Write His Answer

Antisemitism on rise across Europe “in worst times since the Nazis.” Sharansky warns we’re seeing “beginning of the end” of Jews in Europe.

August 9, 2014 by Marlene Bagnull

Father, please open eyes and hearts to the plight of Your people. Help us not to allow another Holocaust.

Newsweek cover story for July 29, 2014: “Exodus: Why Europe’s Jews Are Fleeing Once Again.”

>> You can watch The Family Leadership Summit live online on Saturday, August 9th. My talk is scheduled to begin at 10:55am central time/11:55am eastern.

(Ames, Iowa) — In a few hours, I will address The 2014 Family Leadership Summithere in Ames.

Most of the speakers are Governors, Senators, Congressmen and potential presidential contenders for 2016. They will focus on vital issues ranging from how best to defend the sanctity of innocent human life and the sanctity of traditional marriage, to how best to revive our struggling economy and improve education for our children and get America back on track morally, spiritually and economically.

My topic is a bit different — “The Future of America, Israel & The Middle East In The Light of Scripture.” I will be discussing how America’s future and those of Jews…

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Wondering Why?

July 23, 2014 by Marlene Bagnull

7 Reasons Why You Need to Come

Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference

July 30 – August 2, 2014

1. To learn the craft of writing. Okay, maybe you’ve been writing for many years, but there is always more to learn. Master craftsmen will teach workshops and continuing sessions that, as one conferee said, are the equivalent of a semester college course in writing. You’ll learn from authors like Cec Murphey, Linda Evans Shepherd, Tim Shoemaker, and Jeanette Windle. And they are just four of the 56 authors, editors, agents, and publicists serving on this year’s faculty.

2. To learn the craft of marketing your work to potential publishers or explore the how-to of indie publishing. If you’ve gotten more than your share of rejection slips or have yet to get your first rejection (I’m sorry, it goes with the territory of being a writer), GPCWC offers a “Get Published” track of six hour-long workshops that will provide practical help. In addition, literary agent, editor, and author Dave Fessenden is teaching a two-hour Wednesday early bird workshop, on “Book Proposals: The Front-End Method.” You also can choose Tim Shoemaker’s continuing session, “How to Get Published.” For those considering indie publishing. we have a two-hour “You Can Publish Your eBook” early bird workshop on Wednesday and a continuing session on how to professionally format a book interior for CreateSpace.

3. Face-to-face opportunities to pitch your work to editors and agents. At GPCWC full-time conferees get FOUR 15-minute one-on-one appointments with the faculty of your choice. Because we have such a large faculty, there’s a good possibility that even late registrants will get their top choices. On Thursday afternoon you’ll have the opportunity to sign up for additional appointments with faculty who still have openings. In today’s publishing world, the only way to connect with many agents and editors is through meeting them at a conference. Check out our helpful spreadsheets of their editorial needs. You’ll find links on the pages for our editors and agents. Anxious about meeting a real live editor or agent face-to-face? Jeanette Windle’s two “Practice Your Pitch” early bird workshops (one for nonfiction and the other for fiction) will help build your confidence. Our authors are also available for appointments. They can point out the strengths and weaknesses in your writing, answer questions, and provide helpful guidance.

4. To learn the craft of marketing/promoting your published work. And yes, it’s a craft, and not one that comes naturally to most writers. I’ve often said that the reason I quit Girl Scouts is because of the stress of trying to sell cookies. Whether or not you like marketing, the fact is that you hold the key to the sales of your book. But the good news is that it’s a craft that can be learned. We’ve also got a track of six hour-long marketing workshops.

5. Friendships with other writers. My closest friends are writers I’ve met at writers’ conferences. In amazing ways writers connect deeply with one another more quickly than I ever have in the chit-chat before and after Sunday morning worship services. And we need each other. A key verse for me that I’ve experienced and sought to follow is 1 Thessalonians 5:11, “Encourage each other to build each other up” (TLB). It happens at GPCWC!

6. Inspiration and encouragement to keep on keeping on. Our keynoters will challenge you to “Write His Answer.”

7. Direction from the Lord. Each year, and this is my 31st year directing GPCWC, I see God at work in Ephesians 3:20 ways. He has a plan for you and for your writing. He is the One who makes the impossible possible. Indeed, GPCWC is “More than a Writers Conference.”

