The Fruit of Repentance

Life is filled with memorable experiences that seem unbelievable to those that weren't part of them. From bold acts of bravery, to daring stunts, to many other things that just seem to sound more Hollywood than normal life. However, in each story. there is a lesson to be learned. Paul said in Romans 8:28, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”

That doesn't mean everything is always good, but that everything has some part of it that can lead us closer to the one that is good--God. That might be from the wisdom others share with us, or by a rebuke. Or we may be drawn closer to God because our situation broke us to the point of total humility. Perhaps our situation may have caused so much pain to many other people that we learn from our failures. We can “consider it all joy when we face the trials” of life when we are searching for the spiritual lesson we can learn from, because those tests of “faith produce endurance” or staying “faithful until death.”

I’m reminded of two lessons that David learned from his mistakes: his adultery with Bathsheba and the census he took of Israel because of his pride. David may not have been expecting to hear a rebuke from the Lord because of his actions towards Uriah and Bathsheba, but Nathan approached him and told a parable about a rich man with many sheep taking the only sheep of his poor neighbor and used it to serve his guests. David was furious until he was told in that famous line in 2 Samuel 12:7, “You are the man!”

David was reminded of the need to humbly listen to God and learn. Later on, David decided against his counselors and took a census to see how big his kingdom was. His disobedience cost him the lives of 70,000 Israelites. He had remembered from previous errors and humbled himself and was willing to make a change.

David understood that to be repentant would cost him something. He responds to Ornan’s generous offer to supply the animal for the sacrifice to God by saying in 1 Chronicles 21:24, “No, I will surely buy [the animals for the sacrifice] for the full price; for I will not take what is yours for the Lord, or offer a burnt offering which costs me nothing.” God wants us to want to please Him, or as Jesus stated, the greatest commandment was to “love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your mind, with all your soul, and with all your strength.” There’s something about the effort we put into our relationship with God that begins to reveal more of who God is to us.

One of the keys to really understanding something is the seeking-to-understand process. When we realize the value in something, we’ll invest more of our time and energy in promoting it, obtaining it, and living it.

However, for many of us the hunger to understand more completely doesn't begin until we’re broke down enough to see the need for it. There is a reason that the redemption process revolves around repentance. A heart that is hard won’t understand the gospel and the heart that still seeks worldly fruit more passionately than spiritual fruit hasn't understood where their passion is leading them.

1 John 2:15-17, “Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.”

When we are repentant, our heart wants to understand the good news and we demonstrate our hunger to understand by how we respond to it. Sacrifice leaves a bad taste in our mouths, but that’s only because Satan has twisted our understanding of how beautiful it is to give up all for God willingly. Jesus modeled that concept for us perfectly when he willingly went to the cross as a sacrifice for our sins.

Consider how many lessons you've learned in life that could have had a different outcome (or avoided all together) by simply trusting in God’s word and following the example of Jesus. Let’s be active in weeding out the distractions that crop up in our life and instead remain focused on the wonderful message of redemption through Jesus Christ.

Blasphemy of the Spirit

Peter said in 1 Peter 4:14-19, “If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you… (18) And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved, what will become of the godless man and the sinner?”

Jesus told the Rich Young Ruler what he needed to do to inherit eternal life, but when he heard that he’d have to give up his riches he decided an eternal inheritance wasn’t worth the sacrifice. However, Jesus told those listening to their conversation in Luke 18:25-27, “it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” When they heard it they said, “Then who can be saved?” But He said, “The things that are impossible with people are possible with God.”

While both of these passages describe the difficulties that may come in following Christ, they also elude to an important ingredient that makes it possible – the Holy Spirit. Jesus wanted his followers, which includes us, to know that God will not abandon us to face difficulties alone. He impresses upon his followers that when Jesus ascends into heaven, the Spirit would come in his place. He says in John 14:16-17, “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.”

     John 14:26-27, “The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.”
     John 15:26, “When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me.”
     John 16:13, “When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.”

This begs the question, how important is the role of the Spirit in me going to heaven? Or how important is the role of the Spirit in me being faithful to God? Paul says in Ephesians 4:30, “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” In context Paul is describing the life that should no longer define us, and reminding us how our lives have changed because of the power Jesus gave us when we placed our faith in him.

Peter offered some good news to the terror struck crowd on the Day of Pentecost when he told them how rectify their rejection of Jesus as the Christ. He said in Acts 2:38-39 that they needed to “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.” What is the gift? Miraculous? Something more? Jesus had said in John 6:63, “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.”

Christ has set us free from the bondage of sin. How? Paying the penalty of sin for us, but also by sending the Spirit to be our guide and our conscience. He wants us to allow him free control of our minds, which will never go against God. Paul says several important things in Romans about our relationship with God by the Spirit. Romans 8:9, “However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. (11) …He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. (14) For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. (16) The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God…”

Therefore walking with God is about trusting the guidance of the Spirit. The more we do that the more we realize the tremendous gift God has given us in the Spirit. But to rebel against His guidance will by default lead us away from God’s words of life. Blasphemy is the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for God. However Jesus said in Matthew 12:32, “but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.” I can’t show contempt for a Spirit that I can’t even understand without God revealing to me (which is the case with the Spirit), and to show contempt for the very gift that seals me for the day of redemption reveals an attitude in my heart that Satan knows how to wield to his purposes.

Many people are worried they’ll slip up and blasphemy the Spirit by accident and thus go straight to hell, but consider that this kind of blasphemy is more of a rejection of the Spirit’s guidance who is your access into the heaven that Jesus made possible. Most of the New Testament is directed to Christians and how to keep their hearts focused on God and to stay clear of Satan’s schemes that can lure us away from Godly devotion.

Leaving a Legacy

People came from all over the known world to have the opportunity to speak with Solomon. His advice was nearly priceless. The queen of Sheba honored him in these words found in 1 Kings 10:6-9, “It was a true report which I heard in my own land about your words and your wisdom. Nevertheless I did not believe the reports, until I came and my eyes had seen it. And behold, the half was not told me. You exceed in wisdom and prosperity the report which I heard. How blessed are your men, how blessed are these your servants who stand before you continually and hear your wisdom.”

