Maybe it was made in China . . .
By Angela on Wednesday, December 28, 2011 @ 6:30 AM
for this post
Family theme for Queen's speech - Home - ITN.co.uk
Family theme for Queen's speech - Home - ITN.co.uk
A big thank you to Leslie Sowell for sharing this link with me--I've always loved Elizabeth II, and I think you'll enjoy this message, too.
A happy Christmas to all.
~~Angie
By Angela on Tuesday, December 27, 2011 @ 1:11 PM
for this post
Dogs Saying Grace
In keeping with the spirit of Christmas, it's nice to see that some dogs know how to pray before their Christmas (and anytime) dinners:
A blessed Christmas to you!
~~Angie
By Angela on Sunday, December 25, 2011 @ 4:43 PM
for this post
Birthday surprise!
It's Angela Hunt's birthday, but you get the presents! Afton of Margate Castle, Roanoke, Then Comes Marrisge, and The Case of the Mystery Mark all FREE on Kindle today!
By Angela on Tuesday, December 20, 2011 @ 8:43 AM
for this post
The Brazil Turleys Says:
Happy birthday to a true champion, and thanks for the books. our 10 yr old was excited to add them to her Kindle.
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The Duggar's 20th baby
I was touched because the photos show how beautiful and perfect the hands and feet of Jubilee Shalom Duggar were. The family contacted "Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep," an organization I have endorsed in one of my books, in order to have a permanent memento of their 20th child. These photos are beautiful, loving, and clearly show how human this tiny child was.
What shocked me was that TMZ called these pictures "photos of the fetal corpse" and even included a disclaimer of their site, saying that these photos might offend viewers. Excuse me? What kind of offense could these little feet cause?
Except . . . it truly might shock and educate those who believe that an unborn baby is a featureless fetus, a creature less than human simply because it has never breathed outside its mother's body. TMZ treated this entire story of the Duggar's action as something macabre and horrible, and I, for one, think their reaction is what's macabre and horrible.
Human life is fully human at conception. There is nothing horrible or shameful about a baby in the womb, even a baby that does not survive in the womb . . . unless that baby is forcibly pulled from the womb with a vacuum machine, a scalpel, or pair of scissors, or a salty solution that burns the baby's skin from its body.
THAT's horrible. That's macabre. And I'm ashamed and shocked to realize that many in our nation have confused these two realities.
~~Angie
By Angela on Friday, December 16, 2011 @ 9:24 AM
for this post
Cassandra R. Cooper Says:
Thank you for this blog. I am so tired of hearing and reading such negative press on this loving family. Bless you.
Cassandra
Says:
I totally agree! I do not watch their show or follow them, but as a mother I can only imagine their pain and sorrow.
It is shameful how the world views the unborn. We need to continue to be the voice of these little ones.
Thank you for your comments!
Loretta Oakes Says:
Angie:
Love this post. I agree with you on all counts. I did not see the TMZ's treatment of the loss of the Duggar's 20th child, but I think they have raised awareness that is important. In fact, this little one (who is now with Jesus) may change the mind of a woman who thinks abortion is her only recourse.
A friend of mine, Megan D., told us about the "Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep" organization and a few years later I called them to take pictures of my niece, Trinity Rose as she was born at 23 weeks and did not survive more than 12 hours. They quickly came and took pictures of her while she was alive in her mother's and father's arms and I know how much those pictures comfort them to this day. It is an amazing organization! Thanks for sharing this.
The reason TMZ thinks these photos are horrible is because it shocks them to the core that they may have to consider their stance on life in the womb.
Thank you for posting this!
daisymarie Says:
I read this and just wept. And then I prayed. Thank you for putting words to this...I pray that it makes a godly difference.
~Tina Hunt
Says:
Amen Angela! Martha
Mel Says:
Very precious for the parents. I did read however that the Duggars did not give permission for their photos to be released to the public :( Love the photo you published with this article. Sweet little feet.
Blessings,
Mel
Please feel free to stop by: Trailing After God
Says:
What a wonderful tribute you have given this family and all families who suffer the loss of a new baby. Like many, we have suffered that loss in our family more than once and this gave me much comfort. Much love and appreciation. Clyde
Megan DiMaria Says:
I hadn't heard about TMZ's reaction. The truth is an offense to those who try to deny it. Thanks for posting this, Angie.
Leslie Says:
While I don't disagree that this may force people to rethink things; My first inclination is that TMZ said all that to GET people to click on the article. The more people that click on articles; the more ads are generated; the more $ - People who don't know or don't care who the Duggars are are going to be much more likely to look at pictures that "might be offensive" than something that's not.
