Midweek Mirth

Posted on July 8, 2020 by wisdomfromafather

One of the misconceptions about being a Christian is non-Christians think we don’t know how to have fun or have a sense of humor. Trust me, if the Big Guy can have a sense of humor when it comes to dealing with us mere mortals, so can we.

The difference for Christians is we don’t have to debase ourselves or others to generate a smile. Laughter at life or ourselves is a gift from God.

Here’s this week’s edition of Midweek Mirth  … so let’s smile a little!

Going Out With A Bang

A tough old cowboy once counseled his grandson if he wanted to live a long life, the secret was to sprinkle a little gunpowder on his oatmeal every morning. The grandson did this faithfully and he lived to the ripe old age of 93. When he died he left 14 children, 28 grandchildren, 35 great grandchildren and a 15 foot hole in the wall of the crematorium.

… And just so we don’t forget to laugh at the virus {maybe for the last time, but I’m making no promises} …

More?

Finland has just closed their borders, so nobody will be crossing the Finnish line.

World Health Organization has determined dogs cannot contract Covid-19. Dogs previously being held in quarantine will be released. Now we know, WHO let the dogs out.

I’ll tell you a coronavirus joke, but you’ll have to wait two weeks to see if you got it.

I ran out of toilet paper, so I had to start using old newspapers. Times are rough.

The grocery stores in France look like a tornado hit them. All that’s left is de brie.

So many coronavirus jokes out there, it’s a pundemic.

THOUGHT TO REMEMBER: Laughter is timeless, imagination has no age and dreams are forever. — Walt Disney

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Just Write

Posted on July 7, 2020 by wisdomfromafather

Someone posted a question on an author/prospective author group the other day.  “What is the most difficult part in writing a book?”

I answered, “Sitting down and starting.” I’ve consistently said the short answer is to just write. Everyone has a story. Just write!

What made this question interesting — and more challenging — is we don’t know what 0level the author is at. She is new to the group, but I’m not sure whether she has written anything, published anything, just getting started, or facing other issues unique to the book publishing field.

So, while my answer was somewhat flippant, there were a host of others offering suggestions as well from one end of the spectrum to the other. Here are just a few:

Jordan agreed with me {I think} with the one word, “Writing.” Dorothy extolled the virtue of “believing in yourself” although admitted marketing could be challenging. Mike contributed, “Writing it. That’s what I encounter when talking to people. EVERYONE says they want to write a book but only those willing to put in the effort actually do it.” Joshua also feels “the writing” is the toughest part. Jessica also had encouraging thoughts, “Staying courageous enough to hold onto your dreams, even when so many quickly reject such careers paths as being foolish. You have to keep believing in yourself, especially in moments when you feel you maybe your only supporter.”

The most pragmatic advice came from Nandhini, “Finding the pen.” Pippa offered, “Deciding what the book is going to be about.” Morley felt “organizing it” was the toughest challenge.

Adam lamented, “Finding the time.” Charlese agreed, “Time to write.” Catherine lamented, “Not enough hours in a day.” Mohammed also felt “time” was an issue, and Chandana added “time with a kid!” Milind said, “Time matters.” Liz put in some perspective, however, with the comment, “Someone once said if you write for 30 minutes every day — three pages —  in three to four months you have a book. Keep writing about things you know.”

Krishnamurthy provided, “Self control.” Rosetta added, “Commitment.” Spencer offered, “Writer’s block.”

Elaina felt the “opening chapters” were most challenging. Mickey suggested “writing the middle” as a potential writing minefield. Marshall noted, “Making sure it all fits together.” Karen added, “Getting it to flow …” Jack submitted, “finishing …”Anthony chimed in with, “Writing the ending.”

Suzie gave the advice, “Memories waking you up during the night if you are writing your autobiography. The whole process is a challenge!” Kylie-Anne had a similar thought. “The hardest part of writing my story was knowing I am going to lose what little family I have left. The truth will set you free.” That was echoed by Jay who noted, “I have almost completed my new book. Same sentiments as yours [Kylie-Anne]. Orphaned at age of four  … Emotional memories.” Daniel submitted, “Putting thoughts into words that readers can understand.”

