New Book: Ivory & Ice

My friend Sandra Barker is an experienced writer. She has been published in the anthology Chicken Soup for the Mother’s Soul and in numerous newspaper articles. Years ago, I remember being at her house, flipping through hundreds of clippings she’d written on folksy themes. Sandra has been an encouragement to me through the years, especially in the last four years as I was writing my own book. I had the privilege to read her debut novel while it was still in the works, and I loved it! It’s fiction, totally imaginative, but it’s also very real. 

I was drawn in from the very first. Ivory & Ice is both a look back and a look forward. It’s the story of two women separated by 6,000 years. Ivory & Ice explores their lives and dreams—what is, and what might have been. Brilliantly written, Jael's story offers the reader a window into the ancient past, while Beth's connects with us today. From the very beginning of Ivory & Ice, the reader is introduced to the simple, beautiful world of the cave people. This is a sensitively told story of the life of believable, warm, and passionate people—like you and me. The parallel story of Beth, her family, and her friends makes "what was" and "what is" blend in a fascinating way. What happens on the mountain will leave you thinking for days to come. 

It’s a good read coupled with romance. I loved it! 

This isn’t an overtly Christian book, though it contains some Christian themes. 

I think that anyone who enjoys something different, who loves a little bit of romance, science, and adventure will love Ivory & Ice. 

Congratulations, Sandra!

(Ivory & Ice is now available in paperback and Kindle on Amazon.com.)

Application, Application, Application!

Just as the real estate saying is “location, location, location,” the Christian’s motto should be “application.”

• We can know lots of Bible facts, and this is good.

• We can know a lot about God, and this is good.

• We can know God, and this is good.

• We can pray—communicate with God—and this is good.

• We can have a hundred verses committed to memory, and this is good.

• We can go to church every time its doors are open, and this is good.

• We can be busy serving in our church, and this is good.

But,

Without personal life application, none of this is as good as it can be.

Let me illustrate.

Let’s say you know the Ten Commandments by heart. Good. 

Let’s also say you know that Jesus said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets (Matthew 22:37b-40). You understand that Jesus meant that the Ten Commandments can be boiled down to these two concepts: love God, and love your neighbor. Good.

You know that Jesus went a little bit further when He said, A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another (John 13:34). You understand that Jesus’ law is that He wants us to love each other as He loves us. The Greek word for love in this verse—all three times—is agape. This is the love that God loves with, an unconditional love.

Here’s where the application comes in. You know all of these concepts in your head. You believe them as Truth.

Now, go and love your neighbor as God loves you.

Application is where we apply to ourselves what we know God wants. We know what God wants through the wonderful teachings in His Word. And, application is where we actually put what we know into practice.

The definition of practice is “the actual application or use of an idea, belief, or method as opposed to theories about such application or use.” The verb form of practice means to do something repeatedly, to learn to do it well. We put our beliefs, based on the Bible, into practice when we are actually doing them.

Here are some biblical teachings we can act upon:

• Give thanks for everything. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

• Pray (communicate with God) without ceasing. (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

• Cast your burdens upon the Lord. (Psalm 55:22)

• Love your neighbor. (Matthew 22:40)

• Be joyful always. (1 Thessalonians 5:16)

• Be friendly. (Proverbs 18:24)

• Forgive. (Mark 11:25-26)

• Don’t return bad for bad. Give back blessing. (1 Peter 3:9)

• Do all to glorify God. (1 Corinthians 10:31)

• Let little children come to Jesus. (Mark 10:14)

• Mentor younger women, or be mentored, if you are young. (Titus 2:3-5)

• Abstain from all appearance of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:22).

• Disciple. (Matthew 28:19-20)

• Share the gospel. (Mark 16:15)

I know I could better apply some of these concepts. And, they’re just a start! 

What do you know about what God wants (what the Bible says)? How are you actually applying it in your life?

Practice what you know.

Application, Application, Application!

It’s transformational.