God Uses Broken Vessels

Donald James Parker to Interview Angela Breidenbach

2012-02-11T03:30:00.000-07:00

Feb. 12th, 2012 tune in by clicking this link: Wielding the Sword Radio Show

Times on Feb. 12th are 3pm Pacific, 4pm Mountain, 5pm Central, 6 pm Eastern.

Looking forward to being interviewed by Donald James Parker.

Thank you so much for the invitation to your show tomorrow!!

Ruth's Redemption by Marlene Banks

2012-01-31T18:41:00.003-07:00

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance introduces Ruth's Redemption Moody Publishers/Lift Every Voice (February 1, 2012) by Marlene Banks
Angie's Take: Ruth's Redemption is a love story, action adventure, and historical saga based on the lifestyle of both slaves and freemen. Marlene Banks takes us on emotional highs and lows as we live through a treacherous time in history through the eyes of Ruth, a breeding slave. From destruction of her innocence to horribly difficult choices, Ruth battles against the corruption of sinful men and disbelief in God's love to find survival. I hope you'll read this novel and come to feel the depth of historical significance in the roots of our country, but more I hope you'll find out God loves you too despite all the circumstances that make you think otherwise. Sometimes intense, sometimes sweet, always captivating.

About Ruth's Redemption by Marlene Banks:
Set in the 1800s, Ruth's Redemption, is an unusual depiction of the lives of slaves and free blacks in pre-Civil War America. Bo, a main character, was educated while a slave. He was given his freedom and now owns a farm buying slaves for the sole purpose of giving them their freedom.

Bo is also a man of God and widower whose life is destined to change when he meets the proud and hard-hearted slave girl, Ruth. Ruth has known nothing but servitude and brutality since being separated from her mother at age thirteen. Purchased and sold primarily for breeding, Ruth struggles to adjust to life outside of bondage. She wants no part of Bo's Godly devotion. Yet Bo is unlike any man she's known and her experiences with him will leave her forever changed.

A gripping slave era novel, Ruth's Redemption is a story of love, forgiveness, and redemption. Set against the backdrop of the Nat Turner Rebellion in Tidewater, Virginia, this novel shines the light of God's unconditional love in the darkness of a culture's cruel socially accepted inhumanity.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Ruth's Redemption, go HERE.

About the author:
Marlene Banks has worked 30+ years combined in nursing and the business arena. Her goal as a writer is to create inspiring, gripping and realistic stories with an emphasis on African American literature. She believes her gift and desire to write is from God and desires to use it to fulfill His purposes. Marlene lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where she is a member of Bethel Deliverance International Church.

The One-Day Way by Chantel Hobbs

2012-01-20T15:56:00.000-07:00

Summary

The One-Day Way produces lasting results by taking you back to basics. No more complicated weight-loss strategies. No more expensive diet plans that achieve only temporary results. Instead, you will lose weight and get fit with Chantel Hobbs’s simple, high-energy meal plans and her at-home program for cardio exercise and strength training. She will teach you how to change the way you think, which leads to new actions. Before you know it you will be strong, fit, and healthy. All it takes is doing things differently for twenty-four hours—and then repeating it.

The One-Day Way gives you everything you need to lose weight and get fit in body, mind, and spirit:

Break free from past dieting defeats
Learn a realistic, life-changing way to measure success
Change the way you think so you can change your life
Translate your dreams into goals, and your goals into lasting achievements
Get strong with thirty-one simple exercises, no fancy equipment required
Take advantage of ten ways to eat better while you lose weight

By focusing on food, faith, and fitness, Chantel shows you not only how to lose weight, but how to build the new life you were designed to live. You don’t have to wait any longer. The One-Day Way gives you all the tools for success, starting right now.

Author Bio:

The author of Never Say Diet and The Never Say Diet Personal Fitness Trainer, Chantel Hobbs is a motivational speaker, life coach, personal trainer, marathon runner, wife, and mother of four whose story has been featured on Oprah, The Today Show, Good Morning America, Fox & Friends, the 700 Club, and the covers of People and First magazines. She appears weekly on two fitness-themed radio programs and promotes her One-Day Way Learning System on television. Visit Chantel at ChantelHobbs.com for fitness updates and coaching tips.

Quilts of Love: New fiction line from Abingdon Press

2012-01-14T20:08:00.000-07:00

Quilts of Love: New fiction line from Abingdon Press

I am so honored and excited to be part of this new fiction line from Abingdon Press. They've unveiled the line at the Giftmart in Atlanta this weekend. The above logo will be represent the line of books. Scroll down to see an actual Photo Memory Quilt made for my son's graduation by his grandma.

NASHVILLE,Tenn. — Beginning October 2012, Christian publisher Abingdon Press will launcha new series, the Quilts of Love, as part of their growing fiction line. Basedon the idea that behind every heirloom quilt is a story of how it came to be,the Quilts of Love series will focus on the romance and adventures of the womenwho quilted a part of their family history.

SeniorAcquisitions Editor Ramona Richards believes there is a strong connectionbetween storytelling and quilts. “More than a creative art, quilts have beenpassed from one generation to another as precious heirlooms. They tell ourfamily history, and they have brought communities together,” notes Richards.

As a reflectionof Abingdon’s diverse fiction line, the Quilts of Love series will featurecontemporary and historical romances as well as women’s fiction and theoccasional light mystery. The series will draw from some of Christianpublishing’s best-known authors and new talent. Authors involved in the projectinclude Sandra Bricker, Loree Lough, Christa Allan, Barbara Cameron, LynetteSowell, Lisa Carter, and Angela Breidenbach.

Abingdon Presswill release one book per month through March 2014 beginning with CarolynZane’s Storm’s Signal (Abingdon Press, October 2012). Richards says,“Each book in the series tells the story of one quilt, one family, and oneunforgettable love.”

Montana authorAngela Breidenbach’s book will be released April 2013. A Healing Heart is set in Bozeman, MTand tells the story Mara Keegan anuber-successful mother of three, widowed for three years. One year for everychild. As she's making a photo memory quilt, a graduation present for herdaughter, Mara experiences a heart attack. As Mara recuperates and learns howto heal her damaged heart, she also discovers how to release a bitter heart toGod so she can love again. She's been chasing success and all the "goodthings in life" for her family to make up for the cruel whim God played onthem by taking her husband. When released home, Mara visits the choices she'smade that led her to this physically and spiritually broken heart. The memoryquilt must be finished in time for Cadence Keegan’s big day, but Mara struggleswith her burgeoning feelings for the man who must keep Mara's business goingduring her recovery, Joel Ryan. Can Joel find his way into Mara's healing heartand onto Cadence’s quilt?

So what is a memory quilt? Here's my son's from his graduation:

Graduation Photo Memory Quilt

Free Book TODAY ONLY: January 12, 2012

2012-01-12T10:41:00.000-07:00

Free Book TODAY ONLY: January 12, 2012

When You Don't Know What to Pray-How to Talk to God About Anything
Linda Evans Shepherd
Cost: FREE below or click HERE: http://tinyurl.com/7hfsldv

You can get a FREE copy of this best-selling book, today only, in the following
formats:

* Kindle: download here: http://tinyurl.com/7aur4pt

* B&N: download here: http://tinyurl.com/78vntp9

* CBD Ebook, download here: http://tinyurl.com/7br6dem

Get your free book and tell all your friends that there is an unlimited supply
of FREE When You Don't Know What to Pray till midnight tonight.

In addition.... Announcing... NEW e-BOOK!

I have a special connection in that Linda graced me with the honor of being her editor for this project. I found myself stopping and praying because she wrote it in such a way that I connected with God's word in a new and enlightened understanding. I agree completely that I'm now enjoying a more powerful walk with God because I hear and comprehend the love story and God's desire to know me better. Here's the info :-)

The Living Story, Enjoying a Powerful Walk With God
Linda Evans Shepherd
Cost: $2.99

The Living Story, Enjoying a Powerful Walk with God portrays a `bigger picture
of God' that will captivate your heart as it helps you put your relationship
with God into focus.

Through key Bible stories that will take you from Eden to eternity, Shepherd
shows how God rescued us so that we can have a more intimate walk with him. But
more than pointing out that we can walk with God, Linda shows you how. She gives
the how-to's of developing a worshipful `state of mind' so you can reap the
benefits of a richer life filled with joy and purpose.

Buy The Living Story direct from Kindle for $2.99, go to:
http://tinyurl.com/7r7eco9

New Year Goal Support

2012-01-10T03:00:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple of articles to help you with the goals you've set for the New Year.

They're short, sweet, to the point and one even has a simple recipe. It's all about creating a New Year Goal support system for yourself.

First step to success, WRITE down your goals!

10 Ways to Move Your Writing Career Forward

http://www.christianwritersguild.com/blog/ten-ways-to-move-your-writing-career-forward-in-2012/

12 Tips Tips to Avoid Losing Your New Year's Resolution

http://www.christianfictiononlinemagazine.com/berzerk_angie.html

10 Steps to Emotional Stability

http://www.inspireafire.com/ten-steps-to-emotional-stability/

20 Questions to Uncover Your Calling

http://www.inspireafire.com/20-questions-to-uncover-your-calling/

7 Ways to Lower Stress and Learn to Be Funny

http://www.inspireafire.com/seven-ways-to-lower-stress-and-learn-to-be-funny/

I hope these are helpful to you :-) If you find them helpful, supportive, or interesting, please tweet them out or link this post to your facebook page.

Thank you,

Angie

Weight Loss Toys (tools)

2012-01-07T16:53:00.000-07:00

I posted this on a private loop, but thought it might be fun for the general public too.

No kidding. I LOVE this new "toy". I call them toys instead of tools because I think we can make weight loss fun and staying healthy enjoyable. But only if we adopt an attitude of positive thinking. So I've called my weight loss tools "toys" for a long time. When I coach at the gym, I ask my clients what "toy" they want to play with :-) We smile instead of grimace. Much better!

Here's my newest and current favorite:

https://www.theshakeweight.com/

So why is it my new fave? Because it's light, easy to use, and fun.

Does it work? Yes. I saw additional definition in my arms within one week. Now if you have a lot of weight to lose, it may take longer to visually notice sculpting. But keep going anyway.

Favorite tip: Turn on music and dance with it to Salsa or upbeat tunes. The routine is only 6 minutes long. You can find time to do that! Invite a friend and have a blast.

Be sure you watch the "how-to" video first. It's only a few minutes long, but it explains the isometrics and how to properly use the toy.

My biggest frustration: I had a car accident on Dec. 21st. I'd been using the shake weight for 1 day shy of 2 weeks. My doc won't let me for another week. I am SO bummed. I really started to see results in the definition of my arm muscles. But I'll be back at it soon with a little Salsa music in the mix!

Biggest money saving tip: I get the 20% off mailing flyer from Bed, Bath, and Beyond all the time. They carry the shake weight. Use the coupon and save two bucks. Don't order it online because it's just a lot of postage for no reason. You can find it in most stores like Bed, Bath, and Beyond or Walmart, Target, etc.

Have fun Salsa dancing with your new toy!

Angie

Simplify Christmas

2011-12-14T13:17:00.003-07:00

Is the world racing too fast?

Christmas (okay, the month of December) seems like a sprint from start to finish. There's never time to catch a breath and enjoy. Then after the holidays, we feel like collapsing.

I'm sharing a few things today to help you slow down and simplify Christmas. Then if you're signed up for my newsletter, I'm sending out a few more ideas and another recipe. But click on the link now for a high protein, high fiber, low fat Christmas breakfast recipe for Pumpkin Pancakes as well as a thoughtful article on Holiday Simplicity.

http://www.christianfictiononlinemagazine.com/berzerk_angie.html

Here's a few more ideas to Simplify Christmas:

1. Consider planning your Christmas season more around restful worship than parties to release the frenetic energy. An article to inspire you: http://www.inspireafire.com/hurry-less-worry-less-this-christmas/
2. Plan leisurely brunches rather than huge dinners.
3. Say no, no, and no to all the invitations.
4. Take time to tell the stories that connect your family to history and faith. An article on celebrating Advent: http://www.inspireafire.com/advent-ageous/
5. Make simple recipes and use crockpots, casseroles, and even frozen appetizers.
6. Focus on emotional stability rather than on shopping and events. Here's an article on emotional stability for you: http://www.inspireafire.com/ten-steps-to-emotional-stability/

My Book Studio Edition II review

2011-12-07T09:48:00.001-07:00

I have to tell you how much I really am enjoying the security of my new WD My Book Studio Edition II dual-drive storage system. It's a special external hard drive for creative professionals. With my well over 3,000 photos, large website, blogs, articles, books, and book cover designs I needed something much more than the memory on my Macbook laptop.

WD (Western Digital) to the rescue! It took me only a few minutes to get it loaded and set up. Because of what I do, I need it to protect and back up my work often. It stores and protects without my noticing the activity. I can barely even hear it working! I love, love, love this back up/storage/hard drive.

The firewire works seemlessly (though there are other options) and I can find anything on my external hard drive as simply as if it's on my laptop. Wonderful product!! Just had to share. If there were a star system to use on this it would get 5 out of 5!

You can find more information at: www.westerndigital.com
My version is very compact and has a tiny footprint on my desk. It's about 6"X6"X4" and can hold the memory of my laptop so many times I lost count! My design software can store on it and not slow down my laptop. Happy, happy day! (A slow laptop costs me money as time ticks away from me.)

WDH2Q20000

Quad Interface

2 TB

Windows/Mac

Thank you for a great and simple product to use and special thanks to Western Digital for the opportunity to review this product for them in my business.
Angie Breidenbach, author/speaker/coach

2011-12-03T01:00:00.000-07:00

Please welcome my friend, Lynda Lee Schaab, author of Mind Over Madi. We have a few fun questions and answers for you and then a little about her newest release.
~Angie

Is writing your only profession or do you have a “day job?”
I do freelance work, but I also work in a warehouse as part of a pricing group for Meijer. It doesn't sound all that glamorous (and it's not!) but I actually enjoy the physical work. It's a nice change from the mental strain that freelancing and creativity can cause. If I got a couple of additional regular writing gigs, though, I wouldn't mind staying home full time to do what I love to do most.

What is your favorite and least favorite part of being a writer?
Favorite: The creative process. Thinking a story through from beginning to end and then seeing my vision come to life through the characters and situations I create.

Least favorite: Definitely the self discipline it requires. Time management is something I've always struggled with. Making myself sit down and focus when I know the basement needs cleaning, laundry is piling up, my office needs to be organized, or I want to watch the episode of Survivor I missed the night before is my biggest challenge.

What is Mind over Madi about? Tell us a little about the plot.
Madi McCall is a 38-year-old mom of three whose insecurities are destroying her marriage. When she suspects her husband Rich is cheating with the mother of one of his fourth grade students, she kicks him out of the house and he moves in with his bachelor brother. Madi is then forced to take a deeper look at herself and her insecurities. She does this with the help of a counselor, her best friend Sylvie, and a few cartons of Edy's Dibs. At a 20-year get-together with former high school classmates, Madi runs into “the other woman” and things come to a head. It's a lighthearted story about taking a true look at ourselves and accepting God's grace when we think and do dumb things.

On the cover photo, “Madi” is wearing a tiara. What is the significance in that?

Madi's therapist challenges her to think of herself as a princess - the daughter of the King. Madi has never thought of herself this way, and throughout the story, there are references to various Disney princesses as Madi tries to figure out which one she most relates to. I had fun with the theme, even giving “the other woman” the fairy tale-ish name of Fawn Witchburn.