There’s still time to register and to request appointments. Housing is still available in Cairn University’s Heritage Hall. None of the workshops or continuing sessions are filled because of the university’s large classrooms. If you need time payments or scholarship help, please ask. You can email me at mbagnull@aol.com or call 484-991-8581.

God bless you and your writing – Marlene

Posted in Called to write, Get your book in print, Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference, Marketing, Platform building, Promotion | 5 Comments »

Living in the 11th Hour

July 19, 2014 by Marlene Bagnull

A writers’ conference
that is more than
a conference just for writers!

Do you share the growing sense of urgency I feel as you watch the news? I believe the following “Specials” the Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference is offering July 31 and August 1 are critically important in equipping us to effectively “live His answer.” Please join us. If you live too far away, I urge you to order the CDs after the conference. The order form will be posted on http://philadelphia.writehisanswer.com.

Living in the 11^th Hour (Thursday, July 31, 10 am to noon) with a panel of eight including Michael Geer, president of the Pennsylvania Family Association. The goal of the panel, in light of the urgency of the day we live in, is to engage the conference in a moderated discussion on how the Church in our nation can best prepare to stand its ground “in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” Persecution is coming. Persecution is here. How do we stand in Christ, with Christ, for Christ, and with each other in these darkening days—not letting our hearts grow cold or our ‘well-doing’ grow weary? If this IS the Eleventh Hour of earth history (and even if it is not)…how do we joyfully get up each day (while the world is falling down around us) and follow Jesus? (Moderated by Mark Ammerman, author of the end times novel, PUSH.)

Mining for Gold (Thursday, July 31, 1:00 – 3:00 pm) – Learn steps to studying the Bible that will provide exciting, fresh content for your spiritual life, writing, and teaching. Tap into the transforming power of Scripture! Bible teacher and author Julie Coleman offers hands-on instruction in digging deep into God’s Word. Come and find those hidden gems just waiting to be discovered.

Reaching Seekers & Skeptics (Thursday, July 31, 3:30 – 5:30 pm) with Rusty Wright, award-winning author, syndicated columnist, and lecturer who has spoken on six continents. Learn how seekers and skeptics think and feel, what they want and why. Practical tools for finding common ground, understanding felt needs, grabbing attention, touching hearts and minds, and sensitively communicating spiritual truth verbally, in writing, and via the Internet even if you’re not a techie. God can use you to reach seekers and skeptics.

Save Our Children (Friday, August 1, 1:00 – 3:00 pm) with Rick Marschall, author of 74 books and hundreds of magazine articles. Christians are pilgrims and strangers in this world. Surely every believer senses that these times are darker, more dangerous than ever. Our culture has turned hateful toward Christians and children are the primary targets of the enemy. There are things we can and must do as Christians. Let us engage!

There is no charge for Save Our Children. The Thursday Specials are $25 for one, $40 for two, $55 for all three. Please use the registration form at http://philadelphia.writehisanswer.com/specials. All of our morning and evening keynotes in Chatlos Chapel are free of charge. Following the Thursday and Friday evening keynote we will have a book signing. No registration is needed for the keynotes or book signing.

Of course the conference also offers a wealth of learning opportunities for beginning and advanced writers as well as an all-day Teens Write program on Thursday, July 31. For specific information check out our 16-page brochure athttp://philadelphia.writehisanswer.com/brochure.

Posted in Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference, Our Christian witness, Persecution of Christians | 1 Comment »

Shields Up! Conference Updates and News You Can Use

July 17, 2014 by Marlene Bagnull

“So use every piece of God’s armor
to resist the enemy whenever he attacks . . .
In every battle
you will need
faith as your shield.”

Eph. 6:13, 16 TLB

This morning I was more than overwhelmed by everything I need to get done for the Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference that is only 12 days away. Unlike the exciting countdown to Christmas that had me breathless with anticipation as a child, the conference crunch zone leaves me out of breath from racing to complete a to-do list that keeps getting longer no matter how hard or long I work.

