Monthly Archives: June 2013

Should Christians Drink Alcohol?

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Image courtesy of John Kasawa at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Is it wrong for Christians to drink alcohol? Over the years, I’ve found that many Christians have mixed views about drinking. The Apostle Paul warns us not to get drunk with wine in the book of Ephesians:

Ephesians 5:17-18

17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,

At a wedding at Cana in Galilee, Jesus and his Apostles attended. When they ran out of wine, Jesus miraculously turned water into wine:

John 2:3-9 

3 When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”…6 Nearby stood six stone water jars…7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim. 8 Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” They did so, 9 and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew.

I wonder why Christians have such conflicting views about drinking? Many Christians consider having a glass of wine, or a beer, to be a sin – yet, some Christians drink wine during communion, and Jesus may have served his Apostles wine during the last supper – the fruit of the vine:

Matthew 26:28-29

28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

Also, the Bible advises drinking wine to help with stomach problems and illnesses:

1 Timothy 5:23

23 Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.

I do believe it’s wrong to get drunk, and, if you’re prone to alcohol addiction, then, you should not drink at all. But, I’ve heard some ask – how much is too much? How does one measure how much to drink?

So, what’s your opinion? Is it wrong for Christians to drink alcohol? I’d be interested in hearing the responses to this thought-provoking question. Leave a comment!

***My e-book, Milk Money, is only 99 cents! Download it now before the price goes up! :-)

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~Cecelia Dowdy~

Never Say Never by Victoria Christopher Murray

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Never Say Never

Never Say Never by Victoria Christopher Murray

Your best friend has an affair with your husband – could you forgive them?

That’s the question which created the catalyst for this novel. Miriam is grieving – her firefighter husband (Chauncey) has recently died in a fire and now she’s a single mom, forced to raise her three sons alone. She clings to her sister friends, Michellelee and Emily, hoping their love and support will help her get through this difficult time.

She also turns to Jamal, Emily’s husband, for support. Jamal and Miriam share a similar pain. Miriam’s husband, Chauncey, was Jamal’s best friend. The two were as close as brothers, and both were firefighters – so Jamal has lost his “brother” and Miriam has lost her husband. Both need to find a way to get through this difficult grief. They turn to one another for comfort – and that’s when their affair starts…

I enjoyed this story. Like all of Victoria Christopher Murray’s books, it was a page-turning novel, and I thought the characters were very realistic. Although both Miriam and Jamal were grieving, I still felt that they could’ve worked harder to resist temptation. Miriam feels bad about hurting Emily, and Jamal loves his wife. However, he just couldn’t resist the temptation – the grief seemed to make both Miriam and Jamal especially vulnerable.

Honestly, I doubt if I could forgive my best friend for such a deception. I know the Lord wants us to forgive, but…I think it would take me a LONG time to forgive my best friend, if ever.

So, if your best friend had an affair with your husband, could you forgive them?

***My e-book, Milk Money, is only 99 cents! Download it now before the price goes up! :-)

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~Cecelia Dowdy~

Blackberry Crunch – A Recipe

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Image courtesy of Grant Cochrane at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
This recipe is really good and simple. I used fresh blueberries (instead of blackberries), and it was still good. I’d imagine that you could use just about any fresh, pie-type fruit (apples, berries, etc.) and it would still taste good!
Have you ever made a recipe that’s similar (or the same) as this one? If you make this, leave me a comment and let me know if you liked it.
2 cups fresh blackberries (or blueberries)
2/3 cup brown sugar
Juice of 1 lemon
1/2 cup flour
2/3 cup quick-cooking rolled oats
5 tablespoons butter softened
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Vanilla ice cream or whipped cream (optional)
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In 8×8 inch baking pan, combine blackberries and lemon juice together. In a separate bowl blend, flour, oats, cinnamon, brown sugar and butter. Mix until crumbly. Sprinkle over berries. Bake for 30 minutes or until crisp. Serve warm with ice cream or whipped cream.
Enjoy! 🙂
Let me know what you think about this recipe!

