Meet Lori Stanley Roeleveld, Disturber of Hobbits!

Lori Stanley Roeleveld is a disturber of hobbits who enjoys making comfortable Christians late for dinner. She’s authored an unsettling blog since 2009; a pursuit that eventually resulted in her first book, Running from a Crazy Man (and other adventures traveling with Jesus). Though she has degrees in Psychology and Biblical Studies, Lori learned the most important things from studying her Bible in life’s trenches. You’ll find her at her website www.loriroeleveld.com. If not, know she’s off somewhere slaying dragons. Not available for children’s parties.

Lori, thank you for joining me today. Let’s begin with the question everyone asks about your book, who IS the crazy man?

My title, Running from a Crazy Man (and other adventures traveling with Jesus), comes from the story of King David. David knew God had anointed him king and had every reason to believe his path would lead straight to the throne. It must have created incredible confusion for David to find himself spending part of his life running from King Saul but we know God was present and active in David’s life even then.

What is the message in that for modern believers that you explore in the book?

In the seventies, the message communicated about Jesus was that He would make our lives better. That’s true but it doesn’t always look or feel the way we expect. Many of us begin our life with Christ with expectant hope, but not all of those hopes are realistic. When our lives detour down roads called disaster, disease, depression, or personal devastation, we’re tempted to pull off to the side of the narrow road and wonder what happened. I wrote Running from a Crazy Man for those moments in every believer’s life when following Jesus doesn’t make sense, to encourage us all to remain in the adventure.

This is such an important message you are sharing! Walking with Christ is a journey of growth, not a stroll in the park. 

Alton Gansky called your book an “unconventional devotional.” Tell us how you’ve designed each chapter.

Each chapter is adapted from a popular post on my blog so they’re short – usually under 1000 words. The titles are quirky such as Elephant Repellent, Church Bullies, and I Hope that You’re Perturbed but I include headings to help you know what each is about such as Following Jesus when You’re Feeling Useless, or Following Jesus when Other People are Mean. I’ve concluded each chapter with scripture references, thought questions, and words to remember so readers can use this book as a daily devotional or with a Bible Study/small group.

I notice that rather than a Foreword, your book has a Forewarned written by bestselling author, James L. Rubart.

Readers tell me they enjoy the humor of my posts but always know that something in the post will unsettle or challenge them in their faith. When they forward my posts to others, I’ve noticed they often warn that the post may create discomfort that may lead to action. I decided to embrace reader reaction to my voice. Challenge is what I seek in my spiritual life. I’ve loved Jesus for over fifty years and I know the temptation of settling in, getting too comfortable, or expecting to drift through my later years on cruise control. I always want Jesus to spur me on to a deeper relationship with Him. God uses hard times in my life to unsettle me and like Frodo (from Lord of the Rings), I’ve learned that even though I resist it, I do like adventure with Jesus. I hope to invite and incite others to continue in the Jesus adventure.

Is that where you came about the tagline, "Disturber of Hobbits?"

Yes, exactly. I love the Lord and I love the church. As much as I’m aware of the shortcomings of the church of Jesus, I just love the family of God. I equate believers with hobbits because hobbits like comfy settings, we like our meals on time, and we resist adventures because they make us late for dinner. When I write, I use humor but also gentle exhortation to remind us all of the goals set forth in scripture. I’ve been making comfortable Christians “late for dinner” for many years now – I included.

What advice do you have for other bloggers?

Partner with God in your work and don’t underestimate the power of “small.” I hear bloggers complain, “Only 30 people read by last post.” If 30 people showed up on your doorstep asking your thoughts on God, you’d consider that a ministry. Respect the value of a small but faithful readership. Pray for them and give them your best work. We don’t write for numbers, we write for readers. Each one has value in God’s eyes. My blog is small but God uses it in big ways for His glory.

Following is an encouraging devotional from Lori.

When All the Other Trees Are in Bloom

by Lori Stanley Roeleveld

All the other trees are in bloom.

“Don’t tell Hannah, but I think that tree is dead.” My husband said quietly, looking out on our front lawn.

