While we feast tomorrow for Thanksgiving, babies will be starving—even right here in America. Check out what Elizabeth Elliot says about a baby who starved to death right here in an American hospital. www.elisabethelliot.org/devotional.html
When in Florida where I spoke for the Embraced by Grace Adoption Awareness Seminar, I heard that when children are hungry (especially babies), it is agonizing. We cannot imagine the pain they feel—so much more than we adults do. But this baby starved over 6 days with a notice over his little crib, “DO NOT FEED”. He was placed alone (so the crying wouldn’t bother anyone?) to die. Meanwhile, several families had stepped up to adopt him.
I pray you’ll read this before Thanksgiving. Why? Because the Lord would have us mindful of those who are without, of those starving for lack of food—or lack of love—or both. He wants us to remember those whose lives are sacrificed by cruelty—or by courage such as our military. He wants us to think of the orphans and to do all we can to help them. May He make our hearts tender and compassionate. And may He make us quick to pray, and to act so that our lives make a difference.
Oh, and since we’re speaking of turkeys, and preventing cruelty, in case you missed my previous posts please also check this out: www.KentuckyFriedCruelty.com -- a video of how KFC treat their chicken. This is extreme cruelty and we can help stop it.
Your caring makes Thanksgiving what it should be!
Janey DeMeo
www.orphansfirst.org
www.JaneyDeMeo.com
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Friday, November 09, 2007
Country Music Awards, God & Culture
I watched the Country Music Awards the other night. Awesome. I didn’t used to appreciate country as a Brit—until I spent a season in Tennessee. Now I like a lot of country, as long as it’s not twangy.
Anyway, some of the words that caught my ear include these:
“No castle in the south of France…
And daddy was the apple of my eye
He will always be the apple of my eye.”
I did live in a castle in the south of France where I saw a lotta kids who had no-one they could call Daddy. It broke my heart. Now I’m seeing the same trend here in American and my heart is doubly broken.
Martina McBride sand a beautiful song about prayer (again). Words included:
“Blessed is the believer who knows love is a redeemer
And stays to pray for the times in which we live…
Give me a heart of tender mercy…
Everybody just stop & pray for these times in which we live”.
I was deeply touched. You’d never hear these kind of words at a secular music concert in France. Nor England.
One of the musical phenomena who performed was 17 year old Taylor Swift who won the Horizon Award. She first thanked God before thanking everyone else who’d invested in her. Carrie Underwood introduced Taylor and had won her own awards aplenty including female vocalist, stated, “God has blessed me with so many wonderful things, I’ll spend my life trying to figure out why.”
Brad Paisley won mail vocalist of the year, thanked everyone, ending “…and more importantly, God.”
Words in another song performed that night: included, “I’m proud to live in the boondocks, I found Jesus there...”
It was beautiful. And I love that so many people have the reflex to thank God. But what I’m still figuring out is whether these words express a sincere walk with God, or whether they’re just part of the American—especially southern—cultural mix. I guess it’s not for me to know. But it troubles me. Why? Because of so many folk truly know God, why is America going to the wolves?
Janey . DeMeo © November 2007
Anyway, some of the words that caught my ear include these:
“No castle in the south of France…
And daddy was the apple of my eye
He will always be the apple of my eye.”
I did live in a castle in the south of France where I saw a lotta kids who had no-one they could call Daddy. It broke my heart. Now I’m seeing the same trend here in American and my heart is doubly broken.
Martina McBride sand a beautiful song about prayer (again). Words included:
“Blessed is the believer who knows love is a redeemer
And stays to pray for the times in which we live…
Give me a heart of tender mercy…
Everybody just stop & pray for these times in which we live”.
I was deeply touched. You’d never hear these kind of words at a secular music concert in France. Nor England.
One of the musical phenomena who performed was 17 year old Taylor Swift who won the Horizon Award. She first thanked God before thanking everyone else who’d invested in her. Carrie Underwood introduced Taylor and had won her own awards aplenty including female vocalist, stated, “God has blessed me with so many wonderful things, I’ll spend my life trying to figure out why.”
Brad Paisley won mail vocalist of the year, thanked everyone, ending “…and more importantly, God.”
Words in another song performed that night: included, “I’m proud to live in the boondocks, I found Jesus there...”
It was beautiful. And I love that so many people have the reflex to thank God. But what I’m still figuring out is whether these words express a sincere walk with God, or whether they’re just part of the American—especially southern—cultural mix. I guess it’s not for me to know. But it troubles me. Why? Because of so many folk truly know God, why is America going to the wolves?
