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I hope to write books that inspire, lead to introspection and move each reader. I want to stir you up but leave you with a good feeling when you're done. I'd like to paint a fantasy world that gives you something to help face reality. I'd like to leave you wanting more, not for my sake (profit) but for yours.
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From Ambassador International's Facebook page:
Welcome, Allen Steadham! We are excited to be publishing not one, but FOUR of Allen's books starting with "Mindfire" in spring 2019. What is "Mindfire"?
Twenty-year-old Leia Hamilton discovers that she can move things—and set them on fire—with her mind, a result of her father being a former superhero and her mother, the deadliest of supervillains. But unlike other superhero-related novels, the focus in "Mindfire" isn't on secret identities, costumes, or evil plots endangering the world.
Instead, the female protagonist's self-discovery and adaptation to her circumstances take precedence. This novel is also a psychological thriller, delving into mystery, alive with action, unafraid to show love and explore spirituality. But at its heart, "Mindfire" pulls readers into a diverse world of human and superhuman heroes and villains, unapologetically revealing who they are and why none of them are perfect.
#comingspring2019 #readgoodbooks#Christianfiction
Welcome, Allen Steadham! We are excited to be publishing not one, but FOUR of Allen's books starting with "Mindfire" in spring 2019. What is "Mindfire"?
Twenty-year-old Leia Hamilton discovers that she can move things—and set them on fire—with her mind, a result of her father being a former superhero and her mother, the deadliest of supervillains. But unlike other superhero-related novels, the focus in "Mindfire" isn't on secret identities, costumes, or evil plots endangering the world.
Instead, the female protagonist's self-discovery and adaptation to her circumstances take precedence. This novel is also a psychological thriller, delving into mystery, alive with action, unafraid to show love and explore spirituality. But at its heart, "Mindfire" pulls readers into a diverse world of human and superhuman heroes and villains, unapologetically revealing who they are and why none of them are perfect.
#comingspring2019 #readgoodbooks#Christianfiction
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For the last several years, I’ve wanted to get better about using God’s Word in my life. It’s more than just wanting to know Bible verses. It goes deeper than being able to apply Scripture to life’s trials and temptations.
Deep within me, I want to be able to take Scripture and use it — to fight life’s battles, to stand firm in chaos, to deflect and defeat the enemy’s schemes, to encourage and embolden friends and family members.
I want to see it’s real, practical, powerful effects and confidently know that Heaven went to work for my benefit. I crave the ability to expertly handle Scripture the way Yoda wields a light saber or Thor throws his hammer.
With all of this in my heart, I looked forward to reading Lisa Bevere’s book Girls with Swords.
Girls with Swords:
Description from Amazon
When women understand how God has empowered them, they can “wield the sword” of feminine strength against any evil that threatens them and those they love.
What if you discovered you have been entrusted with an invisible, invincible, and incorruptible weapon? Would you use it?
In a day of worldwide trafficking, gendercide, discrimination, and other hostility against women, Lisa Bevere points to a biblical foundation to present a model of feminine strength that will empower women to live confidently. Drawing on the many references to swords throughout Scripture, the author constructs a revealing and compelling female paradigm that will impact every area of a woman’s self identity, spiritual awareness, relationships, and life vision and mission. Long known for her passionate and articulate expression of biblical womanhood, Bevere presents fresh imagery — as enticing and strong as polished steel — to prepare women boldly for the challenges they face in today’s world. It’s not enough to just be wise and strong: Now a woman must know how to wield her sword.
Creatively forging the imagery of swords, the Word of God, and the Cross, Girls with Swords will teach you:
• How to speak the language of heaven on earth
• What it means to intercede
• What it means to carry your cross
• What it means to be discerning
• How to disarm the enemy
• Why women are the enemy’s target — and why God needs them to be heroes
It’s time to take up your sword and be a hero.
My Thoughts about the Book
I’m a visual person, so I loved the analogy of the sword woven throughout this book. I could picture my enemy coming toward me and feel that moment of hesitation as I decide whether to stand or run. The fencing facts sprinkled through the text strengthened these images I’d formed, and I easily translated them into lessons I needed to remember. And the image of the cross as a sword buried deep in the earth filled me with hope and determination to finish the path God’s laid out before me like no other.
Lisa Bevere uses Scripture and personal stories to drive her points home. She lovingly but firmly shares the truths we all need to grasp. She boldly relates that God equips us with everything we need to thrive on this earth and the spiritual battlefields of life. It’s our choice whether or not we partake of His training and His blessings.
The Bottom Line - 5 Stars
This book both encouraged and challenged me. I feel more emboldened, yet I still want to know more and do more. I’m grateful for the author’s words and aim to put many of the things she talks about into practice.
