Are Your Words Salty Enough?

I sometimes find myself pondering the implications of our profession as Christians and how it may differ to others. How do I experience and handle my writing and illustrating career differently to those who do not have the kind of relationship I have with God?  Is there a difference?  What does that mean, and how do I process that and how does that influence my decisions and outcome?

Personally, I believe there are some enormous and important differences!  

“Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavours of this earth.  If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness?  You’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage. 

 “Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colours in the world. God is not a secret to be kept.  We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you?  I’m putting you on a light stand.  Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives.  By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven. ~  Matthew 5:13-16
Matthew 5:13-16

I am not a big fan of the Message translation but I felt these two passages were a perfect for what I wanted to illustrate. 

God’s salt to the devil is like table salt to a slug - Let us be SALTY!

SALT & LIGHT...

SOURCE: The key to all I do is to do it safely through prayer and trust. Even Christ followers can underestimate the value of prayer – isn’t that crazy! Over time God has shown me the undeniable power in the name of Jesus. I would be crazy not to submit my career to prayer regularly, when I say prayer - I mean both speak and listen!

REASON: I need to be mindful of my intention and outcome when I create anything. I need to understand what God has placed in my heart for the Works.  Life is short, and we can only produce so much, so I want to make my Works count and have a little foresight in God’s direction.  For this reason (after considerate prayer) I wrote down the answer to why I write and illustrate and what I want my writing to say and do.  I cannot tell you how much this has helped me!

I came up with three significant words I call the ETrinity (edify, encourage and empower). The 3 e’s are at the centre and forefront of my mind when I work.  Should the enemy try to distract me, or should I take even the slightest detour, I can decipher this when remembering my 3 E’s.  These are my ‘SALT and LIGHT’, and at the core of my heart. This is what God wants me to have the courage to express through my voice.

OPPOSITION: In any business there is opposing or competing elements that can create resistance.  We are in the business of God. He has our back and we have a different opposition to contend with.  We need to be aware of how the business works in the world but we also of the fight unseen. 

Knowing how God works against this opposition I turn to my personal assistant; the one I need to consult each morning and makes a difference to every day. My assistant is wise beyond all measure and has the amazing ability to find solutions to every concern.  My assistant’s name is Bible. My days ignoring Bible or prayer are always harder than need be. I am trying to be more habitual about this essential time. 

MANAGEMENT: Less planning and more flexing. Am I truly letting God lead my career path and making my time count or am I just indulging myself?

If we haven’t already figured it out, we eventually will; life following Jesus is unpredictable, exciting and sometimes challenging but always incredibly fruitful. In my humanness to manage MY business, I can sometimes forget it is not MY business - I gave it to God! 

I am a great believer in planning. I have mind maps, lists and filing systems that probably look OCD to some, but I am also open to godly interruptions. God owns my time, my life and my career. This has come in the guise of a stressed and lost person at my door, a person broken down on the side of the road, a prayer meeting I have no time for and even shifts of well panned ideas. The interruptions to my time-deprived days are numerous but I know God is behind a generous life and when I feel at peace, I have to be flexible and trust.  He is my time manager. The challenge at times, is to determine what is a distraction from God and not one from the enemy.

Why are you here?  What is your salt and light and at the core of your career and who is managing your time and business?

I pray you use every minute and every written word to honour our beautiful Jesus. I also pray that you harness the awesome power of prayer and God’s anointing, and God blesses the words that fall from your hearts with salt and light. Whether writing for mainstream or a Christian audience, may all we do eventuate in multiplying our family, and somehow draw others into a more intimate relationship with a Father who adores them.

 

Kayleen West is a children's book Author and Illustrator from Victoria. Her new picture book Adoptive Father can be found at www.adoptivefather.org

Her portfolio can be seen at: www.kayleenwest.com.au

Knocked Down, But Not Out

Knocked Down, But Not Out

The 90’s song I get knocked down but I get up again makes me think of an inflated vinyl toy I had in the 70’s. Bozo the clown was weighted at the bottom and you could punch the life out of  him. He  would pop right back up, smile at you, begging you to hit him again. What a violent child I must I have been!

I’ve been studying a travel-writing course the last few weeks and I would have enjoyed giving Bozo a few punches as I dealt with frustration. The feedback on my first assignment was very positive. My confidence was boosted and I told myself the course was going to be a breeze.

When the Lord finished the world, He pronounced it good. That is what I said about my first work, too. But Time, I tell you, Time takes the confidence out of these incautious early opinions. — Mark Twain

The next week, the lecturer was totally perplexed by my idea and couldn’t figure out what I was thinking. It’s an online course, so the feedback is oral. You read everyone else’s work and also hear the feedback. 

