Excellent Communication Tips
Those of you in intercultural marriages know that effective communication, love and respect are crucial elements to a successful marriage partnership. Chuck Martin, our pastor at First Baptist Church of Frisco, has been preaching a fantastic series called Faith @ Home in which he gives parents excellent tips on improving their relationships with each other and with their children. This past Sunday, each of us received a copy of "The 21 Rules of This House" by Gregg Harris. These guidelines are so powerful that I wanted to share them with everyone! Here they are:
The 21 Rules of This House
1. We obey God.
2. We love, honor and pray for one another.
3. We tell the truth.
4. We consider one another's interests ahead of our own.
5. We speak quietly and respectfully with one another.
6. We do not hurt one another with unkind words or deeds.
7. When someone needs correction, we correct him in love.
8. When someone is sorry, we forgive him.
9. When someone is sad, we comfort him.
10. When someone is happy, we rejoice with him.
11. When we have something nice to share, we share it.
12. When we have work to do, we do it without complaining.
13. We take good care of everything that God has given us.
14. We do not create unneccesary work for others.
15. When we open something, we close it.
16. When we take something out, we put it away.
17. When we turn something on, we turn it off.
18. When we make a mess, we clean it up.
19. When we do not know what to do, we ask.
20. When we go out, we act just as if we were in this house.
21. When we disobey or forget any of the 21 Rules of This House, we accept the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
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Mostrando entradas con la etiqueta Articles for Caregivers. Mostrar todas las entradas
miércoles, 26 de enero de 2011
lunes, 27 de abril de 2009
Now Available for Pre-Order... Your Intercultural Marriage!
I'm pleased to announce that you can now pre-order my new book, Your Intercultural Marriage: A Guide to a Healthy, Happy Relationship, for a great discount on Amazon.com! Click here to order and to read more about the book: amazon.com/Your-Intercultural-Marriage-Healthy-Relationship/dp/0802418546/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1240867234&sr=8-2
Moody Publishers is releasing the book, and I'm thrilled to be working with them! It's so exciting to have this, my "heart book," finally come to fruition. Here's a sneak peek at some of the highlights:
-Personal stories, insights, and advice from hundreds of intercultural couples
-Tips for anticipating and working through conflict in a healthy way
-Relevant and vital questions to ask your fiance or spouse on a variety of topics, including food, finances, intimacy, family, child rearing, and more
-A close-up and intriguing look at the intercultural marriages in the Bible
-A list of fun intercultural movies to watch at the end of each chapter
-Practical resources and websites for further information, advice, and research
Now, you can download chapter one of the book for FREE on this website, Leap of Faith! Simply click on the box on the right on my home page. Enjoy!
Moody Publishers is releasing the book, and I'm thrilled to be working with them! It's so exciting to have this, my "heart book," finally come to fruition. Here's a sneak peek at some of the highlights:
-Personal stories, insights, and advice from hundreds of intercultural couples
-Tips for anticipating and working through conflict in a healthy way
-Relevant and vital questions to ask your fiance or spouse on a variety of topics, including food, finances, intimacy, family, child rearing, and more
-A close-up and intriguing look at the intercultural marriages in the Bible
-A list of fun intercultural movies to watch at the end of each chapter
-Practical resources and websites for further information, advice, and research
Now, you can download chapter one of the book for FREE on this website, Leap of Faith! Simply click on the box on the right on my home page. Enjoy!
sábado, 15 de noviembre de 2008
What a Mission Statement IS... and What it's NOT
Your mission statement should be a simple summary of who you are and where you're going in life. It reminds you and others of what your call is.
Here is a helpful list of what your mission is NOT.
Your mission is NOT: your JOB. Your current JOB is not the same as your mission. Your job will change several times during your lifetime; your mission most likely won't.
It is NOT: your ROLE. First, you were a baby, then a child, then a teen, then a college student, then a "real" adult, then an employee, then possibly a husband or wife, then maybe a mom or dad, a businessperson, an artist, a writer, and so on. But your role is not the same as your mission. Don't let your current role overshadow your mission.
It is NOT: your TO-DO LIST. I don't know about you, but I sure do have the tendency to let my to-do list take over my day sometimes. And when I do, I notice the empty feeling I have when I realize that my relationships with God and others have taken the backseat to "urgent" tasks that are really unimportant in the grand scheme of things.
Other truths from The Path:
You probably are already living your mission in some form or fashion. You just need to think about it, define it, limit it enough that it can be helpful, and then use it.
You are important enough to have a mission. Everyone needs one.
Your mission doesn't have to be grandiose. You can change the world one life at a time, even if your job or ministry is behind the scenes or seemingly not that important.
Your mission doesn't have to be full of suffering to be valuable.
Your geography is not your destiny. If you're not living in a place or situation where you can fulfill your mission, move on!
If you're not married and you are involved in a dead-end relationship that is keeping you from fulfilling your mission in life, ditch it. Life's too short! Focus on what God has gifted you to do.
Here is a helpful list of what your mission is NOT.
Your mission is NOT: your JOB. Your current JOB is not the same as your mission. Your job will change several times during your lifetime; your mission most likely won't.
It is NOT: your ROLE. First, you were a baby, then a child, then a teen, then a college student, then a "real" adult, then an employee, then possibly a husband or wife, then maybe a mom or dad, a businessperson, an artist, a writer, and so on. But your role is not the same as your mission. Don't let your current role overshadow your mission.
It is NOT: your TO-DO LIST. I don't know about you, but I sure do have the tendency to let my to-do list take over my day sometimes. And when I do, I notice the empty feeling I have when I realize that my relationships with God and others have taken the backseat to "urgent" tasks that are really unimportant in the grand scheme of things.
Other truths from The Path:
You probably are already living your mission in some form or fashion. You just need to think about it, define it, limit it enough that it can be helpful, and then use it.
You are important enough to have a mission. Everyone needs one.
Your mission doesn't have to be grandiose. You can change the world one life at a time, even if your job or ministry is behind the scenes or seemingly not that important.
Your mission doesn't have to be full of suffering to be valuable.
Your geography is not your destiny. If you're not living in a place or situation where you can fulfill your mission, move on!
If you're not married and you are involved in a dead-end relationship that is keeping you from fulfilling your mission in life, ditch it. Life's too short! Focus on what God has gifted you to do.
viernes, 14 de noviembre de 2008
What's Your Mission?
Author Karen Dinesen wrote in Out of Africa, "My biggest fear was that I would come to the end of my life and discover that I had lived someone else's dream."
We were put on this earth for a reason. As Christians, artists, writers, or people from any walk of life, we sometimes wonder if we've arrived at that mission or if we're just wandering through life without any real sense of purpose. Creating a personal mission statement can help you get in touch with God's call on your life and keep you from "living someone else's dream."
In her book The Path, Laurie Beth Jones writes, "My uncle once told me that during World War II if an unidentified soldier appeared suddenly in the dark and could not state his mission, he was automatically shot without question. I wonder what would happen if we reinstituted that policy today...A mission statement is, in essence, a written-down reason for being-whether for a person, or for a company. It is the key to finding your path in life and identifying the mission you choose to follow."
Jesus' mission statement was, "I came that they might have life, and have it more abundantly" (John 10:10). He also said, "The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10).
Laurie Beth Jones continues, "There are three simple elements to a good mission statement.
