Ada Brownell's Blog, page 45
January 9, 2015
RODEO FAMILY AND ALL AROUND FITNESS IN 2015
MEET THIS AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR
Central Arkansas author, Shannon Taylor Vannatter is a stay-at-home mom/pastor’s wife. She lives in a town with a population of around 100, if you count a few cows. Vannatter won the Inspirational Readers Choice Award in the short contemporary category, The 18thAnnual Heartsong Awards 3rd Favorite New Author and #1 Contemporary Award.
Her ten titles are with Heartsong Presents and she’s contracted for five more. Her books are available at christianbook.com, barnesandnoble.com, amazon.com, harlequin.com, and barbourbooks.com. Learn more about Shannonand her books at http://shannonvannatter.com and check out her real life romance blog at http://shannonvannatter.com/blog/.
Connect with her on Facebook: http://facebook.com/shannontaylorvannatter, Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/29672798-shannon-vannatter, Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/stvannatter/, and Twitter: @stvauthor.
TORI EATON IS READY TO START OVER
She's beginning a new chapter in Aubrey, Texas, away from her abusive ex-boyfriend. As she picks up the pieces of her broken life, Tori's surprised at the helping hand the church's new song director, Brant McConnell, offers her, and at the warm emotions he inspires.
Brant is drawn to Tori. And as their friendship grows, so do his feelings for her. But Tori is still hounded by her past, and the walls she's built around her heart are high. Can he convince the wounded beauty that he's exactly the kind of man she needs—and deserves?
EXERCISE: WHO WANTS TO SWEAT?
By Shannon Vannatter
By now, most people have made their New Year’s resolution. Some have already failed. Mine this year—to get back into my exercise routine be more punctual. As I write this post, the new year hasn’t arrived yet. I’ll let you know how I’m doing in the comments.
Since writing is a very sedentary profession and I’m not the type of person who likes to sweat, I’m happy to sit my days away. But I know that’s not healthy. Last year, a writer friend’s blog inspired me to treadmill at least ten minutes, five days a week. By planning to only exercise for ten minutes, it turned out so doable, I often walked twenty or thirty minutes. But on days when I was in a time crunch, I did the ten minutes. It worked all the way up until September when I went to the ACFW Conference in St. Louis.
Even though the hotel had a free workout room with a treadmill, I didn’t make time for it. I figured I walked the hotel for more than ten minutes each day just going from class to class. I’m certain I did, but it was enough to get me out of my routine. When I got home, I was exhausted and brain fried as usual after a writing conference. I never got back into my routine. Obviously, it doesn’t take much to rattle my resolve.
The other thing I resolved to do—be on time. I long to be a punctual person, but the clock and I have long had a battle and it usually wins. I look at the time and think, Wow I’m doing good. I’ll be ready in plenty of time. I look at it again seemingly minutes later and I should have left five minutes ago.
Last year, I was only late a handful of times. As opposed to most of the time in the past. So this year, I’ll continue to improve on my punctuality.
I always make a spiritual list to improve each year. This year’s list:
Spend more time in prayer.
I try to pray throughout the day. Whenever I think of someone I know is struggling. Whenever I hear an ambulance go by. Whenever I see someone less fortunate. When my son was conceived, I came up with a really intense, thorough prayer covering his entire life. I prayed it each night. Over the years, I’ve gotten lax. I want to get back into my nightly routine.
Read the Bible every day.Several years ago, my husband and I went to a revival. The preacher asked for a show of hands of people who read their Bible every day. I couldn’t raise my hand. I started reading at least a chapter every night that very night. If ever asked that question again, I wanted to be able to raise my hand. I’ve never been asked again.
But I still read nightly. I chose night because reading doesn’t make me sleepy. It does relax me and what better thing to do before going to sleep than read the Bible. When I finish Revelation, I start over in Genesis. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve read through—probably about ten. Sad since I’m almost fifty. But I didn’t start until I was in my thirties. Sometimes, I read two or three chapters. But I intentionally go slow, so it sinks in better.
Commit more fully to our church and congregation. Yes I’m the pastor’s wife and I’m there every time the doors are open unless our son is sick or I’m dying. But I used to visit our members more often. When someone was sick, I made soup. After I got published and started living on deadlines, I let some things slip. I’m planning to step up my game this year.
Tell me about your resolutions. Did you make any? How are you doing on your resolve? All comments will go into a drawing for my latest release, Rodeo Family.
Central Arkansas author, Shannon Taylor Vannatter is a stay-at-home mom/pastor’s wife. She lives in a town with a population of around 100, if you count a few cows. Vannatter won the Inspirational Readers Choice Award in the short contemporary category, The 18thAnnual Heartsong Awards 3rd Favorite New Author and #1 Contemporary Award.
Her ten titles are with Heartsong Presents and she’s contracted for five more. Her books are available at christianbook.com, barnesandnoble.com, amazon.com, harlequin.com, and barbourbooks.com. Learn more about Shannonand her books at http://shannonvannatter.com and check out her real life romance blog at http://shannonvannatter.com/blog/.
Connect with her on Facebook: http://facebook.com/shannontaylorvannatter, Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/29672798-shannon-vannatter, Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/stvannatter/, and Twitter: @stvauthor.
TORI EATON IS READY TO START OVER
She's beginning a new chapter in Aubrey, Texas, away from her abusive ex-boyfriend. As she picks up the pieces of her broken life, Tori's surprised at the helping hand the church's new song director, Brant McConnell, offers her, and at the warm emotions he inspires.
Brant is drawn to Tori. And as their friendship grows, so do his feelings for her. But Tori is still hounded by her past, and the walls she's built around her heart are high. Can he convince the wounded beauty that he's exactly the kind of man she needs—and deserves?
EXERCISE: WHO WANTS TO SWEAT?
By Shannon Vannatter
By now, most people have made their New Year’s resolution. Some have already failed. Mine this year—to get back into my exercise routine be more punctual. As I write this post, the new year hasn’t arrived yet. I’ll let you know how I’m doing in the comments.
Since writing is a very sedentary profession and I’m not the type of person who likes to sweat, I’m happy to sit my days away. But I know that’s not healthy. Last year, a writer friend’s blog inspired me to treadmill at least ten minutes, five days a week. By planning to only exercise for ten minutes, it turned out so doable, I often walked twenty or thirty minutes. But on days when I was in a time crunch, I did the ten minutes. It worked all the way up until September when I went to the ACFW Conference in St. Louis.
Even though the hotel had a free workout room with a treadmill, I didn’t make time for it. I figured I walked the hotel for more than ten minutes each day just going from class to class. I’m certain I did, but it was enough to get me out of my routine. When I got home, I was exhausted and brain fried as usual after a writing conference. I never got back into my routine. Obviously, it doesn’t take much to rattle my resolve.
The other thing I resolved to do—be on time. I long to be a punctual person, but the clock and I have long had a battle and it usually wins. I look at the time and think, Wow I’m doing good. I’ll be ready in plenty of time. I look at it again seemingly minutes later and I should have left five minutes ago.
Last year, I was only late a handful of times. As opposed to most of the time in the past. So this year, I’ll continue to improve on my punctuality.
I always make a spiritual list to improve each year. This year’s list:
Spend more time in prayer.
I try to pray throughout the day. Whenever I think of someone I know is struggling. Whenever I hear an ambulance go by. Whenever I see someone less fortunate. When my son was conceived, I came up with a really intense, thorough prayer covering his entire life. I prayed it each night. Over the years, I’ve gotten lax. I want to get back into my nightly routine.
Read the Bible every day.Several years ago, my husband and I went to a revival. The preacher asked for a show of hands of people who read their Bible every day. I couldn’t raise my hand. I started reading at least a chapter every night that very night. If ever asked that question again, I wanted to be able to raise my hand. I’ve never been asked again.
But I still read nightly. I chose night because reading doesn’t make me sleepy. It does relax me and what better thing to do before going to sleep than read the Bible. When I finish Revelation, I start over in Genesis. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve read through—probably about ten. Sad since I’m almost fifty. But I didn’t start until I was in my thirties. Sometimes, I read two or three chapters. But I intentionally go slow, so it sinks in better.
Commit more fully to our church and congregation. Yes I’m the pastor’s wife and I’m there every time the doors are open unless our son is sick or I’m dying. But I used to visit our members more often. When someone was sick, I made soup. After I got published and started living on deadlines, I let some things slip. I’m planning to step up my game this year.
