How Christians Reject God

O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps (Jeremiah 10:23).

Christians should turn to God for direction more than they do. One of the ways even Christians reject God is by not studying the Bible or praying. We must do this if we are to be obedient to our Lord and have the relationship with Him that we should have. In fact, everything about growing our faith hinges on this.

Go now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy, and sell, and get gain. Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For what ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this or that (James 4:13-15).

Then, even if we do study our Bibles, have a planned daily prayer time, and pray throughout the day as well, we often make decisions and plans for our lives without consulting Him. Why do we act like we have complete control of our lives when we know we don't? Why would we not seek direction from the One who knows all, sees all, and is all-powerful -- the One who wants only the best for us?

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an unexpected end (Jeremiah 29:11).

In talking about this in his book, Guidance and the Voice of God, Phillip Jensen says, "People still live like that today, Christians among them. They take no account of God in their plans. They just make up their minds and do it, without considering that the Lord of the Universe might have something to say." Do you?

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Audibles Eliminate Many of the Mistakes

Recently, I read a copy of a book and then listened to the audio edition, and I realized anew that many of the mistakes are removed in the audible version. Of course, it won't change the content, so the story still needs to be written well. But it will glide over many of the punctuation errors or homonym issues.

A good narrator will even enhance a weak story to some degree. The book I read came across as somewhat juvenile and simplistic when I read the sentences, but it didn't sound nearly as simplistic when I listened to it. At first, I thought the narrator's voice was actually a bit old for this book, but it worked. She was able to do the male characters well and did an excellent job of adding to the Western setting and giving the proper ambiance to the story.

Click on photo to enlarge

I am getting close to having all my books put on Audible, except for the five published by a traditional publisher, and they own the audio-rights to those. Thankfully, I own the rights to those published by my smaller, print-on-demand publisher and the last ones I've published myself. I find that if I have an easy-to-work-with narrator, I enjoy the whole process. It's another way to reach a wider audience, and the audio market is growing.

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A Day for Chocolate Cake

January 27th is National Chocolate Cake Day, so let's take a closer look at the decadent dessert. Spanish explorers found chocolate beverages among the Mesoamericans in Mexico. They took the beans back to Europe where sugar was added to the drink they prepared to make it more popular.

In 1764, Dr. James Baker discovered how to make chocolate usable for other treats by grinding the cacao beans between millstones, much like grinding grain. Conrad Van Houten from the Netherlands found a way to extract the fat from the cacao liquid in 1828. This produced a solid mass and ground into a powder that made chocolate much more affordable. Now, chocolate cakes became common.

The Duff Company, a molasses company in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, introduced the first devil's food chocolate cake mix in the 1930s, but mass production was held up until after World War II. Today there are many versions of the chocolate cake. Here's an old recipe for devil's food cake written for today's cooks:

        Chocolate Devil's Food Cake

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 leveled cups dark brown sugar, not packed tightly
1/2 cup cocoa
1 cup margarine and shortening mixed
3 egg yolks
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup half and half
1/2 cup hot water
3 egg whites

Cream together sugar and shortening mix. Blend in egg yolks and vanilla. Sift dry ingredients together three times. Alternately add milk and hot water while mixing. Fold in beaten egg whites. Bake in an oven preheated to 350 degrees until done (about 30 minutes for 9" layer pans). Frost as desired.

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The Bible and God's Will


Blessed are they which to hunger and thirst after righteous: for they shall be filled (Matthew 5:6).

Too many Christians put reading their Bibles on the back-burner and then lament they have trouble discerning the will of God. The Bible is the main way God reveals His will to us, both on the big issues and the little ones. The Holy Spirit can use a passage to touch our hearts and make us see the words in a way meant especially for us.

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17).

The Bible reveals 100% of God's moral will, and it instructs us how to live in all areas of our life. But sometimes, when there's a choice to make and there's no clear-cut right or wrong answer, we may need to pray and trust God to direct us in the best choice. This type of complete surrender and total trust may be hard for some, but reading and Bible study will help in this, too. The better we get to know God and His character, the more we will trust Him.

Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God (Matthew 22:27).

Reading, studying, and meditating on God's Word is so important there is no excuse for a Christian neglecting it. If you love God, you will; if you have truly accepted Christ as your Savior and had that heart change, you will; if you have your priorities straight, you will. In fact, you will be eager for the special time you set aside to hear from God and for the time of being in His presence in prayer to follow. 

