Fires are a lot better but there are still 9 burning. Can you believe it? 9 untamed fires. It reminds me that we can never sit back and just assume the battle's over. Although it is won through Christ, it is never over until we're with Him bodily. We must remain vigilant, ever mindful of the evil surrounding us and the little fires that are forever sparking in our corner of the world.
Being salt, light or firefighters is a choice. It's something we get to do as we choose to live for Christ.
As many mourn the loss of their homes in the fires, my sympathies are divided. Sure, I feel compassionate for those who lost their homes. Of course. This is tragic. But I feel less compassionate for those who lost their home which was just one home among many homes they own while, meanwhile, many remain homeless. This week some some of us will be feeding the homeless again (thanks to the Bread of Life homeless shelter). And yes, some of those homeless folks became so by wrong choices. But not all. Some became homeless because fires crept up on them, destructive sparks, uninvited. And they suddenly found themselves in the streets.
May God remind us to build our homes not on sand, nor on wood, hay nor stubble but on Christ and His Word. That's our only sure foundation.
Janey DeMeo©October 2007
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
The Bark of the Bog Owl
We're still in smoke here (see 2 previous blogs). But today I'll continue my blogtour for CSFF. Read on...
The Bark of the Bog Owl, the first in a series of fantasy adventures, is a tale of the noble and unexpected exploits of 12-year-old Aidan Errolson—the Wilderking. He is destined to bring deliverance to Corenwald simply by “living the life that unfolds before him—and doing good.” The adventures he experiences seem to do just as the saying says—they unfolds before him, echoing the wonderful Scripture we find in Ephesians 2:10 about the works God has prepared for us.
The story’s backdrop, Corenwald, reminds me of the Shire in Tolkien’s hobbit world (see my interview with Jonathan below). And so do many of the names: Odo, Gergo, Dobro... The characters are as wonderful as their names. Dobro Turtlebane, for example, is the boy-next-door type of ruffian with a heart of gold. Bayard the Truthspeaker—in my very Tolkien-minded outlook—is a sort of Gandalf figure and a mirror of truth. Greidawl of Pyrth, on the other hand, has been drawn from the Bible; he’s Goliath.
Bible truths are woven throughout the plot as Aidan simply lives the life that unfolds before him—adventures and all. His adventures involve all kinds of dangers and intriguing creatures, including an alligator.
I highly recommend The Bark of the Bog Owl for kids. Find it here: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0805431314.
Read my interview with Jonathan Rogers below:
(JD – me, JR – Jonathan Rogers).
JD - Jonathan, I'm an avid Tolkien fan. How much did his writings inspire you in to write The Bark of the Bog Owl?
JR - I can't say Tolkien was a conscious influence. I like The Lord of the Rings, but I haven't drunk of it as deeply as you no doubt have. As Tolkien himself pointed out, however, people don't always understand their own influences and inspirations. You read, you hear, you experience, and it all gets mashed up and decomposed into what Tolkien called "the leaf-mould of the mind." It's fertile soil for creation, but one of the defining characteristics of good compost is that you can no longer identify what exactly it used to be. Sometimes an outside person can identify influences that an author is not aware of. A reviewer once remarked that my books owed a lot to Mark Twain. That was news to me, but when I looked back over Huckleberry Finn, I realized how right the reviewer had been. It had been an unacknowledged debt, but I definitely owed a debt.
JD - I know you have a bunch of kids (what fun), and you've tested your work on them. Do you have any girls? Do the gals like the book as much as the guys?
JR - I have two daughters. One is just getting old enough for the Wilderking and will soon be able to read it for herself. My younger daughter isn't ready for it yet. I get lots of email from girls who like my books, so they do seem to have some appeal beyond the world of boys.
JD - Was there a bottom line thought that triggered your desire to write the series of the Wilderking books? If so, in a nutshell, what?
JR - There are lots of ways to answer that question. One thought that triggered my desire to write these books was simply the thought that I had to start using the gifts God had given me, or I was just going to wither away. But I suspect you're talking more about what themes or ideas I wanted to express in fiction. I wouldn't describe the Wilderking as "message-driven." I didn't start out with a message or a moral, then try to find a story that would be a vehicle for that message. I did, however, start with a desire to explore the idea of wildness. Why do we all feel "the call of the wild" in one way or another? If that feeling is God-given, what are we supposed to do with it exactly. In The Bark of the Bog Owl, the call of the wild turns out to be the call of God in a boy's life. Starting there, I tried to tell a good story and let any morals or lessons take care of themselves.
