Friday, July 22, 2011

Billy Graham in Quotes

Pertinent. Pure. Profound. Poignant. Powerful.

Ok, so I’m pushing the alliteration, but Billy Graham in Quotes is all of these things. This book is exactly as the title suggests: a book of quotes by Dr. Billy Graham, compiled by his son, Franklin Graham.

Billy Graham in Quotes is set up in categories so the reader can easily flip through to find Dr. Graham’s quotes on various subjects: abortion, work, the resurrection, church, evangelism, pain . . . Under the chapter titled Prayer for example, here’s a typical quote:
“Prayers have no boundaries.
They can leap miles and continents and be translated instantly into any language.”

This is a great book for just about anyone. Great for preachers as a source of spice for their sermons. And great for layman to glean from the simple truths and enrich their personal walk with Jesus.

Janey DeMeo M.A.

Copyright © July 2011

www.orphansfirst.org
www.JaneyDeMeo.com
www.twitter.com/JaneyDeMeo

The Eternal Messiah: Jesus of K'turia

For those who like fantasy and sci-fi, here's a book worth checking out, The Eternal Messiah: Jesus of K'turia by W.R.Pursche and Michael Gabriele. (Read the interview with Bill Pursche below the book description.)

The essence of the story?

A religious preacher brings a message of sacrifice and compassion, enticing the people to break free of their meaningless and lifeless customs. His gospel challenges both the ritualistic religious leaders and a foreign occupying power.

His name is Jesus.

But this is not ancient Palestine, but another planet. Coincidence? Or proof of the universal God?

Kalinda Prentiss is a renowned expert in her field of cultural anthropology. In her work with indigenous cultures she begins to see amazing similarities in their path to advancement -- similarities based on their acceptance of a religious Messiah. Yet when she documents her work and presents it to the scientific community, she is ridiculed for her belief that societal advancement could in any way be connected to God.

Treb Win has left his home and joined the military to escape the memories of the loss of his life mate. Bereft of purpose, he tries to lose himself in his work, his goal of achieving personal enlightenment now an impossible dream without the support of his mate and his people.

Prentiss is demoted from her prestigious position and sent to work on Win's obscure research ship. Though convinced of her theory of the link between religion and technical advancement, she vows never to trust the scientific establishment again to have an open mind toward her ideas.

Win and Prentiss become embroiled in a secretive military mission neither of them want any part of. They end up on another planet searching for a missing freighter carrying illicit government weapons which, if discovered, could start a cataclysmic war.

Here they witness something extraordinary: a religious preacher named Jesus appears. He brings a compelling message of faith and sacrifice, encouraging the people to break free from their meaningless lives. His gospel threatens both the local religious leaders and an oppressive occupying power.

Win knows little of Jesus but is curiously drawn to this preacher, kindling a spark in his long lost sense of purpose as he listens to Jesus' gospel. Prentiss believes she has the ultimate proof of her theory, but as she witnesses events unfold which are eerily similar to what happened on Earth, she must make a desperate choice between her work, her faith, and trying to stop what she fears may be the final outcome for Jesus

The science fiction elements are downplayed and serve only as a vehicle to allow the story to unfold in the future and in another place. The book will appeal to adults, Christian teenagers, and readers of religious fiction such as the "Left Behind" series. Though it is not a literal retelling of the New Testament, the inherent message -- salvation through grace, and personal actions driven by the gift of sacrifice -- is one that will be well understood and accepted by those of faith.

This is a unique story that both expands the thinking of people of faith while at the same time challenging those who are not believers or those who insist on a scientific explanation of God.

My interview with Bill Pursche

What is the bottom line of the story?

That faith will provide strength, even if one is surrounded by those who insist on a ‘scientific’ explanation of God: “Who are they who would say that the truth of faith is any less than the truth of evidence?”

And that just because you are not rich, or powerful, you can still do something to help make the world better. Each to their own ability.

What motivated you to write this book?

Ever since I was young, I was always fascinated by the question of how people would react if Jesus were to appear again. What would they do? What would they believe? What would he say?

That was the genesis of the idea. To keep the story more focused on the spiritual message, the story is set not only in the future, but on another planet. This also allowed the story to address another key question: How will God appear in the universe?

Janey DeMeo M.A.

