In Troubled Times...

I'm troubled today. My heart aches. Deeply. I want to weep...or rage. My spirit struggles within to rest in God. To hold to His promises of care and provision. But then the sorrow hits again, and I have to stop. Regroup. Wrestle with myself and Him.

What, you may ask, triggered this battle?

A dear friend in trouble. A man of God, whom I've known most of my life, being accused of a heinous act. Falsely accused. And yet, what he's suffered at the hands of our "justice" system tears at me. Gnaws at my gut like tiny dribbles of acid.

This is so wrong.

I want God to show Himself. To bring out the truth. HIS truth. To send avenging angels upon the one who brings such lies to destroy a life devoted to faith and family. I want...

Revenge.

And even as I type that, tears sting. My throat closes.

I am ashamed.

Ashamed of my anger, though in the world's eyes, it's certainly justified. Ashamed of my thirst for this accuser's demise, though again, the world would rise up and applaud if it happened. And as much as I want to cheer on any calamity headed the accuser's way, I know I can't allow myself to do so. Because, you see, I don't belong to the world.

I belong to a Holy God, One who has called me to pray. For my friend. For his family.

And for his accuser.

I will never understand why this has come into this man's life. Why he had to be so wounded, so damaged by unfounded and unjust words. I'll never understand why some heavenly hand didn't reach down and cover him, stopping the disaster before it struck. But my understanding isn't what matters.

My obedience, however, is.

And so even as I sit here, writing this, trying to find some measure of peace, I throw myself on God's mercy. Beg Him for help. For strength. For the desire to respond as He calls, not as the world condones. Amazing, isn't it, how the world's ways appeal in the face of injustice. But true justice, justice that will stand for eternity, will come from God's hand. In His way. In His timing. Until then, we, His children, can only take our petitions to Him. Petitions for ourselves. For those falsely accused.

And for those so wounded that they let lies become truth and pain become weapons.

Please, join me in praying for this situation. Pray for this man. For his family. And for his accuser. Pray for God's will.

For that is all that will save us in whatever we face in this troubled, troubling world.

I leave you with this...

Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the Lord:

He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him.

For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease.

He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings.

His faithful promises are your armor and protection.

Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night,
nor the arrow that flies in the day.
Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday...

If you make the Lord your refuge,
if you make the Most High your shelter,
no evil will conquer you...

For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go. They will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone...

The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. When they call on me, I will answer;

I will be with them in trouble.
I will rescue and honor them.
I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation.

Psalm 91 selection

May it be so, Lord Jesus.

Karen

Live from the Airport in Minneapolis!

Well, ACFW is over, and I'm sitting here in the airport waiting for my flight to board (1/2 hour to go!). Can't wait to get home. Will only be there 6 days, but man! Am I gonna enjoy it.

I posted some pix from the MASSIVE author book signing at the Mall of America yesterday on my Twitter account, but thought I'd share them with you here, too. More than 100 Christian novelists loaded up into 3 school buses and took the Mall of America by storm. The Best Buy rotunda never knew what hit it! Tables were set up all around the stage in front of a tall column with two large screens. On those screens were pictures, information, and video trailers of the authors and their books.

Impressive, huh? Brandilyn Collins thought so, too. You can see the amazement on here face as she watches the show...

That's Judith Miller behind her to the right.

ACFW didn't just have us sign, though. They set up panels for all during the signing. I was on the first panel in the Best Buy rotunda with my buds, Angie Hunt, Jim Scott Bell, and Brandilyn. We sat right in front of those videos and pictures, which I thought was good. If we got boring, they could just watch the screens!

It was a blast, though, because not only were we talking to the folks seated in front of us, there were people peering at us from all four floors of the mall, And the tall matrix of escalators was right in front of us, so folks listened as they rode. I even saw a few people stop and try to go back down the escalator to keep listening as we talked. Very fun.

I enjoyed talking with all the people who stopped by, like this woman and her adorable little baby , and directing them to the amazing authors at the tables. I was seated between Jim Bell and Angie, and just down the table were Angie Hunt, Brandilyn Collins, and Susan Meissner. Talk about heady company!

