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Archive for the ‘Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference’ Category

Making the impossible – possible!

Posted in Called to write, Colorado Christian Writers Conference, Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference, Overcoming self-doubts, Publishing journey, Writing Nonfiction Books on April 17, 2012| Leave a Comment »

I knew God had called me to write a book. What I didn’t know was if I could do it. As my friend, Gayle Roper, once said, “There’s a big difference between a book and a magazine article – like 250 pages difference.”

To be honest, there were days the last thing I wanted to do was work on the book. The evil one’s lies grew louder and more insistent. “What makes you think anyone would want to read what you’ve written?” My self-doubts intensified. I wanted to run from what I still knew God was calling me to do.

“He who believes need never run away again,” I read in Isaiah 28:16 (TLB).

Exactly 365 days after I had committed to finish the book in a year, I completed the manuscript. And then the waiting began. Some of you know that the manuscript was rejected by 42 publishers over a five year period. Finally, the 43rd editor to see the manuscript accepted it for publication.

Looking back I’m amazed that I didn’t give up. I certainly wanted to give up. But God wouldn’t let me, and I’m so glad I didn’t. Had I given up, eight other books would never have been published. I wouldn’t have known the joy of serving on the faculty of over 70 Christian writers’ conferences and giving my one and two day writing seminars over 50 times around the nation. The Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference would not have been birthed 30 years ago, and the awesome privilege of directing the Colorado Christian Writers Conference for 17 years would never have happened.

What about you? Is God calling you to write an article or story, a book or even a screenplay? Does it seem impossible? Do you feel you lack the writing skills to make it happen? Are you stuck and the words aren’t flowing? Do you have a completed manuscript that you’ve not been able to sell? Are you discouraged and ready to run from God’s call?

I know the Colorado or Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference can be a turning point for you and your writing ministry. It’s not too late to register for the May 15-18 Colorado conference and to schedule one-on-one appointments with FOUR editors, agents, or authors if you attend Thursday through Saturday. Secure online registration for the July 31 – August 3 Greater Philly conference will open April 15.

Trust Father to make a way –

  •  Logistically – Friends babysat my three children so I could attend the St. Davids Christian Writers Conference for a number of years.
  • Financially – We often “have not because we ask not.” I want to encourage you to approach your church family and your friends if you need help. They may welcome the opportunity to invest in your writing ministry. My pastor paid for my first writers conference and provided the accountability I needed afterwards to not waste what he invested in me. The conferences do not have any full scholarships to offer this year, but partial scholarships up to 50% of the cost of registration are possible. The scholarship application is not yet posted for the Philly conference. For Colorado’s application click here. Time payments can be arranged if necessary.

 Lord, I believe. Please help my unbelief. Help me to have faith in You knowing that You can make all things possible.

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CCWC & GPCWC Keynoter – Praying the News

Posted in Colorado Christian Writers Conference, Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference, Pondering Biblical Truth, Praying for our nation on April 11, 2012| Leave a Comment »

  • Impacting Our World Through the Power of Prayer

    Donna Brennan interviews CCWC & GPCWC faculty member
    Craig von Buseck

    It’s easy to become fearful, angry, or cynical when watching the news. It can make us want to retreat from the larger world or to stop watching the news altogether. But Craig von Buseck, Director of Ministry for CBN.com and one of the Keynoters at the May 16-19 Colorado Christian Writers Conference and August 1-4 Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers Conference, offers us another option: intercessory prayer.

    Important conference updates: The price increases for the Colorado conference April 15, the same day online registration opens for the Philly conference.

    As he shows in his new book Praying the News: Your Prayers are More Powerful Than You Know, co-authored with Wendy Girffith of CBN News, prayer can change people, transform communities, and solve problems facing our world. By praying to impact headlines, we impact more than just the way the news is reported -we impact the actual events that make up those headlines.

    I contacted Craig to ask him questions about his book and his Keynote Address, “Praying the News.” Here are his answers.

    Question: What do you mean by “praying the news”?