Yes, this morning I was more than overwhelmed – I was panicking. I allowed my focus on the only One who can enable me to do what I clearly cannot do in my own strength to slip as I focused instead on the piles of paper on my desk and floor and open filing cabinets. A tension headache grabbed hold of me, and my neck felt like it was in a vice.

“I can’t do this, Father. I can’t. Please, Father. Please help me!”

As always, when I cry out for help He answers. This time His very visual answer came through my good friend Cindy Watkins who has been here serving as the Registration and Housing Coordinator since July 7. She prayed as she massaged my stiff neck and shoulders. And she gave me a much-needed reminder that an army of angels is surrounding me and the conference. To make it visual, she grabbed my bright red garden kneeling pad and set it before me.

“Shields up!” she told me. “And stop speaking negative things. Praise God instead.”

I suspect many of you reading this can identify. But rejoice! The “defeated one” works extra hard when we’re seeking to do the Lord’s work. Discouragement, doubt, anxiety, fear . . . he has an arsenal of weapons he unleashes. It’s at times like these we have a choice. We can embrace his lies that typically contain enough truth that they seem believable, or we can put our “shields up” and affirm aloud that “overwhelming victory is ours through Christ who loved us enough to die for us” (Rom. 8:37 TLB).

Updates – July 30 – August 2 Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference

New faculty member – Karen Whiting
Karen is an international speaker and award-winning author of 17 books, including God’s Girls, Stories of Faith and Courage from the Home Front, and My Mini Dream Room. Her newest book is Nature Girl: a guide to caring for God’s creation. Her book The One Year My Princess Devotions won the 2014 Christian Retailing Best Award in children’s nonfiction. Her book Stories of Faith and Courage from the Home Front won the Golden Scroll nonfiction book of the year in June and gold medal from the Military Writers Society of America nonfiction category. Her writing experience includes more than 600 magazine articles in more than sixty periodicals. She writes for Book Fun Magazine and Molly Green magazines and will be representing them at the conference. Editorial needs are posted at http://philadelphia.writehisanswer.com/editors. If you’ve already registered for the conference and requested your appointments, the same as with Rick Marschall, another faculty member who just recently joined us, you may request an additional “bonus” appointment. Just email mvawter@writehisanswer.com.

Editorial Needs – Kregal Publications, represented by Jeanette Windle
I just realized I never posted this info to the website. All genres of fiction, but they are getting picky and taking fewer titles; no children’s picture books, non-fiction Christian living, theology, pastoral and church resources, inspirational, some missions, niche genres if the perfect topic was offered.

There’s still time to register before the $15 “procrastinator’s fee” kicks in July 22. Go to http://philadelphia.writehisanswer.com/register. If you need scholarship help or time payments, I’ll do everything possible to work with you to make it happen. Click on Scholarships.

News You Can Use

Gone or Dawn? The Golden Age of Publishing – An encouraging blog from literary agent, Steve Laube.

Fantastical and Endless Opportunities – Interview with GPCWC faculty member, Pam Halter.

Keep writing His answer!

Posted in Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference, Overcoming self-doubts, Pondering Biblical Truth, Writing Opportunities | 2 Comments »

Encouraging Writers and Conference Updates

July 9, 2014 by Marlene Bagnull

“Faith is the confidence
that what we hope for will actually happen;
it gives us assurance
about things we cannot see.”
Hebrews 11:1 NLT

Rejection: A Fact of the Writing Life – Yes, this really is an encouraging blog from literary agent, Steve Laube, who published my book Write His Answer – A Bible Study for Christian Writers. To add to what Steve shared, 31 years of ministry through the Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference and 18 years through the Colorado Christian Writers Conference would not have happened if I had allowed the deadly Ds (disappointment, doubt, discouragement) that often accompanied 42 rejections of my first book cause me to give up. To tie into the next item, I was ahead of the market.

Studying the Markets – Great advice from Cec Murphey, GPCWC 2014 faculty member who will keynote on “Write His Answer – Authentically” and teach the continuing session “The Power of Story.” I highly recommend Cec’s “Writer to Writer” blog.

Need more encouragement? – Best-selling author, Joel Rosenberg, says of where he was at in 2001, “Failure has a way of focusing the mind and I’d come off of ten years of political failure in Washington DC and I thought, ‘You’ve got to be kidding me. I’m a Rosenberg, yet I am not a lawyer, a dentist, a doctor, an acupuncturist, a chiropractor, an accountant or even a stockbroker.

“I’ve got no financial genes and I can’t do anything practical. I write ‘Op-Eds’ that people don’t read. I write speeches people don’t listen to; the only thing I know how to do is write and clearly badly. But these are my loaves and fishes and I don’t want to be a failure; I want to be a blessing.

“So, I told the Lord, ‘I want to be a servant of yours, Lord Jesus, so could you take these loaves and fishes, limited though they be, and would you break them, and bless them, and somehow feed people with them.’”

Click here to read the rest of this powerful and encouraging interview. I highly recommend Joel’s books and his blog, http://flashtrafficblog.wordpress.com/ that tracks the latest happenings in the explosive Middle East.

How to Respond to Alarming Changes – Another helpful and encouraging post from literary agent, Rachelle Gardner. Click here.

A Word Fitly Spoken or Written – Good counsel from literary agent and GPCWC 2014 faculty member, Diana Flegal. Click here.

For fiction writers – K.M. Weiland, author of historical and speculative fiction and writing mentor has a helpful blog. Click here for “Most Common Writing Mistakes, Pt. 31: One-Dimensional Conflict.”

Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference, July 30 – August 2

Deadline extended for paid critiques – Since manuscripts for paid critiques are now sent via email, I’ve extended the due date to July 16. Paid critiques are a great investment in your writing ministry. Your critiquer will read your manuscript before the conference (please note length parameters at http://philadelphia.writehisanswer.com/paidcritiques) and spend 30 minutes with you at the conference pointing out things you need to strengthen and answering your questions. The cost is only $30.

Book signing Thursday & Friday night – Conferees as well as faculty are welcome to participate in a book signing following the Thursday and Friday night keynote. On Thursday night Cec Murphey will keynote and authors whose last name begins with M – Z will have 1-2 minutes to talk about their latest book followed by a book signing. On Friday night Rob Cook will keynote and authors whose last names begins with A – L will share and sign their books.

Appointments – For those already registered, you have until tomorrow, July 10, to submit your appointment request form online for your appointments to be booked in the order your registered for the conference. That gives early birds a real advantage. All appointment requests need to be received by July 24. After that you can sign up for appointments when you arrive at the conference.

Bonus appointment with Rick Marschall – Because Rick is a last minute addition, we’re offering an bonus appointment with him in addition to the number of appointments you’re already entitled to receive (4 appointments for those coming all 3 days with the first 100 conferees receiving a 5^th appointment, 3 appointments for those coming 2 days, and 2 appointments for those coming one day). If you’ve already submitted your appointment requests, you can add Rick by simply sending an email to mvawter@writehisanswer.com. Rick is also available for paid critiques of devotionals, picture books, nonfiction books and book proposals, historical novels, and humor. Rick has 74 books and hundreds of magazine articles to his credit. A former political cartoonist, editor of Marvel Comics, and writer for Disney, his fields as an author are as eclectic: popular culture; classical music; country music; biographies; television history; children’s books; cartoons and comics; and Christian books, where his publishers have included Thomas Nelson, Faithwords, and Tyndale House. For four years he has produced the weekly blog www.MondayMinistry.com, devotionals that feature music videos and address culture, worldview, church history, and matters of faith.

Roommate matching – You can make a new friend and lower your conference cost by requesting a roommate but please do so as soon as possible. A double room on campus is only $39 a night or $59 a night for a single. We need to let Cairn University know by July 23 how many are staying on campus.

Scholarship help and time payments – Complete the application at http://philadelphia.writehisanswer.com/scholarships and know I’ll do everything possible to help you be able to come.

Colorado Christian Writers Conference, May 13-16, 2015

Be sure to put next year’s date on your calendar. And remember, CDs of this year’s conference are available. You’ll find an order form at http://colorado.writehisanswer.com.

Keep writing His answer!

