National Chewing Gum Day



September 30th is National Chewing Gum Day. The concept has a long history, beginning about 4,000 BC. Evidence of chewing gum made from birch bark tar dates back to the Nordic Period in Finland. The Maya and the Aztec in Mexico use chicle, another tree gum, and Chiclets Gum today gets its name from this substance. Even the Greeks chewed mastic, a gum from the mastic tree. Many other early cultures also had a form of chewing gum.

However, the development of the flavored chewing gum we know today came largely in the United States. In 1848, John B. Curtis sold the first commercial chewing gum called "The State of Maine Pure Spruce Gum." It was made from the sap of spruce trees. When paraffin wax was manufactured around 1850, it became more popular. The waxy chewing gum was sweetened by repeated dipping it in powdered sugar. The first flavored chewing gum was developed in the 1860s by John Colgan, a pharmacist in Louisville, Kentucky. He called it "Taffy Tolu." 

Thomas Adams began marketing Adams New York Chewing Gum in 1871. His gum was made out of chicle from Mexico. The market for chewing gum increased even more with Black Jack (a licorice-flavored gum) in 1884, Chiclets in 1899, and Wrigley's Spearmint Gum. By World War II the market was flourishing, and troops were given chewing gum as part of their meal rations. By the 1960s U.S. manufacturers had switched to a synthetic rubber-based gum because it was cheaper to produce. 

So, now that you know some of the history of chewing gum, let's celebrate the day by enjoying a stick and sharing the pack with others. Just remember to dispose of it in the trash to prevent future sticky situations.

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Why Job?

There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil (Job 1:1).

We all wrestle with understanding parts of the Bible from time to time. I have had a difficult time coming to terms with why God would have allowed Satan to cause Job such suffering and misery. After all, the Bible says that he was an "upright" man. I've studied and reflected on this. Here are some things I have pulled together that gave me a better perspective.

Lo, mine eye hath seen all this, mine ear hath heard and understood it. What ye know, the same do I know also: I am not inferior unto you. Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God (Job 13:1-3).

First of all Job, like us, lived in a fallen world where everything's not fair and just. Adam and Eve had already chosen to sin instead of obeying God, and Satan gained power over mankind through their choice. Although Job was what we would call a good man, he was not without sin. In fact, we can see from what the Bible tells us about him that he was satisfied with himself and even arrogant at times in declaring his righteousness. He felt better than others.

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose (Romas 8:28).

Secondly, if you have studied God's Word and know His nature, you know that He will use our bad times for good. That's actually one of His promises. I feel sure that when Satan wanted to test Job, God looked and saw how Job would grow in faith, maturity, and spiritual knowledge and come out a better man because of what he'd gone through. And that's exactly what happened. 

So the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning... (Job 42:12a).

We can admire that Job refused to turn from God even in his worst suffering. But he did question God until finally, God put him in his place. When Job began to understand and humble himself before God, everything was doubly restored to him. He had come through the hard times a stronger man who understood his Lord much better. I think the last part of his life was filled with much more joy because he could appreciate it more.

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Local Settings

I have never had a problem with any of the settings for my books. I am a traveler and have been to all fifty states and nearly fifty other countries. I grew up at the edge of the Appalachians, five of my books are set there, and there's another one in the planning stage. Experience helps paint the backdrop of what a place is like.

I first dabbled with using a setting where I've lived most of my life in Transplanted to Red Clay, the last book in the Appalachian Roots series. Rachel comes down the mountain to spend several months with her Aunt Ivy's family in Big Lick, North Carolina. Once a thriving town, Big Lick is now a small community whose main crossroads is about a mile from my house. At first, I was concerned that someone might not like the way I wrote the plot or the people. A book needs some villainous people to make a story. This never happened. I had been meticulous in my research of the town in 1878, and I felt that would bear scrutiny.

Now I have another book ready that's set in 1961 in Oakboro, just to the east of Big Lick. I'm hoping it will be just as well-received as Transplanted to Red Clay has been. Unexpected came together quickly, and I had beta readers ready who remember Oakboro in 1961. I didn't move to the area until the early eighties. As with all my books, I feel sure it will attract a wide readership because the setting is simply the backdrop to the story. It's the story itself that's most important.

