Tag(g)lines...

Happy President's Day...day off or not.

2012-02-20T06:00:00.004-06:00

President's Day is a horribly under observed holiday.

By which I mean I should totally have today off work.

But even though I'm still required to be at my job, far be it from me to let the day go uncelebrated. So I thought I'd share a few presidential fun facts. Thank you, Mr. Internet, for your help.

James Monroe, the fifth president of the United States, died on the Fourth of July, 1831. Interestingly enough, both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson also died on July 4th. Sort of makes you wonder if presidents ever since have held their breath each Independence Day.

Martin Van Buren was the first president actually born an American citizen. All the presidents before him were born in the British colonies. Better not tell Donald Trump!

John Tyler had fifteen children. All I can say is Mrs. Tyler must've been one tired first lady.

Chester A. Arthur was known to change his pants several times a day. Apparently the dude had over 80 pairs of pants. Oddly, I couldn't find any source mentioning why he changed his pants so often...and suddenly I wish I didn't have such a vivid imagination.

Warren G. Harding gambled away a set of White House china. Says Mrs. Obama, "Ahhh, that's what happened to them!"

Herbert Hoover apparently spoke chinese to his wife in order to keep their personal stories private. My question: Did Mrs. Hoover even understand chinese?

There you go. Don't you feel smarter and oh-so-celebratory now? Do you have Presidents Day off work? Whether you do or don't, if you could do anything today to celebrate P-Day, what would it be?

He hears.

2012-02-17T05:57:00.001-06:00

Hey friends, I'm blogging over at the MBT Ponderers today about, well, Auntie Ann's pretzels, malls, friends, tunnel vision, community. I promise it's not as schizophrenic as that description makes it out to be. I hope you'll hop on over and check it out.

In the meantime, I'm going to keep things short and sweet and thankful around here. I read the coolest verse yesterday:

All my longings lie open before you, O Lord; my sighing is not hidden from you. ~Psalm 38:9

Is life filled with longings or what? From the serious sort down to the everyday stuff, it's all lying out in the open before God...without me having to say a word. In fact, he hears our sighs.

Now, I'm not advocating any of us going all Sighing Sally on God or the people around us. But...it is awesome to me to know God is listening even when words aren't making it past my lips.

He hears the sighs of my heart.

Do you have longings you sometimes wonder if God remembers? Isn't it comforting to know he does? How does Psalm 38:9 encourage you? Any sigh-worthy moments this week? (Yes, it's totally okay if you answer that you woke up sighing on Wednesday after realizing how much chocolate you ate on Valentine's Day. Hehehe....)

Welcome Mat Wednesday: Lisa Jordan

2012-02-15T06:00:00.006-06:00

So, I used to get a little bummed out by Wednesdays...you know, that whole mid-week slump thing. But now, I love 'em...thanks to wonderful guest posters here at Tag(g)lines!

Guests like the lovely Lisa Jordan. Lisa is such a skilled writer! I first got to know Lisa through My Book Therapy and now consider her a wonderful friend. I remember at least year's ACFW Conference when she handed me an advanced reader copy of her first novel...oh, tears!

Lisa's keeping with our February theme and writing about love...and, yes, Richard Gere. :) And we're doing a contest! Join the conversation below and I'll enter you into a drawing to win a copy of Lisa's debut novel Lakeside Reunion. Facebook/Tweet the link and you'll be entered twice. The deadline to enter is Tuesday, February 21, at 5 p.m.

A Promise of a Lifetime

Worn from an exhausting week, I curled up in my comfy leather chair in the corner of the living room, plugged in my ear buds, and watched Shall We Dance on Hulu.

If you’re not familiar with the story, it’s about a married man played by Richard Gere who is blessed in many ways, but longs for happiness in the routine and drudgery of his life. He spies a woman in the window of a dance studio he passes daily on the L-train. Somewhere in the middle of the movie, he tells her, “You looked on the outside the why I was feeling on the inside.”

His wife, played by the lovely Susan Sarandon, suspects he’s having an affair and hires a private detective, who learns her husband is taking dance lessons. When she confronts her husband, he admits to being ashamed about not being happy. Later, she suggests he can teach her to dance, but very sternly he tells her he’s not dancing anymore. Then he goes to her and apologizes by saying,

“The one thing I am proudest of in my whole life, is that you're happy with me. If I couldn't, if I couldn't tell you that I was unhappy sometimes, it's because I didn't want to risk hurting the one person I treasure most. I'm so sorry.”

When John is invited to a farewell party for the dance instructor, his wife gives him a gift—something he wants that finally comes in a box—dancing shoes. With the song “The Book of Love” playing in the background, the viewer watches John wrestle with his passion for dance. Then on the way home he looks at the dance studio window and sees a dance invitation for him.

Looking dashing in a black tux and carrying a single red rose, he takes the escalator to where his wife is working late and hands her the rose. She asks why he isn’t at the dance, and he tells her to dance he needs a partner, and his partner is right in front of him. He asks her to dance, but she doesn’t know the steps. He promises to teach her.

When we’re young and in love, passion runs strong and we may not be able to keep our hands off our partner. Once the wedding cake is eaten, the dress cleaned and put away, the honeymoon over, and photos framed, couples face spending the rest of their lives together.

The kids come. The house payment needs made. The car needs to be inspected. And the everyday life has a way of stealing away the joy we may have felt on our wedding day. The passion gives way to the mundane. We may feel taken for granted. Or even forgotten. Or maybe even cast aside for someone else in search of that passion again.

True passion, true love is the kind that runs deep—the kind that withstands the mundane, the kind that supports a job loss or life-altering illness, the kind that vows are made of—for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part.

That’s a promise we make to our dance partner—it’s a promise to care for him or her, a promise to teach her the steps, a promise of a partnership. A promise for a lifetime.

Married for almost 24 years, Lisa Jordan knows a little something about romance. She and her husband have two nearly-grown sons and will face an empty nest in a few months. Despite the mundane, they still take time to dance. Lisa is a contemporary romance novelist with Love Inspired. Her debut novel, Lakeside Reunion, released in November 2011. Her second novel, Lakeside Family, will release in August 2012. To learn more about Lisa, visit her website at www.lisajordanbooks.com.

What a beautiful post, Lisa! (Lisa also included a video from Shall We Dance...it's below. So sweet. Sidenote: I love how Shall We Dance places such a high value on marriage.) You know, I think Lisa's post relates to our faith as well. True, passionate faith, withstands the sometimes-mundane-ness of everyday life, too. What do you think, readers?

The candy I can't stop talking about.

2012-02-13T06:00:00.007-06:00

I've said it before and I'll say it again: I love candy conversation hearts.

It's not that they taste all that good. I mean, come one, chew on a piece of chalk and swallow a spoonful of sugar and you'll get the same effect.

It's the novelty. Good treats can't help but make good conversational pieces. Brachs hearts? Yeah, they take that literally.

I once went an entire workday communicating with a coworker solely through conversation hearts. Some may have called such an action flirting. Um, no. I called it a challenge.

My favorite thing about conversation hearts? Their ability to keep up with the times. Last year when I came across "Be My Icon," I'm pretty sure I choked with glee. Or maybe that was the just the chalkiness of the heart making its way down my throat.

But...I do think Brachs is missing out on a few possibilities. I'm willing to sell the following ideas to Brachs...for a price. (And if they want to pay me with a life-time supply of candy, who am I to complain?)

My ideas:

Pokerface: This is the one you give to the girl who's playing coy with her affections. Or someone who's a Lady Gaga fan.

iPray 4 U: Genius if I do say so myself. A combination of Apple awesomeness with Christianity. Perfect for that brother or sister in Christ suffering the effects of Microsoft.

Entail Luv: For the Downton Abbey fanatics. Because we all know, were it not for that entail, Mary never would've met Matthew.

Tweet Me: This would obviously replace the "Call Me" heart...which actually may have already been replaced by "Email Me"...which was probably replaced by "Text Me."

Be My Prez: For the election-weary. Forget Republicans and Democrats. I vote for love. Hehehe...

I Bieberlieve in U: Um, I can't even think of anything to say about this one.

And on that note, I'd better call it quits before someone gives me a heart that says "Ur Crazy." :)

What's your stance on conversation hearts? Yummy or nasty? Any ideas for new phrases of your own?

(Trying to) Be Still.

2012-02-10T06:00:00.002-06:00

Picture taken at the Omaha Zoo. Sorta wish I could spend a day relaxing like Mr. Sloth.

First, today I'm guest blogging about the MBT Frasier Contest at my writing friend Michelle Lim's blog. Check it out here.

Second, congrats to Susan! You won the drawing for Rachel Hauck's book, Love Lifted Me. Susan, if you could email me your mailing address at melissatagg[at]yahoo[dot]com, I'll get it mailed off right away. Or, feel free to message me via Facebook or Twitter (@Melissa_Tagg). And just FYI for everyone else, Susan has a great blog!

Finally, so, it turns out I'm not immune to stress.

Surprise, surprise.

Actually, I am a bit surprised. I used to be the nothing-fazes-me girl. I wore "yes" like Cliff Huxtable wore sweaters. Bring it on. I can do it.

Or maybe not so much anymore. Yep, stress has taken its toll on me in recent weeks and landed me at the doctor's office a couple times now. Boo. But hey, I'm finding a person can get a lot of work done while sitting in the waiting room. :)

Anyway, there's a verse I always tend to come back to when stress or any of its annoying friends (anxiety, fatigue, "I can't do this"-itis) creep up on me.

Be still and know that I am God. ~Psalm 46:10

Love that verse. But this week I've been asking myself, how does a person "be still" when you can't exactly, um, be still. I can't skip work. I can't shirk commitments. Lovely as it sounds, I can't spend full days in bed gnawing on Twizzlers and watching back to back episodes of Downton Abbey. So how do I "be still?"

Have you ever wondered that? Ever had a sincere desire to take those words seriously, but lost as to how to live them out? I know as Christians, we often talk about "being" instead of "doing"...

But how do we "be still" while "doing" life?

I've got some ideas: Letting my morning quiet time expand into the rest of the day. Turning off the noise, maybe even the music in my car, and letting conversation with God fill that space. Prioritizing. Choosing to let go of a few to-dos, even if it stings.

And I think a big piece of "being still" is that second part of the verse: Knowing God is God. Choosing to believe He's in control, the ultimate help in all things.

But I'd really like to hear from you! How do you "be still and know He is God" Do you have tips for being still in the midst of "doing" seasons?

Welcome Mat Wednesday: Jessica Patch

2012-02-08T06:00:00.082-06:00

Confession: I sort of went into this blogging thing kicking and screaming. (Literally? Figuratively? Guess!) It was hard to commit to blogging when I wanted to spend time with my good friend Mr. Novel. But I knew I needed to do it.

What I didn't know was that in addition to helping me hone my voice and who I am as a writer, blogging would also mean new friends. One of those friends is today's guest: Jessica Patch!

I'm not sure how Jess came across my blog, but I'm so glad she did. She's a blast. I love her blog, and can't wait to read her books someday. And, dude, today's post—awesome. So read away and enjoy and let's chat about...kisses. :)

Sealed with a Kiss: XOXO

I believe the first romantic line about kissing came from a young woman who didn’t feel good enough to belong to the man who loved her completely. She says, “I am dark, but lovely.”

My favorite line from her is: “Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth, for your love is sweeter than wine.”

That’s a sigh moment.

There’s a song that says, “A kiss is just a kiss…” (As Time Goes By—Casablanca)

But I don’t believe that for a second.

That line comes from the Song of Songs 1:2. Song of Songs means Loveliest Song. And it is. It’s a beautiful love story, full of passion, heartache, regret, and redemption through love with an ultimately satisfying ending. Bliss. Most would say this is about Solomon in general and the his beloved. But it’s also, and I believe mostly, a story of the love of Jesus for His bride—for us. An intimate picture. Full of symbolism and heart fluttering moments.

So what’s really in a kiss anyway? Is it just two people attracted to each other? And how important is it in a story?

It’s everything.

I dare to say the first kiss in a book is much more powerful than the first time a couple takes it all the way to the bedroom, and as an inspirational writer, that never takes place graphically. The door to the bedroom shuts. But even so, even in books that leave the door open, the kiss means so much more.

A kiss is powerful.

Research shows the following: (and I’ve taken it verbatim from here)

“Anyone who has ever been kissed knows that the sensations involved aren't confined to the mouth. Your facial nerve carries impulses between your brain and the muscles and skin in your face and tongue. While you kiss, it carries messages from your lips, tongue and face to your brain to tell it what's going on. Your brain responds by ordering your body to produce:

Oxytocin, which helps people develop feelings of attachment, devotion and affection for one another

Dopamine, which plays a role in the brain's processing of emotions, pleasure and pain

Serotonin, which affects a person's mood and feelings

Adrenaline, which increases heart rate and plays a role in your body's fight-or-flight response”

Can I just say, my daughter is not allowed to kiss until her wedding day—which by the way—is an agreement or a seal, the kiss at the close of a wedding.

Sealed with a kiss.

That’s why we use the X for a kiss. XOXO. In ancient days, people who couldn’t sign their name on an agreement used an X. The O is for encircling, thus an O represents a hug. But that’s just a freebie on the side for you!

A kiss from our Savior is when He breathes the Word into us. Ancient Jews believed that when they read scripture it was a kiss from God. Think about it, when you read your Bible and personal revelation comes, what happens?

Oxytocin: You develop an attachment to, devotion and affection for the One who just kissed you.

Dopamine: Your brain processes and brings pleasure. Giddiness even.

Seratonin: Your mood and feelings are affected. A kiss from Jesus can you send you into a state of calm, elation, tingling, and exceeding amounts of happiness. Complete. Loved. Joy.

Adrenaline: A rush as your heart beats faster knowing He’s just given you exactly what you needed. Personal revelation. A kiss.

I believe everything physical is always a spiritual picture of God and His relationship to and with us. We can understand spiritual intimacy because we experience physical intimacy. I think He designed it that way on purpose, because we just can’t wrap our brain around how truly glorious and wonderful our Lord is or how intimate His love is for us.

What do you think? Is a kiss just a kiss? And how important is that moment when you’re reading a novel or watching a movie?

Jessica R. Patch writes inspirational contemporary romance with plenty of mystery and suspense. A passion to draw women into intimacy with God keeps her motivated, along with heaping cups of caffeine in the form of coffee. When she’s not hunched over her laptop or speaking to a women’s group, you can find her sneaking off to movies with her husband, embarrassing her daughter in unique ways, beating her son at board games and contemplating how to get rid of her irksome dog (she hasn’t attempted any of them…yet). She is represented by Rachel Kent of Books and Such Literary Agency.

Connect with Jessica on Facebook...Twitter...Goodreads...and her blog!

Kicking off the MBT Frasier Contest Blog Tour

2012-02-06T06:00:00.024-06:00

In early 2010, I did something I'd never done before.

And no, I'm not talking about giving up pop. Though, I did attempt it in 2010. And it did...last about eight days. Yup, one of those resolutions.

Nope, what I'm talking about is my first-ever writing contest.

In 2010, I entered the My Book Therapy Frasier Contest. I'd been working hard on my first novel, Losing Cullaway, ever since attending the MBT Storycrafting Retreat the previous fall. Entering a contest was the next logical step in my whole I-want-to-be-a-writer dream.

But not just any contest. The Frasier stood out to me because it truly was—is—a storycrafting contest, looking at all the must-have elements of good fiction: hook, inciting incident, noble quest, sympathetic characters, etc. Going into it, I knew the perks were plenty:

The opportunity to take what I've learned through MBT and put my skills to the test? Check.
The chance to get my writing in front of industry experts? Check.
Being forced to write a concise synopsis? Eek and check.
Feedback! Okay, that one doubled as a fear-slash-perk, but I knew I'd benefit. Check.
The prize possibility—a free MBT retreat. Check.