Katy McKenna Says:
I have held my own baby boy, just that size, in my hand. It is something that changes your life and your heart. You can never go back.....
Trueheart Says:
Thank you for your blog. I do watch 19 Kids and Counting. I am brokenhearted that Michelle has lost her little Jubilee. They are a precious family and represent, to me, the essence of giving complete control to God. I have heard of TMZ, but don't know what it is. Talk about missing the point entirely. Thank you for sharing not only your thoughts but for sharing an organization that can bring solace to families in the midst of the greatest sorrow.
Jennifer Says:
Thank you for putting this information to light! The world needs to be educated and face reality that precious bundle is a BABY!!
My questions to TMZ would be:
1. Why can you feel the baby kicking you?
2.Why can you hear a heartbeat?
3.Why does one have to go to drs. appointments ?
4.Being careful not to over do it and watching what you eat or drink?
Praying for the Duggar family.
jennydtipton@gmail.com
Ane Mulligan Says:
It hurts each time a baby is lost. TMZ and others like them are blind. I think this is a beautiful memorial.
Says:
Thank you for your post. My daughter's first baby was stillborn at 36 weeks, it was devastating! The hospital had a trained staff for this situation, they were marvelous in their care. Ryder was a beautiful baby boy and is home with Jesus. She has had three children since then (2006) but she will never forget Ryder. There are so many women who have gone through this. Those who haven't do not always know how blessed they are. God is good, He never leaves us and is always with us through the hard times.
joanieponytail Says:
I think Jubilee Shalom Duggar will help to save the lives of many children, including the children of some people who click on the pictures for sensationalist reasons on the TMZ site.
While we are praying for the Duggar family let's also remember to pray for those at TMZ and elsewhere who find these images offensive because it may force them to confront the truth about some of their own children whose live were ended because they, the parents, believed the lies of the other side.
Says:
Oh, my. Powerful, Angie. Thank you for sharing this, and your thoughts. Totally agree with you. The photo was interesting--then I looked again and realized it was not of a child with feet hanging on the arm of the couch--but held between a parent's fingers!
Mary Kay
Leah Says:
Just by posting the photo of the feet, TMZ shows people that fetuses have features just like any other human. They may think it's disturbing, but maybe it's disturbing because it's proof to something they've been against.
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Living Adventurously
In 2006 I wrote the following as one of my columns for the Tampa Tribune and thought I'd share it here, too:
When a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity comes along, an adventurous woman grabs it. In April 2001, my 275-pound dog was invited to appear on Live with Regis and Kelly. My husband said it was a crazy idea, but we cleared our calendars and flew to Manhattan to bask in our mastiff’s fifteen minutes of fame.
When a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity comes along, an adventurous woman grabs it. In April 2001, my 275-pound dog was invited to appear on Live with Regis and Kelly. My husband said it was a crazy idea, but we cleared our calendars and flew to Manhattan to bask in our mastiff’s fifteen minutes of fame.
Last week, another unusual offer presented itself: would I like to attend the national premier of The Nativity Story in Hollywood? You bet. I cleared my calendar and spent a few days agonizing over what to wear, then jetted off to Los Angeles to mingle with the glitterati gathered at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Why me? I’d like to think it’s because I’m an adventurous woman, but the real reason lies in my work. I’m a novelist by profession, and last May my publisher offered me a rush project. They had partnered with New Line Cinema to produce books based on The Nativity Story film: a gift book, a book for the advent season, and a novel. My job, if I chose to accept it, would be to turn the film’s screenplay into a novel over the next sixty days.
I leapt at the chance. I love historical fiction, and I had recently written a novel about Mary Magdalene, so first-century research was still rattling around in my brain. And who wouldn’t love to tell the story of what is arguably the greatest miracle of all time?
So in early June I settled down with my reference books and Mike Rich’s excellent screenplay. I was wary at first—Hollywood has made biblical movies before, and sometimes the finished product bears little resemblance to the historical record of Scripture. But Rich’s screenplay was right on the mark—except for a slight tightening of the probable timeline, his script was historically and biblically accurate.
For the next few weeks I slipped into the minds of Mary, Joseph, Elizabeth, and Zechariah. I studied expert works on first-century culture and tried to fill in the missing details of the accounts we read in the gospels of Matthew and Luke. While I wrote in my office, the cast and crew filmed the movie in exotic foreign locations like Italy and Morocco.
After meeting my deadline, I moved on to another project. I tried not to think about the upcoming movie, and when someone suggested that I might be invited to the premier, I laughed and said I wasn’t counting on it.
