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The Writer's Tablet...
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Barbara Eubanks, an English and journalism teacher at Sardis High School in Etowah County, saw the mixing of humor and serious devotionals as a unique blend. Being a minister's wife for about 40 years and a Sunday School teacher since 1959 have afforded her many opportunities to gather a great deal of material for her writings. All the incidents in her book are actual happenings.
A bride at 15 years old, and a mother of three by age 20, Eubanks recalled how her husband, Steve, a computer programmer at the time, felt the Lord calling him into the ministry. The family lived in Albertville at the time. He felt the need to go to Samford University, and inspired Barbara to go as well. They did, and graduated together in 1970.
Barbara has received a B.A. in English, a M.A. in SecondaryEd/English, and a Ed.S. in Education/English. These educational achievements testify to her persistence and determination because she attained these after her marriage.
- A Regular Columnist for the Anniston-Gadsden Christian Family Magazine 214 Bellevue Circle PO Box 1205 Gadsden, AL 35902 tel. 256-543-9452
- A Writer for the LifeWay Sunday School literature for grades 7-12 (June 2008)
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A Writer's Memories...
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Barbara has written many articles that have been published locally, as well as Nationally. Here is a listing of some of the writers work...
"My Two Foot World" (a descriptive writing lesson)... in Notes Plus, November 1989
"Lovely Things" and "The Angelic Amoretta"... in Jacksonville State University Writing Project Anthology, 1989
"NIE Workshop '89 "... published by the Gadsden TImes, 1989
"Christmas Reward" (Holiday Memories)... by the Gadsden Times, December 25, 1998
"Teacher of Miracle Worker"... in Alabama English, Spring 2000
"Humorous Happenings in Holy Places"... Tate Publishing, December 2004
"My Magnificent World"... published in On the Wings of Poetry, by Famous Poets Society, 2005
"Celebrating Mother's Day Without a Mother"... Crosswalk.com, Spring 2005
"Just Say WOW !"... in Whispering in God's Ear, by Wayne Holmes, Waterbrook Press, July 2005
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Glorieta CLASS Writing Conference...
Photo - Barbara Eubanks with Author Don Piper, Author of "Ninety Minutes in Heaven".
Amid the golden aspens in Glorieta, New Mexico, where the altitude is 7,500 feet above sea level, a southern girl, one who lives where there is oxygen in the air, finds herself in an environment unfamiliar to her lungs; it was I. As I walked from dorm to chapel to dining hall to conference buildings during these sunlit, cool October days of the Glorieta CLASS Writing Conference, my entire body begged for oxygen ? my head yelled in pain, "Help!"; in Morse code my heart beat out, "I need air"; my nose, raw and cracked from this foreign atmosphere, screamed, "I need help." With my entire body battling an environment as inadaptable to it as dry land is to a fish, I cried out to God for help. "Help! I need air!"
As He always does, He answered my prayer, just not in the way I expected. Instead he answered by giving me what I really needed instead of what I thought I needed. Yes, he gave me enough physical oxygen for survival but not enough for me to ever be completely comfortable or satisfied. But better than the physical air, He breathed into me spiritual air "His pneuma. His answer to the physical was, "Slow down. See the beauty around you. Don't walk quite so fast." (Besides that, I had to slow down; I couldn't walk fast there and breathe at the same time.)
When I accepted His answer, I saw his magnificent creations - the gorgeous colors of the fall, the contrast in size of the tall, waving aspens to the minute pebbles, each a different shape, along the path. These said to me, "I (God) created these, and I also created you. I will provide for your needs in every way because I made you too; you are my child."
His answer to the spiritual was, "Listen, I'm not through teaching you. You have many more lessons to learn." Then he presented these new lessons through, not only the expected venues - general sessions, workshops, the pros, etc., but also through people and personalities I met there. Without meaning to, or even realizing it, I came with typical prejudices. In my subconscious, I assumed the South had the market cornered on good, caring, genuine Christians. I learned from a girl from North Dakota (I really wasn't sure if people actually lived there or if it was just a piece of the U.S. puzzle that fit way up North) how wrong I was. Her genuine smile and interest in other people, her kindness, and her passion for Christ proved me so wrong.
Another one of my subconscious prejudices God uncovered was my opinion that Southern Baptists were superior in beliefs ? ideas on evangelism, their walk with God, to name just a couple. I learned from a lady from New York that you could come to the knowledge of God and surrender to Jesus in faith and without having even heard of the "Four Spiritual Laws" or the "F.A.I.T.H." outline. She shared with me her "Damascus Road" experience of salvation which transformed her from a drug addict and alcoholic to an eager witness for Christ. She taught me which approaches that turned unbelievers off and which ones might just work. I learned we can't package tightly in programs all the ways God works.
His answer was, "I still work miracles." The highlight of the entire conference for me was the opportunity to sit and converse with Don Piper, a dead man, or at least he had been for a ninety-minute period. I had read his book, Ninety Minutes in Heaven, shortly before coming to Glorieta. I had told everyone who would listen about the impact the book had had on me. The man had been to heaven and found it to be more than our finite minds can imagine. Goosebumps covered my arms as I realized I was in the physical presence of someone who had made the journey of, until then, the unknown.
