Saturday, October 27, 2018
Friday, October 26, 2018
Thursday, October 25, 2018
Wednesday, October 24, 2018
Tuesday, October 23, 2018
Monday, October 22, 2018
Sunday, October 21, 2018
Featured Blog: Kelley Benson's Books
The Good Old Days
By Kelley Benson
There’s something about the “good old days” that is comforting. Perhaps it's just because those days connect you with your earliest memories of life. Or maybe those days represent your prime and your glory days. Either way, it makes sense that the “good old days” often thought about with favor.
After all, every moment of our past has served as a single brick to build the lives we all live today, so they’re important. Looking back on the past allows us to learn from the successes and failures of others. Romans 15:4, “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.”
Read more here...
By Kelley Benson
There’s something about the “good old days” that is comforting. Perhaps it's just because those days connect you with your earliest memories of life. Or maybe those days represent your prime and your glory days. Either way, it makes sense that the “good old days” often thought about with favor.
After all, every moment of our past has served as a single brick to build the lives we all live today, so they’re important. Looking back on the past allows us to learn from the successes and failures of others. Romans 15:4, “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.”
Read more here...
Friday, October 19, 2018
Thursday, October 18, 2018
Tuesday, October 16, 2018
Sunday, October 14, 2018
Featured Blog: Kelley Benson's Books
The Sign of the Tabernacle
By Kelley Benson
Paul said in Romans 1:19-20, “What may be known about God is plain to [us], because God has made it plain to [us]. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—His eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.”
When the Messiah, Jesus, finally arrived there were enough signs out there that people knew to some degree what to look for and where to look (Matthew 2:4-6). One of the most prized possessions in the Jewish culture actually served as a model of the plan of salvation—the Tabernacle (later the Temple).
Read More...
By Kelley Benson
Paul said in Romans 1:19-20, “What may be known about God is plain to [us], because God has made it plain to [us]. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—His eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.”
When the Messiah, Jesus, finally arrived there were enough signs out there that people knew to some degree what to look for and where to look (Matthew 2:4-6). One of the most prized possessions in the Jewish culture actually served as a model of the plan of salvation—the Tabernacle (later the Temple).
Read More...
Thursday, October 11, 2018
Tuesday, October 9, 2018
Sunday, October 7, 2018
Featured Blog: Kelley Benson's Books
Don't Forget!
By Kelley Benson
Isn’t it easy to use our own “righteousness” as the standard for all people? The sins we get tripped up on are either “not that bad,” or else we praise God for his grace and mercy; however, with other people it can be easy to go on a witch hunt and ready to speak for God the condemnation their actions deserve. But as Paul said about the false teachers in Corinth, “When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.” (2 Corinthians 10:12). Instead, they needed to consider his words to the Galatians in Galatians 6:4-8, “Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load… Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.”
Read More...
By Kelley Benson
Isn’t it easy to use our own “righteousness” as the standard for all people? The sins we get tripped up on are either “not that bad,” or else we praise God for his grace and mercy; however, with other people it can be easy to go on a witch hunt and ready to speak for God the condemnation their actions deserve. But as Paul said about the false teachers in Corinth, “When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.” (2 Corinthians 10:12). Instead, they needed to consider his words to the Galatians in Galatians 6:4-8, “Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load… Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.”
Read More...
Thursday, October 4, 2018
Monday, October 1, 2018
NEW RELEASE FROM MRH
MRH PUBLISHES NEW BOOK FLOOZY COMES BACK
“Stephen’s
first collection of humorous essays, Floozy
and Other Stories, is one of the top books we’ve published and the readers
wanted more,” said Ms. Pru Simmons, MRH associate editor. “Finally, after too
long a wait, we have a new collection of these hilarious stories.”
OKLAHOMA—Many Rivers Harbor announces the
publication of Floozy Comes Back, a
new collection of humorous articles from author Stephen B. Bagley. The book is on sale now at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, BooksAMillion, Lulu, and other
online retailers.
“Stephen’s
first collection of humorous essays, Floozy
and Other Stories, is one of the top books we’ve published and the readers
wanted more,” said Ms. Pru Simmons, MRH associate editor. “Finally, after too
long a wait, we have a new collection of these hilarious stories.”
Simmons
said most of the essays in Floozy Comes
Back had been published in print and online magazines and newsletters and
in various anthologies. “Stephen wrote several new ones just for this book and also
restored a couple of articles previously published in the first Floozy
collection that had been cut by various editors to fit space and theme
requirements.”
“I enjoy
revisiting these essays,” Bagley said. “They’re like old friends. I’m glad to
get to share them again with the readers.”