What do you want readers to take away from reading Madi's story?
An understanding of just how infinite God's love is. That no matter what we've done, God will never stop pursuing our hearts or desiring a relationship with us. His mercies are new every morning and His grace covers our weaknesses, our mistakes, our ignorance.

Are you planning another book? If so, what is the story?
I am currently working on book #2 in the Madi series, titled, Madily in Love. Now that Madi and Rich are working things out, she attends a class at church to try to put the romance back into her marriage. But with her mother-in-law living with them, Madi's new job, and issues with her kids, things don't exactly go as planned. It's a fun book that will look at finding peace -and romance - in the middle of chaos.

Who or what inspires you?

People in general inspire me. Whether it's hearing a moving testimony or just witnessing someone's positive outlook on life, I find inspiration to be a better person by various people I meet. A good message from my pastor, a pep talk from a friend, or a song I hear on the radio. Inspiration is everywhere. All that's required is a heart to receive it.

What Bible verse is Mind over Madi based on?
Well, I have a couple of scriptures on which Mind over Madi is based. First, Isaiah 26:3 tells us that it's only when our minds are stilled, we'll have peace. “You will keep in perfect peace, those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.”

Do you have a favorite personal Bible verse?
My favorite verse is Psalm 46:10: “Be still and know that I am God.” I recite this verse often! Because my mind is always so busy and distracted, I tend to stress out a lot. I need to keep reminding myself that God is God. He's in control. And everything will be okay.

What do you do for fun and relaxation when you're not writing?
I escape to the movie theater with my refillable bucket of popcorn. I'm sort of a television/movie junkie, and I blame it on my need for a good story. I also enjoy just hanging out with my kids, playing board games or video games (although it's been a while since I got crushed in Mario Kart).

How can readers connect with you?
My website address is www.lyndaschab.com. I also have a blog with various writing and reading-related material at www.on-the-write-track.blogspot.com. You can also connect with me on Facebook and Twitter.

BIO:
LYNDA LEE SCHAB got her writing start in greeting cards (Blue Mountain Arts, Dayspring) and from there went on to write articles and short stories (Mature Living, Christian Home & School) and in many places online (including www.Examiner.com and www.wow-womenonwriting.com), but her passion has always been fiction.

Mind Over Madi, her debut novel, is near and dear to her heart. Lynda admits she has a lot in
common with the character of Madi. Not only are they both addicted to ice cream, chocolate, and computer games, they struggle with the same types of insecurities and continually require a hefty dose of God’s grace.

Lynda works behind the scenes at FaithWriters.com and is a member of ACFW. She is a regular book reviewer for FaithfulReader.com and is the Grand Rapids Christian Fiction Examiner and the National Writing Examiner for Examiner.com. Mind Over Madi received Runner-up in the 2007 FaithWriters Page Turner contest, was a finalist in the 2007 RWA Get your Stiletto in the Door contest, and won second place in the 2008 ACFW Genesis contest, Chick Lit category. Lynda lives with her husband, Rob, and two teenagers in Michigan.

About Mind Over Madi:

Madi McCall admits her husband lacks a little in the romance department, but all in all, he’s been a good husband, a good father. Now, though, she suspects Rich is having an af air with Fawn Witchburn, the mother of one of his fourth-grade students. To say Fawn shows of her “assets” more than should be legally allowed in public is an understatement, and Madi’s insecurities kick into high gear. When, in a heated moment, she asks Rich to leave and he complies, Madi is forced to deal with her issues. Issues of love and trust she’s tried so hard to avoid. Issues that trail all the way back to her childhood and make her act like a total moron.

Lynda Lee Schab

www.LyndaSchab.com

www.on-the-write-track.blogspot.com

"Black Friday" also becomes "Black Thursday"

2011-12-01T02:00:00.000-07:00

Are your children going to have a Christmas this year? I loved this article. Loved it!

Angie

ASSIST News Service (ANS) - PO Box 609, Lake Forest, CA 92609-0609 USA
Visit our web site at: www.assistnews.net -- E-mail: assistnews@aol.com

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

"Black Friday" also becomes "Black Thursday"

By Bill Ellis
Special to ASSIST News ServiceSCOTT DEPOT, WV (ANS) -- When I think about the word "black", I usually think about things being dark, gloomy, threatening, evil and even satanic. And yet most people want a black suit, black shoes or a black dress for the most formal and important events. Black is basic.

Several people have explained to me that "Black Friday" and now "Black Thursday" are good days for merchants. It means they are no longer in the red. Enough is being sold to pay for what has been bought and some extra for profit.

I have been told that the Friday after Thanksgiving is the day when more things are purchased than any other day of the year. On Thanksgiving night, Greta Van Susteren was interviewing for television the chief executive of Macy's of New York and, if I understood correctly, they have an enormous amount of square feet for shopping, selling and buying space in that historic store.

About as close as I get to that store is watching the beautiful Macy's Parade on television. I have often done some of my shopping on Christmas Eve at the local drug store. My personal Christmas budget has never been very high.

I am saddened when I hear of good-hearted organizations and parents talking as though a child cannot have Christmas or celebrate without a lot of money. Christmas for many seems to be summed up in terms of how much is received and accumulated -- and for how much money you can get back on the day after Christmas for what you did not want.
Have you, like I, heard some parent say, "My children just won't have any Christmas this year"? I have heard pleas on radio and television and read them in newspapers and letters that basically say, "Unless you give generously many boys and girls will not have any Christmas this year."

That is simply not true. We have lied to children and adults for so long that Christmas is defined by what we receive that can be bought. Craig Wilson is credited with saying, "Santa Claus never died for anybody." Stan Freeberg was also on target with this, "Christmas has two Ss in it, and they're both $$ signs."

I am thankful on this Thanksgiving Day, as I sit in my study writing, that I was first taught the meaning of Christmas during a time of poverty. I did not know, however, that I grew up in poverty until I was told that in a university class in advanced sociology.

In those days, we heard the Christmas story read in classes in the public schools, sang the Christmas carols with their beauty and grace that clearly told the entire drama of Christmas. It was all enhanced in theatrical productions in both our schools and churches. Pastors also preached about Christmas from the Biblical perspective.

Popular theologian of a past era, Soren Kierkegaard, gave us food for serious thought with these words, "God creates out of nothing. Wonderful, you say. Yes, to be sure, but he does what is still more wonderful: he makes saints out of sinners." That greatest of all miracles was born one night in Bethlehem's manger and fully celebrated on the first Easter Sunday when set free from a borrowed tomb.

The heavens sang and the angel announced for all the world: "For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:11). If we miss that simple and powerful message on the meaning of Christmas, there is not enough money in the whole world, including the United States and China, both their black and red days, to buy even a hint of what Christmas really means. Think about it -- seriously.
-30-

Bill Ellis is a syndicated columnist, and convention and conference speaker on every continent. He is the writer of more than 2,000 newspaper and magazine columns, articles and contributions to books. He is also a widely known motivational speaker and pulpit guest who utilizes enjoyment of life and just plain fun and laughter while speaking to high school, university and professional sports teams as well as to business and professional groups of all kinds. His keen understanding of human problems makes him a favorite speaker for youth, parent, and senior adult meetings. He is accompanied by Kitty, his wife, favorite singer, editor and publisher.

For information on becoming a subscriber to the Ellis Column for your newspaper or magazine, you may contact him at: BILL ELLIS, P.O.Box 345, Scott Depot, WV 25560 or by calling: 304-757-6089.

** You may republish this story with proper attribution.

Cyber Monday Special Discounts

2011-11-28T21:35:00.001-07:00

Cyber Monday! How about a 25% Cyber Monday Special Discounts! In honor of the small section of population that would rather make gifts or buy online to avoid the crush and crowds, I'm offering some Black Friday Special Discounts continuing through Cyber Monday and through November 30th on my website by using simple codes at check out.

So if you would like one of my books, visit http://www.angelabreidenbach.com and enter the codes: black25 for Gems of Wisdom: For a Treasure-filled Life

black25CCC for Creative Cooking for Colitis ebook

black25CS for Creative Cooking for Simple Elegance ebook

black25CSP for Creative Cooking for Simple Elegance paperback (there are only 5 of these left.)

You'll get a 25% discount off the cover price :) I've added it already so you can go ahead and get a jump on your shopping right now. No crowds, no crush, no traffic. I hope these Cyber Monday Special Discounts will be helpful to you and keep your holiday time less stressed and rushed.

Do tell me who you are buying it for and I'll autograph the books for you. There's a little message box that should pop up to let you add comments to me. You can always email me or drop a message here on a post and I'll get it too.

God bless,
Angie

Black Friday Special Discounts

2011-11-24T00:00:00.000-07:00

25th day of November and Black Friday? How about a 25% Black Friday Special Discounts! In honor of the small section of population that would rather make gifts or buy online to avoid the crush and crowds, I'm offering some Black Friday Special Discounts on my website by using simple codes at check out.

So if you would like one of my books, visit http://www.angelabreidenbach.com and enter the codes: black25 for Gems of Wisdom: For a Treasure-filled Life

black25CCC for Creative Cooking for Colitis ebook

black25CS for Creative Cooking for Simple Elegance ebook

black25CSP for Creative Cooking for Simple Elegance paperback (there are only 5 of these left.)

You'll get a 25% discount off the cover price :) I've added it already so you can go ahead and get a jump on your shopping right now. No crowds, no crush, no traffic. I hope these Black Friday Special Discounts will be helpful to you and keep your holiday time less stressed and rushed.

Do tell me who you are buying it for and I'll autograph the books for you. There's a little message box that should pop up to let you add comments to me. You can always email me or drop a message here on a post and I'll get it too.

Can you tell I don't like going out on Black Friday? How about you?

May your Thanksgiving be full of joy!

Angie

Slow Down, Be Content with What You Have, and Enjoy the Holiday Season

2011-11-19T15:34:00.001-07:00

Angie here: Sharing an article I found particularly appropriate as we go into the holiday season. Please enjoy and let me know if you agree or disagree.

ASSIST News Service (ANS) - PO Box 609, Lake Forest, CA 92609-0609 USA
Visit our web site at: www.assistnews.net -- E-mail: assistnews@aol.com

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Slow Down, Be Content with What You Have, and Enjoy the Holiday Season
Watch out for a jolly little Englishman wishing you Happy Holidays

By Michael Ireland

Senior International Correspondent, ASSIST News Service
MINNEAPOLIS, MN / BAGHDAD, IRAQ (ANS) -- In a recent article for ASSIST News, my colleague Dan Wooding, Founder of ASSIST Ministries, called "Why are 'Christians' (and others) so angry, and sometimes downright hateful?" www.assistnews.net/STORIES/2011/s11110099.htm , talks about anger and hatefulness -- especially among believers.

I've been thinking about that, and I have to say it prompted me to think and write about why I really dislike going shopping at this time of year. I would like to consider the blindness and self-centeredness that affects holiday shoppers.

I love the real meaning of Christmas -- the Gift of God in the Birth of our Savior Jesus Christ -- but I dislike all the modern trappings that come with our Westernized commercialization of the holiday -- and all the pushing and shoving, and jockeying for position, that goes on at this time of year.

Canon Andrew White, the popular 'Vicar of Baghdad,' writes in "Christmas in Baghdad" on his Facebook page (which he gave ASSIST News permission to use): "The Western world is already preparing for the great day on 25th December. Presents are brought copious amounts of food will be brought in preparation for the party to begin. Decorations are prepared in the home and the towns for the great day to begin.

"For us, though, here in Baghdad things could not be more different. Our Christian people know that the Big Eid (Celebration) is coming. They know that we are about to celebrate the coming of the Christ Child. There is no razzmatazz; the only decoration will be the Christmas tree in the church. Presents -- well, there simply are not any, apart from what we get for the children and the boxes given by Samaritan's Purse. For the children we will work at bringing them some joy and fun. We will dress somebody up as Papa Noel (Santa Clause) as we give children their presents. The reality is that this celebration here is totally different from the festivity elsewhere in the world.

"Here, despite the media no longer showing our existence, we still live in violence and terrorism. I still move around my parish surrounded by hoards of soldiers and police -- yet we are still happy and for us there is total joy. Christmas for us is first and foremost a time of spiritual celebration. We may have nothing, we may live in total turmoil, but we celebrate this Christmas the coming of the Christ Child. For us Christmas is simply a celebration of God coming to be amongst us in Jesus the Christ Child.

"I never forget the day several Christmas's ago when I told the children I was going to tell them about Bethlehem where I used to live and where Jesus first came. A little boy Yousif put his hand up and said "Jesus did not first go to Bethlehem he came first to Iraq". When I asked why, he asked if I remembered that when Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego where in the flames there was another person with them and it was Jesus and I was told that happened just down the road in Babylon. So I was seriously put in my place and each time I sing "oh little town of Bethlehem" I think to myself Jesus was indeed here first and he still is here.

"So for us Christmas is simply about our Lord amongst us. We celebrate the fact of his Incarnation. There is no food or parties, but real celebration of faith. Christmas is simply a time of spiritual renewal -- a time when we remember that the Lord is indeed here and His Spirit is amongst us. These words from the Eucharist we say at the beginning of every service in Arabic. 'Allah hu ma ana, Baruch ha qudos ma ana athan.' For us Christmas is simply a celebration of the fact that: "The lord is here and His Spirit is with us."

Three years ago this week, a Walmart employee was trampled to death by frantic customers rushing to be the first to get the best deals on Black Friday -- the infamous "shoppers delight" -- the day after Thanksgiving when all the world loses it mind for a 'bargain' at your favorite retail outlet.

As the New York Times reported: The throng of Walmart shoppers had been building all night, filling sidewalks and stretching across a vast parking lot at the Green Acres Mall in Valley Stream, N.Y. At 3:30 a.m., the Nassau County police had to be called in for crowd control, and an officer with a bullhorn pleaded for order.

Tension grew as the 5 a.m. opening neared. Someone taped up a crude poster: 'Blitz Line Starts Here.'

By 4:55, with no police officers in sight, the crowd of more than 2,000 had become a rabble, and could be held back no longer. Fists banged and shoulders pressed on the sliding-glass double doors, which bowed in with the weight of the assault. Six to 10 workers inside tried to push back, but it was hopeless.

Suddenly, witnesses and the police said, the doors shattered, and the shrieking mob surged through in a blind rush for holiday bargains. One worker, Jdimytai Damour, 34, was thrown back onto the black linoleum tiles and trampled in the stampede that streamed over and around him. Others who had stood alongside Mr. Damour trying to hold the doors were also hurled back and run over, witnesses said.

Some workers who saw what was happening fought their way through the surge to get to Mr. Damour, but he had been fatally injured, the police said. Emergency workers tried to revive Mr. Damour, a temporary worker hired for the holiday season, at the scene, but he was pronounced dead an hour later at Franklin Hospital Medical Center in Valley Stream.

Four other people, including a 28-year-old woman who was described as eight months pregnant, were treated at the hospital for minor injuries. (See: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/29/business/29walmart.html?pagewanted=all)

I am prompted to ask what drives such madness that ended in the death of one man and injuries to others?

My Bible gives an answer -- "the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life," (1 John 2:16 NIV).

