Janet's Obedient Heart

"The Skin Map" by Stephen R. Lawhead

2011-12-16T16:47:00.004-05:00

"The ultimate quest for the ultimate treasure. Chasing a map tatooed on a man's body across an omniverse of intersecting realities." I'm a sometimes fan of sci-fi/fantasy, so the thought of time travel that involves exploring alternative worlds intrigued me. Thomas Nelson offered this on their BookSneeze site in the form of audio book only. I listened to the book on my way to and from work. After a few chapters, I made excuses to drive my car instead of walking or riding my bike so I could stay abreast of Kit Livingstone's adventures with his great-grandfather Cosimo and Sir Henry. One sign of a well-written novel is the author's ability to make me gasp when the bad guys are about to overcome the good guys. Or when I say, "aha," at the moment he plants a nugget of information in the story. Stephen Lawhead did both...until the end of the book. The finale, which I won't reveal here (I'm not a spoiler for the next reader), came unexpectedly. I felt nothing had been resolved. I still had questions that needed to be answered. Even the epilogue left me with a question mark floating around my head. "How could he do this?" I demanded. I want to know what happened to Arthur Flinders Peachtree. How did the dread Lord Burley always know where Kit and Cosimo would be? Then I noticed the fine print on the cover: A Bright Empires Novel. I looked it up on the Internet and discovered the story continues in another book. What are the chances Thomas Nelson will offer the audio version of The Bonehouse to their BookSneezers? {grumble} I also wonder why Thomas Nelson published this book. I found no Christian theme in it. On the contrary, it seemed to be more new age than Church Age. Just saying... When I post my review on Barnes & Noble's site, I might give The Skin Map two stars instead of four or five simply because of all the loose ends that needed to be tied up at the end. I am a dissatisfied reader right now. >:-(

Thankful Yes, but to Whom?

2011-11-28T16:46:00.003-05:00

Ahhh...the first Monday after a 4-day weekend. No leftovers--not even at my office. We've devoured everything in sight. And, of course, I repeat the same mantra on the way home from the day of gluttonous feasting: "I may never eat again!" But I always get hungry the next day. Many of us give thanks for our various blessings. I am thankful for my Celtic ancestry (as evidenced by my bagpipe-toting turkey here), for my husband of 16 years, for my 2 cats Pixie & Feathers, for my brother Jim and my sister Kathy and their respective families, for my job (especially since so many are without one now), for CWG Word Weavers, for the wonderful friends who bring us joy, for the Bible-teaching church we attend, and for the forgiveness of my sin. That brings me to the reason for this post. Everyone talks about Thanksgiving. Even the new media gives it a plug, if only to report the shameful behavior of shoppers on Post-Thanksgiving Black Friday. I rarely hear anyone mention to whom we are thankful. The words "thank you" flow easily from our mouths, if we are civilized people, that is, when another shows us kindness. But what about the grace God has shown us in sending His son to take away our sin? The word gratitude is from the same root as the Latin gracias, which means "grace." Out teacher on Sunday, Dr. Stephen Bramer, gave a wonderful acrostic to explain God's grace for us: God's Riches At Christ's Expense As I ponder the many blessings in my life, I want to honor Him who bestowed them on me. Yes, I'm even grateful for the strife and struggles that have come in the past, for they brought me closer to Him, and, because of that closeness, strengthened our marriage. What a loving God we have! Thank You, dear Lord, for the most wonderful blessing of all: Your gift of salvation, which brings eternal life. I have a dwelling place in heaven because I believe Jesus Christ is my Savior. Oh give thanks to the LORD, call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples. 1 Chronicles 16:8 (NASB)

As the Deer Pants for Water

2011-11-07T12:56:00.005-05:00

As the deer pants for the water brooks, So my soul pants for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; When shall I come and appear before God? -Psalm 42:1-2 (NASB) We have no pastor at our church. Guest speakers from a variety of sources bless us with their Biblical knowledge. Some are professors from colleges, such as Moody Bible Institute or Dallas Theological Seminary. Others serve in the mission field. As Biblical Christians, we believe there are no coincidences, yet sometimes occurances might seem too close to be anything else. We know that God, in His infinite wisdom, is the underlying cause for any coincidence. Richard Sanders, a missionary to Chad, Africa, served as our guest speaker one Sunday. I'd like to share with you an incident that happened that morning. So subtle that I wondered if anyone else noticed it. Music director Ron Billingsly sang (in his beautiful baritone voice) a solo of "As A Deer Pants For Water." Mr. Sanders approached the podium to teach his lesson on the obedience of Rahab, but first described the special meaning the verses of that psalm have for him. As a nomadic tribe travels from east to west on the African continent, they take no water with them. Instead, they carry a small hart (or deer). When they need to drink they temporarily set the hart free. Following him on a two-hump camel (known for speed), the elders of the tribe track the little deer. He runs to and fro, then stops to smell the air, and begins pawing the ground with his hoof. He digs up dirt, then mud, then dips his head into the newly dug well for a drink. They rely on God's creature, whose heart pants for water, to bring them sustenance. This true account of how a deer pants for water showed me how I should thirst for God in my troubles and desert-like exile. I must look for Him, as the deer looks for water, with expectation of finding Him in my situation. Just as the water flows beneath the ground on which the deer stands, God, in the Holy Spirit, is there to nourish me with His brooks of living water. AMEN!

Another Success Story for a Word Weaver!

2011-11-02T16:40:00.006-04:00

After reading this wonderful story, I want a pet dragon now.

I love a book that draws me into the story. FINDING ANGEL pulled me into the midst of Angel's world with the same velocity my vaccum cleaner sucks up a dead beetle.

As a teenager, Angel has no memory of her life before becoming a foster child at age six. When Angel's little foster brother finds an unusual bug, she discovers a link to her mysterious past. The pattern on the beetle's back is an exact replica of a charm on her bracelet. The bracelet is the only link to her lost identity. Angel meets a new friend, Gregor, who takes her back to her homeland - and not by train or boat - but through his own Talent. Dragons and beetles and elves abound, along with an ancient prophecy.

Kat Heckenbach's writing style is so convincing, I had a hard time returning to reality. I look forward to more stories from this multi-talented author. FINDING ANGEL is available on Kindle or, for non-techie people like moi, in the traditional bound book.

Animated Cat Office Gif | Funny Cat Pictures

2011-10-19T13:09:00.000-04:00

Animated Cat Office Gif Funny Cat Pictures This is a first for one so techno-challenged. I hope it works. Being a cat "mommy," this animated gif picture gave me great pleasure! Blessings to my cat-loving friends (and may my not-so-cat-loving friends learn to love cats, too!)

Austin, Texas with My Sister

2011-09-21T17:11:00.028-04:00

Anytime I can get together with my sister is a bonus. As children, we fought like bitter rivals. The only time we made a truce was an allied defense against our brother, Jimmy. As noted in my story, The Thornbuds, which Barbour included in "Heavenly Humor for the Mother's Soul," Jimmy's sole purpose in life was to torment us. But as we grew to maturity, Kathy and I became better than best friends, and Jimmy became our protector. When the wedding invitation came from our cousin Robert's daughter, Stephanie, I e-mailed Kathy.

"Are you going?" I asked.

"Yes! But David's staying home." Her reply was a hint this would be a sisters-only trip. Besides, weddings are for chicks; not for macho-disco, gun-toting guys like our husbands.

A chance to spend a weekend with my sister! And we had the added blessings of visiting beloved relatives we'd only recently seen at funerals. Now, we could come together for a happy occasion.

We shared a room at the Austin Motel, an eclectic, multi-level motel on S. Congress Avenue. Built in the 1930s, this quaint inn has old cars and metal artwork for decor. And we identified our room by the bullet hole in the window. The desk clerk explained it was the result of a band that stayed there in the 60s. Really? They never replaced the glass? We covered the tiny hole (just big enough for a mosquito to slip through) with scotch tape Kathy had in her purse. The staff includes Troy, the front office cat, and Rocky, the grounds custodial cat. Rocky was a bit camera-shy. But Kathy was able to get his picture in...the back of a pickup truck.

The wedding was lovely. Patrick Taylor and Stephanie Rollen were married in Hyde Park Presbyterian Church. The building is at least a hundred years old and was originally constructed as a Baptist church.

The reception was held on a paddle-wheel boat, which cruised the length of Lake Austin. The food was delicious (Tex-Mex fare - yum!). We spent two days walking S. Congress, checking out the trailers that offered take-out food (had great crepes at one!), looking at costumes in Lucy in Disguise with Diamonds, and a quaint antique store.

We found a few decorated bulls on the city streets, too. Here I am with my new Chia Pet!

Kathy and I trekked several miles in the triple-digit heat to another lake near downtown. She found her calling as Dona Kathy Quixote, the Woman of Lamanche!

Neither of us wore a hat and thought we'd have sun-stroke for sure. But a dip in the icy pool (and I do mean icy!) at the motel helped cool us down. The trip ended too quickly, and we headed for home on Monday. Kathy got to fly to Tampa with me before changing planes to return to her home in Birmingham. The only downside of the whole trip was the nasty flu bug I caught (probably on my flight to Austin from Tampa). I recovered after a week...well, almost recovered. These viruses are getting stronger every day!

Greetings from the Not-So-Oval Office

2011-08-31T17:19:00.007-04:00

President…not a term I thought would ever be associated with my name. CWG/Word Weavers doesn’t elect officers. The founding members decided many years ago elections aren’t much more than a popularity contest or personality clash. When Jan Powell suggested passing the pen to me for this office as her term ended, I confess I took a step back. I don’t have an “A” type personality (more like a “Z” type, if there is one), and never considered myself presidential material. Although I’ve outgrown my fear of speaking to large crowds, thanks to many years in theatre and a leadership position with Tampa Christian Women Club, I do have difficulty in reaching out to form relationships.

When I met Jan at the Florida Christian Writers Conference in 2005, I never dreamed a friendship of this depth would develop. Her kindness and encouragement are a blessing to me to this day. A Little History Jan visited the original Word Weavers group in Orlando for a year before I finally joined her. Until then, we’d had a two-person critique group. She found more writers from Tampa who attended the Orlando group, and soon we had enough members to start our own chapter. Jan took charge as president, Tina Yeager agreed to be our chaplain, Sheryl Young accepted the role of recording secretary, and I became the group division specialist. Under Jan’s leadership, we have grown from four hopeful writers to a chapter of twelve members. And we’re successful! Over one-third of our group has sold stories to Chicken Soup for the Soul. Member Kat Heckenbach’s novel, FINDING ANGEL, is now available on Kindle and will be available in print mid-September. She designed the cover, too! Multi-talented, to say the least. (See it on Amazon.com) Word Weavers grew from a few members sitting around a kitchen table to a merger with Jerry Jenkins’ Christian Writers Guild. New groups are forming in other states, and now with a chapter in Canada, we’ve gone international! In the next two years of service to CWG/Word Weavers - Tampa, my goals are to grow our group to a divisible size, help our unpublished members become published authors, and bring glory to our Lord in our reputation as Christian writers.

The Fight of our Lives by Bennett & Leibsohn

2011-08-03T16:42:00.004-04:00

I prefer to read fiction because non-fiction usually serves as a good antidote to insomnia. I struggled to get through this work for that reason only. Unlike other non-fiction list-our-woes type of books, THE FIGHT OF OUR LIVES is a true eye-opener. Most books of this ilk merely point out the problem, but this one delves deeply into the cause of our slide into political correctness and directs us to a clear resolution. "Rolling off our couches" is a good first step. In eight short chapters, plus an introduction and epilogue, Bennett & Leibsohn describe the lessons we SHOULD HAVE learned (but didn't) from Viet Nam (which showed Bin Laden our weaknesses) to the Ft. Hood massacre (which underscored our PC standing). Quoting Gen. George Casey of the recent attack: "As horrific as this tragedy was, if our diversity becomes a casualty, I think that's worse." I had to read that line several times, asking myself, "Can a military general REALLY put diversity above his soldiers?" This book clearly identifies our enemies, some of whom are within our own culture. Eleven pages of notes for their voluminous footnotes is indicative of the authors' intense research. THE FIGHT OF OUR LIVES isn't based on opinion, but proven facts. I hope it starts a wildfire of couch potatoes getting involved in taking back our country. I will certainly share it, give it as a gift, and recommend it. I received a free copy of this book from BookSneeze®.com in exchange for my review, and am in no way compelled to write flattery for flattery's sake.

Expert Witness - We Are A Christian Nation

2011-07-26T15:59:00.012-04:00

Righteousness exalts a nation,

but sin is a disgrace to any people. - Proverbs 14:34

Two hundred thirty-five years of freedom is unique. Why has the U.S. been so blessed? What makes us so special?

Psalm 33:12 answers these questions. "Blessed is the nation whose God is Lord." Our nation had a Biblical foundation. The founders planted good seed. You can tell the root by the fruit, according to Matthew 7:16-18.

Dr. Andy Woods, speaker, pastor, and Bible teacher, and attorney used a reliable source to prove that the United States of America is indeed a Christian Nation. His expert witness is Justice David Josiah Brewer, who served on the US Supreme Court from 1889-1910. His opinion in the case Church of Holy Trinity v. U.S. (143US 457,465,470-71 1892) cites multiple, irrefutable authorities.

The Declarations of early American settlers: Christopher Columbus wrote a book on Biblical prophecies. His motive for the voyage was not to prove the world was round, but to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ in many distant lands.

The intent of the Mayflower Compact of 1620 was the advancement of the Christian faith.

The South Carolina Constitution (1778) established Christianity as the religion of the state. Roger Williams established Rhode Island for his Christian beliefs. Colonial life had an emphatic Christian tone.

Early education: Harvard's early seal and motto was: In Christi Gloriam. The rules for students of the university were to read the Scriptures twice a day and be ready to give an account of their faith proficiently. Yale and William & Mary had similar rules and motto. No school was founded on Mohammad, Buddha, or Confucius. MIT was the first school established by atheists in 1871.

Early support from the government for the church: There was no hostility, but cooperation between the Church and State. Maryland's constitution in 1776 offered a tax to support the Christian religion.

Requirement of elected officials: In 1776, Delaware required office holders to profess their faith in God, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Vermont's constitution required every member of the House to vow belief in Christ and profess a protestant faith. John Jay, the 1st Chief Justice of the USSC, stated choice of our rulers, our duty, privilege, and interest of our Christian nation is to prefer Christian leadership.

Use of the word "God" in reverence: The name of God is invoked. When His name is used in singular, it is presumed to include the Trinity.

