W_L

Yeah, I want the spirit of community to last longer than any one writer or member. We're all part of this site as readers, writers, and even the trolls The more people get involved, the more brilliant stories we can have, and it becomes a virtuous cycle. Interaction is the best counter to apathy.

True unless you want an open and fair result with the leaders being held accountable but that is P-word that cannot be spoken on GA in public In summation, this is the first non-GA administered contest created by GA members and authors. I just don't want to be the one to set back community events in case of voting shenanigans or anything that might lurk in the closet of our souls.

Yeah, but if "pa plays favorites" with himself or the kids, then we're in trouble. I want to be completely fair on this. Haha! Nice satire on Capra, but it is more applicable to "Mr. Smith goes to Washington" or "John Doe"

Please feel free to read these stories and vote on your favorite in the link, the winning author will receive a $50.00 Amazon gift card: http://www.gayauthors.org/forums/topic/38136-holiday-themed-story-eventcontest-voting/ Stories are listed below 1. All I want for Christmas is You- Joann414 http://www.gayauthor...oroominthelodge 2. I Saw Daddy/Mommy Kissing Santa Claus- Dark (Automatically Withdrawn) 3. There's No Place Like Home For The Holiday - Sasha Distan No Place Like Home For The Holidays: Running Home 4. It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year- Winged_Wolf http://www.gayauthor...arholidaymayhem Literature 5. A Christmas Carol- Cole Matthews http://www.gayauthor...toryevent2013/1 7. One Candle- Dolores Esteban http://www.gayauthor...itingprompts/46 8. The Night Before Christmas- Aditus Twas the Night Before Christmas : Twice the Night Before Christmas TV/Movies 9. Elf- Scotty94- (Automatically Withdrawn) 10. Black Christmas - Thorn Wilde Black Christmas 12.It's A Wonderful Life- W.L http://www.gayauthor...toryalifesworth

Angels are dogmatic in my story, plague by hierarchy and structure. Christ is the chill down to earth free-lance boss, who handles things his own way. There's a cosmic paradox in there, but I think the classic story also had a few as well. Now as for thought, a twisted faith is not outrageously unrealistic, because many people skew their priorities. Clarence just took too many wrong routes, made too many bets, and settled against too many loved ones. His life is a tragedy of his own making despite his own chances at happiness. God gave him every possible chance even at the end, when few others did.

Thanks for the read, In his place, suicide might be easier along with a few centuries in hell than facing your loved ones and old friends that you have betrayed over the years. Redemption doesn't happen with a miracle, it happens with a lot of work and a personal will for it.

Glad it was provocative and made you think, sometimes we get so hung up in tradition that we need to be reminded that something exists.

I think orthodoxy is overrated and leads to a lot of corruption A few Unorthodox ideas can make big difference in life, faith, and our choices.

Don't worry Scotty, things happen. I love everyone's story, but alas as the host of this contest, I cannot vote.

I hate doing this but the thread needs a bump

To me, "Bittersweet Symphony" = Cruel Intentions= 90's You want to corroborate on a 90's Movie List, movies that everyone in the 90's either saw or remember. I am thinking of Movies like "Spice World" (I can't help but love that cheezy corny movie), "Titanic" (Cried a lot for over a decade whenever I heard the song), "Speed" (Always wondered if there is a bomb on the bus even before 9/11 due to that movie ), "The Matrix" (Blue pill and black trench coats anyone)....among others.

Ah, I was more a rock guy myself: Green Day was the first band that I got into in the 90's and they have had some hits and misses. Blink 182 has always been my go to for music, followed by New Found Glory, Taking Back Sunday, Yellowcard, Amber Pacific and All time Low- Most of them I got into in early 2000's, so they're more late 90's and early 00's

It's Christmas for the Dogs: Wonder what I got: I sure wish I could have a puppy pal to snuggle with on Christmas: And we should all have a big musical number

Sorry Dark and Scotty, the extension has passed and I must be fair to all the other authors and readers as well. Still keep writing those stories and don't keep the holiday spirit alive within alive.

I've seen one around here recently wonder if he has gone to Iceland ...cel come back and stop messing up construction projects.

