Good Resource on NT Backgrounds (esp Women)

In ancient Roman law a person was what he or she wore.

In the first century A.D., a new kind of wife emerged across the Roman empire – similar to the new woman of the U.S. 1960s after the poodle-skirted 1950s girl. The new Roman wife dressed provocatively and had the lifestyle to match, in stark contrast with the previously modest dress of a traditional married woman. What a woman wore identified her either as modest or “new,” says Bruce Winter in Roman Wives, Roman Widows: The Appearance of New Women in the Pauline Communities. Winter is director of the Institute of Early Christianity in the Graeco-Roman World, at Tyndale House, Cambridge, and an expert on historical and literary backgrounds.

Apparently wanting to promote “family values,” Caesar Augustus legislated against the "new" woman. And an emperor could exercise way more force than any leader in a democracy, so think of it as family values on super-steroids. And, as Winter demonstrates, the infant Church felt the influence of the “new” wife/woman, her dress, and her conduct.

Winter shows how this shift among wives affected Paul’s established communities. And in doing so the author also offers new hints about how to understand biblical texts about women’s “coverings” and silence. Additionally, he sheds light on Titus 2 and Paul’s desire for the older women to bring the younger women to their senses.

Winter’s book is not about the complementarian/egalitarian debate. Indeed he seems rather uninterested in embroiling himself in that discussion. Rather, he presents an investigation of old but neglected literary sources combined with new archaeological findings. (And there have been a bunch in the past 20 years.)

A few of his observations were of special interest to me.

First is the evidence for government dress-code enforcers and the possibility of translating aggelos in 1 Corinthians 11 as “messengers” instead of “angels.” That is, basically, because of the messengers who will report you for violating civil dress codes, wear the covering.

Second is Winter's observation that the phrase “as the law also says” in 1 Corinthians 14 could be referring not to the Old Testament (folks for centuries have asked “where in the Law?”) but to the civil law set in place by Augustus. That explanation makes sense in light of Paul’s use of both civil law and OT law in the same context (Romans 7), and the fact that he basically tells the Galatians that Christ fulfilled the law so why go back under it?

Lots of interesting stuff to chew on.

Plan Ahead to Keep Christ in Your Christmas

You are invited...

Do you ever find Christmas comes and goes, and in the insanity of it all you've failed to celebrate the real reason for the season? Well, make plans now to keep that from happening!

One way is to join me at Gainesville Bible Church for a Christmas Tea on December 6 at 10 a.m. Topic: The Gift God Still Wants.

The event is free and open to the public. Reservations are not required. So if you're anywhere near, grab a friend and c'mon!

Gainesville Bible Church
601 North Radio Hill Road
Gainesville, TX 76240
Church phone: (940) 668-2781

It's His birthday. What are you giving Him? Come find out what's on His wish list.

P.S. I'm not trying to rush Christmas by telling you so early. Just trying to help you plan ahead here.

Happy Autumn!

My cousins' place on the South Santiam River in Oregon (seen here) and Grand Teton National Park are my two favorite places on earth. My cousin Bruce sent me these photos to give me my "beauty fix." (None of that gently zigzagging to the ground of red and yellow leaves here in Texas.)

When we were kids, my four siblings, two cousins, and I would hop in the river upstream a few miles with our inner tubes. Then we'd float to the house, in the process getting very cold rear ends. (We rejoiced when my aunt and uncle bought inflatable rafts.)

Other times we'd pretend we were dogs in obedience school so we could catch marshmallow "treats" in our mouths. And we'd ride on the huge swing in the pasture. Or watch the squirrels and hummingbirds and ducks and deer out the front picture window.

What's your favorite place on earth?

Wordless Wednesday

Pray for Congo

With the election all over the news, some serious international info is not showing up on the radar. Did you catch the news that violence is rocking Congo? Pray for peace.

Does the Pill = Abortion?

It's my day to blog over at the women's tapestry site. Today's entry is about whether the pill causes abortion. Is a person who takes the pill really murdering, as a Dallas-area leader recently claimed?

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I Just Read...

The Kingdom of Matthias: A Story of Sex and Salvation in 19th-Century America by Paul E. Johnson and Sean Wilentz

I had coffee last month with the professor who taught my last women’s history class at the University of Texas at Dallas. And my intersecting interests in theology and women’s history led her to recommend this book.