But perhaps the biggest benefit of all was simply the fact that entering the Frasier Contest pushed me out of my comfort zone. I've written about my Frasier Contest prep before – here and here. You might say I had a slight (okay, mammoth) case of nerves, but I lived. It forced me let go of a story I'd put so much time, effort, heart into...let someone else's eyes consume the product of my passion. For me, not an easy thing to do.

But totally worth it in the end. The judges' feedback was awesome. They didn't simply slap a number on a scoresheet. They explained their scores, pinpointed exactly what they liked about my scene and what I could improve on.

If this sounds like a commercial for the Frasier, that's exactly what it is. I've become a huge believer in feedback from those "in the know" and a contest like the Frasier is one of the best ways to gain that feedback.

So, don't miss out! The 2012 Frasier Contest is open until March 31. All the details are available here. This year's final round judges include award-winning author Susan May Warren; Karen Ball, literary agent with the Steve Laube Agency; and Stephanie Broene, acquisitions editor with Tyndale House Publishing.

Finalists will be recognized in June, and the winner will be announced at the 2012 MBT Pizza Party/Frasier Awards at the annual ACFW Conference in Dallas in September.*

By the way, Frasier chatter will be lighting up the Internet in the month to come! The blog tour continues tomorrow with my friend Beth Vogt, whose debut novel releases from Howard Books in May! And then on Wednesday, 2011 Frasier winner Andrea Nell continues the fun. And, um, can I just say, I could really learn a thing or two about speech-giving from Andrea? :)

Have you ever entered a writing contest? How did it impact your writing? And...will you be entering the 2012 Frasier Contest? Say yes and we can be best buds.

*FYI, planning is already underway for the annual MBT party. Can you say fun? Of course you can...unless you're, like, one. But seriously, it's going to be such. a. blast!

Being family.

2012-02-03T06:00:00.023-06:00

Awww, it's my mom and dad...happy birthday, Dad!

Today is my dad’s birthday! Happy birthday, Dad!

Now, my dad is the coolest dad in the world. People can argue with me if they want, but I took a class called the Art of Persuasion in college, so I’m pretty sure I’ll come out on top.

Except, wait, perhaps I’m not as persuasive as I like to think since no one seems to be on my side in the whole "Diet Coke with Lime is the best pop in the entire world" argument. Just two days ago, a natural health dude told me I was going to die if I kept drinking aspartame. Okay, he didn’t say that…exactly. But I couldn’t get his voice out of my head when I popped the tab on my can an hour later.

Anyway, I love my dad and count myself amazingly blessed to be his daughter.

Probably many people would call their dad “the best dad ever.”

Others wouldn’t.

Others didn’t know their father growing up. Or had an abusive father. A father present physically, but absent as a parent.

I see many of those hurting men, women and children in the ministry where I work. And it makes me sad. Not only because of how their lives have been negatively impacted, but also how their lack of a loving father figure is affecting their spiritual life.

"God...my Father?" they wonder. "Thanks, but no thanks." They've been there, done that, and have the emotional and/or physical scars to prove it.

Because they haven't tasted the love of a father on earth, they don't know how to feast on the love of a Father God.

I think that plays out in other ways, too. In those who've never experienced the loyalty of a friend. The comfort and nurturing of a mother. The wise counsel of a mentor. Never been on the receiving end of a sacrificial show of love. Belonged in a family or close-knit community. Experienced forgiveness.

How can they understand these things about God when they've had no preview from those around them?

Well, I came across this verse this week:

God sets the lonely in families, he leads forth the prisoners with singing.
~Psalm 68:6a

And I started thinking...How does God "set the lonely in families?" Downtrodden men who grew up without a father don't suddenly get dads who model sacrificial love and hard work. Children yanked from place to place while their messed up parent stumbles time and time again don't always suddenly get a stable, two-parent home. Women who've only ever been taught how to use their bodies to get what they want don't suddenly get mothers who teach them what real love is.

But what can they get?

A family made up of God's people.

When we step up, we prove there is such a thing as sacrificial love...forgiveness...sincere concern...active faith...freedom.

By fulfilling our calling, we point hurting hearts to truth:

There's a Father God who is everything theirs wasn't.

A family ready to fill the gaps.

And a hope beyond what they've known.

Have you ever stepped up to fill a role in the life of a lonely or hurting person? How can we, as Christians, reach out to those who don't understand Christ's love? Has someone ever "filled the gap" in your life?

Welcome Mat Wednesday: Rachel Hauck

2012-02-01T06:00:00.003-06:00

So, who besides me is totally freaked out that it's already February? Actually, I'm not that freaked out because you know what February means? Candy conversation hearts, oh yeah!

But forget Feb...you know what Wednesday means? A guest poster! I feel honored to welcome award-winning author Rachel Hauck! Oh, I Iove Rachel's books...and her teaching, too. Her class on symbolism seriously changed my writing.

February's guests are all writing on love, and Rachel took that theme such a beautiful direction. I know you're going to be blessed.

In addition, I'm doing a giveaway today!! Leave a comment below for a chance to win a copy of Rachel's latest release, Love Lifted Me. This is the third book in Rachel's series co-written with country music star Sara Evans. Post about the contest on Facebook or Twitter to be entered twice. The contest closes at 5 p.m. CST on Tuesday, February 7.

A Picture of Love. Mary at the Cross.

She didn't recognize Him. Bruised, bloody, beaten.

He stumbled under the weight of the thick splintered cross. Wind tunneled down the narrow street, billowing His blood soaked robe. Flesh hung and she could see the jagged edges of His skin and muscle. She could see through to the bone. Bile rose in her throat and tears streamed down her face without restraint. What had they done to Him? Why?

The man she loved, whose feet she'd washed with her tears, was tried as a common criminal. Battered and humiliated beyond recognition. For what? For loving them? For healing them?

"He's in the market every day," she shouted, against the jeering and mocking of the crowd."You know Him. He is innocent."

Her voice echoed back, falling to the ground, her heart pounding in her head like wild beating of drums until she screamed. "Stop! Leave him alone!"

Isn't that how He defended her the night she washed his feet with her perfume? "Leave her alone," He commanded Judas and the others. "She's done this for my burial."

She knew then of His complete acceptance, His unrelenting love. His eyes never left her face, yet no man ever looked at her the way He did. Pure. Without demand. Without lust. Now, oh now, she dared to gaze at Him again. She should be the one, bloody, beaten, carrying the cross.

He'd fallen along the way and his blood stained the cobblestones.

"Get up!" The soldier demanded, kicking his ribs.

Pain gripped his torn face. He tried to rise, but the cross tipped off His shoulder and He stumbled again.

Help him. Help him.

Then, there, His hand, reaching out to her. To her. His eyes were swollen closed, but his hand, trembling, red and dripping, reaching. To her? His friend. My friend. Mary, oh Mary...

But she drew back, afraid to stretch her hand toward His.

"You! Carry the cross." The soldier jerked a man from the crowd. He tripped and fell before him, but with such care, rose up and shouldered his load of the cross. Blood fell on the man's robe, his hands and feet.

Caught up in the throng, Mary followed the procession to the hill. Sobbing, uncontrollable, helpless to stop them as they nailed His hands, His feet to the splintered tree. He flinched with each blow of the hammer, but not once, not once did He cry out.

Willing He went, she now knew. But why? He's innocent. So beautiful.

When they raised Him up, the cross settled into the hole in the ground, the air went silent. Mary shoved forward -- let them do to her what they will -- and stood at the foot of His cross, and with one last breath, He gazed down at her. There were others, crowding around, but she knew He saw her alone.

Blood streamed into his eyes, seeping from the thorns. She dared, reaching up to touch his trembling, pierced foot. And when she did, He sighed.

Any other time, any other man, she would not have recognized Him. But there, in His eyes, she saw her true love. His lips parted. A smile. Did he smile? In the midst of such suffering, did he smile? At me?

Then she understood, with every part of her being, the purpose of this Man. More than the night she wiped His feet with her hair. More than when she looked at His face as He silenced her accusers. His purpose was complete and Mary, yes Mary of Bethany, knew complete and utter love, without condition.

Nothing could separate them now. Not even death.

Rachel Hauck lives in lovely central, coastal Florida and writes books from her turret tower, overlooking her backyard. Her books have won the ACFW Book of the Year award and finaled in RWA's prestigious RITA Award. But none of that means a thing without love. She's married to Tony for almost 20 years. They have no children, but a dog. Which is practically the same thing. So she's been told. :) She graduated from Ohio State in 198blabla and is a huge Buckeye sports fan. Follow her on twitter. She occasionally shouts for JOY!

Wow, thank you, Rachel. I'm guessing I'm not the only one who finished reading with goosebumps. Readers, how did Rachel's words impact you?

Remember to leave a comment to be entered into a drawing to win Rachel's latest release, Love Lifted Me! Contest deadline is Tuesday, February 7, at 5 p.m. CST.

How to cope...with facebook changes.

2012-01-30T06:00:00.007-06:00

I did it, folks. I made the switch to Facebook Timeline. Word on the street is, by the end of this week Facebook will automatically switch everyone over. So I figured, hey, why not pretend I have a choice in the matter and take the plunge on my own?

Now, I'm going to be honest: Usually I roll my eyes when people complain about Facebook changes...on Facebook. But this time, I'm very close to joining the grumpy status update bandwagon simply because my brain is so confused when I look at my new profile.

However, since God made it incredibly clear he's not big on complaining—Israelites being swallowed up by the earth ring a bell?—I've decided instead to help all of us Timeline-hesitant folks deal with our online angst.
Presenting...

How to Cope with the Latest Facebook Change in 10 Easy Steps

1) To start off with, why not talk to a war veteran? 'Cause, you know, perspective is always good.

2) Take some time to reflect on Mark Zuckerberg's feelings. The dude was eviscerated on the silver screen. Have some sympathy and pretend you like his latest brainwave.

3) Go on an ever-popular Facebook fast! You'll be so happy when you come back, you won't even mind that you have to reset your privacy settings...again.

4) Dig out your old Bop-It and play. Because, seriously, doesn't Bop-It make everything better?

5) Remind yourself: Facebook is free. Now, if I spent money on a pair of stylish jeans and woke up tomorrow to find them morphed into stone-washed MC Hammer pants, it'd be totally appropriate to shake my head in disappointment. But Facebook? They've got every right to go kooky on us, peeps, because we're not paying them a dime.

6) Read this article on ehow.com to learn how to use your Facebook Timeline. I get such a kick out of ehow. As long as you're there, you should probably also read this article on how to eat Pixie Stix (not even joking) and this one on how to train a pet monkey. (Turns out monkeys are naturally suspicious. Who knew? The good people at ehow.com, that's who.)

7) Sit down and make a list of all the positive changes Facebook has made through the years. For instance, remember when they got rid of the "is" after everyone's name. Or when they added the "like" button.

8) As long as you're in list-making mode, write down all the things you dislike about Timeline...then burn the list. Take joy in the symbolism...and the excuse to hold a mid-winter bonfire. (What, me? Enjoy fire?)

9) Visit an old MySpace page. Again, it's all about perspective. Don't you feel better about Facebook now?

10) Finally, at the top of your lungs, with as much gusto as you can muster, sing "I Will Survive" in the style of whichever cover version most fits your personality. Personally, I prefer Miss Piggy's rendition:

Finally, if none of these coping mechanisms help you, if you still find yourself bedraggled and befuddled at the latest Facebook switchup, all I can do is suggest you click here and follow the instructions.

Happy Facebooking!

How do you feel about the Facebook Timeline? More importantly, isn't Miss Piggy awesome?

The God who laughs.

2012-01-27T06:00:00.004-06:00

See that pink jacket I'm wearing? It's vital to the story I'm about to tell. Remember it! :)

First, an acknowledgement: I wouldn't be writing today's post if it weren't for my mom.

Well, if we want to get reeeal technical, I wouldn't be writing any posts without my mom...or my dad, for that matter.

But about today: In Wednesday's guest post comments section we had a lot of chatter about BBQ sauce—'cause, you know, it's awesome. Especially on chicken. And pulled pork. And fries. (Excuse me while I go raid the fridge.) Among those comments was one from my mom, encouraging me to tell my "sauce story."

Beause I like to be an obliging daughter, here goes:

Forget my usual oatmeal.
Can I please have this for breakfast?

A few years back, when I was still living up in Northwest Iowa, my sister, brother-in-law and I headed to good ol' Sioux City...to one of my favorite places. Ever. Famous Dave's.

Famous Dave's is like memory city for me. There's the time the huge guy in the pig costume sat down beside me. The time a waiter caught me sampling all the BBQ sauces while I waited for my meal. The time I came the closest I ever have to punching a guy. (Don't worry: I didn't. 'Cause I'm a lady. I'm genteel. And I also had no desire to break my knuckles.) The time I spilled my pop. The other time I spilled my pop. The time my sister exclaimed loud enough for the whole restaurant to hear that the cornbread muffin take-home containers were "soooo cuuuute!"

And the night of the sauce story.

So, the three of us had a pretty lousy day. Honestly, I have no memory of why. I just remember that we were looking to cheer ourselves up. And as any good Iowa girl knows, pork tends to do the trick.

Now, you need to know this about me: I'm a napkin in my lap kind of girl. So, all throughout this meal, as we're chatting, laughing, giving the grumps a good heave-ho, I'm wiping my sticky fingers on my napkin, right? Nothing unusual about that.

Then, it gets to the end of the meal. We're feeling stuffed. We're feeling good. I reach for the napkin in my lap...

Only to pull up my favorite pink jacket.

Yes, I'd mistaken my jacket for a linen napkin.

(No, Famous Dave's does not have linen napkins.)

Yes, it was covered in BBQ sauce.

Yes, we laughed so hard I hit my forehead on the table.

Favorite Famous Dave's memory ever.

Okay, okay, so Fridays are supposed to be devo day around here. And I've tried to think of ways to twist my sauce story into something spiritual. Find the perfect verse or use my stained jacket as a metaphor for sin.

But maybe I don't have to.

Because God likes simple, undiluted laughter, don't you think? And don't you think sometimes, perhaps, He takes delight in our delight? Smiles at the silly things we do...maybe even plans or prompts those moments of "I can't believe I just did that" when He knows we need a pick-me-up?

I think He might. I think even with all the war and famine and disease going on in the world, He has time to laugh with us.

And for me, today, that's enough.

What do you think? Does God laugh? If so, when has He laughed with you?

Welcome Mat Wednesday: Magdalene Landegent

2012-01-25T06:00:00.062-06:00

Yay, today's Welcome Mat Wednesday guest is one of my favorite girls with whom to eat barbeque chicken pizza, go to London, watch 24, go on walks in blizzards, see Coldplay in concert, make birthday cakes, go rollerblading down dorm hallways, drink tea, eat nutella...oh the list could go on and on!

Her name is Magdalene Landegent. She's a newspaper reporter, wife and mom...a great writer, too!

Check out the video intro, enjoy Maggie's post and join the conversation in the comments!

Deciding what's on top (and bottom)

I have never thought so much about poop in my life.

What color? How much? When was the last time?

So a while ago, some guys I know seriously threw around the idea of starting a blog called the Daily Dump, featuring once-a-day photos of, well you get the idea.

My reaction: "Ewwwwww..."

But now, as a new mom, poop has taken on a whole new meaning.

When faced with a tiny human being whom you love immensely but who can't communicate his needs, you have to use whatever clues you can find.

It just so happens a lot of those clues can be found in his diaper.

Don't believe me? Just Google "my baby's poop..." and you'll have enough reading material to keep you busy for at least 366 dumps, er, days.

All this to say, my life has changed.

