Greater love has no man...

Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.
-- John 15:13-14 NKJV


Our home group has recently begun a study of the book of 1 John. Not surprisingly, the discussion came around the depth of God's love for us and our responsibility to love one another no matter what. During our discussion, I remembered something I'd read many years ago. Here's the story:

A confessed felon was six months into a three year sentence. His life and the lives of his wife and children were a mess. He'd been disgraced. He'd lost his license to practice law. Those some called his compatriots in the conspiracy had been released a month earlier.

Then came the worst blow of all. His son--an honor student in college who'd never given anyone an moment of trouble--was caught with 15 ounces of marijuana and was also in jail. His son said to the arresting officer. "Now you've got both of us."

The felon received a phone call from a Christian brother who'd discovered an old statute still on the books. "I'm going to ask if I can serve the rest of your term for you."

The felon stammered a protest.

"I mean it," he said. "I haven't come to this decision lightly."

"I won't let you."

"Your family needs you, and I can't sleep while you're in prison; I think I'd be a lot happier being inside myself."

Who were they? Chuck Colson and Al Quie.

Al Quie was, at that time, a U.S. Congressman from Minnesota, the 6th ranking minority member in the House of Representatives, and senior minority member of the Education and Labor Committee. He served in Congress from 1958 through 1979 and as Govenor of Minnesota from 1979 through 1983.

His love of his friend would have cost him dearly. Another pertinent fact: Mr. Colson later discovered that Al Cuie--the man who'd volunteered to be incarcerated for two and a half years--had a horror of being closed in.

My source is Born Again, by Chuck Colson, Spire Books, Copyright 1976, 1977 and 1995.

Special Guest Miralee Ferrell

Welcome Miralee. Could you tell us a little about yourself?

I'm over 50, married for 35 years this July, and have two wonderful children, Marnee and Steven. I'm active at our small church, serving on staff with my ministerial license and working with women in a counseling/ministering capacity. My husband and I are looking forward to full retirement soon and taking off for a few months at a time on our 51' sailboat, where my writing will take on an entirely new creativity. We have a horse, a dog and three cats that my daughter and her husband will inherit while we're gone. Thankfully, they live on the adjoining property and are animals lovers.

Tell us a bit about your first sale: who is the publisher? Which book? Genre, etc.

My premiere novel is The Other Daughter—the story of David and Susanne Carson, a couple with an already fragile marriage that’s rocked to its foundation when a young teenaged girl appears at the door….

Here’s a brief summary:

The girl standing at the door took a deep breath, pulling her suitcase a little closer to her trembling legs. "My mama's dead. He's my daddy."Susanne Carson knew that she could trust the love of her life—her husband, David—until she discovered a strange, unkempt young girl on their doorstep, claiming to be David's daughter. Not that their marriage had ever been perfect—David's decision to embrace the Christian faith had strained their relationship. Susanne may not have agreed with his beliefs, but at least she trusted him. Had David been hiding this not-so-little secret from his past? He wanted Susanne to believe in his God, but believing hadn't done much to keep David out of another woman's arms. As David confronts the truth of his past, Susanne must face her own moment of truth as her marriage is taken to the breaking point and the life of one young girl is left in her hands.

It’s women’s contemporary fiction that’s set in the North West, and is being published by Kregel Publications, a well known Christian publishing house.

You have a book about forgiveness, secrets, healing and faith. What gave you the inspiration for this story?

Great question and one has a very personal answer. I was brainstorming with a friend who suggested I use an experience from my life as the basis or theme for my first novel. I ran through several scenarios in my head, as we've had many interesting things happen in our marriage...some great, some not. This personal incident did indeed capture the essense of secrets, forgiveness and healing...not as much in my life as in our marriage and the life of an 18 yr old girl. About 17 yrs ago my husband received a letter stating a young woman believed him to be her biological father she'd never met. We agreed to meet and hear her story, and after some investigation came to believe he probably was her dad. The episode was similar to that of David in the book...a one night stand prior to his becoming a Christian, but that's where the similarity stops. He was not dating me at the time, and I had a strong relationship with the Lord and didn't have a problem accepting Trish into our lives.

