Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Peppermint Hot Cocoa and Warm Friends on a Rainy Night

Does that sound cozy? Well, it was. Our Christian Market Writers group met last night at Starbucks, which seemed fitting during Christmas season. Five of us gathered in a corner in cushy armchairs and sipped our tea or cocoa or latte as we listened to one another's writing. We interjected suggestions and ahhed over the especially good stuff. Our fearless leader had even brought Christmas quizzes and sweet-treat prizes to end the evening.

Every time I remember to thank God for bringing me back to writing, I am most grateful for my Christian writer friends. They have so warmed my insides, that when I'm with them, the rainiest, darkest night can't dampen my spirits.

Friday, December 05, 2008

GIVE JOY WITH HANDS OF HOPE










Give the gift of life this Christmas.

Hands of Hope, a charity of Women Helping Women A World Away, is announcing that their Holiday Gift Cards are available for purchase. These cards provide food, income and water for impoverished women and children in Zambia, Uganda, and Southern Sudan. They can be purchased on the Hands of Hope website http://www.handsofhopeonline.org/ for $15.00, $30.00 and $50.00. Purchasing these cards will provide goats, chickens or wells to help change lives. What could be a more meaningful gift for holiday giving for family, friends, and customer appreciation?

Hands of Hope helps mobilize communities to respond to the needs of women and children
around the world. With an ever-expanding support base in the Chicago area, Hands of Hope
works to raise community awareness regarding poverty and HIV/AIDS in Africa and its relevance globally. We are confident in the integrity of the channels we have established so that
contributions provide the highest possible impact for the most critical needs.

A Chicken Card will purchase a gift of twelve chicks and be given to an impoverished family in
Africa. As the flock multiplies, a struggling family will be given the hope to survive. Your gift will
help those in need for generations to come.

A Goat Card represents an actual goat being purchased for a needy family. Beyond providing
much needed milk, a few goats can quickly become a herd, providing sustenance and additional
income that can make the difference between whether a child goes to school or not.

A Well Card will go toward funding a well in the Western Province of Zambia. Statistics show that nearly half of all people in developing countries suffer from health related problems caused by unsafe water. In addition, African women and children spend several hours every day collecting water.

Contact at Hands of Hope:
VickyWauterlek, Hands of Hope
VWAU@aol.com, 847-381-7367

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Be a Light! FACES IN THE CROWD Tells How



Veteran Missionary & Author, Scroll down
Donna Thomas to see how
you can
win this
book


Faces in the Crowd 208 pgs.
Publisher:
New Hope Publishers
ISBN-10:159669257
ISBN-13: 9781596692053
Retail: $12.99


When I opened this book, I thought, "Uh-huh, another book on evangelism." Was I ever wrong! Donna brings a fresh enthusiasm to sharing Christ to these pragmatic pages.

Here's a summary:

America continues to remain a melting pot for various internationals to call home. For hundreds of years we have opened our arms to a population of multicultural religions and spiritual preferences. In spite of our welcoming borders, our churches have struggled to effectively reach many of these multicultural groups for Christ.

Donna Thomas, a veteran missionary, writes a practical how-to book on the subject, seasoning the book with anecdotes of personal conversations she has enjoyed with different faces in the crowd. Along with the heartwarming stories, each chapter includes things to consider and action steps to help apply each lesson. Donna tackles the tough subject of finding, reaching and effectively sharing Christ's love with international neighbors. These easy-to-implement personal evangelism tools equip readers with the basic know-how and stirs up the desire to share the gospel of Jesus with others. Donna teaches by example how to start a conversation, build a meaningful relationship, share gospel truths in a cross-cultural context, and incorporate the Lord into ongoing conversations. More than that, she stimulates Christians to develop an all-inclusive love and passion for faces of all colors and people of all cultures.

About the Author:

Donna Thomas has the unusual experience of speaking and training leaders in countries as far away as China, Egypt, and India. In addition, she now has four books published and in the hands of Christian families and leaders. Pulling stories out of her, you will find that she has earned the label of: teacher, co-founder of a church, cofounder of a missions agency, co-founder of short-term missions (then an unknown opportunity) taking over 6,000 participants, pilot and manager of a 40-passenger plane, partner with twelve key international Christian leaders, funded the first church built in China in 1984 after the Communist Revolution, and has helped Christians in seventy-six countries.

What Others Are Saying:

Did you ever find yourself at a loss on how to reach out to the people of other cultures and religions in your neighborhood or workplace? If so, Donna Thomas's Faces in the Crowd is the resource you need. With colorful stories of average people making a cross-cultural connection, supplemented with action ideas you can use, Donna guides the reader on how to have an impact on the global village--from where you live right now.


--Paul Borthwick, senior consultant, author: Stop Witnessing...and Start Loving, Six Dangerous Questions, Development Associates International


Interview Questions:

1. What is the take-away value that you hope readers will gain from reading Faces in the Crowd?

I want them see how easy it is to get rid of fear, to accept their calling to obey the Great Commission and to enjoy every bit of it.

2. You share many anecdotes in the book of ways you started conversations with others to build relationships that lead to the opportunity to share the gospel. Can you tell our audience about one of these anecdotes?

Yes, just today I was in the Apple phone store with a problem on my phone. The young man that was helping me had a badge with the name Matt. I said, "I'll remember you Matt because that is the first book in the New Testament." He replied that his parents used that name because it is a Bible name. We went on to talk about his purpose in life, what he wants to do in the next 60 years (since he is 22 years old) and since he is a Christian, how he wants to make a difference in this world for the Lord.

Here's an example of a conversation starter I had with an international. I saw this fellow's name badge and it was Alpha. So I asked him, "where is Omega?" That made him want to talk with me and we have become friends because of further conversations. Now he has been to my house and I've been to his home several times. He is a Muslim from Guinea but is interested in Christian teachings, etc.


3. Why do you think Christians are so fearful of sharing about Jesus Christ with others? What can we do to overcome these fears?

We are taught in our culture not to talk about religion or politics. We are also taught to just mind your own business and leave others alone. When we tell them how Peter lost his fear and share how they can lose theirs, they are open. Give them the story of Phillip and the Eunuch and show them how the Lord used him. Also instill in them that we don't have to be successful, but we do have to be obedient. Jesus wasn't always "successful" with those he talked with. Many turned and walked away but he gave them an opportunity to know him. We give the gift of opportunities.

4. Faces in the Crowd has a very international emphasis to it, in that you discuss our need to be more aware of reaching culturally and ethnically different neighbors. What are some pointers you can give about doing this?

Start looking to see how many internationals you can see. Ask for the Lord to let you see the multitude of people through his eyes. Just start looking for them. Allow your curiosity to discover what country they are from. The interesting thing is that they would certainly like to have an American friend. When you give them a little attention they immediately give you all of theirs. They are lonesome...a foreigner in a foreign land. You can offer friendship.

