by Roseanna White | Oct 31, 2011 | Word of the Week
I’ve given Halloween a lot of thought since having kids, have debated it and pondered, have looked up its history and tried to decide where I come down on it. Inevitably, I come to the conclusion that, like a Christmas tree or the face of Jesus most often used (stolen from Zeus, if you didn’t know, LOL), it has its roots in paganism, yes. But like a Christmas tree or how I envision my Savior, it’s about my heart, not any outward appearances.
That said, I still find the history fascinating. This is me, after all. 😉 And since this is me, chances are good that all the times I’ve looked this up and read about it have turned into a bit of a story in my mind, so if I get something wrong, don’t hold it against me, LOL. I’m going on memory here, along with the history of the word itself given by
www.etymonline.com. =)
Halloween is a Scottish shortening of “Allhallow-Even.” Literally, the Eve of All Hallow’s Day. We don’t use the word “hallow” much these days, but it means “holy, consecrated.” More, it means to make something holy or consecrated. So when we pray “hallowed be thy name,” we are saying WE will make it, keep it holy.
Now, in the Celtic calendar, this was the last night of the old year, a witch’s night. When the Christians came in, they “hallowed” the day–they deemed that that was the day when they would pay respect to all the saints not otherwise honored on a given day.
Needless to say, this wasn’t a seamless transition. Christianity obviously was not embraced overnight, and whether one observed the old Celtic rituals or the new Christian ones was a cause of great strife. Fear. Panic. And sometimes death.
Halloween was serious business. People honestly believed ghosts and ghouls and witches would be on the prowl, hunting their souls–and they may have been right. So they prayed, and they called on the traditions that hadn’t quite gotten washed away yet–they tried to scare the evil off by carving faces in gourds, and by dressing up in costumes meant to trick and scare the tricksters. (Or so I’ve gleaned from various sites . . . don’t quote me on this, LOL.) It’s a time when we reflect on those who have gone on before us (the actual meaning of these “saints”) and so remember the dead.
There are Christians aplenty who refuse to acknowledge Halloween, and I understand why. It is indeed a night when tradition says evil comes out–but it’s also a night whose traditions that are still in effect come to us because people want to fight, want to escape that evil. Like any holiday, it’s about finding the sacred, the holy, and washing the darkness with light. Making it hallowed.
Whether or not your family goes trick-or-treating, I wish you all a safe day and eve, and pray that the Lord’s light will illumine your path.
by Roseanna White | Oct 28, 2011 | Uncategorized
We’re moving on to our next chapter, and it’s one that struck me hard when we read it in church bible study last year. From the NKJV:
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1 Corinthians 3
1 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; 3 for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? 4 For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not carnal?
5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.
9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. 10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. 11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.
18 Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their own craftiness”; 20 and again, “The LORD knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.” 21 Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours: 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come—all are yours. 23 And you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.
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I love this–we are the house that God built. He is our foundation, and He gives us freedom in how to construct our building. What will you use? Straw like the first little piggie? No, that will burn up in the fire of trial (never mind the Big Bad Wolf!). Sticks? Ditto. Modern stuff like drywall and two-by-fours? Well see the Wolf might not be able to blow it away, but man’s wisdom will fail in that Fire–wood will burn up.
The story of the pigs says to turn to bricks. And that would certainly withstand fire as well as wind, right? Solid. Sturdy. Strong. It would do.
But I find it telling that Paul doesn’t mention brick or stone. He tells us to build our house, not with what is sufficient, but with what is perfect. Precious stones. Gold. Silver. What could possibly stand out more from straw?
The fires of trial WILL COME. Our faith, our building will go through it. It’s my prayer to day for each and every one of us that we come through the fire with our faith intact, with our mettle proven, with it obvious what Holy Stuff we’re made up.
May you gleam with precious metals and stones today.
by Roseanna White | Oct 27, 2011 | Thoughtful Thursdays, Uncategorized
My kids love this time of year. We have Octoberfest at our family’s farm (not in the German tradition, mind you), the best family reunion ever, my daughter’s birthday, Halloween . . . as soon as pumpkins start appearing in the stores and on the stoops, the questions begin: “When are we getting a pumpkin? Can we carve it? What kind of face should I make this year?”
Now, belonging to a farm family, I do not buy a pumpkin, certainly not from a store. I instead pick out some from the selection my grandparents bring for the kids to the above-mentioned reunion. So this year Rowyn chose a nice, round one, and Xoe one with a beautiful squiggly stem. We set them on the porch way back the week of Columbus Day.
And waited. My thought: if we carve them later, they may actually last through Halloween, and the kids are disappointed when they don’t.
So on Tuesday night, we deemed it a great day to carve pumpkins. The weather was warm, we had nowhere to go . . . perfect. So the kids went out with our dry-erase markers, I with my carving knife and a few plastic bags for glop. While Xoe drew a happy face on hers and Rowyn made a few scribbles and then decided that fallen tree branch in the yard was far more interesting, I got down to business on Rowyn’s pumpkin. I cut my circle in the top, pulled it up.
And went, “Ewwwwwwwwwwww!”
It was rotten inside. You know how there are supposed to be strings? Seeds? We had only mush. Orangish-brown, sloppy, stinky mush. It was seriously one of the grosses moments of my life. But my exclamation had brought the boy-o back over, and looking down into his dimpled face, those big eyes . . . yeah, I didn’t have the heart to say, “Sorry, kiddo, no pumpkin for you this year.”
I scooped out the foul-smelling goo. Poured it where I could. Held my breath and got rid of the rotten. I hosed it out. I bagged and double-bagged the glop and got rid of it. Then I went to work cutting away any yucky meat from inside.
