"The Catechism reminds us that because of our human limitations, 'we can name God only by taking creatures as our starting point, and in accordance with our limited human ways of knowing and thinking' (par. 40). For most of us, our earliest impressions of God are greatly influenced by the intimacies of family life. In Why God Matters, father-daughter duo Deacon Steve Lumbert and Karina Fabian explore the realities of daily living from this unique perspective, reminding us of the awesome responsibility families share in helping each other all the way to heaven."
"This is a short book which casts a long shadow in the literature of modern Catholic apologetics.
Many times one sees Roman Catholicism explained using either closely reasoned theology or an appeal to ancient writers of the Church. While both are legitimate approaches, the average reader looking to explore the faith is often left cold. In their collaboration, Why God Matters, Deacon Steven Lumbert and his daughter, Karina Lumbert Fabian, delineate the Catholic Faith as experienced by a pair of average, everyday people like the great majority who make up the 24 percent of Americans who share this religion.
In the stories of this pair, one see both ways people come to Catholicism, by birth ('cradle Catholics') and by conversion. Their descriptions of their separate paths thankfully lack the religiosity of the all too common 'and then a miracle takes place' school of religious experience. Rather than blasts of light, fiery swords, spiritual fistfights, and angelic choirs, theirs is the long religious slog of the everyday. The effort that one must put out each day in the long trek to Heaven.
What is Catholicism really like? One would be hard-put to find a better verbal painting of the faith so many call their own."
"Reading Why God Matters is refreshing. It gets you to think and reflect on what matters most and how our lives should be centered on God. Beautiful stories of actual life events along with Scripture and Catechism of the Catholic Church."
Marco Vegas
Director of vocations & director of deacons, Diocese of Pueblo
"Little Things Mean a Lot. That is a song from the 1950s and in a sense this book gives it a new meaning. Little things are just that – little. But when you enliven them with your faith and love, they become great. The choice of stories are most convincing because they are also authentic and inspire readers to see their lives as blessed, sacred and life saving – eternal life saving."
Fr. John M. O'Flynn
Pastor, retired
"The entries in this devotional are special because they are not grandiose, overblown or ‘Charlton Heston-esque,’ but rather, they are small, personal, normal – yet significant."
Nick Alexander
Catholic comedian, keynote speaker & worship leader
"Real life stories point out how and where we can find God working in our lives. There is a lot to meditate on and each page leaves something with you. I could not put it down."
Sr. Monica Anne Biazuk, CSSF
Livania, MI
"Reflective, relevant and enjoyable, especially for those who find God absent. It reminds you how God is at work in all aspects of your life."
Fr. Michael Louis Gelfant
Brooklyn, NY
Media Video Book Trailer for Why God Matters
Press for Why God Matters
Book Reviews & More
Why God Matters - Karina Lumbert Fabian and Deacon Steven Lumbert
November 4, 2011
by Steven R. McEvoy
This was an amazing little book. The physical book is almost 120 pages. The eBook comes in around 40 pages. But while reading the book, I went back and forth and reread many sections. I probably read the book about 4 times through. I read this as an eBook. The nice thing about it was having it with me all the time, on my iPhone, on my iPad, on my MacBook Pro, on my Desktop or on my Kobo eReader. What made it nice to always have it with me was that often I went back and reread sections a few times over, pondering them, meditating on them and absorbing them before moving on to the next point. The book is written as a series of pensees, reflections or meditations called life lessons. Each chapter is a different Life Lesson, which are alternately written by Karina and Steven, daughter and father. These lessons are:
The Reluctant Convert
Love in a Pot of Rice
So Help Me, God, I Didn't Do It
Martyr for the Trivial
Out of the Depths of Despair
Does God Send Flowers?
The Close Call
Bare Feet
Who, Me?
Small Steps, Steady Progress
Cough Up
My Non-Personal Relationship with God
The Patient Friend
Influence
Each chapter begins with a personal story and then the Life Lesson learned from the experience. Each life lesson is supported with a biblical verse and with a quote from the Catechism of the Catholic Church. This book is a little treasure that I know I will go back and reread again to inspire and encourage me in my faith. It is a great book that was very well written. The book also includes a list of books for further reading and a few prayers at the end of the book to help start us along the path of deeper devotion. So give it a try; it will challenge you in your faith and motivate you to go deeper in your spiritual journey!
All in all I am proud to stand up and say that YES GOD DOES MATTER and I am also proud to host book on their blog tour today.
Why God Matters is a unique take on the question that everyone asks. Why does God matter?? In this uniquely written book written the father and daughter team of Deacon Steven Lumbert and Karina Lumbert Fabian, they answer that question. They also tell why God matters to them.
My favorite part of the book is when Karina answered the question "Did she have a "personal" relationship with God?" and her answer was a resounding NO. This so surprised me. But after Karina explains that in a personal relationship there are always rules and murky areas. There is always give and take in personal relationships. Then Karina asks the question do we want to be God's peer? Also she goes on to point out that in relationships that sometimes one person will be the weak link and another the strong and vice versa. After she wrote all these points down I agreed that I did not want a "personal" relationship with God either. I too want a relationship with God that is more than just personal. I want one that encompasses who He is.
I think this book would be an awesome resource for new Christians. Both authors use stories from personal experience to show how God really matters. Intermixed between the stories are Bible verses, Life Lessons, and text from the Catechism of the Catholic Church. (But even if you are not Catholic this book would appeal to you.) Yes the writers of this book are Catholics but to me that is plus. I do not think that their denomination should play a part in whether or not a person should read this book.
All in all I am proud to stand up and say that YES GOD DOES MATTER and I am also proud to host book on their blog tour today.
My Devotional Thoughts
Why God Matters by Karina Lumbert Fabian and Deacon Steven Lumbert Virtual Book Tour
October 24, 2011
by Ruth Hill
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I was not sure what I would think about this book when I began reading it. I am a Christian but not a Catholic. In fact, I know virtually nothing about Catholicism. I was not sure how much this book would relate to me.
I was so happy to discover just how much I enjoyed this book. Each chapter was written like a mini-devotional, and it hit me right where I was living. Advice was practical, heartfelt, and Biblically sound. It gave me hope for the desperate situations in which I find myself lately. The authors understood what it meant to live out their faith.
I was most pleased that the Bible and Christian principles were emphasized over Catholic traditions. Once in a while, references to Catholic practices I do not practice--praying to saints, rosary beads, etc.--were mentioned, but I did not find these offensive. I found that these were not the emphasis of the book. Praying to God in times of distress and keeping one's faith strong were the most important premises of this book.
This is book I will be keeping and will turn to often when I am going through hard times. I would recommend reading it as a devotional and not just reading it straight through. Each short chapter is thought-provoking for a whole day or week. It will definitely uplift your spirits and return your focus to where it should be--God.
Flora's Life
"Why God Matters" e-book review
October 21, 2011
by Flora Richards-Gustafson
Available in printed form or as an e-book, Why God Matters explores how you can recognize God in your everyday life and in the little things. This book is written by Deacon Steven Lumbert and his daughter Karina Lumbert Fabian, and recounts how each has felt, seen or recognized God in their own lives.
The book is easy to read and offers open-minded tips about how you can recognize God in your own life. Unlike many Christian self-help books, the father-daughter duo do not recall Bible verses in a Bible-beating manner or tell the reader that he or she should always feel grateful regardless of their current situation or past. Instead, they reflect on God has always followed through, even if His actions were immediately noticed. I felt as if I was reading letters from a friend.
Why God Matters offers a refreshing example of how to live your life faithfully and prayerfully. While the book is targeted towards a Catholic audience, the Catechism readings within it can also be useful meditations for those who follow other denominations. Read this book to help you see how God is in your life every day of the week—not just Sundays.
Life As We Know It
Why God Matters: A Book Review
October 20, 2011
by Tory Shultz
1 Corinthians 10:31 as words to live by: "So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God."
Excerpt from Why God Matters:
God will wait for us to find our way to him OUR JOURNEY in faith can sometimes be like a really bad plane trip: full of delays and problems, expenses and suffering. Like a good friend, God waits patiently for us at journey’s end. What do you do when your faith journey hits a snag? Do you grumble and bemoan, lose patience, or do you call on God and beg his patience? Take some time today to contemplate how far you’ve come in your own journey and how far you have to go. And should a friend ask for a ride home–then get delayed—be patient and pray for them. They will appreciate it! (pg. 95)
Doesn't that just make you take a step back and think about how much God really does love us? I mean, no matter what we have done or what we are doing He is there waiting for us at the pearly gates!!
When I was offered the chance to review the book: Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life (ISBN: 0982256531) by: Karina Lumbert Fabian and Deacon Steven Lumbert and published by Tribute Books, I was a little taken back and cautious about the amount of Catholicism within the book-it even has a crucifix on the cover. But I was ever so pleasantly surprised that this book was not just about the catholic authors background or experiences. It was truly about getting closer to God and understanding how to form a closer relationship with him.
As you may know, Clint and I have grown closer in our faith and we have been like sponges with everything and anything that can help us understand.
Each chapter has an excerpt or inspirational quote. It then goes into a real life experience from either Karina or Deacon Steven, usually a heart-felt deep experience that has changed their life and one that the reader can relate to. At the end of each chapter, there is a life application that challenges the reader. Some ask certain questions for you to answer about yourself. These are questions that open your heart into a deeper understanding of how your experiences or how relate to the chapter. Others are brief reminders of the love, commitment, and hope that God has for us.
Overall it's an inspirational book and one that will be kept on my bookshelf to let others read, or for me to read it again and again.
I hope you do get the chance to read this book. It may not change your life but I assure you, it will allow you to step back and really understand the relationship you have with God and the relationship that you desire.
I asked to review this book. Sometimes I struggle with my faith. My hubby does alot.
Why do things happen the way they do?
What did he/me/we do so wrong to be "punished" as we always term it. I know we are not being punished but are supposed to be learning a lesson of some kind. Sometimes it just takes us a really long time to understand that lesson fully.
After reading this e-book, some things really stand our for me. Hubby says (and i agree) that sometimes I martyr myself.I will suffer so someone else, either family or friend, can have what they need or want, despite my own feelings or convictions.
It's a bad ~habit~, but it's who I am.
This book really touches so many aspects, so many different areas of faith. I love the scriptures and Life Lessons at the end of each chapter.
The book is relatively short, only 114 pages front to back, but very powerful. Also, this book won the 2011 Christian Small Publisher Book of the Year.
Love2EncourageYou
eBook Review: Why God Matters
October 7, 2011
by Rebecca Harmon
I am always delighted when I get to read a new book, especially something that shares the love of God throughout its pages. Although I am not Catholic, as a Christian who strongly believes in the truths about God and His great love for us, this opportunity to review the ebook called: Why God Matters, has been a complete pleasure. The authors, Karina Lumbert Fabian and Deacon Steven Lumbert, have done an amazing job capturing the essence of "Why God matters" and bringing it to light in this wonderful ebook. Can I just say that even the acknowledgements and dedication in the very beginning will grab you and put a lump in your throat and a tear in your eye! This book sings from the heart of Karina and Deacon Steven of the loving ways of God and how our faith is strengthened. It is truly inspiring and well organized in its contents by even having Scripture at the top of each chapter to start off the chapter's theme. If you like reading a heart to heart style of writing from a Catholic perspective, you may want to read this book again and again! Why not take a look at this video book trailer and get a glimpse of what the ebook, Why God Matters, is all about?
If you'd like to enjoy an excerpt from the actual book, here you can get a short glance at Why God Matters.
I love the following particular excerpt from the Why God Matters ebook that I wanted to share with my readers: "This breath, the Spirit of God, creates, inspires and sustains all believers, and it is through this breath of God that God's own Word-Christ-is proclaimed to the world. In otherwords, the very everyday life of Christians can be the most fundamental and effective form of evangelization itself."
This is something I believe in whole-heartedly myself. The more we strive to be living for Christ and modeling after Him in our daily lives, the more effective we become as Christians in sharing with the world what God's love is all about. Karina and Deacon Steven have really tried to point out many different topics of interest in this ebook that will appeal to Christians desiring to follow God in their everyday walk.
The authors of Why God Matters have shared some valuable truths of God's Word, and they offer great examples from their own life experiences and circumstances that help enlighten the reader to understand the Biblical concepts they are trying to get across. This lovely father/daughter writing project was a big success in so many ways. I know it will brighten the hearts and lives of many Christians. Those who live by the Catholic faith should be extremely happy to read this entire ebook cover to cover. It covers a lot of extra prayers and messages that appeal to the Catholic faith particularly. As a fellow Christian and believer in Christ, I hope you'll enjoy it too. :)
Helping Moms Online
Why God Matters: Book Review
October 4, 2011
by Janet Trieschman
Why God Matters, is an easy read. This 2011 Christian Small Publisher Book of the Year is insightful for recognizing God in your daily life.
Each of the fourteen chapters contains a life lesson, as well as documenting the author so you recognize the voice and opinion you are reading.
While the Bible can answer many of one’s religious questions, it often raises many as well. Why God Matters can serve as a great start for someone questioning faith and how God relates to our daily lives delivering content in a more topic relevant form.
Catholic News Service
Three books on faith in our daily lives (excerpt)
August 8, 2011
by Elizabeth Rackover
"Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life" by Karina Lumbert Fabian and Deacon Steven Lumbert. Tribute Books (Archbald, Pa., 2011). 113 pp., $15.95.
Most Catholics will agree, at least in principle, that being Catholic requires more from us than just spending an hour a week at Mass and dropping an envelope into the collection basket. [This] book offers insight and guidance for our everyday lives as people of faith.
"Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life" is a sort of bullet-pointed diary, a cheerleading roster encouraging everyday people in the everyday realities of our lives. Team-written by Deacon Steven Lumbert and his daughter Karina Lumbert Fabian, "Why God Matters" comes to the reader in small doses.
Each chapter gives an open-minded reader a "dose of faith" as an active element of a normal Christian's life – anecdotes that pose real-life challenges recognizable as something you might discuss with a friend or pastor at your church over coffee and doughnuts. Call it 'comfortable theology.' Then Deacon Lumbert and Fabian end each vignette with a "life lesson," a passage from the Bible and a selection from the Catechism of the Catholic Church relevant to that chapter's topic. There is also a lovely list of websites and books "for further reading."
"Why God Matters" was recently named the 2011 Christian small-publisher book of the year in the Christian living category.
Why God Matters
How to Recognize Him in Everyday Life
By Karina Lumbert Fabian and Deacon Steven Lumbert
Tribute Books
113 pages * $15.95
Reviewed by MARY LYNNE RAPIEN, catechist, clinical counselor in private practice and homily writer for St. Anthony Messenger Press.
FATHER AND DAUGHTER tag-team in this first joint publishing venture, Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life. In April, it was named the 2011 Christian Small Publisher Book of the Year in the non-fiction/Christian living category. And it also received the Catholic Writers' Guild Seal of Approval.
A cradle Catholic, Karina Fabian steps outside her normal venue of writing fun-filled fantasy and science fiction to share her experience of God in everyday life as a wife and mother of four.
Her father, Deacon Steven Lumbert, claims to have been a “practicing” Catholic for 22 years before his “official” conversion in 1988. It took 10 more years for him to trade in his gun and holster as a Colorado state trooper for a deacon's stole. He now serves the Diocese of Pueblo as associate director of deacon formation.
Although the faith journeys of father and daughter are very different, their recognition of God’s hand in their day-to-day lives allows them to work together in this venture. In alternate chapters, each shares an incident when God was present to teach yet another truth in their relationship with the Divine.
We see God speaking through others, like Deacon Steven’s wife, Socorro, or through the encouragement of a faith community. We see God present in symbols and in the protection of a guardian angel. We learn of God’s patience through the patience of someone waiting at the airport for eight hours.
By seeing the ongoing process of becoming holy in ordinary circumstances touched by God, readers are encouraged to be more aware of their faith journey and the ways God speaks to them.
The 14 chapters follow a consistent pattern beginning with a quote from a variety of religious folk. Next, daughter or father tell their story in two pages, followed by a “Life Lesson,” a guide to personal reflection. A related Scripture passage and segment from the Catechism of the Catholic Church round out each chapter.
Sometimes the Scriptures and Catechism quotes seem forced and only loosely connected to the story.
One chapter, “Love in a Pot of Rice,” speaks of generational faithfulness and encourages us to look at the legacy we will leave behind. Another chapter illustrates the need for prioritizing our lives, putting first things first and learning the benefit of saying no.
The best way to use this book would be on a retreat, coupled with journaling and prayer, taking one chapter a day.
The book is an easy read for the general adult population, but will lack meat if the reader doesn't follow with deeper reflection.
Tribute Books of Archbald has announced that one of its titles has received the 2011 Christian Small Publisher Book of the Year Award.
"Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life" was named the winner In the Nonfiction/Christian Living category. Written by the father-daughter duo of Deacon Steven Lumbert of Pueblo, Colo., and Karina Lumbert Fabian of Simi Valley, Calif., the book explores a journey of faith through everyday experience.
The Christian Small Publisher Book of the Year Award honors books produced by small publishers for outstanding contribution to Christian life.
Whether staring an armed robber in the eye or preparing a simple family dinner, God's presence is a given when the heart is open to feel it.
That's the theme of a Catholic devotional book by Pueblo Deacon Steven Lumbert and his daughter, Karina Lumbert Fabian. Lumbert said the process of writing brought into clearer focus his understanding that God has always been directing his life while he was making other plans.
That the writing was done in collaboration with his daughter — an author of numerous science fiction and fantasy books whose journey to heightened faith helped ignite his own — was a spiritual experience in itself.
"Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life," was published last year and recently received the 2011 Christian Small Publisher Book of the Year Award in the nonfiction/Christian living category.
The duo wrote the collection of personal essays over several months last year following an unexpected invitation from a publisher Lumbert Fabian knew. She said during a phone interview from her Layton, Utah, home that she was hesitant at first because she had never written a faith-based book.
Ahh, but her father is a deacon, she remembered.
Although raised in the Catholic church, her faith hadn't shaped her life until adulthood. Although her path followed a different route, it was similar to her dad's — a retired state trooper who had raised her and her sister in the Catholic Church but didn't convert to the faith until the 1990s. (He was called to the deaconate shortly after converting and today is administrator at St. Anne Catholic Church).
Lumbert Fabian said she realized that what she and her father had learned on their very different journeys to full commitment might encourage others who are trying to find their way.
Lumbert said he, too, was hesitant when she first proposed they write a book together, mostly because homilies represented his only writing experience.
"Who, me?” he remembers saying. "She said she would help me with my stories but told me to keep in mind that she's a tough critic. She wasn't kidding."
He admits to some hurt pride when the first story he sent her via email came back dripping with virtual red ink.
"Initially, I thought she was taking away everything I wanted to say," he said. But after rewriting that story several times to tighten it down to the most essential facts and feelings, he agreed that less is more and the final version had more impact than his first one.
The rest of his six stories — the topics and the writing — flowed naturally and with comparatively little pain, he said.
Daughter and father, in seven stories each, share the ways God has touched their lives —sometimes during tense moments or periods of chaos and sometimes in everyday moments that are too easily overlooked or forgotten before their significance is clear.
Lumbert Fabian tells how cooking arroz con pollo (rice and chicken) transports her back to childhood and memories of her mother, Socorro, whose fervent faith and generosity she and her father credit for giving rise to their own determination to live the Scriptures in their daily lives.
The essays are interspersed with snippets of Scripture, readings from the adult catechism, quotes from luminous religious figures and suggestions from the authors about how to apply the message of each story to readers' lives.
Without spoiling the mystery, Lumbert's contributions to the book explain not just the events that led to his evolution from youthful bad boy to state trooper and then, 11 years ago, deaconate candidate, but how his faith continues shaping his daily life in unexpected ways.
"The key idea of the whole book is how God is working in our lives, whether we realize it or not," he said.
The book is available at Catholic and Fair Trade Products in Pueblo West, 696-8432, or directly from Lumbert, 250-3703.
We just found out that Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life won the Christian Small Publisher Association Book of the Year under the Christian Living category. We’re very excited that our little devotional is touching lives so well that people cared enough to take time to vote for us. However, since this is a popular award, it depends as much on publicity as quality of the book—and that came from your efforts!
My dad, Deacon Steve, and I wanted to thank you for hosting us on tours, reviewing the book, and letting folks know about Why God Matters. We would not have won this award without your help.
You have done so much for us, and we are very grateful. May God bless you and yours in the big things and in the everyday.
Tribute Books is proud to announce that our title Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life has received the 2011 Christian Small Publisher Book of the Year Award in the Nonfiction/Christian Living category.
All readers of Christian books and all retailers selling Christian products were invited to vote for the Book of the Year. Over 3,600 votes were received for 72 books nominated by 48 publishers. The Christian Small Publisher Book of the Year Award honors books produced by small publishers for outstanding contribution to Christian life.
Readers and retailers were invited to vote for one book in each category online at www.ChristianBookAward.com. The award is offered in eight categories: Fiction, Biography, Christian Living, Relationships/Family, Bible Study/Theology, Children's Book (4-8 years), Children's Book (8-12 years), and Young Adult (12+ years). The winners of this award are determined solely by Christian retailers and readers' votes.
This is the fourth year the Christian Small Publisher Book of the Year Award has been presented. This year the award has a new website at www.ChristianBookAward.com.
About Christian Small Publishers Association:
The Christian Small Publisher Book of the Year Award is sponsored by Christian Small Publishers Association (CSPA). CSPA was established to represent and promote small publishers in the Christian marketplace. CSPA is a supplier member of CBA. Christian Small Publishers Association can be found online at www.ChristianPublishers.net.
The book is called Why God Matters: How To Recognize Him In Daily Life, by Karina Lumbert Fabian and Deacon Steve Lumbert. Karina is Steve’s daughter. It is published by Tribute Books.
Anyway, about the book. Why God Matters is a delightful little book. (I hope they are not offended by my use of the word “delightful,” but it’s a good thing.) It contains 14 short chapters and an epilogue. The chapters alternate between Karina and Steve. I found this to be unique and refreshing. The chapters are not really related to each other, as each one contains a story from the life of the author who wrote that chapter; a story which illustrates how God became more real to them in their lives. They are also brief enough that this book could very easily be used as a daily devotional book.
Now. Let me say this. The first thing I noticed about the book is that the authors are Catholic. I am not Catholic. That concerned me right at first, but my concern quickly evaporated as I read the book. The stories, while at times containing details about the Catholic Church with which I am unfamiliar, gave such honest portrayals from the authors lives that any differences between us based on religious convictions became minuscule. I grew to love these two people as I read their accounts.
Right off the bat, the book insists that a person’s life must change. Discipleship is a life-long process, they declare, that does not and cannot happen instantaneously. It is an “ongoing developmental journey.” I agree 100%.
“Western cultures have often developed a rather compartmentalized approach to religion: religious practice is often simply ‘what we do on Sunday,’ while the rest of the week–and the rest of our lives–often remains untouched and unaffected by our Sunday faith.” I also agree with this statement. I have often spoken in my blog about the difficulty I have with trying to compartmentalize our lives. They make a very important statement that says that the everyday life of the Christian can be the most effective form of evangelism.
In the introduction, Karina says that she went to church to love God. What a refreshing perspective that is! I wonder how many different answers we would get if we asked a group of people, “Why do you go to church?” I wonder if any of them would give that response? “May you breath in Christ’s breath,” she later says. I also love that statement.
Through the rest of the chapters, there are a number of great statements that I wholeheartedly agree with. There are, from time to times, things that I don’t agree with, but that’s going to happen even when I read John Piper and John MacArthur, two of my favorite Christian authors. I’m never going to agree 100% with anybody! Karina speaks of learning charity from her grandparents. She writes about the senselessness of “being a martyr” over things that don’t matter and learning to let things go. She speaks of sending a flower to someone in the hospital then, years later, receiving an unexpected bouquet when she was feeling down. Sometimes we need a sign that God is thinking of us. She writes about being inspired, by a woman who comes to Mass barefooted, to go visit her dying grandmother. Sometimes painful memories cloud our judgment. And then, in my favorite chapter of hers, she speaks of breaking down spiritual growth into small steps. We can’t gain growth all at once. The “Life Lesson” (there is one after every chapter) for that chapter says, “Sometimes, great faith is not achieved at once, but in small steps over time.” I would go even farther to say that great faith is NEVER achieved at once! One of the steps listed as a suggestion is this: “Before you begin a project, take a deep breath, still yourself, and say, ‘God in this, as in all things, lead me to thy will.’” Very good advice! She writes in another chapter about not wanting a “personal” relationship with God. That made me raise my eyebrows! But as she explained, I understood. We have quirks in our “personal relationships” that we really would not want to experience in our relationship with God. To make a long story short, she says that the relationship we have with God is “more than personal.”
A side note: Also in this chapter, Karina writes this: “Can you imagine sitting with the Holy Spirit over a couple of Cokes and bemoaning the cancellation of Firefly, or swapping jokes?” May I say at this point that Karina gained an eternal friend with that statement!! If you don’t understand, I can’t explain it.
Finally, Karina writes of a painful, desperate fear that her son will not come to faith. He has decided he doesn’t believe. But in the end, she has faith that he will find his way, just as his father and grandfather did.
Okay…now to Steve’s portion of the book. In his first chapter, he says this: “It’s not enough to observe our faith. God must be an active part of our lives. When we practice our faith and persevere in prayer, he will respond and fill our hearts.” How very true. We also need the faith of others to support us in our own faith. In another chapter, he writes about spending a day in jail as a young person, accused of something he did not do. But, because of reputation, he was not believed. Even the most “harmless” sin can lead down a dark path. He speaks of how God hears “even the most meager prayers.” There are times when we cannot control what is happening. Those are the most important times to call on God. Steve writes of a very close and dangerous situation with a routine traffic stop. There are things that happen in our lives that are routinely chalked up to “luck.” Psalm 91:9-12 is quoted: Because you have made the LORD your dwelling place– the Most High, who is my refuge–no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone. He firmly believes that a guardian angel protected him. I believe so, too. Then he speaks of being told over and over that he should be a deacon and finally giving in and applying. “Sometimes, God asks us to do amazing things—things we don’t feel we can do.” But God knows us better than we do, and he knows how he has equipped us. He writes of a humorous story in which too much incense was used for a Mass, resulting in a cloud of smoke that choked him up. He uses this to speak of balance in our lives and how we must take our ministries into our family lives and our work lives, once again, stressing the importance of the fact that we CANNOT compartmentalize our lives! We must also resist the temptation to pile on too much work…just as the incense was piled too high. Finally, he writes of a patient friend, waiting for him at an airport as his flight experienced multiple delays. He compares this to God, who will wait patiently as we find our way to him.
In the epilogue, Steve and Karina speak of how the have learned more about each other as they have written this book, and then encourage others to share stories such as these with their families. Indeed, I believe that this is how families grow in faith, by sharing stories with each other from their lives.
As I said earlier, this was a “delightful” book. But it truly goes deeper than that. It is enlightening. In Why God Matters, we get some true life stories that illustrate how God draws us closer to him; how he works in our lives; and how he uses us in ministry.
I would recommend this book to all believers, both Catholic and Protestant, as well as any who might be on the fence. It is real. It is honest. Steve and Karina, thank you for sharing your lives with me.
Today's Catholic
Pueblo deacon writes book with daughter
March 2011
Deacon Steve Lumbert thought all he would be writing was homilies, until he heard the words, “How would you like to write a book?” Those were the initial words from daughter, Karina Fabian, as she called to ask her father to author a book with her entitled, “Why God Matters.”
Karina, a founding member of the Catholic Writer’s Guild and accomplished writer, received word that her publisher, Nicole Langan of Tribute Books, had an unexpected opening in her schedule. She thought it would be a fun endeavor with her father.
Steve shared with his daughter that he would need guidance and according to Steve, she assured him that she would be a tough critic. The book, characterized as a small, quick read that in 14 chapters gives glimpses of how God was leading each of them all along. It is arranged in alternating chapters between the two authors, followed by a life lesson that asks questions of readers and quotes from Scripture and the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Deacon Steve said he hoped “people would find a way to find God in their lives,” he said. “Also, the recognition that indeed God is present with us at all times.”
The book was released last May 15 and has received an overwhelmingly positive response. Both Steve and Karina have been surprised by its success. “I never expected it,” he said. Though published writers, they don’t claim to have all the spiritual answers on the journey of faith. Describing her spirituality as a roller coaster, Karina said, “I have my ups and downs; there are times I am clinging for dear life.” She tearfully shares that the last chapter was the hardest for her to write. The chapter details the struggle she has as a mother knowing that her oldest son, 17, does not believe in the faith.
We struggle all the time, even as a deacon I struggle,” he said. “The way I respond to that struggle is through prayer.” For Steve it is the death of his younger brother that served as a wake-up call for him. “It helped me to better realize what I needed to do,” he said.
The father-daughter team is considering writing again, even doing a sequel to Why God Matters. To purchase the book and read reviews of the book, please visit the book’s website: www.whygodmatters.com.
WATERTOWN, MA (December 9, 2010) - How Do Average People Grow In Faith? Author Will Discuss on Live CatholicTV Talk Show
On December 21st, Karina Fabian will be interviewed on the live CatholicTV talk show “This is the Day”.
Karina and her father, Deacon Steven Lumbert are co-authors of the book “Why God Matters”. This new book speaks of growing closer to God from the perspective of two “average” people who come to know God through normal circumstances.
Deacon Lumbert speaks of conversion by describing his own, while Karina describes growing closer to God from the viewpoint of a cradle Catholic.
“Rather than blasts of light, fiery swords, spiritual fistfights, and angelic choirs, theirs is the long religious slog of the everyday.” Their book describes “the effort that one must put out each day in the long trek to Heaven.”
This is the Day airs at 10:30AM ET at CatholicTV.com and on CatholicTV cable outlets. The show is rebroadcast at 7:30PM and other times during the week.
About CatholicTV
Founded in 1955, CatholicTV is a national broadcast television network streaming a live feed 24 hours a day at CatholicTV.com. Heeding Pope Benedict XVI's call to greater utilize the power of television and new media, CatholicTV Network offers a wide range of programs aimed at children and adults, from uplifting advice shows to international news, game shows to travel, CatholicTV has something for everyone. Based in Watertown, MA outside of Boston, CatholicTV is available in 5.7 million homes nationwide. For access to CatholicTV programs, go to CatholicTV.com or download the CatholicTV mobile app for iPhone or iPad.
“This is the Day” can also be seen on demand across the US on Verizon FiOS, www.CatholicTV.com or downloaded via iTunes.com.and SQPN.com The hosts, Father Robert Reed, and Jay Fadden discuss various topics of the week and respond to viewer mail (you may email the show at thisistheday@CatholicTV.com)
Episodes of This is the Day are posted on the site’s archives starting the same night of the broadcast day. All videos at the website are viewable in full-screen. Paste this URL into your browser in order to access the This is the Day video archives. http://www.CatholicTV.com/this-is-the-day.aspx
The authors of Why God Matters encourage new believers to “recognize the constant presence of God within them.” This book shares their own experiences and their own journeys to spirituality while encouraging others to continue to delve deeper in the search for Why God Matters to the reader. This book is good for those pondering taking that extra step. No opinions or doctrines are pushed at the reader, just stories of encouragement.
Click the play button to listen to Deacon Steve's interview on KRCC.
Click the play button to listen to the full unaired 1 hour roundtable discussion.
Night Owl Reviews
Review of Why God Matters
by Audrey
October 4, 2010
Top Pick - 4.5 stars
Being Christian is not something we do, but a relationship we nurture and live out every day of our lives." With that small sentence, Fabian and Lumbert introduce the purpose of their book. A discussion of the different paths individuals have taken in the Catholic faith, Why God Matters is neither a push towards Catholicism nor a discussion about why the faith is the true faith. Rather, Fabian and Lumber’s work is a portrayal of different pathways and lifestyles that led multiple, disassociated individuals to the Church.
Far from preachy, Why God Matters examines the pushes that draw individuals to the Catholic Church and how the Church affects their later lives. History, family background and values are just a few of the internal factors that push real-life, imperfect human beings that are the subject of the book’s stories to their faith.
Truly a gem in its lack of religious zealousness, Why God Matters is one of the few religious books that draw a reader in without the use of majestic scenery or miracles. Truly a portrayal of an average American looking for something more, the book assist skeptics and interested believers in understanding the tenants of the Faith and why it attracts so many from such varied walks of life. Not to be missed by those curious about their own spirituality who seek to comprehend more of what they feel.
A Moment with Mystee
Book Review: Why God Matters
by Mystee Blackwood
September 30, 2010
This book is meant, to me at least, for those who are starting to wonder if perhaps they should go deeper into their spiritual journey. Deacon Lambert and his daughter Karina share some of their own personal journeys and ideals. Karina shares even to a point of letting us know that one of her own children doesn't believe. She demonstrates to readers that it's alright and accepts this from him. Their belief is that everyone finds their own path in their own time.
The thing that caught me about this book is that it's not "preachy" as many feel some books of this nature are. This book is appropriate for believers, non-believers, those somewhere in between and even those who are believers but want to go more into their religious faith. They aren't representing that you HAVE to believe what they say. They're expressing their religious views in a very respectable manner.
This book is appropriate for most any "understanding" reading level, meaning it's not just for the 50-somethings or the 20-somethings. This has a fit for everyone.
I have to admit, this is one of the best books in this area genre that I have read.
Rating: 5 Hearts
Momopoly
Why God Matters
by Kate Wicker
September 30, 2010
I recently had the opportunity to review Why God Matters by Karina Lumbert Fabian and Deacon Steven Lumbert. I admit that when I saw its title, I assumed it would be more of a theological treatise that might be helpful in responding to the growing number of militant and vocal atheists who are constantly telling us why God doesn't matter and why He just isn't at all.
But this is not a defense of God or the Catholic faith. It is not a book that an apologist should toss into his toolbox (although it wouldn't hurt). Honestly, I found that the book's subtitle ("How to Recognize Him in Daily Life") is really a more apt description of the heart of the book.
Why God Matters is written by everyday people for everyday people who are looking to find God wherever they're at. Each chapter begins with an anecdotal essay written by one of the book's two authors who are a father and daughter team. A life lesson concludes the chapters and includes discussion questions and thoughts on how to put your faith into action. For instance, Chapter One: The Reluctant Convert's life lesson is "Determine where you are in your faith life" and includes questions like "Where are you in your faith?" and encourages you to bring this question to Adoration to help you dig more deeply.
All the writing is conversational, and I always enjoy books that sprinkle in theology through creative nonfiction. Another selling point for me is this is not a book that has to be read from start to finish. Each chapter could stand alone, so it would be a great book to pick up during your morning or evening prayers or to take with your to ponder before the Blessed Sacrament.
Although the personal reflections in Why God Matters remind the reader that it is first and foremost our awareness of an all-loving, merciful God, and not just physical matter, that makes for the foundation of our existence, its writers also show that God can be found not only in our hearts but in the matter, the physical substance of life well. Through the book's reflections, the authors reveal how His love is served to us in a steaming bowl of arroz con pollo and His strength is at hand as we wait in a hospital to hear that our wife and new baby have made it through a dangerous delivery. Why God Matters is an enriching read that doesn't set out to prove anything other than the fact that God is with us every day and everywhere. And that helps to explain why God matters a whole lot.
A short while back, I was contacted about doing a review for a new book, Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life. Authored by Deacon Steve Lumbert and Karina Lumbert Fabian (a father and daughter duo), this is a book that can be used to inspire as you read how God has worked in the authors’ lives.
The focus of their writing to to illustrate just how you can see God’s hand in our daily lives. While this book can be enjoyed by Catholics or even other Christians, I found the target audience to be those seeking a deeper spiritual life. Someone who is already experiencing a close walk with God might find it a bit ‘elementary’ for them. Although, I’d argue that we can always glean from the stories of others.
Each chapter is deceptively short, which makes it a quick read. However, if all you do is read through the text at a good clip, you’ll miss out on the opportunity to reflect on how God is working in your life.
What I liked?
Honestly, I liked how short the chapters were. Rather than dwell on too many examples or drone on to drive a point home, they presented their topics succinctly. This makes it very easy to fit into devotional time.
Another feature I really liked was the inclusion of quotes, both Scripture and from the Catechism of the Catholic Church. This provides a painless way to possibly grow in knowledge of the Catholic Faith.
Finally, inclusion of questions for further reflection can open up the reader for conversations with another individual or with God during prayer.
Downside?
For someone who already ‘gets’ that God is in the small things, this book might not present more food for thought on the topic. However, this text is a bit more approachable than some of the writings by those Saints who have walked before us. Hence, my impression that adults in early stages of developing their faith will appreciate the text the most.
Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life is available in hardcover with a retail price of $15.95. At this point, Amazon is the site to which individuals interested in purchasing this title are directed.
Simply Stacie
Book Review: Why God Matters
by Maureen
September 29, 2010
Why God Matters-How to Recognize Him in Daily Life by Karina Lumbert Fabian and Deacon Steven Lumbert is a Catholic living story filled with life journeys shared by this daughter and father duo. Why God Matters reminds us to draw faith from the ordinary daily life and through shared family experiences.
Initially, I was a bit reluctant to read this book because as a former Catholic, I was afraid that it would be an attempt to convert me back to Catholicism. I have read many Catholic based books in the past and after much ancient theology, I was unable to take from those books and apply it to my life.
After reading this book, I am pleased to write there is no an attempt to “convert” but it is a profession of faith. Furthermore, this is the most “real” Catholic story that I have ever read. As a Christian, I was able to appreciate the authors’ words of faith as they have experienced it throughout their lives. I especially enjoyed reading the “Life Lessons” that accompanied each Chapter and was able to reflect inwardly and devote time to prayer and contemplation. Their words seek to encourage others to find a deeper relationship with God. Why God Matters is an excellent read for those seeking to appreciate the very ordinary blessings in our daily lives.
Why God Matters proudly displays the Catholic Writers Guild Seal of Approval. I would recommend this book to any person of faith, regardless of denomination.
Denver Catholic Register
Book encourages seeing God in daily life
by John Gleason
September 29, 2010
Do you recognize God when you see him? To put it another way, do you recognize Him in your daily life? Given that people today are products of media, do you expect God to announce his presence like something out of the film, “The Ten Commandments” accompanied with intense wind, dazzling visual effects and a rich musical score?
Karina Lumbert Fabian laughs at this notion. The mother of four and writer of fantasy fiction has put together a book, with the help of her father, Deacon Steven Lumbert of the Diocese of Pueblo, called “Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life” (Tribute Books).
“If people are waiting for the booming voice, they’re going to miss it,” she told the Denver Catholic Register. “I’m reminded of the story about the prophet who waited in a cave for God to make his presence known. The prophet (Elijah) ignored the thunder and fire and the earthquake that occurred outside. But when he heard the little whisper of wind, he threw himself on the ground because he knew God had come.”
“Why God Matters” is made up of 14 chapters, each a true story written by Fabian and Deacon Lumbert, which demonstrate how God has made his presence known and helped them on their journey.
“Each chapter begins with a saying which relates to the story in that chapter,” Deacon Lumbert said. “Next comes the story, followed by a life lesson, a reflection on the story and how people can relate it to their own spiritual lives.”
The stories deal with guardian angels, the correct way to pray (what to really ask for), building a legacy of love and consequences of small temptations.
“That’s one of my favorites, dealing with temptation,” Deacon Lumbert said. “We all learn about big versus little sins, mortal and venial. But regardless, temptation is always big, it’s always a constant.”
The authors agree that great faith isn’t something achieved all at once, but something that comes in small steps over a period of time. Believing is different from inspiration and Fabian points out that those who are waiting for the inspiration—for God to suddenly appear—are going to miss him.
“They’re looking for the ‘wow’ moment,” she said. “But ‘wow’ isn’t sufficient for faith. When it’s gone, people pass it off as illusion.”
At the same time, as Deacon Lumbert pointed out, people don’t pay attention to what’s going on around them even though God is involved in every facet of their lives. He hopes that if people read the book and come away feeling that God has shown himself to them, then the authors have accomplished what they set out to do.
“God is there, loving us, giving us guidance and helping us—if we just allow him to do so,” Deacon Lumbert said. “Forget the booming voice. Look for the subtlety; he gives us opportunities to recognize him. All we have to do is accept that.”
“Why God Matters” retails for $15.95 and is available at Barnes and Noble, and Borders bookstores. It’s also available online at www.amazon.com and from the publisher, www.tribute-books.com, or by calling 570-876-2416. Additional information about the book and its authors is also available online at www.whygodmatters.com.