    We live at a time in history when it is critical for the Church to learn to be led by the Spirit in prayer. God wants to raise up a company of intercessors to pray the news – which is to watch, read, or listen to the news, then to intercede for God’s will to be done in the issues we face today. God desires for His people to be so in tune with His Spirit that we are actually praying His will in advance of world events. By cooperating with God in prayer, we are actually helping to shape those events in the spirit realm. God is seeking prayer warriors who will agree with Him in faith to make an impact on the course of history through their intercession by walking in the Spirit. The apostle Paul wrote of the privilege and importance of the believer to live in the Spirit in Romans 8: “For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” (Romans 8:14, NASB)

    Far too often, the Church has been reactionary in our prayers. A tragedy or a disaster happens and believers react with ‘catch-up prayers.’ But we serve the God who sees the end from the beginning. He desires for us to become so in-tune with His Spirit that we are praying His perfect will in a circumstance before it ever occurs in the natural. But this sensitivity to the leading of the Holy Spirit only comes by maintaining a daily, intimate relationship with our Father and our Lord.

    Question: I’m just one person. Can my prayers really make that much of a difference in political decisions, crime levels, and major weather events?

    Yes, they can! As we say in the subtitle of the book, “your prayers are more powerful than you know.” Scripture says, “The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results” (James 5:16, NLT.) Throughout the book we give numerous examples, both from Scripture and from modern times, where individuals prayed fervently in faith and they saw the headlines change as a result.

    Question: If I pray for one kind of result and my neighbor across the street prays for a different result, aren’t our prayers just canceling each other out?

    All prayer comes under the sovereignty of God. We don’t dictate to God. Instead, we pray as Jesus taught us: “Your kingdom come. Your will be done.” When we take an issue to God in prayer we leave it in His hands and He decides to answer that prayer in His way and in His timing.

    Question: What are some important components of intercessory prayer? Does your book suggest concrete ways to do this?

    As we put the First Commandment first; to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength – He then empowers us by His Spirit to fulfill the Second Commandment; to love our neighbor (and our city, our nation, and this world) by being led by the Spirit in intercession.

    Judson Cornwall writes of the importance of Spirit-led intercession that flows from us as a result of abiding in God. “There are times when we desperately need to know more than what God is doing and saying. We need to know God, for He works according to His nature and will, and only an understanding of that nature and will enables us to be involved with Him before His actions are demonstrated. We do not need to have great knowledge of God to know what God is saying if He is saying it publicly, but if God chooses to withhold communicated knowledge and yet we know the heart of God, there will be an intuitive or spiritual understanding that gives us knowledge out of relationship with God, not too unlike the understanding that develops between a husband and wife who have lived in a loving relationship for many years.”

    It is this kind of heart that God is seeking in His people today – a heart that cries, “I want to know You, God. And I want to serve You, my Lord.” By walking in this type of love relationship with God, we position ourselves to be used by God on the earth. This is especially true in the realm of intercessory prayer.

    Question: If I’m not a pastor or a prophet, what authority or right do I have to pray these intercessory prayers and expect results?

    God has chosen to use every individual in the Church as His tool to communicate His love to the world. The apostle Paul speaks of our role as individual ministers of reconciliation and God’s ambassadors: “…who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:18-20, NASB).

    That is why we pray, “Thy kingdom come.” By doing so, we are placing ourselves in agreement with God’s plan for the earth. By praying the news, we stand up in the Spirit and declare, “thy will be done” in every issue that we face. C. S. Lewis referred to this kind of intercessory prayer as being “God’s fellow-worker” in the world. When we enter into the ministry of praying the news, we become “God’s fellow-worker” in this ministry of reconciliation. Lewis explains that to enter into intercession is to go from being a suitor – one who prays on his own behalf – to being a true servant of the Lord. “…the vast majority of the time, Jesus, who is our example, plays the part of the servant, interceding for others.”

    This intercession is part of the Priesthood ministry of Jesus that continues to this day: “But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them”(Hebrews 7:24-25, NKJV). God invites us to join with him in this ministry of reconciliation. And we too have a role to play as priests before God – standing as representatives of fallen man, crying out to heaven for mercy.

    Question: Can I “Pray the News” from the privacy of my own home? Or does it sometimes require something more?

    Scripture directs us to “…pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:17, NASB). Does this mean that we have to stop all human activity and just pray all the time? No, the Apostle Paul is encouraging us to always be ready to pray when the Holy Spirit moves on our heart to do so. The Bible says, “Your ears will hear a word behind you, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ whenever you turn to the right or to the left” (Isaiah 30:21, NASB). That is how the Holy Spirit leads us in prayer. So it doesn’t matter where you pray – just be obedient to intercede as the Holy Spirit directs you, and you will see God move as a result.

    Question: In your recent book, Netcasters: Using the Internet to Make Fishers of Men, you talk about ways to reach others for Christ through the internet. Can some of these same methods be used to find fellow prayer warriors to join together in prayer?

    Absolutely. The Internet has become a 21st century Roman road. But it is also a worldwide marketplace, a theater, front porch and backyard fence, and an office water cooler. The World Wide Web can be like an electronic train terminal connecting you to intercessors around the world and providing the crucial means for people to agree together in prayer.

    One of the most powerful aspects of praying the news is the power of agreement in intercession. Jesus declared, “If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you” (Matt. 18:19, NLT). As people watch or read the same news story around the world, then pray for God’s will to be done in that situation, tremendous spiritual power is released. The Internet can aid in this process, first by bringing awareness to news stories, both through traditional news outlets and through person-to-person contact, then as a communication platform allowing people to agree in prayer.

    Question: Of course we all know stories of how prayer impacted events in Biblical times, but what are some examples of ways prayer has made a difference in newsworthy events in recent years?

    During one of the darkest moments during World War Two, in May of 1940, the Nazis had trapped 400,000 British and French troops between the cliffs and the sea at Dunkirk on France’s north coast. If those troops had been killed or captured, Britain would have fallen to the Germans. All of Europe would have been under the iron rule of the Nazis before the United States even entered into World War Two. At this critical time, God raised up a man named Rees Howells of the Bible College of Wales to lead intercession in Britain. Howells took the initiative to organize nightly intercessory prayer meetings with his students. He instructed them: “God will not do a bit more through you than you have faith for. … You are more responsible for this victory today than those men on the battlefield.” He added, “I feel tonight that whatever the Nazis do, they cannot escape the Holy Spirit.” Soon prayer meetings were being held across Great Britain in response to Howells’ leadership.

    Howell’s group poured their hearts out to God for hours every day, and soon much of the nation joined in. Parliament recognized the need for God’s intervention and called for a national day of prayer. Suddenly there was a change in the course of the war. Instead of wiping out the troops as he could have, Hitler held his army back, content to bomb Dunkirk instead. During that time, ships, yachts, and even rowboats evacuated 338,000 troops across the English Channel – as the water remained miraculously calm. Hitler’s behavior made no military sense. It was clear that God intervened in response to the prayers of believers.

    We also share a more recent story in the book of how God changed the town of Manchester, Kentucky, as a result of united prayer. Community leaders had enough of their city being overrun by drug dealers, so they called for the people of the community to come together to march through town to intercede. On that day, several thousand citizens marched in prayer, singing hymns and praise songs. In what many believe was the key to the success of that march, pastors from every denomination stopped in the city’s park and repented. They asked God to forgive them for being more concerned about their buildings and programs than the Kingdom of God and the people. “Lord,” one minister prayed, “as pastors, as churches, as Christians and citizens, we have too long hid our heads in the sand and not stood up to the evil and the poison of drugs in this county and this community.”

    The moment the pastors and people repented, something in the Spirit broke in Manchester, Kentucky that changed that community forever. Drug arrests went up by 300 percent in the first year. Drug dealers started getting saved and coming to church. Corrupt politicians were arrested or voted out of office. The story of Manchester aired on The 700 Club, inspiring other towns with the same problems to hold their own marches. Thousands of people e-mailed, called, or literally showed up at Community Church in Manchester saying, “This is where I heard I can find hope.” Suddenly, the town that had been hopeless was giving hope.

    We share many more stories of people who prayed the news like this and literally saw the headlines change.

    ___________________

    Craig will also be teaching a continuing session on Narrative Nonfiction at the Colorado Christian Writers conference. This exciting new genre lets your true story read like a novel. This is the style Craig used when writing his upcoming narrative biography on Holocaust survivor, Nina Morecki.

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Great Resource for Fiction Writers

Posted in Colorado Christian Writers Conference, Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference, Writing Fiction on April 3, 2012| Leave a Comment »

CCWC and GPCWC Appointment Coordinator, Bonnie Calhoun, is a bundle of energy and helpfulness. Monthly she publishes Christian Fiction Online Magazine, an amazing resource. The April issue features an interview with Robert Liparulo who will teach a continuing session on “Writing Suspense and Thrillers” at the May 16-19 Colorado and August 1-4 Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference. Robert is the best-selling author of five thrillers for adults and the six-book Dreamhouse Kings series for young adults. Frank Peretti calls Robert’s latest release, The 13th Tribe, “a great read!”  