5. When we look into the faces in the crowd and only see our differences, what commonality can we find to open the door to conversation with someone of another race or religion? Is there a way to ask them questions to learn more about their culture without it seeming like we are judging them?

They would love to tell you about their family and they want you to tell them about yours too. They would love to tell you about their homeland. They would love to tell you about their religion and you can tell them about yours too. It is a two way conversation. Just be open to begin a friendship. It can later enable you to talk about what Jesus means to you.

6. How can we know when others we are talking to about the gospel are ready to receive Christ into their lives and make a deliberate choice to live for Him? When we see these indicators, what's the next step?

You don't preach to them, you tell them what Jesus means to you. You tell them about some of your difficult times and how the Lord has helped you. You ask them about any difficult times they have right now so you both can pray to the Lord for him to help you in this circumstance. Address their needs. When we show them the Lord can help them, they want to meet that Lord.

7. Tell us about Donna Thomas. What makes you tick?

Oh my, I see these people and I wonder if they know Jesus, what their purpose is in life, and where they will spend eternity. Why should I have the joy of going to heaven when they don't know the way to get there? I feel sorry for them and I also feel sorry for Christians that don't care for others. Some Christians only see a physical need but don't recognize spiritual needs.

8. What are your passions? What is a normal day like for you?

Every morning I ask "Okay Father, what do you have in store for me today?" Then in all I do, I look to see the people I think Jesus wants me to see, whether they are a server in a restaurant, a repair man at my house, a lonely looking person at another table or in a waiting area. If Jesus was with me, who would he see, what would he say, what would he do, what does he want me to do?
Tonight I am going back to Abuelos restaurant because of the relationships I have there with several of the waiters. I walk a mile or two in my neighborhood for exercise and now I have friends to walk with that don't really know the Lord. I get emails from around the globe asking me for prayer, for advice, and assurance. From Peru, Honduras, Mexico, Laos, China, India, Russia, etc. I am working with 12 internationals right now and I hope to find mentors for them as I cannot be with them as much as they need. So do I quit finding more internationals to talk to or do I find Christians that will come along side them and help them grow? I know a former Hindu from India who is now a Christian, who needs a mentor. It isn't easy to find mentors because many people just say they don't have time. Where are the Christians, the disciples in this day and age?

9. Give us a sneak peak into your life!

Also I have a wonderful family, 3 sons and 10 grandkids and all are Christian. Last night I got great grandson #2. Yea!
I am also the American grandmother to the children of many of these internationals. Some that I have met in my obedience to the Lord and some that are overseas and I have worked with their parents for 20 plus years. What an honor. I am the American grandmother to 7 India children, 2 Chinese, 3 Mexican, 2 Nicaraguan, and these are adults now. Here in the U.S. to a student from Saudi Arabia, a child whose parents are from Guinea, and a child whose parents are from Senegal.
I retired 10 years ago from my position as president of a missions organization and am now writing books, speaking around the country, and am a consultant. But I am as busy as ever, even at 80 years old. Someday I hope to slow down but so far the Lord has me very busy. Oh yes, on my 80th birthday my kids gave a party and there were 150 people that showed up from 17 countries and California, Alabama, Texas, Colorado, Ohio, Kansas, and more. Before it ended there were 8 birthday parties. Now that was a celebration. Wow!

Win Donna's book, Faces in the Crowd.
Leave a comment on this post by December 16, 12 a.m. EST.
Be sure to give an email or website where you can be reached.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

I'm Hosting Title Trakk's Cool Contest with Great Giveaways

Welcome to the 1st ever
TitleTrakk.com Blog Tour!


This week we're chatting about:



The Fantastic Fall Giveaway Contest!


Just in time for the holidays, you could win over
$335 worth of books, cds and dvds!

Sponsored by our friends at:


The Grand Prize Winner will receive:

BOOKS:

Whispers of the Bayou by Mindy Starns Clark
Rachel's Secret by BJ Hoff
Beach Dreams by Trish Perry
Playing God by Michelle McKinney Hammond
White Soul by Brandt Dodson
The Legend of the Firefish by George Bryan Polivka
Finding Marie by Susan Paige Davis
The Power of Praying Through the Bible by Stormie Omartian
A Man After God's Own Heart by Jim George
Evidence for Faith 101 by Bruce Bickel & Stan Jantz

CDS:

Wake Up! Wake Up! by Everyday Sunday
Rock What You Got by Superchick
Sunday by Tree63
Houston We Are Go by Newsboys (Live CD/DVD)
Nothing Left To Lose by Mat Kearney
I Am Free Worship Collection
Salvation Station by Newworldson
Not Without Love by Jimmy Needham
Pages by Shane & Shane
Colors and Sounds by Article One

MOVIES:

Love's Unfolding Dream
The Ten Commandments Animated
Between the Walls

But that's not all!
We're giving away even more!


During this blog tour (November 10th - 16th) we'll be drawing 2 winners daily from the contest entries to win an additional free book or cd!

Visit the TitleTrakk.com Contest page today to enter the contest and place yourself in the running to receive the Grand Prize, plus all the daily prizes! Deadline to enter is November 17th.

About TitleTrakk.com:
Founded in 2006 by Tracy & C.J. Darlington, TitleTrakk.com is an interactive website spotlighting Christian books, music & movies. Updated weekly, we feature author and musician interviews, album and book reviews, music videos, movie reviews and interviews, book excerpts, surveys, polls, and fun contests. Learn more: http://www.titletrakk.com/about.htm

Thursday, October 23, 2008

THE POWER OF ONE--YOUR VOTE

Does one person really matter? Can one person bring change? Watch this video,
and see what you think:


http://www.onenewsnow.com/valuesvoters.aspx

Thursday, October 16, 2008

BOOK TOUR: LOVE STARTS WITH ELLE BY RACHEL HAUCK
















I picked up Love Starts with Elle, expecting a light romantic read. I got romance, but so much more. Depth, spiritual truth, human frailty, creative gifts, and the power of God to heal and revive the human spirit.

Watch the trailer:

About the book:

Elle's living the dream-but is it her dream or his?

Elle loves life in Beaufort, South Carolina-lazy summer days on the sand bar, coastal bonfires, and dinners with friends sharing a lifetime of memories. And she's found her niche as the owner of a successful art gallery too. Life is good.

Then the dynamic pastor of her small town church sweeps her off her feet. She's never known a man like Jeremiah-one who breathes in confidence and exhales all doubt. When he proposes in the setting sunlight, Elle hands him her heart on a silver platter.

But Jeremiah's just accepted a large pastorate in a different state. If she's serious about their relationship, Elle will take "the call," too, leaving behind the people and place she loves so dearly. Elle's friendship with her new tenant, widower Heath McCord, and his young daughter make things even more complicated.

Is love transferrable across the miles? And can you take it with you when you go?


