Need a Book Doctor?

The Doctor is In!

Do You Need a Professional Writer or Editor for Your Book? 

Exciting News: my editing/book doctoring business has really taken off over the past few years. Now I am typically balancing a couple of book editing or development projects at a given time (plus writing and marketing my own books)! I just received a new contract from a ministry for a book project that I am very excited about. Each relationship that I am able to build enriches my life and teaches me so much, and every project provides its own fun and inspiring elements as well as its own challenges. I really enjoy this ministry. If you have a project and are looking for an editor/developmental writer to help you get it published, definitely let me know! You can e-mail me at marla_alupoaicei@yahoo.com. Thanks!

Being Jesus to Other People

Dr. Kevin Leman, the author of several bestselling Christian books, shares this story: "A mother caught her two boys arguing over who would get the first pancake. The mother thought she had a golden opportunity to provide a moral lesson, so she said, 'If Jesus were sitting here, he would say, 'Let my brother have the first pancake. I can wait.' The older son turned to his brother and said, 'Okay, Ryan, you be Jesus.'"

I love this story! Not only is it hilarious, but it reveals an integral aspect of human nature: selfishness. Wanting the best for ourselves may be funny when we're kids, but we have to learn to overcome this type of selfishness in order to truly love and serve other people. A me-first attitude is what we must battle daily in order to be Jesus to other people.

In marriage, in ministry, in my family relationships, and in my friendships, I sometimes wait around for the other person to do the right thing (or apologize, or take the first step in mending a relationship). In essence, I am waiting for them to be Jesus to me instead of taking the high road and deciding to be like Jesus myself - WITHOUT EXPECTING ANYTHING IN RETURN.

I find this particularly difficult in marriage and with those people that we love most. Ever noticed how sometimes, the people that we really do love the MOST are not those we love the BEST? Sometimes they get our crumbs instead of the best that we have to offer. Jesus always gave His best and offered His full attention to even the lowliest of people in His culture. Very convicting!

I think that our heavenly Father is prompting all of us to try to "be Jesus" to those in our sphere of influence. How is He leading you to be like Jesus today? Please post a comment and share your thoughts! Thanks!

Women Living Well

Today, I'd love to recommmend that you visit the website Women Living Well at womenlivingwell-courtney.blogspot.com/. I'm inspired by Courtney's energy as she invests her heart and her time into caring for her family and herself. She is one of the few people I've seen who really considers homemaking and caring for her family to be a high calling and an art. It's refreshing to read about her passion and her commitment to God and to her family.

On Courtney's site, you can watch lots of video clips from her appearances on TV shows like Rachael Ray in which she presents her meal tips, health strategies, and marriage advice. She also presents tons of other helpful articles and quick, fun ideas, including:

-Menus and recipes that both adults and kids will like

-Easy, inexpensive gifts to make for teachers

-Devotional prompts for moms

-Great organizing and cleaning tips

And more! Courtney says that her favorite Scripture verse is Galatians 6:9, "Do not grow weary in doing good, for in due season you will reap a harvest if you do not give up." Check out her site; I think you'll be inspired by her. For me as a writer with a 10-month old son and another baby on the way in September, I always enjoy a bit of motivation and encouragement from someone as "with it" as Courtney!

Need Professional Writing/Editing?

Welcome to Leap of Faith! It's the New Year, and most of us have made exciting and life-transforming goals for ourselves and our careers. Your goals may include:

-Creating updated newsletters or marketing materials for your company or ministry

-Increasing income and maximizing profit by honing your message and finding ways to more effectively reach your target audience

-Hiring a writer or editor to help you finish your book and get a publishing contract

If you need help in these areas, Marla Alupoaicei will be pleased to use her writing/editing experience to help you accomplish these goals. A published author, professional editor and speaker, Marla has many years of experience creating powerful marketing materials and helping write and edit books for publication. 

To discuss projects and price quotes for her affordable, professional writing and editing services, please contact Marla at marla_alupoaicei@yahoo.com. Thank you! Congratulations on taking the first step to making 2010 YOUR YEAR FOR SUCCESS!

Ushering in a New Year of Promise

Wow! My list of New Year's resolutions is about a mile long. I'm astonished that it could actually be 2010... Ten years have passed since 2000? God has impressed on my heart that I need to be more intentional in my relationships this year. My catchphrase for this year is CONNECTION. My goal is to invest more in people and care less about things. Spend more time and less money. Share what I've learned about writing, speaking, and the journey of being a creative Christian on the pilgrimage toward eternity.

