Where to from here?

Did you see? Prince William and his girlfriend of several years, Kate, have split.

I'm not surprised, but I gotta ask, "Where does a girl go after dating the Prince of England?"

Can you see the next guy coming along?

"Hi, I'm Cole."

Tossing her long, luxurious hair. "I'm Kate."

Yadda, yadda, small talk.

Cole gets brave, figuring she hasn't walked off yet or punch him in the nose. "I don't see a ring on your finger." He gives her his best, I'm-a-stud smile.

"I'm not married."

Cole's hope surges. "What? Then you've a boyfriend. You're too beautiful to be single."

"I had a boyfriend. We broke up about a year ago."

(Side bar: Cole's been serving England in Iraq for the past year and NOT paid attention to the tabloids. He doesnt' recognize Kate. Okay, on with the story.)

"Broke up? I say he's a bloody fool. Who is he? A colleague? Shall I punch him for you?"

Laughing, Kate says, "Punch him? Do you want to risk your life? All of England will come down on you."

"All of England?"

"Yes, they're kind of touchy about their crown princes."

Realization dawns for Cole. "You dated William."

Kate confirms with a nod.

Cole backs away, his chest heavy with not-a-snowballs-chance feeling. How could a bloke possibly measure up to the Prince of England (or Wales, whichever, you know what I mean here.)

"Maybe we could meet at the pubs later," Kate suggests.

"Later? Right, I'm busy. I'll be in the hospital. Having something... removed." And so Cole runs away.

The End

Seriously, how does a man follow a true prince? Sure William is a regular guy in most respects, but it's what he brings to the table. Can any other man make a girl literally his Princess? His Queen?

Nope.

Kate seems like a practical girl. I'm sure she'll find someone... some day.

***

In other news....

Went back to the gym for Spinning on Thursday. First time in MONTHS. I survived. Hated the techno music. The usual instructor wasn't there.

Worked out on a few of the new machines. Did some squats. Now I'm in pain. Thank you very much.

Came to a realization. Zechariah 4:10 "Who despises the day of small things?"

Small beginnings do not mean small endings!

God is so good! All the time.

A Flowing Heart

Once again, I'm listening to Mike Bickle's CD series, "The Power of a Focused Life."

He inspires me to go deeper in God, deeper in the Word each time I listen to it. This is my third time to listen to it and I glean little nuggets each time that make me go, "Wow, that's so true."

And, I feel inspired to wait on God, to dialog with Him using His Word.

Mike demystifies the whole quiet time, displined life thing. He reminds us we can ALL understand the Bible. We can all be scholars.

He kicks at a few sacred cows, too. Like only allowing ourselves to believe what our denomination or leaders tell us.

Sure, we need leaders, we must submit to authority.

But Jesus challenged the religious leader of his day in John 5 saying, "You search the scriptures because in them you think you have life, but you don't. I'm the life, but you won't come to Me. The scriptures point to Me."

How true that we doing our daily devos, read a scripture, pray a pat prayer or two, all out of sincere hearts, but our hearts are cold. NOT flowing with the life of God.

Even if they are, is there more? Yes.

I don't want a cold heart. I don't want to do religious duty. I want a flowing heart. Jesus says in John 7 that if we come to Him, as the scriptures say, out of us will flow rivers of living water. R-I-V-E-R-S!

Here's what Mike teaches. It's so simple.

Get your Bible. Start in the New Testament. Get a pen and a notebook - a journal. Read a scripture. Write it down. Write it in your own words. Repeat it back to God in prayer. Ask Him to give you revelation about something that stands out to you. Or, help you to obey what is said in scripture. Thank Him for it, pray a second or two and go on to the next verse.

I've been doing this. It works.

I don't mean to present this as some sort of quick-fix to your dry prayer life. But, it will change your dry prayer life.

Anyway, there's way more that Mike shares. What I like about him is he's been doing in his own life for thirty years and he's leading an alive, growing, on fire international prayer movement. He walk in authority in this area.

Off to work on Sweet Caroline.

Diva NashVegas is in the house

My author copy of Diva NashVegas arrived today!

Woo hooo!

I've been waiting for it. Thank you Ami and Thomas Nelson.

If you don't love Aubrey James, I'll eat my hat. Well, first I'll buy a hat, then eat it. ;)

May 8 is coming

May 8th is a great day. My Grandmother turns 93. Happy birthday, Gran!

My childhood friend, Jana, turns 46. I haven't seen or talk to her in years, but I always remember her birthday.

DIVA NASHVEGAS is officially released.

I was thinking we should all go on Amazon on May 8th and buy a copy of Diva NashVegas and see if we can't impact the sales rank! What do you think? Are there enough of us?

Pajama Pants, Take Two

After the pajama pants incident, Tony notices them all the time when we are out.

"Look, he's wearing pajama pants."

"So," I say, "they aren't flood waters."

Yesterday, I must confess, I wore my pajama pants to the store. Unlike my darling, dear hubby in his pj pants, I looked quite chic and cool.

Sometimes you wanna go where everyone knows your name

Some of the longest running and most popular television shows in the last thirty years have revolved around... Friends!

M*A*S*H. Even though this show is about an Army medical hospital during the Korean War, it was about friends. Men and woman bonded together by hardship and war as well as laughter. The show ran 11 years. And we loved the characters.

Cheers. Another 11 year show. Friends gathering at a Boston bar. The same people every day. Same time. Same place. Bonded by life's conflict. Romance. Friendship.

Friends. The show's title says it all. After a ten year run, Friends is still quoted in many conversations I hear. Even the other day Tony was talking to some teens and he said, "Didn't Joey say..." And we all knew what he meant. No one said, "Who's Joey?" LOL. Now, there are a lot of things about Friends I disagree with. They were a tad too casual about sex. Okay, a lot too casual. What we liked about the show is their comraderie. Their devotion. The sense of family. Or how Chandler and Joey could just walk into Monica and Rachel's apartment. Unrealistic that the door wouldn't be locked, but because it wasn't showed us there was free travel between the apartments across the hall.

I had something like this in sorority life. While at Ohio State, I was a member of Phi Mu. There was a deep sense of belonging and acceptance. We shared lives and stuff. Walked into each other's rooms and plopped down for a long conversation. Laughed. A lot. It's an amazing experience, but one that doesn't endure through life.

We grow up. Move on. Get married. Have families. Careers. I have to say for me, I had a strong sense of belonging with my natural family too. Home was always, always a great place to be.

Well, recently I've had some friends Stand By Me and I want to give a shout out to them. This is not by any means an exhaustive list. Just a few who have left a footprint on my heart in the last three months.

Chris Lynxwiler. Have to start with this dear friend. In December we started "writing together." Or was it January. We'd IM, set daily word count goals and cheer each other one and off we'd go. If one got frustrated or stuck, we'd IM the other. There were a few times I don't know what I wouldn't have done if she wasn't on the other end of an Instant Message. We had our writing ups and downs over the past three months, but it's been so fun to "hang out" with her.

Susan Warren. Always a phone call away. Always ready to listen and encourage. Susie became critical when the story just wasn't working and she took time from her own schedule to help me in a tremendous way. More than once. Prayed for me. Suze! Thank you.

Colleen Coble. Mentor and friend. Another one who's a phone call away, ready and willing to answer my questions. Her footprint is all over my writing life. Colleen was here. ;) I'm honored.

My Mom who prays and encourages. My sister, Beka. Everyone who posts a nice comment on my blog, thank you.

Of course, Tony. Who hears all my joys and sorrows. Over and over and over. He is truly my rock beside Jesus.

But there are many others who always encourage me in some way. Kristin, Tracey, Allison, Jeane, Elizabeth, Kasey. Recent friends such as Katie and Deena. Blessings upon you.

