The ebook by Cheryl Rogers features a short story excerpted from Just Like Jonah Wail Tales. Entitled An Election Too Close to Call, it is the story of a middle school student, Steven, who runs for Student Council with a bad attitude. In the story, he learns the importance of serving rather than leading through a lust for power and control, or to build his own self esteem. He also learns the importance of seeking God, crediting him for all of his successes, and doing what God says.

The ebook includes a lesson plan, discussion questions and suggested homework: Writing your own wail tale or exaggerated tale of woe involving a modern Jonah. These stories can be entered in the 2012 New Christian Books Summer Writing Contest. Download an invitation.

Read the contest rules.

Entrants are being asked to write wail tales, or fish tales — of a sort. They are fun and a little bit exaggerated stories of woe with a Christian message. The characters learn, just like Jonah in the Bible, that: 1) There’s a price to pay when we disobey and 2) Even when we fall, God hears our call.

All wail tales focus on disobedience, the price of disobedience, a prayer of faith, and God’s rescue. The stories should discourage wrong choices and not make misconduct appear fun or acceptable, even temporarily.

Contestants should use their imagination and create a story where someone gets into a whale of trouble for doing the wrong thing. They need look no farther than the Ten Commandments for inspiration. Not everyone has a mission like Jonah, but we’re all told to be honest, honorable and loving. If we break one of these commandments, we’re not listening to God, just like Jonah.

Entrants should take a look at a sample story excerpted from Cheryl Rogers’ ebook, Just Like Jonah Wail Tales. You’ll find it here. Then they can have fun getting their character into – and out of – a whale of trouble!

They’ll need to read the rules here and submit their entry by July 15 to contest.newchristianbooks@earthlink.net

A panel of Christian authors will judge the contest, with input from junior judges 9 to 17 years old. Anyone who wants to be a junior judge should contact Cheryl.

Download an invitation to enter the contest and pass it along to your family and friends!

Three Florida cities — Miami, Gainesville, and Orlando — also made Amazon.com’s top list of Most Well-Read Cities. Miami came in sixth place, followed by Gaineville in eighth place and Orlando in 14th place.

The ranking was determined by compiling sales data of all book, magazine and newspaper sales in both print and Kindle format since June 1, 2011, on a per capita basis in cities with more than 100,000 residents.

Ranking second was Cambridge, MA; followed by Berkeley, CA; Ann Arbor, MI; and Boulder, CO. Ranking ninth place was Washington DC, followed by Salt Lake City, UT; Pittsburgh, PA; Knoxville, TN; and Seattle, WA. After Orlando came Columbia, SC; Bellevue, WA; Cincinnati, OH; St. Louis, MO; and in 19th place, Atlanta, GA.

In taking a closer look at the data, Amazon also found that:

* Berkeley, Calif., is a city full of jet-setters – it topped the list by ordering the most Travel books.
* Boulder, Colo., keeps the closest eye on its waistline by topping the list of cities that order the most books in the Health, Fitness & Dieting category.
* Virginia is for lovers – Alexandria, Va., that is, which tops the charts in the Romance book category.
* Cambridge, Mass., grows the most budding entrepreneurs. These locals topped the list for ordering the most books in the Business & Investing category.

“As the summer reading season gets into full swing, we’re excited to reveal our second annual Most Well-Read Cities list,” said Chris Schluep, Senior Editor of Books, Amazon.com. “It’s great to see that we are truly a nation of readers, with representation on this list from every region of the country.”

“Both games immerse the player, and you are what you eat,” Brent Dusing, CEO of Lightside games said. “While one game goes one direction, Journey of Jesus: The Calling players walk in the Messiah’s steps, in an authentic experience of Israel in Christ’s time.”

Online social gaming currently attracts 300 million players worldwide. Journey of Jesus: The Calling enters the stage with high-quality graphics, music, game play and the latest social features. New players log on to Facebook and type Journey of Jesus: The Calling into the search bar. Following simple registration steps, at no cost, players begin to choose paths, explore intricate and intriguing game spaces, search for items and artifacts; overcome obstacles; and brush with the era’s politics, religious landscape, history and everyday life.

