Why I Hate The Word Heretic

There was a time when I rarely saw or heard the word. When it was used it usually accompanied the story of a person being imprisoned, burned at the stake, or otherwise punished.

Recently I've heard it with such increased frequency that I've come to hate it. What word am I speaking of, you might ask?

Heretic.

Webster defines a heretic as: a dissenter from established religious dogma. Related words include disbeliever, apostate, defector, and infidel.

Those who garnished such a label were guilty of leading a movement away from sound truths. Many times they were killed in an effort to snuff out their teachings or leadership lest others be equally affected and "go by the wayside" too.

Life Support: A review

I recently had the good fortune of winning an ARC copy of Life Support by author Candace Calvert which is currently on pre-order at all major book retailers. Although it appears that Amazon.com is shipping the paper copies even as I type this review. This is good news!

If you rush over there before finishing this post, I will not take it personally. It will just mean you are probably already familiar with Candace's work. However, if you can wait just a few more moments here is more information on Life Support including an overview of the book, the author's bio, and my review.

And yes, in short, I loved it!

All I Have is a Whisper

At the beginning of January, I accepted a challenge by Jeff Goins to write 500 words daily for 31 days. Simple and direct it required nothing more and nothing less. 

This is a challenge which I should never have had to take.

Writing was once as natural to me as breathing. I did it often. For many years, prior to blogs and "vlogs", I published short stories and devotionals almost daily. When I wasn't mining words, I was storing ideas or brainstorming for teaching series. But then something happened to my voice. Or, perhaps, the venue changed around me so suddenly and dramatically that it left me feeling disoriented and lost.

Salvaged

Today I am interviewing Stefne Miller the author of the book Salvaged. Recently Salvaged, Stefne's first book, was transformed into a web series with the hope of being picked up by a network or distributor for full length production. After viewing the pilot episode, I can see why.

The Moses Quilt: An Interview

Today I am hosting an interview, once again, with author Kathi Macias. She has been a frequent featured author on my blog because I love her writing so much.

Her latest series begins with The Moses Quilt. I'll let Kathi tell you more about that book and the rest of the upcoming books in this series.


The Quilt Series sounds interesting, but what makes it unique or sets it apart from the many other quilt books that are so popular right now?

First, I must confess to NOT being a quilter. I’ve never even considered taking it up! Second, I love quilts and have always been fascinated by the stories behind them. I combined that fascination with my passion for writing issues-related fiction, and I ended up with a three-book series that is, for the most part, contemporary but told against historical backdrops.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder

Yesterday I decided to participate in Margaret Feinberg's 21 Days of Wonder Challenge. For most people that would be no big deal but since I haven't been feeling well or spending much time online it was actually a big commitment.

Why the Wonderstruck challenge?

It all started when I read a sampling of Margaret's latest book Wonderstruck: Awaken to the Nearness of God. Something about this book got to me. I have not received my copy to finish reading it but so far this is what I can say. It made me realized that the trials of life, which have loomed large lately, have in many ways hindered me from sensing God's presence in my life.

I don't want that to continue.

So I decided to spend the next 21 days really looking for God in small and big ways. I'd already begun to pay more attention then I had in quite sometime since reading the sample. As a result, I've snapped some pictures of beautifully colored clouds. Stood and listened to the symphony of birds singing in our backyard. You get the point. I'm becoming more aware of God.

But I want much more.

Unexpected Christmas Hero: A Must Read Holiday Story

If you spend a few moments looking around my blog you’ll quickly discover that I am a huge fan of Kathi Macias’ books. She is an author who is using her writing gifts to craft stories about difficult subjects that educate and enlighten the readers. Every time I read something which Kathi has written I am challenged to change my thinking and or actions.

Her holiday book, for this year, focuses on homelessness. I did not realize until I began reading Unexpected Christmas Hero how little I really knew about this subject. For example, I was unaware of the fact that  about 25% of the homeless in America are families (one or two parent) with young children.

There was much that I learned from the story of Josie and her two children. Thrust into poverty suddenly through no real fault of their own they struggle to survive daily and do so only because of the goodwill and help of others. Along the way they meet Rick, a homeless Vietnam vet, who does a great deal to help them navigate the streets. He also becomes their unexpected Christmas hero. To say more would ruin your reading experience but I really was touched by this novel.

Unexpected Christmas Hero: Author Interview

I've been anxiously awaiting the release of Kathi Macias' holiday book Unexpected Christmas Hero. Of course, it did not fail to disappoint. As with all of Kathi's books I found myself carving out a place on the couch to read it from cover to cover. I will be posting my review in a separate post.

In the meantime I am delighted to feature an interview with the author which provides background information for the readers of this story as well an inside story regarding the cover of the book. You have the opportunity to possibly help a family be reunited. Don't miss the "story behind the story."

Here's more from Kathi:

The Deliverer-Review & Giveaway

As someone who is an avid reader of Kathi Macias' work, I've come to expect the unexpected from her books. That is one of the things that sets her apart as a Christian fiction writer. You can never be sure where her well weaved stories will take you. But you can be certain that before the tale is over, you will be challenged or changed in some way. And in no small measure.

This has been especially true of The Freedom Series which includes Deliver Me From Evil, Special Delivery, and The Deliverer.

The series exposes the atrocities of human trafficking which is a problem that has reached epidemic proportions in our own country as well as around the world. I'm embarrassed to admit that I prior to reading this series I thought of human slavery as more of a "third world" problem. How wrong I was. It is a growing problem America. (more information is available here)

The Deliverer: Interview With Kathi

Award-winning author Kathi Macias has recently penned and published The Deliverer which is the final book in the Freedom Series. I have personally found the entire series to be riveting and quite possibly some of the most life-changing fiction that I have ever read.

In short, I am a fan of Kathi's work. Not only is she a great writer. She is also an advocate and an educator.

Today, I have the honor of interviewing Kathi to learn more about the Freedom Series along with other projects and ministry activities which she is currently involved in. Tomorrow, I'll be sharing my review and also giving away a copy of the book. I hope that you'll come back and enter to win. You don't want to miss any of the books in this series.