This was all a result of a blessing bestowed upon him by God when Solomon became king. He asked God for wisdom to rule his people and bless them. While he was wiser than anyone else on the planet, he didn’t have it all together. In spite of his great wisdom and all the teaching and advice he gave, it seems he failed to give something to his own children that could have changed their lives tremendously.

What does wisdom look like? Its not limited to intelligence. Intelligence is knowledge, and while that’s a worthy quality to obtain, wisdom speaks more to the understanding of decisions. Solomon says this to his son in Proverbs 2:1-2, “My son, listen to what I say, and treasure my commands. Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding… (5-6) Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord, and you will gain knowledge of God. For the Lord grants wisdom! (9-11) Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair, and you will find the right way to go. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will fill you with joy. Wise choices will watch over you. Understanding will keep you safe.”

Much like many parents today, Solomon told his sons many proverbs and wise sayings. He wanted his sons to learn from his mistakes, he wanted them to think before they made foolish decisions. However, those wise sayings he told his son didn’t automatically guarantee that they would listen. In fact, when his son Rehoboam became king he had to make a decision about how to rule his father’s kingdom.

In 2 Chronicles 10:4-14 we read of this instance; an event that changed the kingdom he inherited forever. The people came to Rehoboam and said, “Your father was a hard master, but if you’ll lighten the harsh labor demands and heavy taxes that your father imposed on us, then we will be your loyal subjects.” He told them to come back in three days and he’d give them his answer. In the meantime he went to two groups of people: His father’s counselors and his own. Solomon’s counselors said, “If you are good to these people and do your best to please them and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your loyal subjects.” However Rehoboam’s own counselors said, “This is what you should tell those complainers who want a lighter burden: 'My little finger is thicker than my father's waist! Yes, my father laid heavy burdens on you, but I'm going to make them even heavier! My father beat you with whips, but I will beat you with scorpions!”

By the third day Rehoboam had made up his mind and followed the advice of the younger, less experienced counselors of his own kingdom. The result was a split kingdom. Often we reject great advice from older more experienced people perhaps because we fail to recognize how their experience can help us.

How about our own life? Do we learn from those that have gone on before us? The legacy those people from older generations leave us is more than money; they leave us experiences that can save us a lot of heartache. How could the story have ended for Rehoboam? We’ll never really know, but consider a decision you’ve had to make recently, could the advice from older generations benefit you?

It’s important to have mentors and counselors to look up to. In the church, God designed it to consist of parents but also elders, people of a spiritual mind that when they share experiences and advice are more valuable than gold. Be sure to thank those people that have helped to shape who you are and for the legacy they’ve left you.

Are people animals?

My kids love pets; cute little animals that they feed and love. Unfortunately, their pets are usually killed, maimed, or missing in a matter of time. In spite of the fact that their furry little friends’ demise seems inevitable, they still continue to want one—or two. My kids aren't too dissimilar to most kids (and some adults); pets can be fun to have around. However, what makes you different from your pet? Your job? If that’s the case, some of our children need to be reclassified. Is it the fact that we wear clothes and use technology? Truth is those aren't the things that make us human and our pets animals.

I read an article not too long ago that listed seven signs humans are domesticated animals. The author went on to describe them:

1. We survive due to agriculture

2. Population crashes become common

3. Our jaws are small and rounded

4. Diseases cause more injury than war

5. Humans socialize like dogs

6. Humans look and act like children

7. Many adults can digest milk

These were the topic subtitles in the article that published last summer that assumed these were incontestable proofs that we are simply domesticated animals. Articles like this one are not uncommon. There are dozens, hundreds, probably thousands of articles that want us to stand in awe of the evidence that humans are simply advanced animals. The entire premise is based on the theory of evolution.

Assuming you've evolved from a squid, or a lima bean, or a chimp, can cause a person to question how important life really is. In fact, one evolutionist explained our propensity to overrun and/or pollute an environment by saying, “Humans share that honor with other invasive species, including extinct animals like trilobites, as well as living ones like rats, crows, cockroaches and more. Invasive species have roamed across the Earth since life began. Humans are about as special as dirty little rodents, scampering between walls in search of some garbage to eat.”

Darwin wrote about this in one of his lesser-known works, The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals. Today, hundreds of scientific studies claimed to have solid evidence that animals from chimps to rats share the same kinds of emotions and motivations that we do.

These could very well be the same folks who want to make sure that you have a positive self-image before you graduate high school. It seems destructive to a society to consistently brainwash those listening to think of themselves and other people as dirty cockroaches.

So what does God say about the pinnacle of his creation? Genesis 1:24-26, “Then God said, ‘Let the earth produce every sort of animal, each producing offspring of the same kind—livestock, small animals that scurry along the ground, and wild animals.’ And that is what happened. God made all sorts of wild animals, livestock, and small animals, each able to produce offspring of the same kind. And God saw that it was good. Then God said, ‘Let us make human beings in our image, to be like ourselves. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.’”

To God there is a clear distinction between all animals and humans. And for that reason, “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son so that whoever would believe on his name would not perish…” (John 3:16). So how will the animals believe? It seems clear that we’re not spreading the Gospel to our pets, but to our friends and family. We share hope with strangers and even enemies within the human race. People who will be destroyed on the earth at the Day of Judgment if they do not believe in and trust God.

The urgency is that we need to make sure we think of people as created in the image of God, and encourage others to think of themselves that way as well. And since they are at the pinnacle of God’s creation, they need to hear the saving message that only comes by God —their creator. They are the ones we have to think enough about to give them the hope of Jesus Christ. The more mankind regards their peers as nothing more than domesticated animals, the less they’ll be thinking about being the bearer of The Good News that saves souls. 

Blessings In Disguise

Was Job a blessed man? Perhaps that’s a difficult question to answer. It might depend upon when you look at his life. Prior to him losing his children and his wealth, we would confidently say “yes.” During his trial brought upon him by Satan, we would probably say “no.” And if you look at his life after we read in Job 42:10, “the Lord gave him twice as much as before!” Therefore, perspective matters.

How about your own life? Are you blessed? Blessings come in different forms. Hebrews 12:11 says, “All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.”

In our country, blessings come with the territory. We expect to have nice things; we expect to have some level of safety. All of those are truly blessings, but those expectations have perhaps warped our idea of what a blessed life looks like.

Similar to the difficulty of Job’s life are words from James in James 1:2-4, “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials…” Nothing about trails seems joyful, but God must see it differently.

