Christian Author Donna Fawcett/Dawson

Bee is awfully fond of her own words. Duke and I were watching her clack away at the keyboard when he made this grand pronouncement.

"What do you mean by that?" I was pretty sure I knew but thought I'd better be sure before responding.

She won't let go of anything in her writing. She thinks that every single word is irreplaceable. Whole sentences need changing and she just can't bear to do that. And she keeps saying things like 'But I like them'.

I know exactly what Dukie is barking about. There are far too many writers out there who are convinced that their words are directly from God--mistakes and all--and won't even consider having them massaged. It all goes back to that edit again. God is not a God of mistakes so I'm pretty sure that if the manuscript has mistakes in it those mistakes aren't there because of Him. No. Often it is because we writers are too afraid to have them removed. We somehow think that if our writing has flaws, we must have flaws as well. Ah...duh! Of course we do. It's called the human--or, in Duke and Bee's cases, canine--condition. We are fallible which means our work inevitably will be fallible. It's why the Bible is so remarkable. The fact that God used so many fallible people to write a text that shows no signs of fallibility is truly miraculous. But I'm not one of those people and Duke recognizes he isn't one of those dogs--not that he would imply that dogs had the privilege of partaking in the writing of scripture.

I can guarantee that Bee's writing isn't 'complete divine inspiration from above' unless 'above' means the squirrel chattering from the tree branches above her dog house. I'm pretty sure there's no divinity to be found there. So what makes a writer cling to their words--aside from the fear of being flawed? Pride. Stubbornness. Sometimes an unconscious desire to sabotage our work. There are many reasons but the bottom line remains the same: If we truly want to write professionally and effectively, we need to--as Duke puts it--get over ourselves, listen to those who are trying to help us along in the literary journey and make those corrections.

"So Duke...do you want to talk to Bee or shall I?"

I have just received the most incredulous look which I can only translate as: Are you kidding? I have no desire to be a chew toy.

I have to admit that a large part of what makes this country tick is due to media reporting.  How many of us rely on the local news for our dose of truth?  But what if it isn't always true?  And so, they need our prayers too.

Dear Lord,

Today and this week, we bring before you the news media people.  Editors, publishers, newscasters, journalists, freelancers--everyone involved in reporting news.  We ask that you hold them accountable for what they write.  For those who wish to malign your name, make a mockery of them.  For those who only want to tell parts of truth, convict them.  For those who are trying hard to maintain their integrity in a clearly biased industry, uplift them. 

Lord, it is you and you alone who has all power and majesty in this world and beyond it.  We ask you to glorify your name in our media.  We ask you to defend your integrity.  We ask you to silence the liars and the haters of what is right.  We ask that you reclaim what is already yours--words.

In Jesus' glorious name and through the power of the Holy Spirit we ask all this.  Amen.

Recently, I had a friend send me an email appealing that I act against Bill 13 of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. I appreciate the zeal that many people have for protecting government as it is but too often those same people haven't bothered to read the bill in question--so I did. My friend has every right to be alarmed.

To clarify my position I will say this: You can believe whatever you like as far as religion, sexual orientation and political alignment. The Canadian Constitution says so. And I have the right according to that same constitution to disagree with you. So that we understand one another, a disagreement is an acknowledgement of opposing views. You can say that you agree with homosexuality and according to the constitution, I can say that I don't. I'm not assaulting you. I'm not harassing you. I'm not bullying you. I'm simply stating that I don't agree with you. And guess what? You have the right to say that you don't agree with my lack of agreement with homosexuality. And you aren't bullying me either. It's the beauty of a free country. We can express our views and so long as we remain civil, there is no crime in it.

Bill 13 is a piece of legislature which will end all of that. Our provincial government isn't satisfied with tolerance. No, they want acceptance which will then lead to a squelching of constitutional freedoms. Below are two quotes directly from the bill off the LAO website.