My novelization of The Nativity Story released in early November, and the film’s world premier took place at the Vatican on November 26th. More than seven thousand people saw the movie, and I’ve heard that the audience burst into spontaneous applause at the moment of the baby’s birth.
For years, my slogan as a writer has been “expect the unexpected.” The Nativity Story fulfills that slogan beautifully, but not by human design. In the story of Mary, Joseph, Zechariah, and Elizabeth, God demonstrates that he delights in doing what he promised, but in surprising ways.
With the words of the prophets firmly in mind, the people of Isra’el were expecting a messiah from David’s lineage, a leader who would vanquish their enemies and secure the peace. They waited for a brilliant, charismatic warrior-king who would cleanse the land of the Roman occupiers and establish his throne on Mt. Zion.
With the words of the prophets firmly in mind, the people of Isra’el were expecting a messiah from David’s lineage, a leader who would vanquish their enemies and secure the peace. They waited for a brilliant, charismatic warrior-king who would cleanse the land of the Roman occupiers and establish his throne on Mt. Zion.
What did they receive? A baby, born among livestock and nestled in a feeding trough. A child safeguarded by an adoptive father from David’s lineage, but far removed from kingly wealth and power. An infant born to a teenaged girl rumored to be pregnant before her betrothed husband took her home to be his wife.
The people of Isra’el were expecting a conqueror—they received a child who grew to maturity and died at the hands of Roman executioners. The world longed for a prince of peace and received a Jewish rabbi whose revolutionary precepts have, as he predicted, divided fathers and sons, mothers and daughters. But for those who regard the manger with eyes of faith, the child of Christmas is everything the world expected and more.
Mary, Joseph, the shepherds and the magi—since I have spent a little time in their minds and hearts, they will never again be icons for me. They are the most adventurous people I’ve ever known.
~~Angie
By Angela on Wednesday, December 07, 2011 @ 6:30 AM
for this post
Dianne Says:
I'm really enjoying these "behind-the-scenes" bits about the novel. I haven't read the book or seen the movie yet but they're both on my list. Thanks for inviting us into your world!
Robin Says:
Angie, it is interesting that you talk about adventure in connection with this story. Our church has launched a one-year study of the books of Luke & Acts with this accompanying slogan: "Believing for the Advent-ure: Living a life of daring faith between Jesus' first and second coming."
In his Sunday sermon that included Luke 1:26-56, the pastor called Mary a great adventurer. Amen to that.
Robin
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BOM: The Results/Reader reaction
I signed Nativity Story books after services at my church last weekend. A young woman who'd already read the novel came up and asked me to sign her well-worn copy. With tears in her eyes, she thanked me for the story . . . and said that though she'd been a Christian for years, she had come to see Jesus in a new light and Christmas would never be the same for her again.
I told her I felt exactly the same way.
I had a great interview with Cindy Swanson about this book. She wrote about The Nativity Story at her wonderful blog, which you can read here.
From Publishers Weekly
It's a difficult task to retell the biblical nativity story in a fresh way—after all, it has been novelized, brought to stage and screen, and is the stuff of endless children's Christmas pageants. Yet this companion novel to the New Line Cinema feature film (which will hit theaters December 1) should find a place on the bookshelf as a fresh and viable retelling. Hunt, the author of more than 70 books and working from Mike Rich's screenplay, refrains from oversanitizing the story, although Mary and Joseph are fairly one-dimensional (there aren't a lot of character flaws here). She depicts their gritty, hardscrabble existence as balanced by the love of family.
As a thoughtful reader would expect, the census trip to Bethlehem is no picnic, but some readers may be surprised that the shepherds and wise men show up at the stable together, unlike in the gospel account. The good-natured joshing among the three wise men provides a lighter note to the chapters where Herod's cruelty is well portrayed. Hunt balances the necessary violence with a sensitivity that will expand her readership. Her rich prose and cultural details utilize the five senses to recreate the familiar story, which spans many points of view and includes a fine subplot about Elizabeth, Zechariah and John. (Nov.) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
At this writing, I haven't heard a lot of reader reaction--there are only a couple of reviews on Amazon.com, and they're favorable. But I have been AMAZED at what I've been reading on some blogs about the movie--long debates about whether or not Mary should have experienced birth pangs, people arguing passionately about whether or not the wise men showed up with the shepherds, and whether or not it's even proper to depict a scriptural event in film or fictionalized account.
Shaking of the head here. God often uses story to suit his purposes, and doesn't logic dictate that one must imagine what one cannot ascertain? In my books, I take great care not to contradict what we know to be true (either through Scripture or trustworthy historical records). The rest I fill in as best I can by using common sense and artistic license, in that order.
