Tom Cannon

10 Ways to Vacation on the Cheap

2009-03-18T19:50:00.002-04:00

I admit it – I was bitten by the travel bug at a very young age, and now, there are very few things I love as much as traveling. Throughout the years, my wife and I took our family to some pretty amazing places. But there was one huge difference between our travels and those of many vacationers; we didn’t have excessive amounts of cash to spend when we went on vacation, so we learned how to travel cheap, while still enjoying a great time doing it.

Right from the start, I want you know that I have no intention of detailing all the places you need to go on your next vacation, but rather, I am going to show you HOW to do your next vacation inexpensively. If you are a Disney-only fan, then you might as well quit reading this article right now, because when you consider the high admission and food cost inside the park, there is no way to do it cheaply. However, if you aren’t locked-in to expensive BIG NAME Florida theme parks, then I can give you some great options.

Our journey begins in my family’s favorite destination of all: Gatlinburg, TN - home of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. East Tennessee is a very family friendly vacation destination, offers a lot of choices for budget-conscious travelers, and can be enjoyed for way-less than most people think.

Not only that, but all the cost-cutting vacation ideas I am going to share with you, can be applied to many of your family-favorite vacation spots, as well.

1. Don’t spend big bucks on fancy hotel rooms. You can save a lot of money by renting a log cabin. Cabins cost about the same per night, as hotel rooms, but they are a more affordable option. Why? You can do one or more meals there, every day, and you can usually find cabin rentals with third or fourth night free offers. Want to save even more money? Ask another family to vacation with you – then you can split the cost of the cabin, and your meals-in-common.

2. Eat breakfast, lunch or supper at your cabin. Doesn’t sound very cool? Oh, but it is. Many of the cabins in the Gatlinburg area offer fantastic mountain views, or they are nestled alongside of a creek. If you are looking for a place to get away from it all, and spend some time relaxing – even a couple hours a day – then a log cabin is just right for you. Even if you don’t want to do any cooking, you can save money by stocking up on a few basic groceries, and doing breakfast at the cabin, or eating a rotisserie chicken and potato salad for supper, instead of spending much more money at a restaurant.

3. Spend a day in the National Park. Its shocking to read the statistics of how many people come to the Gatlinburg, and never step foot inside the national park. And that’s a shame. Personally speaking, some of our most enjoyable times, as a family, were spent tubing, wading, or picnicking along one of the streams in the park. Not sure where to go? That’s an easy fix. Drive to the Sugarlands Nature Center (Just outside town), and ask a Ranger. They are very knowledgeable, and will get you on your way safely and quickly.

4. Take a hike! Literally. With almost 900 miles of trails, dozens of waterfalls, hundreds of scenic overlooks, and natural areas available, the Smokies offer something for nearly every outdoor enthusiast. And best of all: the trails are rated by degree of difficulty and length. So whether you are a novice or an expert hiker, you can find a trail that’s just right for you. Are the trails kid safe? Many of the trails and outdoor sites are rated as being family friendly. Need help? Once again, just ask a Ranger.

5. Go to Dollywood. I told you I had good news for theme park addicts. Dollywood is a great park, family friendly, filled with great rides, features a water park, musical performances in multiple locations, all day, and to top it all off: the park offers very affordable food and drinks. Tired of spending thousands of dollars on theme parks – then go see Dolly. Dollywood will introduce you to affordable vacation options. Helpful hint: If you plan on spending several days in the park, which we have done, consider purchasing season passes. They are very affordable, and they will save you a bundle in the long run. Who to ask? Call Dollywood, or ask one of their helpful sales people. They’ll steer you in the right direction, and do it with a smile.

6. Hang out on Main Street. But before you do, be sure to set a spending limit. If you don’t predetermine your spending limit, you can break your bank in a hurry along Gatlinburg’s Main Street. But here are some fun options: Instead of buying full meals for the family, at some of the more expensive restaurants in town, treat the kids to an Ogle Dog, or after supper, buy them some Donut Friar baked goods, hang out at some shops, or enjoy a round of Mountain Mini-Golf.

7. Take the kids early school shopping and save a bundle! Never thought you could actually save money on vacation, did you? Well, in Gatlinburg (Pigeon Forge), you actually can. How? Take a day and go shopping at the Belz or Tangers Outlet Malls. You’ll find some amazing deals on name-brand clothing, shoes and back-to-school items at hundreds of stores.

8. Rainy day? Not a problem in Gatlinburg. Throw the kids in the car, and drive to one of the malls in Knoxville. They are less than an hour away, and offer some great indoor fun for everyone. Don’t want to drive that far? Then stop at Smoky Mountain Knife Works or Bass Pro Shop. Both are huge stores, and will provide you with hours of entertainment.

9. Fishing trips make memories. Bring your rod and reel, grab some bait, and go soak a line in a mountain stream, or nearby lake. Fishing licenses can be obtained locally, along with all the free advice you’ll need for a great time, in the great outdoors. What fish are available? Mountain trout is my favorite, but the area offers some great bass and crappy fishing, too.

10. Wildlife viewing is an amazing, affordable option. Grab a picnic lunch, throw the fam in the van, and head on over to Cataloochie to see some elk, Cades Cove for deer, and Roaring Fork for bear. Don’t forget to bring your camera and binoculars, too, cuz everyone likes to get a close-up look at the wildlife. But just remember – wild critters are best viewed from the safety of your vehicle: this is not a petting zoo. So bring the binocs, and get some safe views, without endangering the animals or your family.

I can’t believe we got to ten so quickly. Seems like I just scratched the surface. Which, I guess, I did. But, at least you get the idea. Now that I’ve jumpstarted the thought-process for you, I’m sure you will be able to come up with many more money-saving ideas of your very own.

Great vacations can come cheap – if you do them the right way! But remember; if you really want to make great memories, then you need to spend quality time together. For when its all said and done, the kids won’t remember another restaurant meal, but they will never forget the great times you had together swimming in a Smoky Mountain stream, watching elk graze in a mountain meadow, or catching a nine inch trout in icy water, in the middle of July.

About the Author:

Tom Cannon is an author, and lives in Tennessee. He has written several books, which include; Two Faces in the Mirror, Mountain Empire, We Speak to Nations, Servants of the King, and Changing Natures.

To buy books, or read more blogs, come visit: http://tomcannon.org.

Feel free to email the author at: drtomcannon@hotmail.com

Don't Let Fear Destroy Your Dreams!!!

2009-02-25T23:59:00.001-05:00

“This is what the LORD says—he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers,they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.
For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.” Isaiah 43:1-3 (NIV)

“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.” 1 John 4:18 (NKJV)

Whether you live in Detroit, New York, or LA, you’ve probably felt the effects of the current economic crisis. As the crisis deepens, many people are being overwhelmed by fear: Fear of jobs lost, fear of economic ruination, and even fear over what tomorrow may hold. But never forget, fear is our worst enemy during this time of crisis.

Franklin Roosevelt, once said, “We have nothing to fear, but fear itself.” Even more importantly than what President Roosevelt said, was the time frame in which he said it. When were those words spoken? They were proclaimed during FDR’s first Inauguration Address, on March 4, 1933. What’s so important about that date? And how is it linked to our current crisis? President Roosevelt proclaimed those words at the height of the Great Depression, when our nation was suffering the worst economic crisis in history. Looking back, we know that President Roosevelt understood what he was talking about, and knew how important it was for people to conquer America’s greatest foe.

In our world today, many people are trying to make a buck selling fear. Like who? Like most of the media outlets, newspapers and magazines on the planet. But they are doing the world a terrible disservice, and it must be stopped! Fear-mongering is public enemy #1. When people give in to their fears, it causes them to stop spending and investing, and as a result, it drives the crisis even deeper. That is why fear must never be used as a marketing ploy, by the media, or anyone else.

According to the media, the current economic situation in America is as bad, if not worse, than during the Great Depression. But nothing could be further from the truth. The problem is, they’re using flawed statistical data to prove that more Americans are unemployed today than at any time in history, including the Great Depression.

What the media outlets aren’t telling you is this: While more people are unemployed today, than at the height of the Great Depression (from a purely numerical standpoint), here’s what they refuse to tell you:

• The U.S. population, in 1933, was less than half the current U.S. population!
• In 1933, the U.S. population was only 125,578,763.
• Compare that to the current U.S. population of 299,398,484+ people.
• The only reason media outlets can legally say more Americans are unemployed now, than during the height of the Great Depression, is because there’s almost 175,000,000 more Americans today, than in 1933!!!
• So you see, their use of statistics is entirely unfair - because America has more than twice the population it did 76 years ago.

It should be a crime to misuse statistics the way journalists do today. By refusing to give us an “apples to apples” comparison of statistical data, they make people think the current economic situation is much worse than it really is.

Here’s the statistics the media should use, if they really wanted to give us a fair and unbiased comparison (current economic situation vs. the Great Depression):

• In 1933, the U.S. unemployment rate was 25.2%.
• Compare that to the current unemployment rate of 7.9%. (Dept. of Labor - Jan. 2009)

Now tell me, does that sound like the Great Depression to you? Not on your life, it doesn’t! What it does sound like to me; is that a lot of people in the media are mongering fear for profit. Now don’t take me wrong: I’m not saying the economy isn’t bad, but it is not as bad as it once was, or as bad as the media makes it sound!

How do we eliminate fear from our lives?

Here’s the problem: fear doesn’t take logic into account. Though fear feels tangible, and your feelings make fear seem like its based on reality, fear is founded upon neither.

Are you paralyzed with fear? Many Americans are. They’re afraid of what the future holds for them and their family. And they’re afraid the American dream, as we’ve known it, has ended. If that describes you or someone you love, then you definitely need to read what I am about to say.

The greatest enemy we presently face - is fear itself. Fear is paralyzing America, and has caused people to crouch in the hovels of their afflicted minds, refusing to use their creativity to pursue their lofty American dreams.

