Robin Lee Hatcher's Write Thinking

don't be fooled

Hollywood is paying homage, in a new movie, to a man who thought pedophilia was a good thing. For an excellent commentary, read Chuck Colson's Breakpoint piece for 11/30/04:

"Never make judgments.” That’s what scientist Alfred Kinsey tells his research assistant very early in the new film about his life. Kinsey, as you know, was all about nonjudgmentalism. Throughout his career researching the sexual habits of Americans, his goal was to free society from the constraints of what the movie calls “morality disguised as fact.” And like its subject, the film attempts to be nonjudgmental—or, at least, that’s the ploy. (more)

I shudder to think how this movie will appear to be fact even though much of it is propaganda in disguise. Of course, to have that opinion, some would say, means I am an uptight ultra-conservative who is intolerant and judgmental. The lie of the sexual revolution rolls on, destroying innocent lives, one by one by one.

I Am Charlotte Simmons

Just read an excellent post by JSB on Suspend Your Disbelief. In his opening, he writes: "Tom Wolfe deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as Mark Twain, and not just because of the white suits."

JSB's analysis is well worth reading even if you never intend to read this book. Since this author has chosen not to identify himself, I won't either. But I will say he is an excellent writer.

The only way I can keep up with my reading, especially of books outside my genre, is to buy audio books and listen every time I'm in the car. Although this book is R rated, I may give it a listen.

oh, brrr

Let it be known that I am a warm weather person. I love Idaho. I love that we get all four seasons. But winter should stay up on the mountains that I can see from my office window, IMHO.

Our house is well-insulated, but still the cold of this day seeped into the house, defying the furnace and my little office space heater. By noon, my fingers wouldn't even move, they were so cold. So I carried my manuscript downstairs, flipped the switch on the gas fireplace in the family room, and slowly roasted myself throughout the afternoon.

I think the pages of my manuscript have been procreating while I sleep. No matter how much I read/revise, there still seems to be too many pages remaining. Wednesday is the due date. I want to wrap up tomorrow. I don't want to be in a panic on Wednesday. (I should have worked a little more over the Thanksgiving weekend. Lazy bum.)

I am almost finished with Whence Came a Prince by Liz Curtis Higgs. I read it while on the exercise bike this morning, and it was so good, I rode for 37 minutes instead of the planned 30 minutes. Now that's a good book!!!

epiphany on epiphany

I discovered something new today. The word "epiphany" — that Ahha realization moment — has its roots in Christianity. Did you know that? Before it means comprehension of reality by means of a sudden intuitive realization, it means the manifestation of the divine nature of Jesus to the Gentiles. Awesome.

My epiphany of Jesus as the Christ — my Ahha moment when I knew Jesus was who He said He was — came on February 14, 1976. How about you?

1. Epiphany

A. A Christian feast celebrating the manifestation of the divine nature of Jesus to the Gentiles as represented by the Magi.
B. January 6, on which this feast is traditionally observed.

2. A revelatory manifestation of a divine being.
(American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language)

I think I'm going to remember this whenever I use the word Epiphany in the future.

-rlh-

let it snow

We got our first snowfall in the Boise Valley this morning. I took Poppet out to do her business and was she ever in for a surprise. She was too little last year to go outside when there was snow on the ground, so this was very new to her. She tiptoed around, sniffing and scooting the snow with her nose, taking a few bites of the white fluff.

I worked for several hours straight, entering revisions. I know better than to work that long without getting up, stretching, moving around. I know better but did it anyway. Now my back is aching, and I plan to lay on the couch with an ice pack and watch in a movie. Which probably means I'll fall asleep. Sigh.

I'm very close to being done with the revisions/rewrites. I've cut a huge chunk from the manuscript, shortening it quite a bit. But it's about the same length as my last Zondervan release, so it should be okay — as long as I don't have to cut too much more in these last few chapters. The manuscript is due 12/1. I'll make it ... by the skin of my teeth.

I've always marveled at authors who write long and bemoan having to cut and cut and cut. Me, I'm pithy. I'm always striving for length, always looking for places to add rather than cut. IMHO, it is easier to cut than to add. At least it has been easier to cut in the rewrites of LL.

Of course, the truth is most writers think the way another writer does it must be easier than the way she does it. That's a fallacy. There is no easier way just as there is no right way. A writer must simply create the way she was created to create. A writer must simply "do the work." And it is work.

Several years ago, swamped by multiple deadlines as I often am, the Lord gave me this verse: "Be strong and courageous, and do the work . Don't be afraid or discouraged by the size of the task, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. He will see to it that all the work related to the Temple of the LORD is finished correctly." (1 Chron 28:20)  Since I have been called to write novels for the Lord, I adapted the last line to read: "He will see to it that all the work related to [name of my book in progress] is finished correctly."

I still have to "do the work." And work it is. Hard work much of the time. I can struggle over a single sentence for an hour. Hopefully that doesn't happen often but happen it does.

Ah, the couch and ice pack beckons.

-rlh-

the waiting game

In my comment section of another entry, Kathy asked: "Why did it take 2 years to get your first book published? Is it really that hard to get started?"

Getting published isn't easy. Over 100,000 novels are written every year and less than 1% of them are ever published. Self-publishing has been around forever and print on demand is an option that has become available in recent years, but neither of those venues work well for fiction. Although there are the rare exceptions, most novels need the backing of a major publishing house in order to get into enough readers' hands for it to succeed.

