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Wednesday, September 21, 2016

A "Paper Missionary" Writer



What a treat! My hibiscus bushes are blooming again. I've enjoyed looking at these beauties for over a week now. What a gift for the end of summer!


I'm not a big fan of nearly all the shows one can watch on TV, or go to the movies to see. A good book captures most of my free time instead of a television show.

Soon after I gave my life to Christ in November of 1978, the first Christian romance novel was published in 1979. Many of you are now familiar with Janette Oke and her book series, Love Comes Softly. That one book began an avalanche of Christian writers telling stories girls love to read.

I confess, I do enjoy a good romance novel. But when I gave my life to Christ that 14th day of November, I wanted novels with morality, faith, courage, perseverance and many other qualities that would speak to me about living a Christ-filled life.

When Hallmark came out with a movie from the first Love Comes Softly book in 2003, I was excited. And I wasn't disappointed.

More recently Hallmark came out with a movie and series by Oke's When Calls The Heart series in 2013, I was delighted with the first season. The second season wasn't quite as good. I haven't seen the third season because I go to bed early. It will be out soon on DVD.

I don't like everything Hallmark does. The Cedar Cove series and Chesapeake Shores, now playing, are becoming like Peyton Place, for those of us that remember. I'm hoping When Calls The Heart doesn't disappoint in the third season.

I watched an interview with Janette Oke and the producers of the Love Comes Softly and When Calls The Heart series. In her first book it was so refreshing to read about a man who is honest, genuine, a good person and a godly man. We don't see that in TV shows and movies of our culture. This man exists! Our young people need to see a man of virtue to learn and understand what it means to be a man of God.

They also discussed the difference between a book and the movie that portrays it. The writers said they could never match up to the original experience of the reader and their imagination. A movie must be a new experience, fresh and exciting on it's own, yet keeping the underlying faith and integrity as the story is presented. I found that interesting.

I read the biography of Janette Oke, written by her daughter, many years ago. As a writer I'm always interested in another writer's life. I've pulled the book out from storage and, I'm enjoying reading about her once again.

"She tried to picture each one of her little books as a little 'paper missionary.' It had the potential, through the spirit's working, to reach a heart crying out for truth and answers somewhere, and she prayed often as she wrote that this would be so," wrote her daughter, Laurel Oke Logan.


It is delightful to listen to folks share when you know their hearts are faithful to provide good decent shows to watch.

You remember Bonanza and Little House on the Prairie. Series that the entire family could enjoy together. They are classics!

So this post I give credit to Janette Oke who provided interesting and clean books for a baby Christian to read to help her on her road to maturity. We all need role models, and I seek strong, wise women and men to help me along the way. Because what you put before your eyes and hear with your ears surely stays there. And I want it to be good!







By the way, if you've never watched Hallmark's Signed, Sealed, Delivered series, grab a Yoohoo (remember them) and settle down for another series of delightful  characters and good entertainment! Oliver, Shane, Rita
and Norman will provide laughter and smiles as they work to deliver dead mail in the Dead Letter office.

So I ask you, just what are you looking at? What you put before your eyes and in your ears will definitely stay there. I want it to be good!




My next post will be in two weeks: Wednesday, October 5th. Next week I'll be driving down the Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia singing John Denver's "Country roads, take me home to the place I belong.  West Virginia, mountain mamma, take me home, country roads."
                                         


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