Of course no one knows that there were exactly three magi; Scripture doesn't count them. But it's logical to assume there were three because they offered three gifts.
Because I anticipated a certain amount of controversy about some elements of the story, I included a Q&;A section at the end of the book to address these issues. My take on the story rises from my "sola Scriptura" background--I do not believe Mary was divine, or a permanent virgin, or sinless, for she said that God would be her savior (Luke 1:47) --why would she need a savior if she had never sinned? I do believe she suffered labor pains, for she was like all the rest of us, even though the child conceived within her womb was the sinless son of God.
That's part of the miracle of the incarnation.
The novel, I should point out, is not a polemic for my point of view. It's a scriptural retelling of the story, pure and simple.
One day in heaven, we can ask our questions and find out whether Jesus had half-siblings or step-siblings or whether or not Mary felt the pangs of labor. Until then, let's endeavor to keep the spirit of unity in the bond of peace.
Tomorrow: Questions and Answers. Leave your question in the comments and I'll do my best to answer them!
~~Angie
By Angela on Tuesday, December 06, 2011 @ 6:30 AM
for this post
margie Says:
I read the novel this past weekend on the plane from South Carolina home. What a wonderful, biblical retelling of the circumstances and details surrounding Christ's birth! I don't know that it has ever occurred to me to wonder if Mary ever experienced birth pain. She was human; why shouldn't she? Angie, I thoroughly enjoyed this story, and it is one that will be a part of our family Christmases for a long time to come!
Says:
I haven't seen the film yet, I'm a college student and haven't had the time with finals and whatnot.
I eagerly anticipated your novelization and snapped it right up when I saw it at Wal Mart. I read the book in about an hour and I LOVED IT! So good.
Annnd I've always believed that Mary had birth pangs, why wouldn't she have? Keep up the good work!
Says:
Hey Angie, what about angelic epidurals?
Kay Day Says:
Have you heard this song? Labor of Love? Someone sang it at our Church's Christmas dinner last night. Gorgeous song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KY6Hov0wSc
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BOM: The Editing
Photo: my book club in 2006, marveling over the fact that I baked . . . a Christmas miracle!
The editing of The Nativity Story was practically painless. My editor said I submitted clean copy (I try my best), and she had only a few queries--in fact, I received the edited manuscript with her queries while I was teaching at a conference, and I think it only took me about an hour to go through them.
In fact, when I handed the manuscript in, I told my editor I felt guilty--I should have suffered more (I usually do). But I was given a great screenplay to work from, the research was a joy (and, in God's sovereign plan, I knew just where to look for what I needed to know--God bless Alfred Edersheim), and the project was a pleasure.
Best of all, the folks at New Line okayed the manuscript without a single change.
Tomorrow: Results and reader reaction. And if you have any questions, be sure to ask them!
~~Angie
By Angela on Monday, December 05, 2011 @ 6:30 AM
for this post
BOM: The Writing
The Nativity Story is showing in schools in Virginia . . . very cool.
When the movie came out, my neighborhood book club went to see it together--and I enjoyed the film even more the second time! Maybe I was more relaxed, or maybe this time I wasn't as intent on noticing the differences between book and film. In any case, I highly recommend it. Don't wait--get out to see it at your first available opportunity! Here's a link to a review of the film by CT.
The writing--not much to say here, except that "the writing" went hand-in-hand with "the research" because whenever I came to a new scene in the screenplay, I checked the historical details with my reference books.
In writing the novel, I wanted to honor the structure of the screenplay, and I wanted to stick to the dialogue as much as possible. I didn't want the novel to read like a completely different critter. It is a novelization of a screenplay, so I wanted to respect Mike's excellent work--he had some great lines of dialogue, and they're in the book. But because the screenplay kept evolving (they were filming as I was writing), I also felt free to let the characters speak for themselves. Characters have a way of coming to life, you know, and sometimes they just kept talking.
A screenplay is action and dialogue. A novel is description, scenery, exposition, dialogue, and interior monologue. The advantage of a novel is that the reader and writer can really get into a character's head, so I did. I did constrain myself, however, and didn't let myself get sidetracked or take off in a completely different direction. No new subplots, no additional characters. And the only scenes I added were necessary, I felt, either to flesh out the history or the background of the action in the screenplay. I added scenes of Mary and Joseph dedicating Jesus in the Temple because I felt it was important to the timeline and because I wasn't under the same time crunch the filmmakers faced. Plus, it was historical, and THE reason Mary and Joseph remained in Bethlehem for some time--until the angel told them to flee to Egypt.