I have already begun research for the third book set in the area. Maneuvers (maybe not the final title) is about troop training in the area during World War II. A dear lady has given me a copy of her father's book. He had come to Oakboro from Alabama for training, met and married a local girl, and lived here for the rest of his life. I've also gathered some initial information from an interview and one of the historical museums, but I plan to do much more. 

Local settings are motivating and can be a lot of fun, however, they add some challenges, too, particularly for historicals.  Fictitious locations are much easier because they don't require all the research and pressure to get everything right. If I can't find a bit of information I need, I can give it an educated guess. Actual places require more exactness. But I majored in history for my bachelor's degree, so I find that the research can be fun, too. It just takes some detective work. But local settings are a win-win situation for readers. Those in the setting location have a special connection, and those who are not get an authentic setting that feels real.

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Early Baseball

Some form of baseball has been around for a long time, but what happened in 1845 caused it to evolve into the game we know today. Alexander Cartwright, a member of the Knickerbocker Engine No, 12 of the New York City Fire Department, had been playing town ball in a vacant lot, but the lot suddenly became unavailable. He found a park available across the Hudson River in Hoboken, but the rent was $75 a year. In order to get the money, Cartwright organized an official baseball club and called them the "Knickerbockers" after his fire department. The baseball team was established on September 23, 1845. Yes, the first Knickerbockers was a baseball, not a basketball, team. This new team established a division of sorts and was the first official one following modern rules.

The New York Knickerbockers 1858

William Wheaton was the Vice President of the Knickerbockers. He'd established the rules for the Gotham Base Ball Club in 1837. Cartwright changed these somewhat and established twenty rules. Players were invited to become a part of the Knickerbockers and they had to pay their membership dues. New Yorkers seemed to love the game, and baseball swelled in popularity. 

The New York Knickerbockers 1862

The first "officially recorded" baseball game was played on June 19, 1846, in Hoboken, New Jersey between the Knickerbockers and the New York Nine. They played according to Cartwright's twenty rules. The Knickerbockers lost 23 to 1 in four innings. Rumors had it that some of Cartwright's best players refused to cross the river into New Jersey to play. There had been a couple of earlier unofficial games, however, and the Knickerbockers had won at least one of those.

Over the next few years, this type of baseball spread across the country. The Knickerbocker rules would be absorbed into the National Association of Base Ball in 1857, and baseball would become an important American sport. The Knickerbockers dissolved in the 1870s, and nearly a century later, the name would be adopted by the New York basketball team. This team often uses the shortened form, and they call themselves the Knicks.

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The Heart of the Matter

I beseech you therefore, brethern, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service (Romans 12:1).

Christian service is important, helping the lost find their way to Christ is vital, and making disciples is crucial, but first, you need to be right with God. More than He wants your service, he wants your heart. Are you surrendered to Him? Is He truly the Lord of your life? Does He have all of you?

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loveth me, and gave himself for me (Galatians 2:20).

It is all too easy to get caught up in our selfishness, want things our way, and try to take control of our own lives. These only lead to heartache. Only when we turn to God and truly make him the top priority in our lives will we be ready to serve Him as we should. Oh, He can use us all along, but we won't experience the true joy of selfless love and service until we are totally His. We need only to yield and let His Spirit take over.

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind (Matthew 22:37).

God wants your heart - all of you. He wants us to willingly trade our free will for His will. He wants us to seek after Him with our whole hearts - to hunger and thirst after His righteousness. Although King David made some horrible mistakes and sinned, he was a man after God's own heart because he sought God, wanted to do right, and repented when he messed up. Throughout his life, he faithfully depended on God. So should we.

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Awful Adverbs

Adverbs have been vilified in writing courses, conferences, and circles. "Good writers do not use adverbs." Is that true? Has anyone observed the number of adverbs the classical writers, like Dickens, used? I think we need to be cautious of practically abandoning any part of speech. Writers should keep as many tools at their disposal as possible. Using adverbs does not make or break an author. However, the overuse of anything can be stumbling blocks to the reader, and that includes the same adverbs. 