Posted in Called to write, God's promises, Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference, Marketing, Overcoming self-doubts, Writer's Life, Writing Fiction | Leave a Comment »

Praying for our nation

July 4, 2014 by Marlene Bagnull

Guest Blogger
Loretta Oakes

For the past several years the decline of this nation has been happening at a rapid rate. The lack of a fear of God with our nation’s leaders has trickled down through the ranks. God sees all this. More than anything He wants us back, for He is a jealous God. He desires us to be with Him. So how does that happen that we return? You and Anne are right, through prayer…but right now only the righteous see that need. And so we do what Jesus asks, pray for each other.

But there is something else. Humanity hasn’t changed that much. The Old Testament teaches us that the Israelites would turn away from God with their idols and such and then God would allow their enemies to take over. Why? The parenting style, Love and Logic teaches that there are natural consequences for our actions. For example, if a child throws a toy in anger, the toy is taken away. It is no different for adults. And I believe that it truly is the way our God disciplines us. He gave us free will, He won’t take that away, so instead there are natural consequences because one doesn’t learn by having their hand slapped, but they learn by having what they want taken away until they learn to appreciate it.

Here in the U.S., we have taken our freedoms too lightly, forgotten where they came from with respect to the sacrifices of our ancestors. Many don’t even know the Pledge of Allegiance. I’m not sure that we can hold back the natural consequences for our actions in not respecting unborn life, in our charge forward toward euthanasia, or our lack of respect for the human body in general. Each of those moments of defiance have caused a great rift in our relationship with God and His allowance of this country to continue.

We have become too complacent as a people here in the U.S. We have our view of “rights” and it has been deeply distorted. How do you teach that our unalienable rights and respect for others’ same rights is a privilege unless you take it away? This is the quandary I speak of with regard to Anne Graham’s call.

We do need to pray, but I believe it goes well beyond seven days. The prayer and fasting of Lent that is followed by practicing Catholics has a value beyond Lent. It takes six weeks to form a new habit and I believe that ideal applies here. I love the three things that Anne is asking us to pray for. Love them. Each of them signifies a humility that we as a people need to apply daily in our lives and be an example for others. A spiritual awakening usually only takes root in suffering. We are a hard headed people, not much different from those that Moses dealt with in his conversations with God (Ex 33:5).

So this is my hope: that this prayer will last more than seven days. It needs to. And that we as a people will take to heart what history teaches us. It took, I believe, more than 50 years to get to where we are today. If we read the Bible we know that it took generations to fix their problems. Therefore, in addition to the three lovely prayers that Anne suggests, I hope that we will also pray for our children and their children because the consequences of our sin will fall hardest on them. They will be the ones that must maintain the faith and propagate Christ’s teachings. Let us embolden them with the teachings and the love that Christ sought to bring into the world. They are our hope now and the meaning for Christ’s words, “Let the children come to me…” (Matt 19:14.)

Don’t get me wrong! I believe there is still hope, but it will be long in coming and hard fought. We are seeing some hope with things like the Hobby Lobby decision (that is if people take the time to read it instead of relying on the “stiff-necked” media to interpret it for us). It’s not about contraception, it’s about four abortion drugs. Very different than the media spins it. And there are other victories too. Let us thank the Lord for these and pray for those who fought for them.
___________

Thank you, Loretta, for giving me permission to share the email you sent to me. And thank you for your blog, “Complementary Thoughts – Finding a Balance for Science and Religion” – http://lorettaoakes.blogspot.com/. Friends, I encourage you to subscribe. I also encourage you to respond to Anne Graham Lotz’ “Urgent Call to Prayer”- http://www.annegrahamlotz.com/events/urgent-call-to-prayer/.

Posted in Praying for our nation, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

An amazing story from last year’s conference

July 1, 2014 by Marlene Bagnull

From faculty member, Hope Flinchbaugh:

It was the first time my mother accompanied me to the Philly Writers Conference. After I finished an afternoon of teaching and appointments, I searched for her through the crowd of conferees and faculty heading for the cafeteria for dinner. I was stunned to find her in tears! I’d not seen her cry since my father’s death, and I wondered what in the world happened?

