Robin E. Mason's Blog: Robin's Book Shelf, page 183
February 18, 2017
BLOGWORDS – Sunday 19 February 2017 – FRONT PORCH FELLOWSHIP – NEW THING
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FRONT PORCH FELLOWSHIP – NEW THING
It’s been a difficult week for me. I’ve been teetering on a decision I needed to make but it was not a pleasant choice. I addressed the issues (involving another person) and sadly, got the answer I expected.
When you get words like that, it’s never easy. But it had to be done. I did all I could to maintain the connection. Doing so freed me to shake the dust from my feet and walk away with a clear conscience.
Yesterday, after doing all that was in my ability to do, my decision was made.
And lo, a great weight was lifted from me. A weight I hadn’t realized I was bearing. A freedom settled in my spirit.
And the topic for today’s post was clear—Behold, I am doing a new thing.
Father spoke it to me as I drifted to sleep last night. I awoke today (Saturday as I write this) with a renewed sense of excitement and expectation. That’s my Word for 2017, after all.
My season of waiting, long agonized waiting, years of waiting—is over. Promises are being fulfilled. I’ve felt tangled in a spider web and it’s now dropped away. I am free to fly.
Behold, I will do a new thing,
Now it shall spring forth;
Shall you not know it?
I will even make a road in the wilderness
And rivers in the desert.
I’m ready for a new thing, aren’t you?
#Blogwords, Front Porch Fellowship, #FPF, Sunday Devotion, New Thing, Isaiah 43:19, Expectation, Freedom, Flying, Rivers in the Desert
February 17, 2017
BLOGWORDS – Saturday 18 February 2017 – CHAT THURSDAY – AUTHOR INTERVIEW – ROBIN CAROLL
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CHAT THURSDAY – AUTHOR INTERVIEW – ROBIN CAROLL
“I love boxing. I love Hallmark movies. I love fishing. I love scrapbooking. Nope, I’ve never fit into the boxes people have wanted to put me in.” ~Robin Caroll is definitely a contradiction, but one that beckons you to get to know her better.
Robin’s passion has always been to tell stories to entertain others and come alongside them on their faith journey—aspects Robin weaves into each of her 26 published novels.
rem: Hullo, Robin, and welcome to my blog! Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
ROBIN: I was born and raised in Louisiana…now living in Little Rock, AR. I have 3 beautiful daughters and two precious grandsons.
rem: Tell us three things about yourself.
ROBIN: I love to scrapbook. I’m a “planner person” and the only birds I like are cardinals & hummingbirds
rem: I’m a planner-type person, too, Level OCD. Coffee or tea? Sweet or un? Flavored or not?
ROBIN: Sweet tea or white chocolate mocha coffee, but not first thing in the morning
rem: That truffle bit sounds decadent! What do you do as a hobby?
ROBIN: I’m a huge scrapbooker and planner person. It’s a way to be creative with actually making something, and letting my subconscious work out plot issues in the background
rem: I love that plotting / writing happens in the background! Then again, when does it not happen in the background? What’s the most random thing in your bag or on your desk?
ROBIN: My Edgar Allan Poe and Maleficent action figures
rem: Hmmm… Very interesting… Do you use sarcasm?
ROBIN: It’s my first language. J
rem: So I suppose that makes you fluent, then? Huh? Does it? Do you have a favorite Bible verse? And why is it a favorite?
ROBIN: My life verse is Philippians 4:13: I can do ALL things through Christ, who strengthens me.
rem: We all do well to remember that when Father gives us an [otherwise] impossible task! If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?
ROBIN: Stephen King because I admire his body of work, his sense of humor, and I’d love to just sit and chat with him
rem: What a great choice—talented AND prolific! (Can I sit in with you?) What is your favorite bird and why?
ROBIN: Hummingbird. I’m not a fan of birds, but a hummingbird is like a butterfly on steroids.
rem: On steroids! LOL They are quite aggressive for their miniature-ness. Do you like to fly? What’s the furthest you’ve ever flown?