***
I've had opportunity to help new writers lately. I really enjoy it. I'm not as clinical as some, but I can read something and see what it needs at multiple levels. I hope I can be as objective about my own work. Actually, I think I am. That's why I'm so hard on myself. :)

***
It's a gorgeous day here. I'm off to ride my bike.

Some lesser talked about Global Warming truths

From my hubby's blog:

I was having a discussion with someone about God and whether or not the Bible was reliable, and somehow we ended up talking about global warming and Al Gore's film.

I was a little surprised that an intelligent guy was buying the GW facts without doing his own investigation. My college degree is in Physics, so I have a science background. The facts below are grade school science level - btw.

Al Gore’s argument is that CO2, a greenhouse gas, is responsible for global warming, specifically man made CO2. Here are some inconvenient facts:

1. CO2 makes up less that 1% of our atmosphere. It is a minor greenhouse gas. A major one is water vapor.

2. The greatest producer of CO2 is the oceans. Man's contribution is way down the list.

3. We have records dating way back of the fluctuating global temperature. It happens. They have been going up (about 1 degree total) over the last 30 years. Prior to that we had a 40 year period of global cooling (during the height of carbon emitting industrial growth). Anyone remember the global cooling warnings of the 70's?

RH: I do! We did away with aeresol sprays and Freon because it was killing the ozone, making holes. So here we are, thirty years later and we are in a warming? Did our measures thirty years ago effect the atmosphere so much, we closed the ozone holes and are now experiencing a warming?

And, are the measure we take now going to cause some unanticipated effect in twenty-five years?

4. Al Gore showed a graph of CO2 levels from arctic core samples and compared it to a temperature change graph. What he didn't do is overlay the graphs. If he had, you would have seen that the change in CO2 followed years after the "corresponding" temperature change. A little problem with the order of cause and effect.

5. The size of the polar caps fluctuates regularly. This happens on Mars also, and its polar caps are currently shrinking. Can you guess what might be affecting the temperature on two different planets?

6. All the heat on earth comes from the Sun. Al Gore failed to consider the Sun's impact in his calculations.

7. If you overlay graphs of solar activity (like sun spots, flares, and solar wind) with temperature changes, they correspond almost perfectly.

So the real question is if global warming is not being determined through true and thorough scientific processes, why all the noise? My guess is it's political and way beyond American politics. We're talking global agendas that are way scarier than Al Gore's prognostications.

Below is a link to an online video (a bit over an hour) that gives the science and the politics behind Global Warming.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XttV2C6B8pU

Romantic Times Review of Diva NashVegas

Here's what a Romantic Times reviewer wrote about Diva NashVegas:

Hauck once again takes us into the country music world, this time through the experiences of mega-star Aubrey James. Aubrey's life journey is filled with flaws as well as a great deal of joy, and real-life locales make this highly original story authentic. The extra tidbits -- from Aubrey's liner notes to quotes from the "media" at the beginning of each chapter -- add extra sparkle to the plot.

A little whine

Earlier, I thought of about three things I could blog, but they escaped from the funny farm known as my brain while reading email and other blogs.

In the midst of blog reading, I read my brother's, sister's and sister-in-law's. Also looked at pics from my California cousins and their kids. Now, I'm bluuee.

I WANT A FAMILY REUNION. I miss everyone, especially (no offense adult family people) the kids. Three of my neices and one of my nephews is under 3. They are so funny and cute. I love this age. I might have to borrow Anika, a curly headed three year from church, and take her out to McDonalds or something.

In light of this, the reality of devoting one's life to the Lord becomes a harsh one. Tony and I are not free to move where we want. I suppose we could, and God in His lovingkindness would bless us, but we are called to Here. Where we live now.

I used to be so sure of it too, waiting for God's move in our county. Now, I've lost a little bit of sight, a little bit of faith. (Lord, help my unbelief!)

Since we no longer do youth ministry, it's hard for me to find my purpose in the city. There's the Friday night prayer ministry, Fire Dweller, but I think I'm at a loss here.

Tony is doing well with the downtown ministry to the poor, drug addicts and wounded hearted. He's also moving out and meeting with business people, asking how we can pray for them. It all got started while I was busy writing and it developed a support staff of it's own where little ole me is not required.

Still, I do want to reach out of myself and minister to the community. Find what God has for me here, as well as what He has for me writing wise. (Writing is going v. well, btw!)

So, there I am, transparent. It's a flaw of mine.

Anonymous poster - Yesterday, I read a comment by Anonymous (it's becoming a very popular name these days. I expect to see it in the Baby Name book soon) over on a multi-author blog called Charis Connection.

The poster, admittedly in an off mood, responded to a post about the "other side of writing" after one is published. Being published may seem like the Holy Grail, but no, it's only the beginning. The "concerns" after being published expand to cover multiple fronts.

"Will I get another contract?"
"Can I find an agent?"
"Do I have more than one or two books in me?"
"Will I have sales?"
"How can I handle marketing?"
"If my publisher drops me, will another pick me up?"

Add to that reviews and comments about your work. Disappointment over low sales after having great reviews. Not wanting to disappoint the publisher. It can be stressful and worrisome.

Anonymous found this whole concept appauling and told published authors who found the published life stress at times, to move aside and make way for the talented, unpublished.

After getting past Anonymous' stinging tone, I felt for him/her, understanding how it feels to be on the other side.

I remember wanting published authors to help with ACFW stuff back when I was on the Board and feeling rankled by their no's because of deadline.

At the time, I was working 50 hours a week, writing my first Heartsong, leading worship and other ministries, and coordinating ACFW's 2003 conference.

Hey, who is busier than me, I thought?

But the truth is, writing is more than busy. It's time consuming, emotionally consuming. If the word count isn't made in a day, it has to be made up. There's no end of the day, no end of thinking, planning, rewriting in your head. Author Susan Meissner wrote in an advice email, "There's no natural plateau."

She is so right!

Never mind the added burden of entering a contests and no even finaling. I was sad not to final in a contest I didn't even enter! I'm pathetic, say it.

BTW, congrats to all the RITA and Golden Heart finalists! Big kudos.

All that to say, I've gone back to my core. Jesus is my reward. His plan for me is perfect. I am so very blessed. I am honored to be published and I'll take the ups and downs of it any day over my corp life. Writing satisifies a very deep core part of me like nothing ever has outside of the covenant of marriage.

If I one day find myself without a contract, I'll cry, but move on. I'l probably create two more blogs so I can keep writing. I'll pray for God's next phase of my life. I won't stop dreaming.

But, I won't get my identity there. My life is hidden in Christ. I no longer live, but Christ in me.

Published or longing to be published, this must be our mainstay. I had to get back to that focus this week, spend some time in His presence.

The words of the old hymn Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus ring true.

Look full in His wonderful face/And the things of earth will grow strangely dim.

15 Years

Tony and I celebrated our 15th wedding anniversary last Wednesday. They have all been GREAT years. I seriously cannot think of one bad year. They really do get better and better. He's more my best friend than ever. Home is love. Home is safe.


But growing up home was always safe for me. And love. I'm very, very blessed.

The picture is of us at Outback. Then we went to see Music & Lyrics. Except for the oversexed superstar chick, it was a good movie.

Man, Hollywood HAS no imagination. Sex, sex and more sex. Dang.

AHHHH! I just saw a commercial for a new reality show. Donny Osmond is the host. ACK! '70s teen idol turned talk show, reality host.

No way!

Good day with my RWA meeting with writer freinds there.

Ohio State beat Memphis to advance to Final Four! Woo hoo.

Agreeing with lies

I woke up feeling heavy in my spirit. You know how it is when you get in a swirl of negative thoughts and emotions.

For some reason, that was me this morning. I realized lies were lying in wait for me to agree with them. ;)

I got to thinking. Lies are so devastating. Even little white lies. Is there really such a thing?