Buy the book:



Follow the Blog Tour! Schedule link:

About the author:
Rachel Hauck is the author of ten, going on eleven novels, and has recently become an "acclaimed" author. (Yeah, funny how that happened. Some dude found her lottery stub stuck to the bottom of his shoe and tried to "acclaim" her. But her husband refused to pay out.)

Since then, she's gone on to become a best selling author of Sweet Caroline.

Living in central Florida with her husband of sixteen and a half years, one sweet little dog and one ornery cat, Rachel is a graduate of Ohio State University and a huge Buckeye football fan. One day she hopes to stand on the sidelines next to Coach Tressel as a famed, acclaimed best selling OSU alumni, beloved for her work in literature and letters. (She's written at least a couple hundred letters in her life time.)

Her current release, Love Starts With Elle (July 2008, Thomas Nelson) is set in the South Carolina lowcountry, and earned 4.5 Stars and Top Pick from Romantic Times Book Club.

Look for her next release next spring, The Sweet By and By, the first book in the Born To Fly series with award winning country artist, Sara Evans.

Of the writing journey, Rachel says, "I'm humbled by the amazing things God is doing in my life. I love what I do, and am so privileged to work with Thomas Nelson fiction and am excited to see what God has in store for all of His authors and writers. Just keep praying and writing!"

Visit her blog and website at http://www.rachelhauck.com/

Friday, October 03, 2008

Truth Is Ruder--and Funnier--Than Fiction: Actual Text Message Transcript

First I get this message.

From: xxx-xxx-xxxx

This is my new number.


Hmmm, I think, I don't recognize this number and the sender has not identified himself or herself in any way. So even if I knew the person with the NEW number, I wouldn't know who was texting.

So I reply.


To: xxx-xxx-xxxx

Don't know u


Soon I hear back.


From: xxx-xxx-xxxx

This is ishia from class.


OK, this has got to be a wrong number. I have never known anyone, live or online, named Ishia. The last class I took that wasn't a Bible study, a teacher's inservice, or a writing workshop was in 1974.

I don't mean to be smart, but since they insist I know them, I reply. I'm feeling a bit froggy. After all, it IS my birthday.


To: xxx-xxx-xxxx

What class? I'm not in school. I'm 57!

Ishia gets testy and either thinks I'm the intended friend, just messing with her (assuming she's a she) or else can't muster up the etiquette to say, "Sorry, I must have the wrong number."


From: xxx-xxx-xxxx

Whatever


Apparently it was MY fault she texted MY number. I'll try not to let that happen again.

Friday, September 26, 2008

BOOK TOUR: JESUS TAKE THE WHEEL by Stuart Migdon




Here's a devotional from an author who understands the meaning of giving up the right to drive our lives, in order to put the wheel in the hands of the One Who cares most whether we travel well and arrive safely.


The practical biblical instruction found in Stuart Migdon's book, Jesus Take the Wheel takes readers on a two-month journey that will literally transform the way they live their lives. Rich insights from the author's own life mix with wisdom gleaned from the pages of Scripture to make reading this book an adventure that will be looked forward to each day. In the face of life's many uncertainties and struggles, the message of real hope that Jesus Take the Wheel brings, is one that will benefit everyone.


Jesus Take the Wheel is a valuable resource for spiritual growth and discipleship. Through applying the biblical principles and truths contained throughout its pages, readers will begin to discover that what has been impossible alone, is very possible with God at the wheel of their lives. Each day's reading is followed by an application aimed at applying the day's biblical truths and principles to the real circumstances of life.


While many in our world today know that they need and want change, they often fail to allow Jesus to have His rightful place in their lives simply because they don't know where to start. In Jesus Take the Wheel, readers are given an easy and practical plan to follow each day that will teach them what they need to do in order to begin letting Jesus be the One in the driver's seat.


About the Author: Stuart Migdon

Stuart Migdon was raised in Reformed Judaism. He married and became a father at the age of 18. With no money and no one to help, he quickly determined he had to take control of his own life. He developed a "don't quit" attitude and set out to beat the odds that were already stacking up against him. While working a full time job to support his family, he also managed to graduate college in four years, and to do it with high honors. That same stubborn persistence propelled him to become a CPA and later a successful insurance agent. With a commitment to hard work and excellence, Stuart continued to achieve every goal that he set for his life. However, all the success in the world could not fill the emptiness that was growing within him.

In 1991, things began to change. He came to know Jesus as His Messiah and felt a strong desire to live a life that would really be pleasing to God--a life he somehow knew was radically different than the one he had been living. With every ounce of his being, he was now determined to live that life.

Since then, Stuart has become an avid student of the Bible. Over the last five years, his thirst for more has led him into a detailed study of God's Word, and specifically the lives of the Bible's two central figures, Jesus and Moses. During this time he also began to realize that what had been driving him in his own study was more than just a personal quest for knowledge, it was actually a calling from the Lord. As a result, he began a new adventure as an author, and in 2008 published his first book,Jesus Take the Wheel: 7 Keys to a Transformed Life with God.

Today, Stuart is a successful Christian businessman and serves as an elder and biblical counselor at Calvary Chapel Old Bridge in New Jersey. Stuart's growing understanding of his own need to let Jesus take the wheel of his life has equipped him for the many situations he faces in ministry today. In every area, he challenges those he encounters to begin living a transformed life by letting Jesus have His rightful place behind the wheel of their lives.
Stuart and his wife Jeanne have two adult children, Jennifer and Jason, and one grandson.
Jesus Take the Wheel by Stuart Migdon
Hardcover: 288 pages
Publisher: WinePress Publishing Group (July 1, 2008)
$24.99
ISBN-10: 1579219322
ISBN-13: 978-1579219321

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

PRAY FOR HAYDEN




Hayden





Once again, a little boy named Hayden will undergo traumatic surgery on a chordoma, a tumor at the base of his brainstem and the top of his spine. On Thursday, September 18 he travels with his family to Arkansas, to be prepped by a surgical team expert at these procedures. Surgery is scheduled for first thing next Wednesday morning, September 24.


After Hayden recovers from surgery, he'll spend eight weeks undergoing radiation treatments in Boston. After the first surgery, two years ago, he had great difficulty swallowing, not to mention other complications, and experienced a long difficult recovery.


Hayden's grandad serves as Minister of Music at our church. His grandmom sings in our choir. Their dedication to the Lord and love for His people are only equalled by their commitment to their family. Tomorrow they depart to support their daughter, her husband, their other grandson, and Hayden. We covet for this family the prayers of anyone whom the Lord leads to this site or to Hayden's.


Learn about Hayden's family, their prayer requests, and his condition:


Sunday, September 07, 2008

Reaching out to Men Who've Been Molested

He ghostwrites incredible stories about amazing people.He ministers to caregivers. He mentors writers. He's even published cozy mysteries. And now he's reaching out to men who have experienced the unspeakable.