Speaking of New Year's goals, Catalin and I try to eat healthy, but we have committed to an even more healthy lifestyle. Since the New Year began, he's been working out more on our elliptical machine, which I bought him for our anniversary last year. We had a baby in July, so I am working on losing those last five pounds to get back to my pre-baby weight! I have always been a "Cooking Light/healthy recipe" buff. One of my favorite challenges is to take fattening recipes and turn them into healthy ones. For instance, I love dips, but those can be some of the worst party foods. Why not try this fab new recipe below? I promise that you will love it and you will NOT miss the fat and calories!
 
Healthy Nine-Layer Dip
Ingredients:
1 16-oz. can fat-free refried beans
1 package Old El Paso mild taco seasoning mix
1 cup reduced-fat or fat-free sour cream
1 package store-bought guacamole (I like Wholly Guacamole.)
1 cup medium salsa
1 cup reduced-fat shredded cheese (Cheddar, Mexican or mozzarella cheese work well.)
2 medium tomatoes, diced
2 T. sliced black olives
¼ cup chopped green onions
2 T. sliced jalapenos or hot peppers (optional)
Tortilla chips (Thick chips like Tostitos Scoops work best.)
 
Directions:
1. Place refried beans in a 9x13 glass baking dish or plastic pan. (Avoid using a metal pan.) Thin beans by adding 2 T. of milk or water and mixing well. Add Old El Paso mild taco seasoning mix and mix until blended. Spread mixture smoothly in bottom of pan.
2. Layer sour cream over top. Layer guacamole over sour cream. Then layer salsa over guacamole. Sprinkle cheese over salsa to cover. Sprinkle tomatoes liberally over cheese. Arrange black olives over cheese. Sprinkle green onions over top. Sprinkle sliced jalapenos or hot peppers over top or just use a few as a garnish, if desired.   
3. Serve with tortilla chips. (Tostitos Scoops work well. I also like Tostitos Bite Size for parties-no double dipping! J) Cover and refrigerate any remaining dip.

Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire...

Is this your vision of Christmas? If you live in England, it might be, along with lighting a Yule log and gathering with your extended family to eat a traditional pudding. Or maybe you're from Australia and your family always goes to the beach on Christmas. For those in intercultural marriages, expectations and culture clashes can cause conflict around the holidays.

For example, what if you expect turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving, but your wife wants to make lamb, rice and baklava? What if your husband always put the Christmas tree up on Christmas Eve, but you want to put up the tree and decorate it the day after Thanksgiving, because that's how your family always did it? What if one spouse wants the kids to believe in Santa Claus, but the other one doesn't? What if your in-laws expect you to drive 8 hours to visit them and a huge mish-mash of siblings, cousins, aunts and uncles (including that person no one really seems to know...), but you were hoping for a quiet holiday at home?

Issues like these can wreak havoc in a marriage unless couples discuss their holiday expectations with each other. In my book, Your Intercultural Marriage: A Guide to a Healthy, Happy Relationship, I offer an in-depth discussion of the holidays and how intercultural couples can graciously create a holiday season that is enjoyable for their families. Here are few questions to help couples sort out their values, customs, traditions and preferences with regard to celebrating the holidays:    

 

What traditional holidays do you celebrate in your culture? Which are the "biggest" or most important to you?
How did/does your family of origin celebrate these holidays? What do you like specifically about their traditions?
Which of your family's traditions would you like to incorporate into our own family? Which do you NOT want to incorporate?
Which foods do you eat on each holiday? Which traditional foods are your favorite? (For instance, my grandma's turkey dressing, my aunt Jana's cheesy mashed potatoes, and my mom's applesauce cake are out of this world!!! I eat them every Thanksgiving.)
What are your thoughts about Santa Claus/St. Nick? Do you want to tell our kids that they bring gifts on Christmas, or not? 
Did your family tend to spend a lot of money on holiday gifts? Do they expect to receive expensive gifts or money from us for the holidays? If so, what kind, and how much?
What religious or spiritual traditions do you follow on the holidays? Why are these important to you? Do you plan to keep these after marriage?
Describe a typical Thanksgiving/Christmas/Easter with your family.
What values and traditions do we want to teach our children during the holidays? 
What are your expectations regarding us visiting your parents or family for the holidays? Are you open to us alternating between visiting my family and your family?

