by Roseanna White | Nov 14, 2011 | Uncategorized
Hear ye, hear ye! Here’s your chance to contribute to a wonderful cause this holiday season–and come away with the work of some of your favorite authors!
One year ago, author and editor Sandi Rog had a big day approaching–the release of her first novel, The Master’s Wall. Set in first-century Rome, this is an epic story of faith and love. But the very day her book released, Sandi’s life shattered–she learned she had a very aggressive cancer, t-cell lymphoma.
The past year has been a huge struggle for Sandi and her family as she underwent chemo, radiation, and bone marrow transfusion. Just when she thought she had this beast beat, she learned that in fact the cancer is still present. So they’re trying a new treatment . . . this one not covered by insurance.
Sandi’s friends, both neighbors and online, have rallied together to try to help the Rog family, and Alison Strobel Morrow has developed a marvelous plan. She’s hosting a raffle fundraiser whose proceeds will go to the Rogs, with a goal of $20,000. The items to be raffled are all donated, and tickets are $5. You can purchase as many as you want and apply as many tickets per prize basket as you like.
The basket you see above has been assembled by the Colonial Quills, many of whom are dear friends of this dear woman–we have put together a complete box of goodies to be raffled off! The raffle will begin on November 25th, and the CQ items include:
And that’s not the only basket I have my hand in! For some great historical fiction plus an amazing gift certificate opportunity, check out this one:
This one includes:
* A Stray Drop t-shirt that reads “One little drop to soil the garment / One little drop to cleanse the soul” (S, M, L, XL available)
* Dance of the Dandelion by Dina Sleiman – Digital AND Print
* Shadowed in Silk by Christine Lindsay – Digital AND Print
* Love Amid the Ashes by Mesu Andrews
by Roseanna White | Nov 11, 2011 | Uncategorized
1 Corinthians 5
1 I can hardly believe the report about the sexual immorality going on among you—something that even pagans don’t do. I am told that a man in your church is living in sin with his stepmother.[a] 2 You are so proud of yourselves, but you should be mourning in sorrow and shame. And you should remove this man from your fellowship. 3 Even though I am not with you in person, I am with you in the Spirit.[b] And as though I were there, I have already passed judgment on this man 4 in the name of the Lord Jesus. You must call a meeting of the church.[c] I will be present with you in spirit, and so will the power of our Lord Jesus. 5 Then you must throw this man out and hand him over to Satan so that his sinful nature will be destroyed[d] and he himself[e] will be saved on the day the Lord[f] returns.
6 Your boasting about this is terrible. Don’t you realize that this sin is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough? 7 Get rid of the old “yeast” by removing this wicked person from among you. Then you will be like a fresh batch of dough made without yeast, which is what you really are. Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed for us.[g] 8 So let us celebrate the festival, not with the old bread[h] of wickedness and evil, but with the new bread[i] of sincerity and truth.
9 When I wrote to you before, I told you not to associate with people who indulge in sexual sin. 10 But I wasn’t talking about unbelievers who indulge in sexual sin, or are greedy, or cheat people, or worship idols. You would have to leave this world to avoid people like that. 11 I meant that you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a believer[j] yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or is a drunkard, or cheats people. Don’t even eat with such people.
12 It isn’t my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning. 13 God will judge those on the outside; but as the Scriptures say, “You must remove the evil person from among you.”
~*~
Today’s chapter above is brought to us by the New Living Translation … and ought to hit home for society today.
Do we ignore this chapter? It seems like too many Christians do. I don’t know about you, but I’ve had friends aplenty in the church who fell prey to sexual sin. It’s one of those things that can sometimes still shock us, but which in general we’ve become desensitized to.
That makes me so, so sad.
I understand sexual temptation. I understand passion. As anyone who has read my books can attest to, I believe that passion is a necessary and beautiful part of life. But I also believe it can be destructive if we let it rule us when we ought to keep it bridled.
Paul doesn’t sugarcoat the issue here–he calls it out more strongly than I’ve ever noted him calling out anything else. In other parts, he invites us to admonish our brothers and sister who are sinning, to challenge them to stop and confess their sins. Then, if they don’t cease their bad behavior, to cast them out. But he doesn’t give them a second chance here, does he? He says, “Throw them out and hand them over to Satan.”
Yikes. Though I mean, a guy with his stepmother … and they were boasting about it??
This is a tough issue, one that’s made all the more confusing to modern readers by changes in marriage customs over the centuries. Things are formal now that didn’t used to be, and lax that were once formal. But one thing remains unchanged:
God calls us to something holy and beautiful. And all too often, we throw it away.
