Are You Stretching Your Faith? - Janis Cox

I do morning stretches for about 15 minutes every morning. My back depends on this. As I stretch I pray for each member of my family.

Physical fitness is important but spiritual fitness is more important.

How can I become spiritually fit? Here are five ways that I think will help anyone to stretch their faith.

1.  Prayer:

In acknowledging God by talking and listening to Him, we bridge that gap between us. So remember to open the door and have a conversation.

2. Read your Bible:

I remember when I couldn't understand the Bible at all. It read like a foreign language. A friend suggested that I ask God to reveal His Word to me. So the next time I opened my Bible I prayed, "Help me Lord to understand Your Word". And He did.

I would suggest starting with the Gospel of John. Then read through the Psalms. I always stop to highlight what is getting my attention in that moment. Then you can think about that throughout the day.

3. Memorize a passage of Scripture:

 I know that for some of us we think that our memorizing days are over. However once again if you ask God He will give you the ability to memorize. Pick a Scripture that is the most meaningful to you. Write it down. Put it by your computer. Carry it with you. But keep repeating it. Then you will have it bound around your neck and written on the tablet of your heart (Proverbs 3:3)

4. Join a Bible Study: 

Working alongside friends helps us to affirm our faith. Questions that need answers can be found. Each study bring us further along in our faith.

5. Appreciate every moment of the day:

 Live each moment. Go outside. Help a friend. Stop to chat. Follow God's leading.

What are other way we can become spiritually fit? Which do find easiest? Which is the hardest?

Janis Cox

Janis, a retired school teacher and small business owner, found a new passion in writing in her retirement. A writer since 2003, Janis co-ordinates a group blog called Under the Cover of Prayer. She is also a contributor to a group blog called Family and Faith Matters.

Janis is the author of the award winning children’s book, Tadeo Turtle, published by Word Alive Press. She is the author and watercolour illustrator. For more information visit Janis on her website He Cares for You. She is a member of The Word Guild and Inscribe Writers Fellowship.

My Takeaways from the 2013 ICWF Fall Conference - Ruth L. Snyder

This weekend I had the privilege of attending the InScribe Christian Writers' Fellowship Fall Conference in Wetaskiwin, Alberta. I especially appreciated our keynote speaker, Murray Pura.

"Don't let anything be greater than the fact that you are a child of God!" (Advice given to Murray when he signed his first book contract.)

In his opening session, Murray gave us two personal examples of why it's important to persevere as a writer.

Mizzly Fitch
-This was Murray's first novel
-He sent queries out and received 3 rejection letters
-He wanted to quit sending queries, but his wife wouldn't let him
-The manuscript was accepted for publication, but Murray didn't like the cover
-The publisher was sold
-After waiting, he was told the new company would not be republishing the book
-After many years, Regent College offered to republish the book
-When they sent the cover art to Murray, he was startled to see they chose his favourite painting as the cover picture
-The book is still in print today

Zo
-Murray's second novel, based on two of his aunts
-Submitted manuscript
-Publisher rejected the book because the writing was "too good"
-Agent gave manuscript to 4 large publishers who all rejected it
-Another publisher liked the manuscript, but two experts had a problem with the Christian content
-Became a finalist in the Paraclete Contest
-Publisher offered to publish, but declined after 2 weeks
-20 years later, the book was finally published! and was shortlisted for a $25,000 prize
-The sequel was published two years later and won The Word Guild Award for best historical novel

Sunrise near Wetaskiwin on Saturday, September 29, 2013

Here are some of my favourite quotes from the weekend:

"You have to go for 'the long bomb'."

"God embodies everything he wants to teach us in story."

 "Treat your stories with respect and honour - you don't know where your stories will end up."

 "Take any decent opportunity that comes your way."

"Say, 'Yes I can' and do it 'afraid'."

 "Remember the cloud the size of a fist, which became a storm and filled the land with water."

"Remember that whenever you write a story, you're always writing for Christ."

WHY THE NEW CHURCH SEEMED STRANGE - Bruce Atchison

For adults, choosing a church can be a bewildering experience. Doctrines, worship styles, and liturgies vary widely from one denomination to another. Imagine how much more confusing going to a new church can be to children.

I was in that precise position in September of 1964. Having already suffered the shock of knowing I wouldn't return from Jericho Hill School for the Deaf and Blind until Christmas, being forced to attend a different denomination's church each week confounded me even more.

