Bible Study Cover Images

My latest angst related to my writing life relates to the cover/titles of my upcoming Bible Study.

First.for those of you not familiar with the wonderful world of publishing, the author doesn't get a whole lot of say so about the cover art; if you're lucky you'll like it.

And as far as the title goes, don't get married to that either, because it will probably change.

I don't know about you, but I do judge a book by its cover, and I had something really different in mind.

This Bible Study was conceived over three years ago, and I wrote the first version after it was accepted for publication in my favorite writing spot, Roatan.

My original title was, "UnDoing Church: Not Your Mother's Bible Study." I guess I have a pattern of being a bit too edgy in my writing, it's what bought me the re-casting and softening of 66 stories with my most recent manuscript.



This study is decidedly about following Jesus, not being a good church woman who puts on a happy face on Sunday and then goes back to the same old same old the rest of the week; or the church lady who is the self appointed women's ministry leader who is anything but humble in her service. I have met one or two like that, and must say, I am not drawn to them.

So, imagine my surprise and dismay when I saw the first cover, in which the study had also been re-titled. It is not a study about worship, rather about faith. I was also hoping for something more generic and small group appropriate, not just targeted to women. Sigh.

I must give my publishers credit for wanting to work at it and make it right and they went back tot he drawing board and came up with the second version. They did make it "Discovering Faith" (better) and did eliminate the words "for women" on the cover. They decided to make the UnDoing Church a brand name logo, to make room for further studies in the brand, for example, Discovering Prayer, Worship, Service, etc. But they put the "Not Your Mother's Bible Study" on the back.


So, what do you think?
I think she ought to have some sassy glasses or something that lets the reader know they may get a taste of sassy or edgy when they start to read.

I admit to getting a bit worked up over this, as I have some amazing endorsements from folks like Shane Claiborne, Brian McClaren, Dan Kimball and Leonard Sweet...that I am not 100% sure are in sync with the pretty young lady on the cover, but this is probably also a lesson in trust...if I keep saying I am done shoving square pegs through round holes, then I need to let this one go too,and figure that God has an audience, and perhaps it is the tight-fisted luxury car driving control freak church woman, or the woman who may have gone to church for years but still not know Jesus....

One of the challenges of writing is that we become pretty attached to these babies of ours, and we have hopes, dreams, goals and expectations that don't always (usually?) jibe with what the decision makers have in mind. The only way the author gets to be the decision maker completely is if they self publish, and that is wrought with its own set of obstacles... sigh. All the stuff we don't know...and some people end up selling their souls for in publishing circles.

So I am making peace with how this study is being cast...I'd love to hear what you think.

Peace.

Announcing My New Blog!

Hey there.
If you know me at all, or have been reading here, you know I have a huge passion for outreach and social justice issues. Instead of combining the two on this blog, I have launched another blog where I will share those thoughts, and keep this one the "Stressed Out Diva Mom" blog.
The other thoughts can be read at: www.undoingchurch.blogspot.com. Feel free to drop by!
I have also been meaning to mention that I have been picked up as a parent blogger on the Empowering Parents web site. I am going to set up a button link from this site (OK not me, but my web help, who I would die without). My last post garnered like 34 comments. Took me a bit by surprise.
Oh, and I just found out yesterday that I had another story accepted into a compilation. All in all, a good day. And the new office is just about done, and very nice. Photos will follow...
Cheers!

C is for Church...

What is church? That question actually came up on another blog I have stumbled upon. Now, that must mean I have an over abundant amount of time, if I have time to wander and meander around in cyberspace linking to like minded blogs, which is why it is probably a good thing I went to work today...Now I know you are wondering, what blog is that? And since I am now brain dead and don't have the link at my fingertips, I am going to defer the answer till tomorrow. But in the meantime, I will pose that same question here. What is church?

This is what I wrote about church in my upcoming title contested Bible Study:

C is for CHURCH

Church is:

1. The place you drag your kids kicking and screaming on Sunday mornings because that is what “good” families do.
2. The really, really pretty building with stained glass windows that you go to twice a year (Christmas and Easter, in case you weren’t sure…) that is your ticket to heaven.
3. The place where the ladies with blue hair and too many pearls go on Sunday mornings so they can catch up on a week’s worth of gossip.
4. Those of us who serve as Christ’s hands and feet here on Earth. Through service we demonstrate that we are part of the body of Christ and His committed followers on Earth.

