Monday, January 25, 2016

REDEMPTION REIGNS by Guest Ginny Jaques

My guest today is fellow Canadian author Ginny Jaques who has written a wonderful speculative novel Zinovy's Journey set in the future. See my review of this book below. 

Redemption Reigns by Ginny Jaques author of 

Zinovy's Journey

Genealogies in the Bible can be boring. We often skim through them to get to "the good parts." They're more interesting when we know the stories of the lives of some of the people who are mentioned, but otherwise they're usually only of interest to prospective parents looking for unique baby names, or writers of novels looking for mysterious story ideas. But this morning the inspired writer of "The genealogy of Jesus, the Messiah" jolted me out of my boredom in a beautiful way. 

The first Gospel was written for a unique audience. Matthew wrote his account of Christ's life for his Jewish brothers--people who were steeped in a legalistic, male-dominated Jewish tradition that emphasized being Jewish and living righteously as a means of pleasing God. Yet Matthew deliberately interrupts his listing of the fathers and sons in Jesus' ancestry with four mothers, each of whom was well known to his readers as women whose stories were notoriously unrighteous.

TAMAR, a half-breed Jewess who tricked Judah into giving her a child by posing as a prostitute.  

RAHAB, the Canaanite prostitute who helped the Israeli spies escape from Jericho before it fell to their invading army.

RUTH the Moabitiss, from the lineage of Lot, whose offspring were conceived when his two daughters seduced him while he was drunk.

BATHSHEEBA, the woman who had been Uriah's wife, seduced by King David who then had Uriah killed in order to cover up the adulterous affair.

So why did Matthew include these notorious men and women in the lineage of Jesus? It's no mystery in light of the Gospel Matthew was preparing to proclaim in his account of the life of Christ. The glorious truth of the Gospel is that God works sovereignly in and through all the sins and mistakes people make in order to bring about His glorious triumph over evil.

God created us human beings with the freedom to make our own moral decisions--to choose right or wrong--to write our own unique stories--to make them a part of human history. Yet, woven through all the heartache and misery our immoral choices have produced, God demonstrates His sovereign jurisdiction--His pre-determined plan to take all our misery and turn it into triumphant joy in the end.

Joy was introduced into the mess of human history at Jesus' birth. Matthew describes that birth in the rest of this first chapter of his Gospel. Jesus was born to a woman who had no husband. But, unlike the other women in this account, her holy child was born of God.  He became the God/Man whose death on the cross provided redemption to the human race he was born into.

Matthew's message that God's sovereign purposes are fulfilled in and through our broken human history continues to resound down through the ages since Jesus came. Redemption reigns. This is the "good news" of the Gospel written by Matthew, the tax collector whose life was redeemed through Jesus' death on the cross.

ABOUT THIS AUTHOR



GINNY JAQUES is a high school teacher, a technical editor and a writer. She lives with her husband, Dennis, in British Columbia, Canada. Ginny and Dennis have three married children and eight grandchildren. 







Ginny Jaques's futuristic speculative novel Zinovy's Journey

Zinovy's Journey is a story about choices and redemption.  Zinovy Kozlov has spent twenty-three years climbing the ladder of Russian military success one rung at a time.  An Air Force pilot, FSB veteran, and now a cosmonaut on the Global Regime's International Space Station, he should be at the peak of his career.  But Zinovy has enemies whose political power extends into space, and they are determined to kill him.

Then the earth is destroyed in a nuclear holocaust, and everything changes.


WHERE TO CONTACT GINNY JAQUES and PURCHASE HER BOOK 
  
Website:  (purchase link to the book is on the website)

Blogs:
Devotional Blog:  SomethingAbout the Joy  


Social Media:
Facebook and Twitter:  Ginny Jaques
Zinovy's Journey on Facebook

e-mail address:  ginny.jaques@zinovysjourney.com 

Christine Lindsay's review of Zinovy's Journey


Zinovy's Journey was a fast page turner for me, a great adventure. It started off as a gripping spy novel in the style of The Spy Who Came in From the Cold, then it took a beautifully plausible leap into space. This novel is a futuristic speculative adventure with great Christian overtones that reminded me of an updated version of Pilgrim's Progress.

I highly recommend this book to readers of speculative fiction, readers who enjoy a fast page turner and adventure. Great for all ages, but keep in mind there is some realism to the language. One or two moments where the characters swear. All in all, I did not find this book offensive as a Christian reader, but highly recommend it.


Monday, January 18, 2016

IMPOSSIBLE by Guest Author Kathy Ide

Today's guest is author and proof-reading expert Kathy Ide, who is doing a giveaway of her book 21 Days of Love. Leave a comment below with your email spelled out to enter the draw for the giveaway.  

Freelance Editor Kathy Ide with one of her writer clients, holding up his published book. 
Impossible by Kathy Ide
After thirty years of working as an administrative assistant at various companies, I lost my job due to tendonitis. My wonderful husband saw this as an opportunity for me to try something completely different. “What would you do if you could do anything for a living?” he asked.

“Write,” I replied without a second of hesitation. But we’d just bought our first house based on my income from that thirty-year career. And although I’d sold a few magazine articles, play scripts, devotionals, and Sunday school curriculum, that didn’t pay anywhere near what we needed to cover the mortgage and other bills.

Undaunted, my hubby asked, “What would your second choice be?”

After pondering that for a while, I said, “I love what I do in my critique group. And they’ve told me they really benefit from my suggestions.”

He recommended that I see if I could somehow turn that into a career.

Filled with hesitant hope, I asked my workers’ comp coordinator what she thought about my becoming an editor.

“An editor of what?” she asked, obviously skeptical.

“Of book manuscripts.”

One eyebrow raised. “Well, do you have a degree in creative writing, journalism, anything like that?”

“I did go to the University of Minnesota for a hockey game once.”

She did not laugh. Didn’t even crack a smile. “I’m sorry,” she said, as if she were about to pat me on the head. “But that’s just impossible.”

The moment I heard her say that word, I almost audibly heard God say, “You know impossible is my specialty, right?”

Remembering that a friend from my church ran a manuscript critique service, I went to her and asked if she could help me figure out how to get into that business. She handed me a manuscript.

“What do I do with this?” I asked.

“The same thing you do in your critique group.”

Really? I raised one eyebrow, as skeptical as my workers’ comp coordinator had been.

When I finished that manuscript, she gave me another one. And another and another.

At first I thought this would be a great way to subsidize my writing habit. But after a while I realized that I enjoyed editing even more than writing. I loved working with new authors to help them hone their skills and polish their manuscripts. When my clients told me they’d landed a contract, published a book, got an agent, or become a best-selling author, I rejoiced with them, thrilled that God had chosen me to play a small part in making that happen. And when my clients forwarded to me e-mails they’d received from their readers, telling how their lives had been changed by the books they read that I had worked on … I knew I was smack dab in the middle of God’s will for me. And there’s no better place in the world to be than that.

I’m so glad God loves the word impossible. I’m becoming pretty fond of it myself.

ABOUT AUTHOR KATHY IDE


Kathy Ide is the author of Proofreading Secrets of Best-Selling Authors and the editor/compiler of the Fiction Lover’s Devotional series. She is a full-time freelance editor/writing mentor and teaches at writers’ conferences across the country. She is the founder and director of the Christian Editor Connection and The Christian PEN.




PURCHASE LINKS FOR KATHY IDE'S BOOKS 

Fiction Lover’s Devotionals

21 Days of Grace by Kathy Ide


Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Christian Books.com

Cokesbury

Gohastings

Walmart

21 Days of Christmas by Kathy Ide


Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Christian Books.com


Gohastings


21 Days of Love by Kathy Ide


Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Christian Books.com


Books for Writers

Proofreading Secrets of Best-Selling Authors by Kathy Ide


Amazon

Barnes and Noble


Typing without Pain  Amazon


Christian Drama Publishing  Amazon



Monday, January 11, 2016

GETTING OLDER by Guest June Foster

My guest today, June Foster is doing a giveaway of an ecopy of What God Knew. Leave a comment in the comment section below to enter to win this free Ebook, What God Knew by June Foster.






GETTING OLDER by June Foster

A decade ago, my husband and I worked in an independent living facility for seniors who didn't care to live on their own. I met a lot of remarkable people during our short stint there, and I discovered some thought-provoking information.

Some of the residents wore a scowl on their face most of the time, griping and complaining about almost everything. They demanded the managers perform extra services other people didn't receive, especially in the dining room. If they didn't like an entree, they insisted the cook make something else especially for them. Frown lines etched their faces, and they appeared to be miserable. Very few smiles were evident.

Others residents seemed happy, always taking an interest in others. They thoughtfully sent cards on birthdays, gave a compliment, and smiled. I remember one couple who'd been married seventy five years who were still in love.

I realize people's personalities vary, but I became curious about the obvious differences in attitudes. The married couple as well as others who appeared contented with their life circumstances, I soon discovered, were Christians. They were filled with peace and spoke of where they were going after leaving this earth. To spend eternity with their Lord and Savior. What an amazing difference!

I believe that many people derive their identity from their profession or accomplishments. But unfortunately that's never enough. There will always be regrets about goals not achieved and missed opportunities along the way. If we have nothing else but our own triumphs, at the end of our lives, we have nothing. No wonder some of those residents scowled and were bitter.

Nothing in my life has brought me a sense of self-worth or pride. The only truth that sustains me is my relationship with the Lord. Jesus alone declares me significant and upright, and nothing in this world can accomplish that.

Oh, and in case you think I don't have the right to say these things, I do because I'm fast approaching that age and know from experience.

Let's not spend all our energy pursing goals but allow time to get to know the Savior, the only One who can give us purpose and declare at the end of our lives, "Well done, my good and faithful servant."

 
LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW WITH YOUR EMAIL SPELLED OUT TO ENTER GIVEAWAY DRAW FOR THIS BOOK


Award-winning author, June Foster's novels include Give Us This Day, As We Forgive, Deliver Us,
Hometown Fourth of July, Ryan's Father, Red and the Wolf, For All Eternity, Echoes From the Past, What God Knew and Misty Hollow. Find June online at http://junefoster.com.

WHERE TO PURCHASE BOOKS BY JUNE FOSTER

GIVE US THIS DAY
Amazon         http://tinyurl.com/bqy8b8g
Barnes and Noble      http://tinyurl.com/c2uyjb6


AS WE FORGIVE
Barnes and Noble   http://tinyurl.com/8v84ub9

DELIVER US
Barnes and Noble   http://tinyurl.com/d4s3ltd

A HOMETOWN FOURTH OF JULY
Barnes and Noble   http://tinyurl.com/c46amxr

RYAN’S FATHER
Barnes and Noble   http://tinyurl.com/orzkefm

RED AND THE WOLF
Barnes and Noble  http://tinyurl.com/ndp4xy7

FOR ALL ETERNITY
Barnes and Noble  http://tinyurl.com/nmhms4l

ECHOES FROM THE PAST
Barnes and Noble http://tinyurl.com/oxcqxdu

MISTY HOLLOW

WHAT GOD KNEW
Barnes and Noble http://tinyurl.com/oxja6lp


Monday, January 04, 2016

HOW DARE I COMPLAIN? -- by Guest Wendy Chorot

My guest today is author Wendy Chorot, who also happens to be one of my editors at WhiteFire Publishing. Wendy is doing a giveaway of her new children's book The Windkeeper. To enter the draw, leave a comment below, spell out your email address, and share this blog on social media. I'll draw the winning name on the Sunday following this blog post.

HOW DARE I COMPLAIN? by WENDY CHOROT


France has an abundance of Roma people living on the streets of their cities. Most of these Roma come from Romania, but many also come from Bulgaria and other surrounding countries. While living in France, I participated in programs that helped the Roma people. My church sponsored one family and through our sponsorship, they received housing and a few government benefits like free transportation on trams and buses.

The pastor of my church there has kept me updated on the Roma situation during the 2 years since I’ve been back in the Midwest. I received an email from him in January with photos of a church erected out of pallets and nestled within one of the larger shantytowns in the city where I lived. What a tremendous praise! 

Oh how my heart longed to be there, worshiping with my Roma brothers and sisters.


Well… I returned to France this past summer and worshiped with these precious men and women. Hallelujah! Children ran around naked; I was on my knees more than I was on my feet. My friend who went with me received a special prayer. And she and I even got talked into singing “Amazing Grace” in English. Sweat ran down our faces like rain down a window. 

THREE hours we worshiped in that sweltering church made of pallets. 

Three hours we prayed and sang, embraced and encouraged. 

Three hours my ears soaked in God’s Word in several languages. 

There was no place on earth I would have rather been at that moment. Who am I to be so privileged to worship with these homeless people who have so much to complain about, yet never did? I was so humbled, and I let the tears mingle with the sweat and roll off my face.

I knew before going this summer that the French government planned to dismantle this shantytown—including their church. And I begged God not to let them destroy this holy place.

Since returning 2 months ago, the government has carried out their plans, and my Roma brothers and sisters have lost their church. God has sweetly reminded me that it was but a building—His church is and forever will be His people, and that can never be destroyed.

I have heard rumors that a local church body plans to open their doors to their Roma brothers and sisters to hold services on opposite days. My heart rejoices that they will have a warm place during the winter and a cooler place in the summer to worship. I am forever grateful for God’s people who saw a need, an injustice, and responded. And even more grateful that I witnessed with my own eyes and ears an unwavering faith in the most destitute of situations. May this prompt my heart when I am tempted to complain.





While THE WINDKEEPER is fictional, God’s purpose for each of us is very real. Turn the pages and discover Wendall Windkeeper’s purpose as he trains the four winds of heaven for their role in fulfilling God’s greatest rescue mission-the birth of His Son.












CONNECT WITH AUTHOR WENDY CHOROT