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able to pass them on to others.” - 2 Timothy 2:2

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Blog Entries for: Miscellaneous

Celebrating the Life of Dan Penwell

April 25, 2010

By Gerry Wakeland

A giant in the publishing industry was laid to rest recently as friends and loved ones celebrated the life of Dan Penwell. Dan was indeed a kind and gentle giant, a friend, a mentor, and a hero to many of us.

Early last Sunday morning Dan Penwell went to be with the Lord. He fought the good fight and now it was time for his rest and reward.

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April 25, 2010 | View or add comments

Book Review - The Good and Beautiful God by James Bryan Smith

January 8, 2010

By Robin Stanley

James Bryan Smith opened his keynote at the 2009 CLASS Christian Writers Conference with a surprising statement: "I give you permission to commit the sin of jealousy." We all laughed, and Jim went on to describe himself as a Forrest Gump kind of guy who stumbled into some great moments with some great people, including Richard Foster, Dallas Willard, Rich Mullins and more.

This self-proclaimed "nobody" allowed these "somebodies" to mentor and shape him. Not to become more like them, but to become more like Jesus. We who know Jim or have opportunity to read his work get to realize the benefits of his transformation. He pours himself out in humility, love and friendship. He lives what he teaches.

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January 8, 2010 | View or add comments

A Dream Come True

September 25, 2009

By Tama Westman

As a child I would sit at the rosewood desk and dream of being a writer. My mother fed my dream by supplying me with foofy pens with feathers on them so I could feel my writing was eloquent and important. In the days before home computers and e-mail, I would spend long hours play-acting at that desk, making pretend phone calls to clients, tap-tap-tapping the numbered keys on the adding machine to ring up sales and writing out long checklists.

Some forty years later, not much has changed, except that the dream I had as a child came true! I still spend long hours at the same rosewood desk, calling clients, tap-tapping on the calculator, and writing out long checklists. Long gone are my foofy pens, replaced with a laptop, Sharpies and write on/wipe off pens for the white board.

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September 25, 2009 | View or add comments

Are You Hitting Your Goals?

September 8, 2009

By Tama Westman

I saw this tip from Mark Victor Hansen, co-creator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, while I was flipping through the pages of the October issue of Success Magazine (If you don't yet subscribe to Success, I encourage you to up your game today with this monthly issue of some of the best leadership advice going).

According to Hansen, you can create a life-goal list in as little as 15 minutes. Sounds easy. Here's how:

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September 8, 2009 | View or add comments

Welcome Back

February 28, 2009

By Gerry Wakeland

Have you ever been on an extended vacation or business trip? 
Perhaps it was one of those where you stayed a few days here and a few days there.  By the time you got unpacked and settled in, it was time to pack up and move on again.

In January I left my home here in Albuquerque and drove to California.  I had a number of meetings and events on my schedule.  And yes, it was one of those trips where I spent just a few nights and then moved on to the next event.  I returned home almost a month later and I have to tell you I was really glad to be back in my own surroundings, comfortable and secure.

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February 28, 2009 | View or add comments

Using Power Statements for Interview Segments

August 19, 2008

By Julie Ferwerda

I have very little experience with media interviews, but I heard one tip recently that I believe will be a key to compelling and smooth interviews in the future. Because of the nature of media interviews being in very short segments, it’s good to come up with power statements around which you can build your interview segments. So I’m constantly on the lookout for power statements relating to my topic. These can be things I come up with during the course of writing the book, or they can be from others (from books I’ve read, conversations I’ve had, or messages I’ve listened to).

For example, I’m working on an inspirational book encouraging parents to return to the Biblical mandate of discipling their kids at home, raising them to change their world for Christ. The premise for the book is according to Psalm 127:3-5 of raising your kids to become “arrows for God” so they might be used as spiritual weapons against the kingdom of darkness as well as become a gift and spiritual legacy for the world. Some possible power statements I’ve been collecting for this topic that would make excellent areas of discussion with an interviewer are:

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August 19, 2008 | View or add comments

Trojan Horse

August 15, 2008

By Gary Chevalier

For those of us starting out, we tend to grab every opportunity for publicity that we can...and for the most part, that is a good strategy. However, not every interviewer out there has your best interests at heart - even if they're a Christian.

Recently a friend of mine published her first book, which explored the topic of dealing with life after divorce. She was very diligent in promoting her book, and sent out hundreds of press releases and other materials to book stores, radio stations, etc. To her delight, a non-local radio station contacted her about a phone interview to promote her book. I remember how she buzzed with excitement as the day for the interview approached...it seemed that her grin had become a permanent fixture on her face. I talked with her shortly after the interview, only to find that her huge grin had been replaced by a look of bewilderment. "It was an ambush." she said. "They had no intention of talking about my book. All they wanted to do was debate me on why I felt that I, a divorced person, had a calling to write a book. They were trying to paint me as a bad Christian and not worthy to write a Christian book because I had been divorced!"

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August 15, 2008 | View or add comments

Why Relevancy Matters

July 28, 2008

By Lee Warren

Years ago, I wrote a novel about a rock n' roll singer. I showed a sample chapter to an editor at a writers conference and he gave me two pieces of information—neither of which was easy to hear. First, he told me that the title was awful. Second, he asked me if I'd ever read a book called The Wind in the Wheat by Reed Arvin. I told him that I'd work on the title of my novel and that I hadn't even heard of the book he was asking me about. He told me that it was out of print, but that I needed to find a copy. I did find a copy and was blown away by what I read. Arvin is a former record producer who put his musical knowledge to work in his novel. The result is a masterful work of fiction in which you can actually hear the music as the protagonist sits at his piano and gently allows his fingers to flow across the keyboard.

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July 28, 2008 | View or add comments

Standing on Shoulders

May 29, 2008

By Evelyn W. Davison

America is in a “talking crises” today. From every direction we are bombarded with messages of despair and desperation. America is hungry for Good News.

There is little, if any, “fence talk” going on across the heartland. This nation was built on the concept of neighbors talking to neighbors across the fences and walking the talk delivering a bucket of corn or a basket of bread.

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May 29, 2008 | View or add comments

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