My book, A Mother's Heart Moved the Hand of God, has been out for a few weeks. A month ago I began participating in a Goodreads program in which I agreed to give away five copies of my book to interested readers. I did not really think about the response to the program. I found myself doing what I do, preparing for Sunday services and making contacts to market my book.
I am finding it difficult to wear the two hats of pastor and author. When I leave my church, West Adrian Community Church, my mind is still working on church stuff. I have to shift gears for a few days and put on my writer's hat. I have this blog that I really need to update on a weekly basis. At times I am on schedule and at times, not so. Also, I am currently writing the sequel to my first novel, The Crossing. So I find my mind and spirit shifting gears all the time.
As I got ready yesterday morning to head to church, I do what I always do. I fired up my smart phone and checked my e-mail. I guess that means I am a tech junkie tied to my phone. Well what to my wandering eyes should appear but a notice from Goodreads that my book must be dear. Not bad, hey. The program was over and I had the names and addresses of the five book winners.
The surprise came when I looked at how many people actually tried to win a book. The number was more than 430 different readers tried to get a copy of my book. I have to tell you, that made my day. The publishing of my book has been an emotional and mental struggle. When the book was first published I had great expectations. Five months later the first publishing company shut down.
After months and months of trying to get my manuscript and art work a friend came through with my property. It took another fourteen months to know that the book would be out in the world again. With my current publishing house, Morgan James Publishing, I am blessed to a great degree. The publishing house put me in contact with a renowned and talented publicist, Meg McAllister. She has taken me under her wing to assist me. Dalitopia Media created my web-site and it is awesome.
I do not have visions of grandeur in regards to my book. What I do have is the vision of people being blessed and challenged as they read the story of a mother and her daughters who made the decision to love a child in spite of color, in spite of physical and mental challenges and in spite of hatred.
Tedd Galloway is a former missionary and is currently the pastor at West Adrian Community Church. His book, A Mother's Heart Moved the Hand of God, has been released through, Morgan James Publishing. You can follow Tedd on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. His website is, www.teddgalloway.com
Monday, June 9, 2014
Friday, June 6, 2014
Freedom-At What Cost
Today a great number of Americans and Europeans pay tribute to the thousands who died on D-Day, June 6th, 1944. The European continent was being strangled by a political mindset that sought to destroy the ideal of personal freedom and democracy. The Axis powers had already killed close to ten million people and their plans included the entire planet.
Brave men swallowed their fears and jumped into the waters that had come ashore at Normandy for thousands of years. Now the waters were running red and hundreds of men lie dead and dying, adding to the crimson waves that advanced and retreated on the sand. As every minute passed into eternal history the cost of freedom was rising.
Over the coming months thousands of young men will die. Some young men will die mercifully instant. Other men, as young as 18 and 19, will pass into eternity with thoughts of their mom, their favorite Sunday dinner, the face of their girlfriend, moving across their dimming eyes.
I write this today because I have had the highest honor of knowing a few men who swallowed their fears, jumped into the ocean, walked through jungles, all to defeat the evil design of totalitarian madmen.
I have written before of my father and four of his brothers who volunteered to face the brutality of war. My grandma Galloway believes her boys came home alive due to her praying for them each day. Yet, their were thousands of moms praying for the safe return of their boys only to receive the letter from the War Department with typed letters formed into words that declared the death of their son.
My dad came home from the war in the pacific. The only physical difficulty that he dealt with was the fungal infection that he and thousands of soldiers encountered. He suffered from cerebral malaria as well, the scars of the malaria remaining in his brain. Today my dad would have been diagnosed with PTSD, as would hundreds of thousands of soldiers.
I cherish the American flag presented to the family at my dad's funeral. Some day, when I have a place of my own, and I will fly his flag on very special days.
Tedd Galloway is a former missionary and is currently the pastor at West Adrian Community Church. His book, A Mother's Heart Moved the Hand of God, has been released through, Morgan James Publishing. You can follow Tedd on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. His website is, www.teddgalloway.com
Brave men swallowed their fears and jumped into the waters that had come ashore at Normandy for thousands of years. Now the waters were running red and hundreds of men lie dead and dying, adding to the crimson waves that advanced and retreated on the sand. As every minute passed into eternal history the cost of freedom was rising.
Over the coming months thousands of young men will die. Some young men will die mercifully instant. Other men, as young as 18 and 19, will pass into eternity with thoughts of their mom, their favorite Sunday dinner, the face of their girlfriend, moving across their dimming eyes.
I write this today because I have had the highest honor of knowing a few men who swallowed their fears, jumped into the ocean, walked through jungles, all to defeat the evil design of totalitarian madmen.
I have written before of my father and four of his brothers who volunteered to face the brutality of war. My grandma Galloway believes her boys came home alive due to her praying for them each day. Yet, their were thousands of moms praying for the safe return of their boys only to receive the letter from the War Department with typed letters formed into words that declared the death of their son.
