Week 2 - Updates for the Assignments!

When I copied the links for the assignments the blog had not posted them so the links were sending you to the main page. Hopefully, you will have the right ones now. BUT REMEMBER...you can always go to the blog on this site and get the assignments. Your Assignment part 2 will not post until Wednesday.

Here we are coming into week two of your additional assignments. Remember, these are purely for your use at home just to add some "flavor" to your attendance at the conference or online. This week you have not one lesson, but two. (I told you we try to cram as much in as possible.)

Your first lesson will deal with your email address and the professionalism that you need to add to your writing career. Trust me, the story is true. So you can see this lesson from today through Tuesday night and then Wednesday morning, BOOM. You get another lesson and this time it's on editing.
Lesson one link:  https://ashevillechristianwritersconference.com/acwcwritersblog/138-January-10-Assignment-2-1-or-2-assignments?sel=1-

Lesson two link: https://ashevillechristianwritersconference.com/acwcwritersblog/139-Assignment-2-2-of-2-Week-of-January-10?sel=1-

IN PERSON AT THE CONFERENCE IS SOLD OUT!
Our in-person conference at the Cove is sold out. This is something we pray for yearly. With Covid being the nasty fellow it is, I will be honest...I worried. But if you know me, you know I worry. Just ask Eddie or Bob. Anyway, our in-person is sold out and we have the full third floor at the Cove. This is great news. Better news, your peers can still attend the VIRTUAL conference. SO PASS THE WORD AROUND (notice I got the word "pass" correct this time - lol). Encourage your friends to visit the site and register for our VIRTUAL CONFERENCE. Those slots can just keep filling up. EVERYONE CAN STILL ATTEND THE VIRTUAL CONFERENCE.

WEBSITE ISSUES - To my knowledge, our site is running fine. I have had someone ask me about how light the font is on the site, that they cannot see it. But we are black font on a beige background. It shows fine on every computer I have looked on and the folks I have contacted to look behind me see it fine too. All I can suggest is that if you do have difficulty seeing things, adjust the fonts and colors of your screen. Currently, our site is running fine. Even these newsletters are BLACK font on WHITE OR BEIGE.  Sorry for the inconvenience.

FINAL RESERVATION PAYMENTS ARE DUE - If you have not paid your remaining reservation amounts you will see an invoice this week. I am not beyond making a mistake (obviously you've seen this recently), so if there is a problem, I trust you will let me know via email to [email protected]. Please DO NOT reply to this email. I do not get it. This is Mailchimp and I won't see it. Contact me at the above email. I do ask that you make your final payments in a timely manner. We are required to pay the Cove at this point and since I am not floating in $$$ I need you to do your part. Thank you in advance!

Just a reminder - The Sparrow Award book contest ended January 3 but I am extending that until January 13 and praying Sarah won't kill me. Due to covid, we have so many things up in the air and so many late registrants that I want to be sure everyone has an opportunity to enter.

The same will apply to the Devotion contest. (And I am getting a few in so looks like that contest will move ahead. The deadline is Jan 20).

Also, check the website for deadlines on mentoring and critiques. For our online conferees, we are offering the same appointments, critiques, and mentoring. Just know that it may happen via phone or zoom after the conference. So yes, you will have the same opportunity to participate as our in-person folks.

Just a note to remind you that we will have the BOB BOX set up at the conference. Our conference believes fully in giving back to the Lord's work so yearly we sponsor Bob Hostetler's cause with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. This year will also add our sweet Dee Dee Parker, who lost Mr. Jim on Christmas Day to Covid. Funds will help with funeral costs for Mr. Jim. And Edie Melson, who lost her sweet Daughter-In-Law, Katie to a terrible accident. Edie's son faces huge medical bills and he and Katie have a new baby boy. The funds we received are matched by the ministry of Christian Devotions and we'll divide the gifts evenly among these three needs. I pray that your generosity will run strong as God calls His church to care for those in need. For our on-line folks, if you would like to give to our BOB Box we welcome your gifts. This money is matched and distributed to those above.
DONATE TO THE BOB BOX (you don't have to just be an on-line conferee. Anyone to donate to the Bob Box using this link.
You can donate by clicking here:
https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=A6F2DC7K4EQTA

For our ONLINE folks, you will receive instructions in the near future for your access to the conference. It will be early February but you will get this information as soon as we have all the details nailed down. IMPORTANT, once you receive the email DON'T LOSE IT. You will only get the info once. We need to be sure you hold on to the information.