 I’d only done a short piece and written one part in detail as an example of how the article would flow. I wrote more than anyone else and we weren’t supposed to write the whole article. I could hear the questions in the lecturer’s voice and the struggle to come up with something positive.

So, this week I basically wrote the whole article and she commented that wasn’t necessary. She also said I could be more original in the choices of activities I chose.

These words came to mind:

I get knocked down

But I get up again

You're never going to keep me down

CHUMBAWAMBA

Critiquing yourself, and having others critique your work, is crucial. How else do you learn?

As I’ve worked, studied and written the last few years, I’ve had my share of humiliation and frustration, along with some success. If we’re learning, developing and willing to learn from our mistakes, we will improve.

My goal is to be able to write and be at a level that is world class. I’m not sure what that means exactly and who decides if you’ve made it or not, but I strive to become better at what I do.

“Success teaches us nothing; only failure teaches.” Hyman G. Rickover

Later this year I have the privilege of going to a creative writing summer school at Oxford University. I didn’t think I’d be accepted, however, I sent in my application, writing samples and references. I told myself, there’s no point in not trying is there? After the acceptance date passed, I made other plans, but at midnight last Tuesday an email arrived offering me a place. 

Shall I tell you the secret of the true scholar? It is this: Every man I meet is my master in some point, and in that I learn of him. Ralph Waldo Emerson

I’m hoping this opportunity will push me and help me become a better writer. I’m positively scared to show my work to an Oxford lecturer and hear the criticism. I’m sure I’ll cry and want to give up writing altogether, but I hope that I will have the character to get back up again.

Experience: that most brutal of teachers. But you learn, my God do you learn.

C.S. Lewis

When I want to run away and hide, I’ll remember this:

Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance. Proverbs 1:5

Elaine Fraser

www.beautifulbooks.co

Writerly Advice for the Everyday.

I've been thinking lately about the advice given to writers and how that advice might just be as relevant for everyday living as for turning dreams of a book into reality.

Consider, for example, the old, repeated advice 'If you want to write, you have to write. Write, write, write!'  If we translated this into advice for the everyday it might read like this: 'If you want to live you have to live. Live, live live!" 
Writers know that in order to get a novel or research project completed they need to focus and diligently choose to work, put the words down as best they can, a little bit each day. In life it is similar. There are so many distractions fighting for our attention but we need to remember what sort of life we want to live and seek to live that purposefully. It would be sad to reach the end of another year and realise the life we wanted (be it a slower pace, more attention given to the kids, a trip to The Centre) hadn't been realised because of many insignificant interruptions and misplaced priorities.  We need to choose to live, and then actually do it.

Another piece of writerly advice that could be translated for the everyday is: 'Seek opportunities to richly observe the world'. The less polite version of this has been 'Eaves-drop whenever you can'.
The creative mind needs opportunities to absorb information as well as time to engage in the process of creation. The result will be richer writing, full of diverse imagery and unique feeling. Life is very similar. If we are not careful we can go about our day to day ignoring the beauty and interest around us. I remember it clearly from my time living in Nepal, how easy it was to reside within eyesight of the magnificent Himalayas and literally forget to look at them! How important is it for us to keep seeing the world around us? To notice the beauty, the pain, the faces, the needs all allows us to interact with life more meaningfully. And, again, it is a deliberate choice we need to make.

Writers prioritise, plan and make careful decisions in order to improve their craft, but if our lives themselves are a form of creative expression (Ephesians 2:10) how much more should we be alert to opportunities to live each day deliberately and with purpose!

Penny Reeve is a children's author based in Western Sydney. She enjoys sharing her love of writing, books and story with children of all ages. Visit her website for more information or 'like'  her page on facebook.  

Old Tapes

Old Tapes
By Jeanette O'Hagan
6 April 2013

Images fade off the screen
Leaving an after shadow.
Flickering lights
The insistent click, click
Of terminating tape.
The darkness settles into silence.

Followers savour and reflect
in the hushed dimness
Stirring in plush seats
The soft shuffle, shuffle
of feet along the rows
Leaving a wake of empty echoes

Is life a faded celluloid tape
Or a digitally laser etched disc
That slowly fades into silence?
Or does it live again
In the Director's heart and mind;
A precious revived strand in
The ongoing eternal story?

The tape of death rewinds
Bringing new life out of darkness
Light shining, stone rolled away,
The crux of time and history
When dark veil is pulled aside
Life eternal claimed and foreshadowed.

Old tapes made new.
Telling stories
Of lives and eternal futures
Changed and revived
in the twinkling of the eye

Of the Master Story Teller

I've been reflecting on my father's journey with Alzheimer's - the slow fade of memory and how that impacts on him and our family. As my father forgets bit by bit his history and even the names of his children - we do not forget him or his stories.We are connected by fine lines of love and memory. Yet, in time our lives will also fade away but for the promise of our loving Father - “I will not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the palm of my hands.” Isaiah 49:15-16 © NRSV

We recently celebrated the heart of the Christian story at Easter time - the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, God incarnate. We celebrate the defeat of death and despair.  We celebrate that Jesus changes lives through God's divine resurrection power. 

This changes everything. It changes not only our future beyond the grave - it changes how we should live our lives.

Somehow what started as a contemplation on how Alzheimer's is like the slow fade of an old tape was transformed into the hope and certainty that Jesus takes our old faded tapes and makes them new both in this life and the next. So with Paul, 

“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 1:18-21 NLT

Jeanette (Jenny) O'Hagan

Lives in Brisbane with her family, writes fantasy, blogs and other things.

https://www.facebook.com/JeanetteOHaganAuthorAndSpeaker

http://jennysthread.com/

http://fantasytrekkers.com/

Dealing with Discouragement

Photo Courtesy of "Grant Cochrane/
Freedigitalphotos.net

Jenny* was running late. She grabbed the first seat inside the door, and acknowledged the teacher standing on the opposite side of the room. He welcomed her, unfazed by being interrupted.

We were sharing our homework. A 250-word piece on “Daring to Kick the Universe”.

We soon got around to Jenny. She prefaced her work by sharing that she’d experienced her first troll on her blog that afternoon. We invited her to tell us more about how she felt.

Shock, anger, and frustration reflected in Jenny’s response. I could relate having only the day before read a very unflattering review of Angelguard. It didn’t matter that I had a bunch of other really flattering ones; this one review had bugged me for a day or so.

Just like Jenny, I’m new to this type of negativity. She confessed what I too had contemplated: responding with a curt reply. Neither of us did.

It riled us and were unsure what to do with the negative emotion it produced.

“You’re going to have develop a thick skin,”

“Don’t worry about it, its’ blah blah, blah,”

“Don’t these people have something more interesting in their lives than to openly criticise someone’s work.”

Encouragers expressed all of these statements and more. Our teacher reiterated the over-sensitive nature creative types typically have: they put their work out into the world without any protection hoping and praying it will be (and only) well received. But the well-wishers only served to diminish the flames, not extinguish them.

A few days later I read a few more such reviews and understood why many creative types refuse to read reviews.

My mind, as it can do, spiralled into a pit where I became fearful of what those closest to me would think having recently given them a copy of the book. I recalled the advice I gave Jenny: don’t let the negative emotions linger for long. Discouragement can quickly turn into a little seed of bitterness.

As I put my head on my pillow later that night I turned to the Lord. I sensed the question, “Is this that important?”

“No,” I responded.

“Then let it go. The only one holding onto it is you.”

So I let it go.

And prayed for all those who’d reviewed Angelguard, especially those whose reviews were negative. Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew chapters 5-7, says we should “love our enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”(5:44). I’ve always found this douses the fire of discouragement in my heart.

The enemy is intentional in his strategies to unsettle us. Discouragement is one of his key weapons.

What strategies have worked effectively for you when you’re feeling discouraged?

* Jenny is a pseudonym for one of my creative writing classmates.

** I was drawn to a doughnut for the photo to this post as I read this quote from Steven Pressfield’s “The War of Art”:

“The professional keeps his eye on the doughnut and not on the hole. He reminds himself it’s better to be in the arena, getting stomped by the bull, than to be up in the stands or out in the parking lot.” (Grand Central Publishing, Hachette Book Group, April 2003, p90)

Ian Acheson is an author and strategy consultant based in Northern Sydney. Ian's first novel, Angelguard, is now available in the USA, Canada and UK. It is scheduled to be released in Australia in May. You can find more about Angelguard at Ian's website and on his author Facebook page.

