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This summer seems like a well-deserved vacation. After a year of shut-ins and no freedom to travel, many are enjoying vacations and weekend getaways. We all have our “idea” of the perfect getaway. For some, it’s the mountains or beaches. Others like city life with theaters, museums and shopping. Vacations in the country strike many as the only way to unwind. I'm fortunate to live in the middle of North Carolina where the beach or mountains is only three hours away. I enjoy the beach with its salty air, crashing waves, and the call of the seagulls.
The mountains also hit the top of my list. No matter what time of the year, the rolling hills call. The way the mountains flaunt beautiful bunches of trees in various greens remind me there is a bigger purpose than what I see.
Above are a few wonderful reminders that when all the negativity and bickering is silenced, we live in a beautiful world. The longing to be in a quiet place has always been my birthmark. Back in 2011 with my debut novel, it was apparent that small towns, which offered a simpler way to enjoy God’s beautiful world called to me. My character (Samantha) escaped the big city to a little fishing town. Though she didn’t know God had a hand in it the path was what she needed. Asheville Hearts was inspired by Asheville NC and the heritage in that region. Asheville isn’t a small town but many quaint places surround the area.
Is there a special place you enjoy visiting in the summertime?
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 The weather is warm, birds are singing. Nature is hosting a celebration. When I think of celebrations my mind immediately goes to birthdays. There are many ways to observe a birthday. Young people enjoy parties; older folks often like to get-together with a few friends, at a restaurant. I know some who prefer staying home and quietly acknowledging their birthdays. Birthday facts August is the most celebrate month for birthdays. Two billion Birthday cards are sent each year in the U.S. The song "Happy Birthday” is from "Good Morning to you lyrics,” written by Mildred Hill and Dr. Patty hill in 1893. A trend in the 19th centuries was to have all your teeth removed and replaced with a set of dentures on your 21st birthday to prevent dental treatment later in life.  It doesn’t matter how you commemorate your birthday. What matters are the plans you make for the coming year ahead. God designed us to be born in the month that we celebrate. Even if you’re a person who doesn’t celebrate you’re birthday, rest assure, God recognizes you’re special. Each unique month holds a particular meaning and a dedicated color especially for you. Did you know the Bible mentions the colors that represent each month? God's Holy Word also teaches us the spiritual meaning of each birthstone.  The spiritual meaning of birthstones, and their colors, hold an insight to your aspirations and believing in all God has in store for you. Bonus; Flowers and meanings.  My favorite season is summertime. Yes, I enjoy hot weather. The warm season energizes me and is a reminder of the way the Lord refreshes us during our seasons. All of us go through seasons. Springtime brings growth as the flowers and trees blossom. The weather turns warm; nature arises with new life and possibilities. In life, we go through spring seasons where we sow and flourish. This is the season for careers, residences and relationships. It seems that behind every corner there is hope. In the summer, nature comes to its full potential. The days are longer with the promise of good things to come. This is the sowing time. What we do, who we are and how we treat others in our summer season becomes our legacy. In autumn, the days become shorter. The leaves change color and fall from the trees. All of nature prepares for colder weather. In our autumn season, we might reap some of the things sowed in earlier years. We’ll ponder the past, praise the blessings and hopefully learn from our mistakes. In winter, the weather is cold, sometimes with snow and ice. The days are shorter and nights are longer. Nature is dormant without growth. People in their winter season tend to live a simpler life. They stay inside more and require less worldly trappings. Life’s winter season maybe the last of the seasons, but for many natures shines with more beauty. The past is accepted and people move forward with a milder outlook. There is no skipping the seasons. All we can do is recognize the times we’re in, and make them the best we can. I’m in my autumn years, I realize my 'winter season' is around the corner. As I approach that time of life, I’m grateful and blessed. Many years ago, I accepted the Lord into my seasons. I now look beyond my earthly times, toward a joyous eternity. No matter who you are, know you’re strong. Hold onto faith and make the season you’re in a time for blessings.  To celebrate my autumn years I’m writing a series based on older characters that have a zest for life in a small southern town. ‘Southern Joy,’ is book1 of Autumn Years.  Robin Young has worked for one of the largest audit and assurance firms’ in Ohio for thirty years. Her career has left little time for relationships. After receiving an urgent call from her sister’s neighbor, she hurries to the small town of Fairhope, Alabama.