Janey . DeMeo © November 2007
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
See Bella, boycott the Golden Compass
It's amazing how life continues after so many lives have been devastated--especially if your own life isn't included in that count. That's how it is here after the fires. Not surprising really given the fact that the human race has is being reduced to entertainment gluttons.
So, let’s talk movies. The good, the bad & the ugy. Beginning with the good, I hear Bella’s awesome and can’t wait to see it. Bit while beautiful films are being produced, trash abounds. The latest ugly movie apparently is sheer evil so let's be warned and warn others about The Golden Compass starring Nicole Kidman. Advertised as a normal children's movie, it clearly aims at teaching children that there is no God. (In fact, they kill God in the story.) The movie's based on of a trilogy of children's books and the author is an atheist named is Philip Pullman. Let’s take heed and let people know.
Such ugliness rides a trend of blatant filth and anti-God TV shows and movies. Seems almost everything nowadays promotes loose living to the point of debauch, totally disregarding consequences. So, you go pick up a “onenightstand”. Doesn’t matter that he/she might have a disease. If I didn’t read the Bible and understand that this is all part of a wind up (or wind down) bringing us nearer to the time when we’ll be with Jesus, I’d get seriously overwhelmed.
I like movies that make me think, motivate me, drive me to want to make a different. One of my fave old movies (and my family's) is Brother Sun, Sister Moon by Zephirelli. It’s just been redigitaled in DVD format. The film, poetically telling Francesco of Assisi’s story, is laced with profound spiritual innuendos that could easily be missed. For example, Francesco begins rebuilding an old church ruin and his friends think he’s crazy (literally). One by one they try to draw him back into their world. But one friend, Bernardo, pours out his heart to Francesco, sharing his own dissatisfaction with life. As he does, Francesco sees a large stone, asks where his friend had found it, and then quotes the verse, “All ye like lively stones are being built…”. He sees the stone as a fit for his church—and his friend as a stone for God’s temple.
I first saw that movie in Montreal where my husband was planting a church. At the end of the film, he went to the front of the theatre and preached a salvation message. Way to go dude.
On that note, let's support all those making good movies. Let's all go see Bella and any other movies promoting godly values. Let’s seek excellence, not trash.
Janey DeMeo©November 2007
So, let’s talk movies. The good, the bad & the ugy. Beginning with the good, I hear Bella’s awesome and can’t wait to see it. Bit while beautiful films are being produced, trash abounds. The latest ugly movie apparently is sheer evil so let's be warned and warn others about The Golden Compass starring Nicole Kidman. Advertised as a normal children's movie, it clearly aims at teaching children that there is no God. (In fact, they kill God in the story.) The movie's based on of a trilogy of children's books and the author is an atheist named is Philip Pullman. Let’s take heed and let people know.
Such ugliness rides a trend of blatant filth and anti-God TV shows and movies. Seems almost everything nowadays promotes loose living to the point of debauch, totally disregarding consequences. So, you go pick up a “onenightstand”. Doesn’t matter that he/she might have a disease. If I didn’t read the Bible and understand that this is all part of a wind up (or wind down) bringing us nearer to the time when we’ll be with Jesus, I’d get seriously overwhelmed.
I like movies that make me think, motivate me, drive me to want to make a different. One of my fave old movies (and my family's) is Brother Sun, Sister Moon by Zephirelli. It’s just been redigitaled in DVD format. The film, poetically telling Francesco of Assisi’s story, is laced with profound spiritual innuendos that could easily be missed. For example, Francesco begins rebuilding an old church ruin and his friends think he’s crazy (literally). One by one they try to draw him back into their world. But one friend, Bernardo, pours out his heart to Francesco, sharing his own dissatisfaction with life. As he does, Francesco sees a large stone, asks where his friend had found it, and then quotes the verse, “All ye like lively stones are being built…”. He sees the stone as a fit for his church—and his friend as a stone for God’s temple.
I first saw that movie in Montreal where my husband was planting a church. At the end of the film, he went to the front of the theatre and preached a salvation message. Way to go dude.
On that note, let's support all those making good movies. Let's all go see Bella and any other movies promoting godly values. Let’s seek excellence, not trash.
Janey DeMeo©November 2007
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Fires still burning...and homeless ones still homeless
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
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
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.
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