I won’t give up

 10/2/24

Sometimes life sucks dad,

What do I do when I don’t know what I did?

What do I do when I don’t know how to fix my mistake?

 

Sometimes I feel pathetic,

Like I am not a man.

Like I will never measure up to what everyone else wants me to be.

 

Rest eludes me,

Solitude eludes me,

Hope flees at the very sight of my face.

 

What do I do dad?

When I am surrounded by doubt,

Engulfed in anxiety,

 

What does it really mean to be manly?

Do I have big muscles?

Am I a hard iron?

 

Even if life may want to spit me out,

Even if my own mind wants to stop being this character,

I will not give up.

 

You have not given up on me,

My life and my mind have teamed up,

To take me down,

 

But I cannot give up.

You haven’t given up on me,

You gave me a new hope,

You gave me a new future.

 

This poem is inspired by Psalm 22

Breaking the Cycle

 9/29/24

Although trouble arises,

Anxiety crashes around me,

Adversaries surround me,

 

I will not be afraid,

You are with me,

I was dead in the depths,

 

And yet you rescued me,

Everyone gave up on me,

Yet You found me.

 

Even when I am alone,

I remember that you are with me.

 

I will not give up,

Because you never did.

This poem was inspired by Psalm 13.

Don’t give up

 9/28/24

Although trouble arises,

Anxiety crashes around me,

Adversaries surround me,

 

I will not be afraid,

You are with me,

I was dead in the depths,

 

And yet you rescued me,

Everyone gave up on me,

Yet You found me.

 

Even when I am alone,

I remember that you are with me.

 

I will not give up,

Because you never did.

 

This poem was inspired by Psalm 13.

Whether you feel like it or not praise the Lord

 9/27/24

Thank you Father for everything you have given me,

Even when there is no one else I still have you,

You are my father,

 

You Saved me,

You set me free from Darkness,

You baptized me in your love,

In your death,

 

Now I live for you,

Whether I feel like it or not,

I will worship you,

 

You are my dad, God.

You found me in my despair,

Rescued me from the pit,

From the cycle of destruction,

 

Now my life is yours,

 

Everywhere I go,

You precede me,

You surround me,

You dwell within me.

Nothing I do is apart from you.

Nothing I say escapes your ear,

Nothing I see misses your sight.

 

When I was in my darkest seasons,

You carried me through,

Even when I gave up on life,

You never gave up on me.

 

 

This poem is inspired by Psalms 105.

A Letter to my Dad

9/26/24

I need your help Dad,

I don’t know what to do.

 

I feel like the life has been sucked out of me,

There is nowhere for me to go,

People say, “Why don’t you come talk to me, you can talk to me any time.”

But I have tried,

They won’t hear me.

 

Where can I go but to you for help,

You are my life,

Not school,

Not the gym,

Not my book,

No one can be my life but you Dad.

 

Even when I feel like I am trapped,

Like I am in a glass box only able to see the party around me,

But no one sees me,

I know that you see me.

 

You’ve rescued me from my own pit,

You’ve rescued me from the hell of my own making,

 

I will trust you now and forever,

Even when it seems hopeless.

 

Psalms 86 is what this poem is based on.

Tailspinner's Ink Statement of Vision and Faith

 

Talespinner’s Ink Vision Statement

At Talespinner’s Ink, we believe storytelling is a divine gift—an echo of the Creator’s artistry—that has the power to inspire, challenge, and unite. Our mission is to craft immersive, thought-provoking narratives that prioritize artistic excellence while reflecting biblical truth. Rooted in faith, imagination, and a commitment to authentic storytelling, we aim to glorify God, engage readers, and reshape the perception of Christian media.

Our stories explore themes of redemption, grace, and human struggle, drawing from the timeless truths of Scripture. By weaving together compelling characters, rich worlds, and meaningful conflicts, we invite readers to dive deep into narratives that resonate with the complexity of life while pointing toward the hope found in Christ.

Through our work, we aspire to:

• Encourage exploration of God’s truth in ways that are deeply engaging and relatable.
• Challenge the norm of Christian media by prioritizing captivating stories over overt messages, allowing faith to shine naturally through the narrative.
• Foster a community of creatives and readers who are passionate about storytelling and faith, inspiring one another to create with excellence.

We acknowledge that our stories will never be perfect, but we strive to honor the ultimate Author of redemption. By embracing both the beauty and brokenness of creation, we aim to reflect God’s grace, love, and truth in every tale we tell.

---

Statement of Faith

Talespinner’s Ink is founded on the following biblical truths, which guide our stories and creative philosophy:

1. The Bible: We affirm that the Bible is the inerrant, inspired Word of God, written by human authors under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the ultimate authority for truth, morality, and the foundation of our storytelling.

2. God: We believe in one sovereign God who exists eternally in three Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. He is the source of all beauty, goodness, and truth.

3. Creation: God created the universe to reflect His glory. All true beauty, goodness, and creativity ultimately originate from Him, even in a world marred by sin.

4. Humanity: Made in God’s image, humanity bears the Creator’s creative and moral imprint. Yet, through Adam and Eve’s rebellion, humanity fell into sin, bringing brokenness to both creation and culture.

5. Creation’s Curse: The fall introduced sin, suffering, and death into the world. This brokenness often distorts our stories and culture, but glimpses of God’s beauty and truth remain.

6. Jesus Christ: Jesus, fully God and fully man, is the centerpiece of God’s redemption plan. He lived a sinless life, died as an atonement for sin, rose again, and reigns in Heaven, offering salvation to all who trust in Him.

7. Salvation: Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Through Jesus’ death and resurrection, believers are reconciled to God, made new, and called to live for His glory.

