Faith and Fiction Retreat: Rhonda McKnight Speaks

My write-or-die-chick galpal, Urban Christian Blogger and author, Rhonda McKnight shares her view of the Faith and Fiction Retreat. Click below to listen.

Mobile post sent by deegospel using Utterz. Replies. mp3

Guestblog: Seeing Christ through The Olympic Opening Ceremonies

Though the races, the competitions, the tournaments had not yet begun, it was a moment of triumph. It was the parade of nations.

As the citizens from countries from around the world lapped the stadium of the Olympic Opening Ceremony, I was reminded of this moment in our future:

“The nations will walk by its light [the light of the glory of God] and the kings of the earth will bring their grandeur into it. Its gates will never be closed during the day (and there will be no night there). They will bring the grandeur and the wealth of the nations into it” (Revelation 21:24-26).

Nation by nation represented by its finest athletes, by the dedicated few, strolled by. I turned to my husband. “How much greater will this be when it’s for the glory of Christ!” Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Representatives from every nation and culture and people group will join together bound by Christ’s love.

Then China entered. Leading the way was a nine-year-old boy. This boy had not only survived the Sichuan earthquake. He had gone back to save two of his classmates. I was the hall monitor, he said. It was my job to take care of the others.

What a beautiful picture of the cloud of witnesses that will lead the way as we celebrate God’s faithfulness in the eschaton. The martyrs, old and young, will march joyfully, basking in Christ’s glory. They had not just survived. They went back to save the others because of their responsibility to all of humanity.

The Opening Ceremony gave me a glimpse into the future resurrection of God’s good creation. It will be a time of rejoicing, celebration, and triumph. While the artistry of the night stressed harmony between the nations, it is tenuous at best. This harmony won’t stop wars, child slavery, famine. As Christians, we look toward (and indeed work toward) a true harmony that not only sees the cessation of all evil but actively re-creates in love, truth, and beauty.

Heather A. Goodman is a speaker on art and Christianity, living creatively, the adventure of the Christian life, and spiritual formation of the artist. She writes both fiction and nonfiction and blogs at L'Chaim and Tapestry: A Christian Women's Collective. She loves wiggling her toes through the sand, torturing herself through Pilates, and breaking into song and dance. And she's addicted to books. You can find Heather at www.heathergoodman.com .For more information on Heather's speaking, call 469-766-2157 or email heatheragoodman@yahoo.com

Blogging forBlood Cancer: Light the Night

Today Christian Fiction Blog is highlighting this event in both its Trailer Park Tuesday and as a part of the Blogging for Cancer week Giveaway and Contest.

What does 2000 walkers, twinkling balloons and a worthy cause look like? It looks like one of the many Light The Night Walks that occur across the United States and Canada each fall!

Light The Night walks are The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) annual event to raise funds for cures. It’s the nation’s night to pay tribute and bring hope to thousands of patients and their families.

The family-friendly evenings are inspirational and take place in over 150 cities nationwide. Funds raised through Light The Night support the work of hundreds of the world’s best and brightest researchers in their search for better therapies and cures for leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma.

To enter this contact goto:

http://www.friendsofheroes.org/2008/08/light-the-night-for-blood-cancers/

Trailer Park Tuesday: Eric Wilson's Field of Blood

Welcome to this week's Trailer Park Tuesday. Our spotlight is my buddy, Eric Wilson's Field of Blood.

Field of Blood Synopsis

This Present Darkness meets historical legends in this Biblically grounded series.

The suicide of Judas Iscariot in 30 A.D. left his blood seeping into the soil of the Field of Blood, in Aramaic the Akeldama. When this same field is disturbed by work crews outside Jerusalem in 1989, a clan of supernatural Collectors is released from the ancient burial chambers. Infused with Judas's enmity, they seek to corrupt and destroy.

Gina Lazarescu has always felt like she didn't quite belong. But a bizarre accident with a delivery van leaves her questioning if the differences aren't more significant than she realized. When a man she met as a young girl in Romania reappears with a fantastic tale of immortality, Gina must decide whether to believe or to ignore what she's seeing.

Regardless of what she decides, she's headed for an unavoidable collision with the Akeldama.

Christian Fiction News: Obama's Faith Exam, LifeWay Layoffs & Essence Magazine

Christian Fiction News for the Week ending 8/10/08

Click the arrow to here the audioblog of this post

Senator Obama's Faith Examined

Thomas Nelson's The Faith of Barack Obama by Stephen Mansfield, examining the spiritual beliefs of the historic Democrat presidential candidate, releases this week.

Question: If America doesn't want to become a Christian State(which I think it should,) then why is the Presidential Candidates faith, particularly on the part of Christianity important?

LifeWay Christian cuts 100 jobs

LifeWay Christian Resources will terminate about 100 employees by Sept. 30 because revenues are lower than expected, Associated Baptist Press (ABP) reported. Source: Christian Retailing

Not surprised with that one. Four years ago I asked Jim Schull of LifeWay why they poorly stocked CBA titles from AA authors and still did not give me a satisfactory answer.

Question: Why aren't you shopping at LifeWay?

ASHEA Goldson: A MochaReaders Bookstore Event

This past Saturday I was the Mocha Readers mobile bookseller for Ashea Goldson's debut release, The Lovechild. Fun was had. All books were sold. I will talk more and share more pics of this event later this week. Remember MochaReaders is an Essence Magazine Reporting Bookstore. If you are an Atlanta author or an author coming to Atlanta and want a bookseller to cover your event or you just want me to deliver books to you for your event, hit me up.

Quick Question: How do you feel about mobile bookstores?

The Blogging Novelty: Revisted, Reposted...

Today I am The Master's Artist Blog debunking the myth that blogging is dead.

Quick Question: What do you do to keep your blog fresh?

GET the VIP Pass in Destin

This weekend, beginning Thursay my write-or-die chicks, Sherri Lewis and Rhonda McKnight and Ty Moody will be in Destin Florida at the Faith and Fiction Retreat. We hope to see you there. I will be blogging from Destin. Follow me on Twitter or get at my Facebook VIP Pass.



Get your books at FaithPoint Christian Books at BAMM.COM

How Shy Authors can Gain Immediate Influence?

Last week I listened yo my new twitbud, Marketing Consultant,Ron Howard 's teleconference. During this convo I asked him "How do I influence my shy client's who want to become public speakers?" He and his network answered me and I have used the techniques they offered. But today--to my surprise--he contacted me, to tell me that he had more answers to my question. Those answers he created a Youtube video as a gift to me that I am passing on to you. Isn't that sweet. Enjoy and please comment to Ron and thank him for me!

Isaac Hayes Passes

Isaac Hayes has passed. WMC-TV in Memphis.
Ironically Isaac Hayes and Bernie Mac will star in Soul Men, which releases November 14 , 2008. Sam Jackson also headlines.