With the Fall Festival finishing up and having let go of a professional obligation that I felt I could no longer manage, I said to God, "What now?" and that day, there was an email asking if I was interested in reviewing a book, "Why God Matters." I'd tried reviewing books one other time and found the experience a bit problematic. Materials written about faith and devotionals sometimes got so dreamy or overly sweet or sentimental that I felt pushed back and the snark in me would emerge. I felt nervous. What if I didn't like the book? But impulsively, after all, I'd asked "What now?" and so with equal impulsiveness, I said "Yes."
Two weeks passed and I hadn't glanced at it. I forgot about the date. It just slipped out of my brain entirely as I messed with helping my son fill out college applications, organized the schedule for the week and ran the household while my husband was abroad. Saturday, the day I was scheduled to put up a blog entry on this book, I collapsed in exhaustion on the couch and only got up for meals. It wasn't pretty and I sure wasn't up to reading much less thinking about anything.
Yesterday I got an email asking if I had trouble with the materials and I recognized I had let this project slip through my fingers. I kept telling myself "You need to get to this." and then doing other things. Today, I sat down to be dutiful and a thousand excuses presented themselves, "You need to clean the basement, fold the laundry, read a book to your children, bake a cake, exercise, write...." but I read it. At only 114 pages, it is a beautiful arcing and blessedly short read that acts as an appetizer to deepening one's faith. I had to stop at several points to attend to my daughters who enjoyed the time using water colors while I read, but picking the book back up was seamless and breathlessly easy; perfect for a person like me who lives a life permanently and perpetually interrupted by life.
The faith stories of Karina Lumbert Fabian and her father, Deacon Stephen Lumbert serve as scaffolding for the deeper mysteries they seek to articulate. The stories and their spiritual ramifications are further buttressed with the corresponding catechism from the Catholic Church; catechism that absent the story, absent the personal context, we might gloss over and miss for it's elegant beauty and truth. We understand the last will be first so much better in the context of the parable of the workers in the vineyard; just so we comprehend the words and mysteries and callings of God to be ever present in our lives much clearer through story than through simple dogma. My one lament was that the sketches of their lives were brief, as I wanted more detail, more story; but that would have made the book a singularly personal reflection and not a series of examinations of the truth of Catholic teaching as revealed in the moments and details of two people's faith lives. I told my mom I felt as if I'd eaten an appetizer that could have been a whole meal, if only the portions had been larger.
So I would recommend this read as a bedside companion or as a tome to put in one's bag of stuff for when waiting for someone, (and we all have those moments of sitting in the car on someone else's time), as a means of both refreshing the spirit and moving one's mind to consider the faith stories in one's own life and how they reveal as all faith stories must, God's generosity, beauty, truth and fidelity. Seeing for a moment the single thread of our lives in the grand tapestry of God's vision is humbling and awe inspiring, being willing and able to share that with others is a true gift.
The Musings of a Mom
Book Review: Why God Matters
by Therese Milbrath
September 28, 2010
I was asked by Tribute Books to be a part of the blog tour for the the book, Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life.
The book was written by a father and daughter, Karina Lumbert Fabian and Deacon Steven Lumbert. I was drawn to this book because Steve is a Deacon like my Dad. I like the idea of a father and daughter collaboration. That being said, the book fell a little bit short for me. I love books that tell stories of faith. This book did so, but the stories were too short to make a huge impact. I was left wanting more-more details, more stories.
The book was an incredibly easy read. At only 114 pages, it was quick. The chapters are short, so you could finish the chapter and put the book down or move on. I also liked the meditation, as well as the Scripture passage at the end of the chapter. Overall, I liked the book, but I wish there had been more to it.
I think this is a great resource for someone who is searching and looking to strengthen and deepen their fledgling faith. This book is full of real life stories with life application sections to get the readers thinking and digging a little deeper. I believe this book meets its intended purpose of taking a new believer to that next step of faith.
Mother of All Muddlers
Book Tour: Why God Matters
by Karen Richardson
September 26, 2010
Well, I messed up. I was supposed to do this book review last week, but life got in the way. I lost a friend. And worse than that, my friend left behind a beautiful wife, (also a friend of mine), and four wonderful children. Loss is hard. Trying to understand loss and death and why things happen is difficult, if not incomprehensible. Like my previous post about the dead cat, we all must realize that bad things happen, yes, even to good people. Life is hard.
That is why (I apologize now for the shoddy segue) books like Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life are so beautiful. This is a very short and easy book to read. Some may argue that it is in fact, too simple. But I think that faith is simple. Really, all it takes is to give everything to Him. That's pretty simple. But we humans seem to make things very complicated. I am definitely someone who has done this.
Sitting in Mass this morning, I had the honor to listen to a homily from a Deacon who works with the LA Diocese Missions. He has travelled the world, bringing his family to East Africa a couple decades ago, and most recently, visiting Haiti, where a diet staple is literally, a mud cake.
He reminded us that everything we have is a gift. And it can be taken away at any time. So, instead of fretting, we should enjoy our lives. And thank Him for what we have, as little as it is, as small as it is, as short in time as it may be. To not dwell in what should have been, but to be thankful for what we have, or had. And to go on living and giving to others.
These reminders are reflected in Karina Lumbert Fabian and Deacon Steve Lumbert's book. The fact that the author was born into the faith but her father was not, gives this book depth that makes it identifiable to many. I love hearing conversion stories, but as a cradle Catholic myself, I have to live with the fact that my faith lies in the mundane; I've never had a major 'ah ha' moment as a Catholic Christian; I've just always had to rely on the little bits and blurps of life and the small signs that God is present. God is in the mustard seed, not in the fireworks at the 4th of July, but as a narcisstic human, I'd like some fireworks now and then. It's nice to have a simple book bring me off my high horse and remind me that faith takes work, patience, and prayer.
As a practicing Catholic, I enjoy reading books from other Catholics' perspectives on how to incorporate faith into daily life. That is another reason why this book works; Catholicism, for all its beatiful pagentry and traditions, leaves many outside of the faith thinking that Catholicism is shrouded in mystery and hard to understand. But, we are ordinary people too, as this book exemplifies.
I would love to attend a bible study, I would love to attend a daily Mass. But the circumstance of my life make it not so. I would love to pull out my Bible and read a scripture or two each night, but I haven't quite acheived this, either. I should really read the daily Mass, or the Magnificat, but I'll be honest, I'm not too great at those either. This book is a quick read, especially if done a chapter a day for some reflection. This was a nice way to spend some time reflecting on my faith, remembering why I think there is a God, and realizing that I must continue to live in the Christian spirit.
It's nice to rely on some one else's rudder once and a while and see if you too, can steer yourself on the right path. I recommend this book to anyone needing a little nudge now and then, a reminder of what we espouse as Christians, whether Catholic or not.
As one of the speakers said to my beautiful friend during the funeral of her beloved husband and father to her children. He leaned on the podium and spoke into the microphone: "Look around you," he said to her as he pointed to the enormous crowd of friends that had gathered to pay their respects and show their support to the family. "You will be okay."
And, that is how faith works. To give it all up and realize that even in the darkest moment, He is with you and supporting you. It's in the faces of those around you. We are all loved.
Welcome, Author and Guest Blogger, Karina Fabian! We're thrilled to have you at Rex Robot Reviews. Karina is the brilliant writer behind Why God Matters.
What Karina has to say...
Tribute Books is looking for a Catholic writer. That's what the post said. I am a Catholic and a writer; even more, I am founder and former president of the Catholic Writers' Guild. I figured if I couldn't help, I could find someone that met Tribute's needs. Nicole at Tribute was looking for a short Catholic devotional to fill an unexpected hole in her publishing schedule. She knew exactly what she wanted, from content to format. She had the title: Why God Matters. She even had the cover art and a website ready! It was a fabulous opportunity and she was handing it to me on a silver platter.
Still, I balked. I was a Catholic and a writer, but a writer of science fiction and fantasy. My stuff was fantastical and usually funny and about as far from devotionals as one could get. I didn't have any theological background. It was intimidating--but exciting, too. I really wanted this project. I knew how to craft stories, I told myself. I could apply my experience writing school planners and my natural tendency to give people advice to create simple lessons to go with each. I decided to take a chance and stretch myself as a writer.
Keeping things theologically sound was more challenging, but I had two great helps with that. First, I invited my father, Deacon Steve Lumbert, to co-write the book. He'd never written a book or short stories before--just homilies and police reports. Thus, I had to stretch again as an editor--an editor of her own father, no less! However, Dad is a quick learner and we had a lot of fun mining through his stories for the nuggets that would inspire. Dad then made sure the work was in keeping with the teaching of the Church and even suggested we add paragraphs from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which really enhanced the prose. Second, we put the book up for review with the Catholic Writers' Guild. Its Seal of Approval for Catholicity also makes a nice selling point with Catholic bookstores.
Finally, I had to stretch once more--emotionally. We began the book with my father's indifference to religion as a young man, and as I pondered the final chapter, I felt called to tell the story of my own son's indifference. I cried as I wrote that story, yet it has brought so many blessings. Only in writing this story did it hit home that I had the example of my father's conversion to give me hope. After the book came out, I was comforted by others who also have people they love who turned from the faith. Once, I had felt very alone in this; if I had not written the story, I would still feel alone.
Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life stretched me in my skills, my knowledge and my emotions. It also strengthened my faith. I thank God that I answered that post.
As a novice book blogger (not sure at what point I’ll consider myself “experienced/an expert”), I enjoy reading other people’s posts prior to writing my own review of a book. The reason isn’t to confirm my opinion – that decision has already been confirmed - but to review what they have to say in the event I want to add MORE to my post. In this instance, I am extremely happy I did.
There were several reasons I was drawn to request Why God Matters - How to Recognize Him in Daily Life by Karina Lumbert Fabian and Deacon Steven Lumbert. First, I was raised in the Catholic faith by the most amazing Christian mother you could ever meet. Second, God is a HUGE part of my daily life and I love reading books about Him and how I might be able to grow even closer to Him! Third, I currently attend a Church of Christ (as an adult) and wanted to see if perhaps I missed something while attending the Catholic Church (although extremely young when I left the faith-more to come on this below). Fourth, and last, I love to read books that require me to reach outside my “normal/everyday” circumstance and learn/grow my world of understanding as I know it today.
After reading this book, I realize I missed a tremendous amount of the Catholic Church history/faith/beliefs leaving the Church as an 18 year old child (I am not trying to say that all 18 year olds are children-however, I WAS!). The circumstances surrounding my departure are considerably opposite to the outcome of chapter 5 in this book. There was a time (a VERY LONG TIME) I would have been bitter after reading this chapter: titled “Out of the Depths of Despair”. I would have been extremely angry that God HEARD his prayer and from all aspects I could see and grasp, He must not have heard MINE! I had to consider “what had I done in my life that HE chose NOT to answer my prayers”. Thank God He is so patient, forgiving, and sovereign (now that word took a VERY LONG TIME for me to get my arms around) and allowed me to wander IN the depths of despair and ultimately, return to Him (although it took me about 10 years)! And to be able to say now – Deacon Steve-I am extremely happy all worked well for you!
Just after I turned 18 years old, my mother suffered a massive heart attack. My mother was my world-although she wasn’t what I consider beautiful, she was the most amazing woman I had ever met. She was kind to everyone, never had anything negative to say about anyone or anything-simply extraordinary. She passed away, in the coronary care unit, a few shorts days later. Followed by my father’s determined effort to find out what was causing the pain he had been suffering for years – which turned out to be cancer-and after a valiant fight, passed away 10 months later.
My entire life had been spent in Church. Raised by a mother that adored God: taught to pray, attend mass, thank Him for EVERYTHING we had, see His hand in everything, and attend all the ceremonial services in our Catholic Church; well where was HE when I needed Him? The following years (about ten of them), I spent wandering. But I must say – I KNOW He never left! I felt HIS footprints in MY sand-even while we were traveling! And I want to tell Karina – NEVER give up hope (and I’m sure you won’t)! I read that one of your children is questioning his faith. I am here to tell you that they can’t forget what they were taught as children. As the old sayings goes-you can run, but you can’t hide! He is in control and will never leave nor forsake you! He is in complete control and has a unique plan for you – that takes time to unwind.
Years later, He placed me in an apartment that passed a Catholic Church – there was no other way in or out without passing that Church! I KNEW I had to take my son (I was a parent by that time). I knew He had to be raised in the Church. He had to know God and I had to return to Him! The next twenty years are history (as they say). I have been so blessed by Him and reminded that He IS and WAS there for me and always will be. What would I do without my absolute BEST friend?
My son made the decision to wander -and oh my gosh, I cried and cried – and yes, I prayed and prayed! Two years ago my answer came (Thank you God!) and my son returned to his beliefs! I remain grateful for his decision and know I could not be the one to make it for him. All I could do was pray and allow others and His Holy Spirit to work in my son’s life. He did!
Back to the book-I truly enjoyed the short chapters, the Scripture references (I can never get too much for His Word) and the Catechism references. The Catechism is something I remember nothing about. I will spend some time in the future (thanks to the Internet) researching this Catechism and analyzing my own belief next to that of the Catholic Church.
I want to thank Tribute books for allowing me to post a review on this book and for providing a paper copy for my use. I still haven’t come around to the “on-line” reading of today. There’s just something about holding the pages in your hand and highlighting/writing in the margins.
Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life is written by Deacon Steven Lumbert and his daughter, Karina Lumbert Fabian. They both share stories from their lives where God was at work in ordinary things.
It can be easy to over look God when He's using just the simple things to show His presence. Karina and Deacon Steven have done a great job writing a short book that is a clear reminder to look for God in the everyday things.
Each chapter has a story, a life lesson, a Bible quote, and a piece from the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC). All of these tie in in together to give a complete picture of the main idea the chapter was focused on. Seeing the pieces of the Bible and CCC that are about the same topic is a great reminder that the Catholic Church and God want us all to pay closer attention to the small things God does. It might not be a huge miracle, but God is still there and still wants us to know He loves us.
This book was not as spiritually profound as some of the other books I've read. It was very simple and focused mostly on their individual stories. Even though it's not a book that I felt helped me really grow spiritually, I did find it to be a gentle reminder of things that can be easily over looked. I also really appreciated how short each chapter was. They were perfect for me to read and consider for a bit during the day when the children were busy enough on their own that I could have a few minutes for myself.
There are some people, I would guess, who have left the church and would like to come back. They’re thinking about it, but don’t know how to go about it. This book, Why God Matters, by Karina Lumbert Fabian and Deacon Steven Lumbert is the “home free” ticket. I’m recommending this book to the RCIA leaders in my parish. It’s perfect for Catholic “newbies.”
One of the appeals is the format. Readers are not bogged down in doctrinal “vaticanese.” Each chapter begins with a Life Lesson, which offers some thoughts and/or sometimes suggestions that prepare you for the story. After the Life Lesson is a Scripture reference. Then a quote from the Catechism. Lastly, is the story by either Karina Lumbert Fabian, or her Dad, Deacon Lumbert. That’s it—5 pages. The stories themselves reveal a journey of faith that everyone will find something to identify with. They seem to cover everything. One of my favorites was Chapter Six, “Does God Send Flowers?”. Karina tells the story of having a bad day when the door bell rings with a flower delivery for her. They were a birthday gift of flowers from her in-laws, but she knew it was from God giving her just what she needed.
I have a similar story, where I was really trying very hard to love praying the Rosary. One day, I had planned to be alone for an afternoon so that I could concentrate, once and for all, on praying a really, really, good Rosary. I knelt down in the middle of the living room floor and swore to myself that I wouldn’t allow any distractions, whatsoever. Then the door bell rung. I couldn’t believe it! I thought that damn bell was broken. Who would be ringing my doorbell? It was a flower delivery of a dozen roses. My children were sending a dozen roses for my wedding anniversary. And I also knew that the Rosary was symbolized as a garland of roses. I too, like Karina, knew God had sent them. I used the book as a daily reflection. It would be good for Eucharistic Adoration, too. There’s plenty of meditation. Buy it; read it; enjoy it; and pray with it. It will bring you closer to God.
From time to time, I receive requests from publishers to do a book review, or press releases from various Catholic groups wishing to gain support for whatever their cause happens to be. My natural reaction is to ignore them, but after reading though this book I decided to give it a go…
Why God Matters is a short and easy read (I read through it in less than an hour). It was written by a father/daughter team- Deacon Steven Lumbert and Karina Lumbert Fabian. Although I read it through quickly, that’s not a criticism. It’s really not the sort of book that you read through in one sitting. Rather it’s a gentle devotional meant to be read and digested slowly.
The book consist of short vignettes from the lives of the two authors which show how God has worked in their lives and how the Holy Spirit has moved them at various points in their lives to deepen their faith. These reminiscences are framed by quotes from Scripture, the Catechism, and the writings of the saints.
The author of each of the short chapters alternates, which results in a woven, intergenerational narrative that adds interest, and makes it relevant to male and female readers alike, because the faith journey is described alternately from a male and female perspective.
The stories can best be described as charming, very simple, and down to earth. One gets the impression that these are the sorts of stories that are shared within their family and that somehow through the book one is invited into the intimacy of their circle of family and friends.
It’s an excellent example of a simple, modern devotional…
For Where E'er We Go
God DOES Matter - A Book Review
by Lina M.G. Martin
September 25, 2010
Welcome to the latest stop on the Why God Matters Blog Tour!
A lovely new collection of devotional stores from Tribute Books, this book is a great opportunity for reflection - both quick and meaningful - during a mama's busy day.
From the website:
Do you feel distant from God? Do you want a closer relationship with him? God is with us always, sometimes in ways we don't even realize. Deacon Steve Lumbert and his daughter Karina Fabian share their stories of how God led them from casual belief to deep devotion, and offer tips and exercises to help you see God's hand - and take it.
The father/daughter authors do a wonderful job sharing moments, stories and events throughout their lives that revealed God's presence to them in a significant, and yet ordinary, way. While God can indeed part the Red Sea, raise men from the dead and strike a Pharisee from his horse, He is also in the soft and quiet voice, in our neighbors, the woman across the aisle at Mass, the friend picking us up from the airport and other seemingly ordinary happenings.
For me, the best parts of these stories were the tie-ins to our faith - a Scripture verse, a quote from a saint or religious figure (although I did roll my eyes at the Thomas Merton quote. I'm just sure there are better saints and religious men to choose from!), a Catechism quote and a "Life Lesson." Each chapter thus gave the reader the chance to apply that particular chapter's message to their own circumstance - a great devotional tool for a mother's prayer time!
This summer, I attended the Catholic Marketing Network Conference and the Catholic Writer's Guild Live Conference in the Philadelphia area. I met so many wonderful Catholic writers, including fun, fedora-wearing Karina Fabian. We have a lot in common in addition to our love for writing. We're both former Air Force officers who fell in love with non-Catholic men (Karina's husband converted before they married), and we both homeschool and enjoy sci-fi.
Karina has recently published a book that she co-wrote with her father, Deacon Steve Lumbert. The book is titled Why God Matters: How To Recognize Him in Everyday Life. Just 114 pages, this little book can easily be read in an afternoon and is full of inspiring quotes and little "slice of life" stories about God and the Catholic faith. It reminds me a bit of the Chicken Soup series.
Each chapter has a different theme such as "So help me God, I Didn't Do It," or "Love in a Pot of Rice." Karina and her dad alternate their stories and include related Bible quotes or excerpts from the Cathechism of the Catholic Church. Some stories made me smile and others brought tears to my eyes, but all of them were touching and inspiring.
I especially appreciated the questions scattered throughout the book and the list of references at the end. Why God Matters would make a nice gift for a newly married couple or a friend or family member who is lukewarm in their Catholic faith.
Creo en Dios!
Recognizing God in Our Daily Life
by Susan Stabile
September 25, 2010
I had never heard of a blog book tour before Tribute Books asked me to participate in one. The book that is on tour this month is Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life, written by a father-daughter team of Karina Lumbert Fabian and Deacon Steven Lumbert.
In the book, the two authors share their stories about how they have experienced God in their lives. Their stories are presented in short alternating chapters (seven written by Deacon Steve and six by Karina). Each of the chapters is designed to illustrate a different aspect of the authors’ experience of God, for example, the ways in which God manifest his presence in times of difficulty or what it means to have a personal relationship with God. In addition, each chapters contains a “Life Lesson”, sometimes in the form of suggestions for prayer or reflection and other times in the form of “tips” to finding ways to bring God into our lives, as well as both a scripture reading and a passage from the Catechism of the Catholic Church for further reflection.
My biggest criticism of the book is that the chapters are too short to really develop the idea presented in any extensive way. While I appreciate that the authors are writing for “average, everyday people” without a lot of time on their hands, I thought the two short pages devoted to each chapters was too cursory to be satisfactory.
Having said that, many of the vignettes presented will resonate with readers, as they present common experiences in the lives of persons of faith. Others will hopefully be encouraged to be more attuned to the ways in which God may be trying to communicate with them. The book is well-written and conveys clearly the authors’ faith and their conviction that “God must be an active part of our lives.”
Aussie Coffee Shop
Why God Matters. A Book Review.
by Therese
September 25, 2010
I really enjoyed reading Why God Matters. It was light and easy reading. In between, each chapter, there are quotes from the bible, catechism of the Catholic church and life lessons. From reading the life lessons, I found myself thinking about my own life and what I could learn from Deacon Steve's and Karina's experience.
When I was asked to read Why God Matters, I read the review and it said that the book was about Deacon Steve and Karina going from a casual belief in God to a deeper devotion to him. I suppose I thought from this that the story was going to have what I have thought of as the Damascus experience. (bolts of lightening and God's voice booming in Paul's ears). While the story does have some moments when God really was shining and showing his presence to Karina and Deacon Steve, it doesn't have the sudden 2x4 moment where their lives are turned around completely. Instead, it has a lot of little stories that show both Deacon Steve and Karina recognizing God in the little everyday events of their lives. From the simple receiving of flowers on a birthday to the big recognition of Guardian Angels protecting us. It is an inspirational story showing God working the extraordinary in the ordinary everyday living.
I am going to buy myself a copy of this book. For any Australian's wanting it, it is available from Fishpond. This book isn't just a good story. I am sure it would be equally as good as a aid in prayer and in growing closer to God.
A Thankful Woman's Book of Blessings is usually a blog where I participate in a variety of memes each day during the week...sometimes, there is a blogging game here or there.
Tonight, I've been asked to do something a little different here. . .and that is, to offer you a review of a book, "Why God Matters", written by a woman named Karina, and her father, Steve, who serves as a permanent deacon in the Catholic Church.
When I first saw that the authors were father and daughter, I thought, "Oh! What a wonderful idea!"
I was delighted to find it such an easy-read, very simply and succinctly written; and applicable to any walk in life. Whether you are someone who is seeking in your faith, or someone who has questions about the Catholic faith...or whether you are a life-long, devout Catholic (or not), the pages of this book will speak to you.
"About what?", you ask.
About GOD. Deacon Steve and his daughter Karina have led an ordinary, yet extraordinary life together; and this book is their way of sharing that journey with you...of letting you "in" to learn how they came to know, love, and serve the Lord through the various circumstances, states-in-life, and unforeseen events that they've experienced through the years.
"God really does matter", they tell us. . . and each time they share a personal story and the lesson learned from it with the reader, it causes one to pause and ponder the state of one's own soul...and one's own relationship with God.
Each chapter begins with a quoted passage from the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Scripture verses are interspersed throughout as well, to add a special touch to your reflection and to encourage and strengthen you in your faith.
Every once in a while, the authors seem to stop and have a little discussion directly WITH the reader...offering us questions to ponder and consider as we begin to analyze our own spiritual journeys and discern where God is calling us in this life.
I found that Karina and her dad complement one anothers writing so nicely...and though they have each known suffering, trials, and pain in life, there is a true JOY that emanates from their retelling of even some of the most trying times...because they trust in God's Providence, they trust in His Grace, and they trust in the help that He regularly sends to us; be that through a spouse, a friend, or a Guardian Angel!
The purpose of this book is to help us see God's Hand a little better in each of our lives.
The reader is also encouraged to share his or her own personal stories with the authors; and information and details as to how to do that is provided.
Like I said, this is an easy-read...if you take a day of vacation, you could get through it in a day. The stories and reflections flow gently and smoothly along...and before you know it, you've gone through several chapters!
I enjoyed "Why God Matters" very much...and I recommend it for your personal reading pleasure.
How many times have we heard someone say: “Why does God matter? He’s so distant, so unapproachable. How can I be sure He’s present in my daily life? After all, I can’t see Him. I can’t hear Him. I can’t touch Him. Why should I care about Someone I’m not sure cares about me?”
Why God Matters gives examples from the authors’ own lives and experiences of just how present God is—and of how much He matters to each and every one of us. Through the examples they share, they help us to recognize His presence in our own lives, if only we know what to look for—if we only have the eyes and the desire to see.
The book is broken into an introduction, fourteen short chapters and an epilogue. Deacon Steve and Karina divide the fourteen chapters evenly between them, although they co-write the introduction and epilogue. This format does not adversely affect the effectiveness of the book, but enhances it—allowing for both the male and female perspective. The style is enjoyable and easy to read and the content uplifting and thought-provoking. At the end of the book, the authors provide suggestions for future reading, including a few websites and some simple, but beautiful prayers.
Each chapter introduces a theme, such as the Reluctant Convert, covered in Chapter one by Deacon Steve, or Karina’s “Love in a Pot of Rice” covered in chapter two. The chapters themselves are divided into sections. First an appropriate example is given to illustrate the presence of God in the author’s life. This example is followed by a Life Lesson, which is a mini-meditation of sorts, an applicable Bible verse and paragraph from the Catholic catechism of the Catholic Church. All these tie in together beautifully to reinforce theme discussed and to foster further self-examination and thought.
I found Why God Matters to be an informative, enjoyable and helpful aid to my spiritual growth. Each chapter made me think; many made me smile, and when I finished reading I realized I’d received a valuable gift…the gift see God’s hand in everything I experience. I highly recommend Why God Matters. It is one of those books that you’ll find difficult to put down and is definitely worth reading more than once.
Tribute Books, the publishers of Why God Matters, asked me to do a book review and I was a bit reluctant. I like to read the entire book before I review it and the last few books sent to me are STILL waiting to be reviewed. But “Why God Matters” was different. It’s a Catholic devotional and I felt compelled to take a look at it. And I’m so glad that I did.
The book is written by Karina Lumbert Fabian and her father, Deacon Steven Lumbert. Karina is a “by birth” Catholic and the Deacon is a Catholic-convert. The book is actually quite small but packs a spiritual punch. Each chapter is written by one or the other and uses a story from their own lives to teach what they term as a “Life Lesson”. The Life Lessons they discuss are structured with teachings of the Catholic faith. For example, Chapter One talks about Deacon Steven being a reluctant convert. We learn about his religious back ground and how he came to the Catholic Church and eventually to be a Deacon. This is quite a journey. Most of us won’t make this drastic of a journey but the Life Lesson in this chapter is to “Determine where you are in your faith journey”.
Each chapter takes us through lessons that even fully practicing Catholics should be contemplating and praying about on a regular basis. But sometimes modern day life gets in the way, and we forget that we should be living a Catholic life daily. The Catholic living should be seen in our actions, thoughts and decisions. In the Forward of the book it’s said “Being Christian is not something we do, but a relationship we nurture and live out every day of our lives. And following the lead of those many catechumens of the ancient church, we too are called to continuing, radical conversions of mind, heart, and spirit”. Many of us Catholics leave our faith at the church door as we leave Sunday mass. We are practicing Catholics on Sunday and then forget to practice the rest of the week. This little book has a big message that we should be practicing Catholics in every area of our life, every day. After reading it, I find it hard to forget that message. I highly recommend this book for all Catholics, Christians and anyone who wants to learn more about the Catholic faith in daily life.
Welcome to my humble blog - Five Kids a Dog and a Blog. If you are new here my writings are generally about my life with 5 kids, four of them being quadruplets, a daughter with autism and my Catholic faith. Well its a big jumble O' stuff really. I like to have fun and make fun of myself and other things but I will not be making fun of this book because I really liked it.
Today I am hosting my very first book review! I love to read so when the offer came in my inbox I was intrigued. When I saw the title it was a neat moment of hmm is this a coincidence? I think not. I had seen a blurb about this book somewhere recently and was thinking I would like to read it anyway. Funny how that works out. As I am newly trying to be extra frugal, getting to read a free copy was a nice little perk.
The book? Oh I guess I should mention the title! "Why God Matters - How to recognize him in daily life," is written by a father/daughter team- Deacon Steve Lubert and his daughter Karina Fabian. I can only imagine that co-authoring a book on faith would have to bring a family closer even if it was hard work. It is published by Tribute Books and is set up in fourteen chapters. Each chapter has an essay on a particular faith issue followed by a short "Life Lesson." The chapters are alternately penned by the deacon and his daughter.
I am immediately drawn to the familiar voice in the essays, that of a friend almost and I like the Life Lessons for their digestibility. I know that is a strange choice of words for a book but it fits.
The writing style is quiet, simple and straight forward. It does not lack depth but pulls you into the next chapter by not overwhelming you. A chapter a night would be a good pace if you could hold yourself back, letting the lessons sink in and really finding how they apply to you.
The book quotes scripture as well as the Catechism of the Catholic Church, however this book appeals to a wide audience , its Christian at the core and as Christians we all believe in and love the same eternal Father, Son and Holy Spirit, no matter how we celebrate.
There are chapters on a variety of topics and the personal stories were my favorite as they added to the flavor of authenticity. I just love this book because it doesn't make the reader feel stupid or bad about themselves! Everyone has to walk their own faith walk. No one can do it for you. We all may hear the same words in the Bible, at mass or service but our life experiences are different as are the gifts bestowed on us by the Holy Spirit. We truly are individuals created by God for a divine purpose. I'ts up to us to spend our life working with God's grace to fulfill our task set before us. I think this book will be an excellent tool for anyone who is struggling with that questions Why does God matter?
It is an encouraging book, warm and real and positive. I do recommend "Why God Matters."
Fiftysomething
Why God Matters
by Marion Banks-Wilkinson
September 24, 2010
Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life by Deacon Steven Lumbert and his daughter, Karina Lumbert Fabian.
When one is following a new path it is good to have a guidebook and sometimes even the most learned soul needs refreshment! This little book is something I have pleasure in recommending to anyone, you may not like it, you may not find anything useful within but, if you are looking for contact with God in everyday life and meaning in normal things please give it a try!
Deacon Steven and his daughter are normal people looking for God and ways to follow Him amidst the trials and temptations of modern life, the book alternates Bible passages and prayer with their testimonies and is very easy to read. I take great pleasure in commending it, for what my opinion is worth! May God Bless them and all who seek to read this book!
Can a book commit a sin? If so, then the slim volume, “Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life” is guilty of deception. Small in size, it is huge in wisdom.
Karina Fabian and her father, Steve Lumbert, a deacon in the Catholic Church, answered the call for this auspicious undertaking almost on a lark. "When Tribute Books put out the call for a small book on Catholic living to fill a last-minute opening in their product line," Fabian and Lumbert write, "it seemed like the perfect way for us to share our faith journeys, not just with others, but with each other."
Indeed it is. In a time when generations within a family often have divergent religious views, this father/daughter work presents us with a thread of continuity not often seen in the culture at large.
Lest we think that theirs was a traditional Catholic home, Deacon Lumbert assures us it was not. "When my future wife invited me to join her for Mass," Lumbert writes in the first chapter, "I warned her I wasn't Catholic. In fact, I wasn't much of anything." Despite the fact that religion meant little to him, he did agree to raise their children, two daughters, in the Catholic faith. It was this promise that began the journey which would wend it’s way toward Catholicism. In 1988 Lumbert would be received into the Church, and a few years later, he was ordained a deacon.
For Fabian, on the other hand, faith was found in the remnants of family life: rosaries, crucifixes, and bible verses. It wasn’t until she entered the Air Force that she was confirmed in the faith. She was in love with the Mystery of Christ.
This scant book, topping out at just over 110 pages, is not simply for those already rooted in faith. It is also a fantastic read for people who are just starting out on their quest for God, or have been looking for years. If you want for pious platitudes, look elsewhere. This book is filled with personal stories and very simple, yet enriching life lessons.
For this Catholic, the work of Fabian and Lumbert verify that we love because God loved us first; we are changed because of an encounter with Someone we have met. And it is in the everyday that we meet this Someone. It is because of our everyday travails and our everyday joys that God matters.
About a month ago, I was asked if I would read and review a book, Why God Matters by Karina Lumbert Fabian and Deacon Steve Lumbert (father and daughter). I figured that I'm always up to read a book, so I thought I would check it out to see what I thought.
It's a simple little book, and each chapter is a story about big and little events in the lives of these two people. These are events that touched them in some way and meant something on their faith journey. Like all personal stories of faith, their story can have relevance to others going through a variety of things. I especially liked some of the quotes from Scripture and the Catechism of the Catholic Church that went along with the stories.
It's a short book and each chapter is short. It can be read one story at a time to allow a person to think about it, or it can be read all at once, and it flows very quickly.
Overall, I liked it okay, but I have to admit that it wasn't my favorite. I think it's more due to the fact that devotional books "Life Lesson" type boxes after every story are not my personal cup of tea. However, the quotes are great, and I liked the personal faith stories that were shared. I always think it's great to see how God is working in others' lives as well. It's a good reminder that we are not alone in the journey and can always learn from others.
A College Catholic
Why God Matters - How to Recognize Him in Daily Life
September 24, 2010
A few months ago, I received an email from Tribute Books publishing company with an interesting offer. They would send me a copy of a great new book if I'd be willing to write my reaction to it - they called this a "Blog Book Tour". After reading the book, I'm very glad that I decided to participate.
"Why God Matters - How to Recognize Him in Daily Life" by Karina Fabian and Deacon Steven Lumbert offers a series of reflections on living the faith. The authors both offered anecdotes from their lives, stories from the saints, and each chapter began and ended with quotes from the Catechism, the saints, or a noteworthy author. This provided a variety of perspectives on the theme of each chapter, making it very interesting and enlightening.
The stories were told with great humility and love (it is clear that Karina and Steven have a close relationship with the Lord), and I found them to be very inspiring in my own struggles too live the faith. As a college student, I could relate to this book; yet, I think many other people could find the stories applicable to their lives as well.
I give this work my highest recommendation, and strongly encourage you to check it out. I leave you with a quick excerpt that stood out in my mind:
There is a time for apologetics, and
there is a time for education. Always,
however, is the time for example.
How do you live as a visible example
to the glory of God? Remember the
words of St. Francis: “Preach the Gospel.
Use words when necessary."
I was invited to take part in a blog “book tour” to review the book, “Why God Matters: How to recognize Him in Daily Life” by Karina Lumbert Fabian and Deacon Steven Lumbert, a father-daughter duo. The book is published by Tribute Books and was released in May 2010. In accepting the invitation, I was given a copy of the book to read. (I chose to receive it in print-out form instead of electronic form) Nicole Langan, owner of Tribute Books, did not request or require anything from me apart from an obligation to do the review today. *This is my honest, unbiased review of this new book.* I have mixed thoughts and feelings about this book, so please bear with me while I try to flesh it out fairly for you.
In case you either can’t or don’t want to read all of this review just now, let me give you the bottom line up front:
* I like the authors (as people) from what I’ve learned of them
* Like any book based on very short, personal stories, this book takes a risk of not connecting with readers
* I don’t feel that the title really gave a good picture of what was in the book or what it meant to accomplish. (this is a very important point for me as a reader!)
* This book was not life-altering for me, but it was worth reading once.
Now, let me elaborate.
First a bit about the actual book. While I “only” had a printout, I was able to get a good idea of what the (physical) book looks like and I had the full content of the book (including the jacket.) It is a very short book, just 114 pages, with very large print (I had no trouble reading it and my vision isn’t all that great.) The $15.95 list price for a hardcover edition is reasonable (amazon sells it for $12.76.) Amazon lists the hardcover dimensions as 8.6 x 5.7 x. 0.6, so it’s a small book. If you like ebooks, the Kindl edition is only $2.99! Nicole told me that it is also available in Nook and iPad formats.
Because of the personal nature of the writing, I felt I got a bit of a glimpse of this father-daughter pair. I like them. I prayed for them. I wondered how and when God would reach Karina’s son. I wondered if the Deacon ever knew my uncle who lived in Pueblo, was a retired law enforcement officer, and died of a heart attack in his vehicle in 2004 (yes, I know, the Diocese and city of Pueblo are not small, but this question shows, I think, that I did feel that I was able to “connect” personally with the authors as people.) I particularly enjoyed Karina’s writing style and I’m thinking about looking into some of her fiction (though I might pass on the zombies! :D )
Others have written about the book saying it tells about how it is to “come to the faith” on two different paths, one being by birth and the other by adult conversion. I don’t think that there really is a clear picture of that. There are too many missing pieces to really see those two separate paths leading to the same place. I learned enough to know that each of the authors took a different path, but not enough to really appreciate the two paths.
Even with references to the Catechism and mentions of their own Catholic faith, I don’t find it to be an overtly Catholic book. I think this book could be equally appealing to nonCatholics as well as to Catholics. In order to get anything out of this book, one must have some faith, however.
The authors “took turns” writing each chapter and it was full of personal stories and examples from their daily lives. Each chapter contains “Life Lessons” ~small meditations or suggestions that relate to the chapter topic, a scripture quotation, a quote from the catechism and beneath the chapter title there are quotes from a variety of others, from saints to bishops to presidents of Catholic organizations. Most of the stories of each chapter take less than 2 pages, a couple of them take a full two pages (meaning the actual writing, not the title or the quote.) This is very easy and quick reading. You can read the whole thing in an hour or two, but I think this book would be better digested in smaller bites. Reading a chapter and meditating on the lesson and thinking about it and how it might apply to your own life would be much more beneficial than reading straight through. Having said that, I think most of the chapters are simply too short, no matter how you approach the book.
The thing about personal stories and examples as an approach to writing a book is that it is reliant on the reader “connecting” with the stories in a personal, meaningful way. Accomplishing this in any book that relies on personal stories will always be kind of tricky, I think, but especially so for books that are so short. Tricky, but not impossible. There are other books out there that have taken the same personal story approach and were successful. Those books were successful for a few reasons, I believe, but I’ll only touch on that here. One reason is that each contributor was allowed to really tell their story or make their point fully and give a good amount of detail. One example might be Surprised by Truth. There were 11 contributors and they wrote fairly extensively and I found that I related to all of them on some level and many of them on many levels. The purposes of the two books are different, of course, but the approach ~personal witness~ is the same.
In my case, I did connect with some of the things presented in Why God Matters. For example, Karina shares that her son doesn’t believe and having a son of my own whose faith is MIA for now, I can relate to that. I also related to (and was challenged by!) the idea of giving up being a martyr to the trivial! I think my favorite chapter was on having a “Non-Personal Relationship” with God. That was great thinking. (curious, aren’t you?) These last two were, in themselves, worth the time I spent reading the book.
On the other hand, there were many that didn’t hit home with with me. Perhaps it is because the chapters are too short and do not flesh out those ideas and inspirations enough for me. Perhaps I would never relate to them, no matter how much ink was devoted to them. At times, I finished the chapter feeling that I’d missed the point ~ even after rereading it. For example, I did not see how in the world seeing someone barefoot at Mass would ever inspire me to discern whether or not I should leave my children and travel from home to attend to another family member. I understand that the barefoot woman somehow showed love and warmth and openness to the author, but the title of the chapter is “Bare Feet”. While the barefoot woman communicated these things to the author, I still don’t know how her bare feet are essential or triggered all of that. Naturally, this was the author’s experience and it was real. I can’t “argue” with that and I wouldn’t want to, but the fact remains that I didn’t “get” it. A longer chapter might have fleshed that out better and I might have connected more to it. It follows that if I connected to it better, I may have recognized the “barefoot” people in my own life.
One thing I kept thinking was, “this isn’t answering the question about WHY God matters.” I think the title had me expecting to find reasons to believe in God and His love and His absolute concern for me in the everyday nitty-gritty and how to let that matter. Since the subtitle of the book is “How to Recognize Him in Daily Life” I did expect personal, individual reasons, and not necessarily theology or philosophy (though I might have been looking for those, too, in “lite” versions) . I came to the book looking for an answer to the why and what I read didn’t satisfy that. In most cases, I didn’t connect the dots from their witness of recognizing Him in every day life and my being able to recognize Him in my own. (I don’t mean I don’t recognize Him at all, though I am sure that I don’t see all the ways He is there, I mean that the book didn’t lead me to that.)
