A writing friend, Jeff Goins, recently wrote that he believes God can only bless or redeem. In other words, every time God reaches out of eternity and disturbs the water of our time-bound lives, he has one of two purposes in mind, to bless or to redeem. Through these two filters we understand the everything that ever happen in our lives: “This was supposed to happen. So I can be grateful for it.” “This wasn’t...
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Grace and Holiness Christians walk in a place of grace. I don’t earn God’s love, favor or attention by the things that I do. He gives his love freely because he genuinely, deeply and eternally loves us. No, I don’t earn God’s love or affection. I can’t buy my entrance into heaven by what I do. Yet I demonstrate how much his love has transformed me by the things that I pursue. I don’t earn God’s love. I show God how much I am, or am...
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(This is part two in a series on the importance of editors for today’s authors from editor Susan Malone) So where does that leave you, the writer in need of a manuscript editor? Adrift in a sea of editors and editing services, that’s where. This has been a consistent thread in many of the writing forums I visit, and almost everybody out there is, well, confused. So let’s sift through what’s out there and then see what fits...
Read MoreAll writers need good editors. Even successfully published authors need “outside eyes” to help perfect their work (and many more understand this than do unpublished folks). Once upon a time, a writer would work with her editor at a publishing house to make the book the best it could be, and to further the author’s career as a writer. Well, Dorothy, that was before the tornado blew through town. The business has of course changed....
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When Jesus started his ministry, his approach upset his followers’ well worn assumptions of their God. His audience commonly believed that a person’s life circumstances were an accurate indicator of their righteousness. Wealthy people were blessed, and therefore holier than the poor. Those who were physically impaired, such as the blind or leprous were considered wicked. After all, the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy 28 taught that...
Read MoreIf you’re a Christ-follower, you’re called to communicate unchanging truth to a continually evolving world. This dynamic tension strains our ability to stay relevant. Yet Jesus’ final desire and command were for his followers to create disciples, and thus change the culture. Mark’s gospel says “Go into the world and preach to every creature, baptizing them. . .” (Mark 16.15) John recalls Jesus said “as the Father sent me, now I...
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At a recent writing conference, I overheard a few new writers lamenting the new reality of the publishing marketplace. With the shift from traditional publishers to self publishing, and the abundance of tools available to the author who is committed to their own marketing, traditional publishers are accepting fewer new book manuscripts. Many of them are focusing only on their established authors, which from the surface, makes it...
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Many aspiring writers long for the day they can write full time. I have to confess, that’s one of my dreams, and after 12 years of building a writing career, I am getting close. As the fall colors fill the trees here in Northern Michigan, I’m looking ahead and beginning to lay financial projections for next year. Even though Jesus sent his disciples out two by two, without a spare coat or coin purse, he also applauded wise...
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Guest Blogger: Chad R. Allen (Editorial Director, Baker Books) We’ve all been there. You start reading a non-fiction book or a blog, and all is right with the world. But then as you get into it, something changes. It’s not holding your attention. In fact, the word “boring” comes to mind. One way to reduce boredom among your readers is to write with a sense of urgency. After all, if what you’re saying is not important, why write it? As...
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What happened to the Christian culture which formerly described mainstream America? Social commentators and pastors agree that we live in a post-Christian culture. But what caused the soil of American culture to stop sprouting Christian influence and proliferate with weeds which have overgrown American religious and cultural heritage? Like sowing good seed and brambles at the same time, a number of events contributed to a slow...
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