Fear resides in our psyche, as emotion, yet it can have a terrible, tangible impact upon those it dominates. Even when fear is not based on reality, the impact it has upon those it rules, as an unwanted and unwelcome tyrant, is very real. Fear is a tormenter, and will rob our bright and glorious tomorrows, if we allow it.

Can the power of fear be broken, and peace be restored to your life?

Indeed, victory over fear is very possible. But that’s only half the story: for once fear’s hold has been shattered off your life, peace will come.

“Fear is torment.” It tires you out worse than a hard day of physical labor, and will keep you awake at night like a strong opiate unleashed upon your system.

The good news is, that the power of fear can be destroyed, if that is, you will commit to pursuing the pathway that leads to its obliteration. The secret to overcoming fear: You must learn to surrender your heart and your fears to God. If this crisis has proven one thing true, it’s that we are powerless to overcome fear with our own efforts or abilities.

However, God pledged (in the Bible) to help us conquer our fears, through faith in Him. So write it down: no matter how fearful things are, you must ask God to rule over your fears, rather than allowing your fears to rule over you.

During a time of crisis in his own life, King David of Israel penned the words of a psalm (song) that has brought great consolation to those who have walked in treacherous or fearful places. Learning David’s secret is paramount to eradicating fear from your life, and shattering the stronghold it possesses over you.

What is David’s secret to triumphing over fear? It is found in Psalm 23:4-5; “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.” (NKJV)

David walked through many dark and deadly valleys in his lifetime. King Saul, hunted him like an animal, and sought to destroy him on several occasions; he often faced overwhelming odds on the battlefield; and even his own son, Absalom, tried to kill him. But through it all, from boyhood to the throne, David refused to allow the fear to rule his heart or mind.

Reflecting on the shadowy and deadly valleys David walked through, should give us great comfort, knowing that he shared moments of similarity with us. But how did this shepherd boy-turned-king conquer his fear? That’s simple: he conquered fear through his childlike, but powerful faith and trust in God.

The giants in your life may seem insurmountable, and your weapons may seem inadequate, but if you will put your faith in God, and trust Him like David did, your slingshot will be more than sufficient, when God is in it. If you will cast all your cares upon the Lord, refuse to lean on your own understanding, and trust Him at all times, you’re on your way to winning the fear battle in your life.

The solution for fear may sound trite, but it isn’t. Trust me, I have put this truth to the test, and God’s love has conquered my fears, on more occasions than I can recall. Like it was yesterday, I remember the fear that came into my heart when doctors gave us bad reports, or when the economy turned sour during past recessional times, and we felt the icy hand of recession threaten to rob us of everything we worked so hard to obtain.

Through the lens of time, however, I can look back over those days and say that God was always with us; protecting, leading, and guiding our steps. Like many of you, I have been paralyzed by fear, kept awake at night by it, and endured it’s ill effects for weeks and even months at a time. During those times, fear became a familiar foe, and I grew to know it well, and learned to despise it even more.

After wasting many precious moments of my life on fear, I finally learned the secret to overcoming it. The valuable lessons I learned during the darkest hours of life, still sustain me. Lessons I learned in the war with fear include:

• If you love God enough, you need not fear the unknown. God promised to be “with us always,” shelter us from the storms, and shield our hearts from fear. There’s an old Christian saying that is worth reviving. “I may not know what my future holds, but I know who holds my future.”

• Discovering Jesus Christ in a personal, life-changing way, and learning to trust Him with your life, is the secret to overcoming fear.

• One of the titles of the Lord is “The Prince of Peace.” When you learn to plug into the fear-conquering power that resides within the bearer of that title, you will be amazed by how swiftly, and radically your fear-level will decline.

• Learn to totally trust God’s plan for your life. In Jeremiah, God declared this truth over His creation: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11 NKJV)

• God’s plans for you are good, not evil. His greatest desire is to bless those He created, and to make them a blessing to others.

The biblical patriarch, Joseph, first learned to overcome fear, by trusting God in a dark and hopeless pit, where he had been abandoned by his brothers. His life-lesson intensified when he was falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife; and was wrongfully imprisoned in a filthy Egyptian prison, where he languished, forgotten for years. But through every crisis, Joseph learned to trust the God who never failed him. So much so, that when it came time for his destiny to be fulfilled, he stood in the security of his faith, and saw the Lord, who never failed him in life’s darkest moments, rescue Egypt and many nations of the earth, from famine, through him.

Don’t allow fear to rule over you. Though you may be facing fearful moments, write this down: you can conquer your giants, and defeat your foes by faith in God. How? Instead of concentrating on your circumstances, give your full and undivided attention to God, and simply believe that He is willing and able to do what He promised He will do for you.

James 4:7 gives us excellent insights into overcoming fear. Fear is conquered by trusting God, and resisting the father of fear - the devil: “Therefore, submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will run away from you.” (NIV) Never forget: the devil is a liar, and he rules people through fear. When the power of fear is broken off our lives, the enemy’s reign is ended.

It’s time to dream again!

Dream now or dream later? I believe the best time to dream is when you need miraculous answers or breakthroughs in your own life, or in your nation. We need people to begin dreaming now, when there is so much uncertainty, and trouble in our nation. In fact, I can’t think of a better time for people to start dreaming of ways they can help overcome this crisis, and create brighter tomorrows, than right now.

We must not allow fear to rob us of our ability to dream. Daring to dream is what made America great - from the very start. No matter how severe our dilemmas have been, Americans have always maintained their ability to dream.

Proverbs 29:18 (King James Version) states, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” Our ability to look by faith, beyond obstacles that historically were considered insurmountable, to see divine possibilities instead, has helped make our nation great. Our ability to dream big, during the toughest times, has enabled us to triumph over insurmountable odds, defeat insuperable foes, and find solutions to dilemmas that once were deemed unattainable. And that alone, I believe, is what has separated us from many other nations of the world.

A Nation of Dreamers:

While we don’t have time to detail every American, who dared to pursue their dreams, and who gave us some of the most amazing discoveries, triumphs and accomplishments in history, I would like to remind you of three compatriots who dared to dream big, regardless of how impossible the circumstances or obstacles they faced at the time.

1. Orville and Wilbur Wright. The Wright Brothers will forever be remembered as the fathers of flight, because they dared dream that they could conquer gravity! Though no human had ever flown before, two visionary siblings believed that one day, humanity would no longer be earthbound, but would soar in the heavens like the eagles.

Thanks to their ability to dream an impossible dream, and their willingness to take risks in the pursuit of their dreams, the Wright Brothers accomplished the impossible one December morning, in 1903, at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.

How about you? Are you willing to risk it all, to reach new heights?

2. Thomas Alva Edison. He single-handedly lifted the world out of darkness, and brought us into the light. Imagine yourself living before the invention of the light bulb. What an oppressive, dark, and restrictive world it would have been. Everywhere you went, at night or in dark places, meant carrying candles, lamps, or torches. And to think, we sometimes get tired of packing our cell phones?

How entirely impossible Edison’s mission must have seemed to people in that day: to create a sustainable source of light within a glass bulb, and power that fragile orb by the pulsating currents of electricity.

Needless to say, few people gave Edison’s dream any chance of reaching the light of day. Fortunately for us, Edison wasn’t intimidated by public opinion, or the size of his dream. After hundreds of failed attempts, in 1879, Edison flipped the switch and the light stayed on.

Are you willing to pursue your dreams all the way to success, like Edison, regardless of how many failures you may encounter along the way? The bottom line is this: you can either choose to live in the darkness, or you can keep dreaming until the light comes on!

3. Abraham Lincoln. Our beloved 16th President dared to dream of preserving an indivisible, hallowed Union, where all Americans would be considered equals.

And what a lofty dream it was! How thankful our nation should be, that a poor, prairie farm boy would persevere against unbelievable obstacles, to become the president of the United States, lead America through the dark night of disunity, and help us emerge from the devastation of war, as “one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

Though President Lincoln is greatly loved and revered by Americans today, during the days of his presidency, he was intensely hated and ridiculed by many people on both sides of the battle line. Daily, he was castigated by journalists, ridiculed by southern sympathizers, and mocked by lawmakers for many of his executive decisions, and wartime decisions.

As the war raged on, and casualties mounted, President Lincoln lived under the constant threat that America would be torn apart by the war. I cannot imagine how terrible the years of ceaseless conflict must have been for the kind-hearted and caring man who led our nation. As the Commander in Chief, what must it have been like to read the casualty lists following battles like Petersburg, Chickamauga, Chancellorsville, Antietam, or Gettysburg, in which tens of thousands of brave young men died? Indeed, sorrow and fear were President Lincoln’s continual companions.

In the end, his incredible perseverance was rewarded, when General Robert E. Lee surrendered his confederate army at Appomattox Courthouse, in Virginia, on April 9, 1865, and the states were reunited at long last. Sadly, Abraham Lincoln was not allowed to celebrate his greatest triumph for long. For on April 14, 1865, an assassin, named John Wilkes Booth, forever dimmed the eyes, but not the dream of the man who dared to believe in a lofty place, called the United States of America, where “all men are created equal.”

How far we have come as a nation. Having just elected the first black president in our nation’s history, we owe a huge debt of gratitude to the great emancipator and his undying dream. In the light of this historic event, every American should reflect back upon the dreary days before the Lincoln presidency, when men and women were bought and sold like livestock, and express our thanks to God for giving us an incredibly visionary leader; who would dare to set the future course for our nation, where “one nation, under God, indivisible” would one day be able to fulfill his great dream.

Final thought:

It pays to trust the Lord. Now is not the time to live in the torment of fear, paralyzed by real and imagined foes, but rather, we must trust God with our collective and individual destinies, and ask Him to help us dream again. The only way we will overcome fear (and its torment), is to live by this truth: All it takes to overcome fear, is a genuine love for God, commitment to honor Him with our life, and trust His plan for your life.

Are you up to the task? I hope so, because “peace that passes understanding” is only a simple, faith-filled prayer away. As you turn to Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, He will take away your fears, and restore your ability to dream again.

Why don’t you talk to Jesus about your fear issue today, and let Him replace it with His gentle presence, and ever-abiding peace? Don’t forget: “Perfect love casts out fear.” He stands ready to perform this much-needed miracle in you, right now. All you need to do is ask.

Affordable (And Amazing) Vacation Destinations for 2009

2009-02-08T19:48:00.000-05:00

Everyone loves a great vacation, but given the current economic crunch, finding an amazing vacation spot, that is also affordable, is a real challenge. The fact is; most families can’t afford to spend a week touring Europe’s hotspots, Asia’s wonders, or staying at America’s top resorts. So what are your options? Most people think it’s a choice between spending money you don’t have, or wasting your valuable vacation time on a destination that promises to bore you to tears. If those were the only options available, I’d stay home, too. But fortunately for all of us, they’re not.

So cheer up, because it’s time to reveal some amazing vacation spots the whole family can enjoy, and best of all, they won’t break your budget in the process.

1. Gatlinburg, Tennessee

This tiny town, picturesquely nestled in the Smoky Mountains is my family’s all-time favorite vacation spot. Not only is Gatlinburg conveniently located, and affordable, but best of all, your family will never run out of exciting, adventurous and entertaining things to do.

Where to begin: Park your car, and check out Gatlinburg’s ever-bustling Main Street. You’ll be amazed by how many fun things are available to kids of all ages. Play arcades, buy candy, go up the Space Needle, shop, play an exciting round of mountainside mini-golf, or dine at some surprisingly nice restaurants, too. But wait, the fun is just beginning; be sure to check out the Star Car Museum, Ripley’s Aquarium, and the Believe It or Not Museum, which are always popular spots for everyone. Of course, no trip to Gatlinburg would be complete without riding a chair lift, or gondola high up the mountainside for a breathtaking view.

Need a break from the endless activities of this mountain paradise? An easy solution to that dilemma is waiting for you right on the edge of town. All you need to do is pack a basket lunch, and drive a couple blocks to the edge of town, where you’ll immediately be surrounded by an incredible wild place, called the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Some of my favorite “natural” destinations include: Chimney Tops Picnic Area, Newfound Gap Scenic Overlook, and Cades Cove. Before you go, however, I’d recommend stopping at the Sugarland Visitors Center along the way, to pick up maps, discover the history of the area, and get some helpful tips and suggestions to insure a safe and exciting time outdoors.

Nearby Places to See: Pigeon Forge is just a short drive away from Gatlinburg, and that means go-karts, helicopter rides, and Dollywood! Never been to Dollywood? Then you’re in for a treat, because this theme park is 100% family friendly, offers more rides than you can “shake a stick at,” offers excellent musical entertainment, down-home cooking, and “laughs by the bushel,” around every turn.

Shopping: Shopaholics and budget-conscious parents will be delighted to find numerous outlet malls awaiting them in Pigeon Forge and Sevierville.

Solitude: Looking for a little quieter place? Then Townsend is definitely the spot for you. Tubing, hiking, and relaxation top the list of things to do on the “quieter side of the mountain,” as it is locally known. Another great out-of-the-way place my wife and I love spending at least one day, is the Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community. Not only can you buy great pottery, paintings, and woodcrafts, but in several shops, you can actually watch them being made (Be sure to get a map/ brochure before you head out).

Nature: Adventure-seeking families will find excitement galore in Gatlinburg. Hundreds of miles of trails give hikers many options to choose from, including a lengthy section of the Appalachian Trail. (Advice: Talk to Ranger, or visit a local hiking shop before heading down the trail, so you’re properly prepared for the adventure). Whitewater enthusiasts will find world class rafting opportunities, just a short drive from town, on the Big Pigeon, Ocoee, Nantahala, and French Broad Rivers. Nature-lovers who want to see bear, deer, turkeys, fox, elk and maybe even a wolf, are in luck, because the GSMNP is a great place for viewing nature in natural habitat. (A good rule of thumb: don’t disturb the wildlife – just enjoy the view)

Fairs and Festivals: Gatlinburg hosts some great events, fairs and festivals too. Like the Craftsmen’s Fair (July and October), Harvest Festival, Winter Festival, and many more. My wife and I have vacationed in Gatlinburg for many years, and we’ve never grown tired of it, in fact, the more we go, the more we fall in love with this amazing vacation destination. For more information visit: www.eventsgatlinburg.com/

When to go? July, August, October and December are some of the most popular months. But June provides cooler temperatures, and fewer crowds. My wife and I love going anytime of the year, and always find plenty of things to do and see. If you decide to go off-season, be sure to check schedules for Dollywood, and other area attractions, as they do have limited days/ hours of operation.

Whenever you decide to go, be forewarned: Gatlinburg is addictive. Extremely addictive! I don’t know if it’s something they put in the water, or the bazzilions of fun things to do, but a single visit can hook you for life!

2. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Michigan

What’s so special about huge piles of sand along the shores of Lake Michigan? If that’s all you expect to find when you venture into Michigan’s beautiful north country, you’ll be pleasantly surprised, because the whole area is literally jam-packed with exciting and fun things for the whole family to do.

While swimming and water-sports monopolize the spotlight; hiking and fishing opportunities don’t trail by much. The Sleeping Bear Dunes shoreline features some of the best beaches I’ve ever seen. And best of all, this land of white sand and cerulean blue waters is far less crowded than most resort areas.

Island hopping: Ever been on an island? Take the ferry across to North Manitou Island, and discover a great little paradise. Not an island adventurer? That’s no problem, since the mainland has more than enough activities to keep you and the family busy for weeks on end.

Nature: If you and your family love the great outdoors, enjoy camping, hiking, fishing, biking, canoeing, swimming, or just love scenic places, then Sleeping Bear Dunes is a must-do vacation option, because it offers something for every outdoor enthusiast.

Want a little fun in the sun? Pack a picnic basket, and head for Platte Beach. The beach is a great place to catch some rays, read a book, or build sandcastles. On Platte Beach, there’s a surprise that’s sure to please; while you’re relaxing in the sun nearby, the kids can slowly float down stream, across the white sandy beach, and right into Lake Michigan. Be sure to repeat the short ride, over and over again – it’s great!

Fairs and Festivals: Sleeping Bear Dunes is a great base-camp for local festivals and fairs, too. The National Cherry Festival in Traverse City is a regional favorite, as is the Lilac Festival on Mackinaw Island, and Muskegon’s Summer Celebration. For more information visit: www.mynorth.com, or www.northernmichigantravel.com.

Nearby Places to See: The Leelanau Peninsula is an amazing place to see, and a drive your whole family will enjoy. Be sure to check out some of the lighthouses in the area. They are very photogenic, but they also provide great picnic, swimming and hiking opportunities. What else to see? I recommend visiting Empire, Fishtown, Glen Arbor, Frankfurt, North Point, Glen Haven and Sutton’s Bay. They may be small, but you’ll find lots of fun things to do and see, in them.

Shopping: Traverse City is not far away, and offers lots of shopping opportunities (a nice outlet mall and an indoor mall), and are perfect solutions on a rainy day.

When to go? Summer is the most popular time, and will provide you with limitless fun-n-sun outdoor opportunities. But don’t overlook the other seasons of the year. Autumn at Sleeping Bear is splendid, with some of the best fall colors, anywhere. One of my favorite times to visit Sleeping Bear is in the middle of winter. What is there to see and do in winter? While some places will be closed, some great ski resorts are nearby. Of course, you can always rent snowmobiles, cross-country skis, or do more restful things, like rent a cabin with a great view, pour yourself a steaming cup of hot chocolate, and enjoy watching the snow fall.

Any time you decide to go to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, though, you will meet friendly people, experience breathtaking scenery, and enjoy more fun stuff than you and your family will have time for anyway!

3. Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

You can relive history in Gettysburg, home of the famous Civil War battlefield, site of Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, and one of the prettiest, historical small towns in the USA. Nestled serenely in the gently rolling hills of Central Pennsylvania, Gettysburg offers history buffs an excellent glimpse of the past. Surprisingly, however, Gettysburg is much more than an epithet to days gone by. It’s a great place to experience nature, shop, dine, relax, or enjoy local festivals and fairs.

Shopping: Gettysburg is a great place to shop for books, antiques, and war paraphernalia. But it also has an excellent outlet mall, and sports a nice variety of specialty stores, too.

Solitude: Hoping to find some peace and quiet? Then Gettysburg won’t disappoint you. Though it is a bustling little town during the summer months, the Pennsylvania countryside harbors scores of out-of-the-way places for much-needed rest and relaxation.

Tour: Whether you’re a history buff, or not, I believe every American should tour the Gettysburg Battlefield National Park. What’s the best way to do it? Buy a Driving Tour CD at one of the local shops, hop in the van, and drive through this amazing place. There are some great sites to see along the route. One of my favorites is Little Round Top, the Peach Orchard and the Devil’s Den.

A word to the wise: Please respect the battlefield memorials and monuments. Remember; brave Americans gave their lives to preserve this union, so it’s the least we can do to respect the place that honors them. Don’t think of Gettysburg as a giant cemetery, for it is a place of living history that reminds us of the cost and value of our freedom, but at the same time, let’s not desecrate such hallowed ground.

Nature: Gettysburg offers ample opportunities for day-hikers. Rolling hills, gentle streams, and open pastures reward hikers with wonderful views, and lots of wildlife. A less-strenuous section of the Appalachian Trail is nearby.

Canoeing, fishing and nature-viewing enthusiasts will be delighted with the possibilities that abound in this region. Deer, turkeys, fox, and plenty of small game abound here.

Fairs and Festivals: Gettysburg is a great place to take in some great festivals and fairs, too. As it is home to The Gettysburg Festival, the Gettysburg Bluegrass Festival, and Apple Blossom Festival. The area also plays host to Antique Shows, Quilt Shows, and Car Shows. For more information visit: www.gettysburgaddress.com.

