For the past two decades, Jennifer and Jeromy Deibler have been partners in music and ministry—as well as marriage—each facet of their lives taking precedence within its season.

In the 1990s and the early years of this millennium, as a vital part of pop-worship band FFH, they released multiple albums, maintained a heavy touring schedule, scored numerous ‘number one’ radio hits and Dove nominations, and sold more than two million career albums.

In 2006, the couple took a break from the road, moved to South Africa to minister in a small church, and petitioned God for their next assignment. Two years later, while on their way back from leading worship for a small congregation in Georgia, they realized it was time to put FFH back together—but with a fresh perspective and a new sense of calling.

Jennifer graciously agreed to an interview to talk about the group’s latest CD, Wide Open Spaces, and upcoming Christmas release, One Silent Night.

At what point did you discover music? When did you know it was to become an important part of your life?

My earliest memory of music was singing with my mom and sisters in the car, we loved to sing together. I knew I wanted to be a singer when I was fourteen years old however I had severe stage fright. It wasn’t until about ten years later that I was able to make myself sing in front of people.

How does your faith play into your work?

My main “real” job is as a homeschooling mom and that requires every shred of faith I have. My other job as a singer takes the most faith when I’m packing up and leaving. I’m a homebody so traveling is the hardest part of what we do. So believing that we are doing something that will encourage people in their faith is what drives me. I’m not sure I would do this if it was for any other reason; it wouldn’t be worth it.

Has God ever provided an unexpected “detour” in your life that turned out to be positive?

Yes, all the time. That’s what God does. He takes everything and works it together for His good.

You and Jeromy speak of a time when God was silent. Having gone through such an experience and come out on the other side, what is your best advice for others who are dealing with something similar?

I feel like we are still in that time of wilderness and question God all the time. I used to think the Israelites were such complainers, what babies! I mean what else did God have to do for them? He parted the sea for them, freed them from slavery, provided food and water, lead them with a fire and a cloud in the desert, and they still questioned Him! And here I am, doing the same thing only I have it a lot easier! I have a lot more grace for them now.

Let’s talk about Wide Open Spaces. Is there one song on the album with which you most identify?

That’s such a tough question because, for the most part, this CD is our life over the past five years. I identify with so many of them. One song that is a favorite of mine is What If Your Best. It’s a song about waiting and how sometimes that is God’s best for us and He uses those times to grow us.

What’s coming up next for you?

We have a Christmas record coming out Oct. 11 called One Silent Night. We are so excited; we’ve always wanted to do a Christmas record but it just never happened. We are really proud of it and can’t wait for people to hear it.

We are also planning to release a new album next year.

A few fun questions:

What’s your favorite comfort food and why?

Almond butter on toast. Because it’s so yummy! But you have to put the almond butter on immediately when you take the toast out of the toaster so it melts in.

This website features authors as well as musicians. What kind of books do you like to read?

I enjoy reading information books. I love nutritional health books. I’m reading two books right now, The Animal Vegetable Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver and One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voscamp. I love Ann Voscamp; hers is the only blog I have to read everyday. She’s amazing!

If you were a song, what kind of song would you be?

An old country song, hopefully Patsy Cline.

Are you a major or a minor chord?

Jeromy says I’m an augmented chord, I’m not sure what that means.

In the story that is your life, are you the strong, female lead; the girl next door; the mysterious woman behind dark glasses; the super heroine; or the little girl trying to walk in high heels?

I’m probably the girl next door.

I’m a dog lover. Please tell us about your pets and/or a favorite pet from the past.

We have a miniature schnauzer named Fritz. He is a great dog, very smart!

I had several pets growing up, but my favorite was my horse Merchant.

Thanks, Jennifer. It’s a pleasure to have you as a guest at DivineDetour.

Thank you!

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For more information about FFH and/or to pre-order their new Christmas CD, visit www.ffh.net. Friend FFH on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/FFHmusic and/or follow Jennifer on Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/FFHJennifer.

To purchase FFH music, logon to:

Lena Nelson Dooley is an award-winning author with more than 650,000 books in print. Her novel Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico, won the Will Rogers Medallion Award for Western Fiction.

She and her husband James live in Texas, where she is the president of her local ACFW chapter.

Your latest book is entitled Maggie’s Journey. What sparked your personal writing journey?

In May of 1984, God told me to become a professional writer.

I have always written. I thought everyone did. If we needed a program, I wrote it. If we needed puppet scripts, I wrote them, etc. I often daydreamed of writing the great American novel. Sometimes, while I was in my middle 30s, I thought I would like to write a book based on the Proverbs 31 woman. And I still may write that book.

In January 1984, several publishers came out with inspirational romances—Silhouette, Thomas Nelson, Zondervan, Harvest House, Baker Books, Bethany House. I bought all of them and read them before I would let my daughters, who were still in school, read them. At the time, I was an auxiliary rural mail carrier in Colleyville, Texas. While I was driving the mail route, I created a story in my head. It was like a motion picture, but it would make a good inspirational romance.

If your readers want to read the whole story, they can check it out at: http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com by clicking on the About Me tab at the top.

How does your faith play into your writing?

Since my relationship with the Lord is such an integral part of my life, a strong spiritual thread is an integral part of every book I write.

Has God ever provided an unexpected “detour” in your life that turned out to be positive?

Way too many to enumerate. I’ve found that when my life takes an unexpected turn, either for the better or for the worse, God has something for me to learn from the experience. After realizing that, I deal with possible roadblocks in an entirely different way from the way I did before.

Let’s talk about your new book, Maggie’s Journey (Realms, October 2011), the first in your McKenna’s Daughters series. Please tell us about it.

Maggie is one of triplet sisters born on one of the last wagon trains west in 1867. Their mother dies soon after giving birth to them. And they’re separated and grow up in different areas of the western United States. Not until near their eighteenth birthdays do they find out they have two sisters.

Maggie has grown up not even knowing she was adopted. Finding out that she was brings all kinds of emotional and trust issues into her life, as well as a man who can love her for who she really is.

Sometimes we learn from our character’s experiences. What did Maggie’s journey teach you?

To trust God through every circumstance.

You are a prolific writer. How do you manage to stay focused on the project at hand? Or do you work simultaneously on more than one manuscript?

When you’re multi-published with books releasing less than a year apart, you can’t completely stay focused on only one book. While I’m writing book three right now, I’m also working on rewrites for the second book and marketing for book one.

A few fun questions…

When the words aren’t flowing—or when you want to celebrate if they are—what is your favorite comfort food and why?

Chocolate. Here’s part of my current bio:

Lena loves James, her children, grandchildren, and great grandson. She loves chocolate, cherries, chocolate-covered cherries, and spending time with friends. Travel is always on her horizon. Cruising, Galveston, the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas, Mexico. One day it will be Hawaii and Australia, but probably not the same year. Helping other authors become published really floats her boat, with fifteen signing their first book contract after her mentoring. The high point of her day is receiving feedback from her readers, especially people whose lives have been changed by her books. And she loves chocolate, especially dark chocolate.

This website features musicians as well as writers. Do you have musical, as well as literary, talent?

I have been a singer for as long as I remember. I’ve sang in choirs, directed choirs, and been a featured singer on retreats. I’ve played the tambourine, a couple of stringed instruments, and keyboards—mostly for my own enjoyment.

If you were a song, what kind of song would you be?

A romantic song of worship for the One Who loves me more than anyone else possibly could love me, even though He has seen every sin I’ve ever committed.

Are you a major or a minor chord?

Major chord—a loud major chord

In the story that is your life, are you the strong, female lead; the girl next door; the mysterious woman behind dark glasses; the super heroine; or the little girl trying to walk in high heels?

I’d like to be the mysterious woman behind dark glasses, but I’m more a strong, female lead—and I don’t hide in the shadows.

I’m a dog lover. Please tell us about your pets, if any, or your favorite pet as a child.

Actually, the “pets” from childhood were working dogs. Our daughters had dogs when they were fairly small, but we’ve lived several places where pets weren’t permitted.

Thanks, Lena! It’s nice to have you as a guest at DivineDetour.

~ ~ ~

For more information about Lena, visit her website at http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

To purchase Maggie’s Journey logon to:

by Linda Cox

Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name

that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that

Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

(Philippians 2:9-10)

What began as a simple evening of Christmas caroling was transformed by God’s presence into a visit to holy ground.

Our group of carolers arrived at a residential facility for severely disabled children and young adults at suppertime. The dining room was filled with a cacophony of noise. Aides were seated at the tables next to each resident. Many were not able to sit upright, and most could not feed themselves or speak intelligibly.

Quite frankly, none of us were really prepared for what we had just walked into, but we started singing. The aides sang along, enjoying the music. The residents, however, seemed totally oblivious to the music as we sang over the din. After several carols, our leader, who later said the Holy Spirit led him, started singing “Jesus Loves Me This I Know.”

As we joined in, the noise in the room subsided. Residents started looking at us, several swaying with the music. Many were clearly saying the word “Jesus.” We sang the song over and over with tears flowing down our faces. The presence of the Lord was there, allowing us to experience a truly anointed moment.

I cherished the memory of that evening, thankful to have been a part of it. But with time, the memory faded. Not lost, just tucked away inside my mind, stored there by the Lord for His appointed time.

That time came when I was facing my father’s descent into the darkness of Alzheimer’s Disease. He was disappearing before my very eyes. Fearful of what lay ahead for him,  tears became a common occurrence for me. And then one day God brought the memory back. I gasped as I once again “saw” those severely disabled young adults mouthing the name “Jesus.”

In that moment, God assured me that no matter how far into the darkness of Alzheimer’s my father would descend, no matter what physical and mental abilities he lost, no matter if he forgot who Mom or I was, Daddy would never forget Jesus, His Lord and Savior. And Jesus would never forget him. I was reminded once again what those young adults knew—there is no other name like Jesus.

Erik Reed is a graduate of Western Kentucky University with a Bachelor of Religious Studies degree, a former U.S. Army paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division, and Lead Pastor of The Journey Church in Lebanon, Tennessee. He also attends Southern Seminary in Louisville, finishing up work on his Masters of Divinity.

Robbie Cheuvront is a former member of the country music band Lonestar and current Worship Pastor at The Journey Church. The Guardian (Barbour Books) is their first novel.

DivineDetour had the recent pleasure of interviewing Erik about the book.

You have a background in non-fiction. What initially sparked your desire to write?

