The Great Separation

Headway at the FCWC Writers Conference.

Plugging alone - You probably do not have a clue about how exhausting a writers conference can be. My day started just before 6 this morning and it hasn't stopped. There are breaks for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but the times between are filled with workshops and continueing classes. But there is also scheduling to meet with editors, agents, and freelancers. Which is one reason I skipped a workshop today that I wanted to see.

I met with an aquisitions editor with Creation House and pitched to proposals and she said... Oh. my I just looked at the time.

I've got to run, Davis Bunn is the keynote speaker tonight in 8 minutes and I need to get back to my room than to see him!

Out of Town for a Writers Conference.

Mobile Hal. - I'm sitting the lobby of Bradenton Christian Retreat Center for the Florida Christian Writers Conference. There are some amazing writers here. T. Davis Bunn, Bryan Davis. And those are just two off the top of my head as I quickly try to type in between sessions.

Well, better go. Say a prayer for me. I've to got two proposals out for editors to look at. One for my novel, Sins of Our Fathers, and one for a non-fiction idea I have that I'm hoping to get some input on from Dan Penwell of AMG.

It's always great to surrounded by people who have a passion for writing.

Here's Irony for You out of China.

Print it but don't read it. - This is amazing to me and I will say somewhat encouraging because I know that the Lord will be able to use it. But it is terribly ironic in that it comes from a country that is one the world's persecutors of people naming the name of Christ.

It was recently reported that China will soon open the largest Bible production plant in the world on the outskirts of the city of Nanjing. The plant will be operated by government-sanctioned Amity Press and reportedly will print one-million Bibles each month.

You can read the full article here: China to open world's largest Bible printing plant

Thought for This Day: Weariness and Cynicism.

Burning brain cells one synapse at a time - Well, I was writing a newsletter today for those who subscribe to my Sins of Our Fathers - mailing list.

For those of you who don't know. I'm looking to publish a novel I've written titled, Sins of Our Fathers. So that's what that is about.

Anywho, I wrote something that I thought was worth chewing upon. Here it is refined a tad for context:

Weariness and Cynicism: at best they are dream killers, at worst they are man killers.

US Christian Photographer Faces Human Rights Commission for Refusing to Partake in Sin.

Satan doesn't rest - Here's a quick link to a news item that is another example of Satan's attempt to pervert God's work.

Christian Photographer Hauled before Commission for Refusing Same-Sex Job.

The photographer is in New Mexico. She refused to photograph a "same-sex" commitment ceremony and the "couple" filed a complaint with the Human Rights division in New Mexico.

The photographer is not being charged with a human rights violation "under state antidiscrimination laws for sexual orientation discrimination."

Say a prayer for the photographer and her husband. Pray too for the two women held captive in the stronghold of Satan that they would come to repentance and redemption in Christ Jesus who loves them with such awesome passion.

Political Quote for today: Anointings and Coronations Easier.

LOL - Okay, I love this quote:

"Republicans have decided that elections are a messy thing, and anointings and coronations are much better. It’s that kind of attitude that is going to be the death of the Republican Party in this country.

"We just want everybody to line up on the stage, let’s build a campfire, toast marshmallows, sing ‘Kumbaya’ together."

It's from Mike Huckabee, my pick in the races. He was speaking to the Republicans saying he should bow out and give it to McCain.

You can read the news report here.

Indian Christian Beaten for Preaching the Gospel.

They hate you because of me - Here is a news report from James Varghese, Special to ASSIST News Service, on another incident of persecution in India.

MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (ANS) -- A young Christian man was beaten up by some radical Hindus who charged him with misguiding people by promoting Christianity.

According to a news report on the web site www.hindujagruti.org, the assault occurred in the Mali Wada area in Maharashtra state. The Hindu radicals also burned the young man’s gospel tracts.

The writer on the web site commented, “Instances of Hindus lured by Christians and getting converted are on the rise. If the incidents like the one mentioned above (involves) insolent Christians for ignoring lawful opposition by Hindus, one need not be surprised.”

The site reported that the young man, Rohan Bodakhe was distributing pamphlets and was stating falsely that Jesus would free all from every problem.

