Into the Fire

At Year's End . . .

Not quite at world’s end . . . yet.

It’s impossible to name my precise, absolute, number one “favorite” anything just about. Those of you who visit here endured my pre-Christmas onslaught of “Books I Recommend and Why” in four parts. Last year you might have read my list of favorite films—I think there were 30+ named there. In addition to those lists somewhere I’m sure you’ll find my favorite television shows. So, more lists ain’t gonna happen again for now.

What I will say is that this year wrapped up in a fun fashion when the two copies of The Famous One sold right off the shelf before Christmas at the SuperMall Outlet Christian Bookstore. And they ordered six more! I only had four to take them but ordered more. I know, I know. Two lousy books, you say? Hey, that’s better than no lousy books on a shelf in a Christian bookstore.

When I went in to speak with the manager, her assistant asked me if I wrote The Famous One. When I acknowledged that I had, she went on to tell me how much she loved the book, difficult as it was for her to read about the lifestyle of Joey Parr. She really liked “him”. It’s a thrill to know someone appreciates your work, that they care about your characters, and that they want to talk about the story. Thank you, Jesus.

I’m going to make one more pitch on this New Year’s Eve post. If you know someone who likes to read fiction, maybe he or she is searching for something to believe in and they haven’t hardened their hearts to God, The Famous One is a contemporary story which chronicles the life of a lonely young man who gets “discovered” and moves into a life of difficult fame and notoriety as an actor while searching for real love and a family. When life finally begins to deliver his desires, he realizes there is still something missing. It’s an old story retold a thousand ways but every time it makes sense.

If you need “hype” to be sold on a book, author Robert Liparulo wrote the back cover endorsement after reading the story in manuscript form a couple of years ago. Both men and women have found the story meaningful. I’m not going to tell you it’s a book everyone should read because it’s not. For those readers who have a hard time taking in a story where the protagonist thrashes through life with the assistance of alcohol, drugs, and sex, it’s not for you. However, the two women who read it for the bookstore admitted that as hard as it was to read through his lifestyle, they understood why it was necessary to tell it the way it was.

So there you have my pitch. If you want the novel, you can buy it on Amazon.com, Barnes&Noble.com, Christianbooks.com, and WinePressPublishing.com.

As we move into the year 2009, may we grow ever closer to Jesus, honor and dedicate all we do to God, increase our obedience, gain faith, persevere through difficulties, pray without ceasing, love without limits, listen and discern, war against the enemy of our souls, and forgive as the Lord forgives us. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

These are a few . . .

. . . of my favorite things:

Self-publishing. I would self-publish all my novels if I could afford it. (Heck, I might have to!)

Snow at night. Glistening in the moonlight or Christmas lights shining on it, in spite of all the hassles it created, it was lovely to look at. The quiet stillness seemed supernatural.

German Shepherds. I love these dogs. I’ve owned four in my life. As much as I think we might get another kind of dog, my heart belongs to German Shepherds or those mixes that favor the Shepherd’s looks.

Thoroughbreds. I love horses, but you can’t beat a Thoroughbred. They’re versatile, beautiful, and amazing athletes for the most part.

Sunshine. Gorgeous wonderful hot. On cold days or hot days. Love sunshine.

Fire in the fireplace. Warm in so many ways.

Godiva candy. I received a small box of white chocolates from my husband for Christmas. Oh. My. Word. You haven’t tasted rich until you’ve tasted Godiva.

I tried to pick some things I haven’t mentioned too much before. As you well know, this small list leaves out most of the obvious things. But now you know.

Father, thank you for this grand world of wonder. Your creativity is indescribable. I’m sorry that it is tainted. One day it will all be brand new again. Thank you for it all. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

A choice.

Over on a “Novel Journey” post by Jessica Dotta, she contemplated the wise words of a missionary with whom she’d had the opportunity to discuss writing and publishing. There seemed to be some eye-opening discrepancies in the definitions of success vs. failure.

So, given the choice between success and failure, I would assume most of us would choose success. But then those of us who’ve sampled both in various ways would probably insert the necessary, “Define success” or “Define failure”. Nowhere is there a better need for the clarifications than in the publishing world of a Christian.

I have been forced to learn that publishing success must be redefined in my life. I will not defy the logic of the business end of selling books. If you’re a publishing house and plan to stay that way, the more books you sell, the longer you’ll remain “successful”. However, as an individual writer who is compelled to compose words on a page or a screen, I arrived at the place where, like everything else in my life, whatever I write belongs to God and is done for His glory: not my own. This simple declaration changes . . . everything.

Timing is normally a factor when considering success. The release of the perfect book for the perfect time isn't always something that can be plotted and executed by publishers. When the initially self-published The Shack hit the reading public, the novel took off like a California wildfire. I doubt anyone could’ve predicted its “success”. The book started more conversations about who God is than a preacher in a mega-church. These discussions didn’t include talking about the weakness of the writing. Nope. They had bigger concepts to address. The fans certainly outnumbered the detractors, although there were some critics who came at the story with wicked weapons in the form of accusations of utter heresy. Which only led to more sales. And more commentary. And more “success”. Author Paul (William P.) Young attributes the whole endeavor to God’s ability, not his own.