1. A mission statement should be no more than a single sentence long.
2. It should be easily understood by a twelve-year-old.
3. It should be able to be recited by memory at gunpoint."
Now, hopefully, you'll never be called on to recite it at gunpoint, but her point is that you need to be able to remember and recite your mission statement in order for it to really work for you and change your life.
Tomorrow, I'll blog about some of the false assumptions that people make about their mission statements. Please stop by Leap of Faith!
Blessings-
Marla
We were put on this earth for a reason. As Christians, artists, writers, or people from any walk of life, we sometimes wonder if we've arrived at that mission or if we're just wandering through life without any real sense of purpose. Creating a personal mission statement can help you get in touch with God's call on your life and keep you from "living someone else's dream."
In her book The Path, Laurie Beth Jones writes, "My uncle once told me that during World War II if an unidentified soldier appeared suddenly in the dark and could not state his mission, he was automatically shot without question. I wonder what would happen if we reinstituted that policy today...A mission statement is, in essence, a written-down reason for being-whether for a person, or for a company. It is the key to finding your path in life and identifying the mission you choose to follow."
Jesus' mission statement was, "I came that they might have life, and have it more abundantly" (John 10:10). He also said, "The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10).
Laurie Beth Jones continues, "There are three simple elements to a good mission statement.
1. A mission statement should be no more than a single sentence long.
2. It should be easily understood by a twelve-year-old.
3. It should be able to be recited by memory at gunpoint."
Now, hopefully, you'll never be called on to recite it at gunpoint, but her point is that you need to be able to remember and recite your mission statement in order for it to really work for you and change your life.
Tomorrow, I'll blog about some of the false assumptions that people make about their mission statements. Please stop by Leap of Faith!
Blessings-
Marla
viernes, 10 de octubre de 2008
Is Satan Real?
What’s the Difference Between Wicca and Satanism?
One of the most common questions we receive from Christians is, “Don’t all Wiccans worship Satan?” Actually, no. Most Wiccans and proponents of other New Age religions will be quick to tell you that they do not believe in absolute evil. In fact, they do not believe that Satan exists at all; they consider him to be part of the Christian tradition. Wiccans believe that by admitting that Satan exists, they name evil and allow it to have power over them.
Truth is, however, Satan does exist. He is alive and well in the world, seeking to lead people astray and destroy them. To put it simply, Satan counterfeits God. He seeks to usurp God’s power and glory, and he tries to distract and mislead people from recognizing God as the one true and holy God. Interestingly, the Scriptures tell us that we can have power over Satan's evil by clearly naming it and rebuking it in the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 16:18; 19:13; Matthew 4:10).
The New International Version of the Bible includes 47 verses that specifically mention Satan by name. What types of actions does Satan perform in the world? The following chart lists some of them.
Satan… Scripture Reference
convinced King David to take a (prideful) census of the nation of Israel.
1 Chronicles 21:1
presented himself before the Lord along with all the other angels.
Job 1:6; 2:1
told God that he had been “roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it.”
Job 1:7; 2:2
suggested that Job worshiped God only because God protected and favored him.
Job 1:8–9
afflicted Job with painful sores.
Job 2:7
stood at the right hand of Joshua to accuse him.
Zechariah 3:1
was rebuked by the Lord.
Zechariah 3:2
tempted Jesus in the wilderness.
Matthew 4:1–11; Mark 1:12–13
was personally rebuked and sent away by Jesus.
Matthew 4:10
caused some people to say that Jesus’s power was from Satan rather than from God, which was blasphemy.
Matthew 12:26; Mark 3:23–26; Luke 11:18
caused Peter to prioritize the things of men over the things of God.
Matthew 16:23; Mark 8:33
will be cast into eternal fire.
Matthew 25:41
takes away the Word of God sown in some people’s hearts before it can take root.
Mark 4:15
fell like lightning from heaven.
Luke 10:18
prompted Judas to betray Jesus.
John 13:2
can get a foothold in our lives if we do not control our anger.
Ephesians 4:27
schemes to destroy people; we must put on the full armor of God to protect ourselves.
Ephesians 6:11
lays traps for God’s people.
1 Timothy 3:7; 2 Timothy 2:26
holds the power of death.
Hebrews 2:14
causes people to harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in their hearts.
James 3:14–15
will soon be crushed underneath our feet by the God of peace.
Romans 16:20
masquerades as an angel of light.
2 Corinthians 11:14
displays all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders.
2 Thessalonians 2:9
is our enemy; he prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
1 Peter 5:8
leads the whole world astray; will eventually be destroyed.
Revelation 12:9
will be bound for a thousand years.
Revelation 20:2, 7
will be thrown into the lake of fire forever.
Revelation 20:10
Satan does have some measure of power as the "prince of this world." However, God's power is far greater. Let me know your thoughts! Thank you.
One of the most common questions we receive from Christians is, “Don’t all Wiccans worship Satan?” Actually, no. Most Wiccans and proponents of other New Age religions will be quick to tell you that they do not believe in absolute evil. In fact, they do not believe that Satan exists at all; they consider him to be part of the Christian tradition. Wiccans believe that by admitting that Satan exists, they name evil and allow it to have power over them.
Truth is, however, Satan does exist. He is alive and well in the world, seeking to lead people astray and destroy them. To put it simply, Satan counterfeits God. He seeks to usurp God’s power and glory, and he tries to distract and mislead people from recognizing God as the one true and holy God. Interestingly, the Scriptures tell us that we can have power over Satan's evil by clearly naming it and rebuking it in the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 16:18; 19:13; Matthew 4:10).
The New International Version of the Bible includes 47 verses that specifically mention Satan by name. What types of actions does Satan perform in the world? The following chart lists some of them.
Satan… Scripture Reference
convinced King David to take a (prideful) census of the nation of Israel.
1 Chronicles 21:1
presented himself before the Lord along with all the other angels.
Job 1:6; 2:1
told God that he had been “roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it.”
Job 1:7; 2:2
suggested that Job worshiped God only because God protected and favored him.
Job 1:8–9
afflicted Job with painful sores.
Job 2:7
stood at the right hand of Joshua to accuse him.
Zechariah 3:1
was rebuked by the Lord.
Zechariah 3:2
tempted Jesus in the wilderness.
Matthew 4:1–11; Mark 1:12–13
was personally rebuked and sent away by Jesus.
Matthew 4:10
caused some people to say that Jesus’s power was from Satan rather than from God, which was blasphemy.
Matthew 12:26; Mark 3:23–26; Luke 11:18
caused Peter to prioritize the things of men over the things of God.
Matthew 16:23; Mark 8:33
will be cast into eternal fire.
Matthew 25:41
takes away the Word of God sown in some people’s hearts before it can take root.
Mark 4:15
fell like lightning from heaven.
Luke 10:18
prompted Judas to betray Jesus.
John 13:2
can get a foothold in our lives if we do not control our anger.
Ephesians 4:27
schemes to destroy people; we must put on the full armor of God to protect ourselves.
Ephesians 6:11
lays traps for God’s people.
1 Timothy 3:7; 2 Timothy 2:26
holds the power of death.
Hebrews 2:14
causes people to harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in their hearts.
James 3:14–15
will soon be crushed underneath our feet by the God of peace.
Romans 16:20
masquerades as an angel of light.
2 Corinthians 11:14
displays all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders.
2 Thessalonians 2:9
is our enemy; he prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
1 Peter 5:8
leads the whole world astray; will eventually be destroyed.
Revelation 12:9
will be bound for a thousand years.
