by Jason Joyner | Jan 4, 2007 | Blog, Uncategorized
Over the past few years I have become more aware of the great problem of modern-day slavery and sex trafficking. We think that we live in a world without such things, or that they occur in far away places. It is true that a lot of the torrid stories that do make the news are in places like South Asia or Eastern Europe. However, even here in Idaho we have people basically put into situations of forced labor, where they work to try and pay off their debts, only to have debts continually incurring in the process of working them off.
I am glad to see more publicity for these horrible crimes coming from more and more avenues. I’ve seen features on these subjects from Dateline NBC to my local paper. I think this is an issue that anyone can be against, but it should be particularly critical to Christians. We have a holy injunction to keep watch over “the least of these”. We are to provide for widows and orphans. The Bible talks gravely about any who would cause a little one to stumble.
I have a link to International Justice Mission on my sidebar. They are a Christian organization that works with countries around the world to enforce their own laws in order to protect their citizens. (Some complain that Westerners are trying to impose their morality on this issue. First, as I said it does not require any faith to see that this is an evil practice, and secondly IJM specifically works within the legal framework of any country they’re in.) They have a wonderful book discussing this issue in World Vision. Please check them out, and find out what is being done to combat this evil. We can make a difference through prayer and supporting the people who fight on the front lines, if nothing else.
Red-Light Rescue
Child Sex Tours
Sex Isn’t Work
by Jason Joyner | Jan 4, 2007 | Blog, Uncategorized
Over the past few years I have become more aware of the great problem of modern-day slavery and sex trafficking. We think that we live in a world without such things, or that they occur in far away places. It is true that a lot of the torrid stories that do make the news are in places like South Asia or Eastern Europe. However, even here in Idaho we have people basically put into situations of forced labor, where they work to try and pay off their debts, only to have debts continually incurring in the process of working them off.
I am glad to see more publicity for these horrible crimes coming from more and more avenues. I’ve seen features on these subjects from Dateline NBC to my local paper. I think this is an issue that anyone can be against, but it should be particularly critical to Christians. We have a holy injunction to keep watch over “the least of these”. We are to provide for widows and orphans. The Bible talks gravely about any who would cause a little one to stumble.
I have a link to International Justice Mission on my sidebar. They are a Christian organization that works with countries around the world to enforce their own laws in order to protect their citizens. (Some complain that Westerners are trying to impose their morality on this issue. First, as I said it does not require any faith to see that this is an evil practice, and secondly IJM specifically works within the legal framework of any country they’re in.) They have a wonderful book discussing this issue in World Vision. Please check them out, and find out what is being done to combat this evil. We can make a difference through prayer and supporting the people who fight on the front lines, if nothing else.
Red-Light Rescue
Child Sex Tours
Sex Isn’t Work
by Jason Joyner | Jan 4, 2007 | Blog, Uncategorized
This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is posting about Tangerine (Revell, January 2007) by Marilynn Griffith (fellow CFBA member, blogger, writer, and mother of *GULP* seven!)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Marilynn Griffith is wife to a deacon, mom to a tribe and proof that God gives second chances. Her novels include Made of Honor (Steeple Hill, Jan. 2006), Pink (Revell, Feb. 2006), Jade (Revell, June 2006), and If the Shoe Fits (Revell, 2007). Her other credits include Chicken Soup for the Christian Woman’s Soul, Cup of Comfort Devotionals and her Shades of Style series (Revell, 2006). She lives in Florida with her husband and children.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Tangerine is the third book in the Shades of Style Novels.
Fans of Pink and Jade will eat up Tangerine, the third book in the cutting-edge Shades of Style series. Jean Guerra, a designer at Garments of Praise design firm, doesn’t like surprises. These days though, the unexpected meets her everywhere. Since Jean’s return to the church a year ago, her God-encounters occur with increasing frequency, along with thoughts of her husband-the one she vowed to divorce and gave up on long ago. The one nobody at work knows about, not even her best friend, Lily, or her boss, Chenille. But when the designer assigned to work with Jean on a line of men’s suits shows up, her heart flips. It’s her husband, Nigel Salvador. Jean is finally rendered speechless. Can her bruised heart become whole enough to love again? Or will she remain in the trenches of loneliness forever?