The preamble begins with the following:

The people of Ontario and the Legislative Assembly:

Believe that students need to be equipped with the knowledge, skills, attitude and values to engage the world and others critically, which means developing a critical consciousness that allows them to take action on making their schools and communities more equitable and inclusive for all people, including LGBTTIQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, transsexual, two-spirited, intersexed, queer and questioning) people:

Recognize that a whole-school approach is required, and that everyone — government, educators, school staff, parents, students and the wider community — has a role to play in creating a positive school climate and preventing inappropriate behaviour, such as bullying, sexual assault, gender-based violence and incidents based on homophobia;

Acknowledge that there is a need for stronger action to create a safe and inclusive environment in all schools, and to support all students, including both students who are impacted by and students who have engaged in inappropriate behaviour, to assist them in developing healthy relationships, making good choices, continuing their learning and achieving success.

Therefore, Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

And then from Section 2 Subsection 8 we have the following:

2. (1) Paragraph 29.1 of subsection 8 (1) of the Act is repealed and the following substituted:

equity and inclusive education

29.1 require boards to develop and implement an equity and inclusive education policy, and, if required by the Minister, submit the policy to the Minister and implement changes to the policy as directed by the Minister;

Now this may all seem like harmless gobble-de-gook to you but I assure you it is very dangerous language which takes both gays and straights very close to losing all rights and freedoms of expression. Let's break it down.

The preamble subtly calls those who don't agree with homosexuality to set aside their beliefs and be 'more equitable'. It's a convoluted way of saying, 'you must agree with me no matter what your religion states, your parents have taught you or your natural inclinations lead you.'.

Now I can understand a person wanting to be right. I like to be right. I don't like to be wrong. I'll admit it. That's not the point here. This bill is trying to take away my right to say 'I'm right' by trying to force me to say 'I'm wrong' whether I feel I am or not.

Instead this bill should be removing the whole issue of sexual orientation, race, creed, colour, religion and stating, "All children should, unequivocally, be free from bullying. Bullies will be caught and disciplined." But it doesn't.

The bill then goes on to insist that equity and inclusive education be enforced. That means that all teachers must teach that a gay lifestyle is correct and that I can not say otherwise. Even those teachers whose religious beliefs disagree with a gay lifestyle.

Hold the phone! That impinges on my rights and freedoms as someone who wishes to disagree does it not?

The gay community should be equally alarmed by this bill. If the government is allowed to dictate to us what we are allowed to teach our children--if the government is permitted to interfere with what is connected with freedom of religion and freedom of speech, all people in Ontario will feel the sting of it eventually. Just imagine this:

The straight student stands up in class and says, "It's wrong to be gay." The teacher is then forced to dole out disciplinary measures. But then the next year, the gay student stands up in class and says, "It's wrong to be straight." That same teacher is going to have to discipline the gay student too under this bill. Both students are effectively gagged. They are no longer allowed to express their beliefs.

This bill isn't about bullying. It isn't about protecting the safety of a child. (If it were, it would use the language as I outlined it above--ALL children--instead of making a list.) It isn't even about what's right and what's wrong. It is a government manoeuvre to gag the people of this province so that they can't express their beliefs. And guess what? If we can't turn to each other and say, "I believe you are wrong." we soon won't be able to turn to our government and say, "I believe you are wrong." Before we know it, we will be in a dictatorship--we will have trained our children that they have no right to voice their opinions and their beliefs--even when we don't like them. Our children will grow up to become adults afraid to confront anything because they have been taught the wrong definition of bullying. And our government leaders will move in with horrendous taxations, impingements of other freedoms, and every other freedom we take for granted.

When defining bullying we need to recognize that it is forcing one's beliefs on another in a violent or intimidating way--kind of like the government is trying to do with Bill 13.

If our children are not taught the gentle and correct way of saying "I believe you are wrong" to each other--a task that should be done by parents primarily--they will stand aside and allow our governing officials to become the bullies. Is that what we want in our democratic society?

