The Continental Divide (Why You Must Vote!)

This is urgently important to watch if you don't plan on voting, or not voting for the Conservative platform. From Denton Bible Media Ministry. Please share with your friends and family!

Thoughts About Being an Out-Spoken Christian

I keep hearing that authors shouldn't speak out on political issues on Facebook or other social media;  that posting views on controversial issues could alienate people, maybe even make them hate you—and that's not what we're called to do.  I'd like to examine the usual reasons given for us to keep our mouths shut and offer a different viewpoint:

 Argument: It could alienate readers/make them hate you.

The Response:  If my politics alienates anyone they wouldn't like my books, anyway. My books are strongly Christian and staunchly conservative. Also, did Jesus care if he alienated people? Lots of people hated Jesus for telling them like it is. When I share political stuff, I'm not just spouting opinions—but links to articles that I believe are telling it like it is.     

Argument: We're called to write, not get into politics.  

The Bible says the ungodly "suppress the truth in unrighteousness." If the ungodly suppress the truth, doesn't it stand to reason that the godly should do the opposite? Broadcast it? I post headlines and links to things mainstream media purposely suppresses. Why should I join them in silent collusion when I can do what they're not doing and help spread truth?

 It isn't "nice" to talk politics.

That may be true at a family dinner or reunion, but on places like Facebook there is no captive audience. I don't make it a habit to tag people, or post to their pages—I stick to my own turf. No one has to put up with it if they don't want to. And we as a church are so busy being "nice" and guarding the front door that the wolves have been coming in the back. We need to stop playing nice, and get real. (We've been so nice, historically, that society has fallen to its current level. Society can only fall as low as the church will allow.)

As writers, our job is to entertain, not cause possible strife.

 That may be true for some writers, but personally I try to imbue my work with much more than entertainment. If I wanted to simply entertain people I'd be a stand-up comic.  My job is to be authentic, a Jesus follower in view of the world.  I feel strongly about the issues of the day, and I am being authentically me not only when I share my faith, but when I share how that faith engages with social issues—and that includes political things.

If you're not an expert on the issue, you're not qualified to share your opinions about it.

Having the right to discuss issues does mean running the risk of being wrong on occasion; so what?  Few of us have time to exhaustively research every matter—but that doesn't preclude the need or right to discuss them. (It sure as heck doesn't stop the progressives from sharing their opinions. )Social media is an open forum—many people recognize this and share their thoughts if they disagree with a post, or think you're mistaken on an issue.  And that's just fine.

Don't share it if it doesn't have eternal value.

This sounds strangely like "if you have nothing good to say, don't say anything at all." That's great advice when you're talking about mom's dinner, but it's not great advice when the wolves are at the door and you need to tell them to keep out.  I make no claims that my political posts have eternal value—but do other posts get this stringent requirement? If I put a picture of my beautiful backyard roses online, does it have eternal value? Must it have eternal value to have any value? If we all stuck to this requirement, the only thing we could talk about would be God and scripture.

It comes across as negativity.

That's exactly what the Pharisees thought when Jesus pronounced woe on them. Some people don't like posts that imply abortion is murder, or that sodomy is still sin, or that traditional marriage is the only real marriage.  To them, it's negativity.  In fact, I'm not trying to offend people, but in truth, they're offended with God, not me. He made the rules! As for purely political posts, many see that as negativity, too, for all the above reasons. But for people who are like-minded, these posts are encouraging. They know they're not the only ones who care.  And many people really are ignorant of God's views on issues, and need to be told.

Christians should spread love, not hate.

The most loving thing to do for people other than pray and witness the gospel is to be honest with them. If I keep silent on social issues in order not to offend some, I am also failing to offend the ones who need to be offended. Yes, you heard that right. Sometimes we need to be offended—with our sin. Coming to God requires the acknowledgment of sin, yet we are told to avoid discussing social issues that the Bible calls sin. Why? Because it makes people uncomfortable?  Sometimes discomfort is the path to faith. And we are the church—who else will call out abortion for being murder, or homosexuality as an abomination to God?  You don't have to be ordained or stand at a pulpit to stand firm on God's Word. People need to know that God has definite views on these issues. Perhaps this knowledge could lead to repentance!   It is not unloving to administer truth.

You won't win any popularity contests by being opinionated.

