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Great Christmas Presents for Free!

5 Top Selling Books Given Away Free to Five Lucky People

 

I am going to try something totally different for the next few days. Starting today 12-11-09 through 12-14-09, I am going to give away five top selling books with the author’s autographs and personal notes in them.

 

In the past I held a drawing to see who will get them. I am not doing that this time. These books will go to the first five people who sign up for my free newsletter.

I am go to describe each book to show you that they are not just any book, but top quality, and nationally known:

The Shack: Written by William Paul Young

 es I said, The Shack. I met William Paul Young at a writer’s conference, and two other times after that. He not only wrote a personal to you the reader but he autographed it. I will be giving away two copies of this book.

This book has sold over 7 million copies so far, and is still on the top selling list of many of the top selling lists.  This book started out as a book just written to his children and close friends. Some of those friends told him to send copies to some of the other friends on his list. He did and the rest is history. The book took off faster than Young and his partners could handle.

The book is about questioning God, and how to survive after you have lost a loved one. It has a very unusual approach as what God, the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit look and act like.

The Shack is a little cabin up by a lake, and the symbolism of the shack is that it has the door to your heart that you sometimes need to open to grow.

(BTW… the cheapist I could find The Shack  in the stores, was $10.00 at Walmart. Good price, but you can get it off of this site by clicking on the Amazon icon and getting it for $6.00! Even with shipping it is cheaper than any where else. Great Christmas present.)

Three Cups of Tea: By David Oliver Relin.

Three Cups of Tea, is one of the top selling books for the last three years. It was number 1 on the New York Times best selling list for many months.

It is the story of Greg Mortenson, and his quest to build schools in Afghanistan. He felt that if the children had a proper education that there wouldn’t be many going into the Taliban terrorist camps as soldiers. He was doing this to promote peace one school at a time. The troubles and trail he went through to get this project started, and the burden of getting all the equipment need to the sites is well worth the read.

Not only did David autograph the book, he also wrote a personal note. I met him at a signing, and we had a nice conversation.

The Lord of the Films: by J. W. Braun.

This is the unofficial, official guide to the several movies about The Lord of the Rings. The author put in many hours of research, and study to give you everything about the background and making of the films.

It is autographed by J. W.  It is full of pictures from the sets during the film making, and statements by the actors, and producers. The forward is written by Clifford Broadway who played a soldier in the movies.

A must have for anyone who has followed these fun and exciting movies.

Creed of Old Montana: by Stephen Bly.

Stephan Bly has written over 100 books. He has won the prestigious Christy Award. It is even written in large print, so it will be easy on the eyes.

I met Stephan at a writer’s conference in Oregon. He is a great keynote speaker, and easy to sit and talk with.

Here is the exciting part. This will not be a drawing. These books will go to the first 5 people who sign up for my free newsletter. The first one to sign-up will have the choice of any of the five books, and then each one after that will choose. 

To do this is very simple. Go over to the right sidebar, and click on the icon that speaks about signing up for the newsletter. Notice that it also says you will be able to download a free eBook, called, The Top 25 Ways to Survive in a Troubled World.

So, you will get a free book if you are one of the first five people to sign up; a free newsletter that has excerpts from my book, Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World. Plus excerpts from my latest book, Becoming Famous Before you are Famous, and a free eBook called, The Top 25 Ways to Survive in a Trouble World.  

Becoming Famous before you are Famous, is in process. I am writing it with Michael Clark from Jacksonville, FL. It is like a manual on how to build a platform, and get known long before you even consider approaching a publisher or an agent. It will speak about Facebook Twitter, My Space, Friendster, Linkedin, etc. You will be able to read each chapter as it is first written, and will help by making suggestions on how to improve it. It will be “our,” book.

Take time to sign-up, and receive one of these wonderful books. There is no obligation to stay with the newsletter. There is an opt-out area at the bottom of each issue.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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When There is a Test in School There is Prayer

As Long as There Are Tests, There Will Be Prayer in Schools

 

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Jeremiah 29:13

 

I loved my job as a teacher. It was thrilling to see the fear on kids’ faces when I gave a surprise quiz. They looked like they had just been hit by lightning. They began to sweat and tremble. I had my red pen in hand as I handed out the tests. I wanted them to see the pen that was going to be marking all over their papers. I knew I had power, and I was enjoying it.

Of course, this is not true. I never surprised kids with tests. As a matter of fact, I told them way ahead of time when a test was coming. I even told them where to find the answers. Life is tough enough without trying to hide the answers to tests.

That is the way it for Christians. They know where to find the answers. God does not try to hide them. God has told us way ahead of time what the answers are. He has told us what is going to happen. All we need to do is have faith. We need to look forward to it happening.

You should be studying for the final test now. You can’t just cram for it at the last minute. You don’t know when the last minute is. It may be before you finish this page. The Bible has all the answers to any questions you may have about God.

We need to spend each day studying and preparing for that day. There is only one test you have to pass, but it is pass/fail. There are no average scores or not so good scores—you either pass or you fail.

Fear not, my friend, the only question on the test is: “Do you believe in Me?” Yes and no are the only choices. There are not hundreds of questions that take hours to answer. You just kneel down and pray, “Father forgive me and I believe in You.”

Then you are ready to go home to be with God, and you never have to take another test for eternity.

Is this a hard task for you? Do you have too many “toys”—or other things to distract you—on this earth? Would you rather not think about eternity just yet? Do you have plans for yourself that do not include God? Have tests always had you running in fear? Do you shiver and quake when the word “test” is mentioned? Do you not have time for prayer?

Read John 3:16, and know that God loves you more than words can describe. He loved you so much that He gave His only Son to die just for you.

Think of the test questions that Jesus had to go through. The Pharisees kept trying to trick Him with questions to show that He wasn’t really the Son of God. They wanted Him to fail the test.

