My kids were going to take a break and I wasn’t pushing them to audition even though I thought the Jungle Book would be a great play for them. Actually, I was relieved they weren’t auditioning. I knew if they made it practices would be M/T/Thurs. from 7 - 9 pm. And we still have three weeks of school left.

Then we got a call from the director encouraging them to audition. I have to admit, I got more excited then they did. My oldest (13) still said he wanted to take a break but really liked working with these directors. Then I asked my little guy (8) if he wanted to audition. He said yes.

So off we went. They all did great and I had a feeling… My feeling was right and I pegged the parts they were offered.

Chris (13) Rudyard Kipling who is on stage a lot. The play flips back and forth between Rudyard (author of the Jungle Book) in his dorm room, to the jungle.

Joey (11) Mogli

Timmy (8) Young Mogli who had to audition in HINDI. Yes, he had to read HINDI words. Timmy also gets to play a monkey which he is even more excited about!

So it begins again. Are we insane, crazy? Yes, but also extremely honored and proud!

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Releasing Your New Identity part II

Unlike the eagle in my last post, we’re all born a praire chicken. We become eagles through Jesus Christ and undergo three fundamental changes.

1. Colossians 2:13-14 “When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.”

Jesus canceled the written code with its regulations. He took our sin away. They are NO MORE!

2. Romans 8:15-16 “For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.

“We become God’s children and thus heir, co-heirs with Christ. If indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may share in his glory.”

3. 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefor, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come.”

When we accept Jesus and decide to follow Him, we become new creations. The old has gone. The new has come!

So what happens to us at conversion?

Want to know the answer. Follow the link!

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I’m thrilled I finally got Norton 360 on my new computer! It’s been unprotected for too long and now I can sit back and not have to worry thanks to Symantec who let me test their software! With advanced antivirus, antispamware, firewall, intrusion protection, and powerful SONAR behavioral detection technology, Norton 360 protects my computer from many online threats like the recent Silentbanker Trojan, which takes advantage of various points of entry to infect computers and steal personal information.

Norton 360 even has this phishing protection and web authentication (in Firefox) which lets you know when you’ve stumbled upon a sight with questionable security. I’ve only begun to explore the features of Norton 360, but it comes with a limited automatic backup system. It also has Network Monitoring which checks the status of wireless security, maps connected devices, alerts users when they are connected to an unsecure network, and provides advice to help manage network security settings. This is going to come in real handy with all the places I use WiFi!

Let’s see, what am I leaving out. PC Tuneups which optimizes PC performances by removing unneeded files and it provides a diagnostic report for troubleshooting and problem solving. Norton 360s Internet Browser Cleanup capability is also compatible with my browser, Firefox.

Parental control and antispam are available through and optional add-on at no extra charge. I’ll definitely have to look into that one! But the best thing about having Norton 360 on my computer is that I can rest easy and know I’m protected!

There are even versions of Norton 360 for their Premier Edition and small businesses!

If your computer is not protected and you’d like to purchase Norton 360 visit www.symantecstore.com It’s also available for purchase at various stores.

And just for fun, let’s hear about your computer virus/crashing horror stories. I remember a while ago my computer crashed and not everything was backed up. I had to pay a computer guy to find my files, fix my computer and still I couldn’t find some important WIP versions! That meant I had to rewrite entire chapters. Not something I want to do again and with Norton’s automatic backup system, I won’t have to!

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Reprinted from this blog 2006

By Marilyn Griffith
Copyright Marilynn Griffith 2006. Reprinted with permission

I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD. (Psalm 27:13-15, NIV)

Last month, we talked about wisdom in warfare, about how to stand once you’ve done all to stand. This month, we’ll talk about what happens while you’re standing there–waiting.

It’s hard, this waiting thing, especially when we’ve already been waiting what seems an eternity to our feeble minds. We received God’s promise with joy, but now, so many months, years, lifetimes later, we’ve forgotten. We’ve moved on. Our swords have clattered to the floor. We see folks walking in what we thought was our destiny and blink hard like we forgot something.

We did. I did.

See there are a whole lot of things that we can do well, but only after waiting before the Lord can we really walk where we are called. Waiting is part of the work. I’ve had to learn this in my writing as something tugged at me again and again.

“Wait,” the voice would say like a kiss on my heart. “Huh? I’ve got a deadline, a meeting, a plan–” “WAIT.”

For the times I’ve listened, the costs have been high, but the blessings sweet. For the times I ran on, thinking that was just something biting my ear, I have suffered greatly, using my gifts in places where they were neither appreciated or nourished.
And that’s a sad place to be.

My word for this year was wisdom. I had no idea what I was in for when I chose it. The lessons have been hard won and come through great struggle and loss…yet God’s peace remains. I’ve learned that flesh (including my own) cannot be trusted in the same way that one trusts God. Flesh fails. The love of God never does. It endures and does not seek its own way. It holds on even when it hurts. It waits.