The Declaration of Independence should have been called the Declaration of DEpendence on God. Our rights come from God, not the government. Man can't take away our rights because he didn't give them.

The U.S. Constitution uses the phrase "in the year of our Lord" (Anno Domini) to indicate the date.

Absence of contrary declarations: There is no repudiation of Christianity found.

Establishment of Christian Chaplains in the military: The original range of service was Christianity.

American population: (1890) One-third of the population was directly connected to a Christian teaching or church. Ben Franklin, whom many call a "deist" actually quoted the Bible. Thomas Jefferson, also referred to as a "deist" offered an historic call for prayer. He wrote to Europeans advice for immigrating to the new country: "Atheism is unknown, infidelity rare and secret, bad examples to youth are rare."

Acceptance of the Bible: Two hundred fifty million copies of the Bible. No further comment needed here.

Beyond dispute: Justice Brewer presented no doubtful facts. His evidence is 100% historically true. The laws and customs of the U.S. are based on Moses and Christ. The Bible is the guide of life. Christian doctrines are accepted as comfort in times of sorrow. Government Establishment of the Thanksgiving holiday, calls for fasting and prayers, recognition of Christmas, promotion of Sunday school for children, and Christian literature.

God alone deserves the glory for His part in creating this nation. He gives us a potential for greatness. We are a city on a hill because of our Christian roots.

Satan wants to erase the historical truths of our beginning. By removing our Godly heritage, he takes away the moral compass. We must remember from where we have fallen. From Harvard's motto: In Christi Gloriam to California's law demanding schools to teach students about homosexuality (but forbidding them to teach the truth our founding fathers). We have indeed plummeted a great distance.

Any country can be great if God has His place of authority.

Any church can be great if God has His place of authority.

Any person can be great if God has His place of authority.

Let us reclaim this nation for Christ.

Tampa Police in "Obedient Heart"

2011-07-12T14:55:00.012-04:00

A scene from Chapter Five in "Obedient Heart"

Jennifer tapped her fingers against the phone. Should she call the police? A man ringing her doorbell and running off wasn't a crime. But if that man had driven by her house, followed her, then come to her door, well...that was a different story, wasn't it?

She picked up the phone and dialed the non-emergency number. "Tampa Police Department, Operator Eighty-Six." The woman's confident voice reminded Jennifer of a female Jack Webb.

"I don't know how to report this," Jennifer said.

"Just start at the beginning, ma'am."

"Okay." Jennifer took a deep breath. "Earlier this evening, two men in a van drove by my house. And then I went out with...um, I went out." No need to bring up her botched blind date. "I saw the van following me. I think it was the same one. And a few minutes ago, one of the men came to my front door. So, I don't know. Is this a prowler, a prankster, or a stalker?"

"I'll send a patrol car out to you. What's your name and address?"

Five minutes later, the patrol car drove by twice before pulling to the curb in front of her house. The officer walked to her porch, pausing to shine his flashlight through the shrubs before climbing the steps to ring her doorbell.

Jennifer opened the door to let him into the foyer. Another patrol car pulled to the curb, and an officer climbed out of the vehicle.

**************************************************************************

Our protagonist, Jennifer Ryaan, lives on Davis Islands, a neighborhood sprinkled with eclectic businesses and homes. D. P. Davis dredged up these islands in the 1920s from two small islets: "Little Grassy Key" and "Big Grassy Key" where Tampa Bay meets the Hillsborough River. He purchased the land for $350,000.00 and later sold three hundred of the original lots for over $1 million. He didn't live to see the growth and development of his islands. In October 1926, he was lost at sea during a transatlantic voyage. Another lesson in "you can't take it with you."

The homes range from modest 1920s bungalows to the infamous "St. Jetersburg," the nickname the news media gave Derek Jeter's mansion on Bahama Circle. Jennifer would never meet the famous baseball player since her modest brick ranch-style home, built in the '60s, is on the east side of the island facing the shipping canal. Bahama Circle is on the west side, which has direct access to either the Hillsborough River or the bay. I used the theft of my husband's bicycle to research the quick response to Jennifer's call for police. Tom had left the shed door open while he ran inside the house to get a tool. It took five minutes for a thief to move my bike out of the way (how insulting!) and steal Tom's Schwinn. The phone call I made to the police, and their quick response, was similar to the scene above. The thief must have beamed up to the Enterprise for the two patrol cars to have missed him.

The officer who took the report sympathized with us that, since the bicycle's value was under $500, the theft was considered a misdemeanor. That meant they wouldn't assign the major case squad to investigate. {sigh}

In the fifteen years Tom and I have lived in South Tampa, this was our first experience with a neighborhood crime. I was so impressed with the two officers' quick response to our call, as well as their professionalism, that I wanted to boast about Tampa's Finest in my novel.

(Tampa police photos taken from www.tampagov.net/dept_police)

The Brunchery in "Obedient Heart"

2011-06-21T16:29:00.015-04:00

The Brunchery Restaurant & Catering, owned and operated by Greg Elliott, is located at 3225 S. MacDill Avenue in South Tampa.

***********************

Another snapshot from my novel "Obedient Heart."

...the waitress approached with their beverages. She pulled out her pad to take their orders.

"I'll have the chicken quiche and salad, please." Jennifer smiled and handed her the menu.

"And you, sir?"

Jack's gaze remained focused on Jennifer. "I'll have the same, please."

Jennifer grinned at Jack. "Do real men eat quiche?"

"Of course." He brandished his fork like sword. "But with a manly fork." He set the utensil down and rested his forearms on the table. "So, they caught only one of the men?"

"Yes. He won't give up his partner, so it means the battle isn't over yet." She stroked the glass of tea with her fingers before picking it up. "Surveillance will continue. It's so frustrating having this hanging over my head all the time."

************************************

The Brunchery is a perfect setting for this lunch scene. My Professional Women's Bible study meets here every Friday morning from 6:45 - 7:45. Yes, that's in the A.M.! Twelve to fourteen of us gather together for a study in the Word before work as guests of owner Greg Elliot. He graciously opens his doors for us, and even provides the coffee. I wanted to reward his kindness by mentioning his restaurant in my novel, and the characters were happy to accommodate me. According to the restaurant website, (http://www.brunchery.com/) South Tampa News (a regional section of the Tampa Tribune) voted The Brunchery as a top choice of best place for breakfast/brunch. No surprise there. The outstanding service and eclectic fare keep locals (and out-of-towners) coming back for more. Even the President of the United States ordered a catered lunch from The Brunchery on a visit to Tampa. Greg provided more than 1,000 sandwiches in a day's notice. I bet he did it without breaking a sweat, too!

Jack and Jennifer will visit the Brunchery again in the novel's sequel (still in its cocoon). In the meantime, you can find me there Friday morning at 6:45 with my Bible open. I'll be the one with the mug of decaf.

Tampa Theatre in "Obedient Heart"

2011-06-14T16:15:00.039-04:00

A snapshot from my novel, Obedient Heart:

"What's wrong, Maggie?" Jennifer asked. "You look sad."

"Oh, I'm not sad, dear." She picked at her food with her plastic fork. "Well, maybe I am, just a little. The paper said The Inn of the Sixth Happiness is coming to Tampa Theatre in a couple of weeks. That's my favorite Ingrid Bergman film." She put down her fork and slapped the arm of her wheelchair. "And I'm stuck in this place and in this thing." "Oh, I wish I could--"

"You wish you could take me. I know. But I've seen your car. My wheelchair won't fit, so let's not think about it."

(Later, when Jack McGowan asks Jennifer is she'd like to go to a movie, she declines.) Jack reached for the doorknob and paused. "You know, Tampa Theatre has a special screening of a classic Ingrid Bergman movie this week. Maybe we could do that Thursday evening."

(Of course, Jennifer mentions Maggie's desire to see that film. And Jack, being the gentleman who knows the road to Jennifer's heart is through her compassion for those less fortunate, offers to take Maggie with them.) TAMPA THEATRE is another local landmark I use to bring my characters to life.

This historical theatre, which opened in Tampa on October 15, 1926, is one of our city's finest jewels. Housed across Franklin Street from the TECO plaza, one would never guess its opulence from it's near-ordinary facade. But once inside, you walk on mosaic tiled floors, climb marble steps to the balcony, and gaze up at 99 faux stars in the ceiling. The theatre has 1446 seats in the auditorium and, aside from airing independent films, is famous for its Summer and Winter Classic Series.

My husband and I have made it an annual ritual to attend the July showing of Casa Blanca, starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman. We own a DVD of this cult movie, but there's nothing like watching it on the big screen. And during these events, the theatre offers Bugs Bunny cartoons before each movie.

And we must not forget the Mighty Wurlitzer Organ! The massive instrument rises through the stage floor as the organist plays a medley of show tunes, usually followed by the film's theme song, and finishes with Phantom of the Opera. Words cannot do this presentation justice. You simply must experience it. The late Rosa Rio played the Wurlitzer for silent movie events. She was beyond her hundredth birthday when she played her last performance. This summer, the theatre will bring back one of my favorites, Some Like It Hot, starring Marilyn Monroe, Jack Lemon, and Tony Curtis. The last time they aired this film, Tony Curtis made a rare appearance. He was still as handsome as ever with white hair! His gracious treatment of fans endeared me to him even more. And, yes, I have this on DVD, too. It's so much more fun to attend the screening at the theatre.

A sampling of the films offered this summer are:

A Place in the Sun

Starring

Elizabeth Taylor and

Montgomery Cliff

The African Queen

Starring

Humphrey Bogart

and

Katherine Hepburn

Gone With the Wind

Starring

Clark Gable

and

Vivian Leigh

They'll also host a sing-along showing of The Wizard of Oz.

You can see why I simply had to include one of Tampa's finest historical features in my award-winning yet-to-be-published novel. (As a PS, Blogger still hasn't resolved the spacing issues that have plagued me in my recent posts. I apologize for the huge gaps between my paragraphs & photos. I correct it six or seven times, but it goes right back to the gaps when I publish the post)

Separation of Church & State? Where is It?

2011-05-27T15:37:00.016-04:00

The Lord is our judge

The Lord is our lawgiver

The Lord is our king

- Isaiah 33:22

On May 22, Dr. Andy Woods blessed us with a lesson on the often touted non-existent Constitutional statement regarding the wall of separation between church and state.

The First Amendment of the Bill of Rights in the U.S. Constitution states: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free expression thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

So, where is the separation of church and state clause? It's in the USSR Constitution, not ours. Thomas Jefferson wrote a letter to a Baptist church to assure the elders that the government would not interfere with church doctrine. He'd turn over in his grave if he knew how his reassurance to a church has been twisted and corrupted to ban Christianity.

The two cases (1962 & 1963), which illegalized Biblical and Christian teachings in public schools, failed to cite a single precedent. In fact, no court has cited precedent prior to 1947, censoring our history between the founding of this country and the post WWII era. And the courts selectively applied their rulings to only Christians. Militant secularization is pushing America away from its Judeo-Christian roots. Humanism and other pagan practices are permitted in schools, but don't try to read a verse from the Psalms.

The proponents of Roe v. Wade also cited no precedent, but used a "penumbra," a shadow that lurks behind the wording, dependant on which way the sun shines on the particular document. The law itself is unconstitutional because it gives the federal government license to interfere with the laws of each sovereign state. The courts have usurped their power by recreating the Constitution instead of interpreting it. In Isaiah 33:22, God established three separate branches of government:

Judicial - interpret the law (The LORD is our judge)
Legislature - create law (The LORD is our lawgiver)
Executive - to enforce the law (The LORD is our king)

The U.S. Supreme Court has pursued and claimed legislative powers. Their motto has become, "With five votes, we can do anything."

Here's my opinion:

How did this happen? It's the frog in heated water syndrome. We let it happen while we were distracted by other issues that seemed important at the time. Can we change it back? Perhaps. But it will take years of appealing, and only then if we elect public servants who know what the Constitution says.

Get your pocket-sized copy of the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution by visiting http://www.constitutionfacts.com/ Study it, learn it... and the next time someone says you can't pray in public because of "separation of church and state," tell them this isn't the Soviet Union! --------------------------------------------------------------------- Dr. Andy Woods, B.A., Th.M., J.D., Ph.D, Professor of Bible and Theology at the College of Biblical Studies, adjust professor at Dallas Theological Seminary, author and Senior Pastor at Sugarland Bible Church in Sugarland, TX.

My apologies for the weird formatting. I can't seem to convince blogspot that I don't want the extra spacing. Maybe it's feeling overly generous. I'm techno-challenged.

FBI and other members of the Government Alphabet Soup

2011-05-23T12:58:00.008-04:00

Held captive in a tiny hut deep in the Guatemalan rain forest, Ted Bohannon and his friend, Donald Gregory, have one goal: take the four children imprisoned with them and escape. Two years later, Ted's widowed sister Jennifer Ryaan paces in her living room. A mysterious note with a Guatemalan postmark appeared in her mailbox that afternoon. Someone knows her missing brother's fate. And her friends couldn't have picked a worse time to set her up on a blind date with airline pilot Jack McGowan. FBI agents, who investigated the original case, received new information about Jennifer's brother from a confidential informant. With Jennifer's permission, they set up phone taps and surveillance. A clandestine meeting in Paris brings Jack under the cross hairs of their suspicion. Jennifer refuses to believe Jack is involved, but how can she argue with such compelling evidence as photos of Jack with two international crime bosses? A tug-of-war between Jennifer's feelings for Jack and her determination to locate her missing brother is overshadowed by two strange men from Guatemala. Are they stalking her? _______________________________________________ My research for this novel began with visits to the Department of State website. I chose Guatemala because of the crime reports and warnings listed on this site. From there I visited the FBI's national website, where I requested information via an e-mail message. Neal Schiff, their liaison in Washington, DC called me the next day. Through many phone calls, he gave me the "inside scoop" (as much as he could without having to kill me-tee hee) of the Bureau's methods of handling this type of international incident. One of my co-workers, who has relatives who served in missions in Central America, confirmed my earlier research. Her uncle was kidnapped while living in Guatemala and held for several months before the family could come up with the ransom. After receiving payment, his abductors returned him (albeit a mere shadow of his former self). Unfortunately, not all victims survive their captivity. One purpose of this novel is to hint at this oft' swept under the rug multi-million dollar industry that continues to grow in Central America, as well the horrendous market of child trafficking. When you plan to travel abroad, please check the D.o.S. website, and heed their warnings. (www.state.gov) And hang onto your children, even if you're at a theme park in Main Street, USA.

