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Throughout the year Charles posts images at Flickr while researching new book ideas.
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My Prayer at the National Day of Prayer (with a special note to writers)
Posted in The Kitchen Sink on Fri, May 04, 2012
Yesterday, was the National Day of Prayer. The City of Jacksonville put on an event at UNF. Many local pastors. Current and former Jaguar players. A supermodel. Television personalities. Me. About thirty or so people had been asked to pray. Prior to the event, we were all assigned areas to pray for and over and then during the event we were given 3-4 minutes to actually pray. That worked in theory but it was tough to limit some of those pastors. I’m glad they didn’t. Loved hearing them. Wow. Some awesome men and women on that stage. Movers and shakers would be an understatement. My area was ‘print media.‘ If the shoe fits… When it was over, I was asked if I’d post my prayer. It follows here.
One thought—people often ask me if I pray for my stories. The answer is, ‘yes.’ Maybe, the better answer is that ‘I also pray for my stories.’ Daily. Sometimes, by the minute. Sometimes non-stop. It depends. I pray about a lot of stuff. Then they ask me, ‘How?’ It varies, but you’ll hear parts of it in this. Oh, and if you’re a writer of any sort whatsoever, you are welcome to steal, plagiarize, cut and paste and claim as your own any part of this. I don’t own the copyright. ;-)
“Jesus, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, the Lion of Judah, the Lamb upon the throne, the name above all names and at whose name every knee will bow and every tongue confess that you are Lord and God and King over all. Father, we—your people boldly approach your throne of Grace asking to receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
We bring to you the print media. Journalists. Feature writers. Bloggers. Non-fiction and fiction writers. Lord, we bring to you the story-tellers of this age.
Father, where we have blatantly lied, where we haven’t told the truth in all its forms, where we’ve slanted or skewed the story to fit our agenda, to benefit us, where we’ve told stories that praise us and not you, where we’ve stolen glory due you, placed ourselves on the throne which is yours and yours alone, we humble ourselves, we seek your face, we repent outright and completely, we lay our crowns at your feet. Please forgive us. Lord please forgive us. Give us undivided hearts that we might fear your name. And cause us, like King David, to hide your word in our hearts that we might not sin against you.
Father, we are in desperate need of a spirit of truth. Rain it down. Soak us in it. Let Truth abound and explode among us who write and then when we’ve written it, take it beyond our wildest imaginations. Where the father of lies has hi-jacked your written word, deceived your people, and absolutely rejected your revealed truth, we ask that you muzzle him and then raise up truth-tellers to take it back. Shine a light in the darkness. Be salt. Pour water for the thirsty. No matter the cost.
Where there is an agenda that conflicts with your will, that seeks to deceive, to confuse, Lord please bring it to destruction, frustration and absolutely nothing. Our enemy the devil wants to kill, steal and destroy. He prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour and he’s using the words you gave us to do just that. Lord, your word is not chained. Make our words mighty in you, able to pull down strongholds, and cast down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against you. Our land is populated with giants, but we are well-able to overcome them.
Breathe new life into our imaginations and infuse the words we use with new meaning. Then loose those words to pour life and hope into your people—to rescue the wounded. Lord, for Zions’ sake we will not keep quiet. For Jerusalem’s sake we will not hold our peace.
I pray protection over each of us—the truth tellers. Bolster our walls. Strengthen us to write without fear. Protect our families our homes, our lives, and our hearts and minds. Give your angels charge over us. Let your faithfulness go before us. And let your glory be our rear guard.
Lord, you wrote the all time bestseller of all bestsellers. Ever. I’m pretty sure you have a tender spot for writers. Let what we write bring you all honor and glory and praise. Let it reflect your character. Tell of your great glory. Your immeasurable, boundless love for us. Your singular redeeming sacrifice. Use our words to make more of you and less of us. And when you have, let the sum of them m be found worthy to fill the walls of your personal library...and when printed and bound on the shelves here, let them stand as roadsigns to Jerusalem.
We pray this in the matchless and magnificent name of Jesus.”
Where are you reading “Thunder and Rain”
Posted in The Kitchen Sink on Wed, May 02, 2012
If you’d like to join my photo contest to win a signed book or maybe you’re book club would like to have a chat with me, go to my Facebook page and post a picture of you reading “Thunder and Rain.” Once we get a few pics up there, I, along with several highly qualified photography gurus, will pick the best of the lot and rotate them in that big space at the top of the page. Then you can tell all your friends you’re headlining on my page. In two or three weeks, everyone can vote on your 5 favorites and I’ll send the winners a signed book, or chat with their book club.
Note: “Thunder and Rain” only. And anybody sitting atop a horse wearing a hat and reading my book will get special consideration. And if you’re a Texas Ranger, you will automatically rotate through the photo slot. Just saying…
Movie News
Posted in The Kitchen Sink on Fri, February 03, 2012
Three articles updating the progress on “The Mountain Between Us” movie. (FOX has attached a Director.)
Thunder and Rain—Teaser
Posted in The Kitchen Sink on Tue, January 24, 2012
Want to read the first three chapters of “Thunder and Rain”? Maybe Pre-Order?
Coming to A Bookstore Near You April 3rd
Posted in The Kitchen Sink on Mon, January 16, 2012
Thunder and Rain is coming in April.
Me, My Sons, and the whole Tebow thing.
Posted in The Kitchen Sink on Mon, December 05, 2011
My latest video update—a walk down memory lane, a conversation with my boys and my two cents on the whole Tebow thing.
Today’s Mail
Posted in The Kitchen Sink on Tue, November 01, 2011
Every once and a while, I’ll get a note that strikes me as different. Something about it sets it apart. I got one yesterday. Maybe it had something to do with my third book, ‘When Crickets Cry.’ I’m not sure. Anyway, twice today I have found myself clicking on this blog—written by a lady I don’t know and have never met—and reading about a boy that’s a week old. Each time, I have heard myself saying, “Lord, can you please help this one. Please...” I realize there are countless stories like this. We each have been touched. It’s just that this one has touched me. Maybe you’re reading this because you want to know what I’m up to. Currently, I’m editing my 9th novel, but, in truth, I’m distracted. I’m thinking about Bennett. Maybe it’s the picture. If you’d like to read Bennett’s story, I don’t think his folks would mind. And, I think they’d welcome your prayers.
Teddy
Posted in The Kitchen Sink on Mon, October 31, 2011
Hanging in my house, is one of my favorite quotes. It’s Teddy Roosevelt. Lifted from a speech he gave in 1910. I like it for lots of reasons but, here’s the point. If you’re ever been rejected, knocked down, set back, trampled over, lost anything, lost everything, come up short or flat-out failed, then be encouraged. You’re in good company. Welcome to the human race. The question for me, and the reason this thing is hanging in my house, is not if these things will happen to me, but how will I respond when they do. Anyone can achieve mediocrity, but to dare something great, to try again, to stand back up, to dust myself off...well, that takes something else. And you can’t buy it at Wal-Mart. So, to those of you with ‘marred by dust and sweat and blood,’ my hat’s off to you.
Video Blog 9/28: The Birth of ‘Thunder and Rain’
Posted in The Kitchen Sink on Wed, September 28, 2011
Thoughts on my latest book and what birthed it. ;-)
Continue reading "Video Blog 9/28: The Birth of ‘Thunder and Rain’"
Affair in The Square, San Marco, Sept. 15th 6-9 pm.
Posted in Events on Mon, September 12, 2011
Always lots of fun. Come see us. San Marco is one of the neatest places in Jacksonville (where I grew up) and the weather should be great.