JD - Thanks Jonathan. Keep up the great writing.
Janey L. DeMeo
Copyright©October 2007
The Bark of the Bog Owl, the first in a series of fantasy adventures, is a tale of the noble and unexpected exploits of 12-year-old Aidan Errolson—the Wilderking. He is destined to bring deliverance to Corenwald simply by “living the life that unfolds before him—and doing good.” The adventures he experiences seem to do just as the saying says—they unfolds before him, echoing the wonderful Scripture we find in Ephesians 2:10 about the works God has prepared for us.
The story’s backdrop, Corenwald, reminds me of the Shire in Tolkien’s hobbit world (see my interview with Jonathan below). And so do many of the names: Odo, Gergo, Dobro... The characters are as wonderful as their names. Dobro Turtlebane, for example, is the boy-next-door type of ruffian with a heart of gold. Bayard the Truthspeaker—in my very Tolkien-minded outlook—is a sort of Gandalf figure and a mirror of truth. Greidawl of Pyrth, on the other hand, has been drawn from the Bible; he’s Goliath.
Bible truths are woven throughout the plot as Aidan simply lives the life that unfolds before him—adventures and all. His adventures involve all kinds of dangers and intriguing creatures, including an alligator.
I highly recommend The Bark of the Bog Owl for kids. Find it here: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0805431314.
Read my interview with Jonathan Rogers below:
(JD – me, JR – Jonathan Rogers).
JD - Jonathan, I'm an avid Tolkien fan. How much did his writings inspire you in to write The Bark of the Bog Owl?
JR - I can't say Tolkien was a conscious influence. I like The Lord of the Rings, but I haven't drunk of it as deeply as you no doubt have. As Tolkien himself pointed out, however, people don't always understand their own influences and inspirations. You read, you hear, you experience, and it all gets mashed up and decomposed into what Tolkien called "the leaf-mould of the mind." It's fertile soil for creation, but one of the defining characteristics of good compost is that you can no longer identify what exactly it used to be. Sometimes an outside person can identify influences that an author is not aware of. A reviewer once remarked that my books owed a lot to Mark Twain. That was news to me, but when I looked back over Huckleberry Finn, I realized how right the reviewer had been. It had been an unacknowledged debt, but I definitely owed a debt.
JD - I know you have a bunch of kids (what fun), and you've tested your work on them. Do you have any girls? Do the gals like the book as much as the guys?
JR - I have two daughters. One is just getting old enough for the Wilderking and will soon be able to read it for herself. My younger daughter isn't ready for it yet. I get lots of email from girls who like my books, so they do seem to have some appeal beyond the world of boys.
JD - Was there a bottom line thought that triggered your desire to write the series of the Wilderking books? If so, in a nutshell, what?
JR - There are lots of ways to answer that question. One thought that triggered my desire to write these books was simply the thought that I had to start using the gifts God had given me, or I was just going to wither away. But I suspect you're talking more about what themes or ideas I wanted to express in fiction. I wouldn't describe the Wilderking as "message-driven." I didn't start out with a message or a moral, then try to find a story that would be a vehicle for that message. I did, however, start with a desire to explore the idea of wildness. Why do we all feel "the call of the wild" in one way or another? If that feeling is God-given, what are we supposed to do with it exactly. In The Bark of the Bog Owl, the call of the wild turns out to be the call of God in a boy's life. Starting there, I tried to tell a good story and let any morals or lessons take care of themselves.
JD - Thanks Jonathan. Keep up the great writing.
Janey L. DeMeo
Copyright©October 2007
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Which way is the witch?
Which way do we go to get away from the witch fire? (Not to mention all the other fires around us!) The witch fire is still actively burning—as are 14 fires in all at this time. 400, 000 acres, over 1, 000 houses have burned. The wind is the threat, carrying live embers and sparking new fires. How small we are when the elements wield their power.
What I saw today typifies what I’ve seen since I’ve been in So Cal. On one hand, there are those who seem indifferent—perhaps because they personally are not affected. But on the other hand, there’s a strong remnant of God’s people here—and they’re not shy about proclaiming it through deed and action. (OK, so we all see through a different perspective—something I tackle in my article in next month’s Indeed Mag. (Walk Thru the Bible), entitled “Single Vision.” And also in my booklet, Women (& Men) in Dark Glasses!) I see through European eyes, and having lived 2 decades in atheist France where “Christian” is just weird.
