Amazing Answers to Prayers

In the last month, I've had some amazing answers to prayers. Prayers that started over eighteen months ago. Sometimes it feels like a wilderness, the waiting for answers and healing.

After the car crash Christmas of 2011, I spent four months with hours and hours each week in physical therapy and doctor visits, then into a shoulder surgery, and then back into another seven months of PT.

Discouraged, I wondered what my lesson would be in all the lost time. Besides making my mark on the world ;) How would all that lost time translate into something good? God promises to work all things for good for those who love the Lord. He had me really curious as I thought I wandered the wasteland.

Angie's Mark on the World
Crash spot a few months later the ground is still torn up.

(It doesn't seem like all that time passed. But it took a year from turning in the manuscript to the release of A Healing Heart, in April 2013. That entire year rather than waiting for my book to release, I was in recovery from the car wreck and surgery.)

Have you ever been in that place where you had no idea how to pray? With so much time spent recuperating from the shoulder, neck, back injuries the creative part of me chomped at air. I wondered how long until life felt normal again. Writing and speaking, still so important to me, had to slow down to fit in all the medically necessary appointments. I prayed for it all to be over, to be healed, and to return to the writing world. And God answered.

But God allowed me to wait for some very good reasons.

1. How it felt to have a long illness.
2. How to help my fitness and weight loss clients with comprehension and compassion for injuries.
3. Editing for income.
4. Changing directions I wouldn't have thought of prior.
5. Learning, learning, learning to overcome a fear of driving.
6. Opening my eyes to opportunities.
7. New friendships and deeper relationships with old friends.
8. Trust. That people really wanted to help and I didn't need to do everything myself.
9. New ideas for more novels because of the many experiences in the long process.
10. A willing heart to take the path God puts me on.

Rainbow near the crash site.
God's love shines in every circumstance and He does bring good out of rough circumstances even if it takes a long time for us to see it.

Near Death Experiences?

Angie's Take on Revealing Heaven: The Christian Case for Near-Death Experiences: How do near death experiences fit into Christian beliefs? A question I've often wondered. I was offered the opportunity to review Revealing Heaven by John W. Price and decided to explore this theological question that's been boggling me. What about you? Is it something you've wondered? I have.

I never believed in the stories until something happened I couldn't explain. Several years ago I was a youth ministry director. One of my ministry kids was in a roll-over accident on the way to church, but I didn't know. I expected her for bell choir practice. She'd missed church and I had just asked if anyone saw Jenna.

Then I looked up at the entryway and there she stood. I called out, "Jenna, come on. We're starting." Everyone looked at me and looked at the door and back at me. They saw nothing. I looked back at the door and she was gone. Later that afternoon I found out she'd passed away a few hours before I "saw" her.

But that wasn't the end. She visited me twice more. The last time was the day her family buried her ashes in private. I had no idea. The small ceremony was early in the morning and the family told no one. I woke up from what I thought must be a waking dream where Jenna said goodbye to me. I still have a very clear memory of it. Weeks later I had lunch with Jenna's mom. I hesitated to tell her, not wanting to cause pain, but felt compelled. It was at that lunch I learned Jenna's ashes were buried at the same time I thought I was dreaming of her saying goodbye. The oddity was that I wasn't asleep. I was simply lying in bed with my eyes closed. A further oddity was that Jenna's mom had been hearing stories like this from other people. Mine wasn't unique and none of us knew about the others.

So do near-death experiences happen? I'm thinking they do if I could experience something I didn't think possible. At least I will no longer scoff or try to explain them away. There are things in life and beyond life that God knows and I don't. I'm willing to acknowledge I don't understand it all. Read this book and see what you think.

About the book: Revealing Heaven: The Christian Case for Near-Death Experiences Millions has the testimonies of those who have been to heaven and returned. But what do these stories mean for Christians? How do they fit with what the Bible teaches? What do they say about who goes to heaven? After hearing over 200 accounts of near-death experiences, the Reverend John W. Price narrates the stories of these eyewitnesses and now makes a case not only for why Christians can trust near-death accounts but for why we should treat these amazing stories as precious gifts from God.

About the author: John W. Price serves as a pastor and spiritual director and was a chaplain at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital in Houston. He is also a member of the Near Death Experience Research Foundation, which has the largest near-death experience website in the world.

Jessica Simpson pregnant?

Jessica Simpson is reportedly pregnant seven months after giving birth. What? That's never happened before? I'm sure there are millions of women out there that can say the same thing. Not really a newsworthy issue. However the contract with Weight Watchers has come into question.

I worked for Weight Watchers for several years. They don't drop you because you get pregnant. They simply allow you to suspend your membership until after the birth of your baby. Why? Because it's not healthy to lose weight while pregnant. A weight loss diet may harm the unborn child.

Common sense says that's what Weight Watchers will do with Jessica too since it's a pretty standard policy in the corporation. It's just silly to make something out of nothing. They can promote what they have so far. Then Weight Watchers has a bonus. They can reach out to moms who have given birth to more than one child. I see it as a win-win since this isn't a rare occurrence in the real world.

So what was there to really make sound bad in all this hoo-haw? The nonsense announcers that used heavy tones and negative connotations to paint Jessica Simpson in a negative light. There was even harsh music behind the announcer to add to the disapproving tone in commercials for upcoming shows on entertainment media.

 Funny they didn't mention Jessica was living out of wedlock, giving birth to children without being married, or any actual moral issue. Nope. The big deal was timing. Evidently you've done a bad thing if you don't follow the media's preconceived notions on when you should get pregnant. Of course whether you use birth control or it fails or whatever your personal beliefs are don't count according to recent media blitzes on Jessica Simpson. It's purely up to the media how you should live.

So tell me, is there the "right" timing to get pregnant after having a child? The television announcers and celebrity media portrayed a pregnant woman negatively because she didn't wait long enough between children.What do you think of that slant?

Jessica Simpson doesn't have an easy road with children so close together, but that's nothing new in this world. Mothers of twins, adopted siblings, and multiple children in diapers all know that feeling. So, Jessica, welcome to motherhood. It's a very blessed position. I hope you have the opportunity to marry their dad and build a happy family.

How long between your children?
Did you plan it that way?
What do you believe about marriage and children?

Angie

Talking Animals?

The sin of ignorance can get us into a lot of trouble. I've discovered we usually have warning signs we ignore. Hmm, check it out: ignorance and ignore are a bit similar!

I read in Numbers 22:34 about the talking donkey. I've read that before and love the magical possibility that animals actually can talk. Seriously, real talking animals! I wonder if my minis can talk?

But this time the truth I've struggled with over and over again stood out. We are responsible for the sin of ignorance.

Sounds harsh, doesn't it? Why should we be held accountable for something we don't know exists?