Revelation 20:2, 7
will be thrown into the lake of fire forever.
Revelation 20:10
Satan does have some measure of power as the "prince of this world." However, God's power is far greater. Let me know your thoughts! Thank you.
jueves, 2 de octubre de 2008
Sharing the Wealth
I've been so blessed by authors, readers, and friends sharing their writing tips and personal stories with me. Recently, I attended a writing clinic in New Jersey hosted by bestselling author Cec Murphey. Before the clinic, I felt exhausted and run down, maxed out by all of my projects - and life in general. In fact, I seriously considered not even going to the clinic because I felt that I hadn't really had time to prepare physically or emotionally for it. But I went anyway.
I'm so glad I did. I'm amazed at God's way of redeeming situations. I stayed with a fantastic family in the beautiful hills of Milford, NJ. Cec encouraged and inspired me. The other women had incredible stories of how the Lord led them through adversity and pain to a place of redemption and how He had prompted each of them to share their life experiences through writing.
Some of the lessons I learned:
1. You are not alone.
2. Every person has a story to tell - and that story is worth telling.
3. Many, many people in this world are worse off than you are.
4. Our pain gives us a platform to minister to others.
5. We must do our part and then trust God to do the rest.
Thanks to Cecil Murphey, the Moore family, Annalee, Carol, Carole, Ronie, Lisa, Leslie, Dawn, and to Twila for helping make arrangements for me.
Cec has only ONE more three-day clinic available. I highly recommend it - his pointers will transform your writing! The conference will be held in Toronto. For more information, check out Cec's website at themanbehindthewords.com.
I'm so glad I did. I'm amazed at God's way of redeeming situations. I stayed with a fantastic family in the beautiful hills of Milford, NJ. Cec encouraged and inspired me. The other women had incredible stories of how the Lord led them through adversity and pain to a place of redemption and how He had prompted each of them to share their life experiences through writing.
Some of the lessons I learned:
1. You are not alone.
2. Every person has a story to tell - and that story is worth telling.
3. Many, many people in this world are worse off than you are.
4. Our pain gives us a platform to minister to others.
5. We must do our part and then trust God to do the rest.
Thanks to Cecil Murphey, the Moore family, Annalee, Carol, Carole, Ronie, Lisa, Leslie, Dawn, and to Twila for helping make arrangements for me.
Cec has only ONE more three-day clinic available. I highly recommend it - his pointers will transform your writing! The conference will be held in Toronto. For more information, check out Cec's website at themanbehindthewords.com.
domingo, 27 de julio de 2008
Get Real!
Cec Murphey, the writer extraordinaire who has written and co-authored several runaway bestsellers, including 90 Minutes in Heaven, shared these excellent thoughts recently on The Writer's View. We were discussing the issue of how to be more authentic and vulnerable in our writing. Cec says:
"Of course it's difficult to be real (another word for vulnerable). And let's not make this a gender issue. It may be more difficult for males, but that's not a reason to hold back...
What would have happened if Moses had used the same argument and not told about killing the Egyptian? Maybe David shouldn't have written Psalm 51. Don't overlook Elijah's dark, depressive experience.
For me, being real is the most difficult aspect of writing; it's also the most rewarding. When I'm real (vulnerable, naked, honest, transparent, open), that's when I connect with people who hurt. And yes, I get blasted by a few people. And yes, that hurts, but it doesn't stop me.
When other writers open themselves and show their real selves, they give me permission to keep trying, despite my failures. I'm bored with those writers whose illustrations teach us to believe they rush from victory to victory and never fail.
One final curmudgeonly comment: Reader identification is the mark of good writing in fiction or nonfiction. I can identify with reality; I'm turned off by perfected saints."
Great points by Cec, who calls himself a "Curmudgeon of the First Order"! For more information on Cec's ministry or to sign up for his great newsletter, please visit his site at themanbehindthewords.com.
"Of course it's difficult to be real (another word for vulnerable). And let's not make this a gender issue. It may be more difficult for males, but that's not a reason to hold back...
What would have happened if Moses had used the same argument and not told about killing the Egyptian? Maybe David shouldn't have written Psalm 51. Don't overlook Elijah's dark, depressive experience.
For me, being real is the most difficult aspect of writing; it's also the most rewarding. When I'm real (vulnerable, naked, honest, transparent, open), that's when I connect with people who hurt. And yes, I get blasted by a few people. And yes, that hurts, but it doesn't stop me.
When other writers open themselves and show their real selves, they give me permission to keep trying, despite my failures. I'm bored with those writers whose illustrations teach us to believe they rush from victory to victory and never fail.
One final curmudgeonly comment: Reader identification is the mark of good writing in fiction or nonfiction. I can identify with reality; I'm turned off by perfected saints."
Great points by Cec, who calls himself a "Curmudgeon of the First Order"! For more information on Cec's ministry or to sign up for his great newsletter, please visit his site at themanbehindthewords.com.
viernes, 25 de julio de 2008
Great Work Advice-Don't Do These 5 Things!
I thought this was a fantastically helpful article from Robert Half International. It appeared on MSN Careers:
5 Ways to Tarnish Your Professional Rep
Without a doubt, getting ahead in your career has much to do with your skills and on-the-job contributions. But a lot also depends on how you are perceived by your colleagues and managers. The impressions you make with others can greatly affect your advancement potential. Are you taking the right steps, or are you inadvertently sabotaging yourself?
Here are five ways to jeopardize your professional reputation -- and career prospects:
1. Not raising your hand.
A colleague needs someone to take on a few of his duties while he's out of the office next week, and the boss asks everyone on the team for volunteers. You sit quietly until a co-worker offers to help out. Bad move. Taking on projects that fall outside your normal responsibilities can help you expand your skill set and explore new avenues for professional growth. While you may not always have the time to volunteer for an extra assignment, passing on every opportunity also will prevent you from being viewed by your manager as a go-to person in the deparment.
2. Overpromising.
You may be the hardest worker in the company, but if your boss and co-workers cannot rely on you to deliver results you've committed to, you may be passed over for plum assignments. Avoid the urge to promise more than you can realistically deliver, and let people know when you hit a snag that could prevent you from meeting your deadlines. You won't acquire more responsibility if people can't depend on you.
3. Being a know-it-all.
It's smart to offer feedback during brainstorming sessions and to colleagues who are stuck on challenging projects. But keep in mind that there can be too much of a good thing. If you are blunt or forceful with your opinions, it can seem like you are giving orders and not offering suggestions, and consequently lead to resentment among your colleagues. This attitude can be especially harmful during group projects, when effective collaboration is key. Be tactful when presenting your thoughts and respect others' right to disagree, no matter how strongly you feel about your ideas. Co-workers will appreciate your feedback and desire to help, even if they don't follow your guidance.
4. Never admitting your mistakes.
Creating an excuse to justify poor performance is dishonest and unprofessional. Plus, chances are your ploy won't stand the test of time. If you make a mistake, step up to the plate; then go further by devising a plan for both correcting and avoiding similar incidents in the future. Employees who accept ownership demonstrate professional maturity and confidence.
5. Being part of the rumor mill.
When there's bad news to share or complaints to be made about situations at work, you don't want to be the person leading the talk at the water cooler. There's nothing wrong with bonding with co-workers, but being associated with negative discussions makes you seem negative -- which won't please managers and can harm relationships at work. It's best to remain above the fray as much as possible.
