Well by George, There's a King in There...

Wouldn’t it be interesting if we - writers - wrote a story in the tradition of Tolkiens. Like the format he wrote the Lord of the Rings. I haven’t seen a story written like this for a long time. Where two or more stories lines are going on at the same time and instead of writing it all in chronological order with scenes switching in and out, we write each story line in sections like Tolkiens did. I think it would be interesting to see what publishers would say about the format. Or even what the readers would say about the format. Would it be possible? I wonder....

I was wondering about this while I’m getting ready to watch the Fellowship of the Ring - You know you just can’t sit down to watch a classic like this, you have to have popcorn, snacks and at least a few hours to spend doing nothing but entertaining yourself. And I remembered that when Tolkiens wrote the Rings he didn’t write it in order. He wrote it differently. At least differently then we are use to in this day and age.

But when you think about it, Tolkiens was setting us up for how we read today or watch movies today. He just took one story and used it for a longer time and then switched to another part of the story. I like this because of, for example, when Aragon marched against Mordor in the final battle in Return of the King, you didn’t know if Frodo was still alive or if the ring had been found. And that’s because he didn’t write the sections in chronological order. I haven’t scene a story written like that now a days. And it just would be interesting to see how readers and publishers would accept it.

Of course it could be that I haven’t read the right book and there are actually stories with this kind of format.. Who knows...

I don't know if any of this makes any sense to you all, but hopefully it does..


- A Dreaming Writer

God, A Man and A Bottle of Milk, Walk into A Bar....

I got this in an e-mail a while back and wanted to share it with you. I truly believe God talks to us all the time. He just might not be a big booming voice or need a burning bush.... Remember I did not write this and I don't know who did.


God Still talks to people....
Author UnKnown

A young man had been to Wednesday night Bible Study.

The Pastor had shared about listening to God and obeying the Lord's voice.

The young man couldn't help but wonder, "Does God still speak to
people?"

After service he went out with some friends for coffee and pie and they discussed the message.

Several different ones talked about how God had led them in different ways.

It was about ten o'clock when the young man started driving home. Sitting in his car, he just began to pray, "God...If you still speak to people speak to me. I will listen. I will do my best to obey."
As he drove down the main street of his town, he had the strangest thought to stop and buy a gallon of milk.

He shook his head and said out loud, "God is that you?" He didn't get a reply and started on toward home.

But again, the thought, buy a gallon of milk.
The young man thought about Samuel and how he didn't recognize the voice of God, and how little Samuel ran to Eli.

"Okay, God, in case that is you, I will buy the milk." It didn't seem like too hard a test of obedience. He could always use the milk. He stopped and purchased the gallon of milk and started off toward home.

As he passed Seventh Street, he again felt the urge, "Turn Down that street." This is crazy he thought and drove on past the intersection.

Again, he felt that he should turn down Seventh Street. At the next intersection, he turned back and headed down Seventh. Half jokingly, he said out loud, "Okay, God, I will".

He drove several blocks, when suddenly, he felt like he should stop. He pulled over to the curb and looked around. He was in semi commercial area of town. It wasn't the best but it wasn't the worst of neighborhoods either. The businesses were closed and most of the houses looked dark like the people were already in bed.

Again, he sensed something, "Go and give the milk to the people in the house across the street." The young man looked at the house. It was dark and it looked like the people were either gone or they were already asleep. He started to open the door and then sat back in the car seat.

"Lord, this is insane. Those people are asleep and if I wake them up, they are going to be mad and I will look stupid." Again, he felt like he should go and give the milk.

Finally, he opened the door, "Okay God, if this is you, I will go tothe door and I will give them the milk. If you want me to look like a crazy person, okay. I want to be obedient. I guess that will count for something but if they don't answer right away, I am out of here."

He walked across the street and rang the bell. He could hear some noise inside. A man's voice yelled out, "Who is it? What do you want?" Then the door opened before the young man could get away.

The man was standing there in his jeans and T-shirt. He looked like he just got out of bed. He had a strange look on his face and he didn't seem too happy to have some stranger standing on his doorstep. "What is it?"