Nearby Places to See: A better question to ask might be; what’s NOT nearby? Need proof? Pull out an atlas and take a look at the region surrounding Gettysburg. What will you find? Less than two hours away, you will find Philadelphia, with it’s amazing history, great food, and lots of fun things to see and do. Baltimore and a dozen Chesapeake Bay towns are only an hour’s drive away, as is Lancaster County and Amish country.

But why stop there? When Washington D.C., the Atlantic coast, and New York City are so close by. Before you go wandering too far away from Gettysburg, however, I’d like to point out some local places to see, that will make traveling further afield unnecessary. Like what? The town of Hershey, PA comes to mind. It is known as the “sweetest place on earth,” and just one visit to Chocolate World, Hershey Park or the Outlet Malls is sufficient to keep you coming back for more.

History: While Gettysburg is arguably the premier battlefield memorial park, there are others in the area that Civil War enthusiasts won’t want to miss. Antietam, Harpers Ferry, and many others, are close by, and well worth touring.

When to go? An excellent time to go, of course, is during the summer. It can get pretty hot and muggy in August, but if you’re like me, hot weather is just fine. But I’ve been there during every season, and there’s always plenty to do and see.

If you and your family are history-lovers, then be sure to map out your adventure before going, because the area abounds with history, and you don’t want to miss something great. That’s why I rate Gettysburg as a can’t-miss vacation option, because it offers something for everyone, regardless of individual vacation tastes.

Final word: Now that you’ve had a chance to read about these amazing vacation destinations, the choice belongs to you. Having personally been to them all, I can assure you how amazing each of them will be for you and your family. So what are you waiting for? Start making plans for your family right away – because vacation time, in one of these amazing places, will be here before you know it.

About the Author:

Tom Cannon is an author, and lives in eastern Tennessee. He has written numerous books, which include; Two Faces in the Mirror, Mountain Empire, We Speak to Nations, Servants of the King, and Changing Natures.

You can buy books, or read more blogs by visiting: http://oldtimebooks.com, or http://tomcannon.org.

Email the author at: drtomcannon@hotmail.com

How to Write a Bestseller – An Unexpected Plan That Might Surprise You!

2009-01-09T20:57:00.003-05:00

What does it take to write a successful book, or the next bestselling novel? If you’re like most would-be authors, you’ve probably read numerous articles that promised step-by-step instructions on how-to successfully write a bestseller. The reason I know that, of course, is because I’ve read plenty of them myself. Before writing my first book, I read every article I could find on the subject. In the end, however, most of them left me disheartened, because the formulas for success they promised to deliver, proved to be mere marketing ploys for selling more books.

I would like to introduce you to one formula for writing potential bestsellers, however, that’s been kept secret too long. Is it a proven method for producing bestsellers? You betcha! In fact, statistics prove this simple approach is capable of producing bestsellers in nearly every genre: adventure, romance, drama, teen, mystery, thrillers, and a whole lot more.

What is the secret that authors have used to sell millions of books, and dominate the all-time bestseller list? Are you ready for it? Here it is: If you want to write books that really sell, and consistently top the bestseller chart, then you need to write clean, creatively told stories, that leave out sex, violence and offensive language, and rely instead upon strong character development, and well-written scripts, that exercise the reader’s imagination.

Am I serious? I certainly am. According to publisher’s sales data, creating bestsellers doesn’t require the insertion of sex, violence or offensive language. I’m sure you’ve heard the claim, “Clean books just don’t sell.” Now, I don’t know who is responsible for making such ridiculous claims, or what their motivation is, but I do know that such statements are untrue.

Accumulated sales data proves that inserting smut in books is a needless endeavor. Can that claim be validated? It certainly can. In fact, you only need to browse the list of all-time, and current bestsellers, to discover for yourself that clean books do sell.

It is no coincidence that the perennial #1 bestseller is the Bible. After all, it is the cleanest, most righteous book on the planet. Maybe that doesn’t surprise you. Especially since the Bible typically tops the list for annual sales. You might be surprised, however, to discover how many clean books are among the bestsellers of all-time.

All-time bestseller lists reveal that “nine out of the top ten” top ranking books were smut free. How’s that for a good start? But let’s not stop there, it gets even better. According to sales data from several Internet sources: fully 22 out of 25, and 44 of the top 50 all-time bestselling books claim to be free of sexual innuendo, senseless violence and foul language.

Some of the books on the “Top 50” list include: The Lord of the Rings (J. R. R. Tolkien), And Then There Were None (Agatha Christie), The Hobbit (J. R. R. Tolkien), A Tale of Two Cities (Charles Dickens), Charlotte’s Webb (E. B. White), Jonathan Livingston Seagull (Richard Bach), Peter Rabbit (Beatrix Potter), In His Steps, (Charles Sheldon), Gone with the Wind (Margaret Mitchell), The Purpose Driven Life (Rick Warren), Scouting for Boys: A Handbook for Instruction in Good Citizenship (Robert Baden-Powell), She (H. Rider Haggard), Le Petit Prince (The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry), The Catcher in the Rye (J. D. Salinger), Think and Grow Rich (Napoleon Hill), Heidi (Heidi's Years of Wandering and Learning (Johanna Spyri), The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care (Dr. Benjamin Spock), Anne of Green Gables (Lucy Maud Montgomery), and Black Beauty (Anna Sewell).

How refreshing it is, when an author actually uses their creativity to tell a tale, instead of relying upon clichéd, stale and cookie-cutter storylines laden with sex, violence, and offensive language. According to sales data, millions of readers are as dissatisfied by the reading choices they are being given by the big publishers as I am. Perhaps that helps explain the successful explosion of sales among small and independent publishers. As more bookstores flood their shelves with morally-deficient books, people are turning elsewhere to purchase reading materials.

My parents always told me, “Intelligent people don’t need to rely upon foul or offensive language to communicate.” That’s the way I feel about book writing. Creative writers don’t need to use unnecessary or offensive crutches to make a story great, or help their book become popular.

Great writers find a way to make their characters come to life, and create memorable plots and storylines, without the use of unnecessary crudities. What kind of writer are you? Do you have a good story to tell? If you do, then you need to tell it, but leave the crutches at home. Use your own style, be creative, and tell your story from the heart.

Let’s take it one step further. Not only have clean books sold well historically, but non-smut laced volumes continue to do very well today. While success stories can be found in nearly ever genre of books, for time’s sake, I will concentrate on the sales statistics from one unique genre of books alone: popular fiction books, from southern Appalachia, to illustrate this refreshing trend.

Surprising as it may be to you, the southern Appalachian genre of books have sold more than *40 million volumes since 1998. One publicist recently stated, “Books based on life in small town southern Appalachia sell like hotcakes!”

Atop the list of bestselling books in this genre, you will find Jan Karon’s Mitford series, which has sold over twenty-five million books about life in the southern Appalachian mountain region. “That’s an incredible statistic,” said the author of a new Appalachian-based book, Mountain Empire, “I don’t know of another region of the country that can tout such high-ranking sales figures.”

Interestingly, while this phenomenon isn’t a recent development, it isn’t a fad either. For readers of all ages, apparently clean-told tales of life in Southern Appalachia are a favorite destination.

Some of the best-read Southern Appalachian authors include: Jan Karon (Mitford Series), Adrianna Trigiani (Big Stone Gap), Ann B. Ross (Miss Julia), Charles Frazier (Cold Mountain), Gail Godwin (Evensong), Robert Morgan (Gap Creek), Sharyn McCrumb (The Rosewood Casket), Barbara Kingsolver (Prodigal Summer), John Fox, Jr. (Trail of the Lonesome Pine), Lee Smith (Fair and Tender Ladies), Harriet Arnow (The Dollmaker), James Still (River of Earth), and Wilma Dykeman (The Tall Woman). Others in this genre include: Bobbie Ann Mason, Silas House, and Fred Chappell.

Perhaps we love books about the Southern Appalachian region, because they give us a sense of belonging, and remind us of happier, gentler times – a time and place we long to find, and would love to call home.

In a recent interview, Jan Karon (Mitford series) gave definition to our love for small-town fictional settings, that quite possibly reflects the reason many of us have fallen in love with Southern Appalachian-style books, “I think I was born with a kind of deep affinity for the rural, the rustic. In addition, I'm very drawn to the pastoral novels of the English genre -- the village novel where a small group is used to paint a picture of a larger society. I still have in me a great love for the agrarian -- for what this country was, for what we still are. People say, "Oh well, I guess there's no such thing as Mitford." Well, the good news is there are Mitford’s all over the country, and there are still great stretches of open land and pastures and meadows and fields. It's not all bad news. There's so much left of this country that is reasonable and moral and strong. And that's the part I relate to.”

Apparently, 25 million+ readers are thinking the same thing. That’s how many readers have purchased Karon’s books about the Southern Appalachian region since 1998. And seemingly, there’s no end in sight. Ann B. Ross (Miss Julia series) stated, “I think the South grows storytellers like it does peanuts, sweet potatoes and kudzu.” And that’s good news for fans of Southern Appalachian fiction.

Well-written, clean-told tales seem to be growing in popularity. And I believe the reason for this refreshing trend can be easily explained. Readers love well-told tales of adventure, romance, mystery and drama, that keep their content clean, because most people can identify with the moral code and personal lifestyle of such characters. Not convinced? Then let me put it another way: Most people do not swear like sailors, or sleep around with every warm body that comes along, so why would they want their heroes or heroines to do it?

If you are a writer, or will soon be, then for the sake of book lovers everywhere, I hope you will make full use of your creative abilities, remove smut from your transcript, and go the clean route. Readers everywhere will rejoice if you do. Besides, when you consider how many bestselling books already adhere to this policy, it just makes good sense. And don’t forget - when you do clean it up, and tell it right, you’ll be a tremendous success, in more ways than one.

*Accumulated sales data may actually be substantially higher.

Tom Cannon is an experienced author, and has written numerous books, including; "Two Faces in the Mirror," "Servants of the King," "Mountain Empire" and "Changing Natures."

