Joey O'Connor's Blog, page 20
September 27, 2011
God of Love & Lightning Strikes
Krista and I were driving home from Las Vegas. As we left the artificial glitz of Vegas in the morning, the clouds and rain ahead were dark and ominous. We were headed into a storm and in for a wild ride. The dry brown scrub of rock and sand, yucca and Joshua Tree contrasted with deep greys and black skies overhead.
After driving for an hour, it started to lightly rain. In the distance we saw flashes of lighting.
"Oohh," we marveled as God took one picture after another. He does tend to...
September 20, 2011
Write A Winning Book Proposal!
I speak with a lot of aspiring writer's about what it takes to write a winning book proposal. And I mean a lot! The first questions I'm always asked is, "What do I have to do to get published?"
For years I thought of writing a short book to help my friends develop a winning book proposal. But Michael Hyatt beat me to it!
If you want to writing a winning book proposal, I have just the tools to help you…
The real secret to securing a book contract is knowing how to write a powerful, compelling...
September 1, 2011
Is God Enough?
In my book, The Longing, I tell the story how chronic tendonitis in my wrists and the resulting depression kicked my butt. That's right friends… K-I-C-K-E-D-MY-B-U-T-T!
If you've gone through difficult, dark periods in your life, you know how pain forces you to ask a number of difficult questions. Throw in a heavy fog of depression, like you've got a two-hundred pound Anaconda wrapped around your head, and that makes answering those questions even tougher.
Deep struggles in my life have...
August 19, 2011
Inspire Me! Help from 'The Help'
Did you know that Kathryn Stockett's bestselling book "The Help" was rejected 60 times before it was accepted? If you want an amazing, inspirational story about one woman who refused to give up, then read on my friend…
I love inspirational stories like this…courageous people who simply refuse to give up. I speak with many creative people who have wonderful, God-given desires and dreams. They want to create that next book, song, dance, film, painting, studio or business. Yet, for many, that...
August 13, 2011
A Wedding And A Funeral
Last Saturday, I went to my niece's wedding. It was an event our family has eagerly been waiting for all summer long. Kelly Dale, the bride, was gorgeous and Nick Giuni, the groom, looked smashing! The next Monday, though, I attended a funeral. A wedding and a funeral in three days…that's a whole lot of emotion! Each gathering was filled with beautiful moments, but for different reasons. Allow me to explain…
Kelly and Nick were married at Calafia Park overlooking the Pacific Ocean in San...
July 6, 2011
Wide Receivers & Catching Footballs
I may not be Andre Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald or Reggie Wayne, three of the top wide receivers in the NFL, but I do know something about catching footballs. I think you also know something about catching footballs too. Or something very similar. As children, we all tried to catch something. We all tried to catch the same thing, but it wasn't a football.
Most of life goes back to elementary school, middle school and high school. It's where the grooves of our lives are cut deep. It's in our...
June 20, 2011
Father, Son & U2
Last Saturday, the day before Father's Day, I pulled off one of my best Dad capers. I love surprises and I love to surprise people, so when I discovered late Friday night that U2 had not one, but two shows last weekend at Angel stadium, it was all I could do not to launch into action.
Joseph, my oldest son, who will be fifteen this week is quite a good guitar player who loves U2. He's also 6'1″ (three inches taller than me), but this post isn't about jealousy. Anyway, Joseph and I had plans...
June 14, 2011
CIVA Biennial: Matter and Spirit
This week is CIVA's (Christians in Visual Arts) Biennial Conference at Biola University in La Mirada, California, June 16-19. The Grove Center for the Arts & Media, the non-profit ministry I serve, is hosting the Soul Space hospitality area. (Click here for a $50 Friends of The Grove discount.) Please join us for free drinks, snacks, creative projects and a chance to meet other artists from across the United States.
This year's theme, Matter and Spirit, explores how matter and materiality...
June 6, 2011
When You Can't See Ahead
I've taken a break from blogging for the past several weeks as I have been focused on a film production and other writing projects. Jumping back in, I'd like to offer you this beautiful prayer from Thomas Merton, one of the greatest Christian thinkers of the 20th. century (and one of my favorite writers). I hope you'll be encouraged and share it with someone in need.
"My Lord God, I have no idea where I'm going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end...
May 6, 2011
Is 'Marriage & Unconditional Love' an Oxymoron?
Is marriage and unconditional love an oxymoron? How can you, a husband or wife, learn to create the essential conditions for a mutually satisfying and loving marriage? (Without killing each other first!)
Next week, I'll be celebrating my 22nd. wedding anniversary…Yahoo! If there's anything I've learned about married life is this: Marriage is all about the simple, intentional choices we make everyday. 'For better or for worse' is all about better or worse choices in attitudes, actions, and...
