A Step in the Write Direction--December 15, 2014--Teaching Others How to Live

A Step in the Write Direction

December 15, 2014

Update: Husband Gary was in the hospital again this week—from Thursday to Sunday afternoon. Thursday morning I said to him, “I have the next three days completely free. Time for some heavy housecleaning.” Right! First his hands started shaking, then he had chest pains. This time they admitted him with high potassium, low magnesium, enlarged prostate, and bladder problems. So tomorrow we have to make appointments with four different doctors—his primary care doctor and three specialists. I can’t say how thankful I am for our three children and also our son-in-law who came over and shampooed our carpet Saturday….Still collecting stories, prayers, and devotionals for caregiver book. Email me at dgood648@aol.com if you want to see the complete table of contents….Each year I try to use a different format for our Christmas letter: poetry, anacrostics, Scripture verses, TV show titles, and people say they look forward to receiving it. This year I had the Goodrich TV Channel 2014. For those receiving this blog via email, it’s attached if you want to read it. Others can email me and I'll send it.

Thought for Today

“When we remember our special meals, it is seldom the food. It’s the love behind the food. Whether it had two sticks of warm butter or three sticks of crisp celery, heavy cream or Cream of Wheat, what we remember is that someone loved us enough to cook for us and that there was a place for us at the table.” (Lillian Daniel, pastor, Glen Ellyn, IL in Journal for Preachers, Advent, 2014, 23.)

Laugh for Today: (source unknown)

DO YOU KNOW YOUR HYMNS?

Dentist's Hymn.................................... Crown Him with Many Crowns
Weatherman's Hymn........................... There Shall Be Showers of Blessings
Contractor's Hymn...............................The Church is One Foundation
The Tailor's Hymn...............................  Holy, Holy, Holy
The Golfer's Hymn................................There's a Green Hill Far Away
The Politician's Hymn.......................... Standing on the Promises!
Optometrist's Hymn............................. Open My Eyes That I Might See
The IRS Agent's Hymn........................  I Surrender All
The Gossip's Hymn...............................Pass It On
The Electrician's Hymn........................ Send The Light
The Shopper's Hymn............................Sweet Bye and Bye
The Realtor's Hymn.............................. I've Got a Mansion, Just  Over  the Hilltop
The Massage Therapists Hymn........... He Touched Me
The Doctor's Hymn...............................The Great Physician

AND for those who speed on the highway - a few hymns:
55 mph .......................... God Will Take Care of You
75 mph .......................... Nearer My God To Thee
85 mph .......................... This World Is Not My Home
95 mph .......................... Lord, I'm Coming Home
100 mph ...................... . Precious Memories

Song for Today:

We rejoice in the light, And we echo the song

That comes down thro’ the night From the heavenly throng.

Ay! we shout to the lovely evangel they bring,

And we greet in His cradle our Saviour and King!

            “There’s a Song in the Air,” Josiah G. Holland

Writer’s Tips:

Chaim Potok was an intensely religious man; a Jew who explored the dimensions of faith in our lives. From an early age, Potok knew he wanted to be a writer. But his mother wasn't so sure. When he went away to college she said, "Son, now I know you want to be a writer. But I want you to think about brain surgery. You'll keep a lot of people from dying. And you'll make a lot of money." To which Potok responded, "No, Mama, I want to be a writer."

But "No" is not what Mama wanted to hear. So, every vacation break for four years she would repeat her comments about his becoming a brain surgeon and keeping people from dying and making a lot of money, and always his response was the same. Finally the son had enough, and, when the same mantra began, he cut off his mother with exasperation, and with great passion he told his mother, "Mama, I don't want to keep people from dying, I want to show them how to live. (sermons@clergy.net, 12/14/14)

Have a good week spreading the

gospel through the printed page.

Donna Clark Goodrich

dgood648@aol.com

www.thewritersfriend.net

http://donna-goodrich.blogspot.com

·           A Step in the Write Direction—the Complete How-to Guide for Christian Writers (with assignments throughout); original copies now on sale for half-price--$12.50, $3.17 s&h)

·          The Freedom of Letting Go (with discussion questions; can be used in S.S. class or small group); original copies without questions now on sale for half-price--$7.50, $2.69 s&h)

·          Healing in God’s Time (story of Dave Clark, songwriter of 25 songs that have gone to #1 on the charts); was $15; now $10, $2.69 s&h)

·          The Little Book of Big Laughs (105 purse/pocket-size book of clean jokes); up to 4 for same s&h--$2.32

·          Preparing Your Heart for Christmas (31 Advent Devotions) half-price - $5

·          Michigan and Ohio Cookbooks; half-price $5 each, plus s&h (depending on number ordered)

·          100-Plus Motivational Moments for Writers and Speakers – half-price $5, $2.69 s&h

·          Grandmother, Mother, and Me Anthology (stories, poetry, and recipes);

·          Grandfather, Father, and Me Anthology (stories, poetry, and recipes)

·          Celebrating Christmas with…Memories, Poetry, and Good Food

(above three anthologies now half price--$12.50, $3.17 s&h)