Ellis Island

On April 11, 1907, Ellis Island processed 11,747 people, the most of any one day in its history. Because of this, April the eleventh is celebrated as National Ellis Island and Family History Day. It's a good time to reflect on the history of the United States, its immigrants, and our personal histories.

Ellis Island remained the nation's busiest immigration inspection station from 1892 until 1954. Over 12 million immigrants came though the facility. It's located in Upper New York Bay, part of New York City and part of New Jersey. The federal government has always owned and run the island since 1808, and the National Park Service has overseen it since 1965.

The Immigrant Quota Act of 1921 limited the number of immigrants allowed into the country, and the numbers being admitted greatly declined. The bill effectively ended the era of mass immigration. Therefore after 1924, Ellis Island became mainly a detention and deportation facility. However, it had become and would remain an important part of America's history.

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Seeing the Cross

God created human beings for good, but sin entered in - first with the fallen angels and then in man as he disobeyed. Jesus came to restore our relationship with God through redemption. While on earth, however, Jesus depended on God for everything, surrendered all to His Father, and lived in complete obedience. He even yielded to the horrible death on a cross through obedience to His father.

"He yielded His life to God and thereby taught us that the only thing worth living for is a life yielded to God, even unto death. If you are controlling your life, spending it on yourself, even partly, you are abusing it and taking it away from God's original plan" (Absolute Surrender, Andrew Murray, Kindle location 523-524).

Jesus told us He didn't come to do His will but that of His Father. In the Garden of Gethsemane, He prayed, "Take away this cup from me; nevertheless not what I will but what thou wilt" (Mark 14:36). If you want the joy of a life with unbroken fellowship with God, there's only one way to have it. Surrender your life to God and follow Him in obedience. When we really see the cross, how can we strive for anything less?

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Writing by the Seat of the Pants

Writing by the seat of the pants means that an author doesn't do a lot of pre-planning on paper before beginning a novel. It's just one way of approaching the writing process. Neither doing a lot of pre-planning prior to writing nor writing with little work beforehand is right or wrong. Each author should find the style that works best for them.

Certain genres require more paper planning than others. For example, complicated non-fiction books or mysteries might require storyboards or extra planning to get everything in and to fit. Historical novels or romances could require less. However, it comes down to being more of a choice for the author to make and what works best for each individual. Either method can be overdone. I know a writer who has spend years and years in the pre-planning stage, making sure she has every detail right. It almost seems like she's afraid of actually starting her fantasy novel.

I admit I'm pretty much of a pantser. That doesn't mean I do no pre-planning. I've lived with the characters in my head for months, and scenes have played out in my mind. I just don't write a lot down before I begin. As I write, I take notes on characters' features and other information that I'll need to be consistent with throughout the book. If I did storyboards and a lot of pre-planning, I would know so many details of the story that I would lose my enthusiasm. You see, I write like I read - quickly to find out how my characters get from the beginning to the end. And I love it when they surprise me along the way.

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Lee's Farewell to His Troops

On April 10, 1865, one day after the surrender at Appomattox Court House, Lee addressed his troops for the last time. It was a bitter-sweet moment. The long, tragic war had finally ended, and most of the men were more than ready to go home; but the returning soldier, their homes, and the nation would never be quite the same.

When Lee took his troops to Appomattox Court House, he had not planned to surrender. He went to replenish supplies with the ones awaiting there. However, when the Confederate soldiers got there, they found themselves surrounded by Union troops. After the ensuing battle, Lee saw that continuing to fight would be useless, and therefore surrendered his Army of Northern Virginia at McLean House. As a gesture of respect, Lee was allowed to keep his sword and his horse, Traveller.  Following Lee's surrender, Confederate troops in other locations followed suit. 

The order Lee signed read:

Headquarters, Army of Northern Virginia, 10th April 1865
General Order
No. 9

After four years of arduous service marked by unsurpassed courage and fortitude, the Army of Northern Virginia has been compelled to yield to overwhelming numbers and resources.

I need not tell the survivors of so many hard fought battles, who have remained steadfast to the last, that I have consented to the result from no distrust of them.

But feeling that valour and devotion could accomplish nothing that could compensate for the loss that must have attended the continuance of the contest, I have determined to avoid useless sacrifice of those whose past services have endeared them to their countrymen.

By the terms of the agreement, officers and men can return to their homes and remain until exchanged. You will take with you the satisfaction that proceeds from the consciousness of duty faithfully performed, and I earnestly pray that a merciful God will extend to you his blessing and protection.

With an unceasing admiration of you constancy and devotion to your Country, and a grateful remembrance of your kind and generous consideration for myself, I bid you an affectionate farewell.

