Stay true to yourself

July 17, 2008 | calendar, family, ministry life

I had a great time at the leadership conference yesterday. The audience was amazing and receptive. The women who put this together worked hard and it showed in every detail.

At lunch I listened to a keynote. She was engaging, funny, and a good speaker. But I struggled with her message.

She shared life lessons from her journey to a top CEO. Some of them were:

*If you want to be a leader, you can’t make every ballgame, class party, or event for your child. It’s not fair, but it’s life. Get over it.

*If you want to be a leader, dress for success - no heels (if you wear heels, make them “man heels”), less makeup, no long hair (high school hair), dress professional*Business is business — don’t take it personal

 

As I listened, I thought if that is leadership, then I don’t want it.

(more…)

Pursuing Your Passion

July 15, 2008 | calendar, community, mentoring, ministry life, quotes

Tomorrow I will speak at a Leadership Conference and I’m pumped! The topic is Pursuing Your Passion: Doing What You Love w/o Thought to Money, Fame, or Kudos!

Passion is a watered-down word that is used to describe everything from realationships to Godiva chocolate to our career choices. It’s a great word, but what does it really mean?

I’m passionate about writing.

Really? That’s awesome. What if I asked you to write a 100,000 word book on the joy of calculus? Is it still true? (more…)

a quote that made me think. . .

July 14, 2008 | quotes

“God had given me a gift of discernment, so I can usually spot a fake a mile away. I hate it when I look in the mirror and find one.” Pastor Rudy Rasmus, author of Touch: Pressing Against the Wounds of a Broken World 

Meme - 9 things that made me smile

July 12, 2008 | just for fun

When I first heard the word “meme”, I wasn’t sure what that meant. My children call my mom “meemaw”, but I don’t think that’s the same thing.

Someone asked me to “meme” 9 thing that made me smile today. It’s early. 7:55 a.m. So I’ll meme 9 things that made me smile yesterday.

(more…)

A passion for writing

July 11, 2008 | ministry life, writing

The discussion on The Writers View this morning is about mid-year goals.

My passion is writing, but right now you might be able to tell that around the Eller house. I do everything but write sometimes. I check the lint in the dryer. I blog (see!). I clean the kitchen. I check the mail obsessively. (more…)

Suzie’s holding a blog tour! Want to join?

July 10, 2008 | books, community, giveaway

BLOG TOUR & GIVEAWAY

PRESS RELEASE: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Kathy Carlton Willis, Publicist

956-642-6319

WillisWay@aol.com  

Dear Bloggers,

I’d like to invite you to participate in a multi-book blog tour from July 10 to August 1. T. Suzanne Eller is the author of five books and is touring with three, The Woman I Am Becoming:Embrace the Chase for Identity, Faith, and Destiny, The Mom I Want to Be: Rising Above Your Past to Give Your Kids a Great Future and Making It Real: Whose Faith is it Anyway?.

If you choose to host this blog tour, let me know the date and Suzanne will try to drop in and post a note to your readers. Because of the amount and diversity of material, you might also consider splitting this tour into 3 days…one for each book.

For hosting the blog tour, you’ll receive a copy of one of Suzanne’s books and your readers will be eligible for an exciting contest (see below). Feel free to cut and paste the information below for your readers. I look forward to hearing from you!

The Contest

1. During this blog tour, any reader who responds to Twila Belk at iamstraightway@aol.com with the name of a church or organization that is interested in having Suzie in as a guest speaker, will receive all three of Suzie’s books (up to 10 sets will be given away on a first come first serve basis).

2. If any of your readers contact Twila regarding a Bible study group or book club wanting to use Suzie’s materials, their groups will receive conference calls from Suzie to kick off or conclude their studies.

3. All readers who post a comment regarding Suzie’s books will be placed in a grand prize drawing on August 2, 2008, for a delightful gift basket filled with Dove chocolates, five of Suzie’s books autographed personally, a candle, and a coffee cup (see above).

Kathy Carlton Willis | 1324 South 10th Street | Raymondville, TX

From Suzie: Kathy Carlton Willis is my wonderful publicist. Contact her for details (her contact information is at the top of the press release).

She’ll send you a wonderful Q&A on any or all of these topics (overcoming the past, teens and their faith in today’s cultural world, or what twentysomething women are talking about and the art of mentoring). I hope this is great information for your readers, and I’d LOVE to stop by and be a part of the blog tour and answer additional questions or participate in some way!

