A must-see video Visit YouTube to see a beautiful four minute video of a baptism in Congo’s Lake Kivu. A side note:  The baptism site was next to a fortified UN Peacekeeping Camp.  The entire baptism was watched by a guard with binoculars.  (Most of the peacekeepers with either Pakistani or Chinese.  Pray that this man will continue to remember …

Chapter 1A Spent Bullet Wednesday, August 13, 1941                        DeRidder, Louisiana             The shiny bullet bounced on the sidewalk at Elizabeth Reed’s feet. As she bent to examine it, a blond soldier leaned out of the crowded Army truck. “You’re beautiful. Write me.” Pointing at her feet, he yelled, “The bullet—write me.”Hearing a chorus of wolf whistles, she flinched, refusing to …

Proverbs for the day: “A generous person will be blessed, for he gives some of his food to the poor.” Proverbs 22:9 On Girls and Giving I’ve never seen a more devastated village than Saki, Democratic Congo. Situated in the middle of a civil war zone where rebel soldiers and government troops have fought over control of the mineral-rich mountains, …

A Proverb for your day. Proverbs 21:31 The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the Lord. It’s really simple. God is in control. In the end, it’s going to be the way He wants it. John Chancellor, longtime NBC anchor said it well,  “If you want to hear God laugh, tell Him your …

New video on Sake Village, Congo at the Creekbank You Tube page. This remote Congolese village is rebuilding after suffering damage during rebel/government fighting. Our group has committed to paying for the bean crop to be put in for the entire resident population.  Because it will be done through the local church, it will bring glory to God… and feed …

    Back from Africa with an empty suitcase and full heart. There is no way photos, stories, or even video can sufficiently share about Africa.  However, in the coming week, I’ll be using each of these media to try to convey what we experienced and felt. To all of you who prayed fervently, thanks!  It was a great trip …

Why traveling internationally helps me as a writer.   View/hear a YouTube of the Lake Kivu singing fishermen.   I’m very thankful to have the privilege of traveling out of the United States.  I’ve come to realize there are various benefits as a writer in my travels. I want to make it clear: I travel for the purpose of sharing …

Last night I mailed off my current manuscript of A Spent Bullet. I want to thank “my editor cousins”  Joy Reeves Pitre, Julie Holland Johnson, and Coleen Roberts Ritter.  Thanks Ladies! Today I shift into total African mode.  I’ll be sharing openly as we plan, pray, and get ready to go on Thursday to Congo/Rwanda. “Mountains cannot go to other …

I recently posted a blog about telephone “party lines.”  These multiple lines, where several homes heard every ring, were the source of great stories (as well as great tension among neighbors.) Read and enjoy! Party Line comments The Dry Creek party line had 16 phones on it.  You could listen to every call that every party line member received.  Each …

“A Father’s Love” It’s graduation day at East Beauregard High. My beautiful niece Kendal Campbell graduates tonight.   One of our reader’s favorite stories is “A Father’s Love” from Wind in the Pines (2004).  It details a memorable graduation in 2004.  It’s my most popular type of short story:  it’s out-loud laughing funny but ends with a hot-tears happy-lump-in- your-throat …

For nearly four years I’ve visited Clay and Robin Iles in Ft. Worth, TX.  Clay, our oldest son,  is a student at Southwestern Baptist Theoglogical Seminary and Robin is the wonderful mother of two of our grandsons, Noah and Jude.  (Little brother Luke will join the clan in late June.) During our visits, I’ ve observed a woman I’ll call …

“It don’t get no better than this.” It’s not good grammar, but it’s a good statement. It’s right at dark.  Just a little after 8 PM.  I’m sitting on an upturned five gallon bucket, iPhone in hand, listening for a whip poor will. He starts his non-stop song and I creep up on him and record his repeated call for …

Today I have the singular privilege of leading the opening prayer at our Louisiana House of Representatives.  I appreciate this invitation by my lifelong friend and fellow teacher,  Rep. Dorothy Sue Hill. I’ll be praying at 2:00 PM.  I’m asking each of you to join me in this prayer for wisdom and direction for our state leaders.  Our home state …

I spoke last Saturday to a wonderful group of writers at the Dallas-Ft. Worth Ready Writers Group.  My assigned topic was “platform.”   This is the term writers use for getting the word out about their writing and books. My major platform is speaking.  I speak 2-3 time weekly to groups of every size and background.  The following are thoughts I …