Read the whole story in Numbers 22. You'll see the behavior Balaam uses when he ignores the donkey's attempts to protect him. It's interesting that the angel is perfectly visible to the animal. (Now I'm curious if that's normal for all animals, to be able to see the supernatural as we see the mundane.)

But the fact that Balaam ignores something he knows well, his donkey. She doesn't behave this way. He knows it and admits it. Yet he beats her three times to make her do his will. This is unusual or the donkey wouldn't question it as she does. Balaam normally trusts the donkey.

So what is the sin? He knew something was out of the ordinary and still he pushed ahead. He really wasn't ignorant. He was guilty of ignoring the signs.

Now I get it. Now I understand how my willful pushing ahead can be the sin of ignorance. I missed the signs sent to protect me.

Wow, interesting truth. Now I can pray for eyes to see the signs, to see when something normal behaves differently. And I understand why we pray for forgiveness of the unknown sin. Once it's known, we easily slap our foreheads and say, "Duh!". Hindsight.

Has that happened to you?

Save Someone You Love From Suicide

 

www.ThinkingAboutSuicide.com - it's filled with articles, helps, and resources for those who are depressed or thinking of ending their lives as well as those who have lost a loved one to suicide.  Please reshare this, as you never know which of your loved ones and friends desperately needs the encouragement to live.  The articles are written by 20 of my Christian writer friends from AWSA (Advanced Writers and Speakers Association.)  www.AWSA.com

Thanks and blessings,

Linda Evans Shepherd

 

Angie here: I love to share information that might save a life, a family, a hope. Please consider sharing the link, visiting for information, and finding hope for yourself or a loved one at risk for suicide. I'm honored to be part of the team of writers, but the only thing that matters is encouraging those we love to stay safe and get help. This site will also have help aids and support to families and friends who grieve the loss of someone they loved to suicide. The Lord loves you. Let Him minister to you through the love of others and don't isolate away from them.

The Dog That Talked To God by Jim Kraus

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance introduces The Dog That Talked To God Abingdon Press (March 2012) by Jim Kraus

Angie's Take: A delightful book, with a fun writing voice, from the author pulled me in. The sweetness in the friendship between the dog (yes, I know) and Mary is lovely and warm. Much like the relationship between God and His children. We don't realize how friendly God is, how warm, how caring. He shows us through fiction, through Rufus. A delightful, reassuring read from a very creative author, Jim Kraus. Thanks for seeing the miracles of God in the creation of His animals. And by the way, I believe the donkey talked in the Old Testament. So why couldn't another animal talk? :)

^{Numbers 22: 28 (NIV)} Then the LORD opened the donkey’s mouth, and it said to Balaam, “What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jim Kraus grew up in Western Pennsylvania and is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh. He attended the Paris-American Academy in 1971 and has spent the last twenty years as a vice-president of a major Christian publishing house. He has written more than 20 books and novels (many with his wife, Terri). His book, The Silence, was named as one of the top five releases in 2004 by the Christian Book Review website. He is also an award-winning photographer. He and his wife and 14-year-old son live outside of Chicago with a sweet miniature schnauzer and an ill-tempered Siberian cat.

ABOUT THE BOOK

A wonderfully quirky, heart-breaking, heart-warming and thought-provoking story of a woman's dog who not only talks to her, he talks to God.

Recently widowed Mary Fassler buys a miniature schnauzer, Rufus, and her world is turned sideways in the midst of her grief. It seems that Rufus speaks. And not just to her. He also talks to God.

Mary has no choice except to believe Rufus, the miniature schnauzer, who claims to speak to the Divine

The question is: Will Mary follow the dog's advice, and leave everything she knows and loves? Is this at the urging of God? Or is it something else?

Will Mary risk it all or ignore the urgings of her own heart?

If you would like to read a chapter excerpt from The Dog That Talked To God, go HERE.

You Can Influence TV!

Angie here: I felt this article was so good that I am posting it (with proper attribution as required). After you read it, I'd love to hear your thoughts.

ASSIST News Service (ANS) - PO Box 609, Lake Forest, CA 92609-0609 USA
Visit our web site at: www.assistnews.net -- E-mail: assistnews@aol.com

Friday, March 2, 2012

You Can Influence TV!

By Beverly Caruso
Special to ASSIST News Service SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (ANS) -- You've probably considered-at least once or twice-selling or giving away your television set. You've become disgusted with the selection of shows, or frustrated with yourself for watching questionable content. You may be angry that your children are exposed to certain material. Maybe you've felt helpless about having any influence over what is aired.

American family watching TV together

You can have influence! Here are five steps to take toward influencing what is broadcast on television:
1. Be selective in what you and your family members watch. Television is a business. Advertisers pay for the shows because viewers watch the shows and buy their products. Producers make the shows because viewers watch the shows and keep the advertisers paying the bills.
Those advertisers make their decisions about which shows to spend their money on based on ratings. This is determined by professional agencies that use scientific methods to determine what percentage of viewers are watching specific shows. If you don't like or approve of a television show, change the channel or turn off the set.
2. Complain in an effective way. We usually think we need a national campaign to protest what we don't like. More often we simply complain to one another. You may be unhappy with a show and know others are unhappy also. To be effective, let the advertisers know about it. But do so politely and as a local group, using an appropriate business letterhead.
When 500 members of a church in Duluth, Minnesota, or Auckland, New Zealand, write to notify a sponsoring manufacturer that members of their churches have agreed not to purchase his product as long as he sponsors an offensive show, the manufacturer will pay attention. He knows that if the group is unhappy, there are probably other groups as well that won't buy his product.
This means we will need to pay attention to commercials aired during a show and write down the sponsors' names. Then we'll have to research to learn the address of the corporate office and the CEO. With Internet access, such a search can take only a few minutes. Some sites have special links for offering feedback. Make use of these, but don't overlook the effectiveness of a personal letter addressed to the top executive.