Our society promotes dissatisfaction with who we are and what we have (or, more accurately, what we DON'T have). There is a constant push and pressure from advertising media to be different from the person God made us to be, and to want more to satisfy our insatiable desires to be more than God planned. We are driven to be better than the next man (or woman), to want the biggest, the best, the latest, the newest. On and on it goes, ad infinitum.

This constant push to want more distorts the imageo deo -- the image of God -- within us. It trashes God's design for our health, happiness and wellbeing. More important, it destroys the design of God for lives of contentment.

The Apostle Paul wrote that he had learned to be content in whatever state or condition he found himself in. He had plenty of opportunity to exercise that attitude of heart and mind, having been beaten, shipwrecked, stoned and left for dead, among other things.

And my Bible advises me to "Be content with such as you have. Just as long as you have food and raiment (clothing), be satisfied with that." More important, my Bible also says, "Better is a little with the Lord, than much and great trouble therewith."

You see, that is good, sound, common sense advice from our Maker, Creator, and Sustainer.

My biggest "beef" is that holiday shoppers wander around in a glassy-eyed daze, totally oblivious to others around them while pushing their carts loaded with things they don't really need and cannot really afford.

Many times I have had to stop in mid-track -- right there in the middle of Aisle Four -- and by deliberately slowing down the frenzy in front of me, to ensure that my disabled wife doesn't end up in the Emergency Room, or in the Mortuary. She may be as strong as an ox in many ways, but in others she has certain physical frailties due to heart and lung (breathing) problems -- the result of a congenital heart deformity that led to a heart attack and two cardiac arrests on Thanksgiving, 2004. She was on life support and in a medically-induced coma and not expected to live. Praise to the Living God, He saved her and brought her back to me!

So, it really annoys me when people push and shove their way in front of my wife and I in the rush to make sure they don't miss out on that super-duper bargain they've just gotta have or they won't ever be happy again.

I know we cannot expect non- or un-believers to have the same selfless values we as Christians hold dear but, I am afraid, Christians are also guilty of this behavior. I know; I've seen you in the store that I too shop in.

I wasn't brought up that way. My mother taught me from an early age to help and respect the elderly and disabled, mothers with young kids and loads of grocery bags, to open doors for people of the opposite gender, and to give up my seat on the bus to any one of the above. To me, this just seemed like common courtesy.

Now it seems courtesies like this are not so common as we seek to indulge ourselves silly.
But, instead of being angry about this, I am going to go on my merry way, smiling cheerfully -- and making pleasant conversation with everyone with whom I can make eye-contact this Thanksgiving.

Consider it my personal crusade to bring some humanity back into the gift-giving season. And this will be my gift to the rest of humanity this holiday.

So, be warned: if you shop in the same stores as my wife and I this holiday season, you may be accosted by a short, fat, slightly-balding Englishman who just wants to make sure you have a pleasant shopping experience -- and be touched by the milk of human kindness -- the best gift any one human being can give another.

** Michael Ireland is the Senior International Correspondent for ANS. He is an international British freelance journalist who was formerly a reporter with a London (United Kingdom) newspaper and has been a frequent contributor to UCB UK, a British Christian radio station. While in the UK, Michael traveled to Canada and the United States, Albania,Yugoslavia, Holland, Germany,and Czechoslovakia. He has reported for ANS from Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Israel, Jordan, China,and Russia. Michael's volunteer involvement with ASSIST News Service is a sponsored ministry department -- 'Michael Ireland Media Missionary' (MIMM) -- of A.C.T. International of P.O.Box 1649, Brentwood, TN 37024-1649, at: Artists in Christian Testimony (A.C.T.) International where you can make a donation online under 'Donate' tab, then look for 'Michael Ireland Media Missionary' under 'Donation Category' to support his stated mission of 'Truth Through Christian Journalism.' Michael is a member in good standing of the National Writers Union, Society of Professional Journalists, Religion Newswriters Association, Evangelical Press Association and International Press Association. If you have a news or feature story idea for Michael, please contact him at: ANS Senior International Reporter

2011-11-15T05:00:00.000-07:00

We have partnered with numerous companies to help promote The Truth About Liberty: How The Tea Party Can Save America. Our goal is to have The Truth About Liberty reach the Top 100 on Amazon during the promotion.

If you order the book on Amazon from 11/15 to 11/18, over 40 special offers will await you! The offers include discounts ranging from 25% to 50% off web stores and selected items, as well as FREE eBooks and downloads.

By spending under $15 print or $10 Kindle from Amazon, you can save thousands of dollars by shopping on one or more of our partners’ web stores. The amount saved will depend on the amount you purchase. REMEMBER, in addition to the discounts, the purchase offer includes several FREE eBooks and other downloads. The purchase dates on Amazon must be 11/15, 11/16, 11/17 or 11/18 to qualify.

Tell your family, friends and business associates about this great promotion!

Check out the more than 40 Offers included in this promo.

On November 15, 16, 17 or 18, buy the book at Amazon.com to be eligible for the offers.

Redeem your order for FREE Gifts & Discount Coupons!

About the book:

The Truth About Liberty: How the Tea Party Can Save America shows that the vast, corrupt government of today is definitely not the limited Constitutional government established by the founders of the United States. Attorney and movie producer Manny Edwards illustrates with stunning clarity just how far America has fallen from the great scope of freedom intended by the founders. He identifies precisely the political mechanisms by which these liberties have been lost — and how to get them back.

About the author:

Manny Edwards is an attorney, movie producer, traveler, and self-styled “freedom expert.” His interest in law, history, languages, and economics has broadened his understanding of liberty, and homeschooling five children has taught him the importance of governance in family and community.

Reader review:

“Whether you’re a liberal, a conservative, or a libertarian, if you have any interest in individual liberty, this book is for you. It is bold, well-written, and motivating. I couldn’t put it down. For a long time I’ve known something was very wrong with our government, but I never really understood what until I read this amazing book. It explains how we lost our liberties and how we can win them back. As an active Tea Party member, it is very important for me to understand where the threats to my liberty come from, and what to do about it…”

Reader praise:

“…essential reading for the Tea Party”

- Sam Long, Jr., Supervisor, Northampton County, VA

“Thank you for shedding light on liberty”

- George E.

“…Manny Edwards delivers new insights and options for America. A must read for every family member.” -Tracy S.

Shadowed In Silk by Christine Lindsay

2011-11-14T13:13:00.001-07:00

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introduces Shadowed In Silk WhiteFire Publishing (September 1, 2011) by Christine Lindsay

Angie here: I had the pleasure of interviewing Christine Lindsay for www.InspireAFire.com and have an article posted. Christine's real life story is absolutely fascinating. You'll also learn how the child she gave up for adoption came back into her life and stars as the cover model on this book!

My opinion? Shadowed In Silk: Beautiful writing with a setting in a far, exotic place--India.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Christine Lindsay writes historical Christian inspirational novels with strong love stories. She doesn’t shy away from difficult subjects such as the themes in her debut novel SHADOWED IN SILK which is set in India during a turbulent era. Christine’s long-time fascination with the British Raj was seeded from stories of her ancestors who served in the British Cavalry in India. SHADOWED IN SILK was the Gold winner of the 2009 ACFW Genesis for Historical.

The Pacific coast of Canada, about 200 miles north of Seattle, is Christine’s home. It’s a special time in her life as she and her husband enjoy the empty nest, but also the noise and fun when the kids and grandkids come home. Like a lot of writers, her cat is her chief editor.

ABOUT THE BOOK

She was invisible to those who should have loved her.

After the Great War, Abby Fraser returns to India with her small son, where her husband is stationed with the British army. She has longed to go home to the land of glittering palaces and veiled women...but Nick has become a cruel stranger. It will take more than her American pluck to survive.

Major Geoff Richards, broken over the loss of so many of his men in the trenches of France, returns to his cavalry post in Amritsar. But his faith does little to help him understand the ruthlessness of his British peers toward the Indian people he loves. Nor does it explain how he is to protect Abby Fraser and her child from the husband who mistreats them.

Amid political unrest, inhospitable deserts, and Russian spies, tensions rise in India as the people cry for the freedom espoused by Gandhi. Caught between their own ideals and duty, Geoff and Abby stumble into sinister secrets . . . secrets that will thrust them out of the shadows and straight into the fire of revolution.

If you'd like to read the first chapter of Shadowed In Silk, go HERE.

Watch the book video trailer:

Thanksgiving in Early America

2011-11-09T11:05:00.002-07:00

Thanksgiving in Early America

by Elaine Marie Cooper

When we sit down at our Thanksgiving meal this month, we’ll be recreating a celebration that is as old as our country: sharing food with loved ones while thanking the God Who has provided the abundance.

While we understand that the First Thanksgiving was celebrated here by the Mayflower survivors along with the Indians that had helped them, the first official proclamation that was decreed to celebrate such a holiday was in 1777. It was a recommendation to the thirteen states by the Continental Congress to set aside December 18^th that year as a “solemn thanksgiving” to celebrate the first major victory for the Continental troops in the American Revolution: the Battle of Saratoga.

The Battle of Saratoga has significant interest for my own family since one of my ancestors was a soldier there. But he was not on the American side—he was a British Redcoat. After surrendering to the Americans, he escaped the line of prisoners and somehow made his way to Massachusetts and into the life and heart of my fourth great-grandmother. *SIGH* L’amour!

This family story was the inspiration for my Deer Run Saga that begins in 1777 with The Road to Deer Run. There is an elaborate Thanksgiving meal scene in this novel as well as in the sequel, The Promise of Deer Run.

Some may wonder why such detail was afforded this holiday in my novels set in Massachusetts, while Christmas is barely mentioned. The reason is simple: Thanksgiving was the major holiday in the northern colonies, with Christmas considered nothing more special than a workday. According to Jack Larkin in his book, The Reshaping of Everyday Life, “The Puritan founders of New England and the Quaker settlers of Pennsylvania had deliberately abolished (holidays) as unscriptural.”

But Thanksgiving was begun as a way to give thanks to God for His provision. It usually began with attending church services in the morning, followed by an elaborate feast in the afternoon. The food for this meal was prepared for weeks in advance.

Since the individual state governors chose their own date to celebrate the holiday, it was theoretically possible for some family members—if they lived in close proximity—to celebrate multiple Thanksgiving meals with family and friends across state borders. The dates chosen could be anywhere from October to December, according to Dennis Picard, Director of the Storrowton Village Museum in West Springfield, Massachusetts.

Chicken was most commonly served, said Picard, as it was readily available in the barnyard. And the oldest woman in the home had the honor of slicing the fowl for dinner.

Pies were made well in advance of the holiday and stored and became frozen in dresser drawers in unheated rooms.

“I like the idea of pulling out a dresser drawer for, say, a clean pair of socks, and finding mince pies,” said Picard, tongue in cheek.

Indeed!

Have a BLESSED Thanksgiving!

Author Bio

Elaine Marie Cooper

Elaine Marie Cooper grew up in Massachusetts but now lives in the Midwest with her husband, her three dogs and one huge cat. She has two married sons and triplet grandchildren who are now one years old. The Promise of Deer Run is dedicated to the triplets and to veterans who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.Elaine has been a magazine freelance writer for many years, and is a regular contributor to a blog on the Midwest called The Barn Door (www.thebarndoor.net) and a blog on Christian living called Reflections In Hindsight (ReflectionsInHindsight.wordpress.com). She is the author of The Road to Deer Run and the sequel, The Promise of Deer Run. Prior to becoming an author, Elaine worked as a registered nurse.

Why do we need other women?

2011-11-01T12:28:00.005-06:00

Why do we need other women?

Friendship.jpg

Best answer? Friendship.

We have such difficulties in our daily lives. As women, we're all about relationships. We need someone to talk it out with, share our feelings, and get advice from in non-threatening ways. And other women need us to do the same for them. But in our techie world, we've often made better friends of our TVs than with real people.

Sometimes our lives are so busy we forget to spend time with those crucial friendships. We find ourselves feeling lost and uncertain. But God intended us to rely on each other to get through all the challenges coming our way. He wants us to remember fellowship.

So what do you do if you've been so busy you've lost track of your friends? What do you do if you've moved or they've moved?

First contact old friends. Find out what's happening in their lives and share updates in yours. Be sure to give them time to share their lives with you. Too much information dump and they'll feel used. Make them feel loved by being a listener and a sharer.

Go to women's book clubs, Bible studies, and ladies teas to meet new potential friends.

Volunteer in projects (short or long term) that really speak to your heart. You'll meet like-minded people.

Take time at church and social events to introduce yourself to people every time you go.
Visit with those people and build relationship. Relationships are built over many, many interactions.

Do the fun things you love even if you have to go alone. It took me a while, but I started going to comedies by myself. There was no reason I shouldn't enjoy a movie and laughing just because I didn't sit with someone I knew. I laughed with the others that had the same interest, laughing. Best empowering choice I ever made because my happiness was no longer dependent on someone else's schedule. I could do what I enjoyed because I enjoyed it. You can too when you lose the idea that someone you know must accompany you. People will already be there that like what you like. It takes practice, but it's worth it.

Allow yourself the grace to put in the effort and get to know the women in your community by being involved. Join clubs, groups, and community projects.

What ideas do you have for building friendships?
Angie

Friendship suggestion: Gems of Wisdom: For a Treasure-filled Life is a book I wrote that causes great discussions in women's groups. Consider using it as a book club or Bible study. You can order it from my website. www.AngelaBreidenbach.com and I'd be happy to Skype or Face Time with your group.

Kathy Tyers Newest Book: Wind and Shadow

2011-10-27T00:00:00.000-06:00

Wind and Shadow

by Kathy Tyers

The desolate world Mikuhr is home to a proud people now on the verge of extinction.

Conflict explodes when apprentice priest Kiel Caldwell arrives to investigate rumors of new spiritual revelation, but he is kidnapped by a demon-possessed telepath who thinks he might be a predicted messiah. And when Kiel's loose-cannon military brother Kinnor arrives to investigate, a local leader with revenge on her mind threatens to bring ruin on them all.

It's up to returning Mikuhran diplomat Wind Haworth to head off a conflict that could have spiritual, political, and military repercussions--but no one has foreseen the consequences of introducing the Mikuhran Wind Haworth to the Federate military Sentinel Kinnor Caldwell.

What are people saying?

"Wow! What a ride! Wind and Shadow ... grabs you by the throat and doesn't let go until the very last page. ... luckily for us, there's still one more book to come in this fantastic series."

-- Kathleen Morgan, author of Giver of Roses

"Once again [Tyers] blends high stakes adventure and heroic sacrifice with a seamless science fiction setting. Her rich characters capture our hearts as they grapple with faith questions along with dire dangers. Suspenseful and thought-provoking."

-- Sharon Hinck, author of the award-winning Sword of Lyric series

"I love everything Kathy Tyers writes, and her writing has grown more appealing over the years."

-- Hannah Alexander, author of Eye of the Storm

Get your copy of Wind and Shadow

Kathy Tyers.jpg

About the Author:

Kathy Tyers has published ten novels in the Christian and general markets, including two authorized novels for the Star Wars expanded universe, as well as a biography and a travel book. If she isn't writing, she might be teaching a flute lesson, mentoring a hopeful author via the Christian Writers Guild, or battling quackgrass in her vegetable garden. Kathy lives in Montana and has one grown son.