8. The Church: God gathers His people into the Church to worship, serve, and proclaim His truth. The Church is called to create and engage culture in ways that reflect His Kingdom.

9. Marriage and Family: God defines marriage as a covenant between one man and one woman, reflecting Christ’s relationship with the Church. Marriage and family are foundational to God’s design for humanity.

10. Resurrection: Jesus Christ will return to restore all things, judge the living and the dead, and establish a New Heavens and New Earth. In eternity, God’s people will worship Him through creativity, exploration, and joyful work.

11. Gifts of the Holy Spirit: We believe in the continued work of the Holy Spirit, who empowers believers with spiritual gifts to build up the Church and spread the Gospel.

---

Our Commitment to Storytelling

We recognize the failures of much of modern Christian media, which often prioritizes message over artistry. At Talespinner’s Ink, we strive to tell stories that are immersive, engaging, and artistically excellent while reflecting the deeper truths of Scripture. Our narratives may be strange or unconventional, but they will always point, in their essence, to the hope and redemption found in Jesus Christ.

We are not perfect authors, nor will our stories always achieve perfect theology. However, they will reflect the basic principles of our faith, inviting readers to think deeply about God, humanity, and the grand narrative of redemption.

Together, let us craft stories that glorify the ultimate Storyteller and inspire others to discover His truth through the art of storytelling.

https://lorehaven.com/faith-statement/

 

Credit for the wording of the faith statement: Lore haven

The Humbled Prince

     With contempt, the prince looked down on the boy who dared to confront him in this filthy alleyway. The alleyway was crowded with drunk commoners and servants. Slimy refuse covered the ground beneath their feet. Light from the orificium posts barely penetrated the smoky darkness, casting an eerie glow on the crowd in the alleyway. The boy appeared oddly unfazed by the stench, as if he had grown accustomed to it. The Green zone couldn’t produce a spawn that could rival me. The name Dufonious Maximus Gandulfton the second shall be renowned as the most honorable of fighters, for I am the son of one of the kings and the nephew of the esteemed emperor. 

 

“Alright let’s settle this,” Bovin Leer was unwilling to let this high and mighty nobleboy think he’s gotten the better of his family. He assumed a low guard position with his hands and a flow stance. If this snot-smoking-lizard-lover says anything about her again… well… he’s getting my fist in his mouth. 

 

Dufonious took off his coat and handed it to one of his underlings, “I shan’t be more than a minute.” Despite the men chuckling, the prince saw this as mere child’s play, or so he thought. 

 

The occasional rat scurried across the ground, as they prepared for their fight, the drunken crowd cheered, anticipation filling the air as the high Prince positioned himself, raising his hands to his temples with clenched fists.  

 

Brovin smirked as he casually lowered his hands, swaying his fingers in a fluid motion focusing on the moment, the light from a distant lantern flickered in his eye.  

 

“No matter how this fight ends, you’ll still be the son of a whore, a whore that…” With determination, Dufonious stepped forward, his knee rising as he prepared to launch his foot forward. “…I…”  

Skillfully, Brovin leaned back, dropping to his side. He unleashed his fist forward towards The Prince’s head. The punch, however, connected to his shoulder with a hard thud, reverberating through the ally way. As the punch propelled him backward against the brick wall, the prince could feel the slime beneath his feet slide him into the wall. 

 

Now my foot is going for your gut. Brovin smirked. 

 

Dufonious’ face shifted with frustration as he leaned against the wall, the brick was rough against his hand as he pulled back, touching his head to see blood where his face scraped against the roughness of the wall. Humiliated, he charged forward, his muscles tensing as he clenched around Brovin’s neck tightly. With a swift maneuver, Brovin effortlessly slipped out, retreating backward, slowing his breath. Determined, the arrogant prince charged again, his footsteps echoing the shame he felt deep in his stomach. Brovin swiftly raised his knee, delivering a powerful blow to Dufonious’ gut. Agony washed over the prince as he reeled back. Brovin re-assumed his stance, not a single blow connected to this lowly wart. 

 

The prince leaned against the wall, catching his breath. I can’t let this whoreson wart win. For my honor, I must knock him down! The prince leaned back, his leg extending forcefully towards Brovin’s head. But with a quick motion, the boy shrugged his shoulder, effectively blocking the kick. In a swift countermove, he retaliated, his kick landing squarely on the prince’s mouth. 

 

Dufonious found himself on the ground, his frustration boiling over into a yell. Squeezing the gravel beneath his hands in frustration. Ignoring the pain, he stood up, throwing the dust at Brovin’s eyes. Then he relentlessly kicked at his head. Brovin skillfully leaned back, narrowly evading the kicks, barely able to make out the movement. Years of watching the nobles train from their fences, he knew how the prince moved. Explosively, the boy launched his fist forward. The impact of his fist connecting with the prince’s nose resonated in the air. 

 

Brovin wiped his eyes, “Resorting to cheep tricks? How unnobly of you?” 

 

Frustrated, Dufonious attempted another push, throwing his knee out. But Brovin anticipated the move and swiftly threw his foot out first. This time, however, the prince managed to catch the foot. Pivoting on his foot, Dufonious aimed for a hook kick, his determination palpable. Yet, Brovin leaned back and to the side, effortlessly evading the attack. 

 

As the prince pivoted again, Brovin seized the opportunity. With a swift and precise motion, his fist shot upward, connecting with Dufonious’ chin, pain shooting through the prince’s head as he flew back and fell against the wall. 

The prince was out cold. 

© Copyright Tailspinners Ink and Dustin Cooley all rights reserved 2024