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Connected to Nature by James R. Coggins

People in Bible times had a much closer connection to nature than we do. With no electricity or lights, they could see the stars most nights. They traveled mostly on foot—and occasionally on animals—and were not insulated from weather as we are in our cars and trains and airplanes. Working outdoors caring for their fields and animals, they constantly looked at skies, fields, mountains, hills,…

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#Bible times #Creation #nature #outdoors #submission #virtual reality

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Who Is John Smyth (and why does it matter)? by James R. Coggins

Most Baptists know very little about history—and care even less. In particular, most Baptist know very little about their own history. They are part of a significant denomination that has spread through many countries around the world, and they have no idea how the whole thing got started. Some just assume their denomination goes back to John the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus. The truth is…

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#Baptist Church #Baptists #Church of England #history #John Smyth #King James I #Mayflower #Mennonites #Puritans #religiouis toleration #separation of church and state #Thomas Helwys

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Bad Things Happen in Life and In Fiction

Sometimes it feels as if real life imitates fiction. And the other way around. Since Adam and Eve’s expulsion from the Garden, our world has been on a downward spiral toward darkness. As a Christian Suspense author, I write about some of the difficult things, we humans face in life, whether it’s something we read about in the news, or perhaps experience personally. Darkness is all around us,…

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Self-Sacrificing Love by James R. Coggins

On the night he was betrayed, Jesus told His close followers that He was going away to somewhere where they could not follow: “I will be with you only a little longer…Where I am going, you cannot come” (John 13:33). Peter protested that he would go with Jesus all the way, even to death: “I will lay down my life for you” (John 13:37). I am not sure that Peter meant it literally. He probably meant…

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#agape #crucifixion #feed my sheep #Peter #restoration #self-sacrificing love

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The Heart of a Parent by Nancy J. Farrier

“Then [King David} was deeply moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept. And as he went, he said thus: “O my son Absalom—my son, my son Absalom—if only I had died in your place! O Absalom my son, my son!” 2 Samuel 18:33 What did David’s son, Absalom, do that caused David such great distress? If you recall, there were several events that led to this scene. Absalom killed his…

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#Absalom #compassion #God&039;s love #King David #parental love

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Too Many Deaths, Too Few Books by James R. Coggins

It’s another case of the shoemaker’s children going barefoot. Over the last few years, through my Mill Lake Books imprint, I have published over 30 books. But rarely any of my own. I have continued to write, of course. Writers write because they can’t not write. If they don’t write, they will explode. Which would be messy. But publishing is something else entirely. That is why, when one of my own…

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#anniversary #cruise #Desolation Highway #honeymoon #murder mystery #shoemaker&039;s children #Smith and Wesson #stories #Why Writers Write What They Write

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The Tomb is Still Empty!

The Tomb is still empty! It’s Tuesday. The Easter celebrations are over. Another work week has begun. The tomb is still empty. Soon, another week, another month, another year will pass. But the tomb is still empty. In this upcoming year you may face trials in many forms, from sickness to family issues. The loss of a job. Perhaps even the death of someone close. Yet no matter what trials you…

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Powerful Keys

I don’t know when or where I learned to value keys or who explained the concept to me (probably one of my grandparents). I was young and whatever they said made me want them. I soon had a collection from sardine tins, coffee cans, mail boxes, keys from old cars and equipment—basically any source. Bundled on a string I wore them around my waist. My keys gave me a sense of power, of owning and…

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Good Friday Reflections by Julie Arduini

It only makes sense if P.T. Bradley so beautifully wrote about Maundy Thursday, I should share my thoughts on Good Friday. I have a few thoughts, and one starts right from my birth. I was born on Good Friday, with tornado warnings no less. This is one of those facts I throw out when people want to know something that most wouldn’t know. As a child, I didn’t understand Good Friday. I didn’t…

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#crucifixion #eternity #Good Friday #Good Friday Reflections by Julie Arduini #good news #Heaven #Jesus #Julie Arduini #Maundy Thursday #Messiah #Passion Play #sacrifice #salvation #whipping