The young man thrust out the gallon of milk, "Here, I brought this to you." The man took the milk and rushed down a hallway. Then from down the hall came a woman carrying the milk toward the kitchen. The man was following her holding a baby. The baby was crying. The man had tears streaming down his face. The man beg and speaking and half crying, "We were just praying. We had some big bills this month and we ran out of money. We didn't have any milk for our baby. I was just praying and asking God to show me how to get some milk."

His wife in the kitchen yelled out, "I asked him to send an Angel with
some. Are you an Angel?"

The young man reached into his wallet and pulled out all the money he had on him and put in the man's hand. He turned and walked back toward his car and the tears were streaming down his face.

He knew that God still answers prayers.

Dreaming Of You and Me....

I wrote this a while ago when I was feeling a little lost and apart from God. I don't think it's very good but I thought I would share it with you all. I wrote it as a song and not as a poem. So that might be why it's not very good... Who knows..


Dreaming Of You
By Dustin-Lee


Dreaming of you, Dreaming of you

What will it be like, when I see your face,

Will I cry, Will I shy, Will I fall to my knees,

even though I feel your love and warmth,

I need so much more, Will you help me,

Find this thing, I so desire

Will you give me, The one thing I need,



and I’m, Dreaming,

Dreaming of you, Yes I’m Dreaming,

Dreaming of you, my precious Lord,

I’m Dreaming of you,



Can you feel that, that void inside,

can you heal that, with your mighty grace

how can it be, lord, that it turned out like this,

how can it be, lord, that the people deny you,

and have it better then I, oh, heal my pain,




and I’m, Dreaming,

Dreaming of you, Yes I’m Dreaming,

Dreaming of you, my precious Lord,

I’m Dreaming of you,



I can’t wait for the day that I meet you,

I trimble, just at the thought,

a shiver of fear, though runs up my spine,

that I might be along, for all eternity,

the family I know, don’t love you like I,

can you make this pain, go away,

make this hole inside, disappear,

Fill it up with your love,



Because I’m Dreaming,

Dreaming of you, Yes I’m Dreaming,

Dreaming of you, my precious Lord,

I’m Dreaming of you,



I love you, I need you, I hold you dear, Will you be there, hear me, heal my pain,

and I cry out, Dreaming,

Dreaming of you, Yes I’m Dreaming,

Dreaming of you, my precious Lord,

I’m Dreaming of you,

Our Lord and Savoir Did Neither...

I just don’t understand it. I hear all of these horror stories of encounters with Catholics that I begin to wonder if they are really part of the Christian community. Now before I go on I want you to know that I know that not all Catholics are like this - seeing that my grandparents are Catholic and friends of the family are Catholic...

But anyway my story or really a single mom’s and her four children’s story starts off with them moving to a small community somewhere in nowhere Nebraska. The mother had heard wonderful things of the Catholic school that had terrific teachers and an awesome atmosphere. She enrolled her children - all teens - into the nice, small school, hoping her kids would be enriched with faith and learning. But that wasn’t the case.

Her kids become the targets of the worst bullying they have ever known. Hatred, spitefulness and cruelty met them at the door of this supposed school of faith. At school functions the mother was treated as an outsider, a dirty rag that shouldn’t be associated with. Her and the kids felt as if they were leapers in a community of haters.

Soon on of the mothers kids began to rapidly lose weight because of the deep depression she was in, took away her apatite. All the kids’ grades began to slip. Each day became dreadful and unwanted.

To me this does not sound like a school built upon Christian morals and belifes. To me this sounds like a public school. But to this family they would describe it as worse. This is not the first time I’ve heard of that Catholics have treated people cruelly. I’m deeply sadden that these people tarnish the Christian name. No wonder people think Christian’s are so judgmental and mean spirited.

Why do we judge and look down upon people when Jesus our Lord and savior did neither. In fact He told us to reach out and love our neighbors no matter what. - Now I can’t say I have accomplished this, I doubt anyone except Jesus has accomplished this feat. But I like most Christians are trying there hardest...