An Egyptian family watching TV  along with their camel (Photo: SAT-7)

Once you've located the information, keep it handy so you can refer to it each time you want to make contact. Then share that contact information with others who might take action.If you can't find the information on the Internet, call your local public library. A Reference Department librarian may look up the information you need. Or go to the library and ask for the appropriate reference books. You'll find addresses and chief officers listed.
Most important, we'll need to take the time to pray about how to write in such a way that our message will be received.
3. Unite your efforts locally. We tend to think that a national campaign will be most effective. Often it works just the reverse. When Americans protested against the movie, "The Last Temptation of Christ," they created massive media attention across the entire country. Many in the movie and television industry believe that the movie would have flopped and quietly disappeared without those well publicized protests. They may be correct. We don't want to crea te free advertising for a show; instead, we want to get the attention of the advertisers and producers.
4. Affirm those who broadcast things you want kept on the air. Protests are not enough. If you do like a show, let the sponsoring manufacturers and the television station know you like it, and why. Most letters and phone calls they receive from television viewers are negative. When a sponsor receives positive feedback he's naturally going to pay attention. The rule of thumb: producers and advertisers calculate that each letter represents several hundreds of viewers. The same is true of producers and network executives. Let them know which shows you like and why. Be specific.
5. Pray. Perhaps our most effective tool of influence is our least applied. Perhaps we are praying against those shows we disapprove. Are we praying for those that have positive qualities? There are hundreds, perhaps thousands, of Christians in the television industry trying to improve the selection and quality of programs that reach our homes. W e can pray for them. They may not be able to keep all offensive content off the air. Yet when an actress suggests to her director that alternate words would better communicate the story line, and therefore offensive words are not broadcast, she has been effective. When a script writer gets his wholesome story accepted by a popular show's producer, he will influence thousands of lives.
We will not reform the television industry easily. It won't be accomplished this year. You and I can adopt a producer, an actor, or a writer-not necessarily a Christian. And we can pray regularly for him or her.
Prayer groups, Sunday School classes, even youth groups, can adopt a certain show. We can learn about the show, about the people behind the camera as well as in front. We can pray for God's Spirit to draw them unto Himself; we can pray for Christians to be hired to live godly lives inside the industry; we can pray for God's conviction to constrain the decision makers; and we can pray for Christian viewers to do the responsible thi ng-whether it's to change the channel or to send a letter to the sponsor or network CEO.
We can make a difference!

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Bev Caruso, and her husband Pete, have served the Lord together for over 50 years. They pastored two churches for a total of 35 years. From those churches they sent over 100 individuals into fulltime Christian service. They have preached or taught in 35 countries: in schools and colleges, barrios and offices, prisons and jungles. Whether encouraging weary pastors or missionaries or praying for the sick, speaking through an interpreter or teasing with their grandchildren, their love for God and His people shines through. Bev's many books include Tools for Improving Relationships; Developing Godly Character in Children, now in its sixth edition; Getting Your Writing Into Print and Getting It Read; and Loving Confrontation. They recently coauthored: Keeping It Fresh-A Love that Keeps on Growing based on the Marriage Enrichment Seminars they team-teach. The Carusos continue to teach and preach. They also are directors of a hospitality center for traveling missionaries and ministers in Southern California. They have three grown child ren, eight grandchildren, and currently nine great-grandchildren. They can be contacted at: Caruso@across2u.com. Or visit their website: www.PeteandBevCaruso.com

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Send this story to a friend.

Thank You, God, for Today!

I wrote a little verse in my journal almost six months ago as praise to God for a great day. Some days really are amazing. I realized I needed to say, Thank you, God, for today! I felt it again today and smiled as I read it again. Yes, this is how I feel this moment. I don't need to edit or critique or worry that it's not good enough. It's just a simple note to express what's in my heart.

It's not intended to be my best writing. It's far from my best writing. I think it's not about being a fantastic writer, singer, or artist. Praise is more about the raw recognition, gut appreciation. No competition. No worries about how the person next to you thinks about your attempt at praise. It's more like a thank you card. We give thank you notes to friends, family, and even strangers. Simple note written to express sincere appreciation. No one critiques a thank you note. They simply appreciate that you gave it.

Praising God for a good day is just that, a thank you note for a gift. I'm hoping by sharing my little note, you will feel comfortable to offer one of your own either in private to the Lord or here to encourage your brothers and sisters in Christ.

The day raced by.

I felt God's smile.

The shadows zipped across the land.

I felt God's hand.

Work, friends, beauty, joy.

Enough this moment, spirit full.

Peace and rest, happy lull.

Thank you, God, for today!

I hope you'll have a day that makes you feel like praising God too. If you've had a great day, share a verse of praise :)

Free Book TODAY ONLY: January 12, 2012

Free Book TODAY ONLY: January 12, 2012

When You Don't Know What to Pray-How to Talk to God About Anything
Linda Evans Shepherd
Cost: FREE below or click HERE: http://tinyurl.com/7hfsldv

You can get a FREE copy of this best-selling book, today only, in the following
formats:

* Kindle: download here: http://tinyurl.com/7aur4pt

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Get your free book and tell all your friends that there is an unlimited supply
of FREE When You Don't Know What to Pray till midnight tonight.

In addition.... Announcing... NEW e-BOOK!

I have a special connection in that Linda graced me with the honor of being her editor for this project. I found myself stopping and praying because she wrote it in such a way that I connected with God's word in a new and enlightened understanding. I agree completely that I'm now enjoying a more powerful walk with God because I hear and comprehend the love story and God's desire to know me better. Here's the info :-)

The Living Story, Enjoying a Powerful Walk With God
Linda Evans Shepherd
Cost: $2.99

The Living Story, Enjoying a Powerful Walk with God portrays a `bigger picture
of God' that will captivate your heart as it helps you put your relationship
with God into focus.

Through key Bible stories that will take you from Eden to eternity, Shepherd
shows how God rescued us so that we can have a more intimate walk with him. But
more than pointing out that we can walk with God, Linda shows you how. She gives
the how-to's of developing a worshipful `state of mind' so you can reap the
benefits of a richer life filled with joy and purpose.

Buy The Living Story direct from Kindle for $2.99, go to:
http://tinyurl.com/7r7eco9

Simplify Christmas

Is the world racing too fast? 

Christmas (okay, the month of December) seems like a sprint from start to finish. There's never time to catch a breath and enjoy. Then after the holidays, we feel like collapsing.

I'm sharing a few things today to help you slow down and simplify Christmas. Then if you're signed up for my newsletter, I'm sending out a few more ideas and another recipe. But click on the link now for a high protein, high fiber, low fat Christmas breakfast recipe for Pumpkin Pancakes as well as a thoughtful article on Holiday Simplicity.

http://www.christianfictiononlinemagazine.com/berzerk_angie.html

Here's a few more ideas to Simplify Christmas:

1. Consider planning your Christmas season more around restful worship than parties to release the frenetic energy. An article to inspire you: http://www.inspireafire.com/hurry-less-worry-less-this-christmas/
2. Plan leisurely brunches rather than huge dinners.
3. Say no, no, and no to all the invitations.
4. Take time to tell the stories that connect your family to history and faith. An article on celebrating Advent: http://www.inspireafire.com/advent-ageous/
5. Make simple recipes and use crockpots, casseroles, and even frozen appetizers.
6. Focus on emotional stability rather than on shopping and events. Here's an article on emotional stability for you: http://www.inspireafire.com/ten-steps-to-emotional-stability/

"Black Friday" also becomes "Black Thursday"

 Are your children going to have a Christmas this year? I loved this article. Loved it!

Angie

ASSIST News Service (ANS) - PO Box 609, Lake Forest, CA 92609-0609 USA
Visit our web site at: www.assistnews.net -- E-mail: assistnews@aol.com

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

"Black Friday" also becomes "Black Thursday"

By Bill Ellis
Special to ASSIST News Service SCOTT DEPOT, WV (ANS) -- When I think about the word "black", I usually think about things being dark, gloomy, threatening, evil and even satanic. And yet most people want a black suit, black shoes or a black dress for the most formal and important events. Black is basic.


Several people have explained to me that "Black Friday" and now "Black Thursday" are good days for merchants. It means they are no longer in the red. Enough is being sold to pay for what has been bought and some extra for profit.


I have been told that the Friday after Thanksgiving is the day when more things are purchased than any other day of the year. On Thanksgiving night, Greta Van Susteren was interviewing for television the chief executive of Macy's of New York and, if I understood correctly, they have an enormous amount of square feet for shopping, selling and buying space in that historic store.


About as close as I get to that store is watching the beautiful Macy's Parade on television. I have often done some of my shopping on Christmas Eve at the local drug store. My personal Christmas budget has never been very high.


I am saddened when I hear of good-hearted organizations and parents talking as though a child cannot have Christmas or celebrate without a lot of money. Christmas for many seems to be summed up in terms of how much is received and accumulated -- and for how much money you can get back on the day after Christmas for what you did not want.
Have you, like I, heard some parent say, "My children just won't have any Christmas this year"? I have heard pleas on radio and television and read them in newspapers and letters that basically say, "Unless you give generously many boys and girls will not have any Christmas this year."


That is simply not true. We have lied to children and adults for so long that Christmas is defined by what we receive that can be bought. Craig Wilson is credited with saying, "Santa Claus never died for anybody." Stan Freeberg was also on target with this, "Christmas has two Ss in it, and they're both $$ signs."


I am thankful on this Thanksgiving Day, as I sit in my study writing, that I was first taught the meaning of Christmas during a time of poverty. I did not know, however, that I grew up in poverty until I was told that in a university class in advanced sociology.


In those days, we heard the Christmas story read in classes in the public schools, sang the Christmas carols with their beauty and grace that clearly told the entire drama of Christmas. It was all enhanced in theatrical productions in both our schools and churches. Pastors also preached about Christmas from the Biblical perspective.


Popular theologian of a past era, Soren Kierkegaard, gave us food for serious thought with these words, "God creates out of nothing. Wonderful, you say. Yes, to be sure, but he does what is still more wonderful: he makes saints out of sinners." That greatest of all miracles was born one night in Bethlehem's manger and fully celebrated on the first Easter Sunday when set free from a borrowed tomb.


The heavens sang and the angel announced for all the world: "For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:11). If we miss that simple and powerful message on the meaning of Christmas, there is not enough money in the whole world, including the United States and China, both their black and red days, to buy even a hint of what Christmas really means. Think about it -- seriously.
-30-

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Bill Ellis is a syndicated columnist, and convention and conference speaker on every continent. He is the writer of more than 2,000 newspaper and magazine columns, articles and contributions to books. He is also a widely known motivational speaker and pulpit guest who utilizes enjoyment of life and just plain fun and laughter while speaking to high school, university and professional sports teams as well as to business and professional groups of all kinds. His keen understanding of human problems makes him a favorite speaker for youth, parent, and senior adult meetings. He is accompanied by Kitty, his wife, favorite singer, editor and publisher. For information on becoming a subscriber to the Ellis Column for your newspaper or magazine, you may contact him at: BILL ELLIS, P.O.Box 345, Scott Depot, WV 25560 or by calling: 304-757-6089.

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** You may republish this story with proper attribution.

Slow Down, Be Content with What You Have, and Enjoy the Holiday Season

Angie here: Sharing an article I found particularly appropriate as we go into the holiday season. Please enjoy and let me know if you agree or disagree.

ASSIST News Service (ANS) - PO Box 609, Lake Forest, CA 92609-0609 USA
Visit our web site at: www.assistnews.net -- E-mail: assistnews@aol.com

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Slow Down, Be Content with What You Have, and Enjoy the Holiday Season
Watch out for a jolly little Englishman wishing you Happy Holidays

By Michael Ireland

Senior International Correspondent, ASSIST News Service
MINNEAPOLIS, MN / BAGHDAD, IRAQ (ANS) -- In a recent article for ASSIST News, my colleague Dan Wooding, Founder of ASSIST Ministries, called "Why are 'Christians' (and others) so angry, and sometimes downright hateful?" www.assistnews.net/STORIES/2011/s11110099.htm , talks about anger and hatefulness -- especially among believers.

I've been thinking about that, and I have to say it prompted me to think and write about why I really dislike going shopping at this time of year. I would like to consider the blindness and self-centeredness that affects holiday shoppers.


I love the real meaning of Christmas -- the Gift of God in the Birth of our Savior Jesus Christ -- but I dislike all the modern trappings that come with our Westernized commercialization of the holiday -- and all the pushing and shoving, and jockeying for position, that goes on at this time of year.


Canon Andrew White, the popular 'Vicar of Baghdad,' writes in "Christmas in Baghdad" on his Facebook page (which he gave ASSIST News permission to use): "The Western world is already preparing for the great day on 25th December. Presents are brought copious amounts of food will be brought in preparation for the party to begin. Decorations are prepared in the home and the towns for the great day to begin.


"For us, though, here in Baghdad things could not be more different. Our Christian people know that the Big Eid (Celebration) is coming. They know that we are about to celebrate the coming of the Christ Child. There is no razzmatazz; the only decoration will be the Christmas tree in the church. Presents -- well, there simply are not any, apart from what we get for the children and the boxes given by Samaritan's Purse. For the children we will work at bringing them some joy and fun. We will dress somebody up as Papa Noel (Santa Clause) as we give children their presents. The reality is that this celebration here is totally different from the festivity elsewhere in the world.


"Here, despite the media no longer showing our existence, we still live in violence and terrorism. I still move around my parish surrounded by hoards of soldiers and police -- yet we are still happy and for us there is total joy. Christmas for us is first and foremost a time of spiritual celebration. We may have nothing, we may live in total turmoil, but we celebrate this Christmas the coming of the Christ Child. For us Christmas is simply a celebration of God coming to be amongst us in Jesus the Christ Child.