I hope these are helpful to you! If you have additional suggestions, please post a comment here! Thanks so much. Happy Thanskgiving and Merry Christmas to you!

GREAT Questions for Intercultural Couples

Here are some of the most important questions to ask before entering an intercultural marriage:

1) What are your spiritual beliefs? Do you attend church? Do you read the Bible or other religious books? How involved are you in spiritual activities?

2) What types of food and drink do you enjoy? At what times do you typically eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner? How often do you go out to eat? Do you like to cook?

3) Which holidays do you celebrate? What traditions and foods does your family enjoy on these holidays?

4) Are you an early bird or a night owl? How does this affect your daily schedule? What does your "perfect day" look like?

5) Do you consider yourself an optimist, a pessimist, a realist, or something else? When you face a difficult situation, what tends to be your first response?

6) How do you deal with interpersonal conflict? Do you tend to fight or take flight? How did your family of origin handle conflict?

7) What type of work do you do? What type of work do you expect to do after marriage?

8) Do you plan to attend graduate school or seminary, get additional work training, or take other educational courses after marriage?

9) What is your current financial situation? How much debt do you have?

10) Do you want to have children? If so, how many, and when? What is your perspective on marital intimacy? Do you believe in using birth control?  

11) How would you describe your relationship with your parents, siblings, and other family members? What was your parents' marriage like?

If you're in an intercultural marriage (or considering one) and you are looking for helpful resources on the topic, check these out:
Additional Resources for Intercultural Couples

Intercultural Marriage: Promises and Pitfalls, 3rd edition, by Dugan Romano
Mixed Matches by Joel Crohn
101 Questions to Ask Before You Get Engaged by H. Norman Wright and Gary J. Oliver
Love and Respect by Emerson Eggerichs
The Five Love Languages by Dr. Gary Chapman
Before You Say I Do by H. Norman Wright
Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts by Les and Leslie Parrott
How to Save Your Marriage Alone by Ed Wheat
Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas
Your Intercultural Marriage: A Guide to a Healthy, Happy Relationship by Marla Alupoaicei

Louisiana Official Denies Marriage Certs to Interracial Couples

Keith Bardwell, a justice of the peace in Louisiana, refuses to issue marriage licenses to interracial couples. He says, "It is my experience that most interracial marriages do not last long... I'm not a racist. I just don't believe in mixing the races that way."

Bardwell said he asks everyone who calls about marriage if they are a mixed race couple. If they are, he does not marry them. 

Bardwell said he has discussed the topic with blacks and whites, along with witnessing some interracial marriages. He came to the conclusion that most of black society does not readily accept offspring of such relationships, and neither does white society, he said.

"There is a problem with both groups accepting a child from such a marriage," Bardwell said. "I think those children suffer, and I won't help put them through it."

If he did an interracial marriage for one couple, he must do the same for all, he said. "I try to treat everyone equally." 

American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana attorney Katie Schwartzmann said, "It is really astonishing and disappointing to see this come up in 2009." She said the Supreme Court ruled in 1967 "that the government cannot tell people who they can and cannot marry."

The ACLU sent a letter to the Louisiana Judiciary Committee, which oversees the state justices of the peace, asking them to investigate Bardwell and recommending "the most severe sanctions available, because such blatant bigotry poses a substantial threat of serious harm to the administration of justice."

To read the full Associated Press story, please see news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091016/ap_on_re_us/us_interracial_rebuff.

Comments? Thoughts?

Ah... The Joys of Waiting on the Lord

A friend of mine told me recently, "God is rarely early, but HE'S NEVER LATE!"

I thanked her for that remarkable reminder. The seasons of my life when I was waiting on the Lord to move and to work have been some of my darkest seasons... and, in hindsight, my brightest. There's no doubt about it - waiting can be painful. It's an art, a science, and a spiritual discipline. It's a time when we feel like God is at the Potter's wheel, crushing us, smoothing us out, and making something new out of us. But we don't know yet what.

When we see God working in others' lives, blessing them with a burgeoning ministry, a wonderful mate, gifted children, great success in their work, a promotion, a new home, and incredible talents and abilities - and it seems like they didn't have to wait for those things from the hand of the Lord - we may feel slighted in comparison. While we are deeply entrenched in a season of waiting, we can't see the light at the end of our tunnel. But I promise, it's there!

In my recent seasons of waiting, the Lord has used several people in my life to remind me of this passage: "Wait for the Lord. Be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord" (Psalm 27:14). The preceding verse is one of my favorites in Scripture, reminding us of where to place our trust: "I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living" (27:13).