The book seems, rather, to address HOW God matters to the authors and therefore how He might, maybe, could matter to you if you want Him to and are seeking Him, or even what it’s like WHEN we make sure God matters (for we have the freedom to not let Him matter.) These are very good things! But I really struggled with the expectations I had based on the title and what was actually in the book. Since I received and read the book (the first time) about four weeks before I published this review, I decided to collect some opinions to see if my expectations were way out there. Without tipping my hand, I asked some dear friends, wise men and women in the faith, to answer the question of “Why God matters.” I asked them because I wanted to know, by their answers, what they would expect that question to address. It seems that they had thoughts similar to mine. (I also learned a lot about my friends! Good stuff!) Here are some of the answers I received. Many that follow are only portions of the answers. Some of them were quite long and very well written and all were thoughtful:
“God matters because we have all tried living a life apart from Him, apart from His standards, and apart from His wants for us. We have come up empty, disheveled, lonely, angry, depressed, etc… He IS the only antidote. He created us, He knows what we really need. God matters because Love is all there is and we all need that. He is completely and utterly LOVE. Love NEVER FAILS, ALWAYS HEALS, MATTERS THE MOST.” ~M
“God matters because He made me in His likeness and image. He is the Creator.
God matters because my soul can only rest when I am with and in Him.
God matters because He died to open the gates of heaven for all mankind.
God matters because I love Him.
God matters because He is the ultimate authority.
God matters because He just does.” ~K
“Now as a concept, God may be helpful in the ordering of a person’s life or in the system or rules adopted by civilizations. Certainly the concept of God has spawned lots of things both good and bad but nothing that lasts. The actual person of God however, cannot help but matter though we may try very hard to imagine He does not. I have noticed that there is no getting rid of God and that He has a habit of butting in all the time where He is not wanted at all and we being His creations can’t stop Him from turning our lives upside down. So even if we don’t believe in Him, He matters because He believes in us and makes it His business to involve Himself in our lives.” ~M
“Humans are unable to establish universally accepted morality or moral code to govern their behavior. Also, humans find in God a reason to act morally.” ~F
“God matters for so many reasons.
- It helps us to understand how we got here
- It helps us to understand what to do now that we are here
- It helps us to understand what to do to get to where we are (hopefully) going” ~J
“Obviously, God matters because nothing would be in existence without Him. The knowledge of God matters because He has allowed us to have a glimpse at who He is and what He is up to so we are humbled by this gift and in reverence we accept what He has given and cherish the small amount that we are able to understand as we seek to know Him better and love Him and serve Him.
In other words, if God has allowed us to know of His existence, then we are obligated to treasure this knowledge because He deigned to give it to us and He MUST have a reason.” ~D
“Why does God matter?
A.: Whether or not one believes in God–or a plethora of gods–or no God, at all, the concept, itself matters greatly. The belief in a God, or gods, or no god at all has been the source of conflict, wars, arguments, and divisions throughout the centuries. It has also inspired great works of art, beautiful musical compositions, charitable organizations, relief efforts, orphanages, and virtuous–even heroic–conduct. From the ancient Aztecs of Mexico, who sacrificed victims to their gods in horrific ways, to the less grotesque sacrifice of fruits, grains, vegetables upon the altar in other religious communities, the belief in a supernatural realm that has power over our natural world has been a major motivation of human behavior. Even the belief that there “is no god” and the resulting efforts to squash all expressions of religion has an effect on mankind–this kind of thinking/effort creates a despotic, tyrannical “state” (government/culture etc.) […] But, here is an even more important question–Who came first? Man or God? Those who ascribe to an evolutionary theory of the earth/mankind, often apply this mode of thinking to social/cultural/religious development. To an evolutionary thinker, man has “made up” the concept of God, and has ever refined the concept ( these people expect mankind to evolve in its thinking to the point of realizing its own godhood, thus abandoning the idea of a supernatural”God” at some enlightened point in evolution).” ~K
“[…] the thoughtful question is: if the universe is indeed a deliberate Creation, why did the mastermind behind it bother to create it at all? Why indeed! God: The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit was complete and perfect in and of Himself, without any part of Creation at all. God had no need whatsoever for anything to complete Himself. The reason HeHe authored all Creation, then, is simply yet profoundly because He wanted to. He desired it. In other words, He loved it. ”God loved the world so much.” we read in John 3:16. God loves His creation because it was only from His infinite love that He made it. God made the world to return love to Himself.
So, “why are we here?” “What is the purpose of my life?” Out of love alone, God made you and everyone and everything around you. God made you because He loves you, and He wants you to love Him. That is why God matters. “~C
God matters for so many reasons.
- It helps us to understand how we got here
- It helps us to understand what to do now that we are here
- It helps us to understand what to do to get to where we are (hopefully) going
And me? What is my answer? God matters because He IS. (yeah. I’m no Aquinas.)
These answers that I received speak of authority and salvation and LOVE. These are the things that the title (and the question it implies it answers) bring to mind for me and for those I asked for input from, but the book doesn’t address the things I and my friends thought of when we considered the question “why God matters.” Of course the authors didn’t intend to write a book like that, which is fine. And still, from my perspective, title brings to mind one thing while the book addresses another and that was a bit of a disappointment to me.
While I related to some of their stories, this book was not life-altering for me and it is not one that I will turn to again and again. Perhaps this book was not written for me. I think this book would have a lot more value to someone who is just beginning their journey (their real journey, even if they were “born and raised” in faith) to a [non-personal]relationship with God. I think it may have impacted me more 25 years ago than it did today.
I don’t see this book book ever reaching my top 100 must-read book recommendations. I think this book was worth my reading once, but I would caution other readers to not expect more from the book than it gives. This book really won’t tell you, tell us, why God matters (in Himself) so much as it will show us ways that God has guided and shown Himself to this pair of authors (has mattered to them) and from that, we may ~some of us~ see God “mattering” in our own everyday lives.
Recently I was solicited by the owner of Tribute Books to write a book review on a newly-pub'd book entitled Why God Matters - How to Recognize Him in Daily Life. This book is co-authored by a father/daughter team: Karina Lumbert Fabian and Deacon Steven Lumbert. Why God Matters is a book geared toward Catholics, and its purpose is to help the reader to recognize Christ's presence in their lives.
The forward is written by William T. Ditewig (Professor of Theology & Religious Studies at Saint Leo University in Saint Leo, Florida). It is in the forward that readers first catch a glimpse of the depth to which Karina and Deacon Steve encourage and challenge us to allow God to be present in our daily lives. Mr. Ditewig writes: "Grounding their reflections in the everyday lives of Christian disciples.....Karina and Deacon Steve suggest, echoing St. Patrick, to 'breathe with God's breath.' This breath, the Spirit of God, creates, inspires and sustains all believers, and it is through this breath of God that God's own Word- Christ- is proclaimed to the world. In other words, the very everyday life of Christians can be the most fundamental and effective form of evangelization itself."
There is much about this book that I enjoyed. The writers take personal life-happenings and apply them in a faith-based way to the instruction of a God-centered Catholic life. In this day in age, I think people really need to be approached in a very humble and personal way in order to allow them to see not only Christ in you, but to see their own need for Him through your offering. Through the small stories which are told in turns, both Karina and Deacon Steve relay humility, kindness and encouragement based on their personal struggles, achievements and lessons-learned.
I also enjoyed the "Life Lessons" and the excerpts from the Catechism which accompany each story. They are both uplifting and helpful as we apply them to our daily life. One of my favorite "Life Lessons" came from the chapter entitled "Love in a Pot of Rice" written by Karina. In this lesson, she writes: "God calls us to be the first teachers to our children in living a life of faith, hope and charity. How did your parents teach you this? How are you teaching your own children? Spend some time in reflection and prayer today......."
It is great to come across a book written by two people who are in the same family yet have come to the Catholic faith in two very different ways. It is interesting and inspiring because even though their journeys have been different and their experiences all their own, their stories collide into a refreshing and simple depiction of what it is to be Catholic and live out the faith in every day life.
Why God Matters is a very easy-to-read book. The layout of short chapters alternating between Karina's stories and Deacon Steve's make it one you can read in between laundry loads or while picking up toys! Their stories are uplifting and the quotes from the bible coupled with the excerpts from the Catechism and the Life Lessons make it an even stronger work of encouragement, inspiration and hope.
The title alone was enough to grab my attention, but the fact that one of my favorite authors teamed up with her father to write it?
SOLD.
Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Everyday Life is Karina Fabian’s debut into the world of nonfiction book writing, but I hope it’s not the end of her work in that realm. Though she got her start in nonfiction, writing for her diocesan newspaper, she’s primarily focused on creating her own worlds now.
From the sounds of it, Why God Matters was almost an accident.
After reading it, and delighting in it just as I’ve delighted in Karina’s other work, I think of this book, instead, as a blessing.
Oh, I know that God matters. And I could probably give you a bunch of reasons why He matters and how I recognize Him. I doubt, though, that I would be able to capture the tangibility or the clarity that Karina and Deacon Steve share in each chapter.
There’s a temptation with this book, and it’s one that I’m guilty of giving in to far too often. I’ll pick up a book that’s not imposingly long, and I’ll rush through it. It will be great, and I’ll enjoy it, but I’ll have rushed through it. I did that with Why God Matters, but what I’m doing something differently this time. I’m putting it back into my devotional reading, so that I’ll be revisiting each chapter in the coming month during my morning reading time.
This book is too good to rush through. It’s too poignant and genuine to gloss over with a skimming read. It’s saying too much that’s true and important for me to not reread it…and soon.
In the course of just over 100 pages and 14 chapters, the father-daughter team manages to take God off that pedestal you may keep Him on for easy viewing and make Him accessible, huggable, and real. They take a concept — God — and remind us that He is a Person, one who has touched them, who has changed them, who continues to work in them. Somehow, in all of this, they remain brief. They do not ever cross the line and become overwhelming. They give you their take, some Scripture, a bite from the Catechism, and a life lesson. The Holy Spirit does the rest.
What touched me most was a chapter I heard discussed on Catholic Moments a few weeks ago. In it, Karina admits that one of her sons does not believe. What kind of courage did that take to share? And what kind of enormous blessing is that to all the rest of us, who may have children of our own who will test their faith by leaving it, who may never come back in our lifetimes, who may wonder if there’s hope?
This book is not only one that I would recommend to all Christians, denomination notwithstanding, but one that I might even venture to hand to those on-the-verge folks I know, the ones who are spiritual but not into organized religion.
Coupon Scribbles
Why God Matters - Book Review
by Kristin
September 20, 2010
I was intrigued from the title and was very interested to read this book. Why God Matters – How to Recognize Him in Daily Life by Karina Fabian and Deacon Lumbert.
Why God Matters is very easy to read and you could read it in one setting but it is something to keep on your shelf handy as a resource. It reads as a story but will really draw you in to the author’s thoughts. It talks about suffering and be called to suffer but also being able to recognize when suffering is right. The author states that God is not impressed when we choose to suffer over the minor annoyances of life instead of trying to resolve those things. I believe it is a great read and is really timely for the times we are currently living in.
Father and daughter, Deacon Steve Lumbert and Karina Lumbert Fabian, have written a lovely little book called Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life, published by Tribute Books. Theirs are stories of the journey to holiness in the events of ordinary lives-- lives to which we can all relate.
Karina writes, "My journey to truly living my faith has been one of small steps ever forward..." This book fills in the details of many of these small steps she has taken. Interestingly, Karina's life became a model for her father who converted to Catholicism and then became a deacon. Lessons learned by Karina and those learned by Deacon Steve are presented in alternating chapters, with intriguing titles like, "Martyr for the Trivial," "Out of the Depths of Despair," and "Does God Send Flowers?" (And does he send flowers? Yes!)
Deacon Steve writes, "Where are you in your faith? On the outside looking in? On the borders wanting to move closer?....Ask God to help you discover ways to get there." Simple? Yes. Profound? Yes.
"What's your martyr issue?" asks Karina. "Take some time today and dwell over it, but not about how you've suffered. Instead, offer it to God, then think about really solving the problem. Of course, the first step is to simply pray, 'Lord, let this end in me now.'" Who cannot relate to the struggle to avoid tripping over life's little molehills.
Each chapter begins with words of wisdom such as the following:
You know well enough that our Lord does not look so much at the greatness of our actions, nor even at their difficulty, but at the love with which we do them. --St. Therese of Lisieux
The affairs of God are accomplished little by little and almost imperceptibly. The spirit of God is neither violent nor hasty. --St. Vincent de Paul
Cast yourself into the arms of God and be very sure that if he wants anything of you, he will fit you for the work and give you the strength. --St. Philip Neri
The conclusion of each chapter is a brief suggestion or commentary followed by relevant Scripture and Catechism quotes. The book is worth getting for these quotes alone. They make the lesson of each chapter jump right out at you.
I recommend this book. It's an easy read, scarcely a hundred pages. The authors, in their genuineness, have produced a simple and positive message of hope and encouragement.
Long ago I read a book written by a well known Catholic convert* who said that one of the things that most surprised him about becoming a Catholic was that everyday life had become suffused with the supernatural, and that the supernatural was now everyday.
Being a sacramental religion, Catholicism does use ordinary, physical things -- oil, water, bread, wine, the marital embrace -- as conduits for God's life giving grace. And simple, tangible items, such as a humble string of beads or two bits of cloth joined by a cord, can actually become a powerful spiritual weapon or a protective shield. Tempted by demons, guarded by angels, and given an occasional assist by the saints, ordinary life is a deceptively disguised battle-field adventure that rivals any fantasy or science fiction epic.
The problem is, it can look so ordinary. God may whap a few of us upside the head with a spiritual two by four, but the vast majority of us will only come to a radical conversion of mind, heart, and spirit through the small, everyday choices we make in classroom, kitchen, or cubicle.
This idea is the major thrust of Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life. This is not a book about figuring out what to believe -- though both authors had to do that at different points in their lives. (Deacon Steven Lumbert is a convert; Karina Fabian is a cradle Catholic who made a full commitment to the Faith as an adult. ) Instead it's about how God led them to a deeper faith through seemingly ordinary incidents in their everyday lives.
Writing alternate chapters, Lumbert and Fabian recount personal stories with elements as disparate as a Puerto Rican chicken and rice dish, a barefoot stranger at Mass, an unexpected flower delivery, an incense-triggered acid reflux attack, and an armed auto thief who couldn't manage to get his gun out of his pocket. Each is followed by a "Life Lesson" meditating on what the author brought away from the experience, how it contributed to his or her relationship with God, and the possible application it might have to the reader's own life. (I could particularly identify with Fabian's chapter about her disorganized approach to housekeeping and how it paralleled her spiritual life. I have so done that deranged drill sergeant thing to my own kids during the rush to clear things up before guests arrive!)
A related scriptural quotation and an extract from the Catholic Catechism rounds off each chapter. And at the end of the book is a list of resources for further reading which may also be seen here. In the mood for a sample? You can read an excerpt of Chapter 2 on the sidebar of this page.
By the way, Karina Fabian is also the author of Magic, Mensa & Mayhem a fantasy novel about Vern, a dragon detective, and his partner Sister Grace, a high mage of the Faerie Catholic Church, as they shepherd a Faerie contingent to a Mensa convention in the mundane world. Fabian is also the editor of and a contributor to Leaps of Faith, an anthology of Christian science fiction and Infinite Space, Infinite God, a collection of Catholic science fiction stories. (Having read all three of these is what made me interested in reviewing Why God Matters.)
Sober Catholic
Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life
by Paul S.
September 18, 2010
I have been asked by Tribute Books to write a review for one of their recent titles, Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life by Karina Lumbert Fabian and Deacon Steven Lumbert.
Fabian and Lumbert are a daughter-father duo and they’ve written a very spiritual little book (114 pages) that would serve well as a guide to living a fully Catholic life.
Each short chapter is organized along four different parts: a story drawn from the personal life of each writer (they alternate), followed by a “Life Lesson” that draws out the story through questions and comments, then a Scripture passage and lastly an excerpt from the Catechism of the Catholic Church. As I read the book, drawn into each personal account of how God interacted or interceded in their lives at critical points, I was struck by the notion that “Why God Matters” would be a great companion to take to a Holy Hour of Adoration.
The major premise of the book is that faith is to be lived. Not just for an hour on Sunday and sequestered the rest of the week, but consciously lived in all areas great and small. If you listen to the “still, small voice” that God uses to speak to His people, you will learn to recognize Him in your daily activities.
Another premise is that faith is most especially to be handed down to the next generation. It is an inheritance that must be nurtured and “watered” as if it were a seed to spring into growth at an opportune time later in life. In fact, the soul is likened to a seed, the “seed of eternity.” So, in essence, the soul and faith are inextricably linked. Faith is an ongoing daily process of conversion. “Spiritual progress”, if you wish to use that term. It is a lifelong journey wherein we learn to breathe in Christ’s breath, and gradually grow in Christ.
The personal stories clearly illustrate these premises. Each story is from an episode in the lives of Fabian and Lumbert, about how God involved Himself in the major and the seemingly “small” events in their lives, and how their Faith was influenced and grew in response.
That God is present and intervenes in the “little areas” of life is a comfort to all of us. He is not only present during the obvious major happenings in life, but also in the less-than-obvious times where He quietly makes Himself known.
God is there, answering the most “meager of prayers”, and is present not only in the darkest of days but also in those times when you are deluged by the most trivial of oppressions (when everything seems to be going wrong and all is conspiring against you). It is during these times that God sometimes makes the biggest impact.
I very much recommend this book to readers of Sober Catholic. Many of the book’s “Life Lessons” caused me to go back a re-read the chapter as they gave a deeper insight into the story. That is a lesson in itself. As the readers of Sober Catholic are affected by recovery from one sort of addiction or another, this book is a wonderful guide to spiritual progression.
Being Me - Beliefs, Blessings & Blunders
Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life by Karina Lumbert Fabian and Deacon Steven Lumbert
by Susan Ideus
September 17, 2010
Preach the Gospel at all times. Use words when necessary. -St. Francis of Assisi
Before I proceed, I feel as though I should make this disclaimer up front—although I am a practicing Christian, I’m not a Catholic. That being said, I did not find that a hindrance while reading and processing this lovely little book, Why God Matters from Tribute Books.
Perhaps that is because this father-daughter duo of Karina, a Catholic laywoman and Steve, her Catholic deacon Dad, wrote about ideas that are “catholic” in the true sense of the word, which Merriam-Webster defines as “of, relating to, or forming the church universal”—in other words, of interest to all the faithful. The Online Dictionary further clarifies: “Including or concerning all humankind; universal”.
I may not have fully understood all the particular Catholic references to the Catechism or the unique Sacraments, but I did understand—and learn from—the ideas the authors presented. Their stories were touching and insightful. They show in countless ways that God does indeed matter.
For instance, in the chapter “Love in a Pot of Rice”, Karina illustrates the maxim of sharing with those in need even if you have little, a lesson learned from her grandparents and parents. She says her roots are “deeply embedded in charitable love.” Her life lesson to share: “God calls us to be the first teachers to our children in living a life of faith, hope and charity.” What parent could not identify with this and try to model it in their home?
There is Deacon Steve’s chapter “So Help Me God I Didn’t Do It”. In it he tells of his rather adventurous, somewhat rebellious youth. A near escape from a wrongful jail sentence—he really was innocent–taught him valuable lessons. His chosen lifestyle made it look bad for a while. His life lesson: “Even the habit of giving in to ‘small’ temptations can have dire consequences.” Who among us has not struggled with choices and watched and agonized when our children have done the same?
The illustrations go on. The book is filled with real-life lessons and observations that are rich in meaning and filled with meaningful application, but never preachy. The stories are honest, not shying away from doubts and fears. There is humor mixed with authentic humanity.
In a time when this world of ours is rent by religious divisions, and rife with political repercussions from the same, it is refreshing to find a book filled with hope for humanity. It is a reminder to me that while we of faith may have differences, our commonalities are so much greater. Humankind shares in life with all its complexities, and we could go a long way in promoting peace and harmony by focusing on our similarities. We’re in this together. This small book promotes that in a big way.
Perhaps the seminal life lesson is the one which fittingly ends the book. We would do well to carry it with us daily.
“Be an example of faith, and have faith the example will influence others.”
Marilyn's Musings
Why God Matters by Karina Fabian and Deacon Steve Lumbert
by Marilyn Meredith
September 16, 2010
Though small, Why God Matters is a powerful book.
Deacon Steve Lumbert and his daughter Karina Fabian share their experiences along with succinct and meaningful guides from the Bible and Catholic Catechism.
I particularly liked what is stated in the Introduction. "May what you read help you on your small steps toward great faith. May you breathe in Christ's breath."
One of the topics addressed is "Simple ways to deal with Life's Trials" from the trivial irritations to the depths of dispair.
Something we all need to learn in our walk of faith is to ask for what we need rather than what we want.
There is a section on guardian angels, and another on how to keep a balance in your life.
Karina and Deacon Steve explain that's it's important to keep a relationship with God that's more than personal and how to do it.
Both Karina and her father tell how God made himself know to each of them.
There is so much in this book that will be helpful to any Christian, no matter his or her denomination. I'm a Southern Baptist, but I found many gems in this book to encourage me and strengthen my faith.
I recommend this book as a devotional or as just an uplifting read.
Onedesertrose
"Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life" by Karina Lumbert Fabian and Deacon Steven Lumbert
by Linda Wagner
September 15, 2010
This is a book on Catholicism written by Deacon Steven Lumbert and his daughter, Karina Lumbert Fabian. Although I was raised in Catholicism, I have to admit that we weren’t taught in the same manner as described in this book. I have also come to learn there are different Catholic ‘denominations,’ for lack of a correct term. They are based on the different ministries of the Holy Spirit, as explained by a priest some four years ago. Might explain why I did not receive these same teachings.
I appreciated the forthrightness of both father and daughter about their personal faith, their personal journeys, and their use of Scripture. They delineate what the different phases of the Catholic walk is in a very real and personal way to them on a day-to-day basis. They touch on giving, helping others, legacy of love, habits, temptations and consequences, suffering, prayer, faith, relationships, balance, angels, and being an influence in their lives using their own experiences, life lessons, Scripture, and Catholic catechism.
I can’t say I got a greater understanding of what the Catholic Church teaches on many issues I consider important in my life today. Some of their referenced books may do more to explain.
I was disappointed that Jesus and His death and resurrection power, along with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, were not mentioned as our sources of power to live for the Lord, as well as being ‘born from above,’ as discussed in the gospel of John, chapter three.
Fathers are so cool, they can be the best person in a child's life....or the worst. It's their choice. Much of it depends on their own bringing up, how they interpret the role of parenthood, especially the role of being the father. Fathers balance the family scales with mothers, giving the children in the nest two places to rely on. From the dawn of history, mothers were the nurturers, consolers, and source of gentle loving confidence. Fathers, on the other hand, provided the means to which the family survived, food, money, shelter, and protection from the outside.
Children, therefore, saw in a father the strength of one beyond their own capacity. The automatic dependence was a source of security that only in the strength of the father could a child even think of venturing outside the cocoon of the mother's nest.
The father's dependence on the mother was also a sign of strength to the children. His love and devotion to their mother impressed upon their children that strength is a sign of wisdom when it can bow down to dependence and devotion to another.
In August, at the Catholic Media Network and Catholic Writer's Conference Live event in Philly, I was able to meet just such a father in Deacon Steve. He and his daughter, Karina, wrote a book together sharing their history and growth in their belief and dependence in God. "Why God Matters," is a compilation of experiences and life lessons that both brought them closer together and instilled in them that God is there for them at each and every corner of their lives. Both are a complete delight and without saying a word are beacons of hope for those around them in God. Just by their actions, you can tell they have joy in their hearts and hope on their sleeves. They know God and God knows them.
Meeting them both, I can see that Karina is the person she is because of her father's role in her life. Deacon Steve, has truly been a devoted father to both his daughters and completely devoted to their mother. Yes, trials followed him throughout their family life, but it never dimmed their love for God, on the contrary, it strengthened their awareness of His presence.
The stories in their book will make you laugh, cry, and even give you an "Ah ha" moment through their life lessons section following each chapter. I loved the book and went away from reading it with the wide-open message that fatherhood is so imperative to a child's psyche and security. Karina is blessed and Deacon Steve is a blessing.
iAmBelievingGod's Blog
'Why God Matters'- a modern Catholic apologetic
by Jill Potts Jones
September 15, 2010
Deacon Steven Lumbert and his daughter, Karina Lumbert Fabian, teamed up to write a book about the importance of recognizing God in our daily life. Written from the Catholic perspective, it gives a personal, yet significant look at what a relationship with God looks like for everyday people yearning for meaning. Click here for an excerpt.
Each chapter gives a personal account which teaches a life lesson using scripture and covering topics such as keeping balance in your life, suffering and faith. They also teach about how God inspires us, how to achieve faith, and how to seek after God.
An inspirational as well as devotional book, “Why God Matters” can be read and enjoyed by both Catholics and Protestants. Everyone can take something away from this book in terms of learning how to relate to God and how God, in turn, relates to us. My favorite lesson is Chapter Twelve when Karina discusses a “non-personal” relationship with God. Just like Karina, I want a “relationship that encompasses all of God.” This may be uncomfortable for some but is necessary for all. We can’t separate God’s characteristics into compartments and expect to learn anything about Him.
“Why God Matters” has received a five-star rating at Amazon.com and was awarded the seal of approval by the Catholic Writers Guild. Click here to visit the book’s website. Click here to purchase from Amazon.com.
Tea at Trianon
Why God Matters
by Elena Maria Vidal
September 15, 2010
I just finished reading Why God Matters, a series of stories and meditations by Deacon Steve Lumbert and his daughter, Karina Lumbert Fabian. With frankness and simplicity the authors tell of how God can be found in the very ordinariness of life, in the performance of our daily duties, in every joy and sorrow. Replete with quotes from Scripture, the Catechism and the writings of the saints, the book is not only deeply inspiring but offers a practical guide for organizing one's activities so that there will always be time for prayer. I enjoyed the family stories and feel that I have met the precious lady to whom the book is dedicated, Mrs. Lumbert, Steve's wife and Karina's mother, whose strong faith was passed on to those she loves. How happy she must be to see this short but powerful book which will surely lift many hearts to God. Congratulations!
Palace of Twelve Pillars
Book Review: Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life
by Christina Weigand
September 14, 2010
There are so many wonderful things in this book I’m not sure where to begin. So I guess I’ll start at the beginning. I’m one of those cradle Catholics. For a long time I mistakenly believed I knew all there was to know about being a Christian. A few years ago, through some life-changing events, I learned that was not the case. In fact I discovered how little I did know. Ms. Fabian and her father, Deacon Lumbert’s book Why God Matters reinforced this message and will serve to guide me on my journey to God.
This book reached out and spoke to me in so many ways. I’m not sure I could pick a chapter that didn’t address some part of my life that needed attention. I like the way the chapters tell a very real life story and then show the lesson learned. With Biblical references and quotes from Catechism of the Catholic Church the lessons are driven solidly home. They resonate for cradle Catholics as well as those new to the faith. They encourage us to continue in a life-long pursuit of God and what He can teach us. Like Ms. Fabian says in Chapter 12, entitled My Non-Personal Relationship with God: “I want a relationship with God. I just don’t want it to be “personal.” I want a relationship that encompasses all of God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. One where he is all-powerful as he is all loving, where he listens to my trivial concerns with benevolence and maybe amusement–yet one where I can rage and share all and come crawling to him when I’m weak and confess my wrongdoings, knowing that no matter how small and wretched I am, he will be there for me, because after all, he is God.”
The book includes fourteen chapters. The chapters are short and to the point and can be easily read in an afternoon, not that I would recommend that. My recommendation is read it through once and then go back and read one chapter a day, or a week or a month. Digest the chapter, figure out how it applies to your life, to your spiritual journey. Embrace the message, make it part of your life. This isn’t rocket science, there may be no bolts of lightning, no burning bushes. Instead just simple life examples that can forever change your life. I truly love the fact, that it is in the simple moments in our lives where we find God. Ms. Fabian and Deacon Lumbert gently and wonderfully remind us of that with their book Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life. I for one am going to start looking and highly recommend this book to any Christian looking to do the same.
Like Ms. Fabian and Deacon Lumbert, I believe St. Vincent De Paul defines this books message best: “The affairs of God are accomplished little by little and almost imperceptibly. The Spirit of God is neither violent nor hasty.”
Check out the website www.whygodmatters.com for more from the authors or have a story to share about your journey.
God Bless,
Christina Weigand
Do Not Be Anxious
An On-Line Book Review
by Tom Salapatek
September 14, 2010
I was selected from a large group of Catholic bloggers to review this book, written by a Catholic “re-vert” and her convert father. I agreed to do this because it seemed such a simple thing; I regularly read so many books --- what’s one more. It turned out, however, to be anything but simple.
As anyone who has read my blather in this space knows, I desire and encourage spiritual growth, in part because, as the Catholic Church states, a key purpose of our life is to grow in holiness. So I had some initial misgivings at a first reading of this short book when, instead of promoting spiritual growth, it seemed to be saying: “Look, see how much we’ve grown! Let’s celebrate where we’re at!” This seemed almost childish to me, and the book seemed to tell stories of minor importance --- until I remembered that I was once a child myself, and even some of the smallest things once seemed very big to me.
The book’s cover indicated Why God Matters was written by and for “average” Catholics, and it was written without “religiosity.” “Why God Matters,” written in a non-religious way? I, a reader of philosophers, theologians, popes, and doctrinal exegesis, was confused by this simple book before I even read the first page! While I enjoy both the depth of Cantalamessa and the simplicity of Mother Teresa of Calcutta, I didn’t know how to make sense of what I was reading in this book.
For a while, as I read through the 14 simple stories in Why God Matters, my mind was looking for God in the words, in His great complexity and eternal beauty – but many of the stories never even mentioned the word “God”. I was looking for deepness, but I had forgotten Him as I first saw Him, much earlier in my life, as in the simple picking of a flower, or in the comfort of my mother’s hug. I had forgotten the simple joy a child feels (and which we, even as adults, can re-live) when he yells: “Mommy! Mommy! Look, a bug!” The child smiles at his new-found wonder, and so do we. As I began to recall these things, I began to see the beauty so many “average” Catholics have said they see in this book. It is a celebration of God in our lives, in the simple things.
I’ve read many “Catholic” books, from those which challenge me to meditate and grow in love of God, to those which celebrate being Catholic --- except for all those things, you know, that the Church does wrong (and which, they note, is just about everything). This book really is between those extremes; it’s aimed at the Catholic who accepts and loves his faith, even if perhaps he is not as “on fire” as some others. This book takes small snapshots of our life, and enables you to see HIM in the picture. The book shows how much our Catholic faith influences how we think and live, like in its chapters about how we love our neighbor by sharing food with them, or worrying that we’re too much of a burden on them as they wait to pick us up at the airport. It shows that God loves us, through simple reminders to be virtuous or to grow in our faith, or through great acts of our guardian angels to protect us from harm. It is our Catholic faith; it is a way to live our lives --- with God. He is there, He matters, even if we so often forget to notice Him. This book serves to remind us.
On the sidebar of this blog you can see the Prayer to the Apostle Paul, which I pray before mass: “Give us a deep faith, a steadfast hope, a burning love for Our Lord.” Recall how important the adjectives are in our life. Without them life is a dull event. I pray that readers of this book use it to begin to see that deepness, that steadfastness, and that burning in their own lives. It is: why He matters.
The authors of Why God Matters don’t write with many adjectives such as these. Oh, I’m sure they could write the beautiful words of Augustine, late have I loved You, but from reading this book I wouldn’t expect them to write his words: I pant after You. I have tasted You and I hunger and thirst after You. Such emotions are not contained in their words. They don’t write of their tears upon receiving the Eucharist, but try to explain why they don’t want a relationship with Him. Even as they are confident they see Him in their lives, it appears there is so much more they have to learn to know Him; it will take a lifetime of learning. But, hey, they’re young, and they’ve learned the journey can be a joy.
Take a walk with them on their journey in this book; see their joy. See yours. Look!
There's something about the relationship between a father and his daughter that is much more special than any other relationship between any two people. If a woman grows up without feeling loved by and cared for by her father, no one else in the world can make that up to her, she will always have an empty hole in her heart that only her father can fill. (Of course this applies even more to our Heavenly Father than to our earthly father!)
So when I was offered the opportunity by Tribute Books to read and review "Why God Matters" by the father and daughter duo of Deacon Steven Lumbert and Karina Lumbert Fabian as part of a book tour, I was more than happy to oblige. Deacon Steven and Karina obviously enjoy a very close and loving relationship that includes the Lord at the heart of it, a closeness that was missing in my own life with my father, but which surprisingly feels closer than ever since he passed away four years ago. It was intruging for me to have a look at what that closeness might have been like while he was still living.
Deacon Steven is a convert to Catholicism and Karina, born after her father's conversion, is a cradle Catholic. Their book of very short stories and anecdotes of faith was very easy to read and a quick read as well, which made it very enjoyable to pick up and read through in short spurts rather than one long read. I enjoyed this aspect as I usually only have 10-15 minutes to sit with a book before the pace of my life causes me to get up and running once again.
After a little background of each of their experiences of faith in general, the book alternates between short stories written by each of them individually. Each short story chapter includes a quote of wisdom from other Catholic writers, a scripture quote, a quote from the Catechism of the Catholic Church and a life lesson section where the reader may apply the chapter to their own life.
I came away from this book with the feeling that living life as a Catholic is as simple as drawing God into the everyday ordinariness of life and turning to Him in both joy and sorrow because after all, that is where He is always found. I enjoyed the simplicity of "Why God Matters" and would highly recommend it, especially as a gift for someone in the RCIA process who is just beginning to learn and understand why God matters in their own lives.
I thank Deacon Steve and Karina for writing an authentic and spiritually uplifting book, and I thank Nicole at Tribute Books for offering me this opportunity to read and review "Why God Matters."
Keeping the Faith
Book Review - Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life
by Angela Pereira
September 14, 2010
I was thrilled to be asked to provide a book review for Karina Lumbert Fabian & Deacon Steven Lumbert's Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life.
Let me start with – I loved this book. It is such a wonderful testament to God and how His love fills our lives in the simplest ways, astonishing us with his abundant grace.
I am not a cradle Catholic; I was raised in the Methodist church, in a devout and committed family, and spent my childhood involved in Bible study, church choir, and youth activities. I met my husband, and started attending mass with him. My parents – especially my mom – were devastated at what they perceived to be a horrible affront to my upbringing. My husband and I were married in the Methodist church, but I promised him that I would raise our children Catholic, and that I would consider converting.
It took me another nine years to make that decision, but once it was made, I knew that it was right for me, for my husband, for our two daughters, and later, for our two sons. I am still growing in faith, and realized long ago that it isn’t the huge, life-changing moments that shape our faith relationship with God, but the constant, steady everyday expression of love that binds us to Him! The life lessons presented in Why God Matters spoke to me in so many ways, I’m not sure I could pick a single one that didn’t address some aspect of my life as I know it! The one that is still resonating with me a week later is “Great faith is not achieved at once, but in small steps over time.” Finding God in the ordinariness of every day life – I can’t think of a better way to explore and expand my own faith journey.
I like the way each chapters tell a very real life story and then shows the lesson learned. Each chapter is rounded out with Biblical references and quotes from Catechism of the Catholic Church. Like Ms. Fabian states, “I want a relationship with God. I just don’t want it to be “personal.” I want a relationship that encompasses all of God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. One where he is all-powerful as he is all loving, where he listens to my trivial concerns with benevolence and maybe amusement–yet one where I can rage and share all and come crawling to him when I’m weak and confess my wrongdoings, knowing that no matter how small and wretched I am, he will be there for me, because after all, he is God.”
It truly is the simple moments in our lives where we find God. Ms. Fabian and Deacon Lumbert gently remind us of that with their book Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life.
Want more? Click here to read an excerpt from Chapter Two. You won't regret it.
Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life, offers us insight to our Catholic faith through personal stories, life lessons, and Scripture. This unassuming slender volume is both comfortable and comforting. Deacon Steven Lumbert and his daughter, Karina Lumbert Fabian team up to provide reflective short stories, offering their witness in recognizing God and His influence within their everyday lives. Though the accounts vary from serious to playful, all will have you nodding in recognition, agreement, or understanding. Each story follows with a short, thoughtful, Life Lesson segment inviting the reader to consider how we also might see God at work in our own daily lives.
The personal stories and life lessons fit so cleanly with a quotation from Scripture and the Catechism that you can’t help wondering which came first in writing and arranging the book - the story or the quotes.
Powerful in its simplicity, with many layers, each reading offers something new to consider. One can appreciate the main point of each story, without fully exploring the interconnection of the story with the Scripture and the Catechism until another reading. The arrangement and length of each chapter allows you to read in small available segments of time or one restful afternoon.
In the Epilogue, Karina and Deacon Steve invite you to share your own story with them and others. They offer a resource list of websites, books, and favorite prayers for those feeling particularly inspired to continue learning about our faith.
Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life is a welcome addition to any family reading list.
Crazed Mind
God Blessed Us
by Lenore Webb
September 13, 2010
Today is my 7th wedding anniversary to Dear Hubby. I feel quite blessed to have him love me as deeply as he does. I wanted to share how we started out. I hope you do not mind. But for us this was a moment in our lives that God blessed.
8 years ago, I was married to College Girls poppa. I was sad and lonely in that relationship and had been for over 10 years. He was unhappy too. But we worked at staying together. Our mutual goal was to make it til College Girl was out of school. (She was then High School Girl.) I had been out of town for two weeks with my daughter, visiting my birth father. On the day of our return I received a call from my mother telling me of a death in our family. I dropped HSG off for church camp and dashed across Texas again to be by my mothers side.
The day of the funeral, I was helping my Great Uncle fill his dish at the meal afterwards. We sat at a near by table and proceeded to eat and talk. My ears perked up when I heard a warm voice full of laughter. I looked up and saw a man helping an elderly woman just as I had done with my Great Uncle. They sat at our table and of course we were all talking soon. That afternoon I was telling my mother how much I enjoyed just talking to this man. She knew him and his family and encouraged me to have him come to her cafe and have coffee and more time to visit. So I called (how brazen is that?) and asked if he could join us. Well it seems there was a conflict of plans as the annual fireworks show was to be that evening. He asked if I wanted to join his family as they were all attending. My mom told me to go on so I did.
Well if you have seen the large Texas skies you know they go on forever. That evening laying down and watching the beautiful colors explode across the heavens I was happier than I could remember being in a very long time. Afterwards I sat in the car and was talking to this enjoyable gentleman. And we talked about life, family, joys, sorrows and everything that came across our minds. We talked til we noticed the sun was rising in the eastern sky. Oh my goodness....we had talked all night long.
Quickly we said our goodbyes and both returned to our homes. I apologized to my mother for being out all night but told her it was great to have someone I could talk with and just be myself too. Soon afterwards I packed up my car and started the trip back home. Mile by mile went by and I became sicker and sicker to my stomach. I realized how much I did not want to go back home to my husband. I realized that I woke every day nauseated and dreading the day. And I realized I had not felt that way the whole time I had been away visiting my birth father and my mother. Sadness washed all over my whole being.
Then I was hit in the head and told to stop the car! Wait here a moment. I was alone in that car. All alone. But again I heard in a booming voice to Pull Over NOW! You have to know I did. And as I did I became calm. Thoughts were coming at me so quickly I did not know how I could take it all in. But I very quickly came to understand that I was not on the right path. No, I was to change all now. Sitting by the side of the road I paged through the local paper that I had kept with my Cousins obit in it. In the real estate section I saw low rents that I could afford on my disability check. With a calmness and peace I never felt before I knew I was to move.
Yes, and move I did. I finished my trip home. Sat and talked with my then husband in a very calm fashion. We agreed that being together was making both of us miserable. I told him of my events and I wanted to move. He understood. The next day I returned to my mom's town, found a place to live, paid all the bills to set up and returned to pack my and my daughter's belongings. Yes, that quick. And it all was calm, smooth and felt right.
Soon after wards I met back up with that same gentleman. We continued to talk, visit and in time grew to know we were so happy with each other. A little over a year later we married. Yes, I had found my mate, my partner, my best friend and my darling Dear Hubby. We are close friends with College Girls poppa to this day. (As a matter of fact he moved to the same town soon after wards.)
Now I have taken you through this long dialog. Well it is because I truly feel that God put us together at the right time. That we recognized him working in our lives at the same time. You see, I deeply believe that God does work in our lives in little ways that make big differences. You can see how he has done this for others in the book, Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life by Kariana Lumbert Fabian and her father Deacon Steven Lumbert. This has the Seal of Approval from the Catholic Writers Guild. Another lil thing for Dear Hubby and I. You see he is Catholic and I am Baptist, yet we do not have any discourse in our religious beliefs. We come together in all areas of our lives so well. A God thing, I have to say. I love the way this book shares. "God is with us always, sometimes in ways we don't even realize. Deacon Steve Lumbert and his daughter Karina Fabian say. You can share their stories of how God led them from casual belief to deep devotion, and offer tips and exercises to help you see God's hand - and take it." How have you seen God work in your life. Was it a provision that came at just the right moment? A quiet moment that filled you to the brim? The work of others to help when you thought you was at the end of your rope? God is like that. Sometimes quiet, sometimes booming and always fulfilling. You may wish to share this book too to see how to recognize those times.