Things that didn't matter to me suddenly are on my top 10 list.

And things that used to be priority got bumped down a few rungs on the To Do list, and, more likely, to the "Ha-ha-that's-funny-I-used-to-have-time-to-think-about-that" list.

Isn't Maggie's baby Ray cute?

One was a pretty hard change for me to swallow.

I work at a daily newspaper in Le Mars, Iowa, interviewing interesting people, writing stories, taking photos, covering events.

It's a lot of fun most days — sometimes I compare it to being on Mr. Rogers — getting to tour the ice cream cone factory and flying in a military helicopter.

After several years there, I went from reporter to editor — with great trepidation. Organization is in another universe from my strong suits. And I'm not really a take-charge person.

But with good mentorships and learning from mistakes, being editor became a job I loved, and I was proud of my work.

When Baby Ray came along eight months ago today, I knew I had to let go.

My husband and I had figured out we could make it on his salary and a part-time job writing for the paper for me, so I could be home most of the time with Ray.

But to do that, I had to step down from being editor.

It was then I realized how much of my identity doing that job had become. I actually liked being in charge, making the final calls, doing the last proof and letting the print guys know they could run the presses. I liked the respect from people in the community. I liked being boss.

But, with the arrival of a tiny, squealing, precious little boy, God showed me that what I was holding onto most was my pride. I needed to die to myself a little.

Have you ever decided to give up something that has become part of who you are so you can better pursue a new thing God has brought in your life? What was that like for you?

I think it's scary.

But you know what? It's been the most amazing blessing. Yes, I do miss being in the editor's chair now and then.

But there's a lot I'm not missing out on.

Including diapers.

Five-foot-two and occasionally mistaken for a high schooler or even a girl scout, Magdalene Landegent is a new mom to an 8-month-old boy, wife of three years and contributing editor at a daily paper in Le Mars, Iowa. In each of those roles, she's finding that the path to real maturity involves coming face to face with your lack of it. Magdalene enjoys traveling with family and friends, jogging, playing disc golf with her husband, making her son Ray giggle, baking and eating the batter, and meeting new people and telling their stories through her job at the newspaper.

Discoveries.

2012-01-23T06:00:00.015-06:00

Last week was one of discoveries for this girl. We're talking Columbus type stuff here. Except, I'm not going to lie—I'm much less directionally-challenged than ol' Columbus. Though, I did once accidentally drive to Nebraska. Oh, and took a train three-fourths the way to Brighton before realizing I'd unintentionally left London.

Fine, so maybe Christopher and I have more in common than I thought.

Anywhere, here's what I discovered last week:

-Shopping for iPhone covers is frustrating. My choices are: flimsy plastic, leather that triples the size of my phone or something so blinged-out and bedazzled I feel like Lisa Frank and one of those gold-chain wearing rappers co-designed it. How about I just be careful and try not to drop my phone?

-Speaking of Lisa Frank, could there be anything more meaningful to someone born in the 80s than a Lisa Frank biopic? Hilarious and awesome—especially the part about trapper keepers. (Frankly—hehe—I can't really take credit for this discovery. I have a visit to Jenny B. Jones's blog to thank.)

-Gevalia German chocolate cake coffee with Coffeemate mocha latte creamer is utopia in a cup.

-Facebook is not a fun place to hang out during presidential primary season. Along those lines, um, Iowa, I'm not sure we deserve to host the first-in-the-nation caucuses anymore.

-The people at Lowe's are incredibly helpful. They'll discern when you're lost (although, the blank stare was probably a pretty good clue), point you the right direction, wave like mad when you totally butcher their directions...all without laughing at you. To your face, anyway. And darn, I still couldn't find those curtain thingies.

-Speaking of blank stares, people who don't watch Downton Abbey will not understand when you quip, "What is a weekend?" in your best British accent. Best show on television, folks. Here's proof:

Have you discovered anything cool lately? Share, share!

TGIF...and God's awesomeness.

2012-01-20T06:00:00.004-06:00

It's been one of those Lord, help me weeks.

Nothing horrible. Just a to-do list that got longer faster than celebrities change hair colors.

With each item added to the list, I mentally paper-bagged it. Staved off the hyperventilation. And got to work.

Today, I'm tired. But hope slides in at the thought of tomorrow. Can I get a whoop-whoop for weekends?

But seriously, Thursday morning, right when I was at the height of my never-gonna-get-it-all-done-ness, God interrupted my anxiety.
I love it when he does that! I was on my way to the Psalms when my pages fluttered and my eyes landed on this in Job:

Then Job replied to the Lord: "I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted." ~Job 42:2

Now, there's a lot to talk about when it comes to Job. The dude had it r-o-u-g-h. My life, even with its out-of-control to-do list, can in no way compare. (And frankly, I hope it never does.) Still, Job's confident words to God hit me right where I needed it yesterday.

When I can't do all things, God can.

When my plans are thwarted, God's never is.

And this week, when my to-do list threatened to go all Abominable Snowman on me, Job's declaration was the sunshine and warmth I needed—melting my worries, fueling my confidence. Reminding me items on a list are nothing when compared to God's strength and glory and awesomeness.

How was your week? How do you deal with busyness or stress? How does God pop in and remind you of His presence and help in the midst of busy seasons?

Welcome Mat Wednesday: Pat Trainum

2012-01-18T06:00:00.041-06:00

So, I'm really loving Wednesdays! And I'm so happy my lovely writing friend Pat Trainum is joining us today!

Pat writes romantic suspense and has been an MBT Frasier Contest finalist as well as winner of the Maggie Award. She's joining us today to talk about the upcoming MBT Deep Thinkers Retreat. (And yes, it is possible that I've spent a teensy-tiny amount of time mourning the fact that I can't go this year.) But Pat will be there...and if you're a writer, I highly suggest checking it out.

So I hope you'll view the video intro, enjoy Pat's post and join the conversation in the comments about writing retreats!

MBT Deep Thinkers Retreat ~ Register Now!

Good morning from the cold and frigid North.

North Mississippi, that is. Just ducked a snowball from my friends buried in three feet of snow and 10 degree temperatures. But it is cold this year in my area. As I write this post, it’s 22 degrees, which makes me look forward even more to the My Book Therapy (MBT) Deep Thinkers Retreat, held in sunny and warm Destin, Florida.

Actually the weather is probably the last thing I considered in December when I reserved my spot at this awesome writer’s retreat.

What’s that? Did I hear someone ask why I was going again?

Yeah. You went to the first two. What could you learn this year that you didn’t already know?

I thought you’d never ask. The first year I went, I thought I was a pretty good writer. I mean, I’d won the Maggie for unpublished fiction and had a couple of short stories published, but Susie (Susan May Warren) and Rachel (Rachel Hauck) talked about things I’d never heard of. Like LINDY HOP and how to make your hook SHARP, how to use metaphors. I went home in a daze of information, two workbooks and lots of notes.

I studied my notes, the workbooks, and applied what I learned. Tuned in to the chats at My Book Therapy on Monday nights. And grew so much as a writer. When the email arrived in December inviting me to Deep Thinkers again, I was so hungry for more instruction that I knew I had to go.

What I received was equal to a college course. Only this time, I had something to build on. I better understood the foundational writing concepts Susie and Rachel were teaching. My writing went to the next level.

Okay, I’ve read your stuff. Your writing is much better than three years ago. But all that teaching…you’re supposed to go to Florida to sit on the beach. Have fun with your friends.

Oh, believe me, the fun you’ll have with the women you meet will change your life. You will forge incredible bonds and have the best time of your life. And, you will go to Destin’s beautiful beach.

If you want to take your writing to the next level, join me at Deep Thinkers this year. It’ll be an amazing investment in your writing career, and you will come away changed.

Leave a comment and tell me how a writing retreat has changed you and your writing.

Pat Trainum has published short stories and co-authored Rise to Your Dreams, an abstinence curriculum. She is an MBT Frasier Contest finalist as well as a Maggie winner. Her current WIP is a romantic suspense novel.

Connect with Pat:
www.lovefaithandmurder.com
www.ptbradley.com
http://mbtponderers.blogspot.com/
Twitter: @PTBradley1

They could've said it...

2012-01-16T06:56:00.004-06:00

Things have been a little quiet in Iowa lately. Ever since the presidential candidates bid us adieu after the Iowa Caucus, I've felt a little let down politically. We had our day and now it's on to greener pastures for that scrappy group of White House wannabes.

I hear the group's thinning a bit today, though. So long, Jon Huntsman.

Still, even though South Carolina and Florida have replaced my home state in the limelight, this Iowa girl feels the need to reflect some on where we've been so far in this r~~idiculously~~ather long election cycle. In all the debates and interviews, I can't help thinking it's quite possible the best conversations just may have happened off camera...during commercial breaks, mics covered...

Michele: Come on, Jon, let's just admit we're running for Veep.
Huntsman: I'm wearing a pink tie, Michele. Do I look like a man who gives up that easily?

Jon: Yay, congratulations, Ron, the media finally recognized you as a viable candidate!
Perry: [mentally] Yeah, have fun with that, dude...Paul: Do you think it's the eyebrows that finally did it?

Romney: And when my first son, Tagg, was born, he was this big.
Perry: That's some memory you've got, Mitt. Frankly, there's a reason I only had two kids.

Santorum: Yeah, I own sweater vests in five different shades of gray. So what? You want to make something of it?
Gingrich: Please do. If I have to answer another question on my $1.6 million from Freddie Mac...

Gingrich: Say, after this shindig's wrapped up, how about we go on back to the dressing room and I'll give you some tips on proper hair poofing technique? Trump wishes he had my hair.

Santorum: You see this hand? It's black...black, I say, from my visits to the Pennsylvania steel yards,
the ink used to sign bills during my years in Congress, dust and dirt from my travels across all 99 Iowa Counties.
Mitt: Gosh, why didn't I think of that? Between Rick's black hand and Jon's pink tie and Paul's crazy eyebrows and Gingrich's Trump hair, I got nothing...

Mitt: See, guys, only one of us can be the nominee. I think we all know who that's going to be.
Paul: Dash it all, it's just not fair.
Mitt: Well, it's not fair when the media takes quotes out of context, either. But do you see me whining?
Paul: What if they don't quote you at all?

I need help on this one! What could Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich possibly be saying/thinking here?

P.S. Congrats to Kathy Beal, winner of the giveaway for three Susan May Warren books! Kathy, your books are in the mail. :)

Happily Dissatisfied.

2012-01-13T06:00:00.003-06:00

But there's far more to life for us. We're citizens of high heaven! We're waiting the arrival of the Savior, the Master, Jesus Christ...He'll make us beautiful and whole with the same powerful skill by which he is putting everything as it should be, under and around him. ~Philippians 3:20-21 (The Message)

I've spent approximately three days in Paris. I should probably tell you about the amazing view from the Eiffel Tower, the rush of traffic around the Arc de Triomphe, the majesty of Notre Dame or the delight of a walk around the River Seine.

But you know what I remember most?

The crepes.

I think I averaged two a day - purchased from corner stands and little street shops. Mmm.

I haven't been back to Paris (yet), but I took a mind-trip there last week when I watched Woody Allen's Midnight in Paris. (Many thanks to my brother for the Christmas gift!)

I'm a pretty picky movie watcher, actually. More of a classics girl. (And we're talking black and white, Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn. I cringed once when I heard someone call The Goonies "old.")

But this one, oh, I loved. I loved the scenery, the wit, the travel back in time. I loved the main character's nostalgia, his delight in the "golden age," Paris in the 1920s. But I also appreciated what the film has to say about the present. In particular, I loved this quote from Owen Wilson's character:

That's what the present is. It's a little unsatisfying because life is unsatisfying.

Life is unsatisfying.

You know, I think the Christian in a person could be tempted to refute that. To say God means for us to be satisfied. Which He does, doesn't He? Eventually. But maybe not here...maybe not now.

Because, after all, here and now will never be the end of the story for a follower of Christ. There's eternity. That's our golden age.

Contentment. Happiness. Satisfaction. We taste them on earth. But they'll consume us in heaven.

And when I stop to think on that, I realize, a little niggle of dissatisfaction now...a bout of restlessness...maybe those aren't bad things. Maybe they're simply reminders: There's more to come. And it's going to be even better than beautiful Paris at midnight.

What do you think? Does dissatisfaction have a place in a Christian's life? How do we balance that with Paul's encouragement about being content in all circumstances? And on the lighter side, in Midnight in Paris, Owen Wilson goes back to the 1920s...if you could travel back in time, in any city, when and where would you go?

p.s. I also absolutely love Adriana's reply to Owen Wilson's character after the line I quoted above. She says, "That's the problem with writers. You are so full of words." Ain't that the truth?

Welcome Mat Wednesday: Casey Herringshaw

2012-01-11T06:00:00.047-06:00

Happy Welcome Mat Wednesday! Today's guest post is someone I've only met once...but who I feel like I totally know: Casey Herringshaw!

Casey is not only a truly gifted writer (MBT Frasier Contest finalist!), but also a talented blogger...which is why I asked to her to write a guest post on New Year's resolutions for bloggers. I highly recommend taking her tips to heart! So check out the video intro, enjoy Casey's post and leave us a comment!

Tips to jump start a new year of blogging

With the new year upon us, it seems that time to make “resolutions” to do “better than last year”, but just how often do we actually stick to those resolutions? Only a few months—at the most.

And when it comes to blogging, whether you are a writer/author trying to build a platform or just enjoy the act of sharing your thoughts on the web, I have a few hints at what can help you stick to a blogging “resolution”.

~Be realistic

One of the best ways to build a blog audience is consistent posting. Be that every day, three days a week or three times a month, find a schedule that works and stick to it. Like anything you do, don’t go into it hard and fast. You’ll find burnt out an eager alternative. I have learned that I really enjoy blogging and I make the time to do that at least 5 days a week.

You might not have that kind of time or willingness. Try two to three times a week, but always be consistent on your posting. The reason? Readers will learn your patterns and start watching for your posts to arrive.

~Be who you are

What sets you apart from every other blog on the web is who you are—your “voice” on the screen. This isn’t hard. This is you! What do you love? For me, I love books, I love God and I love life. That’s my blog in a nutshell. Giveaways on Monday, Book reviews on Tuesday, Devotions on Wednesday, (usually) a break on Thursday, Life on Friday, Books again on Saturday! ;-)

Play around, find out what you really love and share that with others. All blogs start slow, don’t be discouraged, word of mouth will spread. If what you are giving away (i.e. your time) is something people really connect with, you’re a blazing fire!

~Developing content

So how do you know if your content is drawing a crowd? First, don’t obsess. Be aware, yes, don’t be consumed. Be open to where God is directing you. Even if you only reach 25 people with the message God has placed on your heart, wouldn’t that be better than worthless content and reaching thousands?

When it comes down to blogging, it doesn’t take near the time or energy so often thought. What it DOES take and what it gives is what you put into it. In this New Year, with the resolution for a new blogging future, consider what YOU want to put into your pages, your posts. Then ENJOY!

In closing, I leave you with the Blogger’s Ten Commandments

1. You shall hold no other blogs less or more important than your own.

2. You shall not make blogging an idol to hold above your families’ needs.

3. You shall not misuse the name of other bloggers.

4. You shall allow yourself at least one blogging break a week.

5. Honor those who have helped you on the blogging journey in the past and be ready to share in return.

6. You shall not commit blog murder and allow your content to quickly (or slowly) cheapen.

7. You shall not take for granted the time, energy and abilities God has given you in blogging.

8. You shall not steal other blogger ideas without giving them proper credit or asking permission.

9. You shall not lie against another of your bloggers. We are a strong and close knit community.

10. You shall not covet another blog’s: design, stats, follower or comment count, posting status or their ability to make blogging look effortless.