Tony and I have lost relationships because parents believed the lies of their children. I've lost friends because they've believed the lies and self pity of their own emotions.

Lies cause people to pull away from each other. They cause people to isolate themselves. Lies destroy.

If I believe a lie about myself like, "I can't write." Then I separate myself from my calling, my dream, my desires. Ultimately, I separate myself from God.

If I believe two of my friends are purposefully squeezing me out of a relationship, then I separate myself from them, from myself, the broader fellowship of the church, and ultimately God. Instead, I choose to believe the best of my friends - no matter how casual our friendship.

Yesterday I ran into Publix to buy salad fixings for an evening dinner I was attending. I ran into a woman who used to go to our church. We got to talking and I found out about her dreams and desires. But she hasn't pursued them because she's afraid of failing.

It's the lie of failure. So what if we fail? We will NEVER succeed if we don't confront the fear of failure.

But there are so many other lies we believe. No one likes me. God is mad at me. God hates me. I'm a failure. I can't do this or can't do that. I'm a horrible parent. You guys know. The list goes on and on.

Yet we have to believe the truth. Lies feel so good to our soul, sometimes, don't they? Weird. Self pity can be a fun party - even alone. But we cannot agree with lies.

Why?

Jesus said, "You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies."

Father of lies means he creates them, spawns them, generates them. If lies are pummeling you, resist the devil, and he will flee. (James 4:7)

Don't let lies separate you from friends, from yourself, from God. Even being honest about your friends and family. Are they lying to you? Don't defend lies. Nothing good will come of it.

Look at our nation. We've believed lies for so long, we cannot pull ourselves out without a revival of Truth.

Believe God. He is true. "Let God be true and every man a liar."

This is what He says about you. You're His favorite one. You ravish His heart with a single glance of your eyes. He so loved you He sent His only begotten Son to die for you.

Today, take stock and bust the lies.

So, no one came...

... to the life skills class. So, Tony, Matt, Jodi and I watched a little basketball, then played Euchre.

The boys won two out of three. Boo. Jodi, grudge match, right? We had fun. I guess all the seventeen to thirty year olds at Church On The Rock have all the life skills they need. Hum.

I'm back writing, rewriting, editing. I reworked the opening, but now I'm not sure which one I like better. Old or new.

I went to a dinner tonight with women I've been dining with once a month for the most part for the past seven years. Three of us talked about books for about an hour. That was fun.

Carolyne Aarsen's book arrived today. "The Only Best Place." Can't wait to read it.

I'm in a weird place. Not sure what's going on with me. I'm good, very good. Yet, touchy lately.

THE CALL NASHVILLE. Check it out. I'll post more about it later.

March Madness

Okay, I confess. I've been watching basketball. Ohio State darn near gave me a heart attack almost losing to Xavier.

It's a beautiful central Florida day. I let Pal take me for a walk. Went to McDonalds and sipped a Diet Coke while reading Donald Maass's "The Breakout Novel."

Went to Publix.

Worked on Sweet Caroline some. Tony finished his read. He likes it a lot. But it's going to be double wonderful on the rewrite. Which will start Monday.

Oh, BIG news. I went back to the gym Friday! I know. Don't faint. It's true.

Tomorrow night Tony and I, along with the youth pastors, Matt and Jodi, are holding our first "Life Skills" class.

The goal is to help 17 - 30 year olds with life stuff. Finances. Relationships. Education and career planning. Handling conflict. Etc. All that fun stuff.

I'm sorry. I've been boring lately. Of course, I could post about five politically focused blogs, but I won't.

I just say this to all Believers. "AWAKE O SLEEPER!!!" (Eph 5:14)

Trish Perry and Too Good To Be True

Hi Everyone! Meet author Trish Perry.

How did you come up with the concept for the story Too Good To Be True?

Ren, the heroine, was the first part of the story to land in my mind. I knew her attitude, personality, and sense of humor. Next to emerge: her relationship with her controlling mother - controlling moms are fun when they belong to other people. Their relationship brought my opening line to mind, and everything built from there. I knew I wanted Ren to start out facing several disappointments at once, so she became a divorcee and she lost her chance to adopt. I used one additional, minor disappointment to tip the scales and cause her to pass out from the stress. She had to be totally vulnerable, in need of a rescue. Once Tru came along and I worked on the details of his and Ren's characters, most of the story fell into place. The story is quite character/relationship driven and very much about family.

How did you come up with the title?

I wanted to do a word play on Tru's name (his name was initially "True"), so my working title was True Love. But I never really liked that title, because it sounded too la-dee-dah, too much like a straight (and maybe trite) romance. I got stuck, though, so started asking for help from friends and family, and my best friend threw Too Good to Be True out there. I liked it.

Do you prefer to write contemporary fiction?

Yes. I wrote a spiritual warfare book, which required my setting half of the story in the 1860s, during the Civil War. The experience was a good one, and I learned quite a lot, but contemporary fiction just flows better for me.

What are some of the challenges you face as an author?

Number one for me is the big bugaboo most of us face: time management! You know how it is, Rachel. Even if a writer devotes all of her day to writing, there is so much more to the job than simply writing books. I'm not the most self-disciplined gal in the world. I need a manager, armed with an impressive whip; and I need a secretary, upon whom I can crack the whip. But for now, I have to be all of those people, and we're constantly arguing over who gets the computer and the Lindt truffles. Another challenge I face is marketing. I'm a marketing wimp, and I pray that I'll get better at promoting my books. One of the reasons I didn't do well as a stockbroker was because I can be timid when it comes to selling. So, we need to add a promoter to the list of people I need in my entourage. You see, I'm really just a diva waiting to happen. Where's my stylist?

How long did it take to write Too Good To Be True?

I'm guessing here, but I think I took about six months to complete my first draft, and then another couple of months to refine it for submission to houses.

How much research did the book require?

I used an OB/GYN nursing expert and did online research regarding pregnancy symptoms (after all, it's been almost 15 years for me—if we didn't forget, we'd never have more than one). I also researched single-parent adoptions in Virginia, Virginia divorce laws, details about specific sites in the Washington, D. C. area, and various medical ailments, including endometriosis, fibromyalgia, chronic myofascial pain, and chronic fatigue syndrome. Sounds like the book is a load of laughs, doesn't it? But I should stress that sometimes a writer has to do plenty of research just to be able to mention something offhand and be sure it rings true.

Who was your favorite character??

Of course, I love my heroines the most. I so want them to succeed and to find love and all those good things in life. But the character who was the most fun to do was Ren's mother, Clarissa. What a piece of work she is. Adversaries, or their reasonable facsimiles, are a blast to do, I think. Especially in chick lit. You never have a really evil person in chick lit (at least not in mine). But the characters who present the hardest challenge to my heroines? They're the best!

Are there new projects on the horizon?

Many! But none of them is contracted yet, so it's a bumpy horizon today. Tomorrow could be another story! I'm a few chapters into 'Til Depth Do Us Part, a third book in the current series. I've had numerous readers ask about the futures of two specific characters featured in both The Guy I'm Not Dating and Too Good to Be True. But I think I'm going to set that aside for a while to work on some other ideas for Harvest House's consideration. I'm looking at a possible new book (or series), based upon a fictitious book title mentioned in Too Good to Be True. Is that confusing enough for you, or should I rewrite that sentence in Sanskrit? And I'm working up a possible "anticipation series," with titles related to a specific theme. As Sue Grafton did with her Alphabet Mystery Series (A is for Alibi; B is for Burglar; etc.) and Mindy Starns Clark did with her Million Dollar Series (A Penny for Your Thoughts; Don't Take Any Wooden Nickels; etc.), I'm working on a chick lit series spun from a unifying theme or rhyme.

Who is the person who most influenced your writing?