ROBIN: It’s not a like/dislike…it’s more of a “I’d rather fly than drive” option for me. Jamaica is the furthest I’ve actually flown
rem: Jamaica is also hard to get to if you’re driving. Jus’ sayin’ When is your birthday?
ROBIN: August 19th
rem: August is packed with birthdays in our family. What is your favourite birthday memory? All-time favorite birthday gift?
ROBIN: They’re both the same: the year my husband and I went to Jamaica and for my birthday, we climbed Dunn’s River Falls. Was such a great time.
rem: Sounds wonderful! What do you think is significant about Christian fiction? How has being a novelist impacted your relationship with Christ?
ROBIN: I think Christian fiction is great stories with real characters, but leaving the reader filled with hope. As I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember, I think it’s a part of me and a part of my relationship with Jesus.
rem: Oh yes, I’ve found that as I write (which is something He gave me) I draw closer to Him and learn more of who I am, which draws me closer to Him, and my writing is stronger for it. When reading, what makes or breaks a story for you? Your fiction pet peeve?
ROBIN: If I get bored, I stop reading. Life’s too short to waste time reading the boring. J Pet peeve? Oh, I have so many. LOL Probably head-hopping. It bugs me.
rem: I so agree! ‘specially since I read at bedtime! Which is more important: plot or characters?
ROBIN: Both because if I don’t care about the character, I don’t care what happens to them. On the other hand, I can love a character, but if they are in a boring plot, I lose interest in them.
rem: I totally agree, gotta have both. What would you do if you weren’t writing?
ROBIN: Event planning
rem: Really! I had thought I’d try that a few years ago—then came the diagnosis (RA) and I don’t have the energy, le sigh… What are you reading right now?
ROBIN: Trying to decipher my handwritten WIP notes that I jotted at 3am
rem: pahahahah – unique handwriting, eh? What do you munch on while you write?
ROBIN: I love Tom’s Hot Fries, sweet tea, and M&Ms
rem: Not so big on the hot fries but I’m right there with you with the M&M’s. Tell us a little about your writing journey.
ROBIN: I’ve written for as long as I can remember. I’ve always made up stories for characters in my head. One day, I decided to just write everything down.
rem: The charactersssss, they speaks to ussss… What inspired you to write suspense? You lived in Louisiana, how much did that influence your writing?
ROBIN: I write Suspense because that’s what I love to read. Louisiana living is a different way of life. The people, culture and food….I like to pull little bits of that into my books.
rem: I’mma gonna gotta visit there one day. I’ve too many friends who live there or are from there! You are Executive / Conference Director for ACFW (we need to talk). How do you balance that with writing and—life?
ROBIN: I’m a big multi-tasker. Always have been. I’m a little OCD and organization is a main component to my happiness. I love my spreadsheets and planners and checking items off my to-do list. With my ACFW job, we have an amazing team in place and we all do our jobs well. When one of us are on deadline, we know how to pinch hit for the other. We’ve worked together for years, so it’s a natural flow. My husband works with me, so he understands the craziness at times. And my kids are amazing….they pick up where I leave off so there’s minimal upset in the house, even when I’m on deadline. We laugh…a lot, and don’t take things too seriously.
rem: A fellow spread sheet aficionado! Hi, my name is Robin, and I love Excel spreadsheets! That’s so great your family is so supportive. What is your Writing Routine? Where do you write: In a cave, a coffeehouse, or a cozy nook?
ROBIN: I don’t really have a routine…I assign myself deadlines when I’m not on one with a publisher and try to stay on task. I usually write in my office at home. Sometimes, for a change of pace, I’ll write in my recliner. Sometimes, if my husband is working his day job in the field, I might ride along with him and write while he does inspections.
rem: Never a dull moment, that way. What makes you struggle as an author? How do you handle it?
