Light The Dark

Even Before Publishing, a division of Wombats, is a new Australian publisher that is passionate about Christian Books and all things that make for improving lives and helping build Australian creators. Principal, Rochelle Manners, is not only interested in publishing her own stable of authors' works, but she is also interested in selling good Australian fiction via her party plan, Light The Dark.

Light The Dark Mission Statement:

"Light the Dark aims to bring positive Christian and family friendly products, produced by Australians and New Zealanders, to consumers in an engaging party plan type environment. It is our mission to strengthen your walk with God through our products and uphold Christian principles in our business and community."

Light The Dark is a powerful ministry that brings people together in fellowship sharing about books and products that foster relationship building, and encourages our Aussie writers to be all they can be.

I've become a Light The Dark Representive because I believe in the Mission Statement. Even Before Publishing and Light The Dark is the beginning of an era that will encourage more and more Australians to be creative and be brave enough to send their creations out to the marketplace because Australians like seeing other Australians having a go.

If you want to learn more about Light the Dark go to www.lightthedark.com.au and be inspired to read good Australian fiction, or products made by talented Australians.

Writers' Fairs

Last August I attended The Word Writers' Fair in Adelaide and met many interesting Australian authors writing some great novels. If I hadn't taken the time out to attend this Word Fair I wouldn't have met these creative people who are all trying to make their mark in Australian fiction and non-fiction. We need to support our home grown writers because we have our own unique Australian voice, and the best way to do that is at Word Fairs and Writers' Festivals.

On 6th November, 2010 The Word Writers' Fair will be held at Bayside Church, Capalaba, Brisbane from 9 am. to 5 pm. This fair is run by Wombat Books. Visit the website http://www.wombatbooks.com.au/

Our book stores sell great books, but finding Australian authors' books can be a long, and sometimes frustrating search, especially for the new and upcoming authors. Writers fairs and festivals help readers know there are many books available by Australian authors established, and new, and they get the opportunity to meet with them. Writing is a lonesome occupation, so most authors grasp any occasion they can to chat with their readers. If you're a lover of books, come along to The Word Writers' Fair in Brisbane, mingle with the authors and tell them what you like about their work, and what you would like to read in the future.

I'll be there, looking forward to seeing you. Don't be shy, come up and say 'hi'.

Bella Generation

You've heard of Generation X and Generation Y ... have you heard of Bella Generation. That's right, Bella Generation.

Recently, I attended a seminar on the Gold Coast and learnt about Bella Generation.

Letitia Shelton is coordinator of an organisation called City Women Toowoomba, Australia. God placed a need on Letitia's heart to look after the young women of Toowoomba.

Too many young women are abused, come from broken homes, make bad choices because of misinformation, lack self-esteem, are caught up in drug and alcohol abuse traps. In short, they are hurting and they don't know how to stop hurting.

Bella Generation is the inspiration these girls and women need. This group dreams of a beautiful generation of women - a Bella Generation, now, and forever. They are a team of girls and young women who have a desire to see change come for the girls and young women who are hurting and overhwhelmed by life.

They are dreaming of a generation of girls/women who know their true worth and value; who nurture, not self-harm; a generation of purity; a generation who are empowered to be all that God created them to be, and to use their unique gifting to uplift and encourage the hurting and wounded; a generation of women who choose to respect and honour men and receive their protection; and a generation that favours beauty, not destruction.

To achieve their dreams City Women uses magazines, girls/young women's groups, camps, and their own designer label Bella G fashion and accessories. The idea is to take this generation of young women away from the image of modern woman that is portrayed in modern magazines and bring them back to the loving and nurturing human beings God created them to be.

What makes City Women unique is that they support and work together with other oganisations that already exist. They call on women from all denominations in Toowoomba to be part of and promote these existing organisations to make them stronger so that more women will be helped. In the process healthy and God-honouring relationships develop between organisations and individual women. To me this is empowering and enlightening.

I salute City Women Toowoomba for their courage, their compassion and their every day hard work reaching out to those in need of a helping hand. You are doing exactly what Jesus wants us to do:

"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." Col. 4:32 NIV

City Women Toowoomba conforms to the Collossians verse above. Wouldn't it be wonderful to see this ministry reach throughout Australia and beyond?