Here in San Diego, news programs highlight stories such as this: A young couple’s entire house burns to cinders. They grab their kids, their dog and their Bible. Their testimony? They’re glad they’re safe and grateful they grabbed their Bible. “That’s the most important.”
Churches have opened their doors as shelters to receive evacuees, create animal centers, or become medical centers. Generosity overflows. Yes, sure, there are plenty of panicking people and animals. But there are caring Christians around making a difference. And as for the firefighters, they’re heroes. They’ve forgone food, sleep, comfort—so that many still have homes.
However, I’m sure all can use extra prayers—that we wouldn’t be paralyzed in the doom and gloom but that we’d stay vigilant and sensitive to instructions from above.
As for me and my house, we bow our knees in awe trusting the One who will use this for His glory—and pray for all those who need a special touch from Him at this time. This is not just about fires and ferocious winds. It’s about God—and what He is trying to say to all of us through the elements. May He grant us ears to hear, and hearts to obey.
Janey DeMeo©October 2007
What I saw today typifies what I’ve seen since I’ve been in So Cal. On one hand, there are those who seem indifferent—perhaps because they personally are not affected. But on the other hand, there’s a strong remnant of God’s people here—and they’re not shy about proclaiming it through deed and action. (OK, so we all see through a different perspective—something I tackle in my article in next month’s Indeed Mag. (Walk Thru the Bible), entitled “Single Vision.” And also in my booklet, Women (& Men) in Dark Glasses!) I see through European eyes, and having lived 2 decades in atheist France where “Christian” is just weird.
Here in San Diego, news programs highlight stories such as this: A young couple’s entire house burns to cinders. They grab their kids, their dog and their Bible. Their testimony? They’re glad they’re safe and grateful they grabbed their Bible. “That’s the most important.”
Churches have opened their doors as shelters to receive evacuees, create animal centers, or become medical centers. Generosity overflows. Yes, sure, there are plenty of panicking people and animals. But there are caring Christians around making a difference. And as for the firefighters, they’re heroes. They’ve forgone food, sleep, comfort—so that many still have homes.
However, I’m sure all can use extra prayers—that we wouldn’t be paralyzed in the doom and gloom but that we’d stay vigilant and sensitive to instructions from above.
As for me and my house, we bow our knees in awe trusting the One who will use this for His glory—and pray for all those who need a special touch from Him at this time. This is not just about fires and ferocious winds. It’s about God—and what He is trying to say to all of us through the elements. May He grant us ears to hear, and hearts to obey.
Janey DeMeo©October 2007
Monday, October 22, 2007
So Cal Fires -- alert!
“It’s just stuff,” my friend Cameron tells the TV crew as he and his family are being evacuated to avoid the fires. I’m watching him on TV even as I write this. So far, my family and I are not touched directly by the fires. Yet if I step outside, I smell smoke, and the skies are black with smoke. Several nearby towns are on fire. People have left their homes, their belongings and some were left with a horrible choice—which pets to take and which to leave since they didn’t have room for all of them. Oh, what a terrible ultimatum.
At this time, 300, 000 people have been evacuated due to these fires. Curiously, one fire that was an instigator began at Witch Creek. They call it the Witch Fire. And all that right before Halloween. Thank God our trust is not in man, nor in superstition, but in the Living God. No fire is a threat to Him for He is a consuming fire.
Just today I was thinking of how amazing our God is to place the sun in exactly the right place. If it were closer to earth, we'd burn to death. If it were farther, we'd freeze. His is in perfect control. I find such contrast in the fact that man is unable to even control the fire...
May we all be praying for those whose lives are affected by these devouring fires. God have mercy. And may the Lord draw people close to Himself during this time—and save the helpless, whether big or small, young or old.
At this time, 300, 000 people have been evacuated due to these fires. Curiously, one fire that was an instigator began at Witch Creek. They call it the Witch Fire. And all that right before Halloween. Thank God our trust is not in man, nor in superstition, but in the Living God. No fire is a threat to Him for He is a consuming fire.