As we move into this second half of the year, I urge you to take some time this month and wait upon the Lord. Put your prayer list away. Set your agenda aside. Just crawl up into the Father’s lap and wait. He is a God who sees. Those people who’ve done you wrong, that thing that hurts so bad you can’t even get the prayer out, the obstacles that just won’t seem to get out of the way… He sees them all and at the appointed time, He will make your mountains like the valley and all the crooked places straight. Folks who are walking on you now will become a bridge under your feet and a blessing to your face. But for now, for today, just wait. That doesn’t mean give up though. Whatever He put in your hands, in your head, in your heart, keep doing that thang. Do it the best you can. And if at some point, it’s not coming together, get on your knees and call on His name.

It’ll come. So will He. Peace, Marilynn
http://marilynngriffith.com

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I’ve been showcasing writing moms (and sometimes dads) on Monday for a while, and I’m in the process of making a button for the occasion! Here’s the photo I purchased from Dreamstime. It captures what I want this column to be. A casual chat with a writing friend whose been down the road I’m on. Now I just have to figure out if I have the software to put the text on the photo and make it my own. My new computer’s photo program doesn’t allow me to resize the photo!

If you’ve missed any of my interviews with writing moms (they date as far back as 2006) I want to encourage you to check out my sidebar under “Writing Moms Tell All.” I’ve learned so much from these ladies who seem to be able to juggle family, faith and career. Here’s a sampling and come back next Monday for another interview! And if you’re a writing mom, let me know and I’ll feature you here!

Susan Page Davis (homeschooling, writing, published mom!!)

Robin Miller aka Robin Caroll (President of ACFW)

Julie Carobini

Susan May Warren (homeschooling, writing, published mom!!)

Kristin Billerbeck 

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Two weeks ago, I wrote about Ed Gungor’s book, The Vow. If you haven’t read that post, I encourage you to and then come back here. Today I will continue to share about vowing into grace and to do that I need to talk about the human condition called sin.

We’re all afflicted with it. Everyone is susceptible to this disease and Jesus is the only cure. Then why do we continue to sin on a daily basis? Gungor explains “There is a way for you to live free from the tyranny of sin-God has a special 911 escape plan for you…you don’t have to live under controlled destructive behavior.” He suggests finding a discipline or connection to God that works for you. Some connect via worship, or scripture meditation. Others through prayer and corporate fellowship. He also suggests Bible studies, silence, scripture memorization, journaling, confession, etc. I know what you’re thinking. Shouldn’t a growing Christian be doing ALL of these things.

Well, I’m not convinced we should. Before college I had an intimate and growing relationship with Jesus. I talked to him daily, read my Bible right before bed, listened to praise music and attended youth group. Jesus was an ever presence. Then I went to a Christian college!

I was told to be a good Christian I had to wake up before he sun and spend time in prayer and Bible study. To be a good Christian I should be fluent in the language of “Christianese” and flow in the spirit. I should act and talk a certain way. While trying all of these things, I began to drift further from Jesus. Condemnation and rules replaced my walking, talking growing relationship with the Lord. I don’t think I’ve ever gotten it back to the extent I had it before I attended college. I’m not saying I didn’t grow and learn at this school, but I lost what worked for me. What drew me closer to the Lord.

That’s why I understand what Ed Gungor is trying to say. Find what works for you. What draws you closer to the Lord and ushers in the Holy Spirit and do it. Don’t feel condemned if intense meditation is not for you. Gungor shares how he loves to meditate on the Word of God, while his wife dances around the house in worship. Whatever discipline works, keep doing it and don’t be afraid to try new things. But don’t feel condemned is something is not your thing!

According to Gungor, “Holiness, it turns out, is not the work of God or humans alone; it is the result of coworking between the divine and the human. It takes lots of time, effort, patience, and persistence to learn how that works…”

Gungor goes on to explain how often we try to do things through our own human effort in obtaining this holiness. That was probably my problem in school. I was listening to others and trying too hard on my own strength. I failed every time. Gungor says, “Though it is not bad to try hard, we must recognize human effort is not a cure-all. We must discover limits, use what we can from it, but then push past into the grace of God. You need to discover and practice the right blend of work and grace. And you need to be content with experiencing failure in the process.”

There is so many great nuggets in The Vow, it’s impossible for me to even do it justice. You can get your own copy and read it for yourself here! I’d love for you to come back next week and share your thoughts!

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It’s like that old saying, “Too many cooks spoil the broth.”

I’m at that point in my WIP where I’m doing last minute tweaking and trying to get feedback from lots of different people in anticipation of sending it off in a couple days/weeks! It’s been a long time since I sent something off, mainly because I haven’t had a finished WIP to send off. God interrupted my last WIP, the one I became so obsessed with publication while writing it. But before God held up his divine stop sign, I was right where I am now. Steeped in insecurity, wanting my WIP to be perfect, but slowly realizing I could send it out to 100 people and everyone will have a different opinion.

I’m not really a perfectionist. It’s just I’ve sent stuff out before it was ready and got several rejections. I blew it with a certain WIP and certain publishing houses and the lesson taught me not to rush things. Now I’m going on seven months of edits since the agents requested it at ACFW, and I’m feeling the pressure to get it out ASAP.

