Saturday, September 9, 2017

#STRONGER - Keep goin' because it's the only way to get stronger

I just finished the draft of my new Lumen The Guise of Darkness story.  This one is called The Strength of Nations.  I hope the reader will experience suspense, relief, thrills, and a few quiet chuckles.  While all that is happening, the story will also reflect on various forms of strength and weakness.

For those into weightlifting, the mantra is 'just one more'!  When we keep goin', whether it is for power lifting, running one more mile, working just a little harder than the next guy, or surviving one more day without giving up-- whatever challenge we face-- the key to getting stronger is to Keep Goin'.

I didn't sell enough books of the first story to justify going on with the second story.  That said, I wanted to keep going because I thought the characters had room to grow.  And, perhaps their growth will impact a reader or two.

Though it was a battle at times to get started, victory comes in faithfully running the race to the end.

I don't know how many books I'll sell, but whether it is one or one hundred thousand, I ran the race well.

Perhaps in your own life circumstances and challenges, you want to be #stronger, but feel defeated.

Psalm 31:24 encourages us,

"Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord."

So, just KEEP GOIN'!



If you would like to be an advance reader for my new novel, just mention it in the comments.Here is a draft idea for the cover.





Saturday, March 18, 2017

Wearing Green On The Day After St. Pat's

Wearing Green After St. Patrick's Day
I find myself wearing green one day after St. Patrick's Day. I was surprised this morning when I realized that my wife and daughters didn't even bother to pinch me this year.
Even though my name is Patrick, I am partly Irish, I grew up in a small town that tripled in size on St. Patrick's weekend due to the festivities, and I even got two days off in College each year to celebrate St. Patrick's Day, it never meant much to me.

Do you find there are certain days or events that sneak up on you?  Are there certain activities you procrastinate figuring you will do it sometime? Do you find yourself one day late for the party?

Several years ago when our kids were young, I remember being late to get my wife a Valentine's gift, then I was tardy on her April birthday, and I followed up by mostly missing Mother's Day!  Finally, I got it together for our May Anniversary. Clearly, I would have been foolish to continue in that pattern!

Jesus tells a parable of some that were foolish and let something important sneak up on them.  They were not prepared.  In Matthew 25:1-13, Jesus shares the story of ten virgins awaiting the arrival of the Bridegroom.  Five were prepared with their lamp's oil ready awaiting his coming. For the other five, the foolish ones, it must not have been that important.  They had no extra oil for their lamps.  
When the Bridegroom delayed all fell asleep.  At the shout of his coming all woke up, but there was no oil left in the lamps of the foolish. While the foolish virgins left to buy oil, the Bridegroom arrived, the party started, and all those that were not there, were forever locked out.

They were late for the party.  Maybe they were procrastinating thinking they could get ready later, maybe it didn't mean that much to them.  Either way, they were wearing green on the day after St. Pat's.

Fortunately for me, I didn't get pinched.  For some though, they will not be prepared for the coming of the Bridegroom, Jesus Christ.  They will be forever locked out of the party, where there is only weeping and gnashing of teeth. What are you doing to make yourself ready?



And a classic rock reminder to 'burn the midnight oil'.