4th of July

July 8, 2008 | family, just for fun

I saw pictures today of our holiday weekend. I realized two things:

I had a blast!

I need to lose 10 pounds. (more…)

ICRS - Staying home

books, community, media interviews, mentoring, writing

It’s been interesting this week. I’m on several writing and speaking loops and the buzz is all about ICRS (International Christian Retail Show). They are talking about flights and shuttles and hotels, and interviews and book signings, and get-togethers.

And for the first time in eight years, I won’t be a part.

But it’s okay. I’m not supposed to be there this year, and I’m at peace with that. Other things are taking precedence and financially it just doesn’t make sense. I expected to nose dive when the buzz started. I love ICRS.

Last year I had two books coming out, one with Kregel and one with Harvest House. I had TV interviews, radio interviews, dinners and brunches and late night hang-out time with some of my favorite authors and speakers. I changed clothes at least twice a day, sometimes more as I jetted from one event to the next in the Hotlanta sun. I got to meet musical artists and hear their new songs and CD’s. I listened to speakers like Rob Bell. I perused the massive ICRS floor where publishers presented their new titles. I spent time sitting with good friends who LOVE the same things I do, like ministry and writing, and talked shop. I was one of the authors at the Personality party, an event where I got to meet some of my favorite writers.

But there was one moment that was better than all of those. A transforming moment.

I was in line holding a plate filled with delicious breakfast. It was a Harvest House Publishers brunch. Stormie O’Martien and her daughter sat nearby. Emilie Barnes and her sweet husband, George, were at the table behind me. Reps and media filled the room, waiting to visit with these A-list authors. Suddenly an arm slipped through mine.

“Sit with me,” the woman said, standing near me.

I turned. Kay Arthur.

“Yes, mam,” I replied. (more…)

The Road Less Traveled: Forgiveness

July 5, 2008 | faith

I was talking with two friends about forgiveness. All three of us have dealt with this issue. One friend’s dad was an alcoholic. The other was sexually molested as a girl.

These close friends, and I, have moved on from the past, leaving those memories behind to pursue life and all that God has for each of us. We are writers and speakers. We teach on healing and wholeness. We have solid marriages. Families that are close and loving. Faith that transcends the events of the past.

But as we talked, I realized that forgiveness was still an issue, just in a different way.

“It’s the small stuff that gets me,” one friend said. “I’ve forgiven my past. I can forgive the big things. But someone can do something little and it makes me angry, and I don’t want to let it go.” (more…)

Works for me: Five Ingredient Recipes

July 4, 2008 | T. Suzanne Eller

I met a new bloggy friend in N. Carolina. Come to find out she’s an Oklahoma girl. This Wednesday she held a Works for Me recipe blast. Over 800 bloggers linked to her, posting recipes on their sites that contained five ingredients or less (excluding water, salt, and pepper).

My mouth watered as I scanned the list. I’ve been in a serious recipe rut now that the kiddos are out of the nest and it’s just me and Richard. I can’t wait to start trying some of these. Anything that takes five ingredients or less = easy for Suzie. Yay! Plus some of them were for desert. Mmmm.

I also challenged the Boomer Babes over at Allison Bottke’s wonderful site to join in. So, here’s my contribution for the day:

Grilled Turkey Tenderloin w/Stuffing

 Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Ingredients:
1/4 cup lemon juice
3 Tbsp. olive oil
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp. dried thyme or tarragon leaves
3 (12 oz.) turkey breast tenderloins
8 serving size amount turkey or chicken stuffing mix

Preparation:
Mix lemon juice, oil, salt, pepper, thyme, and tarragon in a glass baking dish. Add turkey tenderloins and turn to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 1 hour but not longer than 24 hours.

Brush grill rack with vegetable oil and heat grill. Grease a 9″ square aluminum pan and set aside. Remove turkey tenderloins from marinade and place directly on grill. Cover grill and cook turkey 4-5″ from medium coals for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, in large bowl stir stuffing mix together with amount of water called for on package. Spoon into prepared aluminum pan and cover with foil.

Add pan with stuffing to grill rack. Brush turkey with marinade and turn. Discard remaining marinade. Cover and grill 10-15 minutes longer or until center is no longer pink or internal temperature reaches 180 degrees F and stuffing is hot and tender. Let turkey and stuffing stand for 10 minutes before serving. Cut tenderloins into 1″ pieces and serve with stuffing. 8 servings

Happy eating!