Publishers are in business to make money. They buy the books they think will sell. Most publishers have a set number of books they publish each year. They mostly buy from established writers, leaving few slots for the new, unpublished writer, so it is very hard to break in. My guess is that most authors would say it took them about four or five years once they got serious about getting published before they sold a book. Many, of course, never sell, no matter how serious they are.

Off topic: With fewer people buying books and with others buying their books more and more often from used book stores, many authors are struggling to sell enough copies for a publisher to continue to publish them. Thus, when one of your favorite authors suddenly disappears from the scene and you wonder why she quit writing, the truth is, she may not have quit. She may simply be unable to find a publisher who will invest in her books.

I wrote my first novel in 1981 (from March through November). I started submitting to publishers in January of 1982. A publisher offered me a contract in April 1982. I signed the contract in May. The publisher went bankrupt in July. I sold that same manuscript and its sequel in February 1983, and they were published in 1984. Normal publishing time is about 9 to 12 months after a manuscript is "in house."

I hope that answers your question.

-rlh-

drat!

Note to self: Under no circumstances should a right thinking adult weigh herself the day after Thanksgiving. Do not do that again!

So, to take my mind off the digital number flashed at me this morning from a very naughty bathroom scale, I shall endeavor to read/revise another 20 pages and hopefully get all the previous changes entered into the computer.

Unfortunately, later today, I must go to the bank and FedEx-Kinko's which are both right by the mall and the post Thanksgiving madness. Ugh! I think I'll treat myself to a Chai Latte at Starbucks while I'm out in that craziness. That will be some consolation.

-rlh-

Thanks be to God

One nation under God. Endowed by our Creator. Thanksgiving to the One from whom all blessings flow. How sad to hear the stories of schools who have banned reference to God in relation to Thanksgiving. Isn't that revisionist history at the very least?

Well, I will loudly and publicly thank God. I will acknowledge that He has blessed me in countless ways. I have a home that is warm in winter and cool in summer. I have a job that I love. I have my mother (age 90). I have daughters, sons-in-laws, and grandchildren who are the joy of my life. I have freedom to worship God, and He has planted us in a terrific body of authentic Christian believers. I have been gifted with friends. Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

What a pleasant day we had. While it seemed a bit strange not to be up cooking a turkey with all the fixings, setting the table with family china and my mom's crystal, welcoming everyone to our home, it was also quite nice not to have to clean house before and after or rush around getting things ready.

We gathered at the home of Daughter #1. There were 12 of us in all. The food was delicious, the conversations warm, the laughter generous. We took Poppet with us, and she had a blast playing with Sarge (Daughter #1's small mixed-breed dog) and stealing turkey from Granddaughter #2 (age 3). We came home after about four hours, and I promptly took a nap. (Isn't that required after eating turkey?)

I'd planned to do a little more work this evening, but I can see now that won't happen. So I will sit here in my cozy family room, Poppet sleeping beside me, fire in the fireplace, and watch Without a Trace before going to bed and reading a little more of Whence Came a Prince.

Thank You, Lord, for this day, for this evening, for the blessings that fill my life. Thank You for Your word that I can read and study. Thank You that I can know You, know Your character, follow You for all of my days. Thank You, Lord. Amen.

-rlh-

a thankful heart

I just finished watching my interview segment on the Joni Show, thanks to Daystar TV Network having video streaming via the Internet. (What an awesome invention!) I guess it wasn't too bad. I'm still sitting here at the computer rather than being curled up in a fetal position, so I must not have embarrassed myself too much. (The second part of the interview airs tomorrow; there is still a chance for a pity-party.)

I have 120 pages of revisions ready to be input into the computer. I hope to make some headway on that yet today. Normally I read about 20 pages, then enter them, then read another 20. I'm hoping doing it this way has kept me more into the story. I've got a few sticky notes that say "write new scene here about ..." but not too many of them. This latter part of the book hasn't seemed as problematic to me as the earlier portion. I hope I'm right about that.

And so now Thanksgiving is nearly upon us. So I was just thinking... I wonder how many Americans really realize how much we have to be thankful for? More specifically, are we Christians truly thankful in all things, the way the Bible says we are to be? Am I thankful in the midst of illnesses? Do I recognize God's hand moving even when things are hard?

Lord, here I am, come to tell You I love You, and I am thankful to You for everything good in my life. All good things come from You, Father. Your word tells me it is so. Some of those "good things" don't seem so good at the time they enter my life. Some of those "good things" have to do with pruning me, cutting away all the deadwood in my life, the sin, the selfishness, the wrong thinking. Some of those "good things" come with the heat of the refiner's fire, and I find them too hot, too uncomfortable. But Father-God, I am thankful because You are burning away the impurities. With a heart of faith, I say, Thank You, Lord. I just want to thank You, Lord. Thank You, Lord. Amen.

-rlh-

good day out West

Well, pardner. I had a pretty good writing (or actually, rewriting) day. The old red pen may need to be replaced. There just isn't enough ink for what this book needs. Still, I made major headway today, and I'm feeling much better about reaching "the end" on time. I'm still a bit concerned about catching all the threads of additions. I'll be warning my editor to watch for things I've missed, especially since time is short not just on my end but on the editing end.

It's been fun to return to a good old-fashioned Western-set historical romance. Obvious bad guys (like that dirty dog villain on the left). A hero who is flawed but heroic. A heroine with spunk and vulnerability at the same time. Oh, and a cute kid thrown in for good measure.