The Lord declares in Isaiah 55:8, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways.” So what are His ways? What are His thoughts? Because if we had the ability to see life the way God did, then perhaps we would be more grateful, less stressed, and more like Jesus in what we say and do.

Jesus rebuked the apostles in Matthew 8:24-27, “And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being covered with the waves; but Jesus Himself was asleep. And they came to Him and woke Him, saying, ‘Save us, Lord; we are perishing!’ He said to them, ‘Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?’ Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became perfectly calm. The men were amazed, and said, ‘What kind of a man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?’”

What did He know that the apostles didn’t? Shouldn’t Jesus have been afraid, too? Was He completely unconcerned with how His life would turn out? We know there was some fear or reluctance about death, based on His words from the Garden of Gethsemane in Matthew 26:39, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.” Would He consider Himself “blessed” at that moment? His words from the cross just a short time later would indicate probably not: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46-47)

However, He trusted God with a bigger picture of His time on earth. Jesus knew that the blessing would come later. It was because of His love and obedience to His father that He went to the cross, and it’s because He went to the cross that we now have the Spirit to intercede for us, to guide us, and to strengthen us. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 2:10-13, “The Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God… Even so, the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words….”

To surrender our thinking when tragedy strikes and to remember that God does have a bigger plan, is part of the key to having a blessed life. Our job is faithfulness, trusting Him to deliver us. It’s through that understanding and application that we can more fully grasp how trials can be viewed as joyful, James 1:3-4, “…knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

Remember that we’ve been given a mind like Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16, Philippians 2:5), so trust Him when you have an experience that tempts you to question God. Remember He may be blessing you in an unconventional way.

Follow ... consistently!

Who do you turn to when important decisions have to be made? That may sound like some kind of advertisement for bank, or our government, but there really is a place that you most likely turn to for guidance. How does the Bible help you? How does prayer help you? How does a mature Christian help you? While those may be appropriate sources for support and assistance, do we use them?

Jesus came to demonstrate that God is a reliable resource when big decisions have to be made. Whether it was choosing apostles to carry on his work, or healing people, or feeding gobs of hungry followers, Jesus modeled turning to God for help. In Hebrews 4:16, after helping us see that Jesus went through the same kind of temptations that we have had to go through, the author says, “Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

James continues this thought in James 4:7-8, “Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” These are comforting statements for us to benefit from.

Solomon wrote to his sons telling them that his proverbs would help them to “know wisdom and instruction, to discern the sayings of understanding, to receive instruction in wise behavior… (Proverbs 1:2-3) So if these wise sayings serve as a guide for us when we’re not quite sure which path to take, not certain about going on or turning around, or just shed some light to our lives, then it makes sense that by turning to God and His word that we should see positive results to our daily dilemmas. Not to say we won’t chose something that we wish we hadn't, but there should be such a dependence upon God that all our thoughts run through a kind of spiritual filter.

In Jesus’ day, the people heard Him speak and were in awe by His wisdom; they recognized that He spoke with authority that naturally drew people closer to Him to seek help on all their problems of life. Matthew 8 describes a man with leprosy who finally realized who could help him with his skin disease; a Roman Centurion recognized Jesus’ authority over the problem of his paralyzed servant. Soon enough people from all around Judea would know to take their problems to Jesus. He became famous for solving all kinds of issues dealing with diseases, demons, physical infirmities, even dead loved ones.

But when His words got tough to follow, the people didn't recognize Him as a viable source for their problems anymore. For instance in John 6 where Jesus tells His followers that unless they “eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves (John 6:53). In a sense He was challenging them to do more than just turn to Him when they had a need but to become as reliant upon His words in good times as in troubled times. He wanted them to become dependent upon Him for all decisions in life; dependent upon Him as people are for food. Instead, they had just come for the “free lunch.” John 6:26, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.”

The question to us is, do we turn to God’s word for all decisions? When we’re going to buy a car, sign a contract, get married, seek a new job, chose a major in college, discipline our children, etc.?

It’s easy to only turn to God when it’s a spiritual issue, but in reality all things can become a spiritual issue. One decision may open the door for a more righteous opportunity or a more perverted one. We must practice relying on Jesus as so many people did when He walked the earth. Perhaps we could learn from some of the followers’ errors and not just seek Him not for spiritual blessings but for all issues of life. Put that into practice!

My friend Stephen's book is available now!

Enjoy stories and poems from authors 

Stephen B. Bagley, Kent Bass, Wendy Blanton, 

Gail Henderson, Jean Schara, and Tamara Siler Jones

in this dark, thrilling anthology!

Click here to buy Blackbirds First Flight at Amazon!

Click here to buy Blackbirds First Flight at Barnes & Noble!
Click here to buy Blackbirds First Flight at Lulu!
Learn more at Blackbirds Flights.

Library hosts book signing

(Go to my friend Stephen's book signing. It sounds like fun!)

ADA, OKLAHOMA—Ada Public Library will host a book signing for the new anthology “Blackbirds First Flight” 4:30-6:30 p.m., Thursday, October 30. The anthology features stories from Ada author Stephen B. Bagley, Kent Bass, Wendy Blanton, Gail Henderson, Jean Schara, and Tamara Siler Jones.

Bagley, Blanton, Henderson, and Schara will sign copies of the book at the signing. The book will also be on sale at that time for the special price of $10.

“‘Blackbirds First Flight’ is an anthology of stories and poetry with a dark, sensual twist,” said Pru Simmons, Many River Harbor associate editor. “The stories run the gambit from thrilling Gothic adventure to modern urban fantasy to fantastic encounters with the macabre. The poetry is uniformly excellent and tells dark stories of its own, many related to mythology.”

Simmons said the book might become an annual anthology. “We have had many inquiries about the book and its theme,” she said. “We definitely think there is an interest in dark, twisty fantasy that tells a satisfying story and follows traditional narrative arcs. We hope there will be another flight next year.”

“Gail (Henderson) and I are excited to actually meet some of the other authors,” Bagley said. “Wendy (Blanton) is flying in from Chicago, and Jean (Schara) is driving up from Texas. This is the first time we’ll all be in the same town.”