I hope you’ll also check out Bonnie’s “Publisher’s Choice” article, “Getting Unstuck,” by yours truly.”n it I highlight some of the opportunities at this year’s CCWC:

  •   A time away
  •   A time to learn
  •   A time to connect with editors and agents (Bonnie will assist full-time conferees in signing up for not one, two, or three appointments with faculty members, but FOUR one-on-one 15-minute appointments!)
  •   A time to fellowship
  •   A time to grow your marketability
  •   A time to go deeper through the Lightbox Method Retreat
  •   And so much more . . .

In appreciation for Bonnie’s ministry to writers I’m offering two 50% off scholarships to readers of her Christian Fiction Online Magazine (CFOM). The deadline for applying is April 14. Click here for more info and an application.

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Help for “Promotionally Challenged Authors”

Posted in Colorado Christian Writers Conference, Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference, Platform building, Promotion, Publishing journey on March 29, 2012| Leave a Comment »

Help for “Promotionally Challenged Authors”
plus $100 of essential resources when you pre-order
faculty member, Rob Eagar’s new book Sell Your Book Like Wildfire

The days when all you had to do was write a great book and wait for the royalty checks to arrive are long past. Now, an author needs to be not just a great writer (a major challenge in itself) but also a great marketer. Whether we write fiction or nonfiction, we need that allusive “platform” and the ability to sell books – lots of books – if we want a publisher to seriously consider our manuscript. If we choose to self-publish, a viable alternative for many, we still need to be able to sell our book.

It’s a real challenge for most authors. We’re writers not necessarily marketers. That’s certainly true for me. Although I know how to “Spread the Word through Effective Promotion” (a workshop I’ve taught many times that is available on CD), I confess that I quit Girl Scouts because of the stress of having to sell cookies. The bottom line is I HATE sales!

So what can I do – can you do – if your lack of marketing skills is what’s standing in the way of landing a contract or selling the book(s) you’ve chosen to self-publish?

Thanks to my good friend, Cec Murphey, and his recommendation and introduction, both the Colorado and Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference is blessed to have Rob Eagar from Wildfire Marketing teaching a continuing session on “Marketing for the Promotionally Challenged Author.” Rob will challenge us to “get over our insecurities and transform our apprehension about marketing into positive action.” He will cover:

  • How to build a memorable brand
  • Grow your author platform
  • Increase your book sales
  • Effectively use social networking
  • Make your message standout from the crowd
  • Create effective newsletters that produce speaking inquiries
  • Generate more books
  • Turn media interviews into book sales
  • Amplify your author platform, and more!

Through Wildfire Marketing Rob has trained and worked with over 400 authors including New York Times bestsellers Dr. Gary Chapman, Lysa TerKeurst, and Wanda Brunstetter. And you can get a head start on preparing to present your marketing plan to editors at the conference through Rob’s new book, Sell your Book Like Wildfire, releasing June 7 from Writers Digest Books.

More great news! If you pre-order Rob’s new book between now and April 1st, he will include these special bonuses:

  1. You get my book at 33% off the book’s list price of $16.99. Pay only $11.25 and save $5.74!
  2. You get free shipping. I’ll ship the book to you in June at no charge. You save $2.50!
  3. You get my “Marketing Plan Template for Authors” download for free – a $20 value!
  4. You get my “Bestseller Website Tutorial” download for free – a $25 value!
  5. You get my mp3 audio download “O Reader, Where Art Thou?” a 1-hour teaching session, which explains how to find your book’s target audience – for free – a $59 value!

To recap, you pay only $11.25, and you’ll receive Rob’s new 288-page book in June at a 33% discount with free shipping. Plus, you get over $100 of essential teaching resources for authors. All you have to do is pre-order by April 1st at: www.startawildfire.com/books

I intend to take advantage of Rob’s generous offer and hope you will, too.

Father, You know how difficult marketing is for many of us. We believe in You and the message You have entrusted to us but, as Rob says, we “lack confidence to share our book’s message with dignity and excitement.” Thank You for providing the help we need through Rob’s new book and what He will be teaching at CCWC and GPCWC. And thank You for Your mighty power that is at work within us enabling us to do what we could never do in our own strength.

 

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Going Beyond

Posted in Colorado Christian Writers Conference, Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference on March 21, 2012| Leave a Comment »

An unsolicited endorsement for the Colorado and Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference posted on Marti Pieper’s  Read. Write. Pray. blog March 20, 2012.

 

“Then the Lord said to me, ‘Write my answer plainly on tablets, so that a runner can carry the correct message to others’” (Habakkuk 2:2).