Do you want to know how the story ends?... Well it ends happily - the family moved away from the judgmental, spiteful people and arrived in a small town where the people are the friendliest people you could ever meet, who welcomed them with open arms and gave them a home sweet home they could love... Now to me that should have been how they were welcomed at the Catholic community.

So what was the point of this blog.. No it wasn't to offend or call names. It was to point out that not all people who call themselves Christians, are really Christians. I hope you came out of reading this with that, instead of me putting down the Catholic faith. Because at it's heart the Catholic church is a great thing. It was the first Christian church, was it not...


Dustin-Lee


Ps. If I offended any body by this post I truly apologize. I did not set out to do that. I only wanted to tell a story about a family.

We were so right! We were so wrong! The Luke and Lorielai of our Story!

I wrote this to let out some of the feelings I have been having the past couple of weeks about a friend that I care deeply about. It’s not very good. Just a bunch of ramblings. Probably doesn’t make much sense.

We were so right! We were so wrong! The Luke and Lorielai of our Story!

It feels like I’ve lost you. The one I only ever cared about. The one I wished I could tell the feeling so deep inside. The feelings I hide day by day.

We were so right. We were so wrong. We had it all. We shared it all. I thought you shared the feelings so deep inside. What happened to the girl I loved. The girl I cared for. Did she move on. Leaving me behind.

I feel like the world is ending. You were my everything and now I’m your nothing. What will these tears reveal. Will they tell you my secret. My love I carry so deep inside.

We were friends. Friends until the very end. What happened? We were so close. We were so right. We were so wrong. The Luke and Lorielai of our story.

It feels like I’m lost. Lost without you. Lost you forever. To people better then me. People I can never become. People who offer you so much more.

So I say good bye. But only for now. My one true love. Will you ever know my secret? The secret I carry so deep inside. Will I ever dive deep to find you? Will you ever dive deep to find me? I may never know. Good bye for now. May we meet some day in the depths of our secrets.

We were The Luke and Lorielai of our story...

Rants! Films! And 10 Bucks Wasted!...

As I watch the trailer for the new feature film Thr3e, the words finally, It’s about time, and Quick Barb get the kids in the mini van, the worlds coming to an end, a Christian Film that actually looks good, comes to mind. It has occurred to me that Christian films today are sometimes not realistic. The characters and dialogue usually aren’t any good - like many of the Christian Young Adult novels, that is if you can find them... ah hum...

Take the latest film in the Left Behind series, the story was good but it could have been better. The dialogue - I thought sucked. It lacked in-depth story telling that the public is use to in the secular film world, like with the Bourn Supremacy or Deja Vu. I think that’s why the Christian Film industry hasn’t taken off as of yet. I don’t mean to bash the Left Behind films because the first two were pretty good, but the last one it seemed they were trying to hard to make an action wanna-be secular movie that they lost sight in the story telling. I will admit there were a few scenes that were really good, but other then that it seemed like a wanna-be film. I’ve seen a lot of movies and it’s really a shame when you have a very good story like this and it gets made with a poor budget and screenwriters who don’t really know how to write a screenplay. I’m sorry for being harsh. I guess I just have high standards when it comes to quality films and screenplays. I mean I’ve seen Indiy films better made then this.. Now that’s saying something.

Also take the new Nativity movie for instance - Just from the trailer I could tell it wasn’t going to do well. The trailer says it all - most of the time. It usually tells weather the film will do good or not - but like I said most of the time. Sometimes you get a trailer that looks really awesome like Fantastic Four and you get a movie with not much to offer... at least not like the Spiderman and X-men films have. - But back to Christian Films, if they were made better, written better and developed better with higher standards, you might actually get a quality movie. And lets just say what everyone is thinking - New Line is riding the band wagon folks.. They saw how well The Passion did and thought Hey lets dish out a cheap movie about the Nativity story and give it a really stupid name and sell it to Christians. I mean why not everyone else is. There making a sequel to The Passion - Which doesn’t need made, you band wagon freaks... grr. LoL sorry on a rant here..