Yes, I believe we need to stop bullying. Yes, I believe we need to guard our right to express our views. Yes, I believe that teachers need to be taught how to champion the underdog. No, I do not believe that teachers should be teaching anything other than the basics (math, English, history, geography, science) but that it is the parents' responsibility to do that--whether the government thinks parents are smart enough to do so or not.

So how do we deal with this?

Write your MPP and tell them that you don't appreciate having your freedom of religion and freedom of speech jeopardized by a government with an agenda to gag its citizens. Tell them you wish to retain your right to express your beliefs and you wish those with whom you disagree to also have that right.

One voice does count!

Our provincial governments need our prayers too. 

Dear Lord,

We lift up the leaders of our provinces.  We tend to forget that they are responsible for the education of our children and therefore are the ones who help mould the next generation.  We ask you to convict them.  Prick their hearts against things that are harmful to our children.  Blind them to the things that will lead them away from being Godly leaders.  Protect them from forces that deceive and undermine what You have in store.  Protect your Holy Name, Oh God, against people who would mock it.  Rise up and give us a leader who will lead our provinces into righteousness.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

So we come to the end of prayer for the Members of Parliament.  This list is quite long but I ask that we all persevere and lift our leaders ups before God's throne.  Their's is a great burden and they will stand before him with an accounting of how they have led our country.  So here we go:

Great and Mighty Lord God Jehovah.  History shows that you do not abide being mocked for long. You have a wonderful plan for each country--a plan that involves a loving and personal relationship with you.  But history shows that we continually turn our faces away from you and chase after other gods--gods that are helpless to save us.  We lift these men and women up to you now and ask you to guide them as they lead us.  Prick their hearts so that they may see the futility of ruling without you as their compass.  Fill their minds with your thoughts and desires.  And we come against those who would do all they can to sway these leaders from the truth.  You are the God of all truth and you ask us to seek your truth.  Put a hunger in the hearts of these men and women to seek after you in all truth.  Open their eyes to the deceptions around them.  Move them to find you.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

Daniel, Joe

Davidson, Patricia

Davies, Don

Davies, Libby

Day, Anne-Marie

Dechert, Bob

Del Mastro, Dean

Devolin, Barry

Dewar, Paul

Dion, Stéphane (Hon.)

Dionne Labelle, Pierre

Donnelly, Fin

Doré Lefebvre, Rosane

Dreeshen, Earl

Dubé, Matthew

Duncan, John (Hon.)

Duncan, Kirsty

Duncan, Linda

Dusseault, Pierre-Luc

Dykstra, Rick

Easter, Wayne (Hon.)

Eyking, Mark (Hon.)

Fantino, Julian (Hon.)

Fast, Ed (Hon.)

Findlay, Kerry-Lynne D.

Finley, Diane (Hon.)

Flaherty, Jim (Hon.)

Fletcher, Steven (Hon.)

Foote, Judy

Fortin, Jean-François

Freeman, Mylène

Fry, Hedy (Hon.)

Galipeau, Royal

Gallant, Cheryl

Garneau, Marc

Garrison, Randall

Genest, Réjean

Genest-Jourdain, Jonathan

Giguère, Alain

Gill, Parm

Glover, Shelly

Godin, Yvon

Goguen, Robert

Goldring, Peter

Goodale, Ralph (Hon.)

Goodyear, Gary (Hon.)

Gosal, Bal (Hon.)

Gourde, Jacques

Gravelle, Claude

Grewal, Nina

Groguhé, Sadia

Harper, Stephen (Right Hon.)

Harris, Dan

Harris, Jack

Harris, Richard M.

Hassainia, Sana

Hawn, Laurie (Hon.)

Hayes, Bryan

Hiebert, Russ

Hillyer, Jim

Hoback, Randy

Hoeppner, Candice

Holder, Ed

Hsu, Ted

Hughes, Carol

Hyer, Bruce

Jacob, Pierre

James, Roxanne

Jean, Brian

Julian, Peter

Kamp, Randy

Karygiannis, Jim (Hon.)