I love to communicate the truths of God and His Word to people. I want to use the gifts God has given me to glorify Him. I have predominantly preached and taught as the mode for communicating God’s Word to others. However, I started to see that writing was a way of having lessons and truths in a more reproducible and accessible format. Instead of having to preach a message every year to make sure people remembered the truths from it or to introduce new people to it, handing them a pamphlet or sending them to a website page with the content on it became much easier. I am also an avid reader, so I see how effective of a tool writing can be to teach the gospel and its application to our lives.

C.S. Lewis is a great inspiration to me. He wrote both fiction and non-fiction. However, everything he wrote was aimed at teaching the gospel of Jesus, his Savior. I pray that I would always seek to make much of Him in my writing, not myself.

Let’s talk about your new novel, The Guardian (Barbour Books, September 1, 2011), written with Robbie Cheuvront. Please tell us about it.

The Guardian is a fast-paced, high-octane sort of book. From beginning to end it is a story that should keep readers on the edge of their seats and gasping for air. It begins with John, the disciple of Jesus, on the island of Patmos. We see that the scroll he receives in Revelation 10 has a distinct purpose. He is told that it will be passed down through his linage and his descendants will be responsible to solve a riddle that the scroll contains. We fast-forward to present day and we meet our lead character, Anna Riley. Anna is living it up at Mardi Gras when she encounters a young boy outside of a bar who knows things about her that he should not or could not know. He tells her that her grandfather, who she thought had been dead for years, is actually alive in a hospital in Pittsburgh. She is told that he must see her immediately because he is dying. Anna struggles with whether to believe this or dismiss it. This begins the adventurous journey of Anna learning about her linage, learning about her destiny to solve the scroll’s mystery, and learning about this thing called faith in the midst of all her doubt. Along the way she encounters danger, as people are trying to kill her as they seek to gain possession of the scroll. She also meets someone who is going to serve as her protector, teacher . . . and potential love interest, Jason Lang. :- )

What gave you the idea for the plot?

Back when we first started writing the book (in 2005), the Dan Brown DaVinci Code craze was still in full swing. The book has some influences from his style of story-telling. We were also influenced by movies like Indiana Jones and National Treasure. The idea of a suspenseful and fast-paced story was our core desire as we started writing the book.

Besides entertainment, what do you hope readers will take away from it?

While we hope the book is entertaining and a fun read, our core desire is that it would be used to teach important lessons about the faith.

Here are a few of those:

**The Sovereignty of God — we want our readers to understand that God is in control over the universe, even when the world seems to be in chaos. We want people to realize that God is bringing history to its appointed end. Every single event in history is leading it to its ultimate end. Nothing and nobody can thwart His plans. In the book we want to demonstrate how God works in the world to bring His plans to pass.

**The Necessity of Faith — walking by faith is the essence of the Christian faith. Most of us want God to show us His entire plan before we trust Him and follow after Him. But instead of giving us the next ten steps, God will usually only show us the next step we are to take, and He waits for us to take it before showing us the next one. That is the nature of faith. Walking by faith and not by sight. In this book we wanted to show this through our lead character, as well as several other characters.

**The Spiritual Nature of Life — life is more than what is seen by the eye. If we believe the Bible to be true (which Christians should), then we are told that life is more than flesh and blood; but their are unseen forces in the spiritual realm. In this book we wanted to give the reader a chance to see this so it would opens their eyes to this reality.

**The Plan of God for our Lives — we believe that God has a plan for our lives. Our existence is not incidental. God has a plan for us and we are all desirous to live it faithfully. The book seeks to show how God’s plan for our lives is not easy to live out and requires faith in Him as we pursue it.

In the book, your lead character takes an unexpected path. Has God ever provided an unexpected “detour” in your life that turned out to be positive?

My family and I have been through some really hard times. My wife and I spent the first two years of our son’s life in the hospital with him. He has been through so much, and the majority of it was the result of a medical mistake made by a surgeon. This unexpected “detour” to our plans was hard to make sense of at the time. However, God is faithful. Through all of our trials and tribulations God was there with us and for us. Throughout our circumstances God has given us a chance to minister and help other people who are going through difficulties in their lives. God has used our tough times as a way for us to love and help others. He has brought incredible good out of incredible difficulty. Only God can do something like that!!

A few fun questions…

When the words aren’t flowing—or when you want to celebrate if they are—what is your favorite comfort food and why?

Comfort food…hmmm…okay, three answers:

First, I could eat Mexican food every single day. If the words are flowing or clogged up like a sink, it doesn’t matter, give me some Mexican food. Second, if I can not have Mexican food or my wife refuses to go again for the fourth time that week, then pizza is my thing. The Pepperoni Lovers Cheese-Stuffed Crust from Pizza Hut is THE BEST! Just typing that, no joke, made my taste-buds water. Third, if I am not eating a full meal, and I’m just snacking instead, then Sour Skittles is my “comfort food” of choice. Give me all three in one day and I would declare myself ready for heaven. ;- )

This website features musicians as well as writers. Do you have musical, as well as literary, talent?

I can play some chords on the guitar and play a few hymns on the piano. But you messed all that up when you clarified “talent” at the end of the question. So the answer would be:  I am a wannabe musician. My co-author Robbie Cheuvront is the real musician. He was on the road with the band Lonestar for ten years. He can play everything!

If you were a song, what kind of song would you be?

