Paul's View on Women

Most people seem to think that Paul didn't have a very positive view of women. They arrive at this conclusion by taking a couple verses from his epistles out of context, not always the wisest thing to do. Although most men during Paul's time looked down on women, Jewish society tended to hold women in higher regard and treat them better than many of the Gentile nations did.

In this case, actions may very well speak louder than words. Let's look at how Paul treated women. Of all his followers, he considered Timothy most like a son. Yet, he gave Eunice and Lois, Timothy's mother and grandmother, credit for the young man's deep faith (see 2 Timothy 1:5). When Paul went to Philippi, he not only baptized Lydia, a successful businesswoman, but he and his followers also stayed with her while they were there. Then in Caesarea, Paul lived with the evangelist, Philip, who had four daughters that were prophetesses. If outspoken Paul had any problems with this, he would have likely made it known, but he didn't. Perhaps he remembered the judge and prophetess Deborah from the Scriptures.

These are only a couple of the many biblical examples of how Paul treated and felt toward women. He also wrote favorably: "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:28). Beth Moore writes of Paul's attitude toward women in her book, To Live Is Christ: "A study of the entire life of Paul reveals an interesting fact. He had a vastly different view of women than many people think."

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Publisher's Mistake

I just had something happen that has never happened before with my books. My Appalachian Roots series is published by a traditional publisher, and they put all their fiction books on sale in July. The sale was supposed to end on July 31. However, when they got to my books, for some reason (I assume it was accidental) they only put the second book in the series, Sown in Dark Soil, back to the regular price of $4.99 on Kindle. The other three books in the series, Cleared for Planting, Uprooted by War, and Transplanted to Red Clay, remain at 99 cents.

These books continue to sell well. Just yesterday, I had someone buy the entire set of four books. In fact, Cleared for Planting continues to be the bestseller among all my print books, but that may because it was the first one published. I debated whether to mention the price discrepancy to the publisher, but I have a new book. Through the Wilderness, being released by them soon, and they will likely discover it then. They normally put some of my previous books on sale when I have a new release.

In the meantime, readers can take advantage of this mistake. Even though Sown in Dark Soil is back at regular price, they can still buy the entire set and get all four Kindle books for just $7.96 instead of the normal cost of $19.96. Don't you just love a bargain?

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National Radio Day

August 20th is designated as National Radio Day. No one person can take credit for inventing the radio. Instead, it was a succession of inventions spread across the globe that finally lead to the sound being transmitted and received successfully. The first radio broadcast just for entertainment purposes originated in Massachusetts in 1906. The first commercial radio station, 8MK (now WWJ) began operations in Detroit on August 20, 1920. By 1938, four out of every five homes in the United States had a radio.

The radio became a new way of spreading information from scheduled news reports to presidential addresses and political campaign coverage. It became a new form of entertainment, too. Programming soon included comedies, soap operas, mystery series, drama, quiz shows, talent shows, variety shows, and more. The Golden Age of Radio ran from the early1920s through the 1940s.

Although radio paved the way for the television audience to come, the introduction of television also marked its decline. However, radio is far from being dead. On October 1, 1999, the first satellite broadcast was launched, giving listeners another option and specialized radio. According to the FCC, about 15,000 licensed radio stations were in operation in 2012. So, to celebrate National Radio Day, it will be easy to find a station near you.

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Flawed

For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not (Ecclesiastes 6:20).

It's said Amish quilters used to intentionally put a flaw in their quilts to ensure they showed their human frailty and that only God could make perfection. I'm also a quilter and have always been struck by the arrogance in that attitude. I've never had to intentionally put a flaw in my quilts. They always have at least one naturally. Although it might not be obvious, some corner might not squarely meet the adjacent one, a stitch might be slightly irregular, or the binding not exactly uniform all the way around. The same is true in my writing. Despite all my best efforts and the efforts of editors and beta readers, a few mistakes often slip through.

And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for our's only, but also for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2).

The truth is that no one who has ever walked this earth has been perfect, save one - Jesus Christ. On our own, we remain highly imperfect and sinful. However, when we accept Him as our Lord and Savior, we become perfect where it counts through Him. Because of his sacrifice on the cross and subsequent resurrection, we're able to exchange our imperfections and sinfulness for his perfection and righteousness. Therefore, we can stand before the Father without flaws or fault.

