This is not my normal type of blog, but I just had to say a few words about my trip to the City. The trip was amazing. The city was amazing. I walked the those ancient streets and could feel the history mingled with the current of electricity.
As a writer of Urban Fiction, I could feel how the grittiness of the streets and how it feeds the storyline. It was easy to see how Nate Richards, my character, would bump along through Mid-town, finding his way through the bowels of the City on the subway. What a setting for a story, no wonder there's so many cop stories are set in the City. Check out the images on Face Book page.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Thursday, March 22, 2012
NHI is free today and Friday on Amazon
Hey, for the next two days StoneHouse will have N.H.I.(No Humans Involved) up for free on Amazon. Be sure to get your copy this Thursday and Friday.
Monday, March 12, 2012
Out of the Two comes One - Part Thirteen
It wasn’t my first time dealing with death and it sure wouldn’t be my last.
The first time was when I, as a newly ordained minister, was sent to do a hospital visit. The plan was that I go and visit with an elderly church member and pray with and for her—but when I arrived, I was directed by hospital staff to the basement because my parishioner was downstairs “donating.”
My first time as a cop was on a trip to the morgue. In the fridge, which was the size of a small apartment, had bodies stacked like cordwood along three of the four walls from the floor to just shy of the ceiling. This was my first autopsy.
While working the streets, I have seen many more bodies in death; some as a result of violent confrontations, some due to natural causes, and some at their own hands. The common denominator, they were all dead. As a cop, you have to be distant…hold yourself back so you can study the event from an objective perspective. As a minister, I have to get close; I need to lower my walls so that I can help the church member to get through the difficulty of their time of loss.
The point? We all die—the good guys, bad guys, and the indifferent. So if we all have to die, the question really becomes not how we shall expire, but rather, how shall we live. Think about it….Just saying.
The first time was when I, as a newly ordained minister, was sent to do a hospital visit. The plan was that I go and visit with an elderly church member and pray with and for her—but when I arrived, I was directed by hospital staff to the basement because my parishioner was downstairs “donating.”
My first time as a cop was on a trip to the morgue. In the fridge, which was the size of a small apartment, had bodies stacked like cordwood along three of the four walls from the floor to just shy of the ceiling. This was my first autopsy.
While working the streets, I have seen many more bodies in death; some as a result of violent confrontations, some due to natural causes, and some at their own hands. The common denominator, they were all dead. As a cop, you have to be distant…hold yourself back so you can study the event from an objective perspective. As a minister, I have to get close; I need to lower my walls so that I can help the church member to get through the difficulty of their time of loss.
The point? We all die—the good guys, bad guys, and the indifferent. So if we all have to die, the question really becomes not how we shall expire, but rather, how shall we live. Think about it….Just saying.
Friday, March 9, 2012
2012 Idahope Christian Writers' Conference
Pre-conference registration available on our website: http://www/. idahopewriters.org
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Out of the Two comes One - Part Twelve
Sometimes my two worlds collide. Sometimes they explode into and upon one another. And sometimes they overlap to the point of blurring the lines. There are times when, at the very last minute, just before you’re ready to go 10-42—end of shift—something will happen and the entire rest of your day is shot.
The same is true in the ministry. There are times when you are just settling in to enjoy the evening; or you’ve just gotten into bed when the phone rings, and everything you had planned just got pushed to the side. Don’t get me wrong, this is not a complaint but an observation.
It is when we stop and realize the reasons for which we endure the trials of life that really give us, or reveal to us, the value of the time we have spent. When I am called upon to work late or deal with a particularly trying event, a family or individual in crisis, it is when I see what value I can possibly be to that situation that adds life to me. When I can bring a peaceful resolution to a family or direct a soul to those peaceful green pastures that David wrote about in Psalm 23, then all the trouble seems very much worth it.
We cannot avoid the troubles and trials of life, but we do get to decide if we will be made by them or if they will destroy us. In the end, when my two worlds collide, I am left with the choice of whether I will be the cop who’s a preacher or a preacher that’s a cop. Either way, the choice is mine and I choose life. Think about it….Just saying.
The same is true in the ministry. There are times when you are just settling in to enjoy the evening; or you’ve just gotten into bed when the phone rings, and everything you had planned just got pushed to the side. Don’t get me wrong, this is not a complaint but an observation.
It is when we stop and realize the reasons for which we endure the trials of life that really give us, or reveal to us, the value of the time we have spent. When I am called upon to work late or deal with a particularly trying event, a family or individual in crisis, it is when I see what value I can possibly be to that situation that adds life to me. When I can bring a peaceful resolution to a family or direct a soul to those peaceful green pastures that David wrote about in Psalm 23, then all the trouble seems very much worth it.
We cannot avoid the troubles and trials of life, but we do get to decide if we will be made by them or if they will destroy us. In the end, when my two worlds collide, I am left with the choice of whether I will be the cop who’s a preacher or a preacher that’s a cop. Either way, the choice is mine and I choose life. Think about it….Just saying.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Out of the Two comes One - Part Eleven
Too many times I have found myself in situations where I wish I had been better: a better cop, a better minister, a better husband and father, a better man. When I look at the volume of the penal code, all the laws that are used to govern this great state, and I only deal with the criminal code, I am humbled by the great amount of information that there is to know…let alone do.