The editorial writer for the story added, “If this is the case, then all Christians should have been free from every problem.”

According to www.hindujagruti.org, as Hindu young people from the area found out what the young Christian man was doing they beat him up and drove away.

James Varghese is a reporter for the “V” TV news in Gokak, Karnataka state, India, and is freelance journalist working for ANS.

Let's not fail to keep our brothers and sisters in Christ who are faced with persecution in prayer. Remember to pray to for the salvation of those who persecute them.

The Great Separation continues.

For further information on Christian persecution around the globe the Christian Persecution Blog is a good source.

An Image of God, Marriage Between One Man and One Woman.

For your listening pleasure/displeasure. - Okay, Stacy over at Active Christian Media pointed me in her blog to a very good message on marriage and how it is an image of God to us in the world today. I was particularly interested in it because it was echoing some of what the Lord has recently been revealing to me about the pre-fall condition of husband and wife versus the post fall condition versus the redeemed in Christ condition.

It an exciting message and a sobering message, too. It deals with sex and how Satan has taken and perverted God's purpose for marriage in our culture today with the "Gay Marriage" agenda and with sex outside of marriage. Put don't let that depress you, this message offers hope for those trapped in or having fallen into sin!

The sermon is titled, "Marriage, the Image of God," and is given by Pastor Miles McPherson of The Rock Church in California. He lays out very clearly the spiritual, not political, battle that is being waged today and has been waged since the fall.

You can listen to it here.

Or watch it here.

Or get the podcast here.

It's well worth your time.

Quote for Today: Why Life is Difficult.

Chew on this. - I'm reviewing a couple of books for Active Christian Media.

Both of them are proving to be very good reads so I will be highly recommending them I think. But today I just wanted to post a quote from the one that I've been tearing into the last twenty-four hours.

The book is Why Guys Need God: The Spiritual Side of Money, Sex, and Relationships. It's by Mike Erre.

Here's the quote for you to chew upon:

God knew that if life [in this fallen world] worked well on its own and men could find significance, purpose, and meaning apart from Him, we would. So, as an act of severe kindness, He drives us back to Himself by making life difficult.

The Servant Consciousness.

Not my will - In my adult Bible study at church we've been studying Mary and the surprise she received when told she was chosen to bear the Messiah.

The last couple of meetings the idea of Mary having the heart of a servant rose to the surface of our study. The impression I received in studying Luke's account of Gabriel delivering the news to Mary was not an attitude of, "I don't want this. Find someone else." It wasn't an attitude of, "But I can't, I've got immediate plans of marriage to Joseph and we're going to start a family."

Instead, Mary recognizes her position in relation to the true God. She recognized that she was God's servant, God's woman to command. It's an attitude of submission and confidence in God the Father to lead and complete His will in whomever, whatever, however He chooses.

Sure, at first Mary was stunned by the news and the sheer impossibility of a virgin birth. But when Gabriel assures her that nothing, no nothing, is impossible for the Creator of everything, she willingly and with desire accepts the service that God is asking of her.

Tonight the thought of other Biblical folk in service came to mind. I thought of David, who when his mind was one of a servant attitude, a servant king if you will, he prospered. Yet when he began to serve his own selfish ends, things fell apart for him with some terrible long term consequences.

Joseph and his multi-color coat is another example a servant attitude verses the worldly attitude of looking out for number one.

This servant attitude is probably easier for some. But I don't think it's natural for any other than Jesus. So it is a characteristic that must be cultivated in our lives as we live for Jesus and serve God the Father.

I've been thinking about that a lot lately in regard to myself and what my calling is in the Lord. My calling is a question that I've sent up in prayer more and more of late. I struggle with my own desires and plans for the future and how I can possibly accomplish them. Even more I struggle with whether they are God's will, because I do desire that they be His will. But if they are not His will, then I need to accept that He knows best and will lead me into the place He wants me as His servant. And I pray that as I encounter the surprises ahead, that my reaction will be like Mary's and I will humbly accept and lift a song of worship and praise to the King of kings.