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Accents in Audiobooks

Authors and narrators need to be conscious of accents in audiobooks. I recently listened to a book by a well-known author set in England in the Middle Ages, but the narrator had a distinctive American accent, and it sounded odd. I remained conscious of the accent during the entire series. As an author, I don't want my listeners pulled out of the story like this because it detracts from their enjoyment. When I chose a producer for my book set in the Middle Ages, Time-Told Tales, I selected a British narrator.


I also find light accents work best because heavy, thick ones can do the same thing -- pull the listener out of the story and make them work to understand the book. It's okay for the narrator to use a thicker accent for a minor character, but it's best not to have the entire book read in one. Jennifer Groberg did this when she narrated Mountain Mishap. The heavy Appalachian mountain dialect was only for two minor characters. Otherwise, it's tiresome for the listener, and you want them to relax and enjoy the story. Many of my books are set in the Southern United States. However, I don't want an overdone Southern accent like so many actors give. That's even a turn-off to me, and I have a Southern dialect. A light one is much better for audiobooks.

Douglas Birk from Missouri narrated Mountain Storms
where many of the characters were from Missouri.

Unless I already have a producer in mind, I usually look for a narrator from the area my book is set in. These people often have a general American accent from their experience and training with a hint of an accent from that area. As an avid listener, I want my books to be read as authentically as possible but not be weighed down in an accent I need to work to understand, and this is what I look for in a narrator, too.

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Inauguration Day

The capitol on Inauguration Day

Since 1937, January 20th has been Inauguration Day in the years when there've been Presidential elections. The only exceptions have been when January 20th fell on a Sunday. Then, the inauguration is held on Monday, January 21st. This marks the first official day of the new presidency.

Donald Trump takes the oath of office

Saying the oath of office is the only part of the ceremony mandated by the United States Constitution. However, it's become a tradition for the chief justice to administer the oath. And since Ronald Reagan, the ceremony has been held on the west side of the United States Capitol building, facing the National Mall with the Washington Monument easily visible and the Lincoln Memorial in the distant background. Franklin D. Roosevelt's inauguration in 1945 was the last regularly scheduled inauguration not to take place at the Capitol. 

Maya Angelou at Clinton's inauguration

Other events have also become common parts of the celebration. This might include special speakers, parades, dinners, balls, or other social gatherings. Of course, the ceremony itself is a heavily covered media event with major television networks and cable news channels broadcasting it live. Part of the history of this day, January 20th, then, includes the history of Inauguration Day.

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Over the years, various traditions have arisen that have expanded the inauguration from a simple oath-taking ceremony to a day-long event, including parades and multiple social gatherings. The ceremony itself is carried live via the major U.S. commercial television and cable news networks; various ones also stream it live on their websites.

The Shepherd's Staff


...thy rod and thy staff they comfort me (Psalm 23:4c).

In biblical times the shepherd's staff had many purposes. The shepherd could use it to catch or lift sheep, especially lambs, from rough terrain. He could part heavy, dense growth with it, and wield it as a weapon against predators or enemies. He often used it as a walking stick when on long journeys, climbing or descending hills, or on treacherous ground.

And the Lord said unto him, What is in thine hand? And he said, A rod (Exodus 4:2).

The shepherd's crook could also be a form of identification. It not only told the occupation, but each shepherd made his own staff and had some sort of identifying mark or design carved on it. Most often biblical staffs were crooked at the top, but they could also be straight, and these were often called rods.

Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks... (Proverbs 27:23a).

In artwork, Jesus is often pictured with a staff, showing He is our Good Shepherd. In fact, the shepherd's staff eventually came to symbolize high-ranking religious leaders and emphasize their responsibility to their flock. The Bible mentions shepherds over 200 times, and you can be sure their staff stood along with them.

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Fairy Gold

The Greatest of These Publishing is happy to announce the release of their newest book, Fairy Gold. The novel was originally published in 1897 by Christian Reid, a pseudonym for Christine Fisher Tierman from Salisbury, North Carolina. Although her writing style resembles many of the 19th-century classical writers, such as Jane Austen, the Bronte sisters, and Grace Livingston Hill, Christian Reid's writing has a special charm all its own.

In order to keep the story flowing smoothly and have a broader appeal, the book has been edited and revised to have more modern punctuation, change confusing phrases, remove some of the redundancy, and be less religiously biased. However, there has been no effort to rewrite the novel or to change the writing style. The language of the 1800s is part of the book's authenticity, and, if needed because of the original sentence structure, some of the punctuation from an earlier style remains. If there wasn't a very good reason to make a change, no change was made.

In the book, Marion and her two friends graduate and get ready to leave their private school to begin new lives. Clara wants to succeed in art, Marion is determined to become wealthy, and Helen just wants to be happy. Clara learns there are more important callings than her art, Helen's fiance betrays her but she learns where real happiness lies, and Marion eventually sees what she had to give up to win her goal. When compared to what's really important, material wealth can end up being just fading "fairy gold." If you like rich characters that learn and change throughout a novel, you'll love Fairy Gold.

All profits from this book go to a scholarship fund for missionary children.


https://www.amazon.com/Fairy-Gold-revised-Christian-Reid-ebook/dp/B083PMQ586

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Winter Spinning and Weaving 

Because early housewives had so many extra chores, such as gardening, gathering, and storing food, to do during the other three seasons, activities like spinning and weaving, were often saved for inclement weather or during the winter months. In more populated areas, wealthier families could hire some of the clothes-making tasks done, but in poorer families, remote locations, and frontier areas, the family members did it all.

The process was lengthy, beginning with the raw material. They grew sheep for wool, flax for linen, or cotton for a serviceable cloth. Some of these could even be combined. The women or children usually prepared the fibers. Wool would need to be cleaned, flax hulled, and cotton deseeded. Then, they all needed carding to straighten the fibers and get them going in the same direction for spinning.

After going through the processes to make them usable, the fibers were spun into thick threads or yarn. There were two types of spinning wheels in America, the high or walking wheel and the smaller one where the spinner sat beside it. Cooler regions tended to use more of the high wheels because it seemed better for wool. Europe used more of the smaller, seated type. Coastal areas and more settled areas used both, although those who lived to the east tended to use the smaller wheel, and those in the west tended to use the high wheel more.

After the spinning, came the dyeing. Some kept records of their dye recipes with natural ingredients and mordants, and others went by memory. The range of colors could be extensive, but true blues and a bright red were harder to achieve. Women usually grew a small patch of indigo for the blue. Burgundy reds could be found in nature, but for a bright red, the main ingredient had to be ordered. The best early ones came from a small insect indigenous to places like parts of Mexico. Needless to say, not many people had a bright red.

To get cloth, the threads must be woven. It took skill and patience to string the loom, but the weaving was more fun, especially when weaving patterns. Women kept and shared patterns. This happened in my second novel in the Appalachian Roots series, Sown in Dark Soil.* Emma, Leah, and Patsy, not only saved the weaving until winter but Emma taught Leah and Patsy some of her patterns. The plaids were Leah's favorite to weave.

*All my profits go to a scholarship fund for missionary children.

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The Key to Peace and Contentment

Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith, to be content (Philippians 4:11).

There is a level of contentment and peace that doesn't depend on the people or circumstances around us. It is the contentment Paul was talking about when he said he could be content in whatever state he found himself. But how can we get to that level and find the joy it brings?

Submit yourselves therefore to God... (James 4:7a).

The answer is really simple. It's the doing it that's so hard. We must surrender all to God. Part of our sinful nature is to want to be in control of as much as we can. However, the truth is we can't control the people or things around us, so we aren't in control of much anyway. Some even have a hard time controlling themselves. Face it. We all need help.

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7).

It only makes sense to turn to God and allow Him to have full control of our lives. He sees all and knows all, including the future. He also wants the best for us, and only He knows what that is. So, why wouldn't we want to surrender our lives to Him? The extra benefits of doing so are freeing and amazing. We can get rid of worry, anxiety, and fretting and welcome lasting peace, contentment, and joy. The degree to which we yield control to God is the degree to which we'll have those added benefits. What an extraordinary way to live if we can only do it!

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Another Past Storms 

Jennifer Groberg has just finished narrating the second book in the In from the Storms series, Past Storms. I love listening to her read, and she's become the producer I go to when I need a female narrator. This is the fifth book she has done for me. (The others are Mountain Mishap, It All Started at the Masquerade, Deceitful Matters, On the Road to Jericho, and now, Past Storms.) She is a good follow-up to Douglas Birk's expressive voice in the first book in the series, Mountain Storms. A male narrator worked better for it, and this one needed a female reader.

In Past Storms, teenager, Jeannie MacGregor runs away from her brother’s remote mountain cabin in Wyoming and goes back to live with her aunt in Baltimore. She needs some sort of social life to meet her future husband. When the first man she finds interesting rejects her, she turns to the next man who shows her attention. Is Linden Olsen everything he seems to be – suave, gallant, wealthy, and from high society, or will he be the most disappointing of all? Nothing seems to turn out as she expects, and she returns to Wyoming expecting to face rejection and scorn, but she's surprised over and over again.

Dust Storms, the last book in the trilogy, is now in production. But all my books have definite endings, so you don't have to wait to enjoy the first two. If you are going to read or listen to them all, however, it would be best to do them in order, so there won't be spoilers. This is the first western series I've done, set in mainly Wyoming and Texas, but I do have plans for some others. Who doesn't love the Old West?

Check it out at: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07TBGJBG9

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Twelfth Night

Twelfth Night grew out of the church's celebration of Epiphany to celebrate the coming of the wise men after Jesus' birth and John the Baptist later baptizing Him. Twelfth Night came twelve days after Christmas and was celebrated on January sixth. It grew in importance from the seventh century as a bridge between Christmas and Epiphany, which would come on January seventh and was especially observed in the Middle Ages and on. In more modern times, the days were sometimes counted differently, and the date could vary by one day.

Several traditions and superstitions grew up around the time of Twelfth Night. One was that it would be unlucky to leave Christmas decorations up past the day. House blessings were also common. A special cake with a pea baked in it would often be served, and the person who got the piece with pea became royalty for the day and was treated as such. In fact, food and drink became more and more a part of the celebrations. The punch, wassail, and wassailing (caroling) became popular. 

Colonial Americans had their own versions of celebrating Twelfth Night. The Christmas wreath on the front door was taken down at the end of Twelfth Night, along with any other Christmas decorations, and any edible decorations, such a fruit, nuts, or berries were eaten. These were often used as decorations, along with the greenery. Although Twelfth Night has faded away in modern times, some areas still have remnants of the holiday. For example, in New Orleans, people may still gather for king cake parties, a modern version of the old tradition. Even those who don't celebrate may have Christmas traditions that originated with Twelfth Night.

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Herod the Great (or Not So Great)


Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him (Matthew 2:1-2).

Herod I, also called Herod the Great, had his part in what happened after Jesus' birth. He had risen in power to become the Client King of Judea, largely due to his father's good standing with Julius Caesar, his own military feats, and his ruthlessness in politics. He'd been born sometime around 72 BC and reigned from 37 BC - 4 AD, so he was aging at the time Jesus was born. He was not a Jew but an Edomite.

Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coast thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time when he had diligently enquired of the wise men (Matthew 2:16).

He'd told the magi from the East to come back to Jerusalem and bring him word of where they found the baby who was to be King of the Jews, so he could go and worship, too. These Easterners weren't called wise men for nothing, and they heeded the message from God to return to their country another way, knowing that Herod had evil plans. This incensed the king and who was known for his anger.

And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee unto Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him (Matthew 2:13).

Herod had a wide cruel streak. He had three of his own sons killed during his reign, so he would not have hesitated to have the baby boys in Bethlehem killed, and that's exactly what he did. He had every male child under two years of age around Bethlehem killed in order to destroy this threat to his kingship. However, being warned in a dream, Joseph and Mary fled to Egypt, and Jesus escaped the massacre.

And he sent, and beheaded John in prison (Matthew 14:10).

Not only was Herod I selfish, unreasonable, and cruel, but he left a legacy of evil cruelty. His son, Herod Antipas, was the ruler who had John the Baptist beheaded, and his grandson, Herod Agrippa, killed the apostle James and attempted to kill Peter. Christians have always had to face evil intent. We should face it the way Joseph and Mary did -- by relying on God and being obedient to Him.

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Sales for Series 

I've been told over and over by authors and publishers that a series sells much better than a standalone. Supposedly, a series leads to multiple books selling while a standalone is only one. Although this makes sense, I haven't found this necessarily true. 

My two best-selling books on Amazon are standalones -- Mountain Mishap and When Winter Is Past. Mountain Storms, the first book in my recent series, In from the Storms, is beginning to also do well, but it's too early to tell if it will lead to sales of the other two books in the series or not. Most months, Mountain Mishap and When Winter Is Past continue to outsell all the other books combined. They have been phenomenal, and I wish I could figure out their secret. 

I recently did a poll asking if I should introduce a novel in the planning stages as a standalone or part of a series since it could be done either way. Overwhelmingly, three-fourths of the people said a series is best, but my experience makes me question this. I'm wondering if releasing standalones isn't better unless some of the same characters appear in all the books. I also wonder if other well-published authors have had similar experiences with series and standalones.

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