ROBIN: The constant changing within the industry. [Publishing] Houses going out of business, or no longer publishing fiction…it’s more than just the ebb and flow of changes. It’s the big upsets and how it affects others that I struggle with. I don’t know if any of us handle it…I think we all just do the best we can
rem: Maybe it’s our creative minds that allow us to adapt… Do you prefer the creating or editing aspect of writing? Why?
ROBIN: I actually like both, but I guess the creating best. Because it’s new. It’s exciting to get to work on a brand new story. New characters. That’s kind of cool.
rem: What do you enjoy most about being a writer?
ROBIN: Honestly? I’m a bit of a control freak, so it’s really fun to be able to control EVERYTHING in my stories. LOL
rem: Muwahahahahah. #bestansweryet What are your top 3 recommendations for a new writer? What 3 things would recommend not doing?
ROBIN: Get into a good writers’ group. Go to a conference—more if you can. Study the craft as much as you can. Don’t compare yourself to any other writer. Don’t try to write for the fads of today. Don’t take criticism personally.
rem: I’m planning to be at ACFW this year—look for me? Where do you get your greatest ideas for writing?
ROBIN: EVERYWHERE. Literally.
rem: Exactly! How do you choose your characters’ names?
ROBIN: I use names I like…I use the Baby Name Survey Book….if I see a cool name on a namebadge
rem: Do you think of the entire story before you start writing?
ROBIN: Nope
rem: Me neither. Tell us a little about your latest book? What is your current project?
ROBIN: Right at this moment, I’m working on the sequel to Torrents of Destruction because I’ve gotten the most emails from readers asking for it
rem: Gotta love that kind of reader response! What is YOUR favorite part about the book or why do you love this book? Why should we read it?
ROBIN: My next release, Weaver’s Needle, releases in June. I LOVED writing this book. With recovery specialists, Native American legends, a hunt for a real treasure in the Superstition Mountains in AZ…what isn’t to love?
rem: I’ve fallen in love with stories with Native Americans! Please give us the first page of the book.
ROBIN: The Legend of the Dutchman’s Lost Mine
In the rugged Superstition Mountains east of Phoenix, located somewhere in a twisted labyrinth of canyon juts, lies the Dutchman’s Lost Mine. The Apache Indians—Shis-Inday or “Men of the Woods”—had a secret gold cave hidden in the mountains. These mountains were the home of their Thunder God, and they held the area in reverence.
As news of gold in the Superstition Mountains spread, fortune hunters came from around the world to search. The Apaches, fierce protectors of their Thunder God’s Mountain, killed everyone who dared trespass.
As legend goes, in 1871, two German adventurers, Jacob Waltz and Jacob Wisner, came to Arizona. Waltz met and fell in love with an Apache girl, Ken-tee. Her relatives soon became convinced she had betrayed the location of their secret mine. According to their ancient ones, the gold had been placed there by the Thunder God for them to use only in time of desperation. When Ken-tee led Waltz to the mine, and they returned to Phoenix with nearly $70,000 worth of gold, the tribe warriors raided within hours. While they murdered Ken-tee, the Apaches failed to kill the Dutchman Waltz.
When Waltz was eighty years old in 1890, he decided to hide the location of the mine. As legend tells it, when he had completed his mission, he told many that “you could drive a pack train over the entrance to the mine and never know it was there.”
Several months after Waltz hid the mine, he contracted pneumonia. His only reported friend was a bread baker from Louisiana named Julia Thomas. History records the great February 1891 flood, which bore down on Phoenix, as the most ruinous in the American Southwest. It is reported Waltz survived the flood by climbing into a small mesquite tree, where he was stranded until someone cut him loose and took him to Julia Thomas’s home, who was known to take in victims of the flood.
