PRAY: Guatemala Lessons–Live Your Teaching
I had an extra privilege during the SUSIE Magazine missions trip to Guatemala. On Sunday, July 4, our teams did not travel to do ministry. Instead, we spent much of the day in worship and rest. In the afternoon and evening, various students and leaders offered hour-long E.I.E.I.O.K. (“Everything I Ever Intended On Knowing”) seminars. Participants could choose from classes in balloon animal-making to resume-writing to prayer to spiritual gifts. The only complaint I heard was that there were too many intriguing possibilities! I taught a seminar on Dangerous Prayer, a class I’ve also taught at iGO, the annual missions conference of Awe Star Ministries. Thanks to the promotional work of the Holy Spirit and one vocal Leader in Training (thanks, Jed!), my two identical sessions were well-attended. I had to visit the Business Center and print more handouts than the fifty I’d brought along. One of my new friends (a professional speaker) attended the seminar. She blessed me by saying how much she enjoyed it and gave me some tips for improvement, too. But in a later conversation, this friend had some questions about prayer. As my roommate during our training time, she’d noticed that when my husband called at night, he and I prayed together. She asked me about this and mentioned how it had blessed her. The two of us had a great conversation about what God’s shown me praying for my family and how she could become more active and effective in praying for hers. What amazed me was that my friend, although she learned from the seminar, didn’t ask about the specific points of my lesson. Instead, she wanted to know more about something she’d seen in my life and how she could apply it to hers. This experience reminded me that, in the same way I’d learned to “live the story” (see 7/20 blog posting), I could “live the teaching,” too. Tomorrow, my husband and I celebrate twenty-seven years of marriage (woo hoo!). I’ll share more about our prayer habit in another blog. But as I prepare to teach at the Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers Conference next week, I’m asking God to help me live my teaching. The words I say will have little power unless my life (along with my writing) shows their truth. Our words matter. Our lives matter...
read moreWRITE: Guatemala Lessons–Live the Story
I’ve now taken my longest break from my blog since its inception earlier this year. My two-plus weeks of training and serving with the SUSIE Magazine missions trip to Guatemala were exciting, exhilarating, and exhausting. Blog- and writing-time both suffered during trip preparation, execution, and recovery. Back home, I’m busy writing the trip’s story for SUSIE’s November issue. The article (plus additional online content) will continue in one-page features over the next several months. I’ll also write some short pieces about students who sponsor Guatemalan children through Compassion International and had the opportunity to meet them one delightful, incredible afternoon. That day, I gained new respect for the ministry of Compassion—and for the sacrifices made by the students, too. The beautiful people of Guatemala now hold a special place in my heart. And as I write the story of our trip, I’ve realized an important truth: the best-told story is the story you live. As I traveled with a ministry team the first day, I went as an observer. I’d planned to watch the students serve food to the community, perform their pantomime drama, and share the Gospel. As I watched, I waited, notebook in hand. Almost immediately, God took me from observer to active participant. I met a beautiful young mother whose baby girl arrived days before a volcano exploded above the already-impoverished village. Next, overfilled skies brought torrents of rain and a mudslide that destroyed the tin shack they called home. Maria’s story brought tears to my eyes and a prayer to my lips. As the two of us spoke, God drew me into her story. That afternoon, I waited with a group of students as they prepared to perform their first drama. They stood, joking and nervous, while some made last-minute costume or makeup adjustments. My eyes fell on thirteen-year-old Sammy. As the Evil Magician (Satan figure), his was a pivotal role. How could we help this young warrior prepare for battle? Once again, God called me to become part of the story. The students gathered, and I prayed—for Sammy, for his team, and for those who would hear the message. Later, as I watched him carry out his role with obvious authority, I praised God for giving me a role of my own. My assignment in Guatemala was to capture the story. But I’m so grateful God allowed me to go beyond observation to life—real life and real ministry—in the orphanage, at the cancer hospital, in the Mayan marketplace, and more. The best-told story is the story you live. What story has God given you to...
read moreREAD: Review, CHARLOTTE FIGG TAKES OVER PARADISE by Joyce Magnin
A few months ago, I fell in love. In love, that is, with the small fictional community of Bright’s Pond. In love with characters who revealed strength, frailty, and a generous dash of fun. In love with an author whose penchant for Converse sneakers mirrors her fresh, distinctive voice. I loved Joyce Magnin’s debut novel, The Prayers of Agnes Sparrow and was delighted to receive an advance reader copy of her September release, Charlotte Figg Takes Over Paradise. Although Charlotte Figg is also a Bright’s Pond novel from Abingdon Press, it has only limited connections to Agnes and should not be considered its sequel. The colorful characters of Charlotte Figg live in their own unique world. In quick succession, Charlotte Figg becomes a widow, buys a mobile home in the Paradise Trailer Park sight unseen, and moves into it with her dog Lucky. Soon, she begins an unlikely friendship with free-spirited artist and prayer warrior Rose Tatoo. The relationship yields new purpose for Charlotte when Rose half-prays, half-pushes her into the role of founder/manager of a women’s softball team. As the Paradise Angels’ season progresses, Charlotte discovers—and reveals—some less-than-comfortable truths about herself, her fellow players, and her God. One of my favorite elements in both books is Magnin’s uncanny ability to use flawed but believable characters to display painful truths. Charlotte Figg forces its namesake to confront not only the abusive marriage in which one of her players is trapped but her own past wounds as well. Plot twists combine to propel the story in a direction readers may not intend to go. But don’t let the hot topics scare you. Find a quiet spot and savor this book. Its combination of tough and tender goes down with all the appeal of one of Charlotte’s homemade pies. Read the book, visit Paradise—and fall in love all over...
