Unconditional Love is Worth a $2 Bill

This past weekend, my family rented a handful of movies. Lately, we've actually been able to find several faith-based films to view together. The one we saw this weekend was no exception.

UNCONDITIONAL begins with a near suicide, a petty theft and a car accident involving a young child.

If the filmmakers' goal was to test my tear glands in under a minute, they succeeded. As if the first few scenes weren't emotion-fueled enough, the actors provided poignant, perfectly delivered performances that made me forget I wasn't witnessing real life events.

Or was I?

Mere moments before the closing credits began to scroll up the screen, I found out this story of hope and unconditional love was, in fact, based on real events in the life of Joe Bradford.

Uniquely presented in flashback style, UNCONDITIONAL tells the equally unique story of a gifted young man who suffered adversity in several forms before committing his life to God's call. Now that he's been redeemed, Joe Bradford -- or Papa Joe, as "his kids" call him -- brings hope and unconditional love to the children of the Commons, the most at-risk area of town. With a beautiful fictional storyline linking the real life events in a creative way that is sure to have you reaching for a tissue, UNCONDITIONAL is a must-see movie for anyone who could use a dose of encouragement.

Next time you're bogged down in the murkiness of life, remember what Papa Joe says in the film: "No matter how hard life gets, you're never alone."

This hope is echoed in 2 Corinthians 4:16-18: "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." (NIV)

Hope and love are meant to be shared. If that's the only thing you learn from UNCONDITIONAL, it was definitely worth making. Thanks to the film crew, actors and Papa Joe for sharing this incredible story. It has swiftly become one of my favorites, and I'm happy to recommend it to all of my readers here at Writing To Inspire.

If you enjoyed Fireproof, Courageous and October Baby, you'll certainly love UNCONDITIONAL. So invite some friends over, pop some corn and grab a box of tissues. Watch the movie UNCONDITIONAL today and see if you can discover how unconditional love is worth a $2 bill.

Be sure to view the behind-the-scenes featurettes to get an inside peek into the making of the film and the life of the man who lived the story, Papa Joe Bradford. Also, you might like to visit the movie's website: http://unconditionalthemovie.com. Or you may want to visit Papa Joe's website: http://elijahsheart.com/.

What do you think unconditional love is worth?

Beguiled -- Successful Suspense Story

Suspense is a genre I wish more Christian authors would undertake to perfect. Though difficult to master, this category holds us captive from page one and only very reluctantly releases us at the end of the story . . . unless it sneaks under our skin and invades our dreams. It's one of those genres we love to hate. It sets our nerves pleasantly on edge and we jump at shadows for days or weeks afterwards. If written well, suspense novels allow us to feel as though we live, breathe and solve the mystery right along with the hero or heroine.

Beguiled by Deeanne Gist and J. Mark Bertrand is a thrilling example of a brilliantly written romantic suspense novel. It contains numerous twists and turns destined to keep you guessing until the very last page. The character depth and creativity add to the mystery, which grows with each fresh incident. This tale and its fascinating characters will swiftly capture your interest. It will not easily be forgotten once finished and reshelved.

Taking place in Charleston's wealthiest neighborhood, Beguiled is the suspenseful story about dogwalker Rylee Monroe who finds herself mixed up and targeted in a series of unusual thefts. Logan Woods, a reporter with hopes that the Robin Hood Burglar will be the key to getting his true-crime book published, must decide to chase the story, the girl or the villain, all while avoiding the one thing he's most afraid of: dogs. Will Rylee and Logan risk trusting each other in order to uncover the truth of the Robin Hood Burglar's identity?

Authors Deeanne Gist and J. Mark Bertrand apparently brought out the best in each other. Many a night I found it nearly impossible to put down Beguiled as I wanted to know all the secrets at once. As the story unfolded, my heart was more and more invested . . . and I was less and less eager to flick off my light at night. I look forward to reading more novels by Deeanne Gist and J. Mark Bertrand in the very near future.

For more information about the authors or to order a copy of Beguiled to add to the top of your to-be-read pile, please visit these websites:

www.deeannegist.com

http://jmarkbertrand.com

You may get Deeanne's new eShort Story, Tempest in the White City, for only $0.99 at www.deeannegist.com/bookstore.php.

