FICTION FRIDAY

JOHN 3:16 ADULT FICTION TOUR

PRESENTS

ASHLEY WINNTERS

Today I welcome the final author in the John 3:16 Adult Fiction Tour, Ashley Winnters. It has been a real joy introducing to you these exceptional authors. I hope that you have supported them by visiting their websites and purchasing their books.

This conversation with Ashley is going to be very different from the others writers that we have spotlighted on Bernard's Word. Unfortunately I lost Ashley's information, please forgive me for that, and so I am sharing with you some general information about today's author and two reviews of her books.  

Ashley Winnters, pen name Ashley Dawn was born and raised in rural Arkansas where she developed her love for writing while helping in her parent's office. She graduated with an accounting degree from the University of Central Arkansas but is currently working as a legal assistant. Ashley had been writing professionally for the past seven years and has two published books. She and her family make their home in Texas.                

Ashley's first book is titled SHADOWS FROM THE PAST.

"It is the price you pay for choosing to be a cop. Your brother's life..."

Those words haunt her dreams, and her waking moments. LAPD officer, Aurora Kavvan cannot rest until she finds her brothers killer. Digging into the past always brings back unpleasant things: memories, guilt....the hit man. Now she is in a race against time to find the murderer before he finds her.    

Ashley's second book is titled SHADOWS OF SUSPICION

Revenge is the agenda...

"Find my sister."

Rick Reiley's words were what drove Luke to search mercilessly for Kerry. He is in a race against time to find her and will have to face more than a criminal mastermind to get close to her. He is prepared to give his life for her, but what about his heart?

"I would like you to meet...My wife."

Those words from her enigmatic rescuer threw Kerry more than anything else that had happened to her in the last few days...and that was saying a lot! Kerry's simple life is turned upside down when she is kidnapped and dragged to the middle of nowhere by a madman. She trust Luke with her life, but can she trust him with her heart?

As Luke fights to keep Kerry safe, the chemistry ignites and the danger gets closer.

Will God protect them while Luke tries to sort out his heart...and captures Kerry's?  

You can connect with Ashley at:

http://ashleybookshelf.blogspot.com

http://facebook.com/awintters  

MEN'S MONDAY

MY TRIBUTE TO ELDER ASA AKERS

FEBRUARY 17, 1962-AUGUST 11, 2011





I was getting ready to go to bed when I received a phone call.

"Hello Pastor Boulton." It was Damien, Asa's oldest son.

"Hey Damien. What's going on?" I asked him.

"It's Daddy. He's been rushed to the hospital."

Alarmed I asked Damien, "What happened?"

"He got out of bed and collapsed. There was blood coming out of his mouth."

"Okay man I'm on my way."

I quickly got dressed and told Vantoria that Asa was sick and I was on my way to the hospital.The drive was ten minutes. I parked in the emergency parking lot and walked into the hospital to the receptionist desk.

"I'm here to see Asa Akers." I told the receptionist.

"He's in trauma room 1."

I walked to the trauma room. The hallway was crowded with people. The first person I saw and recognized was Damien, he was walking toward me crying. "How are you doing son?" I asked him as I placed my hand on his shoulder.

"I'm not doing good Pastor." I waited for him to tell more but he didn't have anything else to say. I walked into the trauma room. The first thing I noticed was there was machines near the gurney where Asa lay. I didn't hear the sound of machines beeping. To the left of the gurney was Asa's wife Lottie crying, to the right was Scott, Asa's youngest son sitting with his head bowed down. I walked toward Scott and looked at Asa and then I knew that he was gone. Death had come and taken away my friend, my spiritual son and brother in the Lord.

As I looked at what remained of Asa Akers I saw the signs that he was gone but for a brief moment I believed that maybe we were mistaken and He wasn't gone, he hadn't died. But I couldn't hold on to that thought. I had to except the truth that Asa Akers had died.

I did the best I could to comfort Lottie, but what can you say or do at that moment. She has witnessed the death of her husband. The father to her sons is gone. Her world has been shaken. I placed my hands on her shoulder and prayed that God would help her to get through.