Braam lamented, “The almost never ending revisions.” Kornelia, Marina and Stephanie gave the simplest answer, “Editing!” ToniAnn expanded, “Editing! Oh God, it about killed me!” Chavashree also agrees, “Right now for me it’s editing.” Aarti noted, “Editing by yourself is a reallyhard job.” Marty Jay tendered, “Staying the course and writing a whole book, then going back through and making sure its all right, then editing and editing and did I mention editing.”

Tahani suggested,” I’ve found that writing the books were easy compared to marketing them.” I whole-hearted agree with the comment, as does David who commented, “Promoting it” and Jack, “Getting someone to read it.” Meghna added, “Getting readers to read our book.” Eldon was more emphatic, “Marketing, by far!” with Suboor adding, “Marketing is very difficult for new writers.” Roxanne and Richard agreed “marketing” topped their list. Joan added, “Marketing! Definitely!” Adewale offered, “Marketing for sure.” Liz suggested, “Market through Amazon at 99 cent to start sales then sell the price you would like [especially for] less than famous authors.” Nicola also feels “marketing” is most challenging. Mary contributed, “Writing is a breeze. Promotion is difficult.” and Jim added, “Selling. Most difficult by far.”

Sanjeev concluded, “Writing, editing, marketing — all are difficult.”

I think the best answer came from Michael, though, “Paying for it.”

There you have some thoughts from one writing group. I can’t disagree with any of the comments. Each phase of the process has unique challenges.How about you? What thoughts do you have about the most difficult part of writing a book?

THOUGHT TO REMEMBER:The tendency to seldom think of what we have but always of what we lack is the greatest tragedy on earth. Count your blessings – not your troubles! — Dale Carnegie

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Embrace Life

Posted on July 6, 2020 by wisdomfromafather

Our Words for the Week come from a “wear your seat belt” ad the UK recently aired.

The ad was created by a private individual not hired to do it, but because the cause was important to him. He came up with this idea, and now it has been hailed across the world as a “beautiful”commercial. The video became so popular with the general public, people have been forwarding it to friends/family on their own so quickly, it has spread all over the world. Feel free to share. It is breath-taking.

THOUGHT TO REMEMBER: The grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love and something to hope for. — Joseph Addison

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Finding Unity in a Time of Division

Posted on July 5, 2020 by wisdomfromafather

Because the world seems filled with division right now, those at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints blog asked three different people to share their perspectives on the unity we can feel with others when we center our lives on the Savior. Their experiences follow.

A few summers ago, I interned with a nonprofit just outside Seattle. My husband and I were living in the most diverse school district in the United States. I helped run a school readiness program for 30 refugee children who had recently resettled with their families. These were children who’d seen, experienced, and lived through more in their short lives than I probably ever would. I was terrified we wouldn’t be able to find common ground, let alone a common language.

On my first day, I walked next to a cafeteria table and heard five different languages at once. I panicked when I realized I could only pick out two of those languages. I watched young children honor Ramadan by abstaining from breakfast and lunch. I asked a girl if the tooth fairy visited her when she lost her tooth. It took three girls to cross our language divide and explain they were taught to throw a lost tooth at the sun in the hopes the sun would bring back a better tooth.

But as the weeks passed, I began to see more of what made us similar. During recess, I would gather flowers with the little girls and watch as they gathered berries to bring home to their moms. The boys asked me to play soccer with them until I was dripping in sweat and laughing as they dribbled in circles around me. In the library, I sat with a little boy and read a children’s vocabulary book in English and Arabic. I taught him the English words, and he patiently taught me the Arabic words.

The world often teaches us to build walls between us and those who act, believe, or seem different from us. The Savior teaches us to love one another. He teaches us to help people who aren’t accepted in our society, even those who might be outcasts. He teaches us to care for people who have made mistakes. He teaches us to forgive the very people who have hurt us.

