Fraggle Rock

Twenty-five years ago, our special family night was watching Fraggle Rock. We would pop popcorn and watch the weekly show. It was produced by the late Jim Henson, the creator of the Muppets. For four years Fraggle Rock ruled!

Last December I was browsing through Costco and spied the anniversary edition of Fraggle Rock. I couldn't believe it. (Actually, I had forgotten all about it until then). Right then and there, I knew what I was getting my adult kids and toddler grandchildren for Christmas. And because I couldn't stand it I bought myself a set.

I have had so much fun watching the DVDs. Now, I will admit the camera angles and production might not be up to 2009 standards. However, the sweet story lines with humor, tenderness and a moral are right up my alley. Talk about entertaining! I curl up with my bowl of popcorn and spend the evening with Sprocket, the Dozers, the Trash Heap and all sorts of eccentric characters. I fit right in "Down in Fraggle Rock."

Laughter & Lattes

One of my favorite parts of ministry is finding friends who love Jesus. There is nothing quite like meeting someone and knowing that you are sisters--sisters in Christ. Recently, I was privileged to share laughter and lattes with Price Chapel in Utah. We had a blast! We laughed and shared caffeine jitters, but most all we shared love.





Fun times!

Friday--The Writers' Porch

Over the past few weeks I have given tips on how to find your path to publication. Now I would like to begin a new series. But I would love to have your input on what you would like to read about on The Writers' Porch.

A few of the ideas that I have include:

Shortbread--Learn How to Write Great Devotionals

Brick-by-Brick--How to Write Bible Studies

How to Find the Right Publisher

Book Proposals--Learn Necessary Elements

Now what are your ideas? What would you like to learn?

Let me know! Leave a comment or email me at susanne@susanneonline.com.

Blessings,

Babbling about Books--Thursday

Redeeming Love
Author: Francine Rivers
Christian Fiction
Publisher: Multnomah

If you haven’t read Redeeming Love, you should. It is one of my all-time favorite books. I read it a couple of years ago. Now, I just listened to it on my i-pod. All I can say is that when I read it in book form I couldn’t put it down. When I listened to it on my i-pod, my ears hurt from the continuous pressure of the ear buds.

In the audio version, at the end they interview Francine Rivers. She discusses that before she became a Christian she wrote steamy historical fiction. After becoming a Christ follower, she put her writing aside for three years. She immersed herself in God’s Word. Eventually, she felt led to write Redeeming Love, which is based on the biblical story of Hosea and Gomer. However, she places the story in California during the Gold Rush with the characters renamed Michael and Angel. Redeeming Love was her first Christian novel. Since then she has written many more, but I think Redeeming Love will be a classic.

Kudos to Multnomah Books for taking the risk of publishing this unique book. It contains child molestation, prostitution, forgiveness, grace and true love.

Read it!

Birds in My Mustard Tree

Birds in My Mustard Tree by Susanne Scheppmann (An excerpt)

“He said to them, Because of the littleness of your faith [that is, your lack of firmly relying trust]. For truly I say to you, if you have faith [that is living] like a grain of mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, Move from here to yonder place, and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.” Matthew 17:20 (AMP)

What are birds in a mustard tree? Let me see if I can explain.

My pomegranate bush resembles a Christmas tree decorated by the hand of God. Its branches hang heavy with crimson bulbs of fruit. It sways in the wind and I catch a whiff of the overripe fruit. Various types of sparrows and robins sit on the branches like “twelve partridges in a pear tree.” Then I hear the high-pitched music of finches and hummingbirds beyond the lush fruit and deep within the branches. The birds on the exterior dance; the hidden birds continue to sing along in a bird chorus.

To me this pomegranate bush mirrors in the physical world what happens in the spiritual world of faith that Jesus referred to in the above verse.

But what are birds in a mustard tree? It’s my phrase for recognizing God’s response to my smallest faith and most doubt-filled prayers. The birds in my mustard tree are proof to me that God works as long as I have the tiniest bit of faith in His almighty power. Author David Jeremiah wrote in My Heart’s Desire. "You may sometimes feel awkward and uncomfortable, and find yourself saying, “Is this really true? I don’t see anything in it. I don’t hear God’s voice. I don’t feel His presence. There are days like that for all of us. The pursuit of God has no shortcuts. You simply must keep walking, keep seeking, and keep yearning. Keep at it, and you won’t be disappointed."

One example of mustard seed faith is I think back to when my two sons were little boys. I began to pray for their future wives. So, I began a “shopping list” of prayers for daughters-in-law. It consisted of the following: godly, kind, sense of humor, good cooks, and fun families. Those prayers have been answered completely. I consider my “daughter-in-loves” to be two of the most evident birds to result from my faith.

What would you list as seen evidences of your faith?

If we combined our lists, we would be amazed at the variety of “birds” we would see. In the days and years ahead, we will see many more birds come to roost in our mustard tree of faith.

Abraham Herschel described it as,"Faith is not the clinging to a shrine. But an endless pilgrimage of the heart, audacious longing, burning songs, daring thoughts, impulse overwhelming the heart, usurping toward these are all a drive to love the one who rings our heart like a bell."

Even if my faith is as tiny as a mustard seed, God can bring about miraculous results. He can grow my faith so large that it can roost a multitude of His wonderful deeds. I call these the “birds in my mustard tree.”

Friday--The Writer's Porch

Edit-Revise-Edit

Today I finish the "Top Ten Paths to Publication." Number 10—edit-revise-edit. When you think you are finished writing let your manuscript sit. Put it in a drawer for a few days, then pull it out and read it again. Read it aloud to yourself. Listen for the rhythm and cadence of your writing. How does it sound?

Read it through and delete any unnecessary words. These will usually be adverbs. Delete the adverbs and use stronger verbs. For example:

He ran quickly to the car.
He raced to the car.

In addition, I always have at least two other people read my manuscript. Even when I read my own writing aloud, I tend to insert the words I think should be there. So by having a couple more sets of eyes read it, I will get a better final product. My husband is one of my proofers. (Now I can’t recommend that for everyone, but it works for me.) Also, my dear friend and relative, Margaret Traudt, proofs for me. She has done a great job for me, so great that she has begun to do it as a small business. If you are interested you can contact Margaret for more information at: jt15708@peoplepc.com

Babbling about Books--Thursday--Our Greatest Gift

Our Greatest Gift: A Meditation on Dying and Caring
Henri Nouwen
Non-fiction
Publisher: HarperCollins
(1994)

By coincidence, I was reading Our Greatest Gift: A Meditation on Dying and Caring during these past couple weeks of such high profile deaths. Each time I hear of the death of a celebrity or grieve over the passing of a friend it makes me reflect on my own mortality. How many more years do I have?

I am not afraid of dying, but still I think about it. Henri Nouwen’s book is a grace-filled, compassionate look at death and dying. Are you thinking, “How morbid is that?” Well, perhaps a bit, but at the same time this book is comforting and thought-provoking.

Nouwen was somewhat of a modern day mystic. He was a native of Holland, author of dozens of books and a caregiver for people with mental disabilities. I have read a few of his books, but I think this one is my favorite. If you are a Nouwen fan, I think you’ll like this.

See you tomorrow,