Stephen B. Bagley wrote “Tales from Bethlehem,” “Murder by Dewey Decimal,” “Murder by the Acre,” “Floozy & Other Stories,” and “EndlesS.” His works have appeared in “Creations 2014,” “Creations 2013,” “Creations 2012,” “ByLine Magazine,” “Free Star,” “Nautilus Magazine,” “OKMagazine,” and other publications. He graduated from Oklahoma State University with a Bachelor of Science in Journalism. He is a member of Oklahoma Writers Federation, Inc. and Ada Writers.

Kent Bass enjoys writing Gothic action/adventure stories. He graduated from Oklahoma State University with a Bachelor of Science in Business and from the University of Oklahoma, with a Master of Science in Accountancy. He and his family live in Dallas, Texas, where he works for the nation’s leading tax software company. “Blackbirds First Flight” is his first publication.

Wendy Blanton published three fantasy novels, “The Dragon’s Lady,” “Rogue Pawn,” and “Sword and Scabbard” under the pen name Elizabeth Joy with co-author Scott Carman. She has a Bachelor of Applied Science in Business Management from the University of Mount Olive and served in active duty for the United States Air Force for eight years. She is an apprentice bard and tells Celtic folk tales at Scottish Highland Games and other venues.

Gail Henderson collaborated with noted Oklahoma photographer Michael Duncan to produce “Bare,” a book of poetry and photography. “Red Bird Woman,” a collection of her poetry, was published in 2013. Her work has appeared in “Creations 2014,” “Creations 2013,” “Creations 2012,” and “ByLine Magazine.” She holds a Masters of Education in English and Social Studies from East Central University. She is a member of Oklahoma Writers Federation, Inc. and Ada Writers.

Tamara Siler Jones is a wife, mom, writer, quilter, and cat-wrangler from rural Iowa. She has three novels in print/eBook (“Ghosts in the Snow,” winner of the Compton Crook Award for best first novel of the year in the Science Fiction/Fantasy/Horror genre; “Threads of Malice”; and “Valley of the Soul”; all published by Bantam Books), one book (“SPORE”) under contract with Samhain Publishing for release next summer; one book (“Morgan’s Run”) being marketed in New York, three novels in progress, and a screenplay in first draft.

Jean Schara retired from a 28-year career in the United States Air Force in 2008 and took up residence in Texas. She is a graduate of the University of Maryland University College with a Bachelor of Arts in Professional Writing and of the Troy State University with a Master of Science in Adult Education. She has had several book reviews published in the “Air Power Journal” and several articles published in “Vision: A Resource for Writers.”

“Blackbirds First Flight” is available from Amazon.com, Lulu.com, and other online retailers and in downtown Ada at Karen’s Art & Framing, Inc., 108 East Main.

For more information, visit Blackbirds Flights.

Festival this Thursday!

Fall Book & Author Festival slated for Thursday

ADA – Ada Writers Second Annual Fall Book and Author Festival will be Thursday, Sept. 18, 4:30-6:30 p.m. hosted by Karen’s Art and Farming, 108 East Main. The festival will feature books by local authors and “Creations 2014,” the latest anthology by Ada Writers.

“This is our chance to show our appreciation for the support we’ve received from Ada and the surrounding area,” said Stephen B. Bagley, Ada Writers president. “We will have a limited number of signed copies of ‘Creations 2014’ available.”

The anthology features short stories, poems, memoirs, and more by members of Ada Writers, including Kelley Benson, Eric Collier, Stacey Foster, Gail Henderson, Mel Hutt, Sterling Jacobs, Ken Lewis, Rick Litchfield, Don Perry, Martha Rhynes, James Sanders, Anna Tynsky, Joanne Verbridge, Tim Wilson, Tom Yarbrough, and Loretta Yin. Unsigned copies are available for purchase on Lulu, Amazon, and other online retailers.

“We will also be featuring books from our members,” Bagley said. Among the books offered will be “Floozy & Other Stories,” “Tales from Bethlehem,” “Murder by Dewey Decimal,” and “Murder by the Acre” by Stephen B. Bagley; “On Target: Devotions for Modern Life” by Kelley Benson; “Montana Sunshine” by Arlee Fairbanks; “Red Bird Woman” by Gail Henderson; “Devoted to Creating” by Jen Nipps; “The War Bride,” “Secret of the Pack Rat’s Nest,” “Jack London,” and “How to Write Scary Stories” by Martha Rhynes; and “Tree Stand Scribbles” and “Treasures of the Kingdom” by Tom Yarbrough. “The books range from mysteries to romance to biography to inspirational and more,” said Bagley.

Several members of Ada Writers will read from the various Creations anthologies, and original music will be provided by member Anna Tynsky. “We will have refreshments, of course, and plenty of good conversations about books and writing, and a few surprises,” Bagley said.

Ada Writers has been helping local authors with their writing goals for more than 25 years. The group meets the second and fourth Saturday of each month in the upstairs meeting room at the Ada Public Library at 11 a.m. Meeting times may be changed to accommodate holidays and bad weather. The meetings feature writing programs and tips aimed at beginners, professionals, and all those in between. For more information about Ada Writers, visit their website at www.adawriters.blogspot.com.

The Strength of Friendship

L

et’s take a careful look at the events in Job 1:6-12:

“One day the members of the heavenly court came to present themselves before the Lord, and the Accuser, Satan, came with them.

God: ‘Where have you come from?’

Satan: ‘I have been prowling around on the earth, watching everything that’s going on.’

God: ‘Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil.’

Satan: ‘Yes, but Job has good reason to fear God. You have always put a wall of protection around him and his home and his property. You have made him prosper in everything he does. Look how rich he is! But reach out and take away everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face!’

God: ‘All right, you may test him, do whatever you want with everything he possesses, but don't harm him physically.’”

For many people, this is one of the most troubling scenes played out in the Bible, perhaps because God allowed something so horrific to happen to someone so holy. Job lost everything, his wealth, his family, and eventually his health, all with God’s approval. We will never understand many things about that scene played out in Job’s life, but the reality is that we see those same kinds of scenes played out in the lives of people we know and love today.

Before we get mad at God, consider what He’s doing for Job and for the readers of this tragedy. The first time we see Satan in scriptures, it was amidst God’s perfect garden. He came to destroy what God established, but he was powerless to rally an army to rival God’s army. Satan was, and is, no match for God. God created humans to be independent thinking instruments of praise, which means we have the free will to choose God over other things and Satan knows that.