Friend Friday

2011-10-14T00:01:00.004-06:00

Spanky the mini.jpg

Fun news. Spanky the miniature horse is now looking for a friend. He's been alone the last several months since Chief passed on to pull chariots in heaven. So we're taking a look around for other miniature horses. Not a rush so much, but it'll be fun to see him playing with a buddy again soon. Just thought I'd share the mini journey today :-)

Personal Empowerment Retreat with Robin Craig & Stanley Bronstein

2011-10-11T14:11:00.000-06:00

My friend, Robin Craig, 3-time Emmy Winner, and Stanley Bronstein, Lifestyle Enhancement Expert, team up for a life-changing 5-day, 4-night Retreat at the luxurious Miraval Resort & Spa in
Tucson, Arizona (Oprah's favorite!).

Stanley Bronstein & Robin Craig.jpg

Enjoy walking in the desert, spa treatments, morning and afternoon sessions, gourmet meals and much more. It sounds like a fun, relaxing, informative and rejuvenating event. For more info, go to www.robincraigdirect.com and click on the banner at the top.

http://facebook.com/iwarriorwalk
http://www.facebook.com/robinwcraig
http://www.linkedin.com/in/stanleybronstein
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/robin-craig/11/251/170
http://twitter.com/iwarriorwalk
http://twitter.com/#!/robin_craig

About Robin Craig
Robin Craig lost her husband suddenly and unexpectedly after a 21-year marriage. She felt as though she had been thrown into a chaotic abyss with no parachute or instruction manual. Things were magnified because the majority of her family predeceased her spouse and she has no children. Robin was alone…left to deal with countless spine-tingling experiences on her own. Her struggles were immeasurable but she took on the challenges with tenacity and prevailed time and time again. Reaching the pinnacle of her career three consecutive years following unbearable loss, this widow learned how you can go to the depths of grief yet emerge bigger, better, stronger, smarter and as a winner! Robin’s audiences are able to relate as she inspires and motivates them to create a great life despite adversity. Her positive attitude is highly contagious and her formula for winning is universal.

About Stanley Bronstein, Attorney, CPA and Author
Stanley Bronstein has been an attorney and CPA for over 20 years and resides in Scottsdale, Arizona, and is the author of 7 books. Since early 2009, Bronstein has shed 125 pounds and feels healthier and happier than ever. Bronstein’s personal mission statement is to “help others find their purpose in life and to achieve it.” Since losing his brother Michael, at the young age of 60, to heart problems, Bronstein has taken it upon himself to share his message of physical, mental and spiritual well-being with as many people as possible. His latest book, 50 Key Questions Only We The People Can Answer, is his “wakeup” call for all Americans. Complimentary copies in both print and eBook formats are available upon request.

The first jointly held iWarriorWalk Personal Empowerment Retreat will be at picturesque Miraval Resort & Spa, in Tucson, Arizona Sun., Nov. 13, 2011 -Thur., Nov. 17, 2011.

Guests at the retreat will:
· Regain energy & vitality by participating in iWarriorWalk’s daily walking mediation program
· Cleanse mind, body, and spirit
· Learn techniques for making permanent lifestyle improvements
· Feel their best everyday
· Focus on some of life’s key questions, such as meaning and purpose
· Raise their level of consciousness to recognize problems and discover solutions

· Learn how to re-create themselves following personal loss
· Understand how to turn a negative into a positive
· Leave with a more positive outlook on life
· Learn to be less fearful of life changes

*Please note this is not a religious retreat or event*

Pear Harvest Time in Montana

2011-10-09T03:00:00.000-06:00

Oh yes, pear time!


Pear Harvest.jpg

My friend has a pear tree while we have apple and cherry trees. We picked two grocery bags and three buckets full of delicious pears. This week most will continue to ripen safe from the frost. A few are still tucked in that paper bag you see to ripen faster for eating. The others will become dried pears, pear filling for crunches and pies, and maybe even some pear fruit leather.

Apple season comes next. I'm hoping for a week or so. But it's right after the first frost. Same plans for those luscious little gems :-)

For pear and apple pie/crunch fillings, I've found I can add all the ingredients to chopped and peeled fruit. Then mix well, fill one pie's worth freezer bag, squeeze out all the air, and put in the deep freeze until needed. The fruit will do well in the deep freeze all winter. But it doesn't usually make it that long, lol.

Our lives are so hectic nowdays, but when we stop to prepare for the future (as the Bible suggests) then we simplify many of our scheduling issues. Pull a bag of prepared pear or apple pie filling out of the freezer, top with crunch mixture of oatmeal, flour, butter, brown sugar, and spices like cinammon. You can have that potluck dish or dessert ready for the oven in less than 10 minutes. Less cost, less hassle on busy nights, and you control the ingredients. (So double the cinammon to amp up your metablolism and cut back on the sugar a tad.) Love the way these prep items have saved my peace of mind over and over again.

So try something new with your harvest, if you haven't already, and freeze the pie filling already prepped for the crust. (I don't cook it first either.) You'll have homemade goodies in a snap.

Angela Breidenbach & Tracie Peterson Sign Books Together in Spokane Oct 22, 2011

2011-10-07T03:00:00.000-06:00

Angie Breidenbach & Tracie Peterson sign Oct. 22 in Spokane.jpg

I'm thrilled to be signing Gems of Wisdom for a Treasure-filled Life with Tracie Peterson as she signs her newest fiction book, House of Secrets, at LifeWay Christian Store in Spokane. Tracie used the non-fiction book, Gems of Wisdom, in her research for her fictional story. We look forward to seeing friends both new and old at the event.

Okay, I just have to say what a gorgeous and fun job Lindsey from LifeWay did on this promotional flyer! Love all the popping color :-) Please pass the event on to friends and family in the Spokane area. We'd consider it a blessing to meet you and yours.

God bless,
Angie

10 Things Churches Can Do About Mental Illness

2011-10-05T00:18:00.002-06:00

WYLL radio show host, Karl Clauson, interviewed me (air date Oct. 15th 1190 am Chicago). He wanted to get to the question, what can churches do about mental illness? But the show went by so fast that he wasn't able to ask my thoughts.

The question is so relevant, I couldn't pass up sharing a few ideas.
1. Get educated. Have some community professionals come in and teach about mental illness.
2. Offer support groups for family members of mentally ill individuals. These folks are often very lonely, sometimes ostracized, and desperate for a support system.
3. Start a Stephen Ministry. Offer the one-on-one care of a Stephen Minister to individuals.
4. Offer Bible studies on outreach ministry to mentally ill and families of the mentally ill.
5. Offer prayer.
6. Get connected with health providers in the community so caring referrals can happen.
7. Offer NAMI meeting space.
8. Offer childcare for families during interventions, regular counseling times, and organized support meeting times.
9. Support frazzled caretakers by providing meals to relieve their stress.
10. Simply ask how you can help. Most family members keep their needs close to the chest for fear of rejection. Offer love and follow through.

I'd also love to hear your thoughts on how our churches can improve in dealing with mentally ill people and their family members. Please share.

Meet Pam Hillman, Author of Stealing Jake

2011-09-29T02:00:00.000-06:00

Please welcome my friend, Pam Hillman. We're going to have a fun time interviewing her and sharing the news aout her new book, Stealing Jake! See below for a Kindle drawing too!

About Pam Hillman: Award-winning author PamHillman writes inspirational fiction set in the turbulent times of the AmericanWest and the Gilded Age. Her debut book, Stealing Jake, won the American Christian Fiction Writer’sGenesis contest and was a finalist in Romance Writers of America’s prestigiousGolden Heart contest. She lives in Mississippi with her husband and family.

Angie: Pam, are there ever times or seasons in your writing life when things feel overwhelming? If so, how do you get through those times?

Pam: Almost every writer I know is overwhelmed. The best thing to do is to keep moving forward, accomplish one task at a time, and as often as possible, re-organize and re-group. And, in the end, I am so thankful for talent God gave me, and the opportunity to pursue my dream, especially in this day and age of computers and internet connections.

Angie: What part of your main characters would you say was most like you?

Pam: Tenacity and dogged determination will see my characters through a lot of trials and tribulations. In Stealing Jake, former pickpocket Livy O'Brien is determined to help the street kids even at the risk of her own reputation, even her life. Sheriff's deputy Jake Russell is just as determined to rid his town of the group of street urchins, while young Luke puts his life on the line searching for his little brother. None of them are willing to give up or walk away.

Angie: What life or faith concept do you hope readers "catch"?

Pam: I write to entertain, but several of the reviews have just blown me away with what the reader has taken away from the story. One reader said the street kids were without hope, but went on to add,
"And yet God never leaves us that way, does He? Because He brings Jake and Livy together at His perfect time, not only to discover a future together, but so they can intervene in the lives of kids who have no one to fight for them."

Angie: Have you had any surprises from readers on something they connected with in your book that you didn't intentionally put there?

Pam: The one thing that readers have connected with is Luke. One reader said that Luke's story was interwoven so much with Jake & Livy's story that she couldn't imagine one without the other. Luke's story wasn't part of the original idea, but he kept niggling at my brain, and once I added the thread in his point-of-view, I knew the story was complete. I am surprised that Luke and the other street kids get as much "airtime" as Jake and Livy in reviews, but I guess I shouldn't be. I was pretty passionate about the street-kids story, and I guess it came through in the writing.

Angie: Do you have a favorite fan-friend story?

Pam: Oh, yes. I have a couple of writer friends whose mothers read Stealing Jake and raved over it. One said her mother wouldn't read a bad book, that "excellence" is her standard. Her mother called and told her that she "absolutely loved" Stealing Jake. Her mother goes to bed at ten, but kept reading several nights in a row to see what happened. She said her mother was not a gusher, but that she came pretty close to gushing over Stealing Jake! The other friend took her mother to the dentist, and her mother raved about my book to the dentist and his assistants. That made me smile. There have been so many friends, family members, and co-workers who have gone out of their way to tell me how much they loved my book. Those emails, phone calls, and texts are near and dear to my heart!

Angie: I love those stories! They're the stories that keep us writers going in the lonely days before anyone sees a page. Thank you so much for being with us today! Folks, please check out the information on Stealing Jake below.

Pam on the web:

My website: www.pamhillman.com

My personal blog: www.calicotrails.blogspot.com

My group blog: www.seekerville.blogspot.com

About Stealing Jake:

When Livy O'Brien spies a young boy jostlinga man walking along the boardwalk, she recognizes the act for what it is. Afterall, she used to be known as Light-fingered Livy. But that was before she puther past behind her and moved to the growing town of Chestnut, Illinois, whereshe's helping to run an orphanage. Now she'll do almost anything to protect thestreet kids like herself.
Sheriff's deputy Jake Russell had no ideawhat he was in for when he ran into Livy--literally--while chasing down apickpocket. With a rash of robberies and a growing number of street kids intown--as well as a loan on the family farm that needs to be paid off--Jakedoesn't have time to pursue a girl. Still, he can't seem to get Livy out of hismind. He wants to get to know her better . . . but Livy isn't willing to trustany man, especially not a lawman.
Interwoven throughout is a group of streetkids arrested in Chicago and sold as child labor. Leading this band ofragamuffins is young Luke, a scared, determined orphan intent on rescuing hislittle brother at any cost.

Kindle Giveaway Link: http://pamhillman.blogspot.com/2011/07/pams-blog-tour-kindle-contest.html

Kindle GiveawayBUTTON (html code): http://calicotrails.blogspot.com/2011/07/blog-post_07.html

Stealing JakePrologue and 1st Chapter: http://pamhillman.blogspot.com/2007/11/stealing-jake-prologue.html

Stealing Jake Amazonlink:

http://www.amazon.com/Stealing-Jake-ebook/dp/B0057Z87DK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1309377471&sr=8-1

Stealing Jake B&Nlink:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/stealing-jake-pam-hillman/1103995167?ean=9781414366616&itm=1&usri=stealing%2bjake

Stealing JakeCBD link:

http://www.christianbook.com/stealing-jake-ebook-pam-hillman/9781414366616/pd/19108EB?item_code=WW&netp_id=936169&event=ESRCG&view=details

Changing Seasons

2011-09-19T16:30:00.000-06:00

What do you do to start a long project?

My first inclination is to clean my office. For some reason getting it in tip-top shape helps my mind to prepare for the coming intense writing season. When I finish one book or major project, I feel the need to deeply clean from the last one. I think it helps me feel the closure and start with a clean slate. The counters have to be empty, the floor clean of all research debris, and my book shelves straightened.

The seasons are changing outside, but also professionally for me. I'm moving from the mad dash of marketing one book into the writing season for the next. The view from my window marks the change from summer to autumn. I'll soon see the glowing gorgeous gold of a Montana fall.

Changing Seasons: Montana's golden glow in the fall.jpeg

But that's not today. Nope. Today I looked at the office and walked out. Lol, today I made a little nest on the couch and started dealing with tiny things that kept getting pushed aside during the heavy travel season I just completed. That season ran from April to this last weekend. About 5 months! Home only a few days in between the next book signing, speaking, or family wedding event kept me in constant "go" mode.So maybe tomorrow I'll clean the office. But today I spent cleaning up little things that pestered me until I finished them.How do you prepare for a new season in your life, work, or the changing seasons on the calendar?

Angie

2011-09-08T23:08:00.000-06:00

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing To Have and to Hold Bethany House (September 1, 2011) by Tracie Peterson
and

Judith Miller

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

Tracie Peterson is the bestselling, award-winning author of more than 85 novels. She received her first book contract in November, 1992 with Barbour Publishings' Heartsong Presents. She wrote exclusively with Heartsong for the next two years, receiving their readership's vote for Favorite Author of the Year for three years in a row. In 1995 she signed a contract with Bethany House Publishers to co-write a series with author Judith Pella. Tracie now writes exclusively for Bethany House Publishers. She teaches writing workshops at a variety of conferences on subjects such as inspirational romance and historical research. Tracie was awarded the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award for 2007 Inspirational Fiction and her books have won numerous awards for favorite books in a variety of contests. Making her home in Montana, this Kansas native enjoys spending time with family--especially her three grandchildren--Rainy, Fox and Max.

Judith Miller's first novel, Threads of Love, was conceived when she was commuting sixty miles to work each day. She wanted to tell the story of a pioneer girl coming to Kansas and the faith that sustained her as she adjusted to a new life. Through a co-worker, she was directed to Tracie Peterson who, at that time, worked down the hall from her. Having never met Tracie, Judith was totally unaware of her writing career, but God intervened. The rest is, as they say, history. Since that first encounter many years ago, Judith has been blessed with the publication of numerous books, novellas and a juvenile fiction book. Joyously, she and Tracie had the opportunity to develop a blessed friendship. In fact, they have co-authored several series together, including The Bells of Lowell, the Lights of Lowell and The Broadmoor Legacy.

ABOUT THE BOOK

When Audrey Cunningham's father proposes that they move to Bridal Veil Island, where he grew up, she agrees, thinking this will help keep him sober and close to God. But they arrive to find wealthy investors buying up land to build a grand resort on the secluded island--and they want the Cunninghams' acreage.

Contractor Marshall Graham can't imagine why the former drinking buddy of his deceased father would beckon him to Bridal Veil Island. And when Boyd Cunningham asks him to watch over Audrey, Marshall is even more confused. He has no desire to be saddled with caring for this fiery young woman who is openly hostile toward him. But when Audrey seems to be falling for another man--one who has two little girls Audrey adores--Marshall realizes she holds more of his heart than he realized. Which man will Audrey choose? And can she hold on to her ancestral property in the face of overwhelming odds?