Tom is the director of Destiny Ministry, Inc., and ministers worldwide in conferences, churches and seminars.

For more information on this topic, or to purchase the Paperback book, head on over to Amazon.com, http://www.TomCannon.org, or http://www.DestinyMinistry.net bookstore.

Email: destinyministry@gmail.com

Read more blogs at: TomCannon.org

Top Ten Reasons YOU Should Write a Book Now!

2009-01-09T18:21:00.001-05:00

Ten excuse-busters to help you write your dream-book at last:

Many would-be authors have a great book inside them, but most will never be written, and that’s a shame. Isn’t it time for you to quit making excuses, and write the book you've been dreaming about?

What keeps people from successfully writing the book of their dreams? Typically, would-be authors allow their lack of confidence, or a few flimsy excuses to stand in their way.

But don’t be deterred any longer, because I’m going to show you ten ways to overcome obstacles and boost your writing confidence. Who exactly is capable of writing a great book, or the next bestseller? A lot more people than you might think. There are literally thousands of great writers who have amazing stories to tell. But here’s the kicker: They’ll never be discovered until they get off the sneid, and start writing.

Is it possible that YOU could be the next author to hit the bestseller’s list? I hope so, because that would be really cool But even if your book doesn’t ascend to the top of the charts, it’s still worth writing, isn’t it? After all, good books, told-right are always welcome in the publishing world.

Ten excuse-busters to help you write your dream-book at last:

1. IT’S YOUR DREAM. How do I know that? If it weren’t your dream, you wouldn’t be reading this article right now! What have you done with your dream? Have you pursued it? Worked diligently toward fulfilling it? Or have you allowed the excuses of life, and mental obstacles to kill it?

Sounds like an easy question to answer, doesn’t it? But for many would-be authors, the right answer; the one that leads them to fulfill their book-writing goal, is never discovered. And that’s a shame, because your dream, if channeled properly, can become a powerful driving force in your life. If you possess the personal passion that’s needed to fulfill your dream, and are willing to devote yourself to achieving it, then quite possibly, your dream may come true. But it can only happen if you dare to believe that dreams are worth pursuing.

2. YOU have a story worth telling. I hope you don’t think the only people capable of writing good stories, or creating quality books are those being published already, because that’s just NOT true!

Popular opinion suggests there are no new stories to be told. You know, that all the good ones have already been written. But isn’t it amazing, that every now and then, an inspired author will challenge the limits of creativity, and give us something fresh and wonderful to read again? Why shouldn’t that special someone be YOU? After all, if someone is going to do it, why should it be other writers all the time?

Personally, I believe everyone has a great story to tell, an amazing book to write, or good advice to pass along. The problem is, most non-published authors don’t REALLY think they have anything to say.

Louis L’Amour, the famous western writer, said, “Folks is folks wherever you find them.” If that’s true (and I believe it is), then why shouldn’t YOU have a tale to tell, and a great book to write? After all, the only thing that separates you from published authors is - they have already been published, and you haven’t. So what - that doesn’t make their writing skills superior to yours, does it?

I hope you’re paying close attention to what I’m saying, because it’s important for you to grasp this point if you are going to produce the kind of books you’re capable of creating. You must believe that you possess the talent, the creative ability, and the necessary initiative to write your book successfully, or you’ll never pull it off. For without tenacity, perseverance, and the right attitude, you will not succeed in the publishing world, because doors only swing open for those who knock loud and long enough.

Do you have what it takes to keep trying, even when others tell you to quit? Many successful authors had to battle through unbelievable rejection and incredible obstacles, before they finally got published. And chances are, your journey won’t be that dissimilar from theirs. So keep on persevering, even when it would be easier to quit.

3. Are YOU an expert? If so, then use your expertise to write a book that will benefit others in your field, or assist people in making decisions that will make life better for them.

Personally, I find it very frustrating to go into the bookstore, in search of a book on a particular subject, only to find none. This trend holds especially true in the techno, writing and historical sections. Sometimes, dozens of nearly identical books have been written about the same subjects, but not a single volume on the subject you need.

Someone needs to fill in the blanks! Even though more books are being published now than ever before, there are still plenty of empty niches in the publishing world that are begging creative writers, and experts like you, to fill them.

Take it from an author, who is also an avid reader: The book world needs your help! We need authors who will actually use their experience, talent and expertise to widen the genre list, and help create books that people really want to buy.

4. Help wanted: Authors who will write clean, creatively written books, the whole family can enjoy. In the publishing world today, there’s no shortage of authors who rely on the cheap crutches of sex, violence, and filthy language to make their books sell. And that’s sad, because great storylines don’t need immoral or offensive crutches to make people buy them.

Growing up, my parents always told me, “Intelligent people don’t need to use foul language.” That’s the same way I feel about book publishing. Creative writers don’t need to use sex, violence or offensive language to sell books. If anything, it cheapens the story, and makes it unacceptable to people, who otherwise would have purchased their writings.

Remember this: If the story is well-told and engaging, it will sell itself. Need proof that clean books sell? Let me introduce you to Jan Karon (though she needs no introduction). Her Mitford series of books has sold over 25 million books since 1998. How’s that for a clean book success story?

But I hope you don’t think her books are a one-time phenomenon, either, because they’re not. There are enough good clean books at the top of the current and all-time bestseller charts to inspire anyone to go clean.

5. “Nothing ventured, nothing gained.” I hate using old adages to illustrate new points, but that particular one applies here. The truth is; if you sit on your laurels and do nothing, you can expect to accomplish exactly that in life.

You’ll never become a published author unless you put your fingers to the keyboard and start typing. It’s as simple as that. To win the marathon, you have to run the race. To go to the moon, you have to become an astronaut.

I wish there was a 1-2-3 formula for writing bestseller books, but there isn’t. It just takes a lot of hard work - and nobody can do it for you.

Now don’t take me wrong. I’m not saying that writing isn’t fulfilling, or pleasurable, because many authors enjoy it (I know I do). But whether you find it enjoyable or not, that doesn’t change the fact that it still requires many hours of hard work.

If you are hoping to get rich quick off your writing ability, you might be disappointed, because most authors don’t find the pot of gold at the end of their story’s rainbow. Then again, in the publishing world today, you never know, it could happen.

Every year, new writers hit it big, and best of all, you never know who it will be. So maybe, just maybe, that someone will be you. Of course, there’s no way of knowing who will write the next book that tops the charts, but one thing we do know; that someone will definitely NOT be you, unless you write a book, and submit it to the publishing process.

6. You’re not too old! It’s my conviction that some of the best books reside within those who are over forty. They have the training, the knowledge, the history, the experience and often, the necessary time to devote to writing great books, but sadly, many ‘older’ people never do it. And you want to know why? Most often, they think they’re too old to do it. You know what I say to that? Humbug!

How can I say that? I was past forty when I started writing my first book, and since then, I have written four more, plus several guides for group and individual studies. Want to know what I learned from the process? If I was able to do it, why shouldn’t you be able to do it, too?

Think of it this way: What does it matter how old you are? You can’t change your age, anyway, so why don’t you do what you’ve always dreamed of doing, and stop worrying about how many ticks are left on the clock! Wouldn’t you prefer to leave this world fulfilling your dream, instead of wasting your remaining years doing nothing, while wishing you had?

7. You can find the time, if you know where to look! Yeah, yeah, yeah – I know how hectic life can get, and how scarce time can be. But if you are ever going to fulfill your dream, you have to find a way to overcome this obstacle. Here’s a hint: Try swapping some of the elective activities in your life for quality writing time.

What do I mean by that? During the course of a seven-day period, everyone wastes time. Your assignment is to find those wasted hours and convert them into writing time. How can you convert wasted hours for usable ones? Start by tracking your activities for the next few weeks. This will give you a good idea of what your time inventory looks like.

Next, you need to decide which of those hours can successfully be converted into writing time. Some of the items on your list might include excessive sporting activities, trips to the mall, time spent surfing the web, mindless television viewing, or even your hobbies.

Now, I am not suggesting that you quit interacting with family and friends, sell your home, move to Montana, buy a shack and start writing. But with careful planning, you might find a few hours every week that you can devote to writing.

8. If you’re not creative enough to write fiction, write something else! Who said you have to write fiction? Fiction is only one genre among many. Besides, it’s the most flooded part of the book market, anyway.

You’d actually be much better off finding a different niche, than trying to replicate the hundreds of established fiction writers at the top of the bestseller list. What can you write, if you don’t write fiction? You can write whatever you want to write! Go into your favorite bookstore, and look at all options.

A few of the categories include: children, fix-it, self-help, advisory, hobbies, travel, relationships, problem-solving, religion, lifestyle, leadership, poetry, biography, media, sports, finance, reference, and a whole lot more.

An excellent method for determining what book to write, is to use the same formula entrepreneurs use when starting a new business. Start by answering these two questions, and you might be on your way: What topics (subjects) are you most passionate about? What do you enjoy talking about, or doing, more than anything else?

What comes next? Use the passion you have for your hottest-topic to inspire readers. Will it work? It has worked exceptionally well for thousands of other authors, so there’s no reason it shouldn’t work for you. For one thing, your passion will be evident when you write about something you really enjoy. Your readers will pick up on it, too, and will enjoy it much more than a book that was written for lesser reasons.

9. What if your style is not what publishers are looking for? Who said every book needs to be written in the same style, anyway? Do we all go to the same store, and buy identical outfits to wear? Of course not. After all, we aren’t clones. So why should your creative writing style be any different?

When you sit down to the keyboard, try being a trendsetter, and write something different from the rest of the books out there. Be uniquely you! And perhaps, you will find success in it.

10. What if your book is not mainstream enough? Write for pleasure. Enjoy what you are doing, and it will be a success. If your book doesn’t have a strong tie-in to a specific category, then develop a slant that will connect your book with an existing niche, or create a new niche.