Pach's Place in "Obedient Heart"

2011-05-02T17:06:00.003-04:00

Pach's Place (pronounced Patches) is South Tampa's answer to "Cheers." In this neighborhood eatery, open for breakfast and lunch, everybody knows your name. My husband suggested the owners put one of those in/out planners on the wall so we regulars can move our little button to the "in" position when we arrive. This is one of the few real restaurants I mention in my novel, "Obedient Heart." The characters meet there for breakfast on several occasions, and FBI agents nab one of the villains (after he finished his omelet). I spoke with a member of the staff about being featured in my novel. He whole-heartedly agreed to allow me to host a book signing event there. A professionally designed poster, with the book cover on it, will read, "Look for Pach's Place on Page --- of Obedient Heart!" Named for the original owner, the late Al Pach, this little diner kept it's small-town neighborhood flavor. All the more reason to use it as a source of nourishment for Jennifer Ryaan and her friends in "Obedient Heart." http://www.pachsplace.com/ The completed, award-winning novel of 100k words is presently in a holding pattern, while my agent Joyce Hart of Hartline Literary Agency, shops it to publishers. Go Joyce! www.hartlineliterary.com

"Save the Date"

2011-03-16T16:25:00.003-04:00

"Save the Date" by Jenny B. Jones took me captive in the first paragraph of the prologue. The sassy protagonist, Lucy Wiltshire thought she was about to become engaged to her long-time boyfriend. The expected proposal turned out to be his news of a job offer...in another state.

Two years later, Lucy found herself in dire straits when Sinclair Hotels, one of her biggest donors for Saving Grace, pulled their funding. Tough economic times, it seemed, knew no boundaries. Lucy established Saving Grace, the home for girls who age out of foster care, and her dedication to "her girls" created some comical scenes throughout the book. One of my favorites was Lucy crashing the Sinclair gala...literally. Alex, the heir to the Sinclair fortune and a candidate for Congress, swept her to the dance floor to keep her away from the affluent guests. But Mr. Zaminski didn't have a chance. Lucy knocked into a waiter, causing him to spill his tray of shrimp cocktail on the floor. The beaded strap of her second-hand gown broke at the same time. Zaminski hit the floor. Lucy, graspong her last semblance of modesty, headed for the nearest exit. Alex followed her outside. While comforting her, he inadvertently gave the news media photos of him embracing a young blonde.

Two weeks later, Alex discovered his numbers in the polls rose dramatically because of the photos and a bogus magazine story about his romance with Lucy Wiltshire. Thus came his scheme to easily slide into his Congressional seat. Lucy needed funds to keep her home for girls open. He needed her to pose as his fiancée.

From their first meeting to the end of the story, I watched Lucy grow from a klutzy kid to an elegant young lady. Alex grew from a self-centered football hero-playboy to a caring young gentleman.

I identified with Lucy because she knew as much about football as I do and shopped for clothes in second-hand stores (you can find me most weekends at Life's Treasures in south Tampa - Bruno Magli shoes for $3.00!) .

I highly recommend this light-hearted romance novel. Jenny B. Jones is a master at planting seeds, setting gems, and creating sassy dialogue. Her talent for flashbacks (or back story) is pure genius. A great example for any aspiring writer to follow, this is the way a novel should be written!

Another Success for Obedient Heart!

2011-03-04T16:58:00.009-05:00

I received the e-mail from West Bow/Thomas Nelson/Women of Faith writing contest while my sister was here visiting from Alabama. My novel, Obedient Heart, had placed in the top 30 entries. Kathy rejoiced with me. The contest would announce the first place winner on March 1, 2011.

I left it in God's capable hands, and returned to Birmingham with my sister, my husband Tom, and his granddaughter Becca for a short visit. While Kathy & I went to a weekend scrap book retreat, Tom stayed in Birmingham to do "guy stuff" with Kathy's husband David. Becca continued on to a friend's home in Tennessee.

With all our giggle fits, with a bit of scrap booking here and there, I forgot all about the contest.

Tom & I drove back to Tampa on February 28th, and I went back to work on March 1st. A posting on Facebook asked, "Are you the Janet Rockey who won in WOF writing contest?" I checked my e-mail to find a message from West Bow Publishing at the same time my phone rang. One of the editors of West Bow called to congratulate me. I had won third place. Okay, so it isn't FIRST place. But to place third in 750 entries is exciting. I checked the web page and found that I had been in fifteenth place before they made the final decision. And almost all my writing friends who critiqued this novel are at the Florida Christian Writers Conference. I'm sure they heard my shout all the way to Leesburg!

The prize is a 50% discount on publishing costs, since West Bow is a self-pub house. That would be great if I had a stash of cash hidden inside the walls of my 1926 bungalow. Alas, but no. I have to make a decision, and soon. I wonder if they'll give the third place accolades to another entrant if I can't come up with the money to pay for my award. If the author who came in behind me can swing the cost, I wouldn't mind giving it to him or her. But let me keep the recognition of being a third-place winner!

Another Year Older

2011-02-16T16:02:00.005-05:00

Well, today is my birthday. People tell me I don't look my age. One co-worker said I don't act my age. I don't feel my age. I think someone lied. But I must have been born when my mother claimed, because I remember all the fun stuff we did way back in the fifties. In Brownfield, TX, my sister and I joined friends for a walk down a dirt road to a wood-framed shop to buy a sno-cone or a "dime cherry-lime." We watched TV programs, "Gunsmoke," "The Rifleman," and all the episodes of the Cartright boys on the Ponderosa. We went to church on Sundays and Wednesdays. Dad sang in the choir and Mother taught Sunday school. And you didn't have to be embarrassed to say you were a Christian back then. We played outdoors in the summer, picked cotton on friends' farms, rode our bicycles all over the countryside without fear of predators. We had dogs: A Collie named Tonie and a Boxer named Babe. We had cats: A Siamese named Ichibon, followed by Dinghow 1 & Dinghow 2. Then came Genai, who outlived our mother. We had a parakeet named Cutie. She/he never talked, despite the little record we bought to train her/him in English language skills. My brother Jimmy horned toads and snakes as pets. I don't know if he ever named them. Then we grew up, got married, got heavier (well, some of us did), got gray hair, and few laugh lines crease our faces. But I don't feel my age. Maybe that's a good thing. Now, when I look in the mirror, I can say, "Not bad for an old lady!" Another benefit is an added excuse for shortcomings. "Oh, did I forget to do that?" A smile creeps across my face. "Well, I'm blonde AND old!"

Ancestors: Our Roadmaps to History

2011-01-19T16:54:00.003-05:00

One of my New Year's Resolutions was to post every Friday, then broke that promise the following week. I wonder why it's easier to keep a promise to someone else than it is to keep one made to yourself. Maybe that's a question for my friends who are licensed counselors. Here is an interesting item on my agenda. I told my sister I'd like to create a scrapbook of our family history. Our dad researched our family tree back in the 60s, in pre-Internet days. He had to do it the hard way, through letters and library archives. He told us the story of our ancestor, Sir Gregory Clement, who was hanged for beheading the king of England. My sister found a short article on Sir Gregory Clement through Wikipedia, and they even had a portrait of him! Born in 1594, to John Clement, a merchant and Mayor of Plymouth, Gregory grew up to become a Member of Parliament and one of the regicides of King Charles I. After working for the British East India Company, Sir Gregory returned to London from India and supported Parliament in the civil war. He became a Member of Parliament for Fowey in Cornwall in 1648. He then served as a commissioner of the High Court of Justice at the trial of King Charles in January 1649. He was the fifty-fourth signatory on the king's death warrant. Fifty-nine commissioners signed in total. In 1652, the House of Commons dismissed him because of a scandal with his maidservant. Political opponent Thomas Harrison is suspect in engineering the false accusations. (Some things never change.) When Charles II reclaimed the throne, all fifty-nine judge regicides who signed the death warrant and witnessed the king's execution feared for their lives. A few fled England, but Sir Gregory was arrested, tried, and convicted of high treason. According to my dad, the executioner offered those who were convicted with him a cordial for courage before being put to death. Sir Gregory refused the elixir and went bravely (and unrepentantly) to his death. On October 17, 1660, Sir Gregory Clement was hanged, drawn, and quartered at Charing Cross. A sad ending for a man of nobility and noble causes. So, there you have it. Part of my history. And I'm sure a part of history that will prevent me from being invited to Prince William's wedding to Kate. Snubbed by royalty...ho-hum.

Happy Friday

2011-01-07T17:26:00.003-05:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

HAPPY FRIDAY!

This is one of many New Year's Resolutions I've decided to make for 2011: Post on my blog at least once a week. I've not kept up with my postings mainly because of being promoted to another level in my job. One blessing about my new position is the support and encouragement I receive from my team of attorneys and investigtors, but training in a new field can be stressful.

So, I'll post new messages every Friday, unless something comes up...like a death warrant or a brief. Just a thought here: why do they call it a "brief" when it's a 100+ pages of legaleze? One of the many mysteries of life.

Blessings to you and yours!

Merry Christmas 2010!

2010-12-20T17:16:00.007-05:00

As many friends and family members suffer hardships this year, let us remember to give thanks to our Lord and Savior.

1. It's bitterly cold in Florida, unusually so.

I'm thankful I'm not stuck on a snow-piled highway in the middle of a blizzard.

2. I can't afford to buy presents for loved ones because of our financial distress.

I'm thankful that I have loved ones, for there are many who spend this time alone.

3. My husband denied me the joy of putting up a Christmas tree this year. No reason, he's just a humbug about Christmas.

I'm thankful he's my husband. Humbug or not, he's the man God chose for me, and I love him dearly.

4. My workload has been so heavy lately that my writing has been put on hold.

I'm thankful I have a job--and a promotion in position & salary, too!

5. I don't know whom, if anyone, will share Christmas Day with us for dinner.

I'm thankful we'll have something to eat, for many go hungry every day.

Since I struggled to come up with 5 complaints, I know I am blessed by a loving God. He has been with me through trials and triumphs, and my joy in knowing Him is great! You can have that joy, too.

May God bless you this Christmas season!

RPLA Winner!

2010-11-10T15:48:00.007-05:00

My yet-to-be-published novel, The Obedient Heart, won second place in the inspirational romance genre of the Royal Palm Literary Awards contest. This was exciting news at first, but the competitive muse who sometimes takes over my thinking, reminded me that it didn't take FIRST place. After reading the synopsis of the first place winner, I'd say that author earned it. And I had to remind myself that being second place doesn't mean that only two novelists in this category entered the contest. According to Florida Writers Association Group Facilitator, Kaye Coppersmith, no one wins just for entering. If the entries don't meet the FWA standards, then there is no winner for that category. Second place is acceptable. I recall back in the days of Ted Mack's "The Amateur Hour" (the 1960s prelude to "America's Got Talent") Ann-Margaret took second place to a leaf blower. In an interview several years later, the famous actress-singer said, "I wonder where that leaf blower is now." I hope and pray the First Place winner gets a publishing contract, as I'm sure the author is much more talented than a man who made music by blowing through leaves. Ha!

The Obedient Heart takes place in south Tampa, with quick trips to Chicago, IL and Paris, France. Here's a brief synopsis:

Held captive in a tiny hut deep in the Guatemalan rain forest, Ted Bohannon and his friend, Donald Gregory, have one goal: take the four children imprisoned with them and escape.

Two years later, Ted's widowed sister Jennifer Ryaan paces in her living room. A mysterious note with a Guatemalan postmark appeared in her mailbox that afternoon. Someone knows her missing brother's fate. And her friends couldn't have picked a worse time to set her up on a blind date with airline pilot Jack McGowan.

FBI Agents, who investigated the original case, received new information about Jennifer's brother from a confidential informant. With Jennifer's permission, they set up phone taps and surveillance. A clandestine meeting in Paris brought Jack under the cross hairs of their suspicion.

Jennifer refuses to believe her new love is involved, but how can she argue with such compelling evidence as photos of Jack with two international crime bosses?

The tug-of-war between Jennifer's feelings for Jack and her determination to locate her missing brother is overshadowed by two men from Guatemala who stalk her. They offer to take her to her brother for a price-a price too high for her heart of obedience to God. From mysterious notes to Jennifer's kidnapping, this novel proves that an obedient heart can be broken, but faith in the Lord will help to mend it.

If you'd like to see this novel published, please let me know by posting your comment on this blog. Or if you think I need to "bump up" the synopsis, let me know that, too. I'm open to suggestions.

Vote!

2010-10-19T16:53:00.003-04:00

In Hillsborough County we have the privilege of voting early in our elections. I'm not sure why the powers that be decided to open the polls two weeks before the actual election day, but I'm glad they did. Instead of standing in line, checking my watch every two seconds, and stressing about being late for work, I can zip out on my lunch hour, walk right in, show my driver's license (not my voter I.D.), and cast my vote.

Not voting is NEVER an option. How many men and women have spilled their blood to give me the right to vote? I cringe when people tell me they don't vote. And many don't vote because they either don't know or don't care about the issues, the candidates, or amendments. But you can bet your last dollar they know who got voted off the island on Survivor, who won the World Series, or who divorced whom in Hollyweird! Doesn't it make sense to learn about the candidates (and issues) who will have the power to raise or lower your taxes and make other decisions that will affect your liberty? Why do citizens care more about entertainers (many of whom are in that field because they are too lazy or ignorant to do anything productive), sports figures, or egomaniacs on a reality program? Maybe because it's easier than thinking.

I've enjoyed campaign walks and sign-waving events, and made some wonderful friends working for different candidates.

Study the issues & amendments, work on a candidate's campaign to get to know them (it's fun!), and go vote! You'll be glad you did.

Review of Ashes of Remembrance

2010-09-10T16:55:00.004-04:00

Dear friends, I'm so sorry to have been so long between posts. One of my co-workers brought her sick child to the office because the daycare center has a policy of no sick children. We should adopt that policy for our office, because I succumbed to the viral infection the child left behind. Out sick for a week, and I'm still struggling to feel better. Always the optimist, this was a great opportunity to read, Ashes of Remembrance, the sequel to Only the River Runs Free by Bodie & Brock Thoene. Many of the same characters appear in this story, including Mad Molly, little Mary Elizabeth, along with main characters Kate Donovan, and Joseph Connor Burk. Joseph has reclaimed his rightful place in the community, and Chapter 1 opens with his wedding to Kate Donovan. Tragedy strikes when Joseph is arrested and falsely accused of treason before the end of the wedding reception! The evil Col. Mahon wants Burk property to graze his cattle. What better way to steal it than have Joseph hanged as a conspirator? A brief encounter in jail before Joseph is shipped off to Botany Bay leaves Kate carrying his child. In typical Thoene fashion, the history is factual, but, in my opinion, this one is much more brutal than their other writings. I still enjoyed this novel in spite of the gruesome details. After all, the mark of a good writer is when the reader experiences the book...smells the odors of the prison ship, feels the hunger pang of the prisoner who suffer from near starvation, dread the sinister shark's fin circling the skiff in the vast ocean near the southern tip of Africa. So, now I'm back from Galway, back from the sea voyage, back from another adventure in mid 19th century Ireland, only to wonder what happens next to Kate, Joseph, and the wee babe she carries within her. This gets another "Highly Recommended" from me!