Julia tried to nurse Jacob back to health, only he was so old and his body so feeble, he couldn’t resist his illness. He died in degrees over the summer. In October 1891, he attempted to tell Julia exactly where the mine was hidden. It’s recorded he said, “. . .the northwest corner of the Superstition Mountains. The key is a stripped paloverde tree with one limb left on, a pointing arm. It points away from the rock, about halfway from between it and the rock, and two hundred yards to the east. Take the trail in. I left a number of clues.” After speaking these ominous directions, he died.
All the Dutchman’s clues seem to focus around Weaver’s Needle. . . .
rem: What is one take-away from your book(s) that you hope readers identify with?
ROBIN: That with God, there is always hope
rem: There surely is. Robin, thank you so much for chatting with us on my blog today!
Where can we find you online?
ROBIN:
https://www.facebook.com/robincaroll
https://twitter.com/RobinCaroll
https://www.amazon.com/Robin-Caroll/e/B001IZXC9C/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_8?qid=1487282309&sr=1-8
“Caroll has written an engaging whodunit, with scenes that unfold expertly and keep the action moving and suspense alive. And though the romance plot line is sweetly written, the characters’ faith journeys are also deeply explored. Fans of suspense will be pleased with this light but entertaining read.”~ Publishers Weekly
#Blogwords, Chat Thursday, Author Interview, Robin Caroll, Weaver’s Needle, Native American Legends, The Legend of the Dutchman’s Lost Mine, Torrents of Destruction, Framed, Bayou Justice, To Write a Wrong, Bayou Betrayal
BLOGWORDS SPECIAL EDITION FEATURED BOOK – Friday 17 February 2017 – WHY NOT by DEBRA E. MARVIN
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WHY NOT by DEBRA E. MARVIN
Love Puts These Two On the Edge!
Grand Canyon, 1914
Society girl Amber Wynott’s wintry escape to the Grand Canyon provides a chance to pursue her dream and prove she has what it takes to be a successful architect. It doesn’t take long to realize the incredible scenery can’t hide the simmering anger between ‘railroad money’ and the struggling locals.
Which side is master builder Stone Morrison on?
Amber has met her match in the handsome, hard-headed man. He’s been directed to keep an eye on her, but when iron meets iron—oh the sparks! As their unlikely old matchmaker tells them, pride goes before a fall, and this is a bad place to fall. Will danger finally knock some sense into the pair?
Debra E. Marvin tries not to run too far from real life but the imagination born out of being an only child has a powerful draw. Besides, the voices in her head tend to agree with all the sensible things she says. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Sisters in Crime, and serves on the board of Bridges Ministry in Seneca Falls, NY. Her published novellas include, “Alarmingly Charming” in Austen in Austen Vol 1 from WhiteFire Publishing, “Desert Duet” and “Starlight Serenade” from Forget Me Not Romances, after many unpublished contest successes including two finals for the Daphne DuMaurier award. Debra works as a program assistant at Cornell University, and enjoys her family and grandchildren, obsessively buying fabric, watching British programming and traveling with her childhood friends
LINKS:
https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B018QCI2AS
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorDebraEMarvin/
https://www.pinterest.com/debraemarvin/
http://www.inkwellinspirations.com/
https://twitter.com/DebraEMarvin
http://colonialquills.blogspot.com/
Blogwords, Special Edition, Featured Book, Why Not, Debra E. Marvin, Novella Collection, Valentine Matchmaker
BLOGWORDS – Friday 17 February 2017 – FIRST LINE FRIDAY – CISSY by ROBIN E. MASON
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FIRST LINE FRIDAY – CISSY by ROBIN E. MASON
note: I share my books this months because it’s my birthday month!
Encouraging Words from the Tea Queen
http://laurainesnotes.blogspot.com/
If you’d like to join us on your blog for First Line Fridays, shoot Carrie @ Reading is My Superpower an email and let her know!
THE BLURB:
Evil words. Words that should never have been spoken. Words that she should not have heard.
But she did. And she believed them.