The ambiance of Alabama has Robin contemplating life and meeting Tucker Ray, the quintessential “good ole boy” of the south, adds to the charm. Her stay in Fairhope uncovers a secret, and a chance for love, but the Buckeye state is where she belongs. Can Robin accept change and unravel matters of the heart? https://www.amazon.com/Southern-Joy-Autumn-Years-Book-ebook/dp/B08L14KBLL/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Southern+joy+mary+L+ball&qid=1616028996&s=books&sr=1-1  In today’s times, nothing is more important than having faith. It carries everyone through difficult situations and gives hope for a better tomorrow. People use the word faith all the time. We hear, "keep the faith. Walk in faith. Have faith." Really, what is faith? Faith has several meanings. It’s a complete trust or a confidence in someone or something. A belief in God based on spiritual awareness. A firmly held theory built from science or principles. Non-believers may not recognize their belief system as faith, but they put trust in their cars to carry them back and forth or have confidence that with the flip of a switch the lights will come on. People faithfully accept the normality of life without a question. This is a tangible faith  Christians have faith in God by heeding to the teachings of Jesus Christ and believing on God's promises. The faith provided from the Holy Word will lead 'whosoever' to a better destination. The Bible is a wonderful source for providing serenity in this upside-down world. Many scriptures open a window of understanding to help in today’s circumstances. Even a simple verse can guide, if faith is applied. What’s your definition of faith? 
Do we really understand how to take advantage of all that God’s word offers? Moments with God’s Word highlights a few of the least quoted verses in the Bible. These verses are life changing! The Holy Scriptures can make a difference in our lives and prevent the adversary from stealing our blessings. Gather insight as to how to apply Scriptures to everyday problems. Discover ways to prevent Satan from interfering with the power that Christ gives us. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MG1MSRK/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i16 It’s time for everyone to show a little love. Valentine’s Day isn’t only for romantic love. It’s also a day to send admiration to our families and friends.  Love isn’t lust. Nor is it a fleeting emotional feeling. The Bible says, ‘Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.’ John 15:13(KJV) God teaches us about real love and showed His love on the cross. He made a way for 'whosoever' to overcome sin. Human love should be about showing respect and putting the other person first. I’m a KJV Bible reader, but in my novels I use the NIV for references. I especially like 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8, from the NIV Bible.  A few Valentine’s Day facts. Latin’s know Valentine's Day as día del amor y la amistad (day of love and friendship). Couples exchange flowers and chocolates, but the holiday's main focus is showing gratitude to friends. In Japan, it's customary for women to give sweets to the men. St. Valentine wasn't just one person. According to History.com, two men named Valentine inspired the holiday. One Valentine was a priest in third century Rome. In the 1300s, Valentine’s Day officially became the holiday associated with love. Cupid’s roots are in Greek mythology. The cute cherub that appears on Valentine's Day cards and candy boxes, often holding a bow and arrow become a common symbol for holiday patented after a 700 B.C., Greek god of love, Eros. He was said to be handsome, immortal and held the power to make people fall in love. In the 4th century Romans adopted Eros into the image of a cute little boy with a bow and arrow and called him "Cupid." By the 19th century, Cupid and Valentine’s Day intertwined. History.com, reports the oldest Valentine card dates to 1415 when a French medieval duke named Charles, wrote a poem to his wife. One of the lines in the poem says, "I am already sick of love, my very gentle Valentine." The tradition of Valentine's Day flowers dates to the 17th century when King Charles II of Sweden learned the "language of flowers," (associating different flowers with specific meanings). Red roses symbolize a deep love. Enjoy your Valentine’s Day and send a smile to someone in need. February is a good time for the novel, Sparks of Love. I hope you’ll enjoy this romantic suspense.  Misjudged and accused, Lynette Cunningham walks away from God and everything she loves.
