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Showing posts with label book excerpt. Show all posts
Showing posts with label book excerpt. Show all posts

Thursday, April 5, 2018

New Book, "The Man, The Woman, and Genesis, Making Your Relationship Work," Book Excerpt by Stephen Otalor



EXCERPT FROM THE BOOK

Every relationship is like driving, no one just jumps into a car and starts driving, you learn it, you acquire the skill to drive and you also learn about the cars and learn about special features of every car you drive and know how it operates from other cars and road signs. 

So what happens when you jump into a car without any knowledge of driving, you end up crashing the car and causing damage to it, hurting yourself and others. In some cases, you hurt others and damage the car and you walk away unhurt. This is why people are required to go through driving classes and have a license. 

Sometimes we get so hurt from a relationship that you wish people should get a license to date before asking anyone for a relationship. The sad reality is that everyday people jump into a relationship like jumping into a car and crash it and immediately get out and jump into another and crash it again. Every man must understand he needs to sharpen his mind and get the right knowledge to keep his relationship going. As a man, you must be honest with yourself, to admit to yourself when you feel and know you lack knowledge. That is where you start from in getting things right. Keeping a relationship is not like breathing when you can say it comes natural, you need the right knowledge and understand it.

Most relationships that collapse today is as a result of something hidden from the start, and you must understand that even the collapse of some relationships is not because of the enormity of what was hidden or how grievous what one was not transparent about. The major issue with not being transparent is the death of trust that comes when revelation is made. Distrust is like oil on the surface of a relationship, it makes it slippery and difficult to cleave to each other.

Whatever you fail to understand, you will abuse and whatever you abuse, you will eventually cause it to malfunction or fail to deliver the purpose it really exists for.
You can’t apply any instruction to life’s situations until it is backed up with understanding.
Your peace is at the mercy of your understanding, the more you understand, the more sustainable your peace will be.
You gain control and peace when you have an understanding concerning a product and you evidently avoid abusing that product, the same goes for our relationships.
Who you bring into your relationship as a friend matters, who you introduce to your partner as someone to be trusted matters, not everyone that ask deserves to know, not everyone that tells you their secret deserves to know your secret, there is no law or obligation that says you must share secrets with those who tell you their secrets.




Wednesday, April 19, 2017

The Calling of Ella McFarland by Award-Winning Author Linda Brooks Davis, Read an Excerpt



Ella McFarland’s dream is a teaching position at Worthington School for Girls. But scandal clouds her family name and may limit her to a life of grueling farm labor in the Indian Territory. Her fate lies in the hands of the Worthington board, and there happens to be one strikingly handsome man with a vote. Will they overlook the illegitimate son recently borne by her sister, Viola?

1905 brings hope of Oklahoma statehood and the woman’s suffrage debate is raging, forcing Ella to make decisions about her faith, family, and aspirations. When she comes to the rescue of a young, abused sharecropper’s daughter, her calling begins to take shape in ways she never imagined. Education is Ella’s passion, but a new love is budding in her heart. Can she find God’s will amidst the tumultuous storm that surrounds her?


The Calling of Ella McFarland was the First Place Winner of the 2014 Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild Operation First Novel contest. 
It won the American Christian Fiction Carol Award in August 2016.


A story of family and faith in 1905 Indian Territory prior to Oklahoma statehood, a time when women's voices were silenced in public and often stifled at home.


Ella reached for the buggy’s folding step.
         “Here, let me.” He released the latch and pressed the step into place. Sunlight glinted in his hair, as dark a brown as black walnut shells. He touched a hand to her elbow.
         “Thank you, sir,” she said and set a button-shoed foot on the step. Her legs wobbled as she settled into the seat.
         “Don’t give up hope, Miss McFarland. I’ll do everything I can.”
         She shook off the disconcerting effect of the man’s cobalt eyes and released the foot brake. “You’re very kind, Mr. Evans. Thank you.”
         She flicked open her pendant fob watch. Ten o’clock. She should make it home in time to help Mama set out the noon meal. Five miles of back roads and a bridge over the Canadian River would take her into Indian Territory. Just past the Washita River, she would catch sight of the home place where her family awaited news.
         Ella was their best hope, but hope was growing scarce.