Waiting forces us to depend wholly, desperately, upon the Lord. It causes a crisis of faith when we must fall before the Lord in prayer and decide with our minds and hearts to trust in His love and His goodness, even if our emotions are telling us that we've been forsaken. Psalm 138:8 reminds us: "The Lord will accomplish what concerns me; Your lovingkindness, O Lord, is everlasting; Do not forsake the works of Your hands."

The Lord WILL ACCOMPLISH His good and loving plan for you. You can't outwait God - His lovingkindness is EVERLASTING!!! He will be faithful to move in your life. He will not forsake you. And you'll be blessed and transformed by the lessons you have learned through your seasons of waiting on Him.

Exciting Interviews on Intercultural Marriage!

This week, I wrapped up two interviews on the topic of my book, Your Intercultural Marriage: A Guide to a Healthy, Happy Relationship. One interview was with Dr. Gary Chapman on his show "Building Relationships with Gary Chapman," and the other was with Tracy Haney for PrimeTime America on the Moody stations. I'd like to thank both hosts for their excellent facilitation and feedback! I'm excited to hear the interviews on air. The PrimeTime America interview will air on Moody radio next week sometime-stay posted for an update! The interview with Gary Chapman will air on Nov. 14th. Thanks so much, friends! Blessings!

Listen to Marla's Interview on Moody Radio-Chris Fabry Live!

Hi! On Friday, Aug. 21, I had a live interview with host Chris Fabry on the subject of intercultural marriage and relationships! You may listen to the interview simply by following this link, scrolling down until you see the podcast from August 21, and then clicking on "Listen." moodyradio.org/brd_programarchive.aspx?id=31078

Thanks for your support! Enjoy!

Thanks for the review!

On her excellent intercultural marriage site, Gori Girl has posted a review of Your Intercultural Marriage: A Guide to a Healthy, Happy Relationship. I appreciate her positive, balanced review, especially considering the fact that she does not espouse Christian beliefs. Here are some highlights: 

"I think that Your Intercultural Marriage is a good book – for the niche that the author, Marla Alupoaicei, is trying to serve: Christian intercultural couples. I did enjoy the book, and I found useful material in here that I believe could appeal to anyone. I’d highly recommend the book to any Christian intercultural couple whose faith is a large part of their lives.

 
The book is broken down into twelve chapters: the first half focuses on general topics of interest to any (Christian) intercultural couple, with topics such as “Surviving (and Enjoying) Your Engagement, Wedding, and Honeymoon” and “Building Strong Verbal and Nonverbal Communication Skills.” The second half of the book discusses more specific concerns that intercultural couples often have: time-orientation, food, finances, children, and so forth.  Each chapter starts and ends with a quote, and is followed by a suggested list of movies to watch…
Alupoaicei’s breezy, friendly style of writing – with lots of pointers towards other resources and questions to consider on your own – gives her book a feeling similar to a well-edited blog... you are going to find plenty of ideas that could lead to an ah-ha moment or a great discussion with your significant other.
Chapters such as “Coming to Terms with Faith and Values” do pull together theoretical research, the author’s personal experience, list of questions, and the like to create a strong – albeit very Christian-oriented – chapter that will guide an intercultural couple through potential issues. I also appreciated the detailed chapter on intercultural marriage in the Bible, which I suspect could be particularly helpful if you have conservative (or bigoted) family members who believe that intercultural or interracial marriage are prohibited by God and/or the Bible.
Bottom line: If you are in the demographic Your Intercultural Marriage targets, I suspect that you’ll find this book pretty valuable. If you aren’t, the constant discussion of the Bible & Christianity could grate, but if you can look past it, then you’ll find some good information and fun stories of other intercultural couples. I came away satisfied with the amount I got for the time I gave the book."
Order YOUR Copy of this Exciting Marriage Resource Today! Just Click: amazon.com/Your-Intercultural-Marriage-Healthy-Relationship/dp/0802418546/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250553683&sr=8-1

 

To read the full review, please see the blog Gori Girl: Intercultural Relationship Stories and Advice at gorigirl.com/book-review-and-giveaway-your-intercultural-marriage#more-853. Thanks, Gori Girl!

Great article on Intercultural Marriage!

Check out the following excellent article on intercultural marriage: marriage.suite101.com/article.cfm/cross_cultural_marriage. It presents seven principles that you should consider before saying "I DO" to a person from another culture. Enjoy!