These refugees — these outcasts — taught me there is common ground between all of us because we are all children of God. Heavenly Father loves every one of us for our similarities and our differences. Jesus Christ lived, died, and rose again for all of us, not just some of us. If we choose to look for common ground, we may just find new friends, a new sense of community, and a deeper relationship with our Savior.

—Jenessa Taylor

Let me tell you about one of my favorite photographs. But before you say I have poor taste in art, let me explain I love this photograph because it helps me put things in perspective.

The image I’m referring to was taken by the Voyager 1 space probe and is dubbed the Pale Blue Dot. In this image you can see the earth from about 3.7 billion miles away, and it’s less than one pixel in size. I like to imagine this is the vantage point from which God might see us.

When I’m having a hard time, I like to look at this image. This perspective makes it easier for me to grasp the notion whatever is troubling me may actually not be as bad as it seems. In times of contention or division, this makes it easier for me to grasp the concept there is no “us versus them.” From that far away, we have no choice but to accept that there is just an “us”, a “we” … God’s children.

From that far away you can’t see borders, political opinions, religious differences, or any other excuse we use in our everyday lives to create division in Heavenly Father’s family. From that far away we are all just one. One of God’s creations, here for one purpose, which is to learn to be like Him. To learn to love like He loves. And all those perceived differences and divisions are simply a distraction.

I love Heavenly Father, in His perfect view from where He sits, has enough patience to allow us to learn from trial and error. When we step back and see the big picture, it becomes easier to focus on the things that matter most: our spiritual growth, our families, our friends, our neighbors, and all the people God has placed in our path. He gives us the capacity to lend them a hand, because He knows we can lift them higher.

—Hirepan Zarco

The other day I was on a social media site, scrolling down my feed and generally just passing time. Someone I followed had liked a post that intrigued me, and I opened it up to read the comments section. I was not prepared for what I found there. The conversation that followed the original post was angry and argumentative, with a lot of hate-filled speech directed toward one group or another. After spending a few minutes glancing over the conversation, I clicked away with a sick feeling in my stomach.

Sadly, this isn’t the first time this has happened to me or to anyone I know. Because, as citizens of the Internet in this modern era, I and everyone else have seen too many of these conversations to count. Whether the conversations stem from a disagreement of politics, religion, culture, or otherwise, the end result is always ugly, with people leaving the interaction feeling hurt and misunderstood, and often with contempt or even hatred for those they disagree with.

This is not the Lord’s way. He commanded us to love one another (John 13:34­­­­­-35), and notice there are no caveats to His command. It isn’t “love one another, but only if he thinks the same as you,” or “love one another, but only if she loves you first,” or even “love one another by showing them the error of their ways.” Instead, He shows us we need to love one another and forgive each other of our imperfections. But we lead with love first.

While today we are divided physically — let us strive to be unified spiritually and emotionally. While we are prevented from comforting each other in person — let us comfort each other through letters, e-mails, phone calls, and on social media. Rather than focusing on the things that pull us apart, let us strive to cling to the things that hold us together. We all need each other in the work of salvation, and that work is only accomplished through the unifying love of the Savior.

—Mackenzie Brown

THOUGHT TO REMEMBER: Start each day with a grateful heart.

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Prayers Up …

Posted on July 4, 2020 by wisdomfromafather

As we build this community prayer platform, we ask the Lord to listen to our petitions with full confidence they not only are heard but acted upon by God according to His holy will. These requests are on my prayer list and I hope you consider putting them on yours as you place your petitions before the Lord Sunday.

Approach the throne room and respond with faith and not fear, knowing the promises of God and His mighty hand will hold us through any situation! Sometimes, all it takes is just one prayer to change everything. Something extraordinary happens when two or more agree together in prayer.

What is one of the most important things we should do as Christians? Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints (Ephesians 6:18).

And, so, Lord, we come to You with our petitions, knowing and expecting Your will to be done.

Thoughts and prayers to all worldwide suffering from the consequences of coronavirus flu – and all other strains. Many – many – of the prayer requests are covid-19 related … people diagnosed … people sick … people dying … relatives worried and isolated. We are in this together – in prayer!