If you would like to read the first chapter of To Have and to Hold, go HERE.

Angry Birds, Bigfoot, and the Little Pigs have something in common

2011-09-07T02:47:00.003-06:00

Today I'd like to invite you over to the group blog I've belonged to for five years.
www.theFaithGirls.com

It's fun, uplifting, interesting, and lots of great conversation from 5 different authors, one great God.
We focus on living out our faith in the real world while being writers with faith in our stories. But you will totally find behind-the-scenes stories, gems of wisdom, family issues, women's issues, and more. With 5 of us posting regularly (I'm Wednesday's child), you're sure to find something encouraging, enlightening, educational, and entertaining any day of the week. And today it's my turn to entertain...
www.theFaithGirls.com

theFaithGirls are:
Missy Tippens
Angela Breidenbach (hey, that's me!)
Lindi Peterson
Christy LaShae-Smith
Mindy Obenhaus
With drop in regular, Jennifer Hudson-Taylor too.

2011-08-25T11:25:00.002-06:00

Hi friends,

I've partnered with over 30 companies to help promote my colleague’s book, The Motivated Life. The book has garnered many awards since its March release debuting as the #1 Book App on the iPad and just became a Kindle Bestseller. Our goal is to have The Motivated Life by Paul Martens reach the Top 100 on Amazon during the promotion.

If you order the book on Amazon from 8/23-8/25, we along with over 30 more companies will offer discounts ranging from 25% to 50% off our webstores, selected items, as well as FREE eBooks and downloads. By spending under $20 print or $10 Kindle from Amazon, you can save thousands of dollars by shopping on one or more of our partners’ webstores. The amount saved will depend on the amount you purchase. REMEMBER, In addition to the savings, the purchase offer includes several free eBooks and other downloads. The purchase date must be 8/23, 8/24 or 8/25 to qualify. Click www.themotivatedlife.com to see all of the details.

Here's the book:

For questions or comments on this promotion contact melcohen@hughes.net

I hope you enjoy this opportunity :-)

Angie

PS Please let me know if you enjoy these ocassional Amazon best seller promotions. I'm considering doing more of them for you as I find out about great books and deep discount deals. But I want to know that you want me to share them, or not.

Why are geneologies in the Bible?

2011-08-16T10:46:00.002-06:00

Who needs to know who begat who? For Pete's sake, I can't pronounce most of the names anyway.

Then this morning in my personal time of reading the Bible, I understood a tiny reason. One that turned out to be not so tiny. I understood how all those puzzle pieces fit into God's plan. (Okay, maybe I understood some of the puzzle pieces, lol.)

My great-grandmother, Mary Charity Hartshorn Nelson


Angie-I took this myself just to see how much I resembled my great-grandma. No make-up on purpose.

So I began to wonder more about how we resemble our ancestors in both looks and spirituality. For fun, I snapped a shot of myself so I could put it side by side with my great-grandma's photo. I did this a few different times with various ancestors. I'm stunned at the similarities.

I've been reading the Chronological Bible on Youversion.com (via my blackberry) in order to better understand how all these ambiguous stories and events fit together. I felt I might grasp it better. And boy was I right!

This morning I entered the New Testament. Stunning moment when I realized I'd read the stories of most of the people listed in Matthew 1. No longer did the list of names seem so daunting. I knew how David, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Juda, Tamar, Perez, even Aminidab, and then came a few that stunned me. Boaz whose mother was Rahab--the prostitute heroine. Obed whose mother was Ruth--the foreigner. Jesse who thought his son, David, would amount to nothing as the youngest. And Solomon--the great murdering king who married the adulteress and yet is renowned as the wisest man who ever lived. On and on the list goes with names and stories I'm finally connecting.

One of the best moments though? When I realized how many imperfect people are in the lineage of Jesus Christ. Who will come after me that the Lord will rise up to do great things? He or she may not be the Messiah, but what if in my imperfection the Lord is still able to work through my ancestral line to bring about His will?

What about yours?

These stories give me hope when I make awful, unsolveable mistakes, the Lord will be able to reconcile me to Him and still use my life. Wow factor! I'm not a lost cause and neither are you regardless of the mistakes we make, regardless of our ancestors mistakes.

Come with me back to the Lord who has great plans for us in spite of our pasts.

May we be like Rahab, Solomon, and even the woman who must fight for her rights-Tamar. Imperfect, yet so passionate about correcting wrongs in order to live for the Lord.

Liking those begat lists now.
Angie

Thomas Nelson Asks You...

2011-08-08T14:02:00.002-06:00

One of the highlights of our days in the Fiction department at Thomas Nelson? Receiving reader letters—either directly addressed to us or passed along from our talented authors. It’s critical to be reminded that at the end of our long days acquiring, editing, designing, selling, marketing, and publicizing books, those stories are reaching readers, striking nerves, changing lives. We want readers’ feedback. How stories have given you hope. Which authors’ series you can’t help from sharing with everyone you meet. We want to know what makes you stay up late in the night to finish a story, and conversely what turns you away.

We’re conducting a series of Thomas Nelson Promo Eprize—seeking answers from readers who love Christian fiction. Up for grabs is a free ebook for every respondent who completes the survery, as well as a $10,000 prize for one entrant. The responses we gather will help shape the future of the books we publish for years to come. As well as the data we’re collecting here, we’ll also seek more in-depth feedback from a panel we’ll develop over the next year. More details to come. The note below from one of authors gives a specific picture of how reader feedback shapes her work. In short, your opinion matters! We thank you for your time and appreciate your responding.

Dear Friends—
Publishing books is a team effort, and there are a lot of players—authors, editors, cover designers, marketing staff, and a host of other behind-the-scene folks who help get the books on the shelves. And readers are also a large part of the process. Your input matters, probably more than you know.

When I hear from readers, I really listen to what they want. This is particularly true with my series books. For example, Seek Me With All Your Heart (book #1 in the Land of Canaan series) wraps up nicely at the end, but one of my minor characters (Katie Ann) was left pregnant after her husband left her. I received lots of emails about Katie Ann from readers, so book #2 in the series—The Wonder of Your Love—is Katie Ann’s story.

With the popularity of social media resources such as Facebook, it has allowed me to keep in close contact with readers and to seek opinions and advice. Several times, the publisher and I couldn’t decide on a cover, so we posted the cover options on Facebook and let readers decide. And if you’re posting anywhere on my Facebook Fans Page, your name could end up in a book. I often scan the names there, so you are unknowingly helping me just by being on the site.

Readers also made it clear that they wanted books in digital format, large print, and audio versions. Authors and publishers listened, and most (if not all) of my books are available in multiple formats.
As an author, I hope to write entertaining stories that will be enjoyed for many years. As a reader, I have favorite authors, and I’m not afraid to let them know what I want in future books. We listen to the likes and the dislikes in our effort to bring you the best stories we can, so don’t be shy. Tell us what you think!
Warmly,
Beth Wiseman

MOVING FROM FEAR TO FREEDOM: A Woman-To-Woman Conversation Guide

2011-08-01T10:08:00.000-06:00

Angie here: I've had the opportunity to look over the Bible study and am excited to share it with my small group this fall. I do think this topic is timely and important to women and such a blessing that Grace Fox took the time to minister to others through Moving from Fear to Freedom. I think you'll be blessed too.

Has fear kept you awake at night? Has it hindered you from saying yes to a new opportunity? Has it caused you to make impulsive choices you later regretted? If so, you’re not alone! Fear is a big deal for many women. If left unchecked, it can prevent us from fulfilling God’s purpose for our lives. So, what’s the answer? How can we move beyond fear into freedom?

Author Grace Fox has partnered with Stonecroft Ministries to write a small group resource titled Moving from Fear to Freedom: A Woman-to-Woman Conversation. This resource addresses women’s common fears and gives biblical and practical strategies to move beyond them.

Questions and interview with Grace Fox:

Q: Fear seems to be an ever-present theme throughout the Bible. Describe the difference between healthy and unhealthy fear.

A: Healthy fear steers us toward wise decisions and actions. It promotes self-preservation. For example, we look both ways before crossing the street for fear of getting hit by a car. In contrast, unhealthy fear hinders our ability to fully embrace life because it consumes us with negative thinking and what-ifs. The effects can literally make us sick.

Q: How does destructive fear stunt our emotional or spiritual growth?

A: Destructive fear—the fear of rejection, for instance—might keep us from admitting to someone that we’ve been physically or sexually abused. Without receiving the help we need to deal with those issues, we never experience freedom. Our struggles might seriously hamper our ability to truly love and receive love in a marital relationship. This is just one example among many of how our emotional growth is affected.
Spiritually, fear can cause us to say no to God-given dreams or assignments because we’re afraid of personal inadequacy or financial insecurity. If we never step out in faith, then we never experience God’s ability to equip and provide in amazing ways. Spiritual growth comes when we say yes to God and “do it afraid.”
Q: You suggest we need to place our focus on God and not on fear. In practical terms, how do we do this?

A: Several strategies that I’ve found helpful…
Memorize Scripture promises and meditate on them throughout the day and as we fall asleep at night. We are transformed as our mind is renewed.
Fill our homes with praise and worship music.
Spend time in God’s word on a regular basis, not just when we’re in a panic. The more we do so, the more familiar we become with His promises and the better prepared we are to face frightening circumstances when they come.
Talk to the Lord throughout the day. Invite Him into the mundane. Practice His presence. The more we get to know Him, the more we’re able to trust Him in the face of fear.

Q: Most of us feel inadequate at times. You suggest we cannot use our inadequacies as an excuse for not participating with God’s purposes. How do we get past this?

A: We get past our fear of inadequacy by admitting we have it. Then we need to retrain our thinking to focus on God’s adequacies rather than our inadequacies.

Tell God how we feel. "Help! I don't think I can do such-and-such."
Tell a trusted friend and ask her to pray for us.
Move forward. Do it afraid and expect God to equip us.

Q: Describe this resource and how participants can receive the greatest benefit as they use it.

A: It’s a seven-week study filled with biblical teaching and personal anecdotes that can be used easily by either a small group of friends in a private home setting or a large women’s ministry. Each session begins by viewing a 25-30 minute teaching video. When the video ends, participants follow suggested Table Talk questions for about 15 minutes. Then they do the Bible study questions together. Each participant uses her own guide book so she can take notes and write answers. Facilitator’s notes are included. The study covers these topics:

an overview of fear
fear for our loved ones' well-being
fear of personal inadequacy
fear of rejection
fear of facing the ghosts of our past
fear of the storms of life
fear of the unknown future

Q: Where can we buy this study?

A: It’s available through your local Christian book store, on Amazon, www.barnesandnoble.com, www.christianbooks.com, www.stl-distribution.com, www.winepressbooks.com, and of course, on Grace’s website, where group discounts apply. www.gracefox.com. Visit Grace’s website for more information about her other books and speaking ministry. www.gracefox.com.

For more opportunities for a FREE copy of this DVD & Study Guide set of MOVING FROM FEAR TO FREEDOM, please follow this CSS Virtual Book Tour on Twitter (@Christianspkrs) or Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/CSSVBT.GraceFox.MovingFromFeartoFreedom)

I was given a complimentary copy of this DVD & Study Guide set from the author in exchange for posting the author’s interview on my blog. This blog tour is managed by Christian Speaker Services (www.ChristianSpeakerServices.com).

Love Finds You in Amana, Iowa

2011-07-27T01:25:00.001-06:00

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Love Finds You in Amana, Iowa Summerside Press (June 1, 2011) by Melanie Dobson Angie's thoughts: I'm excited to find a book in the 1860's because for so long, that was a time frame publishers were avoiding. So many books were written in the Civil War Era that no one wanted to publish more. But the reality is there are so many stories still waiting to be told. Melanie Dobson's writing is delicious. You just can't help wanting to feast on it in one sitting. Original, yet from a time frame we thought we knew, this is a story you will love.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Melanie Dobson is the award-winning author of The Black Cloister; Love Finds You in Liberty, Indiana; and Together for Good, and she has now authored nine contemporary and historical novels including Love Finds You in Nazareth, Pennsylvania which releases in November 2011.

Prior to launching Dobson Media Group in 1999, Melanie was the corporate publicity manager at Focus on the Family where she was responsible for the publicity of events, products, films, and TV specials. Melanie received her undergraduate degree in journalism from Liberty University and her master's degree in communication from Regent University. She has worked in the fields of publicity and journalism for fifteen years including two years as a publicist for The Family Channel.

Melanie and her husband, Jon, met in Colorado Springs in 1997 at Vanguard Church. Jon works in the field of computer animation. Since they've been married, the Dobsons have relocated numerous times including stints in Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, Colorado, Berlin, and Southern California. These days they are enjoying their new home in the Pacific Northwest.

Jon and Melanie have adopted their two daughters —Karly (6) and Kinzel (5). When Melanie isn't writing or entertaining their girls, she enjoys exploring ghost towns and dusty back roads, traveling, hiking, line dancing, and reading inspirational fiction.

ABOUT THE BOOK

With a backdrop of the community of The Amana Colonies, the Civil War, and a great love story, Melanie Dobson’s new historical fiction title LOVE FINDS YOU IN AMANA, IOWA both enlightening and entertaining.

The novel is set in the United States during the turmoil of the 1860s. As the rest of the nation is embroiled in the Civil War, the Amana Colonies have remained at peace with a strong faith in God and pursuit of community, intertwined with hard work, family life and the building of their colony.

Amalie Wiese is travelling to the newly built village of Amana in 1863. When she arrives in the colonies she finds that her fiancée, Friedrich has left to fight with the Union Army. Amalie fears for his safety as she also struggles with his decision to abandon the colony’s beliefs. Matthias, Frederick’s friend, stays back in Amana to work in the colonies. But there is something wrong with Matthias; he always seems angry at Amalie when there is no simple explanation for him to act that way.

The goods that colonies manufacture are much needed supplies for the war effort and Matthias decides to deliver the goods to the soldiers. When he leaves, Amalie realizes that her fear for Matthias’s safety is equally as strong. What will become of Friedrich, will Matthias return safely, and will Amalie marry Friedrich? LOVE FINDS YOU IN AMANA, IOWA is a richly told story of life in the Amana Society and the people who live and love there.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Love Finds You in Amana, Iowa, go HERE.

Already Compromised: Christian colleges took a test on the state of their faith and the Final Exam Is In by Ken Ham and Greg Hall

2011-07-10T14:30:00.000-06:00

Book review of Already Compromised by Ken Ham and Greg Hall:
Master Books, New Leaf Publishing Group, http://www.masterbooks.com

I've been reading Already Compromised on my Kindle. One thing that stood out to me was the open-ended questions the authors asked of different departments in various Christian colleges. These open-ended questions allowed for answers beyond the standard yes or no. It surprised me to see how easily misunderstood an answer could be. Not because of the question, but because the answer could use the same words and mean something completely different in definition. For example: Can you define the word "science"?

From page 48: "The primary dictionary definiton of the word science is basically "knowledge." However, this knowledge is based on certain assumptions about the past. If the assumptions are wrong, the conclusions reached will likely be wrong and we will misunderstand history. Understsanding te assumptions used to build historical knowledge is extremely important.

But knowledge gained by observation (five senses) and based on the repeatable test (empiricism) is called "observational science." This is the knowledge tha enables us to build our technology, understand how a cell works, and develop medicines.