I'll bet writers change their answer to this question over time. I probably will. But for now I'm still crediting Donna Levin, the author of Get That Novel Started (And Keep It Going 'Til You Finish). Obviously, I thought I might be able to write a novel way back when I bought Levin's book. But hers was one of many writing-craft books I read at that time, and she was the author who convinced me that I could actually get an entire novel written. I don't even remember feeling like I might write others after that first one, but I knew I'd write at least one! That particular novel hasn't even been published, but if I hadn't written it, I probably wouldn't have attempted any others novels, either. Levin made me complete that all-important step.

What message would you like your readers to take from Too Good To Be True?

Even though we can't see God’s hand in some of the events in our lives, He's there. He loves us, He has plans for us, and He wants to prosper us, not harm us, and to give us hope and a future. We all struggle in accepting that notion at times, but that's the way it is, whether we accept it or not. And isn't it fun when we get to look back and see what He was doing when we were doubting?

What is your goal or mission as a writer?

I know the joy I feel while writing, even on the tough days, so I'm sure this is what He wants me doing for now. My goal is to obey Him, because I know He uses our gifts to bless others. The most wonderful feedback I've received has been from readers who feel inspired about their own lives in some way after reading my book. And hearing that you've entertained someone isn't bad, either.

What advice do you have for readers?

For readers? Hmm. I'd say, "speak" your mind. If you read a book you enjoy or which blesses you, let the author know it, to assure her she's on the right track. Let other readers know it, so the books you like will gain popularity and spawn others of the same genre or by the same author. Let the publishers know it, so they'll promote the kind of books you like. With the Internet we readers have the capability to communicate on all of these levels. Years ago a published author friend of mine humbly asked readers to post positive comments (if they were sincere, of course) for his books on Amazon.com and other such sites. Until he made that request, it never occurred to me to bother. Now, as a reader, I often rely on those comments when deciding what I'll buy. Review venues give a bit of power to the reading public.

Of course, if you can't say something nice ...

Reader's Survey!

Hi Everyone,

I created an online survey to see what readers like in the books they read. I'd really appreciate it if you could spend a few minutes to answer the questions.

I think you'll like them!

Thanks so much!

Click here to take our Online Survey

Overcoming Fear & Anxiety - Part 2

My second "attack" of fear/anxiety/panic happened when I was 19ish. I'd gone with my boyfriend to visit his family in Charleston. I woke up in the morning feeling... sick. Panicky. Scared. Like I was going to freak out.

I can't remember the specifics now, but the overwhelming feeling during this battle was fearing I'd freak out and there'd be no one to help me. Hopeless, I guess.

Let me just say, too, while I was a Christian, I was not in a right relationship with my boyfriend. I do believe my sin opened a door to something waiting to get me. I do. I also believe birth control pills were a contributing factor. Very much a contributing factor.

I let myself be transparent here so you can see that part of my issue was sin, the other part physical/hormonal, yet the answer was still the same.

Prayer and the Word. Standing and fighting.

The attacks happened off and on for several months before I finally went to my parents once in the middle of the night asking for prayer. They didn't completely understand what was going on - neither did I - but praise God they did just what I asked, prayed.

This was the early '80s so going to the doctor for panic attacks or anxiety was not the average Joe's answer. Again, I'm so grateful.

They prayed and I felt better, but the fight had just begun. By now, I'd broken off with my boyfriend and repented of my relationship with him. He'd given his life to the Lord in the process, but I'm not sure how well it took in the long run.

Note to others: Dating evangelistically is not recommended. The price can be very high.

Anyway, I gradually got better. Oh, another overwhelming sensation was condemnation. I felt God abandoned me or was mad at me.

I clung to scripture. Quoted it. Believed it.

Romans 8:1.

Philippians 3:12-13.

Philippians 4:8.

Ephesians 3.

I chose to believe God's Word over my feelings. I don't know how or why I knew to do this, I just had no alternative. And, Christ within me gave me hope. (Col 1:27)

By the time I went to Ohio State at 21, the season of fear/panic/anxiety had passed, though there were some tense times.

Sometimes I felt physically sick. Others, just freaked. The moments were not every day, all day, but enough to be annoying.

God had delivered me.

But it was a season I'd forget and have to walk through again...

Going Home

Leaving Poughkeepsi in a few hours. We had a great time, great trip. Very unusual. But God met us in a profound way.

Last night our team lead worship again (the River Church team lead Tuesday night) and we were praying for healing. I left the stage half way through worship and just prayed for people, got prayer for myself.

During the final worship set, Jesus met me. Gave me the coolest of coolest gifts. I physically felt the significance and teared up for a bit. Actually, He gave me two gifts. One I will be able to share and give away... as the Spirit leads. ;)

Don't ask. I won't tell. But be watching and waiting.

It's been really cold. Snow on the ground, but beautiful. We saw snow flurries twice and Wednesday at one a.m. it was 8 degrees. Eight!

Did I tell you all I had a slight case of shingles. Weird. But I'm on meds and it's clearing up. Didn't feel bad, just had a rash on my leg and lower back.

I think I'll start polishing and reworking Sweet Caroline this weekend. Monday at the latest.

Grace and peace.

All this stuff about good intentions

So, I do intend to continue the overcoming fear post, but life's been crazy busy.

First I was powering towards a March 1st deadline, writing twelve hours a day, then my editor emailed so good news. They changed my release schedule so I could take until May to submit the book. I was happpy to take the time to edit through Sweet Caroline.

It's good story and I'm pleased, but any time I can perfect, I'm glad to do it.

Then Saturday we flew with a team up to Poughkeepsie for a Harp & Bowl conference at the River Church. This was our first day, (Sunday) and we had a blast!

So, I'll post more when I have time.

Grace and peace.

Tony and I laughed until we cried

Note: Have not forgotten the fear post, just don't have time to blog it properly.

Saturday, we're getting ready to go to the grocery store, Publix, and Tony is standing at the sink washing out tupperware bowls.

I was eating a slice of cheese and notice he's wearing a faded grey Palm Bay High football t-shirt, his navy plaid pajama pants, white socks and his leather slip on, slide shoes.

Hum. "Are you wearing those pants to Publix?"

"Yeah, unless you can give me 27 reasons why not."

"Well," I say in a low voice, chewing cheese. "You look like a Grandpa."

"So, I'm old enough to be a grandpa."

"You'll embarrass your wife."

"What else you got?"

I tear off another piece of cheese and still in a low, slow voice say, "They're... flood... waters."

Tony looks up. "Actually, that's the best reason you've given so far."

I start laughing. He adds, "I don't mind not being fashionable, but I don't want to look like dork."

I laugh even harder.

"Flashbacks from '70s young teen insecurites," Tony says. "Wasn't it the worst to wear flood waters?"

He's laughing, I'm laying on the counter, laughing so hard I can't breath, eyes watering. Tony goes into the bedroom and changes into jeans.

I laughed all the way to Publix. We ran into several people we know, one we hadn't seen in a dozen years. Tony looked quite dapper in his ankle covering jeans.

Maybe you had to be there. But the combination of me saying, "they're flood waters," and Tony reacting like we would've in seventh grade was just too, too funny.

Sue-weet Caroline

Done, done, done. Doing the happy dance! I finished Sweet Caroline today. Fifteen hours in my chair. But I did it. Took about an hour break at 9 p.m.

Now to edit. It needs some fixing. But, writing to the end let me know how I wanted to tie things together so I know what to fix, what to add or change. Very. Good.

I wrote 7,500 words today.

Since February first, I've written probably sixty thousand new words. But, I knew the story based on the other iterations of the story. So, don't be too impressed.

I am hard at it for eleven more days, then it's due and I'll turn it in. It's a good story. I like it a lot. I made cried writing a closing scene with her brother.

Love story twist at the end. This is the first time I've written a book open to a sequel. I usually launch the heroine on a journey and sorta tie it up at the end.