You may get J. Mark's e-book, Back on Murder, for free at http://jmarkbertrand.com/free/.

What do you consider a must-have for a suspense novel to keep you riveted?

Are Geckos Really Slimy?

Have you ever wondered what a gecko feels like? Did you think they were bumpy? Scaly? Slimy?

I used to think so too. Until I touched one.

Yes, I petted a gecko.

Those of you who know me well are shocked, I'm sure. What is a girly-girl drama queen like me doing anywhere near a gecko? That same question passed through my mind as well.

The answer: I'm not quite sure.

These geckos, possibly known as House Geckos, inhabit the walls of my house. Usually they're scared of people and scamper away when you look at them too long. This one must have gotten brave as well as long. From its nose to the tip of its tail, it measured in at four and a half inches. He was a bit plump, so I figure he's been eating well. (I hate to think of what meals he might be finding behind the sheetrock in my house.) This little guy wore gorgeous brown speckles on his slightly bumpy, fleshy-pink skin. His tail sported stripes or rings.

Instead of being afraid of me, the gecko stayed put. He didn't move a single skinny toe. It was almost like he was daring me to touch him, seeing if I had the guts. At first I didn't. I just watched him sit there on my wall. Then I thought, what's the worst that could happen?

Well, he could jump on me.

As I reached up, rising on tiptoes, I told the little gecko not to jump on me, as if he could understand English along with his language of chirps. Expecting him to move when my flesh touched his, I was surprised when I touched his tail and he remained motionless. In fact, he didn't even blink! (I didn't find out until later that most geckos cannot blink.) So I petted his tail a couple more times.

Then I decided to just go for it. I pulled a chair over and climbed atop it. At this better vantage point I didn't have to stretch to reach him. With the tip of my finger I gently stroked the gecko's bump-covered back.

Weird.

It didn't feel at all like I expected.

The gecko's skin wasn't slimy. It wasn't scaly. On the contrary, it was silky smooth. It felt like soft leather or creamy butter. Surprised by the difference between my preconception and reality, I rubbed his back twice more before he skittered down the wall to hide behind the curtain in the window.

Touching this gecko and finding smooth, silky skin reminded me that things don't always follow our first judgments of them. Sometimes instead of being half empty, we discover the glass is truly half full. I wish I could say this little encounter has made me more adventurous when it comes to critters (and maybe it has), but I think it has definitely made me see things in a different light. Next time perhaps I won't be so quick to judge by outward appearances. Maybe I'll adjust my preconceived notions.

Do you think I'd now have the courage to pet an alligator?

Clouds -- A Glimpse at God's Perfect Love

Clouds signify many different things to different people. Some folks may consider them a nuisance to a day of catching some sunshine on a sandy beach. Others may view them as beautiful mountains of hope. Still others might look up at an overcast sky and see a comforting blanket that reminds them of marshmallows bobbing up and down in their mom's homemade hot cocoa.

In Clouds, flight attendant Shelly Graham thinks "no human could mar their perfection." (page 50) They offer her a subtle reminder of God's perfect love as her life crumbles into an enormous pile of tattered dreams. Her dream job is threatened by airline cutbacks. Her little sister gets to live in Shelly's dream cabin. When she bumps into her childhood best friend and true love, reality splashes ice cold water on her dream future: Jonathan's engaged to be married! Just as the clouds in the sky adapt to God's weather plans, can Shelly adapt to the crushing news pouring all around her? Will a journey into her family's history spark an inner expedition to a Love stronger and steadier than the one she lost?

Clouds by Robin Jones Gunn (www.RobinGunn.com) offers an innocence that is so often lost in today's modern world. Even though this fifth installment in The Glenbrooke Series is a contemporary tale, it still manages to take us back to a slower paced, more meaningful time when families were close-knit and pleasantly, if somewhat irritatingly, meddlesome and everyone hopes for a happily-ever-after. This is by far the sweetest, most heartfelt story I've read all year, and I look forward to reading more of The Glenbrooke Series by Robin Jones Gunn. This novel provides a fresh perspective on God's way of working things out according to His divine plan.