"No Other" by Shawna K. Williams

2010-08-20T17:09:00.003-04:00

This historical romance by Shawna K. Williams pulled me into the story with the first sentence. Set in Post WWII America, it possesses the right amount of detail to keep the reader in the late 1940s, learning about the struggles one American family of German descent suffered from President Roosevelt's (d) internment camps. The war ended, and twenty-year-old Jacob had to return to the classroom to earn his high school diploma. Difficult enough without a pretty teacher, Meri, who was only two years older than he. Their relationship began innocently enough with a school play, which Jacob's sister helped write (revealing more about their family's difficulties than Jacob preferred). As Jacob and Meri allowed their love for each other to unfold, he learned she was trapped in her own private internment camp, created by her hypocritical and overbearing parents. Despite Jacob's struggle (and failure) with temptation, he found the path of redemption in honestly claiming responsibility for his actions. No Other is a refreshing look at two people in love during a forgotten era. I look forward to a sequel. I'd like to know what happened to Roger (wink wink).

Only the River Runs Free

2010-07-29T17:12:00.008-04:00

Bodie & Brock Thoene captured me in another of their excellent novels, Only the River Runs Free. The story is set in early-to-mid-19th century Ireland, complete with Mad Molly, the eccentric old woman of Ballynockanor who lost her marbles when her employer and his son died on the same day. But she kept the secret of their demise locked away for years, later slipping the mysterious key to a young lame boy and his wee sister.

When a stranger comes to Ballynockanor on Christmas Eve, Mad Molly proclaims a miracle will come to the town through this young man. His intention to become a priest is thwarted by his secret love for Kate, the widowed (and scarred) daughter of town drunk, Tom Donovan. In typical Thoene fashion, this novel is woven together by a well-designed plot. I sailed through it in a week and found myself lamenting at the end, not because the ending was unhappy. Oh, no. The happy ending makes it all the more worth the read. I lamented because I wasn't ready to leave Ballynockanor and its colorful characters. I'm looking forward to reading Ashes of Remembrance, another masterpiece in The Galway Chronicles.

Highly recommended.

Buy two - one for yourself, and one to give as a gift.

Heavenly Humor

2010-07-22T17:05:00.007-04:00

"I shared an apartment with my tuxedo cat, Sammy. Aside from not kicking in his share of the rent, he had all the attributes of a roommate anyone could want. He didn’t borrow my clothes, leave dirty dishes in the sink, or take long showers depleting the source of hot water." - Excerpt from Silhouette on the Shade I'm very excited to announce Heavenly Humor for the Cat Lover's Soul is available for pre-order, either through Barbour Publishing (www.barbourbooks.com) or Barnes & Noble. I haven't checked with LifeWay or other book stores yet. In this anthology, you'll find my story, Silhouette on the Shade, about sharing my apartment with Sammy, my first cat (often referred to as my first love). He was a delightful little guy - black & white with soft amber eyes - who never complained about frequent relocations, and accepted other animals into our home with aplomb.

(Note of appreciation to: http://www.i-love-cats.com/catgraphics.html for the above image)

Barbour is working on another anthology, Heavenly Humor for the Mother's Soul. I wrote seven stories for that book and pray they'll publish all of them. Looking forward to sharing more good news with you as blessings find their way to me.

http://www.intouch.org/resources/140-days-of-prayer

2010-07-05T08:35:00.000-04:00

http://www.intouch.org/resources/140-days-of-prayer Take the challenge. I did!

My Novel Makes the Finals in RPLA

2010-06-01T17:25:00.005-04:00

What exciting news! April 29, 2010: I entered my novel in the Inspirational Romance genre of the Royal Palm Literary Award Contest, hosted by the Florida Writers Association. It was a last minute effort that almost didn't happen. Every time I've attempted to enter this contest, something--an important event, unexpected company, or toppled by a common cold--always got in my way. This time, I knew I had a trip to Alabama planned in early May, followed by my husband's birthday celebration, and we received happy news that his daughter and her family were relocating to Tampa. I read the contest entry details and discovered that by entering before May 1st, I could actually save money. So, with a quick prayer, I downloaded the pages I needed, printed them out, and shipped my entry via USPS. Over Memorial Day weekend, I needed to check my e-mail for research on another writing assignment. I bumped my husband off his laptop, promising to be brief. There it was...the e-mail from RPLA saying, "Congratulations! Your novel Obedient Heart has made it into the finals..." Now, I have to compile all my chapters into one document of 97,742 words, and ship the entire manuscript to be judged in its entirety. This is heart-pounding excitement for me. When I first wrote this novel, I knew nothing about writing. I attended the Florida Christian Writers Conference, where I studied under Gayle Roper (whom the RPLA cited as an example for Inspirational Romance). A few years passed and I continued to gain more knowledge and grow in the art of writing. I rewrote, and rewrote and rewrote this novel, using the tips I've learned from Gayle, Mark Mynheir, Jeanette Windle, Cecil Murphy, and all the wonderful writers in FWA and Word Weavers. So, please keep me in your prayers as I prepare to send the completed manuscript to RPLA. And thank you, Jan Powell, for all your encouragement, as you repeatedly said to me, "This could be the year..."

Review Of Raymond C. Hundley's Book

2010-05-18T17:20:00.006-04:00

My friend in law school wrote on her FB page, "If I get my law degree, and the world ends in 2012, I'll be really mad!" Dr. Raymond C. Hundley's book, "Will The World End in 2012?" is a quick read with only 184 pages, including a well-written study guide at the end. He begins with a review of the film, "2012," which I opted not to see. Dr. Hundley introduces each prediction with a believable scenario, then takes the reader through the pros and cons of the chapter, and ends with his scientific opinion as to whether or not the catastrophe is feasible. My only critism is his overuse of the word "relationship" in the last chapter. I'll say no more so as not to spoil the ending. This is a book I would recommend, especially to my friend in law school (haha). I intend to read it again with the study guide in mind. I'd like to get 100% on the questions he asks at the end.

Resurrection in Review Part 2 - Andy Woods

2010-04-22T12:47:00.009-04:00

Here is, at long last, the second part of Andy Wood's message on Resurrection. According to the Bible, everyone will resurrect; some to eternal life, others to a judgment of disgrace and contempt. Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment. - John 5:28-29 ...having a hope in God, which these men cherish themselves, that there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. - Acts 24:15

In Luke 16;19-31, Jesus relates the agonies the unrepentant man suffers in Hades.
In Luke 23:43, the thief on the cross goes to Paradise with Christ because he believed in Him.

God's plan consists of two general resurrections after Christ's. Andy's chart indicated that one resurrection is of the believers in Christ. In his graph (which I am unable to draw in this medium) under the believers' resurrection line, the chart lists three different times of resurrections as in the harvest cycle described in Leviticus.

First Fruits (Christ) Leviticus 23:10 ("...you shall bring in the sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest to the priest.")
General (at the Rapture) Lev. 23:1-12
Gleanings (at the beginning of the Millennium) Leviticus 19:9-10 (...you shall not reap to the very corners of your field, ...you shall leave them for the needy and for the stranger.)

Gleanings were for the poor. In the resurrection, Rev. 20:4-5 includes the Old Testament saints and tribulation martyrs. (And I saw the souls of those who have been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshipped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.) The Unbelievers' resurrection line goes directly to post-millennium (after the thousand year reign of Chris). Daniel didn't see the thousand years between the last two resurrections when he predicted the resurrection in the verse: Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt. - Dan. 12:2 Andy explained it is like viewing a mountain range from afar. You see only the peaks, but not the valleys that span between them. Christ's resurrection is attested by witnesses in 1 Cor 15:1-11. ...Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles; and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also.

His resurrection is the heart of the gospel.

Psalm 16:10 is one of many Old Testament predictions of the resurrection. For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol; Nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay.

The mystery is the rapture - a generation of Christians to be spared from death, instantaneously at the last trump of God. Revelation 20:4-5 describes the first resurrection in a series, not the first. Rev. 20:12-15 gives the bad news for unbelievers: And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. Hades is a place of conscious torment, awaiting final judgment just as post-conviction inmates await transport to prison. Unbelievers are not written in The Book of Life, but they will be judged by the deeds written in them. The Deeds books determine the level of punishment in hell. Another way to view the timeline of the resurrections is the Order of Tagma. When the king welcomed his army back from war, they were specifically positioned for the march.

Conquering General: Christ (1 Cor. 15:23) But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ's at His coming, then comes the end.
Officers: Believers at the Rapture (1 Thess. 4:13-18) For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
Soldiers: Old Testament Saints and Tribulation Martyrs (Rev. 20:4) ...and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
Captives/Slaves: Unsaved from all the ages of the world (Rev. 20:5) The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This life is like a grain of sand on a seashore. Our choice for or against Christ determines our eternal destiny.

In summary, everyone will be resurrected. The question is: where do we spend eternity?

Born once, die twice.

Born twice, die once.

Resurrection in Review

2010-04-07T12:54:00.005-04:00

Dr. Andy Woods, an associate professor at the College of Biblical Studies in Houston, Tx, blessed us with his pearls of theological wisdom on Sunday, April 4, 2010. I always look forward to his sermons/lessons when he appears at Bayside Community Church. Here is an overview of my notes: Andy presented his Resurrection in Review in three parts:

1. Define Resurrection
2. Demand for Resurrection
3. Description of Resurrection

1. Definition: Reunion in Glory God created us in two parts - material and invisible. When the body dies, the material and invisible parts separate. So resurrection is the opposite of death. Lazarus was not resurrected when he came out of the grave. (John 11:43-44) Jesus brought him back to life after four days in the same body, therefore, he was resuscitated. The many who came out of their tombs after Jesus on that first Resurrection Sunday (Matthew 27:52) may have been resuscitated, as well, instead of resurrected. The physical body dies, but the glorified body, which we get at the moment of resurrection, never dies. 2. Demand for Resurrection: We have a cursed physical body Why do we need to be resurrected? Because Heaven is eternal, and our physical bodies are temporal. Sin has tainted us since Adam, leaving us to bear his curse. As such, we are not fit to enter God's presence in our physical bodies. Heaven is both a physical and spiritual experience. Although we have an obligation to be good stewards of our physical bodies, 1 Peter 3:3-4 tells us "our adornment must not be merely external... let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God." We must have our glorified bodies to come into His presence in Heaven. 3. Description of Resurrection: The perishable becomes imperishable In 1 Corinthians 15:42-44, Paul tells us we are "sown a perishable body, but will be raised with an imperishable body; sown in dishonor, but raised in glory; sown in weakness, it is raised in power; ...sown a natural body, ...raised a spiritual body." And "just as we have borne the image of the earthly, we will also bear the image of the heavenly." Jesus, in His resurrected body, walked through walls and closed doors, (John 20:26) yet he ate a plate of fish with His disciples on the beach (Luke 24:43), proving that He was not a spirit, and not a physical man. The Resurrection is both. The scars Jesus bears on his hands, feet, and side remain as a constant reminder to us of the exorbitant price He paid for our sins. Stay tuned for the second part of Andy's message, regarding who will be resurrected, and when?

Overview of Church History - Kerby Anderson

2010-03-26T15:11:00.025-04:00

Kerby Anderson, host of radio program "Point of View," author, lecturer, and visiting professor at Dallas Theological Seminary, offered an in depth overview of the history of the Christian church at Bayside Community Church on Sunday, March 21, 2010. It's amazing he could cover two thousand years in twenty-five minutes! I'll try to make some sense out of my notes, some of which resemble shorthand...and I never took shorthand.

The ancient church (from A.D. 33-313), which consisted of Jewish believers and converted pagans, had its conflicts with the state, producing martyrs and apologists (with their "isms"). The Edict of Milan came in 313.

The Roman Empire continue to rule, even after Jesus' death, burial, and resurrecton.

The Christian Empire from 313-476 saw differing edicts of Nicea in 325, Constantine in 381, Ephesus in 431, and Chalcedon in 451. Augustine wrote Confessions and City of God, and developed doctrines of church and just war, grace and predestination.

The early middle ages, from 476-1054, saw the fall of the Roman Empire. A schism between the east and the west developed as the west spoke Latin, and the east spoke Greek. Bishops held political authority, and the ancient culture all but disappeared. The church tried to preserve it.

Islam started in the 7th century. Saladin and Richard the Lion Hearted clashed during the Crusades, which began in 1095.

The highpoint of the Middle Ages, from 1054-1303, saw disagreements in the church over clergy being able to marry and the type of bread used for Communion.

Then came the monastic orders of the Franciscans and Dominicans. European cities grew and cathedrals were built, with multi-generational construction crews.

The late Middle Ages, 1303-1453, brought the decline of the papacy, the 100-years war, and the black plague. John Wycliff translated the Latin Vulgate, and John Huss led his reformation.

From 1453-1600, the Americas were discovered, and Martin Luther posted his 95 Thesis of Sola Scriptura in 1517. As the Europeans immigrated to the colonies, they brought their own denominations:

John Calvin came from Switzerland.
John Knox came from Scotland.
The Mennonites came from the Netherlands.
Anglican-Episcopal came from England.

The 17th & 18th centuries brought bloody conflicts from internal controversy. Which Christianity is true?

Moravians came to the U.S. Colonies and brought the Methodist denomination.
The Puritans settled in Massachusetts.
The Baptists settled in Rhode Island and New Hampshire.
The Anglicans settled in Virginia, New York, and Maryland.
The Quakers and Mennonites settled in Pennsylvania.
The Catholics were dominant until the French left.
The Methodists later spread west to Kentucky and Ohio.

The 19th century brought more revolutions in America, France, and latin America. The protestant theologians turned away from Biblical faith. Then came the 2nd great awakening, when colleges were established by churches. The colleges strayed from the faith, as is evident in the present anti-God, liberal teaching at most universities.

John Jay, co-author of the Federalist Papers, President of the American Bible Society, and the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, established Sunday Schools in churches. (Wait...a Chief Justice of the Supreme Court was the president of the Bible Society? Could that happen in today's society?)