Wow! That is a hard one. I like all kinds of music. I love Frank Sinatra, Bob Marley, Chicago, Boston, Beach Boys, and many others. My favorite Christian musicians would probably be Hillsong United. My favorite song of theirs would probably be All I Need Is You. If I had to boil it down to the kind of song I would be, I would say All I Need Is You because, despite everything, He truly is the only thing in this life that I cannot be without. That defines my life.

What Bible verse best describes your faith journey?

My favorite Bible verse, the one I have clung to as a life-verse for me, is 1 Timothy 1:15-17. I feel like it sums up my life well. I am a sinner saved by grace. The mercy I have received was given so that I could spend my life to make much of Jesus. That’s all I desire to do.

15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. 16 But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. 17 To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

In the story that is your life, are you the tall, dark stranger; the romantic lead; the mythical warrior; the mad scientist; or the child in an adult’s body?

I would have to say that I am more of the mythical warrior type. I was in the Army for four years as a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division. As a follower of Christ, I have taken the commission of being in service to the King of kings and to fight for the heart of my King. Not to mention, I don’t want to be the creepy stranger. I’m not smart enough to be the scientist. And I don’t have any romantic ideas after going to the Mexican restaurant is shot down. haha

I’m a dog lover. Please tell us about your pets, if any, or your favorite pet as a child.

I do not have any pets because my wife is not a big pet fan. However, growing up I adored my two Cocker Spaniel dogs, Coach and Lady. We had them for eight-plus years during my childhood years. They would go with me through the woods behind my house and play with me in the yard. I really loved those dogs.

Thanks, Erik! It’s great to have you as a guest at DivineDetour!

~ ~ ~

For more information about The Guardian, logon to www.unlockthescroll.com.

To purchase The Guardian logon to:

Contemporary Christian singer-songwriter Jason Gray is a man of dichotomies. Outspoken, yet humble. Creatively explosive, yet understated. Passionate… and well, passionate. The same goes for his music.

This week, Jason released, A Way to See in the Dark, his third —and highly anticipated—studio album since signing with Centricity Music in 2006. More Like Falling in Love, a single from his last project, received a 2011 ASCAP Performance Award. And the first single from this project, Remind Me Who I Am, with it’s infectious chorus, may be quickly following in its tracks.

Based on the graphics for your website—and listening to your song lyrics—it appears that you are an “analytical” kind of guy. When did you first realize that you wanted to pursue a “creative” career in music?

Yeah, I guess you could say that I’m a “thinker.” But I’m a “feeler” too, and I suppose that’s one of my distinctives as an artist—I try to bridge those two things. I like the idea of keeping the heart and mind connected to each other, it’s good for those two to stay in conversation together : -)

It’s also probably a part of my neurosis, too, where I’m forever suspicious of emotions and the way they can carry us away. But the cool intellectualizing of things can easily become a way of hiding, a defense to protect our hearts. So there is a tension between the two, and it’s a tension that makes some people uncomfortable because it requires discomfort. It probably hinders my career in some ways—sometimes I wish I could just give the people what they want and write a big ol’ bubble gum pop song—but I think it’s good for us, and I try to strike a balance between offering thoughtful lyrics that are still accessible and musically infectious. I’m not sure if I succeed, but that’s the aim anyway.

I’ve had a sense that music was what I was put on earth to do since I was a little boy. I grew up on the road with my mom’s bar band when I was a little boy so I was always around music. But I never had dreams of glory like my friends who wanted to be rock stars. I was into Simon & Garfunkel and people like that, so it was always the heart connection that fascinated me—the power that music has to heal and to give meaning. Music is a holy kind of magic, and I’m grateful to participate in its ministrations in my own modest way.

At what point did you come to understand that music was also God’s calling for your life?

Hard to explain, but I think I always knew it… even when I was more into Duran Duran than I was Keith Green.

I remember a time I was driving home from school when I was sixteen. I was living in an abusive home situation, so things at home were bad. And because things at home were bad, things at school were bad. And to top it off, my girlfriend had just broken up with me. I was driving home and crying, begging God for comfort. At some point a thought occurred to me and I wondered: “Everybody goes to God when they’re hurting, but who does God go to? Who can He go to when His heart is broken?”

So in a grand moment of presumption and naiveté I prayed, “Lord, I want you to know that if you ever need to talk with someone, I’d like to be there for you. You can talk to me.”

And the thing is, I believe He has! I believe He has broken my heart with things that break His heart, and I am convinced that all of my ministry, every song I’ve written, is on account of that prayer all those years ago, as corny as it may sound.

Has God ever provided an unexpected “detour” in your life that turned out to be positive?

Well, I may be in the middle of one right now…. But yes, always. That’s kind of how it works, isn’t it? I suppose I don’t know if these detours are sure to be positive—I’m not sure that’s a given—but I believe each of them has in it the potential to be redeemed so long as, by God’s grace, we resist bitterness and instead invite him into these moments.

This is a theme in my ministry and of the new record, too. I believe that one of the great hopes of Christianity is that nothing is wasted. The worst that hell throws our way to destroy our lives is transformed in the hands of God into something that He can use to build His kingdom. It’s our wounds that equip us to be healers, so long as we aren’t swallowed up in them and surrender our hearts to anger and bitterness.

There’s a song about this on the record called “Nothing Is Wasted” that goes like this:

It’s in the deepest wounds

That beauty finds a place to bloom

And you will see before the end

That every broken piece is

Gathered in the heart of Jesus

And what’s lost will be found again

Nothing is wasted, nothing is wasted

In the hands of our Redeemer nothing is wasted

I believe this is true. I have to.