My biggest fear: That the WIP I’ve just spent the last 18 months on will not even get a full manuscript request and though I know it’s a journey, my fear is I might not have the energy (or family support emotionally and financially) for the next leg of the journey.

I haven’t looked at my WIP in about a week due to school responsibilities. I’m going to sneak a peak today while Grace (5) is in gymnastics. My last crit was good. It was from someone who really didn’t connect with my main character. It was from a friend and Genesis finalist, someone who I respect. So I’m giving her concerns some honest contemplation time. I also heard from another friend, Genesis finalist, who I respect. Her advice was to be true to my story. I know my main character is not sympathetic, but she’s relateable. She’s not a Christian, is angry with God, is self-centered, but she loves her friends and family, helps her colleagues and never says no to someone in need. She doesn’t always act appropriately, and often acts in anger, but she needs to be who she is so she can go on her journey. So she can hit bottom.

I know there’s tons of room for improvement, but I’ve exhausted all I know on this WIP. Next time I will do better. Biggest hope/prayer: That someone will see something in me and my WIP to want to invest in me. Biggest, biggest fear: That my biggest hope/prayer won’t happen.

But I’ll never know unless it get it out there!

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Well, actually my kids were the other night at dinner. Joke after joke they baraged their friend, even Gracie got in on the fun telling her trademark joke:

Why did the chicken cross the playground? To get to the other slide.

Then she starts another one:

There were three fairies. One with pink hair. One with blue hair. One with green hair. A man goes up to the pink one and says “you got a big beauty mark on your face.” He goes up to the blue one and says “you got a bigger beauty mark on your face.” He goes up to the green one and says, “you got the biggest beauty mark on your face.”

I then asked her if there was a punch line. She said, the pink one went up to the man and said, “You got a big booty!”

I asked her if she made it up herself. She did, THEN we all started laughing. Guess you had to be there!

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Releasing Your New Identity

Chapter Seven

This chapter starts out with a Native American Fable about at young brave who swiped a golden eagle egg from it’s nest and placed it with a bunch of prairie chicken eggs. The eagle egg hatched and grew up thinking he was a praire chicken. He scratched and clucked like all the other chickens and never flew more than a few feet off the ground.

One day the eagle saw a great shadow pass over him. He looked up to see a huge bird soaring with wings widespread. He marveled at the beauty of the bird. His praire chicken brother told him it was an eagle. “A golden eagle. He’s king of the air. No bird can compare with him. But don’t give it a second thought; you could never be like him.”

And the eagle didn’t give it a second thought, but went back to clucking and scratching like all the other praire chickens.

Read the rest here!

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Check it out! http://ribbit-ribbit.blogspot.com/2008/04/interview-gina-conroy.html#links

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This is my second interview with Amy. To read my first one, go here!

Amy Wallace is married to a God-honoring hunk, a homeschool mom of three (ages 9,6, and 3), writer, Bible study teacher, and chocoholic. Some of her favorite moments are the ones she spends laughing, reading, and being goofy with her family. Amy loves writing stories, teaching teenagers, scrapbooking, playing basketball, and taking walks with her family. The beach is her all-time favorite place to be, and she collects teddy bears, tons of books, and dust on her furniture. Amy is the author of Ransomed Dreams, book 1 in the Defenders of Hope series, a contributing author of God Answers Mom’s Prayers, God Allows U-Turns for Teens, Chicken Soup for the Soul Healthy Living Series: Diabetes, and A Cup of Comfort for Expectant Moms. But getting to the heart of who Amy is can be summed up in a few short words: Amy is a daughter of the King learning to live and love with laughter.

Has your writing schedule changed since your first contract?

In very basic terms, no. I still do most of my writing on Saturdays. What has changed is that I do a lot of work on weeknights now too, especially during edits. Thankfully, I have an amazing family who rolls with the demands and are still excited about their wife and mommy being a writer.

I’m afraid of writing under a deadline. Afraid I’ll loose the joy of writing. Afraid my work won’t be as good because it will be rushed, and afraid my priorities will be skewed. Do you ever feel this way and how do you handle this?

There are days I feel like I miss myself coming and going. And days I wish deadlines weren’t real and editing was only a black moment in a fairytale. But deadlines and edits are part of the writing life. And so I’ve learned to schedule my insanity and guard my Saturdays. That way I still have days where I let everything else go and just get lost in the story because I know I’ve set aside enough time to get the work done before my deadline.

For the most part, I haven’t lost the joy of writing. There have been circumstances where I wanted to quit, but even during those seasons I still loved the writing and wouldn’t walk away unless God directed me to do that. Getting caught up in a story and watching God work through my keyboard are still as exciting an experience as the first time I started to type.

As for the quality of work going down because of rushing, I haven’t seen that happen. If anything, I’ve seen my work improve because I have the privilege of working with some fantastic editors who help me make my books their very best.

I see you have a third book coming out. Are there any more books in the series?

Enduring Justice, the third Defenders of Hope book, is the final story. My husband won’t accept that, but as far as I know Michael and Hanna’s story is the last of this series.