         Securing her hair with a comb under her hat, she squared her shoulders. Her smart snap of the whip belied her crumbling emotions as it urged her mare Bunny onto the thoroughfare toward home. 


*~*~*~*


Linda Brooks Davis, Author 
~The Calling of Ella McFarland, 2015
2014 Winner, Jerry Jenkins Operation First Novel
2015 Silver Medalist, Frasier Award
2016 Winner, ACFW Carol Award, Debut Novel
~A Christmas to Remember, 2016

Monday, November 14, 2016

Blow the Whistle - Excerpt from Wheels of Wisdom: Life Lessons for the Restless Spirit," by Tim and Debbie Bishop


Lesson 3

Blow the Whistle

Packing a positive attitude for your pursuit will always make it more pleasurable and satisfying. Establishing some accountability will help you stay on track.
When you are touring by bicycle, you never know what to expect when setting out each morning. All you know is that you will encounter something new and interesting, and perhaps learn something in the process. On one particular day during TheHopeLine Tour, we would encounter another new state and learn a trick to becoming a better person.

Despite a cool and overcast start, we had wonderful weather for the remainder of the day. An early-morning race with a pair of deer proved too much for us, yet we persevered for our third consecutive day of biking more than seventy miles.

Leaving Metropolis, Illinois, and cycling into Kentucky all in one day felt like quite an accomplishment. For some reason, I thought Illinois would be flat, but it isn’t. We climbed up and down hills until we stopped for lunch at mile forty-one. We also switched maps, leaving the Great Rivers South map and heading in the direction of the Underground Railroad route. Our new route and new direction foreshadowed a change I would make later in the day to improve our travel experience.

The end of our time in Illinois came at Cave-in-Rock, where we caught a ride on the free ferry across the Ohio River. No cars accompanied us on the ferry, just the two guys who operated the boat. As soon as we entered Kentucky, nothing awaited us except more hills—no people, no homes, and no crops for miles. Just like in other states along TheHopeLine Tour, we had the place to ourselves. The hilly terrain meant we had some challenging climbs, while the dense forest with no people around made for a lengthy and uncertain ride to civilization.

In our travels, we’ve used maps published by a nonprofit bicycle-touring advocate called the Adventure Cycling Association (www.adventurecycling.org). Those maps mentioned the possibility of loose dogs in Kentucky, so Tim had a bright orange whistle hanging from his neck, and I had one in the outside pocket of my handlebar bag for easy access. Mine offered the added benefits of serving as a compass and a thermometer. I had used the thermometer and compass more than the whistle, but I must admit I loved blowing the whistle on dogs that chased us.
At that time on TheHopeLine Tour, we’d already had to blow the whistle on dogs in Missouri and Illinois. I can remember thinking, Kentucky dogs: be prepared! We won’t be wasting our precious water squirting you or fending you off with our bicycle pumps. The whistle would be the way to ward off unwanted canines in pursuit.

Before encountering any loose dogs, however, I discovered another use for the whistle, but you need the assistance of a spouse or a friend. I’m talking about breaking a bad habit I’d had at times on that trip…well, actually, two bad habits.

It all started on the prior day when I’d made a sarcastic comment and Tim blew the whistle as a referee would and shouted, “Unnecessary sarcasm, fifteen yards!” He was joking, of course. However, after entering Kentucky, I thought, What a great way to break a habit!
So, I said to him, “If I complain about anything for the rest of the day, I want you to blow the whistle on me.”