Ten years later, a phone call from father offers hope when he announces he may have a clue to the unsolved crime that forced her to run. She’s scared, but encouraged. Maybe this will clear her name from slander in her small North Carolina hometown. Before Lynette returns tragedy strikes. A fire destroys her childhood home and kills her father. While she sorts through the ruins and hopes to find the clue, Lynette meets the new pastor, Price Fletcher. She must face the two things that scare her most. The past and a man of God. The past wants to stay buried. Will Lynette stay alive long enough to prove her innocence and accept the love that is offered? https://www.christianbook.com/sparks-of-love-ebook/mary-ball/9781943104680/pd/94014EB?product_redirect=1&search_term=sparks%20of%20love%20&Ntt=94014EB&item_code=&ps_exit=PRODUCT&Ntk=keywords&event=ESRCP https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M1NFGF7/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i15 Hi everyone, we’ve had many unsettling months. I’m sure things, which have transpired has tried many people in a way as never before, but we shall overcome and January offers us a new start.  The past months have certainly touched me and made me take a hard look within myself. I’ve had to make a conscience choice to look toward the good and turn from the negative. In many ways the uproar in the world has tried to place a stumbling-block in my pathway of calmness and thankfulness. However, I set my sights on beginning this calendar year with a determination to remain in a state of gratitude and to hold to faith. God has our backs. Regardless of what the world tosses our way, Jesus holds every soul in His merciful hands. These three verses are a few I plan to hold in 2021. “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” Philippians 4 “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” 1 Peter 5 “Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?” Matthew 6 I know I’m not the only one who has been living in uncertainty, but I do know that walking with Jesus makes all things possible and with His guidance life can be joyous. I happily send an Irish blessing your way.  Let’s all stay focused on new things and positive ideas. I saw a post on Face Book that said, the way to be a rebel is to, “love God, love your country and think for yourself.” That got me to thinking about the controversy we’ve faced and how a simple mask has caused division, harassment and mean ill between people. Is this what was intended by the media and the rulers? I don’t know, but it brings to mind the phrase, ‘Divide and conquer.” It’s widely known the ways of war are to ‘divide and conquer.’ This phrase is also known as ‘divide and rule,’ and explained as: A strategy to gain or maintain concerning politics, sociology, and economics. Leaders can either divide people or unite them. The below is a post from Face Book I borrowed. It’s only meant to open our eyes to possibilities that the wonderful freedoms we enjoy can be stripped away in ways other than war.  In less than 4 months, the government demonstrated how easy people assimilate to "guidelines" that have no scientific premise. A government that successfully instills fear in a majority of the population can control every aspect of life, what you eat, where you go, and who you see. Possibilities… The pandemic ushered in many undesirable circumstances. In 9 months, the U.S. transformed itself into an obedient Socialist country. Governments dictate what events are acceptable. Violent protests to instill fear are okay, but church services, funerals and patriotic celebrations are dangerous. Small businesses were forced to close, but crowds supporting corporate money machines at the big chain stores are okay. The government closed public schools and "restructured" education under the semblance of "public safety.” The dangerous part… People are not afraid of their freedoms being removed. They're afraid of their neighbors, family and friends. And they hate those who won't comply with anything suggested and don't even question, why? They willingly surrounded critical thinking skills and gave up without a thought. Do you know what's possible? "It's just a vaccine and for the greater good.” Sure, until you're told you can't enter a store or business without proof of the Covid vaccine. Until you can't go to a public event without proof of receiving a vaccine. To everyone that doesn't believe this is possible take heed, the government successfully dictated to people where they were allowed to go, and how their children would be educated in less than 4 months? A majority of the population followed blindly because they were told to do so. Wake up America and stand for your liberties. This is America and (so far) we’re entitled to feel differently about issues and we all have a constitutional right to express such, although these past months it’s seemed a little one-sided. We have to ask ourselves when we, as people of a free USA figured it was decent, kind and the American way to build walls of division between one another, hold grudges against a neighbor for thinking differently and hatefully speak ill to someone who doesn't agree with our opinions. The mainstream media has tried to instill in everyone that it is okay to treat each other like dirt because they don’t abide with every suggestion placed in front of them. I’m not for or against anyone that’s doing what they feel is right. I am against motives that illegally trample on our constitution, or make people feel like a cast-out. As citizens of the USA It’s important to realize the difference between a Government that forces control and one that honors independence. This isn’t the first epidemic America has fought so let’s pray we don’t lose a blessed nation. Let’s pray we don’t lose a free nation. Let’s stand for our Constitutional Rights and Freedoms! America if you believe in prayer, pray for our liberty. If you put your trust in the normality of our great USA, stand up for freedom. Please know it's not my desire to be negative, only to inform and pray for our wonderful USA.   I'm looking forward to creating some new characters that will stroll through mystery, suspense and romance in 2021.