Making A Difference ...

It's been a couple of weeks since my last post. I've been grieving the loss of my brother. There's a hole in my life now where he used to be, and in the lives of all who knew him. Don's character is a precious memory I will call on if I ever have to be reminded what a man with integrity looks like. Don was three years older than me, but he taught me so much about integrity, loyalty and love.

Don's passing has made me think a lot about how easy it is to take our family and friends for granted. My life choice forced me to live an hour and a half flight away from him and his family, but I tried to keep in contact often. Was it enough? Could I have given up some of the busyness of my life to spend more time together? I wish I had shared more time with him, and on a deeper level than I did.

These thoughts have been tossed about in my mind for the past three weeks. I've come to realise our lives aren't only about our blood relations. If living near Don and his family was God's purpose for my life, I would have been there. God has a different purpose for me, and I'm not sure if I've even worked out what that is, but I believe he's teaching me community is what life is about.

As an adult I'm responsible for more than just my siblings and my immediate family. God has put me in community to help me understand everyone has a life journey and that life journey is different for each of us. The events of my journey have made me the person I am today, and there is no changing that, but I can change my behaviours for the future.

Through my experiences I'm able to help others who may be experiencing something of what I've been through. I come alongside and encourage and lift them up so they can continue on knowing someone else has also been there. They are not alone!

Community is about connection with my brothers and sisters in Christ, and also those in my community who don't know him, but need him in their lives.

Don served in the police force for 37 years. He was a man of integrity - a man people could trust to do a job properly. He possessed a strong sense of community and always wanted his community to be safe for his family, friends, and people he didn't know. On the beat and off the beat his integrity never wavered, but what I loved about him the most was his quirky sense of humour. He was able to blend integrity with humour. Ever since I can remember he loved playing tricks on people to make them think about what they were doing. He was a gifted man who knew how to sneak up on people in a imaginative way and get them to change their behaviour without them knowing .

Is this something we can add to our every day lives to make a difference in someone's life? Add humour, live with integrity and influence people in some small way without them knowing you're behind them giving them a gentle nudge in the right direction on their own journey?

I believe Don's subtle way of reaching people through humour, love and understanding has merit. I hope I can include those qualities in my everyday life to help others smile on their bleak days, encourage them that life happens and can be tough sometimes, but with God's unconditional love we will get through the darkness and back into the light, and be wiser for the experience.

Thank you, Don, for your loving contribution to my life, and the wisdom you've passed to me. I hope I can pass some of that wisdom and sense of fun to my community for the rest of the time God has portioned for me for this life here on earth.

Priorities Back To Front

Last Monday night I watched Four Corners. I couldn't sleep that night because I was saddened by what I'd seen.

Australia's disabled community is in crisis. Thirty years ago the government reformed care for the disabled by taking them out of institutions and putting them in homes or supporting them in community living. To accomplish this they promised a major injection of funds for support.

Over the years, the funds have dried up, and as a result many of the disabled are cared for at home by their ageing parents with no support. The carer's job is twenty-four seven with a reliance on other family members for time out. They are emotionally, physically, and spiritually exhausted because of the lack of assistance.

Why are the cries of such a needy section of our community only now being heard? Some of the schools these children attend are stretched to the limit. Government funding is becoming less and less and the schools are closing their doors.

The government knows the reality of this crisis and has set up a Productivity Commission Inquiry to investigate a new scheme. The sad part is that this new inquiry may take anything from five to seven years to investigate, and implement the new system. Meanwhile the carers and their families are burning out, and the children are missing out on basic care and education.

What happens to the children when the carers die? A tough question that needs a quick answer. Daily round the clock care is what these children need.

Families are so desperate some are seeking placement overseas for their children which means added costs of emigrating they can't afford. They can't wait until the government completes its inquiry and develops a new system.

A comparison - the government spends millions of dollars on mentally and physcially fit people training them to become the elite in their chosen sport, meanwhile our disabled community is crying out for the basic education and care we all take for granted.

I think our priorities are back to front, don't you?