THE POWER OF HOSPITALITY: An Open Heart, Open Hand, and
Open Home will Change Your World
Chuck
& Kathie Crismier
Elijah
Books, 2005
345
pages
$13.00
Never has there been a more urgent need for hospitality
expressed through the Christian home than in America today. Because we live in a
highly mobile society, many people feel isolated. Add to that the spirit of
individualism birthed by American liberty and folks can feel quite alone, even
in our churches. Furthermore, the “me” mentality has led to divorce, broken
families, AIDS, abortion, and crime.
Chuck and Kathie Crismier offer the biblical
solution for this dilemma. Broken into two parts: 1) the heart and power of
hospitality and 2) the art and practice of hospitality, the book lends
excellent scriptural support for the Christian family’s call to hospitality,
which they contend can generate true community. The Crismiers teach that
hospitality is both a prerequisite for revival in America and a result of revival.
In a nutshell, the Crismiers contend that “your
heart, hand, and home are God’s ordained access points for His Holy Spirit to
reach locked hearts” (214). A godly family will reach out to others, thus
building a strong church which in turn builds a strong community.
In addition to theory, the Crismiers offer practical
suggestions on how to implement hospitality. Phone calls, cards, home dinners,
games, and providing a room or transportation are just a few of the forms
hospitality can take. The important thing is to sit down with your family and set
some hospitality goals, then follow through. Blessings come when the Christian
family practices hospitality.
It's been a long time since I updated you on my kids' quip book, Wit & Wisdom from the Wee Ones. After two major surgeries for my editor and several exciting events at OakTara, including restructuring our contract with Amazon to offer our Kindle books at lower prices, my editor tells me Wit & Wisdom will release some time in April. This fun compilation book would make a great gift for Mother's Day.
Now that my grandson, Gabriel (3), is living with us while his family prepares for full-time ministry in Thailand, the cute quips flow frequently.
Here are a few one-liners Gabe's delivered lately to wet your appetite forWit & Wisdom. Oh, and one from granddaughter, Kylie, too. :)
Gabriel (3) playing hide-n-seek
sticks his head out of the tent: "Look, Grandma, I found Gabriel!"
Mama to Gabe: "Tell us your verse this week."
Gabe: "ACTS 9:36. A certain disciple name Betty-lou, was full of spaGHETTI
and CHOCOLATE BALLS!
A black dog ran up to Gabe (3) and me. I rubbed the dog's
head and said, "Well, what's your name, big fella?" Gabe looked at me and replied: "Grandma, he can't talk."
Gabriel (3) holding a golf club:
"Grandma, sit on the floor and pretend you're a golf ball."
Gabriel, with a glint in his eye: "Time for
your honey whack, Grandma."
While playing in the snow the other
day, granddaughter Kylie (7) said, "Grandma, let's draw pictures in the
snow." We did and then Kylie said she wanted to make a face
picture. I thought she was going to draw an image, but instead, she promptly
stuck her face into the snow, leaving a nose, mouth, and eye sockets print.
~~
A devotional in the works . . .
Breathe Deeply God's Grace traces God's grace from Genesis to Revelation in short vignettes that include a scripture, helpful insights, and closing prayer with challenge to practice the concept.
Stay tuned for more on this project. Below is a video excerpt.
~~
A contemporary romance in the works!
Seasons of Hope coauthored with Jennifer Slattery!
A blind woman seeks refuge at Camp Hope only to encounter the man who took her sight.
On the verge of college
graduation, Loni Parker seeks employment as a music teacher, but no one will
hire her since she’s blind. Or so she thinks that’s the reason. To take her
mind off her troubles, her roommate invites her to spring retreat at Camp Hope
in the gorgeous North Carolina mountains. Unbeknown to Loni, Michael Ackerman,
the director, is an ex-con responsible for the accident that caused her
blindness. When Loni warms up to camp and wants to return as a summer
counselor, Michael opposes the idea, which only makes Loni want to prove
herself all the more. Though she doesn’t expect to fall for the guy. Still, her
need for independence and dream of teaching win out, taking her far away from
her beloved Camp Hope . . . and a certain director.
From the moment Loni Parker steps
onto the camp ground, Michael knows who she is, and he doesn’t want anything to
do with her. Yet, in spite of his guilt that drives him to push Loni away, he
can’t deny his growing attraction to the determined woman. After all, she
reminds him of himself. Beyond that, she seems to see more with her heart
than the average person does with his eyes. But her presence also dredges up
a long-buried anger toward his alcoholic father that he’d just as soon keep
hidden. When circumstances spin out of control, Michael is forced to face a
past that may destroy his present.
~~
December Sunrise, a novella
A little girl’s
Christmas wish comes at a high cost.
Emma’s Christmas list
isn’t like other kids’. Instead of toys, she wants her mama’s cancer to go
away, the town to stop arguing over the Ten Commandments, and nice Mr. Whitmire
to reunite with his estranged daughter. Grandma Doreen holds the key to a
family secret that just might fulfill some of Emma’s desires, but not before
tragedy strikes.
A young girl’s heart
for helping takes her to a dark place only the Light of Christmas can illuminate.
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Please pray that the Lord will use these works to bring glory to Himself and share his grace and truth with others! Thanks so much!
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To check out my other books, visit my author page:
