Disappointments that Matter

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My husband and I spent February driving to and from Florida, away from New England cold. A strong motivator for this trip was the relatively new Museum of the Bible in DC. Great reviews, and I badly wanted to experience it. Had it all planned out, down to the purchase of a parking slot—# 14 on G Street, near the museum. The museum hours were 10:00 to 4:00, so we left our hotel with plenty of time for the half-hour trip. As we drove, tension crawled up my neck. Why was the GPS taking us in the wrong direction? I…

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Books Influence Life

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Two books (beside the Bible) have had enormous influence on my spiritual life. One is an unlikely source, about a ministry to gang homies, that is laced with profanity—Tattoos on the Heart by Gregory Boyle. G (as he’s called) interacts with Scrappy, who begins to see the worthlessness of his life. Scrappy says, “I have spent the last twenty years building a reputation for myself . . . and now . . . I regret . . . that I even have one.” Father G comments, “Scrappy discovered, as Scripture has it, ‘that where he is standing is holy ground.’…

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A Chat with Author Eleanor Gustafson

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Greetings from Sarah Sundin in California! Today I have the joy of interviewing novelist Eleanor Gustafson. She’s built houses, made her own maple syrup, and she plays with “word plants.” I think you’ll enjoy what Ellie has to share! Ellie, tell us about your book. An Unpresentable Glory is a many-dimensioned love story. A stranger, more dead than alive, shows up in Linda’s garden. She cares for him and only later learns who he really is. Some fascinating story elements are woven together in this complex tapestry that blazons the glory of God.

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First Christian Nation

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What country was the first Christian nation? I couldn’t have told you, either, until I read about St. Gregory the Illuminator. Gregory was born in Armenia, and following a Christian upbringing, he returned to Armenia, where the king appointed him secretary. After a major military victory, the king instructed Gregory to lay wreaths and laurels in a pagan temple as thanks to the gods. The young man refused. The king was ticked. “If you don’t worship the idols, I’ll have to kill you.” Gregory stood his ground. “I believe in Jesus and can’t worship anyone but the Lord God.” Furious,…

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Tips from the Pros: Ellie Gustafson

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An interview with Eleanor Gustafson and Marti Pieper Welcome back to the CAN blog, Ellie. How many books do you have published? What are a few of your latest titles? I have five published novels. The ones still in print are The Stones: A Novel of the Life of King David and Dynamo. I checked out your website, and both books sound intriguing. Ellie, you were last featured on the CAN blog in 2012. What are the chief lessons you’ve learned about the writing life since then? There’s far more to publishing books than just writing them. That’s the easy…

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Tips from the Pros: Eleanor Gustafson

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Greetings from Sarah Sundin! Today I have the honor of interviewing Eleanor Gustafson, who has been published in fiction and non-fiction since 1978! Ellie recently had the book of her heart published, The Stones: A Novel of the Life of King David, which has an accompanying study guide, the perfect blend of her fiction and non-fiction background. Ellie, how did you get into writing? How many do you have published? As a child, I loved stories and read myself into needing glasses, then began making up stories in my head. When I finally started writing them down, my mother and…

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