ENJOY your new year of blogging. It’s a journey fraught with the occasional challenges, but always filled with joy and passion and happiness and meeting the best of people. One word of warning: don’t become too addicted. ;-)

Thanks so much, Casey! Readers, your turn to chime in! Are you a blogger? If so, which of Casey's tips resonated with you? Any of your own "commandments" to add?

Casey Herringshaw is a homeschool graduate and has been writing since high school. She lives in rural Eastern Oregon in a town more densely populated with cows than people. Taking the words and stories God has placed on her heart and putting them on paper is one of her passions. Casey is a member of ACFW. You can connect with her through her personal blog, Writing for Christ and her writing related group blog, The Writer's Alley

Follow her on Twitter: @C_Herringshaw
And on Facebook: Facebook.com/caseyherringshaw

Excuses excuses.

2012-01-09T06:00:00.004-06:00

We've read the posts about making New Year's Resolutions.

About keeping them.

About breaking them.

We've read the posts about picking one word for 2012.

But today? Today I'd like to do mankind a favor. See, we're over a week into the New Year now and frankly, I'm thinking resolutions are probably being broken all over the place. Many are quite likely floundering in a waterfall of guilt. Folks, I'm about to throw out a life preserver. Several, actually...in the form of excuses.

You heard me right. Below are ten, rock solid excuses, offered free for the taking for anyone looking for a way out from those recklessly made resolutions...*

Top 10 Excuses For Breaking Your New Year's Resolutions

10. I'm pretty sure I'm 1/456th Chinese. Which means, technically, my new year doesn't start for several more weeks.

9. I'm only [insert age]. It just wouldn't be right to hit the peak of perfection this early in life. So I had to let something go.

8. So-and-so had the same resolution as me. That's sort of like two friends who realize they want to name their baby the same thing. One usually backs down. So I took the high road this time. (But rest assured, I'll get the baby name I want!)

7. I never Tweeted or Facebooked about my resolution, so it's not like it was set in stone anyway.

6. I just don't feel called to keep this resolution. [Best if said with a serious expression in an apologetic tone. This excuse also works well for getting out of teaching Sunday school, volunteering at VBS and helping with fundraisers.]

5. I made this resolution very spontaneously...before I also made the resolution to think before I act and put more thought into my decisions. So...

4. If the President doesn't do everything he says he's going to, why should I? Zing! (Speaking generally here, peeps. I have no desire to dip into the realm of political nastiness.)

3. Apparently the Babylonians were the first to make New Years Resolutions. Seen that empire on any maps lately?

2. The noun "resolution" is related to the verb "resolve" and one of the definitions of resolve is "to break up or disintegrate." Seriously. Proof here. So I'm resolving after all!

And the #1 excuse for breaking your resolution...

1. Because a girl just can't pass up a four 12-packs for $10 coupon for Diet Coke!

Oh wait, you mean, I'm the only who made a resolution to not drink so much Diet Coke with Lime?

How about you? Any excuses to offer for the less-than-vital resolutions slowly slinking off our New Year's lists? :)

*We're talking the minor resolutions, not the important ones. After all, I wouldn't want to totally negate Friday's post about pressing on towards our goals. :) Hehehe...

Ready, Set...Goal!

2012-01-06T06:00:00.085-06:00

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
~Philippians 3:14

Show of hands: who is already re-thinking their New Year's Resolutions? :)

Okay, so mostly this year I went with the "one word for the year" effort. My friend Beth Vogt first encouraged me to think of one word for the year, and I've seen the idea making the rounds on the blogosphere this week.

I picked a word: Love. Explanation here. And I'm excited to focus in on loving God and others in a bigger way in 2012.

But I still made a few resolutions—goals really. Goals work for me. They give me something to shoot for. Sure, I may miss the target now and then, but pulling the trigger still feels good. (Yeah, probably shouldn't give me a gun.)

Here's the thing, though: It's only January 6 and I'm already wavering. That goal not to drink so much pop? Umm, the Diet Coke with Lime is whispering to me from the fridge. Okay, shouting. The goal to focus during my writing time, free of distractions? It'd be a lot easier if Facebook and my favorite author's newest book and that speck on the carpet weren't so interesting.

Sometimes it's just hard to do the things we need to do, yeah? [insert pouty face]

That's not only the truth, but it's something we see all over the Bible. Moses didn't seem entirely thrilled to go back to Egypt and confront Pharoah. Jonah flat out said no at first and look what that got him—an exploration of a big fish's digestive system. Aaron got seriously off-track with the golden calf thing. Things were going okay for Esther before Mordecai asked her to appear before the king, to which I'm pretty sure her initial response was something like, "Are you kidding me?" Peter denied Christ. John was a bit slow in understanding Christ's "Feed my lambs."

And Paul...you just have to love Paul. He, perhaps more than anyone, was amazingly honest about his shortcomings along the road to fulfilling his calling: For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. ~Romans 7:15

Is it wrong that I feel slightly comforted by Biblical heroes' and heroines' slip-ups?

Ollie doing his back exercises.

Yeah, goals—especially the big ones, the ones we know God put on our heart—they're not often easy to reach. Especially when the road stretches, all windy and pothole-y, and distractions trip us up.

Well, this past weekend I spent time down in Wichita with my family—which included little Ollie. Oh, love. Because of Ollie's health difficulties, it's taking him some time to develop back strength. So each day my sister and brother-in-law, at the advice of medical professionals, work on a series of exercises with Ollie.

Watching Ollie do his ball exercises was a blast. He's. So. Cute!

And as I watched him, I absolutely sensed an object lesson coming on. See, Ollie's exercising efforts aren't all that different than my goals. The first couple times he pulled himself up, it almost appeared easy. But as the exercises continued, I could tell he was getting tired. Or distracted by my siblings playing the Wii. Or more interested in the cameras pointed his way. :)

But: every single time, Ollie eventually pulled himself up. With my sister's patient voice spurring him on, he completed each exercise. Some easily and quickly, some with more time and effort. But tiredness, distraction, they never kept him from the goal. He pressed on.

I want to be like Ollie.

With one week down in 2012, I'm deciding right now to keeping pressing on Philippians 3:14-style.

How about you? Do you have any goals for the year? What helps you press on?

p.s. Check out this adorable video of Ollie playing with Amy post-exercising. :)

Welcome Mat Wednesday: Susan May Warren

2012-01-04T06:00:00.038-06:00

Happy New Year, ya'll! I am several gazillion miles past excited to welcome Susan May Warren as 2012's first Welcome Mat Wednesday guest!

Susie is an award-winning author as well as founder and lead coach at My Book Therapy. Susie has made a huge impact in my life, helping me grow not only as a writer, but as a follower of Christ. I thank God all the time for placing me in her path. So check out the video intro and...

In addition to Susie's encouraging post on taking Leaps of Faith, today I'm also doing a three-book giveaway! One lucky commenter will receive The Great Christmas Bowl, Heiress, and The Shadow of Your Smile...all awesome books by Susie! Leave a comment to enter. Tweet or Facebook about the contest and I'll enter you into the drawing twice!

Leap of Faith

Remember that scene in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade where Indy is about to step out into, well, thin air, and he presses his hand to his chest, breathes in and steps out?

Yeah, I was scared to death. I thought – dude, you’re so going into that abyss. But of course he didn’t. In fact, it only looked like he might be going down. The screen changed and we saw from a difference perspective -- a bridge hiding there all along.

Indy calls it a Leap of Faith.

Yup. That’s exactly what it feels like. You stare into a chasm and you think/hope/desperately want to believe that God will hold you up. And then you take that first step. And another. Then another and soon you see with a new perspective that He’s had your steps all mapped out.

No falling after all.

That’s how it feels to start a book. Or a business, for that matter. (Or buy a home, start a job, get married, go to college, have a baby…) You sort of see where you want to go, take a deep breath, press your hand to your chest and take that first step….

It’s terrifying.

As I’ve built my writing career and My Book Therapy over the past few years, it’s occurred to me that God designed it exactly that way. A Leap of Faith should be wrought with a sense of being overwhelmed, of an insurmountable task, of no way out. It should require us to take a deep breath, press our hand to our beating hearts, even sweat a little as we push our foot to the edge and then step out.

Most of all, a Leap of Faith should remind us that we don’t rescue ourselves, but that God had our rescue planned all along. It pleases Him for us to need Him, to be overwhelmed, to stand at the edge, tasting our desperation and then lean out knowing He is there.

Hebrews 11: 6 says, ‘And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.’

Rewards those who sincerely seek him.

Like…a hidden land bridge over a chasm? (cue triumphant music!) It’s funny, too, how AFTER we’ve taken the steps, we see God’s hand working all along. He is all about being our rescuer.

I’m taking a few Leaps of Faith this year that seem too big for me. Like starting an online Storycrafter’s course for aspiring writers. And adding an advanced membership to My BookTherapy. In my writing life, I’m working on a brand new series idea – something I hope will expand my readership, something that changes lives. All goals that have my hand to my beating heart, sweating. Here’s some ways I’ve learned to take those leaps:

1. Pray. Prayer builds my relationship with God and speaks truth into my heart.

2. Ask God for practical help – and then accept it. So much of the time we feel we have to take these steps alone. God often answers our prayers through the body of believers.

3. Read a Psalm a day. Seriously. (I might add, read it as a prayer! It’ll change the way you see the Psalms!) The Psalms are all about God as our Rescuer.

4. Document your steps along the way – including God sightings. You’ll love reading through the journey and it will build your faith for the Next Indiana Jones moment. :)

(As I was searching for the Indiana Jones clip, I came across this inspiring video…enjoy! http://youtu.be/r_ORj8gRjzk).

May you find yourself in over your head and facing a chasm that only faith can bridge in 2012. And may it bring you joy as you leap out in faith and watch God rescue you.

Susie May

What chasm are you facing this year that has you with your hand to your chest, holding back your heart?

Susan May Warren is the RITA award-winning author of over 30 novels with Tyndale, Barbour, Steeple Hill and Summerside Press. A four-time Christy award finalist and two-time RITA finalist, she's also a multi-winner of the Inspirational Readers Choice Award and the ACFW Carol. She's also the founder of My Book Therapy, a 1,000+ member craft and coaching community for writers. Connect with Susie at www.susanmaywarren.com and on Facebook and Twitter.

Remember to leave a comment to enter today's three-book drawing. Contest ends Tuesday, January 10, at 5 p.m. Facebook or Tweet about the contest to be entered twice.

Caucus time...with a Muppet flair.

2012-01-02T06:43:00.001-06:00

Iowa caucuses are this week. You know, just in case you're living under the proverbial rock...like those guys in the Geico commercial.

Last time the caucuses rolled around, I was still reporting...which meant I got a front seat to all things town hall-ish. Fun stuff. I could've also won an award for political schizophrenia with all the candidate paraphernalia I ended up with.

This election cycle, since my Lois Lane days are over, things haven't been as up close and personal. But I did sit down to watch the last debate. And I did...

...find that each candidate reminded me of a Muppet.
Hehe, and you thought I was going to say decide who to vote for. No, nothing nearly as important. This is Monday Funday, remember. So, without further ado, here are my candidate-Muppet comparisons. Who knows, maybe it will help with the decision...

I need help! I couldn't come up with a Muppet for Jon Huntsman. Suggestions?

Also, be sure to stop back on Wednesday for our first Welcome Mat Wednesday of the new year. Kicking things off is...*drum roll*...Susan May Warren, award-winning author and lead coach at My Book Therapy! I'm doing a book giveaway on Wednesday, too, so don't miss out!

Love...2012-style.

2011-12-30T06:00:00.006-06:00

For my last post of 2011, I'm going to keep things short and sweet. Partially 'cause I figure it's nice to listen to the industry experts every now and then. But mostly because today I'm auntie-ing it up with my adorable nephew Ollie.

By the way, if you missed my sister's guest post on Wednesday about little Ollie, I highly recommend reading it. Even more than I recommend chocolate syrup on bananas. Mmm...

If you're anything like me, you may have hit reflection mode in this last week of 2011. For me, this past year certainly had its up and down moments...its smile and frown days...its highs and lows and everything goes times. (Sorry, got a little Dr. Seuss-y there.)

But as the calendar flips tomorrow, I don't think I'll be looking behind me so much as looking ahead.
And I read a quote a couple weeks back that I've decided is the lens through which I want to view this next year:

If what we call love doesn’t take us beyond ourselves, it is not really love. If we have the idea that love is characterized as cautious, wise, sensible, shrewd, & never taken to extremes, we have missed the true meaning. ~Oswald Chambers

I love that. I want 2012 to be the year I love in a new way. If I were to rephrase Oswald’s quote into the positive, I’d say it like this:

What I call love must take me beyond me. This kind of extreme love is courageous, generous and adventurous. It may involve risks, and some might even call it foolish. But it’s the real thing.

To love like that, the way God loves, that’s what I’ll be reaching for in 2012. Happy New Year!

How about you? Any hopes or goals for 2012 you'd like to share? Or favorite 2011 moments?

Welcome Mat Wednesday: Amy Reece

2011-12-28T06:00:00.046-06:00

Welcome back! I hope everyone had a fantastic Christmas. I looooved hanging out with my fam...Speaking of family, today's guest for Welcome Mat Wednesday is none other than my sister, Amy Reece!

I have been practically bursting with anticipation for today's post...think Buddy the Elf in the syrup aisle. Ex-cite-ment! I've featured Amy and her husband Chip's son Ollie on this blog so many times...'cause I love the little guy like crazy. So I hope you enjoy Amy's post about the "gift of Ollie." Be sure to check out the video intro and leave us a comment. Happy New Year!

'Tis the Season to Love Ollie

There are amazing miracles recorded throughout the Bible as well as countless accounts of people who have witnessed or experienced miracles themselves. I can honestly say that I have experienced a miracle…and his name is Ollie!

Whoever coined the phrase, “A baby changes everything,” sure knew what they were talking about. But what they should have added to that phrase is, “A baby changes everything for the better!”

Oliver “Ollie” Lelan Reece was born with Down Syndrome and several major heart defects. He has spent close to eight of his seventeen months of life in the hospital enduring three open-heart surgeries.

Throughout these surgeries, there were many times we were told that Ollie may not live, but miraculously, through God’s love and power alone, Ollie beat all odds and is living at home with us today.

While surviving these surgeries was a huge triumph on Ollie’s part, the most amazing thing about him is the “spirit” God gave him. Ollie has endured what most of us can’t imagine, but he smiles and laughs constantly through it all! Even in the hospital, when doctors, nurses, and therapists would poke and prod him, as soon as the painful or challenging parts were over he was smiling at them!

Oliver’s name means, “loving nature,” which perfectly describes him. He loves people and reaches to touch and hold their hands or to caress their face and arms! Ollie gives the sweetest kisses and hugs, and is so tender and sensitive. He even shows empathy by crying when someone else is sad or hurt.

His darling and upbeat personality is infectious and just so amazing due to all of the extra medical challenges he currently faces. Ollie battles lung and trachea damage, hypothyroidism, a paralyzed vocal cord, a weak heart, and side effects of Down Syndrome which impact Ollie’s physical and mental development. Ollie has a trach, G button (for feeds), and uses a ventilator continuously to aid him in breathing.

Despite all these difficulties, Ollie lives life with such vitality!

So, why do I share with you about my Ollie?

First, because Ollie’s life is a miracle, which reveals the power of God’s love and perfect timing in everything…as well as the amazing power of prayers from so many faithful and compassionate people around the world.

Second, because Ollie has a wonderful lesson to teach all of us: live life with passion and a positive attitude, love others with gentleness and kindness, have a tender heart, and be thankful for all the blessings in your life!

Ollie humbles me every day to live my life this way, and I hope his story will encourage you to do the same!

