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Blargon


A couple of notes--first, notice that you can now subscribe to this blog's feed. Just put your email addy in the box beneath my blogroll of favorite blogs, and you'll receive a copy of whatever I post whenever I post it. At least that's how it's supposed to work. Remember, profundity is not guaranteed.

Second, tomorrow begins our Book of the Month (BOM) feature. Seven days of looking at how one particular title came to be.

William Safire had a great column on blargon (blogger jargon) last Sunday. I knew most of the words, but encountered some new ones. Let's check your blogger vocabulary.

Above the fold: what you see on a blog's screen before you begin to scroll down.
Sidebar: obviously, the column down the side of the page.
Blogroll: the list of other blogs we love and/or recommend
Bye-line: an adios or farewell at the end of a blogger's post
wingnuts: right wing bloggers
moonbats: left wing bloggers
ping: "packet Internet gopher" a program that tests whether a destination is online
Link love: an unsolicited, posted link that aims only to amuse or interest
Link slut: carrying the above yearning to an extreme
meme: an online chain letter, where you "tag" your friends to answer the same questions
Delicious: a social bookmarking service that allows users to share their bookmarked sites with others. To del.icio.us someone is to add them to your delicious bookmarks.
blogerati: sophisticated bloggers
dotted: the word used to describe any site that sends out bursts of traffic
slashdotted: the recipient of all above traffic
spam blogs, splogs, and zombie blogs: robot-generated texts meant to game search engines. Often appears as comment spam.
blegging: sending a query through the blogosphere
to fisk: taking an article, reprinting it on your blog with your line-by-line critique.

Had enough? I have! I'm still trying to master the vocabulary in the dictionary!

~~Angie
By Angela on Tuesday, February 28, 2006 @ 10:19 AM


for this post

 
Blogger Carrie Says: 3:49 PM  

Any hints on what book you'll be "expounding on" first? Can't wait...

 

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For Our Soldiers . . . a true story


The following letter came from novelist Terri Blackstock:

A friend of mine just shared something that happened to her, and I thought it was so profound that I'd share it with you. My friend Diane was in the Atlanta airport the other day. She said she saw hundreds of uniformed soldiers lining up in a nearby gate. She watched, trying to figure out what was going on. Finally she realized they were about to board a plane to go to Iraq. She said that when their boarding call came, they lined up two by two to get on the plane. Everyone in the airport who could see them stood up and applauded until they were all on the plane.

Later, she boarded her own flight--a different plane--and was seated next to a marine in uniform. Diane was delighted to sit next to him, and she began to thank him for what he's doing for our country. She said he was very gracious. The flight attendant came back and asked him for his name and the name of the person he was escorting. The marine then explained to Diane that he was escorting a body home from Iraq. He explained that this wasn't someone he knew, but when someone died overseas and a family member or friend couldn't escort them home, he was one of the men who did it.

Before they took off, a man from first class got up and came to the marine and said, "I'd like to give you my seat in first class. Would you please trade places with me?"

The marine replied, "Thank you, sir, but I'm fine right here." The man insisted, but the marine was firm. He refused to take the man's seat. Aftera few minutes, the flight attendant came back and told them that, even though he didn't want to take that man's seat, they happened to have two extra seats in first class, and the captain very much wanted this marine to have one of them.

Again, the marine said, "Thank you, but I'm just fine right here."

The flight attendant picked another person to take one of those seats, then returned a minute later and offered the second one to the man behind Diane.The man accepted the first class seat, but then he stood up and came to the marine. "Son, I appreciate you so much, and I really want you to have that seat," he said. "Please take the seat in first class."

Again, the marine said, "Thank you, sir, but I'm fine."

The man got emotional. "I know you're fine. But I had a son who was a marine . . . " His voice broke off. Diane didn't know if the marine understood that the man's son had died, but she understood. Again, the marine started to refuse. But Diane got tears in her eyes, and she touched his hand and leaned into him, and said, "He NEEDS you to take his seat." Suddenly the marine understood. He got up and thanked him, and shook the man's hand, and headed up to first class.

Diane said that after the flight, when the plane landed, the captain asked everyone to remain seated until the casket was unloaded and the marine escorting it had gotten off. She said that everyone stayed quietly in their seats while that young man exited. Her husband was waiting inside the airport, and he noticed people gravitating to the window. They all looked very somber. He didn't realize until later that they were watching the American soldier's coffin being unloaded from the plane.

Despite what you may hear on the national news, Americans are firmly behind our soldiers, and they love, respect and admire them. May they be treated like heroes everywhere they go, because that is what they are.

Terri Blackstock

A note from Angie: I know there are many Americans who are against this war, and my heart breaks for those who have lost children in this struggle. But another friend of mine was recently in Iraq, and she said that several Iraqi Christians came up to her and said, "Thank the American people for coming here. If you leave now, we will all be killed."

No one loves war, but sometimes it is necessary to stand up against those who would deny life and liberty to others. If you have a son, daughter, or spouse in the armed forces, I salute you. Freedom--whether physical, social, or spiritual--comes at an extremely high price. May we never forget it.

~~Angie
By Angela on Monday, February 27, 2006 @ 8:47 AM


for this post

 
Anonymous Hope Wilbanks Says: 10:07 PM  

From a soldier's wife...thank you for posting this. My husband returned from Iraq the day before Christmas. It was a long 18 months for my children and I, but we made it through. Most Americans just do not understand, and take this freedom we have for granted.

 
 
Blogger Beckie Says: 7:46 AM  

Thanks so much for sharing this story. I've been a supporter of our troops and stand behind the President's decision. In my post today, I referred readers to your blog for the story.

P.S. Hope you enjoyed your visit to my home state of VA!

 
 
Anonymous Betsy Says: 12:56 PM  

I feel there is not enough thanks we can give the men and women of our armed forces. INHO they are truly mortal angels on our behalf.

 
 
Blogger Ruth Says: 1:23 PM  

Thank you so much for sharing this story. I am a firm believer in supporting our troops (have you seen the website www.anysoldier.com?). Anyway, thank you...this story brought tears to my eyes.

 
 
Blogger Lynette Sowell Says: 12:15 AM  

Thank you for sharing that story.

I attend a small church in a town near Fort Hood TX, and it's been a revolving door as some of our guys go for their second tour of a year to 16 months or more. They do so much humanitarian work in Iraq and the news doesn't capture much of that at all. Giving out clothing, helping the townspeople get clean water, schools. One of our guys, Lorenzo, is distributing clothes and candy that his wife sends him. The people cannot get enough of what we take for granted and pitch out to the thrift store.

 
 
Blogger Cowboy Sunsets Says: 7:09 PM  

Great post. I love hearing from a patriot. God bless America. ~Tim

 

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Update


Well, I'm back and recovered from four days in the Christian schools of Virginia. Had a wonderful time talking to kids about books and writing, then had a wonderful time catching up at home--answering emails, tossing out junk mail, and doing our taxes. Turbo Tax had this new feature that I like--you can apply some of your refund to buying gift cards, but they give you more on the card than you actually spend. So now my family will be well stocked with gift cards (and I made sure to get cards where we regularly shop anyway.)

Still hanging in there with the 90 Day Bible Reading challenge? I love Jeremiah. The prophetic passages about Christ are so strong, poetic, and obvious to anyone reading from the perspective of hindsight. I am also drawn to the passages that describe Israel's ingathering and the promise of her future joy.

Reading Jeremiah whetted my appetite for more study, so last night I went online and signed up for my doctoral program. As soon as that's squared away, I'll start my doctor of biblical studies program, choosing classes in theology, old and new testament, and one called "the problem of evil." (Looks interesting!) I'm also very interested in a class called "bioethics overview." Hmmm. That could be useful.

Well, time to get ready for church. I'll be leaving mid-week to go teach an advanced fiction track at the Florida Christian Writer's Conference--looking forward to seeing many friends there! www.flwriters.org.

~Angie
By Angela on Sunday, February 26, 2006 @ 9:06 AM


for this post



A Fun Quiz for Friday

Your Hair Should Be Red

Passionate, fiery, and sassy.
You're a total smart aleck who's got the biggest personality around.
My hair is red! It's been red for a few years now, and I love it.
What color is your hair? What color did this test say your hair should be?
Angie
By Angela on Friday, February 24, 2006 @ 6:40 AM


for this post

 
Blogger lisa Says: 8:03 PM  

pink!

 
 
Blogger Leslie Says: 11:13 PM  

Purple-Intense, thoughtful, and unconventional.
You’re always philosophizing and inspiring others with your insights.

My real color is medium-light brown. I don't think I'd look good with purple hair.

 
 
Anonymous Betsy Says: 2:53 AM  

Orange

 
 
Blogger Ruth Says: 9:35 AM  

My hair should be PURPLE? Go figure...I'm actually a dark brown.

 
 
Anonymous Britt Says: 11:45 AM  

I'm a natural light red. I got the same thing Leslie got... Purple.

 

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Da Bunnies


One of my friends pointed me to this web site: it's plot capsules of major movies enacted in thirty seconds, more or less, by bunnies. Hilarious!

Caveat: some of the language comes directly from the movies, so just because it's bunnies doesn't mean it's rated G.

Check it out at www.angryalien.com.

~Angie
By Angela on Thursday, February 23, 2006 @ 9:40 AM


for this post



The Book Club that Wasn't

Tuesday I spoke at Norfolk Christian School, both branches of the lower schools. The sweetest thing happened at the end of the second chapel service--the principal called on three students to "pray for Mrs Hunt."