***My e-book, Milk Money, is only 99 cents! Download it now before the price goes up! :-)

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~Cecelia Dowdy~

Congrats To The Christy Award Winners!

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Join me in congratulating the 2013 Christy Award Winners. For a complete list of the nominees, see my Christy-Award 2013 Nominees Blog Post.

Contemporary Romance/

The Breath of Dawn

by Kristen Heitzmann (Bethany House Publishers, a division of Baker Publishing Group)

Contemporary Series, Sequels, and Novellas

You Don’t Know Me

by Susan May Warren (Tyndale House Publishers)

Contemporary Standalone/

Not in the Heart

by Chris Fabry (Tyndale House Publishers)

First Novel/

Into the Free

by Julie Cantrell (David C Cook)

Historical/

Flame of Resistance

by Tracy Groot (Tyndale House Publishers)

Historical Romance/

Against the Tide

by Elizabeth Camden (Bethany House Publishers, a division of Baker Publishing Group)

Suspense/

Rare Earth

by Davis Bunn (Bethany House Publishers, a division of Baker Publishing Group)

Visionary/

 

Soul’s Gate

by James L. Rubart (Thomas Nelson, a division of HarperCollins Christian Publishing)

Young Adult/

Child of the Mountains

by Marilyn Sue Shank (Delacorte Press, a division of Random House)

Congrats, again Christy winners! 🙂

                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

***My e-book, Milk Money, is only 99 cents! Download it now before the price goes up! :-)

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~Cecelia Dowdy~

Congrats To The Carol Award Finalists!

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Congrats to the Carol Award Finalists! The Carol Award is given by the American Christian Fiction Writers and the winner will be announced at the ACFW annual conference in the September!

Here are the finalists for the 2013 Carol Awards. The winners will be announced during the 2013 ACFW National Conference in Indianapolis at the Gala on September 15, 2013.

Category

Seaside ReunionSeaside Reunion by Irene Hannon (Love Inspired * Editor: Melissa Endlich)
A Horseman's HopeA Horseman’s Hope by Myra Johnson (Heartsong Presents * Editor: Rebecca Germany)
Lost LegacyLost Legacy by Dana Mentink (Love Inspired * Editor: Emily Rodmell)

Contemporary

Heart EchoesHeart Echoes by Sally John (Tyndale House * Editors: Karen Watson/Stephanie Broene,/Kathy Olson)
You Don't Know Me (Deep Haven, #6)You Don’t Know Me by Susan May Warren (Tyndale House * Editors: Karen Watson/Sarah Mason)
Beyond the Storm (Quilts of Love #1)Beyond the Storm by Carolyn Zane (Abingdon Press * Editor: Ramona Richards)

Debut Novel

Wildflowers from Winter:Wildflowers from Winter by Katie Ganshert (Waterbrook/Multnomah * Editor: Shannon Marchese)
Proof: A Novel (Bloodline Trilogy, #1)Proof by Jordyn Redwood (Kregel * Editor: Dawn Anderson)
A Sweethaven SummerA Sweethaven Summer by Courtney Walsh (Guideposts Books * Editors: Beth Adams/Rachel Meisel/Lindsay Guzzardo)

Historical

Where Lilacs Still Bloom: A NovelWhere Lilacs Still Bloom by Jane Kirkpatrick (Waterbrook/Multnomah * Editor: Shannon Marchese)
At Every TurnAt Every Turn by Anne Mateer (Bethany House * Editor: Charlene Patterson)
The DiscoveryThe Discovery by Dan Walsh (Revell * Editor: Andrea Doering)

Historical Romance

To Whisper Her Name (Belle Meade Plantation #1)To Whisper Her Name by Tamera Alexander (Zondervan * Editor: Sue Brower)
A Promise to LoveA Promise to Love by Serena B. Miller (Revell * Editor: Vicki Crumpton)
Short-Straw BrideShort-Straw Bride by Karen Witemeyer (Bethany House * Editor: Karen Schurrer)

