Janet Sketchley's Blog: Tenacity, page 106

Review: The Prodigal, by Brennan Manning and Greg Garrett

The Prodigal, by Brennan Manning and Greg Garrett (Zondervan, 2013)

“America’s Pastor.” That’s what they call Jack Chisholm, founder and leader of Seattle’s Grace Cathedral. Jack is a high-profile preacher and an organizer of good works. He’s also human. When a lapse in judgment leads to sin and disgrace, his image shatters and his life falls apart.

Despite the name of his megachurch, Jack’s best-known phrase is “We have got to do better.” His focus on humanity’s shortcomings and our need to wo...

Interview: Carole Brown, author of The Redemption of Caralynne Hayman

Carole Brown’s novel, The Redemption of Caralynne Hayman, released in October, and this is our chance to find out more about the story and its author.

Janet: Welcome, Carole, and thanks for taking time to join us. Your novel’s tag line asks “How far would you go to avenge your daughter’s murder?” Definitely an attention-getter!Caralynne Hayman is the grieving mother? Can you tell us a bit about what happened to her daughter?

Carole: I’ll be glad to. Caralynne Hayman, raised in The Children of R...

Heaven’s Prey Facebook Party Tonight

Come and join the conversation … and maybe win a prize! Click the image to go to the event on my Facebook page for more information, or to sign up. When the party starts, there’ll be clear directions on how to join in. I just wish we could serve some real food!

Also… today’s the final day for the Heaven’s Prey blog chase. The chase posts will still be available tomorrow, but we draw for the free book tonight Haven’t taken the chase yet? Click here to start running:

Hope-Giver

This letter is from Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus, appointed by the command of God our Savior and Christ Jesus, who gives us hope.

1 Timothy 1:1, NLT* (emphasis mine)

Yes, sometimes I read backwards. It was verse 2 that nudged me last week, and now it’s verse 1.

Christ Jesus, who gives us hope. Let that steep a bit in your mind.

Hope:

of new life – and of Heaven
that we’ll make it – sometimes life is hard
that we’ll conduct ourselves in ways that are pleasing to God
of healing and growth
of doing w...

Review: Love and Respect in the Family, by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs

Love and Respect in the Family, by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs (Thomas Nelson, 2013)

This book’s subtitle is The respect parents desire … the love children need. Dr. Eggerichs is the best-selling author of Love and Respect, a non-fiction book that has helped many marriages, and now that his own children are grown, he offers his insights on “parenting God’s way.”

Dr. Eggerichs is quick to say he and his wife haven’t been perfect parents, nor their children perfect offspring. He shares some of their st...

News About Heaven’s Prey

Today is release day for Heaven’s Prey! I’m now a published novelist, and some of my imaginary friends are venturing out into the world. This is a long-held dream for me, and I still can’t quite believe it’s coming true. (Yes, even after all those edits!)

I’m doing a lot of online interviews and guest posts to promoteHeaven’s Prey, and they’ll all be listed on the blog tour page. (Links will be added as the events go live.) I’d love to have you pop by some of the sites and say hello.

Some other...

Grace, Mercy and Peace

I am writing to Timothy, my true son in the faith.

May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord give you grace, mercy, and peace.
1 Timothy 1:2, NLT*

Paul begins most of his letters with a variant of these words, before getting into the meat of what he has to say. I always thought it was an overall blessing, kind of a loving way to say “hello”.

What if it’s more than that? His letters are very specific in terms of teaching and instruction. He doesn’t seem the type to open with generic fluff.

Toda...

Review: Sandwich, With a Side of Romance

Sandwich, With a Side of Romance, by Krista Phillips (Abingdon Press, 2012)

Maddie arrives in the town of Sandwich with a single, burning goal: to set up a stable home so she can get her younger brother out of foster care. Problem one: she loses her job on the first day. Problem two: she wasn’t a model child during her own foster care days, and the couple who have Kyle right now want to keep him.

She’s desperate enough to confront the man who cost her the job and convince him to hire her. Her n...

Heaven’s Prey: the supporting cast

The past few Fridays you’ve met the key characters from Heaven’s Prey: Ruth Warner (the woman in peril), Tony Warner (the frantic husband), and Harry Silver (the villain). Today I thought it would be interesting to get the reactions of some of the other people affected by this story:

Carol Silver Daniels: (Harry’s sister and only living relative)

We shared the same parents, but after what he did, I have no brother. He killed one of those young women here in Calgary, while he was visiting us. W...

To Know God

I will be faithful to you and make you mine,

and you will finally know me as the Lord.
Hosea 2:20, NLT* (emphasis mine)

My readings for the past few months have been in the Old Testament. In Daniel I picked up on how it’s the people who know God who will resist the evil leader’s flattery. (See Why We Need to Know God) Then I moved to Ezekiel, which is filled with “then they/you will know that I am God”.

Next stop: Hosea. What did I see today when I turned the page? The verse above, already marke...