A major snafu at work isn't the only thing that can harm a promising career. Sometimes it takes just one minor misstep. Make sure your own actions aren't derailing new opportunities from coming your way.*
*Featured on MSN Careers, July 24, 2008 See msn.careerbuilder.com/custom/msn/careeradvice/viewarticle.aspx?articleid=1563&SiteId=cbmsnhp41563>1=23000
5 Ways to Tarnish Your Professional Rep
Without a doubt, getting ahead in your career has much to do with your skills and on-the-job contributions. But a lot also depends on how you are perceived by your colleagues and managers. The impressions you make with others can greatly affect your advancement potential. Are you taking the right steps, or are you inadvertently sabotaging yourself?
Here are five ways to jeopardize your professional reputation -- and career prospects:
1. Not raising your hand.
A colleague needs someone to take on a few of his duties while he's out of the office next week, and the boss asks everyone on the team for volunteers. You sit quietly until a co-worker offers to help out. Bad move. Taking on projects that fall outside your normal responsibilities can help you expand your skill set and explore new avenues for professional growth. While you may not always have the time to volunteer for an extra assignment, passing on every opportunity also will prevent you from being viewed by your manager as a go-to person in the deparment.
2. Overpromising.
You may be the hardest worker in the company, but if your boss and co-workers cannot rely on you to deliver results you've committed to, you may be passed over for plum assignments. Avoid the urge to promise more than you can realistically deliver, and let people know when you hit a snag that could prevent you from meeting your deadlines. You won't acquire more responsibility if people can't depend on you.
3. Being a know-it-all.
It's smart to offer feedback during brainstorming sessions and to colleagues who are stuck on challenging projects. But keep in mind that there can be too much of a good thing. If you are blunt or forceful with your opinions, it can seem like you are giving orders and not offering suggestions, and consequently lead to resentment among your colleagues. This attitude can be especially harmful during group projects, when effective collaboration is key. Be tactful when presenting your thoughts and respect others' right to disagree, no matter how strongly you feel about your ideas. Co-workers will appreciate your feedback and desire to help, even if they don't follow your guidance.
4. Never admitting your mistakes.
Creating an excuse to justify poor performance is dishonest and unprofessional. Plus, chances are your ploy won't stand the test of time. If you make a mistake, step up to the plate; then go further by devising a plan for both correcting and avoiding similar incidents in the future. Employees who accept ownership demonstrate professional maturity and confidence.
5. Being part of the rumor mill.
When there's bad news to share or complaints to be made about situations at work, you don't want to be the person leading the talk at the water cooler. There's nothing wrong with bonding with co-workers, but being associated with negative discussions makes you seem negative -- which won't please managers and can harm relationships at work. It's best to remain above the fray as much as possible.
A major snafu at work isn't the only thing that can harm a promising career. Sometimes it takes just one minor misstep. Make sure your own actions aren't derailing new opportunities from coming your way.*
*Featured on MSN Careers, July 24, 2008 See msn.careerbuilder.com/custom/msn/careeradvice/viewarticle.aspx?articleid=1563&SiteId=cbmsnhp41563>1=23000
domingo, 20 de julio de 2008
The Smallest in Christ
If I had to choose one Bible verse to characterize the cry of my heart and the attitude I want to have toward the Lord, I would pick Psalm 19:14:
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.
When everything is stripped away and I'm hunkered down at my desk with a messy stack of papers, books, a tall cup of Starbucks and a cat wedged between my monitor and my keyboard in a blissful state of "desk sprawl," I just want to be obedient, available, and willing to express the message that the Lord wants me to share with the world.
Recently, I was reading a missions report from a Russian pastor. This humble, godly man risks his life to drive his car hundreds of miles over frozen lakes with NO ROADS and NO SIGNS to visit Christians in isolated villages in Siberia. Often, his car breaks through the ice and almost falls into the freezing water. It's a true miracle that he makes it across that frozen taiga. Every few miles, he faces a life-threatening situation, and God rescues him. Over and over. At any moment, his life could end. And sometimes he does all of this to reach JUST ONE PERSON for the sake of Jesus Christ. Most amazing of all, at the bottom of the page, after describing these truly harrowing adventures, this man signed his name "The Smallest in Christ."
Wow. Ouch. God, is my desire to be THE SMALLEST IN CHRIST? Do I consider it a privilege to be last so others can be first? As an author, (yes, even as a Christian author) I see that there's a lot of positioning and placement done, lots of fuss and seeking after fame, lots of buzz about "who's the next big name," "who's the next rising star."
I'm pretty sure that God is calling us to eliminate all of that and instead, to call on the Name that is above every name.
Like Christ, we have to be willing to give up any vestige of glory and allow ourselves to be THE SMALLEST IN CHRIST. Let's make His name large. He must increase. We must decrease.
Comments? Please share them here. Thank you!
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.
When everything is stripped away and I'm hunkered down at my desk with a messy stack of papers, books, a tall cup of Starbucks and a cat wedged between my monitor and my keyboard in a blissful state of "desk sprawl," I just want to be obedient, available, and willing to express the message that the Lord wants me to share with the world.
Recently, I was reading a missions report from a Russian pastor. This humble, godly man risks his life to drive his car hundreds of miles over frozen lakes with NO ROADS and NO SIGNS to visit Christians in isolated villages in Siberia. Often, his car breaks through the ice and almost falls into the freezing water. It's a true miracle that he makes it across that frozen taiga. Every few miles, he faces a life-threatening situation, and God rescues him. Over and over. At any moment, his life could end. And sometimes he does all of this to reach JUST ONE PERSON for the sake of Jesus Christ. Most amazing of all, at the bottom of the page, after describing these truly harrowing adventures, this man signed his name "The Smallest in Christ."
Wow. Ouch. God, is my desire to be THE SMALLEST IN CHRIST? Do I consider it a privilege to be last so others can be first? As an author, (yes, even as a Christian author) I see that there's a lot of positioning and placement done, lots of fuss and seeking after fame, lots of buzz about "who's the next big name," "who's the next rising star."
I'm pretty sure that God is calling us to eliminate all of that and instead, to call on the Name that is above every name.
Like Christ, we have to be willing to give up any vestige of glory and allow ourselves to be THE SMALLEST IN CHRIST. Let's make His name large. He must increase. We must decrease.
Comments? Please share them here. Thank you!
jueves, 17 de julio de 2008
My "Book Baby" Has Finally Arrived!
Other authors have told me that holding that first copy of your new book makes a writer feel a bit like a new mom holding a newborn in her arms - a fitting analogy. I don't have any kids yet, but today, I received the FIRST copy of my latest book, Generation Hex. Wow! It's amazing to have a year's worth of research, blood, sweat and tears pay off and hold that slick, shiny tome in hand. Definitely a joyous, surreal moment!
Dillon Burroughs, my co-author, and I are planning an exciting "8/8/08 Book Launch" on, that's right, AUGUST 8, 2008. We hope you will be willing to go online and buy a copy of the book on that date! It's also the date when the Olympics starts, so please let that remind you. :) Gen Hex should be in stores by then, and the book is also available on christianbook.com, amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, and more.
Of course, we also encourage you to support your local Christian bookstore, so stop by and pick up one or two copies for yourself, friends, your pastor and youth pastor, teens or family members. In Generation Hex, we take a unique approach by creating open dialogue with Wiccans and New-Agers and interviewing many actual pagans in order to present a true and balanced perspective on Wicca, New Age and pagan spirituality. However, we also approach the book with solid theology and a conservative biblical foundation, rooted in Scripture. For the book, Dillon and I interviewed numerous practitioners of Wicca and other pagan faiths to discover what they really believe and how Christians can most effectively reach out to them with the gospel.