Please keep the victims of household abuse in your prayers. Whether it be physical, emotional, sexual or neglect, this time in particular is very horrifying for them to be trapped in a house with their abuser(s) and not being able to escape.

We also need to pray for colorblind peace. Racism will remain a plague until we stop looking at people as black and white, but as human beings created by the same Creator. We pray for new eyes, calmer heads, and softer hearts.

Andrew continues to struggle. It was a bad week, as in, h can barely eat, doesn’t have the breath to even whistle (his current form of communication), and his metastatic lung tumors have started to bleed. Yet he continues to battle through prayer – and a sense of humor.

Asking for prayer for Jason who has been battling colon cancer for a year and was just hospitalized for an obstruction and it feels like he won’t be coming home.

Masahiro was hit in the head with a line drive during today’s simulated game. He is currently alert, responsive and walking under his own power, but is being sent to the hospital for further evaluation and testing.

Please pray for Mike who is in serious condition following an automotive accident.

Hollie is hospitalized in terrible pain. Staff is awaiting a doctor to decide the next steps. Thank you everyone for your care, prayers, and support.

Please keep Tia in your prayers …. She was just admitted to the emergency room with some complications and she’s really not doing well.

Mary continues to recover from surgery. Prayer requested.

Prayer request for Mick who has been taken to hospital with chest pain.

Please say a prayer for Gunny. A hemiplegic episode is starting, his left arm and leg is affected, and his head feels like it’s splitting open.

Prayers needed for Caylie who was diagnosed with embryonal tumors. The cancer has no cure as of yet, and she has the rarest of the type that she was born with.

Ineligible for Medicare and unable to return to Peru, Ines is facing a $500,000 medical bill. Prayers needed.

Please pray Emily’s CT scan of her spine, lungs, etc. comes back completely normal. She’s been through so much and now the doctor tells her there is a new area of concern on her T 12, a possible bone tumor. Please pray it is not and her CT scan has NO abnormalities. She is so scared. Too much confusion and no answers.

Please pray for Margaret. She has Stage 4 cancer and is in severe pain.

Amy’s arthritis is really, really bad in one of her hand’s right now. Please pray for pain relief.

Please pray Lee will be approved for disability for life and will be reinstated to help with bills.

Carol has been very anxious and depressed. She will be seeing a therapist Monday. Please pray for comfort and healing.

Lisa asks for prayer about her ACL diagnosis. If it is Your will, Lord, she requires surgery, please bless the hands and minds of the medical professionals who will be caring for her.

Please pray for Chi, a seriously ill mum of four who is in hospital. She has many life threatening conditions she battles on a daily basis, including  PTSD from being ventilated many times.

Kristi asks for prayers for her blood pressure, anxiety, and overall health. She is 36 and has had two heart attacks since 2016. With the virus and other things going on in the world she has a lot of stress and anxiety. Her blood pressure has been going really high for the last couple of weeks, even with my blood pressure medications.

John continues to have a fever. Prayers asked he does not go to hospital as he has four times in ICU and his body is too weak. He has not fully recovered.

There were a host of unspoken prayer requests and we heard of a number of deaths this week. Prayers for their families as they go through this earthly trial. We grieve … heaven rejoices.