Thank you, sister! You are so amazing to me...and I love you and Chip and Ollie bunches.

Readers, is there someone in your life who encourages and inspires you like Amy, Chip and Ollie encourage and inspire me?

Welcome Mat Wednesday: Beth Vogt

2011-12-21T06:00:00.004-06:00

How excited am I to welcome Beth Vogt for Welcome Mat Wednesday? Picture Frosty the Snowman in Antarctica. Yup, that's me, jumping for joy right alongside him...in a furry parka.

Okay, totally lame analogy. But what's not lame is the presence of Beth Vogt here at Tag(g)lines. Beth is truly one of those women I look at and think, dude, I want to be like her. I'm pumped for the release of her debut novel next May (more info below). So check out the video intro and join me in welcoming Beth.

The Gift of Burnout

A writer with no desire to write another word.

Four years ago, that was me.

If you’d known me back then you’d have thought: What’s wrong with you?

Believe me, I asked myself the same question. I’d set writing goals and achieved them – and then some.

-Write and submit regularly. Check
-Get published. Check.
-Participate in a quality critique group. Check.
-Land a non-fiction book contract. Check.

And yet one day I announced to my husband, “I’m never writing another word. Never, ever, ever.”

My writing want-to? Worn out. If I had a deadline, I met it. But other than that, writing was non-existent. If I was the type of writer who relied on a mythical Muse, she ‘d given me a glacial cold shoulder.

But no matter how sluggish, ink runs in my veins.

A few days later my husband Rob found me sitting at my computer, typing.

Rob: "What are you doing?"
Me: "Writing."
Rob: "But you said you were never going to write another word. Never, ever, ever."
Me: "This doesn't count. I'm writing a novel. Just for fun. No one will ever see this."

And so began my foray into fiction. The non-fiction writer who’d also said she would never write fiction – never, ever, ever – played with plot. Heros. Heroines. Villains. Dialogue. (I discovered I love dialogue.)

In May 2012, my burnout-fueled fiction fun-fest culminates with Howard Books publishing my debut novel, Wish You Were Here.

Burnout became an unexpected gift – and I don’t mean because I landed a two-book contract. Burnout made me:

1. Stop. It’s too easy to keep moving in the same direction, do the same thing, over and over again. Guess what that’s called? A rut.

2. Do something different. I was a non-fiction writer who planned on always being a non-fiction writer. Walking away from what I knew helped me embrace a new future as a novelist.

3. Get out of my comfort zone. I knew non-fiction. Writing a novel? Not so much. Being pushed to learn about point of view (POV) and storyworld and wordpainting and subplots? The best thing that ever happened to me as a writer.

Burnout. At some point, it takes every writer out at the knees. When it takes you down, don’t scramble up too fast. Instead, stay down and consider the new perspective of your writing world.

Beth K. Vogt is a nonfiction author and editor who said she’d never write fiction. She’s the wife of an Air Force physician (now in solo practice) who said she’d never marry a doctor—or anyone in the military. She’s a mom of four who said she’d never have kids. She’s discovered that God’s best often waits behind the doors marked “Never.” She writes contemporary romance because she believes there’s more to happily ever after than the fairy tales tell us. Beth is also the author of Baby Changes Everything: Embracing and Preparing for Motherhood after 35, and she makes her home in Colorado.

Website: bethvogt.com (My blog, In Others’ Words focuses on quotes & also on contemporary fiction.)

Twitter: bethvogt

Blurb about Wish You Were Here: Kissing the wrong guy days before her wedding leads Allison to become a runaway bride. But can it also lead to happily ever after? Allison Denman is supposed to get married in five days, but everything is all wrong: the huge wedding, the frothy dress, and the groom.

Still, kissing the groom’s brother in an unguarded moment is decidedly not the right thing to do. How could she have made such a mistake? It seems Allison’s life is nothing but mistakes at this point. And pulling a “Runaway Bride,” complete with "borrowing" her best friend’s car, doesn’t seem to solve her problems.

Can Allison find her way out of this mess? She prefers to be the one in control, and giving it up is not going to be easy. But to find her way again, she will have to believe that God has a plan for her and find the strength to let Him lead.

Thank you, thank you, Beth! I've never thought about burnout as a gift...with the possibility of leading me to something new and refreshing. How about you, readers?

Housekeeping!

2011-12-19T08:52:00.001-06:00

When I studied abroad in London, I lived in Vandon House Hotel...and once a week, a housekeeper would clean my room. Can I just say...I miss that! I really, really miss it! As does my current home with its unvacuumed carpet and dusty bookshelves.

In fact, I'm a bit scared I'm losing my domestic abilities all together. I decided to make cookies the other day, opened my cupboard...no flour. When a girl is out of flour and can't remember the last time she even made something involving flour...she's got issues, that's all there is to it.

But this post is supposed to be about blog housekeeping, not my house housekeeping skills...or lack thereof.
I wanted to let you know:

I'm taking a mini-hiatus! I won't be posting this Friday or next Monday and instead will be celebrating it up family-style over the Christmas weekend.
BUT...our Welcome Mat Wednesdays will continue. I'm so excited to hear from the fabulous Beth Vogt this Wednesday and my surprise guest next Wednesday. I hope you'll stop by both those days!

In the meantime, have a wonderful Christmas week. And hey, if you've got any spare time and want to make a girl's day, come on over with a feather duster. I'll compensate you in grateful smiles and some kind of flour-less goodie. :)

If you can't say anything nice...

2011-12-16T06:31:00.004-06:00

...don't say anything at all, right?

What if I'm talking to myself? Yes, I do this. Often in the grocery store. When I can't remember all the items on my mental list. And I'm pretty sure the produce guy loves it.

But no, today I'm talking about the kind of self-talk we all do. Maybe not out loud. And maybe not even intentionally. But think about it: We "hear" ourselves more than anyone else. We're listeners of every single thought trekking through our minds.

Which should probably elevate our thoughts, the things we say to ourselves, to all sorts of importance, yeah?

Which should also convict me for allowing thoughts like this to ping-pong in my brain: I'm so behind, I'll never catch up. I'm having trouble enjoying the holidays because of the stress. Why can't I be like those people who have it all together? When's it my turn?

Yeah, can you say grump? Or, pick the Christmas grouch of your choice: Grinch, Scrooge...

Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Well, I've been thinking a lot about thinking lately...about talking to myself and the wrong kinds of things I've allowed me to say to...me. Was even trying to think of a way to blog about this earlier this week. Then my mom called on Wednesday, read me the quote below from Martyn Lloyd-Jones. He said it about a gazillion times better than I could...

We must talk to ourselves instead of allowing "ourselves" to talk to us!...You must say to yourself: "Why art thou cast down--what business have you to be disquieted?" You must...exort yourself, and say to yourself: "Hope thou in God," instead of muttering in this depressed, unhappy way. And then you must go on to remind yourself of God, Who God is, and what God is, and what God has done, and what God has pledged Himself to do. Then having done that, end on this great note: defy yourself, and defy other people, and defy the devil and the whole world, and say with this man: "I shall yet praise Him..."*

The vocab may feel aged, but the truth in Lloyd-Jones' words has been like a lighthouse to me in these past couple days, a beacon scanning and spotlighting the unruly waves of my own thoughts. We have a choice: Let worry or stress or anxiety toss us around or choose calm waters by thinking the right thoughts, speaking truth to ourselves. Truths like this:

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us.
The government will rest on his shoulders.
And he will be called:
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

As we approach Christmas, I want to purposely navigate my thoughts, get my focus off me and on Hope in the form of a baby in a manger. And when the to-do list or busyness or doubt or distress try to talk their way into my life, I will talk louder...because like the shepherds, I have every reason to "rejoice exceedingly with great joy."

How about you? Do you ever find yourself talking yourself into a mess? Like me, are you pretty okay at guarding your words to others, but not yourself? What thoughts of hope/joy/peace will you focus on this Christmas season?

*Martyn Lloyd-Jones is one of the most influential preachers of the 20th century. For nearly 30 years in the mid 1900s, he was the minister of Westminster Chapel in London. I attended Westminster Chapel while studying in London and heard so much about Lloyd-Jones. Yup, I'm a fan. :)

Welcome Mat Wednesday: Andrea Nell

2011-12-14T06:00:00.005-06:00

Welcome to our second Welcome Mat Wednesday ...where we welcome guest post-ers and throw around the word "welcome" like tinsel during Christmas season!

Today I'm excited to introduce fabulous writer and 2011 MBT Frasier Contest Winner, Andrea Nell (writing as Andrea Michelle Wood). In keeping with our December theme of "gifts," Andrea will be sharing with us about the gift of affirmation in her own life. So check out the video intro and then be encouraged by Andrea!

Set free by affirmation

Andrea Nell

In this season of giving, I want every gift I give to make the recipient feel special. But sometimes the most precious gift you can give is something you can’t purchase. One gift that is sure to leave a lasting impression is affirmation.

The term affirmation means confirmation of the truth. One tool used in fiction to show the transformation of a character is called the lie journey. The character begins the story believing a lie. The events of the story and supporting characters called voices of truth lead the character to learn the truth. When the character can embrace and apply the truth, it will set him free from the lie and its destructive effects.

Voices of truth are powerful influences in fiction and in real life. Truth tellers show the transforming power of affirmation. This past year I have been on my own lie journey and a few affirming truth tellers in my life have truly set me free from a lie I’ve been clinging to for 15 years.

I wrote my first novel when I was fifteen. My dad was not impressed with my writing and his criticism devastated me. A lie that I’d never be good enough took root. I never stopped writing, but I did stop telling people about it. Even after a powerful encounter with God left me with no doubt that His plan required me to be a writer, I still couldn’t get up the nerve to make writing more than a secret hobby.

Last fall, I met Susan May Warren at a women’s retreat. Susie’s passion for the writing craft was contagious and by the end of the weekend she had me convinced to come out of the closet. I knew that God would never be able to use my work unless I learned how to do it well. The opportunity to learn from Susan May Warren could not have been an accident.

Susie connected me with tools to learn and invited me to attend her teaching retreats. At first, learning the craft was overwhelming and discouraging. I had so much to learn. The 2010 Storycrafters Retreat motivated me to continue when Susie and other writers affirmed my work.

I met Melissa at the Deep Thinkers retreat last winter. I had heard about her, the amazing writer and Frasier Contest winner, from writer friends. I felt so intimidated and unworthy. What was I doing at this retreat with real novelists, even award winners like Melissa Tagg? I was nothing more than an insignificant amateur, a wanna-be who probably would never be.

Despite my insecurities, I had come to learn and I was determined to improve. I learned from instructors Susie and Rachel Hauck and also from the other writers. I left this retreat with the challenge of entering a writing contest.

I decided to enter the Frasier, not because I had any hope of winning, but because I could learn from the judges’ feedback. I didn’t want to submit a sloppy entry, so I did something I’d sworn I’d never again do. I asked my dad (a college professor and former chief editor of a magazine) to edit it for me.

He took my pages and I held my breath while his pen started marking. When he finished reading, he looked up and said, “Well …” As he paused, the defeat began to set in. His next words shocked me. “You’re going to win.” Coming from my impossible to please perfectionist dad, those words sounded like the hallelujah chorus! My dad affirmed my work! After that, it didn’t matter if I won.

Six months later, at the Frasier banquet I sat in stunned disbelief when I heard Melissa call my name, announcing me the winner of the Frasier award. Susan May Warren hugged me and told me she was proud of me. Sweet affirmation! She convinced me to try, invested in teaching me the craft and honored me with the Frasier award. Because she was willing to foster me as a writer, I am able to follow God’s calling on my life. Her voice of truth finally shattered the lie that made me ashamed of the passion God had given me.

Affirmation is indeed powerful. My mom and friends who believed in me even when I didn’t believe in myself, Susie, Melissa and my other writer friends who encourage and challenge me, and my dad’s hard won praise were all instrumental truth tellers in my lie journey. These gifts of affirmation are more precious to me than anything they could buy.

This holiday season and throughout the year prayerfully look for opportunities to give the gift of affirmation. Allow God to use you as a voice of truth. Everyone is on a lie journey. A few simple words could set someone free.

Andrea Nell, writing as Andrea Michelle Wood, has been writing fiction for more than 15 years. Andrea is a 2011 Genesis semi-finalist and the 2011 Frasier Winner. She maintains an online presence through facebook under Andrea Michelle Wood and her blog, Daydreamer's Journey, located at http://andrea-michelle-wood.blogspot.com. Andrea currently writes fiction full-time from her home in Minot, North Dakota.

Thank you, Andrea! Readers, who has been a truth teller in your life? Do you see yourself as a voice of truth in someone else's life?

Planes, trains and anything-but-automobiles

2011-12-12T06:00:00.015-06:00

As I noted in the comments of Jessica Patch’s blog last Friday, I need a new car.

But car-shopping is about as fun as doing my taxes.

(If you happen to like doing taxes, sorry that simile falls flat. On the bright side, want to be friends? And maybe hang out? Before April?)

I’d really like to avoid the whole shopping for a car thing. But because my life generally does not resemble a Lexus commercial – i.e., I’m not planning to find a car with a big red bow sitting in my driveway anytime soon – hanging out at a dealership really is my only option if I do, indeed, wish to upgrade.

Unless…

Maybe it’s time I take transportation to a whole new level. Maybe it’s time I think outside the proverbial box. Maybe it’s time for:

1) A horse. This is the most obvious of all possibilities. And Hollywood has pretty much convinced me it’s a stellar idea. I mean, things worked out well for Elizabeth Taylor in National Velvet. Or Viggo Mortensen in Hidalgo (though I seriously wanted to give the guy some Chapstick throughout the whole movie). Or, best example: Man from Snowy River. Jim Craig is just cool, that’s all there is to it. Dude faces some hard knocks, yes, but I figure as long as I avoid cliffs and bad guys, my chances are good.

2) <<< This contraption from Nacho Libre. And if some Jack Black hilarity were to come with the deal, I would not complain.

3) A horse and buggy. Amish novels are big right now, so it could even count as research should I ever decide to venture into the genre.

4) Air Force One. Except if you ask me how much I’d like to be president, my metaphorical reply would probably include things like hangnails, root canals and yearly physicals.

5) Falcor, the flying dog-dragon in The Neverending Story. Never mind he alone gave me more nightmares as a kid than Jacob Marley’s ghost, Nazis (one too many Sound of Music viewings) and runaway laundry carts combined. (The laundry cart nightmare was weird, yes. And recurring. I blame Annie and her orphanage escaping attempt.)

6) A hot air balloon. Romantic, but possibly too slow. That, and my record with fire isn’t all that great. Speaking of…

7) A firetruck! I would get everywhere quickly and have ladders and some intense hose equipment at my disposal. ‘Cause, hey, you never know when you’re gonna need a deck gun. My own personal firefighter might come in handy too.

8) A train. Because I have a growing collection of conductor hats. And yes, I know my logic is a~~bsurd~~mazing.

9) A magic carpet. I would be perfectly willing to sing “A Whole New World” if needed.

10) A bike. But come on, that’s just impractical.

Any other suggestions for me?

How a Little Can Change a Lot

2011-12-09T06:00:00.012-06:00

First of all, today I blogged at the MBT Ponderers. If you're willing to brave a scary photo of the ghost of Jacob Marley (A Christmas Carol), check it out here.

Secondly, last week I saw a facebook post from one of my author faves, Gina Holmes, asking bloggers to consider "tithing" their blog and re-posting an article. I read the article at Inspire a Fire and knew immediately I wanted to play a role...even if it's something as simple as re-posting a blog article. I love the closing sentence: "What if the task of helping others isn't as overwhelming as we make it?"