Tell me about your resolutions. Did you make any? How are you doing on your resolve? All comments will go into a drawing for my latest release, Rodeo Family.
January 7, 2015
GET ORGANIZED IN 2015
2015: Contentment and the Sense of Well Being
By Ada Brownell
It might sound odd, but my sense of well being is connected to accomplishing priorities, organization and order.No, I don’t think I have obsessive-compulsive disorder, a psychiatric illness, such as plagued the television fictional character Monk.Furthermore, I believe a family’s sense of well being is affected by order as well, and many women don’t understand how easy it is to accomplish priorities and achieve order.My children are grown now, and I have great-grandchildren. But I learned through having five children that working only a few extra seconds and minutes each day accomplishes small goals does wonders for the household atmosphere.
Imagine the difference in how you feel if before you jump in the shower you “take five,” and read a scripture and pray for blessings upon you and your family. In fact, you can even pray while you’re in the shower or driving to work. Here’s a list of other things to do that will change the atmosphere in your home, especially for working women.1. Make the bed when you get out of it (your husband might help)...........................3 minutes2. Pick up dirty clothes and put into hamper...............................................................2 minutes3. Wipe down the shower ............................................................................................3 minutes4. After putting on makeup, put away everything on your vanity and clean the sink and mirror .......................................................................................................................................3 minutes5. While you dress, figure out what you’re having for dinner. You can put frozen meat, seasoned and ready to go in the oven set on time bake. Or put dinner in a crock pot, or stick potatoes in the oven set on time bake. The main thing is to think about dinner in advance and cut preparation time when you get home. You can even give the children chores to have completed by the time you get home ....................................................................................................................up to 10 minutes6. Never stand waiting while you microwave water for tea. I can clean out the dishwasher in just a little longer than the time needed to heat water.....................................................about 2 minutes7. Tackle small cleaning jobs when you notice the dirt ..........................................10 minutes8. Fold and hang laundry directly from the dryer.............................................5 minutes per load9. Keep a running grocery list on the refrigerator and write down any product you regularly use that is running low or you need........................................................................10 seconds for each entry.10. Pay bills when they arrive in the mail and balance check book regularly .........5 to 30 minutes11. Work on your inner person every day, studying God’s Word, reading good inspirational books.12. Fill your children’s love tank before you do anything else after work. Look at each of them in the eye, give them a hug, ask about their day, and tell them you love them. Then you can start preparing dinner..........................................................................................................2 to 5 minutes per child13. Work on your marriage. Take time to sit down beside your mate, watch a game or movie, and verbalize thankfulness for little things ................... ............................................5 minutes and up 14. End the day thanking God for His blessings and tell him about your needs, believing He hears and answers prayer.................................................................................................5 minutes and up
By Ada Brownell
It might sound odd, but my sense of well being is connected to accomplishing priorities, organization and order.No, I don’t think I have obsessive-compulsive disorder, a psychiatric illness, such as plagued the television fictional character Monk.Furthermore, I believe a family’s sense of well being is affected by order as well, and many women don’t understand how easy it is to accomplish priorities and achieve order.My children are grown now, and I have great-grandchildren. But I learned through having five children that working only a few extra seconds and minutes each day accomplishes small goals does wonders for the household atmosphere.
Imagine the difference in how you feel if before you jump in the shower you “take five,” and read a scripture and pray for blessings upon you and your family. In fact, you can even pray while you’re in the shower or driving to work. Here’s a list of other things to do that will change the atmosphere in your home, especially for working women.1. Make the bed when you get out of it (your husband might help)...........................3 minutes2. Pick up dirty clothes and put into hamper...............................................................2 minutes3. Wipe down the shower ............................................................................................3 minutes4. After putting on makeup, put away everything on your vanity and clean the sink and mirror .......................................................................................................................................3 minutes5. While you dress, figure out what you’re having for dinner. You can put frozen meat, seasoned and ready to go in the oven set on time bake. Or put dinner in a crock pot, or stick potatoes in the oven set on time bake. The main thing is to think about dinner in advance and cut preparation time when you get home. You can even give the children chores to have completed by the time you get home ....................................................................................................................up to 10 minutes6. Never stand waiting while you microwave water for tea. I can clean out the dishwasher in just a little longer than the time needed to heat water.....................................................about 2 minutes7. Tackle small cleaning jobs when you notice the dirt ..........................................10 minutes8. Fold and hang laundry directly from the dryer.............................................5 minutes per load9. Keep a running grocery list on the refrigerator and write down any product you regularly use that is running low or you need........................................................................10 seconds for each entry.10. Pay bills when they arrive in the mail and balance check book regularly .........5 to 30 minutes11. Work on your inner person every day, studying God’s Word, reading good inspirational books.12. Fill your children’s love tank before you do anything else after work. Look at each of them in the eye, give them a hug, ask about their day, and tell them you love them. Then you can start preparing dinner..........................................................................................................2 to 5 minutes per child13. Work on your marriage. Take time to sit down beside your mate, watch a game or movie, and verbalize thankfulness for little things ................... ............................................5 minutes and up 14. End the day thanking God for His blessings and tell him about your needs, believing He hears and answers prayer.................................................................................................5 minutes and up
January 5, 2015
READY FOR TAKE OFF IN 2015?
By Ada Brownell
Like a sky full of migrating geese the world heads into 2015. Do you know where you’re heading and where you hope to end the journey? Here are some ideas.
1. Have a sensible destination and know how to get there.
2. Take it one wing flap at a time.
3. Disregard discouraging winds and keep going.
4. Allow others to help, but don’t be afraid to take the lead.
5. Rest and take nourishment when necessary.
6. Stop to help others
. 7. Listen to the honking and understand the meaning. The Holy Spirit speaks, leads, and when hidden your heart, God’s Word will be your GPS.
8. Add your voice loud and clear, using available techniques.
9 9. When you reach a destination, make a new home, enjoy, but keep in mind it’s temporary. Then are more skies to conquer.
10.Don’t allow a warm cozy climate to distract you from goals in your Christian walk, talents and ministries. Eventually you’ll fly back into blizzards, strong winds that can discourage, but never quit.. Mount up on wings and the seemingly impossible can be achieved.
