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Here’s a link to READABLE ROSEMARY ALTHOFF.
A collage of THE HOT MARBLE characters plus a nerdy Darth Vader.
Author: Rosemary B. Althoff
Healing the Democratic Triangle
How would you improve your community?
The Democratic Triangle refers to the balances between citizens, leaders, and the media. Healing the communication through this triangle will help my city (New Orleans, LA) and my country (USA).
The first step is listening to representatives of each sector. For instance, ask the following questions to 6 people in each “corner” of the triangle (citizens, leaders, and media):
- What do you observe about your community?
- What emotions rise up in you from your observations?
- Because of what experience in your life brings up the emotions?
- What do you want for the very best outcome for your community?
- Finally, what will you do (ethically) to help obtain the outcome you want?
The answers to these questions do well to be published.
Next, from all these interviews, what root metaphor arises? A root metaphor is the foundation of a discussion and often has two very contrasting images. For instance, in Geneva, Ohio this interviewing and listening process was done with the following root metaphors:
Geneva is a slum town.
Geneva is a home town.
After the analysis of the individual citizen/leader/media interviews, another big step helps the healing process. This step is a large town meeting.
Town Meeting
The attendees divide into random groups of about 5 to 7 people. They are asked to talk within their groups about what they desire to see done for their community. (Every group’s answers are recorded and put into a master list which is published in the media and sent to community leaders.)
For instance, in Geneva, Ohio, the list included items like “We need a senior center.” “We want enforcement of zoning laws to cut down on blight.”
Follow Up After Town Meeting
The follow-up to all this means planning action steps in separate meetings. Smaller groups focus on specific issues meet and plan their action steps.
Life—Zoe
Easter is near. That reminds me of the words often repeated in John 10: “I lay down my life for my sheep.” There’s more to the word “life” than just a body living or dead. The word for life, “zoe” also means soul. Jesus is pointing to his WHOLE life: his thoughts, creative ideas, emotions, struggles, victories, while his body is still living, all the way to his physical death, and beyond into the resurrected life.
I note that when the Bible refers to Jesus saving souls he is referring to the entire psyche of a person, healing our thoughts, words, and deeds.
Here I Am, Ready to Send
Sometimes our problems become our strengths.
I’m thinking of my planned marketing of myself and my books. I intend to reach teens and young adults as a fervent, but very troubled atheist who is now a Christian. I can tell about:
- adventures and recovery afterward
- beautiful nature
- warm relationships
- healthy romance
- God in real, cutting-edge science.
May I be willing and unafraid to go to both the friends and opposers of Christianity that the Lord asks me to visit.
Satan Didn’t Get Me.
Since I was a toddler, I’ve been fighting the devil.
I remember at about age 4, I stood in the yard rebuking Satan. “You can’t have me, you devil,” I announced to the spiritual realm. “I belong to God.”
However, evolutionary science, skeptical friends, liberal teachers, and severe trouble at home influenced me deeply. At age 13, I told the universe, “I don’t believe in God.”
About age 15, a fervent atheist, I was invited by my best friend Becky to play with an ouija board that she brought to my house. We sat together on the living room rug. I watched as Becky sought guidance from the spirit world through the ouija board. After her practice run, Becky strongly pressured me to participate with her. I closed my eyes and let her fingers and mine rest together on the ouija’s small sliding table that could move on the board and point to letters to speak to us from the spirits. Internally, I resolved not to let any demonic spirit guide me. And the ouija table would only point to random signs. Becky felt my resistance. She complained and pushed. But I told her that I was done. I didn’t want to play with that anymore. Becky went home.
Soon Becky dived deeper into the occult. She said that she & others called up Satan, and he came. “He’s not ugly, and he’s not evil,” she said. “He’s funny and nice.”
At that moment, I told Becky I couldn’t be her friend. I walked away. Her face was stricken. I never saw my friend again.
If only I could have shared Jesus with her! Becky might have turned toward Him and known joy! But I didn’t. I thought Jesus was long-time dead and God did not exist.
Yet, I knew evil is only too real. “Sauron is alive and well in the world,” a wise man remarked, using Tolkien’s fantasy to express what I believed about Satan.
After that time, the devil began to pursue me in earnest. Dangers, foolhardy choices, obsessive thoughts, depressions, even rapists attacked me. Sometimes at night horrible dreams made me scream.
My heart began to long for Someone stronger than Satan to protect me.
At age 17, I prayed to Jesus!
Now 73, I know Jesus rose from death and exists in glory. Even though He is the Son of God, He still has those nail marks from the crucifixion that killed him. And He is with me as I write this.
Rosemary Althoff, Author 