In the 20th Century to 1914, the Eastern church is shaken by revolution. Protestant optimism is shaken by wars. Catholics struggle against modernity and worship of Mary.

In 1909, the protestants had their fundamentalist vs. modernist controversy.

The evangelical movement developed in post-WWII.

Now, with modern attitudes, we must ask, "Have we come full circle? Are we Rome again?"

Western civilization = Rome + Christianity
Western civilization - Christianity = Rome

Glenn Sunshine argues we are once again becoming like the Roman Empire. Look at the similarities of the ancient Romans and our culture:

Tolerance was the supreme virtue (Ditto for present day)
Oversexed society - anti-natal sexuality. Decadent sexual activity without procreating. (Ditto for present day)
Rampant homosexuality (Ditto for present day)
Abortion on demand. (Ditto for present day)
Infanticide - eliminating defective children) (Ditto for present day)
Declining birthrate, rising immigrant population. (Ditto for present day)

Can you hear Caligula and Nero saying, "We're back! Did you miss us?"

You Are Now Entering the Mission Field

2010-03-02T16:10:00.005-05:00

I've posted the letter below because I was so moved by this friend's passion for the Lord. I remember Juliana Anderson as a pretty little girl; the daughter of our pastor at Palma Ceia Baptist Church. Now she's grown into a lovely young woman who wants nothing more than to tell the world about our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit…

- Matthew 28:19

Read Juliana's letter and be warmed by her joy!

Hello!

Thanks to all of your prayers and support, I leave for Brazil in exactly one week from today! Next Thursday I will be flying out of Tampa to Atlanta to meet up with the rest of the team and from there we will travel to Brazil.

Time is flying so fast and it is a scramble to get everything done before I leave. Please pray that I don't lose my mind! I just found out today that I will be serving on the team through various aspects including drama, crafts, leading a devotion, being a translator and filing several other roles. I can tell God is going to do great things through our team and can't wait to see what He will do.

Please, please, please pray for us. Health is a big concern right now. Everyone seems to be getting sick around me and I know being sick will drain my energy (although my true energy and strength comes from the Lord). I don't want anything to get in the way of me being able to give my best, so I pray that God will give me the courage and wisdom to know what I should do.

Pray that God would speak through me to bring the Gospel to many and that lives will be changed for eternity. I just want to thank you again and tell you all how God has been so faithful to provide for this trip! God has blessed me with an amazing support group (you) and supplied all the money I needed for this trip as well as for a mission trip in May to Paraguay. For the longest time I wasn't sure if God wanted me on that trip as well, but after much prayer, God made it clear to me what I should do. Just a few days after I decided to go, I received a check in the mail for the exact remaining balance I needed for the Paraguay trip. I will be going to Paraguay with Idlewild Baptist Church. My dad is leading the trip and my mom and two brothers are planning on going as well.

Please be in prayer for their support to come in. Before I leave, I will send out another letter to give you the link to a blog where you will be abel to follow what is happening each day. Thank you so much for your support, and I covet your prayers.

Saved to serve,

Juliana Anderson

Great Writing About A Great King

2010-02-17T16:09:00.006-05:00

No offense intended to Benjamin Merkle that it took me a couple of months to get through this book. He's an excellent author. I expected a historical fiction novel, but this book is a NON-fiction narrative.

I applaud Mr. Merkle for his captivating authorship. An example from Chapter 3 illustrates the retreat of the Vikings when Alfred’s brother finally arrived at a fierce battle:

“All that was left was a view of the backside of a panic-stricken mob fleeing for its life. It took several moments for Alfred and his men to recover from their amazement and to realize what had happened. Suddenly, it became clear.

King Æthelred had finished his prayers.”

James Scott Bell (my mentor) would consider that last sentence a gem.

I wish my history books back in school had been written with such colorful word pictures and intense emotion. I'm sure my grades in that discipline would've improved. I loved history, but the texts were as dry as sawdust. Mr. Merkle made me care about King Alfred. I was saddened at Æthelred's untimely death, but encouraged by Alfred's unwavering tenacity against the marauding Danes.

I feel like I truly know this great king, although I had never heard of Alfred the Great before selecting this book. The White Horse King, Alfred, was a fierce warrior, a faithful Christian who sought wisdom, and a deeply committed leader who loved mercy and gave himself for his people, dying at the age of fifty.

The first of my friends to get a copy of this wonderful book is May Barnett, our resident Liverpudlian who said, “King Alfred sat by the fire...” when I told her I was reading about the White Horse King.

I highly recommend “The White Horse King – The Life of Alfred the Great” by Benjamin Merkle.

Great writing about a great leader!

Disclosure of Material Connection. I received this free book from Thomas Nelson Publishers as a part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC's 16 CFR, Part 255 "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

The Great Escape

2010-02-09T11:11:00.004-05:00

I promised to post my notes from Andy Woods' sermon a few weeks back, but life's busyness got in the way. Until I can organize my notes, I'll post this devotional, which I submitted to PCCWeb Daily Devotion. They published it on February 8, 2010, and I received encouraging messages from people in Maryland, Indiana, Wisconsin, Canada, England, and Uganda. What a joy to know my cats' escapade one night would bless people from all walks of life around the world!

THE GREAT ESCAPE

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me..." - John 10:27 (NASB)

The alarm woke me at 6:35. I punched the button and sat up. Something was missing. My husband Tom lay snoring beside me, but Pixie, my short-hair tabby, wasn't curled up next to me. Her sister, Feathers, the long-haired likeness of Pixie, wasn't stretched out at my feet.

I dragged myself out of bed and plodded to the kitchen to feed them. Neither cat ran to the cupboard. Even the dry food clinking into their bowls didn't bring them running.

"Where are they?" I asked.

"They're around here somewhere," Tom muffled into his pillow.

I searched the house, from room to room, calling their names.

No response.

The room where Tom was working on renovations had been a point of curiosity for them. I turned on the light and found a five-by-five inch square opening in the wood floor.

"Tom?"

Snort..."What?"

"Could you come here, please?" The calmness of my voice surprised me.

Tom stumbled, half asleep, into the workroom. "What's wrong?"

I pointed to the opening. "Where does this lead?"

Groan.

Fuzzy slippers on my feet, I was out the back door, pulling my robe around me, before Tom could put on his pants.

"Feathers!" I called. "Pixie!"

A tiny mew squeaked back to me from the neighbor's driveway behind our house. Pixie rounded the decorative fence and ran toward me, passing without stopping. She turned and ran past me again. The third time, I dropped to one knee, holding my hand out to her. She came to me, and I scooped her up to take her inside.

I set her down in the kitchen and spied the opening in the workroom floor. Oops!

Hunger overcame her temptation to escape again. Running to her plate gave me the break I needed to cover her escape hatch with the form-fitted block of wood.

Now, to find her elusive sister.

Outside in the dark, the beam from Tom's flashlight came around the side yard. He had searched the perimeter of the house.

"There she is," he said in a cautious whisper.

Her fluffy tail poked out from under a piece of discarded dry-wall.

"Come here, Feathers, " I called.

She approached me with a kittenish mew, but backed away. Again, I dropped to one knee and held out my hand to her. She scampered to me, allowing me to pick her up and carry her into the safety of our home.

My cats know my voice and usually come to me when I call. But outside, in their fear of unfamiliar surroundings, they were too skittish to obey. Only when I lowered myself to their level did they respond, allowing me to give them the safety and comfort they needed.

Our Heavenly Father lowered Himself to our level--in the form of Jesus Christ, being fully God and perfectly human--to reach us. We stray from Him at times, but we know His voice, and when He calls us back, we take His hand to the safety and comfort only He can offer.

Prayer: Gracious Father, we praise You and give thanks for Your wondrous love. You are always there with an outstretched hand and enveloping comfort even when we stray. Help us to remember to listen for our Savior's voice in our time of need. In Christ's precious name, we pray.

Amen.

The Miraculous Hypostatic Union

2009-12-29T13:48:00.022-05:00

We had the honor of seeing Dr. Robert Gromacki of Cedarville College at Bayside Community Church on Sunday, December 27, 2009.

In the first session, he taught us about the Hypostatic Union of Christ. No one else, living or dead, has had this miraculous aspect of being. Jesus Christ alone had a true and perfect humanity, as well as the full divinity of God Almighty.

Hypo comes from the Greek root "Huppo," which means "under."

Static, also from the Greek root,"stasis," which means "stands."

One would think it means understand, but it actually means Christ stands under two entirely different natures: Humanity AND Deity.

Christ had a miraculous conception and birth. As Dr. Gromacki pointed out, a virgin bride could conceive the first time she experiences physical love with her husband, so a virgin conception isn't actually a miracle. However, the miracle of Christ's conception is that His mother had no interaction with a man. She was as pure as the driven snow, even when she brought forth her first born son. It was a natural birth--Christ didn't levitate out of Mary's womb. Jesus shows the Hypostatic Union even in his birth: normal delivery, yet divine, being born of a virgin.

He had normal human development. Although the Bible doesn't reveal anything about his childhood, we know he went to Jerusalem at the age of twelve with his family. In His human nature, he joined in familial rituals, yet in His Divinity, He taught Scripture in the temple as a boy. He had normal human experiences: birth, love, grief, joy, temptation, anger, pain, and death.

But they were transcended by His divine nature. He loved his friend Lazarus and grieved at his passing...before raising him from the dead. He was tempted by the devil, yet rebuked each temptation with Scripture. The den of thieves in the temple angered Him, and again He used Scripture to support turning over the tables. He suffered pain and an agonizing death as a human, but as God He is risen (He is risen, indeed!).

Christ is a theanthropic person. Another lesson in Greek: Theo = God, and thropic = man. Make no mistake, Jesus is not a man who achieved Godness, He is God in the flesh.

He has two natures, but is not two separate people. It doesn't mean He's schizophrenic. He has two different kinds of consciousness: Divine and human. As man, He hungered. As God, He created bread. His two natures weren't altered by their union within Him. God doesn't change in His basic essence. He didn't give up His attributes to become flesh.

Both divine and human characteristics can be attributed to Jesus under any of His names or titles, whether divine or human.

The Union of the two natures was not changed by His death and resurrection. He still bears the scars of the cross.

He manifested both natures at a single event; such as when He when the woman with a hemorrhage sought healing from Him, but He had to ask, "Who touched My robe?" As God, He felt the power leave Him, but as human, didn't know who had taken it.

I signed up with Compass Ministry years ago to receive their daily Good Morning, Lord messages. They had a mini-Bible study on this same topic on 12-24-09. Here is their explanation of Hypostatic Union:

MINI BIBLE STUDY FOR THE DAY One of the most interesting doctrines in the Bible is that of Jesus being 100 percent God, and at the same time being 100 percent man (referred to as "hypostatic union"). None of us has ever seen Deity -- we only know what we read in scripture. Nor have we seen perfect humanity -- we only know what we read about in the Bible about pre-fallen Adam and our Lord. So it is somewhat difficult to grasp the fact that Jesus retained all His divine attributes while possessing all human attributes. His humanity is also seen in these verses: Matt. 4:2 "And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry." John 19:28 ". . . Jesus . . . said, 'I am thirsty.'" My only concern with their opinion is referring to Jesus as 100% man. There is one aspect of humanity that Jesus didn't carry, and that is sin. That doesn't make him 98% man (or more correctly, 2% man). It means that Jesus is 100% God and 100% perfect man. In the second session, Dr. Gromacki discussed "Why Was the Incarnation Necessary?"

Stay tuned...that will be the next topic of discussion.

THE QUEENS CAME LATE - Norma Farber

2009-12-11T09:24:00.021-05:00

As we all rush around in the Christmas season, we often lose sight of why we celebrate. I wanted to share this poem I found on a daily web devotional:

THE QUEENS CAME LATE

The Queens came late, but the Queens were there With gifts in their hands and crowns in their hair.

They'd come, these three, like the Kings, from far,

Following, yes, that guiding star.

They'd left their ladles, linens, looms,

Their children playing in nursery rooms,

And told their sitters: "Take charge! For this

Is a marvelous sight we must not miss!"

The Queens came late, but not too late

To see the animals small and great,

Feathered and furred, domestic and wild,

Gathered to gaze at a mother and child.

And rather than frankincense and myrrh

And gold for the babe, they brought for her

Who held him, a homespun gown of blue,

And chicken soup--with noodles, too-

And a lingering, lasting, cradle-song.

The Queens came late and stayed not long,

For their thoughts already were straining far-

Past manger and mother and guiding star

And a child aglow as a morning sun-

Toward home and children and chores undone.

Norma Farber (from "When It Snowed That Night," 1993)

Let us all remember

Jesus is the reason for the season!

The Emergent Church - by Dr, Andy Woods

2009-11-29T18:38:00.012-05:00

On Sunday, November 22, 2009, Dr. Andy Woods returned to Bayside Community Church with another fascinating lesson on false teachers and apostasy. This time, he specifically addressed the latest apostate theology that is creeping into our churches unchecked -- namely, The Emergent Church.

Dr. Paul Benware (Moody, Radio School of the Bible, Philadelphia Bible College) spoke of this movement in one of his recent visits, so I appreciated Andy's thoroughly researched confirmation of Dr. Benware's teaching.

One of the Biblical references Andy cited for this lesson is Acts 20:29 - I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock... Point: Apostasy is eternal.

The Emergent Church brings in something new to replace the old. They teach a belief system "in process," claiming that no one has arrived at orthodoxy. The E.C. leaders target the youth, the most vulnerable sheep, stating that Christianity will die unless it changes to reach the postmodern generation. The younger generation (can I really be old enough to use that term?) has made a paradigm shift. They now say, "Tell me what I want to hear, or shut up."

In my opinion, that attitude comes from a lack of parental attention and low standards set by those in authority over children during their formative years.

This movement begins within church youth groups. (I know of one church that hired a pro-abortion man to be their youth director.) Their theology sounds evangelical, being close enough to the truth to seduce the "seeker" or immature Christian, but is in fact false.

The Emergent Church wants to redefine missions, knowledge, Scriptures, church, Christ, and prophecy.

Let's take a look at what they want to do in the mission field:

In the Emergent Church, one must elevate experience over learning the truth about Jesus. Fluidity of Arts and a sense of mystery replace the clear Gospel. Shared experiences a/o encounters are more important than telling the world about Christ. But the Bible teaches that every generation needs a clear proclamation of the Gospel. Romans 1:16-17 states: For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "But the righteous man shall live by faith." (Ref. Habakkuk 2:4) And 2 Timothy 3:15 tells us that the younger generation, yes even the postmodernist, can understand. ...And that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

According to the Emergent Church leaders, sincerity in alternative religion means they can go to heaven. What does the Bible say about that? Jesus Himself claims: I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. - John 14:6. And Paul assures us in 1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. So, one may be sincere in their false religion, but tragically, they are still sincerely wrong.