What themes exist in The Other Daughter that you hope the reader sees? Are there any themes that weren't overt but developed as the story progressed?

The most important theme to me is the one of releasing control of your life to your Heavenly Father, and seeing that He cares more about your future than you ever can. Until a person bows their will to His and falls into His arms, there will be no true, lasting peace....and it's tough to find real forgiveness, or give it to others.

The character of Grandfather, a part Native American relative of David's, didn't exist in the first rough draft, but came quite some time after. He was brought into the picture to help both David and Susanne examine their motives and reactions to one another and to Brianna on a deeper level. He's a picture of unconditional love that we all wish for in our lives and the type of person we could all use, when we're heading the wrong direction.

Remember, this isn't the only stop on Miralee's tour. Keep checking in with the tour. I know Miralee will be sharing more about her own personal journey toward publication.

Read the entire opening scene at Miralee's web site:http://www.miraleeferrell.com/ The Other Daughter is out! Look for it in stores near you, or order from http://www.amazon.com/ or http://www.christianbook.com/

Karen Phillips---Sky-High View
http://sky-highview.blogspot.com/

LaShaunda Hoffman—See Ya On The Net
http://lashaunda.blogspot.com/
http://sormagtours.blogspot.com/


21st Angie Arndt---The Road I'm Traveling
http://psmcmanus.blogspot.com/

22nd Deena Peterson---Deena's Books
http://deenasbooks.blogspot.com/

23rd Rose McCauley---Stories of Faith, Hope and Love
http://www.rosemccauley.blogspot.com/

23rd Pattie Reitz----Fresh Brewed Writer
www.xanga.com/pattierwr and http://freshbrewedwriter.blogspot.com/

An Awesome Guest Blogger

A good friend of mine will be with us on Monday to answer questions. She's Miralee Ferrell, whose debut book has just released. It's The Other Daughter, and take my word for it, this is one splendid book. Those who love Women's Fiction will love it. Follow her blog tour to get to know this awesome woman of God. Dates and blog addresses are at the end of this post. Remember, start your week with us on Monday!


The girl standing at the door took a deep breath, pulling her suitcase a little closer to her trembling legs. "My mama's dead. He's my daddy."Susanne Carson knew that she could trust the love of her life—her husband, David—until she discovered a strange, unkempt young girl on their doorstep, claiming to be David's daughter. Not that their marriage had ever been perfect—David's decision to embrace the Christian faith had strained their relationship. Susanne may not have agreed with his beliefs, but at least she trusted him. Had David been hiding this not-so-little secret from his past? He wanted Susanne to believe in his God, but believing hadn't done much to keep David out of another woman's arms.As David confronts the truth of his past, Susanne must face her own moment of truth as her marriage is taken to the breaking point and the life of one young girl is left in her hands.


Read the entire opening scene at Miralee's web site:
http://www.miraleeferrell.com/

The Other Daughter is releasing Nov. 5th, look for it in stores near you, or order from http://www.amazon.com/ or http://www.christianbook.com/

List of blogs and dates NEW:
Oct. 20th, Karen Phillips---Sky-High View
http://sky-highview.blogspot.com/

LaShaunda Hoffman—See Ya On The Net
http://lashaunda.blogspot.com/
http://sormagtours.blogspot.com/


21st Angie Arndt---The Road I'm Traveling
http://psmcmanus.blogspot.com/

22nd Deena Peterson---Deena's Books
http://deenasbooks.blogspot.com/

22nd Teresa Morgan---Teresa Morgan's Blog
http://www.teresamorgan.blogspot.com/

23rd Rose McCauley---Stories of Faith, Hope and Love
http://www.rosemccauley.blogspot.com/

23rd Pattie Reitz----Fresh Brewed Writer
http://www.xanga.com/pattierwr%20andand
http://freshbrewedwriter.blogspot.com/

24th Cecelia Dowdy---New Christian Fiction Reviews
http://www.ceceliadowdy.blogspot.com/