by Jason Joyner | Jan 4, 2007 | Blog, Uncategorized
This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is posting about Tangerine (Revell, January 2007) by Marilynn Griffith (fellow CFBA member, blogger, writer, and mother of *GULP* seven!)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Marilynn Griffith is wife to a deacon, mom to a tribe and proof that God gives second chances. Her novels include Made of Honor (Steeple Hill, Jan. 2006), Pink (Revell, Feb. 2006), Jade (Revell, June 2006), and If the Shoe Fits (Revell, 2007). Her other credits include Chicken Soup for the Christian Woman’s Soul, Cup of Comfort Devotionals and her Shades of Style series (Revell, 2006). She lives in Florida with her husband and children.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Tangerine is the third book in the Shades of Style Novels.
Fans of Pink and Jade will eat up Tangerine, the third book in the cutting-edge Shades of Style series. Jean Guerra, a designer at Garments of Praise design firm, doesn’t like surprises. These days though, the unexpected meets her everywhere. Since Jean’s return to the church a year ago, her God-encounters occur with increasing frequency, along with thoughts of her husband-the one she vowed to divorce and gave up on long ago. The one nobody at work knows about, not even her best friend, Lily, or her boss, Chenille. But when the designer assigned to work with Jean on a line of men’s suits shows up, her heart flips. It’s her husband, Nigel Salvador. Jean is finally rendered speechless. Can her bruised heart become whole enough to love again? Or will she remain in the trenches of loneliness forever?
by Jason Joyner | Jan 3, 2007 | Blog, Uncategorized
Go Broncos!!!
No, not the Denver variety, the ones who dropped out of the playoffs on Sunday (my condolences for your fallen teammate – a tragedy).
Boise State University, of Smurf Turf fame, went and made all of Idaho proud, and shocked the big power-makers of college football. And they did it in the most imaginative, entertaining way possible.
Hook and ladder on 4th and 18 for a touchdown. Halfback option pass in overtime for a TD. The ol’ Statue of Liberty play for the gutsy 2 point conversion that sealed the win.
Boise State proved against Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl that they can play with the big boys. So here’s a shout out online for the boys in blue! Way to go guys. For an excellent article describing the Boise State win, click here.
Oh, and if all this wasn’t enough, the running back who scored the winning 2 points proposed to his cheerleader girlfriend while on national TV. Dude!
AP Photo/Ted S. Warren
by Jason Joyner | Jan 3, 2007 | Blog, Uncategorized
Go Broncos!!!
No, not the Denver variety, the ones who dropped out of the playoffs on Sunday (my condolences for your fallen teammate – a tragedy).
Boise State University, of Smurf Turf fame, went and made all of Idaho proud, and shocked the big power-makers of college football. And they did it in the most imaginative, entertaining way possible.
Hook and ladder on 4th and 18 for a touchdown. Halfback option pass in overtime for a TD. The ol’ Statue of Liberty play for the gutsy 2 point conversion that sealed the win.
Boise State proved against Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl that they can play with the big boys. So here’s a shout out online for the boys in blue! Way to go guys. For an excellent article describing the Boise State win, click here.
Oh, and if all this wasn’t enough, the running back who scored the winning 2 points proposed to his cheerleader girlfriend while on national TV. Dude!
AP Photo/Ted S. Warren
by Jason Joyner | Jan 1, 2007 | Blog, Uncategorized
Every new year brings resolution, changes, promises. And everyone knows that so many of these fall by the wayside. I am glad that my new year is a good, secure change.
I have my job.
2006 became a crazy year back in June, when I blogged about how my contract at my job wasn’t being renewed. The timing was very interesting – just after I was preaching about living in the adventure God has for us.
I finished up at my old job right at the end of August, and thought I would have a couple weeks at home before getting a new job. I had a few interviews lined up pretty quick, so it seemed like it wasn’t a big deal.
Except for what the Lord was speaking.
As I prayed, I had a sense this process would take some time. My wife felt that I wouldn’t get a job right away. My pastor had the same leading.
Great. 😉
None of the interviews worked out. The places decided they weren’t ready to hire, or I wasn’t the right person despite a good resume and interview. One place just never got a hold of me again (not too bad, I didn’t want to work there anyway).
