, if so, had there been another, larger building nearby that I never found?

Usually, when I see an old house--big or small--I wonder about who might have once lived there. I picture the owners moving in proudly, excited about the life they were building and the dreams they had. That little cabin, though, I always had it in my mind that it was just built by some miner. Someone who was just trying to make his living before heading to another strike. Maybe he only occupied it one winter, or maybe not even that long. Maybe he just threw it up long enough to last out another month or two before heading to better climes for the winter.

I've thought a lot about that cabin, and who might have been there, and it played no small part in inspiring my novel "Overstreet".