Every book in the publishing world doesn’t fit neatly into the confines of established topic headings, anyway. This is especially evident in the world of technical writing. As technology expands, so do the categories and sub-categories that try to contain them. But what happens when technological advancements fail to fit into existing topic headings? Publishers make new ones. If you create a book that is worth reading, I believe publishers will discover a way to sell it. Let’s wrap it up.

OK, it’s time to get that book written! Got it? So repeat after me. “I am not going to allow excuses to keep me from writing the book of my dreams anymore! Starting today, I am going to pursue my dream, write from the heart, and get it done!”

Before we finish up, however, I want you to consider this: “Do you have what it takes to fulfill your dream, and get that book written?” I wish I could answer that question affirmatively, for you, but I can’t. So you will have to look deep inside your heart, and answer that question for yourself. I hope you answer it like a thoroughbred answers the bell. If you do, you’ll be on your way to fulfilling your dream. And with that, you’ll find a sense of fulfillment, and quite possibly, a whole lot more!

Even after reading this article, you still might be tempted to reach inside your excuse bag, and find reasons for not pursuing your dream. Sadly, many people do, and that explains why so many dreams go unfulfilled.

Overcoming every obstacle is your job. If you are going to write the book of your dreams, then you have to find a way. That’s the bottom line. You can allow excuses (even legitimate ones) to stand in your way forever, or you can get off the sneid, and conquer them all! The choice is yours.

Starting right now, I hope you will pursue your dream with passion, and fulfill your destiny with purpose. Maybe it will take a little creative shuffling of your life to do it, but I strongly encourage you to find a way to write that book NOW! After all, it’s what you’ve always wanted to do – so don’t waste another minute. Go break out that computer, and write! Who knows, you just might be amazed at the results!

You Can Overcome Addiction

2008-12-28T20:18:00.000-05:00

I hate booze. I hate it with a passion. It kills indiscriminately. It robs all joy from life, and leaves a broader wake of devastation in its pathway, than a tornado tearing through the heart of your hometown.

Why can’t people understand that drinking is a sure-fire recipe for death, destruction, and the complete ruination of everything they hold dear? But wait a minute: that’s not even the worst of it. For you see, when alcohol reaches it’s fetid tentacles to rob another life, ravage another marriage, or add countless more individuals and families to its ever-increasing list of victims, *there’s the very real possibility that the name of someone you deeply love will be on it. (According to the National Statistics)

To put it plain and simple: In our generation alone, booze has single-handedly taken innumerable, irreplaceable lives, destroyed countless marriages, and internally wounded millions of others along the way. Yet, that insatiable force is not satisfied, nor will it ever be. For like a towering inferno, it incessantly seeks new ‘fuel’ so that it may continue spreading its consuming blaze throughout the landscape of the nations. Unlike fire however, which voraciously devours wood, paper and cloth, alcohol greedily engulfs human lives. That’s right. People are its fuel. And in fact, it is their failure to comprehend that alcohol, like a deadly, raging, unstoppable fire, is itself, a lethal force that annually snuffs out millions of lives with dizzying rapidity and cataclysmic certainty.

In the battle against alcohol abuse, the most disturbing fact is that, as a beverage for human consumption, it is entirely unnecessary. Inarguably, the evidence declares that no one needs alcohol to live. In fact, you will likely live longer without it. And whatever you do, don’t try dragging the old ‘medicinal purposes only’ argument out again, because we all know that claim is nothing more than a pathetic attempt to justify a person’s desire to drink. The real issue surrounding alcohol consumption, however, doesn’t have anything to do with the promotion of good health, and you know it. Neither has it anything to do with ‘supplying a person’s taste buds with a flavor they can’t live without.’ After all, there’s more than enough nonalcoholic flavors available in the marketplace today, to appease even the most demanding taste buds, whet the whistles of an entire generation, and satisfy the most diverse appetite for flavor.

Clinically speaking, alcohol has the potential to kill or severely weaken every human cell it comes into contact with, and is, by nature, a deadly poison to the body human, and the higher the concentration, the more damaging it is to the body. And even though the human body does it’s best to ward off the lethal effects of the toxic poison that is so frequently injected into it, the truth is, whenever alcohol is consumed in large enough quantities, or too frequently, it can, and all-too-often does result in either death, or the permanent disabling of body function.

Alcohol has long been recognized for its efficiency as a killer. Not only can it effectively take the life of those who drink it, but simultaneously, will kill off innumerable relationships, marriages, and friendships along the way. But that’s not all. Annually, it also will take the lives of hundreds of thousands of innocent victims, through drunken car crashes, acts of violence, and alcohol induced negligence.

While some people get downright M.A.D.D. or S.A.D.D. over the devastating effects of alcohol on ever-increasing numbers of individuals, and society in general, still, there are too many people who are contented to stick their heads in the proverbial sand of life, and pretend that alcohol abuse and alcoholism is a problem that is capable of affecting everyone … except them. It has been said, that, “Those who fail to learn from the past, are doomed to repeat it.” And when it comes to alcohol consumption, never were truer words spoken. For indeed, failure to learn from the mistakes of others is the very reason why alcohol abuse and alcoholism continues to be the overwhelming, and devastating plague that it is today.

Perhaps, the greatest difficulty that we face, in attempting to cure America of the epidemic of alcohol consumption, is that most drinkers, and potential drinkers have erroneously convinced themselves that booze will never adversely affect their lives. Although, when you consult the statistics, you find ample proof that alcohol is fiercely destructive.

Facts don’t lie. According to statistics - 1 in every 13 adults - abuse alcohol or are alcoholic. Several million more adults engage in risky drinking that could lead to alcohol problems. These patterns include binge drinking and heavy drinking on a regular basis. In 2000, there were 19,358 Alcohol-induced deaths in the United States each year, not including motor vehicle fatalities. There were 26,552 deaths in the United States from Chronic Liver Disease and Cirrhosis. Chronic Liver Disease and Cirrhosis is the 12th leading cause of death in the United States. Sixty-two percent of Americans ages 18 and over have drank alcohol in the past year. Thirty-two percent of current drinkers had five or more drinks on the same occasion at least once in the past year. Sixty-one percent of men 18-24 years and 42 percent of women had 5 or more drinks on the same occasion.

But it gets worse. When it comes to alcohol abuse and alcoholism, the statistics are mind blowing. Alcoholism is a serious problem in today’s society. And if we ever want to see the reduction of statistics involving fatalities, injuries, diseases caused from the use and abuse of alcohol, it is important that people understand the potentially deadly effect alcohol can, and quite possibly will have on their lives, their relationships, and their life choices.

I ask every drinker, even the ‘casual’ drinkers among us to reconsider this issue, one more time. Why give yourself to something that is stronger than you? To something that is responsible for killing so many innocent people - even your loved ones? Can’t you see how much better your life would be without it? Oh sure, some of your buddies might not like it, but then again, who needs them, if they really don’t care about your well being.

Think about it: Since alcohol is such a destructive force, that kills indiscriminately, maims, ruins and destroys relationships, families, and society, why give yourself to it? Especially when there are more than enough alternative, non-alcoholic beverage in the world to make for the few you’d be missing.

I ask you to prayerfully reconsider the use of alcohol in your own life. After all, since it isn’t necessary to sustaining or enhancing life, and there is no earthly or eternal good that can come of it, why not put it away from your life, for good? After all, when its said and done, many people will be thankful you did it one day.

About the Author: Tom Cannon is an experienced author, and has written such books as; “Two Faces in the Mirror,” “Servants of the King” and “Changing Natures.”

Tom is happily married, and lives in Tennessee. He is the director of Destiny Ministry, Inc., and ministers worldwide in conferences, churches and seminars.

For more information on this topic, or to schedule an interview with Tom Cannon, please email him at: destinyministry@gmail.com.

Contact: Tom Cannon, Address: P.O. Box 8656, Gray, TN 37615

Web: www.destinyministry.net or www.tomcannon.org

About Destiny Ministry Press: We specialize in clean, moral literature. All of our books are designed to inspire, and encourage readers. Here at Destiny, we especially strive to create books the whole family can read, as well as self-help books from a Christian perspective. And as always: the sale of Destiny books help fund worldwide missions.

Starting Over - You Can Find Joy in Life Again!

2008-12-28T20:17:00.000-05:00

Feeding, nursing, caressing, counseling, and religiously washing the old nature of fallen humanity will not save anyone. The only way a child of God can be produced is when a person “is born of the Spirit.” The flesh must die, for there is no other cure. The religion of humanity loves an outward show of rites, rituals and ceremonies (Colossians 2:20-22), but these will not lead us into right relationship with God. Rather, it is the inner change of our nature, and the heart transformation that only Christ brings; that is the hope for our salvation.

“Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations— 21“Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,” 22which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men? 23These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.” (NKJV)

Everything that has to do with our former nature will “perish with the doing,” because they are born of the flesh. In Matthew 15:11, Jesus said, “Every plant which my Father hath not planted shall be rooted up.” (KJV)

[i]“These words were spoken by the Lord Jesus to those whose religion was of the flesh and consisted in ritualistic washings and making long prayers. They were those who honored God only with their lips, and not with their life. They thought a person was defiled only by, “that which goeth into the mouth” (Matthew 15:11, KJV). Jesus declared these words to religious men (Scribes and Pharisees) who “teach for doctrine the commandments of men” (Matthew 15:9, KJV), and made more out of “that which goeth into the mouth,” instead of “that which cometh out of the heart.”

Such was the reason for this discourse between the Lord and the wayward religious leaders. For no matter how much they loved their religion, in and of itself, it can save no one, because the flesh cannot be converted by the works of man.

Remember, it is impossible for you to make your own heart clean. The old nature cannot be cleansed, and the new nature needs no cleansing, “For the heart of man is full of deceit and desperately wicked.” Only Jesus can remove your old, fallen, carnal, corrupt, sin nature, and give you a new heart. The Word of God tells us, the only way we can receive a “clean heart” is through redemption. This truth destroys the modern idea of ‘making men better without converting them.’”