In the 1830s in New York, a man named Robert Matthews proclaimed himself the prophet Matthias. He built a communal cult around himself which captivated a number of respectable people. As with Jonestown, Waco, and more recently Eldorado, Texas, we see members required to surrender economically and sexually to their leader. Eventually Matthias even finds himself the subject of a murder investigation. And Sojourner Truth’s involvement in his movement raises eyebrows, to be sure.

Though the book falls in the “academic” category, it reads more like a popular-market novel. This is to the credit of its authors, who are profs at the University of Utah and at Princeton. I found only one real weakness: constant use of the word “evangelical” as a synonym for “revivalist.” (Charles Finney was a leading revivalist in the Second Great Awakening, but his theology was/is at odds with evangelical thinking, especially in his views of human involvement in salvation.)

The book is about a fourth of an inch think. So if you love history, theology, and women’s issues, it’s time to add yet another book to your growing wish list. Fortunately, you can read it in an afternoon.

Close Encounters with Aliens

He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing. Love the sojourner, therefore, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt.

–Deuteronomy 10:18-19

I was listening to our local NPR station a couple of days ago when the host interviewed the President and CEO of Parkland Health and Hospital System. Parkland is the only publicly supported hospital in Dallas County, so I expected him to rant and complain about how illegal aliens were costing the system millions. Yet instead, to my surprise, he cited the Old and New Testaments, saying how the Scriptures say we're to take care of the sojourners among us. He said often people of faith are the greatest opponents of helping the most vulnerable, which they wouldn’t do if they knew their Bibles. True, that.

A key argument people in my own political party give for opposing a more welcoming immigration policy is that illegals have broken the law. Yet I've noticed that some of these same members also talk about how they were speeding down Central Expressway or going over the speed limit on I-635. Why don’t they see the disconnect? Getting somewhere faster is worth bending the law over, but helping one’s family get out of poverty is worth holding the line?

I was talking one afternoon with a DTS professor who lived in a Spanish-speaking country for more than a decade, and he was telling me that when it comes to the law, most folks who live outside the U.S. rank human judgment over human rule. But most Americans philosophically rank human rule over judgment (unless, apparently, they left late and need to get somewhere on time). For example if we approach a “stop” sign at 3 AM, we stop. If someone from outside the U.S. approaches a “stop” sign at 3 AM and that person has not seen another car for hours, he or she won’t stop. It’s not a matter of being a scofflaw. It’s a question of whether the human was made for the rule or the rule for the human. The reason for the law is to avoid accidents, right? And good judgment says there’s not going to be an accident. So judgment trumps the rule. Still, we do let ambulances break the law because judgment /need actually do trump law, if we think about it.

One of the challenges we face when trying to reach a consensus about immigration is our conflicting views of law and need.

I’ve noticed in my particular brand of Christendom we talk a lot about widows and orphans, but we leave out one-third of the folks God put on the priority list of those needing our advocacy, love, and mercy.

Discount: FYI

If your group plans to do one of the Coffee Cup Bible Study books in the near future, CBD is currently running a "23% percent off" special. That means if you order ten copies, you get the books for $8.99 each.

CliffsNotes for Christian Living Books

How high is the stack of books next to your bed? If it’s anything like mine and you read Christian titles, including classics from C. S. Lewis, you need to know what my friends Heather and Chris Goodman are up to. Recently they launched a new book-summary service, Solomon Summaries.

Solomon Summaries is a weekly subscription summary service that provides a ten-page summary of a non-fiction book, a review of the book, and group discussion questions. It’s for readers who want to maximize their limited time and increase their awareness of current and classic Christian non-fiction works.

This Heather and Chris (not to be confused with my lovely niece Heather and her cool husband Chris) buy more books than they have time to read. Chris is a business and ministry entrepreneur with a heart to connect Christians with culture, specifically through the Internet. He spends much of his time exploring the future of the Internet and missions with one of the largest Internet ministries in the world, bible.org. Heather, a graduate of DTS, is a writer and speaker on the intersection of Christianity, culture, and the arts.