This book ends with Caroline launching into something new and a few story questions are open for speculation.

God is so very good. He helped, as always.

I love my job!

More on overcoming fear tomorrow.

Overcoming Fear & Anxiety - Part 1

As a kid, fear wasn't an issue with me. We moved around as my dad attended school and while I was shy on the first day of a new school or meeting new friends, I was never afraid.

Fear was only an issue after watching the Wizard of Oz. I'd be in my room under the covers imagining the witch showing up in my room.

I'm sorry, but let's be honest. The Wizard of Oz is stupid movie to show a kid.

So, fear-in-general, not part of my genetic make. But "it" came calling.

The first time I felt anxious fear I was twelve. I woke up in the night feeling weird, odd, condemn, afraid of losing control or doing something horribly sinful.

Overwhelmed with negative thoughts and feelings, I did the only thing I knew to do, throw the covers over my head and pray.

Interesting to note this "attack" came in the dark, dark of night, not the light of day.

My parents were a tad older than the folks being caught up in the Jesus Movement, but they were impacted by the move of God in the mid '60s and early '70s. My dad had learned about "overcoming by the blood of the Lamb" and so he taught us to pray the blood of Jesus as protection.

I prayed such a prayer, hiding under the covers that weird night. But this battle was not about hiding from something in the room, like the wicked witch of the west, this battle came from within. I didn't understand it. But at twelve, I understood to fight it.

Thirty some years away from that first moment of fear/anxiety, I guess some of it might have been hormonal, but the prescription for overcoming was the same as any problem.

Jesus.

In today's modern Christian mind-set we go about with a PC view of our enemy, the devil. "Oh, I'm saved, he won't bother me."

Hello? If not you, then who? The heathens he already has in his grasp. No, dear ones, he doesn't fight fair, and as lovers of Jesus, we have a BIG OLE TARGET on our backs.

He will harass us, discourage us, fight us, oppress us.

He's a clever enemy. He doesn't come at us full on in warfare gear. We'd recognize him. He comes at us in whispers. Subtly, through words, feelings, emotions. Lies we believe, even words we speak over ourselves. Through words spoken over us. And yes, the sins of our fathers and mothers.

But be can and will overcome. But we must fight.

So, my next encounter with fear happened about seven years later ...

New Hampshire Weddings is in the House

Got my "hot off the press" copy of New Hampshire Weddings in the mail today. The cover is beautiful. Check it out.

This is a compilation of the three Lambert books I wrote for Heartsong Presents. Straight up, good, romance.

Blurb: Three New Hampshire women find their lives are lacking pace, family and direction.

Buy today! ;)

What's In Your Wagon?

Tony and I were talking about "cleaning house" and this verse from Isaiah 5:18 .

"Woe to those who drag iniquity with the cords of falsehood, And sin as if with cart ropes..."

The Message reads, "Woe to you who use lies to sell evil."

Our society is permeated with lies selling evil. Abortion, homosexuality, pornography, fornication, lust, jealousy, gossip, even issues like racism and hate crimes have the truth overshadowed by lies.

But let's talk about our personal sin wagon. Do you pull around sin with you like it's your toy red wagon? Is it your company? Friend?

The rest of the Isaiah verse says "You say, "What's God waiting for? Let him get a move on so we can see it. Whatever The Holy of Israel has cooked up, we'd like to check it out."

We've lost sight of the hierarchy. God is in control. WE submit to Him. He doesn't answer to us.

YET to those who are His, He LONGS for a partnership. "Let us RUN together."

Can we ask of God? Yes. Can we carry around our sin and demand He prove Himself to us? No.

We call evil good in this country. Given to excuses and reasons other than humbly pursuing the heart of God.

Listen, I've been there! Struggled. Hurt. I know the power of fear and anxiety. But this I know and have seen proven in my life - GOD is bigger. God saves. God heals. God delivers.

Sorry, but I accept nothing else. He is true. Men are liars.

We have to cut the cords of our sin wagon - dump the jealousy, gossip, hating, envy, strife, drunkenness, selfish ambition.

Are we weak? Yes! Do we stumbles? Yes. But we don't dare hook ourselves to a sin wagon and drag it around calling it good.

Let God's love and power set us free. There is SO much more to Him than our weak hearts are willing to believe.

But I'm going to go as far as I can. Be abandoned. How about you?

Meet Christine Lynxwiler & Promise Me Always

Thirty-five-year-old widow Allie Richards has always dreamed of having her own landscaping business. After losing her job, Allie's Pinky Promise girlfriends convince her to enter Shady Grove's Beautiful Town Landscaping Competition.

The prize? The town's landscaping and maintenance contract.

But there's a hitch. Every move Allie's ragtag crew makes will be featured in the reality segment of a local TV show.

Armed with only a green thumb and a motley crew of helpers, does Allie have any chance of surviving the hype and making her dream a reality? Daniel Montgomery, the man behind the camera, is after more than just a story.

Will he be satisfied with anything less than Allie's heart?

YYY

Christine Lynxwiler considers herself hugely blessed to be a wife and mom who lives the crazy writer life in the foothills of the beautiful Ozark Mountains in her home state of Arkansas. Her latest release Promise Me Always is the first in the Pinky Promise Sisterhood series from Barbour. When Christine isn’t writing, she and her family enjoy kayaking on the nearby river or relaxing together with good books. If you'd like to know Christine better, drop by her website sometime and check out her new release info or latest blog entry.

Rachel here: I loved this book by Christine Lynxwiler. She writes fun, enjoyable, heartwarming characters and stories that reflect the human struggle to know God more.

Chris is also humble enough not to mention she's a three time American Christian Fiction Writer's Book of The Year in novella and short contemporary categories.

If you're looking for a wonderful winter read for curling up by the fire or to escape the gray days, pick up Promise Me Always!

Charlie

I go to McDonalds in the morning as part of my pre work routine. Sometimes I just run in and out with a Diet Coke. Lately, I go in and sit with my a Diet Coke and read my Bible.

Today, I saw the cashier from Walgreens eating an Egg McMuffin and drinking coffee. Hum, I thought, I wonder...

I have a character in Sweet Caroline who worked up to his dying day at the age of eighty. Now I know there are plenty of active, healthy eighty year olds, but I doubted how many could or would work forty hours or more a week.

Then, I met Charlie. The Walgreens cashier.

I approached him. "Can I ask you a question?"

He nods.

"How old are you?"

"Eighty-five."

I smile. "Very cool."

Charlie has worked all his life. To this day, he works forty hours a week. Served in Europe during WW2.

Perhaps he might be a friend of my character, Jones McDermott.

Love One Another

In light of things going on in the world, I have to speak out. A little, anyway. Big surprise, eh?

There are some, in the name of religion, spreading hate and killing. In this country, we've hamstrung ourselves with the weak and flighty concept of "politically correct."

We can't objectively criticize anyone except white men, big business and Christians. Even to protect our nation.

But any religion that spouts death and hatred to those who disagree with them is not in my book, a religion, and should be challenged. I'm not saying to hate those people in return, where's the good in that? I'm saying challenge it!

Here's what John, the friend of Jesus wrote:

"He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes."

Hate produces darkness. Hating people, other religions, other nations put the hater in darkness. If you hate, check your darkness meter.

Christians are accused of hating because we oppose abortion or sexual sin - homosexuality, adultery , fornication - or the government taking more and more of our money, or censuring our voice and rights.

Are there religious idiots who claim to be Christians holding up hate signs. Yes. And I say if Jesus were physically among them, He'd rebuke them.

Jesus hates religiousness. He calls us to love one another, BUT to speak the truth.

When the woman was caught in adultery and thrown at His feet about to be stoned, Jesus challenged her religious, bigoted accusers. He said, "First guy with no sin, throw the first stone."

None could.