I do want to say thanks for listening to me. The happiness that fills my life is very much due to the deep love I have from my Dear Hubby. His constant reassurance that he will always be here and always love me. If you could just see the deep love shines through his eyes you too would know this is a blessed union.
September 12.
9/12
The day after 9/11
Not an ordinary day.
I’m sure many discovered an answer to the question, “Does God Matter?”
Usually, our daily lives are so …. daily…routine….ordinary.
A Father and a daughter share their stories of faith during the more ordinary times of their lives. What a project! To take the time to remember and relate those times when God Makes His Presence known. A treasure, to take time, to pause, reflect and retell those stories.
Deacon Steve
Deacon Steve recalls an incident in which his Guardian Angel obviously was there..protecting him. I would believe that those during the trials of 9/11 had experiences of their angels. I’ve had a few of these myself, so it helped me remember..and recall.
Karina
Karina shares with intimacy and honesty her feelings..especially so in the story about her grandmother. Do you have a Grandma story to remember, too?
I liked the format, that includes scriptures and sections of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. This ties our faith and family connections together, as they should be.
A group of us have agreed to review this book on our blogs…as you can see, mine has been published on Sept 12. I have read many of the ones already published. It’s amazing how we can be reading the same book, and come away with very different reviews and reflections.
Faith on the High Wire
Why God Matters - The Book Tour & Giveaway
by Kathy Vestermark
September 12, 2010
I was pleased to accept an invitation from Tribute Books to review a new publication entitled, Why God Matters, by Karina Lumbert Fabian & Dcn. Steven Lumbert. I enjoy spiritual reading and often find inspiration in stories that relate a personal journey toward God. This is just that type of book.
Dcn. Steven and his daughter Karina offer the reader both a story of conversion and one of faith nurtured and developed with loving care from infancy to adulthood; each story speaks to the abiding faithfulness of God to bring every man to salvation. The reader will be inspired by Steven’s conversion to Catholicism -- from a life of relative indifference to one of deep love and commitment, even to the point of accepting a call to the permanent diaconate. Dcn. Steven was inspired through prayer, his own and those of his loving wife, Soccora, to put aside his anxieties, care and worries and embrace a change to both his temporal and spiritual reality.
This conversion opened the door to truly assisting his wife in raising their daughters in the light of the Catholic Faith. Karina speaks to the generous and gentle influence of her family’s love of the Church and of their neighbor throughout her formative childhood years. She recants stories about how the witness of charity toward neighbor was influential in how she learned to be generous with her own time, talent and treasure for the needs of the Church.
Trust, forgiveness, and prayer are recurrent themes throughout the book and set a solid foundation for relating their stories in a real and relevant way. The reader will be able to easily relate to the situations, issues and experiences that have shaped and directed this father and daughter’s journey toward a life lived for the love of their God and Savior.
Why God Matters is a enjoyable and inspiring read, offering solid information supported by Scripture, Tradition and the Magisterium. There are pearls of wisdom in these pages for everyone at all stages of their spiritual journey.
Many weeks ago, I was approached, by email, to review a new Catholic book. I was reluctant. I wasn’t uncomfortable committing to read the book, I was uncomfortable committing to post a review.
Months before I was approached with a similar request from another author this one not Catholic. I was thrilled. My little blog, intended as a place to keep distant friends and family “in the loop”, had given me the opportunity to “meet” a real author, read her book for free, and share my thoughts. Wow!
Well the book arrived. It was attractive, it had a great idea, raising children to be Christian, and it was well written. However, I could not in fairness post my review. The books description said it was about how to raise our children to be good Christian, but instead it spoke of a movement to raise children to start churches.
Although often the author proved the importance of many of the teachings of the Catholic Church, she did it in ignorance by accident. I wrote to her. I explained that although I completely agreed with her that we need as parents to recognize our number one responsibility to God and the children He gave us, is to raise them to love Him first in all things.
I could not write a positive review of a book encouraging youth to follow Saul instead of Paul. Things worked out OK. We agreed I would just not post a review of the book.
When I was asked to review a Catholic book I was in some ways even more reluctant (a protestant book can have flaws but my expectations of a book “claiming” to be Catholic are very high). I am, if nothing else, very serious about my faith. Since coming back home to the Church almost 15 years ago, my greatest passion has been learning what Jesus teaches us through His Church and how to defend those teachings logically and biblically.
Where I have failed is in growing in my “interaction” with God. In other words my prayer life has not matched my knowledge of God. I have spent many many hours reading wonderful, incredible, some heavy, some light books that spoke to my heart and mind about God. They have moved me to a firmness of faith, a profound fulfillment in knowledge of Truth that I pray the Lord will grant me for the rest of my life and help me to pass on to my children. However, I have not been as passionate about spending time listening to or talking to God.
I tried reading books on prayer. I tried finding the right “prayer” that if memorized would lead me deeper in my feelings for and conversation with God. All failed I never finished any of them. My heart did not sing out with the enthusiasm as my mind had when it found the Truths of the Catholic Faith. I wanted a quick fix. I wanted to wake up one morning with a sudden ability to deeply contemplate our Lord in prayer.
Through my previous experiences walking with Christ, I knew it would take steps. One step at a time developing my prayer life as I had developed my gift of faith. I even committed to a prayer partner to pray together each morning. I believe this first step forward was used by the Lord to place this wonderful book, Why God Matters right in my lap.
Why God Matters by Deacon Steve Lumbert and his daughter Karina Lumbert Fabian is the gem I have looked for over the last 14 years. Through their written words I finally have direction. I knew my destination but had no idea how to find and follow the “right” path. Deacon Steve and Karina have, in a sense, left little bread crumbs on the path for me to follow.
Seldom have a read a book and immediately wanted to read it again. Yet that is exactly the position I am in right now. I would even like to buy a second copy so that I can cut it up and place specific pages around my house to remind me of their simple wisdom. As Rome Sweet Home was a turning point in my life, so to do I believe that I will look back and see that Why God Matters was another vital turning point in my journey with Christ.
Although very quick (2 hours) and simple to read, I am better for having read it. I have the sense of direction I had been searching for. Deacon Steve and Karina, thank you for being the instrument of the Holy Spirit in my life. Thank you for opening up your hearts to complete strangers so that our hearts could then reach out further to God. May the Lord Bless you and your families and may all who read you wonderful book find in its pages the bread crumbs you have left on the path that leads to an ever deeper relationship with our Lord.
BlogCritics
Book Review: Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life by Karina Lumbert Fabian and Deacon Steven Lumbert
by Frank Etier
September 11, 2010
“Enthusiasm” is defined by Word Origins and Their Romantic Stories as “the god within”. The Online Etymology Dictionary says it’s: “divinely inspired, possessed by a god”. That same online source defines an “enthusiast” as “one who believes himself possessed of divine revelations or special communication from God.”
Now enter the United Methodist Church’s Reverend Joe Donakey as he suggests the reversal of a classic adage to become: “Love is God”.
The authors of Why God Matters encourage new converts (as well as long time believers) to “recognize the constant presence of God within them.” Can we deduce that non-believers can/have experienced God — if they have experienced love?
Karina Lumbert Fabian and Deacon Steven Lumbert concede that “if you are reading this book, you already have at least a fledgling faith.” Their effort is not a Billy Graham “convert the sinners” effort, but rather an attempt to educate, encourage, and assist believers along the way on their spiritual journey. They think it’s important and they seem to enjoy “preaching to the choir.”
In the beginning, Fabian and Lumbert offer a simple exercise to “breathe in Christ” — it’s not a metaphor, but a real exercise. They suggest a one word prayer [“Je-” as you inhale, and “-sus” as you exhale] as a method to calm and focus yourself as you open your heart to the Holy Spirit.
Taking a queue from a great teacher, the deacon and his daughter illustrate the significance of God in their lives with a series of fourteen personal stories (parables?) supplemented with quotes from the Bible and some of their favorite Saints. These stories recount their own experiences in their spiritual journeys with faith, words, deeds, and of course, love.
And in the end, the authors offer suggested readings including web sites and other books. They also invite the readers to share their own stories at whygodmatters.com. Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life concludes with three prayers — the “Anima Christi,” “The Prayer of St. Francis,” and Deacon Steve’s “Prayer for Enlightenment.”
Would I buy Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life? Yes. The stories are inspirational and will have special meaning to anyone who has experienced love whether they profess to be believers or not.
CatholicMom.com
Catholic Moments - Why God Matters
by Lisa Hendey
September 10, 2010
Click the play button to listen to Karina and Deacon Steve's interview with Lisa.
It’s easy to think of God as some sort of lofty, far-off being who isn’t involved in our daily lives. But father/daughter authors, Deacon Steven Lumbert and Karina Lumbert Fabian, are out to change that perception with their new book, Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life (Tribute Books, 2010).
In the book, Deacon Lumbert confesses that he didn’t always feel God’s presence in his life. He married a Catholic woman and agreed to raise their children in the church, but it was many years before he started to see the relevance of God in his own life. In fact, his journey to faith was so miraculous that he eventually became a deacon in the Catholic church, a very strong commitment to serve God and His people. Along the way, Lumbert was inspired by his daughter’s faith as Karina grew up and created a family of her own.
In Why God Matters, the authors share brief personal stories that illustrate God’s loving presence in our everyday lives. Although this book has a strong Catholic slant, it is valuable reading for anyone on the Christian journey who wants to learn how to better recognize God’s involvement on Earth. This book also contains brief “Life Lessons,” quotes and Bible verses that support their teachings.
Why God Matters is a small book that packs a lot of inspiration into every page. It’s perfect for use as a daily devotional or to read in one sitting. You can find more information about this book at www.WhyGodMatters.com and purchase it on Amazon.
Just a Minute
Book Review: Why God Matters
by Jenny Hausher
September 9, 2010
I received a free unbound print-out of the book Why God Matters published by Tribute books and written by father/daughter, Deacon Steven Lumbert and Karina Lumbert Fabian.
This little book recounts the authors personal stories and encounters with God in their daily lives. It is easy to see the apple does not fall far from the tree. Their conversational writing and reflections on the seemingly small all serve their purpose to give the glory to God. They even remind the reader..."God listens to even the most meager prayers."
Each short chapter is followed by a "Life Lesson." In this small section, there are questions to be pondered after a small informal paragraph, almost meditation like.
This small book was a quick decidedly Catholic read. I can easily see where one could stick this in the car or purse for quick moments of personal reading.
A few weeks ago I was sent a review copy of the book Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life (ISBN: 0982256531) authored by Karina Lumbert Fabian & Deacon Steven Lumbert and published by Tribute Books. The “little” book (114 pages) surprised me quite a bit. Let’s take a quick overview of the book, look at my normal reading habits, and then see how they ended up meshing.
The purpose of Why God Matters is to bridge the gap between faith and day-to-day life by sharing real-life examples taken from the two authors’ experiences and relating them to deeper spiritual concepts. The book is written in a devotional format with fourteen chapters each following a template of recounting a personal experience and then a “Life Lesson”, a Bible passage and a paragraph from the Catechism of the Catholic Church all relating to the spiritual lesson derived from the experience.
I say the book is a devotional format because of each chapter is either five or six pages long and the pages are written in large type, often contain a single Bible verse or passage from the Catechism, or a few paragraphs’ carryover from the previous page. In other words; each chapter reads very, very quickly. As with other books of this format there’s a real temptation to just sit down and read the whole thing cover to cover in a couple hours; which is exactly what I did my first time through. Here’s why:
In general, I don’t care for devotional books. Maybe I’m too shallow but when I read them I tend to come away thinking “Ok, so what?” I tend to read for knowledge and I value a book by what I learn from it. My favorite books are heavy-weight apologetics titles like Peter Kreeft’s Handbook of Catholic Apologetics, for example. I like to chew through a few pages at a time of theologically dense reason, theory, and logic (well, dense for my untrained mind anyway). I like turning pages and feeling like I’m moving along.
Over the last year or so (as posts on this blog will show) I’ve begun to realize that this search for knowledge isn’t the primary calling of a Christian. Sure it’s a calling but not the primary one. Knowing about God can never be a replacement for knowing God. This is where books like Why God Matters hit their stride.
Each chapter is designed to quickly give the reader a relatable experience and then link that experience to how we can find God in it. Why God Matters does a great job of guiding the reader’s thoughts out of the book and into the reader’s own life and experiences. I never asked “Ok, so what?” while reading this book because I was subtly guided to translate what I had read into experiences in my own life. After each chapter there was a tangible call to stop and think; not about what I had read but how what I had read applies to me and my relationship with God. I am now going through the book a second time one chapter at a time and really considering how the lesson can help me know God more and am enjoying the slower, more contemplative pace quite a lot!
In the end, to give this book justice (and to get your money’s worth out of it) it’s best enjoyed in single-chapter doses with time afterward dedicated to really contemplating your relationship with God within the context of the chapter’s “Life Lesson”. This is a book that requires contemplation; if you’re unable to spend quality time doing that or prefer plowing through pages of information this book may not be particularly impactful. That said, I found this book more helpful than other devotional style titles in that Why God Matters guided me along the path of looking inward where other books I’ve read simply left me to do that on my own. I’m not sure that I learned much about God from this book; but I am sure that I know God more because of it.
More information about Why God Matters can be found on the book's website.
The Cross Reference
Book Review: Why God Matters
by Jeff Pinyan
September 9, 2010
A deacon and daughter duo — Dcn. Steve Lumbert (a convert) and Karina Lumbert Fabian (a cradle Catholic) — have written a pleasant and spiritually uplifting book on recognizing God in everyday life, Why God Matters. It's a quick read, and because of that, I think it's likely to catch you off-guard.
Through fourteen chapters, the authors bring you through "the long religious slog of the everyday" (Walt Staples (President of the Catholic Writers Guild), dust jacket) and relate how they found God operating in the seemingly unremarkable events of their lives. Instead of taking the approach of systematic theology, they share steps of their journey of faith that brought them closer to God — or rather, that reminded them of just how close God is to them.
From Deacon Steve, I was reminded that the faith is not something to merely be "observed" (like President's Day); instead, "God must be an active part of our lives." (Chapter 1) During his teenage years he and his brothers were known as trouble-makers, a reputation which landed them in a jail cell for a day... for a crime they didn't commit. The experience inspired him later in life to teach his children "about honesty, integrity, truth, and resisting temptation" (Chapter 3), something I think we can all relate to.
His sensible words about balancing his life as a deacon (between marriage, work, and the diaconate) is especially timely for me: "It's not easy to keep balance. ... The temptation to overextend myself by saying yes to everything is strong." When we find ourselves biting off more than we can chew, we should ask ourselves, "What has God given [me] as [my] first vocation?" (Chapter 11) Finally, the patience of a friend in an airport reminded him of God's unmatchable patience with us: "Like a good friend, God waits patiently for us at journey's end." (Chapter 13)
His daughter challenges us to stop being martyrs over trivialities and lay our cares and worries upon the Lord. When she senses herself making mountains out of molehills, she says this simple prayer: "Lord, let this end in me now." (Chapter 4) By learning how to pace herself throughout the day, she finds peace throughout her week, and Sundays become a day of rejoicing rather than refueling. Her advice to pacing yourself spiritually includes committing yourself to Confession at least once a quarter, and then once a month; and in order to help your family follow your example, "Gently lead them from the front rather than push them from behind." (Chapter 10) When it comes to dealing with a family member who does not believe in God (another situation I can relate to), she candidly admits, "it scares me as nothing has ever scared me before." What's her response? "I pray for him ... and I make small sacrifices on his behalf." Instead of despairing, she loves and gives an example of hope. (Chapter 14)
But her most stunning advice comes in Chapter 12. For her, a "personal relationship" with Jesus Christ doesn't quite cut it. "It smacks to me of name-dropping," she says. She identifies the ways that a "personal relationship" for humans falls short of the sort of relationship we're called to have with God. Even the closest friends keep things private from one another in their relationships: "Do I want limits on my relationship with God?" Personal relationships include trivial banter, but "I am not a peer with God." And then there's the inevitable give-and-take of our human relationships — "once in a while, the other person will be weak" — but that's not the case with God.
Karina challenges us to have a relationship with God that is "more than personal," a relationship that lets God be God and reminds us that we're not! The "life lesson" of the chapter asks, "Does [your relationship] encompass all of God, or is it the 'personal' relationship of 'my buddy Jesus,' or the aloof spiritual relationship of an untouchable deity?"
I'll be honest: I usually read books with "closely reasoned theology" and "appeal[s] to ancient writers of the Church" (Walt Staples), which sometimes leave other readers feeling cold. This book came out of left field and reminds me to breathe with both lungs, to think with head and heart. It has reminded me to look for God in the everyday. It has pointed out to me that God is not just a matter to discuss: God matters.
Holy Vocations
Review: Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life
by Sequoia Sierra
September 8, 2010
“The affairs of God are accomplished little by little and almost imperceptibly.The spirit of God is neither violent nor hasty.” –St. Vincent de Paul
Deacon Steve Lumbert and Karina Lumbert Fabian’s, a father and daughters’ co-authored book; Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life, aptly opens with the above quote of St. Vincent de Paul. The quote poignantly summarizes the aim of the book, in recognizing God’s hands in the “little things,” and in our daily lives, as this is most normally how we experience God.
The authors share their personal journeys, and everyday experiences in the deepening of their faith. Yet rather than be mundane, or routine, as other books or testimonials, it is a fresh and candid recount of their treasury of graces, and the many signs and blessings God bestows upon us throughout life. With a smart intertwining of meditations, quotes, and sections from the Catechism strategically placed before each entry, it serves as an impetus for the individual to search deeper, while remaining at a level that all may comprehend without being vacuous.
The writing style of Karina and Deacon Steve’s personal reflections compliments their message, as it sheds light upon the hand of God in their lives, making the experiences personal to the reader. It is most certainly an exposition readily identified with by the reader, in its juxtaposition of life, humor, and grace.
In our culture today and its suppression of the idea of God, many people, if they choose to believe, tend to search for God in extremes. This is one of the major detriments to a quest for God, in that it is taught that God is to be found in great and mystical occurrences, and unexplained phenomena, which indeed at times He is. However, what differentiates Christianity from other faiths is precisely that God is transcendent, that He is a part of our everyday lives, that He loves us and desires to be united to us, so much so, that He became one of us, and so touched our humanity and every aspect of it, forever. “The Lord was not in the earthquake…and after the earthquake a fire; and after the fire a still small voice (1 Kings 9:12).” Deacon Steve and his daughter Karina, wonderfully illustrate this in their book.
12Romans
Why God Matters - Book Review
by Lisa Frank
September 8, 2010
Why God Matters is a great little gem to have in your spiritual reading collection. It contains short stories and reflections on faith by a daughter and father, one a cradle Catholic, the other a convert. It has a simplistic beauty to it; the chapters are short, which makes it easy to put down and pick up on your own time. Each chapter is a great personal witness of their own faith, but what I like the most are the little extras after the stories. Each chapter contains a Life Lesson, a short Scripture passage, and a quote from the Catechism. The Life Lessons help the reader to reflect on their own faith life and can be a great guide for prayer, while the Scripture and CCC quotes tie everything together. This isn't just another book on faith and it doesn't tell you why God should matter in your life. I see it more as a witness to God's love and a tool for the reader to examine their faith and help them grow as witnesses of Christ.
Father Anthony Ho
Why God Matters (Blog Tour Sept. 8)
by Father Anthony Ho
September 8, 2010
Let us pray that by the grace of God, this book can help many people to discover the Presence of God and the Will of God in the ordinariness their daily lives.
Father Anthony Ho is a Chinese priest of the Archdiocese of Vancouver. Born in Hong Kong in 1976, he attended a Catholic high school run by the Salesian Fathers, with whom he began contemplating the priesthood. He moved to Canada in 1993 and served as a catechism teacher and prayer group leader before studying for his computer diploma at BCIT. He entered the Seminary of Christ the King in 1998 and was ordained a priest on May 30, 2006 at St. Anthony's Parish in Vancouver. He is currently Assistant Pastor at St. Patrick's Parish in Vancouver and Chaplain of St. Patrick's Regional Secondary School. Father Ho maintains a personal blog www.fatheranthonyho.com on things spiritual, catechetical, and pastoral. He is also writing a weekly column, Pax Sinica (Chinese Peace), for The B.C. Catholic newspaper.
I once read that in our faith journey, one either goes forward or one goes backwards . . . but one cannot stand still.
As a busy mother with three sons, standing still wouldn't describe my life. With my boys in Catholic School, it seems as if our faith is woven into the very fabric of our family: Mass on Sundays; big, Italian celebrations for every Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation and Marriage; monthly Reconciliation; grace before meals; Sunday night rosary.
And yet, I wonder if my relationship with God - my personal faith journey - is being overshadowed by all the running around I am doing to live my faith; in other words, by doing things in the name of my faith, am I losing sight of God, the source of my faith?
This is one of many questions addressed in the book Why God Matters by Deacon Steven Lumbert and his daughter, Karina Lumbert Fabian. Through personal stories, scripture, and references to the Catechism of the Catholic Church they have written a straight-forward book reminding us that when we look for God in our ordinary day-to-day life, it then becomes extraordinary.
It's a simple book by a father and daughter, but its very simplicity highlights the richness of our faith.
And it inspired me to view every day as a gift in my faith journey . . . a journey for which I will neither stand still nor retrace my steps, but one in which I will continue to move forward.
PewSpective
Why God Matters: A Stop on the Catholic Blog Tour
by Barbara Golder
September 6, 2010
I received it in the e-mail: did I want to be a spot on the Catholic book tour for Why God Matters.
Astounded that anyone other than close friends and family knew about this particular blog, and even more surprised that someone might be interested in my opinion, I gave it considered thought for about a nanosecond before responding. In due time, an e-copy of the book arrived in the e-mail and I sat down to read the reflections of a father and daughter on their shared Catholic faith.
I've always believed that strong women often--usually--have strong fathers to thank for their confidence. I was blessed to have a father who, though completely confounded by the fact that he'd somehow sired a reclusive scientist, never once let me think that I couldn't do anything I set my mind to. Well, maybe once, an event that involved a choir and was duly seconded some twenty years later when my daughter would cover her ears to my lullabies and plead "Don't sing!"
Dad was great at building up my confidence, but not so great at conversation. In fact, talk in our house was at a premium. We simply did not discuss things. My parents imparted knowledge and answered questions in matter of fact ways, but deep spiritual conversations, or reflections on how life was or should have been were just not a part of my upbringing. Even so, I was taught a great deal about life and about God and about faith without words. I learned about love as a verb, the action of the will, long before I ever encountered it as a noun and emotion. I never doubted my father's love for me, but I rarely heard him say so. And as I made my circuitous journey to the Catholic faith, which was completed long after his death, we never discussed my theological and ecclesial way-stations. I knew he thought them peculiar, and I knew it mattered not in the least as far as his love for me was concerned.
My own history is what makes this little volume so compelling to me. Being admitted to the two sides of an loving father-daughter relationship as they explore the meaning of faith in action is both precious and inspiring. Deacon Steven Lumbert and his daughter, Karina Lumbert Fabian have made a book of spiritual exercises out of the everyday things that make up life, trading perspectives and bringing each story home with scripture, the catechism and a "life lesson." They succeed in putting into words the kind of faith I absorbed in silence from my own father. The anecdotes are short, mostly ordinary and very effective, bringing God home to the everyday moments that populate our lives. After all, if we cannot find God in the everyday, we will not find Him at all.
The biggest change in my life since conversion is the increasing awareness I have of God as I go through my day. Deacon Lumber and Karina make the point that God is relevant to every moment of our lives with grace, charm and a great deal of affection. It's a book I wish I could have written with my own dad, impossible as that would have been. And because of that, this book is that much more special. It's one that will find its way on to my Christmas lists and into the hands of my friends.
Most of all, it reminds me how important fathers, earthly and Heavenly, are in our spiritual journeys. In my life, it is the relationship with my dad that is very rhythm of my days as I speak to the Father who sustains me even though Robert Alfred Harty himself has passed from my arms into His.
I miss you Dad. Thanks.
A Woman's Place
Why God Matters - A Review
by Cammie Wollner
September 6, 2010
I just finished reading Why God Matters, a new book from Tribute Books, by Karina Lumbert Fabian and her father Deacon Steven Lumbert. Our family had a long road trip this weekend, and while the baby slept in her car seat I read the entire book aloud to Paul. It made the hours of driving fly by as we read and discussed what we had read.
Why God Matters begins with a forward that briefly explains the process by which early converts were brought into the Church, and the reality that the early Church recognized, that conversion was not a single moment or decision, but an ongoing process that takes place over a lifetime.
In Why God Matters, Deacon Steve and Karina mix stories of personal experiences with scripture and Church teachings and then give suggestions to help the reader think, act and pray to grow spiritually.
Deacon Steve offers the perspective of a convert, who attended Mass with his wife and children for years before taking the step to begin RCIA. He began by believing that it didn’t matter what Church a person attended as long as they loved God, but gradually began to realize that the spiritual hunger that he felt could only be satisfied by the Catholic Mass. In time he realized that what he believed were the “hang-ups” of faith were not actually barriers at all but support, which would help his faith to grow and flourish.
Karina, offers another perspective. She was raised in the Church, but notes that “religion was not a big deal in our house.” Once in college however she made a survey of different faiths and returned to Catholicism. After being confirmed while in the Air Force as an adult she has continued to grow in faith, raising a family, writing for her diocese newspaper and attending Mass.
Why God Matters shows how God’s hand can be seen moving in everyday experiences, if we allow ourselves to be open to His will for our lives. Karina and Deacon Steve’s stories show us how God can be found in ordinary, everyday experiences and how those experiences can draw us closer to God.
I especially enjoyed the way Why God Matters linked quotes from the Catechism of the Catholic Church with relevant stories from Deacon Steve and Karina’s lives. It inspired me to open up our copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and I’ve now promised myself that I’m going to read it cover to cover. Reading Why God Matters helped me to see that I’d missed out on the beauty of the Catechism by relying overly much on the Compendium of the Catechism that we’d also received in RCIA. Deacon Steve and Karina’s stories alongside the Catechism quotes reminded me of just how relevant the Catechism is in our everyday lives.
God can be seen in ordinary moments and how it is often through those ordinary moments and decisions that we draw closer to Him.
It’s a question we have all pondered at least once. Does God matter? We all have debated the existential questions of our human existence, with others or silently in the depths of our own soul. Are we alone? Does what I do or say count? Why bother living a moral, virtuous life? Authors Karina Fabian and Deacon Steven Lumbert (who are father and daughter) attempt to demonstrate the answers to these types of critical questions of our time. Why does God matter?
The book Why God Matters provides example after example of seeing ordinary life through eyes of faith. Was it God’s hand in such ordinary daily occurrences? Was His angel sent to guide or protect in an emergency situation? Readers that view life as a series of co-incidences, luck or without the guidance of a loving paternal God, may not appreciate these examples of seeing God in daily life. Those with faith, even little faith, or limited beliefs in God will be able to relate to seeing the hand of Divine Providence in the ordinary.
Each chapter includes a specific memory of one of the authors and how they saw God acting in their lives at that particular time, how it impacted them, and the ultimate result. Each chapter’s memory corresponds to a bible verse as well as a Catechism of the Catholic Church quote, I assume in the attempt to relate each short story to the truths of the Catholic Faith.
As a busy mom, personally, what I appreciated most in reading this short book was the easy writing style, short and concise chapters, and the correlating scripture and CCC references to assist in the journey. It was as if each chapter was a blog post….the kind of posts I, myself, like to create. I, too, see my own personal blog as a way to compile and catalog all the daily ways I see myself finding God in little, ordinary ways, whether through my spouse, in my children, during my daily chores, and in my vocation calling from God, as wife and mother.
From Chapter Two:
"As a mother myself, I must now carry on this legacy by setting an example for my children. Far wealthier than my parents or grandparents ever were, we do our best to give to the Church and to charities—and we involve our children in that. We also do our best to be available to their friends as well as to them. This year, I pack an extra lunch each day for Amber’s best friend. It’s a little thing, yet it connects me to my grandmother somehow.
Last night, I made arroz con pollo. It’s a different recipe, because I’m not the cook my mother is, yet it brought me back to my past, and my mother’s past, and to roots deeply embedded in charitable love."
As we attempt to pass along our faith to our children, we need to communicate to them these little ways where we see God acting in our lives. Perhaps a quick mention of God given gifts so small as a passing butterfly, or the smell of a sweet flower or anywhere else where logic can’t explain, is exactly what can answer the ultimate question that even children will ask from time to time…..Why DOES God matter?
As we know in our heart, and see in this book, He matters because He is present and active in our lives, and most importantly, He is there regardless of our own personal faith level. It only takes seeing the ordinary as extra-ordinary because He is there.
My Musing
Why God Matters...
by Jenn
September 1, 2010
I have been thinking for some time now, that I would love to begin writing in my Blogs again...it's been months ~ for this one, at least ~ & I do miss it, I confess. So when I was invited to join in a Blog Book Tour, by those @ Tribute Books, I jumped at the chance.
I was given a preview of a wonderful new book entitled Why God Matters, written by Deacon Steven Lumbert & his daughter, Karina Lumbert Fabian. And I have to say that, from beginning to end, I could not tear my eyes away from my computer screen. (It was sent to me via eBook format.)
It starts out by giving the history of their family, how the good Deacon married a woman of great charity from Puerto Rico, who was raised in the Faith with a strong example of giving & sharing the meager possessions with which they had been blessed ~ and it wasn't much, believe me, in the material sense! But in the spirit of true Christian charity, it was priceless.
Daughter Karina was also raised to see this example of her mother firsthand, sharing with neighbors, family & friends alike.
As it was, Steven Lumbert was not a Catholic in the beginning of his marriage, but he had agreed to raise the children in the Faith & he was a man of his word. Gradually, over the years, his wife's example & (I am sure) endless prayers converted him to the Catholic Church. Later, he was led to become a Deacon & he & his daughter are now very active Catholic writers, each in their own right. And the story they tell is both intriguing & compelling ~ a story of one man's journey into a deeper love of God & his daughter's "cradle Catholic" viewpoint. Between the two of them, I cannot decide whose story is more like my own.
I myself am a cradle Catholic, baptized at the ripe old age of three weeks. I attended Catholic schools for ten years, then public school the last two until I graduated, going on to university to study Fine Arts.
In all this time, I was perfectly happy to be Catholic. That is, until I graduated from college & getting it into my head that I was not as strong in my Faith as I had been when I was younger. So, sad to say, I left Holy Mass to those who were more "in tune" with God's call & went my own way for several years. When I met my husband Michael, I was married in the Church ~ it was expected, after all, & I truthfully couldn't imagine going any other route ~ but then I again became neglectful until I got pregnant with our firstborn.
That was, finally, when I "woke up." I went to Confession, started reading as much as I could possibly take in concerning my Faith, and I have never looked back.
The reason I bring this up now, in the middle of reviewing this book is that it occurred to me while reading that everyone has a Faith journey that, even if it starts from a totally different place, ends up leading each of us to the same End.
And that End, my dear friends, is God.
So, while reading, I found myself enjoying the book excerpts more & more! My own path was certainly in the middle of these two writers...& I see myself @ the same place where they have found themselves. We, none of us, are without faults, without problems in our daily lives, without a dependence upon the Providence, Love & Mercy of Almighty God.
Reading Deacon Steven's account of his journey into Faith assured me that he had had the same detours as many others have had, yet he found his way with the help & example of his wife. His daughter has had a similar experience with her own husband, who is now Catholic, but who had not been in the beginning of their marriage, either. She prays for her eldest son who has turned away but will someday return to the Church, just as her father did, just as her husband did, all because of her strong conviction in the Divine Plan for us all.
And this is what stood out for me the most while reading this book.
I myself freely admit to my own fault, ignoring the Holy Sacraments & God's call to my own soul ~ for several years, thinking I knew better than those who had gone before me for centuries of example, prayers & charity in love for God & neighbor.
The good Deacon, his son-in-law & his grandson (someday) will all be among the elect, of this I am as reasonably sure as I can be. Their story is one that is told in every family, in every community, in every corner of the globe.
And this is why I highly recommend this book.
Today,1 September, is my birthday. Today I am 60 years old. My years away from the Blessed Sacrament & my beloved Rosary were a long, long time ago ~ more than 30 years ago, to be exact. I regret what I put Our Lord through, as He watched over me & my family, waiting patiently for my return to His good graces. And I will forever bless His Holy Name, giving Him all gratitude & love for what He has done for me, for bringing me back to the One, Holy, Catholic & Apostolic Church.
I am sure Deacon Lumbert & his daughter are just as grateful as I am, for their own experience in the Faith.
May God bless them both, hold their family close to His Sacred Heart...& richly reward the wonderful example & prayers of Sorocco Lumbert for her faithfulness in bringing her family home to Him.
Here are a few handy URLs for those who might be interested in reading this book for themselves; I am sure you will not be disappointed!!
God bless.
Kathleen's Catholic
Why God Matters: A Book Review
by Kathleen Blease
September 1, 2010
Why God Matters shows us how a typical life is a doorway to Our Christ and Savior.
I promise you, it won't take much of your time to read Why God Matters, but your reward will be special. As you read Karina's and Deacon's stories, you will nod your head as you recount your own, then realize, "Ah, yes, there was Christ."
If you are feeling a little distant from God, if you think your days are filled with too many mundane tasks, or if you wonder if God is watching over you, here is a helping hand.
With a title like Why God Matters, one would expect a tome of theology and doctrine. But fear not. Karina Lumbert Fabian (a revert) and her father, Deacon Steven Lumbert (a convert) are average, every day people who discover the simple beauty of the Catholic Church and the Faith and how they are drawn to live in its midst. There are no miracles depicted here--well, perhaps I should say here are the type of miracles that come upon us gradually, most times without being noticed. This is what I would call "how grace drizzles in." No thunder and blinding lights, just ordinarly people with typical experiences our Lord hands us daily.
Small and written in quick passages, this handbook of faith can go anywhere and read at anytime you have a spare moment. Or, if you'd like, it's just as useful for deep contemplation, with the inclusion of scripture and quotes from saints and famous catechists, as well as various selections from the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Perhaps take Why God Matters with you to visit our Lord at the tabernacle or at Adoration.
There is an image I like to keep in mind: When a little bird is thirsty, he dips his beak into water, then lifts his face toward Heaven to let the nourishment seep in. So, we too can do the same--take tiny bits of our Lord's wisdom, then turn our face to Heaven to let His nourishment fill us.
I promise you, it won't take much of your time to read Why God Matters, but your reward will be special. As you read, Karina's and Deacon's stories, you will nod your head as you recount your own, then realize, "Ah, yes, there was Christ."
The back of the book includes useful materials, such as: a list of further reading (including websites as well as books), the Anima Christi prayer, the Prayer of St. Fancis, and Deacon Steve's Prayer for Enlightenment.
Why God Matters has received the seal of approval from The Catholic Writers Guild and is available at Kathleen's Catholic Book Shop in the right column of this blog. Click on the little red box, and you can order the book without leaving Kathleen's Catholic.
Selling Books
Karina L. Fabian - Author Interview
by Cathy B. Stucker
August 31, 2010
What is your most recent book? Tell us a bit about it.
Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life is a devotional I wrote with my father, Deacon Steven Lumbert. We share 14 stories from our faith lives (him, as a convert; me, as a cradle Catholic learning to discover her faith). Our stories show how God works through and for us in the details of everyday life—from making a pot of rice to worrying about the birth of a child. We also include simple exercises and things to consider, Scripture verses and sections from the Catechism of the Catholic Church. We’ve gotten a lot of wonderful reviews from Catholic and non-Catholic sources alike.
Tell us something about yourself.
I’m originally from Colorado, but since I’m married to an Air Force Officer, we like to say we’re from “Air Force.” We’ve lived in two foreign countries and seven states to date, and have a few more years to go before Rob retires. With four kids (ages 10-17), I have my hands and heart full. However writing is a passion, and I usually write at least a book a year, plus stories, Catholic school planners, newsletters, blogs and articles. I’m an active member and officer of the Catholic Writers’ Guild, which I helped found. It’s a terrific group for Catholic writers of all genres: www.catholicwritersguild.com. I also participate in several online conferences and help organize the Catholic Writers Conference Online, which takes place in March: www.catholicwritersconference.com
I’m not nearly as interesting as my characters: a dragon detective, spacefaring nuns, a zombie exterminator, a mentally disturbed psychic who ends up saving two alien worlds. They’re much more fun to read about, and you can at www.fabianspace.com.
What do you believe is the hardest part of writing?
Writing—making myself sit down and do it. After that, it’s pretty easy, though visual descriptions are challenging to me. The hardest part about becoming a *published* writer, however, is waiting. Waiting on critiques, waiting on replies from editors, waiting for the book to come out in print. I don’t like waiting much. God has a sense of humor suiting me to a job like this.
Did you learn anything from writing this book? What?
In Why God Matters, I learned quite a bit about my Dad. Many of the stories he shares I’d only known about in general terms. It was a lot of fun to discover more about his past. I also learned more about the Catechism of the Catholic Church; specifically, how much it really does apply to everyday living. It looks like a huge theological reference, but it’s really very practical.
What are you reading now?
A Handbook for Catholic Moms by Lisa Hendey. She’s a friend of mine and a lovely, down-to-earth writer. I have way too many other books on my list, but I plan on reading some fiction next. I have a sci-fi and a thriller to review. I don’t review very often. In fact, I don’t read nearly as much as I’d like to. I find if I read, I don’t write, and visa-versa, so I have to make a choice with my time.
Are you working on your next book? What can you tell us about it?
My next book is a science fiction story in my Rescue Sister’s Universe. Sisters Rita, Ann and Thomas are part of an expedition to explore the first discovered alien ship in our solar system. They’ll find more than tech and dead aliens, however. The aliens have a device that lets you see into your own soul, and when the crew of the *Edwina Thomas* stumbles upon it, they will have to learn to cope with their deepest needs, fears, and sins—before they destroy themselves.
What is the best advice you could give other writers about writing or publishing?
Learn the business.
Learn to tell a good story.
Learn to accept rejection—it’s business, not personal.
What are you doing to promote your latest book?
I finished an online book tour, and in a week, I’m going to the Catholic Writers Conference Live, where I’ll be teaching writing, having a book signing and doing an interview on Ave Maria Radio.
Where can readers learn more about you and your book?
www.fabianspace.com is where folks can learn about me and all my books. If any authors are interested in learning more about how they can market their books, they can check out the Kickstart Marketing section for tips and programs.
www.whygodmatters.com has information specifically on Why God Matters, including chapter summaries and a section where folks can share their own stories.
Last week I was on vacation in Hawai’i. Needless to say, I believe that is about as close to heaven as I can get on this earth. I wanted to chuck it all, find a grass shack and stay there, but alas another life calls me. The reason I tell you this is because first you may or may not have noticed but I made no posts last week. I chose to set most of my writing activities aside and spend time with my family. (although being a writer, you know I could not do any writing, but what little writing I did was for pleasure.). The second reason I tell you this is because I still am getting back into the swing of things and with the start of school, still do not have my schedule back in play. So for today I will cheat a little.
While flying home on Saturday, I decided to read a book that I am hosting a blog tour for in September. I will be writing a review and I’m not sure what else is involved with a blog tour, but I will be learning. So I won’t write the review now, but will save it for the tour. Of course I have to tell you the name and the authors, because I am using a prayer that they put in their book for this post. For some reason this prayer jumped out at me on the plane and continues to stay with me days later. It can be used for so many things and right now it comforts me as I traverse the stormy waters of writing and publication along with the growing awareness of who my adult children have grown into.
The name of the book: Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life.
Authors: Karina Lumbert Fabian & Deacon Steven Lumbert
The prayer, one I should have learned as a child being raised Catholic, but I don’t recall ever learning it. Probably the first reason it jumped out at me.
ANIMA CHRISTI
Soul of Christ, sanctify me
Body of Christ, save me
Blood of Christ, inebriate me
Water from the side of Christ, wash me
Passion of Christ, strengthen me
O good Jesus, hear me
Within your wounds, hide me
Separated from you. let me never be
From the evil one, protect me
At the hour of my death, call me
And close to you, bid me
That with your saints, I may be
Praising you forever and ever.