They desire to encourage readers to read and talk more about issues facing everyday people, help them prioritize reading time, and expand their range of subjects. Here’s more from the Goodmans:

What inspired you to begin a business like this?
I (Chris) found a growing chasm between the number of books I want to absorb and the amount of time available to read them (not so much due to time shrinking, but because there are so many amazing books). In the business world, I had access to executive book summary services to glean the latest business wisdom, and I dreamed of something similar for Christian books.

I (Heather) am passionate about all things books. I love the idea of raising awareness of what’s out there.

In a culture that has adopted “I’m busy” as a standard response to the question “how are you?”, there seems to be an interesting opportunity to engage people in bite-sized chunks with the key points from a book on Christian living. Hopefully, this will help readers triage which books they want to look at further. Also, we want to help lay leaders choose good materials and resources for Sunday school classes, small groups, mentoring relationships, and leadership training, and to help pastors stay in touch with what’s out there and what their congregations are reading.

How do you choose the books?
We primarily choose books of interest to our audience–books they would like to know more about, books they’re considering buying or books they’ve heard about in a conversation and want to have an opinion about. We look at new releases, bestsellers, general Christian living books, and we have a poll on our website to find out what books our readers would like us to summarize.

What is your vision for Solomon Summaries?
As future-thinking people, we have great interest in seeing Solomon Summaries become a platform for engagement and growth. Based on the initial reaction and how passionately people share the idea with their friends (and we’re hoping they'll share it with lots of friends), we are in discussion on a number of additional pieces of the puzzle (what Chris calls the blueprint) to offer value to book readers and small group book discussions. We’d also like to get the authors of the books more involved in the discussion. We’ll be paying close attention to subscribers and their interests and ultimately it will grow into what people want and need to help them in their lives.

Solomon Summaries website (free summary available)
Heather’s Website
List of all participating bloggers

More from the author of Fireproof

Yesterday I posted an interview with Eric Wilson, author of Fireproof, which is on the NY Times bestseller list. You may remember an interview I did with him two years ago. I met Eric before he was published via the cool Amazon reviews he wrote about my suspense novels. It encouraged me so much to know a reader outside of my family and friends actually liked my stuff! So I'm thrilled to see how his career has taken off. Today Eric is back, but this time we're talking about his book Field of Blood.

What’s Field of Blood about?
It's a modern story of good and evil, a mix between Peretti's This Present Darkness and C.S. Lewis' The Screwtape Letters. It's edgy, atmospheric, and full of biblical history and Judaic legend. Two groups of undead are featured: 1) those who came out of the tombs when Jesus died and was resurrected (Matt. 27:50-53)...these are my good side, immortals left to protect believers; 2) the undead who were unnaturally animated by Judas' blood after it seeped into the burial caves beneath the Field of Blood outside Jerusalem's Old City walls...these are the evil side, those who seek blood for a counterfeit unholy existence. Ultimately, the story is about a Romanian Jewish girl caught between these two sides, about the human struggle between good and evil, and the Nazarene Blood that will prevail.

Which is your favorite character in this story and why?

Gina Lazarescu is the main character and the one I really care about as I write. She's been raised by an ultra-conservative mother who's forced her brand of religion and superstition on Gina, slowly turning Gina away from matters of faith. And yet, a small flame still burns in Gina's heart. Which is a good thing, because she's about to face Jerusalem's undead. She has no idea of her place in the bigger picture, and the purpose God has for her.

Give us another “inside” story--it makes us feel so superior. Hee hee.
Oh, man, I have some crazy stories about how the Lord guided me in the research of this book. Some of those I've included in the author's note of the book. (Sneak a peek while in your local store!) I'll give you some info I haven't included elsewhere, though. How about that? While I was in Romania in 2005, I was already gathering info for this series. I stayed in the Bucegi Mountains (the location of the book's climax) and did some hiking. Two friends and I decided to hike back down through the mountains instead of taking the cable car. We started at the Memorial Cross, a hundred foot monument to soldiers of World War One, then made our way down toward the village of Busteni. The hike took hours longer than expected, very steep, loose shale, dense trees, a stream...A beautiful journey, but we could hardly walk the next day because our calves were so tight. This is one of the most densely populated wildlife areas in Europe, with lynx, bear, boars, foxes, wolves, etc. The area was once inhabited by the Dacians, a word that means "wolf." And it's from here that many tales of werewolves originated. I'll actually have one werewolf-like creature in the sequel, Haunt of Jackals. (You first heard it here.)