“Should we pay taxes?” “Is it OK to heal on the Sabbath?” “Why do you protect a prostitute?” Even on the cross He was asked, “If you are God, why don’t you save me and yourself?”

Jesus was not afraid of questions. He knew that His heavenly Father was there for Him. He knew that all the questions led to the cross. They all had a purpose: to fulfill His prophecy.

Even though I am retired from teaching, I still try to learn. I read many books on Christian living. I read the Bible to keep growing. I am 68 years old and will never be too old to study for the final test. I am ready for it because I’ve done my homework. I found the right answers.

 

If … you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you look for him with

all your heart and with all your soul.

Deuteronomy 4:29

 

Further adventures

How about you? Are you ready for the final test? Are you sure you’ll get the diploma of eternal life? Will you graduate into the heavenly kingdom? If not, crack open the Bible and get at that study. Confess your sins, and accept God’s gift of salvation. You are only a prayer away from God. He is waiting for you to pass the test and rely on Him for knowledge. Then you will be at the head of the class. The angels will be waiting for you to hand you your diploma, congratulating you with: “You passed the test!” You will be an honor student with eternity to enjoy your Savior.

 

Something to ponder

Isn’t it funny when you find something you thought you had lost only to realize it was there all the time?

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Will you Still Need me; will you Still Love me, When I’m 65?

Loved the Wedding; Invite Me to the Marriage

—God

 

However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself,

and the wife must respect her husband.

Ephesians 5:33

 

For the past several decades, weddings have been held in churches. That is a good place to start a life together. The minister talks about loving each other and establishing a Christian home. All things seem to be in place.

It is always a beautiful thing to observe—two people holding hands and making vows of everlasting love. The mothers of the bride and groom have tears in their eyes. Some dads wonder when the ceremony will end. The newly married couple can’t wait to head out on their honeymoon. The reception is a real celebration. Everyone is happy, and the day ends.

Then what? The next day is a new day, and it is the first day of a young couple’s new life together. Decisions have to be made together. They go everywhere together. They are now a team that will last forever.

Eventually the scene changes a little. Both spouses find they need some time alone, but they’re afraid to say so. Resentment can build and they may feel like the walls are closing in on them.

It’s sort of like going to church on Sunday—and then there is Monday. What do you do then? What do you do with what the pastor said in the sermon? How do you make it practical—something you can use all week?

Often the message is soon forgotten, and nothing happens to make Monday any different. We sit and listen to the advice and sermon points on Sunday, sometimes even nodding our agreement, and then we ignore them on Monday.

The advice and promises that are part of the marriage ceremony are vital to the ongoing relationship with a spouse. But during the actual ceremony the bride and groom aren’t listening to the advice. Instead, they’re trying to remember the words they have to say, or they’re worrying about their hair or how they look or if there will be enough food for the guests.

They go into their life together, winging it, flying with no parachute. Marriage does not have to be an on-the-job training situation.

Does this ring a bell? Do you remember your wedding day? Was it all about listening to the advice the minister gave you, or was it about making sure you sliced the wedding cake just right? Maybe it was making sure the photographer took one more picture.

We’ve all been there. It is an exciting, wonderful, important, stressful, nerve-racking day. It is the day we dream of all our lives, and we want to have all the memories forever.

But as you go on with your lives together, what happens next? Is the same spark there five years later? How about ten years later? We are supposed to still love when the wrinkles come and the fire is not as hot.

Have you agreed on how plans should work out, or have you agreed to disagree?

Getting married is one of the most important decisions we make in our lives. If we plan to live a lifetime together with our spouse, shouldn’t we talk to a minister ahead of time? Wouldn’t it be good to seek out what God has in mind? Marriage counseling to learn more about a future spouse would also be in order.

These things may seem obvious, but you would be amazed how many people do not do any of those things. Some feel it is more fun to run off to Reno to get married. Others decide to live together and not even get married.

God loves for us to be happy and have companionship, within the context of His will. He believes in marriage. That is why He wants us to make sure we’re making the right choices.

Running off and getting married on a whim is like putting all our life’s earnings on a blackjack table and hoping to get a 21. The chances of that happening are slim and none.

I agree that a marriage often does work out in spite of the odds. All I have been saying is pretty harsh, but just like putting all our money on a blackjack table, the Reno odds of a successful marriage are pretty dim too. Does a 50% chance seem acceptable for you? Some surveys say that as many as 50% of marriages fail when they do not have a foundation of premarital counseling that includes having plans for the future in place.

God needs a prominent place in our marriages. We need to let Him be our advisor as we plan for the future. He needs to have a special rent-free place in our hearts. No bargaining. No yearly leases. He needs to be a year-round, full-time resident, helping marriage partners live a life full of love and understanding for each other.

There should always be three people in a marriage: you, your spouse and God. The three of you make an unbeatable team.

 

Marriage should be honored by all.

Hebrews 13:4

Further Adventures

“Will you still love me? Will you still need me, when I’m 65? That song rings in my ears many times when I look at my bride. She has been with me through the storms, and the good times. Do we have nothing but beautiful rainbows everyday? That would be backwards wouldn’t it? You need a little rain to bring on the rainbow.

That is what a marriage is like. You have days when you laugh and have fun with your spouse, but there are other days when you have been hurt by that same spouse. You feel unwanted, and dejected. That is when you should buckle down and really work hard at your marriage. Your spouse is not your enemy. They may be angry at the moment, but they still love you, and by sitting down and discussing the hurts and dejections you feel, the rainbow will come out again. The key is to still love your spouse with all your heart, when they are starting to show age with wrinkles.

 

Something to Ponder

Isn’t it funny how much easier it is to forgive than to hold a grudge?

(Excerpt from: Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World.)