On my first Sunday morning at the dorm, drivers from local churches arrived to bring us sight-impaired children to their worship services. When my supervisor asked which church I attended, I answered that I was a Lutheran. Nobody from that denomination came to the school so she sent me with the Anglican children.

The church was much fancier than the one I attended at home. For one thing, it had stained glass windows and ornately-carved pews. The building was also larger than the Lutheran church I was used to.

Having never seen kneeling pads before, I assumed they were foot rests. "Get your feet off there," a woman scolded. "Those are for kneeling on." I leaned forward and dusted off the spots where my shoes had rested as we waited for the service to start.

The hymns were different too. I didn't understand a word the congregation sang. It all sounded like "blah blah blah" to my uneducated ears. Not being able to read the hymn books, I stood mutely while everybody else sang.

The minister then gave his weekly homily. I recall only one of them regarding a donkey who wouldn't work on the Sabbath. I also remember him leading us in The Lord's Prayer.

Then all the  children were sent downstairs to Sunday School classes while the adults did whatever they did next. I never did find out what mysterious things happened upstairs while we heard Bible stories and played with play dough.

A woman rang a bell at the end of Sunday school and all the children stood in the isle between our cubicles. She prayed, asking God to help us be good little boys and girls. While the sighted children rejoined their parents, we waited for our driver to take us back to the dorm.

I certainly had many new customs and routines to learn at that residential school. Being only seven years old, these sudden changes were hard to take. No wonder I received so many spankings and detentions that autumn.

Bruce Atchison is a legally-blind freelance writer as well as the author of How I Was Razed, Deliverance from Jericho, and When a Man Loves a Rabbit. He lives in a small Alberta hamlet with his house rabbit, Deborah.

6 Tips for Writing Historical Fiction - Bonnie Way

I've always enjoyed reading historical fiction.  As my mom says, that's the best way to get history—as a story.  I've learned about life in Biblical times and both World Wars and even early Canadian fiction through novels that take me into the places and people of those times.  During university, I pursued that interest further by completing a minor in history.  I thoroughly enjoyed my Canadian history courses and told myself one day, I'd turn some of the lesser-known stories into a novel.

Today is that day, as I'm attempting to write a historical Canadian novel.  I'm developing a huge appreciation for all my favourite historical writers as I begin to realize just how hard it is to write historical fiction.  Perhaps that is, in part, because I seem to have a knack for choosing topics that are hard to write about (e.g., in university I decided to write a paper on a Scottish king about whom nobody else had written, and ended up researching him by reading about his wife—a Catholic saint—and the English kings of the day).

If you are also attempting to write historical fiction, here are some tips I've learned as I start this process...

1.  Create a timeline.  On one line, write the significant dates and events in your main character's life.  This will help you with the plot, as you'll want to "connect the dots" of these events as you are writing.  On a paralell line, write significant dates and events of that time—things your main character would have been aware of and might have talked about, or things that would have influenced his or her life.

2.  Keep a bibliography.  Write down every book you read with complete bibliographical details, including a small note about what information the book contained.  You never know what facts you might need to double-check.

3.  Ask yourself, "Why does this story matter today?"  What makes this moment in history or this historical person still relevant to readers today?  This will give you your "elevator pitch" or theme and may also help you develop your plot (as you include events in your character's life that will show why this story matters today).

4.  Read children's books.   Jane Kirkpatrick says the authors of grade-level novels and biographies often capture the issues of the time.  Then you can go to adult histories to get more in-depth information.

5.  Be creative in your research.  Are there movies about the topic?  Places you can visit?  Traveling exhibits?  Descendants you can interview?  Check the bibliographies of the books you read for ideas for your own research.  Make notes as you research about questions you have and other things you want to find more information about.  And don't be afraid to ask experts or others for help as you work—many people are happy to talk about something they are interested in.  You may be able to get a guest pass at your local university library to access scholarly databases or more resource.

6.  Start writing.  There will always be questions, more research you can do—just start writing.  Jane told me, " I have to start writing before I think I should because otherwise I never will! I'd be too intimidated by all that I don't know."  Make notes as you write about questions you have or facts you need to check, but don't fall into the trap of dealing with writer's block by doing more research.

Some of my favourite historical novels include The Orphan King by Sigmund Brouwer (medieval England), The Order of Good Cheer by Bill Gaston (early Canadian history), Daisy Chain by Mary DeMuth (set in 19th century Texas).  For more suggestions, check out my other book reviews. 

Have you tried to write historical fiction?  What tips or advice would you share?