This article reveals something surprising: there may be over 130 million Christians in China. Why is this surprising? Here are 3 reasons:

1. Before the revolt the Tiananmen Square massacre of 1989 there were few Christians in China. After than event, disenchanted citizens turned to Christianity.

2. It is illegal for Communists to have religious beliefs.

3. It is mostly illegal to meet in groups of more than 25.

Most Chinese Christians meet in "House Churches." That is, they usually meet in apartments. Once the group grows beyond 25 attendees, they split in order to stay off the radar of government intervention. This same pattern and practice it quite similar to how the early church spread under Roman rule in the first century.

As much as the Communist government hates the spread of Christianity in China, it looks like it will have to face the fact that Christianity will begin to have more of a political impact.

This is amazing...

        

I went to Author 101 University Crash-Course with my friend Bob Franquiz this week. It was amazing.

I have to admit, I got sick of seeing sweater-vests and dreads. There was quite a strange group of people there.

The speakers were Mark Victor Hansen, Rick Frishman, Brendon Burchard, Robyn Freedman Spizman, David Hancock, Jill Lublin, James Malinchak, Alex Carroll. For me Hansen and Malinchak were the best.

Overall, I got challenged on things like:

*Titles
*Marketing
*Radio contacts
*Working with nonprofits
*Agents
*Contracts
*Editing
*and a whole bunch more

If you ever get a chance to go to the next one, do it. It will be extremely helpful as it informs and focuses you as you tackle your first writing project. The price was very fair considering how much you get. I highly recommend it.

It also got me considering self-publishing again. We'll see...

        

I'm going to a Launch Conference for people starting churches.

No I'm not starting a church. But one of my best friends, Bob Franquiz, is leading it with Nelson Searcy. So I just want to check out what he's doing.

Looking forward to it....

        

I've reached another level in my life. I accidentally discovered that I am in Wikipedia.

That is to say, the band I was once in, Strongarm, has an entry there. I still get floored that there are remnants of the band I helped start. It's a pretty good feeling knowing that what you did has had lasting affects.

So click the link above and check it out. It's fairly accurate in what it says.

*On a side note, I am going to a writing conference this week with my friend Bob, so I'll probably be lite on the posting.

        

Last night I got my book 10 Things I Hate About Christianity: Working Through the Frustrations of Faith back from my editor. It may sound strange, but, yes, although I don't have a publisher I do have an editor. I hired an editor on my own for two reasons:

1. Originally I intended to publish my book myself, so hiring an editor was part of the process.

2. I read a writing book that said it is always a good investment on your part to hire an editor on your own to go over the first draft even though you may be trying to get published. It can only help your chances.

So getting it yesterday means I had to resist the urge to stay up late reading it. But I did do a little reading.

It's very strange to read your own work. There is a sense of deep satisfaction knowing you have written all that your reading and accomplished a HUGE personal life-goal. But there is also a sense that it stinks. I don't know why that is. Probably just part of creating something in general, that goes along with the territory.

So I read chapter 2 on prayer. Below is little more sample reading to wet your appetite. Please let me know what you think. Have a great weekend!

#2: Prayer

I once had an office job, which took some adjusting to. I’m a hands-on type of person, and I like going different places and doing different things. Sitting at a desk was much more controlled and confined than I was used to. I gained twenty pounds from the change of pace.
    One day I was sitting there at my desk trying to get in contact with the person in the next office. His door was closed, so I wasn’t sure if he was in a meeting or something. My need wasn’t immediate, so I sent him an email. No reply. As time went on the issue became more pressing, so I sent him an IM over the computer. No response. Next I called him on the office phone. I got his voicemail. I called him on his cell phone. More voicemail. I tried beeping him on the two-way radio feature our phones had. Nothing.
    Finally, I got up and knocked on the door. He told me to come in. We discussed the matter to my satisfaction, and I went back to my office.
    Thanks to today’s amazing technology, I had at my disposal a variety ways to communicate with my coworker. But though I wasn’t more than fifteen feet away from him, we weren’t any more connected relationally than before all these advances were available. In fact, we were more distant. They made our interaction less personal and therefore less effective. Even with all the new possibilities, the old-school face-to-face talking worked best.
    There are no such technological advances to scroll through when I’m trying to communicate and connect with God. In fact, there’s only one—simply talking to him, or praying, as we say. No double and triple function buttons to fumble through with my fat fingers as I try to fire off a quick message.
    Still, most of the time I feel like it doesn’t work, and I feel distant. Quite often it turns out to be even less personal than any other communicating I do in my life. I don’t find myself feeling measurably any more connected with him afterward. And I hate that.
    I often wonder if there’s something I could do different. Or is it a pointless and empty undertaking?