Cec Murphey, co-author of the New York bestseller, 90 Minutes in Heaven, has started a blog for men who at some time in their lives have been sexually molested. At last, there is someone who will listen and care.

Click here for Shattering the Silence:

http://shatteringthesilence.wordpress.com/

Wednesday, September 03, 2008

FRAUD--PROPAGATED BY BELIEVERS? Continuing my rant from the last post...

Today I received a political forward. The tone spoke against Obama, implying McCain stood opposite on all accounts. As has become my habit, I Goodsearched it (which earns money for our local writers' guild) to determine whether the contents were true and accurate.

Snopes did not yet have information up, but FactCheck did.

http://www.factcheck.org/askfactcheck/did_a_billy_graham_team_member_say.html

First, the claimed origin was fraudulent. Supposedly it came from Bill Brown, a man retired from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association's team. According to the information at the above site, both Brown and the Billy Graham Association deny this, reiterating their past position of not endorsing political candidates. I have also contacted BGEA to learn how they will respond to these claims. I intend to contact the McCain campaign also, as my search led to some McCain sites.

Second, not all the assertions about stands Obama took were true, which seems more dangerous than if all of them were false. For example, I learned in my research Obama and McCain both voted to retain the so-called Death Tax. The email I received indicated nothing about McCain's vote.

Anyone who claims to be a Christian and knowingly sends others false information should be ashamed. Any Christian who doesn't investigate email forwards before sending them on to others is guilty by omission.

God makes clear He doesn't put up with false witnesses, i.e., liars. Doesn't the Bible admonish us, through Paul, to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves? Telling the truth, all of it, is wise. Propagating fraud, lies, and half-truths is harmful. After all, the truth will eventually out itself and perhaps bite us upon the comfortable place where we sit. The end does not justify the means. Ever.

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

MY NEW PET PEEVE--Email Forwards

I love an encouraging or humorous email forward as much as you do. YouTube videos inspire me, make me laugh. But it's the email forwards with a message, especially political or religious, that often annoy me. And this is why.

I used to be guilty of this myself, so bear with me. People send out emails they have received, thinking they are helping a cause, such as promoting someone for public office or preventing higher taxes. But because senders, like the rest of us, are busy, they don't read carefully and don't check for facts.

Please. Especially if we're people who believe in the truth, we shouldn't be passing on something in print that isn't the truth. Or maybe is only half the truth.

If there are links, click on them. Read or at least skim the contents. Then, if you feel comfortable that this is accurate information, paste the link into an email and briefly describe why the reader should act on the information or pass it on. They can read. They can click on a link. It may be faster, and it will certainly lead to more accurate communication.

If you can't verify the truth of a forward someone sends your way, such as at snopes.com, don't send it. If you don't have time to track down the information, just delete the email. Isn't that better than participating in something potentially deceptive, just to make a point someone wants to get across?

We've all been guilty of passing on forwards that should never have started in the first place. Let's stop it now.

Monday, August 18, 2008

WIN MARY DEMUTH'S BOOK!















Don't you love contests? Well, here's another for you, and entering is just a click and a few keystrokes away.



Win a copy of Mary E. DeMuth's "Authentic Parenting in a Postmodern Culture: Practical Help for Shaping Your Children's Hearts, Minds, and Souls"
from Tekeme Studios by leaving a comment on this post! Contest ends August 29, 2008.

I admire Mary for her clear and heartfelt writing, for her desire to mentor new writers, and most of all, for her honesty and sincerity as she walks daily with Jesus. Once you begin reading her, you'll feel the same.
To learn more about this book, click here:

http://www.marydemuth.com/books.php

To buy books or downloads from Mary, click below:

http://www.marydemuth.com/store.php

I wish you all could win!

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

INTERVIEW WITH JOHN F. SCHROEDER, AUTHOR OF WHY MONKEYS ARE MONKEYS AND PEOPLE ARE PEOPLE: THE CASE AGAINST DAWKINS, HITCHENS, AND HAWKING

An online writer friend pointed me to a book I wish I'd had when visiting museums that touted evolution as the accepted truth. My husband and I had to look hard to find sources to help refute the information our children heard everywhere they turned.



John F. Schroeder

In a recent interview, here's what John Schroeder, author of Why Monkeys Are Monkeys and People Are People, had to say:

John, you seemed to have everything going for you when alcohol took your life and career diving. What happened, as you put it, to derail you, and what compelled you to believe Christ could turn your life around?

In a nutshell, Karen, my fondness for very dry martinis left me vulnerable to the negative influence of a couple people in the corporation who felt threatened by my successes. I misjudged their influence on top management, and when I refused to carry out a very bad plan conceived by one of them, my drinking was used as the wedge to get me out of the way. Had I not been an alcoholic, there would have been no grounds for my being discharged, and within a year I would have been fielding all kinds of plaudits for refusing to activate the plan that turned out to be even worse than I knew in advance it would be. But God is good. I had to become an alcoholic and lose my career before God could get my attention.

I was born into a devout Roman Catholic home where the whole family knelt every night to recite the rosary. And my entire education was gained in Roman Catholic parochial, secondary, and higher learning institutions. So throughout my years of drinking (and debauching myself in other ways), I was always comforted by the belief that I could confess all my sins at the hour of my death to a priest, and presto, I would end up in heaven. Not so, I was to learn, as my drinking became an acute hindrance to getting back on my feet financially.

I had sunk deep down in Pilgrim’s Slough of Despond, when a miracle happened to me, “out of the blue,” as it were. I received as a gift a King James Study Bible from the lovely lady who later became my wife. It was the first Bible I had ever owned or read. So hungry was my soul for the divine Word that within two weeks I had read the entire New Testament. Within a month I had discovered that the Christ Jesus of Scripture is not the same as the counterfeit Jesus of Catholicism; that through the true Jesus I could start a new life. Within a year I had escaped the Roman church and become a born again Bible-loving Christian. Of equivalent praiseworthiness, the alcohol addiction and the three-packs-a-day cigarette addiction were totally removed from me and neither has ever returned. I began thereafter to write books, the very first of which is still in print and a modest seller. Its title: “Heresies of Catholicism…the Apostate Church.” (iUniverse 2003; ISBN 0-595-65682-X – Amazon.)

I've read the information on your website, your bio, but I'd like to ask you to express afresh to my readers why you wrote a book to refute evolution.


After my born again experience, (I wrestled an entire night, as Jacob did, with the Lord who was determined that I should claim Him as my Savior and not the Roman Catholic church), I married my wife, Claudia, and we became friends with a Christian widow who had a teenage son. The boy was a fine young fellow with a good mind and we really got along quite well. Then he went off to the University of Georgia and we were out of touch for several months. One evening Claudia received a phone call from our friend the widow who was visibly upset. It seems her son had informed her that he no longer believed in God; his biology professor had shown the class that Darwinian evolution was responsible for the existence of all things. Bingo! As the saying goes, I hit the ceiling!