I told my agent today my "fuzzy idea" for a book, and she liked it a lot. So I can toy with it some more over the next week or so. I want to be writing again in December when I return from my next interview junket.

Speaking of TV interviews, my appearances on the Joni Show will be on this week on Wednesday and Thursday. We don't get the Daystar Network on our cable system, but I watched today on the Internet and it was perfect. A viewer needs Active X (or is it Java?) installed, but except for the small screen, it was just as clear as TV for me. The shows this week are on alcohol in the church and alcoholism in general. The program today was excellent, and I'll be watching the rest of the week. (The shows air, Mountain Time Zone, at 5:00 a.m., 2:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m., and midnight.) Of course, I'm hoping when I see my participation that I don't have to go to bed with a sick headache.

I've been invited to a "spa party" tonight, put on by Bath & Body Works. (Or is it the other bath lotion place? Not sure.) To be honest, this isn't my kind of gig, but the invitation came from one of the women who participated in our small group study of the Purpose Driven Life, so my heart says I need to go. (My body says going to bed early sounds better, but I'm going with the heart.)

Time to go spruce up. A writer on a deadline is not a pretty sight.

kill the monster

"Writing is an adventure. To begin with, it is a toy and an amusement. Then it becomes a mistress, then it becomes a master, then it becomes a tyrant. The last phase is that just as you are about to be reconciled to your servitude, you kill the monster and fling him to the public."
— Winston Churchill

"Oh, how true that is."
— Robin Lee Hatcher

the joy of a Sunday morning

The house is quiet. It is too early for other members of my household to be up, but I have already been awake a couple of hours. I have been reading my Bible and now I sit listening to praise music, magnifying the Lord with song. My heart is filled with joy, a joy I want to write down, because I know the Master. What a privilege! What a miracle!

And since neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small storm was assailing us, from then on all hope of our being saved was gradually abandoned. (Acts 27:20, NASB)

Most of the world lives without any hope of being saved because they don't know Jesus.

"Therefore, keep up your courage, men, for I believe God, that it will turn out exactly as I have been told." (Acts 27:25, NASB)

Two things:

• I don't just believe in God. I believe God. I believe that what He says is true.
• I believe that whatever God says will happen, will happen. It will turn out exactly as I've been told by the Lord. That's a secure place to be when the seas are high and the ship is crumbling apart and everyone else is saying, "All is lost."

How thankful I am for the privilege of reading and studying and knowing God's word. How blessed I am to live in a country where I can freely do so. God protect us from those who would strip away our right to do so. God protect me from laziness in my pursuit of Him.

In Just Like Jesus, Max Lucado writes: "One translation renders Hebrews 11:6: God...rewards those who earnestly seek him" (NIV). I like the King James translation: He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." Diligently — what a great word. Be diligent in your search. Be hungry in your quest, relentless in your pilgrimage. Let this book be but one of dozens you read about Jesus . . . . Step away from the puny pursuits of possessions and positions, and seek your king. Don't be satisfied with angels. Don't be content with stars in the sky. Seek him out as the shepherds did. Long for him as Simeon did. Worship him as the wise men did. Do as John and Andrew did: ask for his address. Do as Matthew: invite Jesus into your house. Imitate Zacchaeus. Risk whatever it takes to see Christ."

Oh yes, Lord. Let me risk whatever it takes to see You. Let me hunger for You above all else. Let the petty concerns of this world and all the silly quests for more of anything else fall away. I want to see You, Jesus.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Thy sight,
O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer.
(Psalm 19:14)

Let my meditation be pleasing to Him;
As for me, I shall be glad in the LORD.
(Psalm 104:34)

O how I love Thy law!
It is my meditation all the day.
Thy commandments make me wiser than my enemies,
For they are ever mine.
(Psalm 119:97-98)

Amen.

 

GETTING PUBLISHED 101

I've been thinking of adding this article to my blog for some time and finally got around to it.

---

Three years ago, a Faith, Hope & Love member posted the following: Like many of you, my goal and hope [for next year] is to get a contract and be published. Of course that brings a whole bunch of scary thoughts with it. I would really like to hear from those recently published and those who have many books out there about how you accomplished this! Is there anyway we could hear via the loop or the newsletter or the writing tips...or all three!? This could include many things, ie., what publishers to start with, how do you really know what is going on in the market and who wants what, do you need an agent or not, how far can a contest take you, etc. I've read a lot and researched the market to an extent, but it seems tougher than ever. Please share your thoughts about this when you have time.

Here is my response, updated for this blog:

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some days are perfect

Went outside (in the bitter cold) to throw the Frisbee for the dogs. Meet Tiko, Misty, and (the airborne) Poppet.

And the photo on the right is a solo shot of Poppet. Now doesn't she just look like a champion?

And God said, "Let the earth bring forth every kind of animal — livestock, small animals, and wildlife." And so it was. God made all sorts of wild animals, livestock, and small animals, each able to reproduce more of its own kind. And God saw that it was good.
(Gen 1:24-25, NLT)

And God made those small animals for us to enjoy, I think. Our pets (Delilah the artistocratic Persian is not in these photos; she would never stoop so low as to be in a picture with a canine!) bring us great pleasure. Thank You, Lord, for giving us these animals to care for and to treasure.

