FIRE The Great Awakenings by Bill Bright & Jack Cavanaugh

“Fire”

The Great Awakening Series 1740 - 1741

FIRE, one of The Great Awakenings series, 1740 - 1741 by Bill Bright and Jack Cavanaugh is an excellent read. In the beginning I felt as though I were standing side by side fictional character Josiah Rush when he viewed  his hometown of Havenhill, Connecticut from a lofty granite perch. This story captures one man’s courageous journey when facing his devastated past. Josiah struggles are heart wrenching as he refuses to allow the stigma of human judgment to dictate his present and future. Criticisms and judgments had so completely hampered his past. I appreciate Josiah's humanness, his strength, struggles, and awkward embarrassing moments. This second book of The Great Awakenings series holds a special place on my book shelf. If you give it a try I'm sure it will hold a special place on yours also.

This Howard publication is a must read for adventurous souls not afraid of a richly written story line that taps into the very struggles of living a life attempting to emerge unfettered by criticism and judgments of past mistakes.

 

THIS IS A HIGHLY RECOMENDED READ!

 



GREEN LAKE CHRISTIAN WRITER'S CONFERENCE AUGUST 2012

I attended Green Lake Christian Writer’s Conference  in August. What an awesome experience! No matter if an individual loves to write poetry, articles, devotions, or novels, direction and encouragement and training is provided by writers of the same genre. Everyone seemed to enjoy the connections made with other s who love the experience of putting ink on pages!

I give a thumbs up to those who work so hard to provide this experience and instruction so entwined with encouragement. I was fortunate to have Cynthia Ruchti for an instructor. She leads the class with gentleness, encouragement, and skill as an editor though she is a published writer herself. I was thrilled to see the improvement that each writer in our class experienced because of her instruction and the gentle suggestions from the classmates. Throughout the week, memorable devotions, songs of worship, and humor in many forms were shared. If you have a desire to learn, write and seek publication then Green Lake Christian Writer’s Conference is for you! Hope to see you there next August.

PENS OF PRAISE

Homework for our September meeting!! Fun fun!!

Everyone attending is invited to enjoy a special homework assignment–one of my favorite challenges we tackled in the past. Find a passage from a book you’ve read. Maybe you can seek a favorite classic, which is compelling but telling. Take that telling and show us how “show don’t tell” can improve that work of fiction!

Telling Example: She walked down the road angrily.

Showing Example: Terry beat her feet against the gravel on her way to my house, her face darkening into a purple hue I’d never seen before.

Add who, what, where, when, why & how. Also add see, feel, touch, taste, hear, and that incredible sixth sense if you can. You will see a wonderful change take place under your skillful pen. Plus you will revisit a classic!! Yes a classic!!

During the meeting we will take a list of clichés and add fresh touches to those dry and familiar words. Writing fresh has its own rewards! 

Our next meeting…

Saturday September 8^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

§    

We hope to see you there so that we can play with words together.

You are welcome to bring coffee, tea, or something cold to drink for yourself. If you have a work of fiction you need feedback for, do bring it along. We allow everyone a short reading time. We are a safe place for you to share your words.

Poetry, short story, memoir, or novel writing etc. are welcome.

LOVE ON A DIME BY CARA LYNN JAMES

Love on a Dime by Cara Lynn James

I highly recommend this Ladies of Summerhill novel. The setting takes place in opulent mansions from Newport, Rhode Island during 1899. It is delicious to travel back to such a time and place in society as this. Her protagonist Lilly has a secret and the author skillfully kept my attention and admiration as the main character grew and dealt with challenging situations that arose. Cara’s characters are interesting and well rounded. The setting intriguing. What fun to see society’s to-do’s and not to-do’s scramble before my eyes on the printed page from the safety of my living room chair. Cara Lynn James has my attention. I find myself jumping to purchase her works of fiction. I invite you to pick up a Cara Lynn James book and enjoy slipping into another time and place without the messy business of trying to figure out time travel. As I said before this book is…

HIGHLY RECDOMENDED

Caral Lynn James always has a way of making me smile when I’m walking through an adventure with her characters and even when I turn the last page…I’m still smiling..but wanting the next novel in hand.

