Preaching or Storytelling?

Posted on January 20, 2012 by lynettesowell

Every so often the discussion comes up in Christian circles, with writers and readers both:

What makes Christian books…Christian?

When does a writer go from storytelling, to preaching?

How much is too much?

On the other hand, what makes a spiritual message “watered down?”

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus told the disciples that “You are salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.” (Matt. 5:13)

From this verse, I understand that we believers give a flavoring to the world that can’t be found anywhere else. Saltiness is distinctive. You can tell when it’s there, and when it’s not. Have you ever tasted a salt substitute? It’s kinda-sorta salty, but not the same thing.

The next verses tells us that we’re “the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matt. 5:14-16)

From these verses, I understand that if we’re the light of the world and let our lights shine, our good work will point others to God and bring glory to Him.

What does that mean? How exactly do writers let their words become salt and light, so readers enjoy the flavor and can clearly see a Godly message?

As readers, is there such a thing as too salty, too much of a message for us? When does the story fall to the side and the message take over? Is that a bad thing? Worse, when does a message become watered down and turn into just “a positive, feel-good story?”

This is where writers must know their audience, and think about who they’re writing for. Of course, we writers never know who’s going to read our book. For example, authors who’ve had a title release as a Kindle freebie are open to a myriad of reactions/reviews from readers, especially those who aren’t believers and who find the salt overwhelming in a book. And by overwhelming, that could be as simple as a character praying over a situation they face. This should not surprise us, as what comes naturally (or should) to a believer, is as unnatural to an unbeliever as a fish trying to breathe air.

I have to admit that when I’m reading, and a character starts “sermonizing,” as in telling another character “this is the lesson that you are learning through this situation,” I will start to skim if it goes on for very long. That’s my confession for today, I suppose. What about you? Thoughts? Reactions? Thrown tomatoes?

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Let There Be Apps by Elizabeth Goddard

Posted on January 19, 2012 by bethrachg

And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth.” And it was so. God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. God set them in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth, to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the fourth day. Genesis 1: 14-19

Imagine how the universe changed when God turned on the lights!

I’ve written characters in my books that are astronomy geeks and that’s because I’d love to be an astronomy geek myself. But I’ve never had the time or opportunity. Until now.  We recently got a nice telescope, but that requires reading instructions and setting it up. It’s on my to do list.

With today’s technology I have no excuses. I discovered STAR WALK—a  nifty app for iPad that had me and all the kiddoes  outside, staring at the stars. The best part–now we know what we’re looking at. In fact, I learned that I’ve spent my entire life looking at what I thought was the Little Dipper and Big Dipper only to discover that I was looking at Orion. Ha!

Thanks to Star Walk. Thanks to the iPad. Thanks to digital technology turning on the lights for me.  I’m old. I hate change. I love books that I can hold. But I have to admit, technology is changing my mind about many things.

Changing our lives in many ways.  The publishing world is in upheaval over digital books. Since receiving my Keurig for Christmas, I’ve wondered if the coffee world is also in an upheaval, trying to supply the right coffee in k-cups. How many customers still want regular coffee makers, etc? There are innumerable changes happening so fast.

A light has been turned on, illuminating knowledge in greater and faster ways.

One of the biggest changes I see goes hand in hand with the way we read–it’s the way we learn.

I especially see this at home when teaching my children.  I have a big library of children’s books but in addition to those books, I’ve added a library of digital books that either read  to my kids or allows them to read to themselves.  When a child has trouble with a subject I can often find a quick and easy explanation—an explanation they’re more willing to hear—from Brainpop.

Let there be light. . let there be apps. What is the biggest way technology is changing your life?

Blessings!

Beth

Elizabeth Goddard is the award-winning author of Freezing Point and Oregon Outback. You can find out more about Elizabeth at her website, or joint her fan page on Facebook.

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Readers: Born or Bred? Posted by Maureen Lang

Posted on January 18, 2012 by Maureen Lang

I’ve heard it said that if you read to your children, then set the good example of reading your own books where they can see you doing so, children are more likely to grow up to be readers themselves.

I wonder if that’s really true. It sounds like it should be true. I certainly want it to be true, because I’ve done that with my own children—mainly because it came naturally to me. I wanted to read to them because it was fun. And I couldn’t help but read in front of them because, well, I’m a reader.

However, am I a reader because my parents read to me? No. I may very well be a writer because my mother told my sister and I stories that she made up out of her head — inspiring me to make up stories of my own — but I don’t recall ever seeing my mother sit down to read a book. And my father? Well, he did read portions of a couple of non-fiction books about World War Two, mainly because he’d lived the experience and wanted to compare what they were writing to what he recalled. But he never once read a book to me. Overall I’d have to say he didn’t set an example as a reader, either.

As for my nurturing example: my daughter is an even more avid reader than I am. Since she is my oldest, I might once have taken the credit and said she’s a reader because I nurtured it in her. But since I also have a fourteen year old son who must be reminded (i.e. forced) to do his reading homework, a son who saw in me the same things my daughter did, he proves my fine example did nothing. He’s a reader only through coercion.

Perhaps reading passions have something to do with differences between boys and girls. Or perhaps a reading gene has yet to reveal itself in my son. With age he may recall my example of reading and take it up himself someday. I can only hope.

But at this point in my observation, I’d have to say readers are born, not bred.

What do you think? Were you born a reader, or bred to become one? Perhaps a mix of both?

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EMBRACE THE SPIRIT by Vicki Hinze

Posted on January 16, 2012 by Vicki Hinze

I’ve not been well for two weeks.  Nothing fiercely wrong, just strep and sinusitis that is dragging heels at departing.  But it’s had me feeling just bad enough to be less than effective.  I’ve been spending a lot of time with my thoughts and that always sends me running for the Bible–the book that makes sense of them.