The book’s contents include: A Tale of Two Goldfish, Spice Boy, Hamlet or Another Four Hours I Won’t Get Back, The Terrible Truth about Women, Tanning My Hide, Congress & Other Monstrous Things, Work in Your Underwear, Taking Aim at Cupid, Needs Something More, Irish Dancing as Performed by Roofers, Pumpkin Pinterest, The Story of the Second Thanksgiving, Getting Lit at Christmas, Much Ado about Carbs, and many other reader favorites.
The book’s contents include: A Tale of Two Goldfish, Spice Boy, Hamlet or Another Four Hours I Won’t Get Back, The Terrible Truth about Women, Tanning My Hide, Congress & Other Monstrous Things, Work in Your Underwear, Taking Aim at Cupid, Needs Something More, Irish Dancing as Performed by Roofers, Pumpkin Pinterest, The Story of the Second Thanksgiving, Getting Lit at Christmas, Much Ado about Carbs, and many other reader favorites.
Floozy Comes Back retails for $16 in trade paperback.
For more information, visit manyriversharbor.blogspot.com.
Stephen B. Bagley co-wrote Undying, a collection of poetry with poet Gail Henderson. He wrote Murder by Dewey Decimal and Murder
by the Acre, both in the Measurements of Murder™
series. His other books include Tales
from Bethlehem, Floozy and Other Stories, and Endless. He wrote the full-length plays Murder at the Witch’s Cottage and Two
Writers in the Hands of an Angry God and
co-wrote Turnabout. He coauthored two one-act plays (“Hogwild” and “There’s a
Body in The Closet”) that were published by Dramatic Publishing Company. His
poetry, articles, short stories, and essays have appeared in Writer’s Digest, Prosateurs: Tales & Truth, Blackbirds First Flight, Blackbirds Second Flight, Blackbirds Third Flight, By-Line Magazine, Nautilus Magazine, Pontotoc County Chronicles, Tulsa World OKMagazine, Your Country Music Magazine, Free Star, Dark Prairies & Deep Rivers, New Journeys & Destinations, the Creations anthologies
2012-2015, various newspapers in Arkansas and Oklahoma, and other print and
online publications. He graduated from Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma,
with a Bachelor of Science in Journalism. He is a member of Oklahoma Writers
Federation, Inc. and a founding member of the writing group Prosateurs. Visit
his website at StephenBBagley.blogspot.com.
ABOUT
MANY RIVERS HARBOR
Many Rivers Harbors, a micropublishing
company based in Oklahoma, is dedicated to helping authors publish and promote
their books. For more information about MRH publications, visit MRH at manyriversharbor.blogspot.com or email
at manyriversharbor@gmail.com.
Sunday, September 30, 2018
Featured Blog: Kelley Benson's Books
Our Hearts
By Kelley Benson
How much of our hearts do we put into becoming a follower of Christ? From the very first step until our very last one, God is wanting our “hearts” to be part of it (Psalms 37:4; Romans 5:5; John 14:27).
When someone hears the Gospel and is pricked to the heart and realizes the need to be saved from sinfulness, there begins a process of tuning our hearts to God’s heart. Therefore, the “why” questions and even the “how” questions become important in our change.
Read More...
By Kelley Benson
How much of our hearts do we put into becoming a follower of Christ? From the very first step until our very last one, God is wanting our “hearts” to be part of it (Psalms 37:4; Romans 5:5; John 14:27).
When someone hears the Gospel and is pricked to the heart and realizes the need to be saved from sinfulness, there begins a process of tuning our hearts to God’s heart. Therefore, the “why” questions and even the “how” questions become important in our change.
Read More...
Friday, September 28, 2018
Book Teaser: "Up, Up & Away in My Beautiful Semi-Rigid Airship"
I’ve always loved dirigibles, those huge gas-filled flying machines
that naturally would make us think of Congress if they were filled
with hot air, but no, they’re filled with a helium mixture these
days. I remember seeing the Goodyear blimp float over my town once.
As it made its slow, majestic way across the sky, I felt true wonder in
my soul, like the first time I saw Pamela Anderson in a bikini.Even now, some people talk wistfully about days of the passenger airships. They were luxury cruisers and fast enough when compared with other modes of transoceanic transportation. The Hindenburg made it across the Atlantic Ocean in about four days, faster than even Michael Phelps could swim it.
Unfortunately, the Hindenburg disaster on May 6, 1937 put an end to the airship era. It shattered the public’s faith in airship transportation, although statistics showed airships were safer than cheating on your spouse.