Calling All Influencers!

Hi! I am looking for influencers to help spread the word about my new intercultural marriage book titled Your Intercultural Marriage: A Guide to a Healthy, Happy Relationship. Whether you are a friend, family member, author, writer, speaker, businessperson, pastor, teacher, or anything else.... YOU CAN BE AN INFLUENCER!

What does this entail? I will send you a book at a discounted rate (autographed if you would like) and then you will read it and spread the word in a variety of ways. 1) I can send you postcards that you can distribute to your pastor or others in intercultural marriages. 2) You can blog or write about the book on your website. 3) You can write reviews of the book to post on Amazon, Barnes & Noble.com, Christianbook.com or other websites. 4) You can hire me to speak or do an interview on the topic. 5) You can send info about the book to your local newspaper. 6) You can order additional copies of the book to give to intercultural couples.

All of these will help us to get the word out about this important resource. The goal is to encourage intercultural couples and to help save their marriages by providing them with practical principles and sound biblical advice. 

If YOU WANT TO BE AN INFLUENCER, just e-mail me at marla_alupoaicei@yahoo.com! Thanks so much!

I'm Back!

Dear Friends,

Hi! I'm officially back to posting after quite an adventure. After a hospital stint and the birth of our son, Evan, on July 6th, we are all home and doing well. Baby Evan was in the NICU for three weeks due to low birth weight, but he now weighs almost six pounds and is such a joy to us. We aren't getting much sleep, but we couldn't be happier or more blessed. We feel that the Lord preserved his life and we are so grateful to our heavenly Father for His protection and provision for us. Thank you to everyone who prayed for me, Evan and Catalin during this time. We truly appreciate it and we know that your prayers have made a huge difference in our lives.

What are we up to now? I am thrilled about the launch and media campaign for my new book, Your Intercultural Marriage: A Guide to a Healthy, Happy Partnership. The book is available on amazon.com, christianbook.com, and at all bookstores (Barnes & Noble, Borders, Family Christian Stores, Mardel, LifeWay, The Open Door, etc.). The book is perfect for:

-Couples considering intercultural marriage

-Couples already in intercultural marriages

-Parents or friends of intercultural couples

-Pastors, teachers, professors, counselors, missionaries, and anyone else who wants to be better equipped to interact effectively with people of all cultures and ethnicities 

To buy the book, please visit amazon.com/Your-Intercultural-Marriage-Healthy-Relationship/dp/0802418546/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1249170970&sr=8-1 Thank you!

You can also buy a PERSONALIZED, AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF THE BOOK from me for $11.00. I can autograph it with your name or the name of a friend or family member. Simply e-mail me at marla_alupoaicei@yahoo.com. Thanks so much for helping to support this book and spreading the word about this resource!

Your Path to a Published Book!

If you want to get your book published, now's the time! I can help you achieve that goal by coaching you in the process, editing your book manuscript, and helping you write a winning proposal that will get your book noticed (and accepted) by publishers!

Writing and publishing a book is not easy, but it's not impossible. There's no "magic bullet," but publishers, agents and editors do look for certain characteristics when considering projects for publication. I can help you perfect your manuscript, write a fantastic book proposal and focus your writing and speaking platform and career in order to achieve that fulfilling goal of publication. There's nothing like opening that FedEx package and holding that pristine copy of your first book in your hand! 

I worked with writer Dave Sterrett to edit two of his books and prepare them for submission to publishers. I'm pleased to announce that he has received fantastic book contracts for both books! Here's a recommendation from him: 

“Marla Alupoaicei is one of the best writers and editors in the Christian market today. Very few Christian editors and writers have the ability to meticulously edit while adding creative suggestions with theological soundness. Marla, on the other hand, provides all three: accurate grammar, innovative ideas on your manuscript, and biblical accuracy. I highly recommend her writing and editing services!”

Qualifications:

-Have over 15 years of writing and editing experience for companies and ministries like Insight for Living, W Publishing, Purdue University, East-West Ministries, Living Stones Ministries, Joni & Friends, and for many personal clients  

-Have been successful in helping a considerable number of clients write winning proposals and publish their books, articles, and poetry in major publications and with top publishing houses

-Degrees from Purdue University (B.A. in English and Communications) and Dallas Theological Seminary (Master of Theology)

-Have written, edited or contributed to over 30 books, Bible study guides and workbooks for a variety of publishers, including Harvest House, W Publishing (Thomas Nelson), Regal Books, Moody Publishers, Broadman & Holman, Insight for Living, East-West Ministries, and more 

TO SPEAK WITH ME FURTHER ABOUT YOUR PROJECT AND TO DISCUSS MY AFFORDABLE CONSULTING AND EDITING RATES, please e-mail me at marla_alupoaicei@yahoo.com or give me a call anytime at (214) 497-4614. I typically work on a per-project basis, and I am sensitive to the needs of my clients, especially those who work in ministry like I do! I look forward to working with you to make your publication dreams come true! Give me a call today.

