Saturday, November 30, 2013

Parenting: Should parents protect their children from evil?




                           By Ada Brownell
The cradle the mother cuddled her tiny boy into was like no other.
Some of the pitch wasn’t quite dry. There was no time, so Jocebed didn’t worry about the sticky black stuff getting on the blankets. The pitch would keep the little ark afloat.
Ducks quacked in nearby reeds. A few crickets sang, while a long-legged bird fished quietly.
"Keep an eye on him and pray," Jocebed whispered to her young daughter, tears rolling down her face. "Pharaoh's childless daughter bathes here."
Jocebed disappeared, but soon the beautiful dark-haired princess arrived to wash herself. The sister stood in the distance and watched.
"Wade out and see what that is," the princess called to her maids, pointing to where the three-month-old baby's ark floated. The child was in danger of death because of Pharaoh's decree to kill all the Israelite boys. Pharaoh wrote the decree because he believed the Jews had become more numerous and mighty than the Egyptians.
The princess lifted the blankets and the baby, Moses, began to wail. "This child is one of the Hebrew's children," she said.
The big sister, stepped close. "Shall I go and call a Hebrew woman to nurse him for you?"
The answer was yes and the child became a grandson of the man who desired to kill him.
"I'll name him Moses because I brought him out of the water," the princess said, a satisfied smile on her glowing face.
 Jocebed's scheme worked. She nursed her own baby, and evidently became his nurse-maid or something because she taught the boy about the One God the Hebrews served and about His Almighty power. As a result, Moses didn't accept Egyptians' false gods, and was used mightily by the Heavenly Father.
When our children are in danger, are we willing to put ourselves at risk as Jocebed did?
A colleague of mine told about a similar situation in her youth during World War II in Holland. A bus filled with Japanese soldiers pulled into the little village. All able-bodied men rose up to fight for their nation, leaving the women, children and old men at home defenseless.
 Soldiers gushed out of the bus and ran after the young women who had come to see the visitors. As they dragged the struggling girls toward the bus, a mighty scream echoed. As one, women of every age took off their wooden shoes and beat the enemy soldiers on the head, and all over their bodies.
Captured girls followed suit and the wicked men dropped them and ran for the bus. The girls were saved.
The people dragging our young people off to hell today aren't so noticeable. They start with the mind, teaching them God isn't there, that sin doesn't matter, that there are no consequences for rebellion against the Creator who loves them, the church is irrelevant, and that America and Christianity are evil.

Parents can't protect their children from all the abominations on earth, however. We can pray, but we should go beyond that and teach our children to make good decisions on their own and to choose the path that leads to righteousness and heaven.
That's why I wrote the book, Imagine the Future You. The book opens the curtain and reveals the truth. I teach about brainwashing; propaganda; sexually transmitted diseases; evidence from the Bible, archaeology and eyewitnesses that God is there and Jesus Christ rose from the dead so that we can live forever.
But that's not all. The book talks about the good things we can put into our minds like money in the bank that we'll benefit from all our lives. I talk about relationships, falling in love, marriage, how to look and be your best, how to develop talents, and tell about people who achieved great things. In contrast, I relate true stories about those who discovered when you only seek after pleasure, riches and fame, a person's future blows away like dust in the wind.
  From God's Word, not quickly outdated university textbooks, I show how to find joy and peace beyond your wildest dreams.
Get the motivational Bible study now for you, your children and your grandchildren. It is available for Kindle at the .99 introductory prices, and the paperback is discounted on Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B001KJ2C06
©Ada Brownell, Nov. 30, 2013

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Black Friday Sale--Books by a group of 32 Christian Authors

BLACK FRIDAY SALE
A Bible study on the eternal:
Evidence you're more than a body

An inspiring novel for youth and adults
Give a faith boost 

                               
                                    A Motivational Bible study for youth
                  http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B001KJ2C06
Enjoyable reads with a spiritual payload
  
All on sale for .99
Paperbacks of these books also available for gift giving
Join a group of Christian authors in their Black Friday Sale

Don't give e-readers gifts empty! Fill them with good books

Meet the 32 authors participating in the event:



Monday, November 25, 2013

DO YOU SEE HUMOR IN YOUR DISTRESS? CATCHING UP WITH DAYLIGHT by Gail Kittleson



Book summary

Catching up with Daylight by Gail Kittleson makes a pleasant companion for this season of reflection. Snuggle near the fire with this volume, or give a friend a gift to . . .

celebrate the power of friendship

explore historical and contemporary passages from darkness to light

discover an ancient Benedictine meditation practice

re-experience the beauty of the present moment

                        rethink your favorite gospel stories


Many of us long for rest, as the author did while renovating an old house after her husband’s first deployment to Iraq. Yet a different hunger undergirded that desire: a hunger for wholeness.