They promote non-confrontational evangelism, using Jesus' meeting with the Samaritan woman. What they fail to mention is that Jesus did show her that the Samaritans were wrong. He used patience, but still moved her to the truth of the Gospel.

Social gospel emphasizes fixing the world problems. Don't save people out of the world; make their experience better. We know that the world will remain in Satan's grasp until the second advent of Christ. Although it is incumbent upon us to be good stewards to the planet, and compassionate to others in their need, we will never relieve the sufferings of this world.

Their doctrine of knowledge - epistemology (How do we acquire truth?) claims we bring our own bias into Bible interpretation when we read the Bible. Dialogue breaks our bias and truth rests in common ground. (Can they teach this with a straight face?) They promote endless dialogue to attain Middle Ground Mania, which brings with it uncertainty. Truth, to them, is in the middle, so the emergent, unfinished Christian will keep seeking. Unbelief masquerades as uncertainty.

The Holy Scriptures must be demoted because they contradict what the Emergent believes. This is why they try to elevate reason a/o dialogue above the Bible. They don't realize that Jesus IS the Word. Reason and experience can go astray, hence the admonition in Proverbs 3:5, Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. And Proverbs 14:12, There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. Satan counterfeits. The lawless one will give experience to whoever wants it. When experience departs from Scripture, we must depart from experience. Ditto for thoughts and traditions.

The Emergent Church worship service is multi-sensory, liturgical, and contemplative. Art preaches, Scripture preaches, music preaches, and even silence preaches. The sanctuary is darkened to give an air of mysticism. Their prayers are visual, recitation, and meditative breathing; combining Yoga, Buddhism, and other pagan practices. The Bible tells us to go back to the beginning. In the apostolic teaching in Matthew 6:7, Jesus condemned mixing pagan worship with Christianity.

Preaching in this new congregation consists of group facilitators telling stories or engaging in conversations. Sermons aren't lessons to precisely define belief. They tell stories to welcome our hopes and elevate experience over truth. Without the truth, who is their Jesus? Don't give me creed, give me Jesus.

Ecumenism is The Urge To Merge. They desire to combine differing doctrines, finding common ground. Credolism's purpose is to cure worldly woes. Water down the gospel for the sake of unity. Unity is okay if it's built on the Christian foundation.

Doctrine of Christ: Atonement to Emergent Church teaching is tantamount to cosmic child abuse (Chalke & Mann). A vengeful father punishes his son for sins he didn't commit. Penal substitution is explained in Hebrews 9:22 - And according to the Law one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. And Christ's substitution is made clear in Isaiah 53:5 - But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed. The Son is the sin-bearer. He absorbed the wrath of God in my place. Remember the Blood on the doorpost in Exodus 12? A lamb had to be slain to cover the doorpost so the angel of death would pass over God's people.

Prophecy: Revelation is a powerful book about the kingdom of God. But Emergent Church leaders claim the kingdom of God is here and now, available to all. How can we have the kingdom without the King? Twenty-seven percent of the Scripture was prophetic at its writing. The analogy of dark to light in 2 Peter 1:19 gives us hope for the future. So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts.

In Nehemiah 8, Ezra read the Law of God to the people and a revival happened. Awakening/revival are only possible with the Bible. Are we entering a new dark age? Bible-teaching churches are uncommon now. Satan so cleverly disguises his lies, that even the elect will be deceived. In my humble opinion, the only way to avoid being used by him is to be faithful to the light He gave us and be alert to these false teachings. Be like the Bereans, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. - Acts 17:10

Review: Lonestar Secrets by Colleen Coble - Thomas Nelson Publishers

2009-11-16T13:27:00.010-05:00

"No more secrets," Jack said to Shannon. But secrets are all she has. Colleen Coble relates this touching, yet suspenseful, account of a couple who must learn to love each other for the sake of their children. Set in the plains of West Texas, this story brought back childhood memories of sandstorms, cowboy hats, and ugly multi-legged critters indigenous to that area. I once lived in Brownfield (southwest of Lubbock). One "aha" moment for me was when Jack learned the truth about love from a former racehorse. How perfect is that? (ClipArt by Millermark Creations) This author has a unique gift of creating an array of subplots, which she gathers together in one neat package in the end. She also offers riveting discussion questions for book clubs. I loved the book in spite of the fact that Colleen Coble used the name of my protagonist in my novel, "Obedient Heart." No worries. Since mine isn't published yet, my Jack McGowan will have a name change. That's the beauty of fiction! :-}

"Lonestar Secrets" - Buy it today!

Latest Book to Review For Thomas Nelson

2009-11-12T17:18:00.008-05:00

This is the latest book I'm reviewing for Thomas Nelson Publishers. Of all the books I've reviewed for them so far, this is my favorite. Set in my home state of Texas, the story captured my interest in the opening sentence. And how surprised was I to learn that the author, Colleen Coble, is from Indian and NOT from Texas! Her descriptions of the plains of West Texas are so accurate--from sandstorms to the creepy multi-legged creatures (and I'm not referring to majestic horses) that I believed her to be a fellow Texan. I'm almost finished with this book. Wish I wasn't taking so long. It's a hard book to put down, but distractions have come in droves lately. When I'm ready to post my review on B&N and my blog (so I can choose my next book from Thomas Nelson), I'll give you more details about this unusual story of an unusual woman caught in an unusual marriage.

I'll keep you posted!

Heavenly Humor

2009-11-05T16:51:00.005-05:00

I've posted my good news on Facebook, FWA Christian Writers network, and sent e-mails. How is it that I forget to post good news on my blog? It's a condition of age or hair color. Sometimes I claim both.

Last week, I submitted two stories to Heavenly Humor for the Cat Lover's Soul. The title of the first one is The Great Escape. It details a very recent adventure of my two indoor kitties, Pixie and Feathers, as they escaped during the night, or early morning hours, through a hole in the floor of my husband's renovation project. I was certain that one would be selected since it flowed so easily for me.

The second submission, Silhouette on the Shade, is about my first cat Sammy. I always refer to him as "my first love." He was a sweet black and white male cat who stole my heart when I was eighteen years old. My best friend, Mary Ellen Couette, gave him to me as a graduation gift. The story relates Sammy's signal to me when he was ready to come in for the night. I struggled with this story, due to the many years that have passed since the event. But with the help of my editor, Kat Hechenback, all the words and ideas fell into place.

I received an e-mail from Barbour Publishing the next day, requesting to include "Silhouette on the Shade" in the book that will be released in March 2010.

Thank you, Kat!!

With the sale of Romeow and Juliecat to Chicken Soup for the Soul What I Learned from the Cat (now available at Amazon - but, sadly, not on shelves at Barnes & Nobles), I am now considered a free-lance writer. Buddy Chastain, author of The Game (a good mystery/thriller set in Atlanta, GA), told me when you get your first dollar for writing, you are considered an author.

As I continue submitting stories to anthologies or magazines, my confidence is building enough to submit my novel, Obedient Heart, once again to agents and/or publishers. Tyndale House said it's a good story (happy dance!), but my hook wasn't strong enough (sad shuffle). God gave me the story to write, and it will be published...in His time.

Another Great Lesson From Andy Woods

2009-10-14T17:16:00.006-04:00

I always appreciate when someone knowledgeable explains how our words were formed. My father always did that. When I was a child he explained the ending of "itis" to a word meant inflamed or infected. "Therefore, Jannie, tonsilitis means your tonsils are infected and must come out." Can't say that I miss them now.

Dr. Andy Woods explains how certain words come into being from the ancient texts. He brought another excellent lesson to Bayside Community Church on Sunday, 10-11-09. The Bible warns us to be watchful of false teachers, wolves in sheep's clothing as it were, who would invade the churches and bring in apostasy.

Apostasy, Andy explained, comes from two Greek words: Apos is a preposition meaning away from. Histome (or is it histomi? Can't read my own writing.) means to stand. Apostasy means to stand away from, or departure from known (or previously embraced) truth.

Ten characteristics of apostasy are:

Characteristic #1: A Sign of the Last Days of the Church - Perilous times (Matt. 13:3). The Second Law of Thermodynamics is true for moral issues, too. Jesus outlines a course of the new age to come in eight parables. Parabolic teaching conceals the message from those who refuse to be taught, yet reveals truth to those who hungar for the Word.

Parable #1: The Sower - Preaching the Gospel with various results.
Parable #2: Wheat & Tares - Difficult to distinguish saved from unsaved within professing Christendom.
Parable #3: Mustard Seed - Christendom will experience great numerical and geographic expansion from humble beginnings.
Parable #4: Yeast in Dough - Christendom will experience internal corruption throughout the age with increasing apostasy.
Parable #5: Hidden Treasure - Israel will remain in unbelief only to be converted in the end.
Parable #6: Pearl of Great Price - Co-existence of righteous and wicked to be separated at the age's conclusion.
Parable #7: The Dragnet - Good fish kept, and bad fish cast away.
Parable #8: Householder - Old treasures to new treasures. New truth must be considered with Old Testament revelation to comprehend the totality of God's kingdom agenda.

Characteristic #2: A Massive New Testament Subject - Matt 13:33, Acts 20:29-31, all the Pauline letters, the general letters of the New Testament (Jude, Hebrews, Peter, 1 John), and Revelation all warn against lapsing back into apostasy.

Characteristic #3: It Impacts Every Major Doctrine - The faith (1 Tim 4:1), God (Jude 4), Christ & His death (2 Peter 2:1), Christ's return (2 Peter 3:3-4), Sound Doctrine (2 Tim 4:3-4), Resurrection (2 Tim 2:16-18), and God as creator (2 Peter 3:5) will all be challenged, or are now being challenged, by the predorists.

Characteristic #4: Apostasy is Internal - Acts 20:29-31. It will come from within the church, along with "savage wolves." Paul warned about this night and day with tears. Jude 4 says they "crept in unnoticed." Look for them in pulpits, Christian schools, Christian books, and magazines. They won't wear signs on their backs that read: I'M A FALSE TEACHER - FOLLOW ME.

Characteristic #5: It Knows No Limits - Exodus 32:1-10 (Aaron), Judg. 18:30 (Jonathan). Even those we least expect will become useful tools for the enemy's apostasy. We can see this in the Rules of Harvard, Est. 1636. Christian belief was once a rule for admittance to this university. Now it's a deterrent. Rev. 2:45 says Christ will take away the lamp stand. In other words, He'll remove His light from among them.

Characteristic #6: It Can Happen Quickly - The ice can melt beneath our feet. In Gal. 1:6, Paul was amazed at how soon the Galatians abandoned the doctrine of free grace. In Exodus 32:8, the Israelites turned away from God within forty days. When Rev. 2:4-5 was written only thirty-five years had passed before the Ephesus defected on their relationship with Christ.

Characteristic #7: It is Satanically Energized - Paul reminds us in 2 Cor. 11:3 how easily the serpent led Eve away from the simplicity of God's truth. In 1 Tim 4:1: "Some will depart from the faith, heeding deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons..." Satan's agenda is to cause the fall of the Christian church. He knows the three functions of the church are to 1) Glorify God, 2) Edify the saints, and 3) Evangelize the lost. He's satisfied to hinder even one of those functions.

Characteristic #8: It is Destructive - Acts 20:29 offers a graphic imagery to describe how destructive apostasy is to our church.

Characteristic #9: It Makes Life Difficult for the Man of God - The genuine article, the true man of God will be discredited by the "savage wolves." We must be cautious of the strategy of the mega churches popping up about us. Does the church lose its spirit for God to bring in the spirit of the world? 2 Tim 3:2-4, 12-13.

Characteristic #10: It Impacts Those Who Have Not Taken Preventative Measures - The pooling of ignorance just feels better than the hard truth. The strong current of apostasy pulls us in the wrong direction. If we take a passive stance, then we allow ourselves to be drawn away from the truth. Riding the current of apostasy is not like shooting the rapids. It's never that obvious. Even the true man of God can slip into that easy flow. When we're pulled away from the truth, we must call for help, aggressively move to the shoreline, use tools God gave us to thwart the river's torrent. Our tools are commands of the New Testament:

Study God's word (2 Tim. 2:15, 3:17).
Test all things using discernment (1 Thess. 5:21).
Renew the mind (Rom. 12:2). Don't conform to the easy flowing trend, but transform through the intake of divine truth.
Put on the full armor of God (Eph.6).
Contend earnestly for the faith--and truth (Jude 3). Know what you believe and why you believe it.

In summary, we can stand against the onslaught of apostasy in our churches today if we obey the New Testament Commands.

Thanks, Andy, for another challenging message! We all look forward to your next visit from Texas.

IT'S OFFICIAL!!

2009-10-07T14:49:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I received the check from Chicken Soup for the Soul! It's official!! I can now legally call myself a freelance writer!

How exciting to know that friends across the U.S. are reading my story! Former co-worker Tina Castillo put this photo on her Facebook page and sent it to me, with a notation, "Look what I just picked up!" She's now in Dayton, OH attending law school. She gave me a coffee mug covered with images of cats. And how timely...she presented it to me the same day I received the e-mail from Chicken Soup stating they were considering my story. What a blessing to know others share in my joy.

The book signing idea seems to be dwindling. With Tom working on home renovations, it's doubtful I'll be able to have a signing at my house. I'd hoped to have something on September 28th, since my office was closed that day, but instead spent twelve hours working on the White Rose Publishing novella. On the evening if 26th, I discovered the story was five thousand words short of the contest rules and had little time to fix it. My real estate renewal exam was also due on September 30th--the same deadline as Hearts Crossing. Yikes! I felt a wee bit under pressure that week. I submitted the novella on September 29th, passed my real estate exam on September 30th, and still had to go to work on October 1st. Tired, but relieved that all my obligations were completed.
I'm sure I can come up with more stories about Sammy, Mandi, Sebastian, Squeakette, Pixie, and Feathers. How many cat-lover books are there, anyway? Or maybe I'll write about my wonderful husband, who has been so supportive of my writing endeavors. And, of course, being paid gives me more credibility with Tom. B-)
Or maybe I'll get back to Obedient Heart. Jack McGowan and Jennifer Ryaan have been waiting patiently inside my computer for me to come back to them. The acquisitions editor at Tyndale House said she liked the story, but it didn't have a strong enough hook to sell it to her marketing personnel. Would she have appreciated it if I'd sent her a fishing hook with a gummy worm on it? Hmmm....maybe not.
Until next posting....May God richly bless you!