Everything changed when Cissy heard those words that day. She was five.
What torment is wrought when wicked words are spoken? Can Cissy’s ravaged life be redeemed? Or will she wreak havoc on all who love her?
Can the lie be undone? Is there a word powerful enough to break the curse and undo the unsavory heritage?
AUTHOR’S NOTE: Cissy is not easy reading. She faces evil and succumbs to it. She is seduced at a young age, and learns to wield her body to manipulate and wound those most dear to her. There are no graphic scenes, but neither do my scenes merely allude to what is happening.
Cissy is the dark and gritty, high-tension climax to the unsavory heritage series.
THE FIRST LINE :
I hate you and I wish you was dead.” The window thrown wide, Cissy eavesdropped through the smudged glass of the attic window as her twin sister, Clara, permitted Virgil to kiss her, a token of their betrothal. Cissy welcomed the arctic air.
MY THOUGHTS:
My ministry and my writing platform really become evident in this story—our words have power to shape our lives, either for good or for evil.
GENRE:
Women’s Fiction, Historical Fiction
STARS:
I can’t rate it – I wrote it!
#Blogwords, First Line Friday, #FLF, Cissy, Robin E. Mason, unsavory heritage series
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February 15, 2017
BLOGWORDS – Thursday 16 February 2017 – CHAT THURSDAY – AUTHOR INTERVIEW – ROBIN PATCHEN
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CHAT THURSDAY – AUTHOR INTERVIEW – ROBIN PATCHEN
“I love helping authors polish their work.”
“If time and money were no object, Robin would spend her life traveling. Her goal is to visit every place in the entire world—twice… so Robin does the next best thing: she writes. In the tales she creates, she can illustrate the unending grace of God through the power and magic of story.”
rem: Hullo, Robin, and welcome! Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
ROBIN: My family moved to Londonderry, New Hampshire, when I was three years old. I went to college in Boston and lived in that area until my husband and I moved to Oklahoma in ’96. We’ve been in in Edmond, OK, ever since
rem: That’s gotta be some culture shock! Tell us three things about yourself.
ROBIN: I’ve been told I’m a good cook, I love to entertain, and I desperately hate to clean.
rem: We have more in common than our name then. What is your favourite quotation and why?
ROBIN: “A man can no more diminish God’s glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word, ‘darkness’ on the walls of his cell.” C.S. Lewis. I’m not sure that this is my favorite quote, but it’s the one that comes to mind. I love it because I’ve known a lot of folks who’ve spent their lives scribbling “darkness” in their self-imposed prisons.
rem: It’s a good quote, and very true, and I’m guessing that someone who reads the interview needs to hear it. If you could go back in time, what era would you choose and why?
ROBIN: I’d like to experience America in the years between the Revolution and the Civil War when we as a nation were discovering who we were and what we were about. I would especially like to experience the Second Great Awakening. I’ve been thinking a lot about revival lately—and praying for another great revival in America—so perhaps that’s why I would like to see it firsthand.
rem: Don’t see much on that piece of time—can I come with you? Would you bungee?
ROBIN: Definitely!
rem: Let’s do it! Favorite season? Why?
ROBIN: Autumn, because I grew up in New Hampshire, where the leaves explode in indescribable beauty every year. Unfortunately, Oklahoma leaves leave much to be desired.
rem: Ya, in New England I guess that’s a given. 
THE SCARLET COAT by ANGELA K. COUCH
Conflict on every side, and within as well. The sound of musket fire, the acrid smell of smoke—and the putrid smell of blood and death.
And within her heart, the cry of compassion for a dying man. A man wearing the uniform of the enemy.
When Rachel Garnet seeks her brother and their father after a British invasion, she is heartbroken to learn her father is already dead. Leaving the valley—the battlefield—with her brother, they hear a cry for help.
A British officer.
Rachel cannot bear to leave him to die in the woods—but what does she risk to have the man in their home.