Christian leaders have praise for Journey of Jesus: The Calling:

Darrell Bock, Research Professor of New Testament Studies, Dallas Theological Seminary: “Why would a theologian endorse a social gaming game? Because 300 Million people weekly log on to social games and because Journey of Jesus: The Calling takes players closer to the life of Christ in a fun, reflective and entertaining way.”
Pastor Jack Hayford, Jack Hayford Ministries: “I wouldn’t have thought a game could do so much to remind us that Jesus walked this earth of ours, involved himself with real people and lived with both life’s daily-ness and its dramas. Journey of Jesus: The Calling is marvelous because it’s more than a game.”
Demand for biblically based social gaming became evident in Lightside’s Journey of Moses, which launched last summer and has drawn more than 2 million players. And while hundreds of millions worldwide play social games, Journey of Jesus: The Calling is the first invitation to fun new faith conversations in the gaming world.

“Players want a game that’s more than a game; we know that well,” Dusing said. “One way we keep fun and interest high is to release new chapters–new ideas and information and challenges—by the week.”

To learn more about Journey of Jesus: The Calling visit: LightsideGames.com

And so Kay began her 12-month experiment to build real self-esteem based on building their competence and confidence. The result is a funny and insightful book, Cleaning House—A Mom’s 12-Month Experiment to Rid Her Home of Youth Entitlement. Her book debuts today in stores nationwide and online.

The Cleaning House experiment taught the Wyma kids practical skills for home life (doing laundry!), and vital skills for all of life (the value of work, working well with others). A perfect success? Of course not, but a journey you’ll want to take with the Wymas, full of Kay’s trademark wit and wisdom. As Kay says, “Here’s to seeing what can happen when we tell our kids, ‘I believe in you, and I’m going to prove it by putting you to work.’”

The book is published by WaterBrook Press, a division of Random House, and retails for $14.99 in paperback.

Almost 83 percent of adults today say young people feel more entitled than in years past. Some 31 percent of parents send potential employers resumes on behalf of their children.

The Wall Street Journal said, “Contemporary children have very little experience with the kinds of tasks that they’ll have to perform as grown-ups.”

About Kay Willis Wyma
Author, entrepreneur, wife and mom, Kay Wills Wyma brings a wealth of life experience to writing Cleaning House. As a White House staff member for Vice President and Mrs. Dan Quayle, Kay landed in every state except Alaska. A graduate of the prestigious Thunderbird international MBA program, Kay worked in international finance at Bank of America, in real estate with The Staubach Company and as an entrepreneur nationally marketing her own line of gourmet cookies in top retailers such as Neiman-Marcus. In addition to writing Cleaning House, Kay writes for her own popular blog, The Moat, where she creates a community for parents committed to equipping their kids for successful transition to adulthood.

Buy “Cleaning House: A Mom’s Twelve-Month Experiment to Rid Her Home of Youth Entitlement” from Amazon.

Across the United States and internationally, COURAGEOUS is striking a chord with those actually wearing the badge:

* In the Philippines, 1,000 officers dedicated their lives to Christ following a screening of COURAGEOUS that drew 4,000 people.

* In Ecuador, 300 police officers publicly proclaimed “The Resolution,” as in the scene from the film in which officers do the same.
* In Panama, 700 police officers drove four hours to see the film.

* In Baton Rouge, La., the chief of police offered to personally cover the cost for any of the city’s 630 officers wanting to see COURAGEOUS.

* In San Angelo, Texas, Downtown San Angelo Inc. will offer a free showing of COURAGEOUS on May 18, in honor of Police Week. The screening is part of the city’s slate of Downtown Movie Nights, with films showing throughout the summer.