It was humbling and thrilling to listen to three elementary students pray for my family and my work. I was so touched.

I was talking to Dawn, my Nelson rep, later, and she said that somehow the prayers of children seem to go to the heart of God faster than other prayers. And while we know that's technically not so, she was right about the prayers of children having a unique and special quality.

On to the topic at hand:

LOL. Well, last week I experienced a first. For the first time in the two or three years since we’ve been having our neighborhood book club, every single woman backed out. Failed to show up. Didn’t come.

Leaving me with the freedom to finish my daily page quota and watch 24.

The problem? We picked a Pulitzer prize winning novel and out of our dozen women, I think two of us actually finished it. I finished it through sheer force of will on Sunday afternoon, and I skipped every other page in the middle. If I hadn’t been supposed to lead the discussion, I wouldn’t have made the effort.

Don’t get me wrong—we’ve had novels we HATED, but we still finished them. This thing was simply overwritten. It was a good story, but I think it could have been told in one-fourth of the pages. And it’s not that we’re prejudiced against literary novels—we’ve read them, finished them, and liked them.

But this one? I’m still laughing. I think we’re going to avoid Pulitzer books from here on out.

There’s a lesson in this, my friends . . . if you're going to write, leave out the boring parts.

(P.S. No, I'm not going to tell you the title.)

Angie
By Angela on Wednesday, February 22, 2006 @ 8:12 AM


for this post

 
Blogger Ruth Says: 8:08 AM  

You're not going to tell us the title of the novel? Now that's just too cruel...

;-)

 

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Writing Tip: Backstory


The other day a dear novelist brother and I got into an email yin-yang (we do this all the time; it’s good mental exercise.) He was making a case for including some backstory in the beginning of a book because it aids in character development and reader sympathy. I’ve recently adopted a “no back story in the first 30 pages” rule because I think you can develop reader interest and sympathy through present action.

(Hey--it's an art AND a science.)

Here are some of my comments. If you want more on his side of the argument, you’ll have to read his blog. (VBG) (Um . . . he hasn't blogged on this. So you're stuck with my side of the debate.)

He said that lots of good writers put backstory in the front of a book . . .

Well, of course backstory can be put in the first 30/50 pages and still result in a good book. I could also lose weight eating a slice of chocolate cake every day. BUT—is it not better discipline to try and do without it? To arouse reader interest in the current conundrum and save the backstory until later?

I’ve been trying a new exercise when I teach. I pick up published books, manuscripts, what-have-you, and I tell the class to raise their hands the moment the writing provokes a question they want answered.

Some manuscripts go on for paragraphs, even pages, before a hand goes up. For some, I don’t even finish the first sentence before I see hands across the room.

It’s the dramatic question that keeps a reader reading. It’s the passing-by-a-car wreck effect—we don’t know who’s in the car, we don’t have any connection whatsoever, but, by golly, we just have to know what happened and how bad it was.

I’ll admit that there is perhaps a time and place for back story up front. In fact, the entire beginning of MYSTIC RIVER is an event from the grown protagonist’s childhood.

I was a skeptic at first. After all, I’d written dozens of novels and never paid a bit of attention to “move the backstory” idea. Until someone challenged me to do this:

Take your WIP. Highlight all backstory in the first couple of chapters. Then cut it and move it. (I didn’t say KILL it, just move it beyond the 30-page mark.)

Now—doesn’t the front part move faster? And some of those little “asides” of important back story—might some of them work better as a fully-fleshed out scene later in the book? We should be learning about who your character is from what you’re showing us in the present action. Give us revealing details, particularities.

I’m betting that nine times out of ten, your story will improve because you moved the back story. Unless, of course, you’re doing something like the author in Mystic River.

Try it, you’ll like it! Or I’ll eat my hat.

To which my dear brother promptly replied, “And I’ll bring the salt!”

~~Angie
By Angela on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 @ 8:22 AM


for this post

 
Blogger Ruth Says: 8:44 AM  

Thanks so much for the great tip & insight...I think you make some EXCELLENT points. I will have to keep this in mind for when/if I have a WIP to work on. (VBG)

 
 
Anonymous Anonymous Says: 10:58 AM  

Hey, Angela. I think it would be interesting to hear "the other guy's" argument, too. :) Can you post the link to his blog?

(No offense or anything--I'm not a novelist so the kinds of things you bring up in your blog are really cool to see for some one who loves to just read novels. I just like to see both sides of the argument.)

Thanks!! Megan from Colorado

 
 
Blogger Angela Says: 4:08 PM  

Sorry, Megan, but I doubt he's going to blog on this. He's a little busy at the moment . . .

