How do you know it’s gonna be a great Sunday? When the guy two rows in front of you has a mullet. A-W-E-S-O-M-E. I seriously stared at it through the whole service. I don’t know for sure what church was about, but I’m pretty sure it had to do with the Lord. But. . . I can describe that 80s hair catastrophe in minute detail.

This is a story that is probably only cool to me. So you might want to skip to the next topic. But for almost every book I write, I collect two things:
1. Theme song to add to my iPod
2. Bible verse that represents the entire book. I post this in a fun frame on my desk so I can look at it a lot.

Well, I had picked a verse for this current book I’m writing, and it was a good one, but I had known that it just wasn’t “it.” And I didn’t have a song. So this weekend, as I’m trying to do anything I can to put off work, I decide I’m not going to go a moment longer without my new verse and song. The book is based on the theme of overcoming your fears and just living BIG. And the idea that we’re all trapped by fears, and they shape our lives and hold us back, but God tells us not to be afraid, yet as long as we are, our lives are so minimized in their potential. (That sounded very grown up, didn’t it?)

And I kept humming this melody, but couldn’t remember the words, but I KNEW it had to do with going through the fire, when you go through the water, etc, etc.   So I spent over an hour Googling all my small pieces of lyric I could remember. And I looked up a few Christian artists I thought had released the worship song. But could NOT find this song anywhere. I don’t know what led me to it, but FINALLY I found the correct lyrics…and my song! It’s called “You Are Mine.” And get this…the singer? She’s from Northwest Arkansas! She lives probably minutes away from me. She goes to my old church. And as I was searching, I could hear this melody in my head, and I thought, “There was this singer at church a looonnnnng time ago. And she had sang this song, they’d said she was going to get a recording contract, and I never knew what became of her. What if this is her? Well, I find this Kelly Jones Parks’ website, and I KNOW it has to be her. All these years (we’re talking over ten probably), I’ve never forgotten the way she sang this song or that evening when she performed. And I always wondered what happened to her. And get this, the CD this song is on? It’s called Do Not Fear.

You’ve probably heard this song in church before. You can listen to a clip HERE. Okay, so this may be a bunch of “not really ironic or all that amazing” facts to you, but it really was to me. I think when there are things you can’t forget, like that evening I heard her sing, which shouldn’t have stuck with me (while family birthdays and my own social security number do not), it’s God’s coolness. Like that song was meaningful at the time. . .I just didn’t know why.  I know, deep thoughts–so unlike me. So yeah, let’s change the topic. I’m making myself a little uncomfortable.

And so obviously, Isaiah 43 is my verse for this current book I’m working on. And the nifty thing is, you won’t even have to wait a year (and then some) for it. It should be out this fall, and then you can see how it REALLY plays into this story. I’m still talking about this, aren’t I? Shutting up now. . .

Speaking of songs, is it wrong that I like this new Miley Cyrus tune?

It is, isn’t it? It’s right up there with me knowing all the words to the last Jonas Brothers’ CD. Which I don’t. . .okay maybe 75%.

This YouTube clip is everywhere. It is funny, but I can only watch it once. The end hurts my little heart.

See? Hate that ending! People face plants are funny, but doggy ones? Never!

Thank you to fellow author Suzanne Woods Fisher for passing this YouTube clip on. I don’t know about the rap, but the dancing interludes just MAKE this thing, so watch for those.

Spring is here in Arkansas, and it was in the upper 70s today! But by Wednesday night? Chance of a winter system. And I didn’t order this one either, so I’m warning you all in advance not to blame me. Find someone else. I’m maxed out for ’09!

Have a great week!

JEN

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