Drop a Rock

She was known only as a certain woman. Perhaps that is sufficient, since what she did is so much more significant than her name would be. At least to the many men and women trapped in the tower with her. She lifted up a piece of stone, moved just a bit with it, and dropped it again. With that one action, her friends, family, and city were saved. The rock would not have been light. It was a piece of a millstone. In its better days, it had served the purpose of turning wheat and corn into life sustaining, bread producing meal. On this day, it would both remove and sustain life.

There was no question of the intentions of Abimelech, found in the ninth chapter of Judges. He had just come from Shechem, where the inhabitants of that city had also gathered in a tower as a defendable place of last resort. He had gathered tree branches, piled them around the tower, and set fire to their safe haven. He had burned a thousand men and women to … Continue Reading

Infirmities Are Not Identities

An infirmity does not need to be a life-long sentence. Too often, one weakness, one mistake, one bad moment becomes how we are identified the rest of our lives. Until we get sick of it.

One bad snapshot of us, used by too many to identify us, is not a complete picture. Proverbs 18:14 says the spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity. That word, “sustain,” means to keep in, hold, nourish, maintain, and contain. Something within our spirits wallows in, glories in, and strengthens our weaknesses. We nourish and sustain them till they become the central fabric of our lives. Paul tells us in Romans 6:19 that yielding to the infirmity of our flesh results in our becoming slaves to unrighteousness. Eventually our weaknesses control our very identity. They are what people see when they view us. One bad moment categorizes us in peoples’ minds. “Be careful of him, he’s violent.” “That’s the thief.” “That’s the loser.” “He’s got a gambling problem.” “He can’t keep a wife.” “He’s a predator.” “He’s a liar.” The list goes on and on, but God does not intend our mistakes to be permanent. … Continue Reading

Trust Me

You know how there are
But a few people in life
Maybe friends or family
You would trust with your life?

I met someone
I had never known
Until He had already
Trusted me with His life

Only then did He ask me
To do the same
If I told you
You absolutely need
To meet this guy
Would you trust me?

Contest – Win The Power of a Pawn by Paul Spite

***CONTEST CLOSED – Thank you to all who entered!***

It’s Contest Time! 

We’ve been so excited by the response of those who have read The Power of a Pawn by Paul Spite! We want to share this legal thriller with you too.

The Power of a Pawn has been called a “page-turner” and “the most excellent whodunnit novel of the decade” by our supportive fans. To read many more reviews, just click here.

How to Enter

Entering is simple.

1) Enter your name and email address into THIS FORM to sign up for Paul Spite’s brand new email list. Entering your first name and last initial only is okay.

2) Comment on this post to confirm your entry. … Continue Reading

A Clear Vision by Paul Spite

Based on a blog post by Sarah Jendzio

When I first discovered I needed glasses, wearing them was definitely not cool. I was in the fourth grade and had participated in calling others who wore them affectionate names like “four eyes.” I began wearing them with a bit of shame, but the alternative was unacceptable. I really needed to see what was being written on the board in order to make decent grades. Even when I took my glasses off, I missed having them. What I really wanted was the clarity of vision they afforded, but without the stigma of being different.

When I first realized I desperately needed the Holy Ghost, being born again was definitely not cool. I was in college and had participated in calling others with God’s Spirit affectionate names like “holy rollers.” After receiving such an incredible gift, from a God who owed me nothing, I mostly stayed quietly to myself. I was no longer interested in participating in activities offensive to the Spirit within. Yet, I was not prepared to explain what had happened to me or to defend my need for peace in a life of chaos. What I really wanted was the clear focus on life the Holy Ghost provided, without the stigma of being different. I no longer worry much about the opinions of others.

After forty years, I think my image complete with glasses is better than the one I portray smashing into fuzzy obstacles without them. After thirty years of living with God inside me, I think my life is far better off, with Him guiding my steps, than when I was stumbling through one terrible decision after another without Him. I could remove both my glasses and my God from my life, but why would I want to?

A Better Place to Be

It is not necessary to name the man who came to see me. He was not seeking recognition, just input and information on what a dream might cost in time and money.

He wants to build an indoor park for kids, a skateboard park to be precise. He has children who enjoy the sport, and they have friends who enjoy the sport. This parent has a dream. What he really wants is a place where kids can hang out safely. He visualizes a place where they will feel wanted.

What a nice idea. He is willing to spend part of himself to realize his dream. He asks, where in our town can kids realistically hang out in late evenings or early night time? What recreation is available that does not cost money children do not or should not have? Should they get together in homes without supervision, subject to unknown influences, and try out drinking, drugs or maybe pharming?

Skateboarding might be less dangerous and more rewarding. Where can kids go to practice this activity? Where will they not be trespassing or accused of vandalism? Some skateboarders purposely defy the rules, just as we did when younger. They make a nuisance of themselves. But by and large, they are respectful when asked to leave place after place. Some are truly athletes.

I applaud the dream of this parent, and will do what I can to help. He will likely never profit from this endeavor. He might never recover his time or expenses. He might make the community a better place to be. If he succeeds, his will be a place where kids meet with peers, learn new techniques, and find recognition for their accomplishments from those peers. It will be a place where, under the supervision of parents who understand, they can play, eat, drink, and socialize with others. They will be welcome there.

It is not necessary to give this man’s name. But if he succeeds, he will build better citizens and a better community. To a few select children, he will also be a hero.

Statues of Liberty

In a message delivered in His home town synagogue, Jesus irritated those who thought they knew Him. He claimed to be the anointed messenger of God, the Messiah. He claimed to have come to set not one, but many kinds of captives free. That is good news indeed to those of us in prisons. That promise and prophecy can be found in Luke 4:17-21, which also describes the captives.

America’s promise to the world is found at the Statue of Liberty. It goes like this: “Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me. I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

God’s similar promise to those of us seeking a better life is found in Matthew 11:28. “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

He came for those who are bound. The first captives are the poor, and we are in a prison all our own. Extreme poverty locks the sum total of our existence into a search for ways to meet our basic needs. Those seeking their next meal will have little interest in the bread of life. Those looking for a safe place to sleep overlook the … Continue Reading