Copyright © July 2011

www.orphansfirst.org
www.JaneyDeMeo.com
www.twitter.com/JaneyDeMeo

Friday, July 15, 2011

Battered babies need loving homes


(Photo of a child in Haiti, courtesy of ORPHANS FIRST.)

It is a sad day when there are no homes, no provisions, for battered babies and abused toddlers.

Read my latest article on this subject in The San Diego Christian Perspectives Examiner.

Comments always appreciated...


Janey DeMeo M.A.

Copyright © July 2011

www.orphansfirst.org
www.JaneyDeMeo.com
www.twitter.com/JaneyDeMeo

Monday, July 11, 2011

I Called Him Dancer

As an avid lover of dance, an advocate for orphans and a friend of the homeless, I eagerly read I Called Him Dancer by G. Edward Snipes because all these components are found in the central figure, Michael.

For a moment, Michael danced on top of the world, but one bad choice turned his life upside down. The once promising Broadway star now washes windshields for tips and lives among the homeless. When his former dance partner recognizes him behind the fray of whiskers, shame drives him away from her. Angry at God and the world, the Dancer refuses to allow anyone into his life. When everything is stripped away, three things remain: faith, hope, and love. The greatest of these is love.


I Called Him Dancer is a story about how one woman's enduring faith and unconditional love drives her to reach out to a homeless man who has given up on life.

G. Edward Snipes is a freelance writer, president of the Christian Authors Guild, and founder of Exchanged Life Ministries. He has had four award winning short stories, and regularly has articles published on several online ministries. Visit his ministry site at exchangedlife.com or his personal blog at eddiesnipes.com.

Interview With The Author

Have you always wanted to be a writer?


When I was a child, I got my first book. I flipped through the pages, then tore it apart. I didn't know it at the time, but that's exactly what you do when editing a manuscript.

I hated writing when I was younger. I only did what I had to do, and sometimes not even that. Writers block was more like writers dementia. My mind didn't return to me until after ... hmm. What were we talking about?

In 1998, I became active in prison ministry. Many of the men I ministered to were eager to learn. Someone asked me if I had my studies or notes on paper. I agreed to write out the next study and then my writing career was born. The problem wasn't that I couldn't write. It was that I didn't have something to say. Or didn't realize I had something to say. Over time writing transformed from a task to a passion.

Who is your favorite character in I Called Him Dancer?

The character that inspired me the most is Kenyon. Many readers have stated the same. He’s human, struggling to do what is right, and lives by a genuine faith. At times he wrestles between what he knows God wants him to do, and what he wants. Kenyon is down to earth, not preachy, yet his life has an impact on others.

In the story I tried to present Christianity in an honest light. Many who claim to be Christians show hypocrisy and drive others (like the Dancer) away from the faith. This is a real problem in the Christian culture. Kenyon shows what sincere faith looks like. He’s far from perfect, but his simple faith impacts those around him. Kenyon’s sincerity is something the Dancer can’t understand and it piques his curiosity.

What would you like your readers to take away from this novel?

I want people to look at the reality of how faith impacts the world around us. Hypocrisy is being pretentious about faith, and there is a difference between failure and hypocritical behavior. Christians shouldn’t feel dejected when they fail. It’s part of this life of reaching upward.

Also, we all know someone who appears hopeless and hostile toward God, but we don’t know what the Lord is doing behind the scenes. Ultimately, hope is what everyone should take away. Hope that readers are not alone in their struggles. Hope that our lives can make an impact – even with our imperfections. Finally, hope that the people we care about are never out of God’s reach.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for posting the author’s interview on my blog. This blog tour is managed by Christian Speaker Services (www.ChristianSpeakerServices.com).

Janey DeMeo M.A.

www.orphansfirst.org
www.JaneyDeMeo.com
www.twitter.com/JaneyDeMeo

Monday, July 04, 2011

Independence Day -- The Price Paid

Pictures (and YouTubes) speak louder than words. And tears speak even louder. Let's not forget our military this 4th of July. We owe them much.

Read my latest article in The Christian Perspectives Examiner here. And please feel free to leave comments. Your feedback is valuable.

Janey DeMeo M.A.

Copyright © July 2011

www.orphansfirst.org
www.JaneyDeMeo.com
www.twitter.com/JaneyDeMeo

P.S. Get your box of tissues out . . .