If we are justified by grace, why are we trying to be sanctified by the works of man? Such thoughts come under reproof in Galatians 3:3, “Are you so senseless (unintelligent) having begun by the Spirit (the new nature) are you being made perfect in the flesh?” ([ii]Darby).

The Fallen Nature At-A-Glance

When Adam fell, humanity became guilty of sin. His sins formed what has become known as the carnal, or fallen nature within us. It is for that reason that we have become inheritors of the sin nature. The Bible states, “All have sinned and come sort of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)

The nature of fallen humanity is desperately wicked – there is no hope in it. We cannot clean it up, purify, self-help or improve upon it. The only way we can overcome it, and it’s eternally destructive traits, is to exchange natures – throw out the old, put it to death, through the sacrificial death of Christ, and receive His new nature in its place.

Our nature comes from the begetter, and the begetter of sin, is Adam. Since our nature determines everything we think and do, God had no choice but to reject all who bear it, and thereby, keep them from cohabitating His presence. This rejection does not mean that God hates humankind; rather, it simply means that He, the holy God, cannot and will not allow sin to dwell in His presence.

The sign of His great love for us, even in our fallen condition, however, is that He sent His only Son, Jesus, to die in our place, so that we through Him, might be freed from sin, and the nature of fallen humanity.

That is the reason David prayed, “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free Spirit” (Psalm 51:10-12, KJV).

Notice that David did not pray, “God, please counsel evil out of my heart,” or “Through my self-will, and continued efforts at self-improvement, O God, make my heart holy.” The reason such prayers won’t work is simple, the only way to be saved, and wholly sanctified, is for God to create a new heart, a spiritual heart, in place of the fleshly, lust-driven, heart of sin that we possessed from birth. Truly, our only hope exists in His ability to change us into His likeness, from the inside out!

[i] The Two Natures in the Child of God, E.W. Bullinger. Published: 1999. Publisher: Truth for Today.

[ii] Darby Translation of the Bible or Darby’s New Translation. Translated by John Nelson Darby. Public Domain

About the Author: Tom Cannon is an experienced author, and has written such books as; “Two Faces in the Mirror,” "Mountain Empire," “Servants of the King” and “Changing Natures.”

Tom is happily married, and lives in Tennessee. He is the director of Destiny Ministry, Inc., and ministers worldwide in conferences, churches and seminars.

For more information on this topic, or to schedule an interview with Tom Cannon, please email him at: destinyministry@gmail.com.

Web: www.destinyministry.net or www.tomcannon.org

We specialize in clean, moral literature. All of our books are designed to inspire, and encourage readers. Here at Destiny, we especially strive to create books the whole family can read, as well as self-help books from a Christian perspective. And as always: the sale of Destiny books help fund worldwide missions.

Book Review - New Book Gives Life-Changing Advice!

2008-12-28T13:38:00.002-05:00

Jonesborough, TN - Often overlooked in times of international crisis, is the alarming escalation of personal crises in families across the globe. As the economy worsens, marriages disintegrate, wars spread; and hopelessness rapidly increases, with no apparent end in sight.

We are living in very critical times. People are angry, fearful, and many are bordering on hopelessness. And that is a dangerous place to be. The diagnosis is simple: for many people, the world they knew just a few short months ago, has suddenly disappeared, and they’re wondering if they’ll ever get it back. Along with the loss of jobs, homes, and the disintegration of personal wealth, people are not convinced the future will be brighter. Consequently, we are seeing a sharp rise in negative social indicators.

According to 2008 statistics, murder and robbery rates are rising, and substance abuse is on the increase. "The trend reflects a global phenomenon," states a report by Alcoholics Anonymous. "The World Health Organization’s (WHO) 2008 Global Burden of Disease study shows that in both low- and high-income countries the harmful use of alcohol is now among the 10 leading causes of disability."

But it gets worse. A recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) reveals "the suicide rate for 10- to-24-year-olds increased by 8 percent, following a decline of more than 28 percent, the largest single-year rise in 15 years."

"What is most alarming about the increased suicide rate in that particular age group," says Dr. Tom Cannon, co-author of a new book, Changing Natures, "is that pre-teens and young adults should be the most hopeful age group of all. After all, they literally have their entire life ahead of them." According to recent statistics, however, just the opposite has proven to be true, and that should be cause for serious contemplation.

Even though we are the wealthiest generation to ever populate the earth, and have more opportunities to advance ourselves than any generation in history, there is an alarming spike in social indicators that suggest "the wheels are about ready to come off."

According to Dr. Cannon, "The alarming increase in the negative social indicators, serve as proof that people need someone stronger, wiser and more capable than themselves to guide them through life, because evidently, they are incapable of handling the job alone. Whether this generation knows it or not, they really do need a personal relationship with a life-changing God."

"For years," Dr. Cannon states, "certain groups within society tried to convince us that we no longer need God … it is clear their assumptions were not true, and their theories do not work, based upon the simple fact that their agenda didn’t work, never has, and never will."

Changing Natures was written to reveal the error and fallacy of human thinking, and to serve as a roadmap for those who desperately need to find an escape from hopelessness and helplessness. The message of hope that it offers this generation, is not merely the hope of better economic or political futures, rather it is the very real, and lasting hope that comes from a much deeper level, and can be enjoyed for a lifetime, regardless of the current trends of life.

Dr. Samuel Chand states, "Read Changing Natures and get ready to grow and live at a greater dimension!"

Changing Natures, a new book by Dr. Tom Cannon and Robbie Hilton, has been haled as "a practical guideline to help people escape the all-too-common pitfalls that keep them locked into a frustrating pattern of personal pain."

In Changing Natures, Dr. Cannon uses truths that can be applied to any person, in any situation – with startling results.

While "Changing Natures," is a down-to-earth book with one goal in mind – to help you escape the cycle of downward negativity, and lead you to a life of abundance and happiness. The timing of this book is excellent. This message of hope is especially needed by a generation that seemingly has lost their way.

According to Dr. Cannon, "In Christ, there is hope for everyone. That’s the good news. No one has to remain in their broken condition forever. Make no mistake about it: the power of the God should not be underestimated or intentionally denied by anyone. After all, if God had sufficient power to create us, He certainly has more than enough wisdom, strength and love to heal our wounds, and give us hope again."

About the authors: Dr. Tom Cannon is an experienced author, who understands his subject well. Having been in ministry 30 years, his books are designed to help people escape life’s pitfalls and enjoy a lifestyle of victorious living.

Besides Changing Natures, Dr. Cannon has written; Two Faces in the Mirror, and Servants of the King. Study guides are available, and have proven to be excellent resources for personal and group study settings. (Visit our online bookstore: www.destinyministry.net)

Dr. Cannon is happily married, and lives in Tennessee. He is the director of Destiny Ministries, and ministers worldwide in conferences, churches and seminars. He earned his Ph.D. from Covenant Bible College.

Pastor Robbie Hilton is the associate pastor of Calvary Church, Johnson City, TN. Robbie Hilton, ministers in youth conferences, churches and seminars throughout the United States.

Robbie lives in Johnson City, Tennessee with his wife and three children. He has an earned M.Th.

For more information on this topic, or to schedule an interview with Tom Cannon or Robbie Hilton, please call (423) 948-8105, or email: destinyministry@gmail.com.

"Changing Natures," $14.95, ISBN 978-0-9796159-4-8, Paperback Original. 138 pages. 6" X 9" Perfect Bound

Available through Ingram Distribution, online at Amazon.com, at DestinyMinistry.net, and TomCannon.org bookstores.

CONTACT INFORMATION: Tom Cannon
Phone: 423.948.8105
Address: P.O. Box 8656, Gray, TN 37615
Email: destinyministry@gmail.com
Web: www.destinyministry.net or www.tomcannon.org
Destiny Ministry Press
Email Destiny Ministry Press

Book Review - New Book Promises Hope for Those in Crisis

2008-12-28T13:32:00.003-05:00

(Press Release) – According to international and local experts, the looming global economic crisis which began with the collapse of the financial sector could spread to all segments of society by the middle of next year.

JONESBOROUGH, Tenn. – December 9, 2008 - As the worldwide crisis expands, people are desperately looking for hope, wherever they can find it. Unfortunately, according to recent studies, many have been unable to find it, and instead, are turning to destructive lifestyle choices to help cope with the fear and pain.

According to "Two Faces in the Mirror," a new book by Dr. Tom Cannon, “We have an entire generation in crisis, who need to know that hope still exists for them and their family. Sadly, many people remain in the dark, concerning this matter, until it’s too late. If they only knew that hope is readily available for them, it would save many lives.

In this book, Dr. Cannon tackles the common struggles of humanity, and shows the reader how to overcome each of them. That’s the good news: no one has to remain in their broken or pain-filled condition forever.

"Two Faces in the Mirror," has been haled as a roadmap to help people escape the frustrating pattern of personal pain that dominates their lives.

The timing of this book is excellent, given the present condition of the world. According to the publisher, this “self-help book from a Christian perspective” is already having a positive impact on its readers.

“People have legitimate reasons for their anger and confusion,” says Dr. Cannon. “it would be unfair then, to underestimate the degrees of suffering they have endured, or the impact personal tragedies have had upon them. However, to allow people to remain bound by the unfortunate events from the past that are consuming their lives at the present, would be an intolerable double-tragedy.”

"Two Faces in the Mirror" is being called “a must-read” by community leaders. Dr. Richard E. Williams acclaims it as “a masterfully written book … that will compel you to look inside of yourself, and see who you really are, and what you can become.” Dr. Gordon Aikin, of Muskegon, Michigan, stated, “(People) are becoming hardened and insensitive to things they would never have allowed years ago. I applaud the author's courage … and would especially recommend this book to (those) who want to do it right."

In "Two Faces in the Mirror," Dr. Cannon implements biblically-based self-help techniques that can be applied by anyone, in any situation – with surprising results. While this book sends a strong message of compassion and hope, the author wastes no time unduly placating his readers. Rather, this hard-hitting, down-to-earth volume is written with one goal in mind – to help people escape the cycle of pain and downward negativity that dominates them, and lead them into a life of abundance and happiness.