Do you have an outline when you start or are you a seat-of the-pants author?
I have a very general outline, but each chapter surprises me and leads to unexpected places. That's half the fun for me as I write. I don't suggest it for everyone. It's not for the faint of heart. On the other hand, it's really a walk of faith for me as I approach my writing each day. I have to start typing and trusting that the story will unfold. When I let it go, it usually happens, though there are days that are nail biters.

How do you come up with your plots?
My plots center around two things usually: 1) a historical mystery or anomaly, and 2) a character's inner conflict. The mystery parts show up through my research and personal reading. The character parts come from my own struggles, or those I see in others around me. Throw those two together and you come up with a big idea that matters on a personal level. That's the way I do it. If I don't care about the characters, though, the plot loses my interest.

What's next for you?

I've just finished Haunt of Jackals, second in the Jerusalem's Undead Trilogy, and I'll be writing the third book, Valley of Bones, from November through March of next year. After that, I want to go back and finish off my earlier series, as well as starting a spinoff series from the Undead Trilogy. I have about seventeen ideas floating through my head right now. We'll see which one lands first, huh?

Thanks, Eric! You can find more from Eric at WilsonWriter.com or JerusalemsUndead.com.

Booker Prize

I got a kick out of what this year's Booker Prize winner said he planned to do with the money. You can read about it here.

No-Fluff Zone

Registration is now open for Synergy, the best women's conference out there. This year it's March 6-8 in Orlando, and registration is now open.

Lesa Englethaler and I will again serve as the writing track leaders, and this time around we have a real winner. Literally! Dr. Lauren Winner, author of Girl Meets God and Real Sex, has agreed to offer a workshop on writing memoir. (She's also keynoting, so you'll get to hear her a couple of times.)

Synergy is the brainchild of Carolyn Custis James, President of the Synergy Women’s Network, Inc. and WhitbyForum. She wrote Lost Women of the Bible and When Life and Beliefs Collide, the latter of which I require my students to read. Carolyn will be keynoting, too, as will Alice Palmer Matthews, dean of faculty at Gordon-Conwell Seminary.

Register now for early-bird rates.

Interview: The Author of "Fireproof"

Today I have the pleasure of sharing with you a brief interview with Eric Wilson, author of the NY Times best-selling book, Fireproof.

How would you describe yourself?
I'm an inquisitive, stubborn, outgoing, but often reclusive person who loves Jesus, loves books, and absolutely adores my wife. I've written eight published novels, and hope to write fifty more.

What’s the book about?
Fireproof is the story of a fire captain and his wife who are facing divorce after seven years of marriage. As their relationship is about to go up in smoke (bad pun, I know), the captain's father challenges him to love his wife for forty more days, applying each day a lesson learned from a handwritten journal. While still facing fires and danger, the captain realizes that being a hero to the world is sometimes easier than being a hero to your own wife.

Why'd you do it?

I'd already worked with the Kendricks on the novelizations of their two previous movies. It's been a great working relationship, with lots of fun and creativity. I admire the goals they have, wanting to encourage and inspire, while telling stories that point to Christ. That is in line with my goals as an author, although my personal style is usually aimed at those on the fringes of faith.

Tell us about the writing journey that has led you here.
I've wanted to be a writer since childhood. Along the way, I've traveled, youth pastored, been married eighteen years, and raised two teen daughters. I'd started doubting my "dream" would ever come true, but my wife's encouragement never flagged--even during some very rough financial times. Without her, I don't think I would've come this far.

Give us an “inside” story on the book—something we might enjoy knowing.

I had an arsonist subplot that we ended up taking out (because most other fireman story's already have one). Some of the books went to press, though, with a newspaper clipping at the end of chapter two that was related to that subplot. It shouldn't have been there, but I forgot to weed that one out. If you have one of those copies of the book, it might be worth something some day. lol

What do you consider the most difficult part of writing? What was the hardest thing on this project?

The most difficult thing is tuning out all the distractions, from the phone, to the latest TV show, to the friends having a BBQ, to the discouragement of a bad review or low sales... All those things have to be pushed aside to plant my butt in the chair and write. Some days it feels like pulling teeth. Some days it feels like I'm bleeding out my heart to get words on the page. The hardest thing on this project was the timeframe. I've written a half-million words in the last two years, and I was running dry. This book was written in six weeks. That was exhausting.

Got any advice for writers?

I've said it many times. Stop talking about writing, stop spending hours blogging and dreaming, and DO it. If you don't complete a novel, you'll never be published, no matter how talented you are. In my opinion, the best book to help hone your craft for publication is Self-Editing for Fiction Writers. Easy to read. Practical. Invaluable.

Name a couple of your favorite fiction writers and why.

Oh, I love so many books. I'm a big fan of James Lee Burke, because he mixes the grittiness of life with the poetic beauty of literature and nature. I like Dean Koontz's prose. Harlan Coben is a master of plotting and twists. I'm impressed by Khaled Hosseini's two books, both masterful novels. I could go on for hours about all the novelists I enjoy reading.

Come back tomorrow to find out more about the book that's foremost on Eric's mind these days (hint: it's not Fireproof).

Jury Duty

I couldn't watch the debates in real time last night because I had to do the carpool thing for my daughter (youth group, dontcha know). So after I got home, I watched the reruns on CNN. Then I tumbled into bed after midnight.

I had jury duty this morning, which meant this freelance-writer nightowl had to get up and dressed to leave before 7:15, which totally cramped my style. It also meant braving rush hour and spending literally 30 minutes circling in downtown Dallas seeking a parking space. One garage said "jail only," so I knew that was a bad idea. The next garage said "public," but when I got close to the entrance, I saw "employees only." I discovered the hard way that our GPS system works lousy when streets lie only about 300 feet apart. Oh? When your smarmy British accent said "Turn right" you meant at the NEXT street, not the one right in front of me? Oh-h-h. That meant circling around on yet more one-way streets to get going the right direction (are you picking up on my frustration here?). I burned my per diem (six bucks) on gas alone--which I (thankfully) bought today for only $2.69/gallon.

But I digress.

Once inside the jury room, I watched the video, got sworn in, and was promptly told to take a "break" for 30 minutes. Eventually mid-morning I got sent upstairs with 35 others to go through jury de-selection.

Here's what struck me as odd. Two pastors in the jury pew said they could not serve because the Bible says "judge not that ye be not judged." Therefore, they reasoned, they could not stand in judgment over another human being in a court of law.

Huh?

Okay, that same passage also says shortly thereafter to take the log out of your own eye so you can see straight to remove the speck from your brother's. Now how are we supposed to remove the speck, figuratively speaking, if we say it's not our place? Also, how are we supposed to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God (Micah 6:8) if we can't do justice? And how are we going to do church discipline according to Matthew 18 if we can't take the requisite two witnesses? How are we going to make sure the innocent aren't oppressed if we won't call their victimizers' behavior bad, wicked, evil, immoral, wrong?

BTW, I didn't get selected. I wonder if it's because I'm too opinionated?

The court called out the jurors from among us by about 1 PM, and after they all left the pews, Judge Carlos Cortez gave an eloquent speech about the justice system that was worth the hassle. He included this quote from another pastor: "The end of our lives begins the day we become silent about things that matter" (MLK). Amen. Preach it!

Brideshead Revisited

My friend Kelly manages an independent book store, and she has a great grasp of ancient history, good stories, and fine writing. So when she told me her favorite series was Brideshead Revisited, I knew I had to check it out.

I know Hollywood has produced a new short version of Evelyn Waugh's 1945 classic novel, but I've not yet seen it. I opted to view first the long British version so when I do see the short one, I'll know what I've missed. (I liked the longer Pride and Prejudice better, for example. But I still enjoyed the shortener version.)

Brideshead Revisited is a poignant story of forbidden love and the loss of innocence set in England prior to the Second World War. And frankly, throughout the first half, I thought it was all right, but I wondered, What made Kelly love this? Fortunately, I trusted her. And ohmygoodness, what a payoff I got for that trust.

The cast includes Jeremy Irons and Laurence Olivier among other notables, and is set at Castle Howard in Yorkshire. Twenty years after its release, the British Film Institute voted it number ten in the top 100 greatest British TV programs (okay, programmes). If you love history, theology, and a plotline with complex characters, this one's for you, too.

Turns Out I'm Scared Too

A couple of semesters ago I taught Advanced Creative Writing (ACW), and a number of my students had what I can only describe as meltdowns during the semester. The process of writing their first novel evoked trauma in otherwise strong individuals.

After observing this phenomenon, a couple of their fellow students read The Courage to Write: How Writers Transcend Fear. And if I ever again teach ACW, I’ll add that book to the “required” list. I had read portions of it in the past, but this weekend while flying to Indianapolis and back (board meetings), I read it cover-to-cover.

Written by Ralph Keyes (Nice Guys Finish Last), the book explores the fear every writer experiences but which few writing teachers address: the sheer terror involved in allowing the world to scrutinize our thoughts. I identified with much of what Keyes said. In my novels when I've written about an enraged character, I've worried readers will think I must be short-tempered myself. (Otherwise how could I understand such anger well enough to write a scene like that?) When I've written about a character having an affair, I've worried my readers would think I was tapping into my own memory bank. When I've written about a couple enduring marital difficulty, I've hoped readers wouldn’t assume my husband was a jerk or wonder if I was as petty or whiny or selfish as "Angie."

When we write, we unearth our inner “ugly,” open ourselves to ridicule, and sometimes even hurt friends and family. Yet our fears of all that happening, when properly harnessed, can help writers write better, more authentic prose.

Keyes masterfully explores both what it takes to write well and how to do so consistently. The book would be worth the price for the quotes alone, as he peppers his prose with examples from the painfully shy E. B. White (Elements of Style; Charlotte’s Web) and numerous others like Hemingway, Stein, Thoreau, and T. S. Eliot. But the book's greatest strength is in helping writers perceive something we've heard a lot in the news this week: We have nothing to fear but fear itself.

If the writer's honesty feels embarrassing, the reader's forgiveness is profound. --Ralph Keyes

Movie Recommendations

At the seminary's faculty retreat in August, some of the other Pastoral Ministries profs and I swapped movie recommendations. I was told I must see "The Painted Veil" and "The Bucket List." So we loaded them into our Netflix queue, and in the past few weeks we've viewed both.

Each has moments of stunning cinematography, but the moral premise in each case is what ultimately left us with a sense of profound appreciation. The first is a story of sin and redemption; the second is about things that truly matter. In both cases we appreciated that the stories elevated long-term commitment over short-term pleasure, something we don't always see from Hollywood. These aren't movies for little kids. But for grown-ups, they make for some great weekend viewing and contemplation.

The Writing Spa

Looking for a writing coach? Check out The Writing Spa.

Author and writing mentor (and my friend) Mary DeMuth has walked the road to publication. An accomplished nonfiction freelancer and novelist, Mary understands the twists and turns of the publishing industry. She’s passionate about the writing craft, savvy about marketing, and thrilled to help writers get to the next step in their writing journeys. If you’re looking for that next boost in your writing career; if you’re stuck in a rut and can’t seem to go forward, register now for a trip to The Writing Spa.

Mary offers four products: nonfiction mentoring, fiction mentoring, substantive fiction mentoring and tailored mentoring.

Learn more here: http://www.thewritingspa.com/packages.html

More about Mary: She's been writing feverishly ever since her second grade teacher dared to say she had talent. She’s been published since the turn of the century, her first book releasing in 2005. Books include Ordinary Mom, Extraordinary God, Building the Christian Family You Never Had, Authentic Parenting in a Postmodern Culture, Watching the Tree Limbs, Wishing on Dandelions, and coming soon: Daisy Chain.

What qualifies her to be a book mentor?

. She owns The Writers View and The Writers View 2, a 1400+ online professional writing community.

. She co-leads the Rockwall Christian Writer’s Group.

. She’s been a teacher at several national writing conferences, including Mount Hermon and ACFW.

. She’s published in Writer’s Digest and The Writer.

. She facilitates Wannabepublished, a well trafficked blog about the publishing journey.

. And she’s just plain passionate about helping writers succeed.

Mary's expertise in editing, her mastery when it comes to writing book proposals, her deep integrity, and her knowledge of the industry make her my number one choice when referring would-be writers for coaching. She has a passion for helping other writers succeed.