We come to You, Lord, because prayer is the least yet the greatest thing we can do for each other. When two or more are gathered in Your name, we confidently know You are with us. What better company can we have? You reign and we trust You! We may be broken and battered but know You heal and quiet the soul. You are the source for all that happens in our lives. We thank You for the progress being made. We thank You for the many blessings we have received this week. Some we unfortunately didn’t notice. Nonetheless, those blessings are ever-present in our lives. We thank You for healing. We thank You for slowing us down. We thank You for providing us our daily needs — no more and no less. We thank You for being with us, listening to us, walking with us on this journey. We thank You for the support of our family and friends … for seeing the extraordinary in the ordinary — sunrises, sunsets, flowers, kids laughing, adventures, good news amid the bad news. We know we can come to You with our concerns and they will be heard. Through Christ all things are possible. We lift up those family members and friends who are battling various physical, emotional, financial, career or spiritual issues and ask not for Your guidance and healing (although that would be welcomed) but to keep reminding us we are not alone in our battles. Specifically we lift up Andrew, Jason, Masahiro, Mike, Hollie, Tia, Mary, Mick, Gunny, Kristi, John, Caylie, Ines, Emily, Margaret, Amy, Lee, Carol, Lisa, Chi, and all those needing Your healing and guiding touch. We pray for the families of all those You have called home. We grieve … You celebrate. We pray for obedience to Your Will so Your “Son” Light shines through us through the power of the Spirit. And we come to You through the confidence of the words taught by Your Son Jesus. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Keep your joys and concerns coming. They have been and will be included during my prayer time and I trust they will be on your lips as well as you approach the altar. All it takes is a couple of keystrokes under the “Contact Me” button on the top bar {or to the right if you’re not a follower yet}. I hope it becomes your best friend as you navigate around the site so we can all be viable prayer warriors. You can also comment or reach me at wisdomfromafather@gmail.com.

THOUGHT TO REMEMBER: I believe that it is impossible to grasp all the different forms of prayer without great purity of heart and soul. There are as many forms of prayer as there are states of soul. A person pays in a certain manner when cheerful and in another when weighed down by sadness or a sense of hopelessness. When one is flourishing spiritually, prayer is different from when one is oppressed by the extent of one’s struggles. – John Cassian

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Five Minute Friday — People

Posted on July 3, 2020 by wisdomfromafather

I have always had the desire to put words on paper (okay, the screen). Blame it on busyness, schedules or — okay — procrastination, sometimes the assignment shifts off schedule. Today’s post is a few hours later than usual because of Internet connectivity {honest!}. Yet I continue to participate — be it Friday morning, evening, Saturday or beyond — because I believe in it and the community.

I don’t have to tell you the drill — I’ve done that many times over. I’ll link in the Community section at Kate’s place on Facebook at fiveminutefriday.com and scan through the incredible work of my fellow writers. I hope to see some of you there.

As I’ve been doing, here’s Michelle’s take on the value of the exercise, taken from snippets found in Five Minute Friday: A Collection of Stories Written in Five Minutes Flat, compiled by Susan Shipe, as an added inducement to join us.

“Being an introvert, finding FMF has been such a blessing. People who meet me will tell you I am friendly. They find it had to believe I am an introvert because I am friendly. I’m more friendly now than I was before I met Jesus. I still prefer solitude to group activities. I still prefer to hike alone, but I’m not averse to hiking with others. Solitude is just my preference. On that note, I still have a lot to say. It’s a conundrum. Or it was a conundrum before the Internet, before blogging. When I found FMF I fund a community that is a perfect fit for me. I can have interaction with like-minded women and men AND solitude at the same time. I’m super thankful for FMF and all that it has brought to my world.”

Michelle is so right. FMF is way more than just writing. It’s extending ourselves, our family and our outreach.

So, it’s time to set the timer for five minutes, settle down and ponder on the prompt, PEOPLE. GO …

People
People who need people
Are the luckiest people in the world …

So goes the song composed by Jule Styne with lyrics by Bob Merrill for the 1964 Broadway musical Funny Girl starring and sung by Barbra Streisand. It became quite a standard.

I think if we learned anything from the events of the past few months, it is people need people. Even those of us who profess to be introverted, need that interaction with other people. I often say I am quite content living in a cave or would do just fine on a deserted island, but the truth is, I thrive on interaction with other people.

There are times I want to be alone … in my cave … on my island … shut off from the world. But, being honest,  my happiest times were interacting with my wife because I knew she was listening, often to the ramblings of a confused old man/boy who didn’t want to grow up. I’m not sure it was always reciprocated. I truly miss that connection.

It’s comforting to know we can communicate with other people, be it on a daily or weekly or occasional basis. We were wired to be connected. I am enriched by a simple hello or what’s up or meme or quote or cartoon from family  and friends, close and extended.