Sheilas and Blokes

We Australians are reputed for some funny sayings. Though these names are not used so much in today’s vernacular, in times past the Aussie slang for woman was ‘sheila’, and for man was ‘bloke’.
Last week during a Uni lecture - Cinema Screen and Theatre – we were shown a reel that highlighted the Australian movies of the last 100 years. In the reel they had a section entitled ‘Sheilas’ and specifically focused on the way women had been represented on the screen over that time. I watched with a combination of amusement and cringe as the documentary-maker honed in on the early movies from the 1920’s through to the 1950’s where the female characters were depicted as helpless, pathetic and always in need of rescue. The scenes chosen were done so in a deliberate attempt to show the attitude toward women in the pre-feminist era. There was a very obvious scoffing at how the hero had to come in to lift the heroine from her downcast position, her head lolling back as she stared up in awe at her rescuer. Cringe. It did make me want to say: ‘toughen up princess! Then as we moved on past the 1970’s the heroine became much more aggressive, and was able to fend off attackers herself, using bricks and other bits and pieces that came to hand.
Mind you, the way the blokes were depicted in this collage during the early years showed men who were condescending and verging on arrogant. Sitting in our post-modern era, even I felt like giving them a good shellacking.
As I was pondering on what I had seen during the class I had fully understood the message that was intended: the helpless damsel in distress is pathetic and needs to be an independent, self-sufficient woman. The rescuing hero is a self-important, arrogant, oppressive pig. But something wasn’t quite right with the message, and I was upset by it. I’m a writer of romance, and a strong self-sacrificing hero is essential. Admittedly, I’m not a fan of a useless heroine. She needs to have some gumption and presence of mind, but having need of a rescue and assist every now and again can lead to some nice romantic interaction.
Examining this idea that exists in my mind at least (though I suspect I’m not alone as evidenced by the popularity of the romance industry) raises a question: Where does this fascination for a rescuing hero come from?
In the past I have talked about an innate need for a hero/saviour. The old Webster definition for romance included these words: a fabulous story of love or of war. Romance is all about strong heroes; Action characters who rescue situations and damsels. Why do we, men and women both, enjoy a story of heroism? My immediate response is: all mankind need a hero/saviour, and that hero is Jesus Christ who has effected the great rescue of all time. We do not rescue ourselves from sin and death using a brick or anything else. It is the sacrificing blood of Christ, and our grateful response of surrender to Him. Are we pathetic and useless? Perhaps, but we are also saved, and without Him as our hero we wouldn’t be able to make any sacrifice or be involved in any works that would give us the eternal life we have through His work.
The Biblical picture used is that Christ is like the husband, head of the church - the bride. It isn’t a popular picture in terms of modern feminism, but if we think back to that documentary reel I viewed, Christ doesn’t fit that pattern. He has never been condescending, arrogant or oppressive. That is not who our hero saviour is. And I don’t think he calls us to be pathetic and useless either; Grateful, gentle, submissive perhaps, but not useless. He calls us to courage and action. He tells us to submit our burdens to him and that He will be our strength.
So has post-modern feminism killed off the great hero? How does that affect our view of the need for a saviour? Can the princess really save herself?
For me, I think I will continue to enjoy a strong, self-sacrificing, take-charge hero in the romance I read and write and keep in mind the Saviour who is all those things and more.

Meredith Resce

‘How Sweet The Sound’ by Meredith Resce is a fantasy story about a hero, Prince Justin, sent to the Island of Terranin to save the governor’s daughter, Christina, from the violent usurper, Lucien. It is a parable of the story of Christ the redeemer.

http://tinyurl.com/brj7yqs

Going or Staying?

Jesus commands us to go,

It should be the exception if we stay.

It's no wonder we're moving so slow,

When God's children refuse to obey,

Feeling so called to stay.

 

I was reminded of this song by Keith Green last weekend and it's got me thinking all week. Jesus, after completing his mission on the cross and just before ascending to heaven, left us with some instructions. "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation." [Mark 16:15 NIV]

 

Somehow, I think as writers, and certainly the more introverted types of us, we can use our written words as our 'going.' We send our words out into the world, bathed in prayer, and believe they will make an impact on people. And sure, all of that is valid.

 

But I am thinking that it could become an excuse not to go out and mix with people face to face, at all. We can hide behind our computers and say 'I'm doing my bit,' and maybe we are, but is it enough?

 

 

 

God is a God of relationship. He calls us to love our neighbour, to look after the needy, and to share His love. Can we, realistically, do that from our computer screens? Communiction is after all, a lot more than words. But for a shy introvert, relating to others can take a massive effort, it goes against what we naturally lean toward.

 

I'm not here to tell you that you should be all travelling to the mission fields, or that you're not good enough.  What I am offering is a gentle challenge, to myself as well, to search ourselves and get out there in the community and build relationships with people who don't know the Lord, not just rely on our printed words.

 

Wishing you a blessed Easter. XXOO

---

Amanda Deed resides in the south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne where she fills her time with work, raising a family, church activities and writing historical romance novels. Her new novel, Henry's Run, is due for release on the 1st of April, 2013. For more information, see:
http://www.amandadeed.com.au/
http://amanderings.wordpress.com/

That Sad Old 'RE' Word

I’d been through 6 weeks of it and managed very well, even if I say so myself. Six weeks spent mostly in bed, unable to do much except RE-lax, RE-ad and be RE-stored. I see you’ve been smart enough to notice there were three words starting with the letters ‘RE” in the previous sentence! You are very observant. I would even guess that you are a Writer. Am I right?