-rlh-

been hannitized

Well, it was a fun and patriotic morning. C picked me up at 6:10. Bitter, bitter cold out (maybe in the teens). By the time we met up with P & J and got to the university's student union building (about 6:40), there was a huge line already outside the Jordan Ballroom. Two of us went down to Moxie Java on the lower level of the SUB (a Milky Way, a Latte, a coffee with cream, and for me, a skinny Chi Tea).

The doors to the ballroom opened at 7:00 a.m. We got pretty good seats since we'd come so early. Sean Hannity was late arriving. I think it finally started at 8:30 a.m. Governor  Kempthorne did a great introduction. (He was a terrific Boise mayor, a terrific Idaho senator, and now a great governor.)

Sean was funny and earnest and smart. He got lots of cheers and applause throughout. Also getting a standing ovation were the military men in the audience, including two marines in uniform. I bought a book and joined the crowd pressing in for an autograph at the end. That is very unlike me, but hey, I got up early to see him. I might as well get his signature.

I got home about 10:40. Now, two hours later, I'm till trying to kick start my day, but the old engine is sputtering, not firing on all engines. I may have to take a nap and then start over again. ;-)

-rlh-

another day gone

I made no attempt to enter revisions on the computer today. I just sat and read hard copy, marking away with that old red ink pen. Had to stop on occasion to look up Scriptures but did make some good headway. I'm not where I wanted to be, but didn't fall further behind either. And I'm feeling so much better about how the story is going. Either the book is easier to rewrite in this portion or the prayers of my friends are working. I suspect it is the latter.

My m-i-l called today. She can't make it for Thanksgiving after all. She can't get on any of the flights. So she is going to come for a visit the following week. Hopefully, I will be done (or really close to done) with the rewrites of LL by the time she gets here. That will mean I can actually enjoy her visit instead of ignoring her most of the time while I work.

Tomorrow morning — early! — I'm headed for Boise State University to attend the KBOI sponsored visit of Sean Hannity. He's supposed to address the audience, then will sign books. I'm going with three of my conservative writer friends. We'll leave my house at 6:10 a.m. Ugh!

Why does that time sound so awful when I'm usually up long before that anyway? Maybe it's because I have to be showered and have make up on before 6:00. The poor women at the fitness center have to see me at 6:30 on M-W-F with no make up and wild hair. I do make sure to brush my teeth before I leave the house, however. ;-)

Odd topic: I keep seeing ads for deep fat fryers for turkeys. Why would anyone want to take a naturally low fat meat and deep fat fry it?

I caught a portion of the Oprah show this afternoon. Watched about ten minutes and had to turn it off. It was about wives who had affairs and couples who swap. "Oh, hey. Here is an acceptable option." That's how it seemed to be presented. Makes me crazy. Breaks my heart. The lives that are ruined in the pursuit of happiness in so many of the wrong places.

-rlh-

Today's Bible Reading: Acts 21-23

ahhhh

This afternoon I got a massage. Ahhh... It feels so good. I had an appointment with a new massage therapist because the gal I've been seeing for 3 1/2 years has moved away.

Regular massage is something I do to keep myself in working condition. It keeps all the computer kinks from taking control of my life. The downside is, when I get home I'm like a limp noodle. I get nothing done. All I want to do is flop on the couch and nap.

I'm listening to the audiobook of The Last Disciple by Hank Hanegraaff and Sigmund Brouwer. It is so good, it makes me wish I had more errands to run so I could listen a little longer. If you like stories set in ancient Rome and Jerusalem, you'll enjoy this one.

and the winter collection includes...

A quick break in the rewrites to bring you a photo of Poppet in a beautiful sweater from our winter collection. Every smartly dressed pooch will want one of these comfy articles in her closet. Just the right thing for keeping a dog warm while out walking her human on a crisp November day. Note: occasionally Poppet dons hers before sitting in her human's desk chair, leaving no room for said human to do her work. She doesn't care for she is Queen of All she Surveys.

Sorry. The rewrites have eaten the last of the normal brain cells. All that are left are the quirky, odd ball, creative cells. Beware.

Letters to the Inspirational Writer

Faith, Hope, & Love, the inspirational romance chapter of Romance Writers of America, has created a beautiful book of letters of encouragement for writers of inspirational fiction. These letters are written by published authors. You can order a copy of your own here. The book is available by email attachment, by CD, and in printed form. A sample of the book can be viewed on the link provided. If you are at all interested in writing Christian fiction, have a look. And be encouraged!

Blessings...

psst... can I make a confession

I went shopping today. Daughter #2 needed to buy a new car seat because the airline damaged hers, and she needed my assistance. So on my lunch break, I drove the 2 miles to Babies R Us. When we were done there, we went next door to Petsmart and I bought Poppet a sweater. Gasp! I am most definitely not a dog-in-clothes type of person. (And by the way, that is not Poppet in the photo, although it looks a lot like her.) However, it has become clear on our walks that Poppet just doesn't have enough of a natural coat to keep her warm in cold weather. So she has a new pink sweater with a gray "P" on it. The "P" is actually for Petsmart, but it stands just as well for Poppet. I'll try to get a picture of the real Poppet in her sweater up here one of these days so I can say, Isn't she cute?

Woof.

sweet sisters

There is something very special in sisterhood. I see it in my mom and my aunt (ages 90 & 86) who talk several times a day and go to lunch together several times a week. And I see it among my sisters in Christ. I didn't get a sister by birth to grow up with and share my secrets, hopes & dreams, but God blessed me with wonderful sisters by virtue of the new birth.