Amen
This is the book I always wanted to read, when I'm alone, thinking about GOD's influence in my life, sometimes I cannot feel HIM. This book helps to cover those anxieties about GOD by describing how we can really feel GOD in our daily life.
The reason Christian life can be boring and useless for me is because of a lack of an intimate relationship with GOD, without really connecting with HIM what I do seems to be useless nonsense. But when we see GOD in our daily life, everything we do does matter.
GOD does matter, I don't want to live without HIM.
Ave Maria Radio
Kresta in the Afternoon
with host Al Kresta
August 5, 2010
Blazing Trailers
Interview with Karina Fabian author of, Why God Matters
by Kim McDougall
July 27, 2010
Why don’t you begin by telling us a little about yourself?
I am a stay-home wife and mother of four who keeps her sanity by writing books. Not that the kids drive me nuts—they’re great—but my characters will drive me insane if I don’t periodically purge my brain of their stories. As such I write science fiction and fantasy, usually with a lot of humor. One of the best parts of finishing a novel is getting to read it aloud to the kids and my husband.
My husband’s a colonel in the Air Force, and I was in the Air Force until our kids were born, so we have done a lot of moving—three countries and seven states so far. Each one has been a wonderful adventure. I love moving; I feel like an artist with a blank easel when I step into our new house. Have to admit, however, I’m looking forward to staying in one place for a couple of years this time.
Do you have another job besides writing?
Wife, homemaker, mother, officer in the Catholic Writers’ Guild, coordinator of the Catholic Writers’ Conference Online, presenter at various conferences, owner/instructor/writer for Kickstart Marketing… None of which pay well monetarily, but all of which have wonderful personal bennies.
Tell us a bit about your latest book, and what inspired you to write such a story.
My last book, Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life, was a right turn from my usual sci-fi/fantasy stuff. This is a small devotional with personal stories written by myself and my father, Deacon Steve Lumbert. We also included Scripture, prayer, quotes from the Catechism of the Catholic Church and simple exercises to help recognize God in the day-to-day. We were actually approached by Tribute Books to write it, and it was great fun to work with my dad!
If you could have any vice without repercussions, what would it be?
The ones I already have—chocolate and Coca Cola. The “repercussions” are mostly around my middle.
What is the funniest/most embarrassing/scariest story from one of your books signings or events?
I once did a books signing on Halloween dressed as a zombie. It was a lot of fun to get the second glances and comments. Sadly, I didn’t sell many books that way, and 20-20 hindsight, I should have had my table outside the store so I could have shambled after people on the sidewalk. (I did do it once or twice.)
If you are a world builder, what is your favorite part of creating these worlds?
The fact that once I get it started, the characters build it for me. It’s like I just have to get to the destination, then the tour guide shows me around.
What would you tell aspiring young writers about the publishing business?
#1 Learn it.
#2 Remember rejection isn’t personal.
#3 Be professional.
What has been your experience with literary guilds or groups?
I belong to the Catholic Writers’ Guild, which I helped found. It’s been fabulous. I’ve made my best friends and writing buddies there, and not just for Catholic writing. In fact, they’re helping me with my zombie exterminator novel right now. It is wonderful to have writer friends who share my devotion to the Catholic faith. www.catholicwritersguild.com
I also meet each week at The Writers Chat Room. This is THE place for writers to learn the business—and to make friends and contacts. In fact, the zombie novel is a direct result of the people I met and conversations I’ve had in the chat room. http://writerschatroom.com.
From the moment you conceived the idea for the story, to the published book, how long did it take?
Why God Matters took about a month. I have another I’ve been working on for three years and counting. It depends on the book and the motivation. When I have an interested publisher or the characters really drive me, I write faster. When the story is complex or intimidates me for some reason, I slow down. It can also depend on what’s going in my life, though I suppose I can’t really say that, considering I wrote two books while planning an online conference, writing two school planners and moving to a new state.
Have you ever suffered from writer’s block? What seems to work for unleashing your creativity?
If I have writer’s block, it’s because I’m intimidated by the story. To get past it, I just give myself permission to write a shy first draft. Usually, once I get moving, it turns out pretty good.
What book do you wish you had written and why?
DISCOVERY, which I am still working on. I was doing really well with it last October, then quit for Christmas and to get my computer fixed. Unfortunately, my backup failed, unbeknownst to me until AFTER Geek Squad replaced my hard drive (they were supposed to repair a cracked case.) If I had not taken that break, but had kept going on my husband’s computer or netbook, the book would have been done now and it would have been awesome.
On the other hand, while waiting for the computer, I started work on a zombie novel on a whim. Neeta Lyffe, Zombie Exterminator, is done and awesome and has an interested publisher, so life’s not all bad. And I’m starting work again on DISCOVERY. I can’t recover what I lost, but I can still write something fantastic.
What book are you reading now?
I’ve found that I can either read a book or write a book, so I have to take turns. I just finished writing Neeta Lyffe, but I’ve not started reading anything yet. I realize this is unusual for a writer, but to be honest; I have so many hours in a day and I choose to use them to produce.
Do you get along with your muse? What do you do to placate her when she refuses to inspire you?
Why do people assume authors are victims to their muses? Would you ask a plumber, “What do you do when you don’t feel inspired to fix a sink?” or an executive “How do write that business proposal when your heart’s not in it?”
When it comes down to it, writing is like any other job—sometimes you love it and everything flows; sometimes, you have to push through the slumps. Either way, you are in charge of your behavior and production—not some mysterious muse that needs placating.
Are you a disciplined writer?
Yes and getting more so.
Do your pets help you with your writing?
My cat, Elbereth, sits on the back of my chair when I’m at the computer. Recently, we moved from California to Utah, and it was about a month before I had the desk set up and was back into a writing routine. She was very pleased to see me sitting at my desk, and for the first few days, would purr and pester me by trying to sit in my lap. She gives me so much joy.
Do you have a website/blog where readers may learn more about you and your work?
http://www.fabianspace.com: This is my “workshorse” website. You’ll find my bio and all my books, plus stuff for authors and my classes via Kickstart Marketing. I also have a weekly newsletter of marketing tasks, 30-Mintue Marketer, which I sell via the website as well.
*Reviewed nationally in the Chicago Sun Times, Seattle Post-Intelligencer and Ventura County Star
Deacon Steve Lumbert and his daughter Karina Fabian, a two-time EPIC’s eBook Award™ winner, share their stories of how God led them from casual belief to deep devotion, and offer tips and exercises to help you see God’s hand – and take it. They delineate the Catholic faith as experienced by a pair of average, everyday people like the great majority who make up the 24 percent of Americans who share this religion. What is Catholicism really like? One would be hard-put to find a better verbal painting of the faith so many call their own.
FabianSpace
Adverstise the Catholic Writers Conference and Win a Book
by Karina Fabian
July 8, 2010
The Catholic Writers Conference Live is being held Aug 4-6 in King of Prussia, PA. It's an awesome writers conference, but we're not getting a lot of registrants. We're trying to make one final publicity push and you can help--and win one of my books (includes Why God Matters - http://www.whygodmatters.com).
I'm asking folks to post about the conference. Here are the rules:
1.You can post anything below on your blog, website, Ning group, etc. At minimum, you need to post the conference name, date, location and website to register
2. E-mail me with the link to where you posted. karina(at)fabianspace.com
3. For each post, I will enter you in a drawing. Aug 1, I will pick a winner. That winner will get their choice of any of my books. Check out my books at Fabianspace.com
You'll be doing a service not only for me and the CWG, but for any writer who happens to be Catholic and is looking for a place that not only will help them hone their skills but will support their beliefs. If you might have someone like that in your readership, please help us out.
Minimum Post (140 characters): Catholic Writers! The Catholic Writers Conference Live is Aug 4-6 at King of Prussia, PA. Info/Register http://catholicwritersconference.com
MEDIA RELEASE
CONTACT: Ann Margaret Lewis
e-mail: annlewis(at)joesystems.com
Karina Fabian
E-mail: karina(at)fabianspace.com
For Immediate Release
Catholic Writers to Hold Conference in Valley Forge, PA
World Wide Web--The second annual Catholic Writers’ Conference LIVE will be held August 4-6, 2010, at the Scanticon Hotel Valley Forge in King of Prussia, PA. Sponsored by the Catholic Writer’s Guild and the Catholic Marketing Network (CMN), and held in conjunction with CMN’s annual retailer trade show, the Catholic Writers Conference LIVE provides Catholic authors with a prime opportunity to meet and share their faith with editors, publishers, fellow writers, and bookstore owners from across the globe.
This year's conference will feature presentations on such topics as market tips and time management for busy writers, poetry, creating evil characters, working with an editor, creating winning proposals, journaling and much more. Speakers include Catholic publishing representatives Claudia Volkman - General Manager of Circle Press, Regina Doman - acquisitions editor for Sophia Institute Press, and Tom Wehner - Managing Editor of the National Catholic Register, all of whom will also hear pitches from writers.
Among the other speakers are Mark Shea (Mother of the Son), Michelle Buckman (My Beautiful Disaster), Donna-Marie Cooper-O’Boyle (Mother Teresa and Me), Susie Lloyd (Please Don’t Drink the Holy Water), and Publicist Lisa Wheeler from the Maximus Group.
“Attending this conference has been the best thing I have done for myself professionally,” Carol Bannon, author of the children’s book Handshake from Heaven, said of the 2009 conference. Her fellow writer Melanie Cameron agreed, saying she left the last conference re-energized. “I recommend [this] conference as a resource for any author (or wannabe) at any stage. You will walk away empowered!”
The Catholic Writers Guild, a religious non-profit organization, sponsors both this live conference in August and an online conference in February to further its mission of promoting Catholic literature. “Our conferences are totally focused on encouraging faithful Catholics to share genuine Catholic culture and faith in their writing no matter what genre,” says CWG President Ann Margaret Lewis. “These events are integral to our mission of ‘creating a rebirth of Catholic arts and letters.”
Registration costs $85 for CWG members, $95 for non-members and $42 for students. There's also a discounted combined membership. To register or for more information, go to http://www.catholicwritersconference.com.
# # #
Graphics, interviews and further information available upon request.
Thanks for your help!
Dad of Divas
Book Review - Why God Matters
July 2, 2010
This book examines the ways in which God works in people's lives. Whether it is a small or large scale intervention or a life changing aha moment, this book examines these experiences and shares them with the reader to think of the grander scheme of God's plan.
The book was straight forward and the authors, though strong in their convictions, never tried to force their beliefs on the reader. As a reader, instead, you are brought along for the ride, and the learning.
I liked the way that each chapter was set up in a format that the reader could expect. The chapters provided the reader with quotations, a Life Lesson, and a Bible verse. This helped to make this book a nice devotional.
While this book is targeted to a Catholic audience, other denominations will also gain something from reading this book as well.
If this book sounds like one you would like in your own library you can find it on Amazon!
A couple of years ago, we drove from Colorado to North Dakota. Two days of driving. Driving in the Front Range or in the Black Hills is fun. Every twist of the road reveals fantastic vistas. However, there are long stretches of flat farmland. Occasionally, some interesting feature, like the World's Largest Cow, a lovely field of sunflowers, or a dilapidated old barn ready to collapse on itself, breaks catches your attention. Until then, you forge ahead, counting down the miles to your goal. Drive. Drive. Drive.
It's like writing a novel.
Sometimes, the words flow and reward you with an incredible scene or exciting revelation. Othe times, you slog through important but flat parts that the story needs. Then, the only thing you can do is write, write, write.
If you're lucky, however, you'll make some discoveries: that phrase that, like the World's Largest Cow, will catch your reader's attention and stay in their minds even after they're finished the book. Or the description that, like a field of sunflowers, brightens the entire scene. Or the segment that taken on its own is like the old barn and you wonder what that piece of junk can be worth, but when put in the context, gives the entire section a unique interest or even beauty.
That's why you can't just sit and wait for inspiration. It's like sitting at home wishing to arrive; you'll never get there. You have to drive.
Who knows what wonders you can discover on your trip?
BIO: Karina Fabian writes faith-filled science fiction and humorous fantasy, and teaches book promotion. Her latest endeavors include a dragon detective and an order of spacefaring nuns. Learn more about her at www.fabianspace.com
Joy in the Journey
Guest Post: Time Tips for Writers
by Karina Fabian
June 30, 2010
Yesterday Karina Fabian was here to tell us about her new book WHY GOD MATTERS. Today she is back to offer some encouragement for writers on how to manage our time. Welcome back, Karina. Take it away.
One of the most common questions I get asked is, "How do you find time to write?"
I've been writing steadily since since my daughter was about a year old--14 years--when I was an Air Force Reservist and mother of two. At that time, I wrote a couple of short stories and two articles a month for the Wyoming Catholic Register. Over the next 14 years, we'd have two more children, move five times and build a basement ourselves. My husband, now a Colonel in the Air Force, often has jobs of long hours and big commutes, plus short-stint TDYs (away from home, but not deployments). In addition, I have homeschooled my kids, helped found the Catholic Writers Guild (of which I've been an officer for 4 years), coordinated four writers' conferences, and started Kickstart Marketing, a service to teach authors to market their books.
However, in those 14 years, I have written for local newspapers and national magazines, edited three anthologies, wrote six novels and one devotional and have written various short stories.
Writing can be done. Here are some of the tricks and attitudes I've used to make it happen:
1. Set realistic goals: In Colorado, my mother was able to watch my kids, and we needed extra income, so my goal was to work part time reporting, and I got a regular job at the local weekly and did some freelancing on the side. Later, we moved and I started homeschooling, with two first graders, a toddler, and a baby, I made myself one promise: Not to go to bed unless I wrote one sentence on my novel. Naturally, there were times that one sentence led to more, but I always wrote at least one. I finished my first novel that year. (Mind Over Mind is under contract with Dragon Moon.) My last book, Why God Matters, was written with my father, Deacon Steve Lumbert, took six weeks--including several intense evenings of e-mailing each other stories and discussing them over IM.
Some people like to set time goals; others quantity goals. You know what works best for you. The key is to make the goal something you can reach. You feel good about succeeding, and when you surpass it, you feel even better!
2. Make time! You will never "find" time to write, especially if you have a busy life. If writing is important to you, you need to carve some time out of your day (or week) to dedicate to it. Get up early one morning; stay up late at night. Give up TV or XBox in favor of time at the computer over the weekend.
3. Isolate yourself electronically. Do not open your internet browser. Do not check e-mail. Turn off your IM. If you're planning on a long stretch of writing, set a timer and give yourself 10 minutes of internet for every 30 minutes of writing, if it drives you crazy.
4. Cut distractions. The enemy of writers--especially mom-writers--is the house. The dishes call to you. The fridge tempts. Suddenly, that unmapped floor is weighing on your mind. Resist! Writing time is for writing. If you must, leave the house and write with a laptop or pen and paper until you get into the habit of concentrating on writing.
5. Get help. If you really are overwhelmed by things that you have no time for writing, then it's time to say no to requests, delegate tasks to family, or get someone to give you the break you need to take time for writing. Even if writing is a hobby, you deserve some time just for you.
Finally, I want to suggest time most important tip: Stupid First Drafts. Sometimes, the problem is not finding time, but finding courage. Words won't come because we can't figure out how to write them perfectly on the page. Give yourself permission to write schlock. Tell yourself, "Get it out, fast and messy. I can't make it perfect until it's on the page."
Now, quit reading this blog post and go write something!
For more information about Karina, her books, and writing in general, check out her blog.
FabianSpace
Wrap-Up of Tour and Reviews for Why God Matters
by Karina Fabian
June 26, 2010
Wow, what a great book tour! Steve Lumbert (aka Dad) and I not only had a lot of terrific opportunities to talk about our book, but we also had some great reviews and a few surprises.
First, the best surprise. One of the interviews got read by my cousin, Shelly, whom we'd lost track of decades ago! She found me on Facebook and contacted me last week. How cool is that?
We also had a few folks who said we answered some questions of faith or gave them inspiration to renewing their relationship with God. Talk about "mission accomplished!" I'm praying for all of you!
Finally, we got several awesome reviews. One thing I really enjoyed seeing was that readers of other faiths still found something of value in our book, even though it is geared toward a Catholic audience. I've always felt that God will reach to people of any belief (or even no belief). After all, we are His children, every one. I'm glad no one felt threatened by our stories of faith.
"This is a short book which casts a long shadow in the literature of modern Catholic apologetics." Walt Staples, former president, Catholic Writers' Guild
"... a perfect dose of encouragement for those seeking a deeper relationship with God." SpiritualWoman.com
"Throughout this book, they also made no attempt to sway the reader toward sharing their beliefs. They are just very straight forward—'I love God and this is why.' ... What I did come away with was a better understanding of God and a deep desire to appreciate Him more every day. I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to enrich their relationship with God." Lynn McMonigal, http://lynnmcmo.com/2010/06/17/review-of-why-god-matters/
"... if you are looking to get the most this book has to offer I think it would be best to only read a chapter at a time and fully reflect on the wisdom contained in each chapter, particularly the life lesson section. Approaching the book in this manner would only take a few minutes per chapter to read making it a book that even the busiest person would be able to squeeze into their schedule." Karen (for the Catholic Book Company), http://kareninmommyland.blogspot.com/2010/06/book-review-why-god-matters.html
"A short book, but it covers much.... not a book that should be read by only those of the Catholic faith, but instead by all who have experienced the touch of God in the everyday moments of life... Several times while reading, I stopped as a memory entered my mind of one of those everyday life lessons that have taken place in my life. I can say with all honesty that you will too. Six colors on the rainbow scale." Joyce Anthony, http://joyce-anthony.blogspot.com/2010/06/why-god-matters-review.html
"fun, engaging, quick, easy reading...but with a powerful message.... This inspirational little book is indeed a gem – it is a power-packed treasury of heartwarming stories, helpful spiritual lessons, and useful, practical suggestions to guide us in our daily lives." Jean Heinmann, http://catholicfire.blogspot.com/2010/06/book-review-why-god-matters.html
"Some (stories) will make you cry and others will make you laugh, still others will make you wonder if you own relationship with God is all that you want, but more importantly, if it's all that He would like it to be." Reading at the Beach, http://www.readingatthebeach.com/2010/06/why-god-matters.html
Thanks again to Dorothy Thompson at Pump Up Your Book Promotions and my publisher, Nicole Langan at Tribute Books for setting this up. You guys are tops!
Click the play button to listen to Karina's interview with Kim.
The Writer's Life
Interview with Karina Lumbert Fabian
by Dorothy Thompson
June 25, 2010
Interview with Karina Lumbert Fabian: '...the stories are specifically about how God shows his love...'
Karina Lumbert Fabian was born into the Catholic faith, but truly grew to love it as an adult. A busy mother of four, she finds her strongest encounters with God's love happen in the ordinary events of the day-to-day. Karina started her writing career with diocesan newspapers but has settled into writing mostly fun-filled fantasy and science fiction that nonetheless incorporate the principles of faith-filled living. Karina is all over the web. You can visit her website at www.fabianspace.com.
Q: Welcome to The Writer's Life, Karina. Can you tell us how long you’ve been writing professionally and how your journey led to writing your latest book, Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life?
Glad to be here. I've been writing professionally since 1996, when I gave up reading fiction for Lent and took up writing. My first job, obtained days after my vow, was with the Wyoming Catholic Register, writing feature stories, including a couple of vignettes about God's work in my own life. I've always toyed with these kinds of stories, but not seriously. I preferred news or helpful stories, which sell more easily, or fiction, which is more fun. However, I had a small collection of stories that I'd written and planned to sell "someday."
I have edited three science fiction anthologies (Infinite Space, Infinite God I and II, and Leaps of Faith), and written several novels. Magic, Mensa and Mayhem, a humorous fantasy about a Catholic dragon detective babysitting the Faerie folk at a convention, just won the 2010 INDIE Book awards for best fantasy. I've also got an annual contract for creating Catholic school planners, which include stories, quotes and short lessons.
In January 2010, Tribute books put out an ad looking for a Catholic writer to make a small book of faith stories and lessons learned. Because I was familiar with the kind of story-lesson-Scripture style they wanted and I had several unpublished stories in my files anyway, I considered it.
I hesitated because my stories are from a woman's point of view, and I felt they wanted something more universal, so I asked my father, Deacon Steve Lumbert, to collaborate with me. His contributions took what could have been a good little book and made it a terrific one!
Q: I love your title…can you tell us why you chose it?
Actually, we didn't. Tribute Books already had the title chosen, along with the format, cover art and even the website name, www.whygodmatters.com. It's a unique situation where we could just step in and give substance to form. (It was a refreshing change of pace from my seat-of-the-pants novel writing, too.)
Q: Why did you believe your book should be published?
Actually, my publisher believed it should be published--enough to have put in so much work into developing it even before they had hired me and my father.
Now, why do I believe it's worthy of their leap of faith? I'm going to cheat here and let a couple of our readers answer that:
Walt Staples, Former President of the Catholic Writers' Guild: Many times one sees Roman Catholicism explained using either closely reasoned theology or an appeal to ancient writers of the Church. While both are legitimate approaches, the average reader looking to explore the faith is often left cold... Steven Lumbert and Karina Fabian delineate the Catholic faith as experienced by a pair of average everyday people like the great majority who make up the 24 percent of Americans who share this religion.
Deacon Ditewig: We owe Karina and Deacon Steve a debt of gratitude for their sensitive and inspirational message. Like the catechists of the ancient church, they remind us that being a disciple must be something that permeates every aspect of our being. Being Christian is not something we do, but a relationship we nurture and live out every day of our lives.
Q: Can you tell us the story behind your book cover? Did you choose it or did your publisher, Tribute Books have full control? Were you happy with the decision or did you have something else in mind?
Tribute had the cover already designed, but it was love at first sight for me. I adore the simplicity and clarity of it. My only addition was to get the Catholic Writers' Guild Seal of Approval incorporated into the art. The CWG has assessed the book for its Catholocity and affirms that it does promote Catholic beliefs and values.
Q: How have you approached marketing your book? Do you have someone doing it for you or have you had to do most of the marketing yourself?
I'm being very spoiled this time. Tribute developed an impressive website, www.whygodmatters.com, and has taken our suggestions to include a sample chapter and a page where people can share their own faith stories. In addition, they hired Pump Up Your Book Promotions to arrange the virtual book tour. Tribute is also sending out press releases (which I provided) and is requesting reviews.
Naturally, I've been talking it up on my online groups, Twitter, Facebook, etc. My father is more person-to-person and plans on doing some live book signings at deacon events. Unfortunately, the book came out just as my family is moving to another state, so I've not been able to plan any live events yet, but I hope to. I also want to do some kind of talk to go with the book, perhaps about seeing God in the day-to-day, and one about fathers and daughters.
Q: What book on the market can it compare to? How is it different? What makes your book special?
There are a lot of books that teach you how to deepen your faith, and there are a lot of books (like the Chicken Soup series) that touch the heart. However, Why God Matters combines these. The stories are specifically about how God shows his love and how faith can be found in the everyday, and there are life lessons, Scripture and even paragraphs from the Catechism of the Catholic Church for meditation and spiritual growth. We think it's going to reach Catholics who want to grow in faith but need a baby step to start, or for those of well-developed faith who want a heartwarming book that's easy to digest as a change of pace.
Q: Open to a random page in your book. Can you tell us what is happening?
Page 45, "Small Steps, Steady Progress." Oh, this is ironic. This is my story about how I was learning to conquer the housework thought small steady steps rather than letting it gather to crisis proportions, and how I needed to do the same with my faith. As I look around my house--which has been neglected as I have mono and am homeschooling one child for the rest of the year, plus getting ready to move--I'm thinking I'd better re-read that story!
Q: Do you plan subsequent books?
My dad and I have talked about doing something else together, but right now, we're both too busy to do more than idly speculate. In the meantime, I'm back to fiction: Neeta Lyffe, Zombie Exterminator, should be done in a couple of weeks. Then I'm going to rewrite my sci-fi novel, Discovery. If I finish before I get the editor comments on my fantasy novel, Mind Over Mind, I want to begin work again on Gapman, a superhero spoof set in my fantasy world of DragonEye, PI (www.dragoneyepi.net). Like I said, Why God Matters was a definite change for me.
Q: Thank you for your interview, Karina. Would you like to tell my readers where they can find you on the web and how everyone can buy your book?
The most central place to find out more about me is my website, www.fabianspace.com. There I keep my news, blog, books and whatever else.
The book has its own website, www.whygodmatters.com, and I'd like to especially direct attention to the "Share Your Story" page. We'd love to hear from you how God has touched your life, and would like others to come and read for inspiration.
As for purchasing Why God Matters, you can order it as a print or e-book online, or ask for it at your favorite Catholic bookstore. In fact, I'd really encourage you to ask at the Catholic bookstore. Perhaps they might order extra copies for their shelves, and we can share our faith stories with even more people. Plus Catholic bookstores have so much to offer and are fun to browse in.
Thanks again for the opportunity to talk about Why God Matters!
TCM Reviews
Why God Matters
by Connie Harris
June 24, 2010
Why God Matters, How to Recognize Him in Daily Life
Karina Lumbert Fabian & Deacon Steven Lumbert
Tribute Books
ISBN: 9780982256534
Non-Fiction, Christian
Why God Matters, How to Recognize Him in Daily Life is written by Karina Lumbert Fabian and co-written by her father, Deacon Steven Lumbert. Throughout its pages we read of actual life events and stories of how God makes himself known in everyday situations. Life changes do not come in a single step or with a single decision, rather life change is a series of small conversions along life's path, it is a life-long process.
Why God Matters is a reminder of how God is at work in all aspects of our lives, even the "little" things and shows us that it is in our day-to-day living that we find our faith. Great faith is not achieved at once, but in small steps over time. Each chapter shares a real life experience and following each short chapter is a life lesson, a Bible scripture and a paragraph from the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Even though Why God Matters is geared towards the Catholic faith it is beneficial for anyone from any faith to read.
The Book Connection
Why God Matters by Karina Lumbert Fabian and Deacon Steven Lumbert - Book Review
by Cheryl Malandrinos
June 24, 2010
For an easy to digest look into how God touches us daily, pick up a copy of Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life by Karina Lumbert Fabian and Deacon Steven Lumbert.
In this short book, authors Fabian and Lumbert invite readers along on a journey to discover through their experiences how God can be seen in our daily lives. From Deacon Steve's story of being a reluctant convert to Fabian's story of how she stopped being a martyr for the trivial, each chapter brings the reader that much closer to seeing how God impacts our lives, as seen through the eyes of two devoted Catholics.
Before I go further with my review, I feel the need to impart a bit of information to my readers. I spent thirty years in the Catholic Church. I was baptized into it, forced to attend Mass unless I was on my death bed, attended a Catholic school for eight years, taught religious education for 10 years and directed an elementary religious education program for 5 years. My decision to leave the Catholic Church was forced by my pastor explaining to me that after all those years, if I decided to marry the Greek Orthodox man I was engaged to, and didn't do it in the Catholic Church, I could no longer practice my faith: accept the sacrament of Holy Communion. To say the Catholic Church and I parted in not a good way, would be an understatement.
Books such as these are of interest to me because I'm always searching for that nugget of faith in God that surpasses the theology and catechism to bring us closer to our Heavenly Father. Why God Matters is definitely one of those books.
Each story included in this short book displays God's work in our lives. They reach beyond the rules and touch the heart. They discuss what it is like to have a relationship with God that allows us to come to Him in our times of need, knowing He will always be there. While books that discuss the Catholic faith often provide readers with dry theology, they don't allow the average person--especially one not familiar with the Catholic Church--a way to understand God and our relationship with him. Why God Matters changes that. It's written by a lay person and a deacon, both devoted to their faith, but in many ways able to express what that type of faith can mean to an individual better than straight theology or dogma.
I must point out a couple of stories that touched my heart. Chapter Five is titled, "Out of the Depths of Despair". Deacon Steve shares his dilemma as a father to be, when he prayed for someone to help him decide on whether to sign papers to allow doctors to perform an emergency cesarean section on his wife. The help God sent came from an unexpected person. Also, Chapter 14, "Influence", in which Fabian shares her husband's conversion to the Catholic faith and their son's decision not to believe. As she explains it, "...I trust in God that he will eventually find his way." Being in the same situation with my son, I understand where she is coming from.
Every chapter includes quotations, a Life Lesson, and a Bible verse. This helps to make this book a nice devotional. The book has also garnered the Catholic Writers Guild Seal of Approval.
While this book is targeted to a Catholic audience, I feel other denominations will gain something from reading this book as well. I know I certainly enjoyed it, and look forward to more collaborations between Fabian and her father.
Title: Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life
Authors: Karina Lumbert Fabian and Deacon Steven Lumbert
Publisher: Tribute Books
ISBN-10: 0982256531
ISBN-13: 978-0982256534
SRP: $15.95
The Book Boost
Checklist In with Guest Blogger: Karina Fabian
June 23, 2010
The Book Boost welcomes author Karina Fabian to discuss how she plans her promotions.
Here's what the "Marketing Mentor" had to say...
I strongly believe in virtual book tours. They are an inexpensive and, if you get toured on blogs that reach your target audience, they can be very effective. I got lucky with my latest book, Why God Matters: How to Reach Him in Daily Life, because my publisher Tribute Books hired Pump Up Your Book Promotions to arrange the tour for me, but usually I do these tours on my own. They really aren't hard, but do take a lot of time and preparation and some research. Here's my checklist for arranging a tour. (Note: some of this I do in my head, but have listed them for the record.)
Karina's Anal-Retentive, Totally Detailed Virtual Book Tour Checklist
I use this checklist when I plan a virtual book tour. I "program" it into Miscrosoft Excel, but you can adapt it to whatever works for you. Not all the topics will apply to every person on your tour stop. One blogger may only want the cover art and a blurb, while another will plan a whole week and do an interview, review, etc.
NAME: The name of the blogger; some may give you their real one; others their nom de plume
WEBSITE: where they'll host you on the tour
E-MAIL: for contacting them
POSTING DATE: when they will post.
POSTED ON MY SITE: Be sure you post on your website the dates and places of the tour.
COVER SENT: a jpg or gif of your book cover
BLURB SENT: a summary or back-cover blurb
ORDERING INFO SENT: You may include this in the blurb, but be sure it gets sent!
AUTHOR PHOTO SENT: a nice pic of yourself, jog or gif
BIO SENT: make it short, interesting and topical
INTERVIEW SENT: If they send you interview questions; this is the most popular way to host on a tour.
GUEST POST SENT: Some may ask you to write something for them instead
PRIZE OFFERED? If you are having a contest--are they participating? If so, send them the rules so it's easy for them to post.
PRIZE SENT: either to them to send out or to the winner--you decide how you want to do it
REVIEW: Did they offer to review?
REVIEW COPY SENT: you might want to indicate if electronic or hard copy KEEP TRACK OF THIS FOR TAXES!
POSTED: Did they post? If not, follow-up. Some folks get confused. I've had people forget their dates and some who posted a month early, thinking the post date was a deadline.
COMMENT ON POST: make a comment on the post.
COPIED: If a review or the person makes comments, copy them into a separate file for later use in promotions.
GROUPS TOLD: I don't like to announce every time someone mentions my book--too much work and I put it on my website--but some do.
THANK-YOU: send a thank-you e-mail or e-card
MAJOR TASKS:
SCHEDULE COMPLETE:
MEDIA RELEASE SENT:
TOUR SCHED ON WEBSITE:
TOUR SCHED POSTED TO GROUPS:
TOUR SCHED ON MYSPACE, FACEBOOK, ETC:
POST TOUR: HIGHLIGHTS POSTED ON WEBSITE, ETC?
A Note from the Book Boost: Karina, this is an awesome checklist for planning out your promotional tour. I plan on using this myself for my upcoming August tour! Thanks so much for sharing. Now, please tell us more about your new book (that I need a copy of desperately as I struggle with shaping the lives of 3 small children)?
I didn't really know anything about the Catholic faith so I was looking forward to reading this. The book is full of interesting stories. Some will make you cry and others will make you laugh, still others will make you wonder if you own relationship with God is all that you want, but more importantly, if it's all that He would like it to be.
There are Bible passages from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, along with "Life Lesson" sections that I really enjoyed. Part of one of my favorites is:
"Even the habit of giving into "small" temptations can have dire consequences.
Sin does not always look dark and evil-sometimes sin looks like a lot of fun. It's easy, then, to give in to that seemingly harmless fun, but it can lead us down the wrong path."
My favorite stories are Martyr for the Trivial, The Close Call and Bare Feet. I'm really glad I had the oppurtunity to read this, and think that anyone, of any faith, would enjoy it as well.
Pump Up Your Book
Karina Lumbert Fabian appears in Chicago Times during June virtual book tour
by Dorothy Thompson
June 22, 2010
Karina Lumbert Fabian, author of the religious book, Why God Matters, appeared in the Chicago Times during her June virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book.
Many times one sees Roman Catholicism explained using either closely reasoned theology or an appeal to ancient writers of the Church. While both are legitimate approaches, the average reader looking to explore the faith is often left cold. In their collaboration, Why God Matters, Deacon Steven Lumbert and his daughter, Karina Lumbert Fabian, delineate the Catholic Faith as experienced by a pair of average, everyday people like the great majority who make up the 24% of Americans who share this religion.
In the stories of this pair, one see both ways people come to Catholicism, by birth (“cradle Catholics”) and by conversion. Their descriptions of their separate paths thankfully lack the religiosity of the all too common ‘and then a miracle takes place’ school of religious experience. Rather than blasts of light, fiery swords, spiritual fistfights, and angelic choirs, theirs is the long religious slog of the everyday. The effort that one must put out each day in the long trek to Heaven.
What is Catholicism really like? One would be hard-put to find a better verbal painting of the faith so many call their own.”
I was recently presented with the opportunity to review Karina Lumbert Fabian and Deacon Steven Lumbert's Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Everyday Life. After taking a peek at the webpage for the book my curiosity was piqued, but wasn't sure what I should expect. Was it just the conversion story of the one author and the faith background of the other and how they found God, or would there be more? Wanting answers to my own questions I decided that I'd invest some time in reading the book. I just spent a quiet afternoon reading the book and I have to say the book was worth my time. The book wasn't earth shattering for me personally, but I think it could certainly make some waves in the faith lives of others who are looking for guidance or are having trouble finding God in their lives.
This book is more than just the stories of a convert to Catholicism and his cradle Catholic daughter. It is a book that through the short stories illustrate how we can see His hand at work in our lives. It's filled with inspiration to jump start those who need a little help getting their spiritual motor going. Each chapter follows the same format of a quote followed by an personal story from the life of one of the authors. That is then followed up by a portion of the chapter which has a nice reflection on the life lesson that can be learned from the previous story. The life lesson is followed by two additional sections. First there is a scriptural quote and then there is a quote from the Catechism of the Catholic Church. I liked the over all flow of the chapters.
Because the book is a relatively fast read you could easily pick it up and read it in a single sitting. (It took me about 1 1/2 to 2 hours to read it.) However, if you are looking to get the most this book has to offer I think it would be best to only read a chapter at a time and fully reflect on the wisdom contained in each chapter, particularly the life lesson section. Approaching the book in this manner would only take a few minutes per chapter to read making it a book that even the busiest person would be able to squeeze into their schedule.
Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life is available for purchase at Amazon.
Marta's Meanderings
Blog Tour and Review: Why God Matters
by Marta Hoelscher
June 21, 2010
This was an interesting look at the Catholic faith for me. As someone who married into a Catholic family, even I saw a side that I had not previously experienced. Whatever your faith background, I think in this book you can find common ground and a little understanding as well. While I didn't agree with everything, for me I thought the book explained the passion behind the faith. I grew up in an area of 'every Saturday night' Catholics where I saw more of the 'going because it's a habit' type of faith. This is a very interesting read and will probably open up your eyes to something you didn't know about this interesting and historic faith.
The Hot Author Report
Interview with Karina Fabina - Author of Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life
June 21, 2010
About Karina Fabian
Karina (Lumbert) Fabian was born into the Catholic faith, but truly grew to love it as an adult. As a busy mother of four, she finds some of her strongest encounters with God’s love happen in the ordinary events of the day-to-day. Karina started her writing career with diocesan newspapers but ahs settled into writing fun-filled fantasy and science fiction that nonetheless incorporates the principles of faith-filled living. Her web site is at http://www.karinafabian.com/ and her blog is at http://fabianspace.blogspot.com.
About Deacon Steven Lumbert
Deacon Steve Lumbert officially converted to Catholicism in 1988, but had been a “practicing” Catholic long before that. He met his lovely and loving wife, Socorro, while sercing in Roosevelt Roads Naval Base in Puerto Rico in 1966. They raised their daughters, Karina and Regina, in the faith. Steve spent 30 years as a Colorado State Trooper, but retired when God called him to the diaconate. Currently, he serves the Diocese of Pueblo as Associate Director of Deacon Formation.
***
Q: It’s rare today to find an author who does nothing but write for a living. Do you have a ‘real’ job other than writing, and if so, what is it? What are some other jobs you’ve had in your life? Have they influenced/inspired your writing?
I like to tell folks I’m a “kept” woman. My husband, Rob Fabian, is a Colonel in the Air Force, and loves his job. He brings in enough money for us to live comfortably, so I am free to write. However, my real job is being his wife and mom to our four kids.
Q: What compelled you to write your first book?
I’d taken a sci-fi class and we had the choice or writing a story or a report. For midterm, I wrote a wonderful report comparing some story to ancient Greece at the time of Socrates. My professor misread, thought I was saying the main character was Socrates, and gave me a B because I didn’t support that. I could not get him to understand I was talking about the society and not the main character, so for the final I decided fiction was a better option.
He loved the story and asked if it was the start of a novel. I wrote The Miscria the next year. It was novice stuff, but the story line was good. I totally rewrote it into a trilogy around 2000 and started sending it around. Mind Over Mind, the first book in the trilogy, will be coming out from Dragon Moon in September 2011.
Of course, in the meantime, I’ve edited three sci-fi anthologies. Infinite Space, Infinite God I and Leaps of Faith are out, and Infinite Space, Infinite God II comes out in the Fall. My first published novel, Magic, Mensa and Mayhem, just won the INDIE for best fantasy. I have a couple of other books shopping around.
Finally, this year, I took a short venture into inspirational non-fiction with Why God Matters, which I co-wrote with my father, Deacon Steve Lumbert.
Guess the moral is: never underestimate the power of a misunderstanding.
Q: Have you always wanted to be a writer?
Yes. Before I could write, I made up tall tales (i.e. lies) about kindergarten to impress my sister.
Q: Tell us briefly about your book.
Far too often, we expect God to show Himself in grand ways yet ignore when He makes His presence known in the day to day. Neither Deacon Steve nor Karina had dramatic conversions. Rather, God led them into deeper faith through the seemingly minor details of life: pot of rice, a habit of prayer, a frustrating flight home, or a barefooted stranger. This father-daughter team have written a delightful, quick book about finding God in the day-to-day.
With thought-provoking quotes, heartwarming stories, Bible verses, passages from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and simple exercises the reader can fit into his or her daily routine, they help others recognize God’s presence. Great for the casual or converting Catholic longing for something more in their relationship with God, or the “advanced” Catholic wanting light spiritual exercise.
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
Something completely different from Why God Matters–Neeta Lyffe, Zombie Exterminator. It’s a humorous novel about a zombie exterminator who is training up new recruits in a reality TV show in order to pay off a lawsuit. Compared to dictatorial directors, catty contestants, and fanatic, er, fans, lopping off the heads of murderous zombies with a chain saw is a walk in the park!
Q: Do you have a favourite character? Why is s/he your favourite?
My favorite character is Vern, the dragon detective in Magic, Mensa and Mayhem. He’s also in several of my short stories, and in novels I’m shopping around. He has his own website, www.dragoneyepi.net.
Faerie dragons were created from the greatest of God’s imaginings, but when Vern goes claw-to-toe with an upstart Church mage, George, he ends up losing everything from his size to his magic. Bad enough, he has to earn it back by serving God under the direction of the Human Church, he’s lately been called to work as a detective in the non-magical universe.
He solves cases where magic and technology collide and saves the universes on an all-too regular basis. Vern is smart and cynical, way too aware of the superior status he should have, and yet grudgingly fond of the humans he must spend his days with. I love his unique point of view and all the trouble I can get him into!
Q: How did you feel the day you held the copy of your first book in your hands?
Same as I’ll feel when I get the first copy of the next book in my hands: giggly in the stomach, warm in the heart, eager for the next one. It’s a lot like falling in love again, which I do on a regular basis with my husband, incidentally.
Q: What type of music, if any, do you listen to while you write? Do you need the noise or the silence?