We need each other. We need each other to plod together along this journey we call life. We need each other to lift us up, steady our direction, tone our vision, even hurt us as a way of strengthening us.

Yes, people, people who … STOP

… need people ARE the luckiest people in the world.

THOUGHT TO REMEMBER: Your best teacher is your last mistake.

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First Night

Posted on July 2, 2020 by wisdomfromafather

The grandsons and I spent last night in Maine … quiet, peaceful Maine. The two teens helped gather my meager belongings, pack them into the van, take the four-and-a-hour trip north, unpack the van, distribute the appropriate boxes to their respective rooms. By 9 p.m., they were ready to sleep — including yours truly whose role was to serve as supervisor — and feed them.

It really wasn’t too bad because I really didn’t have any furniture. The only pieces salvaged from when I left the Pine Tree State nine months ago was my television  and a television stand I confiscated from my New York daughter. The rest consisted of mostly boxes — some baking pans, a few stray dishes, books, important papers, clothes, coats, my guard goose, and, of course, Karen. I had figured I would splurge with a new bed and recliner when I settled in.

Older grandson — the organized one — went through a checklist of things I needed, including a pot to boil water for oatmeal for breakfast. We jetted to the store to pick up some of the necessities, like hand soap, go figure. We picked up a broom and garbage can — which came in handy when he knocked over the coffee grinds while tidying up before we left — but neglected to add measuring cups and utensils to the cart. Instead of oatmeal, we ate out.

Older grandson also checked all the lights and appliances {I may have to get a rear coil on the stove}, including all the plugs {we/he discovered a switch that didn’t apparently turn anything on}. He kept adding to my list of basic needs — dish soap, scrubby or sponge, dishwasher liquid, dishclothes and towels {I may have them in one of the boxes}, shower curtain, bathmat, sheets {I may have them too}, a folding chair to sit on until I get the recliner, etc.

Younger grandson was the entertainment, darting from one rabbit hole to another almost non-stop. He was in seventh heaven when the bottom fell out out of the junk box. He went through it, picking out “treasures” like an old mouse, mouse pad, voice recorder, blank cassettes, and a pencil with two erasers shaped like a gavel. I didn’t have the heart to tell him they were probably from the ’90s and didn’t work, but, hey, they’re out of my junk box.

Younger grandson was also giddy when older grandson hooked up the television and powered it up. His demeanor quickly changed when he realized there was no Internet connection — just a screen with a bunch of apps showing. I was told getting Internet was my top priority. How could he — he meant me — live without it. He’s right about that. As soon as I get back, reliable in-house Internet service is one of my first calls.

We had three square meals — Burger King for lunch, not a recommendation; Lakeshore, overlooking upper Lake Wassookeag; and Our Fambily Restaurant, which amply compensated for our oatmeal utensil disaster.

We were blessed by a rainbow during dinner, which gave me, at least, a sign of divine pleasure at this latest adventure. Older grandson and I sat on a bench at the complex after dinner, just watching the moon peeking between the clouds high above the pine trees as dusk turned to dark.

The conversations we had were … interesting. But the highlight was the interaction among the three of us. The boys would bring up technology and some really strange thoughts. I tended to reminisce about the “old days” and ground their theories on life.

It was a good first night back in Maine …

THOUGHT TO REMEMBER: Failure is just a resting place. It is an opportunity to begin again more intelligently. — Henry Ford

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Midweek Pre-Fourth Mirth

Posted on July 1, 2020 by wisdomfromafather

One of the misconceptions about being a Christian is non-Christians think we don’t know how to have fun or have a sense of humor. Trust me, if the Big Guy can have a sense of humor when it comes to dealing with us mere mortals, so can we.

The difference for Christians is we don’t have to debase ourselves or others to generate a smile. Laughter at life or ourselves is a gift from God.

Here’s this week’s edition of Midweek Pre-Fourth of July Mirth  … so let’s smile a little!