So why does God choose to “appoint” some stories to great sales while others end up out of print? I cannot offer a single reason that satisfies. It’s His call.

I’ve bemoaned the lack of success for John Robinson’s trilogy about a 50-ish old-school P.I., written in a clever voice with true suspenseful plots. These were good stories for men and women who like the genre. I’ve read novels in the category that didn’t measure up to these. Why weren’t these “successful”?

If you measure success by sales as publishers are forced to do to stay in business, then you know all the self-promotion and marketing that’s required to sell not only the book but yourself. You also learn the more accomplishments you achieve before you even solicit an agent or editor with your novel, the better chance you have of getting “noticed” amidst the massive quantities of submitted proposals.

Here’s my position on success vs. failure. If God asks you to do something and you do it to the best of your ability, consulting with Him all along the way, you have not failed. Regardless of what happens to the final product, after all your efforts, if you kept the Lord in the forefront of your focus, you have not failed. If you truly have yielded your life to Jesus Christ and committed to the belief that God knows the best path for you, then you will accept His ways—even when you fail to understand them.

On the flip side, if you pursue a career and push every obstacle from your path, ignore every caution, reject every warning, and embrace “success” as the ultimate accomplishment, the only goal worth gaining, and once attained attribute it all to your perseverance, then your definition of failure will no doubt encompass all of those writers who accepted the road God chose for them—the road which did not include huge sales and a form of fame in publishing circles. It’s the common mindset but not the most admirable.

Each writer has to make a choice. Will I write because of the Lord, for His glory, and in spite of what sometimes feels like failure? Will I write toward publishing as the only measure of my success and not accept anything that even suggests failure? Will I trust what God has ordained for me? Will I trust my “dreams and goals” for myself above all others? Bottom line: it's a choice we have to make.

Father, I have yet to complete my journey, but I am learning to trust in your leading. You are the One who is trustworthy. You are the One with the answers, the path, the plan. Help me to yield my life to you every single moment of every single day. And remain thankful throughout. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Sunday's Offerings

The child's father and mother marveled at what was said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: "This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too."

Luke 2:33-35 (NIV)

Saturday News . . .

It is amazing for Seattle, Washington to experience a white Christmas, but we did. In fact, in our area just south of Seattle it snowed all day long. Not horrifically with great accumulations but wispy little flakes tumbling down consistently on top of the stacked white inches already here for several days. All of it totally abnormal for this area.

And since my lovely and talented daughter-in-law spent the day here along with my oldest son and three grandchildren, we now have a mini-photo gallery for your viewing pleasure to prove that we were not snowless in Seattle. If you will click onto the "hope" word in the left column, you can view three shots of our Christmas white.

I'm just getting the hang of using my birthday/anniversary gift from my husband awhile back: my Canon digital camera. I was of the old 35mm "film" school, and it's an adjustment for me to learn to shoot with this elaborate gem. I'll keep at it, but it's certainly different.

Hope you enjoy the pics. I'll keep them coming now and then . . .

Father, thank you for the beauty of the seasons, the joys of Christmas, the love of Jesus, the Spirit of Truth. You are everything to me.

Merry, Joyous, Blessed Christmas!

My friend, Pastor and Chaplain Ed Donnally, who used to minister at Dream Center in Los Angeles sent this to me. I asked him if I could post it today for anyone who ventured by here on Christmas Day. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

"One of my favorite stories surrounding Christ’s birth is the story of Simeon. When Jesus was barely over a month old, Mary and Joseph brought their two humble doves to the temple to offer as a sacrifice. A man approached, asking if he could hold the baby. Simeon, who the Bible says was not a priest but simply a 'just and devout man', had received a revelation that before he died he would see the 'Consolation of Israel' or the Messiah. Simeon was likely the first Jew to recognize Jesus as the awaited Christ.

It is my prayer and I hope the prayer of all who have already encountered the Messiah that on the day we celebrate God becoming flesh and living among us, we ask the Lord that those who see Christmas as only a day to enjoy family and exchange presents will share Simeon’s revelation. That on this day many others will recognize the Messiah as the Anointed One, the only begotten of the Father. And as Simeon put so well, 'A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the Glory of Your people Israel.' Once they have the same understanding as Simeon, the lives of those who do not know the real meaning of Christmas will, like this just and devout man, have eternal fulfillment.

Joy to the world. The Lord has come. Merry Christmas to You and Yours."

Ed Donnally was a jockey for 19 years and wrote for the Dallas Morning News for eight years where he won an Eclipse Award for Outstanding Feature Writing. He has been an ordained Foursquare Minister and Chaplain since 2001 and has published at least 70 articles with a variety of magazines. Today, he is the associate pastor at Venice Beach Foursquare, speaks in many venues, writes for Christian publications and is a chaplain for Victim Relief Ministries and the Los Angeles Mayor’s Crisis Response Team.