As a student in the 50’s at Xavier University in Cincinnati, I’d had a brief brush with evolution in one of my electives. A strong background in Physics caused me to reject the whole theory out of hand. When the lad came home for the Christmas holiday, I got with him and took him through the physical laws that completely obviate the Darwin theory. He could not refute them, and by the end of his first year at the University he had come to the right conclusion – God IS, and evolution is not.

That experience set me on a course to disprove Darwinian evolution theory, and for the next several years I spent much research time pulling together evolutionist propaganda and the physical facts that refute it. I founded Creation Science Seminars of Georgia in 1992 and for ten years thereafter I conducted seminars in churches and schools debunking evolution theory and supporting belief in creation ex nihilo. Eventually I organized my data into a book and had it published under the title, Darwinism: Sorcery in the Classroom. (Fenestra Books 2005; ISBN 1-58736-531-6 – Amazon) I have not had the funds available to promote this very good book, so sales have been disappointing. Those who have read it, however, have only been complimentary.


As a follow-up to Darwinism: Sorcery in the Classroom, I wrote in 2007 the sequel entitled Why Monkeys Are Monkeys And People Are People, subtitled, The Case Against Dawkins, Hitchens, and Hawking. Problems with the publisher – Living Waters – has kept the book in a sort of limbo to this point, and I am looking into several avenues of action to get the book into general circulation.


This is not a new topic for Christian apologists. Why is this book different, and why were you uniquely qualified to write it?


The first book was basically an exposé of how the nation’s public school system is force-feeding evolution theory to America’s kids as factual and proven, while at the same time blocking the teaching of the many data that contradict and debunk it as utterly impossible. This was a new approach and the book still stands alone as the one collection of understandable anti-evolution information aimed specifically at Christian youth attending public schools and their parents. Prior to its publication, Christian apologists were so technical in their approach to the subject that most individuals could not comprehend the fact that Darwinian evolution is a vast wasteland of speculation and non-truths. It has been my approach to take highly technical data that is over the heads of many people and restructure it so that even the least technically adept person can understand it.


The second book – Monkeys – is a sequel to Darwinism, and is heavily weighted with data showing atheism to be a bankrupt belief system whose core doctrine – Darwinian evolution - is based on a whole collection of impossibilities. The book delivers the saving Gospel message numerous times as a logical belief system founded on many observations encountered in daily life. Again, highly technical data has been recycled into understandable terms that a fifth grader can comprehend. I feel fairly safe in saying that I am the only pro-creation, anti-Darwinism writer who has written for the general public rather than for the scientific community.


Before you ask me why the Monkeys book bears the subtitle, The Case Against Dawkins, Hitchens, and Hawking, let me explain. Richard Dawkins is a British evolution theorist who last year authored a book entitled, The God Delusion. It is an atheistic polemic against Christianity. Christopher Hitchens also is British-born, and last year he authored a book entitled God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything. It too is a polemic against religion in general but especially Christianity. Stephen Hawking, a horribly crippled theoretical physicist, is a professsor at Cambridge University in the UK, and the author of another atheistic book entitled, A Short History of Time.

In Why Monkeys Are Monkeys and People Are People, the main thrust of the book is to rebut these men and all other atheists whose belief system is bereft of a viable foundation. A couple of PhD’s who reviewed the book before publication opined that the book did indeed achieve its stated objective.


Here's an excerpt from your book: In the Darwinese dialect I suppose you could say it all comes down to this; molecule-to-man evolution is greatly dependent on wrong information producing right results and eventually, even better more complex results than were originally present. (Chapter 2 - The Beneficial Errors Oxymoron.) Some of us who haven't been to college recently--or haven't yet finished the book--might want an elementary version or explanation of this statement. Would you be so kind...?


I most certainly will clarify. The excerpt is – as you noted – from a chapter that deals with the alleged cause of an organism that began as one species evolving into a totally new, different, more advanced species. That supposed cause, according to the Darwinists, is the occurrence of favorable mutations in an organism. A postulated mechanism called Natural Selection allegedly chooses these favorable mutations to be perpetuated in the evolving organism. When a sufficient number of the alleged favorable mutations have become established in a population, the old species turns into the new more advanced species. Or so say the Darwinists.


In fact, there is no such thing as a favorable mutation. It is scientific truth that all mutations are harmful and many – even most of them - are fatal. Mutations are mistakes that occur in the life-generating molecule identified as DNA. The DNA molecule is the driving force that operates and reproduces living organisms. When a mutation occurs in that key molecule dreadful things happen. A deer is born with six legs. A cat is born with two faces. Siamese twins are the result of a mutation. So are crossed eyes, hair lips, Downs Syndrome, on and on. Mutations occur when wrong information accrues in the DNA molecule, garbling the data, and complicating the operation of the organism.

From this [kind of result] you can understand how wrong are the evolutionist claims that mutations cause species to evolve into entirely new more advanced species. The contrary is true, so Darwinists really are trying to convince us that mutations (wrong information, DNA mistakes, destructive data) produce positive and even better results in living organisms. To date the list of favorable mutations lacks even one entry. Until the Darwinists can identify and list literally millions of favorable mutations, they have to accept on faith alone that garbled information produces right results.


Tell us more about your fundraiser for teaching Christian parents and students the truth about creation and evolution.


I would like to be able to tell you that the sales of “Monkeys” are going through the roof and that we are generating lots of revenue for this worthy cause. Unfortunately the glitch that has occurred at the publisher has capped a lid on sales and the fund remains an honorable objective.


I am also a Georgia transplant (24 years, but who's counting?). How did a former Buckeye end up in the South, much less Georgia?


I have been in Georgia since 1974. Prior to that year, I was based in Cambridge, Mass., as the Marketing Director of a division of W.R. Grace & Co. I had taken over the marketing of a small but nationally distributed product group in 1970. By 1974, using only myself and independent manufacturers' reps we grew the business to a size that got top management’s attention. It was decided that I could not continue working 70-hours a week supervising the entire nation. So the country was split into five regions one of which was the southeastern region covering nine southern states. I jumped at the opportunity to head up this southern region and in ’74 I said goodbye to the snowbelt and hello to the sunbelt. I have never for even one moment regretted my decision.


Anything else you'd like us to know about you and/or your book?

It’s great to be a born again child of God. I was a Roman Catholic for 52 years during which I feared continually for my soul. What a comfort it is to KNOW I’m saved by God’s free grace and am kept by HIS infinite power from ever being lost again. If any of your readers are waiting to confess Christ until they “get right” with God, don’t wait. Get saved right now and God will clean you up afterwards. You haven’t lived until you’ve lived SAVED! May God bless you all.

js

Other books by John Schroeder:



Heresies of Catholicism...The Apostate Church


Darwinism: Sorcery in the Classroom

Monday, August 11, 2008

Our Hearts and Prayers Go out to This Family

We don't understand random acts of violence. Yet they happen all the time. So often, that the sad truth is this: The murder of Todd Bachman is a small story in the shadow of the Olympics.