January 3, 2015
Why I still believe God heals
By Ada Brownell
Christians often struggle with why some are healed and some are not. Many Christians are confused by that mystery and the church sometimes staggers under a spirit of unbelief.I’ve entered that valley, too, but as a Christian and retired medical reporter, I still believe in miracles. My faith journey began as a child. My friend, Velda Jean Bailey, was stricken with leukemia. My brother-in-law told me about her condition. “The doctors say Velda Jean probably has only two or three weeks to live.”A woman in my home church tearfully requested prayer for my friend.A few days later, Velda’s grandfather had been praying with her when her mother saw a change come over her daughter.“She looked as if new blood were going into her veins,” her mother recalled. Velda’s symptoms disappeared and the parents asked for new tests. Diagnostics revealed Velda was completely healed. She was alive the last I heard—25 years later. Our daughter, Gwen, didn’t need tubes surgically inserted into her ears after she went forward for prayer. Our youngest daughter Jeanette s elbow was healed so that it no longer slipped out of the joint.Years later, our granddaughter, Melissa, suffered from croup, Our son, Gary, and his wife, Janice, were moving and due to be in Tulsa, so they left anyway. Gary drove the truck and Janice followed in the car. I and Janice’s mother went to our knees in prayer.Snow fell so fast as Janice followed the truck the windshield wipers wouldn’t work. Janice had to stick her head out the window in order to see, bringing the cold air in on Melissa and her little brother, Justin.When they arrived in Tulsa safely, Janice called us.“How is Melissa?” I asked.“The croup is gone. She’s not sick anymore.”I’d heard sometimes cool moist air helps chest congestion—but cure a fevered child with croup?We’ve had numerous times when physicians thought a member of our family was in trouble physically. A few years ago, a medical test showed Gary had only 40 percent kidney function, but after prayer, a specialist found nothing wrong. Gary never had kidney problems again.At about age 30, Gwen had symptoms of multiple sclerosis. After prayer and many tests, physicians said she was fine—and she is fine, 10 years later.Our six younger grandchildren are miracles, and I believe it’s because God answers prayer. Complications during their mothers’ pregnancy could have endangered four of their lives or their future, but God intervened. Two other grandchildren came to us through the miracle of adoption.With five children, and now grandchildren, we’ve had so many medical problems changed from serious to insignificant after prayer I can’t list them all. Yet, Carolyn, our oldest daughter, died at age 31 of an aggressive form of lymphoma, and our son, Jaron, has suffered from asthma since age 2. But I still believe for Jaron’s healing and know God heals. His health is improving, and in 2014 when doctors suspected he had leukemia because of constantly elevated white blood cell counts, when we prayed diligently, tests showed no leukemia and his blood became normal. I’ve been a student of the Bible almost all my life and although answers to why some are healed and some are not is a mystery, the Word explains a great deal about healing and miracles.Here are a few things I’ve learned.1. All humankind is destined to die because of sin. God told Adam and Eve if they ate of the forbidden tree, they would die. Satan, the liar, said, “You won’t die! He just wants to keep something good from you!” (my translation) Adam and Eve ate and became mortals. We, as their offspring, inherited the curse of sin. Read about it in Genesis 3. I like the way the King James Version explains in Romans 8:22 how our mortality affects us: “We know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.”Healing is in the atonement. Centuries before Jesus came Isaiah wrote, “Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed (Isaiah 53:4-5). Peter quoted the verses and said, “By his wounds you have been healed” (1 Peter 2:24).Our Savior knows what is to suffer. They plucked his beard and tore flesh off His back for our healing. Yet, even before pain gripped His body, Jesus had compassion and healed many among the multitudes that followed Him.3. An atmosphere of doubt interferes with God’s Spirit working among us. Jesus Himself couldn’t do many miracles in Nazareth because of a spirit of unbelief (Matthew 13:57-58). In Luke’s description of the Lord’s visit to His home town, Jesus told how many lepers in Israel needed healing, but only one—Naaman—was healed. The heavens were shut up to many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, but because of unbelief Elijah was sent to only one--the widow of Zarephath. It isn’t that Jesus doesn’t have the power for miracles among a throng of doubters, but we often absorb the unbelief.4. Our personal faith is affected by what our minds feed on. Romans 10:16-18 tells us faith comes through hearing the word of God. Much of the church today attends services an hour and a half a week. We complain about 45-minute sermons and have no time for prayer in the altars, but spend several hours each day watching TV and we’ll sit outside in a snow storm for three hours to watch a football game. Romans 8:1 (KJV) indicates when we allow our flesh to take charge of our minds; it interferes with walking after the Spirit.5. We build our faith remembering miracles God has done. In every church and prayer group I’ve attended “these signs, including healing, have followed them that believe” (Mark 16:17). One time I was asked to speak about prayer to the youth group. Instead of speaking, I a half dozen people with testimonies of God’s intervention in a crisis. The father of a large family who worked on a highway crew urgently prayed because rain was forecast and he couldn’t work in the rain. Rain followed the paving machine all day, but it never rained where they worked. Several told of miraculous healings—two where doctors had given no hope. One woman told how God turned away a forest fire racing toward their house as she and the children stood at the window praying and repeating Psalm 91. I later wrote their testimonies for The Pentecostal Evangel in a story, “What Prayer Can Do.” Yet, a serious diagnosis such as cancer of the pancreas strikes faith-paralyzing fear. I believe part of that is Satan’s “spin” on truth. Like every expert of propaganda, he uses a smidgeon of truth in his destructive lies. While treatments have advanced, cancer of the pancreas has meant almost certain death. But Gospel Singer Jimmy Blackwood, son of James Blackwood, was healed of pancreatic cancer in 1984. I interviewed him about it for the newspaper where I worked. Jimmy is still singing.6. We have a drought of God’s power because we don’t seek the Gifts of healing, faith and miracles. It’s been a long time since I’ve heard people praying for, seeking after, and having hands laid on them to receive the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. God gives the Gifts to those for whom He has a specific purpose but He also tells us to ask for them (1 Corinthians 12). Jesus said, “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give” (Matthew 10:8).7. Lack of fasting and prayer affects spiritual outcomes. In Ezra’s time they fasted and prayed for God’s protection over their families (Ezra 8:20-22). The disciples couldn’t cast out demons because they didn’t fast and pray before they went out (Matthew 17:20-22). We’re told God is able to do more than we can ask or think, but it is according to the power that works in us (Ephesians 3:19-21). According to the Word, prayer and fasting increases that power.8. Although we know our sin doesn’t cause most sicknesses, sin could cause us to be sick or even die. Paul wrote, “Whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. But if we judge ourselves, we would not come under judgment” (1 Corinthians 11:29--31).When, however, some people witnessed the healing of a blind man and asked who sinned, the man or his parents, Jesus said, “Neither, but that the works of God might be revealed in him” (John 9:1-3).9. Some people aren’t healed or delivered because of “the greater good.” For instance, when our oldest daughter was near death from cancer she left a witness. Four people gave their lives to Christ and others recommitted themselves to God. When people experience a death close to them, they realize their own mortality and the need of a Savior. Often God uses faith and works and we should give Him credit for these miracles. James said, “What good is it, my brothers, if a man claim to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? … Faith, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead” James 2:14-16). I was prayed for several times because of knee pain. When I had knee replacements, the pain disappeared. Medications along with God’s mercy have helped Jaron live triumphantly with asthma for 40 years. I consider that a gift from God. I believe the knowledge of physicians today is given by the Lord and furthermore, it is a sign of Christ’s coming. God told Daniel, But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased” (Daniel 12:4).
On the medical beat at the newspaper where I worked, over and over I was told how physicians couldn’t do much for diseases and medical conditions until the 20th Century. The most important things that changed health and longevity, according to physicians I’ve interviewed, are clean water, immunizations and antibiotics—but God also has given wisdom for marvelous diagnostics, medications, and treatments.
Sometimes healing doesn’t come because we’re being tested, as Job was.
“These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold” (1 Peter 1:7NKJ). God’s sovereignty means He always has the last word. God has the last word in everything, including how many days we live. We have promises all over the Bible about healing which we can grasp and believe, but we have to put the whole Bible together for correct doctrine. It should give us comfort, and not fear, to know everything is in His hands. “This is the assurance that we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him” (1 John 5:14-15). But His “last words” to His children always are words of love (See John 3:16).Note: An edited version of this article appeared in the summer 2013 online edition of Enrichment Magazine.
December 29, 2014
STEEL MONSTERS: LIVING AMONG TRAINS
Steel Monsters
By Ada Brownell
When I was a kid, the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad’s main line lay between me and school. No crossing arms barred me from danger--just noisy clanging and big red eyeballs flashing. Then every hoof of the massive engine’s horsepower pounded by.I hated trains. Somebody told me if you stand too close, you’ll be sucked under.Then I grew up. An agent-telegrapher chose me for his wife and I made friends with the monsters. Les’s job caused us to roam Colorado like the trains, and we moved 12 times the first three years of our marriage. But it was an adventure.We lived in a log cabin at Pando, on top of Colorado’s Tennessee Pass across the highway from Camp Hale. One soldier jumped off the train with his duffle bag and checked out the place.“Mountains this way. Mountains that way. Mountains over there and over here. The only way out of this place is up!”When we moved to Minturn, our house rested in a mountain’s niche above the depot. Les worked evenings, so near suppertime I jumped on a sled, hiked up the canyon, slid all the way to the depot and delivered his meal.In Malta, a smelter town near Leadville, Colo., a boxcar with a “lean-to” became our home. Relatives visited overnight and after lights were out, my little niece shakily asked, “Is a train going to take us away?”In Avon, Colo., we lived in the depot next to the tracks. Often the click of the telegraph “bug” echoed into our living room carrying a message in dots and dashes. I knew trains probably approached from the East and West on the one set of tracks. Les quickly transcribed the Morse message, tied it in twine, attached it to a long Y stick, and ran outside.A few minutes later, a massive monster clothed in the gold and black Rio Grande cape streaked toward the depot. Les stood beside the tracks, his clothes flapping in the breeze as he extended the Y stick.The engineer leaned out, stuck his arm through the loop of twine, read the message and pulled the train into the next siding.