Mystery/Suspense/Thriller

Downfall (Intervention, #3)Downfall by Terri Blackstock (Zondervan * Editors: David Lambert/Sue Brower/Ellen Tarver)
Gone to GroundGone to Ground by Brandilyn Collins (B&H Publishing * Editor: Karen Ball)
The Soul SaverThe Soul Saver by Dineen Miller (Barbour Publishing * Editors: Rebecca Germany/Jamie Chavez)

Novella

Postmark: ChristmasYou’re a Charmer, Mr. Grinch by Paula Moldenhauer (Barbour Publishing * Editors: Rebecca Germany/JoAnne Simmons)
Colonial CourtshipsImpressed by Love by Lisa Karon Richardson (Barbour Publishing * Editor: Rebecca Germany)
A Recipe for Hope (An Amish Kitchen Novella)A Recipe for Hope by Beth Wiseman (Thomas Nelson * Editor: Natalie Hanemann)

Romance

The Accidental Bride (A Big Sky Romance #2)The Accidental Bride by Denise Hunter (Thomas Nelson * Editors: Natalie Hanemann/L. B. Norton)
Saving Gideon (Clover Ridge, #1)Saving Gideon by Amy Lillard (B&H Publishing * Editors: Julie Gwinn/Julie Carobini)
An Uncommon Grace: A NovelAn Uncommon Grace by Serena B. Miller (Howard * Editor: Holly Halverson)

Romantic Suspense

Tidewater Inn (Hope Beach, #1)Tidewater Inn by Colleen Coble (Thomas Nelson * Editor: Ami McConnell)
Saving HopeSaving Hope by Margaret Daley (Abingdon Press * Editor: Ramona Richards)
When a Heart Stops (Deadly Reunions, #2)When a Heart Stops by Lynette Eason (Revell * Editor: Andrea Doering)

Speculative

Daughter of LightDaughter of Light by Morgan L. Busse (Marcher Lord Press * Editor: Jeff Gerke)
JudgeJudge by R. J. Larson (Bethany House * Editors: David Long/Sarah Long)
DaystarDaystar by Kathy Tyers (Marcher Lord Press * Editor: Jeff Gerke)

Young Adult

Prophet (Books of the Infinite #1)Prophet by R.J. Larson (Bethany House * Editors: David Long/Sarah Long)
Like Moonlight at Low TideLike Moonlight at Low Tide by Nicole Quigley (Zondervan * Editor: Jacque Alberta)
The New RecruitThe New Recruit by Jill Williamson (Marcher Lord Press * Editor: Jeff Gerke)

Again, congrats to all the finalists!

***My e-book, Milk Money, is only 99 cents! Download it now before the price goes up! :-)

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~Cecelia Dowdy~

Unicorns In The Bible?

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Do you believe UNICORNS, the one-horned mythical creatures, really existed?

 

The word UNICORN was mentioned in the Old King James Version of the Bible. I’ve listed the scriptures at the end of this blog post. From my research, the word that was translated into UNICORN was re’em (the Hebrew word). Re’em means aurochs, which is the ancestor of domestic cattle.

 

It appears that the word was mistranslated in the Old King James Version. Other versions of the Bible use the word wild ox instead of unicorn.

 

What do you think? Is it possible that unicorns really existed after all? Do you think these wild, mythical creatures really roved on this earth?

 

***My e-book, Milk Money, is only 99 cents! Download it now before the price goes up! :-)

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~Cecelia Dowdy~

Numbers 23:22
God brought them out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn.

Numbers 24:8
God brought him forth out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn: he shall eat up the nations his enemies, and shall break their bones, and pierce them through with his arrows.

Deuteronomy 33:17
His glory is like the firstling of his bullock, and his horns are like the horns of unicorns: with them he shall push the people together to the ends of the earth: and they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh.

Job 39:9
Will the unicorn be willing to serve thee, or abide by thy crib?

Job 39:10
Canst thou bind the unicorn with his band in the furrow? or will he harrow the valleys after thee?

Psalm 22:21
Save me from the lion’s mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.

Psalm 29:6
He maketh them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young unicorn.

Psalm 92:10
But my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of an unicorn: I shall be anointed with fresh oil.