The world around us would have us believe man is basically good. I believe man is created in the image of God, Who alone is perfect goodness personified, but that image in man is flawed by sin. Only God can restore us to become people who are good and do good, through His forgiveness and the blood and righteousness of Jesus Christ.

I can't imagine the pain and sorrow of Bachman's widow, still recovering from her wounds, his daughter, his son-in-law, the volleyball teams, and friends and family at home. May God grant His peace that surpasses our understanding, because we can't grasp what has happened nor why.

We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his son.
Romans 8:28-29, NLT

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Are We Really Surprised? China's Latest Rights Violation

I just ran across a blog post from the Guardian in the U.K. (See article by clicking on this post's title. If not working, here is the url: http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/greenslade/2008/07/olympics_journalists_face_hara.html) Seems China can't keep from showing its true colors, despite promises of freedom for journalists.

Are we astonished that a nation who fails to allow freedom for its own citizens to worship (see my most recent blog post) as they choose or even to make decisions regarding their own families or even bodies (limiting children to one per couple, forced abortions for those who have one child already)?

I don't understand why the Olympic Committee chose to reward a country whose policies are so opposed to human rights. What's their next choice, North Korea? Darfur?

Good thing I'm not posting this on the internet in China. It would be blocked and I'd have the police at my door, asking to escort me to the airport to go home. (If I'm lucky.)

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

The Truth about China

I just read this update from Voice of the Martyrs:

CHINA Prominent House Church Leader Evicted from Home, Forced to Live on
the Streets - China Aid Association

On July 6, 2008, Chinese Public Security Bureau (PSB) officials evicted Pastor Bike Zhang, chairman of the Federation House Church, and his wife, Xie Fenglan, from their home in Chaoyang district, Beijing.

According to China Aid Association (CAA), "The couple was able to find shelter in the home of a friend, Niu Bei, until officials found them and forced the Zhang's to leave. Zhang and his wife moved into a hotel in Guo Xian town, Tongzhou district. On July 14, Tongzhou District PSB officials threatened the owner of the hotel to evict the couple or face incarceration. The couple then decided to find residence in Changping county, but were stopped by police officials while on their way and taken to the town government office."

CAA added, "Police interrogated the couple [withholding] food, drink, or rest. Xie Fenglan collapsed due to the stress of the torture. The couple was [later] released from the government office." CAA reported PSB officials continued harassing the Zhangs and continually evicted them from places where they sought shelter.

"Zhang and his wife are now forced to live on the streets and are not able to find shelter. When asked why the couple was being expelled from Beijing, officials responded, ‘Because Bike Zhang met the Americans, and destroyed the harmony of the Beijing Olympic Games.'"

Pray for Pastor Bike and his family during this difficult time. Ask God to heal Xie Fenglan's body and emotions. Pray believers in China will remain courageous as persecution increases ahead of the Olympics next month.
Psalm 27:1


Who will tell their story? Who will encourage them as they stand for Christ in a country where so many beliefs, not to mention words and behaviors, are off-limits? How can we support our Olympic athletes and yet protest against the government who welcomes them, but evicts its own people?

This is not an isolated incidenthttp://opendoorsusa.org/. Many human and religious rights organizations have documented the harassment, arrests, torture, and imprisonment of political and religious dissidents in China, Number 10 on the list of countries noted for persecution of Christians.

Spread the truth. And pray. And plug in to the websites of V.O.M., http://www.persecution.com/ and Open Doors, http://opendoorsusa.org/

Thursday, June 26, 2008

STOWAWAY





After playing in the lake-like surf this morning (and spotting plenty of sea life), we headed back to our condo unit for lunch. One of the four of us had unknowingly trapped not one, but TWO tiny fish. The evidence appeared, at two separate times, on the bathroom floor. For readers with more delicate sensibilities, I won't go into any more detail.
Alas, it was too late for the (?)minnows. We held two "burials-at-sea," the second depicted above.







Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Surprises in the Elevator




Some unknown person gave our family vacation a rousing start. After our first evening out, our daughter was the first to step in the elevator. I didn't have on my glasses, but I pointed to something white that appeared to be blowing across the carpet against the wall.




"What's that in the floor?" I asked.




In the meantime, our college-age daughter had leaped and was crouching, Spiderman-style, on the elevator railing on the left inside wall. And what I'd thought to be lint on the carpeting was none other than tiny crabs scurrying into the corners, frightened by our opening the doors. A prankster had apparently emptied his or her beach booty into the elevator car, hoping to give riders the surprise of their lives.




Well, it certainly worked. We've been laughing--and watching our step onto the elevator--ever since.




Our son was kind enough to rescue the little critters (except for the unfortunate one that plunged into the opening between the door and the floor) and haul them down to the beach that very evening.




My question: how could you pull a prank like that and NOT wait around to see the results?

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Hope for the Journey through Cancer




Yvonne Ortega,

Cancer Survivor








I pick up the book and flip the pages. With titles such as "The News I Didn't Want to Hear" or "Riding the Roller Coaster Backward," it engages me even as I browse through. I haven't yet experienced cancer myself, but like everyone else, I know people who have had that close encounter--my grandmother; my husband's cousin and her mother, his aunt; my husband's mom; close friends; a girl in the neighborhood who was diagnosed as an infant. Cancer, any life-threatening illness, for that matter, touches a wide circle of people beyond the immediate family and the person diagnosed.


I "met" Yvonne Ortega online, through a Christian writers' group and immediately sensed her warmth and genuineness. Those traits she probably owes most to two things: her faith in Jesus Christ and her toughing out a cancer diagnosis. Yvonne found it's one thing to be qualified to counsel others through life's difficulties, but it's another to face them yourself. As a licensed professional counselor, she had to apply her own advice. She had to trust God and meet her cancer head-on.




The subtitle describes the format of the book: Inspiration for Each Day. Sixty separate devotions are divided into four crucial sections based on a patient's fight against her cancer: Diagnosis, Surgery, Treatment, and Recovery. Yvonne describes the Scriptures she's chosen to begin each devotional as Hope Builders. Writing with honesty, she depicts the various scenarios of the phases of her journey, gives practical suggestions for facing the difficulties, and ends each devotional with a brief heartfelt prayer.


I know if I ever receive that diagnosis, I'll want this book close to me. And the words printed on these pages will be used to minister to the hurting people in my life. Because He is our hope, and He travels the painful journey by our side, every step we take.
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Visit Yvonne Ortega's website and buy this book:
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Comment on this blog post by Monday, June 30, midnight Eastern Daylight Time and be entered in a drawing for a free copy of the book.