Keddy, Gerald

Kellway, Matthew

Kenney, Jason (Hon.)

Kent, Peter (Hon.)

Kerr, Greg

Komarnicki, Ed

Kramp, Daryl

Lake, Mike

Lamoureux, Kevin

Lapointe, François

Larose, Jean-François

Latendresse, Alexandrine

Lauzon, Guy

Laverdière, Hélène

Layton, Jack (Hon.)

Lebel, Denis (Hon.)

LeBlanc, Dominic (Hon.)

LeBlanc, Hélène

Leef, Ryan

Leitch, Kellie

Lemieux, Pierre

Leslie, Megan

Leung, Chungsen

Liu, Laurin

Lizon, Wladyslaw

Lobb, Ben

Lukiwski, Tom

Lunney, James

MacAulay, Lawrence (Hon.)

MacKay, Peter Gordon (Hon.)

MacKenzie, Dave

Mai, Hoang

Marston, Wayne

Martin, Pat

Masse, Brian

Mathyssen, Irene

May, Elizabeth

Mayes, Colin

McCallum, John (Hon.)

McColeman, Phil

McGuinty, David

McKay, John (Hon.)

McLeod, Cathy

Menegakis, Costas

Menzies, Ted (Hon.)

Merrifield, Rob (Hon.)

Michaud, Élaine

Miller, Larry

Moore, Christine

Moore, James (Hon.)

Moore, Rob (Hon.)

Morin, Dany

Morin, Isabelle

Morin, Marc-André

Morin, Marie-Claude

Mourani, Maria

Mulcair, Thomas

Murray, Joyce

Nantel, Pierre

Nash, Peggy

Nicholls, Jamie

Nicholson, Rob (Hon.)

Norlock, Rick

Nunez-Melo, José

Obhrai, Deepak

O'Connor, Gordon (Hon.)

Oda, Bev (Hon.)

Oliver, Joe (Hon.)

O'Neill Gordon, Tilly

Opitz, Ted

Pacetti, Massimo

Papillon, Annick

Paradis, Christian (Hon.)

Patry, Claude

Payne, LaVar

Péclet, Ève

Penashue, Peter (Hon.)

Perreault, Manon

Pilon, François

Plamondon, Louis

Poilievre, Pierre

Preston, Joe

Quach, Anne Minh-Thu

Rae, Bob (Hon.)

Rafferty, John

Raitt, Lisa (Hon.)

Rajotte, James

Rathgeber, Brent

Ravignat, Mathieu

Raynault, Francine

Regan, Geoff (Hon.)

Reid, Scott

Rempel, Michelle

Richards, Blake

Richardson, Lee

Rickford, Greg

Ritz, Gerry (Hon.)

Rousseau, Jean

Saganash, Romeo

Sandhu, Jasbir

Savoie, Denise

Saxton, Andrew

Scarpaleggia, Francis

Scheer, Andrew (Hon.)

Schellenberger, Gary

Seeback, Kyle

Sellah, Djaouida

Sgro, Judy (Hon.)

Shea, Gail (Hon.)

Shipley, Bev

Shory, Devinder

Simms, Scott

Sims, Jinny Jogindera

Sitsabaiesan, Rathika

Smith, Joy

Sopuck, Robert

Sorenson, Kevin

Stanton, Bruce

St-Denis, Lise

Stewart, Kennedy

Stoffer, Peter

Storseth, Brian

Strahl, Mark

Sullivan, Mike

Sweet, David

Thibeault, Glenn

Tilson, David

Toet, Lawrence

Toews, Vic (Hon.)

Toone, Philip

Tremblay, Jonathan

Trost, Brad

Trottier, Bernard

Trudeau, Justin

Truppe, Susan

Turmel, Nycole

Tweed, Merv

Uppal, Tim (Hon.)