RE-laxing was great! RE-ading was wonderful! Being RE-stored was brilliant! I was deeply content. But then ….came one little hitch. Another ‘RE’ word came into my line of vision. That ‘RE’ word was not as RE-freshing or RE-storative as the other ‘RE’ words. Any guesses as to what it was? It’s one most of us writers are well versed in, having experienced it time and time again.

Yes, the word is RE-jection. Ah! Does it ring any bells?

After the Euphoria of my wonderfully RE-laxing 6 weeks came a week of RE-jection. My book, my baby, my life… was tossed out like a precious, beautifully wrapped gift that was thrown away even before it was opened. My latest book, one I’d worked very hard on for months on end – burning the midnight oil – hoping it would win a competition – didn’t make it after all. I had been sure that God had use of it out there in the big wide world. But – no – there was one winner and that winner wasn’t me!

REJECTION! In my book, RE-jection often equals DEJECTION! It makes me place my tail between my legs and slink away into a corner to brood deeply and to shed a few tears. I confess that I’ve had a number of rejections as a writer. Every single time it hurt. Ouch! Each time it felt like the end of the world – well not quite the end of the world…. .but you know what I am talking about, don’t you?

Over the past few weeks, I have been looking at that ‘RE’ word a bit more closely. And I found something interesting. Viewed through God’s eyes it looks a bit different. It is not painted in dark black letters anymore. Instead, it’s like a prism - displaying to my heart a myriad beautiful colours. Because of course, everything through God lenses are much much much brighter. And so much more beautiful.

Firstly, the RE-jection of my books is not about me. It feels it is. But isn’t. It is about my writing. And I can do something about that. I can strive to improve. Secondly, if God is leading me on – this RE-jection I face is part of His plan for me. If being in God’s will is the most important thing in my life, (and I believe it is) then – even a RE-jection can be viewed differently. Not a sad occurrence after all. But one that together with all else, works things out for my good.

Thirdly, every RE-jection teaches me something new. It helps me RE-focus. My latest RE-jection helped me RE-think my plans for 2013. I am now excited about the change of plans and the direction this year’s sun-dial is pointing.

Finally and most importantly – any guesses as to who faced the biggest rejection of all? Yes, of course! Jesus Himself. As we celebrate the most important event in the Christian calendar this week, we cannot help but be amazed at His sacrifice for us. He came to His own and His own received Him not. He came to share God’s love and what did we do? We hung Him on a cross.

If his RE-jection and death ended in an amazing RE-surrection, bringing RE-newal and RE-storation of all things – perhaps there is a lesson you and I can learn? Perhaps RE-jection is not such a sad little word at all?

Perhaps it will bring me hope, humility and the best way forward?

Here’s wishing all of us writers only the good kinds of ‘RE’ words. Words like RE-newal, RE-storation, RE-building, RE-st and RE-laxation! Words like the RE-jections that He plans for our lives – so we might be truly RE-juvenated! We could perhaps Re-word that RE-jection so both our Writing and our Lives RE-bound to the glory of our RE-deemer!



Anusha delights in many things – life, the love of Jesus, people, the beauty of God’s Creation. She writes mostly for pleasure. Her first book 'Enjoying the Journey' is a book of 75 God thoughts and lessons learnt through every day life. She has decided never to grow old in spite of a body that is already defying her intentions! She enjoys the finer things of life including friendship and chocolate!

Singing, walking, connecting with people and sharing God’s love are her some of her deepest passions. Like her writing, she is a work in progress! Please drop in to say Hello to her at her website Dancing in the Rain at http://anusha-atukorala.webnode.com/

Do Creative People Always Have To Say 'no'?

I recently read this interesting article, which was posted by one of our authors on FB, entitled ‘Creative People Say No’. https://medium.com/thoughts-on-creativity/bad7c34842a2.

It’s a challenging one and got me thinking. In it the author quotes various creative people who insist that saying ‘no’ is the cornerstone of their work, including Management writer Peter Drucker, who says : “…productivity in my experience consists of NOT doing anything that helps the work of other people but to spend all one’s time on the work the Good Lord has fitted one to do, and to do well.”

The article also included ideas which I resonate with to some degree, like ‘Creating consumes. It is all day, every day. It knows neither weekends nor vacations. It is not when we feel like it. It is habit, compulsion, obsession, vocation. The common thread that links creators is how they spend their time. No matter what you read, no matter what they claim, nearly all creators spend nearly all their time on the work of creation. There are few overnight successes and many up-all-night successes.’

The thread of this article is that as creators we must become very good at saying ‘no’ to those things which distract us from our creation. “Saying ‘no’ has more creative power than ideas, insights and talent combined. ‘No’ guards time, the thread from which we weave our creations. The math of time is simple: you have less than you think and need more than you know.”