Check Out This Blog! Chris Loehmer's Dino Chronicles

Greetings all!

I wanted to point out a very nice blog that I visit quite often. Chris Loehmer’s blog called Dino’s Chronicles has a touch of everything.

http://chrisloehmer.blogspot.com/

If you are interested in vacation spots, history, dogs, sewing, missions…well you get the picture. I LOVE her devotionals also. Do yourself a favor and take a peek at Chris’s blog, which is more refreshing then an all day nap, a half hour laugh, and maybe a cappuccino…well – hum Dino’s Chronicles/cappuccino…Dino’s Chronicles/chappuccino….Dino’s Chronicles/cappuccino

Okay you decide!! Maybe let me know what you think!!

Cheating...

I just uploaded over 400 photos from my camera and skipped the part when I'm supposed to place a title on the file name.  Multitasking is not always the best activity to accomplish when shifting photoes from your camera to your computer. I'm thankful that Gina Jensen from Everything.Photos will be fixing me up and helping me organize my batch of very unorganized photoes!! Ho hum. The new program I'm purchasing from her will be ready for sale in September. 

Can I wait that long!!!

I've been so busy living life and taking - that many photos - that I've not blogged for a while. I have so many events to share...Now I'm not sure I will find the photos from those events anytime soon. I've got a word count to attend to for the American Christian Fictian Writers (ACFW) NovelTrack. Just 10,000 this month. I did make my 20,000 goal last month. I'm sure that is because my youngest daughter had my grandsons stay at her house over night for that week and a half. Because of her hospitality I was able to write in the mornings.  Also I wish to thank all of you who have prayed for me for God's inspiration and for me to have what I need to write such as: time, ideas, focus...God is good!!

Well, I'm off to take care of my word count for the day. I wish you more organization and a ballance of thrills and peace to warm your day. Oh the photo above is one I took of my precious Lake Michigan. It was one of the million photos I look at this morning, while trying to find the current photos.

Blessings to you from Sue

Gina M. Jensen is a Photographer & Photo Consultant. Check out her web page

http://web.mac.com/gnamrei/Site/everything.photos.html

Pens of Praise Devotion July 2012

Pens of Praise Devotion

July 14, 2012

© Susan Marlene Kinney

There are many who say, “Who will show us any good?” Lord, lift up the light of thy countenance upon us. You have put gladness in my heart, more than in the season that their grain and wine increase. I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; For You alone O LORD, make me dwell in safety .Psalms 4:6-8 NKJV

Negative situations and individuals may be an everyday experience for us. Difficulties can abound making life littered with disappointments and pain. David cried out with verse one, Give me relief from my distress, be merciful to me and hear my prayer. Matthew Henry states ‘When men condemn us unjustly, this is our comfort, It is God who justifies; He is the God of the believers righteousness.’ When the LORD lifts up the light of His countenance upon us, it changes something significant inside our heart and spirit. Something we could never hope to change in our own strength. Oh the love of our Lord is ever present and healing.

Imagine experiencing the light of His countenance during a trial, uplifting, filling, cleansing, nurturing, and causing us to overcome each painful experiences to bear much fruit. All for his glory. David mentions in verse four, in your anger do not sin…on your beds search your hearts and be silent. Once we are angry it is quite difficult to keep silent. Our minds may run over and over the topic of our dis-ease or uneasiness. But, once we have settled down to obey the Lord and keep quiet His love, joy and bounty can fill those wounded places of our hearts.

This is where we enter a summertime joy within our spirit. When the planting of the Lord is received by us then peace, longsuffering, patience, forgiveness, loving kindness, truth, and grace will change us to resemble a well watered tree bearing much fruit. Our joy in this harvest is over and above the material gain and glory this world offers.

Truly, no matter the size of the potential harvest offered by the world, it can be destroyed by drought, fire, or storm. The work of the Lord in our hearts can’t be taken away from us by loss or pain or bad report. Having His approval is balm to our mind and spirit. He bolsters us up and fortifies us with courage to overcome life’s disasters. He makes us stronger if we become quiet and receptive in His presence. As long as we allow His ministrations to those pain-filled tempests we experience we will be fruitful. Despite the tragedy, we will be instrumental in offering healing and wisdom as though we were fruit bearing trees laden down with the sweet offerings of a fruitful life.