You bring both humor and deep introspection to your songs, as well as your performances. Your live album is a wonderful example of this. What key events and/or epiphanies in your life shaped who you are as an artist?

Oh wow… how do I answer that… I suppose everything. Like I said, nothing is wasted : -)

I will mention that I was a part of a band in the mid-90’s called The Divers that was like a Lutheran version of the Barenaked Ladies. It was a fun band that leaned heavily on comedy and it was my time with them that really helped me understand the way that humor has a way of opening a person’s heart and putting them at ease. It actually makes it easier to delve deeper into the scary stuff, like fear and shame, if you can laugh together first.

All my years paying my dues played a part in this, too. I’ve been at this a long time, and for years I’ve played to audiences who didn’t know who I was and probably didn’t care. I learned early on that if you can keep them laughing, then they won’t go home early.

Let’s talk about your new CD, A Way to See in the Dark (Centricity Music, September 13, 2011). Please tell us about it.

I think this is my best record I’ve ever made. It’s more. The pop songs are more poppy and accessible and the singer/songwriter songs are more… singer/songwritery (is that a term?). I’d like to think that it’s both more accessible and more artistic at the same time.

I released myself from writing around a particular theme and instead just wrote whatever presented itself in my heart and mind to be written. The themes that emerged after the fact have a lot to do with fear, shame, and the power of identity, understanding the place we occupy in God’s heart.

I know that sounds pretty heavy, but I think the album has a buoyancy and a fun factor that makes the medicine go down pretty easy. I’d like to think that it’s substantial without being heavy.

How many of the songs did you write for the project? What was the inspiration for the debut single, Remind Me Who I Am?

I wrote or co-wrote all of the songs. I’m blessed to have access to some of my favorite songwriters and I love to collaborate. It’s more fun to write a song with a friend than to write it by myself. You have someone to high-five at the end.

Remind Me Who I Am was born out of several conversations with my mentor about why we sin and what our sense of identity has to do with that. If you look at the consequence of sin entering the world in Genesis three—where the ground is cursed and we eat by the sweat of our brow, contending with weeds and thistles, our efforts never producing what it should—it’s not hard to see that the curse is this sense of futility, that no matter what we do it feels like it’s never enough, that no matter what we do, we’re never enough.

Sin begins to look like this thing we do to try to assure ourselves of our worth—whether it’s pride (an overcompensation for inadequacy), materialism (demonstrating my worth by what I have), pornography (a fantasy world one enters into to imagine being desired with no risk of rejection), or even workaholism (if I just work hard enough I can prove to others and myself that I have worth!).

I believe that the antidote for all of these things is being reminded of who we really are: beloved children, chosen and holy, adopted, the bride and treasure of Christ. As we learn to run to Christ to be assured of our worth, all these other things look like shabby substitutes.

A few fun questions…

What is your favorite comfort food and why?

Coffee. It is a sanctioned addiction. They even serve it in church!

Are you a major or a minor chord?

I’m probably a minor chord, but not in a sad song—hopefully in a heartbreakingly joyful song.

What was the last GREAT book you’ve read?

So glad you asked! I’m in the middle of one of the most amazing books I’ve read in a long time. It’s actually three books in one—a compendium of three of Walter Wangern’s most beloved books gathered in one volume called This Earthly Pilgrimage. I’m in book three called Miz Lil and The Chronicles of Grace and it’s one of the bravest and most beautiful things I’ve read in a long time. It is a series of stories of Wangerin’s encounters with Grace throughout his life including his years as the pastor of a modest inner city church in Chicago. Every chapter has moved me to tears with its beauty. I can’t recommend it enough.

Incidentally, this volume includes his book called The Ragman that features a piece he wrote called “An Advent Monologue” that inspired one of the best songs I think I’ve ever written, I Will Find A Way—a track on the new record.

In the story that is your life, are you the tall, dark stranger; the romantic lead; the mythical warrior; the mad scientist; or the child in an adult’s body?

I imagine myself as the romantic lead, but sometimes I can only play the roles I’m given to play either by God or those around me. I can say my lines, but those around me will experience them differently depending on the role they allow me play. It appears that I’m at their mercy in that regard.

With a mysterious answer like that, maybe that makes you think I’m more the tall, dark stranger….

I’m a dog lover. Please tell us about your pets, if any, and/or your favorite pet from the past.

Alas, all of our pets have passed on. We have a seven-year-old now named Gus instead.

Thank you, Jason! It’s great to have you as a guest at DivineDetour!

~ ~ ~

For more information about Jason, visit his website at http://jasongraymusic.com/ or his blog at http://jasongraymusic.wordpress.com/.

To view the Remind Me Who I Am music video, logon on to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSIVjjY8Ou8&feature=player_embedded

To purchase Jason’s new CD, A Way to See in the Dark, logon to

Nick Daniels was born in the late 1970s in a bustling city in South America. He wrote his first short story in third grade and spent the next few years reading literature classics (mostly Dostoievsky) and contemporary Latin American writers.

After graduating from journalism school, Nick moved to the United States to continue his education and write about science and faith issues. He worked as a science writer for several years until he gradually found his way back into fiction. He also co-hosts an apologetics podcast entitled Breaking Unbelief.