No fast track exists to a closer walk with God, but the ancient Benedictine practice of Lectio Divina enhances and extends our times with our Creator. Allowing the Spirit to emphasize one word and ruminating on that word throughout the day empowers us to remain present for every moment, attentive to embrace all that God has for us.


Meet the author, Gail Kittleson 



Bio: After teaching expository writing and English as a Second Language, and facilitating grief and transition workshops for hospice and other caregiver organizations, Gail Kittleson has finally made writing her priority. She enjoys her family (married 35 years, delightful grandchildren), teaching a local memoir-writing class, and writing. Her nonfiction (Catching Up With Daylight/WhiteFire Publishing) and fiction (Historical Women's Fiction (1800'2)  andWorld War II era--still in the works) share consistent themes—personal growth through life's challenges, finding one's voice, and gratitude.



My friend Carol recently discovered she faced a double mastectomy. A day or so later, she did some journaling to vent about an unrelated issue that had niggled at her for many years. When she read her rant to her husband, she said, "Boy, it feels good to get that off my chest." 

         He looked at her and responded, "Be careful what you say."

Our memoir-writing class cracked up when Carol shared this story. She and her husband, known for their mutual respect and a lifetime overflowing with humorous anecdotes, have encouraged me so many times. 

         It's not that they suffer less than others, or that their life has been the proverbial bowl of cherries. But Carol's ever-present sense of humor finds something positive in every situation. How many people do you know who could make a self-effacing joke about a nasty pending surgery? 

         All this to say that humor often slides in to cheer us, even when nothing else can. I don't know about everyone else, but I sometimes have to work at seeing the funny side of things. This is true in my writing, too. 

         What fun, after years of honing fiction writing skills, to have created a couple of characters with a natural humorous side. This manuscript has yet to receive "The CALL," but even the act of creating a middle-aged widower who falls for his neighbor lady, a recent widow, has given me satisfaction. 

Al, an all-around great guy with the ability to laugh at himself, also has enough nervousness left from his WWI service to last a lifetime. The juxtaposition of these two characteristics intrigues me—of course, I hope Al will some day intrigue readers, too.

I'd like to develop more humor about publishing in general—it's such a tense arena these days. A bit of humor helps—being fraught with worry certainly does no good.  

My recent nonfiction release, Catching Up With Daylight, focuses on several Gospel stories of divine reassurance from unlikely sources, highlighting the importance of living in the present moment. The ability to laugh at a moment’s notice is part and parcel of that goal. I wonder if, later in life, the disciples were able to chuckle a little, looking back at their zany experiences with Jesus?

         When has fresh humor, possibly from an unexpected source, given you a boost?

Gail Kittleson
DARE TO BLOOM!

Sunday, November 24, 2013

You Turkey!



Thanksgiving Musing by Ada Brownell
Does anyone know what calling someone a turkey means? I heard if you call someone a turkey you are calling him stupid and a failure, but they’re wrong.
The turkey is one of the most famous birds in North America. Benjamin Franklin wanted to make the wild turkey, not the Bald Eagle, the national bird!
The wild turkey we usually see in photos is not the same as the domestic turkey that we love to eat at Thanksgiving. Domestic or farm-raised turkeys weigh twice as much as the wild turkey and are so heavy they are unable to fly. Some people might think that makes them wimpy.
Yet, I’ve seen television clips where a female television reporter does a story from the turkey pen, and when one of the birds attacks, you’d think it was a mountain lion. Such screaming! The cameraman must charge through the gobbling swarm of beaks and flapping wings to rescue the damsel in distress. Of course, he brings the camera along, but neither wastes time climbing over the fence to safety.
Despite the wild variety’s small size, hunters love to bag wild turkeys, plentiful in my state. The gobblers live in woods in part of North America and are the largest game birds in this area of the world, and they can fly!
But to me, wild turkeys aren’t as beautiful as the big-breasted ones raised on farms for profit. Next time someone calls you a turkey, remember the male strutting his stuff with his often colorful plumage fanned like a peacock’s for some gorgeous hen to see.
Yet the most wonderful turkeys I’ve seen were in the center of a dining room table surrounded by family and friends who love one another. The bird, no fancy feathers, no caruncle (those brightly colored growths at the throat), no red snood (the flap of skin that hangs over the beak), and no wattle (the red flap of skin under the turkey’s chin), has never been more attractive.
The platter is covered by a buttery brown bird chosen instead of prime rib, fancy  steaks, lamb, seafood, lasagna or any other main dish or meat. This bird is the centerpiece as people thank God for His blessings, love one another, laugh with each other, pray for another, and make memories.
Never cringe again if someone says, “You turkey!”
And be thankful! There is emotional and spiritual power in doing just that.
©Ada Brownell Nov. 22, 2013


Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Journey of Eleven Moons by Bonnie Leon 20th anniversary edition



Back Cover

A successful walrus hunt means Anna and her beloved Kinauquak will soon be joined in marriage. But before they can seal their promise to one another, a tsunami wipes their tribe from the rugged shore—everyone except Anna and her little sister, Iya, who are left alone to face the Alaskan wilderness.