Busy Signal
Everybody knows long distance relationships (LDR’s) usually don’t work. The love interest you had in the Niagara Falls area probably isn’t the person you married and had kids with. The odds are stacked against it. I’ve met a handful of couples who started out as LDR’s and managed to finish well together, but it’s rare.
    I find trying to build closeness with God through prayer is ten times worse than any other LDR. It’s an LDR that spans not only the world, not just the universe, but even different dimensions. I mean, who exactly am I talking to? Where is he? Ground Control to Major God? Do you hear me? I sure don’t hear you.
    Now I’ve met people who claim they “hear from God†all the time. And I’ve tried to get away quick. Those words always seem to be the precursor to an individual’s evolution into a serial killer. Those words are just foreign to me.
When I pray, my words seem to evaporate and hit the ceiling. I pour out my heart in hopes of feeling a touch or getting some interaction from God, but it seems he doesn’t answer. And I hate being left hanging and all alone. I never hear his comforting voice. God’s door is closed, and I just want some face-to-face time. It’s kind of a tease, a cosmic one. It’s not what I expected when it comes to talking to God.
    I think most people probably feel this distance at some point, yet they continue praying throughout their lives. Even the hard-line atheist calls on God before rear-ending the car in front of him at full speed: “Please God, help!†It’s funny—everyone prays. I think everyone feels like it’s a good habit with some therapeutic benefit. But still we wonder: Does it work, or is it pointless?

        

So I finally heard from the publisher that was considering my book last night...

The publisher passed.

I wondered what to tell you about what they said. Since I like to be open, I decided to just post the comments directly. It probably isn't a smart move. It doesn't present a strong, infallible front in regards to what I've written. It's probably not a smart marketing move and won't help me sell books in the future. But my book (and I) are about honesty, so here's what my contact said:

"Our group was split on the project. Some felt that you did not deliver enough real angst to make it compelling. In other words, they didn't believe that you really hated anything about Christianity. Which, of course, is true at some level. Anyway, I think it will find a publishing home. It's good writing, solid content."

Not that I can't take feedback or rejection. I always trying to remain teachable, but I am having a hard time understanding these words. If you've read the intro and first chapter (many people have/about 100 in all),  not one person said anything like this. Granted they are not industry professionals as far as I know. But then again, that's not who I am writing for. I am am writing for regular people. Not for the intellectual, but the 'average Joe'.

Either way, I will take it into consideration and chew on it as to glean what I can from these words.

And I will press on...

        

Well my second son, Logan, got his first broken bone this weekend. Here he is wearing his sling. I know it's not good to break bones, but he sure is cute.

He fell out my mom's truck and broke his fall with his hands.   There is good news and bad news.

1. The good news is, it was a very small break.

2. The bad news, there is a small percentage (very small) that he also broke a bone (I think they called it the growth-plate or something) that could keep his arm from ever growing any more. That would sure suck.

So please, if you have a moment do this for him. I really appreciate it.

        

Well since I haven't heard anything about my book from the publisher I thought I'd talk about another book.

I recently read Purpose-Driven Life by Rick Warren. I liked it. It was simple, direct, and challenging.

Now I know I am late to the game. It has already sold over 30 million copies (HELLO! How do I do that?).

In this book Rick goes into the 5 purposes God has created each of us for. They are:

1. Worship (God that is)

2. Fellowship (hangin' and growing in a community of other followers of Jesus)

3. Discipleship (maturing and becoming more like Jesus)

4. Serving (getting involved in something bigger than yourself)

4. Mission (reaching out to others so they can learn about Jesus)

The book is set up to be read in 40 days for maximum impact, both in delivery of it's content and what the reader might discover about themselves in regard to God in that focused time.

In many ways this is a must-read for anyone who is trying to follow the teachings of Jesus or find out why on earth they are here on  earth.

The Purpose-Driven Life will drive you to examine what you were created for, which is always a good cathartic process...

        

This is the day that my book gets decided on at one particular publisher. Seven editors have been reviewing it and meet today to discuss if they will take the project on. If all goes well I hope to hear from them sometime this week and begin negotiating a contract.

So if you believe in such things like me please PRAY!

But I don't want to disrespect anyone's search for God or spiritual journey even though I might not understand or agree with it. So you may also:

*squint your eyes, clench your firsts, grit your teeth, and wish real hard for me

*make a salt circle around a frogs foot and cast a Harry Potter spell for me

*read the stars and rub some magic rocks or crystals and send me your positive energy

I appreciate the support either way and I will keep you posted...

        

JJ Abrams is doing a new show called Fringe. If you like a mix of sci-fi, drama, and suspense than you should be watching it. It was very good. I miss me some X-Files and this hit my X-Files nerve real nice.

I just hope Abrams doesn't do with this show what he has a habit of doing. Often the first couple seasons will come out strong and then start to fizzle (ex: Felicity, Alias, Lost). It's as if he looses interest and wants to go onto something new. Abrams looses momentum and the show suffers for it.

But for right now, Fringe kept me on the edge.