The author of the article concludes “ Creators do not ask how much time something takes but how much creation it costs. This interview, this letter, this trip to the movies, this dinner with friends, this party…  How much less will I create unless I say “no?” A sketch? A stanza? A paragraph?... The answer is always the same: ‘yes’ makes less. We do not have enough time as it is. There are groceries to buy, families to love and day jobs to do. No makes us aloof, boring, impolite, unfriendly, selfish, anti-social, uncaring, lonely and an arsenal of other insults. But ‘no’ is the button that keeps us on.’

For years as a psychologist I’ve taught people about boundaries, and often have to return to my own words about the need to say ‘no’ to things that take time and resources away from the most important things in my life. Whether as Christians, parents, friends, or authors, it’s often a hard lesson to learn, and many of us find ourselves overwhelmed by other people’s agendas, to the detriment or our own calling, creative process, or energy. I don’t pretend to have this issue completely in balance in my life. But in the discussion of whether we support others in their creative work, I feel we need to be very careful not to go overboard on saying 'no'.

Of course we need to protect time that we can give to our writing, editing, planning of stories and then to promotion of our work. But I believe we must also remember that without the support of others; editors, publishers, promoters, and other writers who give great encouragement as well as their own precious time, none of us would succeed.

The creation of a work of art, be it writing, or any other project, may be the inspiration and vision of the writer, and no writer would dispute the enormous number of hours we need for our writing, the agony and ecstasy of digging deeper and deeper into ourselves for creative ways to present our stories, the ominous task of editing over and over again, the painstaking planning and execution of promotion.

However, surely most writers would acknowledge the absolute necessity of the support of others in the completion of our art. What if others always said ‘no’ to our requests to read our work, to give feedback, to consider publishing, to review, to promote through their own networks? I cannot overestimate the help and support I have received from other writers, readers, promoters, not to mention my publisher.  I feel that being part of a writing community, supporting each other and achieving something together for the world of publishing, reading and writing, is very worthwhile. I believe this is a vision we share together, a calling we have from God to share ideas, stories and challenges to a reading public, and I can see that together we can achieve so much more than any of us can achieve alone.

So in this case, in spite of any teaching I’ve given on boundaries – and I certainly believe we must be good at setting boundaries in our lives – I think we must be very careful that we acknowledge the value of saying ‘yes’ to helping the work of other people.

Carol Preston

With thanks to all those who have said ‘yes’ to helping me create, publish and promote my Turning The Tide series of historical novels.

www.carolpreston.com.au
www.amazon.com/author/carolpreston

 

Only One Rose

It was only one rose. 
But it was red. 
Eyes downcast she accepted it.
'Thanks Dad.'

He realised he'd been holding his breath.
He'd taken a risk.
But what could he lose? 
Things couldn't get any worse.

She hadn't allowed the smallest touch for years
Spoken words of love had been spurned
The shell of pain around her life 
Seemed impenetrable.

'I'll get a glass.' 

Only one rose every day
But it built a splash of red
That vibrated through the room

He couldn't hold her close
Nor kiss her tears and fears away
She was too bruised.

But where words or touch couldn't reach
Symbolism spoke volumes

It was only one rose
But it was red.

Jo and Steve Wanmer discovered the power of unconditional love while walking through family crisis. Jo tells the story in the award winning novel 
'Though the Bud be Bruised'. When all seems lost God promises a flower.

A Divine Appointment

This is a story about one of those wonderful ‘divine appointments’ which are great testimonies that show how much God cares, and how an ordinary Christian can be used by Him to witness to and bring comfort to someone.

            In the Riverland, South Australia, (gorgeous place!), I hired a caravan to live in, with my dogs by a river, until I obtained more permanent accommodation. I found a little bungalow on someone’s property and returned the caravan to the hire place. After awhile, I was unable to find the box with all my memorabilia and my precious photo albums. I panicked and figured I must have left it in the caravan. I remembered then, that it had been packed away under the front seat.

            I really wondered whether I would ever see my precious treasures again as I asked the caravan hire manager if he knew where the caravan was, as it wasn’t in the yard. He gave me directions to a clearing in the middle of the bush where the current renter was living in the caravan.

            I managed to find it and was welcomed by the man and given a cup of coffee. To my relief, there all my stuff was, under the seat still! As I chatted to the man, he shared with me about his grieving. He had lost his wife six months ago and was devastated and didn’t believe that he would ever get over his loss. I was able to comfort him and told him about the comfort Jesus has always given me and I told him about the bad situations I’d had and how I’d come through them with the help of God’s tender love.

            He wasn’t a Christian, but knew a little bit about God’s love. He was crying and I prayed with him. We talked for a long time about the power of God and His love and I left a happier man than the one I’d first met, and he promised that he would seek consolation from God every day!