A stranger, a Civil War veteran with golden hair and blue eyes, wanders the untamed Aleutian Islands. He offers help, but can Anna trust him or his God? And if she doesn’t, how will she and Iya survive?



Bonnie Leon is the author of nineteen novels, including the recently released Joy Takes Flight, book three in the Alaskan Skies series and the popular Sydney Cover series published by Revell. 
She enjoys speaking for women’s groups and teaching at writing seminars and conventions. These days, her time is filled with writing, being a grandmother and relishing precious time with her aged mother.
Bonnie and her husband, Greg, live in Southern Oregon. They have three grown children and seven grandchildren.

Unveiling Truth Through Fiction
                    www.bonnieleon.com



Where did you get the idea for this book and the main character?

My grandmother was an Alaskan Native—Aleut. She grew up in Unalaska, which is an island in the Aleutian Chain. When she was a young woman she stood on a bluff overlooking a cove and while she stood there a tsunami barreled into the coast.

The first time I heard the story the image of what my grandmother had seen was ingrained in my mind. When I first started writing, her encounter with nature’s violent power came to mind and along with it a story emerged. I’d always felt connected to my native roots and when I realized I wanted to write I knew my heritage was something I wanted to explore.

When I went to work on the book, I dug in and researched the history of Alaska and its native culture, particularly the Aleut culture. The more I understood about my roots the more completely the story came together. It was an incredible experience.

Who is your favorite character in the book?

Each character is dear to me. I really don’t think I have a favorite.

I love Iya’s sweet courage and her ability to trust in others and embrace whatever life brings her way.

Erik is everything I’d want the man in my life to be. He’s emotionally steady and physically strong. And he loves God above all others, including himself.

Anna is the one I most identify with. She is a strong-willed and tenacious woman. Wrongly, she believes she must present a facade of strength even when she is weak and fearful. And yet, her inner core is strong and resilient. In spite of her fears she follows through with what must done.  Though she can be inflexible she is has enough confidence to bend her will when she must.


Were you surprised at the twists and turns that happened? Was this the result of character growth, rebellion, or change?

When I wrote The Journey of Eleven Moons I’d never before experienced the creation of a novel. It was an incredible experience. Every day I’d sit at my computer and the story would roll out of my mind, onto the keys and appear on the screen. It was exhilarating. As one scene rolled into another the characters became more and more real to me. During the rewrite the experience continued and expanded. Anna, Erik and Iya feel like real people to me. I love and care about them. I want the world to know them too. They are exceptional people living out an extraordinary story.
 Did you hate to leave the characters in the end and still think about them?

The characters have never left me. They are kind of like family. I believe more so than any others I’ve created throughout the years. That may be because they are part of my first writing experience. In addition, Anna and Iya are native and they helped me connect with my own heritage. In a way, I discovered more about myself as I discovered who they are.


 Unveiling Truth Through Fiction

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

IS ABORTION MURDER? A COLLEGE PAPER WRITTEN BY A STUDENT



Melissa with her daughter, Layla



This paper, written by my granddaughter, was used by her professor in his class as a example of possible persuasion from a not-so-popular point of view in secular classrooms. She posted it on Facebook yesterday in response to others asking for it, and gave her a high grade.

______________________________________________________


There is a big vote in ABQ this week! I pasted my paper below from my biomedical ethics class I
took a few semesters ago. I am for the ban, and this hopefully explains my thoughts on the subject. It's rather long, but I told Anna I would share it. 