Fending Off Arrows of Discouragement

“We and the world, my children, will always be at war.
     Retreat is impossible.
     Arm yourselves.”           ?Leif Enger, Peace like a River 
 
Man, it’s tough to fight off discouragement, isn’t it? We pray, we work hard, we love people, we serve others, and yet sometimes it seems like we just hit setbacks at every turn.
 
When I face discouragement, I have to remind myself that WE ARE AT WAR. I like to think of this world as a happy and friendly place, that if I love God and people and invest in them, that the positive fruit of that will return to me.
 
But sometimes it doesn’t. And it’s then that I have to remind myself that Satan is my enemy and that this world is not my real home. The root of the words “courage,” “encourage” and “discourage” is the same: COR, meaning “HEART.” Don’t let Satan steal your heart!
We tend to think that no one wants more good things for us than we do, but our heavenly Father is able to provide for us better than we ever could. He has greater plans in store for you and me than we could ever dream of. He has given us exquisite gifts. Through prayer, our heavenly Father intends to do a work in our lives that is “immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us” (Ephesians 3:20).
We read in the book of Proverbs, “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life” (4:23). As Christians, we’re passionate about guiding others and guarding their hearts (as well as our own) as we watch them grow. I want to provide the best for my husband and loved ones, knowing Jesus came so that we “may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10).
Unfortunately, we face fierce opposition in our quest to obtain abundant life. We have an enemy called Satan, whom Jesus describes as “the thief who comes only to steal and kill and destroy” (John 10:10). Satan is the deceiver, our adversary, who seeks to oppose and destroy God’s people. He wants to keep us and our loved ones from receiving God’s best for us.
Satan’s sneakiest ploys are twofold. He wants:
1) to convince us that he doesn’t exist; and
2) to convince us that we are not at war.
In his book Waking the Dead, John Eldredge writes, “By all means, God intends life for you. But right now that life is opposed. It doesn’t just roll in on a tray. There is a thief. He comes to steal and kill and destroy. In other words, yes, the offer is life, but you’re going to have to fight for it because there’s an enemy in your life with a different agenda. There is something set against us. We are at war.”
Yes, engaging in spiritual warfare against Satan, the enemy of our souls, can be scary. But we have this confidence: through Christ’s finished work on the cross, we have already won the victory. God’s power always has been and always will be greater than Satan’s.
The devil knows that his time on earth is limited; the game is up. Eventually, he will be cast into the lake of fire for eternity (Rev. 20:10). So when we bring our praises as well as our needs before the Father in prayer, we know that we have “checkmated” Satan. We can have supreme confidence in the Lord, knowing that we’re on the winning side of the battle.
Take heart, my friend.

Social Networking: Can You Strike a Balance?

Just read an intriguing post on this topic by Alan Weiss. Many authors/editors/speakers and others in the industry are spending countless hours on Facebook, Twitter, etc. Is this social networking just for fun and for "giving back" to others from what you've learned throughout your career? Or does this type of networking really help to build your platform and increase traffic to your ministry or business? For tips on maximizing your effectiveness, check out Alan's excellent article "What Price Glory?" at contrarianconsulting.com/what-price-glory-orcan-we-get-some-air-in-here

Finding its own way to beauty...

I enjoyed reading an online interview by Jendi Reiter with Robert Stewart, the editor of the literary journal New Letters. Mr. Stewart had some profound thoughts to share about the spirituality of writing and art. My favorite comment of his was this: 

"Every piece of writing that succeeds as literary art finds its own way to beauty." To read the full interview, see: newletters.org/wwinterview2007.asp

Toward the Light

Just wanted to let you know that the Christian literary journal Toward the Light: Journal of Reflective Word and Image is now accepting submissions of poetry and photography for its fall and winter issues. The journal's editors recently selected three of my poems for publication in their Summer 2009 issue. For more info, see towardthelight.net. Blessings!