So that’s what I want to talk about in today’s post.

In reading, the verse resonating is:  “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”   —2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV)

The verse I’m going to repeat throughout the day is:  “You must not fear them, for the LORD your God Himself fights for you.”   —Deuteronomy 3:22 NKJV)

 Why is this resonating so strongly right now?

Seeking a full and complete answer to that.  I’m not sure, but maybe because reaching my goal took two decades.  I sabotaged myself by letting fear and doubt rule me.  God doesn’t work in that environment–it shows an absence of trust in Him and in faith.  But I didn’t see that, so everything that could go wrong did.  It wasn’t anyone else’s fault.  It was mine.  I was undisciplined, long on letting fear and doubt rule and short on trust and faith in Him.  I missed that then, though I see it clearly now.

Not that there weren’t signs.  There were plenty of them.  I was just too busy to notice or worse, I noticed and ignored them.

I suppose the strongest signal–one I actually stopped long enough to really note and thought, “Mmm, this is important.  I need to pay attention to this” was after Mom died and right before the fall.  What I remember most about that time was despair.  I was so weary of grief and feeling bad all the time and of struggling.  Everything seemed to be a struggle. I stood at the breaking point, ready to give up.  Not on life, but on me.

And then things got worse.

That’s always the way it happens.  They say what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, and maybe it does.  Grieving and despairing, I got distracted and fell down an entire flight of stairs, slammed into a wall at the bottom and hit so hard it threw me back against the stairs and I cracked my head.  I thought I was going to die, and I could have.  Hubby was stunned I was alive and by the look on his face, I knew I was in real trouble.

I hurt everywhere at one time.  He called out to God. I couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe.  My entire right side, my neck and back was on fire.  Horrific pain.  All of my muscles in severe spasm.  I felt a rubber band type snap in my chest—a rib breaking.  I lay there in a heap thinking, Breathe.  You’ve got to breathe.  It was awful.  I’ve had surgeries that didn’t hurt as much or as intensely.

At the hospital, the problems that loomed huge earlier faded under the fear of fighting for my life, and I began praying for healing.

Fear and doubt came roaring in, insisting I would not be healed, I would die.  From the level of pain they might have been right, but this time I refused to listen.  For maybe the first time, I banished fear and doubt, defied boundaries and limitations imposed by reason and emotion, and I surrendered in total faith to God.

The ER doctor reviewed the x-rays.  The good news, he said, was nothing had been broken.  I asked if he was sure—I’d felt that rib break.  He checked again and said there was a break in my rib, but it was an old one that had already healed.

I hadn’t had a broken rib before, and now I had a healed one.  I also had separated the muscles from the chest wall and wrecked my right arm, wrist, hand, knee and foot.  It was a miserable few months, but I went through them knowing that rib had been healed, and in His time, in His way, the rest of me would be too.

That recovery wasn’t easy, it wasn’t a snap.  It was a process.  But He carried me through it and fear and doubt lost its command over me.  I learned to trust God.  Regardless of the outcome, if my trust is in Him, the results will be of His choosing.

I learned that there are no limits for those who reject fear and doubt and trust in God.  It is as is written in Matthew 19: 25-27:  “Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

So today I remind myself and ask:  When trouble comes, as it will, do I turn to God first, or as a last resort?  Do I let fear and doubt rule me, or do I deliberately trust God?

I wish I could say that I do not fear or doubt.  But I’m human, flawed to the core, and I do at times fear and doubt.  But now I’m aware.  I know that fear and doubt can be tools to help us and not just ones that sabotage or hold us back.  And I know that telling the difference in healthy fear or doubt and unhealthy fear or doubt can be hard.  That is, hard for me.

But I also know now that if I turn whatever it is over to God and trust Him, I’m in safe hands.  He always knows the difference and always acts for our greater good.

Blessings,

Vicki

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SMALL THINGS

Posted on January 12, 2012 by yvon63

SMALL THINGS       

             January!

            A new year. A time of new beginnings.

            That gives some people an incentive to start over, turn over a new leaf, make resolutions. Others have tried that and failed so often, the idea is daunting. Why bother?

            We know the scripture says, “I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength.”

            I don’t argue with that. I know Jesus can do things perfectly, but I either can’t or don’t do my part. Sometimes other things get in the way of my goals. The negative thought occurred to me that “I can do SMALL THINGS.”

            The more I thought about it, the more I realized that may be the answer to times of anxiety, feeling… dejected, depressed, like a failure and what’s the use of trying.

            There’s a verse that says, “He who is faithful in little, will be faithful in much.”

            We are admonished to grow in faith—grow in our Christian walk.

            Maybe I’ll never be the most popular, the most intelligent, the most successful. But I can love.

            What did Jesus say? “Love one another.”

            What did Paul write? “There are three things: faith, hope and love. The greatest is love.”

            Love is…great?

            Not…small?

            Then yes, I can do something great. I can love.

            We might say, “Well, those around me aren’t that lovable?”

What is love? I’ve always heard that “love is action.” A fine preacher said it this way: “Love your way to feeling.”

            I like what Jeanne Bice said, “No one can make a brand new start. Anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.”

            And that can be done anytime… not just in January.

            So, although I’m working on my resolutions, and did take enough stuff out of my closet to turn it into a Prayer Closet for those most burdensome prayers, I want to make a different resolution… start making a brand new ending.

            Love is a small thing to do. But it’s so great.