Usually, I prefer silence. Music can distract, especially if it has lyrics. Sometimes, if I am having a hard time getting into a book, though, I will make a CD of “mood music.” That’s rare, however.
Of course, I always welcome the purring of my cat, Elbereth. She perches on the back of my chair most days.
Q: If you could live in one of your books, which one would you live in? (If you’re promoting your first publication, feel free to talk about an unpublished piece.)
You know, I don’t think I want to live in any of my books’ worlds. I’m perfectly happy living those lives vicariously. I’m really not that adventurous in real life.
Q: How do you balance out the writer’s life and the rest of life? Do you get up early? Stay up late? Ignore friends and family for certain periods of time?
I don’t balance it well enough, really. I always feel like I’m neglecting my kids. However, I inherited my mom’s boundless energy and need to always be doing something, so I keep a pretty hefty pace, and I’m good at multitasking. I work when I can, play when I can, and love as much as I can.
Q: The main characters of your stories – do you find that you put a little of yourself into each of them or do you create them to be completely different from you?
I don’t put anything into my character–they come into my mind and live their lives and demand I write them out. Occasionally, we share events in common, but they always live it out in a vastly different way than I did.
Of course, in Why God Matters, I am the main character, along with my father. We share 14 stories from our lives that taught us about faith and God’s love.
Q: Is there an established writer you admire and emulate in your own writing? Do you have a writing mentor?
I’d love to have a mentor. No one’s signed up for the job yet, alas, and I don’t really know many authors in my field who are better published than I well enough to ask.
However, as far as admire and wish to emulate: Terry Pratchett for fantasy and humor and Madeleine L’Engle for faith and touching the heart. Both are excellent storytellers.
Q: When growing up, did you have a favorite author, book series, or book?
Madeleine L’Engle, and the Wrinkle in Time trilogy. Adored those books! I also got into Piers Anthony’s XANTH series for the puns, and I enjoyed Star Trek books for awhile.
Q: What about now: who is your favorite author and what is your favorite genre to read?
I like fantasy best, so Terry Pratchett and Jim Butcher are my top two. DragonEye (my stories concerning Vern) are a mix of the two in tone and approach, I like to think.
Q: When they write your obituary, what do you hope they will say about your book/s and writing? What do you hope they will say about you?
I always hate this question. I don’t care what people say about me when I’m dead. I’ll most likely be in Purgatory getting searingly cleansed for Heaven, so my hope is that it won’t take too long!
If anything, I want them to say I’m survived by my four kids and a plethora of grandkids, and I’m author of 40 or 50 books. How’s that?
Q: Where you have lived and what you have experienced can influence your writing in many ways. Are there any specific locations or experiences that have popped up in your books?
This answer will take too long! We’re a military family, so I’ve lived in three countries and seven states. Naturally, some of those locations have appeared in Why God Matters. Los Lagos, CO, where Vern lives is a made-up town at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, where I grew up. Neeta Lyffe lives in the Los Angeles area; we live in Simi Valley, just north of LA.
The experiences that pop up in Why God Matters are really the kind that can happen anywhere because they have more to do with the daily life of family and friends than a specific location.
Q: What is your writing space like? Do you have a designated space? What does it look like? On the couch, laptop, desk? Music? Lighting? Typing? Handwriting?
Have laptop, will travel. I do have a desk where I do most of my writing, but when I’m busy, I will write at the kitchen table (while son is doing schoolwork) or in the car (while Rob drives us somewhere). I’ve even been known to write in the bathroom.
Q: Is there any particular book that, when you read it, you thought, “I wish I had written that!”?
I first started writing seriously after reading a Harry Turtledove novel. I used to love Turtledove, but this one must have been hastily done and poorly (if at all) edited. So my reaction was more of “I wish I’d written that. I could have done so much better!” That’s when I decided I needed to start writing.
Q: In my experience, some things come quite easily (like creating the setting) and other things aren’t so easy (like deciding on a title). What comes easily to you and what do you find more difficult?
Dialogue is easiest for me, then emotion, then actions. Setting a scene visually is hard for me. I don’t think visually and I don’t really pay that much attention to surroundings. In fact, when I read, I tend to scan the scenery.
Q: Have you ever had a character take over a story and move it in a different direction than you had originally intended? How did you handle it?
The novel I’m shopping out, Live and Let Fly was supposed to have a spunky sidekick, Rhoda Dakota, the fiancé of a friend of Vern’s. She would not be spunky. She would not solve problems with her technological knowledge while they bumbled about with magic. Instead, she got herself KIDNAPPED at the first possible moment (after having done nothing but weep over her fiancé getting beat up.) They had to go rescue her. And she was scared and 17 and the epitome of the damsel in distress…
…and it worked so well! The story is tenfold times better because she refused the role I wanted to put her in.
I never fight my characters. They know their lives. I can only suggest, but they have the final say.
Q: Now that you are a published author, does it feel differently than you had imagined?
I didn’t have any preconceived notions about what being a published author would be like. Frankly, I write because the characters want their stories told. I work to get published because I like people to read them.
Use this space to tell us more about who you. Anything you want your readers to know. Include information on where to find your books, any blogs you may have, or how a reader can learn more about you and writing.
Since I have several books out in genres from sci-fi to religious devotionals, the best place to find my books and leran more about them or purchase them online is to go to www.fabianspace.com. You’ll find them all along the right-hand side or by clicking the books section. Also, if you would like an autographed bookplate for any of these, you can e-mail me using the contact form on the website.
For more about Why God Matters, you can check out www.whygodmatters.com. We’d especially like folks to share their stories with us and others, and have a page made just for that.
If your into fantasy noir with a lot of laughs, check out www.dragoneyepi.net. Just remember to laugh WITH the dragon.
FabianSpace
Resource for learning the Catholic faith
by Karina Fabian
June 21, 2010
Why God Matters is a book about the working of the Catholic faith in my father's and my life--its legacies, its hopes, its influences. I know a lot of my readers are not Catholic. I'm not here to convert you--only God can do that--but if any of you are curious to learn more about the Catholic faith, I wanted to share some resources with you. These came from our appendix in Why God Matters, and are good for Catholics as well. Thanks to Tribute for letting us reprint it here.
Ventura County Star
Daughter, father collaborate on book "Why God Matters"
by
Amy Brentley
June 19, 2010
Longtime Simi Valley author Karina Lumbert Fabian took on a new and unexpected writing partner this year: her dad.
Fabian, known for her fantasy, science fiction and Catholic writings, collaborated with her father, Deacon Steven Lumbert, on their first book together, “Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life,” published by Tribute Books and released May 15.
The authors share personal stories, Bible verses and Catholic teachings to help readers fit God into their daily routine.
Lumbert, a retired Colorado state trooper, said a big challenge for him was learning to write in a casual book style — nothing like writing the police reports he was accustomed to.
“Thank goodness I had the great help from my daughter. She’s already accomplished as a writer and published, so she knows how to write things and make it sound good,” said Lumbert, the associate director of Deacon Formation in the Pueblo Diocese in Pueblo, Colo., where he lives. He also works as parish administrator for St. Anne’s Parish in Pueblo.
His daughter, a lifelong Catholic, former United States Air Force officer and mother of four, started her writing career with diocesan newspapers and writes fantasy and science-fiction stories. Fabian co-founded the Catholic Writers Guild and has won awards for her science-fiction anthology “Infinite Space, Infinite God,” and her fiction works, “World Gathering” and “Leaps of Faith.” Her fantasy novel “Magic Mensa and Mayhem” just took the grand prize for best fantasy in the Next Generation INDIE Awards of 2010.
“Why God Matters” is aimed mostly at Catholics, or Christians, “But our stories anyone can identify with if they are looking for God in their lives,” Fabian said.
“I had never intended to write a book like this,” said Fabian, who responded to an editor’s call for a Catholic writer for the project. “I was thinking I could do this but it’s going to be one-sided, from the view of a mom at home with the kids. I was thinking about sending it out to some friends of mine in the Catholic Writers Guild. Then I was in Mass and was thinking, ‘my father’s a deacon.’ I knew he had the stories.”
Fabian asked her dad to help and to relay personal stories. He was visiting her family in Simi Valley in February and finished a lot of his writing there. His daughter served as his first editor. “I was really impressed. He did really well,” she said.
“I feel very blessed to have had this opportunity. It’s one of those things you don’t expect. Of all the books I’ve written, this is the one that is near and dear to my heart,” Fabian said.
Her father said the book experience helped him and his daughter learn new things about each other. “We really bonded together more.”
Fabian, who moved with her family to Utah recently, reflects on her family’s legacy of generosity and tells how an elderly woman attending Mass in bare feet inspired her to fly across the country to visit her dying grandmother, among other personal stories that affected her and her relationship with God.
Lumbert describes how he became a devout Catholic, particularly after his younger brother died of a heart attack just before his 40th birthday.
When asked what he hoped readers would take away from the book, Lumbert said, “I hope people will find in the stories how God is active in the everyday things in your life but you need to take time to realize and recognize his guidance and will.”
The book is available from the publisher, Amazon.com and at the GodSpace Catholic bookstore in Thousand Oaks.
Lynn's Corner
Guest Post - When You Get Mono of the Soul
by Karina Fabian
June 18, 2010
Yesterday, you read my review of the book Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life by Karina Lumbert Fabian and her father, Deacon Steven Lumbert. Today, I am honored to present the following post from Karina. This is one woman I know God has awesome plans for!
Lynn McMonigal
When You Get Mono of the Soul
by Karina Fabian
Have you ever had mono? I got it for the first time at 43, and while the adult version of mononucleosis is not as extreme as the teenage version, it’s nonetheless draining my energy. Aside from the annoying mystery of how I got “the kissing disease” when the rest of my family is fine, is the fact that I have too much to do to give into the exhaustion. There’s no cure, so I try to take care of myself, offer my suffering up to God and press on. It got me thinking, though.
Can souls get mono?
I’ve heard the expression “a tired soul,” and we have all had those times when it seems like faith is just so much work. When that occasional tired feeling becomes malaise, isn’t that like mono of the soul?
How do we get it? Sin infected you? Satan’s trying to bring you down? Only God knows for certain. Just like with mono, there’s no prescription for a cure (though Divine Intervention is always God’s prerogative). But there are things we can do.
Spiritual food: the doctor warned me that mono would make my appetite go down but I had to make myself eat well. So, too, can “mono of the soul” make you not want spiritual food: prayer and worship (and for Catholics especially, the Sacrament of the Eucharist.) But these are vital if we’re going to stay spiritually healthy.
Rest: It’s a temptation to take on too much, to push too hard, to do-do-do and forget that sometimes, we are meant to receive just as we are meant to give. This is the time to receive. Ask others for help or prayers. Spend time in a place that gives you comfort. Find a light meditation or read something inspiring. Drop out of some activities, maybe in favor of finding something else that will nurture the soul. God calls us to be all things to all men, but that doesn’t have to mean all at the same time.
Offer it to God and push on. Just like in life, we can’t give up everything and throw the covers over our heads and sleep for two weeks, so we can’t give up on our relationship with God. The Catholic faith talks of offering our suffering to God; it’s something anyone can do. God, in His mercy, can take the sacrifices we make–in this case our suffering–and turn them into something wonderful, but we have to take the first step of giving them to Him.
Mono–physical or spiritual–stinks. But by placing our faith in God, we can survive it–and just think of how wonderful you’ll feel when you’re well again!
About Karina Fabian
Karina (Lumbert) Fabian was born into the Catholic faith, but truly grew to love it as an adult. As a busy mother of four, she finds some of her strongest encounters with God’s love happen in the ordinary events of the day-to-day. Karina started her writing career with diocesan newspapers but ahs settled into writing fun-filled fantasy and science fiction that nonetheless incorporates the principles of faith-filled living. Her web site is http://www.karinafabian.com/ and her blog is at http://fabianspace.blogspot.com.
Lynn's Corner
Review of Why God Matters
by Lynn McMonigal
June 17, 2010
Why God Matters
It is easy to see God in the “big” moments of life—protection through a car accident, healing from a disease the doctors say is incurable, the birth of a healthy baby after years of infertility. These are all obviously miraculous moments. In such times, we can’t help but recognize what God has done and give Him thanks for it.
But what about the smaller, everyday moments of life? How often do we stop to think of how God is moving in our lives then?
In their book Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life, Karina Lumbert Fabian and Deacon Steven Lumbert share stories from their own lives that show God at work. Their stories show how God can use simple, everyday moments—like sharing a bowl of rice or sending flowers to a friend—to show His love to us. They also illustrate small ways we can show God’s love to others.
At first, I was hesitant to read this book. The authors make no secret of their Catholic faith—the cover even sports the Catholic Writers Guild Seal of approval. This book was written by two devout Catholics, for a primarily Catholic audience. Raised in a Protestant home, Catholicism is something I have never understood. The churches I have attended emphasize a one-on-one relationship with Christ. I have never been able to grasp the concept of confessing sins to a priest or asking a saint to pray on your behalf. Why can’t you just take your prayers directly to God? When I looked over the book and saw that a portion of The Catechism was used in each chapter, I grew even more nervous. I was afraid that I was opening myself up for a book completely focused on a side of religion that is foreign to me. Even worse, I was worried that I would read how wrong my particular brand of faith is.
I was very pleasantly surprised. As I said, Karina and Deacon Steve make no apologies for their beliefs. I admire that. Throughout this book, they also made no attempt to sway the reader toward sharing their beliefs. They are just very straight forward—“I love God and this is why.” They showed how acknowledging God in the everyday moments of life can lead to a deeper understanding of Him.
Reading this book did not really help me to understand Catholicism any better—and that’s OK. I don’t really think that was what the authors intended. What I did come away with was a better understanding of God and a deep desire to appreciate Him more every day. I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to enrich their relationship with God.
Karina Lumbert Fabian was born into the Catholic faith, but truly grew to love it as an adult. A busy mother of four, she finds her strongest encounters with God’s love happen in the ordinary events of the day-to-day. Karina started her writing career with diocesan newspapers but has settled into writing mostly fun-filled fantasy and science fiction that nonetheless incorporate the principles of faith-filled living. Her latest book, Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Everyday Life, tells stories of her life and faith, along with those of her father and co-author Deacon Steve Lumbert. Karina is all over the web. Find her at:
Q: Welcome to Beyond the Books, Karina. Can we start out by telling us whether you are published for the first time or are you multi-published?
At the time I’m writing this, I’ll have written four novels and edited three anthologies. Two of the anthologies are published (Infinite Space, Infinite God and Leaps of Faith, one should be coming out in the autumn, 2010 (Infinite Space, Infinite God II.) My novel Magic, Mensa and Mayhem is published and won the 2010 INDIE awards for best fantasy; another of my novels, Mind Over Mind, is under contract and scheduled for September 2011. In addition, I’ve almost finished my fifth novel, have a sixth that needs major re-write, and a seventh waiting in the wings, rather impatiently. Finally, I have the idea for a fantasy trilogy that keeps me up at night and makes me stop and jot notes at random moments.
On the non-fiction side, my first book, Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life, which I co-wrote with my father, Deacon Steve Lumbert, was published in May 2010 by Tribute Books.
Q: What was the name of your very first book regardless of whether it was published or not and, if not published, why?
I first wrote The Miscria in college. It was a fantasy about a psychic Freshman who ended up saving another planet. It got a lot of rejections, so I put it away for a decade. When I wanted to write fiction (after many years of articles and features), I went back to it. Wow, did it stink! The core story was great, though, as was the heroine, but the hero needed work. More to the point, he needed problems. So I gave him so many I drove him insane which made for a much better novel. The core story line, however, needed three books, so I got to work on my first trilogy, sending the first one around. That was about 2000. It got some rejections, but I worked it and kept sending it out. This year, I got the contract for The Miscria, now renamed Mind Over Mind, from Dragon Moon Press. Perseverance pays!
Q: For your first published book, how many rejections did you go through before you either found a mainstream publisher, self-published it, or paid a vanity press to publish it?
My first published e-book was Leaps of Faith, and it came about because a new publisher, Francis Isidore Press, was looking for books. My husband and I had been writing stories about an order of nuns who did search and rescue operations in space. We suggested a story collection, Katherine Lively suggested getting other authors in and making an anthology of different sci-fi. So no rejections for the e-book, which was a 2004 EPPIE finalist for best anthology.
However, Francis Isidore didn’t last very long. Katherine was expecting a long-desired child and she took a job editing for Mundania. We got the rights back and went on to find another publisher. I think it had eight rejections before The Writers’ Café Press published it in 2008.
Leaps was not my first published print book, however. I’d sent Leaps to a Catholic publisher who asked if we’d be interested in making an anthology with just Catholic science fiction. My husband and I edited Infinite Space, Infinite God, but they decided not to take a chance on sci-fi after all. I no longer remember how many rejections I got before Twilight Times published it in e-book and print 2007. It was the 2007 EPPIE winner for best sci-fi.
My first published novel was and exception to the rule. I had been writing a serial story, World Gathering: Magic, Mensa and Mayhem, for the North Dakota Prairie Dawg. Mostly, it was heavy on jokes and light on mystery, and a great romp for my favorite characters, the dragon detective Vern, and his partner, Sister Grace. I’d also written several stories with Vern and Grace, and put one up for critique by a publisher at the MuseOnline conference. She loved it so much she asked if I had enough for a collection. I wrote back that I didn’t, but I did have this long-running serial… Magic, Mensa and Mayhem was published by Swimming Kangaroo in March 2009 and won the 2010 INDIE Book Awards for best fantasy. It’s also placed in a couple of popular awards, and the serial itself won the Mensa Owl for best fiction. I love the characters–and so do readers–so much that I’m planning a series of books with Vern and Grace.
It’s a great lesson about being open to opportunities. Sadly, Swimming Kangaroo has had to stop accepting more books for publication, so I am searching for a new home for the series.
Q: How did the rejections make you feel and what did you do to overcome the blows?
Here’s the thing about rejections: You cannot take them personally. This is a business. The publisher is too full, or has something similar, or doesn’t think your style fits with what they have. They don’t think they can promote it well enough, or that even with promotion it can sell enough copies (because the angle is wrong, the target audience too small, it’s never been done, it’s been overdone by well-established authors, etc.) Sometimes, it really is because the writing isn’t good enough, but that just means you keep working to improve. It’s a business, not a fight.
Rejections miff me, sure. I really hate not knowing which of the many reasons is why that novel didn’t fit. But I also understand that editors are SWAMPED with submissions, and don’t have time to reply (or have been bit by people who “felt the blows” and decided to strike back.)
Q: When your first book was published, who published it and why did you choose them?
I submitted Infinite Space, Infinite God to Twilight Times because someone in one of my writers’ groups recommended them, and it’s been a good relationship. In fact, they asked us to compile a second anthology, and it should come out in autumn 2010.
However, in my case, many of my books come about because a publisher approached me. The one I’m working on right now, Neeta Lyffe, Zombie Exterminator, came about because a publisher asked me to write a novel about one of my short-story characters her readers love. My latest book, and my first non-fiction book, Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life, came about from answering an ad Tribute Books put on an online writers group I’m part of.
Small presses are full of opportunities for people who get their name and work out there, are keeping an eye open and are willing to work hard and meet a publisher’s needs.
Q: How did it make you feel to become published for the first time and how did you celebrate?
Oh, I think there was much jumping and screaming and Woo-hoo-ing. We went out to dinner. I grinned a lot for a week, I’m sure. Twilight Times was fun to work with because they gave us a lot of say in the cover art, etc.
I’m sure there some of your readers are marveling that I don’t remember the details, but frankly, it was a stepping stone, not to mention a supremely busy time of my life. I was homeschooling four kids, writing a craft book, working for national pregnancy magazines, and starting on a novel.
Q: What was the first thing you did as for as promotion when you were published for the first time?
Made a website, www.isigsf.com. I got bios from all the writers, summaries of the stories, put up graphics and when I learned how, made a book trailer video. Once a month, I interviewed one of the contributors until I’d gotten them all. It was a lot of fun.
Q: If you had to do it over again, would you have chosen another route to be published?
Nope, unless some really big traditional press wants to employ 20-20 hindsight and take me on. The only drawback to small presses is that their chances of getting into the brick-and-mortar stores is limited. Big presses have the reputation, clout and money to take the spots.
Q: Have you been published since then and how have you grown as an author?
As I said above, I’ve had several other books published and have one under contract. I’ve ventured into inspirational nonfiction with Why God Matters, succeeded in my first collaboration–with my dad, no less!–and with Magic, Mensa and Mayhem, discovered I have a real talent for writing comedy. That came as a surprise, incidentally. I love indulging my sarcastic, cliché-twisting side, however.
Q: Looking back since the early days when you were trying to get published, what do you think you could have done differently to speed things up? What kind of mistakes could you have avoided?
I don’t think there is any one thing I could have done to speed things up. I’ve learned from my mistakes, too, so avoiding them might have hurt me in the long run. Most of the things that have helped me–especially online conferences and groups–weren’t around when I started, so there’s not much I could have done differently to affect that.
I would, however, have taken website building lessons and a class on photoshop. That would have helped make promotions much easier. As it is, I’m trying to find time to take them now, but not having much success. (And I do need a class; I’m not much of a book learner.)
Q: What has been the biggest accomplishment you have achieved since becoming published?
Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life. My other books are fun reads, and I love them and am proud of them, but Why God Matters is the first book I’ve written that can help people on a spiritual level. It’s probably the only important book I’ve ever written. It may be the only–time will tell.
I thank God for the opportunity I was given and pray that my father and I did right by it.
Q: If you could have chosen another profession, what would that profession be?
I grew up wanting to be a scientist, but I can’t conduct an experiment to save my life! Still, I always wonder how it would feel–that thrill of discovering something we didn’t know, something only hinted at by the great minds before me. And let’s face it–what a kick to be such a big brain!
Of course, that’s just fantasy. For reality? I honestly don’t know what I’d want to be when I grow up. I just hope I never have to.
Q: Would you give up being an author for that profession or have you combined the best of both worlds?
I love what I’m doing. The hours are my own, the work is never the same, and I get to make people laugh or cry or at least escape themselves for a few happy hours. Plus, I never run out of material to read to my kids!
Q: How do you see yourself in ten years?
Grayer. More wrinkled. Hopefully not fatter. Spending my days writing my next book while promoting the ones already out, e-mailing the kidlets (now in college or career and out of the house), swapping ideas and kisses with my husband Rob who may finally be working on books of his own.
Q: Any final words for writers who dream of being published one day?
Stop dreaming and get to work! Learn how to write better. Learn the business of publishing. Get involved with writers groups online–The Writers’ Chat Room is a good place to start (http://writerschatroom.com) or find a Yahoo! group for writers. Find an online writers conference–there are about a dozen that I know of. Write, submit, write, submit. Get a rejection? Shrug and submit elsewhere, or get it looked at by a good critique group.
And if you don’t want to put that much effort into getting your writing published, get out of the way of those that do!
Catholic Fire
Book Review: Why God Matters
by Jean M. Heimann
June 15, 2010
Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life by Karina Lumbert Fabian and Deacon Steve Lumbert 114 pgs., hardcover, Tribute Books, May, 2010
Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life is an inspirational book designed for those who seek the face of God in their daily lives – whether they are new to the faith, returning to the faith, or have been long-time believers and are simply seeking a deeper spirituality.
In Why God Matters, Karina Lumbert Fabian and her father Deacon Steve Lumbert share personal stories and valuable lessons they have learned in their own faith journeys. Using thought-provoking quotes, heartwarming stories, Scripture passages, quotes from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and easy, practical activities the reader can fit into his or her daily routine, they encourage others to recognize God's presence in the ordinary circumstances of their daily lives.
Karina, a mother of four, was born into the Catholic faith and began to truly love it as an adult. Her father, Deacon Lumbert, converted to Catholicism in his 40's, many years after attending Mass with his family and his devout wife, whose prayers and example led him to the faith. Following God's call he eventually became a deacon and today, he is the associate director of the Deacon Formation Program for his diocese. The personal stories of father and daughter intertwine, yet each present their own separate and unique witnesses. Their experiences are similar to those we all encounter in our daily lives. Some of the themes include: coping with suffering, finding hope in the midst of difficult circumstances, asking God for what we need, answering God’s call and accepting his strength, growing in faith, attaining balance or the virtue of temperance in one’s life, acquiring fortitude, and answering God’s call to evangelize.
I enjoyed reading Why God Matters – it was fun, engaging, and quick, easy reading. The main theme of the book -- finding God in the little things we experience each day-- is similar to that shared with us by many of the great saints. St. Therese of Lisieux, for example, used the little way to holiness, which consisted in finding God’s will in the most mundane tasks and happenings of each day, and embracing them with a simple, child-like love. Why God Matters encourages us to do the same, which makes it a book with simple, but powerful message. This inspirational little book is indeed a gem – it is a power-packed treasury of heartwarming stories, helpful spiritual lessons, and useful, practical suggestions to guide us in our daily lives.
Literarily Speaking
The Story Behind the Book: Karina Fabian's "Why God Matters"
June 15, 2010
The Story Behind the Book is Literarily Speaking’s newest feature. Here we find out either the inspiration behind authors’ books or how they got published. Today’s guest is Karina Fabian, author of the religious self-help book, Why God Matters.
The right place at the right time. Fortune favors the prepared. God will provide. All of these truisms worked together to bring about the publication of Why God Matters, a small book of faith stories I wrote with my father, Deacon Steve Lumbert.
I never expected to write a book like this. I used to write non-fiction, but I’ve pretty much established myself as a sci-fi/fantasy writer. My latest novel, Magic, Mensa and Mayhem, which won the 2010 INDIE awards for best fantasy, features a dragon detective, and my plans for 2010 included a comedic “horror” novel about a zombie exterminator and a science fiction story about an alien device that lets you see into your own soul. A book of touching stories from my own life and how they informed my faith was not in the plan—near-term or long-term.
However, I happened to see a post in one of my Yahoo groups: Catholic Writer Needed. It caught my eye. I’m Catholic, and despite my favorite genres, I’m well known for incorporating my faith into my writing. Further, I was active in the Catholic Writers’ Guild. I could certainly pass on the information, maybe recommend a few names.
However, the request called to me. Tribute Books was looking for someone to fill a gap in their production line: a small book of personal stories on faith, combined with “life lessons,” Scripture and prayer. They had the title, the format, the cover—even the website! All they needed were the words.
Why God Matters I had words: stories I’d written for magazines and devotionals, or stories I’d written intending to send to magazines. I’d also had several experiences of writing to spec and liked having a format. Tight deadlines don’t intimidate me. It was a tempting prospect.
Nonetheless, I held back because I didn’t think I could give them exactly what they needed—a book with a perspective that men and women could relate to.
I took my concerns to God in prayer during Mass, and the solution hit me—I have a father who is a deacon in the Catholic Church. Duh! He’d never written anything aside from homework and homilies, but I knew he had great stories from his life. Not only could he bring the perspective of a man, but also that of a convert coming into the faith. I called him, he said, “sure!” and we met online for several intense evenings editing and rewriting stories until they sang. He suggested adding paragraphs from the Catechism, which adds a whole ‘nuther dimension to the book.
Why God Matters, then, came about because I had was in the right place at the right time, because I had done the work that prepared me to take on the challenge, and because God provided me with that extra incentive—a chance to work with my dad. It might seem like a lucky happenstance, but a lot of work brought me to the moment, and a little faith helped me capture it.
Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble.com are the best way to obtain your copies of Why God Matters, although it is also available or can be ordered through your local bookstores. You can visit Karina’s website at www.whygodmatters.com for more information.
Putting Words Down on Paper
Ten Questions with Karina Lumbert Fabian and Deacon Steven Lumbert
by Susanne Drazic
June 14, 2010
Today my guests are Karina Lumbert Fabian and Deacon Steven Lumbert. They are father and daughter, but they are also the co-authors of Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life.
1. Hello. Could you each tell us a little about yourself?
KARINA LUMBERT FABIAN: I'm Karina Fabian, wife to Colonel Rob Fabian, mother of four and writer of mostly fantasy and science fiction. My latest novel, Magic, Mensa and Mayhem just won the 2010 INDIE awards for best fantasy, which I'm still grinning about. I also have several anthologies of science fiction, edited with my husband, and am working on several novels--a humorous novel about a zombie exterminator, a sci-fi novel about a device that lets you see into your soul, and a super-hero spoof about a guy who gets powers after getting bit by a radioactive pixie and falling into a vat of toxic waste.
DEACON STEVEN LUMBERT: I am a native of Colorado and have lived here most of my life. I am a convert to the Catholic faith, converting 22 years after I married my wife, a cradle Catholic. We have two children, Karina, the co-author of this book, and Regina who lives in California. I served for 30 years as a Trooper with the Colorado State Patrol. After retirement, I was accepted to Deacon Formation and on August 4, 2000 I was ordained. My present assignment is as Associate Director of Deacon Formation, but will soon change as I have just been assigned to St. Anne parish in Pueblo, Co. as the Administrator.
2. What inspired you to write Why God Matters?
DEACON STEVEN LUMBERT: That's easy. Karina called me with the proposition that we write the book together and so we did.
KARINA LUMBERT FABIAN: Writing is my escape and my release, so I like to have a lot of fun with it. However, I also like to incorporate my Catholic faith. Two of my sci-fi anthologies explore Catholicism in the future, and the heroes of Magic, Mensa and Mayhem are Catholic (a nun, and a dragon who's been coerced into serving the Faerie Catholic Church), for example. I also write school planners for a Catholic school system. In addition, I'm an officer in the Catholic Writer's Guild.
So when I saw an ad by Tribute Books for a Catholic Writer, I had to answer. At first, I thought I'd just pass on the info to the Guild members, but I loved the concept they proposed--a short book of personal stories combined with life lessons and Scripture. I had several stories I'd written, some of which I'd never bothered to submit anywhere. Then I got the brilliant idea to bring my dad, Deacon Steve Lumbert, in on the project. I really feel the Holy Spirit was moving me on this one, and I've been learning to go where the Spirit leads!
3. How did you come up with the book's title?
KARINA LUMBERT FABIAN: Actually, Tribute already had it--along with the approximate size, format, and approach. They even had a cover and website all ready. They made it so easy to jump in and write!
4. How long did it take to write Why God Matters?
KARINA LUMBERT FABIAN: About six weeks from the time I contacted my Dad to getting in the last edits. However the bulk of the writing was done in a very intense week over IM. Dad is in Colorado; I'm in California. Got to love the internet!
5. What were the challenges in bringing the book to completion?
KARINA LUMBERT FABIAN: Like I said before, distance was one. Scheduling was the other. Dad is a Deacon and a very busy man, so I had to work to his schedule and get him to carve out time for the project.
DEACON STEVEN LUMBERT: Editing and re-writing, especially as I was busy with my other work a lot. But, through the grace of God, we did complete and submit it.
6. What are your expectations for the book?
DEACON STEVEN LUMBERT: Well that is hard to answer. But, as this is my first book, I pray that those who read it will be able to see in the everyday happenings of their own lives that God does matter. Oh, and of course, it would be really neat to see it as a BESTSELLER!
KARINA LUMBERT FABIAN: I'm hoping people who are casual Catholics or who want a "baby steps" way to grow in faith will find this book gives them the tools they need to start seeing God's hand in the day-to-day of life, and that they'll carry their faith beyond the Sunday Mass.
7. What are your marketing strategies for the book?
KARINA LUMBERT FABIAN: Start with a small bang--like the June book tour and the Catholic Marketing Network Trade Show in August--and continue to build slowly. I'd like to make a talk on the book and take it to parishes and events, but that's an autumn project, as I've got two novels that need to be written.
Most of my marketing, of course, will be online. We have a lovely website (courtesy of Tribute Books): www.whygodmatters.com. We're inviting people to share their own stories of finding faith in the day-to-day by commenting on the website.
8. Who did the cover artwork for Why God Matters?
KARINA LUMBERT FABIAN: I don't know--Tribute had it all ready to go even before we'd signed the contract. I love it, though--it's bright and simple, yet eye-catching. I'm very excited for my order to come in and I can see it "in person"!
9. Are there any plans to collaborate on another book?
DEACON STEVEN LUMBERT: That is always possible and even probable, but lets see how this one does first.
KARINA LUMBERT FABIAN: I think it will depend on our schedules. Dad just took on a new position as a parish administrator, which is BIG, and I have two books to write and one to revise in the next year, at least. Also, as with so many books, sales of this one will factor into the decision.
Regardless of whether we do collaborate on another, I am so grateful that we got to share this one. I learned a lot about my dad, and it's the closest we've worked on something since he helped us build our basement back in 2002.
10. Is there anything else you'd like to add?
KARINA LUMBERT FABIAN: Just this: With television, the Internet and so many other distractions in life, we are losing the closeness and identity that comes from knowing our family's past. Make a time and a place--around the dinner table, at a monthly family meeting, or on a drive. Don't wait for an excuse to share your life stories with the people you love.
DEACON STEVEN LUMBERT: This was a most taxing but joyful experience, to be able to collaborate on a book with my first born daughter. Her excitement and exuberance were catching. It is something I will treasure forever.
I'd like to thank you both for taking time out of your busy schedules to do this interview. I hope everyone finds it as interesting as I have.
On May 15th, Tribute Books published a small book on Catholic spirituality and living, Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life, by Karina Lumbert Fabian and Deacon Steve Lumbert. This is my first non-fiction book, and my father's first book ever.
We would never have done this had it not been for LaCresha and her wonderful Yahoo! group, Write, Publish, Market.
I joined WPM about a year ago because I was interested in finding new ways to market my books and to share with folks some of my marketing ideas and experience. I also like to pass on things I learn to other groups I'm in, like the Catholic Writers Guild.
A post by Nicole entitled, "Looking for a Catholic Writer," caught my eye. Nicole was looking for an author to write a small book on short notice to fill a hole in their production schedule. I figured if I couldn't help, I knew plenty of Catholic writers who could.
Nicole knew exactly what she wanted, right down to format: personal stories about faith in the everyday, with some practical tips for readers, and Bible verses. The more we discussed the idea, the more I wanted to do it. Not only was the format similar to work I'd done for another publisher, it occurred to me that I could get my father to co-author with me, broadening the scope of the book and making for some fun father-daughter bonding.
Nicole had a tight deadline--one reason, I believe, that she posted her request on WPM, which has a hundreds of members who are actively seeking writing gigs. My father and I had a very intense, very fun week of IMing stories back and forth. It's the first time in a long time that we'd worked together on a project. My father's already eager to do another one!
In the end, this turned out to be more than a book contract--it was a chance for father and daughter to reconnect, and an opportunity for us to share our faith and our stories with others. I feel richer for having done this, but I also know that I never would have imagined taking on such a project on my own. It was Nicole's post on LaCresha's group that led me to this wonderful place.
Thank you, LaCresha. Though you never planned it, you have blessed our lives.
Cafe of Dreams
Karina Fabian - Author Guest Post
by April
June 14, 2010
I am delighted to welcome Karina Fabian, author of Why God Matters, to Cafe of Dreams today! If you haven't checked Ms. Fabian's book out yet, please do so, it will touch your heart in many ways! In the meantime, please enjoy this wonderful post by Karina Fabian and her thoughts on the importance of reading! I couldn't agree with her more, by the way!
Reading is a Legacy
By Karina Fabian
My dad, as you'll see in our book, Why God Matters, had a big influence in my life. Most of the time, he didn't really have to teach me, just set a good example. However, one major thing he did do was teach me to read.
I was three, back in 1970, when I first started reading. There were no phonics programs or best-selling "teach your child to read" books. Dad taught me while playing with alphabet blocks. And he told my sister and me stories. Oh, can he tell stories! (You'll see that in our book, too, incidentally.) Our favorite was "The Three Little Pigs." No one can tell the pigs' story like my dad.
I remember in Kindergarten, telling a child about some story my dad read to us, only to be told with some disdain, "I'm too old for bedtime stories." I felt awfully sorry for that that kid. I loved story time, and was not looking forward to outgrowing it.
Outgrow it, I did, however, and moved to the natural progression of reading by myself. I was voracious, and as the shy, unpopular kid, spent most of my free time with my nose in a book. I remember in fourth grade getting an award for reading 125 books in a semester. I also remember the teacher scolding me about one book I read (among the 350-page books of snakes, the biographies, etc.): "Dr. Seuss is below your level." Ironically, I'd picked up that book because the one thing my dad never read to us was Dr. Seuss, and I was curious what the fuss was about.
My parents naturally encouraged our reading. We didn’t have a lot of money, so where the school library and the bookmobile didn't satisfy, we bought books at yard sales or used bookstores. I remember there was one near my grandmother's house--whenever we visited, we filled the car with read books to trade. I was so sad when that store closed!
Now that I'm an adult, I have done my best to share my love of reading with my kids. It's different now--I did have the "teach your child to read" programs, and we can afford trips to B&N, and a lot of our reading is done over the Internet. However, Rob and I still read stories with our younger boys (9 and 11), and when I am proofing a manuscript, everyone in the family listens as I read it aloud. It's more than education. It's legacy. It's love.
GretaWrites.com
Interview with Karina Fabian
by Macg12
June 14, 2010
Today I am interviewing Karina Fabian, co-author of the non-fiction book, Why God Matters. Karina was born into the Catholic faith, but truly grew to love it as an adult. A busy mother of four, she finds her strongest encounters with God’s love happen in the ordinary events of the day-to-day. Karina started her writing career with diocesan newspapers but has settled into writing fun-filled fantasy and science fiction that nonetheless incorporates the principles of faith-filled living. Welcome, Karina and thank you for being with us today.
Your writing career has been more centered on fantasy and science-fiction, what was it about this project that called to you?
I’ve done some short inspirational stories about my life and faith, some of which were published ages ago and some of which were just sitting in the computer. Ironically, I’d been musing about how I should submit them somewhere. Then I saw the ad for a Catholic writer. Tribute books wanted a small book of faith stories with life lessons, scripture and prayer. I’ve done some similar stuff before, and when I was hit with the idea of sharing the project with my dad, I knew I had to do it.
What was your process for picking which life stories were helpful and which were not?
Actually, I think the Holy Spirit led me to write these stories. There was no planning, just inspiration.
What do you hope this book will do for people that read it?
We hope that it will do just what the title promises: help people recognize God’s loving presence in their lives. Can’t ask for more than that.
Which story in this book is your favorite and why?
”Love in a Pot of Rice” of the ones I wrote, because it speaks of my family so well. From my dad’s “So Help Me God, I Did Not Do It” because I finally got the whole story about the “grain silo” incident that I’d been hearing about since I was a kid.
Is this book only for the Catholic faith or can anyone gain insight and deepen their faith by reading it?
There is a lot of Catholicism in it–from the Catechism to the prayers–however the overall theme–finding God in your life–is something any Christian can identify with. So really, it depends on how open the reader is to Catholic elements.
What was it like, writing with your co-author, who also happens to be your dad?
It was a lot of work and a lot of fun, and a little frustration. We learned more about each other in the intense week of writing than we have in years of phone calls, etc.
Have you written other things with your dad?
Nope. This is the first. We have designed programs together for when I was installed Worthy Advisor of Rainbows, and we’ve built many things together, however.
What other faith-based books have you written?
This is my first non-fiction book, but all of my fiction has some faith elements in it. Its’ just part of who I am, and it comes out in the writing. However, none of them are religious in nature, even Infinite Space, Infinite God, which explores Catholicism in science-fiction settings.
What other writing projects do you have in the works that you’d like to share?
Taking a total right turn from my other works, I’m writing Neeta Lyffe: Zombie Exterminator, a humorous novel about a zombie exterminator training up new recruits in a reality TV show. There’s no “faith-based” aspects in this one–just a lot of fun, a lot of twists on society, and a lot of decapitating the undead.
I am pleased to announce that my novel, Magic, Mensa and Mayhem, won the 2010 INDIE Book Awards for best fantasy. My publisher is having a sale on it, incidentally. www.swimmingkangaroo.com/mensa.html.
What is your favorite bible passage or verse?
I don’t really have one, but I do find that there always seems to be one to speak to what’s going on in my life, especially when I’m feeling low or stressed. I just have to be open to receiving it. (I don’t go looking. They just pop up–at Mass, in the daily reading, on Facebook… God’s thoughtful that way.)
If you’d like to learn more about the book or it’s co-authors, you can find more information at www.whygodmatters.com
Thank you Karina for joining us today and sharing your new book with us. We wish you the best of luck.
FabianSpace
Five Random Memories of My Dad and Me
by Karina Fabian
June 14, 2010
In honor of the Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life book tour, I thought I'd share five memories I have of my dad and me. These are totally off the top of my head:
1. Dad saved me. I was about 11, I think. We were always building something at my house and that year, Dad was finishing the car port. I was climbing up the ladder to go help when the thing slipped right out from under me. I had no purchase, but faster than thought, my dad grabbed my wrist and pulled me up.
