Vending Machine or Money Machine?

Do you every feel like you are being used as a vending machine for money?

Every day we are bombarded with requests for us to donate to different causes - secular charities and Christian organisations all putting their hand out for more and more money.

I realise that programs, research and everything else costs money and that the money must come from somewhere; but it's kind of like each person is a vending machine:

Push button B3 for ...; C7 for ...; D5 for ...; and on and on ... more, more, MORE!

If you donate once, they keep sending you more requests. You ask to be taken off mailing lists and that works for a while, then suddenly they start sending you requests for donations again.

People, we need money to live on too!

What bothers me the most is that requests for donations to save animals, trees and rocks are more numerous than requests to help people. Sure those things are important, but isn't a person of more value than a tree?

Then there's the latest cause or location and everyone seems to be on the bandwagon for that. Human trafficking has been going on for a very long time (think about the slave trade during the time of John Newton and William Wilberforce), but its suddenly become a cause that everyone is creating a fuss about. Why now? What was it that suddenly made people take notice and want to do something to stop it?

Then there is a location. My local church seems to be obsessed with Asia. Of course there is a great need for missionaries in Asia, but there is also a great need in many other parts of the world as well. Countries that once sent hundreds of missionaries now have gone away from God and need people to go there to remind them about God.

I'm not saying I don't give money to a variety of things, I do, but I'd rather donate when and where I want to rather than being pushed into giving to something that has not been laid on my heart.

ACRBA Tour - Rocky Mountain Romance by Lesley Ann McDaniel

7th - 11th  April  2014

Australian Christian Readers Blog Alliance

is introducing

Rocky Mountain Romance

by

Lesley Ann McDaniel

About the Book

SHEILA MACINTOSH IS HEAD OVER HEELS FOR BEN JACOBS

But they haven't spoken since his sister Courtney's wedding last summer. Now that they're back together again on Courtney's Montana ranch, Sheila's wondering if she only imagined that Ben cared for her—and their time together was just a beautiful dream.

Ben's crazy about Sheila, but he's too shy to tell her, and he's praying for another chance to win her affections. Can this sweet computer expert overcome his shyness and show her that sometimes dreams really do come true?

About the Author

While earning a degree in acting, Lesley Ann McDaniel fell in love with theatrical costuming, and pursued that as a career while nurturing her passion for writing on the side. Through God’s guidance, she has shifted her focus to honing her skills as a writer of women’s and young adult fiction. She is a member of the Northwest Christian Writers Association and of a wonderful critique group. A native Montanan and a Big Sky girl at heart, Lesley now resides in the Seattle area.

Author Interview:

1.    Can you tell us something interesting readers may not know about you?

 

Well, people might not know that I’ve worked in professional costuming for years. I’ve worked on lots of Broadway tours, and a few movies. Observing people in this crazy business has proven helpful in developing characters for my books.

 

2.    Where did you get the inspiration for "Rocky Mountain Romance"?

 

The inspiration for my “Montana Hearts” series basically came from growing up in Montana, even though I’ve never lived anywhere near a ranch. The idea for this particular book pretty much sprang up from the first book in the series, “Lights, Cowboy, Action”. That was where I first met Sheila and Ben, and decided it would be fun to develop their story.  

 

3.    What did you find most fun in writing these books?

 

The most fun thing about writing this series was getting to escape to Thornton Springs, Montana. It’s a fictional town, but it was inspired by a couple of real places in Montana. I could easily live in a small town, although of course there’s an advantage to being able to invent the ideal place.

 

 

4.    What would you like readers to take out of reading your books?

 

Of course the first thing is for them to be entertained. I love it when readers tell me they enjoyed visiting Thornton Springs and didn't want to leave. The underlying hope of course is that readers will be inspired by the lessons learned by the characters.

 

5.    A fun question to end. If you were to recommend somewhere in Montana for readers to visit where would it be?

 

I’m going to go out on a limb and say that you haven’t visited Montana until you’ve been to the Sweet Palace in Philipsburg. It’s an old fashioned candy store that’s bound to make anybody happy.

 

6.    Where can we find you on the web?

 

You can visit my website at www.lesleyannmcdaniel.com or my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/LesleyAnnMcDaniel

My Thoughts:
I didn't manage to read this one. I just don't read e-books. Maybe one day I'll read it but for now, I hope you get your hands on a copy and enjoy it!

2014 TBR Pile Challenge - February and March Update

Ok, I know. I missed an update! I got to over half way through March and realised that I hadn't given an update, but then I'd only read 2 books for this challenge in February, so I decided to do an update for 2 months at the end of March!

February:

• The Crossing by Gilbert Morris
• Jennifer by Dee Henderson

I went on to read the rest of the O'Malley series, so it was a good reading month, just not for the challenge!

March:

I managed 3 books for the month, and almost squeezed in a 4th, but didn't finish it until this morning, so I'll catch you up on that one in my next update and keep you in suspense for now!

• Christy Miller's Diary by Robin Jones Gunn
• Decorating Without Fear by Sharon Hanby-Robie
• The Story Girl by L M Montgomery

So, I've now finished 12 of 29 from my original TBR Pile list!

Now, you might be wondering why some of these books have been on my TBR pile for a while, and the simple reason is that some of my reading preferences have changed since these books arrived on my shelf. I'm more interested in contemporary than historical novels; biographies I tend to only read once, and since I had already read them once in my lifetime the appeal for them has waned.

How about you?

Have you made any progress on your TBR pile?

Is there a reason why a book (or many) have sat in your pile for a long time?

Let me know! I'd love to know what your thoughts are!