As she explained the reason for the tears, I immediately wanted her to tell her story to you!

I went to the writers’ workshop in Philly with a heavy heart. I’d received word just days earlier that a relative had a committed a very horrible crime and I was experiencing a range of emotions that just could not be explained. I was angry at him for doing such a stupid, cruel, and horrible act and for the hurt he inflicted on his victim, his wife, children, grandchildren, sisters, brothers, and extended family—not to mention the Christian ministry where he was looked up to as a leader. I had a burning desire to ask him, “Was it worth it?” I know God forgives sin and I knew that I had to get to the place where I could forgive him.

I slipped into a back seat in the classroom and everyone was asked to take a few minutes to write about something that was on their heart at the time. The workshop leader called our attention to I Kings 19 where God spoke to Elijah in a still small voice, but in order to hear God’s voice we had to be listening for it. I wondered, “Do I listen to Him in prayer?”

The workshop leader led in prayer. When she said, “Amen,” I lifted my head and the lady in front of me bent over to pick something up. There before my eyes was a man the size of a professional football player with a t-shirt that had a cross and spikes in a circle on it. In the center of the circle was the word FORGIVEN. Something inside me snapped—in a good way.

I burst into tears and thanked God for speaking to me in such a personal way. Later I also thanked the man and the instructor for allowing God to use them to minister to me.

The Philly Christian Writers’ Conference is just that way. There are a vast variety of classes to choose from where you learn to hone your writing craft, but you can also expect God to meet you right where you are in a very personal way.
____________

Thank You, Father. Thank You for all the ways You are at work at each year’s conference.

If you haven’t seen the ASSISTNEWS.net article about why this year’s Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference is “More than a Writer’s Conference,.” click here. A reminder: The price increases tomorrow, July 2.

Posted in Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference | 1 Comment »

Urgent need

June 23, 2014 by Marlene Bagnull

Please take time to read the two emails below from my dear friend, Gretchen Passantino, who I expect many of you know. She has served on the faculty of both the Colorado and Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference as a keynoter and continuing session instructor. She has been part of my prayer team for many years and is someone whose counsel I highly respect. God has used her in Ephesians 3:20 ways in her apologetic’s ministry, Answers in Action. And I’ve watched her and her husband, Pat, live their faith as Pat had a serious stroke in December 2012 and died but was revived. He was not expected to live much less recover but God had other plans.

As Gretchen explains in her email, they are in danger of losing their home which also houses their ministry. As you can see by the picture she shares below, they live simply.

An anonymous donor (see Gretchen’s second email) has offered to match gifts up to $10,000. I’m mailing a check today (their address is below) to avoid 10% going to the Go Fund Me site. However Father leads you to help (please ask Him), you have only through June 30 for your gift to be doubled. Without our help, their home will be foreclosed July 8.

Looking to Jesus to provide through His people – Marlene

From: Gretchen Passantino-Coburn [mailto:gretchen.passantino@answersinaction.org]

Sent: Wednesday, June 18, 2014 5:52 PM
To: Gretchen Passantino-Coburn
Subject: Emergency Passantino Coburn Answers In Action Support Request

We are in critical danger (July 8 sale date) of losing our home & home office & research library to foreclosure. We believe that God wants us to stay in this home/office, devoting the stamina & energy he provides us to Christian ministry. We have exhausted all other options.

We need $20,000 within the next 2 weeks to save our home from forced foreclosure sale & reinstate mortgages & update property taxes. We need $20,000 over the next year to meet our expenses until our Answers In Action non-profit status is restored, my early retirement SS begins, & Pat’s pending hardship VA benefit kicks in.

God has called us to ministry focus: me with 40 years of full-time Christian ministry in apologetics & discipleship, & Pat with his trauma, combat, & critical medical crisis experience sharing the grace & sufficiency of Christ with others in crisis & trauma. Please pray about helping us to stay in our home & serve the Lord.

God blessed my late husband Bob & me (& our 3 children & the ministry of Answers In Action) with this home in 1997. In June of 1997 we had $800 to our names & an eviction notice. By August the Lord had used our friends & brothers & sisters in Christ to fund our purchase of this modest 1950s tract house w/a 20% down payment.