2009-09-22T10:43:00.000-04:00

At last, the day has come!

I'm bubbling over with excitement! UPS delivered the box of my ten copies of Chicken Soup for the Soul What I Learned from the Cat yesterday evening. It's now available in book stores everywhere. Look for my story, Romeow and JuliCat, on page 301. The cat on the cover bears a strong resemblance to my Feathers. I wonder if she's been modeling on the side? Instead of spending yesterday evening writing, I labored over making a T-shirt with the book cover, the title of my story, and a photograph of Sebastian (Mr. Romeow himself) on the front. I'm wearing it today, with a blouse over it. (Can't be in a law office wearing a white iron-on T-shirt!) I found the Avery iron-on kit at Office Depot on my way home from the FWA meeting on Saturday. Then stopped at Walgreen's where they have T-shirts 5/$10. I didn't know my HP printer has a mirror image selection to print everything backward so it comes out frontward when you iron it onto the shirt (or hat, or tote bag, or...). Cool...but a bit scary. Two people at my office have read my story so far. I hope it prompts them to buy a copy for themselves. One co-worker said he'll buy several for Christmas gifts. Great idea! I've already posted a review on Barnes & Noble. Check it out, too! http://my.barnesandnoble.com/communityportal/Review.aspx?page=Review&reviewid=1217061 If my friends buy copies of the book and want me to have a book signing, I'll host a special Book Signing Tea at my house one Saturday afternoon. Date & Time TBA. Or maybe on Monday, 9-28-09, since my office is closed that day for Yom Kippur. If that would be more convenient, let me know!

Fearless by Max Lucado Released Today!

2009-09-08T09:27:00.001-04:00

The by-line of this title is: Imagine Your Life Without Fear. I never imagined my life without fear because fear has been my constant companion. I cling to my fears, phobias, and frets because they are, after all, legitimate. Or so I thought until reading FEARLESS by Max Lucado. Some fear, Lucado points out, is good. Not stepping in front of an oncoming truck for fear of being run over is acceptable. But our uninvited Loch Ness monsters are not.

Fears, like vampires, can't live in the light. When we expose them to our trust in Christ, they scamper away, seeking their dark hiding places.

Max explains that there's a difference between prudence and paranoia. Prudence being caution, but paranoia being the obsessive side of our fear. Example: Prudence washes with soap. Paranoia avoids all human contact. Christ warned that things will get worse, but admonished us not to be alarmed. We can trust in Him to carry us through any calamity.

To my delight, there is a Discussion Guide in the back of the book. This makes a great tool for the Professional Women's Bible Study that I attend every Friday morning before work. I'll certainly recommend it to Grace, our study leader.

FEARLESS by Max Lucado gets five big stars in my review of this excellent reminder to put our faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, and kick our "hell-hatched, joy-stealing" anxieties to the curb!

Book Review - "Rick & Bubba's Guide" Published by Thomas Nelson

2009-08-22T10:29:00.001-04:00

Wondering what to give that special couple for a wedding gift? Or anniversary gift? Traditionally, the appropriate gift for the first wedding anniversary is paper. What better use of paper than Rick & Bubba's Guide to the Almost Nearly Perfect Marriage? This book, co-written by Martha Bolton (former comedy writer for Bob Hope), isn't your typical, dry lecture on how to have a happy marriage. I always thought a study in Proverbs 31 and/or Ephesians 5 was good enough. But Rick & Bubba's Guide incorporate these two Biblical references into life applications with amusing stories of their own experiences. And for Rick and Sherry to give us an insight into the horror of losing a child is, in my opinion, worth the price of the book. Theirs might be the only marriage I know of that has survived that tragic loss. I pray their faith in Christ will continue to carry them forward. I highly recommend this guide, although their wives Sherry and Betty should be held accountable for allowing the secretive Book of Blame to fall under Rick & Bubba's curious eyes. :-) (See the Bonus Chapter.)

Hearts Crossing - A Work in Progress

2009-08-20T12:54:00.000-04:00

Just a quick note to let my friends know I haven't fallen off the face of the earth. I've been busy, busy, busy furiously writing my new novella, Hearts Crossing, for the White Rose Publishing contest.

Travis Clark asks his best friend, "Am I the only career criminal who has never broken the law?" Faced with a student's accusations, he must contend with a past indiscretion that has come to haunt him.

Bailey St. John thought she'd finally found the man of her dreams. But her image of Travis is dashed as her best friend, watching the news report, asks, "Bailey, is your new beau a perv?"

More to come! B-)

New Adventures on the Horizon!

2009-08-05T10:49:00.000-04:00

Having a story accepted by Chicken Soup for the Soul has pumped up my writing energy! Look for my piece, Romeow & Julie Cat, in Chicken Soup for the Soul - Lessons Learned From the Cat, which will be available September 22, 2009. It's a true account of when my tuxedo cat, Sebastian, fell in love with the femme feline next door.

I've set aside my current novel, "Obedient Heart," to enter White Rose Publishing's writing contest. It's a 25,000 word paint-by-number novel, and the cover here says it all. White Rose has set the parameters of the story: it's set in contemporary times, the characters must look like the couple on the cover, he's an English teacher, and she's a landscape architect. He's one of eight children, and she's an only child. He's lost his faith, and she's beginning to doubt hers. White Rose allows some creative freedom; like naming the characters, choosing what grade the man teaches, and the reason for their diminished faith. Oh, and the man has a deep, dark secret! OooEEEooo. The prize is a publishing contract with White Rose. B-)

I've written five chapters and am already emotionally attached to the two main characters.

So...watch for the adventures of Travis Clark and Bailey St. John as they meet, fall in love, have a spat, break up, and reconcile, all while fighting a yet-to-be-named foe.

Jack and Jennifer, of "Obedient Heart," have agreed to take a break from my constant editing of their story, to give new life to Travis and Bailey. No, I don't have imaginary friends. But one of the many things I've learned as a writer is that our characters come to life and seem to develop their own personalities. I found that to be true with characters in plays, too, way back when I performed in the theatre.

Keep me in your prayers as I move forward with a new story and--dare I say it?--hope for a publishing contract?

HEZEKIAH'S PRAYER

2009-07-10T14:44:00.000-04:00

Hezekiah prayed before the LORD and said, "O LORD, the God of Israel, who are enthroned above the cherubim, You are the God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth.

“Incline Your ear, O LORD, and hear; open Your eyes, O LORD, and see; and listen to the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to reproach the living God.

"Truly, O LORD, the kings of Assyria have devastated the nations and their lands and have cast their gods into the fire, for they were not gods but the work of men's hands, wood and stone. So they have destroyed them.

"Now, O LORD our God, I pray, deliver us from his hand that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You alone, O LORD, are God."

— 2 Kings 19:15-19

We read in 2 Kings about the city of Lachish being desimated by the army of Sennacherib. God allowed this because of their unimaginable immorality. What is unimaginable immorality? They worshipped idols, like we do (ref. the recent funeral of pop musician and child predator Michael Jackson, the TV program "American Idol,"). They shed innocent blood, like we do (ref. Roe v. Wade). They engaged in sexual promiscuity, like we do (ref. sitcoms, movies, music, and the divorce rate). They denied the existence of God Almighty, like we do (ref. myths of global warming, Darwin's theory taught as truth, increase of cults, and anything the ACLU undertakes).

We should be praying this prayer for our nation with the same fervency as Hezekiah did, if we want to be delivered from God's wrath. God allowed the faithful believers to suffer the atrocities alongside the paganists. Do we want to suffer the coming destruction, or do our part in bringing our nation back to its roots of worshipping God, our creator. Yes, He loves us. Yes, He is long-suffering. But how long will He abide us?

Please send this prayer to your representatives, senators (local & federal), and to the president, as well!

Higher Hope - Robert Whitlow

2009-07-01T09:10:00.000-04:00

This novel, set in Savannah, didn't have the hook I expected. Perhaps it's because this is Book Two in The Tides of Truth series. If I'd read Book One, Deeper Water, the characters might have grabbed my interest. I think I found myself somewhat invested in the story by Chapter Eight. The overuse of the word "was" annoyed me like a pesky fly buzzing around my head. And here's another published author who uses verbs as speaker attributes. When I'm not selling real estate, I work for a law firm. I found it hard to believe that this Christian girl, Tami, could find two Christian men (two SINGLE Christian men) working for the same firm. Most of the story seemed unrealistic to me, and the resolution in the end left me hanging in a fog of vagueness. I had no idea which of the two young men she chose, and really didn't care. Being a glass-is-half-full person, I always look for the sunshine that follows the rain. The one redeeming feature of Higher Hope is toward the end of the book when Sister Dabney explains what higher hope means: "It's hope that can't be destroyed by what happens on earth. Circumstances of life will challenge it, voices will deny it, but its walls can't be breached unless we open the gate." Absolutely true and an encouragement to me, personally. The realistic elements of the book are the subtle ways God intervenes for His purposes. God worked through the elderly lady with whom Tami lives and works as caregiver to show Tami He wants us to fellowship with Him, no matter our age or circumstances. He can heal us, as Tami saw when she visited a family friend in her home town. And He will defend His workers when we are persecuted, but it will always be in His time and His M.O. I would give this book two and a half stars. Others might enjoy it, but it didn't float my boat.

Chance Made Us Sisters - Hearts Made Us Friends

2009-06-10T12:14:00.000-04:00

We had a wonderful time visiting with family recently. Thursday (5/28), we drove from Tampa (stopping at M&E's Donuts, our favorite donut shop in Crystal River-YUM!) to Birmingham, AL. We planned to spend the night with my sister Kathy and her family, then take the three-hour drive to Murfreesboro, TN to visit Tom's daughter and family for his granddaughter's high school graduation. *GASP* I'm married to a man who has an eighteen-year old grandchild!

When we arrived in B'ham, Kathy & David treated us to dinner at La Fiesta, a great Mexican restaurant. Of course, Kathy and I had one of our infamous giggle fits. Our husbands have learned to just roll their eyes and deal with it. We are pixies, and that's the way it is.

Friday, Kathy and I left the men to do "guy" stuff, while we ran some errands. She's planning a summer-long children's program for her church and needed some woodsy stuff for decorations. I donated stuffed animals that had been stored in plastic bags since our home renovation. They needed a new home and found one at Edgewood Presbyterian Church. We had lunch at Mrs. Klinger's Restaurant where we had the above picture taken. It's a German restaurant, and we always seem to wind up there for lunch on any given visit. Delicious food!

Friday afternoon, we headed for Murfreesboro and arrived in time for Natalie's spaghetti dinner. That started the food-fest for the weekend.

Saturday was party day for Rebecca, who would graduate on Monday, June 1. I didn't count, but it appeared more than fifty guests showed up for smoked pork (and chicken for me), and all the fixings. Everyone had a great time. Natalie is a wonderful hostess.

Sunday, Tom and I attended Franklin Road Baptist Church. Everyone was so friendly there and made us feel right at home.

Monday, we headed out in two cars to Opryland Mall in Nashville. The guys in one car, and the girls in another. Rebecca's graduation was held at Grand Ole Opry, so we spent the afternoon at the mall, shopping and eating. The graduation was impressive. About a hundred home-schooled students received their diplomas. On the way home, we took a wrong turn out of the Opryland Mall, and Natalie's friend said in her deep Tennessean accent, "Honey, we're just gonna take a tour." We found our way back to the interstate, where we came to a standstill. Road construction caused the traffic jam. Did we fret? Did we complain? No, Natalie popped a CD in the player, and we had a party in the van. A positive attitude keeps us young.

Tuesday morning, we headed back to Tampa. The drive through Chattanooga was most scenic, with all those mountains and the river that winds beside the highway. Unfortunately, M&E's Donuts was closed when we hit central Florida. Or maybe that was a good thing since I gained a few lbs. on this trip.

Tom and I are both blessed to have loving relationships with our respective families.

The Mill House by Paul McCusker

2009-05-14T14:15:00.001-04:00

A sign of an excellent writer is when you turn that last page, only to want to go back to the first and start the book over again. Paul McCusker's novel, The Mill House, affected me that way. As I traveled through this story from 1940s England to modern day U.S.A. & England, the characters took me captive. Not a good thing since I'm supposed to read & review another novel published by Thomas Nelson now. I can't start the other novel, set in Savannah, Ga., because images of Lainey and Nicholas keep popping up in my head!

8-)

Paul does such an excellent job of weaving the details of the story that I felt like I was unwinding a ball of yarn. Cecil Murphy described this form of writing in a recent workshop I attended. Glad to find an example of that style so soon to cement it in my mind.

Let me explain how I came to have this treasure of a book. I wanted to donate Christian romance novels to the teens at a farm for wayward girls. As I searched stores, looking for publishers such as Zondervan, Harvest House, Tyndale, and Thomas Nelson, I came across The Mill House. I opened it and read the first paragraph of the prologue.

"Oh wow," I said to myself, "I'm not giving this one away!" I had to find out why an elderly lady would sit on a log in the pouring rain-wearing her nightgown, robe, and slippers, clutching shards of stained glass from a bombed-out church in her hands. Without giving away the ending, let me just say that pondering on the "what-ifs" of life will undoubtedly send us spiraling into the pit of despair. We must remember what the apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 3:12-14: Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

I'm glad I kept this book for myself. The Mill House also provided a good historical perspective of that time period. Now that I've finished it, I plan to loan it to my friend May, a Liverpuddlian who spent her childhood in an English orphan home during WWII.

As much as I enjoyed this book, I know it would never pass our FWA critique group. Paul uses speaker attributes other than "said" or "asked." A big no-no according to our faciliator. Other authors have instructed the same thing. "Don't be afraid of the word 'said.'" He also uses those pesky "ly" adverbs I've been told to remove from my novel. And--GASP!--he uses a prologue. I happen to like them, even though other writers debate whether or not we should use them. My mentors have told me that, since I have one in Obedient Heart, the first chapter should carry the tension of the prologue forward. I've seen prologues in other novels (Firestorm by Jeannette Windle comes to mind) that have nothing to do with Chapter One, and they work well. But I do digress. Yes...I'd like a little cheese with my whine. 8-(

Whatever FWA no-nos Paul McCusker did in his novel, The Mill House, they aren't worth arguing about. It's a good story, well-told and well-written from start to finish. Drop whatever you're doing right now and buy this book. Or borrow my copy...but you'll have to wait in line.