Today was a day of prayer (and fasting for a few) for a special group of "sisters." There is so much going on in the lives of these women, my life included. Illnesses and job problems and family trials. Last night, "B" cried, Enough!

I started my day by cranking up the praise music in my office and just singing away at the top of my lungs. And I felt some of my "woes" falling away as I prayed for my needs and the needs of others. Certainly I was strengthened as my sisters went to war in the heavenly realms. Hmm. I'm feeling a praise song coming on as I write this.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus. Amen.

two steps forward or going in circles

Well, much like my little friend on the left, I feel like I was running and going nowhere today. Actually, that is only part true. I did move forward on my rewrites, but not nearly enough. I've been reading a couple of chapters, marking up the hard copy, then entering all the changes in the computer. I'm wondering if I should just read straight through the whole manuscript and then do all the entering after I'm done. I wonder if that would go faster. Hmm.

No deep thoughts for this entry. Brain-dead. Ugh! My house is a wreck. I've got unopened mail stacked on the side of my desk. Laundry needs done. Calgon, take me away!

Two emails from editors today. Editor #1 for February 2006 release wants cover art info by Friday. (A need for it this early — a year and two months — makes me wonder if they are moving the release date up. Hmm. Maybe I should ask.) Editor #2 for my April 2005 release asked about endorsements. Do I have anybody lined up for that? Uh. No. (Brain-dead. Brain-dead.)

You know what the problem with this blog is? I have exposed the glamorous nature of my life. I just sit around eating bonbons, then dress up and go to fancy dress balls. Yeah, right.

I am doing an advance reading of Liz Curtis Higgs' Whence Came a Prince, the third book in a series. I have loved all of these books, and I can hardly wait to get to the end of this one to see how the author pulls off this retelling of the story of Jacob, Rachel, and Leah with a 1700 Scotland setting. I'm a slow reader because I do pleasure reading only at bedtime. But I'm enjoying every page. I highly recommend them.

Saw a report on TV that people who get less than 6 hours of sleep per night are more apt to be overweight. So that explains it, she says as she reaches for that Hersheys chocolate bar.

-rlh-

bleeding pages, part deux

I was talking to my agent this afternoon, bemoaning the wretched shape of this manuscript. My red ink is still making the pages look like there was a massacre in my office. I'm behind and will be putting in long, long hours in order to get this done on time. My brain feels like mush. Absolute mush.

My agent was talking a little bit about the next book, and I'm thinking, I have no ideas. None. Nada. Nothing. I'm bled out!!!

My theology study this week is on Angels, Demons, and Satan. Interesting reading. The discussion is being led by Randy Alcorn, author of Heaven (among many other books), and he is such a gifted teacher and communicator. Lovin' it. As for my small "read through the New Testament" group, we are having some interesting discussions regarding the works and gifts of the Holy Spirit as we are currently in the Book of Acts. Lovin' this too. The more I study the Word, the better I understand God and His nature. The better I understand, the more I love Him.

I love You, Lord, and I lift my voice to worship You. Oh, my soul, rejoice. Take joy, my King, in what You hear. May it be a sweet, sweet sound in Your ear. Amen.

-rlh-

love . . .

I admit it. I'm a romantic. I also have a slightly warped sense of humor. I loved the Shrek movies for both of those reasons.

And I would rather think about romance than ponder my previous post for long. I'd rather think about love than hate. I'd rather forgive than resent.

-rlh-

frightening

Here is a story that should strike fear in the heart of all freedom-loving Americans.  Garrison Keillor, of Lake Woebegone fame, had this to say at a speech given at the Rockefeller Memorial Chapel:

“I’m trying to organize support for a constitutional amendment to deny voting rights to born-again Christians,” Keillor smirked. “I feel if your citizenship is in Heaven—like a born again Christian’s is—you should give up your citizenship. Sorry, but this is my new cause.”

Think it can't happen in the USA? The crowd laughed and cheered for Keillor. I imagine there was a lot of laughing and cheering for hate-filled speeches made in Nazi Germany, too, during the 1930's.

My heart aches, to see this kind of hate.

-rlh-

disappearing windows

Horrible moment of panic late last night when I realized it wasn't only Freecell that disappeared off my laptop. It was Internet Explorer and Windows Messenger and all of the Windows games and who knows what else. Thankfully, my s-i-l makes his living solving just these problems. So I called him this morning to ask what to do. I thought I had a real mess brewing (I didn't have hours and hours to work on restoring whatever I'd done — and BTW, System Restore didn't restore this), but it turns out the fix was simple. My s-i-l says I shouldn't use the Disk Clean up. He says it causes more problems than it fixes. Now that was a shock. I thought it helped the computers run faster.

I came home from the birthday brunch for Granddaughter #1, stuck a movie in the DVD player, and bathed Poppet in the sink. Then I got to work reading the page proofs of Veterans Way. So far no pages to fax back to my editor at Revell. That's good.

Daughter #1 told me today that stopping drinking coffee (regular and/or decaf) and drinking green tea instead is supposed to make a person lose as much as 10 pounds in two weeks. It has something to do with cortisol (the stress hormone that is the hot topic these days). I've never been a tea drinker, but for ten pounds.... Hmm.  So I bought a box of chai green tea and tomorrow morning I'm giving it a try. My hot beverage in the morning is more ritual than a need for caffeine (I use the Folger's Half-Caf with non-dairy creamer). I'll let you know if it works. I've got these stubborn last ten pounds to lose. Actually, more like thirteen.

Speaking of those pounds, it's time I got on the recumbent bike and put a few miles on it.

-rlh-

ack, ack, ack

Well, the writing did not go well today. I am now seriously behind. So I made myself another 'toon representing where I would like to be instead of where I am!!!

Frustrated by the writing, I did what I often do — played with computer stuff. I cleaned off my laptop (Check Disk, Defrag, etc.) and accidentally deleted Freecell. (Maybe that was God telling me something. You think?)  Then, on the recommendation of a number of people, I decided to download and install the Mozilla Firefox Internet browser. Supposedly it is much more secure than Internet Explorer. So far, so good. I also decided to try out Mozilla's Thunderbird email program.

Lousy night for TV. The best choice is the Dallas reunion. What does that tell you? I'm feeling very old. I know who shot JR!

-rlh-

of lawyers and blog blather

[Gamaliel, a teacher of the Law, said,] "So my advice is, leave these men alone. If they are teaching and doing these things merely on their own, it will soon be overthrown. But if it is of God, you will not be able to stop them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God." (Acts 5:38-39, NLT]

Wise man, that Gamaliel. Not a good thing to find yourself fighting against God. He wins every time. (And see. Here's proof that not all lawyers are bad, I say while winking at my lawyer friends.)

---

Okay, despite pain in my right shoulder (a trouble spot with me) and my allergies flaring up so that my head is stuffed and I'm sneezing like mad, I'm determined to make major headway on LL today. I want to get this book done and out of my office ASAP. I'm feeling a ton of creative pressure regarding my next book (still clueless what it will be), and my brain feels like mush right now.

I heard from a friend this week who was checking on my mailing address because she was working on her Christmas cards!!!!! I can't tell you the panic that started in my heart. It can't possibly be time for Christmas cards already!!! I have a sneaking suspicion that this will be the second year in a row when I send few cards and do little decorating. I was supposed to host a writers' group Christmas party but had to pass that pleasure along to someone else because of a speaking/PR trip to the Midwest next month. Without that party, I just don't feel a pressing need to decorate in the all-out manner I usually do. Daughter #1 and her family moved into a new home this fall, and I think we'll just go to her house for Christmas. (Think I should tell her we're coming?)

Okay, enough blog blather. Time to refill my coffee cup and get to work.

-rlh-

a shopping we will go

Danger, Will Robinson.

It's been over eight months since my last forray into the bowels of the Costco warehouse. Today I, along with Poppet (wearing her seatbelt in the backseat), set off to do some major bulk shopping. Poppet waited patiently in the car while I went inside to spend a fortune on TP and paper towels and dishwasher detergent and pop and bottled water and soups and chili and lotions and bath soaps and gels and batteries and canned fruits and vegetables, etc. Up and down the aisles I went with two shopping baskets. I don't know how long I was in there. A long time. So I get up to the check out and unload those two baskets. When I get up to the clerk, she looks at me and asks, "How often do you shop like this?" I say, "Oh, about every 8 to 9 months." She says, "Do you live out of town?" "No," I answer, "we just don't like to shop often so we do it all at once."

I always try to guess how much the total will be. I was too low this time. I'm still gasping as I type this. Breathe, Robin. Breathe. However, if I divide it up over the next eight or nine months, it really isn't all that much of our grocery budget.

Rewrites of LL are running a bit behind at this moment. Man, oh man. This book was in sad, sad shape. It isn't just what I need to add and subtract, scene-wise and plot-wise. It's cleaning up the prose one word, one comma, at a time. There is so much red ink on these pages it looks like a murder took place in my office. Ack!

Design pages for Veterans Way arrived yesterday so I plan to spend Sunday afternoon proofing them. Church in the morning, then a birthday brunch for Granddaughter #1 (she turns 12 next week), and finally proofing the novella manuscript.

The hurrier I go, the behinder I get.

-rlh-

compassion & generosity

Sitting across from the offering box, he was observing how the crowd tossed money in for the collection. Many of the rich were making large contributions. One poor widow came up and put in two small coins — a measly two cents. Jesus called his disciples over and said, "The truth is that this poor widow gave more to the collection than all the others put together. All the others gave what they'll never miss; she gave extravagantly what she couldn't afford — she gave her all."  (Mark 12:41-44, Msg)

Are you giving from an abundance or from your heart?

-rlh-

it's me, Lord...

And they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. And everyone kept feeling a sense of awe... (Acts 2:42-43a, NASB)

This week, my group study is on the Doctrine of Prayer. Oh, man. I always feel like the world's worst prayer warrior. And that's often because I mentally make prayer something more, something harder, than it is. This chapter was a good reminder to me of what prayer is and why God calls me to pray.

Prayer is personal communication from me to God. That communication includes petition for my own requests (Matthew 7:7) and intercession for the needs of others (1 Timothy 2:1-2), confessing my sins (Psalm 139:23), the adoration and worship of God (Psalm 63:3), and thanksgiving (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Prayer also includes watching, singing, meditation, and listening.

I am called to pray not so God can find out what I need — He already knows — but because prayer expresses my trust in Him. Prayer allows me to fellowship with my King, my Heavenly Father, and increases my love for Him. It allows me to participate in His work here on earth, activities of eternal importance.

Grudem lists some important considerations for effective prayer:

1. I must pray according to God's will (and to do this, I must know Him and His nature and the will that He has revealed in His written word);
2. I must pray in faith;
3. I must live in obedience;
4. I must confess my sins;
5. I must forgive others; and
6. I must humble myself before God.

Relationships remain healthy only when I am open and honest with the other party involved. I can take loved ones for granted. I can fail to communicate with them, either on purpose or out of anger or even from simple carelessness. And that failure to communicate leads to a breakdown in our relationships.

God wants me to talk to Him. He loves me and wants to fellowship with me. He wants to hear my hurts and my excitement. He wants me to tell Him my secrets and my troubles. He wants to love all over me, and He's waiting for me to come to Him so He can. It doesn't have to be complicated. I just have to show up, open up, look up.

Here I am, Lord. It's me. Robin, and I've got some things to tell You.

-rlh-

Today's Bible Reading: Acts 1-3

robin toon

Oh, my. The things we learn to do on the 'puter. Thanks to Portrait of an Artist as a Young Mom, I found the site where I could "cartoon myself." Have Poppet and cell phone, can travel.

Want to 'toon thyself? Go here.

No, I'm not procrastinating. I've been working. Well, okay. Maybe a little procrastinating but not much.

-rlh-

don't miss out

Later on that day, the disciples had gathered together, but, fearful of the Jews, had locked all the doors in the house. Jesus entered, stood among them, and said, "Peace to you." Then he showed them his hands and side. The disciples, seeing the Master with their own eyes, were exuberant. Jesus repeated his greeting: "Peace to you. Just as the Father sent me, I send you." Then he took a deep breath and breathed into them. "Receive the Holy Spirit," he said. "If you forgive someone's sins, they're gone for good. If you don't forgive sins, what are you going to do with them?" But Thomas, sometimes called the Twin, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples told him, "We saw the Master." But he said, "Unless I see the nail holes in his hands, put my finger in the nail holes, and stick my hand in his side, I won't believe it." Eight days later, his disciples were again in the room. This time Thomas was with them. Jesus came through the locked doors, stood among them, and said, "Peace to you." Then he focused his attention on Thomas. "Take your finger and examine my hands. Take your hand and stick it in my side. Don't be unbelieving. Believe." Thomas said, "My Master! My God!" (John 20:19-28, Msg)

I finished reading the Gospel of John this morning in my fourth reading of the New Testament this year. There are three things that stand out to me in the above passage.

1) When we fail to gather together with other believers, we miss seeing Jesus when He comes. We miss having Him breathe on us so we might receive from Him. Have you ever missed church on Sunday because you were sick or out of town, and then had your friends telling you about the wonderful sermon or the amazing things that happened during the service? No matter how much they tell you, no matter their enthusiasm and excitement, you just can't quite "get it" because you didn't experience it yourself. Like Thomas, we may even doubt that what they tell us actually happened because we didn't see it with our own eyes. In order not to miss out, we must show up and participate in our local body of believers.

2) Thomas gets a bum rap as the doubter. The truth is, none of the disciples believed Jesus would rise from the dead. He told them and told them, and still they doubted. They were all taken by surprise when Jesus rose. They were all taken by surprise when He showed up in their midst and showed them His pierced hands and feet. But Thomas got labeled as "Doubting Thomas" because he wasn't present the first time (see #1 above). He had to wait 8 whole days!

3) Despite having to wait and even doubting what the others had told him, Thomas was the first of the disciples to recognize Jesus as not only his Lord, not only as the Christ, but as God. Amazing!

Open my eyes, Lord. I want to see Jesus...

-rlh-

graduation day

Big day! Poppet completed her off-leash training. Here she is (at left) with John, her trainer. She sure is going to miss him coming by to work with her. Bet she'll be thinking, Why doesn't he call?

This little dog brings us so much joy. It's hard to remember what our household was like without her. I'm the first one up in our house. Usually around 4:00 a.m. Poppet sleeps on her little bed in my office while I read my Bible and answer e-mail and drink coffee. About the time I go downstairs for my third and final mug of half-caf, my mother is awake and her bedroom door is open. Poppet darts into her room and up onto her lap. She couldn't care less if Mom is eating breakfast or reading her Bible. That lap is hers and Mom had better be ready!

Poppet gets wired up by mid-morning and it's pretty much non-stop energy for the rest of the day. Inside, outside, catch the frisbee, chew on a bone, bark at the doorbell, demand attention, etc. And then, somewhere around 7:00 p.m., she becomes mellow-dog. While I sit on the sofa with my laptop, she curls up alongside me and sleeps.

Yep. It's official. She rules the roost.

-rlh-

worth looking at

Why Democrats are tagged as the party without values
Dennis Prager, November 9, 2004

According to The New York Times, Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano, reflecting on her party's recent losses in the presidential, Senate and House elections, asked: "How did a party that is filled with people with values -- and I am a person with values -- get tagged as the party without values?"

As one who was raised a Democrat and became a Republican only 10 years ago, I would like to answer Gov. Napolitano's question as honestly as she posed it.

Read the rest of the article here.

-rlh-

slow boil

I've been giving a lot of thought to the sermon I heard on Sunday (November 7th--listen here). It was entitled "Obstructions of Truth" and we looked at five key players in John 18 and the "syndromes" they represented in obstructing truth. When it came to the "Pilate Syndrome" — in which Truth (with a capital T) has little relevancy due to a secular worldview that includes power, prestige, materialism, and control — I thought of what danger the western church is in today.

It is so easy for us to begin thinking like the world thinks. It seems so rational, after all. We are like frogs in a pot of water, coming to a slow boil, never knowing we are cooking to death.