Melissa Salazar
PHIL 2247
May 5, 2011
Pro-Life View of Abortion
In 1997, an eighteen-year-old girl in New Jersey gave birth in the bathroom stal...l at her senior prom. Within minutes of giving birth, the teen manually strangled and suffocated the newborn and threw him in the dumpster. The teen, Melissa Drexler, was charged with murder and endangering the welfare of a child (Hanley). When the story hit the news, many people were horrified that a mother could end the life of her own child and discard him with the trash. The innocence of that newborn child broke the hearts of many Americans, while the mother did not receive the same sympathy.
Before that child made the eight-inch journey through the birth canal, he would have been considered a fetus rather than a newborn child. If the mother had ended his life while still in the womb, it would have been considered abortion instead of murder. What is the difference? What changed in those few short moments? Abortion is not considered murder by law because a fetus is not considered a living person with constitutional rights. (Hinkson-Craig and O'Brien)
The abortion debate has been the source of extreme controversy in the US since the Supreme Court passed Roe v Wade in 1973 (Feldt). Groups have rallied for and against abortion, even to the point of violence. It is an ongoing political issue, and a major topic of election campaigns. The dividing line between viewpoints is vast with no signs of resolution (Hinkson-Craig and O'Brien).
Another photo of Melissa and Layla

The beginning of life is one of the issues on abortion that is cause for much of the debate. To define when life begins we must look at scientific evidence to debate the issue. When the sperm fertilizes the egg and creates a zygote, it is an individual life. It has unique chromosomes from its mother and father. As the zygote travels to the uterus it continues to grow and divide independently from the mother. This is confirmed with in-vitro fertilization. The donor’s egg is fertilized with the sperm and left to grow on its own to ensure that it is an actively growing embryo. Then, the woman receiving the embryo must be in a certain stage in her cycle in order to receive the embryo in her uterus. Eventually, 3-5 days after fertilization, implantation occurs giving the embryo nutrients from the mother (Storck).
Because an embryo has unique chromosomes separate from his parents, and can actively divide on its own for several days without being implanted in the uterus, it is a separate being from the mother from the time of conception. It is true that it does eventually need to implant for growth and nutrition, but it is still a separate person. For the mother pregnancy begins at implantation, but for the embryo it begins at conception.
The first major event in the development of an embryo is neurulation. During neurulation the brain and the spinal cord develop. By the end of the first month of gestation the primary brain vesicles are developed. By the end of the second month, actual brain waves can be recorded. At three and a half weeks of gestation, the heart begins to pump blood within the embryo. At seven weeks voluntary skeletal muscles have the ability to contract causing fetal movement (Marieb and Hoehn).

An undeniable sign of life is brain activity. Psychologists argue death occurs with loss of brainwaves because all cortical functions, response to stimuli, motor reflexes, and other signs have ceased; therefore, the person is no longer able to function other than simple vital functions typically driven by machines (Kail and Cavanaugh). If the absence of detectable brainwaves is a sign of death, would the presence of brain wave not be a sign of life? The brain is functioning to contract skeletal muscles as early as 7 weeks (Marieb and Hoehn). That movement is quite some time before the mother can feel the movement known as quickening that some pro-choice advocates claim is the beginning of life (Hendershott).
A fetal heartbeat can be one of the most precious signs of life. Parents can see the heart beating even at the first ultra sound performed during the pregnancy. Throughout the pregnancy physicians check the heartbeat to ensure that the fetus is still strong and healthy. Through the advancement of technology parents can even use a device to hear the heartbeat from their own home to have the assurance that everything is still ok. If the heartbeat has stopped then the fetus is no longer living. Abortion stops a beating heart (Hendershott).
Even with scientific evidence available for abortion debates, most will argue purely on the basis of morality. The concept of ensoulment cannot be clearly defined since it isn’t on a biological level. There is no medical test that can be done proving one does or doesn’t have a soul. Therefore, this topic is left to moral debate.
The Pro-Life movement is backed by many Christian organizations including the Catholic Church and other private organizations such as Focus on the Family. God, as the creator of life, is the foundation of their beliefs (Focus on the Family).
“At Focus on the Family, we are dedicated to defending the sanctity of human life, and by human life we mean God's creation from fertilization to natural death. In the beginning, God created the earth and everything in it, including humans. As it says in Psalm 139:13, "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb." We believe that every human, in every condition from the single cell stage of development to natural death, is made in God's image and possesses inestimable worth. Abortion runs contrary to these beliefs.” (Focus on the Family)
Pro-Life groups focus is on the fetuses right to life. That life is as sacred and unique from any other life. The smallest zygote is regarded with the same view and care as a newborn child. While the mother’s safety is a factor in some cases, the mother’s financial, marital, or social status is not a factor in whether or not her unborn child should live. Wanted or not, the fetus is a living human being created by God in the care of a woman. In rare cases, a pregnancy has resulted from rape, or in a young girl not ready or equipped to care for a child. Even in these extreme cases, Pro-life groups still do not endorse abortion. They do sympathize with those women and provide programs to assist with their situations, but believe that in crimes such as that there are two victims. One crime doesn’t justify another (Hendershott).
Melissa's husband with their son, Stone