Angie

 
 
Anonymous Anonymous Says: 4:39 PM  

Sorry...I thought you had mentioned that he had actually blogged on it...Anywho...thanks for the cool info...I'll just go research it on my own and find out which way I like better! :)

 

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90 Day Bible Reading Challenge: Isaiah


Photo: My office/desk. Believe it or not, it is organized. (We were talking about writing spaces on Charis, so I dug out a picture).

Onto the subject at hand:

Wow, Isaiah!

I’m lovin’ this book. So filled with grave judgment, but so rich with promises of mercy! God says he will afflict his people in order to get them to turn from their sin, but at the same time “In love a throne will be established; in faithfulness a man will sit on it—one from the house of David—one who in judging seeks justice and speeds the cause of righteousness.”

There are millennial echoes throughout as well—from the familiar verse on the United Nations building (as if nations could ever accomplish the beating of swords into plows), to the promise that on his mountain (Zion), “the Lord will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples . . . and swallow up death forever, and wipe away the tears from all faces, and remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth.”

Here’s something interesting I found: in the prophecies against specific nations (Babylon, Egypt, Assyria, Moab, Cush, etc.,) look at Chapter 18: notice that God doesn’t promise destruction to this nation (apparently Cush, or Ethiopia), but says they will bring gifts to the Lord to Mount Zion, the place of the Name of the Lord (the Temple), during the time when time when all nations see the banner of the Lord on the mountains (the millennial kingdom).

Now . . . there’s an old tradition that says that an Ethiopian son of Solomon (borne by the Queen of Sheba), took the Ark of the Covenant to Ethiopia some time after Solomon’s reign. What if the “gift” brought to the Lord is the Ark being returned to the rebuilt Temple? Interesting thought, no?

Another thing struck me in these chapters: the plan of God. Human events do not take place nilly-willy. Over and over in Isaiah we read: “This is the plan determined for the whole world; this is the hand stretched out over all nations. For the Lord Almighty has purposed, and who can thwart him? His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back?” (14:26-27).

And “The Lord Almighty planned it, to bring low the pride of all glory. . .” (23:9) “in perfect faithfulness you have done marvelous things, things planned long ago” (25:1). Why? “When your judgments come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness.”

I also found another OT mention of the belief in an afterlife for the righteous: 26:19 (though vs. 14 seems to indicate that the unrighteous dead do not live . . . not in the same way, in any case.)

My favorite part? The promise that one day Egypt, Syria, and Israel will be united in worshipping the Lord Almighty. “The Lord Almighty will bless them, saying, “Blessed be Egypt my people, Assyria my handiwork, and Israel my inheritance” (19:25).

Angie
By Angela on Monday, February 20, 2006 @ 9:49 PM


for this post

 
Anonymous Susan Says: 8:16 AM  

Yes, that is an interesting thought about the "gift" being the Ark. Appreciate your insights on the Bible.

Nice office,too.

 

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UNCHARTED review


The Publisher's Weekly review of UNCHARTED just came out. (The ellipsis was inserted where a spoiler was removed). This one is scheduled to release on 6-6-06. Somehow that seems apt.

Hunt, the author of more than 70 books, departs from her usual fare with this competent, if spooky, faith-based novel. The plot line is a blend of the movies Castaway and The Big Chill , with a touch of the television series Lost , creatively thrown together with the biblical story of the beggar Lazarus and C.S. Lewis's The Great Divorce .

Six college pals gather for the funeral of their friend and end up being "guilted" by the widow into taking a trip halfway across the world to help build a Christian school. When a shipwreck leaves them washed up on a deserted island, they discover everything is not as it seems: all of their inner sins and crimes
are literally on display.

As the story unfolds, some readers may be turned off by a truly gruesome serial killer, although it helps Hunt make her ultimate point. Hunt excels at reminding Christian readers that God judges petty sins the same as heinous ones, and that being a "good person" outwardly often hides an interior life that is far from pure. Her theology . . . will be a good discussion point for book groups (a guide is included). General market readers, however, may find the serious faith
themes more than they want to contemplate.

Copyright © 1997-2005 Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
By Angela on Sunday, February 19, 2006 @ 11:46 AM


for this post

 
Anonymous Betsy Says: 3:59 PM  

Is this the same Lazaras as Mary & Martha's brother?

 
 
Blogger Angela Says: 4:05 PM  

No. It's the poor Lazarus who died and went to Abraham's bosom.

Angie

 
 
Blogger Cathy West Says: 4:14 PM  

Sounds 'thrilling!'
I am always interested to find writers blogs...well, published writers that is - I am amazed you have the time, but I see you have a master plan for the blog. I will have to try it out, but I fear I am far too dismally disorganized!

 
 
Blogger Carrie Says: 9:41 PM  

Can't wait to read it!

 
 
Blogger Ruth Says: 1:16 PM  

Sounds exciting!