2. Dad's retirement party. My sister Gina and I wanted to do something special for him to commemorate his 30 years in the state patrol. Since we knew Dad's favorite stories of his years there, we satirized them into the Really Real Stories of the State Patrol. Gina's husband, Chuck, played Dad. Poor Dad was totally roasted and loved every minute.
3. "Shall I keep her?" My dad loved to say this about my mom: "Isn't she wonderful? Shall I keep her?" "I love your mom--shall I keep her?" We used to get annoyed about it, especially when that really demeaning commercial came out with the tag line, "My wife--think I'll keep her." (Was it for shampoo?) You could not deny how much they loved each other.
4. Their 40th wedding anniversary. My mom is from Puerto Rico, and when they married, she moved "to the mainland" and made her home in Colorado for most of their marriage. On their 40th wedding anniversary, she went ahead to Puerto Rico for a couple of months to plan the renewal of vows and reception and be with her sisters. She loved it. At the reception, Dad got on one knee, gave her a new ring, and said, "You gave me 40 years of living where I want to live. It's your turn." They're debating about moving back to Puerto Rico.
5. "Coo-Coo!" When I was about seven, my best friend Vicki Gross and I were getting very silly and making up really bad jokes that we'd run and tell my dad. We told him the following while he was shaving, "What time is it, old witch? Coo-coo time! Coo-coo time!" then we ran off to tell my mom. As we headed back to my room, My dad leaned out of the bathroom doorway, like a cuckoo bird, saying "Coo-coo! Coo-coo!" We about fell over laughing.
Learn more about my dad and me--specifically our journeys in faith--in Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life.
Writing Daze
Friday Five Fun Things with author Karina Fabian
by Rebecca Camarena
June 11, 2010
Today at Writing Daze it’s time for Friday Fun. We asked our visiting author Karina Fabian to tell us Five Fun Things that happened while writing her book. She teamed up with co-author Deacon Steven Lumbert, to write Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life (Tribute Books, May 2010). It is a Christian living, self-help book. These authors join us on their first tour with Pump Up Your Book.
Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life was a different experience for me for a couple of reasons. I'm a novelist, and this is a non-fiction book about stories in my own life and how they taught me about God's love. It's also the first time I've collaborated, and with my own father, no less. So my five fun things:
1. Bossing Daddy around. It wasn't that bad, but I am the writer of the family. His experience has been writing 10-15-minute homilies. I had the fun--and the challenge--of sending back his 1500-word stories bleeding with red ink and telling him to cut and focus. However, that leads to...
2. Seeing my dad improve his writing tenfold. I was awed by the improvements he could make based on my commentary and critique. Not only is my dad talented but he also listened. It was great!
3. Hearing the full stories of Dad's "bad boy past." Outhouses on Main Street, water balloons thrown from roofs, bags of doggie doo set on fire--was this really my father, the State Patrolman and straight-and-narrow guy all my friends looked up to? (And you should have heard him laugh as he reminisced.)
4. The one-week evening marathon IM write-off. With my dad's busy deacon schedule, it was hard for him to find time to write the stories, and when the deadline went from "soon" to "looming," we spend four intense evenings on Yahoo IM, with him writing, me editing, him writing again. (I had finished mine and my crit groups had helped me polish.) It was the most time I'd spent with my dad since building a basement together in 2002.
5. Making my friends cry. Good tears! The kind that say, "This story really touched me." Usually I make people laugh, so it was rewarding to know I could inspire teary joy, too.
Karina (Lumbert) Fabian was born into the Catholic faith, but truly grew to love it as an adult. As a busy mother of four, she finds some of her strongest encounters with God’s love happen in the ordinary events of the day-to-day. Karina started her writing career with diocesan newspapers but ahs settled into writing fun-filled fantasy and science fiction that nonetheless incorporates the principles of faith-filled living. Her web site is http://www.karinafabian.com/ and her blog is at http://fabianspace.blogspot.com.
About Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life
Many times one sees Roman Catholicism explained using either closely reasoned theology or an appeal to ancient writers of the Church. While both are legitimate approaches, the average reader looking to explore the faith is often left cold. In their collaboration, Why God Matters, Deacon Steven Lumbert and his daughter, Karina Lumbert Fabian, delineate the Catholic Faith as experienced by a pair of average, everyday people like the great majority who make up the 24% of Americans who share this religion.
In the stories of this pair, one see both ways people come to Catholicism, by birth (“cradle Catholics”) and by conversion. Their descriptions of their separate paths thankfully lack the religiosity of the all too common ‘and then a miracle takes place’ school of religious experience. Rather than blasts of light, fiery swords, spiritual fistfights, and angelic choirs, theirs is the long religious slog of the everyday. The effort that one must put out each day in the long trek to Heaven.
What is Catholicism really like? One would be hard-put to find a better verbal painting of the faith so many call their own.”
Read the Excerpt!
Love in a Pot of Rice
by Karina
You know well enough that our Lord does not look so much at the greatness of our actions, nor even at their difficulty, but at the love with which we do them.
–St. Therese of Lisieux
One meal that always connects me to my heritage is arroz con pollo—chicken and rice. For me, this meal doesn’t so much represent an ethnic identity, it symbolizes the love and generosity of my family.
My mother is the seventh child of ten, born to a very poor family in Puerto Rico. They bought shoes only for the winter, shared two toys at Christmas (a game and a ball), and meat for dinner was a rare treat. Yet my grandfather, a schoolteacher, regularly brought home the students who lived too far away to walk home from school during the week, and they shared the family meal. My grandmother would say, “If I can feed ten, I can feed twelve.” When I cook arroz con pollo, I imagine her adding a cup of rice to stretch their meal, giving of their need rather than their wealth.
Many of my grandparents’ children escaped poverty, becoming doctors and social workers, businesspeople and spouses. However, they never lost their legacy of charity. When one is in need, the others are there. I remember when a hurricane took the roof off my grandparent’s house, where several grown children still lived. In Colorado, my mother combed the garage sales for linens and clothes to replace those ruined by the storm, and all contributed what funds they could to repair the roof. Years later, my grandmother died in that home, cared for by her children and grandchildren.
My own parents carried on that legacy, which, like my grandparents’, spread beyond family. Our friends were welcome in our homes, sometimes more than in their own homes. My parents called them their “love daughters” and supported them in their extra-curriculars, and on occasion, took them into our home. Several still call them “Mom and Dad.” When we did not have treasure, my parents gave of their time and talent. My dad made costumes for the school play; my mother was always crafting for someone. Mostly, though, they gave of their love.
When I’d given birth to my daughter, my mom came to visit for several weeks, and she met a pregnant friend who said she had only one craving: arroz con pollo. The next time we saw her, Mom had it ready.
As a mother myself, I must now carry on this legacy by setting an example for my children. Far wealthier than my parents or grandparents ever were, we do our best to give to the Church and to charities—and we involve our children in that. We also do our best to be available to their friends as well as to them. This year, I pack an extra lunch each day for Amber’s best friend. It’s a little thing, yet it connects me to my grandmother somehow.
Last night, I made arroz con pollo. It’s a different recipe, because I’m not the cook my mother is, yet it brought me back to my past, and my mother’s past, and to roots deeply embedded in charitable love.
Life Lesson
God calls us to be the first teachers to our children in living a life of faith, hope, and charity.
How did your parents teach you this? How are you teaching your own children? Spend some time in reflection and prayer today, then find something that ties you to that heritage—or inspires you to build a new heritage for your children.
Why God Matters
How to Recognize Him in Daily Life
Karina Lumbert Fabian
Deacon Steven Lumbert
Tribute Books http://www.tribute-books.com/
114 pgs., hardcover
ISBN 9780982256534
Although Why God Matters has been written from the Catholic viewpoint, I think that everyone of Christian faith who has experienced God in their lives can learn something from reading this book. Whether you are new to your faith or a long time believer, this book will show you how to find God in the ordinary day-to-day activities of your life. As you read the stories and life lessons, you will find yourself reflecting on the many ways that God has always been present in your life.
In Why God Matters, Karina Fabian and Deacon Lumbert share their personal stories and the life lessons they learned. Also in the book are bible passages, quotes and passages taken from the Catechism of the Catholic Church. One bible passage in the book is from I Corinthians 10:31: "So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God." These are powerful words to live by.
I enjoyed reading Why God Matters. Some of the stories made me laugh while others made me cry. The stories also made me think about my own personal journey of knowing God. Although I learned something from all of the stories and life lessons, four of the stories that really stood out the most to me were: Love in a Pot of Rice, Does God Send Flowers?, Bare Feet, and Cough It Up. I felt a special connection to these stories.
God speaks to all of us on a daily basis. We just have to keep our hearts open to what he has to tell us. Why God Matters shows us how to see God in the day-to-day of our lives and how to have a deeper, more meaningful relationship with him.
Gloria's Corner
Interview with Karina Fabian and Deacon Steven Lumbert
by Gloria
June 10, 2010
Good morning everyone.
Today we have with us an author who has been here before, but this time Karina Fabian has her dad, Deacon Steven Lumbert join her. Glad you could join us here today and share a bit about your joint authorship of your book, Why God Matters. We will hear thoughts from both Karina and Steven in today’s interview.
GO: Karina to start us off here, tell us a bit about your book and how you came to write a book with your dad?
KF: Why God Matters tells of several experiences from my father’s and my lives that showed us God’s loving hand and that strengthened our faith. Along with the stories of those experiences (think Chicken Soup style), we offer some short lessons on increasing your own faith, plus quotes from Scripture and the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
I was asked to write this book by Tribute Books to fill a hole in their production line. They already knew exactly what they wanted–right to the format. It was actually pretty easy, but I felt intimidated about the assignment because I felt I could only offer an overly feminine perspective, and the book really needed a balance. Then in church, it hit me–I have a deacon father! I called him up and invited him to collaborate and it was the best thing I could have done–for the book and for me.
GO: When two writers co-author a book there is a chance that their writing styles would clash. Deacon Lumbert, when Karina asked you to co-author this book were you concerned about the style issue? How did you work this out so that the finished product was consistent in style?
SL: I didn’t even consider that issue. As this is my first time writing a book, I was excited to work with Karina. She is an accomplished and published author. I had confidence in her. We agreed on a process for reviewing the writing, but I can tell you she is a tough critic.
GO: Karina, I believe this was the first time you’ve co-written a book with your dad. What were the biggest surprises you’ve encountered as a writer during this experience?
KF: Actually, this was the first time I’ve co-written a book, period. I actually think it went easier because it was with my dad. I have to admit, though, I was a little nervous. I know my dad–he’s a dear, smart and funny, but he’s a TALKER, and it comes out in his writing. I know there’d be some serious editing and I wanted to be sure that I not only didn’t wreck his style, but that I didn’t get into arguments.
As it turned out, the biggest surprise was the best. I’d give a critique (one that would make a lot of writers cry, frankly) and Dad would come back with this work that was so improved! Then we’d tweak until they sang. Looking back, I think a lot of his stories are better done than mine, and I’m the one with 20 + year’s experience. I am so proud of my Daddy!
Other great surprises were personal–learning the full story of the Lumbert Trouble Boys. Realizing just how much we meant to each other in our faith journeys as well as our life journeys. God blessed us with the chance to write this book.
GO: Steven, have you written a book prior to this one? I know you’ve written many sermons, which are a different kind of writing, I’d think. What are your thoughts about the experience?
SL: This was the first time ever. As you mention, I have written many homilies/sermons, and many, many reports in my previous work. However, the style used in writing a book is totally different and I had to get used to it. With the experience, I think I will now be writing more effective homilies/sermons as I now realize a more effective way of writing.
GO: Karina, your book is slanted toward a specific religion, but lots of things you write about can be re-slanted towards other ones. E.g. I’m Jewish and also believe in God, but in a different way perhaps than you, your father or other religions do. Would you tell us how you could promote this type of book to a wider audience? What would it take?
KF: It’s true, this book is written for a Catholic audience. In fact, we decided to include quotes from the Catechism of the Catholic Church after Dad used a few as his introductory quotes and we realized how well the Catechism addresses all aspects of living–not just the religious side.
However, the experiences we share transcend religion: learning about generosity from your parents; seeing God’s hand in saving your life; understanding your relationship with God. I think those who are not put off by reading Catholic quotes can find inspiration they can apply to their own relationship with God. Consider it this way: could you read a story about a Buddhist that included quotes from Buddha without feeling threatened? Could you gain something from the experience?
I must admit, though, I’m comfortable focusing on the Catholic audience. My fiction is a different story–and a different interview.
GO: Steven, as an author, how do you want readers to view your book?
SL: As this book is about how God is always present with us, I hope and pray that the readers will begin to see how God is there, how He calls always to holiness of life, even in the everyday happenings.
GO: Karina, all good stories originate somewhere. How did this one get started?
KF: These stories started with a Navy man who fell in love with a Catholic woman while stationed in Puerto Rico. His father made him wait until he was 21 to get married, so June 24, 1966, two days after his birthday, Steven Lumbert married Socorro Vicenty. I was born April 19, 1967, and my sister, April 12, 1968. He and Mom raised us to love God and to love others, and by far, their example was the greatest teacher.
Our stories are examples from our lives. We hope they will teach as well.
GO: Steven, have you and Karina considered writing another book together? If so, is anything planned within the next few years? What would it be about?
SL: I have thought about it, but before any decisions are made, I think Karina and I both agree we need to see how this one goes.
KF: The manuscript wasn’t even finished and Dad was asking, “What shall we do next?” LOL. Right now, I have a backlog of obligations in the fiction realm. We’re going to revisit this question next year.
GO: Karina, has your relationship become better or worse having worked on this book with your dad? Would you recommend this to other writers?
KF: Oh, I can’t recommend one way or the other–it would totally depend on the father-daughter relationship. I’m not sure even we could have had such an easy time if we’d tried this ten years ago.
However, I do feel closer to Dad, and frankly, that was one of my ulterior motives behind asking him to collaborate. With my family moving around the country and Dad and Mom so busy with church, many of our phone calls devolve into reciting our To-Do lists! This gave Dad and me a focus for sharing more about ourselves.
We do recommend that families take time to share their faith stories. In fact, we suggest this at the end of the book. Further, we have a page on our website, www.whygodmatters.com, for folks to write in about little experiences that have enhanced their faith.
GO: Steven, what advice would you give to a writer considering teaming up with a parent to co-write a book?
SL: First thing to do is make sure that your relationship to each other is strong enough to withstand criticism, especially when the child is criticizing the parent. I think that if the relationship is strong enough to withstand that, then pursue it further.
Working with my daughter on this book has been a most enlightening experience. Even though I am the parent here, and supposed to “know it all,” I found that our relationship as father/daughter has become more profound as we both wrote of our experiences of God.
GO: Before we wrap up today, do either you or your dad have anything else to add? Can you tell my readers how they can purchase this book and where they can learn more about you online?
KF/SL: Why God Matters has the Catholic Writers’ Guild Seal of Approval, which testifies to its Catholicity. We hope to see it in Catholic book stores–so if you frequent a Christian or Catholic book store, please ask them about ordering it–and maybe getting some copies to share with their other customers.
You can get more information, see the book video and share your stories at www.whygodmatters.com. There’s also a link there for purchasing the book.
GO: Well thank you both for stopping by today. Hope you’ll be back soon
KF/SL: Thanks, Gloria! We really appreciate your hosting us.
Please leave any comments you wish or questions for Karina or Deacon Steven Lumbert.
Catholic Chicks
The Changing Relationship of Father and Daughter
by guest blogger, Karina Fabian
June 9, 2010
The first time I got critiqued was by my dad, Steve Lumbert. I'd made a book cover and misspelled "Bible." How frustrating to have to redo the whole thing! But I wanted it done right, so I re-did it.
Thirty-five years later, my dad and I switched roles in a similar drama as we wrote our first book together, Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life.
My dad loves to teach. He taught me to read. He taught me to repair a house. He even taught me why cars don't really blow up like they did on CHiPs. But he also wanted me to think for myself. I remember the moment he stepped out of the teaching role: I had called home for advice on a used car. After the fourth of fifth time he asked me "Well, what do you think?" I shouted, "I'll tell you what I think after I get your opinion!" In the end, I made up my own mind and had mechanic assess the car. Turned out to be a good decision--and a great car.
I graduated, went into the Air Force and fell in love. I didn't ask any advice--just announced it in a rush of joy. Ironically my dad, a Colorado State Patrolman, had met Rob a couple of years earlier--when he'd given him a speeding ticket. He'd liked Rob even then, he said. I left the Air Force to become a full-time mom and writer.
Then my dad did an extraordinary thing; a late convert to the Catholic faith, he became a deacon. Since I was a writer, he wanted my opinion of his homilies. This proved a difficult transition. It was one thing to have a mind of my own; quite another to apply that mind to my father's new line of work. The first few times didn't go well--he wanted affirmation; I wanted to treat him as if he had my level of experience.
Over time, however, I learned to be more gentle in my critiques; and he, more open-minded in considering them. As a result, when I was asked about writing a small book of faith stories and lessons called Why God Matters, I thought it would make a great father-daughter project.
It was a challenge, of course. These are no 15-minute homilies. Our stories had to touch hearts and get to the point fast. We also had a tight deadline. I had to trust that he could take the tough criticism. It was a good thing we worked over the Internet instead of in person. Later, Dad told me how frustrated he'd get as I returned yet another bleeding manuscript with the demand, "What is your main message? Why should readers care?"
But just like when he corrected my spelling, we both knew the project was important enough to do right. He rose to the occasion, not only giving his stories focus and emotion, but also suggesting we add Catechism quotes to enhance the lessons. I have a greater appreciation for the Catechism thanks to our work.
Why God Matters tells stories in our lives that strengthened our relationships with God, but writing the book itself strengthened our relationship with each other. From Daddy-Daughter to writing team, it's been a fun journey, and I'm eager to see where we go next.
About Karina Fabian
Karina (Lumbert) Fabian was born into the Catholic faith, but truly grew to love it as an adult. As a busy mother of four, she finds some of her strongest encounters with God’s love happen in the ordinary events of the day-to-day. Karina started her writing career with diocesan newspapers but ahs settled into writing fun-filled fantasy and science fiction that nonetheless incorporates the principles of faith-filled living. Her web site is http://www.karinafabian.com/ and her blog is at http://fabianspace.blogspot.com.
About Deacon Steven Lumbert
Deacon Steve Lumbert officially converted to Catholicism in 1988, but had been a “practicing” Catholic long before that. He met his lovely and loving wife, Socorro, while sercing in Roosevelt Roads Naval Base in Puerto Rico in 1966. They raised their daughters, Karina and Regina, in the faith. Steve spent 30 years as a Colorado State Trooper, but retired when God called him to the diaconate. Currently, he serves the Diocese of Pueblo as Associate Director of Deacon Formation.
About Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life
Many times one sees Roman Catholicism explained using either closely reasoned theology or an appeal to ancient writers of the Church. While both are legitimate approaches, the average reader looking to explore the faith is often left cold. In their collaboration, Why God Matters, Deacon Steven Lumbert and his daughter, Karina Lumbert Fabian, delineate the Catholic Faith as experienced by a pair of average, everyday people like the great majority who make up the 24% of Americans who share this religion.
In the stories of this pair, one see both ways people come to Catholicism, by birth (“cradle Catholics”) and by conversion. Their descriptions of their separate paths thankfully lack the religiosity of the all too common ‘and then a miracle takes place’ school of religious experience. Rather than blasts of light, fiery swords, spiritual fistfights, and angelic choirs, theirs is the long religious slog of the everyday. The effort that one must put out each day in the long trek to Heaven.
What is Catholicism really like? One would be hard-put to find a better verbal painting of the faith so many call their own.”
Pump Up Your Book
Pump Up Your Book chats with Karina Fabian and Deacon Steven Lumbert
by Dorothy Thompson
June 8, 2010
Karina (Lumbert) Fabian was born into the Catholic faith, but truly grew to love it as an adult. As a busy mother of four, she finds some of her strongest encounters with God’s love happen in the ordinary events of the day-to-day. Karina started her writing career with diocesan newspapers but ahs settled into writing fun-filled fantasy and science fiction that nonetheless incorporates the principles of faith-filled living. Her web site is http://www.karinafabian.com/ and her blog is at http://fabianspace.blogspot.com.
Deacon Steve Lumbert officially converted to Catholicism in 1988, but had been a “practicing” Catholic long before that. He met his lovely and loving wife, Socorro, while sercing in Roosevelt Roads Naval Base in Puerto Rico in 1966. They raised their daughters, Karina and Regina, in the faith. Steve spent 30 years as a Colorado State Trooper, but retired when God called him to the diaconate. Currently, he serves the Diocese of Pueblo as Associate Director of Deacon Formation.
Why God Matters
by Karina Fabian and Deacon Steve Lumbert
Many times one sees Roman Catholicism explained using either closely reasoned theology or an appeal to ancient writers of the Church. While both are legitimate approaches, the average reader looking to explore the faith is often left cold. In their collaboration, Why God Matters, Deacon Steven Lumbert and his daughter, Karina Lumbert Fabian, delineate the Catholic Faith as experienced by a pair of average, everyday people like the great majority who make up the 24% of Americans who share this religion.
In the stories of this pair, one see both ways people come to Catholicism, by birth (“cradle Catholics”) and by conversion. Their descriptions of their separate paths thankfully lack the religiosity of the all too common ‘and then a miracle takes place’ school of religious experience. Rather than blasts of light, fiery swords, spiritual fistfights, and angelic choirs, theirs is the long religious slog of the everyday. The effort that one must put out each day in the long trek to Heaven.
What is Catholicism really like? One would be hard-put to find a better verbal painting of the faith so many call their own.”
Thank you for this interview, Karina and Steve. Do you remember writing stories as a child or did the writing bug come later? Do you remember your first published piece?
Karina: I’ve been writing stories since I could write–I even made stories with my spelling word list instead of just sentences. I guess my first published piece was in the high school poetry journal, but frankly, I write awful poetry. My first “real” published pieces like the ones in Why God Matters were in the Wyoming Catholic Register, which was my first writing job. They gave me a lot of freedom in my articles. I enjoyed working with them.
Steven: When I was in high school I took a speech class. Because there was an alternative to speech giving (which I didn’t think I was good at) to write poetry. That was the first time I tried writing anything. I think I was pretty good because I was called into the principal’s office and accused of plagiarism. I did prove that it was my work and got an A in the class. I tried to have it published but it did not work, so I forgot about it. Then, during my years as a State Trooper, I wrote numerous types of reports. When Karina asked me to join her in this adventure, it became my first real work.
Karina, you’ve been published in over 50 magazines and have three books of your own out. What do you consider as the most frustrating side of becoming a published author and what has been the most rewarding?
That I’m not getting published more? LOL. Seriously, the most frustrating thing is sending out your work, collecting the rejections, and sending it out again, all the time wondering if it was bad timing or something wrong with the story. Of course, the most rewarding thing about getting published is having readers who actually like your stuff enough to put out money for it, and who will write to tell you about it.
Sounds mercenary, doesn’t it? The fact of the matter is, however, that there’s a certain value placed on something we work or pay for ourselves as opposed to what we’re given.
Steve, what do you think of your first writing adventure?
It has been a most exhilarating experience. When Karina asked me, my thoughts were that I would be no good as I had little to offer. But I was willing to try. Karina was a great help as she was already accomplished as a writer. It was a lot of work and a lot of downright frustration, but now I can see that it was really fun too.
This is your first collaboration. How did it work? What was your favorite part, and what was hardest?
Karina: The book needed 14 stories, so we each took seven. Tribute already had a firm idea of the format, which made it easy for us. We wrote our stories, developed our own life lessons and found our own Scripture. Then we got together on Yahoo IM to work on the stories. Since Dad is new at this and used to writing 10-minute homilies, we spent a lot of time narrowing his stories and giving them focus. I was a tough editor, but wow, did he rise to the occasion!
Dad also came up with the idea of adding in quotes from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which I think added a unique depth to the book.
Steven: I would have to say that my favorite part was recalling stories from my past where God revealed Himself, even when I did not recognize it at the time. At first it was the hardest also because, after I had written what I thought was a good story, Karina would get out her editing pen. She was a tough editor and critic but when she got done assisting me in re-writing a story to make more sense, I realized what a treasure she is. No, I did not get too mad when critiqued; but did find it to be a new learning experience.
What do you like to do for fun when you’re not writing? Where do you like to vacation? Can you tell us briefly about this?
Karina: Play silly card games with my husband and our four kids (Zombie Fluxx, Munchkin), watch sci-fi on TV (Caprica and V are my favorites, and we’re eager for Eureka to come back.) Vacations are for exploring wherever we’re living at the moment. Rob is a Colonel in the Air Force, so we move around a lot. I love to read, but get obsessed, so I have to schedule time between writing assignments in order to immerse myself in a good book.
Steven: I never really thought much about what I enjoy when not writing. I think that my favorite thing is being a Deacon and serving the people of God in their many different needs. I am also the Associate Director of the Pueblo Deacon Formation program and I really enjoy working with the candidates and aspirants.
Regarding vacations, many times we go visit our daughter Regina and her husband Chuck or Karina, Rob and the kids. We also try to periodically take vacation in Puerto Rico and visit with all of my wife’s family there, besides traveling all over the island sightseeing. We have been fortunate to be world travelers also with trips to Italy and Japan.
If you could be anywhere in the world for one hour right now, where would that place be and why?
Karina: Sitting around the new gaming table we ordered, playing a D&D campaign with Rob, the kids, and my sister Gina and her husband Chuck. Location is not important. People are. But can I have more than one hour? We can hardly get through a single combat in an hour!
Steven: There are so many places in the world that I would love to visit, but with only one hour? I believe I would stay right here in Pueblo. I am surrounded by many, many friends and extended family, and they make it a joy to live here. Now if I had a couple of weeks…
Who is your biggest fan?
Karina: For this book? I don’t know yet. For my fantasy stories–my kids, even though I write at an adult level. I’m tickled that I do have fans for my DragonEye, PI, stories on Facebook and www.dragoneyepi.net.
Steven: I like to think that my biggest fans are my daughters and my wife. Both of them and my wife call me the daddy who never grew up and I love being with them. I will have to wait and see how this venture goes.
Where’s your favorite place to write at home?
Karina: I have a lovely rolltop computer desk, and since we move so much, my favorite spot is wherever that desk is. It’s executive size, long and deep, and always crowded with a basket of electronics, cups of pencils, calendars, to-do lists, books, scraps of paper, and puppy treats for our dog, Layla. My cat, Elbereth, sits on the back of the chair and often attacks my head or crawls on the desk (and keyboard) if I’m not paying proper homage.
Steven: I have a computer desk in my bedroom where I do a lot of writing on my desktop computer. Like Karina, when I’m in the bedroom, my cat Dusty is always curled up on the bed next to me. Sometimes she will “bug” me if I don’t pay some attention to her. But I also write at the dining room table on my laptop.
Do you have any pets?
Karina: Layla is a mutt, chocolate brown with Doberman markings and a Labrador temperament. She has the wag that never ends. Elbereth is a gray calico we adopted while visiting my Dad–for his retirement from the State Patrol, as a matter of fact.
Steven: Right now we have one cat, Dustina (Dusty for short). We got her from Regina who had 3 cats and a dog at the time and the cats were marking their territory in the house. Her vet thought that competition was the issue, so she asked us to take Dusty. She has been a real treasure since. Thanks, Gina!
Tell us a secret no one else knows.
Karina: If I told you, I’d have to kill you.
Steve: No Comment
What’s on your to do list today?
Karina: Finish this interview. Order pizza for slumber party. Finish the revisions for the 2010 Catholic school planner I write each year. Write/find 31 days of saint quotes to tweet next month. Let my social groups know about the final issue of Faith-Filled Fiction. (An e-zine I’ve been writing/editing that I’m letting go.) Talk to my best friend about her revisions for her school planners–we’re a team. Pretty light list, but I had a root canal yesterday, and am taking it easy. What I really want to do is talk my husband into watching some more episodes of Heroes.
Steven: Take a break now and get some sleep. I am preaching in the morning at Mass and I want to be at my best. After Mass is the picnic with the Confirmation kids. Next we are off to man the Pro-Life chain for an hour. Then do some shopping and home to work on some things on my computer.
Now I’ve got a couple of fun questions for you. If Tom Hanks, in the movie Cast Away, unearthed a copy of your book, how would that help him find a way off the island?
Karina: Probably not, but I’d like to think it would have given him some comfort and maybe even some insight into God’s presence during that adventure. (That was an amazing story, incidentally.)
Steve: Inspiration comes in many ways. So, who knows! Like Karina, I think he would find some comfort. I would pray that he would find comfort from realizing that even in ordinary things God is present as our companion on our journey through what Life gives us.
You just got word that your book has received the 2010 NY Times Bestselling Book Award and you have to attend the ceremony to give an acceptance speech. Anyone who’s anyone will be there and it’s your shot for stardom. What would you say and who would you thank?
Karina: God, then pretty much the same folks I thanked in the Acknowledgements. Don’t think it will make me a star, but I’d be thrilled that so many people had gotten something out of our little book.
Steven: Karina hit in the head. I would only add that Jesus told us not to worry about what to say. He would be there to give us the words.
I understand that you are touring with Pump Up Your Book Promotion in June via a virtual book tour. Can you tell us all why you chose a virtual book tour to promote your book online?
Karina: I’ve been touring my books on the Internet since 2007. I love how easy they are to plan, how much fun it is to answer the interviews, and how I can work the interviews in my own time and from my home. This is the first time I’ve had a publicist do the tour for me. Tribute books arranged that, and I feel very spoiled.
Steve: Well, I have never done this before and I trust Karina to know what to do. So…
Thank you for this interview, Karina and Steve. Good luck on your virtual book tour!
Thanks so much. And May God Bless you
PersoNovelty
Interview with Karina Fabian, author of Why God Matters
June 7, 2010
About Karina Fabian
Karina (Lumbert) Fabian was born into the Catholic faith, but truly grew to love it as an adult. As a busy mother of four, she finds some of her strongest encounters with God’s love happen in the ordinary events of the day-to-day. Karina started her writing career with diocesan newspapers but ahs settled into writing fun-filled fantasy and science fiction that nonetheless incorporates the principles of faith-filled living.
Deacon Steve Lumbert officially converted to Catholicism in 1988, but had been a “practicing” Catholic long before that. He met his lovely and loving wife, Socorro, while sercing in Roosevelt Roads Naval Base in Puerto Rico in 1966. They raised their daughters, Karina and Regina, in the faith. Steve spent 30 years as a Colorado State Trooper, but retired when God called him to the diaconate. Currently, he serves the Diocese of Pueblo as Associate Director of Deacon Formation.
The Interview
Could you please tell us a little about your book?
Do you feel distant from God? Do you want a closer relationship with him? God is with us always, sometimes in ways we don’t even realize. My father, Deacon Steve Lumbert, and I share our stories of how God led us from casual belief to deep devotion, and offer tips and exercises to help you see God’s hand–and take it.
Did something specific happen to prompt you to write this book?
Yes–the publisher asked! Really, it was that simple. They put out a call for a Catholic writer; I’m a Catholic writer. I answered and brought in my dad, and things just progressed from there.
Who or what is the inspiration behind this book?
My dad and I both agree my mother, Socorro Lumbert, is the inspiration behind not only the stories, but our faith. She has always lived her faith in the day-to-day, with generosity and compassion and a matter-of-fact devotion. We both learned to see God in the everyday from her.
Who is your biggest supporter?
I have a bunch–my husband Rob is first, though, because he not only works so that I don’t have to bring in a steady income, he is always there with an idea, a word of encouragement, or to laugh at my jokes. He’s also the one to tell me when something doesn’t work, and that’s even more important.
Of course, my parents and my children are always there with emotional support. And for practical support, my best friend and fellow writer, Ann Lewis, who crits my stuff, shares my victories and woes, and teaches me so much about our faith and about writing.
Your biggest critic?
Is “me” too cliché an answer? I’ll be honest, though: I could use a bigger critic, as long as he or she was willing to teach and not just criticize.
What causes are you most passionate about and why?
I’m not a passionate person, politically. I believe that there are certain moral standards in the world like right to life from conception to natural death. I believe in freedom until the right to “personal” freedom crosses that moral line. I believe the function of government is to protect the people and make it possible for them to pursue life, liberty and happiness, but that it is not there to guarantee it for all. I believe in personal responsibility. I believe that there are things worth fighting for.
I’m passionate about people thinking things through and not following the latest media hype, about asking questions and about understanding what statistics really mean (I hate how the press and way too many organizations misuse numbers). You’ll see some of this in my fiction writing.
I’m passionate about hope. I do not subscribe to the “world going to Hell” theory no matter how or who promotes it–environmentalists, political parties, religious groups.
In the last year have you learned or improved on any skills?
I learn and improve every year, I hope. Otherwise, I’m not going to get anywhere.
Do you have any rituals you follow when finishing a piece of work?
I’m not a person of ritual. I just get on with the next project. I’m usually in the middle of something else when I finish the first thing anyway.
Who has influenced you throughout your career as a writer?
Authors like Terry Pratchett, Douglas Adams, Madeleine L’Engle, Mercedes Lackey and Piers Anthony whose stories fired my imagination and made me laugh. (Incidentally, this is the short-short list).
Ann Lewis, Lisa Mladinich and all my great writer friends who have critiqued my work thoroughly (rather than offer gentle encouraging platitudes).
Lea Schizas for creating the MuseOnline Writers Conference. I have learned so much from this conference, made great friends, gotten some wonderful opportunities, and thoroughly enjoyed myself for one intese week a year.
The Catholic Writers Guild for helping me grow not only as a writer but as a Catholic.
Audrey Shaffer and the regulars at The Writers Chatroom for all their no-nonsense advice, support and idea generating capabilities.
What is the most important thing in your life right now?
My family. We have four children, ages 9 to 16. It scares us a bit that the 16-year-old has two years of school, then he’s out into the world. I’m already thinking about how I can slow down my writing career so I can better concentrate on my career as a mother.
What are you currently working on?
#1 Neeta Lyffe, Zombie Exterminator: A humorous look at the life of a zombie exterminator as she trains up others in a reality TV show. Compared to dealing with uppity contestants, demanding directors, and licentious lawyers, mowing down the undead with a chainsaw is child’s play.
#2 Discovery: A sci-fi novel that takes place about 200 years from now in my “Rescue Sisters” universe. The crew of the Edwina Thomas finds a derelict spaceship with a device that lets you see into your own soul. For many, it’s a terrifying and dark experience. Can Sisters Rita, Tommie and Ann guide the crewmembers to safety and the light?
Do you have any advice for writers or readers?
Write. Learn the business of publishing. Write. Submit. Write.
And don’t take rejection personally. Life’s too short.
Is there an author that inspired you to write?
Madeleine L’Engle. My first novel was based on a story I’d made up for Charles Wallace from her book, A Wrinkle In Time.
About Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life
Many times one sees Roman Catholicism explained using either closely reasoned theology or an appeal to ancient writers of the Church. While both are legitimate approaches, the average reader looking to explore the faith is often left cold. In their collaboration, Why God Matters, Deacon Steven Lumbert and his daughter, Karina Lumbert Fabian, delineate the Catholic Faith as experienced by a pair of average, everyday people like the great majority who make up the 24% of Americans who share this religion.
In the stories of this pair, one see both ways people come to Catholicism, by birth (“cradle Catholics”) and by conversion. Their descriptions of their separate paths thankfully lack the religiosity of the all too common ‘and then a miracle takes place’ school of religious experience. Rather than blasts of light, fiery swords, spiritual fistfights, and angelic choirs, theirs is the long religious slog of the everyday. The effort that one must put out each day in the long trek to Heaven.
What is Catholicism really like? One would be hard-put to find a better verbal painting of the faith so many call their own.”
FabianSpace
5 Questions No One Asked about Why God Matters
by Karina Lumbert Fabiab
June 7, 2010
Preparing for the Why God Matters virtual book tour took about a month of answering questions. I'd guess about two hundred in all. Yet some questions didn't get asked, so I thought I'd share them with you today.
1. You didn't feel intimidated about offering "life lessons" on faith?
Yes and no. I've been a catechist (though not a good one, IMHO) and I've done a lot of advice-type stuff so I know what and how, but I'm always a little edgy about offering lessons on faith. That's one reason I wanted my dad to join me on this--as a deacon, he has the education and training I lack. It's also why I applied for the Catholic Writers' Guild Seal of Approval. My book was evaluated by writers who understand the Catholic faith, and they could point out troubles.
2. How'd the breakdown of tasks work with the actual writing of the book?
Tribute gave us the format and approximate word count. Dad and I each wrote seven stories and life lessons. Together we found Scripture and paragraphs from the Catechism of the Catholic Church to fit. Then I put the whole thing together to send to the editor at Tribute.
When it came to promotion, I've also been doing the bulk of that--this is my job, after all. Dad has provided a lot of photos and done some of the interviews.
3. What's a deacon really do?
If you ask my mom, too much! While we were writing Why God Matters, Dad was assisting at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel parish and running the deacon formation program for the diocese--both full-time jobs of themselves, really. He also does a lot of weddings and funerals and quinceneaneras. Since he speaks Spanish well, he gets asked to do a lot of bilingual ministry as well. He and my mom also do marriage preparation with couples.
This month, he's taking a new position--parish administrator for St Anne's Parish. He will basically do all the leadership work a parish priest would do and will assist in Masses when a priest is present and hold Communion services when a priest is not. He's done this before, and really enjoys it, but it's a lot of work.
4. Have your kids read this book?
Actually, not yet. This was one manuscript I did not read aloud, in part because we were so rushed with it and our lives were so busy at the time. Each one will get a copy once I get them. (At the time of this signing, they are being shipped.)
5. You wrote about your atheist son. Do you think this book will sway him?
I hope it will influence him, but I don't think it will change his mind. Right now, I can only keep him aware of the beauty and truth and love found in faith. I honestly think he has a long journey back to our Church. It grieves me, but I also know I can't force his choice. The story I wrote, however, reminds me that I have proof that it is possible, and that I should never give up hope.
BlogCritics
Interview: Karina Fabian, Author of Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life
by April Pohren
June 6, 2010
Born into the Catholic faith, Karina Fabian came to love her faith deeply, as an adult. Ms. Fabian has found that her strongest encounters with God’s love happens in the ordinary events of day-to-day living, especially being a busy mom of four children.
Karina Fabian has found a delightful way to incorporate her deep religious faith while providing entertaining fantasy and science fiction stories to readers. Ms. Fabian has edited three science fiction anthologies and has one published fantasy novel, her newest release, Why God Matters, which is her first non-fiction book.
First of all, could you tell us a bit about Why God Matters? What is the story about, who are the characters, etc.?
Far too often, we expect God to show Himself in grand ways yet ignore when He makes His presence known in the day to day. Neither Deacon Steve nor Karina had dramatic conversions. Rather, God led them into deeper faith through the seemingly minor details of life: pot of rice, a habit of prayer, a frustrating flight home, or a barefooted stranger. This father-daughter team have written a delightful, quick book about finding God in the day-to-day. With thought-provoking quotes, heartwarming stories, Bible verses, passages from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and simple exercises the reader can fit into his or her daily routine, they help others recognize God's presence. Great for the casual or converting Catholic longing for something more in their relationship with God, or the "advanced" Catholic wanting light spiritual exercise.
Do you have a favorite excerpt from Why God Matters? Could you share that with us, please?
The following is my personal favorite for a couple of reasons. First, I'd heard bits of the grain silo story over the years, but never this part! Second, my dad spent a lot time chuckling over the antics of his childhood as we worked on this story, and third, because he came a long way in improving this story from the first draft.
I can still hear the clang of the jail cell door as it closed behind me and my brothers in 1960. We were just teenagers, and I was terrified that it would never open again and that I would never get free. No matter how many times we told the sheriff we were innocent, he wouldn’t believe us.
The night before, someone had destroyed $4,000 of feed and seed by slashing the bags and pouring them down the elevator shaft. The real culprits had implicated us — and our reputations had sealed our guilt.
In the small town of Berthoud, population 1,200, everyone knew the Lumbert boys were trouble. We left burning sacks of doggie doo on random doorsteps. We moved the outhouse to the middle of Main Street. The night of the crime, we’d skipped Bible study to run around town. In fact, later that evening, we were hanging out with the real culprits, throwing water balloons at a state patrol car. We couldn’t resist temptation when it looked like it would be fun.
All day long, the deputies would grill me or one of my brothers, trying to get us to admit we were involved. We even tried demanding a lie detector test to prove our innocence! That was the longest day of my life. I spent a lot of time sitting on the jail cell bed — the only furniture in the room — thinking about what had gotten me into this mess.