Do you have any more books under contract or in front of an editor?

I’m working on the next suspense series proposal and will turn that into my agent soon.

Do you have and agent? If so, who?

Chip MacGregor is my awesome and incredible agent.

Did you get your agent before or after you sold your first book?

That’s a complex question. I signed with my first agent long before the contract with Multnomah was offered. And right before I heard from Multnomah, I terminated my contract with that agent. It was almost two years later that I signed with Chip. I’m very thankful for both of the agents I’ve worked with and all I learned along the way.

What would you tell writing moms and dads looking for that agent who will sell their first book?

Be prayerful and get to know a number of agents before you pursue working with one. And make sure your heart and your work are ready for that step of signing a contract. A great agent is worth the wait and worth the work to polish your craft.

What will you do if the next contract never comes?

I’ll happily go back to being a wife, mom, teacher and friend and probably get a good deal more sleep.

If the next contract doesn’t come, I’ll be disappointed. But God and I have already wrestled this issue to the ground. And right now I’m resting in the fact that God knows my future, and it’s good. Next book contract or not.

Thanks so much, Amy. You’ve been a big encouragement to me and I know many others!

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I really should have gotten to this sooner, but life has been crazy and it got lost in my inbox! Still, it’s not too late to enter, but unfortunately I’m too young to enter!

Women 40 and older are invited to form a singing trio to perform their own take on the classics “Mamma Mia” or “Dancing Queen” and submit videos of their performances via the Pond’s website, which also houses music and lyrics you can download to rehearse. It’s like American Idol for grown ups, but designed for amateur karaoke enthusiasts who just love the music from Mamma Mia! Add two friends and a digital camera recorder, and you’re in business! The winners of the contest will win a lavish trip to London to live the life of three Dynamos at the world premiere of Mamma Mia! Check out the Pond’s site for more information by clicking here.
Pond’s has partnered with the big screen remake of Mamma Mia!, starting Meryl Streep and coming to theaters this summer to make this contest possible and I can’t wait to see the movie!

The deadline for submissions is April 30th, so get those camera rolling, and polish those lyrics. I got to see the traveling show of Mama Mia and just couldn’t help singing and dancing to the lyrics. This contest is going to be a lot of fun, so put on your dancing shoes and give it your best shot and feel free to spread the word!

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Denice Stewart is a writing mom debuting her tweener novel! Let’s welcome her to Portrait!

Tell us a little about your family and your call to write.

I am a wife and stay-at-home mom to 4 year old twin boys and a six month old baby girl. I have wanted to write for as long as I can remember, although I do remember a brief period in the 3^rd grade when I wanted to be an archaeologist.

How did you get your first “writing break?”

My first “break” is this book, Where Would Cows Hide? I signed the contract in October, 2005 so it has taken about two and a half years from the book being contracted to being released.

What do you write and why this genre?

I write children’s middle-grade (or tween) adventures, but I am also working on an adult romantic comedy. I write the tween books because I think kids should be able to read about the biggest adventures of all; adventures with God.

Do you have any recent contracts and up coming releases?

The second book in the Parker Twins adventures is under review with the publisher at the moment. I also have a romantic comedy entered in the ACFW Genesis contest.

What do you hope to accomplish through your novels?

To let kids know they worship a “REALLY BIG GOD” (to quote a friend of mine), and that it’s okay to let God be involved in every part of their lives. That’s where He wants to be, right smack in the middle of it all.

And now for the tough questions…

How do you balance being a mom, wife, and writer?

Through God’s grace and mercy. My husband is very supportive and encouraging. He picks up the slack with the kids, which allows me to take the time to write. But it’s definitely not easy. There are interruptions every few seconds, and no one is willing to wait until I “just finish this scene.”

Do you think it’s possible to give yourself fully to raising children, writing, and keeping in shape? If not, which one for you has to take a back seat?

It might be possible to give yourself fully to all three things, but it takes a better woman than I to make it happen! My time goes to my children, my husband, and my writing, then to keeping in shape if I have anything left over. But I am discovering as I get older that keeping in shape is becoming more of a priority. If I don’t stay in shape, I don’t have the energy required to keep up with my kids, husband, and writing.

When do you find the time to write, and do you ever feel like you’re neglecting your children when you write?

My writing usually takes a backseat to the demands of my kids. They simply will not be ignored, no matter how hard I try. But when I write it is in the evenings after dinner, and on the weekends. I am with them during most of the day, except three hours in the morning for preschool, so when my husband gets home, the boys have had enough of me and want daddy. And the weekends are the same. They get to play with daddy all day, and could care less if I am there or not.

How do you handle interruptions in your writing life?

I just have to grit my teeth and pray that this, too, shall pass. And long bubble baths don’t hurt, either.

How do you get back into the flow of writing after you’ve been interrupted?

It takes a while. That’s probably why I can’t even begin to keep up with a daily word count. Too many interruptions. I always have the story going in my head, I jot things down in a notebook, and try to come back to a scene as soon as possible.