"We have much to be judged on when he comes, slums and battlefields and insane asylyms, but these are the symptoms of our illness and the result of our failures in love." ~ Madeleine L'Engle

When my brother traveled to the Sudan he had an encounter that changed his life—and as it ends up, mine too.

He stood in Darfur at an orphanage filled with children leftover from the genocide. There were over 800 children, and during the night wild dogs were dragging them off and killing them.

The day was hot. The sun beat down upon him. His camera had nearly been ruined from all the dust. He'd barely slept. His gear was heavy. Yet his conscience was seared by the numbness he felt, so he turned and confessed to a Sudanese pastor.

"We shall pray right now that your heart will be opened," he was told.

Not long after that prayer three young children approached Joshua and started to follow him. After a bit, his father nature kicked in and he stopped and sang Father Abraham. It didn't take long before the four of them were dancing and going through the motions.

When they finished, he asked the children to tell him how they came to be there.

The oldest, a girl, answered. "The soldiers came and shot my mother and father, so I came here."

The two other children nodded in agreement. "Me, too."

He was grief struck, but it was what transpired next that tore my heart. "Do you have a Mommy?" The little girl asked my brother.

"Yes," he answered.

"And a Daddy?"

Again, his answer was yes.

"Oh," she said, her voice hinting at a strange intermingling of numbness and grief.

Her question stirs me still. For I believe it came from her soul and revealed the thoughts of her heart. She didn't want to know what his country was like, what kind of food he ate, or what he did for a living. She had her own bullet holes leftover from the genocide. Her world consisted of this single question: Who still had parents and who didn't?

In her questions I heard her worry and fear. Imagine being trapped in a war-torn country, a land of famine, drought and disease. Imagine trying to survive it as an orphan with death threatening you every hour. No matter how much she's endured, at the end of the day, she's still just a little girl. And all she really wants is her Mom and Dad.

I imagined my daughter living as an orphan in the Sudan. If I were shot and dying, it would be my hope that my brothers and sisters would care for her. But what if her aunts and uncles were killed too? What was it then, that her parents hoped?

As members of the body of Christ these children are not alone. They have aunts and uncles. Multitudes and multitudes and multitudes of them. Talk about staggering! These kids are our nieces and nephews! Mine. Yours.

So who, I wondered, within the church has the responsibility to step in?

I didn't like the answer that came. Earlier that week I was shocked to learn that globally I was one of the richest people in the world—even though as an American, I'm pretty poor.

Like it or not I was the rich aunt. I had knowledge of the situation. That made me accountable.

I wasn't comfortable with the knowledge then, and I'm not comfortable with the knowledge now. But I am determined to do something. Anything.

That day Joshua had in his possession a picture book that someone had asked him to give to someone in the Sudan. It was a children's book with a story about how we have a Heavenly Father who always loves and cares for us. Joshua read the book and gave it to them.

An American woman took it upon herself to raise the money to build shelter. Every person who donated, even a dollar, helped to create a place where the little girl now sleeps safe from wild dogs.

When Joshua told me he's going to start a branch of Watermelon Ministries called Media Change, a non-profit encouraging Americans to give up a portion of the money spent on entertainment to serve those fighting world hunger and thirst, I wanted to support it.

For seven years he's helped non-profits raise money that serves the "least of these." He's seen the impact a small investment can have. This is a brand new initiative. He's not quite ready to launch, but you can sign up and be kept updated at www.mediachange.org. His first goal is garner the support of 10,000 people who are willing to give $10 a month. I'm number #3.

This is only a blog post, but who knows what one blog post can do.

What if the task of helping others isn't as overwhelming as we make it?

Note from Melissa: This article brought tears to my eyes - particularly the conversation between Joshua and the little girl. As someone who has two loving, healthy parents, I can't imagine the pain of losing parents, let alone the violence and trauma these children have experienced. Sometimes it's hard to know how to react to overwhelming realities like these. How do you react? I'm thankful for ministries which provide practical ways to be a part of the solution!

Welcome Mat Wednesday: Jolene Philo

2011-12-07T06:00:00.005-06:00

It's our very first "Welcome Mat Wednesday" here at Tag(g)lines, and I'm excited to welcome author Jolene Philo.

We're talking about gifts this month on Wednesdays, and Jolene is going to talk about how her past has allowed her to give encouragement to others. So check out my video intro, and then enjoy Jolene's post..

Helping Faith Take Root

Hi, Melissa. How fun to be with you twice in December. Guest posting at your blog this week and then for Writers’ Group next week. (Please, don’t ask about what I’m submitting to be critiqued. I have three more days to figure that out and will need all of them.)

The topic you suggested - how I use past experiences in my writing to give back to others and encourage them - seemed obvious. Our first child was born with medical special needs and because of that experience I’ve written two books, A Different Dream for My Child and Different Dream Parenting, both about raising kids with special needs.

But I wasn’t sure how to connect it to the Christmas season until my husband came home from work a week ago with good news and bad news. The good news was that a co-worker had just become a grandfather. The bad news was that the newborn boy had a heart anomaly and wasn’t doing well.

“Can I give the family copies of your books?” my husband asked.

Now, you would think my answer must have been an immediate yes. But it wasn’t. I didn’t say a thing because I was busy thinking, “I have given so many books away already. Will anybody ever buy them? Will my writing income ever be greater than the expenses?”

A shocking internal reaction, don’t you think?

Thankfully, dollar signs didn’t hold my thoughts hostage for long. I remembered our son’s first December. Allen was seven months old by then and had endured two Lifeflight helicopter rides, two major surgeries, three hospitalizations, and dozens of medical tests and treatments to
correct an esophageal anomaly. He’d recently transitioned from tube feeding to using a bottle to take in the breast milk I pumped for him four times a day. My husband and I were exhausted by lack of sleep, constant worry, and frequent trips to the hospital, a 240 mile round trip from the remote South Dakota town where we lived.

What kept us going?

The encouragement of friends and neighbors in the tiny town where we lived. While Allen was hospitalized for three weeks after his birth, they cleaned our house, cared for our garden, and sent notes. Once we brought Allen home, a pastor and his wife came every week to do a Bible study with us and answer our questions about why a loving God would allow a little baby to endure so much. A local fundraiser in November netted over $1500.

For a town with a population of 92 in a county of about 1500, it was big money!

As Christmas drew closer, the familiar story of a baby in a manger held new meaning to me. For the first time, as the parent of a precious child who had experienced great pain, I understood the magnitude of God’s gift to mankind. He sent his Son to a world stained by sin and evil, even though he knew the pain Jesus our Savior would bear. What joy to be loved by a God willing to sacrifice so much to save us from our sin.

My faith and gratitude grew deep roots that Christmas.

Roots that waited more than two decades to bear fruit. The fruit took the form of two books full of resources and encouragement and answers for parents facing the same exhaustion and doubts we once did. Two books for families like the man who works with my husband.

“Of course,” I said. “Take both books to them.”

The little baby had surgery a few days after that. Today we received word that he’s not getting better. The family is stricken, not up to reading anything. But one day they will start looking for encouragement. One day they will ask hard questions. Depending on the answers they find, their faith will either shrivel and die or take root and grow.

I’m praying that my books will help their roots to grow.

Thank you so much for sharing your story, Jolene! Readers, if you know parents raising a child with special needs, these books could encourage their faith, too.

Different Dream Parenting: A Practical Guide to Raising a Child with Special Needs
A Different Dream for My Child: Meditations for Parents of Critically or Chronically Ill Children

Jolene's books are available at local books stores, Amazon, and the publisher’s website www.dhp.org. Parents of kids with special needs can also find resources, guest blogs, and product reviews at www.DifferentDream.com. And you can connect with Jolene at her website, www.jolenephilo.com, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

How about? Has there ever been a time in your life where a scary or challenging situation caused your faith to deepen and take root in a new way?

Coming up on Wednesdays...

2011-12-05T05:30:00.030-06:00

So, for today's post, I had originally figured on a video blog. Or, vlog, as the people in the know like to say.

But here's the thing: I'm writing this at 5 a.m. and truly, no one should have to see me at 5 a.m. For realz, someday when I'm married, I think I'll ask my husband to wear an eyemask to bed so he won't be able to see me in the morning. If it makes him feel weird, I'll remind him Robin wears an eyemask too. 'Course, Robin also wears tights...

Yeah, between the eyemask and my obsession with flannel sheets, the dude's going to really have to love me.

Anyhoo, I decided to skip the vlog for now, and am instead making my blog announcement in writing. Here's what's up: Tag(g)lines' first Welcome Mat Wednesday post is going live this week!

Yup, I'm now posting three times a week. For those of you still flummoxed over the fact that I've kept up the Monday-Friday gig thus far, let the shock continue. I'm now committing to three times a week.

BUT...Wednesdays will have a different feel. Instead of me waxing eloquent, each Wednesday we'll welcome a guest poster. Hence, the "welcome mat" theme. Guest posters will include fellow writers, industry experts and now and then, more personal guests.

We'll also get a bit theme-ish each month. In December, our guests are talking "gifts." This month's guests include:

December 7 - Jolene Philo, author of A Different Dream for My Child.
December 14 - Andrea Nell, winner of the 2011 Frasier Contest.
December 21 - Beth Vogt, author of non-fiction book, Baby Changes Everything and her upcoming debut novel, Wish You were Here, which releases in May 2012.
December 28 - SURPRISE! Yes, I'm keeping our final guest for the month a surprise because, hey, who doesn't like surprises? Suffice to say, I'm pumped to welcome this guest.

Heck, I'm pumped to welcome all our guests. (And no, not just because I'm thrilled to have found a way to blog without actually, well, blogging myself.) By the way, I'll be welcoming each of this month's guests with a video intro...which I most certainly will not be taping at 5 a.m. in the morning. No need to go out and buy a Robin mask.

I hope you'll help me throw out the "welcome mat" and join us for our first guest post on Wednesday. In the meantime, here's an important question: Forget the eyemask and tights for a second. How do you feel about Robin's shoes?

Perfection.

2011-12-02T06:23:00.003-06:00

I had a bad day the other day.

We’re not talking bad hair day. Dude, I’m used to those by now.

Nope, it was pure emotional bad day mixed in with lack of sleep and under-the-weatherness. Ugh. Those are the worst. I won’t go into the why’s because, frankly, this is not a diary and you are not therapists. But I will say this: Days like that always have me wishing three things…

1) That I was a boy 'cause they seem much less roller-coastery. (Always wears off, though, as soon as I remember boys don’t get to wear knee-high boots and leggings.)

2) That jobs automatically provided mental health days.

3) That by the time I get pregnant someday, someone will have invented an instant emotional stability formula. It’s not the labor and delivery I’m scared of. It’s the hormones, baby!

Actually, I like to think I’m generally pretty even-keeled. But on that day earlier this week, I could’ve played a convincing Grumpy of The Seven Dwarves acclaim…except for my height…and lack of beard.

Finally, though, I cheered up by watching videos of my precious nephew Ollie. I’ve written about Oliver oodles of times, but for the newbies, Ollie was born in June 2010 with Down Syndrome and two heart defects. He has undergone three open heart surgeries, and he’s doing awesome these days! Also…he just happens to be the most adorable kid in the whole world. I’m serious, the Gerber baby wishes he had Ollie’s dimpled smile.

Ollie brings so much joy into so many lives. Which is why I cringed when I read some of the information in this article on the Time magazine site earlier this week.

The article presents information about growing technology in the area of pre-natal testing, specifically as related to children with Down Syndrome. And though the article itself doesn’t advocate for one particular outlook, it notes statistics that made me sick to my stomach:

Births of babies with Down Syndrome have decreased 15% between 1989 and 2005 due to more sophisticated prenatal screening even though increasing maternal age should statistically mean a 34% increase. In other words, because more women are learning of Down Syndrome diagnoses early, more of these women are terminating their pregnancies.
Up to 90% of women who know in advance of a Down Syndrome diagnosis choose to abort their baby.
As one mother of a child with Down Syndrome said in the article, “There was encouragement to get screened with the understanding that I would terminate because that’s what most people do.”

My nerves pull taut just retyping those sentences. And while I realize that as a Christian, I’m supposed to be full of grace and compassion – toward those who disagree with me, those who make decisions I don’t understand, those who find themselves facing a life-altering challenge – I can’t deny the teeter-totter of anger and sadness those statistics whip at me.*

And while this discussion could branch into politics, science and religion, from purely a heart perspective, it makes me so sad to think of the joy people miss out on by denying a life due to a chromosomal "imperfection." And it scares me to think of where we're inching, or maybe running, as a society.

But there's a sweet side to this. A day after reading that first article, I stumbled upon a second article called "My Perfect Child" at Christianity Today's website, and it was written by one of the parents quoted in the first article. Talk about a heart boost. In this article, the parent of a child named Penny with Down Syndrome talks about what it really means to be "perfect." And she references that verse in Matthew 5 which always makes me gulp: "Be perfect, therefore, as I am perfect." She says:

The Greek word that was translated perfect is teleioi, which comes from the word telos, meaning "complete," "whole," "full-grown," or "mature." In other words, this perfection has to do with becoming a certain type of person. It has to do with becoming the complete, whole, mature, full version of ourselves.

And part of becoming that version of ourselves, says the writer, is recognizing our humanity, our limitations and especially our need for God.

We move closer to perfection as we move closer to becoming the children, men, women God created us to be. It has nothing to do with our physical or mental abilities...or the number of chromosomes in our DNA.

Penny is both created in God's image and fallen from grace—like everyone else. By giving me a new understanding of God's view of perfection, Penny has offered us a way to participate more fully in the body of Christ as we become more and more human and more whole.

Like Penny, like all of us, Ollie is created by God, covered by God's grace...and in that, he is perfection.

And on a bad day, when I am bemoaning my weaknesses and doubting my strengths, I can still taste perfection...if I'll allow myself to chew on the fact that those very limitations prove my humanity, my need, my creation-status in the face of a Creator-God. Perhaps that's what Paul meant when He talked about boasting in his weakness.

Penny's and Ollie's and my "imperfections?" They're where God's power shines, His grace takes a stand...and His perfection covers all.

How about you: I got a bit info-heavy and perhaps even preachy today. But I wonder, do you ever feel perfection is too far away? Does the second article challenge your view of perfection like it did mine? What does it mean to you that "God's power is made perfect" in your weakness?

*I realize that I need to be very careful not to be judgmental here. My personal bias, in the form of overwhelming love for Ollie, means I have quite strong feelings on the subject. I know there are many, many more factors that go into women's decisions...and whether I agree or not, I'm still called to be respectful, kind and compassionate. Also, I know the area of pre-natal testing for various disorders is quite controversial, and I don't intend for this post to present an opinion on that.

What writers say...and what we really mean.

2011-11-28T06:00:00.015-06:00

Yes, it's true. Writers pretty much have their own language. For instance, recently in my WIP, I worked on adding GMC to my POV's noble quest so at the end, the epiphany after the black moment has more oomph.

It's also quite possible in our conversation with non-writers, we're perhaps, um, not quite entirely forthright...which probably makes writer/non-writer communication difficult. But like Aunt Eller in Oklahoma announcing "the farmer and the cowman should be friends," I'm pretty sure if we can just learn to speak the same language, writers and non can connect.

So in my quest to boost writer/non-writer relations, please enjoy this writer's-speak code key...of sorts.

What we say: I'm excited for you to critique my scene. I really need some honest feedback.

What we mean: Please say you love it and it's the best scene you've ever read. I'm emotionally fragile when it comes to my "baby."

What we say: Writing was tough today. What's that saying about "opening a vein and bleeding on the page?" [insert nonchalant chuckle]

What we mean: Seriously, stop staring at the bruise on my forehead. Like I'm going to admit I banged my head repeatedly on my desk. You don't need to know that. But if you think writing's easy, I'm going to have to give you a bruise...or five.