Publishers Weekly offers some fantastic reviews of newly released books. Here's a cool one related to Generation Hex: publishersweekly.com/article/CA6577725.html?industryid=47139
We're asking YOU - our friends, family members, author pals, fabulous and wise intercultural couples, fun colleagues and website cohorts - to participate in a blog tour for Generation Hex, and we hope you'll help us out!!! If you would like to be on the blog tour and receive a FREE copy of the book from Harvest House, please e-mail Marla at marla_alupoaicei@yahoo.com. Thanks! We appreciate you.
Dillon Burroughs, my co-author, and I are planning an exciting "8/8/08 Book Launch" on, that's right, AUGUST 8, 2008. We hope you will be willing to go online and buy a copy of the book on that date! It's also the date when the Olympics starts, so please let that remind you. :) Gen Hex should be in stores by then, and the book is also available on christianbook.com, amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, and more.
Of course, we also encourage you to support your local Christian bookstore, so stop by and pick up one or two copies for yourself, friends, your pastor and youth pastor, teens or family members. In Generation Hex, we take a unique approach by creating open dialogue with Wiccans and New-Agers and interviewing many actual pagans in order to present a true and balanced perspective on Wicca, New Age and pagan spirituality. However, we also approach the book with solid theology and a conservative biblical foundation, rooted in Scripture. For the book, Dillon and I interviewed numerous practitioners of Wicca and other pagan faiths to discover what they really believe and how Christians can most effectively reach out to them with the gospel.
Publishers Weekly offers some fantastic reviews of newly released books. Here's a cool one related to Generation Hex: publishersweekly.com/article/CA6577725.html?industryid=47139
We're asking YOU - our friends, family members, author pals, fabulous and wise intercultural couples, fun colleagues and website cohorts - to participate in a blog tour for Generation Hex, and we hope you'll help us out!!! If you would like to be on the blog tour and receive a FREE copy of the book from Harvest House, please e-mail Marla at marla_alupoaicei@yahoo.com. Thanks! We appreciate you.
sábado, 12 de julio de 2008
Generation Hex
Our culture is obsessed with power. Not convinced? Just turn on the TV. Go to the movies. Pick up a magazine. Grab any book on the bestseller list. Check out a popular blog. Every industry is capitalizing on people's desire for more power, wealth and influence.
Over the past few years, witchcraft, New Age and pagan religions have seeped into our culture. TV personalities, talk show hosts, and bestselling authors like Eckhart Tolle are taking people down the New Age path, yet most of their fans don't even know that this is what's happening.
Yet, as Christians, we also don't want to overreact or panic. We shouldn't attack those who are misled or those who are holding to other belief systems. Our goal is to create open dialogue, share the truth, and draw people in so they can discover the reason for our hope: our faith in Jesus Christ. Only He can offer us "the hope that does not disappoint."
For our new book Generation Hex (See christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?isbn=9780736924016), Dillon Burroughs and I interviewed a wide variety of people involved in Wicca, witchcraft and the pagan movement in America. We discuss this disturbing, yet fascinating trend and share the causes for the recent spike of interest in pagan spirituality. Through intriguing and sometimes shocking first-person accounts and interviews, we answer questions like:
What is Wicca, anyway?
What do Wiccans, New Agers and Pagans really believe?
Are books and shows like Harry Potter, Charmed, Buffy, Sabrina, and others truly harmless for kids and teens?
What kinds of stereotypes do Christians normally have about Wiccans?
What types of spells do witches perform?
What does the Bible say about witchcraft?
Can a person be both a Christian and a Wiccan or a witch?
What is a good way to bring up spiritual matters when I am talking with a person of a pagan faith?
How can I share the gospel with a Wiccan?
Do Wiccans worship Satan?
How can I tell if a person is a witch?
What are the warning signs that one of my children or students may be involved in witchcraft?
Who was Jesus? Was He the Son of God, or was He a sorcerer or a witch?
...and more! If you're a parent, a student, a pastor, a teacher or anyone who cares about trends in contemporary spirituality, please visit your local Christian bookstore and snap up a copy of Generation Hex. We appreciate your support! We pray that you will be blessed and educated by the book.
Over the past few years, witchcraft, New Age and pagan religions have seeped into our culture. TV personalities, talk show hosts, and bestselling authors like Eckhart Tolle are taking people down the New Age path, yet most of their fans don't even know that this is what's happening.
Yet, as Christians, we also don't want to overreact or panic. We shouldn't attack those who are misled or those who are holding to other belief systems. Our goal is to create open dialogue, share the truth, and draw people in so they can discover the reason for our hope: our faith in Jesus Christ. Only He can offer us "the hope that does not disappoint."
For our new book Generation Hex (See christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?isbn=9780736924016), Dillon Burroughs and I interviewed a wide variety of people involved in Wicca, witchcraft and the pagan movement in America. We discuss this disturbing, yet fascinating trend and share the causes for the recent spike of interest in pagan spirituality. Through intriguing and sometimes shocking first-person accounts and interviews, we answer questions like:
What is Wicca, anyway?
What do Wiccans, New Agers and Pagans really believe?
Are books and shows like Harry Potter, Charmed, Buffy, Sabrina, and others truly harmless for kids and teens?
What kinds of stereotypes do Christians normally have about Wiccans?
What types of spells do witches perform?
What does the Bible say about witchcraft?
Can a person be both a Christian and a Wiccan or a witch?
What is a good way to bring up spiritual matters when I am talking with a person of a pagan faith?
How can I share the gospel with a Wiccan?
Do Wiccans worship Satan?
How can I tell if a person is a witch?
What are the warning signs that one of my children or students may be involved in witchcraft?
Who was Jesus? Was He the Son of God, or was He a sorcerer or a witch?
...and more! If you're a parent, a student, a pastor, a teacher or anyone who cares about trends in contemporary spirituality, please visit your local Christian bookstore and snap up a copy of Generation Hex. We appreciate your support! We pray that you will be blessed and educated by the book.
viernes, 11 de julio de 2008
Notes on the Writing Life
Natalie Goldberg's writing uplifts me, inspires me, makes me laugh, and makes me think. In her book Wild Mind, she writes:
I said to my friend, "Writing is so lonely."
He lifted his eyebrows. "Is there anything wrong with loneliness?" he asked.
"No, I guess not," I said.
"Anything you do deeply is very lonely."
"Are you lonely?" I asked him.
"Of course," he answered. "But I do not let it toss me away. It is just loneliness."
So there you have it. There are days I think, how did I get into this writing? But here I am. And the truth is, I wanted it.*
Solitude and serenity are vital to the writer's life... and to the spiritual life. Yet there are ways in which we can be alone without being lonely. We have the Holy Spirit guiding us, teaching us, accompanying us everywhere. I'm often alone, but I'm rarely lonely. In fact, I cherish my quiet time and use it to fuel up for the fun times I spend with my husband, family and friends.
How do alone time and solitude figure into your spiritual equation?
*From Natalie Goldberg, Wild Mind, 129-130.
I said to my friend, "Writing is so lonely."
He lifted his eyebrows. "Is there anything wrong with loneliness?" he asked.
"No, I guess not," I said.
"Anything you do deeply is very lonely."