Since that Thursday night I have thought about Asa and who he was as I knew him. I came to the New Mine Creek Church in 1994. Asa had been a member at the church for a few years. He wasn't someone that I immediately connected with. He was a quiet man but after being at the church for a few years Asa sought me out and became one of the men that I had the opportunity to disciple and mentor. He faithfully attended the midday bible study that I started on Wednesdays at 12:00. And each week he would come to church early to spend time with me. We bonded and I helped him by sharing with him what I knew and understood about how God works in our lives. 

Asa had a keen interest in knowing the will of God for his life and he was wrestling with knowing his purpose. I taught him and counseled him and God took the seeds that I planted to bring forth a great harvest in Asa's life. I left New Mine Creek in 2000 but Asa continued seeking God and a few years later it was with great joy when I was told that Asa had finally recognized God's call on his life to be a preacher of the gospel. I praised God for the part I had in Asa's life in helping him to develop in his understanding of God's will.

When I returned to New Mine Creek in February 2007 Asa was very active in the ministry of the church as a minister, a Sunday school teacher and a member of the Christian Education Ministry. He was also a candidate for ordination in the Sandy Ridge Association.

Over these last four years I've watched Asa grow in confidence and in ministry. He was my right hand, taking care of duties at the church when I was out of town. Asa was faithful and a valuable member on my team. 

Yesterday I kept trying to avoid looking at the chair to my right where Asa sat. But I could see him in my mind, and in my memories. 

Tomorrow we gather in the New Mine Creek Church to celebrate the life of Elder Asa Akers. He has planted many seeds that will continue to bring forth many harvest in the years to come. I don't pretend to understand why Asa died so suddenly at the age of 49 but I ministered to the church yesterday that we can know that when our hearts are breaking from a death invasion in our lives we can believe God who promises us that He will comfort us when we mourn. Jesus will heal our broken hearts and weeping may endure for a night by joy comes in the morning.

Asa was an incredible husband to his wife Lottie who supported Asa faithfully in all of his ministry endeavors.

Asa leaves to continue to his legacy in the next generations his two sons, two fine men who made their father very proud, Damien and Scott.

When a man lives all the world knows him from the power of his presence.
When a man gives all the world knows him from the generosity of his grace.
When a man loves all the world knows him from the sacrifice of his substance.
When a man dies all the world cries because such a man had lived.

Asa Akers was such a man.

JOHN 3:16 ADULT FICTION TOUR

Bernard's Word Welcomes Amanda Stephan

Today's guest is Amanda Stephan. I apologize for being a day late and I will explain why on Monday. I hope that today's article will inspire you to go after your dreams. Please support Amanda by visiting her site and purchasing her products.

1. Tell us when did you first know that you would be an author? When I couldn't find anything to read. I was always more happy sitting down and writing my own stories. I guess that's when I first had an inkling.

2. Who are your favorite authors? Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte, Charles Dickens, C.S. Lewis, to name just a few.

3. What are your favorite books? Beside the Bible, I'd have to say my favorite book is Pride and Prejudice with Jane Eyre at a very close second.

4. What advice do you have for aspiring authors? Keep plugging away. Surround yourself with caring people for those times when you hit that wall of discouragement. And there's no shame in walking away from your computer to keep yourself from responding in anger.

5. Have you explored interracial themes in your writing? At this point, I haven't explored any interracial themes in my writing, but I can't say that I won't. Personally I see an opportunity for God's blessing and working in such relationships, and ministries that could abound from such. I think that all too often, we put God into a box instead of letting Him work through us and use us for His glory and honor.    

6. What are the keys to success for a writer? PRAYER, PRAYER, PRAYER! Ask for God's will to be done. I'd rather be at the bottom of the Amazon list and in God's will than to be at the top and out of it. However that's easier said than done!:)

7. Tell us about your future projects? My second novel, Lonely Hearts, will be released in October of this year, and I'm so excited! It's about one lonely mother. Two matchmaking kids. Three very eligible bachelors and a VERY yummy apple pie.   