“Give it a little time.” I urged.

We’ve only just moved into this home and the tree of which he speaks is impressive and promising but barren of any sign of life. Our daughter is enthralled with it, though, so I can’t imagine how she would handle news of its demise.

All the other trees were barren just a month ago but now they’ve all put on their summer clothes and are decked out in their finest greens.

My husband just shook his head. “I’ll tell you right now. It’s destined for burning.”

Every day, I watch the tree, scouring it for any sign of life.

Today, it began.

I think that most people walking by wouldn’t notice but I’ve been waiting. Scattered here and there among the maze of gray branches are the beginnings of tiny, jagged leaves. I sigh in relief. It isn’t dead it just lags behind the rest. It has a lot of catching up to do but I know that come summer, no one will know that it was late in blooming.

Sometimes I feel like that tree. I think others look at me and shake their heads. “She had such promise.” They think. “She looks like she could be something but nothing seems to be happening with her. Such a disappointment.” My leaves are so slow in appearing that people give up and go to gas up their chain saws.

Fortunately, for me, God is most patient. There is life within me yet and I have this promise from Him. “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” Ecclesiastes 3:11 (ESV)

Are you a late bloomer like my tree? Do you lag behind the others and wonder when you will be touched with the full-bloom of spring?

If you have been planted in the fertile soil of Jesus Christ and your roots have dug deep into His heart, then you will bloom in your season. Don’t listen to the sound of those chainsaws, loved one, they aren’t for you.

Thank you, Lori, that was beautiful.

Readers, please leave a comment, subscribe to my blog, or Tweet to enter
the drawing for a paper back copy of Running from a Crazy Man. If you Tweet
or subscribe, please scroll down to the contact form on the right and let me
know. Thank you! 

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Taking Time for a Teapot

I enjoy shopping for antiques and collectibles. It’s fun to find a vintage or retro treasure or two . . .

maybe more. The photo below is of a hand painted Lefton teapot in the Magnolia pattern. It’s vintage at best. I usually like roses on china, but something about the delicate look of the hand painted flowers called to me. I suppose it rather reminds me of the Desert Rose pattern of my good dishes.

The teapot was acquired on a recent trip to Lakeville, Minnesota, visiting a place called Hot Sam’s. This antique store, housed in a two-story log cabin, contains an eclectic mix of items. The long driveway is flanked by unique metal sculptures and cast-offs, such as classic cars and junkers, statues, etc.

Searching through the stacks of teacups and saucers I wondered what kinds of homes the china pieces had come from, a middle class home? Or an upper class estate? Or were they treasured pieces in a poor family, handed down by a beloved grandmother? While they probably didn’t come from any place like Downton Abbey, I still thought each plate, cup, creamer, teapot has a story.

This week’s writing prompt: She placed the Magnolia teapot on the table, while she waited for her guests. As they arrived . . .

Ideas: You can write about 1) the ensuing tea party, 2) show a conversation with the teapot in use or 3) write about what the teapot means to the hostess. How has she acquired it?

Come back Wednesday for a new installment of "Wednesday Whimsy" with Lilybits, the tail-less wonder and see what she has to say this week.

{PD} image from the Graphics Fairy

Saturday Spiritual Uplift - A Likeminded People

A Likeminded People

Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.

Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. (Philippians 2:1-4, NLT)

Do you ever have those moments, hours, days, weeks or months when you feel like you don’t have the strength to get through your trials? Times when the bad news seems too much and you long for a touch of the Spirit? I had a week like that, but the good news is that God sent encouragement in a totally different area of my life.

Today I was at a meeting with a workshop for writers on the current Christian fiction market. I had planned the meeting out and attempted to gain publicity, though it was shorter notice than I would have liked. Finally, I figured if there weren’t many people in attendance that was the way the Lord was planning it. There were seven of us, so we were all sitting together at one table while agent Linda S. Glaz presented her material.

Each attendee had an opportunity to share what they were working on. Some shared what they liked to read. There was the peace and joy of Christians coming together to share their passion for the gift of writing, which the Lord Jesus has called them to share with others, in obedience to Him. Make no mistake, it’s not an easy road. Rejections and criticism are more abundant than praise and contracts!