* First Baptist Church in Orlando, Fla., bought 2,000 copies of the COURAGEOUS DVD with a commitment to give one to each law enforcement officer in the city. “We wanted a way to personally show every officer and their family that we love and appreciate what they give to us,” said Dr. David Uth, First Baptist Orlando pastor. “Giving them a fun and entertaining movie with a message will encourage and inspire them to always be COURAGEOUS.”

As further confirmation of the film’s impact, the book, The Resolution for Men, from B&H Publishing Group, outlining principals for godly fathering, remains a New York Times best seller after its Sept. 1, 2011 publication.

Available now on DVD, COURAGEOUS tells the story of four men, one calling: To serve and protect. As law enforcement officers, they are confident and focused, standing up to the worst the streets have to offer. Yet at the end of the day, they face a challenge none of them truly are prepared to tackle: Fatherhood. When tragedy strikes home, these men are left wrestling with their hopes, fears, faith and fathering. Can a newfound urgency help these dads draw closer to God . . and to their children? Protecting the streets is second nature. Raising their children in a God-honoring way? That’s courageous.

COURAGEOUS premiered Sept. 30 at No. 4 at the box office and remained in the top 10 for four weeks. The COURAGEOUS DVD launched Jan. 17 as the No. 1 DVD in the country; it has sold more than one million copies.

Learn more about law enforcement reaction to COURAGEOUS here:
ChristianPost.com/news/1000-philippine-police-dedicate-lives-to-christ-after-watching-courageous-71360/

IF Jonah had feared God, he wouldn’t have dared run away. He would have known God wouldn’t just forget about what he’d told Jonah to do. Clearly, Jonah didn’t have this fear. Or at the very least, he forgot about, or chose to put out of his mind what he knew about God’s nature.

Unfortunately, many of us are like Jonah: We need to truly experience God’s wrath to learn he is serious about his commands. We may have Jonah-like experiences before we learn firsthand there are consequences for disobedience.

It truly was a humbling lesson for Jonah to find himself inside a big fish, swallowed whole. His plans no longer mattered. They were finished. And his life appeared to be finished as well.

Hopefully it won’t take us being swallowed up by life’s problems to recognize we’ve messed up for not taking God seriously. But no matter how we get the lesson, it is a very important one. We cannot expect God to change his expectations of us because we’ve got another idea. We can’t expect him to bless us when we chose evil.

Our God is good and merciful, even to folks like the Ninevites — whether we or Jonah like it or not. The sooner we get the lesson, the sooner we recognize the importance of fearing God, the better off we are.

In 1952, a joint resolution by Congress, signed by President Truman, declared an annual, National Day of Prayer. In 1988, the law was amended and signed by President Reagan, officially designating the day as the first Thursday of May, and each year the President signs a proclamation, inviting all Americans to take part. Typically, all 50 state governors issue similar proclamations.

National Day of Prayer Task Force Chairman Shirley Dobson, wife of Family Talk Founder Dr. James Dobson, said “Even though most national, state, and local leaders have again acknowledged a National Day of Prayer, there is still a disturbing trend of trying to remove God and prayer from all aspects of American public life.”

The National Day of Prayer is day publicly recognized where believers can worship in the public arena, exercising their right to freedom of religion.

On May 1st, President Obama signed this year’s Presidential Proclamation officially recognizing Thursday, May 3rd, 2012, as the 61st Annual National Day of Prayer. In his proclamation, he calls upon individuals – “ to pray for guidance, grace, and protection for our great Nation as we address the challenges of our time.” As we join together and ask with humility, may God Almighty, in His great and abundant mercy, grant this request.

For more information, or to find a National Day of Prayer event in your community, visit www.NationalDayofPrayer.org.

The beautiful “Praying Hands” image is the work of Albrecht Durer (1471-1528), which is in the public domain. The image obtained through Wikipedia.org was flipped for use with the magazine.

As parents we need to do our best to teach them God is not a God far away who doesn’t see what they are doing. There are no secrets from God. And there is no escaping his rule and reign.

