50 States Of Pray: Don't Look Back - Pay It Forward

Aloha,

My sincere thanks to everyone who helped promote and/or participates in 50 States of Pray today.

I'm representing the great state of Hawaii and wish everyone reading this a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

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Courtesy: thefw.com

They say to give peace a chance, but I'm just one guy - and that seems like a lot to ask in this crazy world of ours.

But, imagine our planet, this pint-sized world that could, and how it would change - for the better - if we shared a little more love and respect with family, friends and community.

 

 

Here’s my sincere wish for anyone needing a spiritual boost this Christmas: Don’t look back – it won’t change the past.

Courtesy: MotivationalTwist.com

 

 

 

   Instead, pay it forward.

 

 

 

Some will say I’m naïve, but I truly believe in the power of giving.

It doesn’t take a lot, we all know that. All that's needed is an open heart and a willingness to share of our time, talents and/or treasures.

Courtesy: thefw.com

 

Share a positive moment with someone.

 

 

 

Help comfort a crying baby on a busy airplane, buy a Sailor a sandwich or simply hold open a heavy door.

These random acts of kindness happened recently to our family, and I’ll always appreciate the generosity of those strangers who expected no reward.

There was, however, a return of investment :)

 



Courtesy: Melissa Maygrove

50 States of Pray was my idea – but you’ve  embraced the concept. Who knows the lives that may be touched by today's posts as they ripple out like a stone dropped in a calm lake.

 

Why not pray for a friend? Forgive a wrong-doing?

Thank a teacher, cop, firefighter or anyone who does the work you could never do.

 Give a compliment - or a seat.

The list is endless, and I believe each “share” will leave a piece of you behind.
 

Courtesy: Sharelifeny.org

Robert Louis Stephenson once wrote: Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant.

So, perhaps… after all... all we need do is take a chance and give a piece...

 

Courtesy: pif1day.com

 

 

Thanks again, and may God bless you all. 

 

 

 

Met my First Blogger Buddy & Finished Last Marathon

Aloha,

Some fun news to share: I finally met one of my/our Blogger Buddies.

...whispers: You're real. You're really real :)

In February, I posted about a free writer's conference (called W.R.I.T.E) that I planned to host during the first week of December.

Although the event was eventually cancelled, (it's hard to get over here - I understand!) I had the pleasure to meet Nancy LaRonda Johnson, and her sister who travelled to O'ahu for a vacation this past week.

I met the sisters at the airport and we hung out for a little bit before I drove them downtown to their hotel.


Nancy and some bald dude with a cool T-shirt

The sisters apparently had a great time while on the island and the picture above is of Nancy and I throwing some shakas down near Waikiki Beach.

Thanks for the memories, Nancy, and for the signed copy of your latest book, SALTED WITH FIRE. I really appreciate it :)

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Speaking of memories, I did - BOSTON STRONG, baby - complete my tenth and (perhaps) final marathon last weekend, too.

Thank goodness it wasn't my first - as my race number (2571) and associated time chip - did *not* register, so there is no official record of me in the system !!!

There is, however, photographic evidence, but as I am way too cheap to spend $70 on a half-dozen pictures, the link is here.

(If the link doesn't send you direct, type "Koopmans"; "2571" and "Honolulu" as needed.)

(If you want a real laugh - and see my best impression of a Walking Dead extra - enlarge Photo 146561714 (first picture on the third row.)

That one still cracks me up :)

PS: My time is somewhere between 6:05:00 and 6:11:00, so I'm going with my "official" time of 6:08:00 :)

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Finally, I'm so looking forward to 50 States of Pray.

I can't believe Christmas Eve is only four days from now, so have a great weekend everyone - don't forget those last minute gifts and "see" you Tuesday :)

Here's a Bing Crosby version of a Christmas classic - and no, it's not that song!

Mele Kalikimaka, and aloha :)

 

 

Ashley Nixon's Cover Reveal of CUTLASS

Aarrgghh!!! and aloha,

Today is the Cover Reveal for Ashley Nixon's new book, CUTLASS.
But before we do the reveal, Ashley asked if we'd share a pirate-related joke :)

So here's one I thought was funnier than seven pieces of eight stolen by six men who ran down five flights of stairs only to escape through four doors aided by three accomplishes, two former security guards and a Jimmy Buffet Parrothead in a pear tree. (Is that a good hook?)

A pirate walks into a bar and the bartender says, "Hey, I haven't seen you in a while. What happened, you look terrible!"

"What do you mean?" the pirate replies, "I'm fine."

The bartender says, "But what about that wooden leg? You didn't have that before."

"Well," says the pirate, "We were in a battle at sea and a cannon ball hit my leg but the surgeon fixed me up, and I'm fine, really."

"Yeah," says the bartender, "But what about that hook? Last time I saw you, you had both hands."

"Well," says the pirate, "We were in another battle and we boarded the enemy ship. I was in a sword fight and my hand was cut off but the surgeon fixed me up with this hook, and I feel great, really."

"Oh," says the bartender, "What about that eye patch? Last time you were in here you had both eyes."

"Well," says the pirate, "One day when we were at sea, some birds were flying over the ship. I looked up, and one of them pooped in my eye."

"So?" replied the bartender, "what happened? You couldn't have lost an eye just from some bird poop!"

"Well," says the pirate, "I really wasn't used to the hook yet."
(Posted by Dirk in Pirate Jokes)

 
CUTLASS COVER REVEAL (da dahhaarrgh:)

 

Publication Date: April 23, 2014

Category: Young Adult

Genre: Fantasy

Blurb:

 Notorious pirate Barren Reed has one thing on his mind: Revenge against the man who killed his father. So kidnapping his enemy's fiancé seems a perfect plan…until he actually does it. 



 Larkin Lee is more than a pretty face and fiancé to a powerful man. Her fierce personality is enough to make any pirate want to push her overboard. 



 But when the King of the Orient comes to Barren with a task—to find the Bloodstone, a powerful gem thought only to exist in legend, Barren sees another opportunity to destroy his enemy. Together, Barren, Larkin and a crew of pirates set off to find the stone, only to discover it caused the death of Barren’s own mother and Larkin’s, too.
As his strongest allies turn into his greatest enemies, and the life of the girl he kidnapped becomes more important than he ever dreamed, Barren’s quest for revenge becomes a fight to save the Orient.

 

Links:

 Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5199530.Ashley_Nixon

Goodreads (book page): https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18755539-cutlass

Website: http://ashley-nixon.com

Blog: http://ashley-nixon.blogspot.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AshleymNixon

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ashleynixonauthor

Tumblr: http://ashleynixon.tumblr.com

 

Rafflecopter Giveaway:

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Bob Hope - Christmas With the Troops...

Aloha,

50 States of Pray is up to 41 42 States (total), and there's eight days left to find the final nine eight U.S. and/or foreign States.

The Linky List is here - and many, many thanks for all your support.

Speaking of support, if you know anyone who served in the U.S. military during the era of Bob Hope, here's a YouTube video I think they would love to see.

This 10-minute video clip is a wonderful tribute to the men and women who served, and it shows - especially in the last minute, which highlights a wonderful, inspiring rendition of Silent Night.

It also highlights some of Bob's greatest USO-sponsored Christmas shows, and if you ain't never seen a Bob Hope Christmas Special, you've missed out... until now :)

Merry Christmas, everyone :)