Valcourt, Bernard (Hon.)

Valeriote, Frank

Van Kesteren, Dave

Van Loan, Peter (Hon.)

Vellacott, Maurice

Wallace, Mike

Warawa, Mark

Warkentin, Chris

Watson, Jeff

Weston, John

Weston, Rodney

Wilks, David

Williamson, John

Wong, Alice (Hon.)

Woodworth, Stephen

Yelich, Lynne (Hon.)

Young, Terence

Young, Wai

Zimmer, Bob

Now it becomes a challenge.  It would be easy to slip away from this prayer vigil at this point because it seems to be repetitive.  Jesus has called us to pray for our government.  I said it before and I'll repeat it.  If I must pray alone, so be it, but imagine what our country would be like if Christians committed to pray for our leaders?  So we move on to praying for those with names ending in the letters 'B' and 'C'.

Dear Lord God Almighty.  You see everything.  You see our hearts and you know what we think and desire.  We live in a world of corruption because we have failed to do the things you have called us to do.  We wonder why our leaders don't maintain leadership of faith in you and yet we refuse to interrupt our busy lives to pray as you have commanded.  So, here, now, we lift up these men and women listed below.  We call upon you to open their eyes to your truth.  You are the God of truth and no lies can be found in you.  We are surrounded by lies and deception because we have abandoned you.  We repent her before you for our unfaithfulness and we ask you to renew our hearts.  Set these leaders afire with a love for you and a desire to do your will.  Cleanse them from the lies and deceipt that plagues our parliament.  Shine your truth upon them and use them to bring your glory and truth back to Canada.  Raise up people who will commit to praying for the leadership of our country and help us to stay the course.  All glory belongs to you, oh Lord.  In Jesus' name and through the power of your Holy Spirit of truth.  Amen!

Baird, John (Hon.), Ottawa West—Nepean, Ontario

Bateman, Joyce, Winnipeg South Centre, Manitoba

Bélanger, Mauril (Hon.), Ottawa—Vanier, Ontario

Bellavance, André, Richmond—Arthabaska, Québec

Bennett, Carolyn (Hon.), St. Paul's, Ontario

Benoit, Leon, Vegreville—Wainwright, Alberta

Benskin, Tyrone, Jeanne-Le Ber, Québec

Bernier, Maxime (Hon.), Beauce, Québec

Bevington, Dennis, Western Arctic, Northwest Territories

Bezan, James, Selkirk—Interlake, Manitoba

Blanchette, Denis, Louis-Hébert, Québec

Blanchette-Lamothe, Lysane, Pierrefonds—Dollard, Québec

Blaney, Steven (Hon.), Lévis—Bellechasse, Québec

Block, Kelly, Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar, Saskatchewan

Boivin, Françoise, Gatineau, Québec

Borg, Charmaine, Terrebonne—Blainville, Québec

Boughen, Ray, Palliser, Saskatchewan

Boulerice, Alexandre, Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, Québec

