PENS OF PRAISE CHRISTIAN WRITER'S GROUP

Christian Writers Group

Next meeting…

Saturday, March 10^th    10:00 am – 12:00 pm

at

Faith Church

2201  42^nd Street, Manitowoc, WI  54220

§   Faith Church is located next to Festival Foods

§   Not far from the Manitowoc exit off Interstate 43

The teaching for March is “You choose!!”

Goodness again???  We have enjoyed ACFW Conference teachings recently and thought this would be an excellent month to listen again to the sage wisdom of published, experienced writers. September’s 2011 Conference has excellent teachings available. Which one of these choices would be of interest to you? The choice with the most votes wins!

v How to Write a Bestseller

v Sometimes It’s Better to Tell Than Show

v Historical Research: Enrich and Deepen Your Story

v Research: Ins and Outs of Making a Book Come to Life

v Blogging, Branding, Marketing, and Publicity

v Author branding

v Or another of our many choices

Keep in mind these teachings can sharpen and improve the skills needed for many genres. You are welcome to bring your latest work in progress for a five-minute reading but this is not required to attend the meeting.

Remember to visit one of our local shops and bring your coffee or cappuccino with you. Let us know if you’re attending so we can save a seat just for you.

Winter Wonderland in WI

The Christmas tree is a view from my writers room. Winter has finally come to town this week in Wisconsin. Big fluffy flakes dressed up the skies and yards as I was driving home from work yesterday! Porschea, our perfect puppy, is ecstatic. She thinks we special ordered the weather just for her. You keep thinking that baby girl!

Zoey, the perfect cat, needs to get into the word lately. She sits and looks outside whining and fussing in full blown complaint. I will have to remind her to be content in all things!

She actually hissed at the laser beam when we played today...she has never done that before!

Meow...Okay..I'm not translating...actually I don't know how to....

I fell this past Wednesday and suspected a possible broken knee cap. I'm grateful to announce that I was only bruised deeply. Of course I walk around like Igor cause thought it looks like 'nothing' it feels like something else! I'm avoiding steps and packing my leg in ice. If I run out of ice, I can always pack my leg in snow or go outside and make snow angles. My hubby offered for us to do that last night! I turned him down though! I was buried beneath my computer and an ice pack. Porschea was looking for an active play mate so I stayed still and boring! It is safer that way!

I couldn't resist placing this photo here also. I love how snowy evergreens photograph. Plus my camera isn't the best. Oh, if I could have only captured how the trees looked last night, all weighed down with a couple of inches of snow. It seemed like the very night was lit up and sparkling. But you have to use your imagination for that image. Keep warm and safe! Spring is around the corner... I hope!

Porschea's First Birthday!

Vanessa our daughter brought doggy cupcakes and this HUGE bone for Porschea so she could enjoy her birthday. Her actual birthday was yesterday but goodness she is not complaining!

Okay the house is crying to be cleaned and organized... write to you later!!

Enjoy a blessed day!

Pens of Praise Devotion

Pens of Praise Devotion

February 11, 2012

© Susan Marlene Kinney

I have put My words in your mouth and covered you with the shadow of My hand –I who set the heavens in place, who laid the foundations of the earth, and who say in Zion,

‘You are my people’ Isaiah 51:16

Does not the ear test words as the tongue tastes food? Job 12:11

Dialogue, words, and communication of any sort are exceedingly important. Wars, parleys, and peace cannot be initiated without powerfully written and or spoken communication. Dialogue has the authority to establish deep understanding concerning boundaries between cultures and nations. Even between man and woman.

As writers we have the responsibility to make our words count. What we communicate must be honest. Flowery words without the foundation of His truth will crumble like dry clay baking in the suns light. Nevertheless, if our words agree with His truth, love, and purpose they will remain firm when ears test our words. Will our readers find our words enticing them to hope, laugh, cry or stretch out their hands toward change? If words are powerfully placed it must be because they have the opportunity, because of their relevance, to be powerfully received. Words motivated and pushed into existence onto the page cannot be empowered with trite, unnecessary words, which eat up white space on the page as a greedy child eats chocolates.

Repetitive, redundant dialogue holds the power to lead the reader off track and directly off our pages toward other more interesting ventures. You have the opportunity to state ideals, which matter and could be foundational for someone hurting to heal, or someone lost to be found. Make the most of the opportunities you possess to present words, which lead and inspire others to seek their purpose. And follow His lead.

While we are at it…

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to You oh Lord my Rock and my Redeemer. Psalms 19:14

Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever Amen  Hebrews 13:20 – 21

Write with purpose….Write in His power, covered by the shadow of His hand…

Pens of Praise February 2012

Christian Writers Group

Next meeting…

Saturday, February 10, 2012   10:00 am – 12:00 pm

at

Faith Church

2201  42^nd Street, Manitowoc, WI  54220

§  Faith Church is located next to Festival Foods

§  Not far from the Manitowoc exit off Interstate 43

The teaching for this month is a continuation of a captivating teaching on

“Dialogue”

From the September 2011 ACFW Conference.

February’s Prompt challenge:  Snazzy or emotionally charged dialogue. Also, bring a book with a short dialogue sample in it to share with the group.

You are welcome to bring your latest WIP, or work in progress, for a five-minute reading but this is not required to attend our meetings.

Don’t forget to visit one of our local shops and bring your coffee or cappuccino with you. Let us know if you can attend the February meeting so we can save a special spot for you!

If you have questions or concerns write a message on this blog and I will answer you in a timely fashion.

May God bless you richly and always as you write for His glory!

Writer's Room Photos

My apologies to all of you concerning the tilt of these photos. Somehow I got the tree snapshots from yesterday turned around and they stayed that way to be posted on my blog. But all my most determined efforts to right these photos, taken of my writers room, failed me. Understanding for the technologies at my finger tips  slipped beyond my grasp. I am among the ranks of the technically illiterate!  So just turn your head or your monitor and you can feast your eyes on the large table desk, the lighting, and the bookshelves, which are supported by the file cabinets. The names of Jesus poster at my right hand side, and the adventurous George S. Gaadt posters flanking my left and right…. It is my writer’s room dream come true!

I was unable to locate curtains just yet. Curtain shopping is much like shoe shopping. I’m not a fan! They have to be just right in color, size, and style.  Oh there are so many ugly curtains out there. Everyone with good taste must have gotten to the store before I did. This calls for a trip to Appleton or Green Bay….hopefully soon!

Does this inspire those of you who asked for photos of my writer’s room?  It is important to find the colors you love to work around. The layout of the furniture is especially important. Don’t be afraid to change your mind or be open to arranging your space another way. This style of furniture was completely different then what I had envisioned. Cal traded me up, so to speak, and I’ll be ever grateful to him for his wisdom and generosity! This is a small room but the furniture fits and I don’t feel crowded. I needed file space and there are two large file drawers that will work hard for me.

I love using the extra monitor. Cal fixed me up with that also! Sometimes as I’m rewriting I use the extra monitor so that I can have two files open at once. Then I don’t have to flip back and forth and minimize and enlarge files. This is great for research or moving scenes around! I’m just using an old monitor from a computer that crashed…years ago.  

I did steal my feathers and flower arrangement from the living room for this photo shoot ….I think I will be shopping for living room flowers because now that they are here I can’t bear to part with them!! I still have to being in my files and arrange them. Also I will have plastic drawers in the closet, which will contain office supplies and random stuff that I wish to hide away out of sight. (You don’t see them in these photos.) I will also be moving things from the top shelf of the closet and placing my binders filled with writing class information there instead.  Well there you go. I am a challenged organizer but if you work hard at thinking about how the organized population of the world would do things and you take advantage of great designs available in office furniture you will be well on your way to some happy undisturbed writing times!  Ask the Lord to guide you to discover your working style and give Him the glory and praise for His help and inspiration!!  Blessings All!!

A Matter of POV

When you look at these photos, you see completely different trees. So often in our lives we may experience pain or loss which can cut us off at our knee caps. We may feel as though there is no reason to go on, keep living, or trying. Under closer inspection you will see that these trees are the same tree. The first photo shows that at one point in its life everything green and life giving was cut off, leaving only the trunk.  What possible purpose could this tree serve? But, when you back up you can admire the branches and new life springing forth from the hopelessly maimed trunk. Purpose springing forth with abandon! Green leaves are again reaching forth toward the sunshine! The kiss of rain drops cleanse those leaves making them shine as though nothing happened at all. Life renewed, fresh, and thrilling in the glory of His sunshine. Leaves dance in the wind….once again…

Okay everyone, tomorrow I should have some time that I can empty out my camera so that I can take a photo or two of my new writers room!!  See you tomorrow!!

Summer Project Accomplished - Blogging Begins!