Great Lakes Chapter

With a Christian writing group, they are more likely to encourage one another and share their ideas without fear, because there is support—not that everyone always agrees. However, this was a time where I was amidst the camaraderie, which inspires, had a chance to make new friends and reconnect with old, and truly felt that I’m not alone.

While other areas of my life have been very painful recently, God was so good to give me refreshment in the midst of a tough journey, reminding me there are many positive things to focus on. All is not lost, all is not bad. He is there leading me in green pastures, refreshing my soul, giving strength for the days ahead. 

Thank you, Lord for a the blessing of a wonderful day and the fellowship of likeminded believers. Open my eyes to the love You show me each day. Please use me to encourage and lift my brothers and sisters in Christ.

Monday Motivation - Write Prioritizing

Write Prioritizing

Shortly after Jack and I were married, we moved into our first house. It wasn’t all that big—less than 1,000 square feet, but it was ours. That little brick abode might as well have been twice the size. I wasn’t sure where to begin when it came to cleaning and keeping it organized. I remember asking my sister-in-law, who was an exemplary homemaker, for advice. She recommended starting with a list and taking care of the few items that were most important that day. 

Despite years of homemaking efforts on my part and books galore read on the subject, there are many times I simply return to making a list when I’m feeling overwhelmed. Every day we tell ourselves what is most important by doing—or not doing--that activity. Last week I let the tyranny of the urgent take over my schedule.

I thought I was making my writing important by setting a word count goal, but it’s time to step that up and make and appointment with myself each day, blocking out writing time. So after devotions, this week I will put writing at the top of that list. What I mean is that I will put “writing time” near the top and see if I can better accomplish my goals, make the best use of my time rather than a mediocre effort.

What about you? How do you complete the tasks, which are truly important to you? Please feel free to share your expertise in the comment section below. 

This week’s writing prompt: She had looked forward to her vacation in Aruba, but when she awoke from her nap on the plane, she found they had landed in . . .

Oh boy, you can just imagine! Right? Have fun with this one. 

Saturday Spiritual Uplift - Heating Things Up

Heating Things Up – A Real Beauty Treatment

Cut ruby, image in public domain via Wikimedia Commons

I have fun designing and making jewelry. I even took a metal smithing class a few years ago. Mainly, I enjoy creating bracelets and necklaces with beads right now, but on a whim I decided to look for a gemstone website to browse for fun. I love looking at the sparkly jewels, cut from the rock they were imbedded in, given precise faceting and polished to a reflective shine. Beautiful! God made these lovely gems and man used his God-given talents to bring out their brilliance.

Garnets are one of my favorite gemstones, which is a good thing, since it’s my birthstone. I’m amazed at how many different colors there are, from purplish to green! My husband gave me a lovely rhodalite garnet ring for my 30^th birthday, ahem, mumble years ago. The stone is a deep red color infused with shades of violet. It almost looks like a ruby.

Since I like red stones I also enjoyed looking at rubies on one of the websites I was browsing and learned something new. Did you know that all but the finest stones are usually heat treated to bring out their color? When a decent quality ruby is heated nearly to the melting point, a new crystalline structure is formed that brings out a deeper red. The lesser quality rubies have many little fractures, which are filled with dyed leaded glass to improve their appearance and lessen the flaws to the naked eye.

Heat treated rubies. Photo via Wikimedia Commons [cc] by
Mauro Cateb

The fracture filling technique sounds a lot easier on the ruby if you ask me, but you don’t get the same brilliance that the heating technique brings out. The Lord, however, is interested in making us more like His Son, Jesus right down to the insides of our hearts. He doesn’t want to perform a little slap and dab cosmetic fix on the outside, just so we look good. This is why the trials He allows in our lives put so much pressure on us. While we are already new creatures in Christ if we are His children, we still need the heat kept on us to help purge the impurities from these fleshly minds and hearts we still wrestle with. Our thought patterns need to be changed and we need to direct our hearts more toward Him.