Robin beautifully combined location and history and character to weave a truly touching masterpiece. I was quickly endeared to Shelly and her treasure box of long-forgotten memories. My emotions were on the line nearly as much as Shelly's as I experienced the highs and lows of adventure and lost love right along with her.

Here are two quotes from Clouds that struck my heart as particularly meaningful:

"Sometimes to find the key that will unlock the future, we have to see what keys we buried in the past." (page 37)

"What has been is in the past. What is forms the present. What will be remains to be seen." (page 134)

What keys from your past will clear the clouds from your future?

Thank you to WaterBrook Multnomah for giving me a free copy of this novel for this review.

You may read a free preview of Clouds here: http://www.scribd.com/doc/91174486/Clouds

Writer's Block -- Get Your Head in the Game!

What do you do when you've got writer's block?

That very question has wandered through my mind on many occasions as I've stared at my computer screen, racking my brain for any way to move my story forward. Overcoming writer's block is one of the greatest challenges for a writer, and there is no set way to clear the obstacles blocking your creativity. So, what are we supposed to do to get out of a writing slump?

After trying some distraction tactics -- playing a few games of Solitaire, walking around the block and getting a snack -- I came back to my work-in-progress (WIP) feeling energized and full of ideas. My fingers flew across the keys and the pages filled up. Chapters fell into place and I was well on my way to bringing another happily-ever-after to completion.

Until my brain froze up again.

During one of those blocked moments, I decided to watch a Dallas Mavericks basketball game I recorded the night before. Right in the middle of the game, it hit me.

Overcoming writer's block is exactly like basketball.

When Dirk Nowitzki is in a shooting slump, what does he do? Does he pass the ball to his teammates and let them control the game? Does he give up because he doesn't stand a chance of winning since his shot has disappeared? Does he stop fighting and ask to be benched until he gets his head back in the game?

No!

Nowitzki keeps shooting the basketball.

He's learned something vital about shooting slumps. If he keeps shooting, the ball's bound to go in the hoop eventually. It may take 10 shots, or 20. It may take a thousand shots. He will spend lots of extra hours in the gym before and after every game and practice, and he may even get some advice from his coaches or teammates. But, if he keeps shooting -- keeps trying to push through the slump -- he knows the ball must sink through the hoop eventually.

Just as Dirk must keep shooting the basketball to get out of his slump, we writers must keep writing words to get out of our writer's block. Wherever you're stuck in your story, just write. Move the story forward. The scenes may not be perfect -- in fact, they may be downright awful -- but the important thing is to get the words on the page. It may take a while, and you may need advice from friends, family or professionals in the business. But in the end, the ideas will flow and you will be inspired once again. Then, even though you'll have scenes that need major editing, you'll have the bones of a great story . . . and a few ideas that bounce off the charts.

So, what are you waiting for?

It's game time! Get out there and write!

This article, written by Andrea Renee Cox, was previously published on My Book Therapy's Weekly Spark and is archived at: http://mybooktherapy.ning.com/forum/topics/weekly-spark-1-28-2013-writer-s-block-get-your-head-in-the-game-b

Wishing on Willows by Katie Ganshert

Several of my friends have been attacked by grief this past year. Buckets of tears have been shed for mothers, fathers, husbands, brothers, grandparents, and even a beloved pet or two. All are loved. All will be missed. None will be forgotten.

Due to the quantity of sorrow within my circle of friends, my heart felt a massive connection to Wishing on Willows, Katie Ganshert's poignant sequel to Wildflowers from Winter. This follow-up book gave voice to the ache in my heart I felt for my grieving friends, yet failed to find the proper words to express. I believe this novel to be an impactful tool to piece together broken hearts and shattered dreams in such a way as to renew your hope and refresh your outlook on life.