Using similes in the place of adverbs can be good until the author stretches to find some comparison and comes up with some awkward simile that barely makes sense and causes the reader to stop and wonder. I think pulling the reader out of the story to consider the way it is written is a much graver transgression than using an adverb that keeps the story flowing smoothly.

Even worse and what I see more often is a writer using an adjective where an adverb is needed. "She tried to get to work as quick as possible." "The dog moved slow because of its broken leg." "Drive careful now." If it modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb, it should be an adverb. Incorrect grammar is worse than using an "ly" adverb.

I read a blog this week that said telling has its place in writing. The writer explained that to keep from having a 600-1000 page book, it's best not to show everything because it takes much more page space. Some things need to be told quickly, while other things should be shown. I'm not sure I agree with this in its entirety, but I do in part. I feel the same about adverbs. Use a simile or some other method to say what you need to when it fits the story and keeps the flow going, but using a few adverbs won't bother readers. Just don't get carried away with them.

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National Play-Doh Day

September 16th is National Play-Doh Day. The soft toy didn't begin as a type of modeling compound or art and craft material at all. In the early 1900s, it was used as a wall cleaner, especially to remove soot stains coming from fireplaces and stoves. At that time, many homes burned coal. which left a dark residue on the walls. Noah McVicker of Kutol Products, a soap maker based in Cincinnati, Ohio, had formulated the reusable putty-like cleaner at the request of Kroger grocery stores.

After World War II, however, many homes transitioned from coal to natural gas, and there weren't as many stained walls. Therefore, the demand for the pliable wall cleaner diminished. Joe McVicker, trying to save his Kutol company, discovered that a teacher was using the wallpaper cleaner for her students to make Christmas ornaments. He took the same ingredients: flour, water, salt, boric acid, and mineral oil and added coloring to sell it in the toy market.

Play-Doh was marketed as an educational tool in the Cincinnati schools in the mid-fifties. In 1956, it was introduced at an educational convention and picked up to sell in department stores. When major children's television shows advertised the product in 1957, Play-Doh's success was ensured, and it's been around ever since. In 2003, the Toy Industry Association put it on its "Century of Toys" list, a tribute to its long-lasting appeal.

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 Mountain Experiences

I will lift mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help (Psalm 121: 1).

I grew up with a mountain heritage. Five of my twenty Christian books are set in the Appalachian Mountains and three in the Rockies. (All profits go to a scholarship fund for missionary children.)  Every time I see a mountain, my spirit soars. My eyes move upward and the peaks seem to lift me high into the arms of God. I feel His presence everywhere in a special way. 

And it came to pass in those days, that he [Jesus] went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God (Luke 6:12).

Jesus also liked to go somewhere like this and have time alone with the Father. Matthew, Mark, and Luke all recount instances when He did this. He prayed at other times, but He liked to find a special place to commune with God. We should, too. If you can, find an aesthetic place where you can appreciate His creation and focus entirely upon Him in praise and worship. Your prayers will take on a whole new meaning.

And when he has sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when evening was come, he was there alone (Matthew 14:23).

God speaks to each one of us differently according to our individual experiences and background. My mountains could be something else for different people — a flower garden, the ocean, the desert, an art museum, a park, a favorite fishing spot, etc. The important thing is to find somewhere or something to feed your soul and pull you into God’s presence. These special moments go beyond our meditation, Bible study, and prayer. They strengthen us for His service with a special touch.

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Time-Told Tales for Audible

I am excited to announce that Time-Told Tales, Vol. 1 has just been released for Audible. When I posted the book to take auditions, I received numerous responses right away. I quickly narrowed it down to the top three producers, but then it became very difficult to choose between them because they were all good. In the end, I went with the one I felt had the smoothest delivery while varying his voice for the different characters and situations.

Time -Told Tales are the two ebooks, 
Roslyn's Rescue and Glenda's Gold,
combined. They are connected, and Roslyn and 
Asher are also in Glenda's Gold. These are retellings of two classic stories with the make-believe and magic taken out to make them more realistic and compelling. Readers are saying they read them quickly to see how the new story would play out, and they find the print book a page-turner. Hopefully, listeners will feel the same about the audio-version.