Scriptures have pointed out to me that God is primarily concerned with getting those that love Him to join Him in heaven, rather than focusing on the things of this life, like how wealthy, healthy, or happy we are. True happiness will be experienced in His kingdom. Therefore, Satan is on a timer; he only has what time we have during our span on earth to convince us to reject God and live for anything else.

Pain is Satan’s best trick in getting us to turn away from God. I feel confident in saying that it’s for that reason that Satan has worked so hard to destroy families, because of the tremendous pain caused when people God brought together are overcome with so much hurt, disappointments, frustrations, or hate that they disregard one of the purposes of their coming together in the first place.

Paul illustrates this for the Corinthians when he asked them to take back the man that they had discipline in 1 Corinthians 5, so “he won’t be overcome with discouragement.” He was part of a “church family” and he had been involved in things that would hurt the unity of that family, therefore he was punished, but just for a time. Time enough to help him see why he needed those people. Paul describes in 2 Corinthians 2:8, 10-11, “So I urge you now to reaffirm your love for him… [I have forgiven him] for your sakes, so that no advantage would be taken of us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes.”

The goal was to keep him with the family, the problem was that Satan was getting to him through sinful behavior; but we are not ignorant of his schemes. Understanding how Satan works helps us realize the need for brotherly support. The Bible is filled with examples of people coming together to be strengthened by one another. Even in Job’s situation, a bulk of the book is the debates between Job and his “friends.”

Job’s friends came with the intentions of sympathizing with Job, to comfort him, and console him; however, Satan used a tactic that ended up causing Job more pain and frustration. His friends ended up picking Job apart instead of encouraging his continued faithfulness. When trouble strikes, that’s when we need friends more than ever, just as Solomon said in Proverbs 17:17, “A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.”

Peter said in 1 Peter 5:8-11, “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.”

It seems that Peter acknowledges the influence our spiritual peers have on our lives. Paul described the Spiritual armor we are to wear that helps us stay focused on God’s plan, His goal for our lives, and His ability. However, God has shown all throughout scriptures the need for brothers and sisters to support us. People in our lives to be a support, and at times, we are that person in the life of someone else to support them. Or as Galatians 6:2 states it, “Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.”

The love we show those in trouble is what will help the world to recognize the difference between Satan and the Creator of all things – God Almighty. John 13:34-35, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Let’s never forget that we may be how God chooses to demonstrate His strength to help someone finish the race of life. Job’s pain was an opportunity for friends to strengthen him.

They failed the task: what will you do? I know I have become dependent upon the advice, comfort, and support of Christians running alongside of me.

Preparing God's Way

Imagine you’re the new king of a major world empire. Your father did everything by his strength and his efforts, but now that you’re king, you’re going to do things differently. Although you still make efforts to make your nation great by building more trade relationships with surrounding nations, and you strengthen your army to rival any nation, you also seek to do it God’s way, asking Him to guide and direct your path.

Time would tell if you reached your goal, but perhaps the way you used your blessings would prove whether or not you were successful. For King Jehoshaphat he inherited a kingdom from his father Asa that was in need of repair, economically and spiritually. Jehoshaphat wanted to make it better, stronger, a force to be reckoned with. It was when other nations started asking for Judah’s assistance in fighting their enemies that proved his efforts were worth it.

We read in 2 Chronicles 18 where King Ahab of Israel asked Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with me to war?" And Jehoshaphat replied, “Why, of course! My troops are your troops. We will certainly join you in battle, but first let's find out what the Lord says.”

This was perhaps what really proved he had built a Godly kingdom. Although he wasn’t perfect, he continually sought out what the Lord wanted to do with his life and what the Lord had in mind for the kingdom. Jehoshaphat knew to be true what his ancestor David said in Psalms 127:1, “Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it.”

Ahab on the other hand wasn’t the kind of person Jehoshaphat should have been teamed up with; Ahab was probably one of the worst kings Israel ever had. Ahab simply gathered around him many false prophets who were willing to tell him whatever he wanted to here.

In 2 Chronicles 18:5 Ahab summoned 400 prophets, and asked them, "Should we go to war, or should I hold back?" They all replied, "Yes, go right ahead! God will give the king victory." But Jehoshaphat could recognize a true prophet from a false one, so he asked, “Is there not also a prophet of the Lord here?” But Ahab’s response was, “There is one more man who could consult the Lord for us, but I hate him. He never prophesies anything but trouble for me! His name is Micaiah.”

Micaiah did present himself before the kings to prophesy about the upcoming war. Even though he was told to agree with the other prophets, Micaiah finally tells Ahab the truth. He says, “You will die.”

Although this was orchestrated by God to get rid of Ahab for his many sins he committed, hopefully we can see how important it is to be prepared for the battle. Jehoshaphat prepared his kingdom with warriors, but he was also wise enough to rely on God’s strength to win his battles. Why did he trust God so much when his own efforts seemed to be so prosperous? As Psalms 24:8 reveals, “Who is the King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.”

Part of putting on the armor of God is realizing where the strength actually comes from. Then realizing the need to stay alert and sober so that you can recognize when it’s best to join the crowd or buck the system. Read Ephesians 6:10-18 and see if the armor Paul described could help you make the right choice in some decision you have to face.

Paul describes that our battle really isn’t against flesh and blood, but against something harder to identify. Ultimately, that enemy is Satan. Satan hates you because God loves you. Satan wants you to be teamed up with people that may cause you to harden your heart to God. However, the battle armor Paul reminds us to put on is spiritual protection. Do you have your armor on?

Library to host book signing for Ada Writers

ADA, OKLAHOMA  – Ada Public Library will host a book signing for “Creations 2014,” the newest anthology from Ada Writers, Thursday, June 19, 4:30-6:30 p.m.

The book will be available to purchase at the signing for $12 and is available now at Lulu.com, Amazon.com, and other online retailers. Later this month, it will be on sale at Karen’s Art & Framing, Inc., in downtown Ada.

“We’ll have most of our authors at the signing,” Ada Writers president Stephen B. Bagley said. “It will be a great time to get your anthology signed by the writers and to meet them and talk about writing.”