Boutin-Sweet, Marjolaine, Hochelaga, Québec

Brahmi, Tarik, Saint-Jean, Québec

Braid, Peter, Kitchener—Waterloo, Ontario

Breitkreuz, Garry, Yorkton—Melville, Saskatchewan

Brison, Scott (Hon.), Kings—Hants, Nova Scotia

Brosseau, Ruth Ellen, Berthier—Maskinongé, Québec

Brown, Gordon , Leeds—Grenville, Ontario

Brown, Lois , Newmarket—Aurora, Ontario

Brown, Patrick , Barrie, Ontario

Bruinooge, Rod, Winnipeg South, Manitoba

Butt, Brad, Mississauga—Streetsville, Ontario

Byrne, Gerry (Hon.), Humber—St. Barbe—Baie Verte, Newfoundland and Labrador

Calandra, Paul , Oak Ridges—Markham, Ontario

Calkins, Blaine, Wetaskiwin, Alberta

Cannan, Ron, Kelowna—Lake Country, British Columbia

Carmichael, John, Don Valley West, Ontario

Caron, Guy, Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, Québec

Carrie, Colin, Oshawa, Ontario

Casey, Sean, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island

Cash, Andrew, Davenport, Ontario

Charlton, Chris, Hamilton Mountain, Ontario

Chicoine, Sylvain, Châteauguay—Saint-Constant, Québec

Chisholm, Robert, Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia

Chisu, Corneliu, Pickering—Scarborough East, Ontario

Chong, Michael (Hon.), Wellington—Halton Hills, Ontario

Choquette, François, Drummond, Québec

Chow, Olivia, Trinity—Spadina, Ontario

Christopherson, David, Hamilton Centre, Ontario

Clarke, Rob, Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, Saskatchewan

Cleary, Ryan, St. John's South—Mount Pearl, Newfoundland and Labrador

Clement, Tony (Hon.), Parry Sound—Muskoka, Ontario

Coderre, Denis (Hon.), Bourassa, Québec

Comartin, Joe, Windsor—Tecumseh, Ontario

Côté, Raymond, Beauport—Limoilou, Québec

Cotler, Irwin (Hon.), Mount Royal, Québec

Crowder, Jean, Nanaimo—Cowichan, British Columbia

Cullen, Nathan, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, British Columbia

Cuzner, Rodger, Cape Breton—Canso, Nova Scotia

This prayer will be divided alphabetically or we will be forever getting through the list.  That's not a bad thing per se but there is so much that needs our prayers.  So...

Dear Lord,

You see this list of names that all begin with the letter 'A'.  It is more than a list.  These are people that you have moved the people to put into power.  As such, these people will be held to a higher accountability when they stand before you some day.  They carry a great responsibility for the physical and social well-being of the people of Canada but more importantly, they will answer for the spiritual well-being of our nation.  Lord, a leader cannot leader spiritually unless he or she has put their heart in tune with your will.  So we ask for the souls of these men and women.  Lord you are big enough and loving enough to move over these people and stir a hunger within them for you.  Reveal yourself in all truth to them.  Open their eyes to your Holy name.  Blind them to the lies that satan is spreading--lies that say that you can be more than one god.  You can't.  You are Jehovah!  Unchanging.  Ever-powerful.  You love us deeply and long for a relationship with us.  You came in the form of a tiny baby named Jesus, grew to be a man and died to pay for our sin judgement and rose again from the dead--and you did it all because you love us.  Because of that incredible love, we, your prayer warriors, call upon your name and ask that you reclaim Canada.  We offer to you, the names of those on this list below and ask you to touch their hearts and minds.  Pull at their souls with a gentle, loving hand.  In the name of your son Jesus and through the power of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Ablonczy, Diane (Hon.), Calgary—Nose Hill, Alberta