24th Tiffany Amber Stockton--A Fiction-Filled Life
http://www.ambermiller.com/

25th Bonnie Way---The Koala Bear Writer
http://thekoalabearwriter.blogspot.com/

25th Stormi Johnson---Write Thoughts
http://writesthoughts.blogspot.com/

Knowing vs. Feeling

After conference exhaustion can be a big factor for a lot of writers. For writers who are pitching a book to an editor or agent and have been working for months on proposals and finishing the book, it's a stressful time. We’ve sacrificed our leisure time and stolen hours we should have used for other things—sleeping, for one—in order to work until we’re bleary-eyed coming up with prose that, for lack of a better term, sings. For months we’ve dared to believe that we’re called of God. Then, we’ve attended the conference, gone without sleep, met with our peers as well the editors and agents in the hope that we’re keeping a divine appointment, praying that God will use us. Afterward, we traveled long hours to get home to find our loved ones clamoring for time with us.

Many published authors also find the conference to be stressful as well as a joy. Many are teaching workshops, leading a late night chat, others are spending whatever stolen hours they can catching up with old friends and new ones we don't often get a chance to see. Many nominated for an award. Then, there are those who are involved in the planning and the running of the conference.

I had a great conference, but when I came home, I found my vision a little sharper. Why hadn’t I seen all that clutter piling up? How had all those dust bunnies multiplied so rapidly?

Sound familiar? I was exhausted physically and mentally. My body felt like it’d declared war against me. The enemy isn’t stupid. He knows when and where in my thinking I’m vulnerable. I might as well have been wearing a “kick me” sign.

That’s the reason we don’t live our lives by what we “feel”. We’re to live them according to what we “know”. By what God has said. His Word. While our emotions are valid and very, very real, they also can be liars. As a teenage girl, I sometimes didn’t feel my mother’s love or support. Does that mean she didn’t love me? Of course not. My emotions were lying to me. At different times of our lives, we don’t feel God's love and wonder if He's turned his back on us. the Psalms are full of King David's cries of anguish.

Emotion. Combine that with a lack of healing, or anything else we think God should provide and doesn’t, and you have a major doubt. Fear, even.

The day after I received “the call”, I was so happy, I knew I’d never again doubt my calling. Wrong. At times when I was in physical distress I said there is no way I can do this. But, I know what God’s Word says. Romans 11:29 says, “The gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.” That's the Logos Word of God. But, if I don’t know for certain I’m called, logically, I can't hang on to that as mine. What I need, then, is a Rhema, a Word from God specifically to me and my situation.

Now that's a specific promise or statement of God I can hold on to and rely on just as I rely on God, Himself. Even when my emotions are telling me otherwise.

What I (re-)learned

Romans 11:29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

What a thrill it was to be among other writers again. The ACFW conference was one of the best I've ever attended. I think the word I'd use to describe the authors, editors, planners, staff and volunteers, there, is unity. It wasn't just a unity of purpose, but a unity of motivation. Let God be glorified in me. Yes, for some this is our job. For other's it's a dream. But... whether our writing is a direct calling from God, or an offering to God from a heart that wants to glorify Him, The gifts and calling of God are without repentance. As we submit to Him, as we seek Him, he opens the doors He'd have us walk through.

James Scott Bell was our keynote speaker, and what a job he did in inspiring us. Some came to the conference wondering if they'd really, truly heard the voice of God when he called them to write. Others came simply discouraged and enjoyed a mountaintop experience. Lots of us were overwhelmed at the numbers of writers. So many came simply to be a blessing.

It was a joy for me to be among people like me. I wasn't an oddball in this group. We were unified in our worship, in our dreams, in our desire to learn.

Jill Elizabeth Nelson, author of Relucant Burgular and Reluctant Runaway is an absolute jewel. She critiqued my synopsis and first chapters of my current book and opened my eyes to little mistakes that I never saw, before. Her books are so good, that at the conference I bought copies of both her books for a friend. My friend is already into the second. Jill's next book, Reluctant Smuggler will arrive on the shelves in January of 2008.

I've also learned what an introvert I've become over the last several years since my car accident. I'm beginning to miss my wry sense of humor. My roommate, Renae, had so much energy I sat watching her, amazed. Then, we compared ages and I realized she could be my daughter!

Margie Lawson taught us how to empower our characters' emotions to create deeper, better motivated characters. She taught us to use her EDITS system to help us to power up our scenes and rhetorical devices we'd never heard of. Ever heard the word: anaphora? And this was just the Early Bird session! Check out her web site at: http://www.margielawsom.com/. I believe she has an on-line class coming up in October.

