Wanda B. Campbell

About the Book

Faith Morgan is struggling with her faith. Years of neglect leave her doubting that God will ever fix her marriage. When a coworker accuses her husband, Jonah, of the unthinkable, Faith begins to wonder if she really knows him at all, and if it’s truly in God’s will for them to stay married.

Pediatric cardiologist Jonah Morgan is obsessed with one thing: his work. A childhood incident cemented his desire to heal children at any cost, even his family, but now he finds himself at a crossroads in his life. Will he continue to allow the past to haunt him, or find healing and peace in a God he shut out long ago?

About the Author

Rhonda McKnight owns Legacy Editing, a free-lance editing service for fiction writers and Urban Christian Fiction Today (www.urbanchristianfictiontoday.com ), a popular Internet site that highlights African-American Christian fiction.  She’s also the vice president of the Faith Based Fiction Writers of Atlanta. Originally from a small coastal town in New Jersey, she’s called Atlanta, Georgia home for almost twelve years.

Rhonda, tell us how you came up with the idea for this story? I woke up one morning and these people were talking in my head, or rather arguing. (LOL).  I thought this could be interesting, turned on the creativity, and came up with the “issues” in their marriage. I also did a lot of research about heart disease.  Jonah is a pediatric cardiologist and that’s central to the story. I knew absolutely nothing about heart disease before I wrote this novel.

Who is your ideal reader? I think most people will think my ideal reader is women who are married. While I think the book will definitely appeal to married women, I’d love for single woman who are thinking about marriage or waiting on Mr. Right to read the book. There is a valuable lesson for single women in the story. Faith chose to overlook a very important issue prior to her marriage to Jonah. This issue becomes a huge source of pain for her. Ten years later her ideal black man has her pulling her hair out.

Name something about the book that will appeal to readers? I think readers will find it appealing, because more than half of it is written from Jonah’s point of view. My informal research amongst readers has taught me that women readers love stories that are written from a man’s perspective. Like most men, Jonah is complex. He’s a love to hate kind of guy. People will love him because he’s dedicated his life to physically healing children, but he’s emotionally and spiritually sick himself.  What a burden for Faith. Faith’s pain will have some folks shaking their heads at Jonah.

When’s your next book being released?  My second novel, An Inconvenient Friend comes out August 1, 2010. I have a nasty little character in Secrets and Lies who gets her own story, and what a story it is. She’s up to no good. Can she be redeemed?

How can readers find out more about you? Readers may contact me at my website at www.rhondamcknight.net. I love for people to sign my guestbook and share their thoughts about the story. I’m also a complete Facebook addict. You’ll definitely find me there more than you should at www.facebook.com/rhondamcknight

Jewell Powell, author of Marriage 101, offers eight biblical insights to transform any marriage?

Act Biblically - is a person who does what is right even when others are not. Regardless of how your spouse or anyone else is treating you, you are responsible for doing the word. We can no longer point the finger or blame our spouses as to why we are not doing God’s word.

Love Biblically - is a person who can love like God. To love people, especially our spouses unconditionally without expecting anything in return.

Talk Biblically - is to say what God word says. The word says, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” We can say what scriptures say because God is faithful to His word

Repent Biblically - is a person who changes his or her attitude and behavior ” The scripture tells us to Repent (think differently; change your mind, regretting your sins and changing your conduct), for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” You cannot continue to say I am sorry to the Lord or others while still doing the same things. True repentance results in a changed life with new or different behavior/thinking and is visible to others.

Unite Biblically - is to become ‘one’. Agreement is the key to becoming one. God says, “Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose” (Philippians 2:2 NLT) Two people cannot walk hand in hand yet go in separate directions - one mind, one purpose.

Identify Biblically - is a person who allows the Holy Spirit to guide them and teach them who they should be in Christ Jesus. “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.  I am what the word says I am, I can do what the word says I can do

Submit Biblically - is a person who can surrender their will to others and to God. We honor God when we submit to others. “Be submissive to every human institution and authority for the sake of the Lord, … Biblical submission is to voluntarily yield in love and a willingness to consider another person’s need more important than our own. I’ve learned that we can honor God (Whom we have not seen) by honoring our brethren (especially our spouses), whom we have seen.