 

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Revisiting Redux: Reading goals for 2012 by Camy Tang

Posted on January 12, 2012 by Camy Tang/Camille Elliot

Camy here! I know I just posted about this both here on Christiansread.com and also on my blog, but I wanted to give an update.

Basically, a couple days ago I posted on my blog about how I’m revising my 2012 reading goals because of this post by Danica Favorite. Her reading goals for 2012 sounded so great that I decided to challenge myself with my reading goals this year rather than the goals I had posted before.

Here’s my new improved reading goals:

1) Read the 4 Love Inspired Suspense novels each month. I should be doing this already, but I’ve been bad about keeping up with them. I’ll usually only read two Love Inspired Suspense novels each month, and after looking at my book catalog, I realized that I’ve been reading all backlist books, not current ones. So I will be trying to read all current Love Inspired Suspense novels each month.

2) Start at least one new-to-me author each month. I copied this straight from Danica because I think it’s a fantastic idea. I also recently lamented on Facebook and Twitter that I had a ton of free ebooks on my Nook but I never seem to get around to reading them. Well, here’s my chance, because most of the free ebooks I get are new-to-me authors whose books I got for free because I wanted to try them.

3) Start at least one old book from my TBR pile each month. And let me confess, my TBR pile ranges in the thousands.

You will notice the language on numbers 2 and 3: Start, not read. Meaning, if I start a book and it doesn’t interest me, I reserve the right to not finish it and still count it toward my reading goal for the month. I ran this by my friend Danica and she thinks it’s brilliant, because even if I don’t finish the book, I’m still getting through my TBR pile, which is the point.

In order to accomplish these lofty reading goals, I set a small, attainable goal of reading at least 30 minutes each day. I will set my timer and not do anything else but read. (That actually sounds heavenly to me. I have a feeling that won’t be a problem!)

I started this 30 minutes a day and it ended up being 90 minutes, but I have already finished a book this month! Woohoo for me!

I also put a book from #3 near the breakfast table so I can read while I eat lunch, and I put my Nook on a shelf near the toilet so I can read a book from #1 or #2 while I’m, er, busy.

I’m not entirely happy about having multiple books going at once, but it’s not too bad if it’s only 2 books and if they’re different genres.

What do you think of my new goals?

Camy Tang writes romance with a kick of wasabi. Out now is the first book in her new series, Protection for Hire, which is a cross between Stephanie Plum and The Joy Luck Club. She is a staff worker for her church youth group, and leads one of the worship teams for Sunday service. On her blog, she ponders frivolous things like knitting, running, dogs, and Asiana. Visit her website to sign up for her quarterly newsletter.

Click here to find out how you can join my Street Team—it’s free and there’s lots of chances to win prizes!

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How to Create a Prayer Covering

Posted on January 11, 2012 by juliearduini

In my last post about how to avoid great expectations that lead to disappointment in the new year, I promised to post today on what a prayer covering is and why I’m so passionate about it.

I’m not the first to think of the idea.

My inspiration came from Christian novelist RobinLee Hatcher. In an undated interview with Focus on Fiction, she explained her prayer team, and how she counts on their prayers. She noted it was intercession from prayer warriors that “carried her through.”
Before I put a word on paper or typed on my keyboard I decided I was going to do two things.
1. Commit my writing to God. Write as He leads. No more, no less.
2. Create a prayer team. 
I believe a prayer team is key for Christians, no matter what they do each day.
Maybe you’ve heard of the Presidential Prayer team. Perhaps you received updates from missionaries as part of a prayer coordination. Well, I think the prayer team should be expanded. I think if you have proclaimed Jesus Christ as your Savior, you should have a prayer team. I think you need a prayer team whether you are a pastor or a teacher. A banker or a real estate agent. A stay at home mom or a corporate VP.  Anytime you represent Jesus at home, work or ministry there will be forces against you.
If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. John 15:19-20, NIV
Having a prayer team gives what I call “intercession protection.”
Matthew 18:20 states,“For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
I’ve read the missionary accounts where missionaries were surrounded by crowds filled with evil intent and suddenly the crowds disappeared. Turns out believers were praying at the exact time the missionaries were in peril. Later on one of the potential criminals reported seeing such a band of warriors surrounding the missionaries, they fled. Those warriors were angelic protection sent by God thanks to prayer.
Executives who committed to serve God in the workplace felt peace when budgets didn’t balance. Teachers learned strategies to share Godly principles in a creative way. These are byproducts of having a prayer team.
Here is my prayer team experience:
I promised God I would write for Him in fall 2006. I prayed and believed I was meant to create a prayer team.  Each fall I pray for names of believing women who might want to join the team. Since that first year, my writing ministry has seen crazy favor. Most peers seek publication. Months after making the commitment to write for God an author contacted me and asked to use my story in her book. By fall 2007 I was invited to a book signing. It took reading the invite three times before I realized I was one of the authors, not the one seeking signatures!
Before the prayer team my family was in the midst of chronic sickness and transition. Within months our daughter moved out of steady therapy to a pre-school program where she became a help to others with special needs situations. I can’t tell you the times I’ve been anxious and then I’m flooded with peace. I give God the glory for all these things.
Yet I believe part of the call on my life is to encourage you to build a prayer team.
There are a few things that I think set apart a prayer team for success. Please prayerfully consider starting and implementing these things with your team.
1.Pray about whom to invite.
It’s important you only invite people who have made a proclamation for Christ. Salvation is essential. Believing in God is not enough. As soon as one enters into a committed prayer ministry there is an element of spiritual warfare.
Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
1 Peter 5:8, NIV
The Holy Spirit will guide you to the right person or people. I’ve never had the same amount of people to invite each year and not every person I invite accepts. I truly believe God leads and I trust Him through the entire process.
2. Only invite people of the same gender.
This is obvious and yet the articles I read on emotional affairs show me women are sharing too much with men who are not their husbands. Do not think you can keep boundaries by including someone on your prayer team that is of the opposite sex. Prayer is such an intimate act and this is a special ministry. Don’t play with fire.
 