The Price Of Trust is about an abused young woman betrayed by her fiance who finds trusting God is the only thing she can do to survive and love again.

If you are interested in reading more about THE PRICE OF TRUST go to http://www.booksbyamanda.com/sneak-peek.html. (I've read the three chapters and I'm hooked. Amanda has written a very intriguing story).

At this site is also the first chapter of Amanda's next novel LONELY HEARTS.

You can contact Amanda at the following sites:

http://www.facebook.com.amanda.stephan1

http://www.facebook.com.thepriceoftrust

http://www.twitter.com/amandastephan

http://www.thepriceoftrust.com

http://amandastephan.blogspot.com

CONTEST

Leave a comment on today's interview and win a FREE pdf File of PRICE OF TRUST. The winner will announced next week. 

FICTION FRIDAY

JOHN 3:16 ADULT FICTION BLOG

FEATURES

ROSE MCCAULEY

Today we are featuring Rose Mccauley who lives in the beautiful bluegrass region of Kentucky on a farm surrounded by God's creation.. She has been writing for over ten years and has been published in several non-fiction anthologies and devotionals. She is a retired schoolteacher and has been happily married to her sweetheart for over 43 years. She is also the mother to three grown children and their spouses and Mimi to three lovely grandkids.

Rose's website is http://www.rosemccauley.com

Rose blogsite is http://www.rosemccauley.blogspot.com

THE INTERVIEW

1. Rose can you tell us when did you first know that you would be an author? I always liked to make up stories and write, but didn't decide to pursue publication until I retired from teaching 13 years ago.

2. Who are your favorite authors? Whomever I am reading at the time! I just finished three historicals by Kim Vogel Sawyer, a wonderful author!

3. What are your favorite books? I love the Jan Karon books and other series set in small towns like several by Deb Raney.

4. Rose would you share with us your journey to publication? I wrote my first book and took it to the first ACFW conference almost 9 years ago. While there I learned how much I had to learn, so I went home and started studying, taking online classes and reading and writing. I've written four novels and started several others, but just got my first fiction contract last September, and the book comes out in September.

5. What advice do you have for an aspiring author? Join a group like ACFW, read lots of genres and writing books, and keep writing!

6. Have you ever explored interracial themes in your writing? I did have a book rejected once because the heroine was part Indian and the hero was white.

7. What are the keys to success for a writer? Perseverance and prayer.

8. Tell us about your future projects? I am almost ready to submit another anthology proposal with two other authors and then next month plan another proposal. I also have a women's fiction novel I plan to brainstorm with a couple writer friends. Too many ideas to ever stop writing!

    CHRISTMAS BELLES OF GEORGIA

SURPRISED BY LIFE -AND LOVE -AT CHRISTMAS

Four letters are mailed from Monticello, a small antebellum town in Georgia. Sisters once, now heirs to a historic plantation, each young women must come to terms with the circumstances of her birth...

When she learns in a letter she's adopted, Holly feels betrayed by her parents- and she books a flight out of Missouri immediately. Will she ever be able to love again?

Raised in a wealthy, loveless home, Carol rushes to Monticello from college in Atlanta when she receives her letter. She's searching for family, but finds instead a boy she once mistreated. Will he remember her?...forgive her?

In one year, Starr has lost her parents, boyfriend, and job, so she's sure her letter is more bad news. When the attorney flies to California to offer proof, Starr takes a second look-at the message and the man.    

Noelle always knew that she was adopted-and she always loved the foremen on her father's Texas ranch too. But he's so distant...perhaps a trip to Georgia is the break in life that she needs.

Will the sisters receive a traditional Christmas gift...of love.

WEDNESDAY'S WORD

On Wednesday's I am sharing with you a message that I preached either at the New Mine Creek Church located at 1525 Malmaison Road Blairs Va, http://www.facebook.com/newminecreek  or another place where I had the privilege of preaching God's Word. I pray that today's Word will give you focus and faith to believe God for the impossible in your life.