Nice list, were you really into R&B and rap?

I always wonder about the concept of pardons; does really invalidate the original sentence of guilt? or does it merely give an exception to the ruling of law?

Here's the stories to judge: (I will let Dark and Scotty94 stay in the running, if their stories cannot be finished before Christmas, I'll remove them. You have Until 7:00 AM Dec 25th as an extension guys) 1. All I want for Christmas is You- Joann414 https://www.gayauthors.org/story/joann414/noroominthelodge 2. I Saw Daddy/Mommy Kissing Santa Claus- Dark (Automatically Withdrawn) 3. There's No Place Like Home For The Holiday - Sasha Distan No Place Like Home For The Holidays: Running Home 4. It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year- Winged_Wolf http://www.gayauthor...arholidaymayhem Literature 5. A Christmas Carol- Cole Matthews http://www.gayauthor...toryevent2013/1 7. One Candle- Dolores Esteban http://www.gayauthor...itingprompts/46 8. The Night Before Christmas- Aditus Twas the Night Before Christmas : Twice the Night Before Christmas TV/Movies 9. Elf- Scotty94- (Automatically Withdrawn) 10. Black Christmas - Thorn Wilde Black Christmas 12.It's A Wonderful Life- W.L http://www.gayauthor...toryalifesworth Okay guys, the prize will be a $50.00 Amazon Gift Card based on majority vote. If there is a tie for first place, we will have a mini-write off (come up with the best story in 24 hours) between tying authors for New Years To make this fair, I have made all votes public, so we know who is voting and keep this transparent. Voting is allowed for multiple authors, so if you like more than one author's story feel free to vote. Joanne414 is up

Dark pm me about how much more time you need Same for anyone else who can't make tonights deadline

Tonight at 10, I will create the voting thread. Voting will continue until Dec 31

I finished writing my Christmas story and while writing it, I expressed some stuff that has been festering in me for a while. https://www.gayauthors.org/story/w-l/christmasthemedstoryalifesworth In terms of my faith, I really can't be considered a mainline Christian, because to me, I think Christianity as it is in today's religion is incredibly diluted and deluded. I don't like how Christianity has taken the route of power by manipulating political figures and movements, creating strife through the wealth of believers due to "issues of faith", and at the highest levels hold an absolute "Pride" in themselves for interpreting the will of God. For those, who call everyone else a sinner, have they forgotten the ultimate sin is Pride? Who are they to judge the will of God? Who are they to hold the reins of what is true faith and heretical? The other point I made in the story is a known link between religion and banking during the housing boom, mortgage lenders would go into churches to advertise their lending products, even enlisting preachers to their cause. The banks in turn would pay handsome donations to churches that had given them business. In a matter of fact, religious figures acted as sales agents for mortgage lenders, is that what Christianity means to people? To quote an often said expression, "What would Jesus do?" Religion to me is not about laws and rules, but love and kindness. There are a billion people in the world, each have their own interpretation of what is God, what is right and wrong, and what is true. Why should we be separated by a religion that says it is the sin of "Pride", to hold selfish interpretation of what is right and wrong to be applied on all, but does it themselves? Am I out there for pointing to the flaws in modern Christian beliefs? Its paradox in Pride and arrogance? Maybe, but only one being has any right to judge me.

A Life’s Worth By W.L (Dec 20th, 1983) In the depths of night, Clarence Bailey, a 13 year old boy residing in Bedford Falls, is awoken by his happiest dreams yet. Though it may be the holidays, he is far too old for sugar plums and Santa Claus in his dreams. No, the happiness was not based on childhood pleasures. He is having his first adult experiences; joys that come from within oneself rather than a seasonal celebration. At first, he felt the ecstasy and excitement th

A story about the self-image and self-delusion within the world that we live in. It is a story inspired by It's a Wonderful Life

I have mine set for 1 AM and a blog entry to follow up at the same time https://www.gayauthors.org/forums/story/w-l/christmasthemedstoryalifesworth

A Life's Worth is mine, I am ust waiting on Kitt's magic editing Can't wait to read everyone's