3. Discourage those that want to invite themselves
I learned the hard way accepting an enthusiastic praying person into something so personal, private and with boundaries is not a good idea. I don’t discourage prayer by any means; I just don’t randomly allow people to invite themselves. If someone wants to pray but you don’tbelieve they are someone to invite, thank them and ask they pray for your general ministry.  For me, I ask them to pray for my writing. It doesn’t give specifics, and yet it is a true area I need prayer. By allowing anyone to join, even with the best of intentions, I believe boundaries will be skewed.
In my instance, the person felt they had the right to tell me what to write or not write and if I became in their eyes disobedient, they were angry. It’s not the way to have a prayer team. Learn from me and prayerfully invite your team members.  Everyone else, keep it general.
4. I send out invites in November and ask them to prayerfully respond before the end of December.
I emphasize them praying about it. Their praying is a ministry. I even suggest they create a prayer team.  I believe prayer teams need a domino effect. My first prayer team was hit hard in every possible way.  It was a battle for them and yet their prayers yielded so much fruit. I don’t want anyone to accept lightly. I’ve let the ladies know I’d rather they decline and be honest than think they have to accept to please me and take on a burden they were never meant to carry.
5. I outline the boundaries in the invite so they know what I’m expecting.
My guidelines are that my praises and prayers are confidential. I do give specifics on the writing ministry. It is a lonely life and sometimes I share personal details or specifics on a project that is not ready for public promotion. I let them know I have no expectation they be on their knees praying every day for hours on end. I think the most active intercessors are the busy moms praying during a diaper change or folding laundry.  I tell them as my name and writing pop in their heads, lift up a prayer.  Each month I send a list with praises and prayers for their use if they want it. If I’m able, I send each member a thank you, often a book.  So far, I’ve invited each previous team back for the next year. Most re-commit, but not always.
That’s it! It’s not complicated but I believe creating a prayer team is life changing for the intercessor and the person requesting prayer. You’re worth it. No matter what your vocation or status, why not take a leap of faith and start your team today?
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How Many Books Do You Finish?

Posted on January 10, 2012 by James L. Rubart

Last Friday my fellow CR blogger Lynette confessed she doesn’t read as much as she’d like     to.

Now it’s my turn to confess: I finish only twenty percent of the books I start. Ugh. I know, what’s wrong with me? Most people I know even gut through books they end up tossing in the recycle bin when they’re done. There’s something inside that makes people want to finish books we start. Me?

Not so much.

As I pondered why I put books down so easily, three reasons came to mind:

1.    With so many books out there I don’t want to spend time on a sluggish book. Another confession: I’m getting older. (Don’t let my boys see this, I’ve never admit it to them.) Time is running out so I want the books I do read to be all out winners. (Probably why I rarely re-read books, which I did often in my teens and twenties.)

2.    I’m reading a lot of manuscripts for endorsement these days, so when I read for pure pleasure I don’t want to work at it.

3.    I get bored easily. A few years ago I tried to read David Copperfield—which some say is Dickens’s best work—and I set it down after sixty pages. All the description did the big time bog down on my brain. I want page turners.

Am I alone?

(Uh, before we go on, please repeat after me: “I will always finish Jim’s books, I will always finish Jim’s books … )

What percentage of the books you start do you finish?

And what books have you read lately that you “couldn’t put down”? If you like, tell us why. Inquiring Jims want to know.

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Beyond Sex Roles: The New Covenant Model

Posted on January 9, 2012 by Sarah Goebel

I hope your New Year has started with God’s goodness going before you and behind you. I send prayers for God’s favor to be with you throughout 2012!

Jon, my husband, and I began the year singing praises to our God followed by a prayer meeting with family and friends here in Ridgecrest, California. It was a precious and great time!  Since then, my husband and I have been humbling ourselves before God and asking Him to reveal to us anything that is not correct in our belief system. We had no idea where that prayer was going to lead us!  You all know how it is… We all are so easily entangled in tradition that sometimes we cannot see beyond it to receive the truth, grace and freedom God has waiting for us.  

We were led to a book called Beyond Sex Roles. We are approximately ¾ of the way through the book and find the material very interesting. It has definitely stirred a desire within us to dig deeper on the topic of God’s desire for our relationship after the cross, both marriage and within the Christian community. Gilbert Bilezikian shares a thorough biblical background and history of the role of women in God’s original design at creation, in her post-fall role, and in her post cross role under the new covenant – during early church days and modern times. He also explains, with the use of Scripture, the design for all relationships  in the new community, called the church, in regards to Jews-Gentiles; masters-slaves; and males-females.

I would highly recommend this book for your 2012 non-fiction read list, especially, if you struggle in your understanding of a woman’s role in today’s society – family and/or church.  There are a couple of conflicting views in the Christian community on this topic. After looking at the information we found in this book, searching the Scriptures for context unity and praying, our belief system has changed! Our confusion over Scriptures that appeared contradictory to us in the past, have now been reconciled to fit like a hand in a glove. If this book doesn’t lead you to change your interpretation of Scripture concerning new covenant relationships, I promise you, it will at least prove to be an informational read that will help you understand how those who believe different than you, believe what they do.
God bless you all!
Happy New Year and Happy Reading!
Sarah Goebel
Family Secrets Ministry

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A Confession…

Posted on January 6, 2012 by lynettesowell

…I almost don’t want to share this, since this is a blog about reading, specifically Christians reading. But, here it is.