 

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My Parents and 50 years


I'm out of town this weekend, driving over to my parents' home on the east coast of Florida. My folks have been married 50 years! Can you believe it?

And here I thought I deserved a medal for 25 years.

Seriously--the other day I told someone I'd been married 25 years and they gasped. Not because I don't look like I've been married that long, but because in today's marital climate, that seems like a looooooong time.

And so it is. But 50 years is half a century. My mom was seventeen when they married, my dad 20, so they've been married most of their lives!

Happy anniversary, M&D. Thanks for paving the way.

~~Angie
By Angela on Friday, February 17, 2006 @ 7:56 AM


for this post

 
Blogger Ane Mulligan Says: 10:55 AM  

Thanks for sharing this milestone with us, Angie. Please extend my congratulations to your parents. Mine were married 62 years before going home to the Lord within 4 months of each other after a lifetime of serving Him.

My husband and I have 35 years under our belts. I can't believe it; it still feels like only 10. I'm only 39, so how did this happen? ;o)

 
 
Blogger Ruth Says: 12:05 PM  

Congrats to your folks! That is wonderful to hear...thanks for sharing.

 
 
Anonymous Betsy Says: 10:02 PM  

I think when you see "celebrities" that change marriages faster than a new season begins. I think in this day and age when a couple makes it five years it is a cause for rejoicing. There is an assault on marriage unparalled.

 

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This and That and Sneaky Things . . .


There's a move afoot--a clever backhanded effort to keep the cash registers singing while Christians deal with the heresy of The DaVinci Code movie. You can read about it in greater detail at Barbara Nicolosi's excellent blog

IOW, they want us to go see the movie so we can "intelligently discuss it" with friends. Ha! I didn't read the book because I didn't want to spend a penny endorsing that sort of poppycock, and I won't see the movie, either. There's been so much in the media about the book/movie that I've been able to discuss it well enough.

The photo today is the cover of a book by Dandi Dailey Mackall, Maggie's Story. When Tyndale asked me to write a historical account of Mary Magdalene, they also asked Karen Kingsbury to write a contemporary parable, and they asked Dandi to write a novel for young adults. Maggie's Story is the result, so if you have any young adults who are confused by the DaVinci controversy, send them to Dandi's book.

Heard about a couple of very nice reviews of The Novelist. One here: bookloons.com

and one here: brownbookloft.com.

Well, my computer thermometer tells me it's 41 degrees outside. Brrrr! We Floridians don't quite know how to take that. Last night I slept with a sweat shirt over my jammies. {VBG}

Angie
By Angela on Thursday, February 16, 2006 @ 10:11 AM


for this post

 
Anonymous Betsy Says: 10:47 PM  

I am looking forward to Magdalene as well as Karen Kingsbury's parable. I can't be classified as a young adult but I am interested in all the stories about Mary Magdalene. I admit to reading the Da Vinci Code and I did not care for it. I never purchase books at first I get them through the library first then I read then buy. I do have a question about Mary Magdalene and Mary of Bethany. That question is are they actually the same person? I always thought Magdalene was because she was believed to be of Magdala? I know it is hard at times to convey tone. I got this info from a missionary companion.

 
 
Blogger Angela Says: 7:04 AM  

No, Mary of Bethany and Mary of Magdala were definitely NOT the same person.

Angie

 

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The Organized Blogging Plan


I'll confess that I'm one of those pathetically-organized people. My kitchen spices are alphabetized, and when I get dressed every morning, I take garments from the left of my closet and replace them (after laundering!) on the right. I may be the only woman I know who rotates her jeans. {VBG}

So I have come up with a Grand Plan for this haphazard blog. Instead of bouncing from topic to topic every day of the month, I'm only going to bounce 21 days. The first seven days of each month will be reserved for the Book of the Month.

It will work like this: each month I'll take one of my books and spend seven days talking about these seven things:

1. The synopsis

2. How the idea germinated

3. The Research--what was required and how it was done

4. The writing: the process, the timeline, the pain and the pleasure

5. The editing: (see above)

6. The results: reader reaction, etc.

7. Q&A: if you have questions about any of the above, I'll answer them on this day. If there are no questions, we'll all take a sabbath.

That's it. I hope this will interest readers as well as writers. If I have a new release, I'll feature that book in its release month; otherwise I'll hit the backlist. Right now I have enough backlist to blog for nine long years . . .

Let's give it a try and see how it goes!

Angie

By Angela on Wednesday, February 15, 2006 @ 10:19 AM


for this post

 
Anonymous Betsy Says: 10:17 PM  

That sounds great. What about the rest of the month?:)

 
 
Anonymous Betsy Says: 10:19 PM  

Okay so you anticipated my question. What about days 29-31

 
 
Blogger Amy A. Says: 10:29 PM  

Great idea! I'm already learning quite a bit from your site and this is a bonus for me. I like your bouncing, too. Thanks for a nice place to visit everyday.