Another Christian film - Hangman’s Curse - was a very good story and filmed wonderfully but unfortunately the acting wasn’t that great. Let’s just face it, a lot of the scenes were, how can I say this, I wanted to rip out my television and through it out the window and quote something from Gilmore Girls, that’s how bad it was.. I mean the casting was great but a note to the Director - don’t settle, push until you get the best. Really go for it all.

Unfortunately Film making is expensive and frankly unless Jerry Bruckheimer gets interested in a Christian story, I highly doubt we’ll see a quality Christian film. Now if only we could get Jerry to produce a Christian film then the industry might take off. But as I said, not going to happen.

Although the only Christian Film I have seen to date that I didn't see any flaws with and thought was excellent was Frank Peretti's The Visitation. Now that film stood up too all my high standards. I though the photography, writing, directing, acting were all out standing. I have heard fans say they didn't like it because it didn't stay true to the book or whatever but I thought it was absolutely wonderful. I loved it. I can't wait until Frank himself gets behind the camera and films Monster. Now that film will be awesome.


But the new film Thr3e based on the best selling novel by Ted Dekker looks very good, high quality film making. Of course what do you expect from a producer of X-Men. It's really nice to see that there are Christians out there in the film industry wanting to produce high quality films for Christians. Now if the actual film lives up to the trailer that is the question. I'll find out when the film comes out on DVD because I live in Nebraska where hicks and red necks live who obviously don't like to watch Christian films, other wise we would have it coming to theaters here.. I'm so sad.. oh hum... I think I filled my 'Forest Guard' quota for the month, Ted Dekker must be proud... Don't you think?...


And that Ladies and Gentlemen was Dustin-Lee Barrymore... Thank you, thank you... Please no pictures...

Losing Faith in the Male Image

Well it's official I have lost all faith in the male species... A family friend and my Godmother is going through a very brutal devoice. I feel so bad for her. What she must be going through. Her husband isn't helping things at all - He is the reason they're getting a devorice. He's too hard on the oldest son. - He has gone to an ultimate low, he's turned the youngest son against my Godmother. I guess he calls her an F***ing B***h along side with her mother - who if you met either of these women you would know they're two of the nicest women you could ever meet.

It's all really too bad. With this and my father - alcoholic, verbal abuser - as examples it doesn't set a very good example of the male side of the human race. In fact I've noticed in all my stories I'm developing, all the father figures are, how can I say this, sleazy, hateful people. I despise that kind of man and father. I think that will most likely become my trademark in writing novels. Kinda like Spielberg and his movies.

But I do know there are wonderful examples of Christian fathers to look to and try to inspire to become like. I have many friends who's fathers are wonderful people, that I would like to see myself grow to become. I know when I have a family I'm going to do my very best to be as good of father and husband as I can. And a complete opposite of the fathers in my novels. I try to think of Christian fathers as a hybrid of the male spices. That way somewhere down the road I can include that kind of father into my stories. I would like to have a Christian father in my stories like Eric Camdon from 7th Heaven but I don’t see that in the near future. I guess that's just how it goes.

Maybe this view point I have will help my stories and make them even better. There's God again making Good from Bad. Gotta love our God.


- The Ramblings of a Broken Heart

Something About an Ironic Fiction Writer

Well I guess I should probably tell you a little bit about myself.

God has given me an incredible passion to write fiction and tell stories that people will remember and learn from. Ironically I never liked English class while I was in school and absolutely dreaded that 50 minutes of horrible confusion. I do believe, if I remember correctly I even hated my English teacher - She loved to push me and push me... Now I’m thankful for that. But for some odd reason God gave me this passion. I don't know why. I guess that's just how He works sometimes.

I designed and built a website just for teens called TheCteen.com. I try to stay on top of that and keep it up to date when I'm not going to classes and hanging out with friends. My writing website - dustin-lee.com - isn't built yet. I decided I don't want to build it until I publish one of my novels.

Well that's me for the most part. If you want to know more just ask.


In God's Love,
Dustin