I really don’t read as much as I’d like to. What happened to the days when I’d finish work, then curl up for an hour or so with a novel, or even better, read late into the night, devouring pages with my eyes? (I’ll pause while that mental image sinks in…okay.)

Are you like me? Do you envy those who can read one book per week? I don’t know how they do it AND get everything else done, especially if they’re a writer. First, many writers have some kind of a day job. I do–two part-time jobs. Then there’s things like family and household affairs, like laundry, cleaning, keeping bills organized. Of course, the electronic world beckons–email, social media, etc. Oh, and if you’re a writer, writing. I also critique for a few friends, so that reading counts as well. Since we’re talking Christians reading, there’s also church and spiritual commitments as well.

It seems almost hypocritical to me for a writer NOT to read. After all, I believe that the more we read, the better we’ll write. Taking stock of 2011, I’m almost ashamed to count the number of books that I didn’t finish. I started tallying the books I managed to read all the way through, and it’s a dismal number. Not even double digits.

Part of me would like to blame my Kindle for that. In March of last year, I purchased a Kindle, thinking I’d read more. I haven’t. I have plenty of material, both fiction and nonfiction, at my disposal, in print and digital editions.

So what’s my problem? There’s plenty of reading material, as I already said. Is it quality? Have I become too highbrow a reader for my own good? In the past few years, I realize that I’ve needed to “hush” my inner editor while reading a book. After all, it’s not my story–it’s someone else’s. Or maybe it’s my attention span? Have social media and media in general caused me to not have patience for longer books?

One of my goals for 2012 is to read two books per month. I figure that is a manageable goal, to read 24 books in one year. No specific number of them need be fiction or nonfiction.

I know I’m not alone out there. C’mon, I know you’re there too. Readers with good intentions, but not finishing.

Does anyone else notice a sporadic reading habit? What should we do? I may venture back to my bookshelf for some old favorites, to see if I still love them as much as I did the first few reads through. I know, I can hear a few of you now: Well, if you really WANT to read, you will.  Um, yes, I do. And I will. But how to fit reading in and make it a priority? Not sure about that one. Or maybe I’m confessing about nothing, really. I’m curious to know.

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The One Thing by Elizabeth Goddard

Posted on January 5, 2012 by bethrachg

Remember the movie, City Slickers? I love the part where Curly tells Mitch that the secret of life is the one thing. When Mitch asks Curly what the one thing is, he simply answers, “That’s what you have to find out.”

Have you found your one thing for 2012?

I dreaded saying goodbye to 2011 because, as I’ve already mentioned on numerous occasions, time is passing by much too quickly.  Still a new year brings with it the promise of new beginnings. This year I went back to the old habit of writing out my goals—something I’ve done in years past that’s produced good results—but  in recent years I’ve been reacting to everything life has thrown at me.

One of the most important goals, I decided, is to slow time down, or take life at a much slower pace. After I’d written out all my goals for every area in my life, I was overwhelmed with how much I haven’t accomplished.  My goal sheet didn’t lend itself to getting rid of the busyness like I hoped.

I want to be Mary and not Martha. But how do I make that happen?

Another important goal is to read through the Bible with my children. Every year I start out with great intentions, but again I struggle when life gets busy. I wonder if I’m the only person who hasn’t been able to read through the Bible in a year, or however long it takes, with their family. I’m probably the only person to admit it.

This year I started again, listening to Bryan on Daily Audio Bible (so I have no excuses!) with my children, and my goal, my prayer, is that I can keep this one thing even if everything else I plan to do falls to the wayside. In the end, nothing else matters except our relationship with God, and if I let Him, He will redeem the time for me. Right?

All I need to do is consider how many hours I spend reading novels (or writing them)—I could have read the Bible through many times alone, and at least twice through with my children.  Looking at it that way puts everything into proper perspective.

I can hear the Lord saying, “Beth, Beth, you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed.  Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” (from Luke 10:42)

May your Year be filled with many blessings!

Beth

Elizabeth Goddard is the award-winning author of nine contemporary romance novels, including a romantic mystery, The Camera Never Lies—a 2011 Carol Award winner. Her upcoming release, Sheltering Love, releases in February 2012.

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How do you choose a book?

Posted on January 4, 2012 by Maureen Lang


While wondering how many Kindles, Nooks and e-readers were under Christmas trees this past holiday, I pondered whether such devices will change how we as readers choose the books we read.

I admit I do the majority of my shopping online, but when I do go into a bookstore, it’s still the title that grabs me. Here’s why: I usually go to the section I find most promising for my taste, and once beyond the feature tables and endcaps (expensive retail realty!) the majority of books have only the spine showing, so a title is often all I get. If a book is face-out and the cover is striking, it has a better chance to catch my eye. In that case, I’m more likely to peruse the back cover to see what the story is all about. Maybe I read the first page or two for a taste of the author’s style.

Of course, if I’ve come to the bookstore with the name of a specific author in mind, or a title recommended by a friend, none of the above matters. I know what I’m looking for and purchasing the book is only a detail. My friend already “sold” it to me.

Today’s culture of virtual friendship and social media may have taken that important place in our lives as readers. Through marketing magic at such places as Amazon or Barnes and Noble, I can see what other people are saying about a book. I can see “Customers who purchased this book often chose these as well.” It might not be as personal as a friend’s recommendation, but valuable nonetheless because it’s based on numbers of actual sales. The reviews themselves tell me something about the integrity of the reviewer and whether it sounds like someone with taste similar to my own.