So I had a long fall of hanging out at home, spending time with my family and with God. It was a good time of reflection and learning. I wish I could say I got a ton of writing done: I also had a wicked case of writer’s block a lot of the time.
Right before Christmas I got the call that I was being offered the job that I was pursuing. It looks to be a great deal, with four 10-hour shifts a week and a steady schedule. More importantly, it seems to be God-ordained. My wife reminded me of when I said, “I would never work there” (I can’t recall…).
One thing the Lord reminded me of during this time was the principle of letting Him work in His time. It was frustrating at times to be looking for a job for six months, and be out of work for four months (aside from a little fill-in work recently). But whenever I took it to Jesus, He spoke encouragement to me to let Him handle it. He provided for our needs. We didn’t incur any debt during this time. He is faithful in all He says.
So 2007 promises to be a good year for me. I pray that whatever He has for you this year will be to your benefit. Of course, sometimes bettering ourselves means going through hard times to purge us, so be careful what you wish for!
Blessings (and thanks for the prayers and support to those who did)!
Jason
by Jason Joyner | Jan 1, 2007 | Blog, Uncategorized
Every new year brings resolution, changes, promises. And everyone knows that so many of these fall by the wayside. I am glad that my new year is a good, secure change.
I have my job.
2006 became a crazy year back in June, when I blogged about how my contract at my job wasn’t being renewed. The timing was very interesting – just after I was preaching about living in the adventure God has for us.
I finished up at my old job right at the end of August, and thought I would have a couple weeks at home before getting a new job. I had a few interviews lined up pretty quick, so it seemed like it wasn’t a big deal.
Except for what the Lord was speaking.
As I prayed, I had a sense this process would take some time. My wife felt that I wouldn’t get a job right away. My pastor had the same leading.
Great. 😉
None of the interviews worked out. The places decided they weren’t ready to hire, or I wasn’t the right person despite a good resume and interview. One place just never got a hold of me again (not too bad, I didn’t want to work there anyway).
So I had a long fall of hanging out at home, spending time with my family and with God. It was a good time of reflection and learning. I wish I could say I got a ton of writing done: I also had a wicked case of writer’s block a lot of the time.
Right before Christmas I got the call that I was being offered the job that I was pursuing. It looks to be a great deal, with four 10-hour shifts a week and a steady schedule. More importantly, it seems to be God-ordained. My wife reminded me of when I said, “I would never work there” (I can’t recall…).
One thing the Lord reminded me of during this time was the principle of letting Him work in His time. It was frustrating at times to be looking for a job for six months, and be out of work for four months (aside from a little fill-in work recently). But whenever I took it to Jesus, He spoke encouragement to me to let Him handle it. He provided for our needs. We didn’t incur any debt during this time. He is faithful in all He says.
So 2007 promises to be a good year for me. I pray that whatever He has for you this year will be to your benefit. Of course, sometimes bettering ourselves means going through hard times to purge us, so be careful what you wish for!
Blessings (and thanks for the prayers and support to those who did)!
Jason
by Jason Joyner | Jan 1, 2007 | Blog, Uncategorized
Whoops. I really meant for this book to make my list. I can’t believe I left it off, but it was the book I read earliest in 2006. Maybe that’s why the Oscar contenders are released in December usually.
Plague Maker by Tim Downs probably is my #2 choice in 06. It had a great story with suspense, humor, and interesting plot details. I learned more about fleas than I probably ever wanted to know. It had intensity and kept the page turning without the intense “ick” that comes off in Germ (although it does have its own ick, it just is smarter about it).
My apologies Mr. Downs. But this way you got a post all to yourself. Whoo-hoo.
by Jason Joyner | Jan 1, 2007 | Blog, Uncategorized
Whoops. I really meant for this book to make my list. I can’t believe I left it off, but it was the book I read earliest in 2006. Maybe that’s why the Oscar contenders are released in December usually.
Plague Maker by Tim Downs probably is my #2 choice in 06. It had a great story with suspense, humor, and interesting plot details. I learned more about fleas than I probably ever wanted to know. It had intensity and kept the page turning without the intense “ick” that comes off in Germ (although it does have its own ick, it just is smarter about it).
My apologies Mr. Downs. But this way you got a post all to yourself. Whoo-hoo.