But as the man recovers his health, his memory fails him. Who is this man Rachel and her brother have rescued? Who are they harboring within their walls?
As the enemy begins to regain his health, he also struggles to recover his memory. Rachel is drawn to his mild manner, and to his knowledge of Scripture.
And the conflict in her heart takes a dangerous turn as she falls in love with him. Will the conflict get them both killed? Or will their love triumph?
Ms. Couch has portrayed love that takes root in the most unlikely circumstance. She has given us genuine characters that display every emotion, and volley back and forth within those emotions. She has written characters who struggle with the reality of their lives and the brutality of war. I felt Rachel’s heart as she was torn to do her Christian duty to her sworn enemy. And I felt the conflict as her heart stirred toward him. I walked alongside her in 18th century America, felt the strain of daily life, and the constant threat of discovery. A vivid story of faith and compassion and love.
This book was given to me as a gift. I offer my review of my own volition, The opinions expressed in my review are my own honest thoughts and reaction to this book.
Angela K. Couch
Angela K Couch is an award-winning author for her short stories, and a semi-finalist in ACFW’s 2015 Genesis Contest. Her childhood was spent listening to her father read chapters from his novels, and Angela decided young to follow his path. As a passionate believer in Christ, her faith permeates the stories she tells. Her martial arts training, experience with horses, and appreciation for good romance sneak in there, as well. Angela lives in Alberta, Canada with her “hero” and three munchkins. Visit her at www.angelakcouch.com, or follow on Twitter or Facebook!
#Blogwords, Tuesday Reviews-Day, #TRD, Book Review, The Scarlet Coat, Angela K. Couch, Mail-Order Revenge, I Heard the Bells, Patriot and the Loyalist
Wednesday Wisdom – WORSHIP
Sing to the Lord, all the earth; Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day. —1 Chronicles 16:23 (NKJV) Writers are a funny lot — many of us are classic introverts, yet we’…
Source: Wednesday Wisdom – WORSHIP
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February 14, 2017
BLOGWORDS – Wednesday 15 February 2017 – WREADING WEDNESDAY – CISSY by ROBIN E. MASON
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WREADING WEDNESDAY – CISSY by ROBIN E. MASON
Evil words. Words that should never have been spoken. Words that she should not have heard.
But she did. And she believed them.
Everything changed when Cissy heard those words that day. She was five.
What torment is wrought when wicked words are spoken? Can Cissy’s ravaged life be redeemed? Or will she wreak havoc on all who love her?
Can the lie be undone? Is there a word powerful enough to break the curse and undo the unsavory heritage?
AUTHOR’S NOTE: Cissy is not easy reading. She faces evil and succumbs to it. She is seduced at a young age, and learns to wield her body to manipulate and wound those most dear to her. There are no graphic scenes, but neither do my scenes merely allude to what is happening.
Cissy is the dark and gritty, high-tension climax to the unsavory heritage series.
[image error]I’ve always had stories in my head. I once said I should write them all down so someone could write them someday. I had no idea at the time that someone was me!
I have been writing since 1995, and began working in earnest on my debut novel, CISSY in 2013. Meanwhile, I cranked out a few dozen poems, made countless notes for story ideas, and earned my BFA in Interior Design. I lived with depression for many years, and the inherent feelings of worthlessness and invisibility; I didn’t want to be who I was and struggled with my own identity for many years. My characters face many of these same demons.