My dear friend, Marlene Bagnull, takes this verse as the theme of her writing life. Along the way, she’s published several books and hundreds of articles and devotions. She’s served her family, which includes a husband, three grown children, and three active grandchildren. And through the years, she’s grown her roots deep in God.

This devotion to her Father, I’m convinced, is what sets Marlene’s two conferences—one in the heart of the rugged Rocky Mountains, the other cradled in the countryside near Philadelphia—apart. Yes, you can find authors, editors, and agents (more than 60 on each faculty) at both events. Yes, you’ll receive top-notch instruction in almost any area of writing. And yes, you’ll connect with writers of many genres, various experiences, and great expertise.

But God’s Spirit pervades these events in a way I can only trace back to Marlene’s unique walk with God. Who else but a surrendered servant would break into prayer as she makes conference announcements? Who else would choose faculty not on the basis of renown but of ministry capacity? And who else would focus each conference on an issue she believes writers need to address?

You see, Marlene’s conferences go beyond helping writers achieve publication. She uses these events to equip writers to use their words to change the world. Keynote speakers address issues that matter and suggest ways writers’ messages can connect.

I’ve served on several conference faculties, but I’ve never had my call to write renewed and reaffirmed in the ways I have at the Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers Conference (GPCWC) and, in a few more weeks, as I will during my first visit to the Colorado Christian Writers Conference. I’ve wept. I’ve prayed. I’ve been reminded to listen to His voice about what and how I write.

Last year at the GPCWC, I taught Writer WannaBe, a continuing workshop for new writers. This year, I have the privilege of teaching Book Doctor, a nonfiction book proposal clinic, at the CCWC along with a workshop that’s become my personal favorite, Master the Memoir. I’ll also represent SUSIE Magazine, the only print Christian magazine targeted exclusively toward girls ages 11-19.

Do you have an interest in writing? Do you believe God wants to use your words to make an impact? Check out either or both of these conferences. Scholarships are available and registration deadlines loom.

Does God have an appointment for you at the CCWC or GPWC this year? Don’t miss His invitation to write His answer.

Posted March 20, 2012, by Marti Pieper

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Bear Fruit

Posted in Called to write, Colorado Christian Writers Conference, God's promises, Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference, Publishing journey on March 17, 2012| Leave a Comment »

It’s a beautiful spring day here on the east coast. Okay, I know it’s not yet officially spring, but it sure looks and feels like spring!  My daffodils are in bloom, and the buds on my fruit trees are almost ready to burst.

They’re calling this the winter that wasn’t. I confess I missed the snowstorms we had the past two years. The out-of-doors has looked brown and barren with no snow glistening on the ground and coating my bushes and trees. But even in the dead of winter, faith assured me that spring was coming.

Faith is certainly essential for writers as we wonder if anyone will want to read what we write or if we can even finish what we started. Maybe we have a completed manuscript but so far no agent or editor has shown any interest. Or maybe we already have a book in print but sales have been dismal. We wonder if our work will ever bear fruit.

About fifteen years ago I met Tim Shoemaker at the Write to Publish Conference in Illinois. He had a passion to write fiction for boys but still had a lot to learn. Still, I saw something in him and in his writing. As I talked and prayed with this young man, I knew his dream was going to come true. Since then we’ve kept in touch and I’ve watched his gift with words grow. I rejoiced when he found publishers for his nonfiction devotional books for boys. And then, just this week, I held in my hands Code of Silence, a hardback novel for boys published by Zonderkidz and the first of a trilogy.

Tim’s writing is bearing fruit because he didn’t give up. He’s worked at his craft and then began teaching it to others at the Colorado and Greater Philly Christian Writers conference where he’s served on faculty since 2005. This year Tim is teaching a continuing session at both conferences on “Take Your Fiction to the Gym.” “Consider yourself a beginner or an advanced beginner when it comes to fiction?” Tim asks. “Here’s your chance to take your writing to the gym. You’ll get the tools, tips, and techniques to strengthen your writing to compete in the real world of publishing. We’ll look at Plot, Characterization, Point-of-View, Show-Don’t-Tell, Scenes, Beginnings, Middles, Ends, Conflict, Dialogue, and other areas to help take your fiction writing to the next level. Lace up your gym shoes . . . this is one workout you’ll enjoy!”

I’ve also asked Tim to give the closing keynote, “Finding His Answer,” at both conferences. “Finding His answer in the ups and downs of life is all about realizing He has a plan, that it is good, that we can trust Him, and that there are things we must do,” Tim says. “We must learn our craft and be the real deal as Christians.”