AGAIN A REMINDER ABOUT COVID - If you are an IN-PERSON attendee, remember you are required to wear a mask at all times during the conference. We have made this clear from the beginning. So if you are a person who can't wear or refuses to wear a mask, then you need to let me know so we can set you up as VIRTUAL. You cannot attend the IN-PERSON Maskless. I have ordered masks for all those coming to the IN-PERSON conference so there is not an excuse.

We will maintain social distancing and the only place you will be closer than 6 feet is in the main hall. There will be one seat between each conferee. Husbands and wives may sit next to one another and roommates may sit next to one another, but otherwise, everyone will have one seat between them. We ask that you pick your seat and remain in that spot for the entire conference. We will provide tape on the seats for you to put your name on it.  At our bookstore, there will be gloves. If you plan to browse the bookstore, we ask that you take a pair of gloves and wear those while you browse and purchase books. Remember, we are doing all we can to protect you from Covid. Please work with us.

NOTICE: Your temperature will be taken at the main gate of The Cove. Security will turn you away if one person in your car has a fever. Your temperature will also be taken at your check-in with us. Our insurance requires we have you fill out a Covid questionnaire and do a temperature check. If you are feeling bad, please don't put yourself through the embarrassment of being turned away. Just email me and we will get you in the virtual conference and even up with you on the money. We're honest! Really we are. But we want everyone safe. So if you are feeling bad, or if you have been exposed to this virus, please, please, stay home. We will make it right for you on our end. Your safety is our biggest concern. I've attended three conferences this year and one was in the thick of COVID. This can be done safely. No one has become ill from the conferences I've attended and it was because everyone worked together to be safe.

Lastly, I realize our country is in upheaval right now. We ask first and foremost that you spend time praying for our nation and then we ask that you leave your discussion of politics at home. We want are coming together to learn to be writers in the Name of the Lord. Let's make this a joyful time. Be respectful of others and let's just not even go there. Instead, pray for our nation, for peace, and for the church. Pray for your learning at this conference. For safety and for things to run smoothly. Pray that God's people will be the light that changes the world. But leave the politics at home.

Your assignments are on the site. Bios is up for today and tomorrow and Wednesday, Andrea's post on editing will hit. ENJOY.

 

Weak and Wailing
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” -  Joshua 1:9 NIV

Sometimes I can't see the forest for the trees. Despite my best efforts to overcome, I find myself sitting in a corner feeling overwhelmed.

Let's face it, this last year has been nothing but one bad thing after another. Covid, death, riots, politics...job loss, hunger - what more can happen? Perhaps that isn't the question to ask but the point is, who wouldn't be overwhelmed at the hardship we have all faced?

There is something you have to look at. You absolutely must look at. That is how Satan likes to work. He loves chaos and frenzy. He loves civil unrest and anger. He loves depression and loss. He loves everything and anything that tears our spirit away from the core.

Joshua and the battle of Jericho. Gideon and his battle with only 300 men. Moses. Aaron. Elisha and his battle with the prophets of Baal. Each one faced surmounting odds, yet God simply said, do not be afraid. Be courageous. Be strong. The battles were His to mount. 

Sometimes it's hard to look past the odds when they are towering over us but God's word has shown us over and over that He is mighty and these are His battles to fight. Yes, there is a fallout. No one ever said there would be no hardship. However, God said, trust! Don't fear. I am with you. And He has never once stepped to the side to force us to fend for ourselves. 

When author Edward Bulwer-Lytton wrote, "The pen is mightier than the sword," in the 1800s, he couldn't have put a stronger emphasis on the power behind words. That should help you know, the power behind God's words and not only that but that you have been chosen - called - to wield the pen. 

Do not let the hardships of this world take you down. Mourn for a short time but then rise from your knees and wield the pen given to you to write. Your words, chosen with prayer and faith, will help change the broken lives that Satan tries to overtake. 

Write. And pray. Then write some more for you are held up by a mighty God.

Much love to you all.
Cin