"Are you lonely?" I asked him.
"Of course," he answered. "But I do not let it toss me away. It is just loneliness."
So there you have it. There are days I think, how did I get into this writing? But here I am. And the truth is, I wanted it.*
Solitude and serenity are vital to the writer's life... and to the spiritual life. Yet there are ways in which we can be alone without being lonely. We have the Holy Spirit guiding us, teaching us, accompanying us everywhere. I'm often alone, but I'm rarely lonely. In fact, I cherish my quiet time and use it to fuel up for the fun times I spend with my husband, family and friends.
How do alone time and solitude figure into your spiritual equation?
*From Natalie Goldberg, Wild Mind, 129-130.
jueves, 10 de julio de 2008
A Royal Dose of Perspective
There I was, frantically scurrying to get my writing done, plus wash the dishes, do laundry, cook dinner, work out, and post on my website. I had just started a new job when I got called, of all things, for JURY DUTY. Now, for me, jury duty ranks right up there with getting a root canal or having my fingernails extracted one by one with pliers. NOT my idea of fun times.
But I went, thinking, "Oh, this will only take 1-2 hours, tops." That's what everyone had told me. Then I walked into a huge room at the Denton County Courthouse and I saw... about 300 people sitting there. Immediately, I thought, "Okay, maybe that's going to be 3 hours..." PLUS the hour drive there and the hour drive back home.
So... they called my name. I was in a smaller group of 45 people who had been - yes, specially hand-selected by either the prosecution or the defense to be interviewed for possible selection for a felony trial. Yowza. And, you guessed it - I got picked. Yep, only twelve people out of 300, and it was yours truly up there for three days. I ended up missing one of my writing-from-home days, plus two full days of work at my brand new job.
Now, I had a choice here. I could either have a human perspective, which, to be perfectly honest said, "This sucks." Or I could try to see this situation from God's perspective. I knew absolutely that God wanted me there. But it was a bit tough to let go of my schedule. I was planning for an important conference and had so much to do.
Suddenly, this question reverberated through my mind: "CAN I MULTIPLY YOUR TIME?"
Totally foreign concept. I knew that this had to be from God.
"What, Lord?"
"CAN I MULTIPLY YOUR TIME?"
Gulp. "Yes, I guess you can. You're God, after all."
So I chilled out after that. There's a great Yiddish proverb that says, "Mann traoch, Gott lŠuch" (We plan, God laughs). So true.
I gave it my all. And being a juror ended up being serious business. As soon as I was picked, I saw why. It was a domestic violence case, and I ended up feeling so strongly about it. It felt shocking to be in a place where I was partly responsible for justice being served in the life of a battered wife and her children. Yet, as a follower of Christ, I also wanted to be balanced and gracious toward the defendant in hopes that God would change his life and help him to walk a better path.
The trial turned out to be extremely eye-opening, rewarding, heartbreaking and touching, all at the same time. I met several amazing people and, in fact, I ended up being selected as the presiding juror. The Lord put words in my mouth and strength in my heart that I honestly did not know were there. It was truly Him speaking through me. I felt very pleased and relieved when we reached a unanimous decision after deliberating for only two hours. God multiplied my time, just as He had said He would. But I had to let Him.
What's got you in a tizzy today? God may be asking you, "CAN I MULTIPLY YOUR TIME?" You should let Him. He's good at that.
Comments? Please post them below. Thanks!
But I went, thinking, "Oh, this will only take 1-2 hours, tops." That's what everyone had told me. Then I walked into a huge room at the Denton County Courthouse and I saw... about 300 people sitting there. Immediately, I thought, "Okay, maybe that's going to be 3 hours..." PLUS the hour drive there and the hour drive back home.
So... they called my name. I was in a smaller group of 45 people who had been - yes, specially hand-selected by either the prosecution or the defense to be interviewed for possible selection for a felony trial. Yowza. And, you guessed it - I got picked. Yep, only twelve people out of 300, and it was yours truly up there for three days. I ended up missing one of my writing-from-home days, plus two full days of work at my brand new job.
Now, I had a choice here. I could either have a human perspective, which, to be perfectly honest said, "This sucks." Or I could try to see this situation from God's perspective. I knew absolutely that God wanted me there. But it was a bit tough to let go of my schedule. I was planning for an important conference and had so much to do.
Suddenly, this question reverberated through my mind: "CAN I MULTIPLY YOUR TIME?"
Totally foreign concept. I knew that this had to be from God.
"What, Lord?"
"CAN I MULTIPLY YOUR TIME?"
Gulp. "Yes, I guess you can. You're God, after all."
So I chilled out after that. There's a great Yiddish proverb that says, "Mann traoch, Gott lŠuch" (We plan, God laughs). So true.
I gave it my all. And being a juror ended up being serious business. As soon as I was picked, I saw why. It was a domestic violence case, and I ended up feeling so strongly about it. It felt shocking to be in a place where I was partly responsible for justice being served in the life of a battered wife and her children. Yet, as a follower of Christ, I also wanted to be balanced and gracious toward the defendant in hopes that God would change his life and help him to walk a better path.
The trial turned out to be extremely eye-opening, rewarding, heartbreaking and touching, all at the same time. I met several amazing people and, in fact, I ended up being selected as the presiding juror. The Lord put words in my mouth and strength in my heart that I honestly did not know were there. It was truly Him speaking through me. I felt very pleased and relieved when we reached a unanimous decision after deliberating for only two hours. God multiplied my time, just as He had said He would. But I had to let Him.
What's got you in a tizzy today? God may be asking you, "CAN I MULTIPLY YOUR TIME?" You should let Him. He's good at that.
Comments? Please post them below. Thanks!
sábado, 5 de julio de 2008
How to Get Happy
Antoine de Saint-Exupery wrote, “It is in the compelling zest of high adventure and of victory, and in creative action, that man finds his supreme joys.” Mobilizing our giftedness and reaching a state of flow involves a unique combination of adventure, victory, and creative action.
The definitions of flow and joy are closely related. The authors of The Power of Flow write, “Flow is the natural, effortless unfolding of our lives in a way that moves us toward wholeness and harmony. When we are in flow, occurrences line up, events fall into place, and obstacles melt away. Rather than life being a meaningless struggle, it is permeated with a deep sense of purposefulness and order. Flow has a tremendous power to transform our lives, for it is dynamic and moves us unerringly toward joy and aliveness.
Most of us have had experiences of being in flow. In those times, we know we’re in the right place at the right time doing the right thing. We feel both exhilarated and at peace, somehow connected to something larger and greater than ourselves. Life is rich with meaning, magic, and purpose. We feel vital, alive, joyful. But for most of us, it doesn’t happen often enough or for long enough. We feel glimmerings of flow, and then they fade away.”
Now, what is joy? I’ve always thought of joy as a more “watered down” or “spiritualized” version of happiness, so I was surprised to find that joy is actually a feeling of greater intensity than mere happiness itself. One source defines joy as “intense and especially ecstatic or exultant happiness; the expression or manifestation of such feeling.”
What makes people experience this type of joy? I believe that having a fulfilling relationship with God plays a vital role. Knowing and loving the Lord offers us a kind of deep joy that transcends circumstances. It goes hand-in-hand with what the Bible calls “the peace that passes all understanding.”
The gifted composer Richard Wagner wrote, “Joy is not in things; it is in us.”
