S.D. Smith

Penetrating the World As It Is

S.D. Smith — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 11:00:38 +0000

“Ever since there have been such things as novels, the world has been flooded with bad fiction for which the religious impulse has been responsible. The sorry religious novel comes about when the writer supposes that because of his belief, he is somehow dispensed from the obligation to penetrate concrete reality.

“He will think that the eyes of the Church or of the Bible or of his particular theology have already done the seeing for him, and that his business is to rearrange this essential vision into satisfying patterns, getting himself as little dirty in the process as possible. His feeling about this may have been made more definite by one of those Manichean-type theologies which sees the natural world as unworthy of penetration. But the real novelist, the one with an instinct for what he is about, knows that he cannot approach the infinite directly, that he must penetrate the natural human world as it is.”

Flannery O’Connor

HT: Reinke and Taylor

Location Update: God -in heaven, You -on earth

S.D. Smith — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:00:50 +0000

“If I can summarize Calvin’s teaching on prayer succinctly, I would say this: The chief rule of prayer is to remember who God is and to remember who you are. If we remember those two things, our prayers will always and ever be marked by adoration and confession.”

R.C. Sproul

Emphasis mine.

HT: Justin Taylor

Magic, Sorcery, and Children’s Literature: Should We Enjoy It?

S.D. Smith — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 11:00:02 +0000

I place before you here a short discussion by childrens author N.D. Wilson and his father, (author, pastor) Doug Wilson, on a subject close to my heart. Is it appropriate for Christians to appreciate the use of magic in stories? Yes, if you want to read the Bible. But not so fast, what about the idea of authority? Some useful, worthwhile thoughts.

Ask Doug – Magic in Literature from Daniel Foucachon on Vimeo.

Here’s the video for those on Facebook if it doesn’t show up.

Just Watch This and Try Not to Hurt Your Guts Laughing

S.D. Smith — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 11:00:56 +0000

Here is the video for those on Facebook.

HT: Justin Taylor

Eric Peters Week in WV: Day 5 –> Beckley Show TONIGHT w/ Stacy Grubb

S.D. Smith — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 11:00:03 +0000

Yesterday Eric played Huntington and TONIGHT IS LIVE IN BECKLEY (March 5) with special guest and local talent, Stacy Grubb. Click here for Beckley details.

Today’s song is “The Run Down,” and I am asking you to run down to…

ERIC PETERS

++++++++++with Stacy Grubb++++++++++

LIVE Acoustic CONCERT

FREE [and FANTASTIC]

MARCH 5, 2010 – 7pm

@ United Methodist Temple (directions)- Beckley, WV

Eric’s website. Eric on Twitter. Eric on Facebook. Eric reading from his childhood Snoopy diary? Look at the pic above.

Eric Peters Week in WV: Day 4 –> Huntington Show TONIGHT w/ The Rambling Dangers

S.D. Smith — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 11:00:12 +0000

Eric will be playing a show in Huntington TONIGHT (March 4) and then on Beckley on Friday night (March 5).

Click here for Huntington details and here for Beckley details.

Today’s song? You guessed it: “Squeeze.” You can hear Squeeze and other songs here:

Eric with special guests The Rambling Dangers (how cool is that name?)
Huntington Renaissance Theatre
900 8th Street
Huntington, WV

Doors Open at 6:30pm * Start Time 7:00pm * Cost: Free

Eric’s website. Eric on Twitter. Eric on Facebook. Eric’s ampersand —> &

Eric Peters Week in West Virginia: Day 3 –> You Will Be Sad If You Miss It

S.D. Smith — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 11:00:04 +0000

This Thursday (March 4) Eric will be playing a show in Huntington and then on Beckley on Friday night (March 5). So it’s a world tour of West Virginia, basically.

Click here for Huntington details and here for Beckley details.

Today’s song is “Sad to Watch You Wave.” If you come to either concert this week Eric will personally wave at you, possibly sadly.

Eric’s website. Eric on Twitter. Eric on Facebook. Eric sad, not waving —>

Eric Peters Week in West Virginia: Day 2 –> A Little By Little Bit About Eric

S.D. Smith — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 11:00:58 +0000

This Thursday (March 4) Eric will be playing a show in Huntington and then on Beckley on Friday night (March 5). So it’s a world tour of West Virginia, basically.

Click here for Huntington details and here for Beckley details.

Here is a little fact-sheet on Eric for those who don’t know who he is (for shame, remedy immedietely). Click here for “Who is Eric Peters?”

Now, for today’s song: It’s “Little By Little,” and I like it a lot.

Eric’s website. Eric on Twitter. Eric on Facebook. Eric’s team –> LSU

FB users can click here for the video.

I Declare This Week Eric Peters Week Throughout the Land of West Virginia

S.D. Smith — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 11:00:36 +0000

This Thursday (March 4) Eric will be playing a show in Huntington and then on Beckley on Friday night (March 5). So it’s a world tour of West Virginia, basically.

Click here for Huntington details and here for Beckley details.

By the authority vested in me from that game of paper, rock, scissors, I declare this week “Eric Peters Week” in all of West Virginia and here at www.SDSmith.net.

I plan to post a video each day this week as a clever enticement to your ears and heart. I hope you will come to either concert. Eric is a grand fellow and puts on a wonderful show.

Today: A song for his boys called “I’ll Go With You.” Live in Beckley, WV in 2009.

Eric’s website. Eric on Twitter. Eric on Facebook. Eric smiling —>

FB users can see the video HERE.

My Novel (Shadwell) Makes Second Round of Amazon/Penguin Contest

S.D. Smith — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 11:00:25 +0000

The contest is the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award.

I made it into the top 1,000,000,000,000 and am therefore pretty sure to win.

OK, really it’s only the top 1,000. It was based solely on the book pitch (short summary of the book). This is good. Next they narrow it down to the Top 250 (reading an excerpt from the book).

It’s like American Idol except with no idols or Americans and it’s non-sexy writers like me with pale skin and agoraphobia who only go out when the next Star Trek sequel is in theaters.

Here are the top 1,000 if anyone wants to scroll down and find my name (don’t really do that, Mom).

I’ll be sure to update everyone when I crash and burn in the next round.

Two friends made it into the second round as well: Robert Treskillard and Pete Peterson. Congratulations, fellows!

Thanks for all the nice remarks on Facebook yesterday!

Possible cover for my novel?