In efforts to persuade women not to have an abortion, Pro-Life groups have set up crisis pregnancy centers to give women pregnancy tests and, if an unwanted pregnancy is discovered, give out information about adoption agencies. The most effective method in deterring abortion is letting the mother view her child through ultra sound technology at the clinic. Technology has advanced so much with the GE 4D imaging that a mother can actually view the face of her unborn child. Many women who had originally decided to abort the fetus decided against it after seeing the ultra sound. Many women justify abortions because the fetus is so small it is easy to pretend it doesn’t exist. If that woman is given the opportunity to look at her child she can no longer pretend it doesn’t exist.
Senator Hillary Clinton is a well-known Pro-Choice activist. In 2008 she spoke at a Democratic Compassion forum on the topic:
“I think abortion should remain legal, but it needs to be safe and rare. And I have spent many years now, as a private citizen, as first lady, and now as a senator, trying to make it rare, trying to create conditions where women had other choices (Issues2000).”
The tag line “legal, safe, and rare” has become a common response for the Democratic Party (Issues2000).

When looking at it from a moral standpoint, one could ask if it is not wrong then why does it need to be rare? If it is indeed a non-living cluster of cells as Pro-Choice advocates say, then why does it need to be a rare practice? Could it be that some Pro-Choice advocates, including Hillary Clinton, may acknowledge that it is a living human being, but regard the mother’s situation as the ultimate deciding factor especially in extenuating circumstances? Women such as Gloria Feldt, President of Planned Parenthood, have a more extreme stance on abortion. She advocates abortion of all levels, for any reason, at any time. She believes women should have complete control over their body at any stage of pregnancy. Laws restricting abortion are an invasion of women’s privacy (Feldt).
One of the major reasons that people would take a Pro-Choice stance is because of the fear that a young teen may get pregnant and not be at a place in life to care for the child. That does happen in rare cases, but the CDC reports that girls younger than 15 account for only .5% of the abortions nationwide. The majority of abortions are being done on women age 20-29 for social reasons (Center for Disease Control).
Many women who have an abortion procedure suffer from emotional trauma afterwards. Guilt and regret are often overwhelming. A lot of women chose abortion because they didn’t see any other way out of the situation. Frederica Matthews-Green has said, “A woman doesn’t want an abortion like she wants an ice-cream cone or a Porsche. She wants it like an animal caught in a trap who gnaws off its own leg.” (Nicholson-Brownell)
Little Stone Salazar  in the womb

I strongly believe Roe v Wade should be overturned. I believe abortion is the tragic loss of innocent human life. The rights of a fetus should be protected the same as children who have already been born. While many pregnancies are unplanned and unwanted, the risk of pregnancy comes with choosing to be sexually active and women have to step up and take responsibility. Contraception has advanced with many options available to reduce the risk of pregnancy when used properly. Therefore, I believe that “choice” should be made prior to becoming pregnant. A woman can “choose” to take control of her body by taking appropriate measures to prevent pregnancy. Not all birth control methods are 100% effective, however, for many methods the risk is lower than 1% when used as directed (Planned Parenthood).
In order for Roe v Wade to be overturned, I submit that the procedures for adoption should be improved in order to encourage women with unwanted pregnancies to carry the child to term and give him/her to a family who is willing and able to love and care for that child. In the US adoptions currently can cost up to $40,000. In addition to the cost, an adoption agency can’t guarantee how long the waiting period to get a baby will be (Hendershott). In order to be effective, the Pro-Life groups must take a stronger stand to make adoptions in the US less costly. Women in situations in which they can’t raise a child must have an alternative. Families who want to adopt children shouldn’t be prohibited because of the costs. If the cost of adopting a child wasn’t such a burden on the average family, more families may adopt multiple children. It would also open up the possibility to adopt for families with limited financial resources.




Works Cited
Center for Disease Control. “Abortion Surveilance US 2007.” Statistics. Center for Disease Control, 2007.
Feldt, Gloria. The War on Choice: The Right-Wing Attack on Women's Rights and How to Fight Back. New York: Bantam Dell A Division of Random House, Inc, 2004.
Focus on the Family. Our Position (Abortion). 2009. 2011 йил 1-May .
Hanley, Robert. “New Jersey Charges Woman, 18, With Killing Baby Born at Prom .” New Jersey Charges Woman, 18, With Killing Baby Born at Prom . New York: New York Times, 1997 йил 25-June.
Hendershott, Anne. The Politics of Abortion. New York: Encounter Books, 2006.
Hinkson-Craig, Barbara and David M. O'Brien. Abortion and American Politics. Chatham: Chatham House Publishers, Inc., 1993.
Issues2000. Hillary Clinton on Abortion. 2008 йил 13-April. .
Kail, Robert V. and John C. Cavanaugh. Human Development A Life-Span View. 5th Edition. Belmont: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning, 2010.
Marieb, Elaine N and Katja Hoehn. Human Anatomy and Physiology. Ed. Serina Beauparlant. 8th Edition. Pearson Benjamin Cummings, 2011.
Nicholson-Brownell, Ada. “Pentecostal Evangel.” Finding Forgiveness 2000 йил 16-January: 7-13.
Planned Parenthood. Birth Control. 2011. 2011 йил 1-May .
Storck, MD, Susan. In Vitro Fertalization. 2010 йил 10-Feb. National Library of Medicine. 2011 йил 1-May .
Wyatt, John. “Medical Paternalism and the Fetus.” Journal of Medical Ethics 27.5 (2001).