Finally, we bought a beautiful mobile home. A 40-foot canvas awning covered our patio.We were not far from the tracks and one day sparks from a “hot box”, a boxcar with a stuck wheel, ignited a nearby trestle bridge. Sparks from the fire burned a hole in our awning, but more serious, train traffic stopped until the trestle was rebuilt.Our mobile house ended up in two-mile-high Leadville and winter snows showed no mercy. Before Les left for a temporary job in Texas creek, he said, “Leave the bathtub water running to prevent freezing.”One frosty night, I took a relaxing bath. I was tucked in bed when my mother-in-law, who lived with us, flushed the toilet. I woke to a sucking sound and remembered I turned the water off.Fearing broken pipes, I threw my fake-fur coat over my nightie, pulled on snow boots, grabbed a fusee-torch, matches, a broom and ventured into the darkness.I swept a path, then a tunnel through the deep snow and crawled to the pipes.Bummer! I got the matches wet!I backed out and headed for the door. My bare hand stuck to the frosty knob. When I got my hand free, the door wouldn’t open. The deep snow on the roof was melting, dribbled down, and the door froze shut.I rang the doorbell and prayed. My mother-in-law pushed and I pulled until with a crunch the door opened.Next time, I dressed warmly, left the door open a crack, kept my matches dry and succeeded in my mission. The next day, I discovered the temperature dipped to 30 degrees below zero.Soon Centralized Traffic Control closed many depots. Teletype and later, computers, nudged telegraph into history.But still the monsters crawl over our nation, bringing food, fuel and merchandise. I hope the handsome monsters never become extinct.
December 26, 2014
WILL FAMILY WORSHIP AT YOUR HOUSE COUNTERACT PROPAGANDA AND WICKEDNESS OF TODAY?
By Ada Brownell
Family worship at home is difficult in this day when busyness steals time. Yet, it is more necessary than ever.
Secularists, Progressives and even Communists and other religions have made it their priority to grab the hearts and minds of youth in America, and they’d especially like to brainwash those raised in Christian homes.
Brainwashing usually involves propaganda and the most successful propaganda has some truth in it, according to Jacques Ellul, author of “Propaganda: The Formation of Men’s Attitudes.”. If it were all lies, most people would resist it.
Where propaganda goes to work to change minds is in the “interpretation” of the truth, or the “slant” they place on the truth. It’s called “spin” today.
Mao Tse-Tung said propaganda can “force” people to become Marxist. His first techniques failed, but then he went to public discussion, criticism, persuasion and Marxist education, especially for children and he turned China to his way of thinking. This is spite of Mao executing an estimated two to five million people and several million were sent to labor camps.
To have the greatest effect, propaganda must base itself on existing tendencies, Ellul said, Ellul said pre-existing attitudes fade quickly in real propaganda campaigns where it surrounds a person from morning to night, childhood to old age, in all he reads, hears, without giving him rest, a moment to pause, think or catch his breath.The media rarely mentions powerful things accomplished by Christians and Jews. Christian charities housed and fed the homeless and hungry around the world for centuries. Missionaries often bring free health care and medicine when they go to tell the world about Jesus. Christians are there, too, when disaster strikes.Christians started and still operate most of the hospitals in the world.Religion was the reason people learned to read. Since the Middle Ages, there has been near universal literacy among Jewish men because they were required to read the Torah by age 13. Christians read the Jewish scrolls than read the letters of the Apostles to their congregations. The Reformation caused everyone to want to read Scripture and the first book published by Gutenberg was the Bible. Wycliff Translators are bringing literacy even to tribes with no written language because they’ll live with them and create their language.In America, education began with families teaching their children so they could read God’s Word and eventually that evolved into schools. Most of the universities and colleges in the United States were started by Christians, and they often contained seminaries or Bible schools. Now you can’t even use the name of Jesus in a classroom in any of those universities unless it’s used as a swear word. I thought the active war against faith in God was bad enough when we were raising our family. There came a time when I knew I would need to counteract at home ungodly teachings my kids were forced to study in school. That’s why I devoted time to studying sections of Josh McDowell’s book, “Evidence that Demands a Verdict” during our family worship time. Norman Lear, a writer and television executive started the “People for the American Way,” to erode the faith of youth with television programming in response to the Moral Majority in the 1980s, and PAW is still going strong. And the church wonders why it loses a large percentage of youth—even when they’ve been raised in Christian homes! Wise parents will guard their children’s hearts and minds, and inspire them to do the same thing by filling their minds with God’s Word, giving themselves completely to God, and by shunning even the appearance of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:22). I remember family worship when my mother had eight of us in the house, and when there were only two of us eight children left. Dad wasn’t the type to lead it, but always listened carefully. God’s Word left an imprint on my life. David hid God’s Word in his heart so he wouldn’t sin. If it worked for him, it will work for us.
Copyright Ada Brownell
Propaganda, page 279 Ibid, page 280
Family worship at home is difficult in this day when busyness steals time. Yet, it is more necessary than ever.
Secularists, Progressives and even Communists and other religions have made it their priority to grab the hearts and minds of youth in America, and they’d especially like to brainwash those raised in Christian homes.
Brainwashing usually involves propaganda and the most successful propaganda has some truth in it, according to Jacques Ellul, author of “Propaganda: The Formation of Men’s Attitudes.”. If it were all lies, most people would resist it.
Where propaganda goes to work to change minds is in the “interpretation” of the truth, or the “slant” they place on the truth. It’s called “spin” today.
Mao Tse-Tung said propaganda can “force” people to become Marxist. His first techniques failed, but then he went to public discussion, criticism, persuasion and Marxist education, especially for children and he turned China to his way of thinking. This is spite of Mao executing an estimated two to five million people and several million were sent to labor camps.
To have the greatest effect, propaganda must base itself on existing tendencies, Ellul said, Ellul said pre-existing attitudes fade quickly in real propaganda campaigns where it surrounds a person from morning to night, childhood to old age, in all he reads, hears, without giving him rest, a moment to pause, think or catch his breath.The media rarely mentions powerful things accomplished by Christians and Jews. Christian charities housed and fed the homeless and hungry around the world for centuries. Missionaries often bring free health care and medicine when they go to tell the world about Jesus. Christians are there, too, when disaster strikes.Christians started and still operate most of the hospitals in the world.Religion was the reason people learned to read. Since the Middle Ages, there has been near universal literacy among Jewish men because they were required to read the Torah by age 13. Christians read the Jewish scrolls than read the letters of the Apostles to their congregations. The Reformation caused everyone to want to read Scripture and the first book published by Gutenberg was the Bible. Wycliff Translators are bringing literacy even to tribes with no written language because they’ll live with them and create their language.In America, education began with families teaching their children so they could read God’s Word and eventually that evolved into schools. Most of the universities and colleges in the United States were started by Christians, and they often contained seminaries or Bible schools. Now you can’t even use the name of Jesus in a classroom in any of those universities unless it’s used as a swear word. I thought the active war against faith in God was bad enough when we were raising our family. There came a time when I knew I would need to counteract at home ungodly teachings my kids were forced to study in school. That’s why I devoted time to studying sections of Josh McDowell’s book, “Evidence that Demands a Verdict” during our family worship time. Norman Lear, a writer and television executive started the “People for the American Way,” to erode the faith of youth with television programming in response to the Moral Majority in the 1980s, and PAW is still going strong. And the church wonders why it loses a large percentage of youth—even when they’ve been raised in Christian homes! Wise parents will guard their children’s hearts and minds, and inspire them to do the same thing by filling their minds with God’s Word, giving themselves completely to God, and by shunning even the appearance of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:22). I remember family worship when my mother had eight of us in the house, and when there were only two of us eight children left. Dad wasn’t the type to lead it, but always listened carefully. God’s Word left an imprint on my life. David hid God’s Word in his heart so he wouldn’t sin. If it worked for him, it will work for us.
Copyright Ada Brownell
Propaganda, page 279 Ibid, page 280
December 24, 2014
The Most Amazing Truth: God With Us even in grieving!
Note: This post, written a few years ago, recalls some of the reasons I wrote SWALLOWED BY LIFE. https://www.amazon.com/author/adabrownell
By Ada Brownell
“I’m sleeping in the kitchen!”Sure enough, we brought in a full-size mattress from the shed and our 5-year-old grandson, Justin, awakened on the kitchen floor, his blond hair tossled, eyes wide in amazement.
His parents arrived at our house late at night and Justin had been asleep. Now he looked into the living room at the folded out hide-a-bed and lumps of people still snoozing in sleeping bags on our mobile home floor. People still snored in our two bedrooms, too. But Justin and Granny wanted to be up and at it.
