Michelle Bolanger's Blog

Did you know it is possible to introduce people to Christ without ‘calling out’ their sin? No, really! I promise. I looked it up in the Bible and wrote a story about it!Yet, I find it interesting how many times I am told my story about two gay men won’t be accepted by a Christian website because it doesn’t ‘clearly call out homosexuality as sin.’Look.When I came to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, it wasn’t because someone told me that sleeping around, drinking, and having an abortion was...

Life is full of choices. Here in the US, we are free to make choices about almost everything. Where we work. What we will eat. Where we live. How many children we will have.We can even chose to do harmful things. We can eat until we are completely unhealthy. We can drink alcohol until we pass out. We can marry and divorce as often as we wish. We can end a pregnancy at will.There are those who want to create laws and regulations to prevent people from doing those things, and while I fully beli...

Thank you so very much for all your encouragement! I can’t thank my readers enough for the support my last post has gotten. (I wish my books got as many reviews! Ha!) I wanted to clarify my decision and let you all know that this isn’t a knee jerk reaction to a few negative reviews. I've spent a lot of time in prayer about how this should all play out, and it isn't just about Safe Cages anymore, though my dilemma with it did start the process. Getting a solid Christian readership is only a sm...

I have become resigned to the fact that if I want my latest novel, “Safe Cages,” to sell, I am going to have to make some changes. Otherwise, not only do I make no money, but no one gets to read the wonderful story God gave me!And that frustrates me. Mostly because it's the cover and blurb that are causing the problems, and I LOVE my cover and blurb!The cover does what a cover is supposed to do; it gives a clear idea of who the main characters are – two gay men. It also hints to the backgroun...

As a follow up to my Love Languages post, and to add a page to the the “This Is Too Transparent” file…Here’s something you might not realize about someone whose PRIMARY love language is Acts of Service…You probably won’t know they don’t feel loved until they believe they are so unwanted they are ready to walk away.When they love someone deeply, they are fiercely loyal and will give their love (acts of service) freely and lavishly - to the point of wearing themselves out emotionally, physicall...

Have you ever read the Five Love languages by Gary Chapman? The basic premise of the book is this:Each of us receive love in one of five main ways.Words of AffirmationActs of ServiceGiftsQuality TimePhysical TouchThis past week, I learned something important about Robert and my love languages. Thankfully, several of our top rated languages are the same.Both of us speak the languages of Physical Touch and Quality Time. Whenever we are within arm’s length of each other, we are touching: holding...

One of my favorite things to do is visit local coffee houses. When we travel, my husband and I make it a point to find a small coffee shop in whatever town or city we stop in. I have quite the collection of photos from places all over, and sometimes it’s easy to forget that here at home in Dayton we have some wonderful and notable local coffee roasters.Because I work in the Centerville area, Boston Stoker is probably the shop I stop into the most. They have multiple locations, and I think we’...

It’s Friday, but today started out more like a Monday. I slept horribly - with heartburn most of the night and bad dreams the rest. I woke up irritated and edgy with no real explanation. I tried to get some work done before getting in the shower, but none of the websites would cooperate. And worst of all, I got the settings wrong on the coffee pot and put a single cup under the brewer that was set for a half pot. I cleaned up the mess and left the house 10 minutes late and only half caffeinat...

This year was my third trip to Once Upon A Book in Frankenmuth, and it is ALWAYS the highlight of my year. I look forward to every part of it, from the panels on Friday afternoon, to the costume ball afterwards, to getting to meet the fans and bloggers at my table for a whole day on Saturday.We started out the weekend at Bronner’s Christmas store where my Mom and me wandered for hours through acres and acres of Christmas decorations. I spotted this plaque and had to bring it home. My sister I...

Acts 5:12-16 The apostles were performing many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers were meeting regularly at the Temple in the area known as Solomon’s Colonnade. But no one else dared to join them, even though the people had high regard for them. Yet more and more people believed and were brought to the Lord – crowds of both men and women. As a result of the apostle’s work, sick people were brought out into the streets on beds and mats so that Peter’s shadow m...