And if you happen to visit Great Britain, say hello to Lainey, Nicholas, Elaine, and Adam for me!

LAUS DEO

THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST

2009-04-23T10:57:00.000-04:00

REVELATION: THE FINAL PHASE OF CHRIST’S REDEMPTIVE PROGRAM Andy Woods, Ph.D. candidate, attorney, theologian and author, once again blessed us with his teaching. In two short hours on Sunday, April 19, 2009, Andy gave us an overview of the Book of Revelation. “Revelation? In two hours?” you might ask. Yep. And if anyone can do it, Andy Woods can (and did). His seminary thesis was used for a chapter in End Times Controversy. The Second Coming Under Attack, and he contributed to The Popular Encyclopedia of Bible Prophecy. His credentials speak for themselves—and with authority. An important note on this mystifying book is that it is not the revelation of the Apostle John. It is the revelation of Jesus Christ to the Apostle John . The passage in Daniel 9:27 is the basement of this world’s future, and Revelation is the ceiling. John adds more detail to Daniel’s structure. The Chain of Communication is from God the Father to Christ to the angel to John to the book to the pastor to the listener. This isn’t like the game of gossip where the comment whispered by the first person becomes radically different by the time the last person recites it. These words have been carefully and painstakingly written down. In this overview, Andy gave us the structure, in my opinion, of a three-act play: § Act I: The Things Which You (John) Have Seen (Chapter 1) § Act II: The Things Which Are (Chapters 2-3) § Act III: The Things Which Will Take Place After These Things (Chapters 4-22) The first act begins with the prologue in Chapter One that offers the blessing to us who hear this prophecy and heed its admonitions. Then John, being held captive on Patmos for preaching the Word, is compelled to write what he sees. The purpose is to offer comfort to the oppressed churches in Asia Minor and to stimulate them to practice holiness through future reminders of Gods’ conquest and punishment of evil. The message is Christ’s ultimate victory over evil. Act II opens in Chapters Two and Three with praising and rebuking the seven churches. Smyrna and Philadelphia were the only two not to receive rebukes because they were under persecution at the time of the writing. Laodicea was the only church to receive no praise because they had locked Jesus Christ out of their fellowship. (Like many churches today that offer a “feel good” doctrine.) Rev. 3:20 is not an evangelical premise to invite Jesus into your heart. He is knocking at the door of the church that has forgotten who He is and what He has done for them. And Act III represents the entire tribulation period in Chapters Four through the end of the book. The first half of the tribulation sees the Seals and Trumpets judgments, and the Bowl judgments are spread throughout the last half. Grasping the judgments has been the most difficult for me when I attempt a study of this book. Are they concurrent or disconnected? Andy teaches they are telescopic, with chronological progressions that start and stop, perhaps like labor pains (again my assessment) with five non-chronological parenthetical insertions between the sixth and seventh of each. I’ll call them breathers. (Many who have given birth will attest to the need for a breather between labor pains.) Here’s a diagram that helped me: Seals 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Trumpets 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Bowls 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Sorry, the diagram won't work in this format. :-(

Picture (if you'll indulge me) the #1 of the Trumpets falling directly below the #7 of the Seals, then the #1 of the Bowls falling directly below the #7 of the Trumpets. Andy compared the “breathers” to a hiking trip. You’ll always pause at some point on your journey to look back at where you’ve been and forward to where you have yet to go. These insertions are strategically placed between the sixth and seventh judgments, which then usher in the first of the next series of seven. Another prophetic statement we often miss is in the Lord’s Prayer. Jesus states Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. God will instill His will on earth. Revelation 4 depicts God’s role in creation. He has the authority to “recycle” it because He created it. And isn’t it interesting that He begins the destruction with plant life, which was the first living entity He created in Genesis? I regret that this is as far as my note taking could go. I ran out of paper in my little notebook. But no need to fret! You can either purchase a CD of the lesson at Bayside Community Church, or listen to it online at www.baysidecommunitychurch.net/resources.html. May God continue to bless you as you study His word!

Review: Rachel's Tears - Thomas Nelson Publishers

2009-04-01T08:46:00.000-04:00

Rachel’s Tears by Beth Nimmo (mother) and Darrell Scott (father) with the help of Steve Rabey Mr. Scott and Mrs. Nimmo were honest in their description of their daughter. It would’ve been easy to set her on a pedestal, as we often do when we lose a loved one. Rachel truly showed the love of Christ in her relationships with others, especially those less fortunate than she. But these parents revealed Rachel’s intermittent struggles with her faith, along with her love for others. The parents showed an enormous amount of Christian love themselves in their forgiving spirit and prayers for the Klebold and Harris families. Few people can understand that the families of the perpetrators lost their sons twice; once when the boys committed the crimes, and again when they killed themselves. I was equally impressed by the insight of these parents into the cause of the crimes. While the news media, along with federal and local legislators, pointed their fingers to guns, the NRA and the 2nd Amendment, Beth and Darrell both knew the truth. Guns don’t kill people—people kill people. Whether it’s easy or difficult to buy weapons is not the issue. It’s the motive behind the purchase. Darrel’s poem on page159 says it all. Our society began the downward spiral of immorality and hatred when the legislators outlawed God. They are so quick to point the accusing finger at the symptom instead of the cause. The Columbine bloodbath is firmly rooted in the absence of Judeo-Christian teaching. This tragedy is another unexpected consequence of Madeline Murray O’Hare’s efforts to remove God from all aspects of this country’s public places. Few people realize that there is no mention of separation of church and state in the U.S. Constitution. As such, this rhetoric has gone unchallenged for decades. And tragedies like the Columbine shootings continue to plague our society. Cruelty and hatred come naturally to children. We are all born self-centered and have to be taught the Golden Rule. Someone must show us at an early age the acronym of JOY (Jesus, Others, Yourself), which is Rachel’s middle name. The back cover refers to Rachel Joy Scott as a typical teenager, but through these pages I see her as an atypical teenager. It is a sad commentary for our country that a teenager who loves the Lord and chooses purity over popularity is not typical. Rachel’s Tears is well worth the read, especially if one has suffered the tragic loss of a child. I plan to donate my copy to a home for at-risk girls where Rachel’s parents can continue to reach others with their daughter’s Christian love.

Babylon - The Bookends Of Our Culture

2009-03-18T16:11:00.000-04:00

The Professional Women’s Bible Study I attend every Friday morning is presently studying an overview of Genesis, using the Christianity 101 Series by Bruce Bickel & Stan Jantz. We recently completed the lesson, “God Intervenes When Humans Scheme,” in Chapter Six, in which the authors describe “The Tower of Power.” How timely that theologian Andy Woods should come to Bayside Community Church on Sunday, March 15, 2009, to teach us about Babylon in Prophecy. In his words, Babylon is a freight train barreling through the Bible. Genesis 11:1-9 describes the first worldwide rebellion against God in the land of Shinar, which is Mesopotamia (between the rivers). Babylon keeps popping up throughout the Scriptures in the writings of the prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, Zechariah, and the apostle John in Revelation. We will come full circle in Revelation 17-18, as Babylon is, once again, the location for another universal rebellion against God. The rebellion of Babylon in Genesis 11 caused the spread of that sinful attitude throughout the cultures. It is evident today in the mystical teaching that we are God. The Holy Spirit of God dwells within the believer at the time of salvation, but that doesn’t make us God. The creature can never be the Creator. Isaiah Chapters 13 and 14 reveal the great Day of the Lord, with cosmic disturbances, global judgment, final desolation (worse than Sodom and Gomorrah) of Babylon, followed by universal peace, and then Israel is regenerated spiritually. Some say that Babylon has already suffered that fate, since the city is no longer on the map. Indeed, the prophecy of Isaiah 21:1-10 was fulfilled in Daniel 5. Babylon fell to the Persians without a battle. History shows no destruction occurred. Cyrus took Babylon by rerouting the Tigris River and was able to invade the city without taking a single life or tearing down any walls. Babylon survived intact. (The Truth Behind Left Behind – Hitchcock/Ice and The Nations in Prophecy, 63-64 – Walvoord.) But the prophecy of Jeremiah, Chapters 50-51 is a futuristic prediction…ditto for Isaiah 13-14. Zechariah 5:5-11 mirrors the prophecy in Revelation 17, which describes the woman (wickedness), ephah (commerce), house (temple), and the location of the future desolation (Shinar). Both books emphasize commerce and worship of a false deity. One area of confusion is Revelation 17:5 …and on her forehead a name was written, a mystery, “BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.” The word mystery in this context means a new truth revealed. Some scholars believe it refers to Jerusalem, Rome, or a religious system. But since none of these can be the “Mother” of Harlots, then it can only refer to Babylon. It’s the only thing that has been around since the days of the Tower. Let’s take a quick look at the emphasis on commerce. The oil industry now controls all the markets. Where is most of the oil? In the Land of Shinar, which is present day Iraq. Babylon represents the two bookends of this world’s history. The history of human culture began there and will end there. But, as believers…we won’t be around to see it.

And that’s the good news!

"Kiss" by Dekker & Healy

2009-02-19T17:05:00.000-05:00

This posting for Kiss by Ted Dekker and Erin Healy is delayed due to computer transitions. I won’t have to re-read the novel to refresh my memory because the story is still clear in my mind. When I had to set the book down for some silly reason, like to sleep or go to work, the plight of the protagonist stayed with me. In my local Word Weavers group we use the sandwich method for our critiques:

Encourage
Critique
Praise

I’d like to use that technique as I discuss this novel with you.

The first thing that impressed me on a marketing level was the number of “hooks” the authors presented. On the cover, we read, “She steals more than your heart.” (Interesting) On the back cover: “Let me tell you all I know for sure. My name. Shauna.” (Intriguing) At the bottom of the back cover: “A New Kind of Suspense from Dekker and Healy—Where Heart Pounding meets Heart Warming.” (Inviting) I hadn’t heard of Ted Dekker or Erin Healy before I saw this novel. Any one of the “hooks” would’ve caused me to buy it, along with the synopsis on the back. Having each one build on the other created a sense of necessity within me. I NEEDED to read this book!

The only drawback I found was the lack of tags. I realize in some scenes the reader isn’t supposed to know who’s speaking…yet. They’re carefully placed mines to ratchet up the suspense. I’ve seen this technique in The Terror Alliance by Jack Hunter (1980 – an oldie, but goodie). But the scenes where I had to stop reading, go back to the beginning of the dialogue and mentally note: Wayne, Shauna, Wayne, Shauna…, broke the flow and annoyed me. Not enough to make me put the book down, though. The well-told story kept me coming back for more. As Shauna recuperates from her auto accident injuries, the reader is pulled alongside her in the schemes and plots against her. Can one woman really endure all of the trauma she suffers? Yet she finds a ray of hope in a housekeeper and a news reporter hidden away in a small town. This is one book that is not easy to put down. Even when I couldn’t get back to it right away (What do you mean “What’s for supper?” I’m trying to read.) Shauna’s dilemma haunted me. Who could she trust? All the way to the end, I found myself wanting to buckle my seatbelt…even though I always read in bed! I don’t want to give away the ending, but will say the truest “hook” of all was: Where Heart Pounding meets Heart Warming.

So…step away from your computer right now

and go buy this book!

Thirsting for God in Trouble and Exile

2009-01-17T15:50:00.000-05:00

As the deer pants for the water brooks,

So my soul pants for You, O God.

My soul thirsts for God, for the living God;

When shall I come and appear before God?

-Psalm 42:1-2 (NASB)

We have no pastor at our church. Guest speakers from a variety of sources bless us with their Biblical knowledge. Some are professors from colleges, such as Moody Bible Institute or Dallas Theological Seminary. Others serve in the mission field.

As Biblical Christians, we believe there are no coincidences, yet sometimes occurances might seem too close to be anything else. We know that God, in His infinite wisdom, is the underlying cause for any "coincidence."

On Sunday, January 11, 2009, Richard Sanders, a missionary to Chad, Africa, served as our guest speaker. His lesson on Obedience struck me as one such "coincidence" since that is the theme of my novel, Obedient Heart. I will post comments on his lesson at a later date, but first I wanted to share an incident that happened that Sunday. It was something so subtle, that I wondered if anyone else noticed it.

Music director Ron Billingsly sang (in his beautiful baritone voice) a solo of "As A Deer Pants For Water." Mr. Sanders approached the podium to teach his lesson on the obedience of Rahab, but first described the special meaning the verses of that psalm have for him.

As a nomadic tribe travels from east to west on the African continent, they take no water with them. Instead, they carry a small hart (or deer). When they need to drink they temporarily set the hart free. Following him on a two-hump camel (known for speed), the elders of the tribe track the little deer. He runs to and fro, then stops to smell the air, and begins pawing the ground with his hoof. He digs up dirt, then mud, then dips his head into the newly dug well for a drink. They rely on God's creature, whose heart pants for water, to bring them sustenance.

This true account of how a deer pants for water showed me how I should thirst for God in my troubles and desert-like exile. I must look for Him, as the deer looks for water, with expectation of finding Him in my situation. Just as the water flows beneath the ground on which the deer stands, God in the Holy Spirit is there to nourish me with His brooks of living water.

To Have An Obedient Heart

2008-12-29T17:46:00.000-05:00

But thanks be to God that though you were slaves to sin, you were obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed. - Romans 6:17 I had already chosen the title for my novel, "Obedient Heart," without knowing why. I only knew that the Lord had given me a story to write about a woman's challenge to adhere to her Christian principles when faced with today's sensual world. The novel was almost finished before I came across the Scripture verse that supported the title. I've lived on both sides of an obedient heart, believing for many years the lies the world spewed to fool women into believing we could do it all and have it all. Returning to the Biblical truth brought peace and contentment. I no longer yearned to do and have it all. His grace is sufficient to me. If I could live my life over, I would choose to live like Jennifer, the protagonist in "Obedient Heart." She isn't perfect. She struggled with alcohol when faced with a tragic loss, and won the battle...with the Lord's help. Now she must locate her missing brother while two strange men stalk her. FBI agents set up surveillance, and her friends chose this time to introduce her to Captain Jack McGowan, a handsome airline pilot. At first, both Jennifer and Jack resent the friends' attempt to play cupid, but soon find themselves tumbling into a landslide of unequally-yoked love. If only Jack would trust in Christ as his Savior... . The Lord has given me the title for the sequel of my novel, "Steadfast Heart," about a man's choice of whether or not to allow doctors to abort his comatose wife's unborn child to save her life. At least ten more Christian novels are waiting to emerge from their cocoons in my computer. Each will be supported by a Scripture verse to further the Gospel of Jesus Christ.