For 17 years God has used this home to shelter us, to raise our children, & provided well over 50% of the home for ministry purposes, including housing our 8,000 specialty research library used not only by us but by other Christian apologists, disciplers, & teachers. My late husband Bob Passantino died & went to be with the Lord in this home. My husband Pat died in this home 9 years later, but God gave him new mortal life & he has spent the last 18 months recovering here. This home has been a safe, friendly, warm place for Bible teaching, worship, evangelism, & discipleship.

We are convinced that God wants us to stay here & continue using this home for life & ministry. We need your help to accomplish that. After exploring all of our options, praying, & discussing this with our Answers In Action Board, they concur.

This is one of the most vulnerable e-mails I’ve ever sent. It is embarrassing to expose our failure. It is frightening to relinquish any hope of solving the problem ourselves. It is risky to boldly claim “God told us” without seeing His answer. It feels shameful to ask for housing help in front of the ones who have stepped in twice in the past 18 months to help with this. I’m reminded of 2 Timothy 1:7-9. We’re not the Apostle Paul, & our home is not in prison, but Paul’s advice encourages me to be bold & have a God perspective rather than a fallen human perspective: “For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity.”

Here is how you can help: (1) pray, (2) encourage us, (3) share with others God might call to help, (4) prayerfully consider helping us financially, which you can do by going to this Go Fund Me link: http://www.gofundme.com/agrtwk (or you can e-mail me privately).

If you do Facebook, you can go to my Facebook page (Gretchen Passantino Coburn) & get more details & pictures of our home we believe God has given us.

Below are some pictures of our “Little Hobbit Hole.”

Thankfully & lovingly in Christ,

Gretchen Passantino Coburn

858 Joann St., Costa Mesa, CA 92627
949-290-2819

Director, Answers In Action

From: Gretchen Passantino-Coburn [mailto:gretchen.passantino@answersinaction.org]

Sent: Monday, June 23, 2014 1:02 PM
To: Gretchen Passantino-Coburn
Subject: Special Matching Funds Offer for Emergency Passantino/Answers In Action Support Appeal This Week Only

Wow! The Lord has provided a HUGE encouragement for your support of our housing security THIS WEEK ONLY. An anonymous benefactor has pledged to MATCH DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR every gift (via Go Fund Me or otherwise) for this cause now through June 30, 2014 (one week from today), UP TO TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS ($10,000).
Last week I shared with you our precarious housing situation which affects not only our residence, but our Answers In Action ministry office & specialized 8,000 volume research library, our current & future stability for life & ministry, & my husband Pat’s health & well-being (OK, mine, too). We believe the Lord led us to share our vulnerable circumstances with you for prayer, encouragement, & support. Let me add that we also believe the Lord wanted us to be open about our need so he could be open about his blessings & provision.

The response to our appeal is epitomized by this benefactor’s most generous matching funds program. Please pray about taking advantage of this gift program. If you are planning to gift us, this week is the week to double your gift courtesy of our benefactor. If you donate $500, we will receive $1,000; donate $100 & we will receive $200; $50 & we receive $100, etc.

We are already 20% toward our half-way point (combined gifts from Go Fund Me & otherwise) that will secure our immediate housing, office, & support; & 10% toward our support needs over the next year. I said before that this was a fearful step for me to take — in fact, I stalled doing this for far too long. I’m thankful God is not fearful & that his People & his Plan of Provision are testimony to his Promises.

Easiest way to give is through Go Fund Me, or you can contact me directly if you prefer. (Go Fund Me charges the fund about 10%, other avenues 100% goes to us.) Message if you have any questions, & thank you — those who have given, those who will give in this matching appeal, & especially those who pray for & encourage us.

Here’s a picture of Pat & me & our dog, Samwise Gamgee, this weekend walking on the bluffs by our Hobbit Home. (That’s a whole other blessing & intervention by God — Pat’s neurologist gave him a new medication to affect his brain’s perception of stamina & he almost instantly started experiencing greater stamina & energy. I’ll report on that later. God’s moving so fast I can’t keep up on-line!)