Nick now lives on an island in the Pacific, in what he describes as a writer’s paradise.

Your interest in writing goes back to childhood. Did you ever consider another career?

Following my family’s advice I enrolled in business school after graduating from high school, but I spent more time volunteering at the campus’ newspaper than studying accounting and economics. So in the middle of the second semester I quit and went to journalism school instead. That was my only serious attempt to do anything different than writing.

How does your faith play into your writing?

My faith in Jesus is like a magnifying glass that allows me to see the details in the characters and situations that I write about, and it’s also a lamp that reveals the plot ahead. I pray for creativity and thank God for every word.

Let’s talk about your new book, The Jihad’s Messiah (Risen Books, September 15, 2010). Please tell us about it.

The story takes place in the year 2024. America is no longer a world superpower. Iran, Lebanon, and Syria lie in ruins after Israeli defensive nuclear strikes. Fear drives the Arab world to sign a seven-year peace treaty with Israel. And a radical Iraqi leader rises to power promising to convert the world to Islam.

Besides entertainment what do you hope readers will take away from it?

Perhaps a new take on the current events in the Middle East. For many readers, the themes explored in the novel will challenge some preconceived notions about Biblical prophecy and the true nature of Islam. I’m not out to convince anybody or change their beliefs (I’m simply telling a story), but at least I want to generate some discussion around these issues.

The Jihad’s Messiah examines Islamic terrorism in the light of Biblical prophecy, while giving a human face to the so-called “enemy of America”—the Muslim world. Unlike other novels in the market dealing with terrorism, The Jihad’s Messiah tells the story from the point of view of a Muslim militant, not an American with a Christian background. The character’s spiritual and physical struggle plays against the end-time events described in the Bible.

Can you tell us about a recent “detour” in your life—or in one of your character’s lives—that taught you something?

My life is an adventure of sorts—just ask my wife—because of all the countries and cities we have lived in. What I’ve learned is that God is good and that favor does not come from location, but from Him. Wherever we’ve gone, we have been blessed.

A few fun questions…

What’s your favorite comfort food and why?

Ice cream. Especially chocolate ice cream with some blueberries. I don’t know why, but I just love it.

This website features musicians as well as writers. Do you have musical, as well as literary, talent?

I’ve played the guitar since I was thirteen. My mom insisted that I learned to play the guitar so I could entertain party guests, but what really got me interested was worshipping God with an instrument.

If you were a song, what kind of song would you be?

Just one? Probably smooth jazz.

What verse or story in the Bible best describes your faith journey?

None other than Abraham’s story. God called me out of my country many years ago and has led me through “Egypt” up to the promised land.

I’m a dog lover. Please tell us about your pets, if any, or your favorite pet as a child.

I’m allergic to all furry animals. Seriously. My eyes start to itch and my chest feels tight around dogs.

Thanks, Nick. It’s nice to have you as a guest at DivineDetour.

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For more information about Nick, visit his website at www.nickdanielsbooks.com.

For more information about The Jihad Series, logon to www.jihadseries.com.

To learn more about Nick’s podcast, Breaking Unbelief, logon to http://breakingunbelief.org/.

To purchase The Jihad’s Messiah logon to:

by Linda Cox

Ten years ago on September 11, 2001, our nation was attacked by terrorists with nearly 3000 people losing their lives at the World Trade Center (WTC), the Pentagon, and in a Shanksville, Pennsylvania field. A few days later, Alan Jackson mesmerized the country with his song, Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning). No doubt if we were asked “where were you on that September day?” we would not only remember what we were doing but also the shock, anger, and fear we felt.

But, as in many tragedies, we reached out to each other in compassion and support, holding our loved ones more tightly. We became acutely aware of what our first responders were willing to sacrifice. We were proud to wave Old Glory in support of our nation and in remembrance of those who died. And as we gazed at the steel beam cross rising out of the WTC rubble—a symbol of hope and promise—we prayed to God, individually and as a nation, looking to Him for answers.

Now, in 2011, it’s time to ask “where are we ten years later?” Thousands of brave men and women have been killed or wounded in Afghanistan and Iraq as “the world heard from us” as promised, with justice finally being served in the recent death of Osama bin Laden. Memorials have been built and dedicated in remembrance of all those who died on or because of “that September day.” Lives have been slowly put back together. Many of the stories told by grieving family members and survivors have brought hope and inspiration to all who read them. And we still get goose bumps when we hear Daniel Rodriguez sing God Bless America.

Yet men and women continue to die in the war on terrorism. Human remains from the 9-11 attack are still being identified. Controversies abound—from a Muslim Community Center being built two blocks from Ground Zero to an effort to keep that steel beam cross out of the WTC memorial. Our nation is in an economic crisis of major proportions. And we are more politically divided than ever before. One has to wonder if we are still talking to or even listening to God.

So as we pause to look back and remember, we also look forward and ask “Where do we go from here?” Too often we answer that question by looking to governments and politicians, to man and our own efforts to direct us and give us what we think we need. And while that works to a degree, none of that brings the true direction and ultimate peace we are searching for.

So where do we go from here? It seems to me that the Apostle Peter’s answer in the following Scripture sends us to the only place that can fulfill our every need: From this time many of His disciples turned back and no longer followed Him. “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve. Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” (John 6:68-69)

No matter where we go in the next ten years and beyond—individually or as a nation—when we go to Jesus for His words of eternal life, we will find the direction, the peace, and the healing that this world can never provide.