I must confess that I find it difficult to be thankful for trials, yet I know I need to keep my eyes on Jesus, who has a reason for allowing or putting me through difficulties. As believers, it isn’t always easy to have an eternal perspective in a finite world, but I’m slowly learning. I guess the question for me is: Would I rather be like the ruby of lesser quality, fracture filled and looking good to others? Or would I prefer to be more like the ruby with a deeper, truer color, reflecting the beauty of Christ to others from the inside out? 

Lord, teach us to see trials as you do, as means of purifying our faith and making us more like You. Help us to trust You through the difficult times. In Jesus’ name we ask these things, amen.

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

(James 1:2-4, NLT)

These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

(1 Peter 1:7, NLT)

Information on rubies found at www.gemselect.com. 

Monday Motivation - Productivity and Personality

Productivity and the Personality . . . Disordered 

Recently I asked the Lord to show me why I struggle so much with procrastination when it comes to my fiction writing. I sit at the laptop and stare at the blank page. It’s all up in my brain, but I have a hard time getting it transferred through my fingertips. I can even relate to this in other areas of my life. Is there some kind of fear of failure torturing me? What is it? I mean, I love words, the process of creating a story and especially when I get in the zone, writing itself.

Last week, I watched a video talk given by author Susan May Warren from My Book Therapy on becoming an author and one of the subjects she addressed was the different ways the four basic personality types (sanguine, choleric, melancholy and phlegmatic) and how they affect writing productivity. I happen to be melancholy/phlegmatic. Melancholies, she said, tend to overanalyze while they’re writing, which slows them down. That’s how I am! Just throw in a little perfectionism to make the process more agonizing. As far as being phlegmatic, Susan mentioned that they don’t like putting their characters in difficult circumstances. I hadn’t really thought about it, but I do better with internal than external conflict. This makes for a difficult combination.

Understanding these things about myself, helps me bring order to the disorder of my writing habit. Since I am overanalyzing my writing before I even start, I need to find strategies to deal with it. Instead of feeling like I am looking over a dangerous cliff and unsure how I’m going to cross the chasm from the starting point to done, I need to build a bridge. I’ve been reading about writing productivity and trying to find what works for me. One tip I’ve found is writing a summary of what I will be writing that day. I don’t have to outline every little point, but at least I have a rough sketch to help me get started.

The important thing to remember is not comparing myself to the authors who write 10,000 words a day, but what works with my personality to help me become more productive. What is your personality type? What helps you become more productive?

Writing prompt for this Monday: The house on  . . .

Finish this sentence any way you like and continue writing for one to two paragraphs. Have fun with it!

Monday Motivation - Survey Recap

Survey Recap

First of all, a big “thank you” to those who took the time to answer the questions in my short survey last Monday. It was very helpful. What do you think was the top writing issue survey respondents chose as the one they needed the most help with? If you guessed time management, you’d be correct. 100% of respondents chose this, so you’re not alone!

The second choice was writing consistently, which in many ways goes with time management. We are pulled in many directions by the needs of others, especially family members, church and social obligations, day jobs, household chores, etc. How can we balance it all and consistently schedule precious writing time? Those among us who are naturally organized are always looking for ways to be more efficient. My husband is an example of one of those people! However, I would suspect most of us creative types struggle in the area of time management altogether, let alone organization.

As far as what kind of posts people wanted, both “short posts with writing prompts” and “encouragement for the writing life” tied at 60%. Four-fifths felt that writing prompts were helpful.

This year I will endeavor to share more about my own discoveries in the area of time management, writing prompts and encouragement. I will strive to grow in the area of  sharing my own writing struggles and victories as well.

Do you have a favorite time management tip to share with other writers? If so, please leave a comment. Your comments are important to me and I love to hear from you!

Monday Motivation: How May I Serve You Better?

When I began Monday Motivation early in October, I had hoped to encourage other writers and perhaps create some rapport and a sense of community, but without taking up too much of your time. As we gear up for accomplishing more and writing better throughout 2014, my desire is to serve you, my fellow writers, better. Please take a couple of minutes to fill out the five question survey below to let me know how this can be accomplished. Thank you!

Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey , the world's leading questionnaire tool.

Monday Motivation - On the Write Path to Success

On the Write Path: Success

Success doesn’t always look like we think it should. The appearance of success may not be up in lights, surrounded by fame and fortune or appear on the New York Times bestseller list. You’ll know you’ve accomplished something when a turn of phrase makes a critique partner write “nice” or your friends tell you they can’t wait to read your next story.

But true success is in the obedience to the calling. If you were born to write, to share the little gift God gave you with the rest of the world, then you put pen to page or keyboard to blank screen one letter, one word, one sentence at a time. The time you take to scribe out your words into an article or story may be the stress relief you need or your words offered to the Lord. You work so hard, building on each skill you’ve learned, the craft you’ve honed. You search for the glimmer of hope. Who doesn’t want to get published? For some of you it may take longer than others.

One day you find yourself having coffee with another writer in a café and you’re talking about wips and building worlds and what the characters in your head are telling you about themselves, how one of them just might have to go. The person across the aisle from you looks nervous, their thumbs poised to text something, but then they catch a police officer’s eye and wave frantically. When the officer comes over and the other customer accuses you of a plot to take over the world, or at very least, murder, you smile.

Your friend lifts up a copy of her manuscript. You take a swallow of lukewarm latte before you show them your manuscript and a dog-eared copy of Plot and Structure by James Scott Bell. And shrug. The police officer chuckles and walks away. Congratulations! You’re definitely a writer! You’ve succeeded by learning from your rejections, by starting anew each day—taking the next step on the write path and plugging away. You know the language and the tools are no longer strange to you. Keep your eye on where you're going and on the One who will take you there.

What makes a writer real? What’s your definition of success?

Leave a comment or follow for a chance in this week’s drawing for a chance to win an ebook or paperback version of Brave New Century, coming out this Wednesday, November 13!

To all our U.S. military veterans out there, thank you for serving!

MONDAY MOTIVATION

On the Write Path

I hope you will pardon another play on the word “write”. These next few posts will break down different aspects of the writing journey and encourage you to know you’re not alone. You’re not the only one with delusions of publishing grandeur!

The novice begins their trip down the writing road with a light load, usually. The two things he packs are dreams and something to write with. You may start with a pen and a notebook. My writing professor in college encouraged us to use legal pads to write our first through third drafts, but that was back during the days of the typewriter. You might have been lucky enough to have a correction ribbon on your Smith Corona or your Royal. Since the dawn of word processing, the writer has more options. He can now write with a PC or laptop and still make corrections without having to type the whole document over.

However, the novice, often starry-eyed, may believe they are ready to pen or type that first draft of a fabulous piece of literature, which many agents and editors will be vying for the chance to read. Just try to hold back that bidding war over their one-of-a-kind novel, destined for the New York Times' bestseller list!

Others may be more realistic, setting their goals a little lower, hoping to see their name in bold font at the top of a few magazine articles. They’re just trying to get their name out into the sea we call the publishing world, while they build a portfolio.

The Christian novice writer has a whole other level of concern, because she wants to convey a message she feels the Lord has put on her heart, or help people understand biblical truths that are bursting to escape onto paper. It’s a joy for the novice to write the things they need to share, but is sometimes also difficult.

At some point novices may find themselves overwhelmed. At my first large Christian writer’s conference, in Wheaton, Illinois, I seemed to be surrounded by authors who seemed to know where they were going and what they were doing.  I felt like a fake. I found myself in Ken Wales’ class on story. Me? Really? How could little old me ever think of writing a screenplay? But the Lord gave me a gentle nudge, whispering messages of the need to trust and believe that He could use anyone He chose to do anything.

I still haven’t finished a longer screenplay, but I took away something more precious from that conference—the belief that the Lord could use my humble attempt at being a writer any way He chose. He had given the gift and desire. Was I willing to use it? 

Have you ever had a moment of clarity and guidance like that during your

journey down the write path?

Next Monday: The Reality Stage