Thursday, November 14, 2013

How Do You React to Conflict? IMAGINE THE FUTURE YOU.






To kickoff IMAGINE THE FUTURE YOU, all Ada Brownell's e-books are on sale for .99

HOW DO YOU REACT TO CONFLICT? 

Excerpt from Imagine the Future You

4. IMAGINE YOU AS AN OLDER ADULT

Your really big show!


The decisions you make now help to form your adult character and mold your personality (and even your body) in ways that are difficult to change. The real “You” peels off the mask when you become an adult and who you are is revealed.
You might be surprised yourself. People who do great things often look back in awe, because when they were young they had no idea how God would use them. On the other hand, I’ve met people who don’t like who they became. One old man told me he wished he could live his life over—as somebody else.
 As I’ve said before, many people assume they became the person they are because of their parents and other outside influences. Sure, what happens to us and around us affects our lives, but it is how we react to our environment that determines what kind of person we become.

HOW DO YOU REACT?

Reaction: This word in a sense could be similar to nuclear reactors, which can power a city. A nuclear reactor produces heat a million times greater than an equal mass of coal. A coolant is used, thus producing steam. The steam creates power.
What I’m saying is you might have a heated reaction to distressing circumstances, but if you “cool it” with common sense and love for God, yourself, and others, you emerge a more powerful person. Your reaction to the events in your life decides your character as much as environment and outside influences. Yes, if your mother or father is an alcoholic, your genes may make you more susceptible to alcohol. But you can decide whether or not you will take your first drink.
When I started as a reporter at a fairly large newspaper, I was about the only one on the news staff who didn’t drink intoxicating beverages. At a staff picnic one year, a photographer who had been drinking poured beer on me. He said he did it so I’d smell like I had a good time when I got home to my husband.
Another time when I was young, a man tried to force me to taste beer. I just clamped my mouth shut, and although he was bigger than I, he didn’t get it open. I never did taste beer or take a first drink of an alcoholic beverage. Every time I see an alcoholic or a drunk, I am thankful I never succumbed to peer pressure.

HOW YOUR ENVIRONMENT AFFECTS YOU
Your environment affects who you are as much as the genes that held the pattern for your nose and ears. Often environment determines whether or not you use foul language. If family, friends, and your entertainment speak filth, those words pop into your mind. But that doesn’t mean you have to say those words.
If you have been abused, that could affect the kind of person you are and might help determine what kind of parent you become. It’s a generational thing, where the sins of parents are visited into the third and fourth generation.
 But children who have been abused are successful people, successful Christians, and good parents who don’t abuse their kids. If you know someone in your home has had sex outside of marriage, that knowledge could affect your behavior when you date. Yet, young people whose relatives committed sexual sins can go into marriage as virgins and remain faithful to their spouses for life.
It is not easy. It’s a matter of the will.
Your “will” is an integral part of who you are. Many theologians define the “soul” as the “mind, will, and emotions.” You also have a “spirit” and a “body.”
Understanding the will is simple. It’s the part of you that says, “I will do something” or “I won’t.”
 But what kind of person you become goes beyond even that. In many situations it is only the  power of God that can give you strength and determination to be all you can be instead of stumbling into temptations that could destroy your future.
We can never be good enough in ourselves. That’s why Jesus came. The Bible says, “It’s not by works of righteousness we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us” (Titus 3:5). Because of His mercy, Jesus bled out so sinners could be clean and live forever (John 3:16).

YOU CAN CHOOSE TO BE A MASTERPIECE OR A GARBAGE RECEPTICLE
Yes, we were formed with some of the same gene clay that runs through our heredity, but we can become a masterpiece or a garbage receptacle. If we allow just anything in life to influence us, we’ll probably end up a trash can. But if we submit our lives to the master potter, the Heavenly Father, He will mold and shape us into something beautiful.