May God bless our nation and draw us back to Him as we remember September 11, 2001.

While serving in the infamous Triangle of Death in Iraq, Chaplain Jeff Bryan ministered to a 1,200-man infantry task force, often while patrolling streets, fields, and villages as his unit cleared them in close-quarters combat. His new book, Memoirs from Babylon, is a unique account of military history, battlefield leadership, and God-centered hope in the midst of the nightmare of war.

Jeff began his military career in 1991 as a Private (E-1). He served nearly five years as an enlisted infantryman with a brief stint as a field artillery canon crewmember. Then, in the fall of 1996, he met Dino Glassman, a street evangelist. Jeff accepted Jesus Christ into his life as his personal Lord and Savior and began to sense God leading him towards full-time ministry. He graduated from Central Bible College (CBC) in Springfield, Missouri in 2001 and later completed a Master of Divinity at the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary in Springfield, Missouri. Then he reentered active duty service with the United States Army.

Chaplain Bryan is married and has one child. His family lives with him at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Let’s talk about your new book, Memoirs from Babylon. Please tell us about it.

Well, Kathy, first I would like to say thank you for having me today. It’s a great honor. The book is unique because it is not just another war story. It’s from a military chaplain’s perspective. Some chaplains have written their accounts of combat but mine is different in many ways. One, it tells of my life leading up to the military and then it traverses the reader through frontline battle including an incident in which my unit was ambushed and several of the soldiers were abducted by Al Qaeda.

You speak about your experience in war as witnessing humanity at its worse and its best. Can you elaborate on that?

Few things in life are as impressive as seeing people firsthand do feats of bravery and courage. On the same hand there is nothing worse than seeing the terrible effects of evil. Innocent civilians and American troops who protected them lost their lives in indescribable ways because of the terrorists. I am convinced that war, regardless of its era, holds the most amazing accounts of heroism and the most reprehensible stories of terror.

As a chaplain in wartime, which battle was more intense for you, the spiritual or the physical?

Actually, the emotional side of my life took the biggest brunt of war. I understood most things about war and spirituality; good men hunting bad men face risk. The question of why some and not others always perplexed me, but I saw good people die long before combat. I was physically in great shape before combat and that held me through the deployment. So the emotional side of me still struggles the most, since it was overwhelmed daily and now creeps to recovery over the rest of my life.

Have you always wanted to write? What sparked your desire to record your experiences in Iraq?

I have always been interested in writing but honestly never believed I had a unique enough one to give the world. Although I even considered it in Iraq, it was not until the week of the May 2007 ambush that a reporter told me I needed to tell the story of me and the men in my unit.

Has God ever provided an unexpected “detour” in your life that turned out to be positive?

My life has been one big detour. It went from a dramatic one of trouble to one of amazing goodness.

A few fun questions…

What is your favorite comfort food and why?

I love biscuits. My mom always made them for me.

What kind of music do you listen to when kicking back with the radio or an mp3 player?

I listen to many kinds of music. The one thing I prefer is a Christian context, but there are a few secular ones I enjoy. Content has always been more important than style to me. I love bluegrass, Gospel-country, some Christian rap, Roy Acuff, David “Stringbean” Akeman, some Johhny Cash, and Dean Martin.

If you were a song, what kind of song would you be?

Although I was never a Green Beret, my life could be summed up in the former SSG Barry Sadler’s song Paratrooper’s Lament. Also, many of Roy Acuff’s old Grand Old Opry songs. Lastly, the riveting instrumental Elysium from the movie Gladiator.

Are you a major or a minor chord?

Mainly a major.

What kinds of books do you enjoy reading?

History, military, and conspiracy. Some of my favorite writers include Ernest Hemingway, Peter Lance, and Mark Bowden.

Please tell us about your pets, if any (and/or your favorite pet as a child).

We have a cat. I had a beagle named Barney when I was a small child. My parents gave him away at some point. I also had a ferret named FizzGig when I was a young soldier in the army. Whenever the unit had inspections I would have to move him back and forth between the barracks and my car.

Thank you, Chaplain Bryan. It’s a privilege to have you as a guest at DivineDetour. Thank you for your service to our country.

Thank you, Kathy, and thanks to your audience. The pleasure has been mine and it’s a great honor to serve our great country. God bless!

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For more information about Chaplain Bryan and his new book, Memoirs from Babylon, visit his website at http://combatchaplain.com/ or his Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/pages/Memoirs-From-Babylon/178567495496911.

To purchase Memoirs from Babylon logon to:

Chad Smith met, brother and sister, Sam and Laura Allen when the three attended a summer music conference at Nashville’s Belmont University ten years ago. They formed Contemporary Christian music group NO OTHER NAME and were nominated this year by the Gospel Music Association for New Artist of the Year. Curb Records will release the group’s new CD, The Other Side, next month.

The trio recently traveled to Brazil on behalf of the International Mission Board. Prior to NON’s fall headline tour in the U.S., which kicked off August 28, Chad Smith graciously agreed to this interview.

Congratulations on a decade together and your recent Gospel Music Association Dove nomination! How did it feel to be recognized by your peers and fans?