Isaiah 34:7
And the unicorns shall come down with them, and the bullocks with the bulls; and their land shall be soaked with blood, and their dust made fat with fatness.

The Millionaire’s Nanny Arrangement by Linda Goodnight

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The Millionaire’s Nanny Arrangement by Linda Goodnight

***note – this is a sweet romance!

The Millionaire's Nanny Arrangement (Harlequin Romance, #4053)

How would you cope if your cheating husband has died, leaving you pregnant and alone?

Workaholic Ryan Storm runs his multi-million-dollar company to ensure his motherless daughter, Mariah, has a better life than his. Widowed, he finds himself lacking a nanny/tutor for his highly-intelligent daughter. When he meets Kelsey Mason, a woman he knew in high school, at the airport, he realizes that Mariah and Kelsey get along well. There’s only one big problem, Kelsey is very pregnant – can he be sure that her pregnancy is safe – he’s not the best person to have around when a woman is expecting a child.

Kelsey recalls Ryan from her high school days, and wonders about his commitment to his daughter. He never spends time with her since he’s always working and poor Mariah craves to spend more time with her daddy. Kelsey and Ryan argue over the best way to raise Mariah while Ryan worries about Kelsey’s pregnancy – she’s recently widowed and alone – plus she’s beautiful. Although they disagree on many things, their mutual attraction sizzles.

This was a delightfully enjoyable read. A short, sweet romance that you can finish in a few hours.

So, how would you cope if your cheating husband has died, leaving you pregnant and alone?

***My e-book, Milk Money, is only 99 cents! Download it now before the price goes up! :-)

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~Cecelia Dowdy~

 

Sunday Brunch! Have You Ever Seen An Angel?

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***Have you ever seen an angel?

Luke 1:18-20

New King James Version (NKJV)

18 And Zacharias said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.”

19 And the angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings. 20 But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time.”

Have you ever seen an angel? If you were to ever see an angel, would you believe your eyes? Would you listen? Would you think that you were dreaming?

The angel Gabriel appeared to Zacharias, telling him that his prayers had been answered and that his barren wife, Elizabeth, would give birth to a great son, John The Baptist. Zacharias did not initially believe Gabriel’s words, so, he was struck mute until shortly after the birth of his son.

Zacharias learned his lesson on the day he saw Gabriel in the temple – always believe an angel’s words.

How would you react if you were to see an angel? Have you ever seen an angel? Would you believe the angel’s message?

I’ve never seen an angel, but, I’ve often imagined what it would be like to see one of these heavenly creatures. From what I can recall from reading my Bible, angels are usually big, wingless, male-looking beings. Can you imagine, being alone in a room and then you see an angel? Honestly? I think I’d have a heart attack, or, think that I’m dreaming!

Please share your thoughts on this amazing subject!

***My e-book, Milk Money, is only 99 cents! Download it now before the price goes up! :-)

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~Cecelia Dowdy~

Book Giveaway!!

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THIS GIVEAWAY IS OVER! WINNER WAS ANNOUNCED HERE.

I’m hosting a book giveaway! To enter, YOU MUST DO THE FOLLOWING – NO EXCEPTIONS – PLEASE READ EACH STEP:

#1. You must join my mailing list! You can join my mailing list here:

 

If you’re already on my email list, then you can skip step one.

#2. You must comment on this blog post to enter and LEAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS – IF YOU DON’T LEAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS IN YOUR COMMENT, THEN YOU WON’T BE ENTERED INTO THE CONTEST! I need an email address so that I can contact you if you win! CONTINENTAL U.S. RESIDENTS ONLY.

#3. If you haven’t already done so, you must “LIKE” my Facebook Fan Page!

I’ll be drawing the winner within the next week or so! :-) Remember, I have the right to announce your first and last name, city and state on my blog if you win! Void where prohibited.

***My e-book, Milk Money, is only 99 cents! Download it now before the price goes up! :-)

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~Cecelia Dowdy~

These are the 21 titles that I’m giving away to ONE person:

Short-Straw BrideThe Millionaire's Nanny Arrangement (Harlequin Romance, #4053)