I hugged my grandson, and joy filled my heart. Like birds going south for the winter, all of our family came home for Christmas
.All of us except Carolyn. This would be our first Christmas without her. Losing her sucked so many things from our family. Her presence always added love, fun, joy and laughter.
Her step-son, Rob, and husband, Michael, lounged on the hide-a-bed, coming awake now. They flew in from California to where we lived in Colorado.
Gary and Janice drove from New Mexico. Jaron, Gwen and Jeanette came from Missouri and Oklahoma where they attended college.
Eyes popped open and soon the mobile home, our temporary residence while we built a new two-story house, rocked with conversation and activity. Extra beds disappeared, coffee and breakfast brought new life.
The smell of Christmas turkey soon filled the place.
The busy day ended with all of us in the living room, most on the floor, some with Bibles, discussing the past year.
Going on with life hadn’t been easy after Carolyn’s death. I didn’t have much time to grieve because I needed to go back to work as soon as I arrived home from San Jose after the funeral.
When I’d made the plane reservations weeks before, I’d hoped to be with Carolyn while she recuperated from chemotherapy. Since it was December, I’d already used my vacation, but a kind boss allowed me to borrow vacation from the next year.
I didn’t tell the family about the hard times as we sat there nearly 12 months later, enjoying one another. Yet, I couldn’t forget the first day back at work when I met a friend and she asked me about Carolyn.
“She’s so talented,” she said. “Where does she live? Is she married?”
Trying to keep control, I told her Carolyn passed away. I didn’t fall apart until on my way to my car. My breath came in gasps and the agony of my sorrow burst from me.
I didn’t share with our children that Christmas night how only a month or so previously my husband kept playing a recording of Sandi Patti singing the song, “It is Well with My Soul.” Carolyn shared with me how much that song meant to her after she had the awful diagnosis. my husband played the recording, I started crying. I began weeping on Friday night and tears ran down my face all Saturday and continued on Sunday.
We were on our way to church and I told my husband, “I can’t go in there. I can’t stop crying.”I cried most of the day on Sunday. It had been nearly a year, and I couldn’t stop weeping.Now as we sat dry eyed on the floor with family, Jaron told about God’s comfort. He never mentioned that he lost the last year of his four-year academic scholarship because when he studied, he’d find himself staring off in space thinking about Carolyn. He didn’t even realize he’d sat there an hour or two, supposed to be hitting the books. He missed the required grade-point average by just a few points, but it was too much. The scholarship was yanked.
All of us were affected by God’s faithfulness in our grief, but Carolyn’s stepson, Rob and our youngest daughter, Jeanette, had the greatest testimonies. God drew them close to Himself—and did the work almost simultaneously in them at the time of Carolyn’s death.
As we sat together, Carolyn’s husband, Michael, shared how God brought a number of people in California to salvation through Carolyn life, testimony and death.
Beyond that, Michael now was the youth pastor at his church, and the Lord walked beside him in his life as a single parent.
“God is really working in the lives of youth in our church,” Michael shared, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.
One by one, we talked about God’s faithfulness, even in our hours of sorrow.
We read the Christmas story.
“Away in a Manger,” we sang for our little Justin and his sister, Melissa. I think “Jingle Bells” slipped in somewhere.
Most of us shared a scripture, a tradition we started the night Carolyn died when Rob and Jeanette read us encouraging verses from God’s word from a list provided by my brother.
That year I began underlining every scripture in the New Testament about eternal life. I saw death is the reason for Christmas. God warned Adam and Eve if they disobeyed and ate from the forbidden tree, they would die.
“You won’t die,” Satan, who took on the body of a snake, said.
Soon Adam and Eve experienced the agony of losing a child when Cain killed Abel. But right after sin entered the world, God promised a Redeemer who will cleanse us and give us immortality—if we by faith accepted His Gift..
One scripture that means a lot to me is Matthew 4:11 where Matthew told how Jesus fulfilled the prophecy written centuries before Jesus came, “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned….For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God Everlasting Father, Prince of peace” (Isaiah 9:2, 6).Another special passage is Matthew 1:22-24: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).
God with us. That is what one by one we told one another in our family as we sat together that Christmas night. God---the creator of the universe always stuck near us.
I don’t know if our little Justin, now a man and a college graduate, remembers that night, but one day when he was still a little boy he noticed a verse written on brass, which decorated a table.“I memorized that verse,” he said, and quoted John 14:1-3KJ, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions…I go to prepare and place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am there ye may be also.”
We hadn’t received a miracle of healing we desired with Carolyn, but we experienced God never leaving or forsaking us, giving us peace when the storm of grief struck, challenging us to live closer to Him.
“Joy to the World,” says it all. Joy, joy, joy because there is hope beyond death. God gave a Gift I’d rather have than diamonds, gold, a beautiful home, or anything money can buy. I’d rather have God with us than anything.
©Ada Brownell
By Ada Brownell
“I’m sleeping in the kitchen!”Sure enough, we brought in a full-size mattress from the shed and our 5-year-old grandson, Justin, awakened on the kitchen floor, his blond hair tossled, eyes wide in amazement.
His parents arrived at our house late at night and Justin had been asleep. Now he looked into the living room at the folded out hide-a-bed and lumps of people still snoozing in sleeping bags on our mobile home floor. People still snored in our two bedrooms, too. But Justin and Granny wanted to be up and at it.
I hugged my grandson, and joy filled my heart. Like birds going south for the winter, all of our family came home for Christmas
.All of us except Carolyn. This would be our first Christmas without her. Losing her sucked so many things from our family. Her presence always added love, fun, joy and laughter.
Her step-son, Rob, and husband, Michael, lounged on the hide-a-bed, coming awake now. They flew in from California to where we lived in Colorado.
Gary and Janice drove from New Mexico. Jaron, Gwen and Jeanette came from Missouri and Oklahoma where they attended college.
Eyes popped open and soon the mobile home, our temporary residence while we built a new two-story house, rocked with conversation and activity. Extra beds disappeared, coffee and breakfast brought new life.
The smell of Christmas turkey soon filled the place.
The busy day ended with all of us in the living room, most on the floor, some with Bibles, discussing the past year.
Going on with life hadn’t been easy after Carolyn’s death. I didn’t have much time to grieve because I needed to go back to work as soon as I arrived home from San Jose after the funeral.
When I’d made the plane reservations weeks before, I’d hoped to be with Carolyn while she recuperated from chemotherapy. Since it was December, I’d already used my vacation, but a kind boss allowed me to borrow vacation from the next year.
I didn’t tell the family about the hard times as we sat there nearly 12 months later, enjoying one another. Yet, I couldn’t forget the first day back at work when I met a friend and she asked me about Carolyn.
“She’s so talented,” she said. “Where does she live? Is she married?”
Trying to keep control, I told her Carolyn passed away. I didn’t fall apart until on my way to my car. My breath came in gasps and the agony of my sorrow burst from me.
I didn’t share with our children that Christmas night how only a month or so previously my husband kept playing a recording of Sandi Patti singing the song, “It is Well with My Soul.” Carolyn shared with me how much that song meant to her after she had the awful diagnosis. my husband played the recording, I started crying. I began weeping on Friday night and tears ran down my face all Saturday and continued on Sunday.
We were on our way to church and I told my husband, “I can’t go in there. I can’t stop crying.”I cried most of the day on Sunday. It had been nearly a year, and I couldn’t stop weeping.Now as we sat dry eyed on the floor with family, Jaron told about God’s comfort. He never mentioned that he lost the last year of his four-year academic scholarship because when he studied, he’d find himself staring off in space thinking about Carolyn. He didn’t even realize he’d sat there an hour or two, supposed to be hitting the books. He missed the required grade-point average by just a few points, but it was too much. The scholarship was yanked.
All of us were affected by God’s faithfulness in our grief, but Carolyn’s stepson, Rob and our youngest daughter, Jeanette, had the greatest testimonies. God drew them close to Himself—and did the work almost simultaneously in them at the time of Carolyn’s death.
As we sat together, Carolyn’s husband, Michael, shared how God brought a number of people in California to salvation through Carolyn life, testimony and death.
Beyond that, Michael now was the youth pastor at his church, and the Lord walked beside him in his life as a single parent.
“God is really working in the lives of youth in our church,” Michael shared, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.
One by one, we talked about God’s faithfulness, even in our hours of sorrow.
We read the Christmas story.