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, O am with you alway, even unto the end of the world (Matthew 28:19-20).

This is the wonderous, glorious Good News of the Gospel, our hope and joy forever. This is the message we are commissioned to share with the world. To not do so is the epitome of selfishness and neglect. Remember love and faith only grow as we give them away. You will be richly blessed as you become a blessing to others in Christ's name. Go and be blessed.

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Audible Experiences

Now having three books out on Amazon Audible and two more in the works, I've taken some time to examine the process and the venue. I realize that each person's experience will differ, but we can certainly learn from one another. For example, an author posted on a Facebook page for writers that her audibles far out-sold her other books. That has not been my experience, but I can still see the potential. I certainly love listening to them when I do my daily exercise, travel for a distance, or do menial tasks.


Of the five producers I've worked with so far, two have been female and three male. I try to choose a voice where the age and gender are based on the predominate main character in the book. In general, I've found the women to prove more conscientious and reliable so far, but this is probably because the men are more likely to have other pressing commitments at the same time. However, I've had listeners tell me they prefer to listen to a male voice. Regardless, many of the audiobooks I listen to are narrated by women, and I wonder if those authors have had similar experiences.


When we were producing my first audible, I only worked on With Summer's Songs. However after I found a narrator for Promise and it was progressing, I started Peace, the second book in the Farmer's series. Those two are now finished, and we're working on Pardon, the last book in the Farmer's trilogy and When Winter Is Past, a historical novel set in colonial Pennsylvania that has a slight connection to With Summer's Songs. I've found that I can handle two books at once but more than that becomes too burdensome. That's because I listen to each chapter and then relisten if there's needed corrections, and all this is time-consuming. 

Although producing audibles can have its headaches at times, it also holds satisfaction and joy. I think the market for audibles will continue to mushroom. Many of the younger generations prefer listening over reading, and this will likely only increase with time. My books are already in print and e-versions, and this gives my fans and potential fans one more option. 

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Left-Handers' Day

August the thirteenth is International Left-Handers' Day. Most people probably have at least one left-hander somewhere in their family. I certainly do. My mother tells the story of being forced to use her right hand instead of her left when she entered school years ago. I have two first cousins who were southpaws, and I had a tendency toward being left-handed. My mother followed the doctor's suggestion and handed me everything in my right hand, and I ended up with the right being dominant. I did the same thing with my daughter, but she always transferred it to her left hand, so she ended up being a left-hander.

About one-tenth of the world's population is left-handed with statistically more men than women. In ancient times, left-handers were looked down upon and sometimes even considered to be witches. In medieval times and in certain parts of the world, people used the left hand to wipe with after using the toilet, and they would not shake hands or eat with it. The Greeks and Romans wore their main rings on their left hand to ward off the evil associated with it.

However, in modern times, some declare that left-handed people are special and more apt to be creative. A few of the noted left-handers include Aristotle, Joan of Arc, Leonardi da Vinci, Wolfgang Mozart, Marie Curie, Helen Keller, Babe Ruth, Marilyn Monroe, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Bill Gates, Oprah Winfrey, Tim Allen, Prince Charles, and Prince William. Here's to all left-handers. Let's help them celebrate their day.

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Paul's Name

Of course, Paul grew up as Saul in Tarsus. Saul is the Hebrew name his Jewish family gave him, and that's the name he used for the early part of his life. It means "asked for or inquired of God." I've heard sermons where the pastor indicated that his name changed because of his conversion on the Damascus Road. However, the Bible doesn't say this.

This fact became clear to me as I researched and wrote my first Christian, non-fiction book, On the Road to Jericho, which is at the publisher now. Saul was first called "Paul" in the Bible at Antioch in Acts 13. "Paul" is actually his Roman name, and since he was a Roman citizen, it may have been used some earlier. I think it's used more at Antioch and thereafter because he's becoming an apostle to the Gentiles, and Paul is a Gentile name.

Paul became one of the first missionaries and one of the greatest. He helped shape the early church, fighting for a theology based on God's mercy, grace, and love and what Jesus did on the cross and by His resurrection. Much of our understanding of the Christian life comes from his letters. But Paul's accomplishments didn't come from his own strength. It came from surrendering to God and letting Him work through Paul. We should do the same.

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