A limited amount of the previous anthologies will also be available at the signing, and there will be a table featuring books by group members, including three new books. “Don Perry will be there with his new young adult book ‘Little Texas on the Pecos,’” Bagley said. “Tom Yarbrough will be bringing his new inspirational book ‘Treasures of the Kingdom.’ And Gail Henderson will present her new poetry and photography book ‘Bare.’” Other authors featured will be Bagley, Kelley Benson, and Martha Rhynes.

This is the third year that Ada Writers has produced an anthology. “Each year we’ve gained new authors,” Bagley said. “This year, we feature poems, essays, short stories, memoirs, and book excerpts from 17 local and area writers. Five of the authors have never been published in our anthology before.”

Authors will read from their works at the signing, Bagley said. “And we will have cookies. We can’t have a reading without cookies. It’s one of our traditions now.”

The local and area anthology authors include: Stephen B. Bagley, Kelley Benson, Eric Collier, Stacey Foster, Gail Henderson, Mel Hutt, Sterling Jacobs, Ken Lewis, Rick Litchfield, Don Perry, Martha Rhynes, James Sanders, Anna Tynsky, Joanne Verbridge, Tim Wilson, Tom Yarbrough, and Loretta Yin.

Ada Writers meets the second and fourth Saturday of each month at 11 a.m. in an upstairs meeting room at the Ada Public Library, 124 South Rennie. New writers are always welcome. For more information about the anthology and the writing group, please visit AdaWriters.blogspot.com.

Ada Writers Fall Book Festival slated for Tuesday

ADA – Ada Writers Fall Book Festival will be Tuesday, Sept. 10, 4:30-6:30 p.m. hosted by Karen’s Art and Farming, 108 East Main. The festival will feature “Creations 2013: 40 Ways to Look at Love,” the newest anthology by Ada Writers, and books by local authors and by award winning children’s book author Laura Eckroat.

“We will be offering books that are mysteries, romances, biographies, inspirational, humor, and more,” said Stephen B. Bagley, Ada Writers president. “And of course, the new anthology features short stories, poems, memoirs, and more by members of Ada Writers, including Kelley Benson, Eric Collier, Lindiwe Hall, Mel Hutt, Ken Lewis, Rick Litchfield, Don Perry, Martha Rhynes, Joanne Verbridge, Tim Wilson, Gail Wood, and Tom Yarbrough.”

A small quantity of signed children’s books by Laura Wintczak Eckroat will be available at the Festival. Eckroat's book “Went Out To Get a Donut - Came Home With a Muffin” was featured in Fort Worth, Texas Magazine and won the Texas Association of Authors First Place Award for Best 7 and Under Children's Book. Her latest book, “What’s In The Corner? ... A Muffin ‘Tail,’” was released this summer. Learn more about Eckroat and her books at LauraEckroat.blogspot.com.

“We will have readings, signed books, refreshments, and good conversations about books,” said Bagley. “We invite everyone to attend.” For more information about Ada Writers, visit AdaWriters.blogspot.com.

“Creations 2013: 40 Ways to Look at Love” is dedicated to the late Arlene “Aren” Rose Howell, who was a cherished longtime member and officer of Ada Writers.

The anthology features works from the following Ada and area authors:

Stephen B. Bagley wrote “Murder by Dewey Decimal,” “Murder by the Acre,” and the forthcoming “Murder by the Mile,” all in the Measurements of Murder™ series. His other books include “Tales from Bethlehem,” “Floozy and Other Stories,” and “EndlesS.” He also wrote the full-length plays “Murder at the Witch’s Cottage” and “Two Writers in the Hands of an Angry God” and co-wrote “Turnabout.” He coauthored two one-act plays published by Dramatic Publishing Company. His poetry has appeared in “Creations 2012,” ByLine Magazine, Prairie Songs, Free Star, and other journals, and his articles in Nautilus, OKMagazine, Pontotoc County Chronicles, and other publications. Visit his website at StephenBBagley.blogspot.com.

Kelley Benson wrote “On Target: Devotions for Modern Life.” He is a Christian and small town minister who has a passion for using everyday opportunities to help people recognize how God works in their lives. He is the husband of his beautiful wife, Jade. They are being intentional about raising their three young children to see how God should be part of everything people do. He’s been involved in the ministry since 1997. A close Christian mentor inspired Kelley to practice “vocational preaching,” simply put: to work and preach. This allows him the opportunity to be involved in the lives of other people in a personal way through secular work while demonstrating leadership in a local church. Visit his website at KelleyBenson.blogspot.com.

Eric Collier is a father of two and grandfather of six. He started writing poetry for a poetry class hosted by Continuing Education at East Central University. He lives in Ada and works as physical therapist for a local hospital. He enjoys camping, hiking, bird watching, and growing vegetables and flowers.

Lindiwe Hall is a published author of books and eBooks. She enjoys all kinds of writing. She is a graduate of the College of New Rochelle, New York. She has written autobiographical fiction, writes children’s books, and is in the process of proofing and writing an album for her mission called Rose of Sharon. Also, she is very proud of her late father, who was Ambassador to the United Nations from Swaziland for 18 years.

Mel Hutt and his wife have been married for more than sixty years and have three children, eight grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren. When his father died in 1945, he entered the Navy and served more than three years in the Pacific, including Operation Crossroads of the atomic bomb experiments at Bikini. He was then assigned to a destroyer and traveled to places like Australia, China, and Japan, with Hawaii as the stop to and from those places. He shares his memories in memoirs.

Ken Lewis has written several articles and short stories of different genres. His interests lie mostly in the paranormal and science fiction genres, but he enjoys exploring other avenues of the art. He’s a graduate of the Longridge Writer’s Group. He’s a firm believer in “Life is learning.” He currently serves as vice-president and treasurer of Ada Writers.

Rick Litchfield’s poetry appears in “A Surrender to the Moon,” “The International Who’s Who in Poetry,” “Timeless Voices,” “The Best Poems and Poets of 2007” and “Creations 2012.” He is working on “Shards of Wit and Wisdom: Stories and Stained Glass.”

Don Perry grew up outside of Crockett, Texas, and later moved to Fort Worth. After many years in the aviation field, he retired and moved to a small farm outside of Ada, Oklahoma. Don married Barbara Burleson in 1965, has two children, Melissa and James, and three grandsons. Since his retirement, he writes short stories of life and times during his youth, geared toward the young adult and teen-aged audiences. Many of his short stories show the humorous and whimsical side of the 1950s life and are often autobiographical in nature. He is currently writing a novel in the fantasy genre.