                                                               - R. E. Lee, General, General Order No, 9

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Carnal Versus Spiritual 

And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal. even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet are you able. For ye are carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? (! Corinthians 3:1-3).

Too many Christians today still live a carnal life most of the time. Like those Paul addressed, they aren't growing and maturing in their faith, because they have a worldly focus. They're still seeking after things like wealth, pleasure, luxury, and success in the eyes of the world. It's even often difficult to tell the difference between many "Christians" and nonbelievers. 

The word "carnal" comes from the Latin word meaning "flesh." To live a carnal life means people live lives of doing what pleases them or may bring them worldly riches. In Absolute Surrender, Andrew Murray says, "The carnal state is the root of every sin" (kindle location 367). He also says, "Worldliness...has 'honeycombed the church'"(loc. 358). If you find the Bible boring, can't pray for longer than a couple of minutes, or rarely feel God's presence, this is likely your problem. As you become focused more on living a spiritual life, these things become a pleasure.

We aren't able to turn away from being carnal creatures and become spiritual ones on our own. That's why the Lord sends His Holy Spirit to dwell within us. If we surrender to His guidance, He will lead us into a spiritual life pleasing to God. "Then you will learn to love God and love your neighbor, and you will be controlled by humility and spiritual mindedness" (loc. 365-366). You will start living the life God wants for you, and nothing else will ever bring you as much joy and peace.

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new (2 Corintians 5:17).

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The Farmers Trilogy

Peace, the second book in The Farmers trilogy, just released. Isaac's story continues, but this one also features his sister Jasmine as she starts college. She meets three young men who might be serious boyfriend material. Cameron is a great guy and her brother’s best friend, but she feels no romantic spark when she’s with him. Michael is so shy he’s easily overlooked, and Reuben is charismatic but pushy and moody. When all three dates end up with their cars vandalized, Jasmine wonders what’s going on. In the meantime, Isaac, her brother, is having his own set of problems. His girlfriend breaks up with him to pursue a career in the theater; and Edna, his acting mother, falls and breaks her hip. When Libby Robinson comes to help out, Isaac finds himself attracted to her. He’d seen her for years because she’s Jasmine’s best friend, so why is he just now noticing how special she is?

Of course Promise came out in February. In it, Isaac steals a car in the city, the court sends him to live on the farm of an older couple for six months, and all three lives began to change. Isaac wants to stay out of trouble, but trouble keeps finding him anyway. As he struggles to stay true to his new-found faith, prejudice and city friends threaten to pull him back. When even his girlfriend won’t speak to him, he knows he needs to come up with a different plan. How can someone used to taking care of himself and his siblings learn to rely on God?

Pardon, the final book in the trilogy, is scheduled to be out in June. Knowing that he’s about to be put back into the foster care system, Kevin Jackson, Isaac's younger brother, runs away to live on the streets. Things go well to start with, but he soon learns firsthand how dangerous the streets can be. Along the way, he has to confront his own prejudices, and he comes to realize some of his past wasn't so bad after all. Life is full of surprises and Kevin will face his share of them.

For this series, I relied heavily on my years of teaching. Yet, these stories were a surprise to me. They're not ones I would normally choose to write, but they chose me; and sometimes, those are the best kind.

All the profits from these books go to a scholarship fund for missionary children.

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Jesse James Killed     

Jesse James

Robert Ford killed Jesse James on April 3, 1882. Jesse Woodson James was born on September 5, 1847. He and his brother Frank were Confederate bushwhackers during the Civil War and were accused of committing atrocities against Union soldiers. After the war, they continued some of this activity by robbing banks, stagecoaches, and trains. Sometimes they joined with other outlaw groups, like the Younger Gang. Jesse married his cousin, Zerelda Amanda Mimms.

Robert Ford

The brothers were most active over a ten year period from 1866 to 1876. In 1876, however, they attempted to rob a bank in Northfield, Minnesota, and several of the gang members were captured or killed. The James brothers recruited new members, but they felt the pressure of being hunted men more and more. On April 3, 1882, Jesse was killed by one of his young gang members. Robert Ford planned to collect the reward money. Death made Jesse an even more famous legendary figure.

There were rumors that Jesse even came to North Carolina to visit friends from the war living around Union and Stanly Counties. Several citizens in Stanly County say this is part of the oral history in their families, and a book has been written on it. I included some of this in the last novel in my Appalachian Roots series set in Big Lick in Stanly County. In Transplanted to Red Clay, rumors are spread that J.T. Jackson was really Jesse James, who had come to visit his old Confederate friend, Merriman Little. I recently did a presentation at the Oakboro Regional History Museum on my research for the book which included this.
(All my profits from my books go to a scholarship fund for missionary children.)

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