The Introverted Detective

I was going to do this topic a while back, but I'm doing it now instead. Let's talk about knitting morse code and the role of art in espionage.  Morse Code Shawl example Some think the arts are only for children, others don't, but the spy trade takes all forms. Wars produce espionage. Having to send messages to the other side and infiltrate for information takes unusual methods and unusual people, some of which look perfectly ordinary to the average human. Put simply, a spy should blend into the environment. What is more common than knitting during a World War when women are told to knit gloves and hats for the troops?  Knitting No surprise here, women were a prominent force in the spy world, mostly because knitting for the troops and sitting in the domestic sphere knitting was a social norm. Female spies could blend in and knit knots of morse code into their sweaters for days, all under the enemy's constant view. It was perfect. You give the sweater to your lovable, so...

Ghosthunting and curiosity toward the supernatural are getting more and more popular lately. Is it biblical? Let's dive into that.  First of all, I'd like to define the term "ghost". The Bible does not use it how we do. It is mostly "giving up" the ghost that you see. Short answer, it doesn't refer to a ghost as a being lingering on earth as a soul without a body. The Bible does not support our use of the word "ghost". It is used only to show someone giving up the ghost, or the name Holy Ghost. Christian belief says that no souls linger on earth - there is only Heaven or Hell after we die. So, we do not seek ghosts in ghost hunting.  What are you seeking when you hunt "ghosts"? I hate to tell you all this, but you might be seeking contact with a demon. The use of seances and ouija boards as party games is not anything new to our society - look up the victorian period parties for proof - and it was a dangerous thing to do. It never sho...

Jayhawkers are not just a Kansas sports team. They wreaked havoc in the name of abolition in Kansas and hated Missouri with a passion. Let me introduce you to the Kansas-Missouri border wars. In case you were curious, this was both pre and during the Civil War.  To give you a snapshot of what the border war was, here's a brief history lesson. Kansas is for abolition, Missouri is not. For some, there is still animosity over this period of time, mostly due to the damage done to both states and the number of innocent people killed in the process. The Civil War led people to join a side to repay the other side for its actions during the border war.  The Jayhawkers would use the term "Jayhawker" happily, and the term "redlegs", since they wear red uniforms sometimes. Since some didn't have uniforms early on, it was unknown if they were civilian or military. Jayhawks in verbiage is a cross between hawks and bluejays (so noisy predators). This military abolitionist...

This topic is a real mind-blower. Do horror and Christianity get along? Do horror movies illuminate fears and help us face them, or do they give Satan a foothold and open up doors better left unopened? Vincent Price If you want a clear answer of yes or no you came to the wrong place. I deep-dived into research on this and found so many opinions. I'm dividing this into for and against, or rather, should you or should you not. There is no consensus on whether they benefit or harm you in the psychology department.  First of all, my advice to anyone who can't handle dark content is to not hit play. Simple. If you can, okay, but if you can't handle much horror at all leave the room or don't watch it. There is no shame in that. I can't handle some dark of content, so you are not alone if you can't hit play because you won't sleep. The Positives You may be saying "what positives?", but keep on reading. While there is bad influence, there is also potential...

Crime, Christianity, and suspense, Oh my! Will Christianity and crime novels work together? Let's dive into that. Christian books are somewhat restricted under the guidelines of the genre itself. Cussing is out the window if you are under this umbrella. Some readers love it, others avoid it, but it still exists. Crime and suspense are a tough tightrope walk for some authors and writers. Others are not afraid to scare reality into their readers by showing them the dark forces at their worst, then piercing it with light. The contrast is rather perfect, actually, and wonderfully effective. Some go fluffy and cozy. Some get intense. It depends on your author and their publisher. With brick-and-morter Christian book stores closing, they now have to compete with nonchristian books.  An introduction to crime and suspense is in order here. We have books that are formulaic- ending with an episode of Scooby Doo-like relief every novel, and others that end with your jaw on the floor and your ...

The Christian genre is a somewhat cursed genre - even amongst Christian circles - due to it's predictable, unrealistic nature. Hallmark channel uses this genre often because it is not upsetting and goes under the category of "easy watching" or "feel good" films. You don't see cussing, intensity, or shocking images in it. Let's dive into why it is a somewhat cursed genre.  First of all, I will defend some authors and films in the Christian genre. Ted Dekker is a thriller and suspense writer that reaches intensity levels that keep you on the edge of your seat. He is making good points on Christianity while avoiding Hallmark levels of unrealistic. The films by Sherwood pictures are also realistic and aren't cheesy. That being said, Christian genre fiction and nonfiction can be a bit cheesy, ignorant of reality outside the Christian bubble, or be a self-help book in disguise. Not all authors and directors go under this genre, including C.S. Lewis and J.R...