Martha Rhynes, a retired teacher, began her writing career by re-searching the lives of American authors and writing biographies and analyses of their work for inclusion in literary encyclopedias. Her book-length biographies include, “I, Too, Sing America, The Story of Langston Hughes,” “Gwendolyn Brooks, Poet from Chicago,” “Ralph Ellison: Author of Invisible Man,” “Jack London: Writer of Adventure,” and “Ray Bradbury: Teller of Tales.” Her works of fiction include numerous short stories and three novels: “Secret of the Pack Rat’s Nest,” “The War Bride,” and “Man on First.” Her non-fiction includes an eBook for young adults: “How to Write Scary Stories.” Visit her website at MarthaERhynes.blogspot.com.

Joanne Verbridge was born in Oakland, California, spending her life experiences in Northern California. Family brought her to Oklahoma where she enjoys taking time to write about those experiences. She is trying to inspire her young nieces to take an interest in story telling and writing. She currently serves as the secretary and historian for Ada Writers.

Tim Wilson is a steadfast believer in truth, justice, and the American way of life, and writes to make a difference by helping others with his hard-earned knowledge and life experiences so others may not suffer the same tragic consequences. He is currently writing a nonfiction book, “Yet to be Disclosed,” which is based on facts that explain “the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth about the issues of modern society.”

Gail Wood has written all her life. “It is as natural to me as breathing. I love the written word, all the nuances, the connotations, the music. I am retired from the perverted world of grants, reports, and strategic plans—the bureaucratic graveyard for words. Besides writing, I have a passion for walking. I love the outdoors and all things natural. The best part of my life is now.” Her book, “Red Bird Woman,” will be released later this year by Many Rivers Harbor.

Tom Yarbrough is the author of four books, three nonfiction and one fiction. He is currently editing two works accepted by a publisher. After a long career in counseling and education, he now spends his time with full-time writing, family concerns, and hobbies like Rendezvous (an 1840 living history camp) and making bookmarks called Shepherd Staffs.

Library hosts book signing

ADA – Ada Public Library will host a book signing for “Creations 2013: 40 Ways to Look at Love,” the newest anthology from Ada Writers, 4-6 p.m., Thursday, August 22. The book will be available for purchase at the book signing for $12

The back cover explains the theme of the book: “For some, passion and joy. For others, torment and regret. Ada Writers looks at love in its many forms with articles, essays, memoirs, poems, short stories, and excerpts from books and novels-in-progress in this new anthology.”

The anthology is dedicated to the late Arlene “Aren” Rose Howell, who was a cherished longtime member and officer of Ada Writers.

This year’s anthology features works from the following Ada and area authors:

Stephen B. Bagley wrote “Murder by Dewey Decimal,” “Murder by the Acre,” and the forthcoming “Murder by the Mile,” all in the Measurements of Murder™ series. His other books include “Tales from Bethlehem,” “Floozy and Other Stories,” and “EndlesS.” He also wrote the full-length plays “Murder at the Witch’s Cottage” and “Two Writers in the Hands of an Angry God” and co-wrote “Turnabout.” He coauthored two one-act plays published by Dramatic Publishing Company. His poetry has appeared in “Creations 2012,” ByLine Magazine, Prairie Songs, Free Star, and other journals, and his articles in Nautilus, OKMagazine, Pontotoc County Chronicles, and other publications. He currently serves as president of Ada Writers. Visit his website at StephenBBagley.blogspot.com.

Kelley Benson wrote “On Target: Devotions for Modern Life.” He is a Christian and small town minister who has a passion for using everyday opportunities to help people recognize how God works in their lives. He is the husband of his beautiful wife, Jade. They are being intentional about raising their three young children to see how God should be part of everything people do. He’s been involved in the ministry since 1997. A close Christian mentor inspired Kelley to practice “vocational preaching,” simply put: to work and preach. This allows him the opportunity to be involved in the lives of other people in a personal way through secular work while demonstrating leadership in a local church. Visit his website at KelleyBenson.blogspot.com.

Eric Collier is a father of two and grandfather of six. He started writing poetry for a poetry class hosted by Continuing Education at East Central University. He lives in Ada and works as physical therapist for a local hospital. He enjoys camping, hiking, bird watching, and growing vegetables and flowers.

Lindiwe Hall is a published author of books and eBooks. She enjoys all kinds of writing. She is a graduate of the College of New Rochelle, New York. She has written autobiographical fiction, writes children’s books, and is in the process of proofing and writing an album for her mission called Rose of Sharon. Also, she is very proud of her late father, who was Ambassador to the United Nations from Swaziland for 18 years.

Mel Hutt and his wife have been married for more than sixty years and have three children, eight grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren. When his father died in 1945, he entered the Navy and served more than three years in the Pacific, including Operation Crossroads of the atomic bomb experiments at Bikini. He was then assigned to a destroyer and traveled to places like Australia, China, and Japan, with Hawaii as the stop to and from those places. He shares his memories in memoirs.

Ken Lewis has written several articles and short stories of different genres. His interests lie mostly in the paranormal and science fiction genres, but he enjoys exploring other avenues of the art. He’s a graduate of the Longridge Writer’s Group. He’s a firm believer in “Life is learning.” He currently serves as vice-president and treasurer of Ada Writers.

Rick Litchfield’s poetry appears in “A Surrender to the Moon,” “The International Who’s Who in Poetry,” “Timeless Voices,” “The Best Poems and Poets of 2007” and “Creations 2012.” He is working on “Shards of Wit and Wisdom: Stories and Stained Glass.”

Don Perry grew up outside of Crockett, Texas, and later moved to Fort Worth. After many years in the aviation field, he retired and moved to a small farm outside of Ada, Oklahoma. Don married Barbara Burleson in 1965, has two children, Melissa and James, and three grandsons. Since his retirement, he writes short stories of life and times during his youth, geared toward the young adult and teen-aged audiences. Many of his short stories show the humorous and whimsical side of the 1950s life and are often autobiographical in nature. He is currently writing a novel in the fantasy genre.