I write stories of identity conflict. My characters encounter situations that force the question, “Who am I, really?” For all who have ever wondered who you are or why you’re here, my stories will touch you in a very real—maybe too real—and a very deep way. I know, I write from experience.
https://robinsnest212.wordpress.com/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Robin-E-Mason-Author-Artist/224223274404877
http://www.amazon.com/Robin-E.-Mason/e/B00MR5IQ9S
https://twitter.com/amythyst212
http://www.pinterest.com/amythyst212/
https://plus.google.com/u/0/108929134414473292325
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7808042.Robin_E_Mason
#Blogwords, Wreading Wednesday, Featured Book, Cissy, Robin E. Mason, unsavory heritage series, Tessa, Clara Bess
February 13, 2017
BLOGWORDS – Tuesday 14 February 2017 – TUESDAY REVIEWS-DAY – BOOK REVIEW – THE SCARLET COAT by ANGELA K. COUCH
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TUESDAY REVIEWS-DAY – BOOK REVIEW – THE SCARLET COAT
Conflict on every side, and within as well. The sound of musket fire, the acrid smell of smoke—and the putrid smell of blood and death.
And within her heart, the cry of compassion for a dying man. A man wearing the uniform of the enemy.
When Rachel Garnet seeks her brother and their father after a British invasion, she is heartbroken to learn her father is already dead. Leaving the valley—the battlefield—with her brother, they hear a cry for help.
A British officer.
Rachel cannot bear to leave him to die in the woods—but what does she risk to have the man in their home.
But as the man recovers his health, his memory fails him. Who is this man Rachel and her brother have rescued? Who are they harboring within their walls?
As the enemy begins to regain his health, he also struggles to recover his memory. Rachel is drawn to his mild manner, and to his knowledge of Scripture.
And the conflict in her heart takes a dangerous turn as she falls in love with him. Will the conflict get them both killed? Or will their love triumph?
Ms. Couch has portrayed love that takes root in the most unlikely circumstance. She has given us genuine characters that display every emotion, and volley back and forth within those emotions. She has written characters who struggle with the reality of their lives and the brutality of war. I felt Rachel’s heart as she was torn to do her Christian duty to her sworn enemy. And I felt the conflict as her heart stirred toward him. I walked alongside her in 18th century America, felt the strain of daily life, and the constant threat of discovery. A vivid story of faith and compassion and love.
This book was given to me as a gift. I offer my review of my own volition, The opinions expressed in my review are my own honest thoughts and reaction to this book.
Angela K Couch is an award-winning author for her short stories, and a semi-finalist in ACFW’s 2015 Genesis Contest. Her childhood was spent listening to her father read chapters from his novels, and Angela decided young to follow his path. As a passionate believer in Christ, her faith permeates the stories she tells. Her martial arts training, experience with horses, and appreciation for good romance sneak in there, as well. Angela lives in Alberta, Canada with her “hero” and three munchkins. Visit her at http://www.angelakcouch.com, or follow on Twitter or Facebook!
To learn more and to see her latest news, please visit:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009686289882
https://www.amazon.com/Angela-K.-Couch/e/B00NB488W4/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_2?qid=1486414489&sr=1-2
#Blogwords, Tuesday Reviews-Day, #TRD, Book Review, The Scarlet Coat, Angela K. Couch, Mail-Order Revenge, I Heard the Bells, Patriot and the Loyalist
February 12, 2017
BLOGWORD – 13 February 2017 – NEW WEEK NEW FACE – C. KEVIN THOMPSON
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NEW WEEK NEW FACE – C. KEVIN THOMPSON
This is For the Birds
I’m a phrase guy. I like to know how we as humans come up with certain phrases that permeate our conversations. Where did they originate? Why were they coined the way they were?
One such phrase is: “This is for the birds!” Ever heard it before? Ever used it? Ever added specifics to it, like “This whole day is for the birds!” or “Politicians are for the birds!” In each case, the phrase connotes a uselessness or worthlessness to whatever is “for the birds.” So, how did a reference to giving or leaving something to birds ever become a negative statement?
Although no one can pinpoint a specific reference, general belief links the phrase back to the days of horse and buggies. When that mode of transportation lined the streets on notable cities like London or New York, it was a common need for pedestrians to “look before you step.” The “calling cards” of the equine conveyance made crossing the street a lively affair, no doubt. As an added bonus to the hustle and bustle of city life, apparently, in the droppings, undigested food—namely oats—became the draw for many an English sparrow. It does make me wonder why nary a raven could have been found and interviewed (maybe even quoted).
