Lillie Ammann's Blog, page 161

Second Thursday in Lent

And again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying, "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son, and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come. Again he sent other servants, saying, 'Tell those who are invited, See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.' But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them. The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.' And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests. "But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. And he said to him, 'Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?' And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, 'Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' For many are called, but few are chosen." ~ Matthew 22:1-14 (ESV)

Heavenly Father, open my heart to receive You and clothe me with Your righteousness that I may be worthy to join You in that Great Feast when You come again in glory. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Related Posts:First Thursday in Lent 2011Scripture for the Third Saturday in LentScripture for the First Saturday in Advent 2010Scripture for Maundy ThursdayScripture for the First Friday in LentPowered by Contextual Related PostsSecond Thursday in Lent was first posted on March 17, 2011 at 12:38 am.
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Second Wednesday in Lent 2011

He told them another parable. "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened." All these things Jesus said to the crowds in parables; indeed, he said nothing to them without a parable. This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet: "I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter what has been hidden since the foundation of the world." ~ Matthew 13:33-35 (ESV)

Lord, Jesus spoke in parables so the world cannot easily understand. Your truth is available to all who are willing to listen to Your voice and read and study to understand Your Word. Give me the desire to know Your Word and Your truth and lead me in understanding. In the name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. Amen.

Related Posts:Scripture for the Second Sunday in LentScripture for the Fourth Wednesday in LentScripture for the Sixth Wednesday in LentScripture for the Third Monday in LentFirst Sunday in Lent 2011Powered by Contextual Related PostsSecond Wednesday in Lent 2011 was first posted on March 16, 2011 at 12:37 am.
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First Tuesday in Lent 2011

"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not! See, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'" ~ Matthew 23:37-39 (ESV)

Heavenly Father, You are always ready to gather me and all Your children under Your wings, but I resist and try to be independent. Remind me constantly that I can do nothing without You. Give me rest under Your sheltering wings. In the name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. Amen.

Related Posts:Scripture for the First Tuesday in LentFirst Sunday in Lent 2011Scripture for Palm SundayScripture for the Fifth Thursday in LentScripture for the Second Tuesday in LentPowered by Contextual Related PostsFirst Tuesday in Lent 2011 was first posted on March 15, 2011 at 12:36 am.
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Terry Sumerlin's Booksigning

[image error]Have you ever been to a booksigning in a barber shop? I didn't think so. No one but the Barber-osopher would think of signing his book in a barber shop.

If you're in the San Antonio area on Saturday, March 26, you can remedy the deficiency of never attending a barber shop booksigning. Terry L. Sumerlin, the Barber-osopher, will be signing his new book, Leadership: It Takes More Than a Great Haircut! at J.B.'s Barber Shop, which he owns and where he barbers when he's not writing or speaking. The event is 2-4 PM on Saturday, March 26, 2011.

To learn more about Terry, his books, and the signing …

Download an invitation to the barbershop booksigning.
Read my review of Terry's book.
Read my interview with Terry.
Visit his Amazon Author Central author page.
Visit his Smashwords author page.
Visit his Nothing Binding page.
Visit his Facebook page.
Watch his YouTube videos.
Visit the Barber-osophy website.  

But nothing beats meeting Terry in person, so if you're in the area, come to the booksigning in the barber shop.

Disclosure: I received compensation from the author for laying out the book, creating the electronic editions,and other publishing services. I have received no compensation for writing about the book or interviewing the author on my blog. I'm sharing with my readers because I love the book and think they will too.

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First Monday in Lent 2011

"Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." ~ Matthew 6:31-34 (ESV)

Lord, it's so easy to worry about the future, both personally and nationally. Yet Jesus reminds us of the birds of the air and the lilies of the field—if You care for them, I know You care for me. Lead me to seek You and Your Kingdom first and not worry about the future, knowing I and the ones I love are secure in Your care. In Jesus' name. Amen.

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First Sunday in Lent 2011

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread." But he answered, "It is written, "'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, "'He will command his angels concerning you,' and "'On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.'" Jesus said to him, "Again it is written, 'You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'" Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, "All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me." Then Jesus said to him, "Be gone, Satan! For it is written, "'You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.'" Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him. ~ Matthew 4:1-11 (ESV)

Lord, Jesus was God Incarnate, yet rather than using his omnipotent power to resist Satan, He used Scripture. Help me to know Your Word and hide it in my heart so that when temptation comes, I can say to Satan, "It is written …" In the name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. Amen.

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History of E-Books

This infographic showing the 40-year history of e-books, courtesy of Piotr Kowalczyk at Password Incorrect, is a fitting conclusion to Read an E-Book Week.