Martha Rhynes, a retired teacher, began her writing career by re-searching the lives of American authors and writing biographies and analyses of their work for inclusion in literary encyclopedias. Her book-length biographies include, “I, Too, Sing America, The Story of Langston Hughes,” “Gwendolyn Brooks, Poet from Chicago,” “Ralph Ellison: Author of Invisible Man,” “Jack London: Writer of Adventure,” and “Ray Bradbury: Teller of Tales.” Her works of fiction include numerous short stories and three novels: “Secret of the Pack Rat’s Nest,” “The War Bride,” and “Man on First.” Her non-fiction includes an eBook for young adults: “How to Write Scary Stories.” Visit her website at MarthaERhynes.blogspot.com.

Joanne Verbridge was born in Oakland, California, spending her life experiences in Northern California. Family brought her to Oklahoma where she enjoys taking time to write about those experiences. She is trying to inspire her young nieces to take an interest in story telling and writing. She currently serves as the secretary and historian for Ada Writers.

Tim Wilson is a steadfast believer in truth, justice, and the American way of life, and writes to make a difference by helping others with his hard-earned knowledge and life experiences so others may not suffer the same tragic consequences. He is currently writing a non-fiction book, “Yet to be Disclosed,” which is based on facts that explain “the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth about the issues of modern society.”

Gail Wood has written all her life. “It is as natural to me as breathing. I love the written word, all the nuances, the connotations, the music. I am retired from the perverted world of grants, reports, and strategic plans—the bureaucratic graveyard for words. Besides writing, I have a passion for walking. I love the outdoors and all things natural. The best part of my life is now.” Her forthcoming book, “Red Bird Woman,” will be released later this year by Many Rivers Harbor.

Tom Yarbrough is the author of four books, three non-fiction and one fiction. He is currently editing two works accepted by a publisher. After a long career in counseling and education, he now spends his time with full time writing, family concerns, and hobbies like Rendezvous (an 1840 living history camp) and making bookmarks called Shepherd Staffs.

Now on Amazon!

On Target: Devotions for Modern Life by Kelley Benson is now on sale at Amazon.com! Click here!

Book signing slated for Tuesday

Writer Kelley Benson is having a book signing for his first book, On Target: Devotions for Modern Life, this Tuesday afternoon, Oct. 23, 4:30-6:30 p.m. at Karen's Art & Framing, 108 East Main, Ada.

There will be delicious refreshments, great conversation, and signed books for purchase (Kelley's as well as Many Rivers Harbor books by Martha Rhynes, Ada Writers, and Stephen B. Bagley). You can enter a drawing to win a gift basket valued at over $100 to be given away in December and enjoy all the beautiful artwork on display.

We hope to see you there!

PEC Day

Kelley participated in a group book signing with Ada Writers at PEC Day, Sept. 29, in Ada.

Kelley Benson

Mel Hutt, Martha Rhynes, Aren Howell & Kelley Benson

ADA -- Many Rivers Harbor announces the publication of "On Target: Devotions for Modern Life," a book of devotions written by Ada area resident Kelley Benson.

The book focuses on the problems confronting people in modern society, Benson says, such as relationships, finances, education, children, and other facets of a busy life.

"The interesting thing about the Bible is that first of all, it’s living and active as Hebrews 4:12 states," Benson says. "The second thing is that it transcends any particular place and time. The teachings and history of Jesus’s life are not limited to first century. That means the Scriptures are constantly speaking to you through various forms. Perhaps deep meditation, maybe a friend's words, or even an event taking place in your life. That has definitely been the case for me as I've made a habit of spending time in God’s Word every day. Through constant and persistent study, we begin to realize the impact of God’s Word on every facet of our lives. The inspiration for this book springs from numerous events, conversations, and definitely reflection on the Scriptures."

Benson is a Christian and small town minister who has a passion for using everyday opportunities to help people recognize how God works in their lives. He and his wife Jade are intentionally raising their three young children to see how God should be part of everything people do. He’s been involved in the ministry since 1997 and has participated in a wide range of ministries. However, he was inspired by a close Christian mentor to practice “vocational preaching,” simply put: to work and preach. This allows him the opportunity to be involved in the lives of other people in a personal way through secular work while demonstrating leadership in a local church. “To do this requires the full commitment of our entire family, realizing the blessings that come with being involved in helping people develop a stronger relationship with God,” Benson says.

Benson is currently working as a Realtor® in Ada for Paradigm Realty. He’s been involved with the investment industry, the insurance industry, teaching at the local college, and carpentry. He also operates a small gym where he teaches young people how to work out and exercise. And he has a wood shop that he uses as a tool to educate those in the community who are interested in building, marketing, and selling furniture.

"On Target: Devotions for Modern Life" is now available at Karen's Art & Framing, 108 East Main, and can also be purchased online at www.KelleyBenson.blogspot.com. It will be available soon on Amazon and other online retailers.

Many Rivers Harbors, a micropublishing company based in Oklahoma, helps authors publish and promote their books. For more information, visit its website at ManyRiversHarbor.blogspot.com.

Author publishes book of devotions

Sept. 7, 2012 -- Many Rivers Harbor announces the publication of On Target: Devotions for Modern Life, a book of devotions written by Ada area resident Kelley Benson.

The book focuses on the problems confronting people in modern society, Benson says, such as relationships, finances, education, children, and other facets of a busy life.

Benson is a Christian and small town minister who has a passion for using everyday opportunities to help people recognize how God works in their lives. He and his wife Jade are being intentional about raising their three young children to see how God should be part of everything people do. He’s been involved in the ministry since 1997 and has participated in a wide range of ministries. However, he was inspired by a close Christian mentor to practice “vocational preaching,” simply put: to work and preach. This allows him the opportunity to be involved in the lives of other people in a personal way through secular work while demonstrating leadership in a local church. “To do this requires the full commitment of our entire family, realizing the blessings that come with being involved in helping people develop a stronger relationship with God,” Benson says.

Benson is currently working as a Realtor® in Ada for Paradigm Realty. He’s been involved with the investment industry, the insurance industry, teaching at the local college, and even carpentry. He also operates a small gym where he teaches kids how to work out and exercise. And he has a woodshop that he uses as a tool to educate those in the community who are interested in building, marketing, and selling furniture.

The book is now available at Lulu and can be purchased HERE.

Many Rivers Harbors, a micropublishing company based in Oklahoma, helps authors publish and promote their books. For more information, visit its website at ManyRiversHarbor.blogspot.com.