Daily Devotions for Writers, From the Writing Academy

compiled and Edited by Patricia Lorenz, 2008 Infinity Publishing.com, 398 Pages, ISBN: 0-7414-4594-8, $19.95

Most writers practice their craft with a keyboard and screen and face unique writing-related fears. They work alone and face rejection with every submission.

The Writing Academy, a non-profit organization founded in 1982 by Christian writers, supports beginning and published writers of all genres. This organization formed to encourage writing excellence. Their current membership has grown to more than sixty and includes twenty-two charter members with goals to encourage writers to write, while attracting new members, and raising money for the Academy.

During the summer of 2007, Academy member, Patricia Lorenz, suggested the group publish a book of devotions written specifically for writers. Her idea received an enthusiastic response, but she was the only volunteer. Even though it would take long hours and most of a year from her other writing. Two hundred writers from thirty-five states and three foreign countries contributed to this new release with 366 devotions for writers, including seven authors from the Pacific Northwest. Infinity Publishing donated their efforts. A generous donation from the Cecil Murphey Foundation Fund completed the funding.

The true short stories feature author’s joys and struggles, and are specifically designed to encourage writers. Devotions include a brief illustration, prayer, and quote. For instance, Agnes Lawless, Washington, wrote about the need to submit her writing to God before writing. She used her three-year-old son’s impatience with a new toy to depict her theme. She asks the Lord to teach her, and quotes Alfred Lord Tennyson’s, “More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of.”

Carolyn Meagher, Washington, used Moses as an example and wrote about excuses, self-doubt, discouragement and a pity party. The Lord reminded her that she had a computer, modern technology, and writing resources at her fingertips, while Moses used a stick and words. In her prayer she thanked God for not listening to excuses. She quoted Marcel Proust, “The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.”

Lydia Harris, Washington, wrote about rejection, isolation, hopes, and fears. She hoped editors would look with favor on her submissions, that her words would touch reader’s lives, and that praise or rejection wouldn’t influence her sense of worth. Her prayer thanked God that her dreams centered on Him and not on herself. Her quote came from Psalms 42:11 NIV “Hope in God.”

Written for writers, by writers, these 366 daily devotions share real-life writing experiences to encourage and inspire writers to continue to hone their craft and share their writing gifts. All writers will benefit from it. It belongs on every writer’s bookshelf.

Do Hard Things, A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations

by Alex & Brett Harris, Multnomah Books, 2008, 256 Pages, ISBN-13: 978-1601421128, $16.99

Until the early part of the 1900's, teenager wasn't a dictionary word, and family groups were defined as babies, children, and adults. Youth from earlier times were expected to make significant contributions to society, and they did.

The Harris twins, Alex and Brett, hold similar feelings. Teen speakers and authors they wrote Do Hard Things to help other peers recognize how low the bar of expectations for them really is. Homeschooled, and encouraged by their parents and older brother Pastor Josh, they launched an Internet blog in 2005, at age sixteen, to attack what they called the "myth of adolescence."

They combined "rebellion" and "revolution" to coin their blog name, The Rebelution. Within a short time, their Google-hosted blog became the most popular Christian teen blog on the web, and later grew into a full website for teen interaction.

Their first postings questioned teens' rights to "goof off" during adolescence. They asked why teen years should be a "vacation from responsibility," instead of "training grounds for future leaders." Historical and biblical examples supported their views, as did teens' responses. The Harris brothers had struck a deep chord.

Three weeks later, the New York Daily News featured their blog in a column. That drove additional traffic to their site, and the ranks of "rebelutionaries" continued to grow. They give God credit for what happened next.

After Justice Tom Parker read their Internet blogs, in October 2005, they were invited to apply for internships to the Alabama Supreme Court. Positions normally reserved for law school students, and exceptional college undergraduates. They filled out applications and Justice Parker waived the age requirements. Soon after their acceptance they traveled to the Alabama capitol and spent two months as aides. They received on-the-job training, edited opinions, and drafted press releases using their homeschooled skills. Their accomplishments amazed Justice Parker.

This refreshing story of two teens that raised the bar of expectations for themselves and accepted the challenge to do hard things will amaze you. Formatted into three segments, of four chapters each, part one defines the rebelution, how it came to be, and where it's going. Part two describes hard things that challenge teens, and why they need to reach beyond requirements and expectations. Part three contains personal stories and anecdotes of "rebelutionairies" with transformed lives. An appendix, notes and acknowledgements complete the book.

This amazing book crosses all cultural and age boundaries and calls our youth to their god-given destinies and responsibilities. I believe it's meant to change lives, families, churches, and the very culture of those who read and implement it.