 
 
Blogger Angela Says: 6:59 AM  

LOL! Have I ever mentioned that "numbers" are not my first language?

For the rest of the month it'll be pot luck. Whatever. :-)

Angie

 
 
Blogger Ruth Says: 8:10 AM  

I love the plan!! Can't wait to read the book blogs...especially if you hit the backlist...good memories (Theyn Chronicles, Legacies of the Ancient River, etc., etc., and etc.).

 
 
Anonymous Betsy Says: 11:04 AM  

I agree there are so many stories. I am curious to know how they came about. Anne Rice's Christ the Lord out of Egypt. Mira the mainstream imprint of Harlequin enterprises is releasing Two Women of Gailee. My question is do you think mainstream ABA is accepting stories on Christ instead of relegating it to a special section in the bookstore?

 
 
Anonymous Kristine Says: 11:40 AM  

Hi Angie - I was just reading your spring newsletter that got sent out, and wondering if you ship to Canada? If so, do you know what any extra costs would be included in that? And is the free "Truth Teller" book with purchase of "The Novelist" for us Canadians as well? Sorry for the 20 questions!
Thanks a ton, Kristine

 
 
Blogger Angela Says: 12:06 PM  

To answer Kristine's question:

I'm sorry, but I'm not able to process Canadian or other international orders. It's not so much the extra postage, but the customs forms that require so much hoop-jumping . . .

Sorry!

Angie

 
 
Blogger Carrie Says: 12:12 PM  

Love the idea! Can't wait til you get to "The Canopy" and "The Immortal" - two of my favorites.

 
 
Blogger Leslie Says: 6:04 PM  

I think its a great idea too!

Look forward to reading them

 
 
Blogger Becky Says: 1:23 AM  

Great idea! I'm new to your books and loved The Debt so much! I'm anxious to read your other books too.

 

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Family Photo Album



Happy Valentine's Day to you and yours!

And a happy Valentine's Day to my family, whom I've never introduced. Welcome to the Hunt family album.

This first picture is my husband and son a couple of years ago, dressed for a wedding. I figured I'd better snap a picture quick, as a tux is NOT what they usually wear.

The next photo is Regis Philbin (yes, he's real, not wax) with my hubby and my precious Justus, who's waiting for me in heaven.

My current mastiff is Charley Gansky, whom I've blogged about in other posts.









The picture is our family when my kids were young. This picture happened to be shot on the very day I found out I sold my first book (actually, it won a contest. First prize was publication.) We were visiting Dollywood Theme Park, so the day was memorable. This must have been 1987.

This last picture is of my son and Justus, circa 2000, I think. Justus was a big boy--275 pounds of pure sweetheart.

I'm sorry I don't have more recent family shots, but it's hard to get us all together in one place! Plus, my kids are at the age when they don't think it's neat to have Mom posting their pictures.

So don't tell.

~~Angie~~








By Angela on Tuesday, February 14, 2006 @ 10:32 AM


for this post

 
Anonymous Melissa Says: 10:30 AM  

Angie,
It's so neat to see everyone "all growed up". ;-) I was looking though all my old letters from junior high and high school and came by several we wrote back and forth,some with a couple of pictures. Do you still keep in touch with Daryl and Colleen (from your college days?)

 
 
Blogger Accidental Poet Says: 12:57 PM  

my lips are sealed. Do have any of your daughter as an adult??

 
 
Blogger Ruth Says: 1:13 PM  

Thanks for sharing the pics, Angie, they are wonderful! Happy Tuesday!

 

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90 Day Bible Reading Challenge: the Psalms


I am so enjoying the psalms! And part of that enjoyment is reading along and finding passages that are obviously messianic or were repeated from Jesus' own lips!

If you're interested in specific psalms that pertain to Jesus Christ, the following have been identified as messianic psalms and/or passages: Psa. 2:1–12; Psa. 16:7–11; Psa. 67:1–7; Psa. 68:28–35; Psa. 69:1–36; Psa. 72:1–19; Psa. 93:1–5; Psa. 96:1–13; Psa. 97:1–12; Psa. 98:1–9; Psa. 99:1–9; Psa. 110:1–7; Psa. 118:19–29[1]