If you’re discouraged, I hope you’ll take heart from Tim’s story and that you’ll make it a priority to attend one or more writers’ conferences this year. The fellowship with other writers, opportunity to show your work to agents and editors, and classes taught by those who know the craft of writing and marketing can make a huge difference in helping you to get your work in print.

Because of the glitches with online registration that, PTL, are now fixed, I’ve extended early registration for the May 16-19 Colorado Christian Writer Conference through March 19.  Online registration for the August  1-4 Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference will hopefully open April 15 with the brochure off press by May 1. For info on other conferences I encourage you to check the 2012 Christian Writers Market Guide. It is available through my Write His Answer bookstore at 20% off the $24.99 retail price plus $3.50 shipping. The bookstore has numerous other writing how-to books. Shipping is free for orders $35 and over.

Thank You, Father, for the promise of springtime. Help us to bear fruit for You through the lives we live and the words we write.

P.S. Click here for a free Bible study on “Bearing Fruit.”

 

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Deadlines!

Posted in Colorado Christian Writers Conference, God's promises, Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference, Overcoming distractions on March 7, 2012| Leave a Comment »

Deadlines! When I worked in an editorial office years ago, the race to meet deadlines was exciting. Of course, no sooner had one deadline been met then there were others looming, but I found that exhilarating rather than stressful. Oh to be young again and to be able to “leap tall buildings” (and meet deadlines) “in a single bound.”

Today I’m older (no kidding!) and hopefully wiser. Deadlines are no longer exciting even though I have a computer (actually two) to supposedly make me more productive and efficient. Sadly, I often find that working with computers adds more stress to the work Father has called me to do. I don’t have patience for the learning curve that comes with new software or the unexpected challenges of installing a new computer with a different operating system.

Like me you probably have a love/hate relationship with your computer. You wonder why, especially when you’re pressed for time, your computer crashes along with the latest unsaved copy of what you were working on.

What do you do when time pressures keep building and you have no control over the obstacles that keep slowing you down?

That’s where I’ve been for the last two weeks with trying to convert my old FrontPage conference website to Expression Web. I’ve written but am unable to upload the Teens Write and Lightbox Method Retreat info. The clinic and scholarship applications are also ready to go but can’t be uploaded. Other pages have a bunch of navigation buttons across the top but the pages appear blank. They aren’t. Scroll down. To say the least, I am frustrated! And daily I’m falling behind where I need to be with work not just for the Colorado conference but for the Greater Philly conference August 1-4.

I’m reminded of PBPWMGIFWMY from Bill Gothard’s Basic Youth Conflicts Seminar. “Please be patient with me, God isn’t finished with me yet.”

If you’ve emailed me and I haven’t yet answered, please be patient. If you’ve tried to access conference info online, please be patient. If you’ve registered and are worried about signing up for your appointments, relax. Appointments are booked in the order that you register for the conference – not in the order that you send us your requests on the form that is not yet available. And if you’ve not yet registered for the conference, the good news is that there still are 26 more openings for a free fifth appointment if you register for all three days.

But the best good news in the midst of the deadlines we all face is that Immanuel, God is with us. “Even when we are too weak to have any faith left, he remains faithful to us and will help us, for he cannot disown us who are part of himself, and he will always carry out his promises to us” (2 Tim. 2:13 TLB). He calls us, He calls me, to come to Him and He will give us rest (Matt 11:28).

Father, thank You that You are with us and that we can trust You to give us Your peace that passes understanding when deadlines press in on us that we feel helpless to meet. Thank You for Your promise that the joy of the Lord will be our strength!

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Let your light shine!

Posted in Called to write, Colorado Christian Writers Conference, Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference, Our Christian witness, Persecution of Christians on February 22, 2012| 1 Comment »

“You are the world’s light – a city on a hill, glowing in the night for all to see.”
Matthew 5:14 TLB

Dr. Ted Baehr, founder and chairman of the Christian Film & Television Commission®, is letting his light shine in Hollywood. This Friday, February 24, Hallmark will telecast Movieguide®’s 20th Annual Faith & Values Awards Gala at 8 p.m. Eastern Time, 7 p.m. Central Time, and 5 p.m. Pacific Time. Movieguide® is a family guide to movies and entertainment founded by Ted. Movieguide® (www.movieguide.org), and its sister organization, the Christian Film & Television Commission® (CFTVC), is an international non-profit ministry dedicated to “redeeming the values of the entertainment industry by influencing industry executives and by informing and equipping the public about the influence of the entertainment media.”  