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via ebookfriend.ly
Related Posts:Read an E-Book Week 2011Read An E-Book Week March 6-12, 2011National March into Literacy MonthAsh Wednesday 2011Read Across America on Dr. Seuss's BirthdayPowered by Contextual Related PostsHistory of E-Books was first posted on March 12, 2011 at 12:34 am.
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First Saturday in Lent 2011

"Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it." ~ Matthew 7:24-27 (ESV)

Lord God, You have told me how to have a strong life that will withstand any storm—build my life on Your Word. The wisdom of the world gives false security; when the storms come, as they always do, I can survive only if Your Word is my foundation. Build a strong foundation for me, Father, through constant study of Your Word. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

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First Friday in Lent 2011

"When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. Then it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.' And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation." ~ Matthew 12:43-45 (ESV)

Lord, You have washed me clean of my sins as Jesus cast demons out during His ministry on earth. Yet as Jesus warned of the return of demons greater in number and evil, sin can once again inhabit my heart and soul. Continually cleanse my heart and guide me by the Holy Spirit to walk in Your ways. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

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My E-Publishing Journey

In his post Hey, It's Read an E-book Week, George Angus mentioned that he is starting a new series to tell the stories of e-published authors. Though I responded to George, I decided my story was so long, it would be appropriate as a post during Read an E-Book Week.

[image error]My first novel was a romance novel about a woman who had a stroke. I got rejection after rejection saying that a romance couldn't have a handicapped heroine. Finally, I was at a conference and had the chance to pitch my book to an editor for a big New York romance publisher. At the time I was still in a wheelchair as a result of my own stroke. The editor looked at my wheelchair, then looked me in the eye and said, "No one wants to read about a cripple." At that point, I put the manuscript away and decided it would never be published, as I described in Is an E-Book a Real Book?

A year or so later, in the fall of 1999, a writer friend emailed me that she had heard of a new e-publisher who was seeking manuscripts featuring disabled central characters. This company was looking for exactly what everyone else told me was impossible.

I knew almost nothing about e-books back then. I had listened to a presentation by one of the first authors published by one of the new e-publishing companies, but I hadn't bothered to learn any more. I had never seen an e-book when I submitted my story to a publisher I'd never heard of.

However, I was so excited that someone was interested in a handicapped heroine that I sent an email query as soon as I read my friend's message. I got a response within a few minutes requesting the complete manuscript. In a couple of days, I had an offer of publication. Quite a difference from the response of traditional publishers.

Now, let me insert here that I don't advise other people to jump into a publishing deal with as little due digilence (NONE) as I did. I was very fortunate to hook up with a good company, but that usually doesn't happen.

The first e-book reader came out around the time my book was released. A group of e-book published authors did a book tour of Hastings electronic stores. Our books came on floppy disks in jewel cases, and we signed the insert in the jewel case. Most of our time was spent explaining what the disks were and demonstrating our Rocket readers.

"Yes, these little disks are really books."

"Yes, you can read them on your computer. Or you can read them on this nifty device called a Rocket eBook reader."

"No, they don't smell like print books or look like print books or feel like print books—but they are books!"

I joined EPIC, an online organization to promote the e-publishing industry, and gave talks to local writers groups about e-publishing.

And we e-authors and e-publishers looked forward to the day when we wouldn't have to explain what an e-book was, when people would know what an e-reader was.

We talked about e-books and we wrote about e-books, including the following posts I've written here on this blog:

Answers to a Writer's Questions, Part 2: Children's Book on CD

Answers to a Writer's Questions, Part 3: Marketing a Children's E-Book

Dream or Destiny and the Kindle

E-Books, Part 1: I read throughout a four-hour power outage(/a>E-Books, Part 2: Short Nonfiction (How-To) E-Books

E-Books, Part 3: Books from Electronic or Traditional Publishers

E-Books, Part 4: Electronic Reading Devices

Blog Action Day: Publishing and the Environment

Free E-Books for Read an E-Book Week 2009 

Free E-Books for Read an E-Book Week 2010

More Free E-Books

The Growing E-Book Market

Read an E-Book Week

Read an E-Book Week 2

Read an E-Book Week Coming Soon

Read an E-Book Week Next Week

Reminder: Read an E-Book Week

Self-Publishing Primer: Part 13 – Do I need a Web site and should I make my book available as an e-book?

Sharing E-Books

What Will the Kindle Do for the E-Publishing Industry?

In the last post in the above list in late 2007, I said:

What I really like about the Kindle is the attention it is bringing to e-books. I believe that Amazon.com getting involved in the industry and Jeff Bezos personally promoting the product will have a positive impact on the future of e-publishing. No, I don't expect e-books to replace print books soon (or ever, for that matter), but I do think many people who haven't considered e-books will take a closer look because of all the attention the Kindle is getting.

My prediction has come to pass. Today Amazon sells more Kindle editions that paperback or hardcover books. When people see me reading on my Kindle, they don't ask what it is—instead they tell me they have one or they want one or they're thinking about getting one or they read e-books on a iPad or an iPhone or a Nook or a .

My first novel is still available electronically—although from a different publisher; I have another novel available both in print and electronic formats; and I have self-published several e-books through Smashwords.

The big New York publishers are publishing e-books along with print books. Small e-publishers are publishing print books along with e-books.

Authors and readers have choices. Some books work well in either format. Others are more appropriate for one or the other. Beautiful art books, for example, work best in print. Books that are either very short (as my how-to e-books) or very long are better suited for e-books.  

The world of publishing is a lot different than it was when my first book was published electronically in 1999. I might call myself a pioneer in e-publishing, but then I look at the history of e-books and realize Michael Hart had created the first "e-book" twenty-eight years before my novel was released.

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