Just today I was thinking of how amazing our God is to place the sun in exactly the right place. If it were closer to earth, we'd burn to death. If it were farther, we'd freeze. His is in perfect control. I find such contrast in the fact that man is unable to even control the fire...
May we all be praying for those whose lives are affected by these devouring fires. God have mercy. And may the Lord draw people close to Himself during this time—and save the helpless, whether big or small, young or old.
CSFF blogtour
I'll be posting a full review on The Bark of the Bog Owl by Jonathan Rogers on Wed.(in between posting the fire situation updates).
Janey L. DeMeo
Janey L. DeMeo
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Don’t Be Chicken – Fight Fried Cruelty!
This blog will be short but not sweet. More sour than sweet. I’m sorry but I feel compelled to say something about this issue—the unfathomable suffering that is allowed to take place in America.
Before I discuss this kind of willfully inflicted suffering – acts of cruelty – let me premise it by stating that statistics clearly suggest that people who are cruel to animals are often cruel to children. It makes sense. Cruel people are bullies who want to victimize those who are helpless. Thus, animals—then children!!!
If you care about right and wrong, being a light in a dark world, please check out this VIDEO. It explains what the missing ingredient is in Kentucky Fried Chicken—cruelty. Go to: www.KentuckyFriedCruelty.com to see how they treat their chickens. And if you’re wondering how this affects you, just remember: unchecked cruelty breeds more cruelty—which affects the children!
Or if you’re wondering what you can do…well, for one thing, stop buying KFC. Boycott them. Make a statement about cruelty. If we don’t nip this one, bigger cruelties will be ignored. Let’s not be chicken. Let’s open our beaks loud and cluck until our voices are heard and this cruelty ends.
Janey DeMeo©October 2007
Before I discuss this kind of willfully inflicted suffering – acts of cruelty – let me premise it by stating that statistics clearly suggest that people who are cruel to animals are often cruel to children. It makes sense. Cruel people are bullies who want to victimize those who are helpless. Thus, animals—then children!!!
If you care about right and wrong, being a light in a dark world, please check out this VIDEO. It explains what the missing ingredient is in Kentucky Fried Chicken—cruelty. Go to: www.KentuckyFriedCruelty.com to see how they treat their chickens. And if you’re wondering how this affects you, just remember: unchecked cruelty breeds more cruelty—which affects the children!
Or if you’re wondering what you can do…well, for one thing, stop buying KFC. Boycott them. Make a statement about cruelty. If we don’t nip this one, bigger cruelties will be ignored. Let’s not be chicken. Let’s open our beaks loud and cluck until our voices are heard and this cruelty ends.
Janey DeMeo©October 2007
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Are We Following England & France?
Gatwick is way better than Heathrow. Trust me. It’s cleaner and looks less threatening. Last year I went to London via Heathrow—only a week before the liquid bomb scare. The airport stank of terrorism. But this year I went via Gatwick. Much better. But this blog is not about airports. It’s about life. And England is hot on my mind…
Since I was young—when my parents first took me to France—I didn’t want to spend my life in England. Not sure why really. The cold maybe? Or just my fairytale mind believing the grass is always greener someplace else. I actually wanted to live in France, probably because I’d tasted of its beauty and spoke the language. And that’s exactly where I ended up—for almost a quarter century. But it wasn’t the weather, nor the language, not even the fine food that took me there. It was Jesus. His call and His purpose. And now we’re in America for that same call and purpose—to serve Him.
So what about England? Where does it fit? Well, I realized during this recent visit to my precious family that I’m a Brit no matter what. I might not live in England but part of England still lives in me. Part of her history and culture. And there are things I miss: the green, the sound of British birds (they have a different accent you know), the quaint villages, tea houses, marmite… Yes, England still holds a certain charm—in spite of the pervasion of Islam and Liberalism. You just need to stop to smell the lovely, English roses along the way.
However, if we’re not careful, there may come a time when we no longer smell the roses. Either they’ll have lost their scent or we’ll have lost our sense. Sense of smell, of course, but also our SENSE. Some things just don’t make sense. Here’s something senseless I recently heard on radio that infuriates and alarms me.
America is so tolerant of Islam that it’s paving the way for ingrown terrorism—using our tax dollars to do so. Hear this. Right in the city of the 9/11 attack, NY, tax dollars are funding a school teaching in Arab promoting the Islamic culture. It looks to be no more than a thinly disguised incubator for Islamic radicalism. Hear full details here: http://www.issuesineducation.org/ (Are Schools Promoting Islam?).