Angie, Brandilyn, and fans

Jim Bell & Mama Ruth (Brandilyn's mom)

Karen and Susan Meissner, tired but happy!

Jim Bell & John Robinson, mugging for the camera

Karen & Brandilyn

People were so kind and excited. It made the two hours (on our feet, thank you very much) pass in a flash. By the time we herded back onto the school buses, I was ready for a nap, but I had 7 15-minute meetings with authors waiting for me, so settled for a LARGE cup of coffee and a handful of peanuts.

All in all, I think this was a brilliant idea on the part of ACFW. I know it was a HUGE amount of work for them, but they pulled it off. Beautifully. So if they ever decide to do it again, make sure you come. It was history in the making, folks. Besides which, it was flat fun!

Peace to you today.

Karen

Live from ACFW in Minneapolis...well, sorta

Oh. My. Gosh.

I'm sooooooooo tired. Did I mention I'm tired. Man, am I tired.

Okay, enough whining. Besides, I'm too tired to whine.

I'm in Minneapolis, Minnesota, attending the American Christian Fiction Writers' (ACFW) conference. I heard one person say there's over 500 people here. I can believe it. Since it's pretty much an all-day jaunt for me to get here, I flew in on Wednesday, arriving around 5 pm. Had a really nice dinner with my agent, Steve Laube, and even managed to talk him into letting me to into a few stores. (He, we were at the Mall of America! I mean, come on!) He handled it real well, too. I'm proud of him. Even walked into the women's clothing store with me.

The conference burst into full swing on Thursday, with attendees, agents, and editors all arriving from around the country. Had some folks, like author Wanda Dyson, who weren't sure they could get here from Houston, but they made it. Of course, Wanda has a tree in the middle of her house, but she said she figured she couldn't do anything about it, so just locked the door (which, when I heard that, made me laugh. I mean...there's a TREE that's fallen in the middle of the house. A locked door isn't going to secure it. But I figure God will, so no worries.)

I had a number of sobering conversations with published novelists who are struggling with a discouragement. Let's face it, publishing is only getting harder. People who've been writing for years can't see to get contracts lately. But Angie Hunt, in her keynote address, hit on so many of the issues I heard brought up...reminding us that dreams are important, but what's even more important is the One who gave us those dreams. We need to do what we're called to do, and leave the rest up to His will and timing. Focus on Him. The rest will follow as He chooses. Great words of truth from a woman submitted to His will.

The editors' panel last night was fun. I met Allen Arnold, from Thomas Nelson publishers. He and I seemed to be the only extroverts on the LARGE panel of editors, so we had fun tossing comments back and forth. I'd like to find time to sit down and talk with him about his views on Christian fiction. I'm sure we won't agree, but that's okay. I like to hear other people's thoughts.

Today was solid with 15-minute meetings with authors, lunch, and then a dinner tonight where I took my B&H authors out to Kincaids--a scrumptious restaurant. John Olson, Leanna Ellis, James Rubart, and the newest addition to our fiction line, ACFW president Robin (Caroll) Miller, spent the whole night laughing and telling stories. I'm amazed both Jim and John survived their college years. They each have harrowing tales to tell of experiences on mountains. I'm just glad God was watching out for them! My life would have been far less blessed without those two.

Forgot to bring the card reader for my camera, so I swiped this shot from Camy Tang's blog. From l-r, this is Steve Laube, Jim Rubart, Randy Ingermanson (who also is here) and John Olson. Great men, all!

So here I sit, now, absorbing all that happened today, weary but content. I love this world, this universe peopled by those who are often more comfortable in their created worlds than in reality. I mean, where else can you hear people talking at one end of the hallways about the best way to kill someone and dispose of the body, and at the other about the kind of vegetation that exists on a planet where people are oppressed by a race of clones? God has given us such a gift with imagination.

And I'm delighted and honored to get to play here.

Blessings to you!

Karen

Are You Twittering Yet?

Have you discovered Twitter yet? I just got my iPhone 3G (which is another story...had it less than 24 hours and my dear, darling 10-month-old Siberian husky customized it for me. CHOMP! Worked for about a week and a half, then boom. Dead. As a doornail. Had to order a new one, because, of COURSE, they don't cover for physical damage. AARRGGHH!) ANYhoo, my iPhone got me all interested in twittering. So I'm following and being followed...and it's fun. Not only that, it's helping me be concise! My editors always call me "O Verbose One." This is good training for tightening my writing. I confess I don't do it nearly as often as some (where DO they get the time??). I even go days without a single tweet. Twit. Twitter. TWATever!

So if you'd like, check it out at www.twitter.com. You can see my most recent twitty twitters from this very blog. Just look at the column on the left. Or go to http://www.twitter.com/KBall4Him. You can even see the background I made of a picture I took from the window of a plane.

Ain't it a world of wonders.

Karen

An Airport Oasis

If you travel a lot, as I do, you long for peace in the midst of the chaos. Travel today, regardless of the mode, is way too stressful. By the time you reach a destination, you can be so exhausted it's hard to appreciate that you're FINALLY off the plane or out of the car or off the train. So I'm always looking for ways to relax in transit. And boy howdy, did I find a great one!

I fly through the Denver aiport a lot. During one especially long layover there, God gave me a gift. He nudged me to wander to the upper level of concourse B, where I happened upon a wonderful photographer's gallery called Images of Nature. The artist, Thomas Mengelsen (www.mangelsen.com--tried to make this a link but blogger isn't cooperating!) is a nature photographer, and just walking into his gallery makes you feel as though you've left the hectic and frustrating world of commercial flights behind and have found an oasis of beauty and rest. The staff there are warm and welcoming, and don't mind at all if you've just come in to sit in one of the comfy chairs and soak in the beauty of Mangelsen's work.

So if you're ever in the Denver airport, give yourself a real treat and visit Images of Nature. And to whet your appetite, here are a few samples of his work.

May beauty surround you today.

Karen

Modesty: A Lost Art?

Michael Hyatt, CEO of Thomas Nelson, wrote a strong post on modesty (or the lack of it) in today's world. I posted a comment there that Dad and I, on a trip to Lowe's, were helped by a girl of about 17. She was nice looking, and not at all overweight, but her hipster jeans were so tight she bulged over the top. And when she leaned over to roll the carpeting, well...Dad and I both looked away. She stood back up and tugged her jeans back into place, covering what had been uncovered, without missing a beat--or a chomp on her gum.

Speaking of beat, that's what would have happened to me if I'd dressed like this in public when I was a teen! Okay, not really a beating (last time I was spanked was when I was 3 yrs old), but I'd sure get a talking to. Which makes me wonder, where are these kids parents? Or maybe a more impactful question: Don't these kids own mirrors??

As someone who is decidedly...um...fluffy, I know what it's like to bulge where you don't want to, even when the clothes are the right size. (But I am, I'll have you know, 25 lbs lighter than a year ago! And still dropping those life-threatening pounds, by God's grace and a wonderful fiber powder that's made a huge difference for me...)

Anyway, back on track. I can't count the number of teen and college-age e girls I see who are downright skinny, but whose clothes are so darned tight they have bulges. Especially with those hip-hugging jeans so popular today. Or who are baring bellies better left unbared.

I can't help but wonder, do they ever look at themselves in the mirror? They'd look so much better if they'd just wear clothes that fit. It's just not attractive (or, more to the point, hot) to see skin bulging over the tops of jeans. And it sure doesn't say you respect yourself or your body.

Michael Hyatt offered his girls some good guidelines for modesty. I'll offer one more: If it's not something you'd want your pastor, grandmother, or--one day--your own daughter to see you wearing, it's probably not modest. Nor, for that matter, is it a good idea.

Peace, all.

Karen B.

Get Wild!

I found a cool thing while surfing the web tonight: Live Webcams at the SanDiego Zoo! You can watch the polar bears, apes, elephants, and pandas in real time. It's a blast, especially when the animals are active.

So give it a try.

I can hardly wait 'til they put on in the tiger enclosure!

Karen

History in the Making

There's one thing I always knew you could count on with my blog: you'd never read anything here about politics. Mainly because I hate politics. Hate listening to the speeches, hate the smear campaigns, hate the mean-spirited commercials (of COURSE you approved this stupid thing that tells us all how your opponent lies, can't be trusted, and probably pulls the wings off of flies!), and I completely, totally ABHOR the political pundit shows. Shoot, if I want to see people yell all over each other and be totally rude, I'll go to the playground and watch a bunch of preschoolers.

At least they're cute.

So imagine my surprise at finding myself sitting here writing a blog on...politics. Actually, though, it's not so much about politics as it is about a politician. And it's not so much about a politician as it is a miracle. Because that's what happened tonight.

What miracle, you ask? Just this: I listened to a politician give a speech...and I enjoyed it. More to the point, I believed it.

My hubby is the political one in our household. Well read and informed, he's my resource when I need to know both sides of an issue. (And the one I run from when he gets on a tear about that other party and how stupid and untrustworthy they all are...) I've always found politics to be less than inspiring and trust very little of what anyone says, regardless of his or her party. I figure it's like this: if a politician's mouth is moving and sound is coming out, it's a lie. Yup, politics is the one area in life where I can honestly say I'm a true-blue cynic. Until tonight.

Until Sarah Palin.

Oh, sure, I've listened to or read the media blasts the last few days, taking them with about a 100th of a grain of salt. And I've heard both glowing approval and sincere concerns about Palin from those in my little world. I figured it would be like any other political situation: we'd never know for certain who this woman was. After all, she's a politician. Which is why I had no intention of listening to her speech to the Republican National Convention Wednesday night.

But we had dinner late. And as scandalous as it may seem to some, we eat dinner in our recliners, watching TV. Both my dad and my hubby, much to my chagrin, wanted to hear Palin (at least I got to switch over to the Andy Griffith Show while Giuliani talked...), and I couldn't eat fast enough to get out of the room before Palin stepped up to the podium. Know what?

I'm glad.

Because the woman I heard was a bright, funny, poised mother and professional who spoke with a sincerity--and spunk!--I have seldom heard from any politician. I not only liked what she had to say and the way she said it, by the time she was about halfway into her speech, I liked her. A great deal.

On the heels of that realization came another, which is really the point of this blog.

We're watching history in the making, folks.
The first African-American presidential nominee;
The first Republican woman vice presidential nominee;
a country divided over war and ravaged by financial downturns; a people who seem to have lost all respect for the most powerful office not only in our nation, but in the world; a world that's lost its way spiritually. The days we're in are hard and ugly and seemingly hopeless, and the choices we make in the coming months may well change the course of our country--our world--forever.

So take a minute in the midst of all the hoopla, of the weariness and worry, of the increasing chaos, and realize what's happening right in front of us. Historical moments. Moments our children and grandchildren will read about and study. And take time today to pray.

For your country.
For those in the presidential race.
For those deciding whom to elect.
But most of all, that God's will be done. And ask Him to keep His hand on this country and turn it back to His truth and right. That He will show this weary, hurting world that there is hope--GREAT hope--in Him.

Because what really matters isn't who is in the White House ,

but Who is on the throne.


Peace to you today.
Karen

There's a Party Coming!

And you're invited!

What is it? A booksigning with...ready for this?...over a hundred Christian novelists! (No kidding. See the list below.)

When? September 20th, 2008, 1-3 p.m

Where? The Mall of America in Minneapolis.

So if you're going to be anywhere close to The Mall of America, stop by and say "Hey!" (And if you're a born-to-shop person like I am, that place is just this side o' heaven. I mean, the parking lots are so big they're named after states! And there's a restaurant there where you can get ostrich steaks. AND there's an amusement park in the middle of the mall. All that plus a host of Christian novelists? Sing it with me: "Who could ask for anything moooore...")

I'll be there, along with 126 others, handing out chocolates, participating in a panel on writing and publishing, signing books, and generally having a grand time. I'd love to meet you, so (as my Tennessean buds would say) y'all come!

In case the prospect of meeting me and getting free chocolate isn't enough, here are the other novelists you'll get to meet:

• Tamera Alexander, Jennifer AlLee, A.K. Arenz, Diane Ashley

• Janet Lee Barton, James Scott Bell, Joseph Bentz, Terri Blackstock

• Robin Caroll, Patricia Carroll, Jeanie Smith Cash, Eleanor Clark, Debra Clopton, Gloria Clover, Mary Connealy, Lyn Cote, Kathryn Cushman, Brandilyn Collins
  

• Margaret Daley, KM Daughters, Susan Page Davis, Mary Davis, Janet Dean, Megan DiMaria, Brandt Dodson, Lena Nelson Dooley, Cecelia Dowdy, Sharon Dunn, Wanda Dyson
  

• Lynette Eason, Meredith Efken, Leanna Ellis, Sharon Ewell Foster, Miralee Ferrell, Tina Ann Forkner, Darlene Franklin, Jonathan Friesen

• Rhonda Gibson, Terri Gillespie, Debby Giusti, Beth Goddard, Cathy Gohlke, Rene Gutteridge, Cathy Marie Hake, Kelly Eileen Hake, Karen Harter, Rachel Hauck, Roxanne Henke, Cynthia Hickey, Patti Hill, Sharon Hinck, Joan Hochstetler, Steven Hunt, Angela Hunt, Denise Hunter

• Annette Irby, Jennifer Johnson, Jenny B. Jones, Golden Keyes-Parsons, Deb Kinnard, Julie Klassen; Kathleen Kovach; Harry Kraus
  

• Patti Lacy, Maureen Lang, Jeanne Marie Leach, Tosca Lee, Julie Lessman, Michelle Levigne, Sherri L. Lewis, Elizabeth Ludwig, Christine Lynxwiler
  

• Richard L. Mabry, Sharlene MacLaren, Gail Martin, Debby Mayne, Vickie McDonough, Andrew McGuire, Susan Meissner, Becky Melby, Dana Mentink, Amber Miller, Judith Miller, Sara Mills, Siri Mitchell, Nancy Moser, Janelle Mowery, Elizabeth Musser, Mark Mynheir

• Jill Nelson, Mae Nunn, John Olson, Donita K. Paul, Trish Perry, Marta Perry, Allie Pleiter, Cara Putman

• Deborah Raney, Sandra Robbins, Paul Robertson, John Robinson, Martha Rogers, Cynthia Ruchti
  

• Gail Sattler, Kim Vogel Sawyer, Shelley Shephard Gray, Virginia Smith, Lynette Sowell, Candice Speare, Kathryn Springer, Denice Stewart, Sarah Anne Sumpolec, Michelle Sutton, Camy Tang, Donn Taylor, Janice Thompson, Cindy Thomson, Missy Tippens, Carrie Turansky, ML Tyndall
  

• Amy Wallace, Susan May Warren, Linda Wichman, Beth Wiseman, Cheryl Wyatt, Kathleen Y'Barbo
  

Hope to see you there!

Karen

Is This Year Over Yet??

Man. What a year. In January I had a bad bite from our Siberian husky, Bodhan, when he got hit by a car. February, pneumonia. April (I think...), I fell off a ladder and broke a rib, which took 8 weeks to heal. (Anyone writing books who plans to have your characters break a rib, feel free to ask me for details. I will never again have a character with broken ribs do things like run, stand, move...breathing is about it, and even that's excruciating). So here I was, almost the end of August, so tickled nothing else had happened.

Yeah. Well. You knew that couldn't last, right?

Okay, so there's this little guy, Brendan, about 6 years old, I think, who lives in the house behind us. And his friend, Corey, who is around 9 or 10. They've been coming over to pet the dogs. Last week they brought their Golden retriever over to play with our doggies. (No, that's not the bad thing that happened. Hey, Goldens are just happy to be at the party. They get along with most everyone.) A few days ago, the boys knock at the back gate and ask if they can come pet the dogs. Brendan also tries to convince me to let them go swimming, but with my luck, they'd drown. So I've been good about saying no.

Brendan also has been asking if he can bring his 2-yr-old Jack Russell, Turk, over to meet the dogs. Knowing Jack Russells are fairly territorial and can be a bit aggressive, I've said no. Until last Thursday. For some stupid reason, I said, "Sure, bring him over."

Okay, pop quiz: What happens when you bring an unfamiliar terrier into a yard with three bigger dogs, two of whom can be a bit...pushy?

Well, if you're someone smart, like the Dog Whisperer (I love that show!), nothing serious. But if you're someone like me, who knows better but lets herself be swayed by a pleading kid...well...read on.

Brendan got Turk and brought him in the back gate. Now, did I introduce him to the dogs one at a time? Nooooo. That would have been too smart. Instead, I took his leash and brought him on it, with all three of our dogs rushing to see who the new kid was.

Dakota did great.
Kodi and Dasha? Not so much. They both got pushy, nipping at the little guy's neck. Then they started to press down on his neck, trying to push him to the ground.

Pop quiz #2: How did I get bit in January, when our sweet 14-yr-old Siberian, Bo, was hit by a car? By reaching in to take hold of a panicked dog in pain. You'd think I'd learn, huh?

You know where this is going, don't you?

So I scooped Turk up and started to walk over to hand him to Brendan. Just as I did so, one of my dogs (I didn't see which one) jumped up and nipped at Turk. In typical Jack-Russell fashion, he arched backward and snapped, catching my face. His top teeth hit my left cheekbone (I felt it), the bottom ones caught my cheek. He bit twice before I could turn away. I dropped him, slapped my hand to the bites to stem any flow of blood--both for my sake and for the boys'--and hollered for my dad, who, thank heaven, was sitting on the swing. He corralled our dogs while I gave the now snarling Turk to the boys and told them to take him home. And that they shouldn't scold him, because he was just doing what terriers do when they're frightened. That it was my fault, not his.

I got an ice pack for my punctured, bleeding face, then as Dad drove me to the ER, I called my hubby, Don, who is a security guard at the hospital. He alerted the ER folks so that they were actually standing in the waiting area ready for me when I walked in. Three and a half hours--and a tetanus shot and bites irrigation--later, I'd finally finished filling out enough paperwork to choke a horse and could be discharged.

When I got home I went to the neighbor's house to tell her they didn't need to worry. She saw me walking toward the house and came rushing out, threw her arms around me, and cried, "Are you okay? I'm so sorry!" I explained what happened, that it was my fault, and not to think about it again.

So here's my dog-bit face. Nice, huh?

As you can see, the bites weren't too terrible. Especially compared to the bites I had from Bo in January. Thankfully, I seem to be healing okay. I'm still tender on the left side of my face. If I squint, it's uncomfortable. But I haven't had a black eye, which the doc said I most likely would. (Darn it! I thought that would be fun...)

So, the moral of the story? (No, it's not "Put Karen in a padded room where she can't do herself in.")

Trust your instincts. God uses our life experiences to teach us--and, I believe, to caution us. I had cautions flying from the get go, but did I listen? Naaaah. I knew better than to bring a terrier into the mix of our dogs. Knew better than to introduce a new dog to all of our dogs at once. Knew better than to pick up the frightened terrier. But I did it all anyway. I'm lucky it was me who got bit and not one of the kids. Or that my dogs didn't do damage to the terrier.

So when you're considering an action and feel that tug inside, that bit of warning that says it's not a great idea, listen. God gives those checks in our spirit for a reason. And next time, by His grace, I'm gonna pay attention.

Peace, all.

Karen