What do you do to encourage yourself during those stormy days every writing mom has?

I eat LOTS of chocolate (probably another reason I’m not in great shape), pray continuously, and I call my mom to vent about the frustrations of my day.

How do you position yourself to HEAR God’s voice when all the noises of life are swirling around you?

I take long showers.

I also try to read my Bible every night before I go to sleep to hear God’s voice when I feel myself getting lost in everyday life.

If you feel your priorities slipping, what do you do to get back on track?

Pray until I can feel my world righting itself. Take a long, hard look at what is slipping, and cut back or bulk up in other areas until there is a semblance of balance again.

Has there ever been a time God told you to set aside your writing to focus on other areas of your life? If so, how did you handle that?

When my dad was dying of cancer, God made it possible for my husband and I to move back to Oklahoma from Arkansas to help take care of him. I had three year old twins and my dad to look after for five months, and there was absolutely no time for writing. And it was surprisingly simple. My dad needed me, my mom needed me, my kids needed me, and the writing could wait. I knew I would be writing again, eventually, and not once has it ever bothered me that I took that time to be with my dad before he passed.

Did you ever feel like you’ve “missed” God in regards to writing, that maybe you should be doing something else?

That thought crosses my mind now and then, that maybe God wants me doing something else, something that actually earns a steady income, but the minute I set the writing aside to look through the classifieds I am bombarded with character traits, bits of dialogue, plot elements, and scenes that play out over and over in my head. I figure I’ll quit writing when the characters stop talking to me, and when the story ideas stop popping up in the shower, in my dreams, in the car, cooking dinner…

What advice would you give to writing moms who have their hearts set on publication?

If you can’t imagine any other way to live, than a life of juggling kid’s demands, husband’s demands, home demands, friends’ and family’s demands, and your desire to write, then keep writing and let God take care of the rest. There are plenty of other ways in the world to fulfill God’s call on your life that are less of a daily struggle, but if this is the only kind of life you want, struggling and writing, or easier but no writing…stick with writing.

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

I just want to thank you, Gina, for letting me be a guest on your blog. It’s been great. You really do ask the tough questions! I hope you enjoy the book.

Thanks so much for stopping by! And readers be sure to leave a comment for a SUPER GIVEAWAY: 1 lucky blog commenter on this entire blog tour will get: a gift basket with more tweener books and goodies.

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 It’s April 21st, time for the Teen FIRST blog tour!(Join our alliance! Click the button!) Every 21st, we will feature an author and his/her latest Teen fiction book’s FIRST chapter!

Ted Dekker

and his book:

Chosen (The Lost Books, Book 1) (The Books of History Chronicles)

Thomas Nelson (January 1, 2008)

 

Ted is the son of missionaries John and Helen Dekker, whose incredible story of life among headhunters in Indonesia has been told in several books. Surrounded by the vivid colors of the jungle and a myriad of cultures, each steeped in their own interpretation of life and faith, Dekker received a first-class education on human nature and behavior. This, he believes, is the foundation of his writing.

After graduating from a multi-cultural high school, he took up permanent residence in the United States to study Religion and Philosophy. After earning his Bachelor’s Degree, Dekker entered the corporate world in management for a large healthcare company in California. Dekker was quickly recognized as a talent in the field of marketing and was soon promoted to Director of Marketing. This experience gave him a background which enabled him to eventually form his own company and steadily climb the corporate ladder.

Since 1997, Dekker has written full-time. He states that each time he writes, he finds his understanding of life and love just a little clearer and his expression of that understanding a little more vivid. To see a complete list of Dekker’s work, visit The Works section of TedDekker.com.

Here are some of his latest titles:

Adam

Black: The Birth of Evil (The Circle Trilogy Graphic Novels, Book 1)

Saint

AND NOW…THE FIRST CHAPTER:

beginnings

Our story begins in a world totally like our own, yet completely different. What once happened here in our own history seems to be repeating itself thousands of years from now,
some time beyond the year 4000 AD.

But this time the future belongs to those who see opportunity before it becomes obvious. To the young, to the warriors, to the lovers. To those who can follow hidden clues and find a great
treasure that will unlock the mysteries of life and wealth.

Thirteen years have passed since the lush, colored forests were turned to desert by Teeleh, the enemy of Elyon and the vilest of all creatures. Evil now rules the land and shows itself as a painful, scaly disease that covers the flesh of the Horde, a people who live in the desert.

The powerful green waters, once precious to Elyon, have vanished from the earth except in seven small forests surrounding seven small lakes. Those few who have chosen to follow the ways of Elyon now live in these forests, bathing once daily in the powerful waters to cleanse their skin of the disease.

The number of their sworn enemy, the Horde, has grown in thirteen years and, fearing the green waters above all else, these desert dwellers have sworn to wipe all traces of the forests from
the earth.

Only the Forest Guard stands in their way. Ten thousand elite fighters against an army of nearly four hundred thousand Horde. But the Forest Guard is starting to crumble.

one

Day One

Qurong, general of the Horde, stood on the tall dune five miles west of the green forest, ignoring the fly that buzzed around his left eye.