To paraphrase a famous line of fiction: "Frankly, Scarlett, I don't give a darn."  Would you tell a Bonhoeffer to keep quiet?  Or Luther not to pin his 99 articles to the door at Wittenburg? Thankfully, we don't have to be a Bonhoeffer or a Luther to stand up against ungodliness; or to share what we feel is right, politically. All we need is a place to be heard. And a willingness to ignore those who only want us  to play nice. 

In the end, Jesus' commitment to sharing truth got him crucified. Which was, of course, God's plan from all eternity, for our blessing and salvation.  Jesus knew the end from the beginning. He knew exactly what his destiny was and stayed true to his calling.  Calling out sin got John the Baptist beheaded. For us, being willing to stand counter-culture in the cause of righteousness may end up bringing persecution our way, too. But that's no reason to remain silent.  It identifies us as light-bearers, people who swim the other way in this sea of fish, who stand against the tide when the tide is going in the wrong direction. 

Some fish are going to knock into us and tell us to get out of the way. All I can say, (and I hope you'll say it with me) is, "Here I stand. I can do no other."  

Do you agree? Still think Christians ought to keep our mouths shut? Tell me why in a comment.    

           

Linore Rose Burkard grew up in NY and graduated from CUNY (City University ) with a magna cum laude degree in English Literature.  Linore  wrote a trilogy of genuine regency romances for the Christian market before there were any regencies for the Christian market. Published with Harvest House, her books opened up the genre for the CBA. She also writes YA Suspense/Apocalyptic fiction as L.R. Burkard. Married with five children, she home-schools her youngest daughter, preferably with coffee in one hand and an iPad in the other. Her latest  PULSE EFFEX SERIES, takes readers into a "chilling possible future for America."

'Tis the Season--For Renaissance Festivals!

by Linore Rose Burkard

One of the perks of Autumn is the Renaissance Festival. Here in southwestern Ohio, we have a medieval-style fair grounds replete with "Olde"  English buildings, church, and even a jousting area, but it lies sadly vacant all year--until the Renaissance Festival returns each fall.

You've always wanted to be greeted by a Knight in shining armor, right?

When I mentioned to a friend that we had spent a day at the festival, she said, "Last time I went it was fantasy/renaissance. I didn't care for it at all. It was just weird. Was the one you went to just Renaissance?"

Well--the rest of today's post is my answer to her question. I took scads of photos and notes, which, perhaps because I'm a writer, seemed  like the natural thing to do.  

Weird--or Wonderful. You Be the Judge

People love to show off their costumes, and the Renaissance Fair was a golden opportunity. There was goth, wizard outfits, other time periods, and just plain punk stuff.  I took photos of some of the best.  [Click the photo to see the pictures better!] 

Just beautiful! (Notice the wooden stein. They were for sale there.) 

An Archer. 

A Puppeteer (poor photo, sorry)

Crusaders, perhaps? (But the cross is missing.)

Forsooth, another fellow. 

  

A band of hearty pirates, matey.  

The cloak/coat, left, gets five stars!    

A Red Knight

There were loads of people and loads of shops. The girl in the skirt, ahead, is my daughter.

Stage performances were not all created equal, but this one included fire-eating! 

And voila! He really did it--more than once, ouch.  

The "Fool Hearty" Duo. (They get an A for great costumes.) 

The quintessential magic act, "Cut the girl in two!" 

A truly funny performer. This act included knife-throwing and juggling, besides the tongue-in-cheek humor. Best part of the day!

The second half of the two-man knife-throwing/juggling act. 

Robin Hood and Maid Marion. Family friendly fun.

The husband picture didn't make it, but this lady is the wife in an act that could be called a Medieval-style battle of the sexes. Included some derring-do and swordplay. Fun!  

The shops ran the gamut from neat leather goods to occult weird stuff. There was a wonderful quilt shop and it even had a couple of Christian themed quilts. Animal pelts galore, medieval clothing, jewelry, crystals, pottery, weaving, and more. 
 

The Sign says: Large Stainless Steel Rings $50.00 - $65.00. 