Another avenue to choose a new book is checking out the list of free titles currently being offered for Kindles or Nooks. As an Amazon Prime member, there are a great number of titles I can borrow for free now. If I find an author I like that way, I’m more apt to actually put out real money for another book by that author because I already know I like their work. Only cover art is shown on such lists, but clicking through to see what the book is about is free and easy.

Convenience, trying out an author through a free download, customer reviews, popular “bought with” titles, recommendation emails based on my previous purchases—have revolutionized the way I shop for a book. All of that works for my e-reading habits. But cover and title still play a role, particularly when I’m looking at a list where the cover is all I see. It can give me an instant glimpse into the content of the book.

I guess I have all of this on my mind because I’ve recently received the finalized cover art for my next release, which comes out in July of 2012. Here’s a look:

I love it! I can’t take a bit of credit, though I wish I could. I recently met the photographer who worked with the design leader, and I learned he went to a nearby Arboretum to shoot pictures not only for background lighting and material, but the butterflies as well. We all laughed to imagine this giant of a photographer chasing down that particular little butterfly last fall. Great job, wouldn’t you say?

So my hope is when readers like myself go to their choice of venue, whether it’s online or where books can be touched before they’re purchased, this cover will promise the romantic tale that’s inside.

What do you think? Have you ever purchased a book solely because of its cover? Do cover and title have much to do with your choosing process? How do you choose a book?

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Arresting Moment

Posted on January 3, 2012 by alexanderhodde

I pulled a stunt the other night that I was afraid might get me arrested. I pulled up beside a very young looking police officer in our town of 1300 and proceeded to tell him how to do his job. I meant it kindly, because as I was driving out of town fifteen minutes earlier, he’d just pulled over a speeder, and if I hadn’t pulled into the other lane when I did, he’d have lost his hiney. I couldn’t see him because of the lights of the cars. So I told him so when I came back into town. Just like his mama would have.

You see, our town was destroyed by a tornado six and a half years ago, and it broke us financially. One of our means of keeping our heads above water is to not pay the mayor, and to stop speeders. That makes people mad, to get caught breaking the law. It gives our town a bad name. We’re a “speed trap” because we fine lawbreakers. Seven years ago we were a nationally known historical town with three long blocks of antique dealers who made decent livings and helped support the town. Now one of those dealers is my next door neighbor and she works at Walmart in a local town.

Okay, back to my arresting story. The young man explained why he didn’t have time to position the speeder the right way, he just had to go at it however he could or they’d get past the city limit. And there would go more much needed money for our city coffers. I told him I understood, but please be careful. He said he would. Then I told him that any time he wanted to sit and watch for speeders, we have a lot of children who play on our quiet street, and too many people drive too fast through there. Any time he wants to park on our driveway beside our house, he has our permission. He thanked me and I left, and I made sure to use my turn signal when I pulled out onto the street.

I didn’t get arrested that night. He may fine me next time he catches me forgetting to brake at the stop sign, but I don’t think I’ll mind much. Point was, he needed to know he was endangering his life. Maybe he’ll think more about it next time he pulls someone over.

Have you ever done that? I mean, I hate confrontation, but there are times I will confront someone for their own good. I don’t go around telling everyone in town that they’re dirty sinners and are going to hell if they don’t repent, because I don’t know everyone in town, despite its tiny size, and what may look questionable to me may not be questionable at all if I knew the whole story. But when I see someone, particularly someone I love, a friend, a church member, an old classmate, doing something dangerous like drinking and driving or riding a bike in heavy traffic, or spitting in God’s face and daring Him to strike lightning, I’ll probably work up the nerve to say something about it. It’s just something you do when you care about people.

How about you? Any stories to share?

 

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Ever Celebrate an International Christmas?

Posted on January 2, 2012 by alandkathi66

Ever Celebrate an International Christmas?

My hubby and I just returned from a wonderfully relaxing two-week vacation in Hawaii. What an awesome place at any time of year, but particularly during the holidays! Let me tell you about the highlight of our entire trip.
Since we knew we’d be there during Christmas, one of the first things I did after arriving in the islands was to locate a church close to where we were staying, one that was planning a Christmas Eve service. (I know not all churches do that anymore, but I absolutely adore Christmas Eve services, don’t you? Especially the dangerous ones with little children waving lit candles in the otherwise darkened sanctuary!) I found one just a couple of miles from our condo and nailed down the particulars on the service, looking forward to it with more anticipation than I did Santa’s visits when I was a child. Sure enough, I wasn’t disappointed!
That evening we drove up to the lovely little chapel just a few minutes before the scheduled service was about to begin. Surprisingly, there were few cars in the parking lot, so we had no problem finding good seats. But as the time for the service to start came and went and people continued to pour in, I remembered we were on “Hawaii time.” Unlike many of us mainlanders (particularly yours truly, who is never late for anything!), Hawaiians get there…well, when they get there.
As a result, though the service started about fifteen minutes late, it was with a packed house—and a congregation that reflected so many ethnic and cultural variations! We soon learned that although the Baptists celebrated/worshiped in the building on Sunday mornings, a Hawaiian-dialect congregation used the facilities to gather together on Sunday afternoons. Then a Samoan congregation met there every Sunday evening. All three congregations came together on Christmas Eve to worship the same Lord and Savior, and to commemorate His birth. And, of course, several of us tourists were there to join them as well.
What an experience! We heard the Christmas story read from Luke 2 in English, Hawaiian, and Samoan. We also had the joy of hearing three choirs sing in their respective native language, and though we didn’t truly understand all the words, we felt as if we did.
Throughout that touching and unique Christmas Eve service, I thought, This is how it will be in heaven! All countries, peoples, cultures will be gathered together into one body, singing and worshiping and praising the One who died for all. And I wept with joy.
Did I garner new writing material from my trip to the islands? Of course I did. We writers can find topics for our books/articles/stories just about anywhere. But this event is one that will stand out in my memory for a long time to come. It was a bit of an international Christmas, just a taste of the joy we will experience when we are all united (and reunited) in heaven for all eternity. I look forward to seeing you there!