Dr. Dan Baker lists the following ten qualities of happy people. They:
1. Believe in themselves.
2. Know their true North. (In our case, that’s God!)
3. Take personal responsibility.
4. Have courage.
5. Are altruistic.
6. Embrace optimism.
7. Are proactive.
8. Appreciate life.
9. Are wise and share their wisdom.
10. Persevere.
Joy is not contingent on “what happens to you”; you can choose to be a happy, positive person. When you do, your art, as well as your spiritual life, will benefit.
The definitions of flow and joy are closely related. The authors of The Power of Flow write, “Flow is the natural, effortless unfolding of our lives in a way that moves us toward wholeness and harmony. When we are in flow, occurrences line up, events fall into place, and obstacles melt away. Rather than life being a meaningless struggle, it is permeated with a deep sense of purposefulness and order. Flow has a tremendous power to transform our lives, for it is dynamic and moves us unerringly toward joy and aliveness.
Most of us have had experiences of being in flow. In those times, we know we’re in the right place at the right time doing the right thing. We feel both exhilarated and at peace, somehow connected to something larger and greater than ourselves. Life is rich with meaning, magic, and purpose. We feel vital, alive, joyful. But for most of us, it doesn’t happen often enough or for long enough. We feel glimmerings of flow, and then they fade away.”
Now, what is joy? I’ve always thought of joy as a more “watered down” or “spiritualized” version of happiness, so I was surprised to find that joy is actually a feeling of greater intensity than mere happiness itself. One source defines joy as “intense and especially ecstatic or exultant happiness; the expression or manifestation of such feeling.”
What makes people experience this type of joy? I believe that having a fulfilling relationship with God plays a vital role. Knowing and loving the Lord offers us a kind of deep joy that transcends circumstances. It goes hand-in-hand with what the Bible calls “the peace that passes all understanding.”
The gifted composer Richard Wagner wrote, “Joy is not in things; it is in us.”
Dr. Dan Baker lists the following ten qualities of happy people. They:
1. Believe in themselves.
2. Know their true North. (In our case, that’s God!)
3. Take personal responsibility.
4. Have courage.
5. Are altruistic.
6. Embrace optimism.
7. Are proactive.
8. Appreciate life.
9. Are wise and share their wisdom.
10. Persevere.
Joy is not contingent on “what happens to you”; you can choose to be a happy, positive person. When you do, your art, as well as your spiritual life, will benefit.
Want to Get Published?
When I (Marla) have the chance to meet new people and share with them what I do, they often tell me, "I have an idea for a book. How do I go about getting it published?"
Mentoring new authors is vital part of our ministry here at Leap of Faith. As a published author and editor with a number of years of experience in the industry, I'd love to provide you with encouragement and professional advice to help you begin a career as a writer. I can help you develop your book idea, edit your work if necessary and help you create a winning proposal to submit to publishers. For more information and pricing, please contact me at marla_alupoaicei@yahoo.com. Thank you!
Also, Mary DeMuth, an experienced author and speaker, has a fantastic blog called So You Want to Be Published? On her blog and website, she offers excellent model query letters, a REAL book proposal you can download, and loads of helpful articles for new writers just starting out. Check out Mary's site at wannabepublished.blogspot.com/ and sign up for her informative newsletters.
I would also suggest that you subscribe to magazines like Writer's Digest, Poets & Writers, and Christianity Today. You'll gain invaluable inspiration, writing tips, and markets from these magazines. Also, you may want to buy the following books: The 2008 Writer's Market, The 2008 Christian Writer's Market, and the 2008 Guide to Agents, Publishers, etc. by Jeff Herman. You will turn to these books time and time again! All the best to you and I look forward to seeing your books in print!
Mentoring new authors is vital part of our ministry here at Leap of Faith. As a published author and editor with a number of years of experience in the industry, I'd love to provide you with encouragement and professional advice to help you begin a career as a writer. I can help you develop your book idea, edit your work if necessary and help you create a winning proposal to submit to publishers. For more information and pricing, please contact me at marla_alupoaicei@yahoo.com. Thank you!
Also, Mary DeMuth, an experienced author and speaker, has a fantastic blog called So You Want to Be Published? On her blog and website, she offers excellent model query letters, a REAL book proposal you can download, and loads of helpful articles for new writers just starting out. Check out Mary's site at wannabepublished.blogspot.com/ and sign up for her informative newsletters.
I would also suggest that you subscribe to magazines like Writer's Digest, Poets & Writers, and Christianity Today. You'll gain invaluable inspiration, writing tips, and markets from these magazines. Also, you may want to buy the following books: The 2008 Writer's Market, The 2008 Christian Writer's Market, and the 2008 Guide to Agents, Publishers, etc. by Jeff Herman. You will turn to these books time and time again! All the best to you and I look forward to seeing your books in print!
New Networks
Welcome to Leap of Faith! I've recently joined some new networks, including FaceBook and LinkedIn. Please click on this link to access my FaceBook profile and become a friend: facebook.com/profile.php?id=719307509
If you are a member of these networks, please let me know, and I'll be happy to add you as a friend! Thanks!
If you are a member of these networks, please let me know, and I'll be happy to add you as a friend! Thanks!
viernes, 27 de junio de 2008
You'll Be the Same Person in Five Years Except For...
...the people you meet and the books you read.
What are the most influential and life-changing books you've ever read? I'll list a few of mine here.
1. What's So Amazing about Grace? by Philip Yancey
2. Night by Elie Wiesel
3. Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt
4. A Severe Mercy by Sheldon VanAuken
5. A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway
6. Gilead by Marilynne Robinson
7. Beloved by Toni Morrison
8. The Hours by Michael Cunningham
9. The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
10. Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh
Please let me know what your favorites are and why they influenced you. Was it the writing itself? The subject matter? The plot and character development?
What are the most influential and life-changing books you've ever read? I'll list a few of mine here.
1. What's So Amazing about Grace? by Philip Yancey
2. Night by Elie Wiesel
3. Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt
4. A Severe Mercy by Sheldon VanAuken
5. A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway
6. Gilead by Marilynne Robinson
7. Beloved by Toni Morrison
8. The Hours by Michael Cunningham
9. The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
10. Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh
Please let me know what your favorites are and why they influenced you. Was it the writing itself? The subject matter? The plot and character development?
lunes, 9 de junio de 2008
Question of the Day
Jesus pointedly asked Peter, "Who do YOU SAY that I AM?" How we answer that question reveals just as much about us as it does about Christ.
My friend Dave Sterrett is writing a fantastic book called Why Trust Jesus?. In the book, he presents a variety of intriguing dialogues he has had with people - rock stars, theologians, sports figures, professors, students, and ordinary folks - about who Jesus is. Check out this interview with Bono that Dave includes. I love his comments:
In a conversation with Michka Assayas, Bono, the lead singer of U2 observed this logic.
Assayas: "Christ has his rank among the world’s great thinkers. But Son of God, isn’t that far-fetched?"