What we say: I'm in a season of waiting. I'm sure the agent/editor/publisher will get back to me soon. All in God's timing.

What we mean: But what if God's watch breaks? I'm so impatient, I've chewed my fingernails to nubs. I'm losing it. Wait, did you hear that? Those are my marbles clinking to the floor.

What we say: My story has taken a surprising turn! My characters are doing and saying things I never expected.

What we mean: I have no clue what I'm doing.

What we say: I know it looks like I'm staring off into space, doing nothing. But the truth is, I'm mentally working on my next scene.

What we mean: And thinking about how much I love Coldplay...and rock candy...and naps.

What we say: I'm so excited and confident about this WIP, I can't wait to pitch it to an editor.

What we mean: I'm so insecure, there's not a PBS children's show or motivational speaker in existence who could help me.

What we say: Writing takes hard work and perseverance.

What we mean: Writing takes ice cream and endless amounts of coffee and courage...to face writer's butt.

What we say: Despite everything, I'm glad I'm a writer. This is what I was meant to do!

What we mean: Despite everything, I'm glad I'm a writer. This is what I was meant to do!

Okay, so my key is by no means exhaustive. Writers, what say you? Anything to add? Or is this just me? And non-writers...do you find us writers hard to understand? Any double-speak of your own?

Gabby and Shad and Happy Day-After Thanksgiving

2011-11-25T06:00:00.010-06:00

Did everyone have a beautiful Thanksgiving? I know I sure did.

I'm not so sure about Shad the Sheep, though. Yes, I did name my characters: Gabby and Shad. Pretty sure you'll see more of them in the future. That is, if you dig perky giraffes and skeptical sheep...

For the record, I love Bing.

And now, because today is technically "Devo Day" here at Tag(g)lines, here is one of my favorite "thankful" Psalms. While I appreciate reading The Message for a fresh voice, I'm not always the biggest fan of Eugene Peterson's take on the Psalms. This one, though, I love Message-style:

Psalm 145

I lift you high in praise, my God, O my King! and I'll bless your name into eternity.

I'll bless you every day,

and keep it up from now to eternity.

God is magnificent; he can never be praised enough.

There are no boundaries to his greatness.

Generation after generation stands in awe of your work;

each one tells stories of your mighty acts.

Your beauty and splendor have everyone talking;

I compose songs on your wonders.

Your marvelous doings are headline news;

I could write a book full of the details of your greatness.

The fame of your goodness spreads across the country;

your righteousness is on everyone's lips.

God is all mercy and grace—

not quick to anger, is rich in love.

God is good to one and all;

everything he does is suffused with grace.

Creation and creatures applaud you, God;

your holy people bless you. They talk about the glories of your rule,

they exclaim over your splendor,

Letting the world know of your power for good,

the lavish splendor of your kingdom.

Your kingdom is a kingdom eternal;

you never get voted out of office.

God always does what he says,

and is gracious in everything he does.

God gives a hand to those down on their luck,

gives a fresh start to those ready to quit.

All eyes are on you, expectant;

you give them their meals on time.

Generous to a fault,

you lavish your favor on all creatures.

Everything God does is right—

the trademark on all his works is love.

God's there, listening for all who pray,

for all who pray and mean it.

He does what's best for those who fear him—

hears them call out, and saves them.

God sticks by all who love him,

but it's all over for those who don't.

My mouth is filled with God's praise.

Let everything living bless him,

bless his holy name from now to eternity!

How did you celebrate Thanksgiving? Hope it was as marvelous as Gabby's. :)

Almost Thanksgiving!

2011-11-21T06:15:00.003-06:00

First of all, fun stuff! I'm hanging out at Jessica Patch's site today where she interviewed me for Must Meet Monday. I'm pretty sure you should head over there...not necessarily because I'm the most amazing interviewee in the world (though, if you'd like to think so, go right ahead) but because she asks such fun questions. I had to think hard about who I'd be if I could be any villain for a day...

Second, can you believe it's almost Thanksgiving? That's mostly a rhetorical question, but if you feel compelled to answer, please know the correct reply is "no." The year 2011 has flown like Concorde.

I know some folks who feel a bit badly for Thanksgiving. They feel the holiday is overshadowed in all things Christmas. Like a dowdy house dress next to a ball gown, I guess.
These same people are generally the ones who also get upset about peeps playing Christmas music too early. To which I reply: Um, it's not like there's an abundance of Thanksgiving music we're missing out on.

That said, today I'm going to give Thanksgiving its due with a few little known facts about said holiday.

-Thanksgiving wasn't set as the fourth Thursday in November until 1941. To my fellow math-challenged friends, that's 70 years ago and 320 years after the first Thanksgiving. (No, I so didn't use a calculator to figure that.) Funny how long it took us to officialize the date. And we wonder why the debt supercommittee hasn't figured things out quickly...

-Thomas Jefferson thought the concept of Thanksgiving was "the most ridiculous idea I’ve ever heard." Oh, Tom, what did you have against inordinate amounts of food and football?

-Speaking of famous men of yore, Benjamin Franklin wanted the national bird to be a turkey. Slightly less majestic than the eagle. Best part of all this? Apparently Benj thought eagles had "bad moral character." Hmmm...

-Guess how turkeys got their name? Well, ol' Columbus thought the land he'd discovered was connected to India, where there are lots of peacocks. He figured turkeys were a type of peacock. So he named them "tuka," which in the Tamil language of India, is translated "peacock." Yes, a bird's name has been immortalized because Chris was directionally challenged.

-Apparently only five female pilgrims survived the first year at the Plymouth settlement. They cooked and prepared the first Thanksgiving meal for the whole colony of over 90 people...which lasted for three days. What they wouldn't have given for a dishwasher, huh!

-The first Thanksgiving meal in 1621 was eaten with only spoons and knives - no forks. Forks weren't introduced until 10 years later and weren't used regularly until the 18th century.

So there we go! I've shined the spotlight on Thanksgiving Day and even hummed "Over the River and through the woods" as I wrote since it's the one Thanksgiving song I know. And be sure to stay tuned for a fun Thanksgiving video on Friday!

In the meantime, do you have a favorite Thanksgiving memory? I have lots, but I have a feeling I'll end up with a new favorite memory this Thursday...when I attempt eating my Thanksgiving meal sans fork like the pilgrims.

Oh, and don't forget to stop by Jessica Patch's site today where she interviewed me for Must Meet Monday. You should definitely follow her blog. It's a blast!

That day I was engaged.

2011-11-18T06:00:00.001-06:00

I was once engaged. For a day.

And I'll confess: it was an engagement of convenience. Yep, Sandra Bullock should probably play me in a movie. But let's back up.

Studying abroad in London has pretty much been one of the best, most exciting, most impacting experiences of my life to date. Living in the center of the city, hanging out with the coolest Brits in all the UK, interning at the publishing branch of the Church of England, feeling my faith in a new way at Westminster Chapel...and oh, that boat party on the Thames! So many memories...

Crowne Plaza Hotel, London-St. James

While in London that first time—and several times since!—I stayed at Vandon House Hotel, literally one block from Buckingham Palace, just a jaunt from Victoria Station one direction and Westminster Abbey and Parliament the other. And right across the street from Vandon House? The Crowne Plaza Hotel.

Now, this is a posh hotel. The Zimbabwe football (soccer) team stayed there during one of my return trips to London. I used to stare at the place from my window in Vandon House wondering what the inside looked like...and if they'd throw me out if I tried to enter in my oh-so-American jeans and tee.

Never figured I'd get the chance to see the inside. Never figured I belonged.

Until the day the Crowne Plaza Hotel hosted a bridal fair.

I remember so clearly sitting in the dining area off the kitchen of Vandon House. One of my best friends and the college roomie who first got me interested in studying abroad (shout out to Maggie!!) and I were hanging with some of our British friends that day, and I mentioned my wish to see the inside of the Crowne Plaza. Another friend had seen the poster for the bridal fair.

The obvious course of action stared us in the face.

We stared back.

And things got...romantic. Well, as romantic as a platonic engagement can get. He proposed, and I promptly rushed up to my room to change out of my jeans. You know, just in case my worry about getting thrown out had merit. And my fake fiance and I trotted across the street to check out the Crowne Plaza.

The place was beautiful. Upscale. Elegant. The kind of place I'd like to stay someday as a legitimate guest rather than a hastily engaged impostor.

In other words, as someone who belongs.

Okay, so that was a long story to tell to get to the point. Sorry, nostalgia took over. But here's the thing: a sense of belonging just isn't something that can be as easily faked as my one-day engagement.

A view of the Crowne Plaza from the window
of our room at Vandon House. I actually think
Maggie took this photo...

Ever had that feeling of being an outsider looking in? I'm grateful to say it's been a rare thing in my life. But I've sure seen it in the eyes of residents at the homeless ministry where I work. I remember seeing it on the faces of students in school who didn't have the kind of blessed home life I did. And once in awhile (honesty alert), I feel it myself—not yet married, not yet published in the fiction world, not yet fully settled in my community or even church.

There must be something in us humans that craves belonging. We want to belong somewhere...to someone. It's not a feeling we can manufacture, and when it's not present, how easy it is to plummet emotionally.

But here's the thing I'm realizing more and more lately: when I'm willing to take a step back from my feelings and look at them through the lens of Truth, they're absolutely shift-able. Their grip loosens. They lose sway over me as Truth takes over. And here's the Truth about belonging:

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness in to his wonderful light." 1 Peter 2:9

"Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts." 2 Corinthians 1:21-22

"But now, this is what the Lord says—he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: 'Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name;

you are mine.'" Isaiah 43:1

There are and probably always will be people and places to which we long to belong in this world. But they can never, ever compare to the powerful truth that we will always belong to God.

We will always have a place, a purpose, a home in Him.

No faking our way in, no worry about being thrown out.

We're His.

I don't know about you, but that knowledge fills me with such a sense of comfort and confidence. And perhaps even more than that, peace. The kind I felt sitting against a hard pew in Westminster Chapel or on a blanket in St. James Park.

I may or may not someday "belong" in the Crowne Plaza Hotel. But I will always belong to God.

Fake engaged or not. :)

How about you? Ever wanted to check out a place you weren't sure you belonged? Ever had that outside-looking-in feeling? What helps you remember where and to Whom you ultimately belong?

What did we do before YouTube?

2011-11-14T06:39:00.003-06:00

It's Monday, which means all sorts of random around here. I briefly considered doing a recap of Saturday's Republican debate, but considering I saw all of twelve minutes of the thing, I'm probably not your best pundit. I did have some pretty important thoughts after those twelve minutes, though:

-Kudos to Jon Huntsman for the pink tie.

-Mitt Romney deserves some kind of award for his ability to remain pleasant-faced through others' comments.

-At least you can laugh at yourself, Rick Perry. The "I'm glad you remembered it" comment was well played.

-Newt, sometimes it's okay just to answer the question without going into a lecture about how "this issue is so much bigger and more complicated than this." It's called a sound bite. Everybody's doing it. (Again, I only watched twelve minutes. Perhaps he actually answered a question in other segments.)

-I know, Michele, I'm uncomfortable in heels, too.

-Rick Santorum looked ready to explode through most of the debate. Ron Paul, surprised. Something about the eyebrows.

-And Herman Cain...sorry buddy, hard to take anything you said seriously after seeing your commercial. When I can brush my teeth quicker than your smile at the end, um, it's just...funny:

Note: The inclusion of the Herman Cain commercial is not an endorsement of anything other than the joy of YouTube.

Along those lines, here are my other video faves of the week:

-I told my kids I ate all their Halloween candy:

I would absolutely adopt those two boys at the end. Two plus two equals...five!

-Coldplay UK Tour ad:

Waaaahhh, why don't I live in England?

-Dramatic lemur:

Did my sister, bro-in-law and I stay up til the wee hours of the morning watching dramatic animal videos this weekend? Oh yes.

-And lastly but definitely not leastly, the cutest baby ever...Oliver!

Ollie!

2011-11-11T09:15:00.000-06:00

Taking a little blogging break today to spend some time with family!

What better way to spend 11/11/11 than hanging out with my incredible adorable nephew Ollie...and his mom and dad?

Occupy where?

2011-11-07T06:00:00.020-06:00

Depending on who you listen to, the Occupy Wall Street movement is either limping along on its last leg or poised for world takeover.

I’m not going to get into my feelings on the movement now. Because, friends, it’s Monday. We have weightier (i.e. sillier) things to talk about. Like:

What, or rather where, I’d much rather “occupy” than Wall Street. Yup, it's Top Ten Time!

10) Greece. I've wanted to go Greece forever. (Or at least since I saw the movie "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.") A travel agent in London talked my friend and I out of visiting Greece during our spring break my junior year of college. Too chilly in March, she said. Kinda wish we would've ignored her, 'cause the way things are going for Greece financially, is it still going to be around by the time I save up for a plane ticket?

9) The Smoky Mountains. One of my favorite places ever. In fact, I purposely set my second novel in the Smokies so I'd have an excuse to visit. But I'm finishing the darn book today or tomorrow, and I haven't made it out east. Sadness. (And I was so sure I'd meet a real life Dr. McNeill there. Shout out to Amanda Ytzen!)

Don't be scared, puppy. Yes, those are big socks.

8) And while I'm in the area, I'd stop by High Point, North Carolina, to see the world's largest chest of drawers. No kidding, there's really such a place. And considering I just cleaned out my closet, it feels timely.

7) Prince Edward Island. Yes, yes, I did watch "Anne of Green Gables" again this weekend.

6) The set of Wheel of Fortune. I'm sorry, I just really love Pat Sajak.

5) Dubai. To experience a middle eastern culture or try new food or explore interesting architecture? Um, no. But because Dubai is home to the world's biggest candy store. We're talking 10,000 square feet of sweetness--a store called Candylicious in the Dubai Mall.

4) A Coldplay concert. But then, you totally saw that one coming, didn't you.

3) Narnia. I know it doesn't exist, but let's be honest, this hasn't been the most realistic list in the world anyway.

I get to see this guy this week!
Excitement galore!

2) My bed. The extra hour just didn't do it for me this weekend.

And the top location I'd like to "occupy" this week?

1) Wichita to see my adorable nephew Oliver and his too-cool parents. And that's exactly where I'm headed later this week. If you don't know Ollie's story, he's a miracle baby...and also the cutest baby ever born. Stay tuned for photos. :)

How about you? Whether you’re trapped in a cubicle or at home buried in laundry, tell me, where would you rather “occupy” today? (And if your answer is Wall Street, that's okay. Just make sure to bring your Vendetta mask.)

Author vision.

2011-11-04T06:00:00.006-05:00

I’m on the homestretch with From the Ground Up, my second novel. If I’m studious this weekend (what, me?), I’ll write two of the most beautiful words in the English language on Monday:

[insert happy sigh and a couple celebratory Diet Cokes with Lime]

Finishing a book is hard. Real hard.*

Starting a book? Now that’s pretty fun. There’s an energy that comes with a fascinating plot idea and characters who** surprise you with their personalities.

But finishing? That’s tough stuff. I could’ve had a bonfire of epic height back in the day with all the childhood stories I started in Mead five-star notebooks…and didn’t finish.

In fact, if someone was*** really smart, they’d develop a new career tailored specifically for authors like me – a professional book finisher. This could be lucrative, I’m telling you. The author starts the book with a bang, introduces characters who spark with life, writes as far as the muddly-middle and lets the professional book finisher take it from there.

Genius, yes? (If somebody takes this notion and runs with it and makes millions, just remember where you got the idea.)

Finishing. It’s tough. You know that whole teeth-pulling metaphor? Totally fitting here, especially if we’re talking pre-Novocaine dentistry.