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GREAT THINGS TO DO ON NEW YEAR’S EVE by Vicki Hinze

Posted on December 31, 2011 by Vicki Hinze

THINGS TO DO ON NEW YEAR’S EVE

 

© 2007-2011, Vicki Hinze

 

Tomorrow night the door closes on 2011. For some it’s been a good year. For others, the best they can say is in short order it will be over. But for the majority of us 2011, like most other years, was a mix of good and bad. How we view it largely depends on how we view its events or what events dominated our thoughts and time (more so than the actual events themselves) and the impact those events had on our lives.

Recognizing that offers us an opportunity to look back with a little distance (thus, a little objectivity) and also with the gems of wisdom we’ve gained from all we’ve added to our personal treasure chests this entire year, and that reflection with perspective brings us our biggest opportunities of the entire year!

What opportunities?  Well, let’s think about that a sec…

 

1.  We are in a position to review.  We can choose what we want to keep in our lives and what we want to cull from our lives.  We can choose what we like and what we want to change.

Change.  We typically shudder at the word much less the actions that come with it because change means we have to move outside our comfort zone.  Even if the way things are aren’t as we’d like or they downright suck, they’re known.  Moving into the unknown carries uncertainty and that scares our socks off.  Why?  Because change often is accompanied by conflict or challenges. That makes it a pain for us, and often for those around us who don’t want us to change.  They like us as we are, even if we’re not content.  Change is work.  We’re tired already, but if we’re not content , we’re not going to get content by staying on a treadmill where we’re not content.  And if we don’t do the work necessary to get off the thing, the simple fact is we’ll stay on it.  So we have choose:  park and pay, or move and endure until we are content.  You can gloss it over all you like, but facts are facts.  You want different?  Create it, deal with challenges and conflicts and revamp until you are content.  Others will accept or reject it.  That’s their choice.  You must take charge of your choices.  Bottom line, you’re responsible for them.

Change is one part recognition, one part analysis, and one part action.

You can’t get off the treadmill if you don’t realize you’re on it.  You’re stuck with being unfulfilled or discontent with life as you know it unless you recognize why you’re unfulfilled or discontent.  That means you have to look hard at your life and be honest with yourself.

Explore what has you unfulfilled, unhappy or discontent.  Once you peg the specifics, then switch your focus to solutions.  What can you do to make wise corrections to better your situation?  Once you know what has you feeling less than terrific, you’ll know what needs to be done.  Really think about your solutions.  Nail them down.  Be specific.

Here’s the thing.  You can recognize all the challenges in the world and deliberate on them for a lifetime, but if you don’t actually implement a potential solution and put it to work in your life, you’re not changing a thing to better your situation.

And that means next New Year’s Eve you’ll be sitting right where you are, complaining about the same things you complained about this year (and perhaps the year before, and the one before that). You must act.

In short, if it’s broken, fix it.

You might have to explore a few solutions before hitting on the “perfect” one for you. Some will try one thing, not like the result, and consider that failure. It’s not.  You know it didn’t work.  Try something else.  It’s okay to not like solutions and keep seeking the right solution for you.  This isn’t a one-size fits all bit of business.  We’re talking about YOUR contentment.  YOUR happiness.  YOUR feeling fulfilled.  That’s different for all of us.

Many try one thing, don’t like it, and give up or give in—and remain discontent and unhappy and unfulfilled. Who loses in that?  Why do they value their own peace so little to quit and not try again?  Only they can answer, but my heart breaks for them.  Because they think they have failed and quit trying, they have failed.

But those who say, “Well, that didn’t work, I’ll try this next.”  Those people who keep exploring will find the right potential solution for them. In a very real sense, they fail their way to success.

Now we’ve been taught that failure is a bad thing. But think about it. If you gain something–and knowing what you don’t want/what doesn’t work is every bit as important as knowing what you do want and what does work–then that’s growth, and it is success. Maybe you’re not where you want to be, but you’re closer. You know now these potential solutions you’ve tried don’t work for you.  Try others.  You dig enough, you’re going to find the perfect solution for you.

If you’ve been told repeatedly that failure is bad, then consider the previous statement your personal license to fail. Go ahead and just fail your way to success.

Before the door closes on 2011, review it, recognize the problem points for you, analyze them seeking solutions, then implement them.  Always nurture the good and cull the bad.

Again, be aware that culling isn’t always painless or welcome (others often don’t like for us to change) but each of us must do what we feel is right. We must remember that doing the right thing is easy when it costs us nothing. When we pay dearly for it, however, is when we gain the most. (Think about it.  Have you learned more, gained more from the hard knock lessons you’ve been through, or from the wins?)  Bottom line, like it or not, we are responsible for what we do and do not do, and we will be held accountable for what we do and don’t do.  We will also bear the fruit and/or burden of what we’ve done and not done.  Important to remember those little facts.

None of this is a cut-and-run license. This is an evaluate-and-cull-what’s-no-longer-constructive-in-shaping-your-life-so-you-fulfill-your-purpose license.  Doing less leaves you only with regret, and no one deserves only regret. Neither does anyone skate away from the consequences of their actions.