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Fighting for Your Valuables by Julie Arduini

A couple weeks ago I took time off from posting to prayerfully press in on some things. When I felt it was time to put into play what I received, this heaven-sent object lesson still resonates. It is so powerful to me. Think of three things that are valuable to you. It isn’t a test, so you don’t need to give cliche answers. What is valuable to you? Now imagine a bratty, disrespectful, loud kid…

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#defeat #devil #fighting for your valuables by Julie Arduini #Julie Arduini #prayer #spiritual warfare #victory

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Maundy Thursday

Today is Maundy Thursday. Growing up, I never heard the term Maundy Thursday, which I find hard to understand now. Perhaps you aren’t familiar with it either. Maundy Thursday is the Thursday before the crucifixion and the evening when Jesus shared a Passover Seder meal with his disciples. As reported by recent research into Palestinian cuisine during Jesus’ time, the meal would have consisted of…

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#Easter #Maundy Thursday

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Peter’s Faith by James R. Coggins

Acts 19 tells the wonderful story of Peter, imprisoned by King Herod and facing death, being miraculously rescued by an angel. Peter followed the angel out of the prison, but “he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision” (Acts 19:9). He was a block away from the prison before he was finally convinced that that he was free. He then went to…

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#crucifixion #Faith #faithfulness #King Herod #miraculous deliverance #Peter #prayer #Prophecy

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Finding the Meaning by Tara Randel

When I was a kid, our house was always decorated for Easter. Ceramic or stuffed chicks, bunnies, or colorful eggs. There were baskets filled with candy and goodies. Hidden egg hunts. Fingers dyed different colors after coloring hard boiled eggs. I got a new dress with matching shoes. We had a big dinner with lots of relatives invited. All the children were excited, running around on a sugar…

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#contemporary romance #Easter #holy Week #Resurrection #Tara Randel #The love of Jesus #true meaning of Easter

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I Have a Website by James R. Coggins

I have a website (www.coggins.ca). It’s not new. It’s old and obsolete. Like me. I had it set up years ago as an advertising venture, hoping it might bring me writing, editing, and speaking assignments. It has. To some extent. I put my email address on my website. I thought it might be a good idea. After all, all of those people who wanted to contact me to offer me assignments needed some way…

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#business #email #spam #technology #websites #writing

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He Speaks!

In the timeless hymn, The Old Rugged Cross, one verse says, He speaks, and the sound of His voice, Is so sweet the birds hush their singing. And the melody that He gave to me, Within my heart is ringing. If you’ve ever listened to birds sing you know how melodic their chirps can be for the most part (not always). So, imagine a voice so sweet, the birds quiet their songs to listen. In…

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54 Minutes with Julie Arduini & Friends by Julie Arduini

When our youngest was prek and early elementary age, she had a one-track mind about her birthday. It’s in August, but the topic was year-round. It was such a mindset she forgot other people had birthdays as well. We had to ban her from talking about HER birthday so her brother would feel remembered on HIS! I remember as I approached 50, I thought hey, this is a biggie. I wanted to really have…

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#54 Minutes with Julie Arduini & Friends #authors #birthday #BJ Bassett #Bonnie Engstrom #genres #giveaways #Jennifer Arringtom #Julie Arduini #Kate Darroch #Leagh Matthews #Linda Hoover #Linda Shenton Matchett #LoRee Peery #Marie E. Bast #Pandemic #reader grouo #Terry Overton #turning 50

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White donkeys for royalty

A white donkey on the Mount of Olives. A white royal donkey is often staked opposite the grove of ancient olive trees that is the Garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives. They are called creams, have blue eyes, and are extremely rare. Historically, that special animal was reserved  to carry royalty.  It is believed to be the donkey our Lord rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday as people laid…

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#Easter #Hosanna! Welcome! #Palm Sunday #royalty #White Donkeys