Tag Archives: Christian Non-Fiction

What Would Your Smoke Signals Say?

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Children these days have a hard time believing that their parents did not have cell phones when they were their age, or at least when they were teenagers.  Some of those parents, back in the day, found it hard to believe that their parents didn’t have phones in their homes until they were teenagers.  And those parents who grew up without a phone in their home heard stories from their parents about how they communicated.

The ability to communicate has always been a constant need of mankind, Wendell Arnold writes in his autobiography, telling about what a difference having a phone made when he was in an isolated situation.  He continues with how his grandpa told them about talking with smoke signals, and he writes,  We told him that was just a tale but he proceeded to show how it was done.  It was fascinating to see him putting up different rings of smoke.  It was a fastidious art.  The problem as I saw it was someone had to be on the other end of the communication.  Someone had to read those signals.  

Reading this, I wondered what the different rings and things would mean.  What would be the need for someone to communication like this?  A plea for help perhaps, what else would someone have to say to whoever might see it?  And in Oklahoma in the 1920’s, sending up smoke signals to give your location might not be such a wise idea.  Depends who you are I guess, but being an Indian wasn’t the popular thing to be back then.  So how about you?  What would your smoke signals say?

Wendell continues writing, Communication is so important.  When we asked Grandpa if God read his smoke signals, he looked at us with red devil eyes.  I never could connect the dots with that look.  As life’s little pieces were put together I figured that communication with his god through prayer was not part of his repertoire.  Perhaps that was where Dad got his agnostic view of religion.  You are what you are, Grandpa would say.  I wondered later what makes a man desert his family of nine kids and take up with a woman half his age to go gallivanting around the country.

He then tells of a story his aunt related about running into Grandpa’s mistress while she was out shopping one day.  You can read about this humorous encounter in his autobiography, FROM THE COTTON PATCH TO Ph.D., GOD’S MANAGEMENT OF MAN THROUGH THE EYES OF A SCIENTIST, available at xulonpress.com/bookstore, amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, and on the kindle, nook and google e-book.  Telephone orders may be placed by calling (866) 909-BOOK (2665).  But the only place you can order a signed copy is wendellarnold.com, where you can pay using your credit card, PayPal or mail us a check.

LOCALS TO LOX ONLY – You may choose the options for COD and local pickup if you would like me to bring you a book.  Thanks!

 CLICK HERE TO READ CHAPTER ONE

More Wonderful Feedback on an Awesome Book!

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I received more wonderful feedback yesterday from a customer who told me she finished the book in two days.  She said it was so good she couldn’t put it down.  That seems to be the popular consensus with readers but I usually hear three days, after all, it is a 312 page book.  But two days, wow!  Thank you for sharing that Mary!

She also shared with me a couple of things that were in the book that she could identify with.  When Carolyn, Wendell’s wife, went into labor she would start to iron until time to go to the hospital.  Mary said it brought back memories; she used to do the same thing many years ago.  She went on to tell me that she really enjoyed reading Wendell’s autobiography, FROM THE COTTON PATCH TO Ph.D., GOD’S MANAGEMENT OF MAN THROUGH THE EYES OF A SCIENTIST, and asked me to let her  know when he comes out with another book!

You can get your signed copy of Wendell Arnold’s autobiography FROM THE COTTON PATCH TO Ph.D., GOD’S MANAGEMENT OF MAN THROUGH THE EYES OF A SCIENTIST at wendellarnold.com.  Also available at xulonpress.com/bookstore, amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, and on the kindle, nook and google e-book.  Telephone orders may be placed by calling (866) 909-BOOK (2665).  But the only place you can order a signed copy is wendellarnold.com, where you can pay using your credit card, PayPal or mail us a check.  LOCALS TO LOX ONLY – You may choose the options for COD and local pickup if you would like me to bring you a book.  Thanks!

 CLICK HERE TO READ CHAPTER ONE

You can get your signed copy at wendellarnold.com.  Also available at xulonpress.com/bookstore, amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, and on the kindle, nook and google e-book.  Telephone orders may be placed by calling (866) 909-BOOK (2665).  But the only place you can order a signed copy is wendellarnold.com, where you can pay using your credit card, PayPal or mail us a check.  LOCALS TO LOX ONLY – You may choose the options for COD and local pickup if you would like me to bring you a book.  Thanks!

 CLICK HERE TO READ CHAPTER ONE

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The Best Non-Novel That’s Like A Novel

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The word “novel” used as a noun is first defined by Merriam-Webster as, “an invented prose narrative that is usually long and complex and deals especially with human experience through a usually connected sequence of events.”  So the first three words of that definition tell me that a non-fiction narrative that is long and complex and deals especially with human experience through a connected sequence of events should not be considered a novel.  Precisely the reason I have been saying that Wendell Arnold’s book “is like a novel.”

You see, by definition I can not call it a novel because it is true stuff and not made up.  But only that fact makes it not a novel.  If you didn’t know that FROM THE COTTON PATCH TO Ph.D., GOD’S MANAGEMENT OF MAN THROUGH THE EYES OF A SCIENTIST by Dr. Wendell R. Arnold was an autobiography, I would bet that you would think it was a great novel.  This is not just a story about Dr. Arnold’s life.  This is a story with characters and plots and circumstances and will keep you on the edge of your seat.  Being both mine and Wendell’s first time doing this, I must have edited the manuscript ten times and I tell you, every single time I was amazed at how engrossed I became in the storyline.  One time I even stopped and said to my dog, “This is crazy!  How can I get so choked up when I’ve read this, how many times?”  He just looked at me like, “Yep, you’re crazy.”

It is not just an autobiography, it is a story.  A story about a little boy growing up picking cotton in Oklahoma.  We get to know this little boy and his family, and feel his feelings when his music teacher singles him out in the second grade.  The little boy grows up, goes to high school when he doesn’t have to pick cotton and figures out how to get through college taking a bride with him, his high school sweetheart.  When they announce to her parents their intent of marriage, her father says to him, “Son, you can’t even afford her shoes.”  Well Wendell relied on faith and eventually provided as many shoes as Carolyn wanted.

The couple recently celebrated 52 years of marriage and Wendell shares a few of their adventures with us.  Some are funny, some sad, some shocking and a few that are pretty scary.  You can read all about it in Wendell Arnold’s book, FROM THE COTTON PATCH TO Ph.D., GOD’S MANAGEMENT OF MAN THROUGH THE EYES OF A SCIENTIST, and you can get your signed copy at wendellarnold.com.  Also available at xulonpress.com/bookstore, amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, and on the kindle, nook and google e-book.  Telephone orders may be placed by calling (866) 909-BOOK (2665).  But the only place you can order a signed copy is wendellarnold.com, where you can pay using your credit card, PayPal or mail us a check.  LOCALS TO LOX ONLY – You may choose the options for COD and local pickup if you would like me to bring you a book.  Thanks!

CLICK HERE TO READ CHAPTER ONE

Habits

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I briefly got away from my habit of blogging about Dr. Wendell R. Arnold’s autobiography, FROM THE COTTON PATCH TO Ph.D., GOD’S MANAGEMENT OF MAN THROUGH THE EYES OF A SCIENTIST, and sometimes getting back into a habit that got away from me can be tough.  When I finally sat down in front of the screen, I thought, what should I write?  Should I just write about the book like always, like I never took a little break from writing?  Will anyone even notice?  Then this thought popped into my mind – hard habit to break.  Doesn’t really make any sense, I know, but I stuck with that thought because of the feeling I had that it could go somewhere.  And wait till you hear this!

After the song, “Hard Habit to Break,” by the band Chicago ran through my head a couple of times, I thought, Ya, I was into the habit of writing consistently, I broke that habit and I’m having a hard time jumping back in there.  My lack of blogging is a habit that’s hard to break.  Doesn’t Wendell have a line in his book about habits?  Ya!  Something about being poor is a habit he had to break… that’s it!  So I got started and typed the first few words of this post, stared at the screen and pondered where I was going to go with this.  I grabbed the book, and while trying to think of where that blurb was located in the story, I opened the book up and there it was, it just jumped out at me.  There it was on page 157, “… that being poor was just a habit, a habit that I had to break.”  I was floored.  Blown away.  But just for a minute.  No, not even a minute, a smile was on my face and the thought in my head of God is so cool! within a few seconds.

I believe that coincidences are just God’s way of staying anonymous.  Not that He particularly wants to always remain anonymous, I believe there are times He wants us to know He’s there and wants us to communicate with Him, but God doesn’t gloat, His pride is in check.  So you know for me, that experience was an experiencing God moment and I am so grateful that I can see things like that.  God wants to experience those moments with everyone, and much more!  Dr. Arnold tells about a few of his experiences with God in his book, FROM THE COTTON PATCH TO Ph.D., GOD’S MANAGEMENT OF MAN THROUGH THE EYES OF A SCIENTIST, and you can order your signed copy at wendellarnold.com.

The experience Wendell tells on page 157 is about being backed into a corner and having no choice but to uproot his family and move across the country.  He says at first he thought it was a request.  As he realized it was a demand and not a request, he thought of how a person could become poor in a hurry without a job.  If he didn’t move, he would be without a job.  What would you do?  Well Wendell was not going to just roll over and take it, though he knew he’d most likely be moving his family.  But he wants to know why he was selected for this job and he was told, “This job is going to require dedication.  It is going to require someone to do activities that normal people would pay to do, for example, you don’t boat, you don’t fish and you don’t scuba dive.”  Wendell interrupted, “So you say I am just stick in a rut and don’t have a hobby doing anything?”  And the plot thickens, there is much more going on than meets the eye and it is certainly an enjoyable read!

You can get your signed copy of Wendell Arnold’s autobiography, FROM THE COTTON PATCH TO Ph.D., GOD’S MANAGEMENT OF MAN THROUGH THE EYES OF A SCIENTIST, at his website, wendellarnold.com.  Also available at xulonpress.com/bookstore, amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, and on the kindle, nook and google e-book.  Telephone orders may be placed by calling (866) 909-BOOK (2665).  But the only place you can order a signed copy is wendellarnold.com, where you can pay with your credit card, PayPal or send us a check.  If you have any questions about ordering, please contact me at orders@wendellarnold.com.  Many have said they would peg this book as a suspense novel if they didn’t know it was an autobiography.  Everyone has said they loved it.  So get yours now at wendellarnold.com!

CLICK HERE TO READ CHAPTER ONE

Why Do Scientists Always Have To Prove Something?

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This question was posed to Dr. Wendell Arnold by Reverend Curtis, and Wendell shares this conversation in his book, FROM THE COTTON PATCH TO Ph.D., GOD’S MANAGEMENT OF MAN THROUGH THE EYES OF A SCIENTIST.  It is an interesting dialog, with the reverend saying it is strange to hear a scientist talk about faith, but then he doesn’t really know many scientists either.

Reverend Curtis asked Wendell, “Why do scientists always have to prove something?  Why can’t scientists just accept certain things through faith?”  Wendell replied that it depends upon a person’s definition of faith.  “If you define faith as a belief in the system of religious beliefs then I would agree that scientists in general have faith,” he said.  The reverend followed with, “But you have to prove it.  Right?”  In my opinion, Wendell hit it out of the ballpark with his answer.  He replied, “If you define faith as a belief in the value or truth of something then you have to prove the probability of that something being probable, which is a mathematical statement of that something happening or not happening.”  Wow.

Wendell goes on to talk about science being the study and theoretical explanations of natural phenomena, and they get into some deep thinking.  By the end of the conversation Wendell asks if the good reverend is really a preacher or if he’s actually a psychologist, to which Reverend Curtis asks if there’s a difference.  Delightful reading on some intriguing topics, this is a book you will have a hard time putting down.

You can order your copy signed by the author at wendellarnold.com.  Also available at xulonpress.com/bookstore, amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, and on the kindle, nook and google e-book.  Telephone orders may be placed by calling (866) 909-BOOK (2665).  But the only place you can order a signed copy is wendellarnold.com, where you can pay by credit card, PayPal, or send us a check or money order.  Check it out!

 CLICK HERE TO READ CHAPTER ONE

 

Marrying as a Minor

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Marrying as teenagers and staying together for 50 years is almost unheard of these days.  Wendell and Carolyn Arnold are not just still together after 53 years of marriage, they are still deeply in love with one another and it is evident just being around them.  Their love and devotion to each other is one of a kind.

And did you know that back in 1960 the legal age for males to get married was 21 but the legal age for females was 18?  Perhaps it was figured that girls mature faster than boys and therefore they are more qualified to make such a decision at an earlier age?  At any rate Wendell was not even of legal age, he was 19 and Carolyn 18 when they married.  To get around this “age” thing, they had Wendell’s dad sign for the marriage certificate.

Wendell goes on in the story to tell about when he told Carolyn’s dad they were going to get married.  His friend with whom this dialog was exchanged exclaimed, “Told her dad!” and the the communications he relays are entertaining and sweet.  Like how Wendell’s mom told him when he left for college, ‘See that every day is marked by at least one special act of love.’  It is a great story for all ages.

You can get your signed copy at wendellarnold.com.  Also available at xulonpress.com/bookstore, amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, and on the kindle, nook and google e-book.  Telephone orders may be placed by calling (866) 909-BOOK (2665).  But the only place you can order a signed copy is wendellarnold.com, where you can pay either via PayPal or send us a check.

CLICK HERE TO READ CHAPTER ONE

 

Dr. Arnold’s Poem – of what in his mind – is God’s Plan According to Man

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Dr. Wendell R. Arnold displays his talent for writing poetry as well as writing a suspenseful non-fiction story full of adventures in his autobiography, FROM THE COTTON PATCH TO Ph.D., GOD’S MANAGEMENT OF MAN THROUGH THE EYES OF A SCIENTIST.  Sprinkled with poems, Wendell’s story is well-rounded and comes from the heart.  The following is just part of a lengthy poem from Wendell’s book:

Surely God looked down on man that he created

He must have thought – what a mess they have made since they have mated

God developed a plan to save mankind

He put it in action over a period of time

He disclosed His plan to the prophets who were Jews

They wrote in scripture the unfolding of the good news…

This particular poem spans three pages, 126 lines in all, and it is fascinating how Wendell tells all about their trip to Israel with details of Jesus’ life with such rhythm. It is one that should go down on the record for Christian education.  You won’t want to miss out on the rest of this fantastic poem along with an intriguing story full of hope and faith.  You can order your signed copy at wendellarnold.com!

Dr. Arnold’s autobiography, FROM THE COTTON PATCH TO Ph.D., GOD’S MANAGEMENT OF MAN THROUGH THE EYES OF A SCIENTIST, is also available at xulonpress.com/bookstore, amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, and on the kindle, nook and google e-book.  Telephone orders may be placed by calling (866) 909-BOOK (2665).  But the only place you can order a signed copy is wendellarnold.com, where you can pay either via PayPal or send us a check. 

CLICK HERE TO READ CHAPTER ONE

What do you think? Is our destiny predetermined?

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Right away, Wendell asks some deep questions in his autobiography, FROM THE COTTON PATCH TO Ph.D., GOD’S MANAGEMENT OF MAN THROUGH THE EYES OF A SCIENTIST.  He begins the book with a story about when he was faced with a life or death situation.

  • Is our destiny predetermined?
  • Do we have a choice to determine our own destiny within the bounds that are predetermined?
  • If that be the case, where do I stand tonight?

Dr. Arnold poses these questions, and goes on to ponder his predicament.  Thought provoking questions they are, and Wendell Arnold’s experience considering such questions is a thrilling read.  An intriguing story indeed, and you can get your signed copy at wendellarnold.com!

Also available at xulonpress.com/bookstore, amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, and on the kindle, nook and google e-book.  Telephone orders may be placed by calling (866) 909-BOOK (2665).  But the only place you can order a signed copy is wendellarnold.com, where you can either pay via PayPal or mail us a check with a copy of the invoice.  

CLICK HERE TO READ CHAPTER ONE

And if you missed yesterday’s post, make sure you check it out!  Click the link below to read the exciting excerpt!

 

An exciting excerpt from Dr. Wendell Arnold’s autobiography

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Wendell Arnold’s autobiography, FROM THE COTTON PATCH TO Ph.D., GOD’S MANAGEMENT OF MAN THROUGH THE EYES OF A SCIENTIST, reads more like a novel and will keep you on the edge of your seat.  Stories I have heard all my life still gripped me like I’d never heard them before, and as I read the pages I couldn’t help but envision the events like they were right there happening, like has never happened before.  Here is one of those stories:

We had now been skiing several years and thought we were invincible.  We loved to ski in the trees and see how deep we could sink into the powder.  We would wind our way parallel to the mountain to find nests of trees to go through.  Carolyn was leading the way and came upon a ridge that was very icy.  She leaned over to survey whether or not it could be negotiated on skis.

We were skiing with the old bindings that had leather safety straps.  In subsequent years, the manufacturers came out with safer bindings that would release your ski and still it stayed behind in the snow.  She kept leaning over to make sure we could manage it and she started sliding.  It wasn’t very long before she was out of control falling end over end.  Her skis were banging against her head and body.  She lost her poles, hat and sunglasses.  We stood at the top of the hill and peered down at the vertical icy slope.  We could see Carolyn at the base of the mountain.  She appeared lifeless and she was face down in the snow.  We wanted to reach the base as quickly as possible but we knew the vertical drop was impossible to ski.  We did not want to end up in the condition she was in so we took off our skis and walked down between the trees to reach Carolyn.

“Carolyn,” I yelled.

No answer.  My pulse was racing.  I began to think about the skier who had been killed the week before at this same resort.  He had done some stupid trick and lost control and hit a tree.  We learned later that the ski patrol had marked the area off limits with a rope and signs saying no skiing.  We stupidly had entered the area just below the signs.

As we made our way through the trees, we could see one of her ski poles stuck in the icy mountain.  It looked as if someone had driven a ski into a wall.  I looked at Carolyn and I couldn’t tell if she had any broken bones.  I was very concerned that she might have a broken neck.  I knew that time was of the essence but I also knew we couldn’t be reckless as we continued through the trees.

Her face was turned to the side and I could see that she was not in danger of suffocating.  Thank God, I prayed, but where are the angels that were supposed to be riding on her shoulder?

As we reached Carolyn’s side I asked, “Are you okay?”  She replied just like a tough Oklahoman, “I am okay.  I have a busted lip and feel as if I can hardly walk, but it could be much worse.”

As we went on to the bottom of the mountain we all decided that we would pack it in for this ski trip.  The other two couples were leaving that evening and I felt Carolyn was much more shaken than what she acknowledged.  As we sat in the condo watching TV we both thanked God that the accident had not turned deadly.

Wendell goes on to tell the events of that particular evening and what happens next is a jaw dropping, unbelievable, give you the goosebumps kind of story.  It leaves him convinced that miracles do occur to common people who believe in a superior power or being.

Wendell  and Carolyn experienced much activity throughout the past 52 years and he writes about many amazing, exciting times in his book, FROM THE COTTON PATCH TO Ph.D., GOD’S MANAGEMENT OF MAN THROUGH THE EYES OF A SCIENTIST.  In addition, Dr. Arnold tells about his childhood, growing up picking cotton and being from a family of nine kids whose parents were share croppers.  An intriguing story, a must read, and you can order your signed copy at wendellarnold.com!

Also available at xulonpress.com/bookstore, amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, and on the kindle, nook and google e-book.  Telephone orders may be placed by calling (866) 909-BOOK (2665).  But the only place you can order a signed copy is wendellarnold.com!

CLICK HERE TO READ CHAPTER ONE

For those who think that religion and science don’t mix, this is a must read!

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A few comments made about science and religion and Dr. Arnold’s autobiography, FROM THE COTTON PATCH TO Ph.D., GOD’S MANAGEMENT OF MAN THROUGH THE EYES OF A SCIENTIST:

“The reader becomes a visitor in the lively dialog among family members and colleagues as Dr. Arnold reveals conflicts and resolutions in the world of faith and science.”

“In this book, the autobiographer reveals his unwavering deep faith, while overcoming many challenges as he lived a professional life as a well-respected and successful scientist.”

“Science and religion walk hand in hand in Wendell Arnold’s journey from a farm boy to the holder of a Doctorate in Phytopathology and numerous patents in the environmental field.”

“Faith and Science.  Can one person truly emote to these two different worlds?”

In Wendell Arnold’s book, FROM THE COTTON PATCH TO Ph.D., GOD’S MANAGEMENT OF MAN THROUGH THE EYES OF A SCIENTIST, Dr. Arnold skillfully tells his intriguing story of growing up picking cotton and becoming a world-renowned scientist with faith in God.  His story is a must read for those who think that religion, science and environmental improvement don’t mix.

You can order your signed copy at wendellarnold.com.  That’s right, go to wendellarnold.com and order your copy signed by the author himself!  Dr. Arnold’s book is also available at xulonpress.com/bookstore, amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, and on the kindle, nook and google e-book.  Telephone orders may be placed by calling (866) 909-BOOK (2665).  But the only place you can order a signed copy is wendellarnold.com!

CLICK HERE TO READ CHAPTER ONE