Pilate asked Jesus, "What is truth?" But he didn't really care what the truth was. It had no relevance to him. He determined his own truth, based upon what felt right or good to him.

Sound familiar?

Here's an example: You lose your check book or your credit card and your identity is stolen. Nightmare, right? What if there was a way to prevent that from ever happening again? What if there was a way to identify everyone so that when you travel, the airport will know you are really you? Safety from terrorists, right? What if you had a national ID card with all the pertinent info on it? (Those in the military have them now.) But these national ID cards could have your credit info and your driver's license and your medical allergies, etc. Right? Oh, but a card could get lost. Hmm. How to solve that?

My dog, Poppet, has a tiny microchip implanted underneath her skin so that if she is lost I can hopefully get her back. After all, she is a valuable pure breed, and I wouldn't want to lose her. Microchips under the skin. Hmm. An implant couldn't be lost like an ID card, could it? Gee, how logical. Wouldn't that make our lives easier and safer? Shudder. Long before 9/11, this has been under discussion. Here's just one article on the topic of human microchip implantation; it's dated 1999.

Are we cooking to death as the water in the pot comes to a slow boil?

What is truth?

-rlh-

the seeming absurdity of God

Beware. The new, politically correct intolerance is aimed in general at people of faith and in particular at Christians.

How about this book that was reviewed and praised in the New York Times. The End of Faith by Sam Harris. “Our technical advances in the art of war have finally rendered our religious differences—and hence our religious beliefs—antithetical to our survival. We can no longer ignore the fact that billions of our neighbors believe in the metaphysics of martyrdom, or in the literal truth of the book of Revelation, or any of the other fantastical notions that have lurked in the minds of the faithful for millennia—because our neighbors are now armed with chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons. There is no doubt that these developments mark the terminal phase of our dredulity—words like 'God' and 'Allah' must go the way of 'Apollo' and 'Baal,' or they will unmake our world.”

I have bopped around the Internet in the days since the election, reading blogs and articles, and the things I've read blow me away in the shrillness of voice and the hatred leveled at people who hold any view other than theirs. The very fact that 51% of Americans voted differently from the other 49% makes that 51% a bunch of religious idiots who couldn't possibly have anything worthwhile between their ears or anything intelligent to say.

This should not surprise me (even though it does). The Bible told of it long, long ago:

The Message that points to Christ on the Cross seems like sheer silliness to those hellbent on destruction, but for those on the way of salvation it makes perfect sense. This is the way God works, and most powerfully as it turns out. It's written,

I'll turn conventional wisdom on its head,
I'll expose so-called experts as crackpots.

So where can you find someone truly wise, truly educated, truly intelligent in this day and age? Hasn't God exposed it all as pretentious nonsense? Since the world in all its fancy wisdom never had a clue when it came to knowing God, God in his wisdom took delight in using what the world considered dumb — preaching, of all things! — to bring those who trust him into the way of salvation.

While Jews clamor for miraculous demonstrations and Greeks go in for philosophical wisdom, we go right on proclaiming Christ, the Crucified. Jews treat this like an anti-miracle — and Greeks pass it off as absurd. But to us who are personally called by God himself — both Jews and Greeks — Christ is God's ultimate miracle and wisdom all wrapped up in one. Human wisdom is so tinny, so impotent, next to the seeming absurdity of God. Human strength can't begin to compete with God's "weakness."
(1 Cor 1:18-25, Msg)

To which I say, Thank You, Jesus.

-rlh-

storytelling

Ideas are a dime a dozen. But the right idea. Now that's a different story. When I wrote my first book, all I wanted was to entertain. Sixteen years later, when I answered a call into a ministry of writing, I still wanted to entertain my readers, but I also wanted to share how faith makes a difference in the lives of my characters. That's no easy task.

There have been periods of my life when I've loved the act of writing. To be honest, I haven't experienced that in a while. Too many hard patches in my life, I guess. But no matter what else is going on, I've never lost my enjoyment of storytelling. I want to draw readers into the make-believe worlds I create, let them see things through my eyes and heart.

Nothing I've written during my 20+ years as a novelist has lived up to the ideal I imagined when the idea first blossomed in my mind. I begin a book with such hope, and then I wrestle with plot points and misplaced modifiers and character flaws. That's work! By the time I've typed The End, I just want it not to be a total disaster.

Then my creation, my special idea, my hard work, goes off to the publisher to begin the process that takes it from manuscript to published book, and I find myself beginning all over again. Hopefully I already have an idea that has captured my imagination, a story that demands to be told. If not, I must go seeking it or, more than likely, wait for it to find me.

Oh, I'll always have plenty of ideas rolling around in this head of mine, but I'm looking for the right idea. Let the storytelling begin.

-rlh-

the Lord's Prayer of the Old Testament

God, mark us with grace
and blessing! Smile!
The whole country will see how you work,
all the godless nations see how you save.
God! Let people thank and enjoy you.
Let all people thank and enjoy you. 
Let all far-flung people become happy
and shout their happiness because
You judge them fair and square,
you tend the far-flung peoples.
God! Let people thank and enjoy you.
Let all people thank and enjoy you.
Earth, display your exuberance!
You mark us with blessing, O God, our God.
You mark us with blessing, O God.
Earth's four corners — honor him!
— Psalm 67, The Message

Amen.

-rlh-

Today's Bible Reading: John 9-10