May we remain in peace and harmony with God's blessings for the coming months. This year has been like a spot on the rug. You know that little round stain is there. It haunts you every time you walk on it. Like that rug, the media, along with the government has condition us to make this virus our main focus. I'm not suggesting this pandemic is something to ignore, but it shouldn't haunt our every waking day. It’s in times like this, we have to turn our focus away from the worldly stains and onto heavenly promises. Only by holding to the knowledge that God is the author of our hope and faith we can look ahead with Spiritual eyes. Sure, this year has been turbulent, but Christmas gives us a reason to celebrate with a new outlook. As we celebrate Christmas it’s my prayer that we’ll focus on the true meaning of the season and hold to the mighty hand of faith. Below are a few tidbits about Christmas I hope you'll enjoy. The Twelve Days of Christmas may be a traditional folk song, but the words support our Christian faith in an everlasting way. A Partridge in a pear tree represent Jesus becaus the Partridge is a bird that will sacrifice its own life to save its little ones. Two Turtle Doves signify the Old and New Testaments. The three French hens stand for faith, hope, and love. Four Calling birds signify the four gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Five golden rings refer to the first five books of the Old Testament, which detail man's fall to sin and highlights God's love by sending a Savior. Six geese a-laying, stands for the six days of creation. Seven swans a-swimming are the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit (wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord.) Eight maids a-milking showcase the eight beatitudes. Nine ladies dancing are the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit (love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.) Ten lords a-leaping are of course the Ten Commandments. Eleven pipers-piping refer to the eleven faithful Apostles. Twelve drummers drumming symbolize the twelve beliefs of The ‘Apostles' Creed.’
The picture (above) on the right is a1910 postcard illustrating Santa Claus with the words "I bring you a merry Xmas from...” Many of us know the word ‘Christmas’ represents Christ’s mass, which is a church service that celebrates the birth of Jesus, However the words Christmas and XMAS have the same origin. The use of the word, XMAS goes as far back as Christianity. In Greek, the word Christ begins with the letter X. Most research shows this abbreviation dates back to 1021.  Inspiration and ideas for spreading cheer to yourself and others. Christmas Inspiration touches on the history of the holiday and the Christmas tree. It highlights a few meanings to the decorations we commonly use. Find simple, beautiful DIYcrafts, delicious old-time holiday recipes or get encouraged by poetry and songs. More romantic Christmas reads to slow down the holiday shopping rush of the season  Merry Christmas and God Bless you all “I am so thankful that I have a joy that the world can not rob me of; I have a treasure that the world can not take from me; I have something that it is not in the power of man or devil to deprive me of, and that is the joy of the Lord.” – D.L. Moody Thanksgiving is around the corner. Many people use this time to reflect on things their thankful for, but it’s difficult to have a grateful heart in times of trials. Still, in those situations a thankful heart is more inportant than ever. We may not not be happy when we're going through trials, but we need to stay positive and thank the Lord for all He’s done and all He will continue to do in our lives. In 1 Thessalonians we are instructed to 'give thanks in all things.' I don’t think the scripture is suggesting we disregard our feelings. I believe it's directing us not to be blind-sided by a difficult situation and remain grateful for the good things we have. “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” 1Thessalonians 5:18. Problems in our life are not, ‘the will of God,’ being grateful during those times is ‘the will of God.’ A few worthy quotes "As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them." ~ John Fitzgerald Kennedy "We would worry less if we praised more. Thanksgiving is the enemy of discontent and dissatisfaction." ~ Harry Ironside, American preacher "We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of Heaven; we have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity; we have grown in numbers, wealth, and power as no other nation has ever grown. "~ Abraham Lincoln, Thanksgiving 1863 “Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the heathen, and I will sing praises unto thy name.” 2 Samuel 22:50 Thanksgivig dinner is always a treat with turkey and stuffing, but there are many delicious side dishes that await our tastebuds too. From my table to yours, a couple of wonderful recipes.  Herbed Bread Twist Ingredients 1/4 cup butter, softened 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder 1/4 teaspoon each dried basil, marjoram and oregano 1 loaf (1 pound) frozen bread dough, thawed 3/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese 1 large egg 1 tablespoon water 4 teaspoons sesame seeds Directions In a small bowl, combine butter and seasonings. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough into a 12-in. square. Spread with butter mixture to within 1/2 in. of edges; sprinkle with cheese. Fold dough into thirds. Cut widthwise into 24 strips. Twist each strip twice; pinch ends to seal. Place 2 in. apart on greased baking sheets. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 40 minutes. Then beat egg and water. Brush over dough. Sprinkle with sesame seeds. Bake at 375° until light golden brown, 10-12 minutes.  Brown Sugar Bacon Roasted Sweet Potatoes Ingredients 2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and diced into 1″ cubes 5 strips of bacon, diced 1/4 cup olive oil 1/2 cup brown sugar + more for sprinkling Instructions Preheat oven to 350. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or tin foil. Peel your sweet potatoes. In large bowl add your sweet potatoes and olive oil and toss to coat. Add in your bacon and brown sugar and again toss to coat and distribute bacon. Lay the ingredients on the baking sheet. Roast in oven for about 30 minutes or until sweet potatoes are tender. Remove from oven and sprinkle with additional brown sugar.  I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving.  Thanksgiving Secret Matthew Blake left home in search of fame. Years later, writer’s block threatens his career. He returns to his roots hoping to rejuvenate his creative juices and meets Lucinda Wise. Unknown to Matt, he’s involved in a mystery, that is soon to be unearthed. Lucinda rents her tiny house to Matt. Despite his self-centered ways, she finds herself enjoying his company and sharing her faith with him. As Thanksgiving approaches, Matt discovers that Lucinda is the partaker of a secret that will change his life forever. Can Matt accept God’s plan for his future? https://www.amazon.com/Thanksgiving-Secret-Romance-Book-ebook/dp/B074MJ11K5/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=mary+l+ball+Thanksgiving+Secret&qid=1605906363&sr=8-2 Welcome, recently, multi-published author Christopher D. Schmitz email about his soon to be published book. This novel fits the Christian Living genre. It may seem a little controversial; however, often in diverse reading we find reason for thought. Author Christopher D. Schmitz answers questions and opens up about his book and the debatable pandamic. I hope you enjoy this interview and remember your comments are always welcomed.  Christopher D. Schmitz is author of both Sci-Fi/Fantasy Fiction and Nonfiction books and has been published in both traditional and independent outlets. He has written several fiction series and a number of devotional books and Christian nonfiction titles. In addition to decades of ministry experience, Schmitz holds a Master’s Degree in Religion and freelances for local newspapers. He lives in Minnesota with his family and a horde of dogs. Christopher, with his lovey wife, Kelly Christopher, what is the most difficult part of your writing process? It is definitely having enough time to make all my ideas come to fruition. I have more ideas then I have time to write them! The difficult part, for me, is being able to guard enough of my time to spend writing… but then people look at my backlist and ask, “How do you have so much time to write so many books?” I don’t sleep much. What’s your favorite and least favorite part of publishing? I love every part of the creative process and own a small publisher. I’ve been able to help a lot of people get their works published. Some of the minutia I find tiresome, however (things like managing ISBNs and multiple versions of books… I hate re-doing work.) How many books have you written and which one is your favorite? Oh my gosh. What a loaded question. I’ve got to be closing in on 30 books; definitely more than that if you count my ebooks. My favorite one is not yet out… my baby is Shadowless, which reads like I Am Legend meets City of Ember. It will come out in a year or so when the next installment is completed and after I hit a few marketing benchmarks. What inspired the idea for your newest book, ‘Muzzling Jesus: Liberty, Faith, Politics, and the Mask Debate’? I write mostly Sci-Fi and Fantasy (and some humor) novels. But I also write faith-based nonfiction. I’ve been working this idea over in mind for two decades, now: that the power of choice is linked to the Imago Dei… that freedom (Christian Liberty) is intrinsically tied to faith, and to the value of individuals. Two things made me decide I had to put this out now (even if my ideas aren’t yet fully refined.) 1. My son very nearly died because of government’s red-tape and response to the COVID pandemic (he was sent home to die with a burst appendix that gave him internal gangrene.) 2. The reaction to the disease is projected to kill far more than the disease and the economy has been wrecked (as a small business owner, and most of my friends are likewise, I’m in the grips of that right now.) But even worse, liberty has been trampled and even our freedom to worship has been denied by a government that was formed to protect against the idea that the government could have any say in that. I see the violations of liberty as a fundamental threat to faith.  Christopher, I pray your son is healthy now. I agree this pandemic has crossed the lines. I’m sure many people will suffer illness because the health care system’s only focused is the virus.