“Away in a Manger,” we sang for our little Justin and his sister, Melissa. I think “Jingle Bells” slipped in somewhere.
Most of us shared a scripture, a tradition we started the night Carolyn died when Rob and Jeanette read us encouraging verses from God’s word from a list provided by my brother.
That year I began underlining every scripture in the New Testament about eternal life. I saw death is the reason for Christmas. God warned Adam and Eve if they disobeyed and ate from the forbidden tree, they would die.
“You won’t die,” Satan, who took on the body of a snake, said.
Soon Adam and Eve experienced the agony of losing a child when Cain killed Abel. But right after sin entered the world, God promised a Redeemer who will cleanse us and give us immortality—if we by faith accepted His Gift..
One scripture that means a lot to me is Matthew 4:11 where Matthew told how Jesus fulfilled the prophecy written centuries before Jesus came, “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned….For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God Everlasting Father, Prince of peace” (Isaiah 9:2, 6).Another special passage is Matthew 1:22-24: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).
God with us. That is what one by one we told one another in our family as we sat together that Christmas night. God---the creator of the universe always stuck near us.
I don’t know if our little Justin, now a man and a college graduate, remembers that night, but one day when he was still a little boy he noticed a verse written on brass, which decorated a table.“I memorized that verse,” he said, and quoted John 14:1-3KJ, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions…I go to prepare and place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am there ye may be also.”
We hadn’t received a miracle of healing we desired with Carolyn, but we experienced God never leaving or forsaking us, giving us peace when the storm of grief struck, challenging us to live closer to Him.
“Joy to the World,” says it all. Joy, joy, joy because there is hope beyond death. God gave a Gift I’d rather have than diamonds, gold, a beautiful home, or anything money can buy. I’d rather have God with us than anything.
©Ada Brownell
December 23, 2014
Prayer: God Rewards Those Who Seek Him
THE REWARDBy Ada Brownell
God has a reward for those who climb over their doubts to leap into the supernatural realm of faith. God’s Word says: "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him" (Hebrews 11:6).Believe He exists.Believe He loves you (He is pleased you seek Him, and He wants to reward you).Believe He answers the prayers of those who earnestly seek Him.I remember many miracles in our lives like the time we moved to Thompson, Utah, population 100, three bars, no grocery store except a few items sold in the bars, and no church.I thought we'd missed God's will for us. For a year I prayed, hoping to move. Then the Lord did a work in me and I told Him if He'd send a helper, I'd start a Sunday school there. Within a week, a lovely young Christian woman my age and her two little boys moved to town and we started a Sunday school in the schoolhouse.One time when we moved from Arvada, Colorado, to Pueblo we'd prayed the Lord would help us sell our house. God waited until the last minute. The realtor brought us the contract when we were loading the last few things in a U-Haul truck. He helped us sell other homes also, mostly by owner.He's done miracles of healing in our family. Gary, our oldest son, thought by one doctor to only have a percentage of his kidneys working, found to be whole.Gwen, our middle daughter, had symptoms of multiple sclerosis, but tests proved otherwise and she's fine.Doctors recently suspected our youngest son, Jaron, had leukemia because of consistently elevated white blood cell count. After prayer and retesting, he was negative for leukemia and the blood count was normal.Years ago we had to travel in a snowstorm because my husband’s mother was dying. We had worn-out tires with little tread on the front of our car, making it difficult to control on icy highways. On one Colorado mountain pass we drifted into the left lane on the two-way highway. A truck roared toward us at a good speed. I screamed "Jesus, help us!" It was like the hand of God shoved us into the correct lane and we passed safely. God hasn't always answered the way we wished. We lost our oldest daughter to cancer when she was age 31. But God's comfort and peace was there. He doesn't leave or forsake. We sorrow not as those who have no hope.Keep praying. God is there and He still works miracles.
©Ada Brownell 2014
December 19, 2014
A HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER SHOWS WHO YOUTH ARE INSIDE--AND HOW THEY GOT THAT WAY
By Darcie J. GudgerAuthor of SpinNothing like rubbing shoulders with teens to create characters. When did your lead characters come to life for you?Back in 2001 when I was a special education teacher at a local high school, I was on lunch room duty. All of a sudden, the name “Kisrie” popped into my head. At that time, a teacher in the building had been falsely accused of hitting a student in class. As I heard the kids spread rumors about what happened (a disgruntled student started the whole thing to get him fired), the plot for SPIN came to light. Then I started writing. As I wrote, Kisrie and Wendy revealed themselves to me. Then, over the course of the past 13 years, they evolved. Of course, being a color guard instructor for 15 years and spending countless hours with teens each week, year-round kind of helps.
What is your leading lady’s main problem? How did that develop as the character came to life?Kisrie’s main problem is that she bought into the victim mentality. Bullied all her life, she embraced the lies that defined her as weak, worthless and ugly. Her feelings drove her inactions when faced with a critical decision to stop vicious rumors about her uncle. Career and life destroying rumors. Through the lens of a victim, she chose self-preservation and hoped the situation would work itself out over time. All actions, or in her case, non-actions, have consequences. The pain of those repercussions drove the change in her character.
How do teens evaluate the importance of fitting in with the crowd?I don’t think they take the time to evaluate the importance of fitting in. The pressure to conform is intense. It becomes more or less a survival instinct. Kids who don’t comply from the beginning learn very fast that being different, or standing out in anyway results in isolation and bullying. Even in the earliest of grades, an onlooker can see the kids standing on the playground, backs against the school wall, tracing designs in the dirt with their toes while the others chase, laugh, climb and cartwheel around.
Do Christian teens have more confidence in themselves and their future than other youths?I wish I could say yes. But the reality is this. Christian kids in public schools feel like they have a target on their backs. Their entire belief system, world-view, and values are scorned and flat-out forbidden in the classroom and the hallway. The media attacks Christianity. The culture derides it. For a teen to self-identify as a Christian, or be pegged as a Christian by peers is a social death-sentence. They are called haters. They may even be forced into sensitivity trainings to wipe out their beliefs. They are told to distrust their parents and trust the system. And I am not sure the church understands this and gives the kids the kind of support they need to endure real persecution. Youth leaders had a different experience in school. Social media did not exist. And, they have been in “the bubble” of Christian college or seminary for a while.The honest truth? Our teens are on the front lines of a culture war. Think about it. Where does societal worldview come from? The education system. K-12, and then college is even worse. I have seen way too many Christian teens cave to the pressure and conform, go undercover, or worse, give in to depression and suicide.
Where does this confidence come from—the kind that endures and creates long-lasting friendships? This confidence should come with a deep, trusting relationship with Jesus Christ. And maturity is a factor as well. Teens are still… teens. They are in a developmental stage where they are trying to figure things out. And who do they tend to turn to first? Peers. We adults would like them to turn to us, or their relationship with Christ. We want to blissfully assume they do this naturally. But again, what kind of pressure do they face day after day? It is not safe to be a Christian kid in a secular milieu. They live with that fear over what will happen if people find out? Sure, there are exceptions to this. There are vibrant, fearless confident Christian kids, but they are a minority. Most are undercover. Take the characters in my book. Kisrie, Jacque and even Tammie do what they can to remain undetected or unobtrusive. Christ following adults need to come along side teens and show them how to endure a vicious environment. Model for them how to navigate and stand up for what they believe in when there is a hefty price to pay. We need to be with them as they face the forced brainwashing and ridicule by people in positions of authority, or even peers. Knowing WE know how hard it is for them every day will give them confidence they need to stay on course. Praying with them as well as for them, teaching them to study the Bible – really dig in, will build God-Warrior habits that will last a life time.
You discovered you didn’t fit your first chosen career and it resulted in health problems. What do parents need to know about teen emotions to help them find their niche in life?“You can be anything you dream!” is spewed at kids day in and day out. It’s a lie. Make sure the teens in your life know that. Teens know when adults are being honest and when we are trying to make them feel good. False hopes create false expectations which when dashed, are devastating. Get to know, really know not only what your kid is good at, but what they are passionate about. Now not all passionate pursuits are career-worthy. But, they can be hobbies. Real conversations about economy and future outlooks are critical. Many people try to hide the dismal economic realities from kids today and allow them to chase whims at great financial cost. And here’s a real unpopular opinion – don’t send them away to college right away after they graduate. Give them time to work, earn money and figure out what kind of viable job they are willing to do for years to come. Some kids need extra time to figure out their path in life. There is no rush. There is no hard and fast rule that college must happen at 18, a degree by 22. I learned the hard way that when I make plans and timelines, they blow up. And it’s ugly and costly.