Adams, Eve, Mississauga—Brampton South, Ontario

Adler, Mark, York Centre, Ontario

Aglukkaq, Leona (Hon.), Nunavut

Albas, Dan, Okanagan—Coquihalla, British Columbia

Albrecht, Harold, Kitchener—Conestoga, Ontario

Alexander, Chris, Ajax—Pickering, Ontario

Allen, Malcolm, Welland, Ontario

Allen, Mike, Tobique—Mactaquac, New Brunswick

Allison, Dean,Niagara West—Glanbrook, Ontario

Ambler, Stella, Mississauga South, Ontario

Ambrose, Rona (Hon.), Edmonton—Spruce Grove, Alberta

Anders, Rob, Calgary West, Alberta

Anderson, David, Cypress Hills—Grasslands, Saskatchewan

Andrews, Scott, Avalon, Newfoundland and Labrador

Angus, Charlie, Timmins—James Bay, Ontario

Armstrong, Scott, Cumberland—Colchester—Musquodoboit Valley, Nova Scotia

Ashfield, Keith (Hon.), Fredericton, New Brunswick

Ashton, Niki, Churchill, Manitoba

Aspin, Jay, Nipissing—Timiskaming, Ontario

Atamanenko, Alex, British Columbia Southern Interior, British Columbia

Aubin, Robert, Trois-Rivières, Québec

Ayala, Paulina, Honoré-Mercier, Québec

Saturday March 10th brings yet one more attack on Christian principles and the laws of freedom in Canada.  I will be, along with a number of other Christians, in a meeting where our faith will be challenged.  So here is the next prayer:

Dear Lord,

You are Creator of All and know the minds of men and women everywhere.  You see our desire to serve you and to follow you. You also see the movement that is creeping across Canada--a movement which desires to remove you from thought and speech--a movement which desires to replace you with oppression against all people and open abuse to women and children.

Lord, only you can see the outcome but we are asking now that you stand by your word which says that you will not be mocked.  Those we go to meet are mocking you.  We ask that you defend your sovereignty.  Confound their words and show them in their true light.  If they are truly seeking to know the God of the Universe, show yourself through us.  Give us wisdom as we stand as your representatives.  Give us your words, your strength, your resoluteness, your peace and above all, give us courage to say what must be said and restraint so as not to say what will damage your reputation.  In Jesus' name we ask.  Amen.

Recent events have brought me to a point where I realize that the greatest thing I can do as a Christian is pray.  Canada has come under attack in such a subtle way that it is at the edge of policy change which will destroy our nation's freedoms.  And so, I call Canadians to pray.  It isn't easy.  It isn't flashy and showy.  I may be the only one logging onto this blog and praying.  It needs to be done though.  So I begin.  I begin with a prayer for righteousness.

Dear Lord God,

Maker of Heaven and earth, King of kings and Lord of lords, we call on you in this time of need.  We know that you are all-knowing and all-seeing.  We know that you have provided a way for your righteousness to be spread across the earth and yet we continually ignore that way.  Right now, we repent.  We ask you to forgive us for our complacency.  Forgive us for taking our freedoms for granted.  Forgive us for ignoring that those freedoms came from you.  Forgive us that we have allowed heresies and false teachings to run amok in our country to the point where our laws are now being questioned.  We repent.  And we ask for your help. Lord, you alone are powerful enough to confound those who preach laws which bind us.  You alone have the strength to raise up leaders who will challenge the lies that are being sown across society under the banner of freedom of religion.  You alone can turn the hearts of your created ones back to you and this is what we ask of you.  We ask you to move in the heart of our Prime Minister.  Remind him of your great power.  Remind him of your grace and mercy and justice.  Give him courage and strength to stand firm in the laws our forefathers put in place--laws that were created from your word, the Bible.  Open his eyes to the corruption around him.  Open his heart to the threats against our freedoms as a Christian country.  Protect him as he leads us.  Guard his family and keep them safe from hands that would harm, lips that would lie, ideas that would contradict your word.  Bless him as he works under your banner.  In Jesus' name we pray.  Amen.

I am among the few who are very blessed with a church that understands the importance of a writing ministry. I have been the recipient of a congregationally supported book launch and CD launch. I have church leadership and members alike who constantly ask how my ministry is going and who offer to pray. It is because they know that what I am doing is not meant to be simply a career—or a way of offering my opinions to a broader audience. They have recognized that God has called me to write and to sing and they are doing all they can to encourage that ministry. I am grateful to God for this church family because they value what I do and wish to be part of it in the ways in which they can.

As I stated—I am one of the few. It is a sad commentary in a world where the written word has the power to change the human mind and heart—where so often the contents of any given book are embraced as truth without question. Even when it is a lie. My church family recognizes that God has called me to write about his truths—to wrap them in stories just like Jesus did—to offer to a hurting humanity comfort for their pain.