What pushes me on, though, is knowing at the end I’ll have a complete story. What I envisioned at the start – an amusing, moving, complete story – will have come to fruition. It can be difficult, though, hanging on to that vision in the middle of a story. Characters misbehave, plots stall, real life tugs. And I temporarily lose sight of that much-dreamed-of, finished, fullness.

How awesome is it that God’s not like that?

He’s promised to finish what he started in us, yeah? I love that. I love that He sees every beginning through to a divine end. I love that He doesn’t give up in the middle.

But it’s not only his follow-through I cherish, but the fact that He never loses sight of the end. I believe when He looks at us, when we’re muddling through life’s “middles,” He sees us not only as we are in that moment, but how he envisioned us from the start. He sees the bends in the road we can’t yet, the ways we’ll grow, the good he has for us. Wherever we are in our “story,” He’s there – fully present in our now, fully mindful of our later.

In our dark moments, he already has a hold on the healing to come.

In our sin, he knows forgiveness will win.

In whatever temporary ugly bogs us down, he sees the beautiful truth which will pull us up.

And when we can’t see past our middles, when we’re distracted or distraught, we can find comfort and hope in knowing He not only sees The End…

He’s written it already.

Question time: What "middles" drag you down? Does it ever seem like you'll never get to "the end?" How does God, your Author, comfort you when you can't see past your present?

*Yes, I know that’s bad grammar. Sorry, I’m using up all my proper-grammaring skills on the book.

**Whom? See previous footnote.

***Were? It’s a sad day for English teachers everywhere.

Doing NaNoWriMo write...er, right.

2011-10-31T05:13:00.002-05:00

NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) is not for the faint of heart.

Or, necessarily, the sane of mind.

But every year thousands of writers take the annual challenge to write 50,000 words during the month of November. Though I'm not joining the fray this year--I'm revising instead--I'm there in spirit with friends and fellow writers.

And I can't help but offer a tiny word of advice. Scratch that, make it a shouting suggestion:

Get yourself a My Book Therapy (MBT) Book Buddy. Seriously, folks.

NaNoWriMo is an awesome way to jump start your next novel. But I have a feeling for some, it can turn into a rather aimless journey. Why not go into it with a good feel for your characters, a hook that'll knock the socks of some agent or editor someday, a plot that moves with purpose...?

Whether you're a seat-of-the-pantser or a plot-til-you-drop writer, the MBT Book Buddy, written by award-winning author Susan May Warren, is truly the perfect resource to help you plan and complete your manuscript. It combines the insights, lessons and charts from Susie's first two workbooks--From the Inside Out and Deep and Wide (both awesome tools)--and walks you through your WIP.

If this sounds like a commercial, well, it kind of is. (Complete with visuals. See video below.)

But truly, I don't think I'll ever write another book without working through the MBT Book Buddy first. I also highly recommend checking out MBT's WriMo Challenge. Lots of prizes, incentives and daily encouragement to get you through the month. Join the fun!

Two last NaNo tips:

-Stock up on snacks and caffeine (unless you're, you know, like, healthy).

-Remember, December 1 will come. Eventually. :)

Have a great NaNoWriMo!

Do the work.

2011-10-28T06:00:00.011-05:00

So, the other day I read an entire article on different types of wall anchors.

ThisOldHouse.com is bookmarked on my mac.

And I’m pretty sure if anyone ever trusted me with a saw, I might actually do an okay job.

No, I’m not on a quest to become the next Ty Pennington. Though, if I was, I’ve got at least one additional point in my favor: My hair generally sticks out every which way, too.

Instead, this is all evidence of my ongoing research for From the Ground Up, my second novel. The main character is the host of her own TV homebuilding show – a fact which has required me to get acquainted with all things Home Depot.

In addition to my technical research, I’ve also been hunting for a Bible verse on building. During the search I found a couple verses that really spoke to me. By which, I mean they did a sort of Speakers-Corner-in-Hyde-Park dance and yell…

“Consider now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a

house as the sanctuary. Be strong and do the work.” ~1 Chronicles 28:10

Same chapter, just a few verses later:

“David also said to Solomon his son, ‘Be strong and courageous

and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged for the

Lord God, my God is with you.’” ~I Chronicles 28:20

(Emphases mine. And yes, that’s the first time I’ve ever used the word ‘emphases.’)

“Do the work.”

Probably not an inspirational message that’ll make its way onto a poster with a pretty landscape anytime soon. But as I read the verses which contained the phrase – then paused to read the full chapter – it struck me that these show a characteristic of God I don’t often think about. They remind me God values hard work, diligence, follow-through.

In this chapter, King David (the one of giant-conquering acclaim) tells of his original plan to build a temple for the Lord and God’s subsequent instructions that it actually be David’s son, Solomon, who should do the building. So David goes on to instruct his son according to God’s wishes for the temple. Twice he pauses in the midst of details about lamp stands, silver, gold, alters, chariots, to encourage Solomon to “do the work.”

It might’ve been overwhelming to be Solomon at that point…charged with building the Lord’s temple, drowning in details and the expectations of not only a country but your famous father and, well, God. But David’s advice, passed down from God, was simple: do the work.

Frankly, I needed that three-word push this week. I’m on the home stretch with From the Ground Up. And, honestly, I’m pretty much behind on the rest of life at the moment. It seems a constant battle to fight the “lure of lazy.” (Just made that up, but I’m pretty sure someone should use it as a book title.)

Ever face that? When you just want to forget the responsibilities and goals piling up like litter on a beach and instead bury yourself in some sand?

“Do the work.”

I think God honors those times when he’s given us a job or a task – or maybe just the calling of living life well – and we simply do the work. Push forward with determination and a desire to obey. Regardless of the distractions tugging at us or the laziness tempting us.

And what’s awesome about God, is that he doesn’t leave us to “do the work” alone. Take a look at the end of verse 20 again: “The Lord God, my God is with you.” Earlier in the same chapter, David reminds Solomon that God searches every heart, understands every desire and every thought, and that if we seek him, we will find him.

He’s there, waiting for us to come to him with our work, big or small. He never asks us to “do the work” in a void.

That’s a truth I intend to hold close.

How about you? Do you ever find yourself needing those simple pushes to just “do the work?” What gets you moving?

Interview with debut author Lisa Jordan!

2011-10-24T06:00:00.005-05:00

Two years ago, nearly to the day, I attended the first-ever My Book Therapy Storycrafters Retreat. That retreat re-charted the course of my writing journey. And it's also where I met some of my closest writing buddies...including the fabulous Lisa Jordan. Since then I've attended several other MBT retreats with her, roomed with Lisa at the 2010 ACFW conference and served on the MBT Voices e-zine under Lisa's leadership. Oh, and also laughed...and laughed...and laughed...

Today I'm so excited to welcome Lisa to Tag(g)lines. Her debut novel, Lakeside Reunion, published by Love Inspired, is now available on Amazon and B&N. It'll hit stores and e-reader format on November 1. Lisa's bio and book blurb are below, but first, it's interview time...

1) I've heard you call this "the story of your heart." Can you tell us a little about that? What inspired the story?

Lakeside Reunion is the story of my heart because my husband gave up his dream of becoming a police officer for me because I was too afraid fo what could happen to him. I've always regretted that, especially since he is so supportive of my dream of being a published writer. Granted my job is a lot safer--unless I'm Richard Castle. Paper cuts aren't life threatening. But still, that regret hung in a corner of my soul. Lakeside Reunion is a story of forgiveness and trust--trusting God with our fears and our loved ones.

2) Can you describe your journey to publication? And also, why Love Inspired? I know there's a specific reason you dreamed of this particular publisher...

My journey began when I was 16 and read Danielle Steele’s The Promise. Upon reading the end, I knew I wanted to be a writer to give my readers that same heart-sighing promise of hope and happily ever after. Twenty-six years later, I’m fulfilling that dream.

In February 1998, I rededicated my life to Christ. I loved reading and prayed for Christian fiction that would uplift, yet still have those happily ever afters my romantic side craved. That September, the Love Inspired line debuted. I believe that was my concrete answer to prayer. God did that for me…really! I still have the original novels when the line debuted. I surrendered my writing to God and told Him my first novel had to be published by Love Inspired. Again, He answered my prayer. Full Circle.

3) I appreciated how you incorporated your character's spiritual journeys. It wasn't heavy-handed, nor was it so subtle we missed it. How did you handle that?

A family member miscarried a couple of years ago. I tried to console her. She said, “I don’t want meaningless platitudes. I’m hurting. I’m angry. Let me get that out. Then tell me it will be okay. Because right now, it’s not.” I will never forget her tears or her words. Life is messy. It hurts. And it won’t always be okay. But God is the constant in that pain. I wanted to show how God is with us always, even if we turn away from him. My characters were put in real-life situations. I wanted to portray their reactions as realistically as possible. I didn’t want a tidy Christian message because there are times when we need to work through our pain to find solace in Jesus.

4) A silly question: Any writing quirks? (For instance, when I'm settling in for a long day of writing, I have to have both a cup of coffee and a Diet Coke with Lime at my desk...'cause I need choices. And if I'm feeling really healthy that day, I might even have a bottle of water.)

When I write, I must have be sitting in my comfy leather chair in the corner of the living room, my lavender fleece blanket, my Mac (affectionately named Belle), a bottle of water (by choice. ☺), lip balm and Pandora playing. I choose stations based on the tone of the scene I’m writing.

5) You are way involved in My Book Therapy! How did MBT help you toward your dream of publication?

Lisa (center) and I, along with Reba Hoffman at the 2011 Deep Thinkers
Retreat in Florida. Hence, my ridiculous sunburn. :)

I’m the poster girl for getting published through MBT. I started Lakeside Reunion over 10 years ago, but it never felt right. I brainstormed with Susie [Susan May Warren] and Rachel [Rachel Hauck], who helped straighten my story spine. And the rest is history. :D The book finaled in the 2009 Genesis, caught the attention of an editor and my dream agent, and was sold in January 2011. None of that would have happened if Rachel hadn’t taught me to constantly ask “Why?” and Susie hadn’t taught me to learn about my character’s lie and dark past moment.

6) I know there's more in store for the Lakeside series. Can you give us a sneak peek about what's coming up?

Well, I just signed the contract for my second novel, Lakeside Family, which is due to be released in August 2012. It features Josie Peretti and Nick Brennan— He’s the last man she ever wanted to see, but the only one who could save her daughter’s life.

7) Any author faves or TBR list books?

Susan May Warren, Rachel Hauck, Ronie Kendig, Jenny B. Jones are favorite authors off the top of my head. My TBR list is wayyy tooo long—Nightengale, Heiress, Softly and Tenderly, Just Between You and Me are sitting by my bed. [All awesome books, by the way!] My Kindle has about 200 books waiting to be read. I have one shelf on my bookcase of TBR books.

8) You are a legit superwoman! Between being a mom, daughter, sister, aunt, business owner, MBT Core Team member and now published author, how do you do it all? Advice for aspiring authors struggling to balance everything?

Prayer, sacrifice, desire—you have to want it badly enough, family support. I spend 9 hours of my day working with children. My evenings are quiet, so I do a lot of writing in the evenings, but I’m planning to make a change. I want to start getting up early to write before my day begins so I can spend the evenings doing marketing or knitting instead of trying to cram everything between the hours of 5-10 pm. Writers simply have to assess their schedules, see what they can give up or delegate and find a system that works for them.

Lisa and I with copies of her
book at the 2011 ACFW conference.

9) And I just have to ask: Any chance you'll uproot your family and move to Iowa anytime soon so you can hang out with your friend Melissa? :)

As much as I love my friend Melissa, I’d have to say not a chance. ☺

[Pause. Wiping Tears. Okay, onward...]

Thanks so much, Lisa! Lisa is holding a scavenger hunt and lakeside photo contest to promote her Lakeside Reunion release. So be sure to visit her Lakeside Reunion Contest page for more information.

The token for this blog is a broken taillight.

More about Lisa...Heart, home and faith have always been important to Lisa Jordan, so writing stories that feature both comes naturally to her. She has been writing contemporary Christian romance for more than a decade. Her debut novel, Lakeside Reunion, will be released in November by Love Inspired. Her second novel, Lakeside Family, will be released in August 2012 by Love Inspired. Happily married for over twenty years, Lisa and her husband have two young adult sons. When she isn’t writing or caring for children in her in-home childcare business, Lisa enjoys family time, romantic comedies, good books, crafting with friends and feeding her NCIS addiction. Visit her at www.lisajordanbooks.com to learn more about her writing.

More about Lakeside Reunion...Bed-and-breakfast owner Lindsey Porter prays she won’t run into Stephen Chase when she returns to Shelby Lake. Five years ago, the cop jilted her to marry another woman, and Lindsey fled town. But no sooner does she hit city limits than Stephen pulls her over for a broken taillight. Despite the past, he’s still able to stir up Lindsey’s old feelings for him. Now a widower and single dad, Stephen recognizes a second chance when he sees one. And he’ll do anything to make Lindsey trust in God and take a risk for love—again. Read an excerpt of Lakeside Reunion.

I am so thankful for writing buddies like Lisa! How do writing friends--or if you're not a writer, friends and family in general!--encourage you toward your dreams?

Wanted.

2011-10-21T06:00:00.011-05:00

About 72 to hours from now, I'll be gushing about Coldplay's new album. I'll probably listen to it non-stop for weeks. Okay months. Okay years. (As evidenced by the fact that Viva La Vida has seen more playtime in my car than anything else since 2008. Yes, it's been a long wait.)

But this week? This week I'm still swooning over Needtobreathe's latest. I adore this band. I love their rich instrumentals and grungy vocals. I love their lyrics. I love every song on their latest album. (And I love that my sister tells me the lead singer's voice always makes her picture this dude from Dr. Quinn, one of the few TV shows we watched as kids.)

And though I literally smiled my way through every single song the first time I listened to the album --we're talking sore cheeks by the time I made it to the last track--at the moment I'm most head-over-heels for this song...

The lyrics are simple, the story at once happy and wistful: a wanted man talking to his brown-eyed girl, inviting her to disappear with him.

I could listen over and over and over...(and yes, I have...)

But as the words sing on a continuous reel in my head, I'm hearing another voice whispering a truth long-known, but maybe not always held as close to my heart as, say, a new favorite song.

You're a wanted man.

Okay, woman. But let's not get lost in semantics.

I'm wanted. And not in the Bonnie and Clyde sense of Needtobreathe's song. But in an eternally impacting way.

I'm wanted by God. In the pages of the Bible, in the world around me, in the whispers in my heart, He shows me His. He wants me.

And what will never cease to be beautiful to me is the fact that God still--still--wants me regardless of my mistakes, sins, the should'ves and could'ves that pile up with passing years.

Hey, hey, I am on the run
Because of what I've done
My mistakes are stacked a mile high

I'm--we're--wanted. And like Bear Rinehart sings, like his made-up wanted man, I need to say it. To know it...and let that shape not only how I see myself, but the people and the world around me.

I know who I am, my dear

I'm a wanted man

The world I see looks good from here

Right from where I stand

Wanted. I'm not sure there's any better feeling. And this morning it has me singing with Needtobreathe...

Come and get me...

Okay, now I'm the one sounding wistful and happy. But I can't help it, Needtobreathe--and more than that, the knowledge that God wants me--does that to me. How about you? How does God remind you you're wanted? Has he ever communicated with you through a song?

Because funny videos are...funny.

2011-10-17T06:00:00.018-05:00

Three things I love:

...Autumn.

...Listening to awkward conversations. Particularly when the involved parties couldn't be farther apart on the glass-half-empty/glass-half-full spectrum.

...Making silly videos. In fact, I'm sort of wondering if it's my spiritual gift. (Possibly Paul accidentally left that one off his list...)

And so, I bring you a Monday masterpiece!

p.s. What's your favorite season?