His flesh was nearly white, covered with a paste that kept his skin from itching too badly. His long hair was pulled back and woven into dreadlocks, then tucked beneath the leather body armor
cinched tightly around his massive chest.

“Do you think they know?” the young major beside him asked.

Qurong’s milky white horse, chosen for its ability to blend with the desert, stamped and snorted.

The general spit to one side. “They know what we want them to know,” he said. “That we are gathering for war. And that we will march from the east in four days.”

“It seems risky,” the major said. His right cheek twitched, sending three flies to flight.
“Their forces are half what they once were. As long as they think we are coming from the east, we will smother them from the west.”

“The traitor insists that they are building their forces,” the major said.

“With young pups!” Qurong scoffed.

“The young can be crafty.”

“And I’m not? They know nothing about the traitor. This time we will kill them all.”

Qurong turned back to the valley behind him. The tents of his third division, the largest of all Horde armies, which numbered well over three hundred thousand of the most experienced warriors, stretched out nearly as far as he could see.

“We march in four days,” Qurong said. “We will slaughter them from the west.”

I haven’t read this one yet, but I might not get to it before my teen snatches it away from me! I’m a Ted Dekker fan and have heard great things about this one! 

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Joey, 11, had the privilege of reading and reviewing this new book from ZonderKids.

If you’re looking for a fun quick reading adventure for your kid, then this is it. Joey will tell more below, but here’s the backcover synopsis:

 
Beamer, age 13, who speaks only Californian, is an alien in the world of Middle America, exiled to a bizarre, ancient house on a mysterious street that may or may not exist on any map. With the help of a nerdy African-American kid named Ghoulie, a gangly tomboy named Scilla, and a miraculous, broken-down tree house shaped like a spaceship, he battles the indigenous life forms in his new home, from bullying creatures to the strange inhabitants of dark castles, subterranean caverns, and a spider web the size of a house, to discover how God gives a distinctive purpose to each uniquely designed human being.

Suggested Uses: Spiritual Growth
Ages: 9-12

You can pick up a copy here.

Related Product Types: Fiction – Contemporary

Review by Joey (11)

This book is definitely one of those books you can’t judge by the cover. It looks like a little kid’s story, but once you actually read it you understand and it is exciting.

It is about a boy who moves to a new town and feels very uncomfortable and wishes he can just go home. To add to his troubles, he is picked on by a bully. He meets two friends who along with him discover a tree house which turns out to be a spaceship. The spaceship is magical and takes them on many exciting adventures.

I liked this book, and I would recommend to others who like astronomy and fantasy.

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The Vow: Change the World with an Ancient Practice

Q:  If Jesus wants us to make vows, why is there so little instruction in the Bible regarding them?

A:  When I first began to unearth this whole vow-making enterprise, I couldn’t help but wonder why both the Old and New Testaments only mention vows without much in the way of specific instruction regarding them.  In his book, Celebration of Discipline, Richard Foster makes the point that, though the Bible addresses ancient practices like solitude and fasting, it gives “almost no instruction about how to do them.”  He explains that the Bible doesn’t give specific instructions because these practices “were so frequently practiced and such a part of the general culture that the ‘how to’ was common knowledge.”  It turns out the same holds true for vow-making.  The fact that Scripture does not give us specifics about vowing does not mean it is an invalid practice anymore than the absence of directives on how to approach fasting in the New Testament invalidates that practice.  The truth is, these things were so common in the everyday experience of people during the time the New Testament was written, they needed no specific instruction on the how or why they should fast or vow—they just did it.

Q:  Why is the concept of making vows such a radical idea in American culture?

A:  Vows are promises you make directly to God—we’re not talking about New Year’s Resolutions here.  They are promises from which there is no retreat.  They imitate the ancient warriors who burned their ships to cut off the possibility to run from battle.  You are committed when you enter a vow to God.  That is why they should not be entered into lightly.

But most Americans are in trouble in the “keeping your word” department.  We are a flip-flop culture—you can have a strong opinion about something one day and completely change your mind the next.  And this is considered OK; nobody bats an eye.  We are part of an ideologically disposable and ever-changing society.  What is “odd” is for people to stand firm in their convictions—that crowd is seen as “closed” and “narrow-minded.”  As a result, the average American feels he or she can make commitments and then back out of them whenever they become too hard to keep.  Even the marital vow has become a pretty pale enterprise.  When a vowing young couple says, “I promise to love and cherish you,” to each other, they are really saying something more like, “I promise I will try.”  For many, the marriage vow comes with a prenuptial “out” implied.  Our society really doesn’t see a vow as something that is considered irrevocable.  We have lost our capacity for integrity.

Q:  What are some specific examples of vows people can make before God?

A:  There are so many.  Vowing is simply a way of going the extra mile, of loving God in ways that go beyond necessity and requirement.  Obviously, simply obeying the direct commands of Scripture is not going the extra mile.  For example, no one should make a vow to avoid sin because God already commands us to avoid sin.  However, we may vow to participate in things that support our obedience to direct commands.  For example, a dating couple might get to the point where they keep slipping closer and closer to inappropriate physical contact and they don’t want to fall into sin.  They cannot “vow” not to sin, but they can vow to keep themselves out of situations where sinning is easier (i.e. vow to only be “alone” in public).