Blessings, Teresa
__________
The Holy Bible : King James Version. 1995 (electronic ed. of the 1769 edition of the 1611 Authorized Version.) (Ro 11:29). Bellingham WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

Why, God?

The ACFW Conference is only 14 days away. Many of us are in overdrive, focussing on finishing our books, polishing our proposals and our pitches. It seems like the last thing I noticed it was the 4th of July!! The summer has flown by.

Scripture says: For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light. -- Mark 4:22

In No Greater Gift, a newly-divorced history professor digs into her grandmother’s secret past for the truth about allegations of blackmail and treason. Though she knows the truth may ruin her family's business and disgrace them all, Grace must honor her grandmother's last request.

Grace's faith in God and His love for her is faltering. She's tried to serve and obey Him her entire life, and now it appears she's lost everything. Why?

Over the course of the book Grace learns to trust in God, and to take comfort in His nature as revealed in the scriptures. Even when Grace doesn't understand why, she can trust in His nature: love, justice, righteousness.

The idea for this book came many years ago when I was in a situation where terrible things were happening, and I didn't understand why. I've loved Him, tried to obey and serve Him since I was a young teenager. What did I do to deserve this? The irony is that I started writing this book well before I was through this valley. At one point, like Grace, I was almost convinced that God didn't love me any longer.

I think we all wonder why terrible things happen to good people. But, over the years, I've begun to learn to trust God in the midst of things I don't understand. But believe me, every time I begin to ask why, I have to remind myself. God is good. He never changes, and I can trust Him. When I demand to understand why, I forfeit that precious gift of God: the peace that passes understanding. That's having peace without understanding why. What is the alternative? Turmoil.

Teresa

Conference Time

It's almost time for the annual American Christian Fiction Writer's Conference. This year, it's in Dallas, Texas from September 20-23, 2007.

For writer, conference time means a chance to pitch our newest books to editors and agents. We'll meet with other authors to learn, brainstorm and critique. There are awesome continuing education and individual workshops offered. The early bird session will be Empowering Characters' Emotions and hosted by Margie Lawson.

As a writer, isolation is sometimes a problem, so this time is precious. We get to meet with other writers, sometimes meeting writers we know on the web, but have never met face to face.

I know that the Word says that we're a peculiar people, but I sometimes think writers are a bit more peculiar.. One of my characters--Erik Petersson--from my current book followed me into church last Sunday and started chattering during worship. I had to shush him more than once. Contrary fellow, as he's been a bit elusive lately, not allowing me into his head and heart.

One author I'm looking forward to meeting is Jill Elizabeth Nelson. Check out Jill's web site. She's an awesome writer of romantic suspense. Both books in her To Catch a Thief series are page turners. The first is Reluctant Burglar, and the second is Reluctant Runaway. Once you meet Desiree Jacobs and her special agent, Tony Lucano, you'll be hooked. A friend of mine took them on vacation and was accused of being antisocial because she kept excusing herself to a back bedroom to read.

Keep reading!

Teresa

The Star Spangled Banner

Following is the fourth verse of the official American national anthem. As an American Christian, I treasure not only my faith and my country, but also the undeniable connection between the two. Have a blessed Independence Day.

"O thus be it ever when free men shall stand
Between their loved homes and the war's desolation;
Blest with victory and peace, may the Heaven-rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto, 'In God is our trust';
And the Star-spangled Banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave."
(Text from The Army-Navy Hymnal)

Time Passes

Time goes fast, whether we're having fun or not! An update on NanoWriMo: I ended up with a bit over 10,000 words, which is nowhere near what I would have liked. Still, I'm grateful.

I've just returned from the U.S. National Figure Skating Championships in Spokane, Washington. What a joy to see the novice and junior divisions as well as the seniors! What incredible potential we have coming up.

On the 17th of February from 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m., I'll be signing books at Hastings Book and Music in Kennewick, Washington. I'd love to see you there.

And So It Goes...