Read more in Floozy Comes Back on sale now! Copyright 2018 by Stephen B. Bagley. All rights reserved.
Thursday, September 27, 2018
Book Teaser: "We Like Big Trucks; We Cannot Lie"
Recently a major American automobile company announced it
was going to stop selling almost all its cars and concentrate
on big trucks. The idea being that fossil fuels will last
FOREVER—or at least until our generation is safely dead and then it’s
not our problem.Not the company’s fault, of course. They’re making what the public wants, and apparently, the public wants vehicles large enough to be seen from orbit.
I myself drive a sensible four-door sedan. I would like a flashy sports car that can go from zero to sixty in a blink, but I am stopped by one) not having enough money to afford one, and two) if I did have one, I would have to butter myself to get inside and it would take the Jaws of Life and the fire department to get me out. I no longer have the body for a low-slung sports car.
Read more in Floozy Comes Back on sale now! Copyright 2018 by Stephen B. Bagley. All rights reserved.
Wednesday, September 26, 2018
Book Teaser: "The Truth about Trees"
But it’s not plumbing problems that have me riled up about trees this time around. Nor is it their world domination schemes that are aided by the squirrels but opposed by the noble chipmunks. (Oh, Chip and Dale, the terrible price you’ve paid for your selfless bravery!) No, it’s a new complaint: I’m trying to learn how to paint, and trees are hard to do.
Read more in Floozy Comes Back on sale now! Copyright 2018 by Stephen B. Bagley. All rights reserved.
Tuesday, September 25, 2018
Book Teaser: "Inner Peace or Something Vaguely Like That"
I regarded him doubtfully. He was young and had seemed healthy enough four weeks ago when he replaced my last therapist who had apparently entered a monastery, but he had gone downhill fast. I wonder what was going on in his private life that had caused this change.
“Yoga? You mean that chanting thing where they sacrifice chickens, go into trances, and make zombies?”
Read more in Floozy Comes Back on sale now! Copyright 2018 by Stephen B. Bagley. All rights reserved.
Monday, September 24, 2018
Book Teaser: "Congress and Other Monstrous Things"
I don’t know how such frightening shows such as The Walking Dead, Fear the Walking Dead, The Talking Dead (a talk show about The Walking Dead), and Dancing with Barely Remembered Stars can pull in the viewer numbers that they do. If people really wanted to watch something horrific, they should watch C-SPAN. If what goes on there doesn’t frighten you, you’re most likely already dead or living in Washington, D.C., a fate well known to be worse than death.
Read more in Floozy Comes Back on sale now! Copyright 2018 by Stephen B. Bagley. All rights reserved.
Sunday, September 23, 2018
Featured Blog: Kelley Benson's Books
Breath of Eternal Life
By Kelley Benson
It doesn’t take much for us to lose focus on what’s important in life and begin to “major in the minors,” as the old saying goes. To counter that, it takes intentional, purpose-filled thoughts and actions. Paul said in 2 Corinthians 4:18, “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” But it’s the things that are “seen” that lure us into behaviors that get us into trouble.
James highlights the fact that there were some folks making bias distinctions between the rich and the poor, and other behaviors that did not (and do not) exemplify Christ. But, as followers of Christ we must be, as Peter says in 1 Peter 1:14-17, “[Like] obedient children, [who] do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’ Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear.”
Read More...
By Kelley Benson
It doesn’t take much for us to lose focus on what’s important in life and begin to “major in the minors,” as the old saying goes. To counter that, it takes intentional, purpose-filled thoughts and actions. Paul said in 2 Corinthians 4:18, “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” But it’s the things that are “seen” that lure us into behaviors that get us into trouble.
James highlights the fact that there were some folks making bias distinctions between the rich and the poor, and other behaviors that did not (and do not) exemplify Christ. But, as followers of Christ we must be, as Peter says in 1 Peter 1:14-17, “[Like] obedient children, [who] do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’ Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear.”
Read More...
Saturday, September 22, 2018
Book Teaser: "Much Ado About Carbs"
Read more in Floozy Comes Back on sale now! Copyright 2018 by Stephen B. Bagley. All rights reserved.
Friday, September 21, 2018
Book Teaser: "Irish Dancing as Performed by Roofers"
Yes, they do fall off the roof. I actually got to see one of them do that. He rolled off the carport nearly in front of me. Naturally, his fellow workers sprang into immediate action showing their concern.
One of them called, “Hey, you okay?”
The one on the ground said, “(Expletive), yeah.”