What do you want readers to take away from reading Why God Matters?
I hope that they'll come away with a greater ability to see God in the small things in life, and that they'll realize that having a strong relationship with God doesn't have to be an exacting process nor does it have to involve sudden "burning bush" revelations. I've known some people who lost faith because he never had such a revelation, but God doesn't work like that with all of us. Some of us meet him in the ordinary.
What was the most fun about writing Why God Matters?
Collaborating with my dad, Steve Lumbert. We learned a little about each other - I knew the story about him and his brothers getting wrongly accused, but I didn't know they'd spent the day in jail over it! He also told me several hilarious stories of the Lumbert brothers' shenanigans.
It was also interesting to see how he responded to my being the expert. All my life, I've come to him for advice, but writing is my profession, so I was the leader in the book, and I was a pretty tough taskmaster!
What was the hardest part about writing Why God Matters?
Collaborating with my dad. Dad lives in a different time zone and is very busy in the day; I write by day and save evenings for the kids. I had to adjust my schedule, and Dad had to give me a few very intense evenings as we hashed out the stories. Also, as a deacon, he's more used to writing 10-minute homilies, so we had to do a lot of work narrowing the focus of his stories to meet the smaller word count.
What kind of research did you do for Why God Matters?
My dad and co-author and I spent a lot of time looking up Scripture verses and sections of the Catechism of the Catholic Church to go with our stories. Thanks to the searchable Bible and Catechism online, it was really pretty easy and fun. The hardest part was deciding what verses best fit the intention of our stories.
Could you please tell us about your writing process?
I'm what they call a "pantster." I usually have a fair idea of what happens in a story, but not a lot of plot mapped out. The characters tell me where to go and what to do. It's very exciting because each scene is an adventure. I have plotted on occasion, but usually in loose terms, and often, the characters throw out my plans, anyway. (Trust me — they know much better than I do!)
It was similar for Why God Matters. I had some stories I'd written over the years that I thought would work for the book with some tweaking, but the rest I had to just sit down and examine my life. A few surprised me, especially the last story about my son. It's not one I ever thought of writing, and yet it brings the story full circle — father-daughter-grandson.
Do you ever put yourself within your characters?
All the time. Naturally, since Why God Matters contains our stories, naturally we were very close to the characters.
Do you have any particular habits that you take part in while writing? By that I mean certain music you like to listen to, foods you like to eat, environment that helps you write better, etc.
It varies by book. Sometimes, I make a soundtrack to listen to while I play, like hero music for my superhero spoof, Gapman (a WIP). If I'm feeling noir, I'll wear my fedora.
In general, if I'm stuck on a scene and my characters don't tell me where to go next, I'll take a break and do housework or take a shower while I mull over the problem.
Where do you get your ideas and inspirations?
The better question for me is, "How can I slow down the flow of ideas?" Maybe I'm just easily amused, but anything can be material, especially for my fiction. In my latest book, for example, I got ideas from lines in song, in-jokes with friends, ads on the radio, my daughter's complaints about the first guy to crush on her, TV shows and books, and news stories. The whole book started because someone spouted off the line, "They ate Jorgenson first." I don't look for ideas and inspiration — they ambush me!
How did you decide you wanted to be a writer? Was there any authors or books that made you think "Wow, that's what I want to do - craft stories of my own for others to read"?
I've always enjoyed writing and sharing my stories, but the moment I decided I wanted to make this a vocation was Lent 1996. I was a mother of toddlers, in the Air Force Reserves, but otherwise at home reading lots of books and getting subjected to way too many Disney movies. I was reading one of Harry Turtledove's later World War Three novels and it was awful. (Sorry, Harry. Normally, I love your stuff, but you were off your game!) I got madder and madder, thinking how I could have written this — and better. It finally hit me: even if I could, I wasn't. I vowed to give up reading for Lent and take up writing instead. I wrote my first fiction piece in years ("Cinders," which ended up in Twisted Fayrie Tales) and got a job with Wyoming Catholic Register that month.
I haven't stopped writing since, although I am reading again.
What make you take that leap from "wanting" to be a writer, as opposed to "becoming" a writer? Many talk of being a writer and dip their toes in, but it seems there is often a sort of "push" to bring one over that wall.
BICHOK: Butt in Chair, Hands on Keyboard. After that, it's learning not just about how to craft a good story, but also how to market it — writing strong query letters, the ins and outs of contracts and how to market your books once published. However, if you never get the words on paper (or in the computer file), you can't do the rest.
How do you come up with the names of your characters? It almost seems as though, as an author, you have the continuous fun of naming children!
Obviously, Why God Matters is non-fiction, so the names are real (unlike on Dragnet, where they're changed to protect the innocent.) In my fiction, however, it can vary. Some simply name themselves, like my dragon Vern d'Wyvern (who received that unfortunate name from a pope with less imagination than spirituality). Others I actually look up in the white pages of the area where I want that person from. Some are found in baby books for their meanings. And sometimes, I poll friends or fans. It really depends on the character. It is a lot of fun, but when I have a lot of characters, it can get frustrating, too!
Were you an avid reader as a child? If so, what were some of your favorite books?
read ALL THE TIME as a child. I would even go hiking with my nose in a book. I don't know why I didn't run into more trees and telephone poles! I loved Madeleine L'Engle, Piers Anthony, EE Doc Smith, Isaac Asimov--see a pattern? When a friend gave me some romance novels for my 16th birthday, I promptly exchanged them for Star Trek novelizations — James Blish, most likely. My first novel began from my imagining Charles Wallace (Wrinkle in Time) as a college student. The final novel is very different — I'd never want what happened to my character to happen to Charles!
If you had to summarize your life and give it a book title, what would that title be?
Who Knew Happily Ever After Could Be So Easy?
What are you working on right now? Could you give us a taste/teaser (aka excerpt) from your current WIP?
Oh, my! It's so different from Why God Matters! I'm working on a humorous novel about a zombie exterminator who is training a bunch of apprentices on a reality TV show. However, after that, I'm going to rework my Catholic sci-fi novel, Discovery.
Here's a teaser from that, from where trillionaire Augustus Cole is recruiting his friend, James, to explore an alien ship they discovered on an asteroid past Pluto:
"Did you have to say crash? You brought a ship out of salvage for this?" James said.
Augustus shrugged. "Hey, do you know how hard it is to find a ship on short notice that can make that kind of run? The Edwina Thomas is a great ship. She's been doing cruises to Saturn and back for two decades. First class engines, if outdated. They'd just started scrapping her insides, which made refit into a research vessel easier. It's not her fault her company went under."
"Was it yours?"
"No, O Father Confessor, it was not."
"I'm not a priest anymore," James grumbled. "I never really was."
Augustus leaned forward, trying to catch his eye, and he turned his face. Low to the horizon, a small, bright light tracked across the sky. LEO-York. Cole's family had built that city, then Augustus had sold all his real estate and rights in order to invest in asteroid mining--or asteroid miners. He had a cooperative agreement with various small ops that the press heralded as "unconventional." James remembered laughing about it to Rita. Now he worked for the man, even considered him a friend. And Rita?
He pulled his mind away from the thoughts that had haunted him all day.
Augustus couldn’t do anything in a conventional way. A cruise ship for a research vessel.
An archaeologist to explore an alien ship.
He turned to face Augustus, one elbow on the railing. "Why me? Why an archaeologist?"
"You mean other than it makes Thoren vent air?" When James didn't laugh, he cleared his throat and spoke seriously, again positioning himself to match James' posture. "An engineer gets given a piece of equipment and told to figure out what it is. What is he going to do?"
James shrugged. "Push buttons? Take it apart?"
"Exactly! Give biologist a new specimen, what will she do?"
"Autopsy?"
Augustus stopped leaning on the railing, his hands in front of him, palms together, fingers pointed toward James. "Right! That's what we have going up so far. But James, this is more than equipment or a new species--this is a peek at a new civilization! Who do you send in to study that?"
James pushed himself off the railing. "An archaeologist."
What are you reading right now?
I'm evaluating the Father Brown Reader for the Catholic Writers' Guild Seal of Approval. It's a middle-grade reader based on the Chesterton mysteries. I'm enjoying it immensely and looking forward to reading it again to my nine-year-old for his opinion. (We still have bedtime stories. I love it!)
Who are some of your favorite authors?
Madeleine L'Engle will always stay close to my heart. Now, I like Terry Pratchett, Jim Butcher, Ann Lewis (my crit partner — her book comes out in August), Mercedes Lackey. I've tried to branch out my interests and so I read a variety of other authors, but SFF will always be my favorite.
If you could have lunch and chat with any author, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
Oh, that's a tough one. I wouldn't know what to say! I'd be afraid of coming off as a fangirl or too aloof! However, I'd love to talk to Madeleine L'Engle about what plans she had for Charles Wallace, if any. That character is still dear to my heart.
What do you hope to accomplish within the next five years?
#1 Publish a book a year.
#2 Get my DragonEye, PI novels published regularly.
#3 Finish Discovery
#4 Get an agent or get "in" with a large traditional publisher
Is there anything that you would like to add? That you would like readers to know about you or your writing?
My writing has a lot of faith aspects in it — sometimes enough that it gets labeled "Catholic" or "Christian." However, I don't write to evangelize and I don't aim for religious fiction. I do believe that faith is a part of the human experience, however, and I don't ignore it in my characters. Besides, religion is interesting and fun!
I find that readers of all faiths — or no religious persuasion — agree. Last month, my fantasy novel, Magic, Mensa, and Mayhem won the INDIE Book Award for best fantasy, and all of my books so far have won or placed in popular (not religious) categories in the EPPIE awards, the Preditor and Editor Readers' polls and other areas.
Where can readers get in touch with you? Twitter, Blog, Facebook, etc?
Frederation
Book Review: "Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life" by Karina Lumbert Fabian and Deacon Steven Lumbert
by Fred Warren
June 5, 2010
I know Karina Fabian best from her speculative fiction–tales of dragon detectives, spacefaring nuns, superhero misfits, and zombie cookery, filled with engaging characters, sly puns, and wry observations on human nature. While her faith informs all her writing (her tagline is “Fiction, Faith, and Fun”), that faith is front-and-center in this very non-fiction collaboration with her father, Steven Lumbert, a Catholic deacon.
There’s still plenty of fun. Why God Matters is primarily a devotional guide, in the spirit of Brother Lawrence’s The Practice of the Presence of God, but it’s also a personal memoir and meditation on the joys and challenges of life, shared by a father and daughter who love each other very much.
The book provides a series of topical meditations, “life lessons,” each with a scripture passage, an excerpt from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, a pertinent quotation that summarizes the chapter’s main idea, and a vignette from Karina or Steven.
The vignettes are what really bring this book to life. Karina and Steven share some very personal moments when they’ve recognized God’s presence and intervention in their lives. Sometimes it happens in something as simple as a shared family meal or the give-and-take of a relationship with a friend. Sometimes it’s a life-changing incident, a momentous decision, or a miraculous answer to prayer. These are situations we all encounter, and it’s encouraging to read these accounts of how God met Steven and Karina there and strengthened their faith in the process. As they note in the introduction,
The stories you’ll find here are ordinary, because quite often, we find our faith in the day-to-day living. After all, what could be more ordinary than taking a step—or a breath? Yet, as St. Patrick said, “Christ’s breath in mine.”
This book is written from a Catholic viewpoint with a Catholic audience in mind. I think, though, that any Christian reader would enjoy and benefit from the insights it offers, which transcend sectarian borders. Protestant Evangelical Fred certainly gained a renewed appreciation of how important it is to be aware that God is working in my life every day, and of my corresponding need to respond to that work and cooperate with Him in my spiritual development, becoming more like Him, and participating in the divine nature. That’s what being a Christian, a disciple of Jesus Christ, is all about.
It’s not complicated, but it takes commitment, and you’ve got to keep your head in the game. In its glimpses of one family’s faith journey, Why God Matters illustrates many practical ways to cultivate a daily walk with God. It’s helpful, it’s inspiring, and it’s heartwarming. A great combination, and well worth reading.
NY Book Journal
Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life
by Melissa
June 5, 2010
I truly enjoyed this book. There are 14 chapters in total (told back and forth from Karina and Deacon Lumbert). Each chapter is a very quick read that holds a huge lesson: how with love and faith, you can lead and help spread a wealthy, healthy life. I was a bit concerned this book would be preachy like what I see from TV preachers, but this book has taken a different approach. The authors tell personal stories. REAL stories. The kind of stories that we can all relate to and begin using in our own lives.
Some of the stories are really funny, while some break your heart. What connects them all is the author’s ability to raise your spirits and show you how faith can bring you peace no matter what experiences you have and will go through. Each chapter ends with a “Life Lesson”, which brings the story around in little package and a short scripture.
This book is very approachable and does its job well. You are reading about the authors, you are learning how to apply faith in your life and in the end you feel as if you have gained three friends.
Very Well Done!
Books and Authors Why God Matters - A Review
by Joyce Anthony
June 3, 2010
So often people expect God to appear in front of them or to send an angel, complete with wings and halo, to direct them. When they fail to get this dramatic display, they complain that God doesn't listen. What they fail to understand, is that God speaks with us daily; it is up to us to listen.
Why God Matters strives to get just that point across. Alternating between Bible and church passages, quotes and personal stories, authors Karina Fabian and Steven Lumbert take their reader through the seemingly innocent moments of life that teach us our most valuable lessons -- and show us how God is consistently present with His support, advice and answers.
This is a short book but it covers much. Written in a conversational manner, the authors share the special moments that helped them learn what faith is and how it works. Each story is followed by the life lesson that was learned. The style is not "preachy" but matter-of-fact and includes not only those "perfect" moments, but those that cause concern or show moments of weakness. You know you are reading words that come from the hearts of these two authors.
While the church doctrine is Catholic, the words chosen are words you would find in any Christian religion. This is not a book that should be read by only those of the Catholic faith, but instead by all who have experienced the touch of God in the everyday moments of life. I would even venture to say that anyone who is searching or questioning whether God listens can benefit from reading Why God Matters. Several times while reading, I stopped as a memory entered my mind of one of those everyday life lessons that have taken place in my life. I can say with all honesty that you will too.
Why God Matters rates six colors on the Rainbow Scale.
Examiner
Father daughter team pens book to explain what Catholicism is really like
by Dorothy Thompson
June 2, 2010
Many times one sees Roman Catholicism explained using either closely reasoned theology or an appeal to ancient writers of the Church. While both are legitimate approaches, the average reader looking to explore the faith is often left cold. In their collaboration, Why God Matters, Deacon Steven Lumbert and his daughter, Karina Lumbert Fabian, delineate the Catholic Faith as experienced by a pair of average, everyday people like the great majority who make up the 24% of Americans who share this religion.
In the stories of this pair, one see both ways people come to Catholicism, by birth (“cradle Catholics”) and by conversion. Their descriptions of their separate paths thankfully lack the religiosity of the all too common ‘and then a miracle takes place’ school of religious experience. Rather than blasts of light, fiery swords, spiritual fistfights, and angelic choirs, theirs is the long religious slog of the everyday. The effort that one must put out each day in the long trek to Heaven.
What is Catholicism really like? One would be hard-put to find a better verbal painting of the faith so many call their own.
This is the premise of Karina Fabian's new religious/Christian Living/Catholic/self-help book she co-authored with her father, Deacon Steven Lumbert, called Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life.
Here's an excerpt:
Love in a Pot of Rice
Karina
You know well enough that our Lord does not look so much at the greatness of our actions, nor even at their difficulty, but at the love with which we do them
–St. Therese of Lisieux
One meal that always connects me to my heritage is arroz con pollo—chicken and rice. For me, this meal doesn’t so much represent an ethnic identity, it symbolizes the love and generosity of my family.
My mother is the seventh child of ten, born to a very poor family in Puerto Rico. They bought shoes only for the winter, shared two toys at Christmas (a game and a ball), and meat for dinner was a rare treat. Yet my grandfather, a schoolteacher, regularly brought home the students who lived too far away to walk home from school during the week, and they shared the family meal. My grandmother would say, “If I can feed ten, I can feed twelve.” When I cook arroz con pollo, I imagine her adding a cup of rice to stretch their meal, giving of their need rather than their wealth.
Many of my grandparents’ children escaped poverty, becoming doctors and social workers, businesspeople and spouses. However, they never lost their legacy of charity. When one is in need, the others are there. I remember when a hurricane took the roof off my grandparent’s house, where several grown children still lived. In Colorado, my mother combed the garage sales for linens and clothes to replace those ruined by the storm, and all contributed what funds they could to repair the roof. Years later, my grandmother died in that home, cared for by her children and grandchildren.
My own parents carried on that legacy, which, like my grandparents’, spread beyond family. Our friends were welcome in our homes, sometimes more than in their own homes. My parents called them their “love daughters” and supported them in their extra-curriculars, and on occasion, took them into our home. Several still call them “Mom and Dad.” When we did not have treasure, my parents gave of their time and talent. My dad made costumes for the school play; my mother was always crafting for someone. Mostly, though, they gave of their love.
When I’d given birth to my daughter, my mom came to visit for several weeks, and she met a pregnant friend who said she had only one craving: arroz con pollo. The next time we saw her, Mom had it ready.
As a mother myself, I must now carry on this legacy by setting an example for my children. Far wealthier than my parents or grandparents ever were, we do our best to give to the Church and to charities—and we involve our children in that. We also do our best to be available to their friends as well as to them. This year, I pack an extra lunch each day for Amber’s best friend. It’s a little thing, yet it connects me to my grandmother somehow.
Last night, I made arroz con pollo. It’s a different recipe, because I’m not the cook my mother is, yet it brought me back to my past, and my mother’s past, and to roots deeply embedded in charitable love.
Life Lesson
God calls us to be the first teachers to our children in living a life of faith, hope, and charity.
How did your parents teach you this? How are you teaching your own children? Spend some time in reflection and prayer today, then find something that ties you to that heritage—or inspires you to build a new heritage for your children.
Karina (Lumbert) Fabian was born into the Catholic faith, but truly grew to love it as an adult. As a busy mother of four, she finds some of her strongest encounters with God’s love happen in the ordinary events of the day-to-day. Karina started her writing career with diocesan newspapers but ahs settled into writing fun-filled fantasy and science fiction that nonetheless incorporates the principles of faith-filled living. Her web site is http://www.karinafabian.com/ and her blog is at http://fabianspace.blogspot.com.
Deacon Steve Lumbert officially converted to Catholicism in 1988, but had been a “practicing” Catholic long before that. He met his lovely and loving wife, Socorro, while sercing in Roosevelt Roads Naval Base in Puerto Rico in 1966. They raised their daughters, Karina and Regina, in the faith. Steve spent 30 years as a Colorado State Trooper, but retired when God called him to the diaconate. Currently, he serves the Diocese of Pueblo as Associate Director of Deacon Formation.
Karina and her father will be on virtual book tour June 1 - 25 '10. Visit their official tour page at Pump Up Your Book to find out more about their new book, Why God Matters.
Amazon and Barnes and Noble are the best way to obtain your copy, although it will be available to order in most bookstores.
As the Pages Turn
"Family Projects, Family Love"
by Karina L. Fabian
June 2, 2010
Today’s guest is Karina Fabian, co-author of the hugely popular book, Why God Matters.
Many times one sees Roman Catholicism explained using either closely reasoned theology or an appeal to ancient writers of the Church. While both are legitimate approaches, the average reader looking to explore the faith is often left cold. In their collaboration, Why God Matters, Deacon Steven Lumbert and his daughter, Karina Lumbert Fabian, delineate the Catholic Faith as experienced by a pair of average, everyday people like the great majority who make up the 24% of Americans who share this religion.
If you want to find out more about Why God Matters, visit the author’s website at www.whygodmatters.com.
"Family Projects, Family Love"
By Karina L. Fabian
Every family has its way of bonding: camping trips or Saturday night card games, movie nights or regular, enforced, discussions at table. For my family, it’s always been projects projects.
One of my earliest memories was of preparing our yard for our new mobile home. While Dad worked on the foundation, my sister, Gina, and I cleared the yard and joined my mom in asking the neighbors for jugs of water. I don’t remember much about that trailer, except that years later, when it got too small for us, my dad’s solution was to buy another smaller trailer, set it alongside and begin the long process of tearing out doors, walls, and windows to make them into one large home. This, too, was a family affair, and my sister and I worked at our parents’ sides and learned how to do everything from painting to laying linoleum to rewiring the walls. Our house was our project, and we were very proud of what we created.
As Gina and I got involved in school activities and clubs, the projects were smaller and perhaps less important than building a home, but my parents threw themselves into them with the same dedication. Mom sewed dresses for our girls’ club (for friends as well as us), Dad made costumes for the building blocks in The Velveteen Rabbit. They helped organize fundraisers and always pitched in to help. We used to get annoyed at Mom washing the cars a second time to make sure the job was perfect, but we never doubted how important we were to them, or how much they wanted to be a part of our lives.
We went to college, married, and soon had houses and projects of our own. Inevitably, there were Mom and Dad ready and eager to drive over–sometimes across the nation–to help. When my family and I moved to Virginia and bought a house with an unfinished basement, my parents stayed for a month doing the framework, plumbing, and vent system. Rob and I had the ideas, and my father, the expertise. Again, it was a family project; only this time, it included my children–even Liam, who was not quite two, but loved to wield a paintbrush. Being a military family, we’ve lived in many houses, but that one will always be special because it was a project that involved three generations.
It’s been several years since the Summer of the Basement. We’d all gotten busy in our lives–me with my writing and my family and my parents with Dad’s deacon work. Our phone calls and IMs had degenerated into a kind of laundry list of our days–not unusual in our family, but lately, had left me wanting something more. We were never much for just sitting and talking; most of our conversations came as we were working on something together. We needed a project.
Then Tribute Books asked me if I’d be interested in writing a series of Catholic faith stories and life lessons for a small book called Why God Matters. I hesitated, intimidated at the thought of doing it alone, and unsure I would reach their audience with my personal stories. Then it struck me–this was a project! My father, a deacon in the Catholic Church had fantastic stories, and I had the writing expertise. I called him and he eagerly agreed. Maybe he was missing a project, too.
As we wrote the stories, we shared our pasts in ways we hadn’t before. I learned a lot about my dad’s bad-boy childhood. I got the full story of the time he was almost shot by an escaped convict. He shared his former ’60s attitudes toward religion and self-reliance–not quite what I expected from my conservative father. Our relationship took a new dimension as I was put in the editor’s role while we worked his stories. It was a project, indeed, and probably one of the most important in our lives, for we not only created something of lasting value, we got to know each other in ways we never would have otherwise.
Will there be other projects like this for us? I don’t know; we’re both so busy. I do know this: no matter what project the future brings, I can depend on Dad, and my whole family, to pitch in their talents and their love.
Books and Authors
Karina Fabian Stops by to Talk about Why God Matters
by Joyce Anthony
June 2, 2010
Yesterday, I intyroduced you to the book, Why God Matters. Today, I'd like to share with you the book trailer and an interview with one of the book's authors, Karian Fabian. Tomorrow, I'll shar me review of this book.
1. What was your inspiration for writing this book?
This is an unusual case because I wasn't inspired to write this book--I was asked. Tribute had a great idea for a small book of faith stories and devotional exercises. They had the title, format, even the cover and website--they just needed the writer. Nicole, the editor asked around and it sounded like such a fun, fast project that I was tempted. Then, when I got the idea to involve my dad, Deacon Steve Lumbert, but getting him to write half the stories, I couldn't resist!
2. Do you find it difficult to market Catholic-oriented books?
Not at all. I know the target audience, the market and the means. I do not expect a NYT best-seller out of it--it's not that kind of book. I am getting a lot of help from Tribute, more than I've ever had from a publisher. I have a lot of confidence in the success of this book.
Frankly, it's such a neat, fast read, that I think it will do well with word of mouth, too, once the audience starts building.
3. If you had to pick one thing readers get from this book, what would it be?
The ability to look at the small, everyday events in their lives and see how God works through them to show His love, to give His guidance, and to offer His support.
4. Do you feel your faith directs all your writing?
Depends on what you mean. Do I wake up in the morning thinking, "I'm going to write a story to show the importance of Confession!"? Definitely not. Do I find that sometimes, a character ends up going to Confession? It has happened--adn it was a hilarious scene, as Vern (my dragon detective) had to confess eating a guy's hand and enjoying it to a priest who's never even seen a real dragon before. It was an out-of-the-blue, character-driven event that I did not plan. So in that way, faith does direct my writing--but not to proselytize, just to entertain in a quirky way.
5. Do you have any other works currently in process?
Neeta Lyffe, Zombie Exterminator: Neeta agrees to train zombie exterminators for a reality TV show, but who knew dealing with the living (especially the Hollywood living) would be harder than dealing with the undead? I am having a great time writing this, putting in all kinds of sarcasm, twisting clichés and projecting trends to ridiculous extremes. Who knew a frustrated woman with a chain saw could be such fun to write?
Once Neeta is done, I am going to rewrite my sci-fi novel, Discovery. It's about an alien artefact that lets folks see into their souls. For most of us, that's not an easy thing.
Gapman, my superhero spoof in the DragonEye, PI universe is on hold for now, but I scribble down scenes as I come up with them.
6. Where can readers learn more about you, your writing and your books?
7. Do you have anything you would like to share with our readers today?
Since most of your readers are writers, I'd like to encourage them to keep their eyes and minds open to new writing opportunities. For the last decade, I've pretty much focused on writing fiction, and think I do pretty good at it. (Magic, Mensa and Mayhem just won the INDIE Book Awards for best fantasy). However, I am very proud of Why God Matters. Not only do I think it's probably the most important book I've written--if any of my books can be called "important,"--it also gave me a wonderful opportunity to share something with my dad.
Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life
by Karina Lumbert Fabian and Deacon Steven Lumbert
Pretty Prosperous Powerful
"Personal Note and Dedication to Me from Karina Fabian, a Very Special Author"
by LaCresha Hayes
June 1, 2010
"Thank you, LaCresha"
by Karina Fabian
On May 15th, Tribute Books published a small book on Catholic spirituality and living, Why God Matters and How to Recognize Him in Daily Life, by Karina Lumbert Fabian and Deacon Steve Lumbert. This is my first non-fiction book, and my father's first book ever.
We would never have done this had it not been for LaCresha and her wonderful Yahoo! group, Write, Publish Market.
I joined WPM about a year ago because I was interested in finding new ways to market my books and to share with folks some of my marketing ideas and experience. I also like to pass on things I learn to other groups I'm in, like the Catholic Writers Guild.
A post by Nicole Langan entitled, "Looking for a Catholic Writer," caught my eye. Nicole was looking for an author to write a small book on short notice to fill a hole in their production schedule. I figured if I couldn't help, I knew plenty of Catholic writers who could.
Nicole knew exactly what she wanted, right down to format: personal stories about faith in the everyday, with some practical tips for readers, and Bible verses. The more we discussed the idea, the more I wanted to do it. Not only was the format similar to work I'd done for another publisher, it occurred to me that I could get my father to co-author with me, broadening the scope of the book and making for some fun father-daughter bonding.
Nicole had a tight deadline--one reason, I believe, that she posted her request on WPM, which has a hundreds of members who are actively seeking writing gigs. My father and I had a very intense, very fun week of IMing stories back and forth. It's the first time in a long time that we'd worked together on a project. My father's already eager to do another one!
In the end, this turned out to be more than a book contract--it was a chance for father and daughter to reconnect, and an opportunity for us to share our faith and our stories with others. I feel richer for having done this, but I also know that I never would have imagined taking on such a project on my own. It was Nicole's post on LaCresha's group that led me to this wonderful place.
Thank you, LaCresha. Though you never planned it, you have blessed our lives.
Books and Authors
"Father and Daughter Team Share Why God Matters"
by Joyce Anthony
June 1, 2010
As I sat to write this post, it occurred to me that, with Father's Day being just around the corner, this was the perfect post to start the month. I hadn't planned it that way, but I'm never surprised when things fall into perfect order. I've known Karina Fabian for several years now and have always enjoyed her writing. When this book was about to go on tour, I knew I'd want to share it with everyone--even though this is completely different than Ms. Fabian's previous works.
Do you feel distant from God? Do you want a closer relationship with him? God is with us always, sometimes in ways we don't even realize. Deacon Steve Lumbert and his daughter Karina Fabian share their stories of how God led them from casual belief to deep devotion, and offer tips and exercises to help you see God's hand--and take it.
Far too often, we expect God to show Himself in grand ways yet ignore when He makes His presence known in the day to day. Neither Deacon Steve nor Karina had dramatic conversions. Rather, God led them into deeper faith through the seemingly minor details of life: pot of rice, a habit of prayer, a frustrating flight home, or a barefooted stranger. This father-daughter team has written a delightful, quick book about finding God in the day-to-day. With thought-provoking quotes, heartwarming stories, Bible verses, passages from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and simple exercises the reader can fit into his or her daily routine, they help others recognize God's presence. Great for the casual or converting Catholic longing for something more in their relationship with God, or the "advanced" Catholic wanting light spiritual exercise.
Deacon Steve Lumbert officially converted to Catholicism in 1988, but had been a "practicing" Catholic long before that. He met his lovely and loving wife, Socorro, while sercing in Roosevelt Roads Naval Base in Puerto Rico in 1966. They raised their daughters, Karina and Regina, in the faith. Steve spent 30 years as a Colorado State Trooper, but retired when God called him to the diaconate. Currently, he serves the Diocese of Pueblo as Associate Director of Deacon Formation.
Karina Lumbert Fabian was born into the Catholic faith, but truly grew to love it as an adult. A busy mother of four, she finds her strongest encounters with God's love happen in the ordinary events of the day-to-day. Karina started her writing career with diocesan newspapers but has settled into writing fun-filled fantasy and science fiction that nonetheless incorporates the principles of faith-filled living.
The writing team of Deacon Steve Lumbert and Karina Lumbert Fabian only began with Why God Matters, but the father-daughter team has been running strong for over 40 years. Steve is a former Colorado State Trooper and Associate Director of Deacon Formation. Karina gave up an career as an Air Force Officer to have children and write books, stories and articles. Both came to love the Catholic faith in different ways--Karina being born into it; Steve as a convert. While they've not collaborated much on writing, they have created many things together, from costumes for Karina's high school plays to basements.
http://www.fabianspace.com/ : Karina Fabian's website with news, her books, and extended bio, link to her blog and more.
Tomorrow, I will be talking with Karina, sharing the book trailer for Why God Matters and telling everyone how they can get an autographed bookplate.
Book Marketing Buzz
"Shining the Book Promotion Spotlight on Karina Fabian"
by Dorothy Thompson
June 1, 2010
Karina (Lumbert) Fabian was born into the Catholic faith, but truly grew to love it as an adult. As a busy mother of four, she finds some of her strongest encounters with God’s love happen in the ordinary events of the day-to-day. Karina started her writing career with diocesan newspapers but has settled into writing fun-filled fantasy and science fiction that nonetheless incorporates the principles of faith-filled living. Her website is karinafabian.com and her blog is at fabianspace.blogspot.com.
Welcome to Book Marketing Buzz, Karina. Can you tell us what was the first thing you did to promote your book once your publisher accepted your manuscript?
With Why God Matters, I submitted it for the Catholic Writers Guild Seal of Approval. The CWG evaluates books for how well the content adheres to the teaching of the Catholic Faith. It’s a great way to let Catholic bookstores know that this book is appropriate for their shelves.
For my fiction, I start the buzz before I the book comes out. I blog about my writing adventures, often including snippets of my writing, and I re-run these as we get near publishing day. I also have a lot of online relationships through Facebook and Twitter and Yahoo groups. I let folks know what’s up. For DragonEye, PI, my favorite universe to write in, I have a bi-monthly e-book that gets thousands of viewers. When the book is finally out, I already have folks interested.
If you had to pick just one book marketing tool that you’ve used to promote your book, which would you say has been the most effective?
Virtual book tours are a great way to get the word out. They’re easy to plan and execute and get the word out pretty effectively, IMHO.
Do you do more promoting online or offline and which do you prefer?
Online, especially since I’m not in the brick-and-mortar stores for the most part. People are going to order my book online after getting interested in it, not pull it off the shelf and buy it. I do in-person signings, but these are always a hit-and-miss operation.
Do you use social networks such as Twitter and Facebook to promote your books and have you had any success with it?
I do, but it’s hard to judge success in terms of actual sales. I do have a lot of fans, though, and I enjoy the interaction.
Do you own a blog and how often do you update it? Did you set up your blog solely to promote your book and what is its effectiveness?
I blog twice a week on fabianspace.com. Mondays is my anything goes day–often about whatever’s going on in life, though sometimes I give advice or discuss some issue that’s dear to me. On Thursdays, I write about my adventures with whatever novel I’m writing. Usually, it’s a combination of my experience, some writing advice and a quip from the work in progress. Right now, I’m writing about my adventures with Neeta Lyffe, Zombie Exterminator.
Do you recommend authors getting publicists to help them promote their books? Do you have one?
I’ve never had a publicist, though my publisher, Tribute Books, is spoiling me by having Pump Up Your Book Promotions run my June virtual book tour. We’re working on it together, so it will be huge and awesome, I’m sure! I think if I ever get a contract with a publisher that will put my book in the brick-and-mortar stores, I will get a publicist. They can get me access to offline publicity that I really don’t have the time or experience to get for myself.
If an author prefers to do it alone rather than hire a publicist, where should they start?
I have a class I teach on marketing basics. We cover online and some offline methods. I teach it three or four times a year at fabianspace.com. I also have a task-driven newsletter. Each week, I’ll present you with four tasks, under 30 minutes each, that you can do to promote your book. I tell you how to do it and give you links for more info. Look under the Kickstart Marketing menu. Otherwise, there are some terrific free newsletters out there. I also like Carolyn Howard-Johnson’s Frugal Book Promoter. It got me started.
Thank you for this interview, Karina. We wish you much success!
Thanks so much. I’d like to let folks know that if they buy Why God Matters: And How to Recognize Him in Daily Life, they can get an autographed bookplate from me by contacting me via my website, fabianspace.com.
"Why God Matters and How to Recognize Him in Daily Life" is designed for those just beginning to take their faith life more seriously. Deacon Steven Lumbert and his daughter Karina Lumbert Fabian share stories and lessons learned from their own spiritual journeys in the hope of helping others. Deacon Lumbert tells of his own conversion experience. After years of attending Mass with his Catholic wife and children, he was in his 40s when he finally decided to take the big step of becoming Catholic himself. That road would eventually lead him to becoming a deacon. Today, he is the associate director of the Deacon Formation Program for his diocese. Karina speaks from both the perspective of daughter and mother. They both speak of the importance of seeing Christianity as a way of life. They offer this quote from 1 Corinthians 10:31 as words to live by: "So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God."
Perhaps the most important lesson of this small book is that God is always working in people's lives, calling them to a deeper relationship with Him. This holds true in Deacon Lambert's journey. Karina's husband is also a convert. She shares the need to have faith in this when guiding our children's faith lives. Her oldest son doesn't believe. While trusting "that faith comes in its own time," she "respect[s] his right to make his own decision, but insist[s] that he respect the family by accompanying us to Mass and participating in the customs of our faith. In the meantime, I pray for him, especially the Anima Christi, and I make small sacrifices on his behalf. When I feel despair creep in on me, I remember his father and his grandfather, and I trust in God that he will eventually find his way. . . There is a time for apologetics. There is a time for education. Always, however, is the time for example." That is something for all of us to remember.
"Why God Matters" is a perfect dose of encouragement for those seeking a deeper relationship with God. Deacon Lumbert and Karina Fabian offer practical and helpful advice and inspiration.
Divine Caroline
Talking Books with Religious Self-Help Author Karina Lumbert Fabian
by Dorothy Thompson
May 30, 2010
Karina Lumbert Fabian was born into the Catholic faith, but truly grew to love it as an adult. As a busy mother of four, she finds some of her strongest encounters with God’s love happen in the ordinary events of the day-to-day. Karina started her writing career with diocesan newspapers but ahs settled into writing fun-filled fantasy and science fiction that nonetheless incorporates the principles of faith-filled living. Check out her website and her blog.
Karina is here with us today to talk about her new book she co-authored with her father, Deacon Steve Lumbert, Why God Matters.
Q. Thank you for this interview, Karina. I understand you wrote this book with your father? Whose idea was it and how was it to work with someone so close to you?
Thanks for hosting me as we tour Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life. It was my idea to invite my dad, Deacon Steve Lumbert to write this book with me. Tribute was looking for a Catholic writer to create a quick book of short personal stories of faith, along with some life lessons and quotes for meditation. I'd written such things before, but I felt my point of view--that of a wife and mother--was somewhat limited for the audience I think Tribute wanted to reach.
The issue came back to me during Mass and the Holy Spirit hit me with an epiphany: My father was a deacon in the Church. He had hundreds of stories and life lessons, plus a wonderful knowledge of Scripture. Duh! Plus, wouldn't it be wonderful to have a father-daughter project?
We've worked together before on different things, like building the basement in my home in Virginia, but never on an intellectual/spiritual/emotional project like this. We had a lot of fun working on it together, and it brought us closer, which was one of my ulterior motives. I've not lived near my family for eight years, and it seems our phone calls and IMs are all about the laundry list of things we do in our day. Dad and I shared memories and aspects of our faith lives, and taught each other as well. I've been truly blessed by this book.
Q. Did you outline before you wrote your book or just went with the flow?
Guess you could say a little of both. Tribute provided us with the structure they wanted: quote, story, Scripture (and we added Catechism), and we decided to alternate between Dad's stories and mine. After that, though, we really let the Spirit take over and guide us.
Q. What kind of research did you do before putting this book together?
Before? None, really, unless you count walks down memory lane. As we wrote it, however, we delved into Scripture, famous quotes and the Catechism of the Catholic Church to support our stories. I especially enjoyed seeing how the Catechism didn't just apply to theoretical spiritual knowledge but the real concrete events of daily life.
Q. Can you tell us if you interviewed people for this book and can you give us an example of who?
No interviews. The stories are all my father's and mine. I do admit to asking my dad a lot of questions, though, as we worked on giving his stories more focus. That was a lot of fun, because sometimes I got to hear the details about events I only knew about in general terms. It could be tough, too, as he had to relive events that happened decades ago, like how it felt to confront an armed criminal and miss death by a miracle. For a story like that, "Talk about scared!" doesn't cut it.
Q. Did you get endorsements for your book prior to publication and can you tell us how you went about getting them?
It was a combined effort of us and the publisher. They already had people in mind for endorsements, and my father asked a couple of good friends he knew through his work in the Church and I a few folks I knew through my work with the Catholic Writers Guild. It was pretty easy in this case.
Q. What was the hardest part to write?
My dad would say getting his stories down to about 750 words. He's a talker!
For me, it was the last story, which concerns my oldest son who does not believe. It was never something I planned to put in a book. In fact, I hardly talk about it to others. Some days, it's very hard for me to have hope that he will find his way, and I feel like I've failed him (and God) in the most important part of Motherhood--teaching your children about Faith. However, the story insisted on being written and I did so with tears streaming down my face--and it reminded me that I needed to trust in God, and that I had an example of the two most important men in my life who came late to faith. Now, when I doubt, I go back to the words in that story.
Q. What message are you trying to get across to your readers with this book?
God is everywhere. His love permeates even the most ordinary of circumstances.
Q. Do you plan on writing more religious self-help books?
We're bandied the idea about, but right now, we're both so busy we don't have time to do more than talk about how fun it'd be. From a practical standpoint, we'll have to see how the sales pan out, too.
Thank you for this interview, Karina. We wish both you and your father much success!
A Catholic Life
"Book Review: Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life"
by Matthew
May 22, 2010
I was recently given the opportunity to review the newly released book, Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life by Karina Lumbert Fabian and her father, Deacon Steven Lumbert. As stated in the opening paragraph of the text, "In their collaboration, Why God Matters, Deacon Steven Lumbert and his daughter, Karina Lumbert Fabian, delineate the Catholic Faith as experienced by a par of average, everyday people like the great majority who make up the 24% of Americans who share this religion.
The text was an extremely quick read as I read the 113 pages in 2 hours. The book is not an academic work but rather is composed of extremely short (under 10 page) chapters describing the presence of Catholicism in each author's individual life. Throughout the text are references before each chapter to not only the Catechism of the Catholic Church but also the writings of the saints.
Why God Matters
Whether staring an armed robber in the eye or preparing a simple family dinner, God's presence is a given when the heart is open to feel it.
Today is my 7th wedding anniversary to Dear Hubby. I feel quite blessed to have him love me as deeply as he does. I wanted to share how we started out. I hope you do not mind. But for us this was a moment in our lives that God blessed.