Wares for sale: 

• Wood and clay mugs, pottery
• Staffs, anklets, shields
• Viking Helmets
• Garlands, sashes, hair bands
• Essential oils and incense, candles
• Walking sticks, wood carvings
• rings, puzzle rings, necklaces, key chain charms
• bicornes and tricornes
• fabric purses
• knives, axes, old-fashioned pistols
• fox tails, leather whips, animal pelts
• swords and scabbards, some hand-forged
• gemstone wind-chimes
• chain-mail
• leather boots, 1/2 boots, moccasins
• masks, magic wands
• stained glass hangings
• dragon eggs (crystals)
• small stone sculptures
• rope sandals, flags, archery quivers
• medieval outfits, children's outfits
• ladies' corsets, bodices, etc. ("Damsel in This Dress")
• Elf ears
• Ye Olde Quilt Shoppe 
• pictures, artwork
• "Souvenirs, Gifts and Wares"
• Wood Shoppe
• Book Shoppe

Beautiful craftsmanship. Stones come from US rivers.

Food: (The setting may be Renaissance, but they're feeding millennials and they know it!)

• "turkey legges" (This year's batch was cured like ham and unsatisfactory, in my humble opinion. I like a turkey leg that tastes like turkey.)
• ale and beer, other alcoholic beverages
• "Fat Friar's" (Funnel cakes. What kind of fair would be complete without them?)
• The "Jerusalem Café"--middle eastern
• Burgers and fries 
• Soft serve ice cream
• "Roadhouse BBQ" and "Fool's Pub"
• Corn-on-the-cob
• "Pot Roast Sundae"
• "Mac and Cheese Cupcake"
• Steak Sandwich
• Pizza, bratwurst, hot dogs, Chicken fingers, etc.etc.

Services:

• Hair braiding
• Gypsy face painting
• Henna

A Medieval-style Southern Belle Costume? 

For Sale 

The Entertainment:

Audience participation was de rigueur. (When they ask for volunteers, this is when the wise judiciously avoid eye contact at all costs.) Some of the entertainment was not included with admission, which was about $22 per head. (We went on the buy one/get one admission weekend!)

• Magic Shows
• Axe-throwing, Archery. George and the Dragon (Perfect dress-up and play for the kiddies)
• Stocks (usually empty)
• A Castle with Dungeon
• "Fool Hearty"
• Jousting 
• Knife-Throwing Comedy Show (the best act we saw)\
• A medieval cemetery (small but effective)
• A Maze
• Horse or Pony Rides
• Camel ride (A smaller camel, but perhaps it's safer that way)
• Archery
• "Drench the Wench"
• Merry-Go-Round
• "Test of Strength"
• Other kiddie rides
• Live Music
• And More

Epitaph-cum-Classified Ad?

 "Here Lies Buried the body of Mr. Jared Smith who Died April 23, 1502 in his 73rd year. His widow aged 23 years who Mourns as one who can be comforted lives on Drury Lane in this Village and possesses every Qualification for a Loving Wife."

Finally, arriving with some pomp at the jousting event, which usually ends the day for us, was good ol' Queen Bess, Queen Elizabeth, that is, in beautiful array.

"Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth" 

The Queen with courtiers, at the Joust 

The official website for the Ohio Renaissance Festival can be viewed, here.

Do you attend Renaissance Festivals? If so, do you dress in Renaissance style, or what is your favorite feature? 
This post published first on Heroes,Heroines and History Blog.
http://www.hhhistory.com/

Linore Rose Burkard is best known for historical romance novels with Harvest House Publishers, and now writes YA/Apocalyptic Suspense as L.R.Burkard. Linore teaches workshops for writers in Ohio, is a mother of five, and still homeschools her youngest daughter. Subscribers to her ezine are automatically entered in a drawing for a chance to win a free copy of one of her books, awarded monthly.  Sign up here!  

My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this book at age nine, and proceeded to write my first novel afterwards. It was basically my own version of the story, told with me as the protagonist. I was enthralled with the book, and enamored of the idea of running away and living successfully--without my family! Freedom from angst!

So...fast forward a few decades and I really did become an author. More years pass, and now finally I have re-read the book that, for me, started my writing career.

Like many of my childhood favorites, the book is not as good to my adult sensibilities. I take issue with things that never bothered me as a youngster. What kind of parents allow a child to live alone on a mountain for a year? Some of Sam's activities are extremely doubtful. How does a young boy manage to make himself deerskin clothing? Tan hides with no prior experience? Kill and eat turtle and rabbit without having instruction on how to do so? Even dressing deer is not exactly intuitive. And recognize with certainty so many wild edibles-when he is a city boy?