Vow-making enables us to take our good intentions from landing on the back-burner.  It encourages us to conquer the fickle nature of the will and actually do the things that demonstrate our love and devotion to God.  There are several kinds of vows: vows of communion (our relationship with Christ), community (our relationship with one another in the believing community) and commission (our relationship to the world and the mission God has given us to reach them with the claims of Christ).  As the Holy Spirit leads each of us in the practice of making vows, we have endless opportunities to express our love for God in the most individual and creative ways.  In community vows, a group of believers join together to make a promise before the Lord.  Most importantly, vows tend to be sacrificial in nature.  Our commitment, whether to serving in a homeless shelter, to fasting for lent or to practicing the spiritual disciplines, will cost us something.

Q:  Why do you think the practice of making vows has the potential to make a significant impact on the world for the cause of Christ?

A:  Vow-making brings influence.  It is both personally transformative and political.  Our union with the person of God never just takes place in our hearts or personal space.  It influences situations, community, family, friendships, civic work—everything.  Faith is pushed out of the domain of thought.  Our choices plunge us into real life and all the suffering and contradictions that occur there, while remaining steady in our devotion.  This is a quest for influence.  This is how the typical mom with three kids still in diapers can influence the world.  This is how the high-school student, who is still trying to discover who she is and where she fits in the world, can influence others for Jesus.  This is how the retired person struggling with health issues or intensely caring for an elderly parent changes the world.

It is evident that we are walking into a dark night of deep cultural displacement as the church.  The ways we used to influence the world are passing away.  The old symbols of safety (big church buildings, political power, Leave It to Beaver culture, etc) are becoming more and more a thing of the past.  What is needed in these coming days is a prophetic people, tethered to the vision of the kingdom of God through a lively confession and a prophetic praxis—a vow-rich people.  By so living, we do a couple of things: 1) we show that the kingdoms of our world are less than they think they are—we “judge” them; and 2) we embody our salvation in real time in real circumstances—we offer “salvation” to the kingdoms of the world.  We need to be, as Paul puts it in Philippians, a politeuma—a robust, lively “colony of heaven” situated right smack in the middle of the chaos of pagan culture.

Q:  When did you first discover the concept of “vowing”?  Why devote an entire book to an idea that, on the surface, seems pretty simple?

A:  Have you ever been hiking on a trail and noticed an old, faint footpath wandering off the main trail deeper into the woods?  I love those.  I can hardly resist the temptation to explore.  Making vows has been one of those less-traveled footpaths for me.  I came to Christ in my teens and I’ve been on the God-trail for almost forty years (I’m an official old guy).  About six years ago I noticed this little path of vowing as I was casually reading through the book of Acts.  Vow-making is an old trail that was very familiar to the ancients who have gone before us, but is virtually unknown for us moderns.  As I have wandered down this intriguing, empowering—sometimes dangerous—path, I have seen that it is really leading somewhere.  I feel like vow-making is a misplaced gem that, except in the lives of a relative few, has been “tucked away” for many years.  It holds a key to authenticity and community that could well spark a world-wide church movement.

Q:  What does it mean to make a vow?

A:  Vows are promises made to God.  They may be certain special acts a person decides to participate in, or ways in which he or she chooses to live for a limited period of time (or for a lifetime).  They are simply our own love, transformed and directed towards God and the cause of his Kingdom.  They emerge from the free will (vows can never be forced on us), and because a vow is a free-will promise, it is binding and so differs from a simple decision or resolution to do or change something.  Because vows are made to God, they are considered very serious.  

 

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The much anticipated Americana Day at my boys’ school has come and gone. The last week has been filled with putting together book baskets, (a big thank you to the authors who donated. (In no particular order: Donita Paul, Lynette Sowell, Bryan Davis, Tricia Goyer, Margret Daley, Camy Tang, Susan May Warren, Christy Barritt, Amy Wallace, Jill E. Nelson, and Jeane Wynn for donating books from Lisa Samson, Melody Carson, Kristin Billerbeck and more!) And securing more donations for food and basket supplies. Not to mention helping to decorate two rooms, baking cookies, practicing for the second grade play, making pottery for my son’s Indian class, contacting the Italian singer…did I mention decorating the classes?

Then we were all up early and off to the school this morning! The whole school was transformed and the entertainment was fun. So much was going on, but of course the most thrilling part was the silent auction basket. I ended up winning several dinner and show tickets (under cost of course.) There was even a cowboy hat being auctioned off to be signed by Garth Brooks for the person who won.

Didn’t actually decorate the Indian (Sun set) class but I did put together the auction baskets!

Joey and his class performed a Possum’s Tale. A Cherokee tale about the prideful possum and how he got his ugly rat like tale. It was really fun! I learned that Chris is very computer savvy. In fact, his English teachers says he’s more proficient on their new iMac computers than she. He made a slide show for his English project and helped build a cave in the earth science room.