I’d really like to get a conversation going on this oh-so-important topic. What are your thoughts?
by Roseanna White | Nov 10, 2011 | Thoughtful Thursdays, Uncategorized
I’ve realized something over the last two weeks: I can’t do it all.
I know, right? SHOCKER. Call the local news! Roseanna White cannot do everything! 😉 But seriously, this was a big deal for me. This realization that I have finally reached my saturation point, that I have taken on all I can handle and maybe a little bit more.
That something’s got to give, and it’s going to have to be my stubborn determination to keep all those balls in the air.
I’ve had these days and weeks before, the ones where I feel totally overwhelmed and ready to snap. But usually, those have been from self-imposed deadlines (which I take just as seriously as outside-imposed ones, but still), from self-determined tasks.
Not so right now. Now I have obligations to others, people depending on me for things only I can do. I’d be happy to delegate–really, I would be. But can someone else write my books for me?
Um, no.
Can someone else do my editing?
Um, not really, no–not some parts of it.
Can someone else pack up all the books, manage all the lists? If we hire someone, but at the moment, I’m it.
Can someone else teach my kids?
Well, actually…
See, my husband and I decided back when we were in high school that we were going to homeschool. We knew that was what we were supposed to do to guarantee that our kids got the education we really want them to have. And I love knowing exactly what they’re taught, exactly how they’re doing. I love being able to answer their questions.
I love it–but I’m afraid that with all that’s on my plate right now, I’m not giving it the attention it needs. And I’ve had to entertain the notion this past week that at a certain point, what’s best for my kids’ education might not be me.
Ouch.
It’s hard for someone who has always been confident in her ability to do whatever she set her mind on to admit that maybe she’s let things slip too far. Maybe she’s hurting more than she’s helping. Maybe the messy house has degraded into a certifiable disaster zone, maybe the good intentions aren’t enough, maybe some things would be better off if she got her hand out of them.
But that’s where I am. And you know, realizing that is . . . freeing. All of a sudden I know that some things are going to change. And I know that it’s going to take time and work to change them. But I can hear the Lord whispering in my ear, “I ask you to do your tasks, daughter–not everyone else’s. Do them, do them well. And then let go.”
Sometimes trying to keep up is just a matter of pride, not a matter of doing what you actually should. I think that’s where I’ve been lately. But it’s finally to the point where I want to let some things go. Where the blessings in one realm are going to help me balance out the need in another. Thank you, Lord, for letting it work that way!
I don’t think change is ever easy, but you know–sometimes staying the same is even harder. There comes a time when we can’t keep up with the race we’ve entered. It doesn’t mean we should give up . . . just that we should take a different course.
by Roseanna White | Nov 9, 2011 | Remember When Wednesdays, Uncategorized
Yikes! I looked down at my clock and realized I’d totally spaced my blog this morning, largely because I’m several other places today. So I’m going to throw together a hodge-podge for you. =)
All my future tours will probably be only a few days in length with multiple stops per day, but this one is spread out through December and January, and will begin and end with what is shaping up to be an awesome giveaway package, if I do say so myself. 😉 The official tour launches on
Colonial Quills and will wrap up on
Seekerville, so I’m very excited!
A peek at that giveaway package . . .
A leather Bombay journal, much like the one Lark received for Christmas in Chapter Eight.
A French quill and ink set, much like the one Lark would have written with in above journal. 😉
A Colonial-style mug with individual packages of gourmet hot chocolate ~ chocolate being a favored drink of the era, though thicker and richer than these are likely to be (I haven’t ordered the mugs yet . . . am hoping to find some from our local pottery store. So this picture won’t likely be exact, though the style is what I’ll be seeking).
A Colonial-styled doll, not unlike the fashion babies in the post I linked to above. 😉 (Hey, gotta give something that’ll interest the kids in your life!)
And of course, a copy of
Love Finds You in Annapolis, Maryland signed by yours truly. 😉
This isn’t the official prize information or anything, so some changes are likely, and I haven’t yet ironed out the details of entering. But I’m looking forward to the launch of
Annapolis and seeing it come to life! Hope y’all are excited too. =)
by Roseanna White | Nov 8, 2011 | Uncategorized
“Stunning in its depth and scope, Love’s Sacred Song is a story of love and
passion, faith and flaws that will haunt you forever. Mesu Andrews crafts characters that will capture your heart with prose that will stir your soul. Masterful.”