"I never forget the day several Christmas's ago when I told the children I was going to tell them about Bethlehem where I used to live and where Jesus first came. A little boy Yousif put his hand up and said "Jesus did not first go to Bethlehem he came first to Iraq". When I asked why, he asked if I remembered that when Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego where in the flames there was another person with them and it was Jesus and I was told that happened just down the road in Babylon. So I was seriously put in my place and each time I sing "oh little town of Bethlehem" I think to myself Jesus was indeed here first and he still is here.


"So for us Christmas is simply about our Lord amongst us. We celebrate the fact of his Incarnation. There is no food or parties, but real celebration of faith. Christmas is simply a time of spiritual renewal -- a time when we remember that the Lord is indeed here and His Spirit is amongst us. These words from the Eucharist we say at the beginning of every service in Arabic. 'Allah hu ma ana, Baruch ha qudos ma ana athan.' For us Christmas is simply a celebration of the fact that: "The lord is here and His Spirit is with us."


Three years ago this week, a Walmart employee was trampled to death by frantic customers rushing to be the first to get the best deals on Black Friday -- the infamous "shoppers delight" -- the day after Thanksgiving when all the world loses it mind for a 'bargain' at your favorite retail outlet.

As the New York Times reported: The throng of Walmart shoppers had been building all night, filling sidewalks and stretching across a vast parking lot at the Green Acres Mall in Valley Stream, N.Y. At 3:30 a.m., the Nassau County police had to be called in for crowd control, and an officer with a bullhorn pleaded for order.

Tension grew as the 5 a.m. opening neared. Someone taped up a crude poster: 'Blitz Line Starts Here.'

By 4:55, with no police officers in sight, the crowd of more than 2,000 had become a rabble, and could be held back no longer. Fists banged and shoulders pressed on the sliding-glass double doors, which bowed in with the weight of the assault. Six to 10 workers inside tried to push back, but it was hopeless.

Suddenly, witnesses and the police said, the doors shattered, and the shrieking mob surged through in a blind rush for holiday bargains. One worker, Jdimytai Damour, 34, was thrown back onto the black linoleum tiles and trampled in the stampede that streamed over and around him. Others who had stood alongside Mr. Damour trying to hold the doors were also hurled back and run over, witnesses said.

Some workers who saw what was happening fought their way through the surge to get to Mr. Damour, but he had been fatally injured, the police said. Emergency workers tried to revive Mr. Damour, a temporary worker hired for the holiday season, at the scene, but he was pronounced dead an hour later at Franklin Hospital Medical Center in Valley Stream.

Four other people, including a 28-year-old woman who was described as eight months pregnant, were treated at the hospital for minor injuries. (See: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/29/business/29walmart.html?pagewanted=all)

I am prompted to ask what drives such madness that ended in the death of one man and injuries to others?

My Bible gives an answer -- "the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life," (1 John 2:16 NIV).

Our society promotes dissatisfaction with who we are and what we have (or, more accurately, what we DON'T have). There is a constant push and pressure from advertising media to be different from the person God made us to be, and to want more to satisfy our insatiable desires to be more than God planned. We are driven to be better than the next man (or woman), to want the biggest, the best, the latest, the newest. On and on it goes, ad infinitum.

This constant push to want more distorts the imageo deo -- the image of God -- within us. It trashes God's design for our health, happiness and wellbeing. More important, it destroys the design of God for lives of contentment.

The Apostle Paul wrote that he had learned to be content in whatever state or condition he found himself in. He had plenty of opportunity to exercise that attitude of heart and mind, having been beaten, shipwrecked, stoned and left for dead, among other things.

And my Bible advises me to "Be content with such as you have. Just as long as you have food and raiment (clothing), be satisfied with that." More important, my Bible also says, "Better is a little with the Lord, than much and great trouble therewith."

You see, that is good, sound, common sense advice from our Maker, Creator, and Sustainer.

My biggest "beef" is that holiday shoppers wander around in a glassy-eyed daze, totally oblivious to others around them while pushing their carts loaded with things they don't really need and cannot really afford.

Many times I have had to stop in mid-track -- right there in the middle of Aisle Four -- and by deliberately slowing down the frenzy in front of me, to ensure that my disabled wife doesn't end up in the Emergency Room, or in the Mortuary. She may be as strong as an ox in many ways, but in others she has certain physical frailties due to heart and lung (breathing) problems -- the result of a congenital heart deformity that led to a heart attack and two cardiac arrests on Thanksgiving, 2004. She was on life support and in a medically-induced coma and not expected to live. Praise to the Living God, He saved her and brought her back to me!

So, it really annoys me when people push and shove their way in front of my wife and I in the rush to make sure they don't miss out on that super-duper bargain they've just gotta have or they won't ever be happy again.

I know we cannot expect non- or un-believers to have the same selfless values we as Christians hold dear but, I am afraid, Christians are also guilty of this behavior. I know; I've seen you in the store that I too shop in.

I wasn't brought up that way. My mother taught me from an early age to help and respect the elderly and disabled, mothers with young kids and loads of grocery bags, to open doors for people of the opposite gender, and to give up my seat on the bus to any one of the above. To me, this just seemed like common courtesy.
 
Now it seems courtesies like this are not so common as we seek to indulge ourselves silly.
But, instead of being angry about this, I am going to go on my merry way, smiling cheerfully -- and making pleasant conversation with everyone with whom I can make eye-contact this Thanksgiving.

Consider it my personal crusade to bring some humanity back into the gift-giving season. And this will be my gift to the rest of humanity this holiday.

So, be warned: if you shop in the same stores as my wife and I this holiday season, you may be accosted by a short, fat, slightly-balding Englishman who just wants to make sure you have a pleasant shopping experience -- and be touched by the milk of human kindness -- the best gift any one human being can give another.

---

** Michael Ireland is the Senior International Correspondent for ANS. He is an international British freelance journalist who was formerly a reporter with a London (United Kingdom) newspaper and has been a frequent contributor to UCB UK, a British Christian radio station. While in the UK, Michael traveled to Canada and the United States, Albania,Yugoslavia, Holland, Germany,and Czechoslovakia. He has reported for ANS from Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Israel, Jordan, China,and Russia. Michael's volunteer involvement with ASSIST News Service is a sponsored ministry department -- 'Michael Ireland Media Missionary' (MIMM) -- of A.C.T. International of P.O.Box 1649, Brentwood, TN 37024-1649, at: Artists in Christian Testimony (A.C.T.) International where you can make a donation online under 'Donate' tab, then look for 'Michael Ireland Media Missionary' under 'Donation Category' to support his stated mission of 'Truth Through Christian Journalism.' Michael is a member in g ood standing of the National Writers Union, Society of Professional Journalists, Religion Newswriters Association, Evangelical Press Association and International Press Association. If you have a news or feature story idea for Michael, please contact him at: ANS Senior International Reporter

Why are geneologies in the Bible?