It may sound strange, but my request for Tim to hold me accountable kept my grumbling in check. I set goals for myself every day, and many days, I pray that I will not complain. Day after day, I fall short. On that particular day, I thought blowing the whistle on my complaining would be a great way to break that horrible habit. And it worked!

Instead of complaining to Tim, I started thinking of ways to put a positive spin on things. My knee hurt, but instead of complaining about it, I thought about the beautiful sky. I was so sick of the endless hills, but instead of dwelling on it by talking about it, I said I was grateful for the lack of traffic on those hills! The fear of the whistle blowing with each complaint kept me from whining. I tested Tim while pedaling up a very steep hill and complained about it. Sure enough, he blew the whistle!

If you have a bad habit to break, ask someone to “blow the whistle” every time you indulge in that habit. The list of habits that could benefit from some whistle-blowing interference includes gossiping, complaining, swearing, being late, smoking…the list is endless. Chances are this behavior-modification plan will get you into shape rather quickly. You will be “a better you” once you’ve broken the bad habit and replaced it with a new, healthier one. Instead of complaining, turn it into gratitude. No one will blow the whistle on you if you’re grateful and full of joy!

Thirty-two miles into Kentucky, we ran out of sun. Yet we were glad to have entered state number eleven on TheHopeLine Tour. After climbing 4,700 feet of elevation, we were heartened when a woman at a convenience store in Sturgis reserved a motel room for us. The map listed none, but she knew of a place with cabins for rent. They had closed early, but she had an “in” and, therefore, so did we. Small-town Kentucky hospitality was in the air.

When we arrived at the cabin, we had more pleasant surprises: it was beautiful, the price was right, and the adjoining market packed us a home-cooked meal—which goes to show that when you stop complaining, things will work out well in the end!

Attitude. It has so much influence on the success of a journey and the fulfillment of a destiny—and whether you will be miserable or happy along the way. Make sure you check your attitude at the door to your pursuit.
Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
Philippians 4:8
Personal Reflection:
1. Which bad habit would you like to “blow the whistle” on?
2. Can you think of anyone who could help hold you accountable in overcoming this bad habit?
3. Which is more agonizing: continuing to struggle with the bad habit or giving permission to a trusted individual to help you stop it?




*~*~*~*




Title: Wheels of Wisdom: Life Lessons for the Restless Spirit

To order from Amazon, click here

Tim and Debbie Bishop have coauthored four books about their midlife launch into marriage, cross-country bicycle touring, and other matters of faith and inspiration. Two Are Better: Midlife Newlyweds Bicycle Coast to Coast captures the story behind the stories, while Bicycle Touring How-To: What We Learned shares their knowledge with bicycle touring wannabes. Now, Wheels of Wisdom: Life Lessons for the Restless Spirit conveys some deeper truths that apply to virtually any life pursuit. Metaphors in Motion: Wisdom from the Open Road is an e-book containing more lessons like those found in Wheels of Wisdom.
The Bishops serve as volunteer Hope Coaches for TheHopeLine, a nonprofit organization that seeks to reach, rescue, and restore hurting teens and young adults. They are available for speaking engagements about their touring and life experiences. The couple blog at www.openroadpress.com.
Tim Bishop
In addition to consulting for small businesses, Tim Bishop has written Hedging Commodity Price Risk: A Small Business Perspective, an e-book that explains hedging in easy-to-understand language. He is a CPA and former corporate treasurer with over thirty years of business experience, and blogs at http://hedging.openroadpress.com. Tim is a native of Houlton, Maine.

Debbie Bishop
Debbie Bishop has taught for over twenty-eight years. She has a passion for reading and seeing that young people do it well. She also has a strong interest in recovery issues and encouraging others with her own triumphs over such struggles earlier in her life. She is a featured author in Love is Out There by Melissa Williams-Pope, in which she relates her own story of finding love later than most. Debbie volunteers as a facilitator for www.findingbalance.com, an online support group dedicated to helping women who are struggling with eating disorders. She also has New England roots.