Since half the classes will be taught in Arabic, and most of us don’t understand it, who’s to control the spread of Islamic propaganda and the promotion of Jihad? One of the school’s big promoters is from CAIR, the Council of American Islamic Relations. CAIR’s founder, who promotes this school in New York City, said “Islam is in America to become dominant.” He promotes this Islamic school, the Kallil Kabron International Academy (not sure if this is how you spell it).
Meanwhile, if you want tax dollars for a Christian school, you won’t get them. This is forbidden. We can’t publicly promote Christianity, sing Christian carols etc. or the ACLU would jump down our throat. But where is the ACLU on this issue? It’s a totally double standard. We’re also, apparently, allowing the Muslims to have their own parade. Disgraceful. Distasteful. Disgusting.
We need to recognize the Trojan horse, the enemy’s permeation into American society. Ignorance is not bliss. It’s cruel stupidity. WAKE UP AMERICA! We’re supposed to be in war against terrorism—not breeding it in our back yard. Let’s not follow the foolish footsteps of England and France in such matters.
For more details, check out the Thomas More Law Center: www.ThomasMore.org or “Are Schools Promoting Islam” here: http://www.issuesineducation.org/ Or call Issues in Education: 1- 888-ISSUES9. And do read Tom Tancredo’s book, In Mortal Danger.
Since I was young—when my parents first took me to France—I didn’t want to spend my life in England. Not sure why really. The cold maybe? Or just my fairytale mind believing the grass is always greener someplace else. I actually wanted to live in France, probably because I’d tasted of its beauty and spoke the language. And that’s exactly where I ended up—for almost a quarter century. But it wasn’t the weather, nor the language, not even the fine food that took me there. It was Jesus. His call and His purpose. And now we’re in America for that same call and purpose—to serve Him.
So what about England? Where does it fit? Well, I realized during this recent visit to my precious family that I’m a Brit no matter what. I might not live in England but part of England still lives in me. Part of her history and culture. And there are things I miss: the green, the sound of British birds (they have a different accent you know), the quaint villages, tea houses, marmite… Yes, England still holds a certain charm—in spite of the pervasion of Islam and Liberalism. You just need to stop to smell the lovely, English roses along the way.
However, if we’re not careful, there may come a time when we no longer smell the roses. Either they’ll have lost their scent or we’ll have lost our sense. Sense of smell, of course, but also our SENSE. Some things just don’t make sense. Here’s something senseless I recently heard on radio that infuriates and alarms me.
America is so tolerant of Islam that it’s paving the way for ingrown terrorism—using our tax dollars to do so. Hear this. Right in the city of the 9/11 attack, NY, tax dollars are funding a school teaching in Arab promoting the Islamic culture. It looks to be no more than a thinly disguised incubator for Islamic radicalism. Hear full details here: http://www.issuesineducation.org/ (Are Schools Promoting Islam?).
Since half the classes will be taught in Arabic, and most of us don’t understand it, who’s to control the spread of Islamic propaganda and the promotion of Jihad? One of the school’s big promoters is from CAIR, the Council of American Islamic Relations. CAIR’s founder, who promotes this school in New York City, said “Islam is in America to become dominant.” He promotes this Islamic school, the Kallil Kabron International Academy (not sure if this is how you spell it).
Meanwhile, if you want tax dollars for a Christian school, you won’t get them. This is forbidden. We can’t publicly promote Christianity, sing Christian carols etc. or the ACLU would jump down our throat. But where is the ACLU on this issue? It’s a totally double standard. We’re also, apparently, allowing the Muslims to have their own parade. Disgraceful. Distasteful. Disgusting.
We need to recognize the Trojan horse, the enemy’s permeation into American society. Ignorance is not bliss. It’s cruel stupidity. WAKE UP AMERICA! We’re supposed to be in war against terrorism—not breeding it in our back yard. Let’s not follow the foolish footsteps of England and France in such matters.
For more details, check out the Thomas More Law Center: www.ThomasMore.org or “Are Schools Promoting Islam” here: http://www.issuesineducation.org/ Or call Issues in Education: 1- 888-ISSUES9. And do read Tom Tancredo’s book, In Mortal Danger.
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