Bono: "No, it’s not far-fetched to me. Look, the secular response to the Christ story always goes like this: He was a great prophet, obviously a very interesting guy, had a lot to say along the lines of the other great prophets, be they Elijah, Muhammad, Buddha, or Confucius. But actually Christ doesn’t allow you that. He doesn’t let you off that hook. Christ says, No. I’m not saying I’m a teacher, don’t call me a teacher. I’m not saying I’m a prophet. I’m saying: “I’m the Messiah.” I’m saying: “I am God incarnate.” And people say: No, no, please just be a prophet. A prophet we can take. You’re a bit eccentric. We’ve had John the Baptist eating locusts and wild honey, we can handle that. But don’t mention the “M” word! Because, you know. We’re gonna have to crucify you. And he goes: No, no, I know you’re expecting me to come back with an army and set you free from these creeps, but actually I am the Messiah. At this point, everyone starts staring at their shoes, and says: Oh, my God, he’s gonna keep saying this. So what you’re left with is either Christ was who He said He was -- the Messiah -- or a complete nutcase. I mean, we’re talking nutcase on the level of Charles Manson…I’m not joking here. The idea that the entire course of civilization for over half of the globe could have its fate changed and turned upside-down by a nutcase, for me that’s far-fetched…"
From Timothy Keller, The Reason for God, 229.
My friend Dave Sterrett is writing a fantastic book called Why Trust Jesus?. In the book, he presents a variety of intriguing dialogues he has had with people - rock stars, theologians, sports figures, professors, students, and ordinary folks - about who Jesus is. Check out this interview with Bono that Dave includes. I love his comments:
In a conversation with Michka Assayas, Bono, the lead singer of U2 observed this logic.
Assayas: "Christ has his rank among the world’s great thinkers. But Son of God, isn’t that far-fetched?"
Bono: "No, it’s not far-fetched to me. Look, the secular response to the Christ story always goes like this: He was a great prophet, obviously a very interesting guy, had a lot to say along the lines of the other great prophets, be they Elijah, Muhammad, Buddha, or Confucius. But actually Christ doesn’t allow you that. He doesn’t let you off that hook. Christ says, No. I’m not saying I’m a teacher, don’t call me a teacher. I’m not saying I’m a prophet. I’m saying: “I’m the Messiah.” I’m saying: “I am God incarnate.” And people say: No, no, please just be a prophet. A prophet we can take. You’re a bit eccentric. We’ve had John the Baptist eating locusts and wild honey, we can handle that. But don’t mention the “M” word! Because, you know. We’re gonna have to crucify you. And he goes: No, no, I know you’re expecting me to come back with an army and set you free from these creeps, but actually I am the Messiah. At this point, everyone starts staring at their shoes, and says: Oh, my God, he’s gonna keep saying this. So what you’re left with is either Christ was who He said He was -- the Messiah -- or a complete nutcase. I mean, we’re talking nutcase on the level of Charles Manson…I’m not joking here. The idea that the entire course of civilization for over half of the globe could have its fate changed and turned upside-down by a nutcase, for me that’s far-fetched…"
From Timothy Keller, The Reason for God, 229.
lunes, 26 de mayo de 2008
Setting Healthy Boundaries
Having clear boundaries is essential to a healthy, balanced lifestyle.
—Drs. Henry Cloud and John Townsend
As artists, sometimes we’re all over the map, creatively speaking. We like to be involved in everything, with a finger in every pie. Our spirits and souls overflow with creative energy, and that energy then flows through everything we do. We like to get involved—sometimes too involved in too many things. At times, we can barely tell where we end and others begin.
That’s why we need boundaries.
Oooh. Even the word makes me cringe a bit. I’ve never been that good at setting boundaries. But I’m getting better!
Karol Ladd and Terry Ann Kelly share some challenging points about boundaries in their book The Power of a Positive Friend. They write,
By nature most women are people pleasers. We tend to be nurturers who want to fix situations and make everything right… we need to realize that just because we can doesn’t mean we should!
Boundaries are not brick walls meant to keep people out of our lives; they’re simply helpful guidelines to guard us from squandering our time, talents, and treasure on the selfish demands and whims of others.”61
As creative people, we know that setting appropriate boundaries remains crucial to our ability to stay healthy and inspired. On his website, fine artist Steve Henderson writes,
“I don’t handle a high stress lifestyle very well. For years, I vaguely thought that there was something wrong with this inability, but as I age, like a wine, I realize that perhaps I’ve got something going here. We frequently comment that a wine or cheese mellows with age, but the very word 'mellows' implies serenity, balance, equilibrium— not frenetic energy, a wild and constant shaking of the bottle.
As an artist, my stock in trade is the ability to concentrate, to see things on a deeper level, to determine the best way to bring out those hidden elements subtly, in layers. I can’t do this when my mind is fractured.
Don’t get me wrong. I live in the 21st century too, and as bucolic and pastoral as Dayton, Washington, is, I still have bills, kids, yard work, and an extensive Absolutely-Must-Be-Done-Today list. But I work hard to make sure there’s plenty of white space around my pages.”
White space. Margins... in which God can write. How do your boundaries look today?
—Drs. Henry Cloud and John Townsend
As artists, sometimes we’re all over the map, creatively speaking. We like to be involved in everything, with a finger in every pie. Our spirits and souls overflow with creative energy, and that energy then flows through everything we do. We like to get involved—sometimes too involved in too many things. At times, we can barely tell where we end and others begin.
That’s why we need boundaries.
Oooh. Even the word makes me cringe a bit. I’ve never been that good at setting boundaries. But I’m getting better!
Karol Ladd and Terry Ann Kelly share some challenging points about boundaries in their book The Power of a Positive Friend. They write,
By nature most women are people pleasers. We tend to be nurturers who want to fix situations and make everything right… we need to realize that just because we can doesn’t mean we should!
Boundaries are not brick walls meant to keep people out of our lives; they’re simply helpful guidelines to guard us from squandering our time, talents, and treasure on the selfish demands and whims of others.”61
As creative people, we know that setting appropriate boundaries remains crucial to our ability to stay healthy and inspired. On his website, fine artist Steve Henderson writes,
“I don’t handle a high stress lifestyle very well. For years, I vaguely thought that there was something wrong with this inability, but as I age, like a wine, I realize that perhaps I’ve got something going here. We frequently comment that a wine or cheese mellows with age, but the very word 'mellows' implies serenity, balance, equilibrium— not frenetic energy, a wild and constant shaking of the bottle.
As an artist, my stock in trade is the ability to concentrate, to see things on a deeper level, to determine the best way to bring out those hidden elements subtly, in layers. I can’t do this when my mind is fractured.
Don’t get me wrong. I live in the 21st century too, and as bucolic and pastoral as Dayton, Washington, is, I still have bills, kids, yard work, and an extensive Absolutely-Must-Be-Done-Today list. But I work hard to make sure there’s plenty of white space around my pages.”
White space. Margins... in which God can write. How do your boundaries look today?
domingo, 4 de mayo de 2008
Off to Romania!
Well, friends, we are off to Romania early on Monday morning, May 5th. Catalin's sister, Andreea, will be married to the love of her life on May 17th in Cluj, Romania. We look forward to our visit with Catalin's family and friends! Those of you who know me know how much I love Romania and the people, and the culture, and the landscape, and the food, and the language... I could go on and on! I have not had the privilege of visiting there since 2003 - way too long!
I will try to check e-mail occasionally while there. If you need to contact me, please e-mail me at marla_alupoaicei@yahoo.com. I will do my best to respond to your messages as soon as I can! You may also call me at (214) 497-4614 and I will call you back when I return. We will be back late on Sunday, May 18th. Thank you and blessings to you!
I will try to check e-mail occasionally while there. If you need to contact me, please e-mail me at marla_alupoaicei@yahoo.com. I will do my best to respond to your messages as soon as I can! You may also call me at (214) 497-4614 and I will call you back when I return. We will be back late on Sunday, May 18th. Thank you and blessings to you!
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