flashBANG Review

flashBANG by Mark Steele

Sometimes someone writes a book and you wonder if they were reading your mind.

flashBANG did that for me. In many ways, Mark Steele felt like he was reaching into my mind and giving words to what I already knew. In so many ways, he was definitely writing somethings I needed to hear.

So that was how I reacted. What is the book? What's it about?

Well, the subtitle is "How I got over myself," so that's an interesting place to start. But it's more than that too. It's a journey, from a 'flashbang' (a type of bomb that does exactly what it says -flashes and bangs but leaves no damage behind) to a 'spittake' to 'slaphappy.'

It's told through the lens of stories; from an unfortunate incident with a parakeet and a pot of spaghetti sauce, to a clumsy german missionary, to a doomed attempt to sell cologne door to door.

The book is creative and innovative; I particularly enjoyed reading Mark's humorous, sometimes bizarre, and frequently meaningful arguements with himself.

I give this book a five out of five. It's got a great message and meaning and journey, but it's also just ridiculously funny. I've never laughed so much while reading a book, and I frequently read books that are from the 'humor' section of the bookstore.

Enjoy it.

Writing Tips - 6

The difference between editing and revising:

Rough Draft:
"the ball struck bill on the forehed when he wasnt looking."

Editing, Final Draft:
"The ball struck Bill on his forehead when he was not looking."

Revising, Final Draft:
"Bill, looking the other way, turned in time to get smacked in the head by an errant baseball."

Editing takes something you have and refines it to the best it can possibly be. It's like upgrading from a McDonald's plain hamburger to a Big Mac. You're still eating at McDonald's. Revising is like heading to a nice five star restaurant and ordering a mouth-watering T-Bone steak.

Do more revising, and worry less about editing. Most likely, you're not famous, so the people reading your work are actual friends. And if you are famous, you have an editor anyway.

Random Thoughts - 12

First, a disclaimer. These are not my thoughts, but my impressions and ideas from sitting in on one of Jess's grad classes.

On the categories of Faith, Hope, and Love:

Faith is primarily a category of the past; a category of memory. It is remembering the redemptive work that has been done in our past.

Hope is primarily a category of the future and the yin/yang of Faith. It is, in one sense, a memory of the future. Remembering the redemptive work that will be done in our future. (My brain hurts.)

And Love is a category of the present. If God is love, and God has no past nor future, then this makes sense to me. Love is choosing to be in this moment of suffering of heartbreak of loss of joy of peace of LOVE.

Hey Neat-O - 11

Very addicting puzzle game:

Desktop Tower Defense

Watch This - 3

And there are actually members on the right who wonder why my age group has flocked to U2.

From Peanuts to the Pressbox Review

From Peanuts to the Pressbox, by Eli Gold and M.B. Roberts

I enjoy sports. I enjoy watching them on TV, but very rarely do I give much thought to the people who are, as Eli Gold would say, putting captions on the pictures. Until now, I never realized how much work and preparation goes into what they are doing. From Peanuts to the Pressbox is a well-written and intriguing book, detailing the literal journey from a young boy selling peanuts and dreaming about sports broadcasting into one of the more famed modern sports broadcasters, with experience in the NHL, NFL, Nascar, AFL, and of course, as the Voice of the Alabama Tide.

I enjoyed reading Eli Gold’s stories and tales. He truly has a tremendous amount of experience and has had the opportunity to meet many people throughout his career; Joe Namath, Dale Earnhardt, and Kenny “the snake” Stabler. Some of the stories he can tell about these sport legends are amazing and heartwarming. In addition, the amount of research that Eli must have done is thrilling – a chance to learn the history behind broadcasting, not just his personal story.

The bottom line is this – if you’re interested in learning a bit about one of the most unnoticed aspects of sports, then From Peanuts to the Pressbox is a great book to pick up. I give it 4/5 stars.

Reviewed for Thomas Nelson Publishers.

one Step

"Journeys end in lovers' meeting; every wise man's son doth know." - William Shakespeare

If the JOURNEY can result in problems, in difficulty, in conflict, then they also present an opportunity.

An opportunity for redemption, for reconciliation, for love.

So the greater the difficulty, the more hope for reconciliation.

Side note - isn't the phrase "hope for reconciliation" great? It sort of rolls off the tongue with meaning and power.

I think this has to do with life. Trials and tribulations stretch us and grow us; this is ancient wisdom, and goes beyond platitudes. Hard work results in strength, which makes the work easier.

This is not simply a physical idea. It's relational.

The more your relationship can bend without breaking, the stronger it is. So when my wife and I have difficulties on the JOURNEY (almost entirely from my own issues), that will make us stronger in the long run. I should still work on my stuff, but the tension and conflict is good for us. I should communicate more and be more sensitive. Not only should I, but I need to. I need to learn from my mistakes - otherwise the hope for reconciliation is wasted. It's a growth opportunity.

This helps to partly explain why some of the best friendships in the world are formed on the JOURNEY. Because they are tried and tested and proven to be true.