Nevertheless, some of the charm remains, and I still recommend this for any youngster. Also, since I now write apocalyptic suspense (in addition to my first published books, which are historical romance) I marvel that in a way I've come full circle: Survival is the name of the game, for Sam, and for the characters in my PULSE EFFEX SERIES. I love the living- off-the-land details, whether Sam is too wise to be realistic or not. I have also just read the sequel, which is not as good, but also worthwhile.

View all my reviews

Heroes, Heroines, and History: A Survival Miracle

I wanted to share this post by a fellow author.

As I said in my comment to her (Cindy K. Stewart), "This is the kind of story that most Americans can't even conceive of
enduring. Most of us probably wouldn't survive, unlike Danuta. We need
to remember these events because enemies and wars aren't kind--they're
brutal and harsh. National defense is not politically correct these
days, and many want to disarm the American people. Disarmament leads to
helplessness and easy takeover territory for a country's enemies! Thanks
for sharing this touching story."





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Shedding the Weight of Bitterness

This short devo is from The Christian Pulse and such a great reminder that I wanted to share it with you. All too recently I've been here--allowing bitterness to take root without my truly acknowledging it--or repenting of it. It's always a good idea to keep short accounts with God--and others. Don't let things simmer...the pot always and only gets hotter.

Vacation Declaration

Posted: 18 Mar 2016 01:11 PM PDT

By Cindy Martin –

How much unforgiveness are you carrying? 

On a recent family vacation, during a time of casual conversation, our 13 year old daughter made the following spontaneous declaration, “I tried holding a grudge once, but it was too much work.” The manner in which she expressed herself caused us all to chuckle enthusiastically. Revealing her deep desire for meaningful relationships, she followed up by saying, “I just wanted to talk with my friend”.
While her little pronouncement has brought me much amusement, it has also challenged me to reflect on the high cost of unforgiveness. Hebrews 12:15 reads, “Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many” (NLT). We learn in this verse that by withholding forgiveness, we are depriving others and ourselves of God’s grace. It also reminds us that the choice not to forgive results in many unexpected and destructive happenings in our life. While forgiveness leads to peace, unforgiveness leads to misery and our misery poisons those around us. Many of us have experienced the harsh stinging words or attitude of someone else’s misery. Perhaps, we’ve been the ones extending misery instead of grace.

Forgiveness is not forgetting, denying, approving of or excusing another person’s actions. Rather it is an active choice to be a conduit of God’s grace. Refusing to forgive is choosing to stay tied to someone in a link that is sometimes stronger than steel. God’s work of grace in our hearts to extend forgiveness is the only pathway to release. When we choose to forgive, we are untying ourselves, freeing ourselves from an often suffocating weight in our lives.
Matthew 6:15 explains another way we feel the weight of unforgiveness in our lives, “But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins” (NLT). Whether it’s the weight of being tied to another person (or persons) or the heaviness of our own unforgiven sin, my daughter was right, “it is too much work.” The load is overwhelming and the loss of intimacy in our relationship with our heavenly Father stifles His work in and through us. God never intended it to be this way. He modelled ultimate mercy and pardon so that we could enjoy the life giving lightness and freedom that forgiveness brings.
Prayer: Lord, please show me if there is any unforgiveness in my life that is weighing me down. If there is, I ask You to do a work of grace in my heart. Help me to choose to follow Your example of mercy and forgiveness.
Verse: “Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others” (Colossians 3:13 NLT).

You can subscribe to the Christian Pulse for free here.

New, New, New!

The sequel to PULSE is here!

Available for pre-order on Amazon.

It takes faith to be resilient.

Now that an EMP has sent the United States into a seeming Dark Age, society has fallen apart at the seams. Andrea, Lexie and Sarah must survive despite the loss of technology, electricity, and worse, the threats of marauders and lawless opportunists. The appearance of FEMA camps might be reassuring except that the military seem determined to force civilians to enter them.

Is the US government also a threat?

And can the country recover from the loss of technology before everyone--and everything--is destroyed?

COMING APRIL 29TH! PRE-ORDER NOW!  