The awards will honor the Best Movies for Families and Best Movies for Mature Audiences. They also include the Faith & Freedom Awards for Promoting Positive American Values, the Grace Awards for Most Inspiring Performances in Movies and TV, and the $100,000 Epiphany Prizes for Most Inspiring Movie and TV Program of 2011.

Ted keynoted at last year’s Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference on “Transforming Our Culture” and taught a continuing session on “Breakthrough Scriptwriting.” He will do the same at this year’s May 16-19 Colorado Christian Writers Conference. You’ll learn how to write a script that is structurally sound, entertaining, morally responsible and very marketable.

Dan Wooding, founder and chief editor of ASSIST News Service (www.assistnews.net), received the fourth annual “Passion for the Persecuted” plaque from Open Doors USA at the NRB (National Religious Broadcasters) on February 20. Jerry Drystra, Media Relations Director for Open Doors USA, said, “It is a pleasure to give Dan and ASSIST this award. His passionate, professional documenting of persecution around the globe has influenced thousands to pray and support suffering Christians. I just returned from Egypt. The Christians there told me it is important to join them in prayer for their country and to get their story out during the revolution taking place there. And getting the news to Christians in the West is exactly what ASSIST has been doing for more than 20 years.”

In accepting the award, Dan told the media professionals gathered for the presentation that it was Brother Andrew, the founder of Open Doors, who had first given him the “bug” to spend the rest of his life helping persecuted Christians. “It has been my privilege to have worked alongside Open Doors now for many years and I am honored to be able to receive this award on behalf of my wonderful team of writers from around the world, many of whom literally risk their lives to bring their stories to us.”

Dan’s GPCWC keynoteat last year’s GPCWC focused on “Persecuted Christians.” He also taught a workshop on “How to Become a First-Class Journalist.” He will do the same this year at the May 16-19 Colorado Christian Writers Conference. You may subscribe free of charge to ASSIST News. I urge you to do so today.

Ted and Dan are both letting their light shine. If you did not hear them at last year’s GPCWC and are unable to come to Colorado in May, an order form for CDs is online at  www.writehisanswer.com/Philadelphia. I haven’t yet begun updating the GPCWC website with information on this year’s August 1-4 conference except for a partial list of faculty. I hope to have the website updated and the brochure at the printer early April. The website for the May 16-19 Colorado Christian Writers Conference is in transition from FrontPage to Expression Web.

God bless you and your writing. May He help us all to “Shine out . . . like beacon lights, holding out . . . the Word of Life” (Philippians 2:15-16 TLB).

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Trusting the Lord

Posted in Called to write, Colorado Christian Writers Conference, God's promises, Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference on January 18, 2012| 3 Comments »

Planning the Colorado and Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference is a huge step of faith for me each year although I don’t think I worry as much as I used to. 🙂 I certainly shouldn’t for Father has been so faithful . . .

I’m reminded of the words I wrote over 20 years ago in my book, Write His Answer – A Bible Study for Christian Writers (now in a second edition and still in print).

God has called me to write. Neither I nor my husband question his call. I know Paul fully supports my choice to stay home and write. But I also know our financial obligations make my writing seem like an unaffordable luxury. If I put in the same number of hours at a “real” job, there would be a regular paycheck. I wouldn’t need to worry about how we are going to pay for college for our two children or the repairs our house desperately needs. And Paul would not have to work a second job delivering pizzas.*

It’s as if I’m engaged in a tug of war between what I know I am supposed to be doing and the realities that make it seem unrealistic. I feel guilty staying home and writing when I see my children doing without some things I’d like to be able to give them. And then the doubts come. I wonder whether I’m torturing myself with writing aspirations that are only pipe dreams. . . .

I am reminded of Jesus’ words about God and money in the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus knew the hardships his countrymen endured because of the heavy taxes Rome imposed. When crops failed or the nets were empty, no doubt many went hungry. Yet Jesus told them not to worry about food, drink, or clothes. He sought to change their perspective – to help them see that they should be grateful for life itself.

Jesus drew their attention to the birds of the air. “They don’t worry about what to eat – they don’t need to sow or reap or store up food – for your heavenly Father feeds them. And,” he reminded them, “you are far more valuable to him than they are” (Matt. 6:26 TLB).