My dad came home from the war in the pacific. The only physical difficulty that he dealt with was the fungal infection that he and thousands of soldiers encountered. He suffered from cerebral malaria as well, the scars of the malaria remaining in his brain. Today my dad would have been diagnosed with PTSD, as would hundreds of thousands of soldiers.
I cherish the American flag presented to the family at my dad's funeral. Some day, when I have a place of my own, and I will fly his flag on very special days.
Tedd Galloway is a former missionary and is currently the pastor at West Adrian Community Church. His book, A Mother's Heart Moved the Hand of God, has been released through, Morgan James Publishing. You can follow Tedd on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. His website is, www.teddgalloway.com
Monday, May 19, 2014
Purpose
Get away from the lights of the city and find a place that is dark, real dark. Now, look into the heavens and wait for a moment. A shooting star streaks across the sky. The really awesome ones leave a trail of glitter behind them. As you gaze into the endless expanse you begin to understand that you are focusing your eyes on galaxies, stars, and planets that sent out their light thousands of years ago.
I just described what our family did on many summer nights. Those nights when we knew it was time for a shooting star extravaganza we watched the show on the comfort of our trampoline. The sleeping bags were gathered and put on the trampoline. Lying on our backs we would try and count the fiery particles as they raced across our eyes. Slowly, with tired eyes, but still enthusiastic, we would fall asleep.
Standing under the canopy of heaven or lying on a trampoline watching shooting stars, a question naturally comes to the searching soul. What am I in comparison to the vastness of the universe? What significance can I possibly have in a world of planets and stars, of mountains and oceans? What difference is one speck of sand on the shores of this world?
A few thousand years ago the same question was asked, under the same setting. "God, when I look up into the heavens, when I see the stars and the moons which you have ordained. What am I? Why should you care one little bit about me? Yet, you made me just a little lower than the created beings of the heavens. You crowned me with glory and majesty. You appointed me the steward of all you made. Glory to your name."
Men and women, boys and girls, all find their purpose and significance in God. He is the one who created mankind and he knows what it takes to fill the heart and soul with meaning and purpose. Jesus told us that He came into the world to give us life and give it in great abundance.
The blessing of the presence of God in the heart of Christ Followers is the presence of transformation. Christianity is no different than any other religion if it does not transform the human character. It is the power of God in our life that can take control. It is the presence of Christ and the fruit of His Spirit that can, should, change humanity.
In light of being transformed by the love and power of God, consider these words from the book of Ephesians. "To know the love that surpasses knowledge- that you may be filled to the measure of all of the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine, according to his power that is working within us.."
The next time you stand under the canopy of heaven thank God, not your lucky stars, that you have great meaning and significance to the God of all creation.
Tedd Galloway is a former missionary and is currently the pastor at West Adrian Community Church. His book, A Mother's Heart Moved the Hand of God, has been released through, Morgan James Publishing. You can follow Tedd on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. His website is, www.teddgalloway.com
I just described what our family did on many summer nights. Those nights when we knew it was time for a shooting star extravaganza we watched the show on the comfort of our trampoline. The sleeping bags were gathered and put on the trampoline. Lying on our backs we would try and count the fiery particles as they raced across our eyes. Slowly, with tired eyes, but still enthusiastic, we would fall asleep.
Standing under the canopy of heaven or lying on a trampoline watching shooting stars, a question naturally comes to the searching soul. What am I in comparison to the vastness of the universe? What significance can I possibly have in a world of planets and stars, of mountains and oceans? What difference is one speck of sand on the shores of this world?
A few thousand years ago the same question was asked, under the same setting. "God, when I look up into the heavens, when I see the stars and the moons which you have ordained. What am I? Why should you care one little bit about me? Yet, you made me just a little lower than the created beings of the heavens. You crowned me with glory and majesty. You appointed me the steward of all you made. Glory to your name."
Men and women, boys and girls, all find their purpose and significance in God. He is the one who created mankind and he knows what it takes to fill the heart and soul with meaning and purpose. Jesus told us that He came into the world to give us life and give it in great abundance.
The blessing of the presence of God in the heart of Christ Followers is the presence of transformation. Christianity is no different than any other religion if it does not transform the human character. It is the power of God in our life that can take control. It is the presence of Christ and the fruit of His Spirit that can, should, change humanity.
In light of being transformed by the love and power of God, consider these words from the book of Ephesians. "To know the love that surpasses knowledge- that you may be filled to the measure of all of the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine, according to his power that is working within us.."
The next time you stand under the canopy of heaven thank God, not your lucky stars, that you have great meaning and significance to the God of all creation.
Tedd Galloway is a former missionary and is currently the pastor at West Adrian Community Church. His book, A Mother's Heart Moved the Hand of God, has been released through, Morgan James Publishing. You can follow Tedd on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. His website is, www.teddgalloway.com
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