And then everyone laughed uproariously, except me, of course, because I had to rush inside to see if my home insurance would cover a liability claim if someone did get hurt while working on my property. I already knew it didn’t cover other people’s pets who wander into large model rockets.
Read more in Floozy Comes Back on sale now! Copyright 2018 by Stephen B. Bagley. All rights reserved.
Thursday, September 20, 2018
Book Teaser: "I Can Drive 55; I Don't Wanna"
Okay, I can understand running out of blinker fluid. It happens.
Apparently. Let’s not get up on our high horse about that. After
all, when was the last time you had your car’s blinker fluid
level checked?
But this whole I-don’t-see-the-stop-sign-so-it-doesn’t-exist thing, that’s odd. I don’t understand it. Toddlers believe something similar; that’s why peek-a-boo is such a hit with them. You disappear for a moment, and then you miraculously reappear. You’re the most amazing person they’ve met in their short life! Of course, that feeling doesn’t last, and by the time your toddler has grown into a teenager, you’re quite possibly the dumbest parent who has ever walked the earth and only put here to “totally” embarrass her/him. Which you should do at each and every opportunity. It’s your duty.
Read more in Floozy Comes Back on sale now! Copyright 2018 by Stephen B. Bagley. All rights reserved.
Wednesday, September 19, 2018
Book Teaser: "The Burden of Beauty"
I just had a sudden insight that I’m sure may have escaped your attention.
Well, don’t feel bad. After all, I’m a genius, and you’re
not. But you have a sweet spirit and will probably be spared when
I crush the thrones of this earth under my booted heel. But that’s not a
promise. Stop being so needy.
Anyway, my insight was about The Burden of Beauty. The capitals on The Burden of Beauty should clue you in that this will be our topic. Or really my topic. I’m writing, and you’re reading. It’s good to keep those roles straight. Yes, it’s true that beautiful people get the best jobs, make the most money, get better care in emergency rooms and hospitals, receive more respect from their peers and loved ones, and live longer. These statements are all supported by real statistics, not ones I made up.
Read more in Floozy Comes Back on sale now! Copyright 2018 by Stephen B. Bagley. All rights reserved.
Tuesday, September 18, 2018
Book Teaser" "Needs Something More"
This morning I got up at five and thought I’d watch the sunrise. As I watched the scarlet fingers of dawn stretch across the majestic vault of the sky, I thought, Hmm, it could do with a bit of dramatic music and maybe a car chase or two. By sharing that, you might think I’m blind to the wonders of nature. Not true. I just feel nature is better behind a TV screen, door, picture window, wall, moat, 20-foot-tall electrified fence with guard posts every 30 feet...because nature frankly never saw a human that it didn’t want to bend, fold, perforate, or eat.Yes, I know, Disney has made you think that nature is filled with lovable bunnies, cute ducks, and adorable deer. Did you know that deer cost us over 4 billion dollars in property damage and medical bills each year by their habit of jumping in front of moving cars in their imitation of trainspotting? And the number of people shot by bunnies with guns stagger the imagination! Truly, it would. I can’t even discuss the fowl things ducks do.
Read more in Floozy Comes Back on sale now! Copyright 2018 by Stephen B. Bagley. All rights reserved.
Monday, September 17, 2018
Book Teaser: "That Buzzing Sound You Hear"
Yes, I know that supposedly they lay eggs that somehow survive the winter’s cold, and those eggs hatch into larvae, which grow up to suck blood and lay more eggs to survive the winter, but I don’t believe it. Have you ever seen a mosquito nest? Me, neither. What really happens is they follow the sun to torment South Americans. Mosquitoes live many years, and all of them speak fondly of me, their Promised Land of white, soft skin that conceals the most delicious and nourishing liquid.
Read more in Floozy Comes Back on sale now! Copyright 2018 by Stephen B. Bagley. All rights reserved.
Sunday, September 16, 2018
Featured Blog: Kelley Benson's Books
What Word Best Describes You?
By Kelley Benson
What word best describes you? Or perhaps what word would you hope other people would use to describe you? I’ve been to some funerals where the congregation was asked that question to describe the deceased. In that exercise, it's interesting to see how many characteristics are told about someone.
Truth is, we can see the same person from different perspectives. What about God? What word do we attribute to God’s character?
Read More...
By Kelley Benson
What word best describes you? Or perhaps what word would you hope other people would use to describe you? I’ve been to some funerals where the congregation was asked that question to describe the deceased. In that exercise, it's interesting to see how many characteristics are told about someone.
Truth is, we can see the same person from different perspectives. What about God? What word do we attribute to God’s character?
Read More...
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