Then I consider the Bible, God’s penal code, and I see in its 66 books all that make up the fullness of its counsel, and again, I realize it is a great volume of information to try to master. As I’m working the streets as a patrolman, or even when I prepared cases as an investigator, I would think of all the possible lines of attack or of defense, depending on my starting position. I stop and just think about the expectations of those depending on me to do my job correctly so that they can then do theirs.
Now consider this as a minster: I have not only the burden of knowing what the Bible teaches, but the obligation to live it in real time for all those around me to see. They watch and see where I step and, if I do my job correctly, then they, too, can know where it is safe to stand. When I’m working as a patrolman, the citizens also watch me, hoping that I will be an honest purveyor of the laws of this city and state. Why? Because when they see my brothers and me, they feel that their own existence is made just a little bit safer, a little bit more secure.
For this reason, every time I strap on to ride out on patrol, or steal away in quiet prayer and Bible study, I am pleased to be that guy who gets to stand in the gap for the rest. It really is a great honor and in its own way a big deal. Think about it….Just saying.
Then I consider the Bible, God’s penal code, and I see in its 66 books all that make up the fullness of its counsel, and again, I realize it is a great volume of information to try to master. As I’m working the streets as a patrolman, or even when I prepared cases as an investigator, I would think of all the possible lines of attack or of defense, depending on my starting position. I stop and just think about the expectations of those depending on me to do my job correctly so that they can then do theirs.
Now consider this as a minster: I have not only the burden of knowing what the Bible teaches, but the obligation to live it in real time for all those around me to see. They watch and see where I step and, if I do my job correctly, then they, too, can know where it is safe to stand. When I’m working as a patrolman, the citizens also watch me, hoping that I will be an honest purveyor of the laws of this city and state. Why? Because when they see my brothers and me, they feel that their own existence is made just a little bit safer, a little bit more secure.
For this reason, every time I strap on to ride out on patrol, or steal away in quiet prayer and Bible study, I am pleased to be that guy who gets to stand in the gap for the rest. It really is a great honor and in its own way a big deal. Think about it….Just saying.
Saturday, March 3, 2012
***Special Announcement ***Special Announcement***
2012 Conference
WHO & WHAT
You! Please join us for our 5th Annual Idahope Christian Fiction Writers conference – bigger and better than ever!
Keynote speaker: Author, editor and founder of Marcher Lord Press, Jeff Gerke — “The Last Class on Show vs. Tell You’ll Ever Need” (2 sessions)
Workshop leaders:
➢ University of Phoenix writing instructor and author Laurie Bower: “Building Believable Characters”
➢ StoneHouse Ink acquiring editor and author, Chris White: “eBooks Can Change the World!”
➢ Idahope president and author of the Nate Richards Series, Ray Ellis: “Walking Through a Crime Scene.”
➢ Singer-songwriter Rebecca DeBore: “The Art of Creating and Writing Music and Worship Songs.”
➢ YA fantasy author and blog tour expert, K.C. Neal: “Successful Blogging & Blog Tours.”
➢ Idahope vice-president and author of the Kate Nielson Series, Rebecca Lyles:”Self-Editing for Savvy Writers.”
A panel of experts representing all aspects of writing and publishing will discuss “The Future of Publishing”
Lunch! Sandwiches, salads, snacks and drinks will be provided with the cost of the conference.
To see a PDF version of our flyer, click here!
WHERE
Cole Community Church, Boise, Idaho
8775 Ustick Road (corner of Ustick & Maple Grove)
WHEN
March 17, 2012
8:00am–4:30pm
WHY
For God’s Eternal Glory
HOW
Register online at http://www.idahopewriters.org
See PAYPAL buttons below!
Or send a check to:
PO Box 922
Meridian, ID 83680
HOW MUCH
$55.00 for the entire day, if registered by ___.
$65.00 late registration.
$75.00 at the door
WHO & WHAT
You! Please join us for our 5th Annual Idahope Christian Fiction Writers conference – bigger and better than ever!
Keynote speaker: Author, editor and founder of Marcher Lord Press, Jeff Gerke — “The Last Class on Show vs. Tell You’ll Ever Need” (2 sessions)
Workshop leaders:
➢ University of Phoenix writing instructor and author Laurie Bower: “Building Believable Characters”
➢ StoneHouse Ink acquiring editor and author, Chris White: “eBooks Can Change the World!”
➢ Idahope president and author of the Nate Richards Series, Ray Ellis: “Walking Through a Crime Scene.”
➢ Singer-songwriter Rebecca DeBore: “The Art of Creating and Writing Music and Worship Songs.”
➢ YA fantasy author and blog tour expert, K.C. Neal: “Successful Blogging & Blog Tours.”
➢ Idahope vice-president and author of the Kate Nielson Series, Rebecca Lyles:”Self-Editing for Savvy Writers.”
A panel of experts representing all aspects of writing and publishing will discuss “The Future of Publishing”
Lunch! Sandwiches, salads, snacks and drinks will be provided with the cost of the conference.
To see a PDF version of our flyer, click here!
WHERE
Cole Community Church, Boise, Idaho
8775 Ustick Road (corner of Ustick & Maple Grove)
WHEN
March 17, 2012
8:00am–4:30pm
WHY
For God’s Eternal Glory
HOW
Register online at http://www.idahopewriters.org
See PAYPAL buttons below!
Or send a check to:
PO Box 922
Meridian, ID 83680
HOW MUCH
$55.00 for the entire day, if registered by ___.
$65.00 late registration.
$75.00 at the door
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