Are young people today concerned about finding and being in God’s will and plan for their lives? Kids are focused on one thing – which path will lead to a job? They are concerned with how they will survive in the world once all the schooling is over. Finding God’s will would be nice, but practicality takes priority with many teens today. Funding for college is harder to get than in generations past. Once it is obtained, the loans… oh the loans… they never seem to go away. And then, there is the question I have been wrestling with myself… even now as a published author… what exactly is God’s will? Is there ONE THING out there for me? Or, does God give me choices and let me figure things out?Here’s what I think about God’s will in the present after much prayer and study. God gives us free will. He gives us gifts and talents. We are supposed to develop those and use them to His Glory. If we do that, no matter the circumstances (good or bad), we are in His will. If we use them for hurting others, or getting in the way of another person’s faith journey, we are not in His will. Or, if those things are contrary to His Word, well… not His will.
I have spent a lot of time breaking this apart – especially since I have “failed” at almost all of my pursuits, there were a LOT of them. I have spent a lot of time beating myself up for “being out of God’s will.” Why? Was I? Why did I think that? Why did I spend so many years in deep depression thinking I missed the God’s Will Express? Americanized theology tends to teach us that financial success and a life of ease means we are in God’s will. If life is hard, and poverty has us in a choke-hold, we must be out of God’s will. The Bible speaks to the contrary. Financial blessing was what God used in the Old Testament. But in the New Testament things were different. Blessings came in persecution. Blessings came through hardship. Blessings were NOT material! The focus is on the eternal. The rewards are in heaven. God’s will for us all is this. Conform to His image. Become Christ-like. Period. What that looks like is different for each person. Doctor, lawyer, road sweeper, nurse, social worker, stay at home mom… but it will involve refinement. And that hurts. Let’s be honest with kids about that and prepare them so it is not such a shock to the point they throw faith away.
Do most have goals connected with their faith?It depends on the teen and where they are. I would guess most teens in public schools are trying to survive until that one day they graduate. Their goal is survival. Teens out of high school, teens who are in private school, homeschool and youth group may have goals connected with faith.
How are teachers, even youth leaders and Sunday school teachers, equipped to help youth in their emotional journeys?I can’t say for sure they are.
What part does God’s Word play to give them hope and peace?God’s Word should play a part to give teens peace. But many are not going to just go and seek it on their own. Remember, they are trying to survive a nasty social ecology. Teens need adults mature in faith, to come along side them and guide them. Every teen wants a Yoda. A Gandalf. A Haymitch Abernathy. The Bible tells older believers to come along side younger ones and mentor them. That cannot be done in large groups. It needs to be 1:1. Taking solace in God’s Word is a discipline. Disciplines take time to become habit. And habits can fail if there is no accountability system. With a mentor framework in place, God’s Word does have everything all teenagers need to find REAL hope and peace. How do the characters in your book find joy and peace?The characters in my book are on a journey. A long one. Kisrie starts to find it when she seeks God for answers. She also has the wisdom of her father and the modeling of Christ-like behavior from her aunt. Then the support of her friends. Her faith is quite shallow in this book. But as the series progresses, it will deepen. And who knows? Maybe Kisrie’s faith may become a change agent for Wendy. Does the humor in your writing stem from your experiences in the classroom?School is a funny place. Teens are funny people. I was telling one of my guard kids the other days that they are my favorite because they love to be goofy and laugh. Some of the material does come from things I’ve seen in the classroom, on my guard teams, and in the hallways. But I do have quite the imagination.
Author bio:YA author Darcie J. Gudger loves teenagers. Aside from making up stories, she is the director of the award-winning color guard program at Evergreen High School where she teaches students to throw things, catch things, and dance with them. To music. Wearing costumes. She holds a masters degree in education from the University of Colorado. Whenever she gets the chance, Darcie escapes the city with her husband and son into the pine-scented Colorado Rockies.
Website: http://www.darciejgudger.com
SPIN summary:
Sophomore Kisrie Kelley longs to fit in. Instead, she’s always been a misfit, a fact her nemesis Wendy won’t let her forget. At least she’s got color guard and photography, right? She almost feels normal when she’s out on the field performing or behind the lens. Truth be told, they’re the only reasons she even shows up at school, though her professor mom thinks they’re both a waste of Kisrie’s time. Add a serious affinity to Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups that has her battling the bulge and a pestering “prodigy” little sister who thinks she’s a bush baby, and Kisrie’s contemplating moving to a different planet. The stakes are raised even higher when she overhears Wendy plotting against Kisrie’s English-teacher uncle all over a stupid grade! Should Kisrie snitch and risk Wendy’s wrath? Ever since elementary school the young beauty queen has bullied Kisrie as if it were an Olympic sport. Who’s going to believe Wendy’s story anyway? Everything spins out of control as vicious rumors fly and lives are on the line. Only the truth can set them all free, but will it be too late?
What is your leading lady’s main problem? How did that develop as the character came to life?Kisrie’s main problem is that she bought into the victim mentality. Bullied all her life, she embraced the lies that defined her as weak, worthless and ugly. Her feelings drove her inactions when faced with a critical decision to stop vicious rumors about her uncle. Career and life destroying rumors. Through the lens of a victim, she chose self-preservation and hoped the situation would work itself out over time. All actions, or in her case, non-actions, have consequences. The pain of those repercussions drove the change in her character.
How do teens evaluate the importance of fitting in with the crowd?I don’t think they take the time to evaluate the importance of fitting in. The pressure to conform is intense. It becomes more or less a survival instinct. Kids who don’t comply from the beginning learn very fast that being different, or standing out in anyway results in isolation and bullying. Even in the earliest of grades, an onlooker can see the kids standing on the playground, backs against the school wall, tracing designs in the dirt with their toes while the others chase, laugh, climb and cartwheel around.
Do Christian teens have more confidence in themselves and their future than other youths?I wish I could say yes. But the reality is this. Christian kids in public schools feel like they have a target on their backs. Their entire belief system, world-view, and values are scorned and flat-out forbidden in the classroom and the hallway. The media attacks Christianity. The culture derides it. For a teen to self-identify as a Christian, or be pegged as a Christian by peers is a social death-sentence. They are called haters. They may even be forced into sensitivity trainings to wipe out their beliefs. They are told to distrust their parents and trust the system. And I am not sure the church understands this and gives the kids the kind of support they need to endure real persecution. Youth leaders had a different experience in school. Social media did not exist. And, they have been in “the bubble” of Christian college or seminary for a while.The honest truth? Our teens are on the front lines of a culture war. Think about it. Where does societal worldview come from? The education system. K-12, and then college is even worse. I have seen way too many Christian teens cave to the pressure and conform, go undercover, or worse, give in to depression and suicide.
Where does this confidence come from—the kind that endures and creates long-lasting friendships? This confidence should come with a deep, trusting relationship with Jesus Christ. And maturity is a factor as well. Teens are still… teens. They are in a developmental stage where they are trying to figure things out. And who do they tend to turn to first? Peers. We adults would like them to turn to us, or their relationship with Christ. We want to blissfully assume they do this naturally. But again, what kind of pressure do they face day after day? It is not safe to be a Christian kid in a secular milieu. They live with that fear over what will happen if people find out? Sure, there are exceptions to this. There are vibrant, fearless confident Christian kids, but they are a minority. Most are undercover. Take the characters in my book. Kisrie, Jacque and even Tammie do what they can to remain undetected or unobtrusive. Christ following adults need to come along side teens and show them how to endure a vicious environment. Model for them how to navigate and stand up for what they believe in when there is a hefty price to pay. We need to be with them as they face the forced brainwashing and ridicule by people in positions of authority, or even peers. Knowing WE know how hard it is for them every day will give them confidence they need to stay on course. Praying with them as well as for them, teaching them to study the Bible – really dig in, will build God-Warrior habits that will last a life time.
