New Contest and CHALLENGE - August 13-24

This week’s contest is a little deeper, and a bit more serious (but still FUN) than previous contests. I’m hoping we’re all up for the challenge that Pix-N-Pens is issuing this week, detailed below. Please - tell your friends, and get them involved, too.

First, I want to welcome WILL AND LISA SAMSON to Pix-N-Pens. Lisa is a writer buddy of mine, although we’ve not yet met in person, and she has served unknowingly as a mentor to me for the past six months. I follow her blog and her career regularly, and love to see God working through her and her precious family. If you don’t yet know the Samsons, visit both their blogs - IMHO, they’re some of the best out there in blogdom. Visit Lisa at Author Intrusion and Will at Journey through Willzhead.

The Samsons new book, JUSTICE IN THE ‘BURBS should be a “must read” on every Christian’s reading list. Here’s the back cover copy, and you can find some excerpts at Amazon until you can get your own copy:

In the suburban world of nice homes, neat lawns, and new cars, it can be easy to forget about social justice issues. Life keeps us busy, and the poor and disenfranchised of our world are invisible as we go from our garage to our workplace and back again. But suburbanites can be a force for social justice in the world.

In this unique book, readers will take a journey with a young couple from the ‘burbs as they learn to notice and act on the issues of justice that abound no matter where you live. This engaging narrative helps readers kiss apathy and ignorance goodbye in favor of a life of concern and action in order to help our fellow human beings.

This extraordinary book is earning well-deserved rave reviews and is lining up to become THE book of 2007.

"Will and Lisa have joined talents to offer a compelling argument for living justly in an unjust world, and for loving our neighbors in a hands-on, life-changing way." LIZ CURTIS HIGGS, author, Bad Girls of the Bible.

"Whatever happened to the vital social and moral energies of the Christian faith? They are alive and throbbin in this book that shows how the gospel can walk the missing sidewalks and unfriendly cul-de-sacs of the suburbs." LEONARD SWEET, Drew Theological School, George Fox University.

"Will and Lisa are provocateurs of imagination, writing for a desert where folks are thristy for more than the American dream. This is a much-needed invitation for justice to flow throught the suburbs liek mighty waters and bring to life all the parched souls trapped in the ghettos of poverty and wealth." SHANE CLAIBORNE, activist, author, The Irresistible Revolution: Living as an Ordinary Radical.

"Will and Lisa Samson's new book, Justice in the Burbs, is a moving book. I wept with joy, knowing how many people will be moved to join the work for justice God has already begun in the world." CHRISTIAN SCHAREN, author, One Step Closer: Why U2 Matters to Those Seeking God.

Watch this video to learn more about JUSTICE IN THE BURBS before you read the challenges below:

Now, I know you regular Pix-N-Pen readers are wondering how all this fits in with this blog. Here’s the scoop.

Lisa’s books have moved me this summer. They’ve challenged me in my faith and they’ve encouraged me to reach out and make a difference in my own little world. I’m hoping this book will make a difference in your life THIS WEEK.

The challenge this time will last two weeks. The Samsons and all of us here at Pix-N-Pens challenge you to go out into your communities during the next two weeks with a couple of goals, beginning today (August 13th-24th).

We want you to record what you see, hear, experience in the way of JUSTICE being carried out in your own neighborhoods. Record it through photos, poetry, essays, short stories, a letter to the newspaper editor, or a magazine article. Submit it to tracyruckman @ gmail. com by Friday, August 24th and your entry will be judged by the Samsons. If you’re entry is chosen as the winner, it will be announced online at Pix-N-Pens on Monday, August 27th. The winning entry will receive a personalized, autographed copy of JUSTICE IN THE BURBS, plus all the regular promo perks and entry into the grand prize drawing in December.

But the challenge doesn’t stop there. As the book’s subtitle encourages us, we want you to go out into your neighborhoods and be the hands of Jesus over the next two weeks. Then write and tell us about it at tracyruckman @ gmail. com. If you’re entry is chosen as the winner, it will be announced online at Pix-N-Pens on Monday, August 27th. The winning entry will receive a personalized, autographed copy of JUSTICE IN THE BURBS, plus all the regular promo perks and entry into the grand prize drawing in December.

As you accept this challenge, and make plans to join us on this project, drop a note here in the comment box and share your thoughts with us. We’d love to go along on your journey!