read moreWRITE: Frequently Made Errors #3–Failure to Follow Directions
“I thought you’d fix it for me. Isn’t that the editor’s job?” “I just don’t understand Microsoft Word. There’s no way I’ll switch from WordPerfect.” “I’m a beginning writer so I was counting on you (the editor) to mentor me.” Each of these is a real comment made by a real writer whose manuscript was rejected by a real publication. And yes, rejection’s a common denominator in the writing world. Sooner or later—for most, sooner—every writer experiences it. And if you write for publication, you get used to hearing advice like “Toughen up” or “Develop rhino skin.” Along with those words of wisdom, though, I’d like to offer another piece of advice: Follow directions. Sounds simple, doesn’t it? That’s what I thought, until (early in my professional writing career) an editor complimented me because I adhered to the magazine’s guidelines. “Is that unusual?” I wondered. In a word—yes. Since that time, I’ve done editing work for more than one publication, so I understand the compliment my editor friend paid me. And I also realize many writers could increase their chances of publication if they heeded my simple advice. If you’re a Writer WannaBe, please follow directions. Read and follow the guidelines the compilation, journal, magazine, website, etc. provides. Some post these on their websites (watch for a “Write for Us” or “For Writers” section) and others will share them upon request. If you can’t find guidelines, write and ask. Better yet, purchase Sally Stuart’s Christian Writers’ Market Guide or subscribe to www.writersmarket.com, the comprehensive Writer’s Digest website for those who seek publication. Why does following directions matter? First of all, it demonstrates respect for the publication and its editor. You don’t show up at a job interview in rumpled clothes and a bed head. In the same way, you want to present your manuscript at its best. Its appearance should enhance rather than detract from the great writing within. Make your writing easy and attractive so your editor reads far enough to love it. Second, following directions shows the editor you regard yourself as a professional. Notice I didn’t say you felt as though you were a professional or that you spent all your time writing. But if you intend to write for publication, you must think and act as a professional. Adhering to the guidelines/following directions gives you a great start. Following directions also prepares you for future opportunities. Because I was used to following writers’ guidelines when I wrote for magazines, I had little trouble following publishers’ guidelines when I moved into the world of nonfiction books. Not a detail person? No matter. If you’re serious about becoming a published writer, you’ll find a way to focus. After all, you do it when you drive. You pay attention to traffic laws and navigate safely from Point A to Point B. If you want to reach Point B in the writing world, you must learn to obey the rules of the road. Remember the wildly popular All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten? As I recall, a large part of kindergarten learning involves following directions. Follow this basic advice, and who knows? A not-so-basic acceptance letter may come your way...
read moreREAD: Review, GOD ALONE IS ENOUGH by Claudia Mair Burney
(Today’s post is part of a blog tour and reviews only Chapter Four. For more information, check out the author’s own spirited journey onher blog). Uncertain about how to pray. Fighting battles of sin and self. Wanting more of God—but uncertain how to reach Him. Modern-day strivings of a soul-searching evangelical? No. Sixteenth-century struggles from a woman canonized as a saint. No ‘saints’ in your tradition? No matter. Think relationship, not religion—and keep reading. In God Alone is Enough: A Spirited Journey with St. Teresa of Avila (Paraclete Press, 2010), Claudia Mair Burney does more than introduce us to an amazing woman of God. She invites readers to join her on Teresa’s—and her own—journey toward true intimacy with Christ. Burney’s clear exposition of Teresa’s writings combines with her own stories of spiritual quest to make God Alone is Enough a powerful, meaningful read. Have you heard the expression, “You’ve quit preaching and gone to meddling?” That’s my brief Baptist summary of my assigned chapter, “Get to Know Yourself.” I loved Chapter Three. My artist/writer persona responded with delight to Teresa’s admonition to “make a garden in your soul.” But get to know myself? God, I can already see this moving into more daily dying. Can’t we leave that theme and embrace a new one? After all, You’ve been hammering “self” out of me for a long time now. “Of course, my beloved. As soon as you learn to die.” Exactly as God (and the author) intended, Teresa and Burney’s dual pilgrimage yielded a journey of my own. My Lord came to me in the way this chapter (assigned at random) explored our helplessness in prayer (the general topic of a book a friend and I are writing); distraction in prayer (the subject of my blog earlier this week); and placing one’s life—with all its sin, inattentiveness, and distraction—before God as an offering (the aforementioned “dying to self” theme under which I both suffer and learn at His feet). A sample to savor: “You can’t cut yourself in pieces and offer only the good parts to God. He wants all of you; the good and the bad parts; your weaknesses and strengths; the brokenness you don’t want anyone to know about; as well as those things within that are being marvelously healed. We must be willing to tell the truth about ourselves: we are made in the image and likeness of God and yet, we sin and fall short of His glory. In the truth we find our liberty.” (page 52) The book arrived Wednesday so my assigned chapter marks the extent of my reading to date. But I won’t sidestep or abort this delightful, painful journey. I intend to keep reading, praying, and searching along with Teresa and her present-day disciple. And I encourage you to do the same. Official Author Bio: Claudia Mair Burney is the author of seven novels, including the Amanda Bell Brown mysteries, and Zora and Nicky, a Christy Award finalist in 2009. Readers familiar with her style will enjoy this rollicking journey through their own interior castles. She lives in Kentucky, where she also authors the popular blog, “Ragamuffin Diva.” Unoffical Bio AKA how I know the artist affectionately known as Mair: Nearly two years ago, I attended ICRS, the International Christian Retail Show...
read moreWelcome
I've asked God to use my writing and speaking to count for eternity. I'm passionate about relationships and creativity.
