How and when did you begin to write?
I started writing as a result of reading. When I was a kid, I read countless numbers of books. Some of my favorites were the Guinness Book of World Records, a joke book with a lemon dressed up as a cowboy on the cover, and a book about the 50 states. I don't know when it happened, but at some point before I was 8 years old I started writing as a way to express myself. Since then, writing – whether in songs, books, blogs or sermons – has been the medium of communication through which I can most accurately express myself. Can you give our readers a short description of Living Like Lions? Living Like Lions is a book about 20 Christian men from history who had the courage and the godliness to stand up against the cultural currents of their time. Whether it was an emperor, a philosophy, or a faulty Christian dogma, they refused to let the outside world influence their relationship with God and the resulting vision or mission. The men are from all walks of life, not just the typical professions you'd find in a series of biographies – painters, musicians, mathematicians, businessmen, and more. Most of all, the book explores the question, “Why do these lives matter to my life?” What led you to write it? My agent gave me a list of books for which editors were looking. Biographies were on the list. I felt like I could craft a well-written biography which would catch an editor's attention. Also, I wanted to write a book about iconoclasts....stories of men who weren't afraid to stand alone in their pursuit of their God-given dream. How did you choose the 20 Christian men? I chose the 20 based on my personal experiences. Many of the men from early Christianity (Augustine, Ambrose, etc.) are guys I read about in a church history book by Justo Gonzalez in seminary. Other men I read about in Ruth Tucker's "From Jerusalem to Irian Jaya" (Mott, Studd, etc.). I learned about R.G. LeTourneau after my grandpa recommended LeTourneau's autobiography. Makoto Fujimura is a guy I heard about during some seminars at Urbana 2007. Bach and Pascal were men whom I knew were Christians but otherwise I didn't know much about. Woodrow Wilson was the product of a Google search. Oswald Chambers and Brother Lawrence were two guys whose books I'd read before and really enjoyed. I'm not sure how I stumbled across Dr. Francis Collins, but I'm glad I did. As you can see, choosing the men was a matter of life experience, chance and other factors. I also was intentional about choosing men from a variety of occupations; Christianity is made up of men from all walks of life, very few of whom are theologians, pastors and missionaries. Most Christian biographies cover the lives of the well-known, but never properly reflect the varied occupations of Christianity's average man. What are you working on now? Right now I'm plying my trade in the freelance world. I write blog posts and run social media campaigns for three different companies – a private tour company in Barcelona, a mattress company in California and a real estate company in Nebraska. I also write news stories for Snooth.com, a wine website. Do you have any advice for beginning writers? Yes. Writing which lasts – the kind that influences people for decades and centuries to come – is writing which has the ability to stand outside of what is popular in the moment. In our time, writing from a place of vulnerability and expressing your own brokenness is what sells. However, I think this movement is a phase and is largely tied to an infusion of cultural self-centeredness and Christendom's disillusionment with church leadership. As important as this movement is today, I do not think it will last. Beginning writers must always seek their own voice, a voice which, in its very basic nature, is something unique and primal which defies time. Elevate that voice. Protect that voice. Don't let trends disrobe your voice. Stand on your own. How can my readers find out more about you and your work? You can go to my website, www.jrduren.com, to learn more about my book and about me. If you'd like to read my other work, you can go to: www.bcnexp.blogspot.com or www.goldcoastomaha.com/blog. You can also go to: Living Like Lions on Barnes and Noble Living Like Lions on Amazon Living Like Lions on Goodreads
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 Today I am honored to have Karen Appleby as my guest.
Rev. Appleby is a retired Ordained Deacon in the Desert Southwest conference of the United Methodist Church. Over the years Karen has lived and ministered in the Florida, Missouri West, West Ohio, and North Georgia conferences. She has over 30 years experience in Christian Education, pastoral care and counseling, and church consulting. She also co-authored with Delia Halverson the book “Creating Holy Spaces: Worship Visuals for the Revised Common Lectionary”. Karen retired with her husband Larry to the mountains of western North Carolina in 2013. In retirement she has found new and exciting ministry settings as a volunteer. Tell us a little more about yourself. I consider myself as a very regular person with unusual interests. I am a wife, mom, and grandmother who considers family everything. So I enjoy traveling to see my extended family like many do. But when I have free time I love to walk labyrinths, journal and write poetry, take photographs and videos making them into mini meditations and read anything about quantum physics. Those interests are always surprising to others. How and when did you begin to write? I started writing 3 years ago when a friend of mine asked me to co-author a book with her. It was her 24th book, but my first. It was a wonderful experience, but I didn’t think I would ever publish a book again. Can you give our readers a short description of your latest book? “Places People Pray ~ a contemplative journal” is a short book based on prayer. I wrote it as a collection of meditations and spring boards for readers to contemplate and then write down their own discoveries on prayer themes. I often say I loved writing this little book because it was something I started and the reader gets to finish. I hope it is a spiritual formation exercise that leads to growth and a closer relationship to God. What led you to write it? I was inspired to write the book after a trip to Italy. My time there opened my heart to new understanding of prayer in new forms and experiences. What are you working on now? At the current time I am busy writing lessons plans for myself as I start to teach classes and workshops at my church. Do you have any advice for beginning writers? I believe that a author needs to write from the heart and always remember that the reader is actually as much a part of the book as they read and gleam their own insights, lessons and discoveries. How can my readers find out more about you and your work? My book is available on amazon.com, bn.com and authorhouse.com. Note: Even though Karen's book is available as an ebook, the print format would lend itself more easily to journaling.
 My name is Kyle Wooten and I am a Soldier. Ever since I was a child, I’ve wanted to be a soldier; and though I’ve served since I was 17, I never truly understood what it meant until I was deployed to Afghanistan. Through the blood, sweat, and tears, I finally realized what it meant to call myself a Soldier. To me, it means that you are willing to fight for those beside you and those back home, even though it may cost you your life. The greatest honor I can achieve in life is to say that I was able to serve my God, my people, and my brothers and sisters who fought beside me. So I say to you, my brothers and sisters new and old, hold your head high and save me a seat at the table. MY PRAYER Make me as David, oh Lord, to be your poet-warrior. Help me to protect and show my brothers my faith in You. You are the Deliverer, the Conqueror of my enemies, and my Savior. Make my body a weapon and help me to rally my brothers behind me. THE ROAD OF HEROES
I don’t know what had happened, But something had gone wrong. I had just been in the mountains Charging into the throng. Now here I stand, my jacket pressed, My shoes are shining bright. A pleasant warmth came over me As I stepped into the light. The narrow road was lined With soldiers new and old. Those who fell in blistering heat, And who suffered bitter cold. They all stood at attention All along this narrow stretch. As I marched, I wondered “What judgment will fall upon this wretch?” Then two, one soldier and one sailor, Stepped out of the line. They faced me and I recognized, That these two were mine. They snapped off their salutes As I caught their eye. These two were my grandfathers And I began to cry. They joined me on my march As I reached the pearly gate. I stood there at attention, My chest out and my back straight. A man approached me as I wondered What price I had to pay. He said, “Stand at ease, my son; You made me proud today.” (Written for Memorial Day, 2014) |