Passages from the Psalms reveal many things about the coming Messiah, including his
Creative power (102:25–27; John 1:3, 10; Heb. 1:10–12)
Obedience to the Father (40:6–8; Heb. 10:5–7)
Zeal for the Father (69:9; John 2:17)
Faithfulness as a shepherd (23; John 10)
Rejection by Israel (118:22–23; Matt. 21:42)
Praise by little children (8:2; Matt. 21:16)
Betrayal by a friend:
the treachery of Judas (41:9; 55:12–14; Matt. 26:47–50; John 13:18)
the tragedy of Judas (69:25; 109:6–8; Acts 1:18–20)
Slander by false witnesses (27:12; 109:2–3; Matt. 26:59–61)
Suffering and death:
forsaken by God (22:6–8; Matt. 27:39–43)
ridiculed (22:6–8; Matt. 27:39–43)
beaten (129:3; John 19:1)
prayed for his enemies (109:4; Luke 23:34)
hands and feet pierced (22:16; Luke 24:39–40)
given sour wine to drink (69:21; Matt. 27:34, 48)
garments gambled for (22:18; Matt. 27:35)
none of his bones broken (34:20; John 19:36)
Resurrection (16:8–11; Matt. 28:1–6; Acts 2:25–32; 13:35)
Ascension (68:18; Luke 24:50–51; Eph. 4:8)
Victorious entrance into heaven (24:7–10; Rev. 7:9–12)
High Priestly work (110:1, 4; Matt. 22:44; Heb. 5:6; 7:17)
Marriage to the church:
description of the bridegroom (45:2, 6–8; Luke 4:22; Heb. 1:8–9)
description of the bride (45:9, 13–15; Rev. 19:7–9)
Destruction of the heathen (2:1–9; Acts 4:25–26; Rev. 6:12–17)
Millennial reign (45:6; 72:17; 98:4–9; Heb. 1:8; Rev. 11:15)[2]

[1]Swanson, J., & Nave, O. 1994. New Nave's. Logos Research Systems: Oak Harbor
[2]Willmington, H. L. 1997. Willmington's Bible handbook . Tyndale House Publishers: Wheaton, Ill.

Keep reading!

~~Angie
By Angela on Monday, February 13, 2006 @ 10:53 PM


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Why I Love Theology


I have just completed (ta da!) my masters in theology. As soon as I get my diploma, I'm moving on for more study.

Why do I love theology? First, God is fascinating. He is truth. And the study of him gives me great ideas for novels.

I also love theology because it's more fun to dig than to write. The following is an email conversation between me and one of my like-minded girlfriends (this is what we do when we should be writing). The subject: How long was Israel in Egypt, anyway?

Angie:

I have a problem with Galatians 3:16-17. Paul says that the Law came 430 years after God's covenant with Abraham. But the 430 years didn't start until Jacob's family was in Egypt. So between Abraham and Jacob going to Egypt, there were a couple of generations. It seems like Paul's error. On the other hand, it may be one of those instances of "rounding off."

But these problems always just cause me to dig, and I always find the answers I'm seeking. Haven't yet found a real error.

Girlfriend:

Oooooh, (hand waving), I studied this in depth when I was working on my books about Joseph and Moses. I never actually publicized what I found out, but there goes—the years started counting from Abraham, not Israel.

I found that in the Septuagint it says that 430 years passed from the time Abraham left Ur from the time Moses left Egypt. In other words, it was 430 years between the time God promised Israel a home and they actually arrived in Canaan to claim it. There was absolutely no way I could make Moses and Joseph fit with the Egyptian timeline unless I went with this; when I did, it fit perfectly. To start counting years when Israel went down messes things up—puts the Hebrews there too early or sends Moses out too late.

I have all kinds of facts to back this up—Joseph had to be 18th dynasty or later because the Hyksos (pre-18th dynasty) introduced horses, and the Bible says Pharaoh gave Joseph his chariot, and the Bible also says that the Hebrews built the city of Rameses, which makes Moses confront Ramses the Great. There are only about 200 or so years between the 18th dynasty and Ramses the Great.

Look at Gen. 15:13—God tells Abraham that his people will be strangers in a country not their own and will be enslaved and mistreated 400 years—they did NOT have a country of their own until Moses led them into Canaan. And they were enslaved in Egypt, and probably mistreated everywhere else, but most people assume that entire passage belongs to the Egyptian period. It really doesn’t. (If God tells you your descendants are going to be homeless for 400 years, wouldn’t you think the clock started at that moment?)

Now look at Exodus 12:40: “Now the length of time the Israelite people lived in Egypt was 430 years. At the end of the 430 years, to the very day, all the Lord’s divisions left Egypt.” BUT—the Masoretic Text, the Samaritan Pentateuch and the Septuagint substitute the phrase Egypt and Canaan for “Egypt.” So the Hebrews were without a home for 430 years, and this is what Paul was referring to.

Now it gets exciting—there’s no way there are 430 years between the place in the timeline where Joseph HAD to be and where Moses HAD to fall, unless you start counting with Abraham. But if you do, there’s a pharaoh in Moses’ time who mysteriously lost a first-born son, there’s a pharaoh in Joseph’s day who had mysterious dreams and was hung up on interpreting them . . . it’s really cool!