Life happens. Unfortunately, because of a few surprises, and a loss of almost a week and a half, I'm no where near where I'd like to be. As of this moment, I'm at 8,512 words. But, I still have eleven days. Good thing I can type over 100 words per minute.

Tata!

Courage and Fearlessness

I've managed to survive days one and two of NaNoWriMo. As of the end of Day 2, I've written a grand total of 3141 words. The arms and hands are behaving themselves. I'm happy to note that my internal editor has had little to say.

Did you know that where writing is concerned, there's a difference between courage and fearlessness? Ralph Keyes, in The Courage to Write, said:

Working writers aren't those who have eliminated their anxiety. They are the ones who keep scribbling while their heart races and their stomach churns, and who mail manuscripts with trembling fingers. The key difference between writers who are paralyzed by fear and those who are merely terrified is that--like E. B. White--the latter come to terms with their anxieties. They learn how to keep writing even as fear tries to yank their hand from the page. They find the courage to write.

Why do so many of us write in fear and trembling? Because we want desperately to communicate the souls of our characters. Though I've heard many writers say that their characters are complete fabrications with no connection to themselves. My characters come from deep within me. In every story I leave a piece of my own soul.

By the grace of God I won't fall short. I've only just begun digging deeper within myself.

On Your Marks... Get set ...

While my husband is answering the door for Trick or Treaters, I'm making last minute preparations for the NaNoWriMo ordeal. This year, it's about putting a gag in the mouth of my internal editor. He's tormented me for much too long. I've put aside revisions to book #3 and am writing draft material on a new book, so far without even a working title.

So far I have a character and a bit of her background, and I know what she wants. I also know who doesn't want her to get it, and why. Well, a few someones, anyway. That's what I consider as the basis of any book. That ensures the conflict.

Now I have to figure out what happens next and who these characters become.

Ahhh. Here comes the fun part.

What Kind of Insanity?

In case you didn't know, November is National Novel Writing Month. A challenge. Call it a dare if you like, plenty do. This is the month when tens of thousands of ordinarily sane writers around the world challenge themselves or one another to a ridiculous feat of endurance: Write a 50,000 book in a month. You get thirty-one 24 hour days, and not one word is allowed before November 1 or after November 30. Prewriting and plotting are great, the planning of characters and conflict are fine, too. But not one word of the book.

If we reach that coveted 50,000 word mark, we win... what? An icon much like the ones above, only it says WINNER! You get the satisfaction of having done it. The words don't have to sing or even yodel. They just have to be.

How many people long to write a book, to be published, to communicate... something. They yearn for the time when their children are older, more independent. They wait for the time when they can devote themselves full time to the task. Many promise themselves they'll do it after they retire. They never do it, sadly.

The thing about this challenge that brings me joy is knowing that so many people are actually doing it. It's just for a month, you know. They can write every day for a month. Some will enjoy the exercise, then put their manuscripts away and never look at them again. That's great. But some will continue even after November. They'll go back to those words they wrote in such a hurry and they'll revised and rework them. They'll strengthen their characters, cut out the deadwood and prune their dialogue. Some will polish their books and send them out, only to have them come back in what seems to be return mail. Or, they'll hear nothing at all for months.

Eventually, some of those books will get published. Yes, it has happened.

Either way, I applaud them. Oh, there are those that take offense How dare these people call themselves writers! Just the mention of NaNoWriMo Director Chris Baty's book "No Plot, No Problem" makes them crazy. A novel needs a plot!! Often, they resent someone who spent a month typing 50,000 thousand words of unintelligible drivel calling themselves a writer, or worse, an author.

In a way, I understand where they're coming from. They've worked long and hard, many for decades sweating blood over each book, each word. They've struggled to understand and learn this business. After rejections and despair they get "the call". They're published. Then, one day at the gym someone announces that they've just completed their first book and wants to know the name of their agent. They want fast action because they worked on it for a whole month!

My response: You can't fix a blank page, only one with words on it.

I still support this program. In 2005 they had over 59,000 participants. Almost 10,000 people world-wide wrote their 50,000 words.

In addition, in 2004 and 2005 the NaNoWriMo organization contributed over $20,000 to Room to Read to build libraries for kids in Cambodia. Those libraries are up and running now.

Check out their web site: http://www.nanowrimo.org

Spiritually-Minded Puppies

I've been told that the difference between man and animals is that though animals have a mind, will and emotions, they do not have an everlasting spirit that communes with God. The gentleman that explained this to me said that the thing that proved this to him was that he'd never returned home to find his beloved Yorki--Teddy, by name--sprawled out on the floor communing with God.

After a search of the scriptures, I had to wonder. The book of Revelation speaks of Christ returning to earth on a white horse. In the Old Testament, the Lord used a donkey to rebuke a disobedient prophet.

Not only does God use our pets in our every day life to bring us joy and comfort, to amuse and inspire us, he uses them and all His creation to demonstrate His glory and majesty.

This little cocker spaniel is Misty. Two years ago God healed her of a particularly nasty anemia. Her red blood cells had broken down, flooding her kidneys and liver with bilirubin beyond their capacity to process. Beneath her black fur, her skin turned a fluorescent crayon-box yellow. She had to have transfusions and around the clock care. She was critically ill for six days.

One morning after picking her up at the after hours emergency care vet, I headed to the church. One dear gentleman, a food ministry volunteer, got down on his knees in the parking lot in thirty degree weather to pray for my dog.

Misty is still with us, as cunning and mischievous as ever. To God be the glory. I have no doubt He touched her.

The scripture says that God knows when every sparrow falls to the ground. So, will my cockers live in heaven with me? Perhaps my friend is right. Perhaps not. Still, I couldn't resist the image his words created.

Writing in Fear and Trembling... and in Faith

1 Corinthians 2:1-5

And I, brethren, when I came to you,
I did not come with excellence of speech
or of wisdom
declaring to you the testimony of God.
For I determined not to know anything among you
except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling.
And my speech and my preaching
were not with persuasive words of human wisdom
but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men
but in the power of God. (NKJV)

Odd, isn't it, that a writer would find this scripture comforting, but I do. Before his conversion on the road to Damascus, Paul was brilliant, one of the most learned men of his time, and had every reason to be confident in the gifts God had given him. Still, sixteen years after his conversion, he still felt the need to depend heavily upon God. Paul didn't want to be limited to his own best. For his beloved children in Christ, Paul wanted God's best.

I've had times during my writing career when words came hard. Even prose that couldn't sing, came hard. My most interesting characters either uttered clichés or stared sullenly into space.

During those times, I've cried out to God. Why? You've called me to write, so why can't I? What am I doing wrong? Why do my words have no life, no emotion? Tell me what to do! At this point, I'd have settled for melodrama. Writing should be a joy, a thrill. Instead, what I perceived as my failure filled me with despair.

When I've reached that point, and have done everything I know to do, everything that's ever worked to release the flow of thoughts and words, I've learned to stop and turn off the computer. Then, I seek the face of God, and hen sit quietly in His presence, waiting. The Holy Spirit sometimes prompts me with this question:

"Why are you putting yourself through this?"

"Why, for you!" I said. "I'm doing this for you! I want to show your love to the world."

After I'd heard my own words, He opened my eyes and I realized the truth. I'd lost focus, and without realizing it, I'd begun to depend solely upon myself and my own giftings to write this impossibly ambitious book.

God reminded me that without Him I may be able to write a suspense novel that would keep the most critical of reviewers up until they'd turned the last page. If that happens, great, but that alone is not what I'm called to do.

My calling is to allow God to enable me to write stories that use His power not only to entertain, but bring hope to reader who is discouraged, to proclaim God's unfailing love and forgiveness, to show the world that there is no place a human heart can go that God cannot follow.

Someone once asked me if I ever had doubts about my ability. Absolutely, I do. Often, in fact. But I don't doubt God's. Not any longer. I've even tried to quit writing, but God keeps calling me back. I know that if I quit, when I look back on my life, I'd have failed. So in faith, I continue. I still have to study my craft and work hard. I have to exercise discipline. I have to show up at the page whether I feel like it or not. God helping me, I'll do it.

When my doubts threaten to overwhelm me, I return to another favorite scripture:

"... being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ."

- Philippians 1:6

Photograph copyright Greg Morgan,

Stained glass window of New Hope Community Church, Clackamas, Oregon