            This filled me with such joy that God had been able to use me. So often, I had sought comfort through sharing with others about my sorrow and leaning on them, as well as looking to the Lord for comfort and peace. Now, at last, I had been able to give back, and God used me to make a difference in someone else’s life. I do love these powerful and reassuring ‘divine appointments’, don’t you?

Madeleine Calcutt

http://www.madeleinecalcutt.wordpress.com

Don't be Chicken.

Years ago I asked my five-year-old which had come first, the chicken or the egg? He had taken some time to answer me, his face reflecting the intensity of this thoughts. Eventually he exclaimed with great assurance that it was surely the egg that had come first. I was amused by how seriously he had taken the question, and I asked him why he was so certain. He answered without hesitation that it must have been the egg, as the chicken would have been far too busy crossing the road.

It struck me this week that perhaps I was becoming that chicken – far too consumed with menial tasks that I was completely missing the bigger picture.

It is so easy to allow things, people, situations (for me – a children’s birthday party), even technology (think Facebook), to distract you from your writing. Not to say that relationships and commitments in life are not important– but if you find yourself like me recently, where days, and then weeks go past and your work in progress hasn't really progressed, then it’s time to investigate the reason why, and prioritise the necessary tasks from the distractions. Without this self-evaluation, it can be easy to waste time.

My challenge? - not to morph into the chicken that never gets across the road, but instead, to be the egg, hatching into a lifetime of ‘firsts’.

Rose Dee is the author of the three book 'Resolution Series' and co-author of 'The Greenfield Legacy' 

Visit Rose at: http://rosedee.com/

The Party Pooper of the English Language

If you could do anything, what would it be? Hmm, interesting. Now, I want to you answer that question again, but this time your answer cannot be from your "Column A," the "safe" column; that's right, I want you to look at your "Column B," the "I really would love to do or be that, but . . . " column. 

"I'd like to be a chef . . . but, I don't have the time."

"I'd like to be a vet . . . but, I don't have the grades."

"I'd like to be a Pastor . . . but, I don't know enough about the Bible."

"I'd like to be a doctor . . . but, I'm too old to go back to study."

"I'd like to be a . . . B U T . . . "

"BUT." Such a small word, but oh so powerful. I reckon that if 'but' was a person she'd be the "party pooper," the wet blanket of everything good, fun, enjoyable or delightful. Oh she'd be a great friend to start with, listening as you nervously shared your dreams and passions, encouraging you with each nod of the head, each "that sounds great," and then BAM, with one fell swoop she'd bring you crashing down to earth; deflated, discouraged, disillusioned.

BUT. . . 

This year I have stepped way, way out of my comfort zone and dared to follow a passion from my Column B. I am currently doing 2 subjects from the Certificate II in Visual Arts - Graphic Design. In one of the subjects, whilst a "noob" ("newbie," according to my 8 year old son), I'm not completely clueless, so the stretching is not too drastic. In the class Design Foundations, however, it’s a whole other story - I mean, I actually have to draw. FOR REAL! Actual pens on paper and cutting and gluing and . . . let's just say I have lost count of how many times I have said to my lecturers and fellow students, "I can't even draw!"  Just this morning I bashfully sat at the Studio 1 desk, praying that the lecturers would just not notice me, would just walk on by and not see my incompetence.

They didn't. No, they came and they stood right next to me, looking for the work that I was so desperate to hide. As they looked, my 'buts' started up, "Did I mention that I can't actually draw; I mean, I thought this was computer design, not actual drawing design, and . . . " Big sigh. 

I waited for their verdict; and you know what? They didn't buy into my excuses or lack of self belief. They didn't laugh and mock me in front of the other, (oh so talented), students. On the contrary, they were encouraging, they smiled; they even said that my work was good - GOOD?!

I can barely find the words to describe the delight my heart felt at that moment. Through the strength and power of Jesus I had faced my 'buts,' and at the name of Jesus they bolted!

What dreams do you have hidden in the Column B of your life? Is there a gift or talent that bubbles away in your spirit that you would just love to try; a “God thing,” a super-natural desire for something that, in your own strength, you perhaps could not pull off, but in God’s strength . . . well who knows what you might be able to accomplish.

Go on; ask God to give you the strength and courage to stand up to your ‘buts’ this year. And when you do, please pop back over here and be sure to share your story with us; I know I’d love to hear all about it.

Blessings,

Helen

A Funny Thing Happened …

 

 

Within 24 hours of the Pope announcing his resignation, people were joking that he would now be called Ex-Benedict!  Now that’s funny.  Well, I thought it was funny, but would some Catholics find it disrespectful?  I also smiled when reading Adrian Plass’s parody of the Toronto Blessing in which a congregation had to decide whether the Taiwanese Tickle was a move of God.  Hilarious!  Well, I thought it was, but would some Charismatics be insulted?  At least I’m being balanced by offending two religious groups at once!