Our hears, our names, our purposes are safe with Him. He protects and strengthens the lasting harvest, which will thrive for all eternity in His presence and for His glory.

Be still, receive, and thrive!

Pens of Praise Today

Christian Writers Group

Next meeting will be…

Saturday, July 14, 2011   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

During our June meeting we listened to a teaching from a Write To Publish conference class. We will attempt to complete Ben Erhichman’s lesson on “Becoming a Confident Writer” in July. Our guest this month is Gina Marie Jensen [everythingphotos@me.com]. Gina will share information about her expertise with photography, which can be extremely beneficial for a writers publicity. She also offers Creative Memories services, which, I believe, can be useful for our writer’s craft.

We invite you to be His voice of encouragement to the masses. May the stroke of your pen build others up and glorify our Lord!  What legacy do you want to leave? Come explore the plethora of writing opportunities and techniques. Share your talents and assist others growth, as you learn from the various genres represented at Pens.

Our prompt this month will be Summer Thoughts. You are welcome to write in your favorite genre: poetry, short story, fiction, or true accounts! Otherwise, you may share a page or two of your WIP (work in progress), or finished project.  You do not need to share to attend. We hope to see you July14th. Kick up your feet and grab a mug of cappuccino or coffee from a local establishment and spend some time with like-minded writers!

Let us know if you are attending so that we can prepare a seat just for you.

If you have questions or concerns call Becky McLafferty at (920)758-9196 or e-mail her at mclafferty@lakefield.net or call Susan Kinney at (920)242-3631 or   e-mail her at cal-suek@charter.net or susanmarlenekinney@gmail.com.  

We look forward to seeing you there!                                                                  

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

Sue

Leonbergers a Breed Apart

Leonbergers are intelligent, large, loving companions. If you want a dog who desires spending time with you and needs to take long walks— this is the dog for you. I’m amazed at the graceful stride our puppy uses during our adventures. It’s true she lumbers along when running but her walk is a class act. She is exceptionally friendly and yet there is already a protectiveness shining through. When a Leonberger barks anyone will stop and take notice. They do not bark often but when they do it counts. The deep grumblely grow of our Leonberger, when she is ‘talking’ to us, is enormously entertaining for my husband and myself. She knows she pleases us when she talks that way and does it more for our sakes.

If you’re in the market for a canine companion and you don’t mind a huge, harry, playful, intelligent, somewhat messy puppy I would highly recommend a Leonberger. They are AKC listed if that is important to you also.

About the photos…  

This is Porschea, our young Leonberger. She turned a year old last February 2012 and is now in the neighborhood of 125 pounds. The first photo represented here shows Porschea's playful nature. If there is nothing around to play with, she will create fun on her own.  The towel she stole from my kitchen countertop was her lure to get my attention and play the Bandit Game. Porschea’s goal is to capture my attention and then run a wild chase around and under the dining room table as she keeps an object, I deeply desire, out of my reach. This time I ignored her and she followed me into the living room just to make sure that I saw her treasure and that I would recognize it as my own.



The second photo is Porschea tired out and enjoying the afternoon sunshine sparkling through the trees just before she dropped off to sleep. Dreaming about chasing rabbits and squirrels is another favorite pass time. I do maintain a secure hold on her leash when we walk because she has  a quick eye and would love to take up hunting as a pastime.  

Super Fiction Book Report

Chasing Sunsets by Eva Marie Everson

I just finished an excellent novel by a gifted writer. Eva Marie Everson’s choice of words and pacing keeps the reader enthralled with what is happening to her characters. She touches on some deeply painful issues with feather soft brush strokes. These issues do not overwhelm the main thread of the story, but certainly add depth, which pulls at the heartstrings of the reader. This is a novel I would recommend for any reader who would enjoy a romantic escape of second chances and who can handle the painful experiences of secondary characters as well as a painful revelation for the main character. These secondary characters add zest to this plot as they influence the main character in various ways. I rate this book as a…

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED READ

Thank you for stopping by!