Well then, it has been a while since I left you a note!  So sorry. It has been such a busy month. I thought I would get so much writing done over Christmas break but instead I finished a summer project. A summer project you may ask? Yes! My husband told me on Christmas day that I could pick out my office furniture for my writers room.

Oh joy of joys! The entire week I plastered and smoothed walls and prepared the room in every way. I wasn’t sure about the color I wanted to go with so I kidnapped my daughter Vanessa and asked her to search through a myriad of colors and paint techniques with me. We started by picking paint swatches and a carpeting swatch sampler.

There is golden wood paneling on just one wall. It is amazing how many paint swatches looked pitiful alongside this wood. We narrowed down the colors I would be choosing from in about five minutes.

Funny how lighting or lack thereof in a room can change your mind. Surprising how the effect of peculiar light from the room in question can ruin your mood if you act hasty and paint an untried color next to a finicky paneling.

Soon after I primed the walls I chose my color. (With a little arm twisting from Vanessa! Ha ha just kidding.) It is a golden tan which complements the wood so well. We found carpet at Dalton Carpeting which I love. This carpeting has several colors blending to achieve the effect it delivers. Actually there are some golden flecks mingled in with the brown and tan, which is not obvious unless you have your nose to the floor. Okay, I didn’t lie there long! The effect is subtle, warm, and inviting.

Needless to say I hurried and painted the walls while Dalton’s ordered and waited for my carpet to arrive. On Tuesday my hubby and I went shopping in Green Bay and found the perfect office furniture set at Furniture Row. I found the fake marble-looking table desk and file cabinets with bookcases on sale! Now that really made my day.

I had some waiting to do, for the furniture, after the painting was done and the carpet was installed.  Finally my furniture did arrive. As the movers lugged the furniture to the office room my concern grew. Apparently shopping for furniture was similar to shopping for Christmas trees.  One doesn’t really realize the size of the tree until one pulls said tree into the house.  I ran to the room to observe the damage. The movers had placed the book case on top of the file cabinet and ….it fit! Whew!

Once they were gone I moved quickly to sort and arrange my space. Research and writer’s books as well as my printer and great-grandma’s quilt fit into the spots awaiting their presence wonderfully well.  I have my George s. Gaadt posters thanks to my brother, the serenity prayer, and the names of Jesus hanging on the walls!  My lovely calendar is in place thanks to my sister.  My Victorian floor lamp stands tall and reliable next to my desk.  Sentimental mementos adorn the shelves in the small space allowed by the books.  An anniversary picture of my hubby and me rests on my desk.  All that is left for me to finish to complete the rooms preparation is pick  to curtains and rods.

I’m sitting here in a state of wonder, excitement is pulsing through my very veins. This is my space, love and loveliness surround me.  I’m eager to learn and tap the keys to find adventure page after page….

Letter From My Friend & Former Pastor

They're smooth!

I'm talking about the Freedom from Religion group! After reading the Ellwood City Ledger I see what they are after...bogus statement of "no god, no hell, no faith" on a banner to be placed "above" the Happy Holiday banner in front of the Ellwood City Municipal Bldg. The local resident who remains cowardly hidden in the shadows and supposedly filed a complaint through Freedom From Religion is being used!

Since Freedom from Religion know they do not have a legal leg to stand on, they appear to make lots of threats and noise to intimidate through fear tactics. Then they will "settle" for a banner in a prominent place to "preach" their No god atheistic mantra.

Smart, huh?    Well, it time PEOPLE wake up and be "wise as serpents and harmless as doves".

One more thing on the group Freedom from Religion. After spending about 2 hrs reviewing their site, I came to these conclusions:

The founder, ANNIE LAURIE GAYLOR, is a generational liberal, feminist, atheist with a long history of public forums. She married a former "Christian" pastor, (of 19 yrs!) DAN BARKER. He opened his mind to reading other materials than from Christian authors thereby renouncing his former "faith".  (Thought: If one really meets the Lord, how can that one "unmeet" the Lord?) They appear to be solidly "anti Christian" rather than anti other religions, i.e. Islam, Buddhism, New Age, Wiccan, etc.

at first I was disheartened to think that we as a community of faith and residents of Ellwood City would only come together like this through opposition and the threat of not being allowed to display the traditional Nativity Scene. Then I thought -  (wouldn't it be wonderful if every year we would have come together for the displaying of the Nativity Scene with the whole community of churches, businesses, schools, etc, and sing Christmas carols, drink hot chocolate, eat cookies – and maybe we could start a NEW TRADITION along these lines? ) 

but then I became aware of a few other insights.