Romans 10;17, "FAITH COMES BY HEARING THE WORD OF GOD." What you believe is what you speak. What you speak is what you experience.

JEREMIAH 33:3 "SHOW ME THE WAY"

Jeremiah was in prison for delivering an unpopular message to Zedekiah, the king of Judah. But God was in prison with Jeremiah. And God spoke to Jeremiah in that prison cell.

Sometimes God will come into our lives to deliver you from a bad situation and sometimes God will come to deliver you in a bad situation. Many times in life God will not take you out of a situation but rather He will give you His Word in the midst of that situation. I believe that's what God did for Jeremiah.

See what God did for Jeremiah:

1. God gave Jeremiah an invitation: "CALL ME." God is inviting Jeremiah to pray. Jeremiah is in an intense place. Jeremiah is in prison because of his ministry. And God invites Jeremiah to pray. The word call means to make a specific request for a specific response.

I love this principle of prayer: Pray specifically and expect what you pray for. When your situation is critical you need to pray for God's intervention in a specific way and watch God move on your behalf. 

2. God gave Jeremiah an assurance: "I WILL ANSWER YOU." God said to Jeremiah, when you call me Jeremiah I will reply to your petition. God's answer follows our initiative to call Him first. Rest assured that when you pray God will get back to you. If He doesn't get back to you right away wait for His call. Expect God to call you back.

3. God gave Jeremiah the method of His return call: "I WILL SHOW YOU GREAT AND MIGHTY THINGS WHICH YOU DON'T KNOW." God said to Jeremiah that when I answer you my answer is going to be what I show you. God said to Jeremiah that I'm going to give you a vision. I'm going to show you something that you've never seen before.

When God gives you a vision He shows you things that you've never experienced before. He shows you things that are beyond your current circumstances.

God shows you things that will exceed your current state of living. He shows you things that you have never done.

If you are at a crossroad in your life and you don't which way to go then ask God to show you the way. God loves showing the way that you should walk in and He loves leading us the way He knows is best for us.  You see another word for way is life. God shows you a vision so that you will know what kind of life He wants you to live.

God gives you the vision for your life and then God says this is the way to go and accomplish what I've shown you.   

When God shows you what you've never done before He wants you to do what you've never done before.

Make a decision in this brand new month to Ask God to show you the way, wait for His answer and see what He is showing you. And then DO IT! 

MEN MONDAY

Brother Your Vision is in front of you

Gen 1:29 "SEE I HAVE GIVEN YOU EVERY HERB THAT YIELDS SEED WHICH IS ON THE FACE OF OF ALL THE EARTH, AND EVERY TREE WHOSE FRUIT YIELDS SEED; TO YOU IT SHALL BE FOR FOOD." 

Genesis 13:14 "AND THE LORD SAID TO ABRAM, AFTER LOT HAD SEPARATED FROM HIM; LIFT YOUR EYES NOW AND LOOK FROM THE PLACE WHERE YOU ARE..."

You were born to accomplish and achieve. You were born to soar and dream. You were born to live your dreams. You were born to rise above schemes. You were born to see the impossible.

One of the the greatest gift that God gave to a man is the ability to see the invisible. Not just see things around you but the inner ability to see things that are not yet but can be. That's what a vision is. It is the ability to see tomorrow today. A vision is the fruit of your imagination. It is the blueprint of your future.

When I was a little boy, although I didn't know it at the time, I had a vision. I had a picture of my future that was formed in my imagination. I saw myself writing books, telling stories that would be read all over this country. And you know what? My vision came to pass in December 2009 when my first novel was released. And the vision continues through my writing blogs that are being read in countries all over the world. It continues through the short story I wrote last year that was published in an anthology that has been nominated for an award. And the vision that I had as a little boy continues  through the two books I'm currently writing. 

My vision is no longer in front of me. I'm living in it and the vision is enlarging my possibilities to do more.