Friday, May 30, 2008

An Interview with Tricia Goyer on A Whisper of Freedom


In my recent interview with Tricia Goyer, she speaks from her heart about A Whisper of Freedom, the third and final inspirational historical novel of her Chronicles of the Spanish Civil War series.


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Tricia, I've read your entire fiction series, Chronicles of the Spanish Civil War, from the first book through the third and most recent, A Whisper of Freedom. What would you hope has changed in me from my exposure to these stories and characters? In other words, how will reading this series make the reader a better person?


First, I hope that people understand The Spanish Civil War better. It's such a little-known time in history. Second, I'd hope that readers can see that one person can make a difference if they're willing to step out in faith. Sophie never planned to impact Spain--she was going there for love--but in the end, her being there changed so much.


Who were some of your favorite characters in the series, and why?


I love Sophie. She was such an amazing person--an artist, a seeker, and a friend. I also loved Father Manuel. I was able to share my own faith-questions through him. For example, Why do bad things happen to good people? Is God present even during the difficult seasons of our lives.


What settings did you most enjoy? Did you visit all of the settings you describe in the books?


Unfortunately, I have not been to Spain. I would have LOVED to go!

My favorite setting was Madrid. The city seemed to have so much personality! The people, of course, are the heart of the city and I fell in love with them.


Will the reader be satisfied with the denouement of Sophie's adventures in Spain? When is it appropriate for an author to leave aspects of plot resolution to the reader's imagination?


As with any book the challenge is knowing what to wrap up and what to end. In my mind this series can go on and on ... I can imagine more adventures for these people. But for the sake of the book, I had to bring it to a conclusion. And while there is a lot of "the war" and mystery concerning Spain's treasure still in question, I felt the resolution within the characters was complete. They had changed and grown so much, and that is what makes a satisfying resolution.


To keep from spoiling the ending for your readers, I'll ask this question carefully: Certain characters depart the scene before the end of the book and are never heard from again. Will these characters perhaps show up in another historical series in a whole new setting, hunting for the same elusive collection of objects mentioned in this book?

I sure hope so!I would LOVE to write that series. Can you imagine them all together ... on a different continent! I have no plans for that currently, but you never know!!!


What else is on your heart to say about these books, now that all three have been published?

I didn't know what I was getting into when I started writing these books. My heart was drawn to the conflict, but I knew little of individual stories. Overall, I personally feel I understand so much more about what it's like to face a war that it's almost certain you will lose. It's also a good reminder that no matter what outer conflicts we face, God can do amazing things on the inside.


Thanks for having me!

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Watch the trailer: http://cg.creativenuclei.com/wip/TriciaGoyer/cscw.html

Buy the book:

http://http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=467690&netp_id=506844&event=ESRCN&item_code=WW&view=details



Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Tricia Goyer's A Whisper of Freedom--The Blog Tour with a Quest!




Sophie has endured heartbreak and intrigue. Can she survive this one last dangerous challenge?




Who knows about the treasure besides Walt, Philip, and Sophie? Will Michael prove a threat to their plan? And will Jose find his wife safe? Will Deion ever see the nurse, Gwen, again?





If you've read Book 1 (A Valley of Betrayal) and Book 2 (A Shadow of Treason) of Tricia Goyer's Chronicles of the Spanish Civil War, of course you'll have to complete the series by reading A Whisper of Freedom.


Read an excerpt from Chapter One of Tricia Goyer's final book in the Chronicles of the Spanish Civil War series:








http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0802467695/ref=sib_dp_pt#reader-link


Buy the book here:

http://www.amazon.com/Whisper-Freedom-Chronicles-Spanish-Civil/dp/0802467695/ref=pd_rhf_p_t_1

Join our MEME Treasure Hunt. Post a comment on my blog with your answers to the MEME below:


1. List three things you would do with a chest full of gold (assuming you got to keep it!)


  • Pay off our debts.
  • Set aside a designated amount for church and charities.
  • Take a trip for two to Europe or Fiji, somewhere, anywhere, adventuresome where we've never been (my husband and me)

2. List three charities/missions/organizations you support (and why).


  • Our church--because it preaches the gospel and encourages believers
  • Samaritan's Purse--because it meets people's physical needs while sharing Jesus Christ with them
  • Open Doors--because it supports the persecuted Church, our brothers and sisters who need us to remember them as they suffer for their faith.

3. List three ways you have volunteered your time/services.


  • Served on the board of my local writers guild
  • Raised money to fight AIDS in Africa
  • Chaperoned youth at leadership training meetings and conventions

4. List three things you keep "hidden" when company comes over.


  • Dirty clothes--hopefully hampered out of sight
  • Dirty dishes--parked in dishwasher
  • General clutter--unfortunately, it's often everywhere, especially when our daughter's just moved home from college and then three days later left the country

5. List the last three things you've lost.



  • A ring I really liked, on an airplane
  • My swimsuit (but not while swimming, thank goodness)
  • My way, because I didn't get reverse directions and the freeway system was complicated

6. List the last three things you've found.


  • New writing friends--in our writers guild and also online
  • My cell phone--left in the car, again
  • Directions, after I no longer needed them

Read other posts from this blog tour:

http://triciagoyer.blogspot.com/2008/03/whisper-of-freedom-meme-sticky-post.html





Open My Eyes and Drink It In











"I meant 2 show u the ring i m wearing 2day. Bought this native-made mosaic gold ring on ponte vecchio-vecchio bridge-in florence italy 35 years ago-when i was 21. Now its ur turn! Love u."

A text message I sent our daughter this week flooded me with memories of my adventures in Europe at age 21 and delighted me for her in anticipation of the memories she will make as she begins her tour of Italy--today! Few things can be more life-changing than to view fresh worlds through youthful eyes. And youth comes in many ages. The same scenery I view daily can become a fresh world if I only look for the newness, for details I've never noticed before. What a wondrous world we live in, so full of unique people, varied histories, art, architecture, and nature. What lessons would God have me learn from what I observe today?

Ciao bella, Emily.

Friday, April 11, 2008

WYCLIFFE: PUTTING THE WORD IN THE HANDS OF THE WORLD

One of our friends, Dave Brooks, recently moved with his wife Gwen to Singapore to become the Asian director for the support arm of Wycliffe Bible Translators. He sent us information that shows us the importance of continuing mission work of this type.

Can you imagine being a missionary in a country where there is no Bible in the people's language? Some primitive people groups may still have no written language and thus need to have their speech transcribed and to be taught to read.

We need to pray for workers for the harvest.If you feel led, please share with others this prayer need God has put on my heart. It's a matter of eternal life.