The lesson is clearly taught in the Book of Jonah, where kids and adults alike learn there is a price to pay when you disobey. The lesson is reinforced in my ebook, Just Like Jonah Wail Tales, a short story collection about modern-day Jonah characters who get into a whale of trouble for their wrong choices. Just Like Jonah Wail Tales helps kids realize the lesson Jonah learned is still relevant today.

I’m launching a Just Like Jonah Wail Tales column, which will hopefully will help reinforce the importance of obedience. If you are the parent of a pre-teen or young teenager, I encourage you to take a look at short story An Election Too Close to Call, a story about a seventh grader who learns the hard way the importance of seeking God and doing what’s right.

Rita Schulte

The story is perhaps most interesting because Much Afraid is lame, and to help her overcome her fears, the Shepherd challenges her to walk the High Places along the narrow edges of jagged cliffs and high mountainous terrain with the unwelcome companions of Sorrow and Suffering. As the Shepherd introduces her to her new companions, she is visibly shaken.

“I can’t go with them,” she gasped, “I can’t! I can’t O my Lord Shepherd, why do you do this to me? How can I travel in their company? It is more than I can bear. You tell me that the mountain way itself is so steep and difficult that I cannot climb it alone. Then why, oh why, must you make Sorrow and Suffering my companions? Couldn’t you have given Joy and Peace to go with me, to strengthen me and encourage me and help me on the difficult way? I never thought you would do this to me!” And she burst into tears.

A strange look passed over the Shepherd’s face as he listened to this outburst, then looking at the veiled figures as he spoke, he answered very gently, “Joy and Peace. Are those the companions you would choose for yourself? You remember your promise, to accept the helpers that I would give, because you believed that I would choose the very best possible guides for you. Will you still trust me Much-Afraid? Will you go with them, or do you wish to turn back to the Valley, and to all your Fearling relatives, to Craven Fear himself?”

Risky Business
As I’ve read this story throughout the years, I’ve asked myself what in the world motivated Much-Afraid to continue the journey? I believe the answer is found in the willingness to risk. I have come to the conclusion that to face the difficult seasons in life, you must be willing to walk with the companions the Shepherd gives you, and you must desire for them to shape and mold your heart, even when it feels as if they are breaking it to pieces. If you’re not willing, you’ll choose to play it safe and stay stuck in the valley; there is no greater travesty.

Risking is scary business because our hearts are up for grabs. But if we, like Much-Afraid, will trust the Shepherd, even when it defies reason, he will turn sorrow and suffering into joy, and peace.

How do we step out and risk trusting God? The same way Much Afraid did—by getting to know the Shepherd’s heart. Here are a few ideas to begin:

• Spend time alone with God;
• Identify your worst fear and ask yourself if it’s too big for God to handle;
• Uncover any false beliefs you have about God — replace them with the truth;
• Don’t humanize God — He isn’t like anyone else you know;
• Watch what you tell yourself about your circumstances — negative attitudes foster fear and unbelief;
• Practice the spiritual disciplines of silence, solitude, fasting and prayer;
• Meditate on verses that speak about God’s unfailing love and goodness; and
• Do a study on the names of God.

Much-Afraid made the journey to the High Places because she was willing to risk trusting the Shepherd with her life; even when she didn’t understand what he was doing. That took a knowing of the Shepherd’s heart through the power of intimate relationship. Once she was convinced his heart towards her was good—she was willing to risk.

How about you, what’s standing in the way of you trusting God today? If it’s fear, surrender it to him just like Much-Afraid did, and see if he doesn’t lead you to the High Places.

Rita A. Schulte is a licensed professional Christian counselor in the northern Virginia area. She has written a book entitled Sifted As Wheat: Finding Hope and Healing through the Losses of Life, which is currently represented by Hartline Literary Agency. Rita also hosts a weekly podcast show called Heartline. You can find her at siftedaswheat.com.