Fourdom

The Fourth of July weekend was approaching, and Miss Pelham, the nursery school teacher, took the opportunity to tell her class about patriotism. “We live in a great country,” she announced. “One of the things we should be happy about is, in this country we are all free.”

Trevor, who was a little boy in her class, came walking up to her from the back of the room. He stood with his hands on his hips and said loudly, “I’m not free. I’m four!”

… And now for the bonus …

Sooner Than Later

A distraught senior citizen phoned her doctor’s office. “Is it true,” she wanted to know, “the medication you prescribed has to be taken for the rest of my life?”

“Yes, I’m afraid so,” the doctor told her.

There was a moment of silence before the senior lady replied, “I’m wondering, then, just how serious my condition is because this prescription is marked ‘No Refills’!”

… And just so we don’t forget to laugh at the virus …

Briefs

Have we tried unplugging 2020, waiting 30 seconds, and plugging it back in?

Due to the quarantine, I’ll only be telling inside jokes.

Sometimes I wonder if all this is happening because I was told to forward that e-mail to 25 people — and didn’t.

If you had told me back in the 1970s the people sitting in church were “spaced out,” I would have worried.

THOUGHT TO REMEMBER: Fantasy and reality often overlap. — Walt Disney

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A (Virtual) Evening with the Author

Posted on June 30, 2020 by wisdomfromafather

One of the fun things about being an author — at least for me — is spending time with small groups to talk about the writing/publishing process. Sure, I usually sprinkle in something about myself and certainly share the journey to my three published books.

I am most comfortable with small, intimate groups — five to 10 people — in a living room, but I’ve addressed bigger audiences at libraries and cafes. I like the smaller venues, though, because I feel a closer connection with the guests. I can interact with them more, answer probing questions they want to ask rather than inquiries I think they want answered. Typically, I’ll wrap up the Q & A session with book signings for anyone interested.

That actually was my 2020 plan as I criss-crossed the country visiting family and friends. And we all know what happened to 2020 plans.

Thankfully, we do have expanded technological opportunities to connect with others — even if it is mostly virtual, me safely sequestered at one location and you joining in at your own home. And so, during this second half of the year, that’s the new plan — A Virtual Evening with the Author (Me).  I’ve tentatively scheduled the first for Friday night, July 31, at 7 p.m. EST. I’m still figuring out the medium — I’m not sure yet whether it will be Facebook Live, Skype, YouTube, Zoom, or some other media, but I will give you all ample notice. If you have a preference, let me know.

I am planning to follow the same “live” format — a short overview about the process, an introduction of my three books, Heaven Shining Through, My Name Is Sam … and Heaven Is Still Shining Through, and Wisdom From a Father … one dad’s thoughts on life — and ample Q & A time. If anyone is interested, I  will wrap up the night signing books. I have an ample supply, but, just to make sure, if anyone is interested in purchasing a signed book, please contact me at wisdomfromafather@gmail.com by July 10.

I’m hoping to stay busy over the next few months. I will drop two new books — Wisdom From a Father, Volume 2 … one dad’s thoughts on life in October and a Christmas book, Yes, There Is a Santa … And I’ve Met Him Personally Many Times in November. Now that travel restrictions are somewhat lifted, I will be scheduling small group, library, and book store events. If anyone is interested, please let me know at wisdomfromafather@gmail.com so I can get you on the schedule. I am not opposed to road trips, although they do need to be planned.

I hope to meet you all in person or virtually. I am always looking for your input.

THOUGHT TO REMEMBER: Failure is an event, not a person. Yesterday ended last night. — Zig Ziglar

 

 

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Whose Is the Battle?

Posted on June 29, 2020 by wisdomfromafather

Today’s Words for the Week reminder is from Chuck Colson.

The real battle is about whether God is Lord, or whether government is Lord. And make no mistake, if government can redefine or restrict our freedom of religion, our first freedom will be gone. And, as our Founders understood, when that freedom is gone, we will, in short order, lose the other freedoms as well.

THOUGHT TO REMEMBER: In order to succeed, your desire for success should be greater than your fear of failure.

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