Category: First book

Upcoming Book Promo

As some of you know, I’m preparing to publish my first book in December. “OMG! What’s Been Done with Jesus? Bringing Christ Back to the Forefront” is the book’s title. Jesus Christ, the leader of the Christian faith, is its focus, along with personal stories I share of my journey with Him thus far. They are memoirs of my experience with Jesus from my birth until about age 40.

Are you unsure or confused about who Jesus Christ is? Maybe disillusioned? Possibly, you never even heard about Him. “Just who is Jesus Christ?” you ask. What did He do? Why did He come to earth? If so great as they say, why did He spend so much time with little people like me?

These and other questions are what we explore in this book. Many have never heard of or known about Jesus Christ. Some who claim to know Him, even they have little or contradictory information about Him. The Church that He leads doesn’t rightly speak of Him, represent Him, or carry out His mission anymore.

“OMG! What’s Been Done with Jesus? Bringing Christ Back to the Forefront” takes a look at some of the common misconceptions and misunderstandings about Jesus Christ that have been circulating for centuries. It challenges these erroneous ideals with Scripture.

The aim of the book is to help readers understand Jesus Christ and recognize His significance for our lives and the Church. We honestly consider ways we may have sidelined Him, put Him “on the back burner.” He’s not promulgated much anymore (in the Church). People seem to have ignored or replaced His mission with something else. The book explores likely reasons for this and offers ways in which we can bring Christ back to His rightful place—as Lord!

Written articulately in a learned, conversational, crisp, chatty, and readable style, anyone will enjoy reading this book—the young or old, believers in Jesus Christ or nonbelievers, or first-time Bible readers. You will find a message in it for yourself and will learn something new about Jesus Christ or the Bible that you may have never thought of. “OMG! What’s Been Done with Jesus? Bringing Christ Back to the Forefront” will cause you to think seriously, dig deeper for meaning.

I hope most of the younger generations, Gen X, Millennials, Gen Z, will pick it up because most of the personal stories I share are in this age demographic, where now, it seems, there is more confusion about Jesus and His Church that has negatively impacted you. There is a way forward.

Pray for me to the finish line, and click author’s list to add your name and email to my author’s list to be notified when it goes to publication. Thanks!

Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it.

1 Thessalonians 524 (KJV)

Be blessed until next time…

Ellie

Reflections on the Last Day of 2024

Happy New Year’s Eve friends!

It’s true, we really do not know what a day may bring, let alone a year (Proverbs 27:1). For me, 2024 resulted in the loss of five family members–an aunt, three cousins, and last, my 3rd eldest sister. Some deaths we anticipated were soon to happen; others came unexpectedly, without warning. Regardless of when and how they occurred, these loved ones are gone, and I must venture into 2025 without them.

What God says in His word about people, life and death, and eternal matters resonated in my thoughts. Loved ones will one day cease to be because life is limited and death is sure. We must make a decision about where we will spend our eternity.

Jesus Christ assures us that God is the only eternal One, who will never grow tired or weak, cease to be, or stop loving us. He is the only One we should have complete confidence in as we journey into 2025. He is the only sure thing that will never change.

When loss does occur, we must make changes, adopt new mindsets, and follow new protocols or ways of doing things; my sister was the one who drove me to all events. The publishing of my book has halted, so the process is pushed back. I haven’t looked at the manuscript since November. It’s okay because I needed to be sad, grieve, and think about my sister. Lord willing (I now say), I will resume in January, because I did not know 2024 would end in such a way. We can, however, acknowledge the Lord’s sovereignty, continue with our plans, and move forward confidently if we’ve made the Lord our refuge and secured our eternity.

So, with that said, here are two brief excerpts from my upcoming book, each from a different chapter.

Excerpt:

“We learn how Joseph worked as a carpenter to care for his wife and family. Jesus was their eldest child, but they had more children. Mark 6:3 (also in Matthew), tells us that Jesus had four younger brothers and at least two sisters. The sisters’ names have been preserved, but the brothers were called James (in the Hebrew, Jacob), Joses (in the Hebrew, Joseph, after his father), Simon, and Judas or Juda (also known as Jude)…”

And, later…

“Eventually, my eldest sisters followed mom and continued hosting the home and community bible clubs. My oldest sister, Chris, put the best spin on it to me by incorporating a puppet show in the clubs. She did shows at home and eventually began using a friend’s church building to host them. The children came and loved it. It had a significant impact on them! Of course, my sisters distributed goodie treats and juice each week, and there were Bible contests and games with prizes. So, it was my mother who instilled in us a love for God and His word, a compassion for children, and the importance of inviting others to receive Jesus Christ into their lives.”