How did you come up with the title for your book? When I began writing, many of my peers were making a lot of noise on social media, claiming that Jesus would wear a mask. I cannot find a scrap of biblical evidence that would advocate that and discuss this from both a historical and biblical perspective. I think there is great danger of viewing Jesus through a lens that makes Him always agree with our own opinions and look exactly like us. The idea of putting Jesus in a muzzle came from that thought: people are forcing even their God to wear a mask, but I’m not convinced that we can (or should) do that. The rest of the title goes into some of the topics that are tertiary to that idea: Christian liberty and freedom, how should our faith intersect all aspects of our lives including our politics, and how ought we to act towards our government and fellow man. Every state has been crippled, as officials stepped in to try and contain this pandemic. During this important time do you think responses could be handled differently? If so why? I think that the proverb is right: “the road to hell is paved with good intentions.” The world is increasingly polarized and because people aligned political platforms with COVID response, they lost the ability to course correct when new data was released. I don’t know anybody who objected to “flattening the curve.” But when the fourteen day shutdown turned into months on end and governmental interference and invasion to every aspect of life, it was no longer about saving lives. But those with power had already dug in, and by spinning stories in the media and dictating the narrative (and keeping us in a constant state of jumping at shadows) allows it to continue. I, for one, want to turn on the lights. Ultimately, I think decisions need to be more localized. I talk about this with what my son went through. My community hadn’t had any actual diagnosed infected at that time… but the media-stoked fear combined with one-sized-fits-all regulations that don’t meet the needs of rural communities do far more harm than good. It does things like strip medical attention and options anywhere but in metro areas… and that leads to unnecessary deaths—the thing the regulations were meant to curb. I don’t like being collateral damage in someone else’s struggle (and I don’t think you do, either.) Absolutely not. Nothing about this should be ‘one size fits all.’ The H1N1 virus in 2009 killed many. Influenza in 1968 held a death toll of 1 million. The Asian flu of 1957 caused 2 million deaths; a 1918 pandemic was responsible for 30 million and the Sixth Cholera pandemic of 1911 killed 800,000. Given the history of flu like deaths why do you think the government reacted differently this one? I would admit to being something of a conspiracy theorist. Especially the older I get, the more coincidences seem to have a guiding hand. Also, I’d want to point out in your numbers above that the global population was smaller at the time, so the early 1900s death tolls are actually worse than they appear at face value. That said my book talks about data with raw numbers, which seems to dehumanize the stats. I understand that when people die, it’s a person. My son was one of those potential numbers; in the book, I discuss cancer numbers. My Grandmother died of spinal cancer only a couple years ago. She is both a person and a number on a data sheet. I believe a lot of strings are pulled by people with skin in the game. The Media wants to sell stories (ad revenue, etc.) Politicians want to stay in power. Businesses want to make more money. Politicians are often invested all around, and I cite multiple stories of political corruption directly linked to COVID. Honestly, even the World Health Organization was caught with their hand in the cookie jar… but this is a problem of human evil existing in a world where a virus can become an opportunity to be exploited, and I believe that is exactly that what happened. You use the quote ‘I prefer dangerous freedom over peaceful slavery.’ from Thomas Jefferson in your blurb, why? At its face value, I think this statement sums up my feelings. A lot of people want a safety net; many Americans think the government should provide safety wheels for our lives—but to do that we would need to be comfortable giving up control to other people. I don’t have enough faith in the government to do that. Letting someone else control you sounds an awful lot like slavery to me. (In my book, I do a brief word study on Romans 13 and the word “submission.” It’s not written in the Greek how people usually translate it in English.) When my son was four he wanted to learn to ride a bike without training wheels. I told him I would take them off when I returned from work. I got home just in time to see him using a wrench to remove the second training wheel, pick up his bike, and ride down the sidewalk. As an analogy for life and modern government, I would have punished him for that. Instead, I was prouder than ever for his initiative and determination. He risked doing it wrong, ruining his bike, and falling an injuring himself, but he wanted to ride the way he was meant to. I would rather be subjected to danger but allowed to determine my own destiny rather than allow a bureaucrat to determine glass ceilings for my life, or guidelines when he or she has little or no understanding of the facts (or has an ulterior motive.) I’m sure many will want to purchase a copy of ‘Muzzling Jesus: Liberty, Faith, Politics, and the Mask Debate’ where can they find it and also learn more about your other books? My website or my amazon author profile is both good places. My website has a bookstore feature and people can buy direct, but they can get it elsewhere as well. https://www.authorchristopherdschmitz.com/ http://amazon.com/author/christopherdschmitz Is there anything else you want to say to the readers? My fiction is primary genre based (Sci-fi, fantasy, YA) and if you like stories by guys like Frank Peretti or Ted Dekker, then I think you’d find my books familiar. You can also send me email through my website and I teach workshops on writing and self/indie publishing. Christopher thanks for offer. I appreciate you being on my blog and for putting your knowledge out there to give us informative choices. Readers I hope you check out Christopher D. Schmitz other novels at: Direct paperback: https://treeshaker-books-store.square.site/product/muzzling-jesus-liberty-faith-politics-and-the-mask-debate/28?cp=true&sa=true&sbp=false&q=false Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08HSP96MW other bookstores linked: https://books2read.com/u/bMPeYV/ |
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