Y.S. Stephen - Reader | Casual Observer

There are many joyous events in the bible. There are loads of suffering too. A lot. The book of Job highlights a unique example of suffering. I call it unique because, unlike many biblical examples, it shows a three-dimensional view of Job's plight. Firstly, we have a divine background to the events that transpired, which was the conversation between God and the Accuser. Secondly, it shows us the reactions of Job's family and friends - people close to him. Thirdly, we get to know what Job thinks. If there is anything to take away from these three different views, it is that: 1. GOD IS OMNIPOTENT - HE DOES WHAT HE WILL. However, we can take comfort that everything He does is for His glory and our eternal joy (if Job' story is anything to go by). Also, we can learn that the end of a thing is better than its beginning. Job suffered, but God recompensed him in ways he never thought was possible. 2. EVEN THE BEST THEOLOGY CANNOT CAPTURE GOD'S INTENTIONS. J...

Title: Summer Requiem: A Book Of Poems Hardcover: 80 pages Publisher: W&N (12 Feb. 2015) Category: Poetry   Many thanks to New Books Magazine for review copy.

Many thanks to BuzzPlant for review copy.

You can discern the true nature of anything under the sun by observing what it permits and what it doesn't. For example, you can judge a social club by the members it solicits. You can perceive the true nature of a country by what it condemns and punishes; you can also discern its soul by what it lets go. Even precious metals accept some elements into themselves and reject others. Hence, when Jesus said it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God, He reveals the nature of the kingdom as well as the quality that diminishes one’s chances of taking hold of it. Being rich (having loads of money) is an amazing state of being. Except you are a kid, I don’t need to explain what kind of experiences are at your disposal if you are rich man or woman. Having a lot of money removes a lot of this life’s obstacles and restrictions. In short, you have the power to do and achieve more. Most people envy the rich, but having ex...

The View From The Cheap Seats by Neil Gaiman is a collection of his speeches, interviews, and essays for over two decades. The View From The Cheap Seats is packed with valuable advice as well as insights from a man who, in the process of striving to be himself, created amazing works like Coraline, The Sandman, American Gods, etc. What I took away from  The View From The Cheap Seats  are six of what Neil Gaiman calls the "wisdom" he's acquired in the world of comic book creation. This "wisdom" is relevant to anyone in the business of creating stories, whether through illustration or writing (freelance or otherwise). Let's start with the first: 1. Big is not necessarily bad. Small is not necessarily good. Because few big publishing firms have a reputation of ripping creative people off, some people prefer to publish with small publishing companies as a way of insuring themselves or sticking it up to the man. However, Neil Gaiman says this does not me...