This concept of “leaving behind worthless things for the birds” is not a recent or modern phrase, however. It actually finds its roots in scripture. In Isaiah 18:4-6 (NIV), the prophet wrote, “This is what the Lord says to me: ‘I will remain quiet and will look on from my dwelling place, like shimmering heat in the sunshine, like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest.’ For, before the harvest, when the blossom is gone and the flower becomes a ripening grape, he will cut off the shoots with pruning knives, and cut down and take away the spreading branches. They will all be left to the mountain birds of prey and to the wild animals; the birds will feed on them all summer, the wild animals all winter.” Notice how the fruit—which is normally harvested BEFORE the pruning takes place—will be left on the vine as the spreading branches and shoots are cut off, left for birds and wild animals to consume.
In Jeremiah 16:4 (NIV), the Lord says, “They will die of deadly diseases. They will not be mourned or buried but will be like dung lying on the ground. They will perish by sword and famine, and their dead bodies will become food for the birds and the wild animals.” In this reference—which is a reference to judgement—those accursed by God will be left “like dung” (Hmmm…where have we heard that before?) for the birds and wild animals to consume.
It seems this concept of leaving behind something worthless, unworthy of consumption or use by man or God, even accursed of God, to rot and be eaten by birds is a very old saying. Much older than the pre-industrial revolution. Yet, this concept of leaving things “for the birds” is also rooted in love, believe it or not.
Jesus said in Matthew 6:26-33 (NKJV), “Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
When you are a bird, you can’t sow. I’ve heard of turkey farmers, and chicken farmers, but I’ve never met a turkey or chicken that farmed. They only “get farmed.”
When you are a bird, you can’t reap or store anything, either. Oh, you can build a nest and “store” some eggs until they hatch, but that’s different. When it comes to food, you’re dependent on what falls to the ground from a tree or bush, what teems in a river, lake, or ocean, or what may slither or crawl on the earth. But at no time did you ever have a hand in producing those food sources. God did.
So, it begs the question. If God had not designed His creation like He did, what would have become of the English sparrow, the raven, and the mountain birds of prey since they can’t sow, reap, or store away in barns? I think you know the answer. The trees would be a lot quieter. The skies would be less populated. And the love of God would have been questioned infinitely more than it already is by a world stained by sin.
Yet, even though these creatures seem to be less in stature than Man (Are you not of more value than they?), God doesn’t abandon them. He cares about everything. Everyone. And even though Man was His crowning creation (cf. Gen. 1:26-27), it doesn’t mean every other thing He did create is “on its own” like the theists believe. He loves the lowest of the low, the highest of the high, and everything and everyone in between. That’s how it is when you so loved the world, that you gave your one and only son, that whosoever believes in him will not perish, but have eternal life (cf. John 3:16).
KEVIN THOMPSON is an ordained minister with a B.A. In Bible (Houghton College, Houghton, NY), an M.A. in Christian Studies (Wesley Biblical Seminary, Jackson, MS), and an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership (National-Louis University, Wheeling, IL). His book, 30 Days Hath Revenge – A Blake Meyer Thriller: Book 1, is now available! Book 2 of the Blake Meyer Series, Triple Time, will be available for pre-order in late February 2017. The Serpent’s Grasp, a standalone, is coming May 2017. Book 3 of the Blake Meyer Series, The Tide of Times, is coming August 2017.
www.ckevinthompson.blogspot.com
https://www.facebook.com/CKevinThompson.AuthorPage/
https://twitter.com/CKevinThompson
Goodreads: C. Kevin Thompson
#Blogwords, New Week New Fact, #NWNF, Guest Post, C. Kevin Thompson, This is for the Birds, 30 Days Hath Revenge
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