©Copyright November 14, 2013




  IMAGINE THE FUTURE YOU SUMMARY
By Ada Nicholson Brownell


Will you be the person you dream of being—or someone from your nightmares?

You don’t need a fortune teller to reveal your future. You are the person who determines who you will be, what your life will be like, and how your hopes and dreams will be fulfilled.

            Today is the time to IMAGINE and to create an action plan for your future.

·         How harnessing your will can make you a champion
·         How to make valuable deposits into your mind, detoxify harmful information in the brain, and avoid brain washing
·         How to look and be your best
·         How to connect with Someone who will make a difference in your life
·         How who you marry changes everything
·         How to avoid traps that jeopardize your future
·         Where you want your name to appear
·         Why you can believe God is there and interested in your tomorrows
·         Examples of people who grabbed their future and held on

This book will show how to make the right connections, how to grow you talents, and how to begin believing in yourself and things greater than yourself—for a wonderful Future You!

A Motivational Bible study available in paper or for Kindle http://www.amazon.com/dp/1489558284
Ada Brownell’s author page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B001KJ2C06

Five-star review on Amazon:

Ada Brownell pens a book challenging young readers to imagine themselves in the future based on the choices they're making today. In 13 thought-provoking chapters, Brownell writes in a way that not only resonates with her teenage audience, but also encourages them. Giving insights into her life as a teen and providing timely morsels of truth about God's Word will leave any reader (adults included) inspired and dedicated to living a life for Christ and growing in their walk with Him. Highly recommended! ~ Penny Zeller, Christian Author and Speaker



Joe the Dreamer: The Castle and the Catapult
By A.B. Brownell

Enter an area where people are missing and radicals want to obliterate Christianity from the earth. After Joe Baker’s parents mysteriously disappear, he finds himself with a vicious man after him. Joe and an unusual gang team up to find his mom and dad. The gang is dedicated to preventing and solving crimes with ordinary harmless things such as noise, water, and a pet skunk instead of blades and bullets. Joe reads the Bible hoping to discover whether God will answer prayer and bring his parents home. In his dreams, Joe slips into the skin of Bible characters and what happened to them, happens to him—the peril and the victories. Yet, crying out in his sleep causes him to end up in a mental hospital’s juvenile unit. Will he escape or will he be harmed? Will he find his parents? Does God answer prayer?

 No fantasy. No wizard, but Suspense. Christian payload. Joe the Dreamer: The Castle and the Catapult http://buff.ly/XeqTvH or https://www.createspace.com/3962829
The book is also available at Barnesandnoble.com, and is listed at Goodreads.com



SWALLOWED BY LIFE: Mysteries of Death, Resurrection and the Eternal

                                          By Ada Brownell

Do you know evidence shows we’re more than a physical body? The author, a prolific religion writer and retired medical journalist, talks about the evidence; the wonder of life with all its electrical systems; the awesome truth about cell death and regeneration; mysteries surrounding the change from mortal to immortal; where we go when our body dies; resurrection; and a glimpse at what we will do in heaven. Questions and answers make this non-fiction inspirational book a great text for group study. It’s written for support groups, religion classes, people with chronic or terminal illness, individuals who fear death or are curious about it, the grieving, and those who give them counsel.
An excerpt from Swallowed by Life was featured in the June 2, 2013, “Reading for Spiritual Health” edition of The Pentecostal Evangel.

Where you can find Swallowed by Life:
Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/JnbKVL
Booksamillion.com http://ow.ly/cJmx8
And you can see reviews on GoodReads http://ow.ly/cJmMe
Christian Publishers Outlet also has the paperback


CONFESSIONS OF A PENTECOSTAL

                   By Ada Nicholson Brownell

Described as a "great look into another person's faith."

When Ada Nicholson Brownell was a child, a faithful Christian neighbor witnessed to her mother. Not just once, but almost every day. “The family did everything to get rid of the woman,” the author recalls, “but she came to our house, her Bible tucked under her arm, an enthusiastic smile on her face.”
Then Ada’s older sister attended a Pentecostal service at the invitation of a teenage friend. One by one all 10 members of her family were saved and received the Pentecostal experience.
 Ada’s brothers worked their way through college and dedicated their lives to serving God. Dr. Virgil Nicholson became a respected educator in the Assemblies of God and he was the force behind Evangel College’s great accreditation. Dr. Joe Nicholson headed the Evangel College music department for many years, was academic dean for Berean College, and served in a number of foreign missions tours with his wife, Jo Ellen. Everette Nicholson became a minister and pastored and preached 50 years, mostly in Montana. Ada, the baby of the family, an author and newspaper reporter, and most of her sisters were involved in music, teaching and other ministries.