This blog post has been moved to: http://angelabreidenbach.com/genealogies-in-the-bible/

Greg Hennis- Not the Way I Thought It Would Be

Please welcome my guest today, Greg Hennis. His interview about his broadcasting career is found on thefaithgirls.com but I've asked him to share his testimony on God Uses Broken Vessels in order to reach out and help others who might have experienced something similar or need encouragment. Greg is a broadcaster in New Jersey with the radio show, Second Chances on LiftFM 98.5, and on television. His heart and talent are to help others understand that God is a God of second chances. Please enjoy my new friend, Greg, and his testimony. ~Angie

Greg's testimony: Not the Way I Thought It Would Be

My first paying job in the broadcasting field at 16 was in itself a blessing from above. After spending my first couple of years in local radio, in 1990, God opened a door for me to get in on the ground floor of local cable TV. I thought it would be short term. I'd married, and life seemed good, until my marriage came to an end. I wasn't living for the Lord and God was not the center of my marriage or my life. 

Several years following I began to feel a tug to own a broadcasting company. I talked many times over the next 8 years with the owner of the company I worked for about buying his business. He always seemed like he wanted to talk about it but never really moved forward. I even did a extensive business plan and spoke to area banks about a loan, but it never went any further. I felt stalled out.

God began to get my attention for the first time since I was a child in Sunday School. I met my wife Carrie, and through her, I rededicated my life to God. One of the first things God did through prayer was take away my 15 year habit of smoking. I tried every trick know to man, but God spoke to me and said, "Greg I can't take them from you if you don't put them down." It took me a week but I did what God said. From that day forward I have not even had a desire to smoke. Praise God!

    

Back to my desire to own a broadcast business. As the calendar rolled to 2008 I was entering my 18th year of working for a local company, making a great living but inside I felt more and more depressed about continuing. The signs of change were all around me but they hadn't directly affected me. The owner of the company had left his wife and the economy was quickly going down. Finally we lost too many customers due to the economy. Approaching Thanksgiving things in the industry seemed hopeless and dim. A week or two prior, I spoke to the owner and felt in my spirit this time would be the final time I asked. He blamed the lack of desire to sell on his estranged wife, but I knew inside it was just to keep me with the company. I was the top salesman and brought in most of the revenue. 

The first day of work following the Thanksgiving Holiday, I was more down than ever. While I was out of state that day doing a project for a customer, the bookkeeper, a former employee, and a saleswoman (who kept watch) were in my office trying to steal information from my personal laptop. I found out when I returned. I was shocked. Loyalty is important to me, but I knew that after 18 years I was leaving and not looking back. Ironically, it was in the worst economy and I wasn't even nervous. 

I went on a 17 day fast, I became closer to God than ever. On January 1, 2009 Advantage Broadcasting and  Advantage Radio Ministries began operations. In 2005 while I was looked into starting a company, I thought I would need a minimum of $500,000 to secure equipment, office space, etc. The miracle? I started it for under $30,000 when I cashed in my 401k and God did the rest.

Throughout the next several years, God has blessed me. I've grown and learned many things. In the begining of 2010 business was great. My business was doing well. God even opened a door to get my church on TV every Thursday night in prime time in over 2 million homes in the Philadelphia market with many people being saved and set free. 

But life was about to throw me another curve. In May, my largest customer began to bounce large checks and fall behind. Soon he owed us thousands. Next thing I know the state closed down his business. Then my former employer attempted to bring a personal law suit against me. What else could happen? Things were tough! My business was in debt and I had an angry ex employer trying to bring me down anyway he could for things that werent true. Finally, after weighing my options, I realized the only way to get myself out of this financial mess and was to declare personal bankruptcy. 

It was a hard thing to decide. I had a great credit score and never had a late payment on my credit report. But I knew what had to be done. In early 2011 it became public knowledge that it was filed. My former employer learned there'd be no suit due to the bankruptcy and he was angry. He began notifying broadcast outlets who did business with me, customers, and anyone who would listen that I had personally filed. He always gave the impression it was the business to try to hurt me. 

Not only do I all this stress, but I have to start calling all my customers and business contacts and tell them myself. Very Humbling. After the first few it got easier and then in February, I was doing a interview on my Christian radio show, "Second Chances", and the guest said something that made it all seem worth while. She said the things in life that we try to hide are the things that God wants us to share to be a blessing and help to others. Since then I haven't stoped encouraging people by sharing what I just shared with you. They all say the same thing, "WOW, God Is Good."

And I say to that, "Yes he is."

What my ex employer doesn't know is that because of God's love for us, he gives us the strength to forgive. I have forgiven him and even feel pity for him dealing with the bitterness he has. I hope God's love will one day heal him.

I'm clearly not out of this yet, as you read this today, but what I can say for sure without question, if you live for God he will NEVER leave you or foresake you and he always provides. It's not always how we think he will, but he does. He's never let me down. He will never let you down either.

Red Ink by Kathi Macias

Angie's Take: I loved reading about the faith of this wonderful Chinese Christian, Zhen-Li, and how it affected the world around her, even from the darkest prison. I struggled with her and with the women who prayed all the way across the ocean.

As Maggie is drawn into a world she doesn't expect, I understood. I understood how women and children can be so tricked by those they learn to trust. I followed the thought process of the guard, Tong, and the thought process of Jake. From the outside looking in, I wish many more women could read Red Ink and understand the manipulation and greed that men like this use to turn their victims into objects. Kathi Macias has written a book that reveals how love can change people and how Jesus really is different than a religious teacher.

The sex trafficking crimes are rampant and the harm done to women and children is too horrible. Thank you, Kathi, for writing a story to show the way some young women are tricked into this slavery.

Thank you for sharing the story of Chinese Christians and the battle they face in their society, families, and government. Reminiscent of Bonhoefer's experience during WWII, this modern story shows Christ's love even in prison to enemies.

Beautiful stories entwined to show us that prayer really does matter.

About the book:

A young Chinese woman, Zhen-Li—raised to observe the party line, including its one-child-per-family doctrine—falls in love with and marries a Christian, and adopts his faith. Though the couple downplays their Christianity in an effort to survive, Zhen-Li’s family is appalled, and she and her husband are ostracized. When she becomes pregnant for the second time and refuses to have an abortion, the persecution begins in earnest. Zhen-Li’s parents, under pressure from the government, pay to have Zhen-Li kidnapped and the baby aborted.

It is then Zhen-Li decides she must live up to her name—"Truth"—and take a firm stand for her faith, regardless of the consequences, and so she begins to regularly teach children about Zhu Yesu ("Lord Jesus") and to distribute Christian literature every chance she gets.