Blessings in Christ,

Gretchen

[MJB]

And my favorite pic of Gretchen and Pat:

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Lessons Learned (the hard way), Save Our Children, News You Can Use

June 22, 2014 by Marlene Bagnull

“Relax,
everything’s going to be all right;
rest, everything’s coming together”
(Jude 1:2 MSG).

I discovered the above paraphrase of Jude 1:2 after five exhausting days of refinishing my back deck. Despite 90 degree weather, I pushed myself to finish a job that needed to get done. We stained the deck two years ago only to have the finish begin to peel less than a year later. We couldn’t afford to hire a contractor, and my husband couldn’t help because he tripped over a cord in the driveway and sprained his hand two weeks ago. He’s in a cast that he is supposed to remove only to take a shower.

It’s a job that would have been difficult for someone 30 years younger than me. (I’ll be 70 in January.) Lessons learned:

Count the cost. Jesus said, “Is there anyone here who, planning to build a new house, doesn’t first sit down and figure the cost so you’ll know if you can complete it?” (Luke 14:28 MSG). The job did turn out to be more costly than I anticipated – and not just in dollars and cents. It’s all too easy for me to get in over my head. You, too?
Ask for help. “Tell God your needs, and don’t forget to thank him for his answers” (Phil. 4:6 TLB). Because God works through people, I also needed to let my daughter and her husband know that I really needed their help. Thank You, Father, that they did not ignore my cry for help.
Rely on His strength. My own strength would never have enabled me to finish. “He gives me new strength,” Psalm 23:2 (TLB) promises. He also “lets me rest in the meadow grass and leads me beside the quiet streams.” I admit in my desire to finish I didn’t pace myself as well as I needed to, but I did go to bed earlier at night and sleep later in the morning. It was much-needed rest that has included a nap this Sunday afternoon on my lovely new deck!
And more learned-the-hard-way lessons – After four days of sanding off the old finish, I will never again use stain or paint on the deck or a stripper to try and remove it. I used Thompson’s Natural Advanced Water Seal. It’s supposed to last three years – I hope!

Update July 30 – August 2 Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference

Reminder – The price increases July 2 so register now.

Another reminder – Clinic applications are due July 1.

Teens Write info is finally online (click here). Thanks Pam Halter for the great program you’ve put together for our teens.

Faculty Bios and Editorial Needs – With 58 on faculty this was a time consuming task. Unexplained techno glitches didn’t help. The same as with the Teens Write page, I lost my updates to the Authors page and had to begin again several times. Then, when the Authors page was finally uploaded, I discovered that it had somehow copied over the Paid Critiques page. God bless Jonathan Shank at SKWD (my webmaster) who was able to recover the information. Jonathan will teach a workshop at the conference on “Effective, Efficient, Engaging Websites.” I am so grateful Father led me to SKWD two years ago.

Friday Special

There has never been a society in the history of mankind
whose moral values
have deteriorated so dramatically,
in such a short period of time,
as those of Americans in the last 50 years.
And so far it shows no sign of stopping.

Bert M. Farias, “The American Church – How Deceived Are We?”

The above quote from a June 1 Prophecy News Watch article is sobering and cause for deep concern. I encourage you to click here to read the entire article. I clearly felt Father speaking to my heart as I read this article that I needed to invite Rick Marschall to come and teach the following special session on Friday from 1:00 – 2:00 (during the Indie Publishing Panel). It is open to the community free of charge.

Save Our Children – Christians are pilgrims and strangers in this world. Surely every believer senses that these times are darker, more dangerous than ever. Our culture has turned hateful toward Christians and children are the primary targets of the enemy. There are things we can and must do as Christians. Let us engage!

Rick has 74 books and hundreds of magazine articles to his credit. A former political cartoonist, editor of Marvel Comics, and writer for Disney, his fields as an author are as eclectic: popular culture; classical music; country music; biographies; television history; children’s books; cartoons and comics; and Christian books, where his publishers have included Thomas Nelson, Faithwords, and Tyndale House. For four years he has produced the weekly blog www.MondayMinistry.com, devotionals that feature music videos and address culture, worldview, church history, and matters of faith.