Christmas comes . . .

In white glory or palm tree sunshine, it comes. Bearing the gift of Jesus Christ.

The mysteries of winter in blizzards and freezing rain or sunshine on ocean beaches tanning bodies doused in sun-blocks.

In poverty and need, in riches and no need, in sorrow and loss, in success and gain, Christmas comes.

He comes. In hearts who open up with sobs and wet eyes draining unstoppable tears.

He comes to hearts who sit silent amidst a cache of opened gifts wondering why there is no jubilation.

He comes to hearts trapped on highways with flat tires, no chains, an overheated radiator, offering prayers they never thought they’d utter. He comes.

Mary wanted nothing more than to serve the God she knew. In supernatural saturation the Messiah of prophecy grew in her virgin womb. Joseph heard the voice of God through angelic instruction and not only took the young pregnant woman as his bride but chauffeured her to Bethlehem in obedience to both his God and his ruler. Listening faithfully to that Voice, he hastened his family to Egypt in the middle of the night because God told him to do this.

And you? Have you heard His voice? Soft but clear . . . or firm and louder? He still speaks to us. Are we listening?

God Almighty, we celebrate Jesus. King of Kings, Lord of Lords. Rejoice in the Lord always . . . Again I say, “Rejoice!”

In the Stillness . . .

It comes down soft. Shimmering like miniature diamonds but landing like cotton. And it continued on into the darkness creating its own light. After the hours, it was no use fretting about the accumulation, the difficulties it creates, the enormity of the inches adding up—certainly not around here, it rarely happens like this.

The beauty finally becomes the focal point. The childlike marveling at the stillness. The quietness of the white blanket bedding down the landscape with its winter covering. The glistening of white icicle lights reflecting from its falling flakes. The chill and solitude of white night. Winter arrived in its bright glory and would not be denied its snowy presence.

Soon enough it will be back to normal rains and grey skies.

Right now the stillness in the night light brings solace somehow. For a few moments, it’s absolute peace. Quiet. Lovely. And a blessing in the solitude. And beauty.

Father, thank you for the seasons. In spite of the corruption of the earth, the death enclosed in sin, you regenerate and bring life from death. You made provision and a way to never ending life. You created beauty in every season if we will just observe it. Thank you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

I Repeat: Waaake up!

Life has a way of snapping at us sometimes. Takes us by surprise. Keeps us so busy we miss seeing important things. We’re so focused on what we’ve assumed to be critical to our lives running smoothly that we are waylaid from the life-giving discernment and power of the Holy Spirit.

Work. School. Parenting. Being a husband or a wife. Being single. As Christians we certainly know the importance and priorities of each. In our faith we know that Jesus is supposed to be first in our lives, but, let’s face it, often He gets pushed to the rear of the line by these oh-so-pressing details of living life.

Why is that? Why is the One who sustains us not worthy of our time and concern? Why is the One we run to when everything goes haywire or there’s a trauma or we screw up big time not our priority when we’re cruising along doing the life thing?

We’re lulled into this false sense of security that God understands our neglect, that His status on our priority list doesn’t happen to fall into the first five slots. We feel badly when the Holy Spirit nudges us to get our lives in order—not to nag us but to warn us. If we continue on in the pattern of setting our own priorities without His guidance, calamity is awaiting us. Haven’t we figured it out yet? How many times will it take?

Wake up! Christianity is a full time commitment. 24/7/365 as the ad says. Jesus is committed to us all the time. He doesn’t take a 2 week vacation or a nap on Sunday or call in sick. Jesus is the One who rescued us and made it possible to communicate through the Spirit with His Father, our Father. He’s at the Father’s right hand. He’s interceding for us—and God knows we need it!

Don’t let complacency, apathy, a withered appetite for the things of God turn you into fodder for the devil. He’s eager to lull you to sleep, to cater to your lazy pursuit of what God has for you. To take you on a detour of necessities which don’t amount to anything when compared to the things of the Lord. Open your spiritual eyes and see the magnificence of the Creator of the universe who happens to know each hair on your head. He’s no small God, and His interest in you isn’t casual. He’s a jealous God because His love for you is intense. You belong to Him. It was your decision. Your gain surpasses all you had to surrender. Besides, without Him your life is worthless and headed for a bitter end. Put Jesus on the throne of your life where He belongs.

Father, forgive me for not giving you the foremost place, for being lazy in prayer, for not living up to the wonders you have for me. Help me to draw nearer to you, to press in closer, to gain what I couldn’t possibly have without you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

*This is a re-run from 2007, but it just seemed apropos for this time of the year. It's a reminder to myself as much as anyone else. I have no excuses. None.

Sunday's Offerings

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

Proverbs 1:7 (NIV)