About the Author
Lisa Bevere’s authentic, passionate, and hilarious approach weaves profound biblical truths with practical application. Her books—which include Fight Like a Girl, Lioness Arising, and Girls with Swords—are in the hands of millions worldwide. Lisa and her husband, John, are best-selling authors and the founders of Messenger International. She is a grandmother and Sicilian mother of four sons.
DISCLOSURE: I purchased this book for the purposes of reading with my small group. The opinions expressed are my own and were not influenced by the author or publisher. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
This review originally appeared on the author's website at http://carriedaws.com
It was reproduced here with permission from the author.
Deep within me, I want to be able to take Scripture and use it — to fight life’s battles, to stand firm in chaos, to deflect and defeat the enemy’s schemes, to encourage and embolden friends and family members.
I want to see it’s real, practical, powerful effects and confidently know that Heaven went to work for my benefit. I crave the ability to expertly handle Scripture the way Yoda wields a light saber or Thor throws his hammer.
With all of this in my heart, I looked forward to reading Lisa Bevere’s book Girls with Swords.
- "We do not live by the violence of a sword, but the time has come to live by the power of one." - Lisa Bevere, Girls with Swords
Girls with Swords:
Description from Amazon
When women understand how God has empowered them, they can “wield the sword” of feminine strength against any evil that threatens them and those they love.
What if you discovered you have been entrusted with an invisible, invincible, and incorruptible weapon? Would you use it?
In a day of worldwide trafficking, gendercide, discrimination, and other hostility against women, Lisa Bevere points to a biblical foundation to present a model of feminine strength that will empower women to live confidently. Drawing on the many references to swords throughout Scripture, the author constructs a revealing and compelling female paradigm that will impact every area of a woman’s self identity, spiritual awareness, relationships, and life vision and mission. Long known for her passionate and articulate expression of biblical womanhood, Bevere presents fresh imagery — as enticing and strong as polished steel — to prepare women boldly for the challenges they face in today’s world. It’s not enough to just be wise and strong: Now a woman must know how to wield her sword.
Creatively forging the imagery of swords, the Word of God, and the Cross, Girls with Swords will teach you:
• How to speak the language of heaven on earth
• What it means to intercede
• What it means to carry your cross
• What it means to be discerning
• How to disarm the enemy
• Why women are the enemy’s target — and why God needs them to be heroes
It’s time to take up your sword and be a hero.
My Thoughts about the Book
I’m a visual person, so I loved the analogy of the sword woven throughout this book. I could picture my enemy coming toward me and feel that moment of hesitation as I decide whether to stand or run. The fencing facts sprinkled through the text strengthened these images I’d formed, and I easily translated them into lessons I needed to remember. And the image of the cross as a sword buried deep in the earth filled me with hope and determination to finish the path God’s laid out before me like no other.
Lisa Bevere uses Scripture and personal stories to drive her points home. She lovingly but firmly shares the truths we all need to grasp. She boldly relates that God equips us with everything we need to thrive on this earth and the spiritual battlefields of life. It’s our choice whether or not we partake of His training and His blessings.
The Bottom Line - 5 Stars
- "If you dare to dream, you must be brave enough to fight." -Lisa Bevere, Girls with Swords
This book both encouraged and challenged me. I feel more emboldened, yet I still want to know more and do more. I’m grateful for the author’s words and aim to put many of the things she talks about into practice.
- "There is no need to count the enemy when you have a revelation of who fights with you!" -Lisa Bevere, Girls with Swords
About the Author
Lisa Bevere’s authentic, passionate, and hilarious approach weaves profound biblical truths with practical application. Her books—which include Fight Like a Girl, Lioness Arising, and Girls with Swords—are in the hands of millions worldwide. Lisa and her husband, John, are best-selling authors and the founders of Messenger International. She is a grandmother and Sicilian mother of four sons.
DISCLOSURE: I purchased this book for the purposes of reading with my small group. The opinions expressed are my own and were not influenced by the author or publisher. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
This review originally appeared on the author's website at http://carriedaws.com
It was reproduced here with permission from the author.
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I'm sorry I haven't been able to update in the last week. In a sense, the bad news is kind of good news, too. I have been busy doing revisions and edits on MINDFIRE. And after I finish that, I'll be doing second round revisions and edits on JORDAN'S WORLD. So, I will be busy for a little while.
However, I will be featuring some guest posts from some of my fellow authors at Ambassador International starting this week.
Stay tuned!
However, I will be featuring some guest posts from some of my fellow authors at Ambassador International starting this week.
Stay tuned!
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In 2003, I collaborated with my wife, Angel, to make a webcomic with a Christian story. The result was "Due East." It focused on a multiracial family trying to come back together after a divorce.
Chinese-American and Caucasian Doug Hu was married to African-American Crystal Mills. They had two daughters, Sapphira and Brielle. Work pressures fractured and ultimately broke the marriage apart. Doug moved to Canada for his job and Sapphira went with him. Crystal stayed in Texas with Brielle and started her own insurance business.
Six years have passed but Doug and Crystal stayed in touch concerning their children. Over time, they lost their bitterness towards one another and fell in love again. At the start of the webcomic, Doug arranges to move back to Texas and 21-year-old Sapphira reluctantly agrees to accompany her father.
In Texas, 16-year-old Brielle has become best friends with Carolyn Maye. Like Brielle, Carolyn is mixed (Hispanic and Caucasian). Carolyn is also a Christian. Brielle has seen the ordeals that led Carolyn to give her life to Jesus Christ but has made no spiritual decisions for herself. Brielle has conflicted feelings about her sister's return and is now hostile towards her father.
One event happens early on that affects every character in the webcomic: a thunderstorm injures and nearly kills Brielle but a miracle happens that allows the teen to survive. It's a mystery to Brielle, one that she needs answers to in order to recover mentally and spiritually. It is just as important to her as trying to recover physically.
Due East had a popular run from 2007 to 2008. It was even voted "Best Spiritual Comic" and "Most Profound Comic" in 2008 by the community at The Duck Webcomics.
Due East is still available online. You can read it from the beginning at this link.
Chinese-American and Caucasian Doug Hu was married to African-American Crystal Mills. They had two daughters, Sapphira and Brielle. Work pressures fractured and ultimately broke the marriage apart. Doug moved to Canada for his job and Sapphira went with him. Crystal stayed in Texas with Brielle and started her own insurance business.
Six years have passed but Doug and Crystal stayed in touch concerning their children. Over time, they lost their bitterness towards one another and fell in love again. At the start of the webcomic, Doug arranges to move back to Texas and 21-year-old Sapphira reluctantly agrees to accompany her father.
In Texas, 16-year-old Brielle has become best friends with Carolyn Maye. Like Brielle, Carolyn is mixed (Hispanic and Caucasian). Carolyn is also a Christian. Brielle has seen the ordeals that led Carolyn to give her life to Jesus Christ but has made no spiritual decisions for herself. Brielle has conflicted feelings about her sister's return and is now hostile towards her father.
One event happens early on that affects every character in the webcomic: a thunderstorm injures and nearly kills Brielle but a miracle happens that allows the teen to survive. It's a mystery to Brielle, one that she needs answers to in order to recover mentally and spiritually. It is just as important to her as trying to recover physically.
Due East had a popular run from 2007 to 2008. It was even voted "Best Spiritual Comic" and "Most Profound Comic" in 2008 by the community at The Duck Webcomics.
Due East is still available online. You can read it from the beginning at this link.
- Published on
- Published on
I will be one of the hosts in the "Summer Fiction Blast!" online event by Ambassador International (AI) the week of Tuesday, July 24th through Saturday, July 28th. I'm planning to do a Facebook live video on July 24 to help kick off the event. Other AI authors will be participating throughout the week.
So, Tuesday July 24, I will be talking about my books "Jordan's World" and "Mindfire," both due out Summer 2019! I'll give another update next week. I'd love to see you there!
Event link:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1759088137541035
I have also added this to my "Upcoming Events" page.
So, Tuesday July 24, I will be talking about my books "Jordan's World" and "Mindfire," both due out Summer 2019! I'll give another update next week. I'd love to see you there!
Event link:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1759088137541035
I have also added this to my "Upcoming Events" page.
- Published on
There are no major updates or WIP excerpts this week. I'm trying to finish up first-round revisions on "Jordan's World." Things are going well but it is time consuming.
I should have something next week. Thanks for your patience and understanding.
I should have something next week. Thanks for your patience and understanding.
- Published on
A week ago, I joined almost forty other brothers in Christ from my church, including my pastor, on a trip to an island near Galveston, Texas. We had carpooled together in a half-dozen large trucks. After we arrived, we stayed in two houses built on stilts, both within sight of Crystal Beach.
We must have appeared unique: a group of dozens of males who were African-American, Caucasian, Hispanic and various mixtures of the same, ranging in age from teenagers to seventy-ish-year-olds. Many came to fish, others to relax but everyone wanted to socialize with each other.
Actually, that was the whole point. Our pastor wanted as many men as possible from the church to have opportunity to spend time together, away from the distractions of day-to-day life or the responsibilities of their varying roles in the ministry. It was a chance to get to know each other better, to share experiences and testimonies. We got to see a different side of each other outside of church. It was nice to just be wearing t-shirts, jeans, tennis shoes and baseball caps.
We shopped for groceries in small groups and purchased ingredients to make our own food. That not only ended up saving a lot of money (from not paying to eat out) but also made for some tasty meals. As an extra bonus, we did a lot of talking while preparing and eating those meals.
I woke up at 5:00 am every morning. The first morning, it wasn’t intentional. A group of the brothers got up early to take the ferry to the mainland to catch a boat and go fishing. I decided to go ahead and get up and I didn’t regret it. The pre-sunrise morning light was extraordinary over the gulf waters and beach. A couple of brothers joined me on the deck and we had wonderful spiritual discussions.
It was such a peaceful environment, with the mild morning air, beautiful colors in the sky and the sea breeze. It was kind, safe and reassuring. It felt like a smile from the Lord. It felt good to be up for the sunrise. Even though it was cloudy the last day we were there, the clouds and breeze were still magnificent enough to take pictures and video with my phone. I was glad we had enough of an internet connection to allow me to post those to social media. (I am still a computer geek after all.)
I had so many conversations with so many different brothers, at all hours of the day. It reminded me of the trust we have with each other. I learned so much and shared an equal amount. It was very cathartic.
Now, throughout this article, I’ve been calling these men my "brothers." That's not only because we are brothers in Christ -- changed by His Love, the gift of salvation and the presence of His Holy Spirit in our hearts -- but because they are as close as family to me. I do not have a biological brother, but I have many brothers in the Lord. There’s something special in that kind of bond. Just like in biological families, none of us are perfect, we make mistakes and sometimes have misunderstandings. But it is easy to forgive and move on. And in doing so, our Father in Heaven will forgive us.
Hebrews 10: 23 - 25 (KJV)
Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Our pastor reminded us that “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together” is not only about attending church; it is also about maintaining fellowship outside of church.
When we left to return home, everyone seemed satisfied. We had taken a brief vacation from our regular lives and were returning a little stronger than before.
This group had meant to share each other’s company and friendship. But there was an unexpected benefit to us all: at the same time we had been fellowshipping with one another, we had shared the company and friendship of our Lord and Savior. In doing so, we experienced the Love of God.
We must have appeared unique: a group of dozens of males who were African-American, Caucasian, Hispanic and various mixtures of the same, ranging in age from teenagers to seventy-ish-year-olds. Many came to fish, others to relax but everyone wanted to socialize with each other.
Actually, that was the whole point. Our pastor wanted as many men as possible from the church to have opportunity to spend time together, away from the distractions of day-to-day life or the responsibilities of their varying roles in the ministry. It was a chance to get to know each other better, to share experiences and testimonies. We got to see a different side of each other outside of church. It was nice to just be wearing t-shirts, jeans, tennis shoes and baseball caps.
We shopped for groceries in small groups and purchased ingredients to make our own food. That not only ended up saving a lot of money (from not paying to eat out) but also made for some tasty meals. As an extra bonus, we did a lot of talking while preparing and eating those meals.
I woke up at 5:00 am every morning. The first morning, it wasn’t intentional. A group of the brothers got up early to take the ferry to the mainland to catch a boat and go fishing. I decided to go ahead and get up and I didn’t regret it. The pre-sunrise morning light was extraordinary over the gulf waters and beach. A couple of brothers joined me on the deck and we had wonderful spiritual discussions.
It was such a peaceful environment, with the mild morning air, beautiful colors in the sky and the sea breeze. It was kind, safe and reassuring. It felt like a smile from the Lord. It felt good to be up for the sunrise. Even though it was cloudy the last day we were there, the clouds and breeze were still magnificent enough to take pictures and video with my phone. I was glad we had enough of an internet connection to allow me to post those to social media. (I am still a computer geek after all.)
I had so many conversations with so many different brothers, at all hours of the day. It reminded me of the trust we have with each other. I learned so much and shared an equal amount. It was very cathartic.
Now, throughout this article, I’ve been calling these men my "brothers." That's not only because we are brothers in Christ -- changed by His Love, the gift of salvation and the presence of His Holy Spirit in our hearts -- but because they are as close as family to me. I do not have a biological brother, but I have many brothers in the Lord. There’s something special in that kind of bond. Just like in biological families, none of us are perfect, we make mistakes and sometimes have misunderstandings. But it is easy to forgive and move on. And in doing so, our Father in Heaven will forgive us.
Hebrews 10: 23 - 25 (KJV)
Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Our pastor reminded us that “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together” is not only about attending church; it is also about maintaining fellowship outside of church.
When we left to return home, everyone seemed satisfied. We had taken a brief vacation from our regular lives and were returning a little stronger than before.
This group had meant to share each other’s company and friendship. But there was an unexpected benefit to us all: at the same time we had been fellowshipping with one another, we had shared the company and friendship of our Lord and Savior. In doing so, we experienced the Love of God.
About the author
Allen Steadham is a nondenominational Christian. Happily interracially married since 1995 and the proud father of two sons and a daughter. He and his wife have been in the same Christian band since 1997. He plays electric bass, she plays strings, they both sing. It's all good.
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