There are many like me. Christians called to write God’s message of hope for the hopeless. They are placed in the denominations across the globe and they write in spite of the many challenges they face. What challenges? you may ask. Aren’t you authors just rolling in the dough? Aren’t you celebrities? I hear these questions asked often and I laugh.

No. Authors are not celebrities—especially Christian authors. They are missionaries striving to reach lost souls. And money? Hah! Authors are perennially in debt in spite of the illusion that they are making a killing on the sales of their books. Approximately 90 percent of all books published in any given year sell less than 100 copies. Of the remaining ten percent, eight percent sell between 1,000 and 5,000 copies. Only a mere two percent can make a living as an author. Why is that? Well, there are many reasons.

A prophet is without honour in his own home town. Jesus said it when his community refused to believe he was the Messiah. Nothing has changed since then. The very people who should support Christian authors are often the ones who undermine their ministry of words. Neighbours and friends, business associates, fellow church congregants—even ministers and board members.

As I said, I have been blessed to have a church family, friends and neighbours and a community that all support my ministry. As I have polled the Christian writing community, however, I have discovered how pathetic the support is for most authors.

I recently had a conversation with a fellow contributor to a new Canadian anthology. I was told how disappointed this contributor was by the lack of support she received from her church and community when launching the book.

“My family has supported a local business for years and when the business owner came into the store where we launched the book, he expressed his congratulations and then went and bought a birdhouse. What would it have cost him to buy a book and give it away as a Christmas present? It’s only $20.00.”

I know exactly what she is saying. Too often I have had Christians come to my book table and say, “Oh! Lovely! A Christian author—and local at that! Keep up the good work. I’m going to wait until I can get it for free in the church library.” And then they walk away without even considering buying a book for themselves or for a friend who may not know Christ.

Then there is the occasional person who lifts my spirits immensely by buying a book and stating, “I understand what you are doing and I want to help. If I like it, I’ll certainly get another one to give to a friend.” They get the point. And may God pour a thousand blessings on them for the gift of encouragement they share with those of us called to write!

I’ve had others say that their church won’t even host a book launch. It’s selling. Plain and simple. Perhaps if the leadership viewed it as covering the costs of a missionary work so that the author can give books to non-believers, they might reconsider. I have done just that many times because of my church’s support—given novels to teens and adults alike that just couldn’t afford them but were curious about the message.

I’ve had my own personal experiences that weren’t exactly uplifting too. In the past I have been told that I couldn’t sell books in a church because it wasn’t really a ministry—that it was a business. Really? So telling stories about Jesus isn’t a ministry? And we shouldn’t be paid in the church for that? I guess that means that all ministers should relinquish their pay cheques if that is the case because that is exactly what they are doing. We just do it in writing.

Perhaps this post comes across as a rant. Perhaps some of you may consider it as self-serving. I can’t do anything about that other than to say that—yes—it is a bit of a rant—but not for me. It is a rant on behalf of the many authors who don’t have a wonderful church backing them in their ministry as I do. And yes—it is self-serving. I recognized that in order to continue my own ministry I need to sell books—but I also need prayer support and encouragement. I get all of that—but so many authors don’t. Most authors truly are prophets without honour.

Consider this: If the church doesn’t support the local Christian author, who will? The atheist? Or perhaps the New Age guru? If the local Christian author doesn’t get the support he or she needs they will cease to write. Then where will the resources be when you wish to reach your neighbour or friend for Christ?

This is a ministry and we are all part of it—authors and readers alike. Christian authors write what God leads them to write. Readers support the authors through prayer, encouragement and, yes, purchase—and then share, with those around them, those books they have purchased.

This Christmas, as you consider what to buy as a gift, think of the Christian author in your church or community. Pray for them. Encourage them to keep writing—even though the bills are piling up for them and the local book store won’t keep their book in stock. And buy a book from them for a gift for someone you know. Perhaps what they write really was meant for the loved one you have been praying for all those years.