In Wishing on Willows, widowed Robin Price juggles a struggling cafe, a grief support group, and being a single mother to an energetic almost-four-year-old. As if her plate wasn't full enough already, attractive developer Ian McKay struts into town with plans to knock down her beloved Willow Tree Cafe -- which would demolish the dream she shared with her late husband -- and build condominiums in its place. As Robin fights to save her cafe and the integrity of her town, she finds herself battling a deeper, even more personal battle: grief. When everything piles up and towers over her, will Robin be victorious in sending the developer packing? Or will she discover that sometimes all we need is "a tangible reminder that God can bring sweetness in the midst of pain?" (Quote from page 75.)

If you find yourself in the throes of grief, Wishing on Willows might be just the story you need to boost your confidence in God's unfailing love. When we struggle with emotions we aren't equipped to understand, the Lord is there to wrap us up in a spiritual hug and whisper assurances that we do not have to face our rock-bottom moments alone. He is our Rock. We may lean on His strength when we have none of our own.

Wishing on Willows by Katie Ganshert will be available on March 19, 2013. To learn more about Katie Ganshert, please visit her website: www.katieganshert.com. You may read the first chapter of Wishing on Willows at http://www.scribd.com/doc/115630214/Wishing-on-Willows-by-Katie-Ganshert-Sneak-Peek

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

The Tutor's Daughter

When I picked up The Tutor's Daughter by Julie Klassen, I expected to read about interesting, memorable characters living in the Regency Era. What I didn't expect to find was a brilliant mixture of mystery and innocent romance that kept me turning the book's pages . . . unable to stop reading until I had unearthed each secret right along with Miss Emma Smallwood. A nice surprise, The Tutor's Daughter was, and a book I would highly recommend to anyone who is a fan of Jane Austen (books or films). You won't be disappointed.

Accompanying her father to Ebbington Manor to tutor the youngest two Weston sons sparks hope and wariness within Miss Emma Smallwood -- hope, to see Phillip again, the Weston she was quite fond of as a young girl; wariness, at being trapped under the same roof as Henry, the oldest Weston who pulled plenty of pranks on her as a child. As Emma settles into her new routine at Ebbington, mysterious things begin happening around her. Who plays the pianoforte so beautifully in the dark of night? Will Emma discover who leaves love letters under her door? Secrets abound as every person living in Ebbington Manor seems to hold fast to at least one hidden truth, including Emma herself. Will a tempest rise when all the secrets come to light? Find out in Julie Klassen's latest novel, The Tutor's Daughter.

Aunt Jane tells Emma (on page 23), "But that does not mean I don't sometimes wonder what I might have missed. What my life might have been like, had I said yes to a little adventure of my own." This message of encouragement to Emma is quite easily applied to many a person's life. How many of us have wondered what life would have been like, had we chosen a different course in life? Said yes instead of no to a risky venture? I don't know about you, but my mind has wandered into 'What-If-Land' a few times. Guess what I've discovered: I wouldn't change anything. The choices I've made throughout my 25 years have been used by God to form me into the God-fearing woman I am today. Without those decisions and a few misadventures along the way, I wouldn't be as creative, strong, intelligent, caring, loving, trustworthy, etc. my family and friends tell me I am. No, I would not change one choice I've made. Would you?

Another line from The Tutor's Daughter I found that may be implemented in my life is on page 343. While facing imminent death, Henry Weston says, "You think all you like. I am going to pray." When I cannot think my way out of a difficult situation . . . when I can't think of the right words for a scene in my novels . . . when I can't think of how to best help a friend . . . I pray. God hears and answers my prayers, each and every one. Even though, sometimes, the answers aren't what I expected or wanted to hear, they're always what I NEEDED to hear. God is always faithful to listen and answer, according to His will. My only hope is this: that I don't wait to pray until I CAN'T THINK. I want to be proactive in my life, and I want talking and listening to God to be the best part of my day.

Tell me this:

How has God touched your life this week? Was it a gentle reminder? Or perhaps an abrupt wake-up call? Did He use you to touch someone else's life?

Is there anything you wish you could do over? A decision you would make differently, if given the chance? What would you do differently next time?

Please join the conversation! I look forward to hearing from you.

If you want to learn more about Julie Klassen, see photos from her trip to England, or order a copy of The Tutor's Daughter, please visit www.julieklassen.com.