This is the only novel-from-screenplay that I've published, and I knew that the final work would have to be approved by the people at New Line Cinema. I knew my job was to respect the screenplay and the film while bringing the story to life in the form of a novel.
When I saw the movie, I noticed that some new dialogue cropped up as they filmed . . . and some scenes that were in the screenplay didn't make it into the movie. I know that's nothing unusual, and I'm glad that I wasn't bound to a time frame or word count in which to tell this incredible story. I admire screenwriters, but I love being a novelist.
Tomorrow: the editing.
~~Angie
By Angela on Sunday, December 04, 2011 @ 6:30 AM
for this post
Says:
I love the comment, "Characters have a way of coming to life, you know, and sometimes they just kept talking." That's what makes your novels so delicious!
Clyde Osterhaus Thayer
Dianne Says:
I just saw the movie Sunday. Now I just have to get my hands on the book. Seriously, I really appreciate the behind the scenes look at this story and the writing thereof.
daisymarie Says:
This is such great insight into the process. All the "stuff" we take for granted when we hold or view the finished object.
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Supplemental Edition!
I was delighted when Tyndale invited me to the Hollywood premier of The Nativity Story. That's me walking by the huge movie poster and--who else?--Gary Busey! The red carpet and the Tyndale men.
Visit this link to see a really beautiful music video from The Nativity Story.
I hope your Christmas season is off to a delightful start!
~~Angie
By Angela on Saturday, December 03, 2011 @ 6:30 AM
for this post
BOM: How the Idea Germinated
This one's easy--the idea didn't germinate. Not in the usual sense, anyway.
A year ago, screenwriter Mike Rich noticed that both Time and Newsweek had feature cover stories on the nativity of Christ. He wrote a screenplay, it was snapped up, and plans were made to produce a movie . . . in just under a year.
In late May 2006, an editor at Tyndale House called to see if I'd be interested in writing a novel based on Rich's screenplay. The catch? It'd be a fast job with a July 31 deadline, because the book would need to release at about the same time the movie opened.
I jumped at the opportunity for several reasons. First, I'm a speedy writer and the story was already plotted. I knew I'd have a screenplay to work from as well as Scripture. Second, I'd just finished Magdalene a few months before, so my first century research was still fresh in my mind. Third, who wouldn't want to explore one of the greatest miracles of all?
I had a few hesitations: if the screenplay followed the pattern of some Hollywood films, it might not be true to scripture. Second, I'd have to please New Line Cinema as well as my editors. Third, it would be a tight deadline, and I'd have to fit this into my calendar.
After praying about it, I felt led to go forward, so I told my editor I'd be willing to start in June--right after I got back from my Alaskan cruise. :-) I hadn't had a bona fide vacation in years, so I was determined to take one.
Before I left for Alaska, however, I went through the first version of the script to see if there were any "red flag" issues. I saw a couple of minor things that didn't seem historically believable, but felt I could work around them . By the time I saw a second version of the script, however, those things had disappeared. The filmmakers were definitely on the right track, so I signed on for the project.
Tomorrow: the research
~~Angie
By Angela on Friday, December 02, 2011 @ 6:30 AM
for this post
Doni Brinkman Says:
What was your OT paper about? I just love OT history! Feel like emailing it to me just for fun? :)!
Cheryl Ricker Says:
Great post, Angie!
I loved reading how the book came about! And I'm glad they picked you to write it!
Christmas blessings to you!
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Book of the Month: The Nativity Story
From the back cover:
In the simple town of Nazareth, an angelic messenger appears before a teenage girl . . . who finds the courage to believe.
In The Nativity Story, developed from the screenplay by Mike Rich, Angela Hunt fleshes out the characters and histories of the people who lived through the miracles and mysteries surrounding the birth of Jesus Christ. This well-researched story is based on the scriptural account. Journey back through time as you relieve that the characters experienced and celebrate the wonder of Immanuel, God with us.
The movie opens today, so see the film, read the novel, and you'll find there are many differences!
~~Angie
By Angela on Thursday, December 01, 2011 @ 6:30 AM
for this post
Says:
Early in my faith journey I came across Marjorie Holmes, "Two From Galilee." It made quite an impact on my young faith. I look forward to reading your story and gaining fresh insights. ~TinaHunt
Terri L. Gillespie Says:
Still laugh over the pic of the upsidedown torah.
However, you Angie, boldly go for authenticity in a world of status quo.
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That is funny
LOL - At first I thought you were trying to show us some wording on the back, so I enlarged it to full screen. Then I saw it. Hilarious!
Oy. Thanks for calling my attention to the typo in the title, Linda. I guess my "good enough" wasn't enough! LOL!
Funny irony!
:-) Mary Kay
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