Check out these endorsements:

Mary’s extensive knowledge of the publishing industry continually impresses me, and her delight in helping writers succeed is evident in everything she does. I would recommend her to anyone who wants a knowledgeable and inspiring partner on his or her journey to publication.

--Rachelle Gardner, Agent, Wordserve literary

Mary's singular integrity and sincere passion for developing the whole author has made her an infusion of excellence in our blossoming industry. --Mick Silva, WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group

Mary is a consummate professional and well equipped to help other writers with both the creative and business side of writing. Her discipline, integrity, and sense of humor make her a pleasure to work with! --Terry Glaspey, Senior Editor, Harvest House

Trust the Government?

"Trust us!" they said.

We have surpluses; we'll find the WMD's; we'll get bin Laden; we'll be welcomed as liberators; FEMA is doing a heckuva a job; the levees will hold; the fundamentals of the economy are strong.

Now that we have a Democrat-run Congress we'll fix everything. We'll bring home the troops. We'll deal with special interest.

"It is better to take refuge in the LORD Than to trust in man.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD Than to trust in princes" (Psa 118:8-9)

Wordless Wednesday

Ways to Save Money

At a time when money's suddenly tighter than ever, saving is on nearly everyone's mind. Here are some ways to do so:

· Get the least expensive internet provider possible for your needs.
· Verify to make sure you have the best possible insurance and phone plans.
· Lump all your errands together in one “run.”
· Buy in bulk. Investigate joining a co-op.
· Make your own bread.
· Drop your change in a jar to use for gas. Check http://www.gasbuddy.com/ to find the cheapest fuel in your area.
· Every time you charge something, enter the amount in your checkbook payable to the credit card company. That way you get no surprises when it's time to balance.
· Make homemade gifts.
· Get stuff repaired instead of buying new.
· Barter.
· When you get in the car, take a beverage with you (water, soda, tea, coffee) so you’re not tempted to buy.
· Shop at thrift stores—your money goes to a good cause and the products cost less. Get familiar with Craigslist, eBay, and Freecycle (www.freecycle.org).
· Cut coupons.
· Sell used DVDs, videos, and books to stores that buy and sell them.
· Eat less and enjoy your new shape.
· Stay thankful and be generous with those in need.

What suggestions do you have?

Times that Tried Our Souls

In history class this semester our middle-school-age daughter is learning about the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, and the Civil War. So I emailed her teacher to ask what movies we should rent to supplement her in-class education. I also recalled a few flicks from my past. We loaded up our Netflix queue, and for the past week or so we've had History Nights at the Glahns (replacing popcorn with ice cream sodas).

We started with "Johnny Tremain," a fictional account of a young man who lived at the time of the Boston Tea party. Then we watched Jeff Daniels as George Washington in "The Crossing,"--focused on the famous Christmas assault on the well-supplied, well-trained Hessians when rebel troops crossed the icy Delaware, some of them without shoes (br-r-r-r!). That little ragtag crew, against all odds, turned the tide.

From there we moved to the War of 1812. This collection of documentaries focuses on the difficult time in our nation's history during which Francis Scott Key wrote The Star-Spangled Banner as he watched foreign troops bomb the heck out of our fort. As it happened, our family watched the collection over the two evenings that coincided with the U.S. stock market suffering its biggest point drop in history.

We learned how the British ran our government out of Washington (Dolly Madison delayed long enough to save George Washington's portrait) and the enemy set the White House and Capitol on fire. Watching that put the days' trials into perspective. ("Okay, the economy is going to pot, but at least the White House and the Capitol Building aren't burning.") More interesting than that, though, was to hear how the very night the enemy took our capitol, a hurricane/tornado hit Washington, D.C., and drove out the previously victorious troops, taking such a number that they had to retreat. Even the commentator on the documentary referred to it as "a miracle." Add to that the unbelievable odds-beating Battle of New Orleans, one of the greatest all-time military surprises.

It's history. Yes. But to be honest it's felt more like extended testimonies, with evidence after evidence of benevolent Sovereignty. Not a bad reminder at a time when we question why we stashed that cash in our 401(K) instead of booking an Alaska cruise.

Wordless Wednesday

Photo by Gary Glahn