Based loosely on the life of Christian magazine editor Li Ying, currently serving a ten-year prison sentence in China, the story of Yang Zhen-Li tells the desperate tale of her incarceration and separation from her family, as she continues to minister to other prisoners, and even to her guards.

About the Author

Award-winning author Kathi Macias has written more than 20 books, including the award-winning devotional A Moment a Day, and the popular "Matthews" mystery novels. One of her recent novels, Emma Jean Reborn, is being put into script form by playwright Barry Scott. Kathi has won many awards, including the Angel Award from Excellence in Media, fiction awards from the San Diego Christian Writers Guild, and the grand prize in an international writing contest. With women’s ministry as her primary interest, Kathi is a popular speaker for women’s retreats, conferences, and churches. A mother and grandmother, Kathi and her husband, Al, call California home.

Hanging onto Faith in the Midst of Breast Cancer

Introducing Yvonne Ortega, my guest today on God Uses Broken Vessels. Today she will be answering some interview questions over at my group blog, WritingByFaith.blogspot.com...

Yvonne shares:

When life seems to go along smoothly, we don’t struggle to believe God or to trust His ways. However, what happens when we receive a diagnosis of breast cancer?


On January 3, 2001, I heard the dreaded words, “malignant tumor.” I had breast cancer, and my world changed forever.

You may not have cancer, but each of us faces some kind of struggle. I found it helps to be honest with God. He knows what we’re thinking anyway. When we tell Him we’re riding an emotional roller coaster of fear, anger and depression, He helps us work through those emotions.
We can play praise and worship music day and night. With our focus on our heavenly Father, cancer or whatever we face seems small in comparison to Almighty God, our Rock, our Shield and our Strength.

As women, our hair and how it looks are important to us. However, some types of chemotherapy cause us to lose our hair, eyebrows and eyelashes. We can choose to withdraw and have a pity party or to believe God can use this experience for good in our lives and the lives of others.
In our daily quiet time we can include reading the Bible and memorizing Scriptures that promise us hope and healing.

I didn’t invite cancer into my life, but I am a stronger Christian and a woman who lives with purpose and passion because of cancer. I would have never become the published author of Finding Hope for Your Journey through Breast Cancer, if I hadn’t lived through it.
I now host the program, Hope for the Journey, for breast cancer patients at www.blogtalkradio.com/hope-for-the-journey and archives are available 24/7. 

(Pssst...I added the link to get Yvonne's book if you would like. ~Angie)

I also send out a free weekly devotion in both English and Spanish. These outreaches of my ministry are a way to give back what others gave me during my bout with breast cancer and to praise the God who healed me.


Ask God to use your circumstances for His honor and glory and hang on to your seat. You are about to go on an incredible journey.

Copyright © October 2010 by Yvonne Ortega
Web site: www.yvonneortega.com

Escaping the Cauldron by Kristine McGuire & Interview!

Hi all,

I found out about this book and felt it was very important to share. It's so easy to be wooed or drawn into something that's not good for us. This is Kristine's story of how that happened to her. I hope you'll not only enjoy it, but think about how her story might parallel yours. How could you be knocked off course? How would you get back? How would that affect the people and relationships around you?


I recently had the conversation with a friend about her belief in fortune telling and the ability to predict the future. Look at how close that thought is to the concept of prophecy. How easy it would be to slide in the wrong direction.

Do I believe in prophecy? Absolutely! Do I believe in mediums and fortune tellers? I believe they have the opportunity to tap into the wrong power. The power that lies and does not have your best interest at heart. Can you hear the truth from someone like that? It's possible. But what motive is behind it? For me, prophecy is a word from the one true God that does not draw you away from Him and does not set you on a path of trusting in something other than God. It has to follow scriptural boundaries put in place to protect us. It's never in disagreement with scripture or the character of God. 

What about you? What do you believe?

Fascinating book and topic. Here's an interview shared with me and I have permission to share it with you.



God bless you and protect you on your journey too,
Angie

Welcome Kristine McGuire:

What is the book about? 

The book is part testimony of how I went from committed, albeit legalistic, Christian for twenty-nine years to witch, medium, and ghost hunter for eight years before God restored my faith and life. It details my personal struggle with trying to be "the perfect Christian" while being drawn to the Occult from childhood. The book is also a Biblical study that examines the current pop-cultural interest in the occult (in particular ghosts, hauntings, and mediums) and how this interest is affecting Christians as well as their beliefs about the supernatural.

Why call it Escaping the Cauldron?

This is actually the first book in a series, What Christians Need to Know about the Occult. It is a series of collections written from my former experiences as a witch, medium, and ghost hunter. This book is primarily about ghost hunting, mediumship, and the paranormal but I chose "Escaping the Cauldron" as the main title because witchcraft was truly my entry into the arena of occult interest and exploration including such things as divination, psychic ability, spirit guides, mediumship, ghost hunting, etc.

What do you think is the most important chapter of the book?

I think there are many important chapters but "Spiritual Warfare" and "How Should Christians Respond?"are the two which take everything discussed in the previous chapters bringing it all together, helping the reader understand their authority in Jesus Christ and leading the way to a ready defense for any kind of paranormal or supernatural event they may experience in their life as a Christian.

What do you hope to accomplish with this book?

I hope to inform and equip Christians with information about the occult. Additionally I pray the church will begin to acknowledge the presence of the spiritual world around us and listen to people who come forward with stories or claims of paranormal experiences without dismissing them immediately. When the church refuses to listen or offer any Biblical assistance, many people are forced to seek help elsewhere. This generally means seeking out ghost hunters, mediums, and psychics. I also hope to encourage Christians who may be questioning their faith to seek a deeper relationship with God, especially if they are stuck in a form of legalism. Our answers truly can be found in Jesus Christ.

Where is the book currently available to purchase?

The book is available in paperback and Kindle editions at Amazon. The book is also available in paperback and e-book editions at my blog site: Kristine ReMixed at www.KristineMcGuire.com and Lulu Publishing.

How are you available to the Christian community?
I write a daily blog, Kristine ReMixed at www.KristineMcGuire.com, on a variety of topics including faith, marriage, prayer, spiritual gifts, and the occult. I also work with my husband through Big Fish Ministries at www.BigFishMinistries.com, ministering through speaking with him at church and para-church events about marriage, facilitating seven day or special event prayer rooms, helping the homeless, etc. I am also available to speak at any youth, women's, or church events on a variety of Christian topics.