Minister Biblically - is to allow God to use you to minister to the people in your sphere of influence - basically win souls for the Kingdom “Clearly, you are a letter from Christ showing the result of our ministry among you. This letter is written not with pen and ink, but with the Spirit of the living God. It is carved not on tablets of stone, but on human hearts” (2 Cor 3:3) Jesus wants us to be his living epistle. To minister biblically is not in what we say but in how we live our lives as Christians.

How did you apply these eight elements to your own relationship with your husband?

For example, Act biblically.  We argue a lot about dinner.  I hate to cook and Lewis wants a fresh cook meal every day.  No microwave, no can, no frozen dinners.  One morning we had a big argument and he told me I better have dinner for him tonight.  The first thought that came to my mind was call and apologize and ask Lewis what he wanted for dinner.  My flesh was screaming no way “I will have bread and water waiting for him when he got home”.  After a few minutes, I called and apologize and asked him what he wanted for dinner.  Acting biblically is doing what is right.  It is doing what God tells you to do even when you don’t want to. 

Another example, Repent Biblically.  I was a wife who nagged, was mouthy and judgmental and would slice and dice him with my tongue.  When I learned the true meaning of repentance, I understood that I just couldn’t say I am sorry and continue doing the same thing.  My repentance became real and visible because I no longer nagged, judged or use my tongue as a weapon.      

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

In July of 1992, Jewell met her Prince Charming at a Roy Rogers restaurant. When the couple decided to marry four years later, both were aware of the latest marriage statistics and the legacy of divorce that lay between them. Her parents divorced when she was four, after moving the family to Maryland, leaving her to be raised by a single mother. To circumvent the odds, they went through pre-marital counseling, attended church regularly and felt a strong love for one another. They believed they were ready for marriage.

While desiring to have a happily ever after, Jewell found life after marriage anything but a fairy tale. In 2001, she and her husband, Lewis, had been married for five years but were growing apart, after experiencing problems with infertility, sleeping in separate bedrooms and Lewis’s increasing disinterest in going to church. As she searched for answers to her marital troubles, Jewell found herself on a journey, seeking answers to save her marriage.

Despite a shaky beginning, the Powells now have a relationship with a strong foundation. After successfully resolving their marital problems, they started the Happily Ever After Marriage Ministry to help others do the same. Her new book, Marriage 101: Building a Life Together by Faith (Revell Books February 2009, ISBN 978-0-8007-3332-2, $13.99), offers hope and guidance to help transform broken relationships through the use of biblical wisdom in a simple workbook format.

Jewell serves as co-owner of Antiok Holdings, an emerging full-service management consulting firm, which she owns with her husband. She earned a Bachelor of Science in business from the University of Maryland and is pursuing a Master of Divinity. The Powells reside in southern Maryland with their two daughters.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Your marriage can be strong, healthy, happy, and blessed. Marriage coach Jewell Powell shows you how in this 8-week plan for marital success. She reveals how God’s truths can transform two individuals into the union he desires. Laying a spiritual foundation is crucial to your marriage. In Marriage 101: Building a Life Together by Faith, you will discover God’s purpose for marriage, how to develop godly character, how to communicate effectively, and much more. With biblical examples, study questions, and Scripture meditations perfect for individuals or couples, you will be challenged to examine areas in your life that may need change so that your marriage can thrive.

Follow the blog tour at http://bit.ly/Marriage101.

For more information about, visit Jewell at http://www.marriage101.us/.

Book Review

Marriage 101 is a great ministry tool for married couples.  Those in waiting can also learn valuable lessons from this transparent step by step guide. I have been married for 20 years and lead Couple’s Ministry for 10 years. I found Jewel Powell’s revelations refreshing and practical. While reading this book, I found myself re-evaluating my commitment to marriage.

Keep listening to God, Ms. Powell.