When most people use the word science today, they are usually thinking in terms of "operational science". This becomes very confusing when secularists use the word science when talking about aspects of genetics that can be examined in a lab, and then turn around and use the word science when discussing the topic of nonobservable aspects of evolutionary ideas (e.g., life from nonlife, reptiles evolving into birds, etc.). Knowing that mutations in DNA can occur and be measured is not the same as asserting that we know how those mutations occurred in various populations over millions of years."

Another interesting help aid in Already Compromised is the scan seals. You can use your smart phone to scan on varioius pages to check out the study on Christian colleges. It's helpful because if you are interested in a college that earned higher marks on actual Christian theoligical teaching, they're harder to find than you think. But the scan tags inside the book help you do exactly that. Remember, as this book ages, you'll need to be more careful in ferreting out the information. But having this book as a college search manual will help you do that job successfully.

What I didn't like: I felt the diagrams with the percentages were too simplistic. They fit for a chalkboard style classroom, but for a book I'd like to see more precise diagrams. Personal preference here.

I really enjoyed exploring the differences in operational science and historical science. Great explanations to help us have a more concrete understanding of the misunderstood study of our past. Recognizing that starting at different points brings us to different conclusions is brilliant. Science guy 1 starts at a non-biblical point A. He cannot get to a biblical point because he's never understood the same starting spot. So even though science guy 1 is talking the same lingo with science guy 2, they may never be talking apples to apples. Fascinating concept as to why evolutionists cannot understand creationist. They're not on the same road because they're not using the same map.

I feel this book, Already Compromised, offers an excellent opportunity to look at the education system and gives excellent information on the degrading faith of our schools. I hope it will help you find the educational institution to build your faith or your child's while avoiding the pitfalls of those schools that will harm the future of our country. But even more important is that you now have at your fingertips, the opportunity to hold schools accountable for faithless education.

Duggar Family Amazon Book Special Promotion!

2011-06-25T12:38:00.001-06:00

Dugger Family Amazon Promotion is Simple, Easy, FUN!

Duggar Family Amazon Promotion!

1. Purchase A Love That Multiples and/or The Duggars: 20 and Counting Print Books on Amazon June 28-30, 2011

2. Go to www.DuggarFamily.com and click on the Redeem Amazon Promo Link

3. Provide your first name, Amazon Sales Number and your email address and hit Send

4. A return email will be sent to you containing all of the discount codes and free offers.
All coupon codes will expire on July 5, 2011 at 11:59 P.M. Pacific Time.

What do you get from me and the Gems of Wisdom Ministry?

Three different opportunities!

Gems of Wisdom: For a Treasure-filled Life -- 50% Off with Duggar Family Promo Code
Gems of Wisdom: For A Treasure-Filled Life is a treasure hunt for God’s unique gems of wisdom. Be empowered, learn to influence through your life lessons, and preserve important relationships. Gems of Wisdom fills your treasure chest with gems of wisdom so they overflow into the lives of others. Excellent for Bible study, book clubs, and individual study.

Creative Cooking for Simple Elegance -- 50% Off with Duggar Family Promo Code
E-book download
Creative Cooking for Simple Elegance How do you make elegant, inexpensive, and simple tables full of joy in this crazy world? Angela Breidenbach, speaker/author of Gems of Wisdom shares how & tips to simplify your life. Color photos for each recipe! Includes bonus section for health challenges plus kitchen/pantry shortcuts to simplify your life.

Creative Cooking for Colitis ebook in color! -- Free with Duggar Family Promo Code
(Kindle version is black and white)
Offers elegant, creative cooking, options for health challenges like IBD, Colitis, Celiac, and Gluten-Free & kitchen shortcuts. How do you make elegant, inexpensive, and simple tables full of joy in this crazy world? Angela Breidenbach, speaker/author of Gems of Wisdom: For a Treasure-filled Life shares how & tips to simplify your life. Full color photos for each recipe!

Duggar Family's New Book A Love That Multiplies Amazon Promotion

2011-06-24T18:40:00.001-06:00

Exciting news! Gems of Wisdom has been invited to be a partner with the Duggar family for their new book release, A Love That Multiplies!

The Duggar Family, stars of TLC TV Series 19 Kids and Counting, actually have two books out that allow 50 discount (from 25-75%) or FREE specials with this promotion. So stay tuned as I share more about this amazing opportunity :-)

I have 3 awesome opportunities for you in the Duggar Family promotion on Amazon starting June 28th.

1. Free ebook download of Creative Cooking for Colitis.

2. 50% off Creative Cooking for Simple Elegance ebook download

3. 50% off my new release, Gems of Wisdom: For a Treasure-filled Life

Their new book entitled A Love That Multiplies will be promoted on Amazon on June 28-30th.

Check out the Duggars website www.duggarfamily.com for all of the details. Over 45 partners will be offering up to 75% discounts, free eReports, eBooks, and more.

Remember it all starts on June 28 on Amazon.

Are You Unequally Yoked?

2011-06-21T21:51:00.000-06:00

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Winning Him Without Words Regal (February 15, 2011) by Lynn Donovan & Dineen Miller

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

Lynn Donovan

Verse: John 15:5 Apart from Me you can do nothing.

Tagline: Challenging Women to Live in Truth

A passionate writer and speaker, Lynn is a woman who presents a compelling message to encourage women to thrive in their marriage. She speaks at events nationwide where she challenges the myths women believe about love, pointing them to life-changing freedom through a relationship with Jesus. She reveals the zany yet meaningful stories of marriage challenges, truths, and triumphs in her life and invites women to share her view from her front row seat to an amazing journey; life lived for Christ.

Married since 1992 to her best friend and biggest enthusiast, Mike, she lives in Temecula, California. They have a son and a daughter and a wacky dog named Peanut. She loves to laugh, enjoys a strong cup of coffee and Fantasy Football and not necessarily in that order. She lives each day in awe of the grace of God in her ordinary life.

Dineen Miller

Verse: Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Tagline: Igniting the Soul

Dineen readily admits that one of the greatest lessons she’s learning about life is that there’s purpose in our trials. And it’s all about trusting God and putting our hope in Him. Her favorite stories will always be of the miracles God has wrought in the lives of her family.

Through this lens she also believes her years as a youth counselor, a Stephen Minister, a women’s ministry leader, and a small group leader have prepared her for God’s calling on her life—to write for and speak to those in mismatched marriages like hers.

In addition to writing for Spiritually Unequal Marriage, Dineen writes for Laced with Grace and various other fiction online magazines and newsletters. She’s also won several prestigious awards for her fiction, and her devotional writing has been featured in Our Journey and Christian Women Online Magazine.

Married for 23 years to a guy who keeps her young, she lives in the Bay Area with her husband, two precious daughters, and their dog Shasta, who no doubt is an angel in disguise.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Week after week, they sit in church . . . alone. They are the spiritually mismatched, those who are committed to a spouse who does not share their faith. Feeling abandoned by their spouse and forgotten by their church, they live out their faith in survival mode, guarding the spiritual flame yet never feeling free to share it. But God wants them to thrive—not just survive.

Winning Him Without Words presents 10 Christ centered keys to thriving in a spiritual mismatch. Readers are encouraged to commit to Christian community, to release their spouse to God’s capable hands, to find peace in their relationships with Christ and with their spouse, to continue their pursuit of a growing faith and to love their spouse with fresh enthusiasm. God wants every marriage to exude peace and love, and Winning Him Without Words empowers readers to create that environment in their homes and thrive as God works.

Watch their book video:

If you would like to read a sample chapter of Winning Him Without Words, go HERE.

Guest Susan Sleeman shares her contest for new release, Behind the Badge!

2011-06-16T08:22:00.000-06:00

Enter to win a copy of Susan Sleeman's Behind the Badge

and a $50 Amazon gift card!

Susan Sleeman here. Behind the Badge, my second romantic suspense book for Love Inspired Suspense will release on June 6th and in honor of all of you, the readers, I am hosting a special contest on my website for the month of June.

Let’s face it. Without you, the wonderful readers, books would not exist and I wouldn’t be able to wake up looking forward to a job that is fresh and exciting each and every day. Praise God for this incredible opportunity!

Now back to the contest. All you have to do is read the excerpt below then go to my WEBSITE and answer the following question. That's it. You're entered to win.

If you'd like to sign up for my mailing list to learn of other contests in the future you can do that at the same time, too. Full contest rules are on the entry page. Remember only one entry per person.

QUESTION: What item let Russ know the bike was street legal?

SUSAN SLEEMAN is a best-selling author of romantic suspense and mystery novels. She grew up in a small Wisconsin town where she spent her summers reading Nancy Drew and developing a love of mystery and suspense books. Today, she channels this enthusiasm into writing romantic suspense and mystery novels and hosting the popular internet website TheSuspenseZone.com.

Her books include Nipped in the Bud, High-Stakes Inheritance, Behind the Badge, and The Christmas Witness. Also watch for the first two romantic suspense books in her Justice Agency series coming from Love Inspired suspense in 2012 and featuring a private investigations firm specializing in helping those who traditional law enforcement has failed.

Susan currently lives in Florida, but has had the pleasure of living in nine states. Her husband is a church music director and they have two beautiful daughters, a very special son-in-law and an adorable grandson.

To learn more about Susan visit her website, Facebook , or Twitter.

"YOUR SISTER IS NEXT!"
A killer is threatening the life of rookie cop Sydney Tucker's sister-unless Sydney turns over evidence from a drug bust. But she doesn't have the evidence. Not that the thug believes her. Now she and the sibling in her care are under the watchful eye of Logan Lake police chief Russ Morgan…but will his protection be enough?
The killer is closing in, picking off the people and places that mean the most to Sydney. A list that now includes Russ. To protect her loved ones, will she pay the ultimate price-her life?

The Morgan Brothers - Bk 2

Love Inspired Suspense June 6, 2011

ISBN-10: 0373444478

ISBN-13: 978-0373444472

READ AN EXCERPT:

Chapter One

Gunshots split the inky darkness.
Deputy Sydney Tucker hit the cold ground, a jagged rock slashing into her forehead on the way down. She reached for her service weapon. Came up empty handed. She'd stopped after work to check on the construction of her townhouse and left her gun and cell phone in the car.
Dumb, Sydney. Really dumb. Now what're you gonna do?
Inching her head above knee-high grass, she listened. The keening whistle of the wind died, leaving the air damp and heavy with tension but silence reigned.
Had she overreacted? Could be target practice. But at night? Maybe. Hunters did crazy things sometimes.
Footfalls pounded from below like someone charging through the brush. No. Two people. Maybe a chase. One person after another. A loud crash, branches snapping.
"What're you doin', man," a panicked male voice traveled through the night. "No! Don't shoot! We can work this out."
Three more gunshots rang out. A moan drifted up the hill.
Not target practice. Someone had been shot.
Sydney lurched to her feet, dizziness swirling around her. Blood dripped into her eyes. She wiped it away, blinked hard and steadied herself on a large rock while peering into the wall of darkness for the best escape route.
Heavy footfalls crunched up the gravel path.
"I know you're here, Deputy Tucker," a male voice, disguised with a high nasally pitch, called out. "We need to talk about this. C'mon out."
Yeah, right. Come out and die. Not hardly.
Praying, pleading for safety, she scrambled deeper into the scrub. Over rocks. Through grass tangling her feet. Her heart pounded in her head, drowning the prayers with fear.
"I'm losing patience, Deputy," he called again in that strange voice. "You're not like Dixon. He had it coming. You don't."
Dixon? Did he mean the man she arrested for providing alcohol to her teenage sister and for selling drugs? Was that what this was about?
Rocks skittered down the incline. The shooter was on the move again. No time to think. She had to go. Now!
Blindly she felt her way past shrubs, over uneven ground. Dried leaves crunched underfoot. Branches slapped her face and clawed at her arms, but she stifled her cries of pain.
"I hear you, Deputy."
She wrenched around to determine his location. A protruding rock caught her foot, catapulting her forward. She somersaulted through the air. Her knee slammed into the packed earth and she crashed down the hill. Wrapping arms around her head for protection, she came to a stop, breath knocked out of her chest, lying flat on her back in a thick stand of weeds.
"So you want to play it that way, do you Deputy? Fine. Just remember, you can run, but you can't hide. I will find you. This will be resolved one way or another." His disembodied laugh swirled into the night.
The darkness pressed closer. Blinding. Overwhelming. Terrifying.
She was easy prey. Even with her bulletproof vest, a few rounds fired in her direction would take her out. She had to get up.
She rose to her knees, but pain knifed into her knee, keeping her anchored to the ground.
Lord, please don't let me die like this. Give me the strength to move. I need to live for Nikki. She's only seventeen. She has no one.
Sydney uncurled and came to a standing position. Taking a few halting steps, she tested the pain. Nearly unbearable. But she could-no she had to do this for her sister.
Thinking of Nikki, she gritted her teeth and set off, moving slowly, taking care not to make a sound.
Out of the darkness, a hand shot out. Clamped over her mouth.
Screams tore from her throat, but died behind fingers pressed hard against her lips.
A muscled arm jerked her against a solid chest and dragged her deep into the brush.
God, please, no.
She twisted, arched her back, pushing against arms like iron bands.
She dug her heels into the ground, but he was too strong. He kept going deeper into the brush before settling them both on the ground behind a large boulder.
"Relax Sydney, it's Russ Morgan," Logan Lake's Police Chief whispered, his lips close to her ear.
Russ Morgan? What was he doing here?
"Sorry about the hand." His tone said she was nothing more than a stranger instead of someone she'd known for years. "I didn't want you to alert the shooter with a scream. I'm gonna remove my hand now. Nod if you understand me."
She let all of her relief escape in a sharp jerk of her head. His fingers dropped away.
"Once the shooter rounded that curve, you would've been a goner," he whispered while still firmly holding her. "Good thing a neighbor reported gunshots."
Sydney started to shiver and breathed deep to steady her galloping pulse. Air rushed into her lungs. She was alive, but barely. No thanks to her own skills.
"You okay?" he asked, his breath stirring her hair.
"Yes." She willed her body to stop shaking and eased out a hiss of disappointment in her performance as a deputy. "How long have you been here?"
"Long enough to hear the shooter claim he's hit Dixon and is coming after you next," he whispered again, but urgency lit his voice and rekindled her fear. "This have to do with your arrest of Carl Dixon the other day?"
"I don't know," she whispered back. "I just stopped to check on the construction of my townhouse on my way home from work."
"Off duty, huh? Explains why you don't have your weapon drawn."
"I left my duty belt in my car." She waited for his reaction to not carrying, but he simply gave a quick nod as footfalls grated against gravel.
"Shh, he's about to pass us." Russ leaned forward and drew his gun with his free hand, but didn't release his hold on her.
Crunching steps came within a few feet of their location. Halted.
"Can you feel me breathing down your neck, Deputy? I'm inches from finding you." He didn't know the accuracy of his words.
She felt Russ's breathing speed up, upping her concern and washing away the brief blanket of security his arms provided. Adrenaline urged her to move. To keep from panicking, she focused on Russ's unwavering weapon.
The shooter took a few steps closer. Her heart thumped, threatening to leave her chest. Russ tightened his hold as if he knew she wanted to bolt.
The shooter spun sending gravel flying then headed up the path.
As his footsteps receded, she tried to relax taut muscles. The warmth from Russ's body helped chase out her fear and the chill of the night. Thank God Russ was here. If he hadn't come.
She refused to go there. God had watched over her. Provided rescue, just not in the form she'd have chosen.
Not only was Russ an officer from the city police force-a team often in competition with the county sheriff's department where she worked-but a man she'd had a crazy crush on in high school. A man whose rugged good looks still turned women's heads.
She let out a long sigh.
"I know this's awkward," he whispered, "but hang tight for a few more minutes. We need to wait for him to head back down the hill."
She wanted to protest and suggest they flee now, but not Russ. He thought clearly. Taking off now gave the killer the advantage of higher ground, making them moving targets. They'd have to sit like this until he passed them again.
If they made it out of here, which the approaching footfalls told her wasn't at all certain.
They pounded closer. The shooter moved at a quick clip this time as if he thought she'd gotten away and he was fleeing. Or maybe he was heading to her car to lay in wait for her.
As the footsteps receded again, she felt Russ's arm slacken.
"Time to roll," he whispered. "Stay here."
"But I-"
"You have a backup?" He referred to a back up gun officers often carry.
She shook her head.
"Then wait here." He gave her the hard stare that'd made him famous around town and crept toward the path.
She leaned against the boulder and wrapped her arms around the warm circle on her waist where he'd held her. Without his warmth, she couldn't quit shaking. The reality of the night froze her inner core.
She should listen to Russ. Lay low. Wait until he apprehended the killer.
That was the safe thing to do.
The easy thing to do.
The wrong thing to do.
Not for everyone, but for an officer of the law, letting a shooter escape without trying to stop him wasn't an option. Even if that shooter had her in his sights, she'd make her way to her car for her gun and help Russ stop this maniac before he hurt anyone else.
*****
Near the ditch, Russ came to a stop and fought to catch his breath. Taillights on a mud splattered dirt bike roared up the trail. He'd warned the suspect to stop, but short of shooting him in the back, Russ couldn't stop him from fleeing into the dark.
At least he'd accomplished his primary objective. To protect Sydney and keep her alive. Now he needed to alert his men and the sheriff's office to the suspect's whereabouts.
He lifted his shoulder mic and ordered a unit from his office to stake out the end of the trail for the motorcycle and an ambulance in case Dixon survived. Then he asked dispatch to patch him through to the county sheriff's department to make sure they knew he'd taken charge of the scene so none of their hotshot deputies arrived with the hope of usurping control.
He turned on his Maglight and headed up the hill. The beam of light skipped over gravel and lush plants lining the winding path. Midway up, rustling brush stopped him cold. He'd left Sydney higher up. Nearer the lake.
Was a second shooter hoping to ambush him?
He flipped off his light and sought protection behind a tree. His breath came in little pulses in the unusually cold air for a typical Oregon fall. Adrenaline with little time to ebb away came roaring back, but even as the noise grew louder, he resisted the urge to take action.
Maybe it was Sydney. The Sydney he used to know wouldn't have listened to his directive and stayed put. She'd trounce down the hill, her chin tilted at the same insolent angle as when he told her he didn't return her crazy crush her freshman year of high school. Not that he'd wanted to send a beautiful, lively girl like her away. He could easily have dated her, but he was four years older, in college. With their age difference, it wouldn't have been right.
Bushes at the path's edge shook then parted. Slowly, like a sleek panther, Sydney slipped out. He watched until she stood tall on those incredibly long legs he'd admired since she was sixteen before lowering his gun and aiming his flashlight at her.
She jumped. Peered up at him, an impudent look planted on her face. This was the Sydney he'd known as a teen and heaven help him, in less than thirty minutes, she'd sparked his interest again.
"Care to shine that somewhere other than my face." She perched her hand over her eyes, warding off the glare.
He moved the light but not before he caught a good look at a gaping wound running from her hairline to eyebrow, covered in congealed blood. He lifted his hand to check out her injury, but stopped. He wouldn't probe a wound on one of his men's faces. As a fellow LEO-law enforcement officer-he wouldn't treat Sydney any differently.
"I told you to stay put." He infused his words with authority.
"I wanted to help. Wish I'd listened. I tripped over the body." She held out blood-covered hands. Her eyes watered as if she might cry.
Man. Don't do that. Don't fall apart. He couldn't remain detached if she started crying. He'd have to empathize, maybe give her a reassuring pat on the arm. Maybe feel her pain and resurrect all the reasons he'd left his homicide job in Portland.
He changed his focus. Nodded at the brush. "Show me the body."
As a faint whine of sirens spiraled in the distance, she limped into tall grass, a grimace of pain marring her beautiful face. He followed, illuminating the area ahead of her. About ten feet in, she suddenly stopped. He shone his light a few feet ahead of her.
Diffused rays slid over a young male lying on his back. Russ swung the beam to the man's face landing on open eyes staring into the blackness above.
Sydney gasped and swung around him. She rushed toward the main path. Even though Russ knew it was a lost cause, he bent down to check for a pulse. No question, this man hadn't made it and no question about his identity. Carl Dixon, a man every LEO in the area knew from his frequent blips onto the police radar and the most recent arrest for selling drugs.
All that ended with three gunshots to the chest at close range from what Russ could see with his flashlight. Once they thoroughly processed the scene, he'd know better. But first, they needed to vacate the area before further contaminating the scene.
He found Sydney near the path, gaze fixed in the distance, hands clasped on her hips and exhaling long breaths as if trying to expel what she'd just seen.
Haunted eyes peered at him. "He's dead, right?"
"Yeah."
"And what about the killer?"
"Couldn't catch him. He took off on a dirt bike."
Disappointment crowded out the fear on her face. "Did you at least see him?"
"From the back. He was my height or a little taller, but lean. Wore a black stocking cap. The bike has a plate so it must be street legal. I caught the first few digits."
"That's something, then."
Russ didn't want to tell her it would do little for them in terms of searching DMV records as three digits would return thousands of bikes, but he didn't think she could take any more bad news so he kept quiet. "Let's head down to the parking lot."
He gave her the flashlight and urged her to take the lead down the steep hill. Once on solid concrete, she handed it back to him. Holding it overhead, he watched her closely for dizziness or other impairments from her fall. He saw nothing out of the ordinary, but a head injury could mean a concussion. He'd have the EMT's check her out when they got here.
He pointed at a rough-hewn bench. "Maybe you should sit down."
"I'm fine " Her voice cracked and she seemed embarrassed over reacting to the murder.
"It's okay to be upset, Syd. A horrible thing happened tonight."
"I'm fine really. I'll be back to a hundred percent by morning."
Text copyright © by Susan Sleeman
Permission to reproduce text granted by Harlequin Books S.A.

Pompeii: City on Fire by T.L. Higley

2011-06-15T11:01:00.000-06:00

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance introduces Pompeii B&H Books (June 1, 2011) by T.L. Higley

Angie's Take: What's not to love? I have a fascination with Pompeii since I was a child, a love of history, and an action packed novel. What are we really chasing during our lifetime? Is it vengeance or love or freedom? Come enjoy the battle for all of these including a race for survival and eternal life.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A fiction aficionado since grade school, T.L. Higley, author of Pompeii: City on Fire (B&H Publishing House, June 2011) started her first novel at the age of eight.

Now the author of nine historical fiction novels, including the popular Seven Wonders series, Higley isn’t just transporting readers: She’s transporting herself, too.

“My Iifelong interest in history and mythology has taken me to Italy, Greece, Egypt, Rome, Turkey, Jordan and Israel, where I’ve gotten to study those ancient cultures in rich detail,” says Higley. “It’s my desire to shine the light of the gospel into the cultures of the past, and I figure what better way to do that than to visit the cultures themselves?”

In addition to her accomplished novelist career, Higley is a business entrepreneur and a mother. In fact, for Pompeii, she brought her daughter along with her to Italy for the research trip.

“We gave it to her as a graduation present, not only because Italy is terrific, but because I believe in exposing children to global cultures,” says Higley, who became a student herself again this year. She’s now a graduate student at American Public University, earning her master’s degree in Ancient and Classical Studies.

When Higley isn’t traveling on research trips, writing her novels, or studying for class, she operates four online retail companies, including KoolStuff4Kids.com – a family-run business that began as a way for her oldest daughter to make some extra money for camp. Today, it is a go-to site for parents, children and teachers all over the country, looking for beads and other kid-friendly craft supplies.

Higley lives with her husband and her three other children (aforementioned daughter now in college) just outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Pompeii, a city that's many things to many people. For Cato, it's the perfect escape from a failed political career in Rome. A place to start again, become a winemaker. But when a corrupt politician wrongfully jails Cato's sister, he must oust the man from power to save her.

For Ariella, Pompeii is a means to an end. As a young Jew, she escaped the fall of Jerusalem only to endure slavery to a cruel Roman general. She ends up in Pompeii, disguised as a young man and sold into a gladiator troupe. Her anger fuels her to fight well, hoping to win the arena crowds and reveal her gender at the perfect time. Perhaps then she will win true freedom.

But evil creeps through the streets of Pompeii. Political corruption, religious persecution, and family peril threaten to destroy Ariella and Cato, who are thrown together in the battle to survive. As Vesuvius churns with deadly intent, the two must bridge their differences to save the lives of those they love, before the fiery ash buries Pompeii, leaving the city lost to the world.

Watch the book trailer:

If you would like to read the Prologue of Pompeii, go HERE.

What do you do when things go wrong?

2011-06-03T08:53:00.000-06:00

Do you have days when the world seems to be spinning backwards? Yep, me too. The last few days my sons have had a spammer hacking into their email accounts. I dutifully let them know. Then I changed my password because it appeared the hacker was systematically going through every email he/she could crack in our family. What a hassle!

But in changing my email password to protect myself, I accidentally locked myself out of accessing it on my blackberry. Now you have to know I have a love/hate relationship with this blackberry anyway. Things that are simple on other devices take an FBI clearance on mine. So for the last 2 days, I've been trying to get the email back on the blackberry. (Luckily I still have access when on computer.)

But even contacting the company causes a time lag and headache. The issue happens when we're busiest, doesn't it? And if we're not, the incessant fixing we have to do every day in our lives seems to wear on us. The daily plan was to work out, eat, get a little writing done before heading to a lunch date with a friend who's moving away. Then this evening is a fun family festival, First Friday, in Hamilton, MT where I'm the featured author with Gems of Wisdom: For a Treasure-filled Life and Creative Cooking for Simple Elegance.

But the day started off much differently. Now on holding pattern on the work out and breakfast, hoping to solve the email dilemma, I'm feeling a little grumpy. I think I'd have been less grumpy if some silly prankster hadn't called my cell 3 times at 2 in the morning. I had to silence it to stop the annoyance.

Had a morning like that?

Here's my thoughts: I'm going forward anyway. The world isn't going to stop spinning. I'm not going to get more sleep. The email issue isn't going to fix itself. The 3 "but" comments above don't change set appointments and goals. Having a flexible attitude is crucial in a backwards spinning world. It lessens the stress and allows us to use creativity to solve our dilemmas. But (and the most positive one of the series of "but" comments) is I'm going to stop first and hand it all over to God. I'm asking Him for a spirit of positive influence and for joy to replace my grumpy mode. Then a little coffee for the tech session might just put me over into a smile.

What do you think? How do you handle a morning gone awry?

What's Your Calling?

2011-05-27T17:17:00.000-06:00

Lately in interviews and on social media I've been asked, "Who are you and why do you do what you do?" Valid, but very tough question to answer. Can you off the top of your head?

In writing and speaking, I consider myself someone who helps others to learn how to walk their faith daily. The teach-a-man-to-fish concept helps me explain. If we get to the root problem, we can find solutions. Glossing over the symptoms is more like feeding a man for a day. If we don't deal with the real problem, hunger emerges over and over and over. Hunger for our purpose, the meaning of life, and the call to do great things. It's easy to be dissatisfied when we feel handicapped by fear, misery, resentment, and pain.

It all centers around a few main questions.
What's that daily faith thing look like?
How do I do it when there's all this junk in my life?

That's why I wrote Gems of Wisdom: For a Treasure-filled Life. I want to help people accept Christ's call on their lives in spite of the battles going on around the situations in their lives.

I get a deep sense of fulfillment when someone is freed from past pain to walk on their God-given path. That's how I know I'm living in my gifting, my call. It's in the sense of satisfaction I feel, the rightness deep in my being. I want to help other people have that sense of deep satisfaction.

We are called for a purpose. But many folks can't answer that call because they've been deafened by the noise of the emotional daily battle. That's how I felt. Enter God and His message in Romans 8:28.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, whohave been called according to his purpose. (NIV)

I don't consider myself an evangelist who gives the call to become a Christian. I can, but that's not my specific gifting.

I'm better suited to be the encourager helping someone learn to live as a Christian on a daily basis and reach for the dreams God placed inside of them. I think our giftings come out in the challenges we overcome. Those challenges are our training ground, the place we learn to use the gifts personally so we can turn around and use them to help others.

Is it okay that I don't claim that gifting? It's actually scriptural. Not everyone is meant to be and do everything.

God put our bodies together in such a way that even the parts that seem the least important are valuable. ²⁵He did this to make all parts of the body work together smoothly, with each part caring about the others. ²⁶If one part of our body hurts, we hurt all over. If one part of our body is honored, the whole body will be happy.
²⁷Together you are the body of Christ. Each one of you is part of his body. ²⁸First, God chose some people to be apostles and prophets and teachers for the church. But he also chose some to work miracles or heal the sick or help others or be leaders or speak different kinds of languages.²⁹Not everyone is an apostle. Not everyone is a prophet. Not everyone is a teacher. Not everyone can work miracles. 1st ~Corinthians 12: 24b-29 (CEV)

So why do you supposed we try to lump all Christians together to do the same job?
What's your gifting?

Angie Breidenbach

What do you do when . . .

2011-05-22T23:25:00.000-06:00

Life gets so busy.
The to-do list is too long.
The phone keeps ringing and you can't get anything done.

Stop.

It sounds counterintuitive, but when the world starts to crash in on you, stop.

Everytime the list, work, busy life starts to hammer me I instinctively start to push back harder. It feels like if I just get one more thing done I'll be back on top of things. Then it all comes tumbling down and I feel even more overwhelmed.

The last few weeks I started to recognize when I took time out to rest, I'm more productive. How strange? So I tried it again. One more time it proved fruitful. Hmm. Starting to see a pattern here.

What about you? Are you willing to stop and rest for the sake of productivity?

2011-05-20T01:23:00.000-06:00

My daughter and I were urged to compete in a mother/daughter look-a-like contest on our local KPAX TV station. Here's the pic we submitted from the book launch party for Gems of Wisdom. I was so happy to have her there :-)

Would you consider voting for us? They have a safe server, and you do have to make a quick account so they know you're a real person, not a spammer. For me, it's about bonding with my daughter. For my daughter, she thinks it's just funny ;-)

Mariah and Angela

Click below to vote

What's Your Message?

2011-05-09T00:33:00.010-06:00

I was asked this weekend why I wrote my book, Gems of Wisdom: For a Treasure-filled Life. I said I'd been given a message, a mission. Then I was asked for the information again in a completely different situation, for the May 9th (today's) feature on Lindi Peterson's blog.

It's been a popular question. Have you been asked something similar? It may be phrased differently in different situations too. See how you'd answer these:

What message is most important to you to share?
What's your story?
What do you most want to accomplish?
How do you want to be remembered?
Tell me about yourself...