"I was here. I saw beauty. I embraced it." KARA TIPPETTS

Take a look at this inspiring book. Can life be celebrated, even when it doesn't turn out how we planned? This book will challenge your way of thinking: http://bit.ly/1QO439A

Book info

About the book: And It Was Beautiful: Celebrating Life in the Midst of the Long Good-Bye (David C Cook, March 2016) "I was here. I saw beauty. I embraced it." -Kara Tippetts How do you live out extravagant love in the everyday moments? How do you celebrate grace when your life turns out differently than the one you dreamed? Kara Tippetts discovered how to find joy in the small moments of life. She learned how to hold tight to hope even while battling intense physical and emotional pain. And she lived out the truth that God can redeem any story. In her final book, Kara offers gentle reflections on living and dying well. She invites us to cultivate soft hearts even when we face great disappointment. Her ideas for living are hard-won, wrestled with in the crucible of family, illness, and faith. And her constant reminder is that whether we are in the midst of dark days or mundane moments Jesus is always there, life is surprisingly beautiful, and God is forever good. Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/1QVAvgz   About the author: Kara Tippetts was the author of The Hardest Peace and the co-author of Just Show Up. She blogged faithfully at mundanefaithfulness.com. Since her death in March 2015, her husband, Jason, has been parenting their four children and leading the church the couple founded in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Live and die well. If you've never read Kara Tippetts' story, her final book is a must-read: http://bit.ly/1QO439A @David_C_Cook Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

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Click on through to enter the
giveaway! If you've read the book already, you could win a copy to give
to someone else. Books make great gifts! 

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Human Faithfulness vs. Divine Resolve

Do you take sermon notes during church? I do.
While I was reviewing them recently, I realized they could be encouraging to more people than just myself--if I shared them. 

Here, then, are notes from a sermon given by my pastor, Steve Bice, earlier this year. The text is Mark 14:26-52. Be encouraged!

"The gospel is our hope; we need to be reminded of it over and over."

The resolve of our Savior trumps man's faithfulness.

     1. The faithfulness of man (is fundamentally flawed) 

Peter wants to be faithful; he anticipates being faithful; he PROMISES to be faithful: "I will never abandon you!" he tells Jesus. All the disciples said the same thing:  "We'll go with you even to death."
(And they meant it--they thought.)
But vs. 50--they all left him. Not days or weeks later, but HOURS later. 

In moments of revival, excitement or passion we make promises of faithfulness that we don't live up to. Our promises prove to be empty because they're based in emotion--not truth. 

vss.27-28. Jesus declares that he will be raised again, but the disciples gloss over it, missing it. HOPE would have helped them face the fear of the passion--but they missed the hope--and their faith proved fragile. 

What if they had PRAYED in the garden of Gethsemane instead of sleeping? vs. 38: Jesus nailed the problem:  "The Spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."

"It is the plight of mankind to be faithless and weak in ourselves." 

"Prone to wander." We should, of course, TRY to be faithful, but the point here is that we NEED God's faithfulness. HIS promises are not empty. 
His promises are not overcome by fear or temptation, as ours are.

      2.  The Faithfulness of God (The Resolve of our Savior)

Jesus knew the end from the beginning; He knew what was coming. He was fully cognizant of His coming suffering, but He remained faithful. He even knew his disciples would not. ("You will all fall away." Zech.13:17, Mark 14:30)

He knew well what was coming. "My soul is very sorrowful, even to death." 

He was fully human. Not unemotional about what he was doing. But he also knew he would be victorious. He remained resolved because he knew the outcome. 

He knew he would be betrayed, but went to the garden anyway. He met Judas, not even trying to avoid him. "("Come, my betrayer is at hand.") 

Jesus's resolve to remain faithful was not grounded in emotion. (He sweat drops of blood.)

Jesus felt every bit of sorrow, anguish and abandonment that could be felt on the Cross. His only fear--being abandoned by God--happened. But he endured the cross for the joy set before him. 

Everything in Jesus wanted to escape the fate that was coming, but everything in Jesus resolved to drink the cup.

It is because of Divine Resolve that we have any hope in this life. 
Hope for eternity.
Hope for growth right here and now.

We forfeit comfort when we ignore God's Word.

Pray for heart understanding as we hear or read God's Word. Pray not to read or listen carelessly.

Final Thoughts:

Unfaithfulness to God is treason against the King; punishable by death. 
But God sent His Son
To take our punishment
He was resolved to do it; 
and He did.

It is our only source of hope.

God is faithful in our place. 

 

 

 

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