Since the book is set in Medieval England, I chose a British narrator. I'm excited about the Audible book Richard Smith has produced. His clear, easy-to-listen-to voice pulls me into the story every time, and I always look forward to hearing more. I think listeners will feel the same. Check out Time-Told Tales for yourself. Here is the link: https://www.amazon.com/Time-Told-Tales-Volume-One/dp/B07XFFQ8MM

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National Teddy Bear Day

September 9th is National Teddy Bear Day. Toymakers Morris Michtom in the United States and Richard Steiff in Germany developed the toy around the same time without knowledge of the other. The teddy bear has become very popular and is featured in stories, books, toys, songs, and movies. It is considered a toy icon.

The bear gets its name from President Theodore Roosevelt who was often called "Teddy," although he hated the nickname. On a bear hunting trip to Mississippi, some of the men in Roosevelt's group chased a black bear, clubbed it, and tied it to a tree so the President could shoot it. But Roosevelt refused, thinking it was poor sportsmanship to kill the animal while it was bound. Cartoonish Clifford Berryman of the Washington Post published a political cartoon of the incident on November 16, 1902.

Morris Michtom saw the cartoon, and it inspired him to create the "teddy bear." He made a mockup and sent one to the President asking his permission for the name. The toys became such an overwhelming success, Michtom founded the Ideal Novelty and Toy Company in New York City. Meanwhile, in Germany, the Steiff company made a bear from Richard Steiff's design and exhibited the stuffed toy at the Leipzig Toy Fair in March of 1903. Both of these early bears are sought-after antiques today, and the Teddy bear remains popular with nearly 1.5 billion being sold worldwide each year. They have become popular, not only with children but also with adults, especially for special gifts.

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Abraham's Trust

Now the Lord said to Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land I will shew thee:  And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:  And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse them that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken to him.... (Genesis 12:1-4a),

Abram's father and all the people around him were idol worshippers. God told Abram to move his household to an undisclosed location that He would show him. If he did, God promised him great blessings. Abram did what God asked, and this would be important when it came to how Abram reacted to trials in the future.

By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son (Hebrews 11;17).

Abram or Abraham is called a man of great faith. An example of this is how he was willing to sacrifice his beloved only son by the wife he loved in order to be obedient to God. But Abraham's faith also included great trust in God. When God told him to sacrifice Isaac, he didn't deliberate about what he should do, pray lengthy prayers, or argue with God. The very next morning he arose early and went about doing what God had asked.

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding (Proverbs 3:5).

You see, Abraham stood on the promises of God. He believed Isaac and his descendants would grow into a great nation. For that to happen, Isaac would have to survive. Therefore, Abraham believed that either God would provide a way not to sacrifice Isaac or He would raise the boy from the dead. Abraham had complete trust in the God who had been so faithful to him all through his life. Abraham not only believed in the God he served, but he chose to be obedient and trusted God for the outcome. May we do likewise.

... great is thy faithfulness (Lamentations 3:23).

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Some Aspects of Audibles

Amazon Audibles are still a growing market. Although some of mine have done quite well, they still don't do as well on Amazon as my ebooks. However, there was a time when ebooks were also a growing market and didn't do as well as print books. That is no longer true. In the audio-video world, we live in, I think downloaded audiobooks will become increasingly popular. I have more and more people all the time who tell me they mo longer read any print books. They want to hear or see a story. We can lament this all we want, but it is becoming increasingly true.

I must say, I enjoy all forms of books. My enjoyment of audiobooks is partially what led me to put my books on Audible. I love to listen to a book while I drive long distances. I wouldn't walk my two miles a day six days a week if I didn't have my book to listen to. Once, I felt too sick to do anything else, even read, but I could pass the time listening to a good book. It helped get my mind off how I felt, too. I still read as many books as ever, but I've become quite a fan of listening to a good book as well.

https://www.amazon.com/Mountain-Mishap-Janice-Cole-Hopkins-
ebook/dp/B0756RMKL6

I know several authors who have recorded a few Audible books but then quit - I presume because they didn't sell enough. I think this is a mistake. All it costs me to bring out an Audible book is my time, and there's already a good-sized fan base there. In addition, I feel sure this will only grow over time. In fact, I'm seeing more interest in them each day. I find both sides of it fun. I like listening to audiobooks, but I also like the process of working with narrators to produce them. 

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