Ellwood is like a family that can talk, fight, and disagree with each other but DON'T let someone from outside do it!  If anyone dares to do that  we will come together FOR each other and defend one another!   I guess I realize that when the proverbial chips are down, we will unitedly stand.  That is a good thing; especially in this day in which we live.

Another thought I had was that by supporting the Nativity Scene, as a community we have INVITED the Lord Jesus to come into our city in a public and possibly greater measure. We are in essence saying, "Lord, we want YOU to be recognized from Your birth to Your coming again. We want You to be established in our government. We want You to have a place among us."

I think He will accept our invitation and manifest Himself the way He desires.

Also, if the "churches" would hold a rally, organize an event in support of OUR faith, or any other "churchy service", probably no "non-believers" would come.  But since this Nativity Scene issue is a grassroots movement, it opens the door for many different people of various faiths or no faith, of different backgrounds and cultures to participate and STAND UP for the Lord!  How cool is that?

There is another name for our God...Jehovah Sneaky!  I think He is just  "sneaking" up on us to do things in our midst that we cannot even imagine!

These are exciting days in which to live and serve the Lord!

Keep your prayers and support ongoing and LETS determine to become that prayer through loving actions and deeds of kindness.

This has just been some rambling thoughts and impressions as I process the recent happenings surrounding the Nativity Scene.  Hope it was worth the reading!

God Bless and Shalom!

Cynthia

 

P.S. Don't forget to say, "MERRY CHRISTMAS" to everyone you meet this month!

 

Gloria Biffert A Missionary Who Made Me Smile And a Note From Me

Gloria Bifert is a missionary to the Democratic Republic of Congo. What an amazing life she leads!  She gripped our emotions, when she spoke at our church, in every possible way, as she told us of a people who’s hospitality would put us to shame. What a generous people she serves and yet the Congo can be such a dangerous place also. Her life is filled with the important connections that will always matter….even in eternity.  Do check out her blog at gbincongo.blogspot.com This is a woman who’s passion burns for the salvation of friends she hasn’t met yet. May God bless and keep her and those He has her minister to now and forever! Amen

Just a note to tag along with my thoughts on Gloria…. Life has been so busy and full! Work, Pens, my novel, family, and Porschea our perfect puppy, along with Christmas preparations has put me on my tippy toes with to-do’s!  I’m sure it is the same for everyone this time of year. Sometimes the tinsel and trimmings and activities bulldoze us over till we are too exhausted to think. But we do need to stop and reflect about our great, almighty Savior. How blessed we are to do so.   How wonderful that church is actually on Christmas day this year!

I’m itching for more time to write and I plan on making use of the week off at Christmas time. A friend of mine, Becky McLafferty, and I are writing and exchanging manuscript pages as fast as our little fingers can type and ah re-type. Well, also as time allows! When you work full time, there is such a huge chunk of the day that you cannot possibly touch with writing time. Ideas are falling into my mind concerning the contemporary I’m currently writing. This book is about a child’s abduction.  Also ideas are brimming over for the next book in the series. I jot those ideas down before they escape my notice completely. Information is falling into place for a historical my sister is helping me research. I am fascinated with the late 1800’s, how about you? I will only jot down the ideas for the other stories as they pop into my head for now. I refuse to get into writing the other novels since I am determined to finish my contemporary first.  Those ACFW CD-Roms share such exquisite teachings and they have been the inspiration for many of the rewrites I’ve dived into this past year.

My daughter and I took our puppies to the dog park and they had a fantastic time. We had such a quiet night afterwards! The puppies dreamed away the night with visions of puppy toys to steal from one another and smaller dogs to chase. Of course they would not purposely dream about the two Irish Wolf Hounds that ran alongside them and were head and shoulders above the  rest of the crowd.  My 105 pound puppy looked dwarfed beside them. I have to admit I love the fur and the build on my Leonberger far better than the impressive Irish Wolf Hounds!  

Can you believe I misplaced my mouse? Goodness I’m having to write this and make corrections with just my mouse pad on the computer! I am almost frustrated!  Ho hum, well I wish you all a very exceptional and wonderful night. Maybe you will cozy up with a book or watch a favorite movie or pray. I wish you a restful and eventful night.

Blessings and joy!