We see here that Jesus too had siblings and understood the whole family dynamic; He felt the same love for His loved ones as we do for ours.

Be blessed until next time. Happy New Year! 🙂

Excerpt from Upcoming Book

Hello fellow bloggers, subscribers, and friends. I’m sharing another excerpt from my upcoming book, which I hope to publish by January 2025. Check out all three excerpts in August, September, and now, October.

Excerpt:

“We should have knowledge about and reflect upon these blessings that are given to all believers at the moment of our salvation. They come with divine authority from a graceful God. Knowing these should help us form a correct concept about who God is, how He is, and what He does. We’re now enabled to think and act differently, according to God’s kingdom and not this world. Our spiritual and natural self-esteem should bolster. Also, meditating on these blessings will remove doubt and fear as we experience failure, persecution, temptation, and trials. Having this status in God’s kingdom helps us not to shrink back, just as Paul and the saints in Ephesus did not. We should sense such closeness to God, who loves and cares for His children. We should feel wanted by Him.

No one goes through such in-depth detail, planning, and giving of themselves without wanting you to be a part. If you do not feel accepted or worthy, ask God to remove any mental blocks that are prohibiting you from believing these blessings are now for you. You don’t have to work to earn them. Ask Him to cleanse your psyche of any assessments, stereotypes, or opinions applied to your life that came from you and what you did, or family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, the law, the psychiatrist, social worker, preacher, priest, teacher, social media, television, magazines, etc.—whoever.

Let’s close this chapter with one of Paul’s most befitting prayers in Ephesians 1:15-23, asking for the Lord’s help to shift our perspective on who we are now in Christ. We begin with, ‘Praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us...'”

[Copyright © 2024 by Eleanor D. Parks]

Want to read more? Please click here to add your name and email to my author’s list to be notified once the book goes to print.

Thanks and remain blessed until next time! 🙂

Upcoming Book (Excerpt)

Hey fellow bloggers and subscribers. That’s right folks, I’m putting the final touches on my first book, which I hope to publish by next year. I’m excited!

As such, these next few monthly blogs will include excerpts from the book. Hopefully, I’ll pique your curiosity and get you interested in reading more of the book once it’s published.

Excerpt:

“On the television shows or movies we watch, or in the local news, we witness all the time rescuers—paramedics, police, firefighters, or lifeguards—rushing to rescue people trapped in some form of danger. One particular catastrophe we’ve all seen is the many blazing fires that ravaged parts of California. Spreading rapidly, consuming homes and acres of land, we watch intently as firefighters rush to the scene in their heavy protective bunker gear, with hoses in hand. They stand there working diligently, trying to extinguish the fire. Sometimes, they’re searching the area for victims or climbing ladders to rescue those with injuries. Even aerial firefighters are flying overhead in air tankers, dropping retardant or water onto the fire to extinguish it. “It’s terrible!” we think. We cringe, frown up our faces, and sometimes cry.

At that moment, however, these rescuers have no regard for their own life. The heat and flames do not seem to bother firefighters. No, we watch them linger long hours until the fire is under control. With high adrenaline, we watch them forge into the exact danger that threatens or has injured victims. They are intent on saving lives and preserving property.

This is what’s required to perform a rescue. The rescuer must not regard his own life. He’s willing to put his life in harm’s way and face the same danger the victim is in. It doesn’t matter, however, because a rescuer’s only intent is to pull individuals out of danger and back into safety. Often, the one performing the rescue does not even know the person. It doesn’t matter though. He does whatever he has to help anyone in trouble—all the while knowing it could cost his own life.”

[Copyright © 2024 by Eleanor D. Parks.]

Sign up! Please click here to add your name and email to my author’s list and get notified once the book goes to print.

Thanks and be blessed until next time 🙂