Confessions of a Pentecostal was listed in 2011 and many other years among 10 recommendations on Pentecostalism by The Library Thing.
The book first was published in 1978 by The Assemblies of God’s Radiant Books from Gospel Publishing House, and recently became available for Kindle on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0088OP460


Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Is it possible to hear no evil? From Guest Mary Hamilton

Hear No Evil

“Hear No Evil” by Mary L. Hamilton is Book One of the ‘Rustic Knolls Bible Camp’ Series.
Summer camp is no fun for Brady McCaul. The girl with the cute dimples thinks he’s immature and childish. The camp bully targets him with cruel taunts and teasing, and flips Brady’s canoe to keep him from winning the race. But worst of all, his mom won’t let him come home. She doesn’t want him living with her anymore. Brady wonders if even God cares about him.  Can Brady figure out what he did to earn Mom’s rejection and change her mind by week’s end? Or will he have to live with his workaholic dad, the guy who left when Brady was seven? All seems lost until a surprising secret changes everything.

Interview with Mary Hamilton

Q. Where did you get the idea for Hear No Evil?
I grew up at a camp where my dad was the director, so I knew I wanted a camp as the setting for my story. Then when my kids were young teens, two friends of their friends from different families experienced their mothers sending them away. They didn’t want the kids to live with them anymore. These were good kids—I would’ve taken them into my home without hesitation, so it disturbed me to imagine the depth of their pain. One day, the two ideas came together. I could write stories of kids who bring their “baggage” from home to camp where they gain a different perspective, and learn better ways to cope with the issues at home.

Q. Is this a book to help kids heal from the hard knocks they often receive in life?
I certainly hope so. The two ideas I want kids to take away from this story are that God knows what they’re going through and cares deeply about them, even if He seems distant. And secondly, that many times they will be impacted by things happening in the adult world that they know nothing about, and for which they are not to blame.

Q. Tell us about the Rustic Knoll Bible Camp? What kind of place is it? How does it compare with secular and church camps?

Rustic Knoll is like any other secular or church-supported camp. It has cabins and a lake and activities for kids. What sets Rustic Knoll apart is the quality of the staff, from the director on down to the counselors. They all have a passion for the Lord that’s demonstrated in their passion for the kids who come to camp. Zeke, the director, communicates the Bible message on the kids’ level through his artwork. Janie, the cook, is everyone’s substitute mom. Nurse Willie doesn’t put up with any foolishness but her caring still shines through.

Q. Do you believe church camp is helpful in youngster’s spiritual journey? How or why?
I’ve seen lives changed at church camp. Just like adults, kids need time to get away from the pressures and distractions of their daily lives. At camp, they can get one-on-one attention and mentoring from a counselor, someone a little older and more experienced. They’re encouraged to seek God, to listen for His voice and learn to recognize it. For many, it’s the first time God becomes real and alive to them.

Q. Does your character, Brady, experience some of the pranks that plague camps?
Not so much pranks, but he is taunted and teased by a cabin mate. Unfortunately, bullying happens even at church camps, and counselors especially need to be aware and involved.

Q. Who in your story helps Brady find peace and love?
Brady discovers a lot of people care about him. Steven, his blind cabin mate, is an upbeat encourager. Matt, his counselor, takes a personal interest in him. Nurse Willie, Janie, Zeke—nearly everyone has a part in helping Brady see that God cares about him. But it takes a crisis before Brady can recognize that love.

Q. Does Brady find good friends?
He does make some lasting friendships with Steven and Claire. And you can look forward to seeing them all in the following books in the series.

Q. I don’t want to ravage your story, but does his mother ever repent of being unloving?
That’s a surprise, but I will say the book has a happy ending.

Q. How does God fit into Brady’s life?
Brady develops a new awareness of God’s reality in his life. Through all Brady’s struggles at home and at camp, God seemed so far away. Almost non-existent. But at camp, God reveals himself to Brady as a loving presence in life’s darkest moments. Convinced that God is real, Brady can now begin his journey of faith in learning to know God personally and trust Him.

Q. Have tweens been blessed by Brady’s story?
Absolutely, and what amazes me is that even adults who read it say the story has been a blessing in their lives, too.

Anything else you’d like to share?
Only my thanks to you, Ada, for giving me the opportunity to talk about Hear No Evil. I pray God will use it to minister to kids and adults who need to know that even in our dark moments, when the enemy speaks lies into our hearts and minds, God is there and He cares deeply.

Hear No Evil is available through Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/kl5bovo
            Barnes & Noble: http://tinyurl.com/kw2xmtr

Connect with Mary:

Twitter:@mhamilton122