 

2.   Tie up loose ends.

New beginnings require we put old endings to bed. It’s hard to focus on new ventures when we’re dealing with remnants of the old. Some overlap is inevitable, but the less of the old we have to contend with in the time where our focus should be on the new, the better our odds are of improving our position and making headway on the new and of building momentum.

Momentum is a powerful force. We put down a foundation. Upon it, we build. If one section is framed, we’re limited to going any farther on that one section. If two or three sections are framed, then expansion is possible on all sections. Momentum builds momentum. So the less time we spend in the past (deal with the old and get it done) the more time we have to invest in the future (welcome the new).

So do what you can to clear the decks–and that includes accepting what you can’t change. Don’t repress it, accept it. And then press on.

 

3.   Answer this question: WHAT DO YOU WANT?

No one can have everything they want, but they can focus intently to gain what they want most. What do you want most?

Answer it. Not in general terms, but in very specific ones. Then answer this question: WHY DO YOU WANT IT AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO GET IT?

In defining why you want something, you often clarify and intensify your determination. You also often develop seeds for your plan of action.

The key here is to remember an immutable law that deals with free will. You are free to seek what you will. But you are not free to impose your will on any other. These questions should be about you. Not about anyone else. How you can improve yourself, your life, your future.

If you’re constantly replaying old unworthiness tapes, or you spend a lot of time focusing on what’s wrong in your life or with everyone else, you’re on the wrong track. Respect others and yourself and recognize that replaying those tapes over and over isn’t accomplishing a thing that will benefit you.

If you need more on this, go into the On Writing blog and read or re-read WINDSHIELDS AND REARVIEW MIRRORS.

Bottom line: Look within. Your answers and benefits lie there.

 

4.   Set a goal. Make a plan.

I won’t go into specifics here, but if you haven’t read WHY WE NEED A PLAN, I strongly suggest that you do. It’s in the On Writing blog.

Far too many slide day-to-day, going through the motions of living without investing in anything that excites them or arouses any passion for what they’re doing. That’s a problem.  It’s a poor substitution for a life. Don’t get so caught up in busy-ness that you don’t even remember your wishes, hopes or dreams. And if you have forgotten them, pull them out of cold storage, dust them off and see if they’re still your wishes, hopes and dreams or if it’s time for an update–or even an overhaul.  If it is, do it.  You should be excited about your life!

Upshot: Don’t drift, design.

 

5.   Resolve to try at least one new thing.

If you do, you might find a new passion. If you don’t, you won’t. You might be missing something that could mean a great deal to you–and the saddest thing about that is, if you don’t try it, you might never know it.

I’m reminded here of a story I heard some time ago about a guy caught in a flood. On three different occasions help came: a neighbor, a camel and a guy in a boat. On each of these occasions the man stranded in the rising floodwaters refused help, saying he was waiting on God to come help him. Well, the stranded guy drowned, hooked up with his Maker, and boy he was ticked. He demanded to know why God hadn’t come. God replied that he’d sent three different people to help. What exactly did the guy want?

The moral of the story: Sometimes we’re so fixed on what we think opportunity looks like that we fail to recognize it when it comes. Of course, that won’t happen to you if you’re open to new things…

 

6.  Adopt an attitude of gratitude.

Of all I’ve written in this post, this is by far the most important. It’s easy to fall into a hotbed of negativity or into a bad situation that sucks you dry, sows more seeds of discontent, or steals so much of your energy and focus that you grow inextricably mired in it and lose sight of what’s good and going right in your life.

When that happens, we react emotionally and that’s just not a good idea because our emotions aren’t reliable. We need balance to function with stability.

We all have challenges. No one escapes them. But if we focus only on the challenges (versus on solutions to them and other things) then we’re doomed to a very rocky, very unstable road and that is definitely not in our best interests–or in anyone else’s.

To gain more balance–which leads to more stable, less dramatic (and melodramatic) events that inflict trauma on us (and often on unsuspecting others)–we need only counter what’s wrong with what’s right. Counter the challenges with the blessings. See the good and be grateful for it.

Sometimes that’s easier to do than at other times.  I’m reminded of something Joel Osteen once said about gratitude. There are times when the best you can do is to be grateful you’re not like x. (He pointed mid-air and said like him/her–I don’t recall which. But the intent in what he said fits situations and events as well as people.) Be grateful for little things as well as the big ones.

We often learn most from the things we tag as “bad.” We all have something to celebrate.

 

7.   Where you focus, you follow.

Before you act, you think. And if you allow your thoughts to run wild and unchecked, you diminish the chances of them being in your best interest. Anyone, given enough time, can rationalize and reason himself right out of good sense–and rob himself of accomplishments and even his destiny.

If you spend your time focused on the right things, good and constructive things, you’ll be purpose-driven and accomplish. If you spend your time focused on the wrong things, on negative or destructive things, you’ll follow that path and purpose and accomplishment (not to mention happiness and contentment) will elude you.

You choose which you’ll do. You choose what you focus on and give your energy–how you spend your life. That’s as it should be.  Again, you’re responsible and accountable for it, and you will live with the joy or regret of your choices.

Now some will be busy at parties and gatherings on New Year’s Eve and that’s just terrific.  It’s also why I’m posting this a day earlier—so you have time to read and review and think about your life before the parties start.

These things I’ve shared, in my humble opinion, are worthy New Year’s Eve’s opportunities. Ones that recognize, analyze and act to position you for powerful, meaningful personal gains in 2012. And for that, and so much more, I am grateful.

Put them to work in your life—and then you’ve got all the more reason to celebrate the new year!

Blessings,

Vicki

 

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