Thanks, Kathy. A decade, wow! It’s hard to believe we’ve been together that long. I’ll never forget getting the call about the Dove nomination. I remember thinking “are they sure?” It was a great feeling to be recognized and to know that our music was connecting with people. To say we were excited would be an understatement.

Sometimes we question the path down which God appears to be leading us. Has God ever provided an unexpected “detour” in your life or your work that turned out to be positive?

I think every Christian has times in life when they think they have everything figured out and know exactly what their next move should be. I read somewhere that if you want to make God laugh, tell Him about your plans. I remember the first time NON was approached with a recording contract. The guys with the label were great, and we just knew we were headed in the right direction. But at the last minute, God put up a detour sign, and we ended up not going through with the deal. We were all pretty down about it because we couldn’t understand how we could’ve been wrong. Little did we know we would have a chance meeting with Mike Curb, the president of Curb Records, which would lead to NON becoming part of the Curb Records family. This is a great example of God knowing what was best even if we didn’t.

Let’s talk about your music video for Lead You To The Cross, which was filmed in Dubai. It’s beautifully done. How did it come about?

Thanks very much. The video for Lead You To The Cross was definitely a labor of love for everyone involved. This all came together when the International Mission Board approached us about using the song to tell the story of Martha Meyers. Martha was an IMB missionary to Yemen who was murdered along with two co-workers while in the mission field. She was an amazing woman who loved God intensely. When we heard story after story about the stand she took for God in her life, we couldn’t say yes fast enough. Dubai was decided on because it has many areas which are visually similar to Yemen, and because shooting in Yemen would have been too dangerous.

As Christians, how were you received in Dubai?

The people of Dubai were very welcoming. There was only one occasion during the entire shoot when we were forced to shut down and change location, but overall most everyone we met went out of their way to make us feel at home.

When did you realize that your ministry would focus on mission work, including international missions?

Missions has always been something we feel strongly about, but I never really thought we’d have the chance to make it part of our platform until we connected with the IMB. Our new relationship with the IMB afforded us a unique opportunity to share with our audience how they could be part of missions in ways they might not previously have been aware of, as well as how their involvement at the grassroots level has a direct effect on spreading the Gospel at home and internationally.

We saw early on the dedication of the IMB staff and have since experienced firsthand the global, life-changing effect churches here at home can have on people they may never meet—all because they gave prayers and financial support to missions. I’ve heard NON referred to as “the missions group.” I can’t think of a bigger honor than to be associated with such a worthy cause as missions.

You encourage Christians to participate in the Great Commission, i.e. mission work. What advice would you give to those who are looking for a way to get started?

The first thing I would say is not to assume you have to go overseas to do mission work. You don’t have to look any further than your back door to find someone in need or someone who has NEVER heard the name of Jesus. It is just as important to reach our neighbors as it is to reach a person living in a remote village on the Amazon River. God cares about them equally. You may not be able to go, but you can give no matter how much or how little. If you can’t give, you can pray which is just as important.

What’s next for you?

I am happy to say that for those of you who wondered if the new NON record was ever coming out, your wait is over! It’s here! It is available at www.noothername.com and will be available on iTunes.

We are also getting ready to launch the fall tour* so needless to say we are extremely busy lining up all our new material and gearing up for the road.

* See http://www.no-other-name.com/concerts.php for a complete schedule.

A few fun questions…

What is your favorite comfort food and why? When you’re out of the country, what American food do you miss the most?

Oh there are so many! I am quite certain that my Mama’s fried chicken with homemade mashed potatoes & gravy would bring peace to the Middle East! It is definitely my favorite. This may be cheating on the question, but it would have to be the food I miss most when out of the country. It’s that good.

This website features literary as well as music guests. What was the last GREAT book you read?

I am reading Crazy Love by Francis Chan right now. It is part of a study my church hometeam is doing. This book will make you take a hard look at who God really is and how much He loves us. It has reminded me of how big God is, how insignificant I am, and how amazing it is that He could love me.

If you were a song, what kind of song would you be?

The way NON travels at times I think the Willie Nelson song On The Road Again fits me just right.

Are you a major or a minor chord?

Oh, definitely a minor chord. Doesn’t everybody like minor chords better than major?

In the story that is your life, are you the tall, dark stranger; the romantic lead; the mythical warrior; the mad scientist; or the child in an adult’s body?

In my mind I would like to think I get to be the tall, dark stranger, the romantic lead, and the warrior all rolled into one. But if you asked my wife . . . I’m sure she’d say child in an adult’s body. That’s okay though because I think all wives probably lean in that direction.

I’m a dog lover. Please tell us about your pets, if any, or your favorite pet as a child.

My kids have a cat named Tucker that is convinced he is human. My girls talk to him like he is a baby. It’s a little ridiculous. I had a black Labrador Retriever named Sparky when I was a kid. He definitely lived up to the term “man’s best friend.” I had him from age three to sixteen, and he was like my shadow. Every kid should be lucky enough to have such a great dog.

Thank you, Chad, for stopping by DivineDetour! May God continue to bless your work.

Thanks a lot, Kathy, for taking time out for NON. I really appreciate the opportunity to connect with you.

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For more information about No Other Name, visit their website at www.noothername.com.

To view the Lead You To The Cross music video, logon to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvp0ksrMPzY

To purchase The Other Side CD, logon to

http://www.no-other-name.com/store.php

For information about the International Mission Board, logon to

http://www.imb.org/main/default.asp