As I mentioned before I had baked cookies. My grandma’s Italian cookies to go with Timmy’s Italian project. I spent over an hour, maybe two wrapping these cookies in saran wrap, with curled ribbons. But by lunch time only two cookies had sold. And I had a big bowl full to go. I decided to take them out to where the food was being sold. Later when I was gathering up my stuff, I noticed the bowl were empty. I searched for the cookies. I had priced them a bit high, but I had worked really hard on them! No cookies were stashed anywhere. Later my mom told me a lady bought the whole bowl. I inquired and wondered and questioned and finally figured out the kindergarten teacher (from NY) bought the entire bowl because they tasted like her grandmother’s cookies! That was a fun unexpected treat for me!

It was a long day (kind of like this post,) but I realized (or re-realized) that I love being a part of big projects and events like this. As a child I would plan my sister’s birthday parties. Then I had kids and I’d go all out with theme related parties and games for my kids. In college I was the social chairman planning fun events and as a mom I’d plan field trips even when I wasn’t homeschooling! I love the organization and planning of the events. The ideas just come to me. The only problem is I do too much. In a small school like ours there’s not many people to delegate to. Though I did delegate as much as I could.

The overall event was a success if you measure it by fun. If you measure it by money earned, I’m not sure yet! The main problem the school had with this event is that it wasn’t publicized to the community enough. Most of the silent auction winners were parents of the school. But hopefully they’ll evaluate and learn for a more successful event next year.

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One of my Writer…Interrupted members is editor at this online magazine. She asked me to write a bit about Writer…Interrupted. Go over and check it out, then browse the rest of the articles!

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Lice! It’s something no one wants to talk about or admit they’ve ever had. But here I am blogging about it, sharing my personal story with the nasty little critters, and debunking some myths.

Myth Number One: Dirty kids are the ones who get lice, right? Wrong? Everyone and anyone can get lice, though it is rarer in adults. I got lice when I was in grade school.

Every year the school did a lice check, but my head itched intensely long  before the school lice check. I remember so clearly the only thing that would satisfy the itch was to dig the hard bristles of my brush into my scalp. My mother (a hairdresser) thought I had my dad’s dandruff until she saw one of those little creepy crawlies jump out of my head.

Myth Number Two: Lice can’t jump or fly. They walk from head to head. I’m not sure how I got lice, but my mother and grandmother subjected me to those old, noxious, chemical treatments. I think that was the time my mother cut my long hair and gave me Dorothy Hamill hair. I haven’t had short hair since.

When I was asked if I wanted to blog about a product called LiceMD that’s pesticide FREE, I thought it’d be a great chance for me to share my story.  Thankfully, none of my children have ever had lice, but they are in school, and now I’m prepared with this new product sample.

I try to make my home as natural and pesticide free as possible and I’m so glad  LiceMD is non-toxic, safe, and odorless. Plus it’s pediatrician tested and clinically proven and helps prevent re-infestation. My mother told me after I was deloused, I went back to school and caught it again! She got ticked off (pun intended!) and told the school she would not send me back until they found the kids with the lice and got rid of them. (The lice, not the kids.)

So if your child comes home with a note from school saying he/she has lice, don’t freak! Okay, that’s not realistic. First freak, then get a some LiceMD. I thought about giving my box away, but decided I never know when I might need it! I don’t see an expiration date on the package, so it may come in handy some day. Though I hope I never have to use it!

Do you have a lice story? Share it here and then click over for some more common myths about lice go here.

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I met Amy via blogging and early on tried to pick her brain as to how she writes and homeschools. I’ll be featuring her interview on Tuesday, so please come back and read how this remarkable mom of three does it all. I haven’t cracked her book open yet, and I can’t wait to read it, but she stresses that you need to read her first book Ransomed Dreams first because Healing Promises has some spoilers in the first chapter. But if you don’t care about the spoilers, you can read Healing Promises because the story stands alone!

Facing a new threat

When FBI Agent Clint Rollins takes a bullet during a standoff, it might just save his life. But not even the ugly things he’s seen during his years working in the Crimes Against Children Unit could prepare him for the overwhelming powerlessness of hospital tests revealing an unexpected diagnosis. If only Sara weren’t retreating into doctor mode…he needs his wife now more than ever.

Frozen in fear

Sara Rollins is an oncologist with a mission–beating cancer when she can, easing her patients’ suffering at the very least. Now the life of her tall Texan husband is at stake. She never let the odds steal her hope before, but now the question of God’s healing promises is personal. Can she hold on to the truth she claimed to believe?

Faith under fire

As Clint continues to track down a serial kidnapper despite his illness, former investigations haunt his nightmares, pushing him beyond solving the case into risking his life and career. Clint struggles to believe God is still the God of miracles. Especially when he needs not one, but two. Everything in his life is reduced to one all-important question: Can God be trusted?

Check out my interview with this writing mom!

Come back Monday for my recent interview with Amy and her writing life! And in the mean time be sure to visit:

Read First Chapter or buy it here

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