~ Roseanna M. White, author of
Jewel of Persia and
Love Finds You in Annapolis, Maryland
Yes, I’m quoting myself. 😉 That’s a recent endorsement I wrote for Mesu Andrews’s next Biblical love story, set to release in March of 2012. When I realized she had written a book based on Song of Solomon, I was intrigued. And when I began reading it, I was awed.
Young King Solomon knows he has been chosen by God to rule Israel–but how is he to live up to his father David? He is no shepherd-king, he is sure he lacks the strength of soul needed to be a good ruler. And so when God visits him in a dream, he requests wisdom . . . but it seems the wisdom is granted only for political matters, for Solomon cannot seem to understand matters of the heart.
Arielah, a shepherdess from Shunam, has known in her heart for years that she is destined to be Solomon’s wife, and already she loves the man she has never even met. When the northern tribes of Israel threaten an uprising following the shameful treatment of one of their own in the Judean palace, her wise father plans to make peace by offering her as a treaty bride to Solomon.
But can a humble shepherdess ever find a place in the harem of the king, especially when he has put his trust in traitors who hate her? And can a king renowned for wisdom ever learn how to love in the way of a common man?
I can say in all honesty that Arielah is one of my all-time favorite heroines. It’s tough to pull off a character who’s righteous and strong and still make her realistic, but Mesu Andrews does a fabulous job. Her little shepherdess sometimes lacks for confidence, sometimes knows fear, sometimes clings to anger–but the Lord remains always her beacon, and her love remains always strong. I LOVE THAT!! Conflict abounds on every page for lovely Arielah, and her story will twist and squeeze your heart and bring you to tears–yet deliver hope and victory.
Solomon made me want to smack him a few times, which is just as it should be. 😉 I loved how she balanced out the very fallible man with the very wise ruler–powerfully done.
Love’s Sacred Song takes its place among my favorites. If you love Biblical fiction, this book is a MUST. The love story will leave you breathless, the intrigue will have you biting your nails, and the faith of the heroine will inspire you to keep your hands always in the Lord’s.
by Roseanna White | Nov 4, 2011 | Uncategorized
Today I thought I’d try out the New Living Translation as we continue in our online study of I Corinthians.
1 Corinthians 4
1 So look at Apollos and me as mere servants of Christ who have been put in charge of explaining God’s mysteries. 2 Now, a person who is put in charge as a manager must be faithful. 3 As for me, it matters very little how I might be evaluated by you or by any human authority. I don’t even trust my own judgment on this point. 4 My conscience is clear, but that doesn’t prove I’m right. It is the Lord himself who will examine me and decide.
5 So don’t make judgments about anyone ahead of time—before the Lord returns. For he will bring our darkest secrets to light and will reveal our private motives. Then God will give to each one whatever praise is due.
6 Dear brothers and sisters,[a] I have used Apollos and myself to illustrate what I’ve been saying. If you pay attention to what I have quoted from the Scriptures,[b] you won’t be proud of one of your leaders at the expense of another. 7 For what gives you the right to make such a judgment? What do you have that God hasn’t given you? And if everything you have is from God, why boast as though it were not a gift?
8 You think you already have everything you need. You think you are already rich. You have begun to reign in God’s kingdom without us! I wish you really were reigning already, for then we would be reigning with you. 9 Instead, I sometimes think God has put us apostles on display, like prisoners of war at the end of a victor’s parade, condemned to die. We have become a spectacle to the entire world—to people and angels alike.
10 Our dedication to Christ makes us look like fools, but you claim to be so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are so powerful! You are honored, but we are ridiculed. 11 Even now we go hungry and thirsty, and we don’t have enough clothes to keep warm. We are often beaten and have no home. 12 We work wearily with our own hands to earn our living. We bless those who curse us. We are patient with those who abuse us. 13 We appeal gently when evil things are said about us. Yet we are treated like the world’s garbage, like everybody’s trash—right up to the present moment.
14 I am not writing these things to shame you, but to warn you as my beloved children. 15 For even if you had ten thousand others to teach you about Christ, you have only one spiritual father. For I became your father in Christ Jesus when I preached the Good News to you. 16 So I urge you to imitate me.
17 That’s why I have sent Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord. He will remind you of how I follow Christ Jesus, just as I teach in all the churches wherever I go.
18 Some of you have become arrogant, thinking I will not visit you again. 19 But I will come—and soon—if the Lord lets me, and then I’ll find out whether these arrogant people just give pretentious speeches or whether they really have God’s power. 20 For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God’s power. 21 Which do you choose? Should I come with a rod to punish you, or should I come with love and a gentle spirit?
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.