I'm sure there are so many ways to ask that deeper question, who are you and what do you have to give the world?, but the real question is how will you answer it?

Please come and enjoy these moments with me as the question is posed in many different forms, from many different people, and even in several different venues. But I'm curious about yours too, so please remember to share in the comments.
Today on the air
Zechariah's Song Internet radio show 4pm Mountain/5pCentral/6p Eastern. They'll be playing the Gems of Wisdom theme song too!! Directly, you can visit IShoutforJoy.com

Tomorrow on the air
4pm Mountain I'll have the honor of being interviewed by Zechariah's Song. They wrote the theme song for Gems of Wisdom and it hit #3 on internet radio! They'll be playing it on the air for you to hear!

Today on blogs:
Diana Brandmeyer hosts http://www.pencildancer.com/2011/05/gems-of-wisdom-for-treasuer-filled-life.html

Lindi Peterson hosts: http://www.lindipeterson.com

Janalyn Voigt hosts: http://www.bookreadercentral.blogspot.com

Amazon alert:
My publisher and distributor are working with Amazon to get books into them. It should only be a matter of a few days before it's resolved. In the meantime, or anytime, you can get an autographed copy quicker from my website, if you like. http://www.mygemofwisdom.com/products-page/

Fun Interviews for Gems of Wisdom new release

2011-05-04T10:19:00.002-06:00

Sharing with you the interviews, guest posts, and blog tour stops for Gems of Wisdom: For a Treasure-filled Life. Please come and enjoy some behind-the-scenes info, snippets from the book, and other fun moments. ~ Angie

http://writespassage.blogspot.com/2011/04/guest-blogger-angie-breidenbach.html

http://www.christylasheasmith.com/search/label/Angela%20Breidenbach

http://rosemccauley.blogspot.com/search/label/Angie%20Breidenbach

Homekeepers on CTN (Christian Television Network) on Tuesday, May 3.
You can find it on Dish, Direct TV, or the CTN satellite channels.
http://www.ctnonline.com/Watch.html
Direct TV CH 376
Dish CH 267 & 9399
Sky Angel IPTV CH 136
Glory CH 117

Janice Thompson's blog on Monday http://janiceathompson.com/blog/?p=917

http://www.Encourageanauthor.blogspot.com May 2-6 book give away included.

May 3rd Kathi Macias hosts me at: http://kathieasywritermacias.blogspot.com/2011/05/gems-of-wisdom-from-treasure-filled.html

May 6th http://hartlineliteraryagency.blogspot.com/

May 9th http://www.lindipeterson.com/

May 9th http://www.zechariahssong.com/#!__radio-show

May 9th Diana Brandmeyer's www.pencildancer.com (blog)

May 9th Janalyn Voigt's http://bookreaderscentral.blogspot.com/ digital book give away included.

May 10th, 2-3pm Mountain, KRKS 94.7 FM Denver radio. An hour long live interview with Stephanie Riggs Show, Divine Calling.

May 13, Christian Review of Books christianreviewofbooks.com

Shirley Connolly's blog May 13th-19th http://www.apenforyourthoughts.blogspot.com

May 13-15, Inkwell Inspirations will be hosting an interview, book review, and missions focused post, one each day of the weekend. http://www.inkwellinspirations.blogspot.com

May 16th (with book give away May 20th) www.theborrowedbook.blogspot.com

May 23rd, Missy Tippens blog.

May 31st, on Radio Blog: http://abookandachat.blogspot.com show airs 6:30 pm Eastern

Angie's on CTN's Homekeepers Show today!

2011-05-02T23:20:00.000-06:00

I'll be on Homekeepers on CTN (Christian Television Network) on Tuesday, May 3rd.
Eastern times are 5:30 am and 1 pm. Mountain times are 3:30 am and 11 am. Oh yes, I recorded them. I'm a night owl, but I hit the hay a few hours before that time slot airs :-)

This particular interview is very open and transparent because Arthelene Rippy was very interested in a couple of specific topics:

Brain donation

My mom's last words

And was I angry with Jesus?

You're invited to hear the answers.

We taped last week while I was in Florida for Christian Retailing's Retailing Reboot conference. What an awesome experience, both the conference and the TV interview!

You can find Homekeepers on Dish, Direct TV, or the CTN satellite channels.
http://www.ctnonline.com/Watch.html (I have to admit on my mac laptop, I had to zoom to view this graph of the show line up.)

Direct TV CH 376
Dish CH 267 & 9399
Sky Angel IPTV CH 136
Glory CH 117

Appreciatively,
Angie

Swept Away

2011-04-25T01:14:00.000-06:00

Angie: I wanted to share with you a unique style of book for young adult readers. Nicole O'dell first dedicates the book to her own children because she wants them to have the influence of good books as they grow up. But the way Nicole writes the stories is exactly what young adult readers will love. She lets them explore ideas through friendship with the characters. These characters explore both good and not so good choices. The interactive concept comes into the story in the last three chapters where the reader gets to live out an opposite ending to the books. Just love this. I think the stories are fun, interesting, and with well developed story lines. YA readers will love the ability to peek into an alternate reality when they read through to a different outcome. Fun, fun, fun with a bit of maturation tossed in the mix. Swept Away is the book I had the opportunity to review and present to you, but the publisher has also provided a little teaser for the other books in the series as well as a question/answer section with Nicole. Read on. I hope you'll enjoy :-)

Introducing Nicole O'dell

Author bio:

She writes. She talks. She reads. She changes diapers. Nicole O'Dell is a mom of six--including a set of toddler triplets who may or may not be potty trained sometime in 2011. Jury's still out on that one. She is the author of a bunch of YA books, including the popular Scenarios for Girls interactive fiction series and the upcoming Diamond Estates Series, 10/11. She's also the host of Teen Talk Radio at www.choicesradio.com. You can find her books and links to all the fun social stuff at www.nicoleodell.com.

About the book:

Swept Away

In High Stakes, seniors and best friends, Amber and Brittany, are neck and neck in a good-natured com- petition for a car being given away by a local business. In Essence of Lilly, sophomore Lilly Armstrong is always looking for ways to escape the confines of her unhappy home. She “invents” youth group activi- ties just so she can hang out with her boyfriend, Jason—the only one in Lilly’s life who makes her feel special. What happens when Amber and Lilly are faced with making difficult choices? How will they handle the risky business? Readers help Amber and Lilly make the difficult decisions and see how their choices create consequences with life-altering results.

Risky Business:
In Magna, Molly Jacobs gets hired at the ultimate girls’ clothing store and her friends—even the popu- lar girls in school—are envious. In Making Waves, sophomore Kate Walker has decided to try some- thing new this year. She secures a spot on her school’s swim team but soon becomes obsessed—with practice and making it through the championships with flying colors. What happens when Molly and Kate are faced with making difficult choices? How will they handle the risky business? Readers help Molly and Kate make the difficult decisions and see how their choices create consequences with life- altering results.

Dare to be Different:
In Truth or Dare, Lindsay Martin and her friends begin playing a game at sleepovers, and it all starts as harmless fun. . .until the dares become more and more risky. In All That Glitters, high school fresh- man Drew Daniels wants to be as different from her twin sister as possible—new haircut, new clothes, new friends. . .and a boyfriend. What happens when Lindsay and Drew are faced with making difficult choices? Will they dare to be different? Readers help Lindsay and Drew make the difficult decisions and see how their choices create consequences with life-altering results.

Trailer Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kW13j07rGDM

Defending Glory by Anne K Albert

2011-04-22T02:17:00.000-06:00

I'd like to introduce you all to a lovely romantic suspense writer. She has one book out and the second coming out very soon. Please enjoy an excerpt by Anne K. Albert from her book, Defending Glory.

~Angie

About the book: Defending Glory

Suffering from survivor's guilt and unable to resume his career with the FBI, Mac McKeown moves to northern Minnesota to start over as a general contractor and forget that fateful day that changed everything. When he discovers the body of the man who ended his career on Glory Palmer's property, along with a warning for her to leave while she still can, Mac realizes his past has come back to haunt him and an innocent woman's life is in danger. He vows to keep her safe during construction of the retreat, but can he protect his heart as well?

Also available on Kindle

EXCERPT

“All the wiring's ruined,” the fire chief replied. “And the little that can be salvaged is woefully out of date. It wouldn't meet code even if it could be repaired.” He rhymed off the names of three local firms he recommended for the job.

Glory and Mac thanked him and followed him outside to his truck. Silence reigned as they watched the vehicle disappear around a clump of cedar trees and down the lane.

She climbed the porch steps slowly, as if her feet were made of cement blocks, slumped into a deck chair and gestured for him to join her.

“This isn't good, is it?” she said.

“According to the fire chief it could've been much worse.” Mac explained about the leaking roof.

“I suppose I should be thankful for small blessings, but right now I'm finding that very difficult to do. We're already two weeks behind. One week due to the murder, and now another because of a suspicious fire. Everything scheduled to take place this week is once again on hold. Not a lick of work can be done without electricity, can it?”

“I'll do my best to get an electrician on site this afternoon.”

She tapped the toe of her sandal on the wooden deck. “I'm afraid we've got another problem.”

“What's that?”

She pulled a small fridge magnet from her pocket and handed it to him. “I found this on my car door this morning.”

In bold neon letters, it displayed the telephone number of the Piedmont Island Fire Department. Printed in black permanent marker along the bottom were three words.

I warned you.

Buy link for Defending Glory: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0045JL61E

Visit Anne's website: http://www.AnneKAlbert.com

or her blog: http://anne-k-albert.blogspot.com

BIO : Anne K. Albert is author of the romantic suspense Piedmont Island Trilogy series. DEFENDING GLORY, first book of the series, was released in September 2010. PROTECTING GLORY, second of the series, will be available August 2011.

Are you intentional?

2011-04-20T00:15:00.000-06:00

How was your day?

Some days seem to be filled with productivity and others, well, they kind of get away from me. Yesterday was one of those. No matter how hard I tried, I felt like the day was slipping into the sea of lost causes.

Frustrated, I reworked my to-do list and tried again. But to no avail. At the end of the day I realized part of my problem was fatigue. I'd been going and going faster and faster until my day was no longer productive but frenetic.

Today I did much better. Then it started to feel overwhelming again. So you know what I did? I intentionally took the afternoon off. I took from about 2:30 p.m. until well after dinner and just relaxed. The shocker came. Yep, yep, yep. When I pulled out the work I needed to finish, I did the same amount in less time.

As I look back over the last few weeks, I can see the pattern. Every time I pushed too hard, my productivity went down. Now I'm refocused. Not on all that has to be done. That's on the list. I'm refocused on taking intentional time off to revitalize and refresh.

Will you take intentional time off? What would that look like? How can you plan for it?

Angie

I called Him Dancer by G. Edward Snipes

2011-04-12T03:17:00.006-06:00

Love endures all things... What a perfect theme for this novel. As Raquel continues toward her dream of Broadway, her lost love tumbles in the gutters off broadway. But God's plan is a bit more than Broadway for both of them. Eddie Snipes offers us the opportunity to travel with Michael from lost to redeemed and to understand that God's love is never too far away and we are never too bad for God to love us. You'll love I Called Him Dancer.

What can a teen do to earn some money now?

2011-04-11T03:09:00.006-06:00

Guest article from Carol Topp:

Here are some ideas for a micro business a teenager can start this spring:

House cleaning: Offer to tackle large jobs like washing windows, moving furniture, etc. Many people are grateful for a young, strong teenager to help them with heavy lifting. What is easy for you might be very difficult for them, especially if they are an older person.
Routine house cleaning: Some customers need regular house cleaning and may hire you on a weekly or monthly basis. Don't wait for them to ask: offer to come weekly or twice a month and see what they say.
Attic cleaning: Offer to help people do a job that they put off, such as cleaning an attic.
Garage cleaning: A big job that can earn you big bucks!
Yard cleanup: Offer to trim bushes, pull weeds, plant flowers and spread mulch to spruce up a yard.
Car and van cleaning: People spend a lot of time in their automobiles and their cars and vans need frequent cleaning. Melissa gladly paid to get her van cleaned inside and out every week because her four children could really make a mess in it. You can make some cash by offering to clean a van inside and out.
Organize. Organize a house, playroom or garage. Charge the customer for any bins, tubs and labels that you purchase for them and then add on the value of your time. Take before and after photos to use on your advertising fliers.
Declutter: Do you love HGTV shows on organization? You might be able to find someone to hire you to declutter their house like you see on TV.
Garage sales: Advertise, organize and run a garage sale for your neighbors. Get several neighbors to participate together and really earn the bucks!
eBay sales: Offer to sell your neighbors' stuff on eBay and take a cut for yourself. Combine the decluttering, garage sale and eBay tasks into a full package to help your customers profit from their excess stuff.

(This is an excerpt from Carol's article. Full article available at docstoc.com)

Carol Topp, CPA advises teenage business owners though her Micro Business for Teens book series. Carol’s day job is accountant to business owners, and she enjoys teaching teenagers to succeed beyond their dreams. Students appreciate how she shares what they need to know in clear and helpful lessons. Her website is MicroBusinessForTeens.com

About the book:

With unemployment rates high, the teen population is finding it harder and harder to find work. Adults are competing for the same minimum wage jobs. But there’s an alternative—starting a microbusiness. What is a micro business? It is a very small, one-person business that you can start easily and quickly with what you already know or own. No money needed, low risk and no debt! Students can spend as much time running a micro business as they wish and can even close it down during busy times. The best advantage for teens to own a micro business is that it not only brings in extra cash (often more than imagined), but students end up learning a great deal about business, money and themselves. It may lead to an entrepreneurial life or at the very least, prepare students for higher learning opportunities.

Starting a Micro Business will help teenagers earn money while learning how to start their ownbusiness. A micro business is simple to start, usually home-based, low risk, educational and easy for a busy student to run. This book offers ideas, a business plan, starting with no debt, pitfalls to avoid and resources to get a teenager started making money running their own micro business.

Have Teens? Starting a Micro Business for Teens!

2011-04-10T03:53:00.000-06:00

Wow, where was this book when I was a teen? Where was it when I was raising six kids?

Starting a Micro Business for Teens is the best thing to hit the market for parents since...well, you get the picture. I'm so sold on this book by Carol Topp! She's got a quick, easy to read and easy to understand style. It pops off the page with fun examples of what a normal American teen can do to earn extra money. But what it really does is set up a teen for success.

I found a workbook on Amazon too. She also has a Micro Business for Teens website. I'm so impressed at all the tools she's put in the hands of our smart, capable, and able young people. I'm also thrilled because I don't think it's a book a teen would toss aside as too complex or even boring. It's such a fast read. It drew me in and surprised me. I really did expect a dry litany. Instead I found vibrant ideas and excellent advice.

Do you have a teen who wants to show what they're capable of achieving? Do you have a school library you could share this book with to help kids? Let's do all we can to prepare the next generation of leaders by feeding their curiosity and ambition in a healthy way now.

Thank you, Carol Topp, for taking the time to care enough to write this book.

Stop by tomorrow (4/11/11) for some tips, Carol's bio, and comment to be in a contest for a grand prize give away.

Angela Breidenbach, Speaker/Author
Creative Cooking for Simple Elegance
Gems of Wisdom: For A Treasure-filled Life, Journey Press

http://www.AngelaBreidenbach.com website
http://www.GodUsesBrokenVessels.com blog
http://www.christianspeakersservices.com/angela-breidenbach-christian-speaker-author.html