He pointed to the lilies in the field. “King Solomon in all his glory was not clothed as beautifully as they” (Matt. 6:29 TLB). Again he spoke words of reassurance. “And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, won’t he more surely care for you, O men of little faith?” (Matt. 6:30 TLB).

His words convict me. My faith is little. My perspective is wrong. Although God promises to meet all my needs, I waste a tremendous amount of emotional energy worrying. This gives Satan a dangerous foothold in my life. I allow him to rob me of the joy of writing when I embrace negative thinking patterns and my list of “have nots.” As a result, more times than I want to admit, I’ve wondered if I should just give up. Because my work is not selling and ministering to people? No. Because what I earn from manuscript sales never seems to be enough.

Then something else Jesus said comes to mind. “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matt. 6:33 NIV).

That is the key! I must keep my priorities in order – must keep my eyes on the Lord and the kingdom work he is calling me to do. I cannot lose sight of my call by allowing my writing to get tangled up with my worry about our finances. I need to see God as our Source instead of trying to “produce” bigger and better manuscripts that will bring in larger and more frequent checks. I have been assuming a burden God never meant for me to carry instead of trusting Him to provide.

______________

*  More than twenty years later I can witness to the fact that God is and has been faithful. My son graduated from college and my daughter from medical school  the same spring I received an honorary doctorate. Our house didn’t fall down around us, and Paul no longer delivers pizzas. He’s now retired, and two years ago  we moved to a new home within walking distance of our three precious grandchildren. Our old house is still on the market – another faith-stretcher. We thank God that it is paid for and that He is enabling us to absorb the extra expense of taxes, insurance, and utilities along with our new mortgage payment. And I am so, so grateful that I didn’t give up and get a “real” job.

The  above (minus the * postscript) is just a portion of the chapter, “Seek First His Kingdom,” and just one of the thirty-three chapters in Write His Answer – A Bible Study for Christian Writers that address issues such as self-doubts, writer’s block, rejection slips, discouragement, procrastination . . . Best-selling author, Lee Roddy, says,

“This book can change your life.
It not only gives ongoing encouragement
 to respond to God’s call to write,
  but helps you keep on writing.”

 Click here to view the Table of Contents and two free chapters as well as info for ordering at the discounted price of $11.90 (retail $14.00). Mention this blog in the “comments” section of the secure online order form and take an additional 10% off through the end of January.

Father, You know the struggles we face as we seek to “write Your answer.” Thank You for Your promises. Help us to see the challenges we face as opportunities to trust You more.

 

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2012 Conference Plans and More

Posted in Called to write, Colorado Christian Writers Conference, God's promises, Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference on December 31, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Happy new year everyone!

As promised, I’ve begun to upload info for the May 16-19 Colorado Christian Writers Conference to the website. (I hope to get some info for the August 1-4 Philly conference uploaded before midnight!) Of course, I haven’t gotten as far as I hoped, but you can view the list of 50 authors, editors, agents, and PR specialists presently on Colorado’s faculty by clicking here.  Sadly, once you click on this page the navigation structure disappears. My ten-year-old, no-longer-supported FrontPage software finally crashed. I’ve “upgraded” to Expression Web 2. The 972 page online manual is intimidating to say the least.

I’m reminded again of the apostle Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 12:10 (TLB):

“When I am weak, then I am strong –
the less I have, the more I depend on him.

My paraphrase:

“When I am tired and overwhelmed,
confused, and frustrated,
and when I do not feel smart enough
to learn how to use my new Smartphone
or master a new computer program,
then I can know His strength –
the less energy, time, wisdom,
and computer expertise I possess,
the more I depend on Him.”

How I thank God for His promises. They are my “faithful armor” (Psalm 91:4) when the evil one tries to convince me something is impossible.

This year I’ve committed to again read through the entire Bible. (It’s been too long!) I’ll be using Tyndale’s The One Year Study Bible that I purchased a month or two ago. Despite all the hoopla, I’m still not sold on ebooks and do not own a Kindle. I like to hold a real book in my hand, turn the pages, and mark them up. I am excited, however, about the hundreds of free reading plans in various translations that http://www.youversion.com/about/reading-plans offers. They can be downloaded to your computer or phone or sent daily via an email. I hope you’ll visit their website and ask Father to show you the plan He wants you to follow. After all, if we’re going to “write His answer,” it’s critical that we spend time in His Word.

Father, thank You for the freedom we have to study Your Word. Help us to make it a priority to bury Your Word deep in our hearts. May all that we think and write, say and do be a reflection of You in this coming year.

Looking to Jesus in this new year – Marlene

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