Find Kristine McGuire on Social Media Sites:
Follow on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/kristinemac
Follow on Twitter at: www.facebook.com/kristinemac

Videos:
Ignite Radio – Intro: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwQ0rY1rLQI&feature=related
Ignite Radio – Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZ_NQbU-rIM&feature=related
Ignite Radio – Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvsyQF91YFw&feature=related
Ignite Radio – Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVlMHJ3PQ20&feature=related

The Sister Wife by Diane Noble

This week, the



Christian Fiction Blog Alliance



is introducing



The Sister Wife Avon Inspire (June 22, 2010)



by Diane Noble


Angie's Take: Wow! The emotion in the first few pages catapult you into the story. Incredible description and well-developed characters from the very first page. The topic immediately fascinated me because I've always wondered how anyone could share a spouse if they weren't raised in a community that saw it as normal. I can understand when that's all a person knows. But to enter it from the outside is a mystery. This book explores that question and the slide into acceptance of things a person doesn't fully believe regardless of religion.

Throughout history, human beings have used power and control to manipulate and get their own selfish desires fulfilled. The sadness is in those they hurt along the way. Concerns get brushed aside as nonsense. The targeted are made to feel small, silly, and inferior while the truth is twisted to induce guilt or pressure. Make a person appear untrustworthy, incompetent, and worthless so you appear wise, in control, and worthy. Feeling bigger, more important, and garnering admiration becomes a self-administered drug addiction. You need more and more. It's ironic that this drug of narcissism isn't only a male affliction. But once the addiction to entitlement and self-importance starts, it's one of the most insidious and difficult to overcome.

Often people couch a selfish desire behind a seemingly "godly" one. We see it in the overly sweet behavior that sits on the surface while steely determination maneuvers below. We see it in conversation that wields that odious "Christianese"--a conversation dotted with all the right Christian words to weave a net and capture the unsuspecting. Yet you can walk away from a conversation like that and know something just didn't add up right. It feels oily.

That's the hard part of discerning God's voice from man's. It's why some people are easily swayed and others are hardened against Christianity. Neither has studied the truth and so can be either tricked or angered because they don't know the genuine from the counterfeit. The only true weapon against manipulation of mind and spirit is the true word of God. Knowing it and being in relationship with God helps with recognizing counterfeits, even Christian counterfeits of any religious denomination or church. Really look at what's happening on the surface and below the surface of the character's lives in The Sister Wife. Diane Noble has deftly played out this age old addiction and even the trap of sliding into acceptance through tiny choices each day. I'm looking forward to the other books in this series because this author has gone much deeper into human character and spiritual issues than I've read in a long time yet she presents an entertaining read. Now that's talent!


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Diane Noble is a former double finalist for the prestigious RITA Award for Best Inspirational Fiction, a finalist for the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award and the Reviewers' Choice Award, and a three-time recipient of the Silver Angel Award for Media Excellence.

With more than a quarter million books in print, Diane feels incredibly blessed to be doing what she loves best—writing the stories of her heart.

For the last three years Diane has been honored to be lead author for the popular Guideposts series, Mystery and the Minister’s Wife (Through the Fire, Angels Undercover), and has recently returned to writing historical fiction. She is currently writing book two of her new historical series, The Brides of Gabriel. Book one is The Sister Wife.

Diane’s hometown is Big Creek, California, a tiny village nestled in the rugged Sierra Nevada back country. As a child, Diane’s older brother Dennis fueled her creative streak by entertaining her with his own gift of storytelling. Growing up without TV and iffy radio reception, Diane became an avid reader, inhaling more than one hundred novels—both YA and adult—in a single year by the time she reached seventh grade. Her passion for reading continues to this day. Now empty nesters, Diane and her husband live in the Southern California low desert, near a place known for the lush and beautiful gated communities of the rich and famous.

ABOUT THE BOOK

What if the man you loved told you God wanted him to take another wife? What if that woman was your best friend?

Set in the heart of the earliest days of a new nineteenth-century sect known as the Saints, The Sister Wife is a riveting account of two women forced into a practice they don't understand, bound by their devotion to Prophet Joseph Smith.

When Mary Rose marries Gabriel, neither of them could foresee how quickly the community would turn to the practice of plural marriage. Devastated when Gabe is faced with an order from the Prophet to marry her best friend, Bronwyn, Mary Rose tries to have the faith to carry through with the marriage.

But can she really be married to the same man as her very best friend? Can Mary Rose and Bronwyn face betraying both their husband and their God to do what they feel is right?

If you would like to read the Prologue and first chapter of The Sister Wife, go HERE.

Watch the book video!

What's In Your Spiritual Pantry?

Please welcome my guest today, Chloe JonPaul. She shares an excerpt from her book and some tools she personally uses to fill the needs of moving forward into an older age as a woman, An Age of Elegance.
Take it away, Chloe...

What's in Your Spiritual Pantry? 


* Books: There are many excellent books on the market that fall under the category of spiritual reading. They can't all be listed here but I'll mention a few that I have found to be exceptionally worthwhile in my journey toward the Age of Elegance.
When All You've Ever Wanted Isn't Enough by Harold Kushner
A Purpose-Driven Life by Rick Warren
Everyday Tao by Deng Ming Dao
Chicken Soup for the Soul by Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen
The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success by Deepak Chopra
The Alchemist by Paolo Coelho


* Journaling: Keeping a daily journal (even if you only write a couple of lines) is an excellent way to track your spiritual journey because it is here that you can articulate your deepest thoughts.

* Silent Retreat: Whether you go to a retreat center, monastery, or spend the day at home, you can have a day that is totally engulfed with tranquility. If you elect to do this at home, turn off the computer, telephone, radio, and TV. Immerse yourself in the stillness and watch what happens with the changes in your body's rhythm and activity of your mind.

* Beliefnet.com: This web site has something for everyone. The link Faiths and Practices provides information on every religion. Other links include holistic spirituality, guided meditations, healing prayers plus much more. You can even take a personality quiz by clicking on to Belief-O-Matic to identify your religious and spiritual beliefs.

So there you have it! As you enter the Age of Elegance, you can move forward with confidence to nurture your spiritual self. The Woman of Elegance seeks balance and harmony in her life.

Excerpt from Entering the Age of Elegance: A Rite of Passage Practical Guide for the Modern Maturing Woman by Chloe JonPaul

Hello, Angie again ~
Here is an invitation I hope you won’t refuse! Chloe JonPaul has invited me to “launch” and has extended the invitation to my friends as well.

Chloe is launching her Best Seller campaign, which will run between April 27th and May 3rd on Amazon. Great bonuses and a special prize are available to everyone who attends. Her goal is to have as many book orders as possible on April 27th.

Please mark your calendar for April 27th and visit Chloe’s web site:
www.EnteringtheAgeofElegance.com for further details.

“Entering the Age of Elegance: A Rite of Passage & Practical Guide for the Modern Maturing Woman” is a must-read for every midlife and Boomer woman. If you’re looking for an exceptional yet inexpensive gift for such women you know, now would be the perfect time to purchase it.