Worldwide Bible Translation Statistics

  • World population: 6.5 billion
  • Languages spoken in the world: 6,912 [Ethnologue, 15th edition, 2005]
  • Languages with probable need of Bible translation: 2,251 representing 193 million people
  • Languages with some or all of the Bible: 2,454. Of these, 438 have an adequate Bible; 1,168 have an adequate New Testament; 848 have Scripture portions [UBS 2007] (Wycliffe has participated in work for over half of all languages receiving translated Scriptures.)
  • Language-based development and translation programs known to be in progress worldwide: 1,953 (Wycliffe is involved in 1,415, representing 73% of all projects, reaching an estimated population of over 568 million people)
  • New language programs begun worldwide in Bibleless language communities since October 1, 1999 (the beginning of Vision 2025): 592 (Wycliffe involved in 490 —– 83%)

Wycliffe Participation in Bible Translation
  • Countries represented by the languages in which Wycliffe personnel are working: 93 (including work among people who live outside their traditional homeland)
  • Translation: Over the more than 70 years of history, Wycliffe personnel have been involved in the translation of 721 New Testaments and Bibles representing over 80 million people.
  • Production: In 2007, Wycliffe personnel were involved in the completion of 2 Bibles; 9 New Testaments; 6 Jesus videos; 6 Luke videos and 5 Genesis videos.
  • Wycliffe supported personnel: 6,453 workers. Partners at the local, national, regional and international levels include thousands of additional people committed to Bible translation, literacy and the other language development needs of minority peoples.
  • Personnel needed: Over 3,000 needs for linguist/translators, literacy specialists, trainers, project managers, computer specialists, administrators and other roles.
  • Organizations that are a part of Wycliffe International: 48 member organizations, 29 recognized partner organizations.

Wednesday, April 02, 2008

GENERATION NEXT MARRIAGE by Tricia Goyer--A Boomer Blogs to GenXers about Dreams and Goals, Chapter 17




GENERATION NEXT MARRIAGE by Tricia Goyer--
A Boomer Blogs to GenXers about Dreams and Goals, Chapter 17

When Steve and I met, we couldn’t stop conversing about all the things that mattered most to us. We had grown up with similar dreams of marriage and family, and each of us brought to our marriage individual dreams as well. Some of these didn’t emerge for many years. The prime example for me, like Tricia, is my writing. It’s something I had always loved, but I’d pushed writing to the background, thinking it wasn’t a practical way to spend most of my time.


The first thing I think of regarding marriage when discussing dreams and goals is encouragement. Steve has always brought out the best in me in a natural way. He listens, he cares, he insists I don’t sacrifice what’s important to me, such as my writers’ group meetings.


It’s only fair that I encourage my husband to go for his goals as well. Perhaps the greatest challenge ever to our marriage has come in a recent career choice Steve made with my blessing, because it involves us keeping our old home, yet he is working out of another city two hours away. I know he would have always wondered if he hadn’t taken up the gauntlet this particular job threw him.


Then I think of unity. If we aren’t in agreement about individual or couple goals, then it’s time to pray and to decide whether it’s worth making an issue of the situation. As the Bible says, Can two walk together except they be agreed? Of course, this doesn’t mean we have to agree on everything or come to a compromise right away. It just means even if we are agreeing to disagree, that we don’t let dreams, goals, or anything else pull us apart. Nothing that destroys our marital unity is worth that.


I can’t end a post about dreams, goals, and marriage without plugging the creativity our Creator gave us. Our goal as a married couple is to keep our marriage close and the feelings fresh. This year we’ve had to be creative in celebrating in another city both the Super Bowl and Valentine’s, which turned out to be more special because we had to put extra effort into these occasions. Our unfamiliar surroundings proved to be a unifying factor as we shopped for Super Bowl snacks—something I don’t think we’d ever done together before—and we boldly tried a new restaurant for Valentine’s after finding it on the Internet. New traditions, combined with old comfortable routines, provide a terrific backdrop for sharing our goals and dreams on a daily basis.
I’d love to hear how you and your spouse share your goals and dreams and help one another fulfill them.



Book excerpt:

Tricia's website: http://triciagoyer.com/

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Here's an article to encourage anyone who needs to refresh herself or himself, whether it be in writing, other work, parenting, or life in general:

How To Stay Motivated - Easy Tips for Sustaining Your Passion by Sheri McConnell
(Free Articles )

1) Find a Natural Sanctuary - Stimulate the Senses

By far one of the best ways to stay motivated and to sustain your passion (no matter what it is) is to get outside and walk or jog or run. Our bodies and our brains need to be stimulated and nothing does this better than nature. Nature is vivid. The sounds and textures and smells will help you come alive. And by physically moving in nature, you will stimulate your body even more. Once your senses become stimulated, your brain will start to give you answers to personal and/or business questions. Your body will also become programmed to generate new creative ideas when you stimulate your senses.

Clearing the Clutter and Chaos

One reason we lose our motivation and can’t find our passion in life is that we are too busy experiencing chaos. Chaos comes in many forms–people, events, TV, radio and so on. You must experience nature to find and sustain your passion. Just 30 minutes a day will clear the clutter from your brain and reprogram you to breathe and think more instead of being so reactionary to all the numbing stimulants in your life!

2) Create a Fun System

Journaling

Once you clear your mind each day, you will need a FUN system to keep track of all the stimulating ideas you will get! I have a notebook that I carry with me where I jot down affirmations, goals, and problems (personal and professional) that I need to solve! And I find that every few months or so I like to rip it all out and throw it way and start over. For me, I seem to solve all those problems and reach all the goals and this physically lets me have a clean slate and move on. Be open to the process of journaling and do what your gut tells you to do.

Mindmapping

I also love mindmapping because I am drawn to the creative visuals! There are some great software resources out there like http://www.mindjet.com/. For me the process of mindmapping stimulates the creative side of my brain.

Visioning

The other fun way that I stay motivated and connected to my passion is by using a graphic coach. My coach, Christina Merkley at http://www.shift-it-coach.com/ took me through her Shift It Program. Not only was this fun, it was eye opening! And she even has maps and instructions so you can use this graphic coaching process yourself at home.

3) Pay Attention

The wonderful thing about creating a fun system in your daily life and getting back to nature more is that it allows you the time and space to “Ask Yourself Questions.” This step is the key to sustaining your passion. You will change and the world around you keeps changing so it is important (now-more than ever!) that you keep asking yourself questions so you can stay centered. What types of questions should you ask yourself in order to sustain your passion?- What makes me happy?- What do I enjoy?- What excites me?- What makes me cry?- What can I do to learn more about my passions?- How can I use my passion to improve the world around me?- Am I doing anything creative in my life?- If not, what can I do?

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Want To Use This Article In Your Ezine or Website? You have my permission, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Sheri McConnell is the President of the National Association of Women Writers (http://www.NAWW.org). She helps women writers and entrepreneurs discover, create, and profit from their intellectual knowledge! Free reports for writers available with subscription to NAWW Weekly. Sheri lives in San Antonio, Texas with her husband Seth and their four children. Contact her at naww@onebox.comor her toll free number at 866-821-5829.

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