Here’s what one guy had to say, but I like my explanation better. Of course, I’m not prejudiced. LOL.
From Abraham’s call (Gen. 12) to Jacob’s arrival in Egypt (Gen. 46) is 215
years. (This may be computed as follows: Abraham was 75 years old when God
called him and 100 when Isaac was born, Gen. 12:4; 21:5. This gives us 25 years.
Isaac was 60 when Jacob was born, Gen. 25:26; and Jacob was 130 years old when he arrived in Egypt, Gen. 47:9. Thus, 25 + 60 + 130 = 215 years.) But Moses
tells us that Israel sojourned in Egypt 430 years (Ex. 12:40); so the total
number of years from Abraham’s call to the giving of the Law is 645 years, not
430. The length of the stay in Egypt is recorded also in Genesis 15:13 and Acts
7:6, where the round figure of 400 years is used.

(Angie here—but notice that Act. 7:6 is a repeat of God’s promise to Abraham that his descendants will be 1) strangers in a country not their own and 2) enslaved and mistreated 3) four hundred years. But God says he will punish the nation they serve as slaves (and notice he doesn’t say “and those who mistreat you,” though he certainly did punish the Canaanites . . .)

This stuff is fascinating, isn’t it? I could do this all day . . . when I ought to be working! But I’m convinced there’s an answer for every “seeming” contradiction, if we only dig deep enough to find it. The fun’s in the digging!

Angie--
Yes, it's very interesting! I really like your explanation. So am I getting it right? You think they were really only slaves in Egypt for around 200 years? I'm sticking this page in my Bible, so I'll remember it when the question comes up again.

When I see stuff like this, I always KNOW that God knows something I don't, and that I'm getting it wrong. What freedom inerrancy gives us to dig and study and puzzle.

Girlfriend:

Exactly. They were slaves in Egypt for 215 years. It’s the only way the historical Pharaohs fit with what we know from the Bible, and it’s wonderful that the Bible does back this up . . . if you consider the Septuagint AND what Paul said. And it’s so, so exciting.

Look at: (Ruth 4:19-22)
Hezron the father of Ram, HEZRON is on the list of those who went into Egypt
Ram the father of Amminadab,
[20] Amminadab the father of Nahshon,
Nahshon the father of Salmon, Nashon is on the list of those who came out of Egypt
[21] Salmon the father of Boaz,
Boaz the father of Obed,
[22] Obed the father of Jesse,
and Jesse the father of David.

Okay—Hezron (son of Judah) went INTO Egypt with Jacob. (Gen. 46:12)

Now look at (Exodus 6:23)
Aaron married Elisheba, daughter of Amminadab and sister of Nahshon, and she bore him Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.

See what I mean? Aaron—MOSES’ BIG BROTHER—married a woman whose grandfather came into Egypt with Jacob! Plus, Nashon is one of the leaders of the people during the Exodus (Numbers 2:3). People weren’t living extra-long in those days, plus these generations had to overlap. We know Boaz and Jesse were well into the time Israel was living in Canaan. So this fits MUCH better with 200 years than with 430.

One more fascinating tidbit: Genesis 15:15 gives us a reason why the Hebrews remained so long in Egypt: "In the fourth generation," God told Abraham, "your descendants will come back here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure."

Note that "the fourth generation" exactly matches the family names above.

God wanted to judge the Amorites (and he did, when the conquering Hebrews destroyed them), but he gave them plenty of time to fill the cup of his wrath, so to speak.

I have to get to work today!

Angie
By Angela on @ 12:04 AM


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Anonymous Melissa Says: 1:19 AM  

Congrats on finishing your Masters!!

 
 
Blogger Accidental Poet Says: 2:30 AM  

Okay, I need to know how many days there were between Jesus' arrest and his crucifixion, specifically, between the time he healed Malchus' ear, and his crucifixion. Please?

 
 
Blogger Angela Says: 7:59 AM  

Ah--the timing of the crucifixion is one of the big debates because the synoptic gospels, on the surface at least, seem to contradict the gospel of John. Some say Jesus was arrested on Friday night, some say Thursday. I think you're going to have to pick a side and just go with it--that's what I had to do in Magdalene.

Google "Jesus crucified on Passover" and you'll find lots on both sides of the debate.

Angie

 
 
Blogger Accidental Poet Says: 3:20 PM  

as long as it wasn't the next day - I'm writing a poem, not historical fiction. I just need to know if Malchus (he of the severed ear) was sleepless for more than one night :)

 
 
Anonymous Betsy Says: 3:41 PM  

Would you ever want to become a minister as in over the pulpit?

 
 
Blogger Angela Says: 3:53 PM  

Become a minister? No. I'm married to one, that's enough!

Angie

 
 
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