To the woman He said, "Go, SIN no more." He didn't condemn her, require punishment like lashes, but He called out her sin.

We still have to lovingly call out sin. How will people be free if we don't call out sin? If I gossip, someone should call me on it.

I'll close with these words from John, Jesus' friend.

"No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us."

He Makes Me Laugh

My husband is many wonderful things. I especially like that he makes me laugh.

Today, I was in the kitchen making a sandwich and singing part of a Keith Urban song.

Take your cat / and leave my sweater

Tony responds in his Red-the-cat voice. "Why don't you want the cat?" As if on queue, our orange tabby cruises around the corner toward me.

Oh my gosh, I laughed and laughed and laughed.

Still makes me laugh.

Tagged by Cindy Woodsmall

Author Cindy Woodsmall tagged me to name six weird things about myself and then to tag six others.

I hate these things, but love Cindy, so here goes.

1. I like Diet Cokes from McDonald's.
2. I'd rather email than talk on the phone.
3. I take a lot of baths.
4. Donny Osmond was my teen idol.
5. People magazine jumps into my cart while shopping.
6. For Christmas, we have to have lots of presents to open since it's just Tony and me. Nothing that plugs into the kitchen or sucks dirt is allow.

I tag Tracey, Susie, Chris, Candice, my sister, Beka, Kristy and Pam.

Go Colts!

Peace out.

Rain, Rain, Write, Write

This is my life these days.

Rain, rain.

Write, edit, write, rewrite, edit.

Time, time is ticking by and I can feel an explosion inside. ;)

Thanks to those who called to check on us after the tornadoes the other day. And for letting us know there were tornadoes. Clueless, here.

An Inconvenient Truth

Al Gore has it right. It IS an inconvenient truth.

Right title. Wrong subject.

Global warming is a distraction. Not that we shouldn't care about our environment! We should. I was a great fan of the weeping Indian in the '70s commercial. Remember that one? He as standing by a stream littered with garbage.

Gore's movie, for whatever reason, has an agenda. He's not interested in presenting both sides of the Global Warming aisle. He wants us to believe it's happening, hands down, no doubt. But there is as much evidence that global warming is cyclical as whatever evidence Gore presents in his movie.

But I'm not really interested in discussing global warming here.

I want to discuss the REAL inconvenient truth.

And that's the God-Man, Jesus, the Christ.

What the world REALLY doesn't want to face and deal with is who this Man says He is - the Savior. He is Lord.

He's quoted saying the following things:

"I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me."

" I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life."

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

"For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.

So here's what we have to ask ourselves. Is He for real or not? Is the Jesus, a supposed great prophet, lying? Is He a lunatic?

Or, is He who He says He is? Is He the God who left the splendor of Heaven to take on the form of Man (for ALL eternity) and then give His life for our salvation. For our sins.

Did He really allow God the Father to put the sins of the world on Him?

History says He did.

The truth is, and it's inconvenient to atheists, agnostics, other religions, but Jesus is Lord. We all have to decide this. We have to face Him, look at His life and wonder, "Do I need to believe."

Look. Most religions are about mankind become like God. Mankind appeasing God. Or mankind making a way to God.

Belief in Jesus is the exact opposite. God becoming mankind (His creation), God appeasing Himself WITH Himself, and God making a way for mankind to come to Him.

All we have to do is believe an inconvenient truth - Jesus is Lord.

Al Gore's movie is asking us to believe an inconvenient truth that has less evidence than the life and sacrifice of Jesus.

It takes more faith to believe what Gore's put on celluloid than to pick up a Bible, ask for understand and read a couple of the Gospels.

Are you determined to believe an inconvenient truth?

Believe in Jesus.

The sound of my friend

A friend of mine plays bass. In fact, I have several friends who play bass. But on this one particular day, I was listening to a song called "Glorious Throne" by Alisha Powell from the International House of Prayer-KC.

The song is upbeat with a lot of funk. Pretty good for a white girl. There's a vamp bridge in the song with drums, congas and bass.

The bass is grooving and breaking it down. I'm dancing in my car when I suddenly recognize the technique and style of my friend, Stuart.

He's got to be playing the bass on this song. I watched and listened to Stu play bass for seven years. Has to be him. There's a certain pop he has....

I asked his brother-in-law the next day at church. Sure enough. Stu plays bass on the song.

We recognize people by their voice, handwriting, walk, gestures, even dress. But what other subtleties do we know of our friends and family that make us recognize them?

The sound of their footsteps. A sigh? A riff on a guitar or bass? Drumming. I bet I could pick out my boy Eric's drum playing.

One time in my corp job, there was a person sending anonymous emails about the good things people were doing on the job. Caught in the Act or something like that.

Of course, everyone wanted to know who was sending the emails. We whispered and guessed. Upper management knew, but never spilled the beans.

But, we all worked together. The tone of the email was the tone of our co-worker. And I figured it out.

So be careful. You may think you're sending an anonymous email, but if the receiving person knows you, they may just hear your voice in the words you write.

My friends and family tell me all the time, "When I read your books, I can see and hear you."

Anyway, my friend Stu has a bass sound distinctly his. Pretty cool.

Making a Case

Pardon me while I make a case, from the Word. Hang with me, this is interesting. Promise.

In Numbers 27, the daughters of Zelophehad went to Moses and said, "Hey, just because we're girls we don't think we should lose out on our fathers inheritance."

They made their case. Our dad died. He was a righteous man, and why should his name be cut off because he had no son?

Moses goes, "Hum, I'll talk to God."

Know what God said, "They are right. Give them their inheritance with all the others."

This is incredible at so many levels. First of all, the daughters showed wisdom. They knew their father's name did not deserve to be cut off, thus recognizing justice.

Unlike how many women would react today, the submitted to the proper authority and justice channels. They humbled themselves and went to Moses, and pleaded their cases.

They trusted God to look out for them when technically, maybe they didn't get an inheritance with their father's brothers.

And the thing is, no one was offering. Hey, want us to give you your Dad's land?

No, they had to SEEK it! They had to have vision and hope and dreams.

God honored them. He said, they are right.

Had they not been bold, yet humble, they would've never gotten an inheritance with their father's brothers. They would've been left out.

They didn't give into their "position" as woman or daughters, they sought justice.
They hoped in God.

My guess is they changed their lives and destiny. Instead of being poor and waiting on a husband, they had land, they hand an INHERITANCE.

What are you doing to lay hold of your inheritance? Are you waiting for someone to hand it to you? Waiting for someone to recognize injustice and go, "Oh, we're sorry, here."

I think God knew all along they deserved their father's inheritance, but he waited to see if they would come and ask.

Don't wait. Ask. Humbly. You also notice they didn't do a libber thing on Moses and God, spouting in justice to woman and unfairness and needing equal rights and compensation.

They didn't overplay their hand. Wisdom!

John Elway Furniture

I'm driving home from an errand this morning and hear an ad on the radio for John Elway Furniture at SAMS Club.

Really? John Elway, the Hall of Fame quarterback? Has a furniture collection? Did he design it?

I thought it was a little hokey when Cindy Crawford teamed up with Rooms To Go with a signature line of furniture, but John Elway?

The parent company is Bassett. So, I picture myself sitting around the board room table at Bassett Corporate going, "Sales are down folks. What are we going to do to jump start our growth? We need a name, a gimmick..." Snap, snap, snap of fingers. "Think people, think."

"Hey, I know," says young, eager marketing exec. "Let's call a football player and design a signature line of furniture."

"Yeah, that's the ticket." More finger snapping. "Someone famous."

"John Elway."

Okay, maybe it didn't go down quite like that, or maybe John Elway was on the golf course one day and said, "Hum, I'd like to design furniture. Or at least have my name on a line of furniture."

Does it make me run out and buy furniture from Sam's? No! It feels insincere really. I'm curious, but not intrigued. Not motivated to buy.

Now, a line of sportswear or footballs for the kids, or even a BBQ grill or something, but inside the house furniture. Nope. Do not buy it.

Now, say, Nate Berkus comes along with a signature like of furniture for Sam's, I'm buying it. Interestingly enough, you don't see Nike signing up Nate to launch a signature sportswear line or footballs.

I thought the purpose of using a Celeb in marketing was to capitalize on their association with certain things - say sports, or decorating, or music.

It'd be like me asking John Elway or Nate Berkus to endorse one of my books. Cool, but really? No one is going to buy it cause what do they have to do with southern chick lit.

I don't know, maybe it's just me.

Failure

Failure is not falling short. Failure is not measuring up to how or who I want to me.

Failure is quitting because of those things. "If I can't be the best, I won't be at all."

So I press on.

Success.

Weddings, Celebrations, Life

We went to a wedding tonight. It was lovely and sweet, but it was during the reception when people were talking and dancing that the celebration began.

Maybe because I'm in deep-dark-writing-mode and don't get out much, but it was fun to laugh and talk, dance a little, eat a little.

Have cake. I love cake.

On the way home, I told Tony, "We don't celebrate enough."

We being Tony and me, sure, but people, the church. Ancient cultures took days, even weeks to celebrate. Not just some, but all. Businesses closed, activity stopped.

To celebrate.

Even Biblically we see a call to celebrations.

If you don't have a wedding or party event coming up soon, plan one. Invite friends and family.

Celebrate.

Not to be political, but...

This site isn't a political forum. It's about me, because well, it's all about mmeeee!

If you don't know me in person, that last line is not funny in blogosphere, but in real life? A hoot! I promise! Actually, it's all about Jesus. I'm NO fool.

Okay, back to the not-so-political post. I'm not going to draw lines and talk here about who you should vote for and why. But I have to address something I've seen over and over in recent months, especially concerning the charismatic Jr. Senator from Illinois, Obama.

People are saying things like, "I don't care what he believes. I don't care who raised him. I don't care about his religion. He's going to bring us all together."

To this I say, if you don't care about the core of man, then what are you voting for? In any candidate? With what values is he going to create and execute policy and decisions? You HAVE to care what he believes, his values, his core strengths. That is, in essence, Obama. Or Hilary, or George W.

How can a man be a man if his values and character don't matter? Especially in the areas of faith. That's what ultimately moves all of us! Our passions.

YOU have to care about a presidential candidate's faith, upbringing, values and character. It is those tools he will use, if President, to bring the country together. What will we look like at the end of the day?

Is he easily swayed? Is he a people pleaser? Can he be trusted to carry the "football?" Can he deal with our terrorist enemies if he has close ties to the Muslim faith?

We cannot lose our heads over nice, extremely charismatic candidates. I see too many people blindly throwing their support. It's emotional. I know. I've felt it.

And we live in an extremely emotionally driven society. I feel, therefore, I am.

My challenge is to think a little, investigate. Read history. We have a world behind us who blindly followed charismatic leaders. Hitler in retrospect, was a tyrant, but he swayed the masses.

No, I'm not calling Obama, or any candidate, Hitler, not at all! But I'm calling attention to the fact that the German people never looked closely at the man they blindly followed. By the time they did, it was too late. To speak out cost them their lives.

Vote for whomever! But I challenge you to NOT dismiss a man's values and faith, his upbringing and culture. On surface issues, you may agree with a candidate on abortion, taxes, immigration, the war, or whatever.

But each Presidential adminstration does not effect just his years in office, but for generations to come. Will we remain the American you want your children to be raised in? Land of the FREE, home of the Brave?

We are in a war. Think about where this nation will be if we elect a leader sympathic to our enemies.

Ladies, how do you feel about wearing a black burka? In July. At the beach?

Two other Crosses

Two men were crucified with Jesus. Criminals condemned for their deeds and Scripture was fulfilled, "He was number among the transgressors."

One of the criminals hurled insults at Jesus. Condemned to the same death, his pride caused him to join the crowd in taunting Him.

The other criminal rebuked him, "Do you not fear God?" Then he cried out to Jesus, "Remember me when you come into Your kingdom."

How amazing. He showed both faith and humility.

Jesus' answer moves me. "Today, (today!) you will be with me in paradise."

This picture of the crucifixion is a powerful life picture. All of us will face the cross - believers and unbelievers alike.

For the one criminal, he chose pride and the cross of death. The second criminal chose the way of humility and the cross of life.

How many will come face-to-face with the Cross of Jesus and reject it? It's frightening.

Oh, to be like the second man and cry out, "Remember me Jesus."

Do we recognize the power of the cross? Are we angry at Jesus? Hurling insults out of hurt or pride? It only leads to death.

Whether we believe in Jesus or not, all of us go the way of the cross. It cannot be escaped.

Which criminal do you relate to?

Easy like Sunday morning

Great words from a great tune by the Commodors.

Cause I'm easy/easy like Sunday morning

I don't know about you guys, but Sunday mornings are anything but easy for me. Up at 7:00, off to church by 7:40, prep for worship, pray, practice worship, lead worship, listen to sermon, get back up for closing song, wait for Tony to do finances, go to lunch.

2:30, home.

Long day.

I try to take the afternoon/evening off and get rested for the rest of the week. I got a lot of writing done yesterday, but have a ways to go.

Tony and I had fun at lunch brainstorming the next book. Yeah, I know, I'm far from done with this one, but I wanted to toss out ideas so I could leave this book open for a sequel if I we want.

Caroline Sweeney is my new character and she's pretty cool. A mixture of Lost In NashVegas' Robin McAfee and Diva NashVegas' Aubrey James.

It takes me a long time to like my characters no matter how many times I "talk" to them or write bios and scenes with them. She's finally clicking with me.

I also was having a hard time bringing in the hero, but I managed to do that last week in a manner I like and feels smooth to the flow of the story.

Diva NashVegas has two points of view. Aubrey and the hero's, Scott's. I thought I'd include the hero's point of view in Sweet Caroline, but as I work through the story, it's not necessary.

In Diva, Scott is the interviewer and his POV adds a lot.

Writing is an awesome career and at times, I can't believe God has so blessed me. I love my job, my publisher and editor, and ultimately, I love my stories. There's something deeply satisfying to writing. It touches a part of me nothing else in this life touches.

Hope you all are having a wonderful Sunday.

(pic of one of my "sons" Eric Exley, 3, many years ago.)

Feelings, Nothing More Than Feelings

From the brain of Tony:

Proverbs 25:28 says, "Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down, without walls."

A city without walls can function as well as any other city - except when attacked. You could live in that city with an illusion of safety, never realizing you were completely defenseless until it was too late.

Works fine if you have no enemies, or for as long as you can pretend no one wants to harm you. Works fine if you live in the fantasy world that people are basically good.

But we all have an enemy, even God. And His enemy wants to take it out on us.

So what does ruling our own spirit have to do with it? Understand that in our battle against Satan, truth is our greatest weapon, and the realm of emotions is his home field.

Continuing with the sports metaphor, athletes often try to manipulate their opponents emotions. It's a way to gain control over them, get them out of their game, cause them to fall for your fakes.

Think about it. If I can make you angry, you've just given me control of your emotions. This verse is saying that whoever cannot control their emotions is defenseless, easily controlled and manipulated by others.

I'm not saying we shouldn't have feelings. God has emotions, and He's made us in His image with the capacity to feel deeply. But emotions are tricky things. What we feel may not be truth. And we get in trouble when we let our emotions triumph over character and reason.

I'm very concerned that our culture has become more emotional than rational, where how someone feels about a situation is more important than reasoning out a solution.

I see the hand of God's enemy in it, obscuring truth and drawing our nation toward lawlessness. But I'm not falling for it.

Reclaiming Nick, by Susan May Warren

It's my privilege to host Susan May Warren on my blog as part of her Reclaiming Nick blog tour! I've known Susie for a couple of years, and have become good friends.

Susie is an extroverts of extroverts. She is lively and full of energy. Always smiling. She loves to help and mentor authors, and has been an anchor on the other side of the phone when I doubted my stories.

Reclaiming Nick is the first in her Noble Legacy series by Tyndale Publishers. I have a special interest in this story because in September of '05, Susie and I sat outside at the Frothy Monkey in Nashville, a few days before the start of the ACFW conference, and brainstormed Reclaiming Nick. Had a blast. And, unlike me, Susie actually sticks with what she brainstorms.

Besides being a great author, Susie is a true lover of Jesus. I'm always challenged by her heart to weave spiritual depth in her books. Her eyes are full of passion when she talks about spiritual truths, and what she sees in Scripture. Susie desperately wants the Lord to be the center of her life and work.

What I love about Reclaiming Nick is the way Susie puts the reader "in the moment." She expertly weaves the five senses into her stories - sight, sound, smell, taste and touch - so the reader can believe they are on a Montana ranch.

She also uses great pacing and phrasing in her work.

Run, don't walk to your nearest bookstore and buy "Reclaiming Nick." Support the ARTS!

YYYYY

Susan May Warren is the award-winning author of seventeen novels and novellas with Tyndale, Steeple Hill and Barbour Publishing. Her first book, Happily Ever After won the American Fiction Christian Writers Book of the Year in 2003, and was a 2003 Christy Award finalist. In Sheep's Clothing, a thriller set in Russia , was a 2006 Christy Award finalist and won the 2006 Inspirational Reader's Choice award. A former missionary to Russia, Susan May Warren now writes Suspense/Romance and Chick Lit full time from her home in northern Minnesota.

Game Day!! Go Buckeyes!!

We took down the beast

All right, I've had enough. The beast, er, the Christmas tree must come down. I woke up with writing on my mind, took Pal for a walk, (man it's hot for January) and came home ready to fritter away some time until I could get up the courage to write.

Tony and I started talking about going for some lunch, running some errands, and I tossed out, taking down the faux tree.

Then, we had a good idea. (Bling!) Just move the tree, ornaments and all into the guest bedroom, stick it in the corner and ta-da, we're practically set for next year.

Here we go.

I hold the top while Tony picks up the bottom part of the tree. We have to be careful or it will come apart. The tree is at a thirty degree angle as we inch our way across the living room.

Ornaments are falling all over the place.

We pass the couch and more ornaments crash to the carpet.

As we shove the tree down the hallway, ornaments litter the floor and we haven't even gotten to the narrow bedroom door.

"Abort mission. It's not working."

While I pack up ornaments, a chore I was somehow hoping to avoid, Tony mushed and smashed the tree into the tree bag - the thing is a beast - and lugged it down the hall to the bedroom.

There it sits in the corner, just like we planned. Only not so much.

Sassin, Frassin, Rassin

I just spent over an hour working on MySpace. Oops. I mean frittered away valuable… No, I just invested time in… marketing and networking! Yeah, that's it. Marketing.

Shew, for a minute there I thought I wasted sixty minutes of valuable writing time.

But, no I'm good.

Ah, ha!

I asked God to connect with our local friends again. Tonight, Tony called around 4:30 and though I still had some writing to do, he said our friend Ted invited us over for dinner with several other folks.

"Yes."

We had a great time. As always when with Ted and Linda, the night was encouraging. Ted's son Josh broke out the guitar and an hour later, we're all warm and fuzzy with His grace.

Also called a friend to run my new story ending past her. She approved. Then she ran a story idea past me. Nothing like calling a writer friend last minute, out of the blue and go, "Hey, what do you think about this?"

And it was good to give back. Brainstorming is so fun.

Well, off to bed so I can get up and work.

Peace out.

Welcome back, routine

I love holiday. I love vacation and Christmas break, but oh, I so welcome back the routine.

We woke up this morning, went to prayer. I came home and got to thinking/writing, moving my work into the living room and building a fire. It's not that cold here. Okay, it's not cold at all, but the day was grey and called for a fire.

I love routine, though I'm not a freak about it, nor am I anal. But, I love getting up, going to work, or whatever. I have no problem breaking a routine, but I do feel like the world is in balance we we all "go back to work."

Wrote 3000 words today. One scene brought tears to my eyes. There's always one of those scenes, when whoosh, God shows up and I know this is His heart of the story.

Movie Reviews

We caught up on movies over the Christmas season. Here's my review.

Mission Impossible 2 - Tony liked, I got bored. Yeah, there was a lot of action, but the story never captured me.

Firewall - Okay for a rental, but irritating story because the criminals never stated their crime outright. We just figured it out as the movie rolled on.

Glory Road - I love sports movies. I loved the story behind Glory Road, but did not like the moive. We never got to know the characters enough to care.

Invinsible - Story of a Philadelpia Eagles walk on in the '70s. Great movie. Loved it.

Holiday - A chick flick, but Tony enjoyed it. Wonderful, feel good movie with shallow moral values. Good rental.

We Are Marshall - Third and the best of the sports movies. We really felt the pain of the town when the players were lost in a crash. Matthew McConaughey did a fab job of playing the new head coach after the crash. Highly recommend.

Dreamgirls - Beyonce is beautiful. Jennifer Hudson had a fine acting debut even if her character was annoyingly stubborn. Great job by Jamie Fox and Eddie Murphy. But the moive was so tedious with all the songs. Seems all they did was just put the Broadway play on film. At the end, I was bored and ready to leave. Did not care about the characters that much and was happy to say good-bye to them. Good rental if you can fast forward.

Eragon - Tony saw this while I watched Dreamgirls with my friend Sheree. He said it was fun, worth seeing, but wished he hadn't read the book first. I heard that from several people. Might be a good rental.

Okay, and that's all from Hauck & Hauck at the movies. :) We won't see this many movies the rest of the year, probably.

Peace out.

Moral Excellence

Tony taught out of 2 Peter 1: 3 - 12 yesterday. He did what he does so well, open up the scripture so we see there's more to this life.

What stood out to Tony was diligence. How we need to be diligent to pursue Him.

What stood out to me was moral excellence. We are called to moral excellence. We are called to tap into the divine.

So, why do we spend so much time identifying with moral mediocrity. Is there a gene that makes us behave subpar? I don't think so. We've gotten lazy. We like excuses.

Do you struggle with sin? Stop looking for an excuse. Press into the One who overcame sin and strive for moral excellence.

Think about it, can we really be conformed to the image of Christ and still identify with sin?

For example, perhaps you struggle with sexual sin. And let me say, all sex outside of marriage is Biblically classified as sin. I don't care if you've lusted for the same-sex persons or opposite-sex persons your whole life.

It's still sin if you act on it. And guess what, it's sin if you identify with it. The struggle isn't sin, the agreement is.

If you struggle with lying, the struggle can be won by identifying with Jesus, and pressing into Him and agreeing with what He says about you. But if you agree with lying, then it's sin.

If you go around knocking yourself down, wallowing in self-pity, "No body likes me, every body hates me," you're agreeing with a lie. Thus lying to yourself.

We are called to so much more IN this life. We can tap into the divine and see it manifest in our lives.

We can be morally excellent. Not proud. Not judgemental. But excellent.

Listen, I have compassion for anyone struggling with sin or battling negative emotions. I do not judge.

What I don't like is the answers to these struggles. "It's just the way I am." Or, "This is all God has for me, ho-hum."

No! He has more. In this life. Read 2 Peter 1:3-12. Ask God to open it to you.

Make 2007 a year of identifying with moral excellence, believing with a little diligence and getting to know Him more, your life, even your emotions will be changed!