About the Author: Dr. Cannon is an experienced author, who understands his subject well. Having been in the ministry 30 years, he was not content to write a fluffy, religious book that promised little or no help to his readers. Rather, he has charted a course of hope, that if followed, will lead people out of their pitfalls and into a joyous lifestyle of victorious living.

Additionally, Dr. Cannon has written several other life-changing titles, including; "Servants of the King" and "Changing Natures." Study guides are available for each of his books, and have proven to be excellent resources for personal and group study settings.

Thomas F. Cannon, Ph.D., is the president of Destiny Ministry, Inc., and ministers worldwide in conferences, churches and seminars. Dr. Cannon has also written several Christian college courses, and Bible study guides. (Available through Destiny’s online bookstore (www.destinyministry.net), Ingram distribution, and Amazon.com)

Dr. Cannon is happily married, and lives in Tennessee. Throughout his career, he has served as Youth Pastor, Associate Pastor, Director of a Christian school and daycare, Senior Pastor, as a director of Christian colleges, and as hospital chaplain. He earned his Ph.D. from Covenant Bible College.

For more information on this topic, or to schedule an interview with Dr. Tom Cannon, please email him at: destinyministry@gmail.com.

"Two Faces in the Mirror," $12.95, ISBN 978-0-9796159-0-0
Paperback Original, 165 pages, 6” X 9” Perfect Bound

Purchase: Available through Ingram Distribution, online at Amazon.com, TomCannon.org and DestinyMinistry.net bookstores.

Contact: Tom Cannon
Phone: 423.948.8105
Address: P.O. Box 8656, Jonesborough, TN 37659
Email: destinyministry@gmail.com
Web: www.destinyministry.net or www.tomcannon.org

Destiny Ministry Press is the publishing arm of Destiny Ministries, Inc., a worldwide non-profit ministry. Proceeds from the sale of Destiny books help fund missions.

Book Review - Books About Southern Appalachia Are Very Popular

2008-12-28T13:19:00.005-05:00

According to statistics, America has fallen in love with “Southern Appalachian” fiction.
The southern Appalachian genre of books have sold 25 million+ volumes since 1998. A new book, “Mountain Empire” by Tom Cannon is the newest work to join the ranks. Mountain Empire will make you laugh, cry, and fall in love with the heart-warming characters in it.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - JONESBOROUGH, Tenn. – “Books based on life in small town southern Appalachia sell like hotcakes!” stated one publicist.

According to book sales data, from 1998-present, America can’t get enough stories about small town life in Southern Appalachia. Over twenty-five million books about life in the Appalachian mountain regions of America have been sold in the last decade alone. “That’s an incredible statistic,” said one industry spokesman, “I don’t know of another region of the country that can tout such sales figures.”

Interestingly, this phenomenon isn’t a recent development. For many years, life in Southern Appalachia has been a favorite destination for readers of all ages.

Some of the best-read Southern Appalachian authors include: John Fox, Jr. (Trail of the Lonesome Pine), Jan Karon (Mitford Series), Adrianna Trigiani (Big Stone Gap), Ann B. Ross (Miss Julia), Charles Frazier (Cold Mountain), Gail Godwin (Evensong), Robert Morgan (Gap Creek), Sharyn McCrumb (The Rosewood Casket), Lee Smith (Fair and Tender Ladies), Harriet Arnow (The Dollmaker), James Still (River of Earth), Barbara Kingsolver (Prodigal Summer) and Wilma Dykeman (The Tall Woman). Others in this genre include: Bobbie Ann Mason, Silas House, and Fred Chappell.

According to Tom Cannon, author of “Mountain Empire”, “Perhaps we love books about the Southern Appalachian region, because they give us a sense of belonging, and remind us of happier, gentler times – a time and place we all long to find, and would love to call home.”

In a recent interview, Jan Karon (Mitford series) gave definition to our love for small-town fictional settings, that quite possibly reflects the reason many of us have fallen in love with Southern Appalachian-style books, “I think I was born with a kind of deep affinity for the rural, the rustic. In addition, I'm very drawn to the pastoral novels of the English genre -- the village novel where a small group is used to paint a picture of a larger society. I still have in me a great love for the agrarian -- for what this country was, for what we still are. People say, "Oh well, I guess there's no such thing as Mitford." Well, the good news is there are Mitford’s all over the country, and there are still great stretches of open land and pastures and meadows and fields. It's not all bad news. There's so much left of this country that is reasonable and moral and strong. And that's the part I relate to.”

Apparently, 25 million+ readers are thinking the same thing. That’s how many readers have purchased fictional books about the Southern Appalachian region since 1998. And seemingly, there’s no end in sight. Ann B. Ross (Miss Julia series) said, “I think the South grows storytellers like it does peanuts, sweet potatoes and kudzu.” And that’s good news for fans of Southern Appalachian fiction.

A new book, “Mountain Empire” by Tom Cannon (Jonesborough, TN) is the newest work to join the ranks of Southern Appalachian, small-town fiction. Reader’s reviews suggest it will become a favorite.

Set in the fictitious town of Empire, in East Tennessee, “Mountain Empire” is a lively, adventure-filled coming-of-age story about a young boy (Jesse Jones) who finds himself, and his family caught in a sudden and unexpected transition from his childhood home in Mississippi to the unusual world of Appalachia. The story begins when Jesse’s father (Pastor J. Paul Jones) is forced to leave his church in Natchez, and accepts the pastorate of a church in East Tennessee.

Readers of all ages will identify with Jesse Jones, who finds himself friendless, uprooted from everything familiar, and plunged into an awkward and unfamiliar place in life. “I think most people will discover a little bit of Jesse in them,” says the author, “After all, most of us have found ourselves in similar situations before, and know how uncomfortable, and unwelcome such life-changes can be.”

Publisher Review:
Welcome to the world of Jesse Jones, Preacher’s Kid. You are about to embark on an uproarious romp through the mountains of East Tennessee—so hang on tight—because the funniest, most lovable kid in all of Appalachia is coming your way!

Mountain Empire is a “heart-warming and hilarious adventure of Appalachia’s favorite boy.”

• “If you love Mitford, Miss Julia, or Big Stone Gap, then “Mountain Empire,” is definitely a must-read!”

• “It will grab hold of you and won’t let go.”

• “Mountain Empire” will make you laugh, cry, and become attached to the heart-warming characters in Empire, Tennessee. When the last page is turned, you will hate to put the book down – you will be left wanting more! Whether you love gentle adventures, comedy, drama, or books with a religious theme you'll love this book.

About the Author: Tom Cannon is an experienced author, and has written such books as; “Two Faces in the Mirror,” “Servants of the King” and “Changing Natures.”

For more information on this topic, or to schedule an interview with Tom Cannon, please the publisher at: destinyministry@gmail.com.

Mountain Empire, $14.95, ISBN 978-0-9796159-9-3, Paperback Original, 233 pages, 6” X 9” Perfect Bound

Purchase: Available online at Amazon.com, TomCannon.org and DestinyMinistry.net bookstores.

Contact: Tom Cannon
Phone: 423.948.8105
Address: P.O. Box 8656, Gray, TN 37615
Email: destinyministry@gmail.com
Web: www.destinyministry.net or www.tomcannon.org

About Destiny Ministry Press: We specialize in clean, moral literature. All of our books are designed to inspire, and encourage readers. Here at Destiny, we especially strive to create books the whole family can read, as well as self-help books from a Christian perspective.

And as always: the sale of Destiny books help fund worldwide missions.

Tired of Your Pain-filled Lifestyle? There is Hope!

2008-12-25T12:59:00.000-05:00

“Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion, for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Them He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into the harvest.” (Matthew 9:35-39)

“Then they eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. When they saw Him, they worshipped Him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and spoke to them saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go ye therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you, and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:16-20)

How desperately we need to have our eyes opened, so we can see our present world the way God sees it! For all around us, on every side, there are fields turning white with the abundance of the harvest, but either we can’t see it, or if we do see it, we can’t seem to muster up enough care, compassion or love - to go and do anything about it. Either way, they are perishing, as sheep with no shepherds, and they are not destined to be long in this world. For life is truly like a vapor, and before you know it, all who were perishing, will have perished already, and hell’s population will have continued to grow.

Knowing that the last recorded words of Jesus, in the book of Matthew, concerned the salvation of the lost ones of every tribe, people, nation and tongue; should of itself, act as a sufficient stimuli to forever induce us to fulfill our great calling in Him. For no work is more important than winning souls! That’s right, the highest and greatest commission you could ever hope to receive from God is the commission to be a soulwinner for Him.

Now here’s the good news: You have received that commission from the Lord, already! It has been forever documented for us in the verses we just read. And the fact that it is God’s will for you, that His work is well defined, couldn’t be more clear. This is not one of those so-called gray-area verses that people like to squabble over, is it? Nothing could be plainer, or easier to understand than this command from the Lord. And what did Jesus tell us in these verses? Basically, that we were saved to save others! That is the primary work of the child of God. We are called, commissioned to win souls, to reap the harvest, to spend the remainder of our days here on this earth, seeking to redeem the lost one of every nation. Why? Because it is the clearly defined purpose of God for His children. And in these verses, you will find, not only did Jesus give us a readily understandable definition of the work we are called to do until He returns again, but also, He vividly reminded us that this was and is the purpose for His coming in the first place. “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.” (1 Timothy 1:15)

If that was our Lord’s reason for coming into this world, then should we be so surprised that our calling should be identical to His own? After all, if we were created in the image of God, and now through Christ, that image is being restored, why should we expect to find any other core purpose or destiny underlying the foundations of our spiritual lives, than to go and replicate the work that the Lord Himself came to do? Doesn’t the son, who is a true son, bear the stamp and impress of His Father in every way? And if the redemption of the world, is the driving force of our Father, in all His dealings with mankind, then shouldn’t it be the compelling factor of our life, also, as true sons?