I remember vividly the day I went to church, for real, for the first time…the first time I sensed that church was more than four walls. It was a gathering place for the followers of Jesus, committed to serving him as part of his body. For the first time I experienced the true definition of church, a group of people who served as his hands and feet here on earth.

It was an A-Ha moment. And I was in my forties.

Peace.

Continued Exhaustion...

I am still really, really tired. I know crisscrossing the country doesn't help, but I am just whooped. But obviously I suffer from a bit of OCD, because I can't not post before tucking in under the covers.

I did want to post last night, but then the wind just got taken completely out of my sails. My editor emailed me the sell sheet and cover for my upcoming Bible Study.I tried to upload the image here, but it didn't work...

First, my title was changed, and apparently that happened a while ago, but I just found out last night. I asked if the cover design was done, because I met someone at NOC who is going to give me feedback. So, instead of UnDoing Church: Not Your Mother's Bible Study, they eliminated the second part and replaced it with 'Preparing for Worship". Then, there are dual images on the cover of a woman with her hands in prayer position and on the bottom opened in worship position. But it just isn't in sync with my style,voice or content.

I had to step back and stop hyperventilating. At one point Howie said something in his characteristic dry wit, and I just started to cry. I have really high hopes for this study, but in its original conception with the sassy title and all. As a matter of fact, it is that sassy title that garnered all the endorsement support I have gotten.

I slept on it and didn't wake up feeling any better, so I called my editor who was sympathetic and encouraged me to be in contact with the committee...

So what else is new, and why won't I be able to join Pam for coffee this week? Because I got a new very part time job that involves driving to Scranton and doing chart reviews, and Monday and Friday are committed writing days. I have a wonderful and peaceful quiet spot. I just have to get there, and some days that mobilization can be a real battle.

I want to see if I can figure out how I can show you what the cover image is. If you are willing to share your honest opinion (which I am going to do with my editorial board) drop me an email and I will attach the image to an email.

Blessings, Kathy

From Faith Inaction to Faith in Action

I have to say, we had a really great message in church this morning. Our Faith in Action campaign culminated with service projects last weekend, and over 170 people from our church contributed almost 600 volunteer hours. And it was raining...and one of the guys had just lost his job the day before but came to serve joyfully anyway.
In church today we heard from some of those who served and how it affected them. I joked that they didn't ask me to share because they only wanted one to two minute snippets. Impossible...

And then the message was on putting hands and feet to our faith, that basically "faith without deeds is dead" (James 2:26). Basically, we need to live our faith, not just give it lip service. This is my language, and actually the central message of a Bible Study I have that will be released in March, UNDOING CHURCH: NOT YOUR MOTHER'S BIBLE STUDY about being the church, not just going to church.

But I thought about moving from inaction to action and the things that stop us in our tracks, all basically lies meant to keep us in a paralyzed state of inertia:

• One person can't make a difference.
• I'm not qualified.
• I'm too busy.
• We're all going to die anyway, so why bother.
• It's not in my job description, my problem, blah, blah, blah...

But here's the deal, if we're Christians, we must act. "Saving faith moves your head, your heart and our hands. Faith alone saves us, but the Faith which saves us in not alone."

These words were spoken by our pastor this morning, and I wanted to jump out of my seat and scream, "YES!" It's the Samaritan lifestyle, something I have been giving a great deal of thought to lately. To have, to take, to make the time to be aware of life and needs around us, to be moving slowly enough to respond, and not simply wave off the needs as a nuisance or an interruption. To adopt the Samaritan lifestyle guarantees interruptions, but also blessings.

How do you live your faith? There is a hymn that has the words, "They will know that we are Christians by our Love". Have you read the book UnChristian? Love is not a word that most non-Christians use to describe us. Hypocrites, homo phobics and judgemental are closer to the top of the list. So do something to put your faith in action and change the perception. I know that those we served got a glimpse of Christian love through our service, our faith in action last weekend, but it is a lifestyle, not a program or campaign.

I echo here the verse our pastor used in closing, "Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?' And I said, 'Here am I. Send me'" (Isaiah 6:8). And I want to go.