You discovered you didn’t fit your first chosen career and it resulted in health problems. What do parents need to know about teen emotions to help them find their niche in life?“You can be anything you dream!” is spewed at kids day in and day out. It’s a lie. Make sure the teens in your life know that. Teens know when adults are being honest and when we are trying to make them feel good. False hopes create false expectations which when dashed, are devastating. Get to know, really know not only what your kid is good at, but what they are passionate about. Now not all passionate pursuits are career-worthy. But, they can be hobbies. Real conversations about economy and future outlooks are critical. Many people try to hide the dismal economic realities from kids today and allow them to chase whims at great financial cost. And here’s a real unpopular opinion – don’t send them away to college right away after they graduate. Give them time to work, earn money and figure out what kind of viable job they are willing to do for years to come. Some kids need extra time to figure out their path in life. There is no rush. There is no hard and fast rule that college must happen at 18, a degree by 22. I learned the hard way that when I make plans and timelines, they blow up. And it’s ugly and costly.
Are young people today concerned about finding and being in God’s will and plan for their lives? Kids are focused on one thing – which path will lead to a job? They are concerned with how they will survive in the world once all the schooling is over. Finding God’s will would be nice, but practicality takes priority with many teens today. Funding for college is harder to get than in generations past. Once it is obtained, the loans… oh the loans… they never seem to go away. And then, there is the question I have been wrestling with myself… even now as a published author… what exactly is God’s will? Is there ONE THING out there for me? Or, does God give me choices and let me figure things out?Here’s what I think about God’s will in the present after much prayer and study. God gives us free will. He gives us gifts and talents. We are supposed to develop those and use them to His Glory. If we do that, no matter the circumstances (good or bad), we are in His will. If we use them for hurting others, or getting in the way of another person’s faith journey, we are not in His will. Or, if those things are contrary to His Word, well… not His will.
I have spent a lot of time breaking this apart – especially since I have “failed” at almost all of my pursuits, there were a LOT of them. I have spent a lot of time beating myself up for “being out of God’s will.” Why? Was I? Why did I think that? Why did I spend so many years in deep depression thinking I missed the God’s Will Express? Americanized theology tends to teach us that financial success and a life of ease means we are in God’s will. If life is hard, and poverty has us in a choke-hold, we must be out of God’s will. The Bible speaks to the contrary. Financial blessing was what God used in the Old Testament. But in the New Testament things were different. Blessings came in persecution. Blessings came through hardship. Blessings were NOT material! The focus is on the eternal. The rewards are in heaven. God’s will for us all is this. Conform to His image. Become Christ-like. Period. What that looks like is different for each person. Doctor, lawyer, road sweeper, nurse, social worker, stay at home mom… but it will involve refinement. And that hurts. Let’s be honest with kids about that and prepare them so it is not such a shock to the point they throw faith away.Do most have goals connected with their faith?It depends on the teen and where they are. I would guess most teens in public schools are trying to survive until that one day they graduate. Their goal is survival. Teens out of high school, teens who are in private school, homeschool and youth group may have goals connected with faith.
How are teachers, even youth leaders and Sunday school teachers, equipped to help youth in their emotional journeys?I can’t say for sure they are.
What part does God’s Word play to give them hope and peace?God’s Word should play a part to give teens peace. But many are not going to just go and seek it on their own. Remember, they are trying to survive a nasty social ecology. Teens need adults mature in faith, to come along side them and guide them. Every teen wants a Yoda. A Gandalf. A Haymitch Abernathy. The Bible tells older believers to come along side younger ones and mentor them. That cannot be done in large groups. It needs to be 1:1. Taking solace in God’s Word is a discipline. Disciplines take time to become habit. And habits can fail if there is no accountability system. With a mentor framework in place, God’s Word does have everything all teenagers need to find REAL hope and peace. How do the characters in your book find joy and peace?The characters in my book are on a journey. A long one. Kisrie starts to find it when she seeks God for answers. She also has the wisdom of her father and the modeling of Christ-like behavior from her aunt. Then the support of her friends. Her faith is quite shallow in this book. But as the series progresses, it will deepen. And who knows? Maybe Kisrie’s faith may become a change agent for Wendy. Does the humor in your writing stem from your experiences in the classroom?School is a funny place. Teens are funny people. I was telling one of my guard kids the other days that they are my favorite because they love to be goofy and laugh. Some of the material does come from things I’ve seen in the classroom, on my guard teams, and in the hallways. But I do have quite the imagination.
Author bio:YA author Darcie J. Gudger loves teenagers. Aside from making up stories, she is the director of the award-winning color guard program at Evergreen High School where she teaches students to throw things, catch things, and dance with them. To music. Wearing costumes. She holds a masters degree in education from the University of Colorado. Whenever she gets the chance, Darcie escapes the city with her husband and son into the pine-scented Colorado Rockies.
Website: http://www.darciejgudger.com
SPIN summary:
Sophomore Kisrie Kelley longs to fit in. Instead, she’s always been a misfit, a fact her nemesis Wendy won’t let her forget. At least she’s got color guard and photography, right? She almost feels normal when she’s out on the field performing or behind the lens. Truth be told, they’re the only reasons she even shows up at school, though her professor mom thinks they’re both a waste of Kisrie’s time. Add a serious affinity to Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups that has her battling the bulge and a pestering “prodigy” little sister who thinks she’s a bush baby, and Kisrie’s contemplating moving to a different planet. The stakes are raised even higher when she overhears Wendy plotting against Kisrie’s English-teacher uncle all over a stupid grade! Should Kisrie snitch and risk Wendy’s wrath? Ever since elementary school the young beauty queen has bullied Kisrie as if it were an Olympic sport. Who’s going to believe Wendy’s story anyway? Everything spins out of control as vicious rumors fly and lives are on the line. Only the truth can set them all free, but will it be too late?
December 17, 2014
Grief Turned to Joy--SNOW ON EAGLE MOUNTAIN
By Linda Wood RondeauEvery Christmas Helen tries to hide at home and wish the season away or the painful past still pierces the heart each time the mistletoe is hung. Her friends make Herculean efforts to draw her out of this seasonal agoraphobia. She acquiesces out of loyalty, but secretly aches for the occasion to end. Helen’s fiancé was killed during the Christmas holiday just days before their wedding. Christmas, to her, only serves to remind her of the happiness so cruelly yanked away. Though Helen gives much to her community and is one who would never be characterized as embittered. Yet every year at Christmas, the unwanted memories are revisited.
There are many like Helen, shunning the season, fearful they will be inflicted with recollection. Though we try to be compassionate, few truly understand the depth of sorrow the season emotes for those who grieve. Yet, our Savior was the first to be acquainted with grief. “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering” (Isaiah 53:3a). Because Christ suffered, we too are healed. “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).
I believe God knew that first Christmas what the future held for his own son. Angels trumpeted the long awaited arrival of the Messiah, and shepherds knelt before a holy infant as a virgin mother cradled her first-born. While the world rejoiced, perhaps the Father mourned. For the birth of his only Son would culminate in sacrifice.When the Father viewed the rustic cradle, did He see the Cross? When Mary wrapped Jesus in the swaddling clothes, did God see the crown of thorns? When shepherds worshipped, did He see His one and only Son ridiculed, scorned, stripped of dignity, beaten and scourged? When Mary twirled the babe’s fingers within her own, did the Father see the nails that would pierce them? That first Christmas night, only the Father knew the events that someday would unfold. The world celebrated the promise of salvation not knowing the price that would yet be paid, yet planned from the beginning of time. Only God knew of Heaven’s loss. And I wonder if His grief is renewed each yuletide as men continue to scorn the gift He gave. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).
Winner of the 2012 Selah Award for best first novel The Other Side of Darkness, LINDA WOOD RONDEAU, writes blended contemporary fiction that speaks to the heart and offers hope to those with damaged lives. After a long career in human services, Linda now resides in Jacksonville, Florida. Her most recent release, A Christmas Prayer, (aka A Father’s Prayer) was a finalist for both the 2014 Selah and Carol Awards.
Other books include: , It Really IS a Wonderful Life, Joy Comes to Dinsmore Street, Days of Vines and Roses and her non-fiction book, I Prayed for Patience God Gave Me Children, also part of a compilation (Uplifting Devotionals).A sequel Joy Comes to Dinsmore Street, (Snow on Eagle Mountain) is expected to be released soon.
Rondeau’s, Jolly Angel,is also part of a compilation, Blue Heaven Romances. Readers may visit her web site at www.lindarondeau.com, her blog, This Daily Grind, or email her at lindarondeau@gmail.com or find her on Facebook, Twitter, PInterest, Google Plusand Goodreads.