Today I want to help you focus on your vision by giving you some keys that will help you to discover the vision that you were born to achieve. The keys that I will show you are composed as the word V.I.S.I.O.N. Each letter represents a key. They are:

V is for Value.

I is for Insight.

S is for Search.

I is for Inventory.

O is for Observation.

N is for Need.     

I know that these keys will help you to look ahead and see what is before. That's what Abraham did. In Genesis 13 God told Abraham to look from the place where he was. And when Abraham did what God said he saw his future and the future of generations of his descendants. That's what I want you to do today look from the place where you are and see the exciting future that God wants you to live. Your future starts with a vision. So here are the six keys to open the door to your vision.

1. Value: Your vision is determined by your values. Your values are a set of beliefs that you live by. Because I am a Christian my values are determined by the Word of God, and God's Word governs what I do and what I will not do. These values that I have adopted in my life has a great impact on what kind of stories and subjects that I write about. There are certain scenes and certain words that I will not use in my writing because of the values that determine my behavior. When you are looking for your vision you must first determine what is important to you and what will not change no matter what. Your vision will be discovered by what you value.

2. Insight: Having a vision is having a solution to your problem. Insight is being able to look within the problem and finding the answer. Your vision is the solution to your problem. 

The Wright brothers wanted better transportation and so they produced a flying machine.

Henry Ford hated life on his father's farm. He envisioned a machine that would get men off the farm into living more productive lives and so he produced the automobile.   

Mary Bethune was an educator but had no where to teach so she started a school in Central Florida for young women. She was a revolutionary educator who combined education with vocational training. Her school opened the doors for many young African-American women. Mary Bethune became a woman of great importance because of her vision. She was the only African American woman to attend the founding conference  of the United Nations as a delegate from the United States. 

These persons found their vision because they had insight. They each had a problem and they each found the solution to their problems.

3. Search: Your vision is a search for what is missing in your life. Look around you, what is missing? What are doing without? Look for what doesn't exist but could exist in your life. That's what your vision is, it is the thing that you are searching for that will complete something in your life. It could be a business, a book, an investment plan, a relationship. Look around and look within yourself to find your vision. Examine your heart and your imagination and discover what is that missing thing in your life. Your vision is inside of you. Search for it and you will find it.

4. Inventory: You have to do an inventory of what you need to do to accomplish your vision. Do you have all that you need to succeed? Is there something that you have to acquire to fulfill the vision?

Later after I had completed writing my novel my inventory lead me to find a team of editors to help me  sharpen my book.

Pay attention to what and who you need to assist you in making your vision take place. Don't be haphazard or disorganized. Take inventory of what this vision is going to cost you and then proceed to make it happen.

5. Observe: This key may sound like the key Search but it serves a different function. Observe what you are doing as you bring the vision forward. What happen to a lot of visionaries is they lose the big picture because they are so focused on the process. And then a lot of visionaries start to focus on ancillary issues that causes them to lose focus on the main thing. Observation means that you are carefully watching what you are doing and making sure that you are following the necessary steps to bring the vision to pass.

You have to also observe yourself. Are you losing interest? Are you losing passion? Are you ignoring important people or other obligations?

It's important that you don't lose everything as you pursue a new thing.

6. Need: Your vision addresses a need in some one's life. It is the missing component in the lives of other people. Your vision is the answer to your success and achievement that will help someone to have a different kind of life. Your vision is the answer for someone else. What the needs in your community? When you find a need and meet it you have found your vision. 

Bill Gates had a vision to put a computer in every home in America. That was the singular vision of his company for 25 years. His vision answered a need and made him one of the most significant person in world history in the 20th century. And one of the wealthiest.    

Your vision is really right in front of you. Not outside but in your heart. And when you find it and start walking in it it will lead you further than you are right now. And your life will change because you saw it and you were inspired to make it happen. Let this blog empower you to go forward and make things happen. You can contact me anytime if you need my help. My address is BERNARDBOULTON@YAHOO.COM.