Much of our Australian humour is based on sarcasm, satire, and poking fun at people, but what are the ground rules for the Christian humorist?  I’m assuming most Christians would not endorse humour that is vulgar, cruel, or steeped in Benny-Hill-style sexual innuendo.  But where is the line between harmlessly making fun of someone and hurting them?  When is satire a helpful way to confront people and when is it just plain mean?  By now you’ve probably realised that this post is going to ask more questions than it answers, but I have an ulterior motive.  I’m trying to work this out so that I do the right thing when I write humorous pieces.  So here is my initial attempt at some guidelines.

·         Avoid stereotyping groups of people (e.g., different ethnic or religious groups, mothers-in-law, blondes).  Though if Rebel Wilson tells you the blonde was staring at the orange juice because it said “concentrate”, that’s okay.

 

·         Use the “do unto others” test and ask yourself whether you would like it if someone told a similar joke about you or your loved ones.

 

·         Consider the purpose of your humour.  Is it purely to entertain and make people laugh?  Are you satirising something to confront people about an important issue?  Are you using humour to lighten a serious topic?  All are valid, but understanding your motives may help you to decide whether certain jokes or anecdotes are appropriate in a given situation.  Humour should never be used to “get back” at another person.  Some topics may also be off limits depending on the audience.  It was never going to be a good idea for The Chaser team to make fun of a charity that helps kids with cancer or for this year’s Academy Awards host to joke about dating violence. 

 

·         Be willing to make fun of your own foibles and struggles rather than just poking fun at others.  Christian writers like Barbara Johnson and Karen Scalf Linamen do that so well.  We identify with their quirks and problems and are more likely to listen to their underlying serious message.  Before passing away from cancer in 2007, Barbara Johnson was known for bringing humour into the darkest of places, including the deaths of two of her sons and her own battle with cancer.  Karen Scalf Linamen uses humour to teach valuable lessons for practical Christian living (most of which involve healthy doses of chocolate).

 

·         Don’t be too precious.  No matter how careful we are, there’ll always be someone who’s ready to take offense.  Adrian Plass would call them the “Spot it and stop it” people.  If we pander to them, we’ll be left with the bland “Christmas Cracker” type jokes that cause groans rather than smiles and I think God has a better sense of humour than that.

These thoughts are very much a work in progress.  Do you agree with these guidelines?  Would you add others?  Where is the line?  Meanwhile, back to my latest project.  A blonde, Irish nun walks into a bar …

 

Nola Passmore is a freelance writer who has had more than 80 short pieces published in various magazines, journals, and anthologies (including true stories, devotions, poetry and short fiction). She has a passion for writing about what God has done in her life and encouraging others to do the same. (Some call it "nagging", but she calls it "encouragement").

How do we receive?

I enjoy analogies and word pictures of spiritual truths but sometimes I find they lack a practical application. For instance I’ve heard speakers talk about the giving and receiving of a material gift as an illustration of the fact that God gives gifts, but we must receive them. With a natural gift we would rip off the wrapping paper, open the box and enjoy the gift. How do we spiritually “rip off” the wrapping paper, open up what God has for us and draw upon our God given gifts and talents? How do we become good recipients of all God has for us?

Firstly we believe that God has gifted us. Even the gift of salvation requires that we believe that God has made salvation available. If we don’t believe God gives gifts we won’t be motivated to discover what our gifts are. 1 Corinthians 12 assures us that we have all been gifted but not in the same way. It is up to us to discover exactly how God has gifted us. Some people seem to automatically know this, but for others it is a process of experimenting. Even if you know your giftedness is an area like writing it still may take time to work out what God wants you to write – short stories, non-fiction, blog articles, academic papers etc.

Secondly, we take hold of what God has given us (Philippians 3:12) and integrate it into our lives. Salvation, gifts, ministry have all been made available to us but we have to show some initiative. We begin to talk, pray and act in agreement with the way God has gifted us. We are to be motivated, faithful, teachable and available as we look for ways to use our giftedness.

Thirdly Paul tells Timothy to “fan into flame the gift of God” (2 Timothy 1:6). Our gifts don’t come fully developed. Usually they require practice, honing and maturing. As we do this we notice that through our gifts others are edified and encouraged.

We become good recipients of God’s gifts when we believe that God has gifted us; when we discover exactly how we are gifted; as we seek out opportunities to use our giftedness; and when we exercise our gifts with the purpose of edifying and encouraging others.

*****

Susan Barnes likes to write inspirational articles, book reviews, and reflections on Bible passages and regularly blogs at: http://abooklook.blogspot.com.au