At which point I noticed the soft spots. The weak spots. The spots I would have noticed from the outside had I looked for them. It hadn’t occurred to me to do so, I just assumed the pumpkin was fine–but had I bothered, I would have seen the signs. I could have gotten another pumpkin beforehand. I could have spared myself some disgust, lol.
Oh-so-often I do the same thing with life. I push forward, not even considering caution. Or I ignore that soft spot I detect. It’s the little things, the little warnings. Like yesterday when I handed Xoe a bowl of Spaghetti-Os and thought, “She’s going to spill that.” But handed it to her anyway. Thirty seconds later . . . . Or that time I looked at the bananas on the counter and thought, “I should move those so the dog doesn’t get them.” But the dog had never shown any interest in bananas, nor had he gotten anything off the counter. Yet when we got home that afternoon . . .
The Lord tries to show us those soft spots in life’s pumpkin. He gives us the Spirit to whisper the warnings in our ear. “You had better be careful here, beloved . . . better open you eyes . . . better listen, and spare yourself some discomfort.” After years and years of observing this, it’s still a task to listen to that voice. To take it seriously. To trust it.
I’m in a place right now where I can see how the Lord has led me lovingly to some of the big things happening in my life. But how awesome is it that He leads us in the little things too, if we pay attention?
Thank you, Lord for having a soft spot in Your heart for humanity, so that you can show us the soft spots in us.
For where it makes us weak, it makes You strong.
by Roseanna White | Oct 25, 2011 | Uncategorized
(I’m leaving this up on Wednesday too, because . . . um . . . well, because it’s been a really hectic week, I woke up with a headache, and I’m still enjoying seeing my cover front and center. 😉 Back to usual posts Thursday.)
I just looked down at the calendar on my computer and realized that Love Finds You in Annapolis, Maryland is only one month plus a few odd days away from release. Squeeeeeeeeeee! And so, because we have lots to be excited about with Annapolis these days, I’m going to take today to talk about it. Mostly because I’ve already given sneak peeks of the other books I’m reading, LOL, and haven’t finished them yet to offer a more thorough review. 😉
In 1784 peace has been declared, but war still rages in the heart of Lark Benton.
Never did Lark think she’d want to escape Emerson Fielding, the man she’s loved all her life, but then he betrays her with her cousin. She flees to Annapolis, Maryland, the country’s capital, and throws herself into a new circle of friends who force her to examine all she believes.
Emerson follows, determined to reclaim his bride. Surprised when she refuses to return with him, he realizes that in this new country he has come to call his own, duty is no longer enough. He must learn to open his heart and soul to something greater… before he loses all he should have been fighting to hold.
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I’ve received from advance feedback from authors and now from RT Book Reviews, so I’m going to share those. Each and every one was a surprise blessing–seriously, I have been floored by the feedback. I guess I shouldn’t be, because this book was all God. I don’t think I ever could have finished it had He not given me the words I needed every day. Some days it was like pulling teeth, but He was faithful, and I’m excited to see what He has in store for the book. =)
4 1/2 Star TOP PICK
“White writes an unpredictable love story that will keep the reader cheering for the characters. The setting of this creative and believable romance is the country’s then-capital, Annapolis. This will definitely be a favorite in the Love Finds You series.”
~Lindy J. Swanson reviewer
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“Delightfully intoxicating, Love Finds you in Annapolis, Maryland captured me on page one and never let go. I didn’t want the story to end. Roseanna White’s flawless prose and captivating characters deliver in every way. Thoroughly enjoyable!”
~Tamera Alexander, bestselling author of A Lasting Impression and Within My Heart
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“Beautifully written, Love Finds You in Annapolis, Maryland is a treasure trove of romance, American history, and spiritual truths. Lark is the most winsome character I’ve encountered in a long time and the wooing back of a broken heart is exquisitely done, brimming with surprises and tender moments, tears and hope. You won’t want to leave Annapolis after this moving journey of the heart – and you don’t have to, as this book is destined for your keeper shelf!”
~Laura Frantz, author of The Colonel’s Lady
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“What a delightful read!”
~Laurie Alice Eakes, award-winning author
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Okay, blatant self-promotion over. Though I’ll provide the pre-order links for Amazon and ChristianBook in case you’re just sooooooo intrigued now. 😉
by Roseanna White | Oct 24, 2011 | Word of the Week
I’ve studied Ancient Greek. As in, took 2 years of the language, in addition to reading a slew of the texts. So things Ancient Greek I like–and tend to use. And assume I know pretty well. 😉
And so, I’ve never hesitated to use the word “kudos” in a historical manuscript because, well, I know it’s directly from the Greek. I know it’s old.
But apparently the English didn’t pick up on this fun word until 1799. Sigh. 😉
Kudos, taken directly from Greek (if altered slightly because of a non-meshing of the alphabets), means “fame, renown.” Though it may sound plural to an English speaker with that -s ending, it is in fact singular.
When kudos first entered our language, it was in academic circles only–among those who would have read the Greek, go figure. =) But by the 1920s, journalists had picked up on it and began to use it in articles, which entered it into the mainstream.
And to give kudos where it’s due, I’d love to direct everyone to the
Colonial Quill Anniversary Celebration today! We’re especially celebrating the releases of two members’ books this month, but also the founding of our oh-so-delightful Colonial group blog. Please stop by and join in our e-party. =)
Oh! And though I’m
not sharing this for the kudos (tee hee hee), I just learned that
Love Finds You in Annapolis, Maryland is RT Book Reviews’ Top Pick for Inspirationals for December! So exciting!!
Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award winning author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary.