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Want to Make the World a Better Place?

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Posted on August 27, 2008 @ 10:53 pm by admin 

Then follow Michelangelo’s advice - “Criticize by creating.”

If you don’t like the way something is done, change it! Do it better.  

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Principles for Sharing Your Faith

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Posted on August 27, 2008 @ 7:12 pm by admin 

Over the past several months, Dillon and I have been giving radio and TV interviews for Generation Hex, and one of the common questions we are asked is, ”So how do I share my faith with someone who doesn’t share the same beliefs?”

Here is what I’ve learned:

1. Listen first and talk later. Ask a person, “What’s your spiritual background?” or “Did you grow up going to church?” These questions are open-ended and unjudgmental.

2. Throw your legalism, stereotypes and misconceptions out the window. But hang onto your personal faith and your wisdom.

3. Don’t freak out at a person’s response to your questions. In today’s culture, it’s not that uncommon for a person to say, “I’m a witch,” “I’m a Rastafarian,” “I’m an atheist,” “I’m agnostic,” “I’m New Age,” “I’m no religion,” and so on. Heck, someone might even tell you that he has seven wives, or that she was a member of David Koresh’s compound in Waco. Everyone’s experiences are different. And each person’s story gives you clues into what makes that person tick.

4. Identify elements of that person’s experiences and spiritual beliefs and use those to build natural bridges for sharing your own faith. For example, most of the time, people will throw the door wide open for me by saying, “I’ve tried Buddhism, and that’s pretty interesting. And I spoke with a Jehovah’s witness once, and that sounded good, too. I think that there are many paths that lead to God. There’s no one way.” And THAT will easily allow you to share, “I understand. There are many ways that seem right, but do you know what the Bible says? “There’s a way that seems right unto a man, but the end thereof is the way of death.” But Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father but by Me.”

I’ll share more helpful principles in the days to come! Questions, comments, concerns about Generation Hex or anything you heard on one of our radio interviews? Please post a comment here.

 

     
  

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Gen Hex Interview on Prime Time America

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Posted on August 24, 2008 @ 8:35 am by admin 

      Today, Dillon and I gave an interview on our new book, Generation Hex, for Prime Time America on the Moody Broadcasting Network (WMBI in Chicago, 90.1 FM). The interviews will air for 2-3 days at the very end of October during the 4 p.m. Prime Time America show. At that time, you will be able to simply click on this link: http://www.moodyradio.org/brd_ProgramToday.aspx?id=11694 and then click on “Listen Live.” Thank you for your support!

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It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like… Halloween

Filed Under Children, Communication, Faith and Values, Family and Friends, Generation Hex, Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference, Resources, Stress and Conflict, Success, Time, Writing Inspiration
Posted on August 22, 2008 @ 6:26 pm by admin 

The other day at Barnes & Noble, I noticed a new table set up with a sign reading “For Teens.” At least 80 percent of the books on that table were related to dark fantasy, witchcraft, Wicca or the occult. They included the four titles from Stephenie Meyer’s bestselling series, Twilight, as well as dozens of other books. Some of these series were even geared toward children and tweens, including Sarah Mlynowski’s Magic in Manhattan Series, including books with titles like Bras & Broomsticks, Frogs & French Kisses, Spells & Sleeping Bags, and Parties & Potions.

Let’s face it: witchcraft has become an extremely influential element of our culture.
Let’s say you were to strike up a friendly chat with a stranger at the mall, at your child’s soccer game, or at a restaurant. If that person said that he or she was a Wiccan, would you know:

     -What Wicca is?
     -What Wiccans believe and practice?
     -How popular and widespread Wicca has become?
     -Why our culture says that witchcraft is “harmless,” and how that viewpoint is skewed?
     -What the premise is of the Harry Potter books, Charmed, Buffy, and Sabrina?
     -How to share your faith with  a Wiccan or a pagan?
     -How to converse intelligently with a pagan without stereotyping him or her?

You know, before I began researching Wicca, interviewing pagans, and writing the book Generation Hex, I didn’t know the answers to all of these questions, either. But now I do! And I want you, my readers, to discover what I did about Wicca and to be equipped with the truth. Check out Gen Hex on www.Amazon.com now! It just may be the best six bucks you’ve ever spent!

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Want to Buzz Your Book?

Filed Under Communication, Faith and Values, Family and Friends, Generation Hex, Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference, Resources, Success, Time, Writing Inspiration, flow
Posted on August 22, 2008 @ 1:32 pm by admin 

Trying to create a BIG BUZZ for your book? If you are an author or media person working hard to market your book, check out the following incredible marketing resources:

 

      The best I’ve found is From Book to Bestseller by Penny Sansevieri. It contains fantastic, fresh ideas and also contains the addresses and phone numbers of tons of marketing venues, reviewers, and more. For me as an author, this book has been invaluable. NOTE: Be sure to double-check addresses, editor names, name spellings, etc. The most recent issue of the book was released in 2005.   
 
      Penny also has a book called Red Hot Internet Publicity that I have not bought yet, but plan to. If it’s anything like the previous book, it’s a must-have for every author.  
     
      Also check out Beyond the Bookstore by Brian Jud. It’s about $25 on Amazon, and worth every penny.
     
      I also enjoyed the book The Making of a Bestseller by Brian Hill and Dee Power. This is an intriguing book featuring interviews with the industry’s bestselling authors, editors, publishers, and others in the business. Very helpful.
 
      Also check out Jacqueline Duval’s Publicize Your Book. It’s similar to Sansevieri’s book.
 
      Also see Dallas news reporter Jeff Crilley’s awesome book, Free Publicity. It contains great ideas for getting your book and your business or ministry featured on TV, radio, and in print media.
     
      Will Work from Home is a great new bestseller that gives useful business and marketing tips for any writer/freelancer who works from home.
  
      Got more suggestions for me? Please post them below. Thanks so much!  

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Write a Review, Win a Gift Card!

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Posted on August 21, 2008 @ 10:16 pm by admin 

Welcome to Leap of Faith! We are currently featuring a FREE $25 Starbucks gift card giveaway. Anyone who posts an AWESOME review of Generation Hex for us will be entered into the drawing to win the gift card! If you purchase a copy of Marla and Dillon’s new book Generation Hex and post a review on www.amazon.com, www.barnesandnoble.com, or another retailer’s website, we will enter you to win. I know that all of you faithful readers love to curl up at Starbucks with a great book and a grande latte! I sure do, especially on a rainy day.

 

Here’s the Amazon link to purchase the book: http://www.amazon.com/Generation-Hex-Understanding-Subtle-Dangers/dp/0736924019/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1217798029&sr=1-2

 

We appreciate your support and we look forward to receiving your feedback about the book! Thank you.   

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Quotes to Change Your Life

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Posted on August 18, 2008 @ 7:11 pm by admin 

… one tidbit at a time.

 

Here’s one: Opportunity dances with those already on the dance floor.

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Big News: Harry Potter Movie #6 Moved to Next Summer

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Posted on August 18, 2008 @ 2:22 pm by admin 

      Just found this out yesterday: The sixth Harry Potter movie, which was set to release on November 21, 2008, has been moved to next summer. It will release on July 17, 2009. That’s a huge decision for the studio to make! 
      In place of Harry Potter, on November 21, 2008, we will witness the release of the first movie based on Stephenie Meyer’s bestselling Twilight book series. The movie is called “Twilight” and is based on the teen vampire romance novel of the same name. Expect LOTS of interest and buzz surrounding the releases of both of these movies.
      NOTE: The Twilight series is not directly related to Wicca itself, though it does contain references to vampires.
      If you haven’t purchased Gen Hex yet, snap up a copy and read up on the trend of witchcraft before these influential movies come out! Here’s the link to buy the book on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Generation-Hex-Understanding-Subtle-Dangers/dp/0736924019/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1219083894&sr=8-1  

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Gen Hex Interviews… Listen Live Online!

Filed Under Generation Hex, Resources, Writing Inspiration
Posted on August 16, 2008 @ 4:24 pm by admin 

   Dillon and I have an interview tonight night at 8 p.m. central time on Raw Talk in Albuquerque.
   Please listen in online! Here are the next four interview times.
  
   Note: After the interviews are completed, you can listen to them on podcast on the sites listed below.   

 

   Sunday, Aug. 17
   8-9 p.m. CT
   Raw Talk
   M88, Albuquerque, NM - Go online to http://www.m88.org/rawtalk.asp and click on “Listen Now.” 
 
   Monday, Aug. 18 
   5-6 p.m. CT
   Life Today Radio
   KGFT, Southern Colorado - Go online to http://www.kgftradio.com and click on “Listen Live.”
  
   Friday, Aug. 22
   10-11 a.m. CT
   The Matter at Hand
   WGRC, Lewisburg, PA - Go online to http://www.wgrc.com/wgrc-christian-radio-programs.htm and click on “Listen Live.”
  
   Monday, Aug. 25
   9:30-10:30 a.m. CT
   Prime Time America, Moody Broadcasting Network
   WMBI, 90.1FM, Chicago, IL - Go online to http://www.moodyradio.org and click on “Listen Live.” After the interview, click on “Podcasts” to listen to the interview.

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NEW Free Books for August!

Filed Under Children, Communication, Faith and Values, Family and Friends, Generation Hex, Resources, Success, Writing Inspiration, flow
Posted on August 8, 2008 @ 9:55 pm by admin 

Well, my quirky and fun English teacher from Sarah Scott Junior High School, Mrs. Everly, would be telling me “You’re a day late and a dollar short” right now. I’m a bit late (like a week) announcing the FREE books that we are giving away this month on Leap of Faith. But it’s worth the wait!

 

This month’s FREE books are:

 

-The Shack by William P. Young

-150 Ways to Raise Creative, Confident Kids by Silvana Clark

-Walk with Me Today, Lord: Inspiring Devotions for Women by Emilie Barnes

-What Can Be Found in LOST by John Ankerberg and Dillon Burroughs 

 

Want to enter the drawing? Simply e-mail me at marla_alupoaicei@yahoo.com and let me know which book you want to win, or post a comment below. I will put the names for each book into a bowl and draw the winners on Aug. 31. If you are a winner, I’ll contact you personally, and I will also post the results here on Leap of Faith.

 

For every person you direct to Leap of Faith to enter the contest, you will receive one extra entry to the drawing for the book of your choice. So send ’em on over here, folks! Blessings, and enjoy the books!  

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