His answer to the professional was, "Keep giving your writing and speaking to Me, and I will use it in ways you can't envision." Before I went to the conference, I gave God the pieces I have written. I said, "If You can use my writing for Your Kingdom and Glory, it's yours. If you can't, I don't want it published anyway." With my surrendering them to Him, I couldn't be disappointed by rejections. Therefore, I could present my writings with the peace and confidence I needed. I had five editors to ask me to send manuscripts of various pieces. Praise God!
God's answers to prayers come in many ways and in His time. I am back to oxygen-filled Alabama now, but I'm not the same (but I am breathing again). I am still processing the many lessons learned, and I am praising and thanking God for air as I walk in this familiar place and take in His oxygen which I had before taken for granted. God gives us the air we need.
Written as I return from the CLASS Writing Conference, Glorieta, NM, Oct. 31, 2005 By Barbara Eubanks
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Passions for the Words...
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Some of Barbara Eubanks projects and venues include the following, during and after her 35 years of teaching English and journalism...
Presenting at the Gulf Coast Writing Conference...
Presenting at the Jacksonville University National Writing Project...
Facilitating many writing and NIE (newspaper in Education) worshops at Jacksonville State University, University of Alabama, Alabama A&M College, Dekalb County Schools, Etowah County Schools, Jackson County Schools, and Attalla City Schools...
Participating in the "Writing for the Soul" Conference sponsored by The Christian Literary Guild in 2003 & 2004
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Children's Views of Heaven...
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One of the most pondered questions is "What will heaven be like?" Children who grow up in church hear about heaven all their lives but sometimes manage to get an off-center view of what it will be like while others believe, at face value, what the Bible says about heaven and totally believe what they are taught. Listening to children's concepts of heaven can be quite enlightening. It can also give opportunity to correct their misconceptions.
My young grandson Austin was spending some time with us one summer. He had a young friend visiting with him one day, and as we were driving home from Bible school, I heard their discussion about heaven. Austin said, "Heaven will be boring. There won't be any toys there." His friend echoed that sentiment.
I inserted, "Why do you guys think heaven will be boring?"
Austin answered, "Oh, there will just be adult stuff to do there."
"What kind of stuff?" I questioned.
"You know, writing papers and talking on the phone and stuff like that."
Feeling it necessary to dissuade him from a dread of heaven, I borrowed a philosophy that a dear pastor friend had used with his son. I told Austin, "If it takes toys in heaven for you to be happy there, then there will be toys."
Whatever it takes for us to experience ultimate bliss in heaven, God will provide. We will live in such a superior realm to what we live in now we can't comprehend the joys that God has in store for us. God knows what we need for survival and happiness in this world, and because we are His children and he loves us as such, he provides for us here. Therefore, His promises for heaven assure us He will more than satisfy our desires there although our desires will be of a spiritual nature rather than a physical one. Ephesians 1:3 says, "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ." (NIV) Therefore our prayer should be that our faith will be strengthened to truly believe that God will take care of us both in this world and the next and that any fear or dread of death will be removed from our minds.
Although some children dread death and fear that Heaven's pleasure will not measure up to the gratification they experience in this life, others exhibit a simple childlike faith, which makes adults' faith pale in comparison. Such was the case with my experience with my granddaughter. When she was only three-years-old, Alicia, our oldest granddaughter, was staying with us for an extended visit while her parents were in Europe. Every night of her visit, she and I would recount the day's fun and blessings when I tucked her in, and then we would pray together. One night after our ritual, she looked up at me, smiled and said, "Gram, I want to go to heaven and live with Jesus."
I replied, "Someday, you will, Darling, when you are much older."
Surprisingly, she corrected me and said, "No, I mean I want to go tonight."
Perhaps out of shock or perhaps out of a faith inferior to hers, I answered, "Well, you can't go tonight. What would I tell your parents when they call? You'll have to wait until Jesus gets ready for you."
As I lay in bed that night, I pondered her request and my reply. To begin with, I felt a uneasiness, and wondered if she had some kind of premonition that she was about to die. I finally realized that the reason Alicia had said that she wanted to go to Heaven and live with Jesus was not because she thought she was about to die, but because she had heard in church about the beauties and wonders of heaven and that when people died, they went to live with Jesus. She simply believed these truths. It was this childlike faith to which the Bible refers in Mark 10:15, "I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." (NIV) I prayed that night thanking God for her faith and asked for a renewal of that pure, unadulterated childlike faith in my own life, which she had exhibited.
As we discuss with our children and grandchildren many things, such as school activities, sports, friends, and honors, we should not neglect to discuss more important issues with them. It is important for them to express their anticipations and dreads about death and heaven. By listening to their ideas and feelings, we have the opportunity to teach them, correct their misconceptions, learn from them, and have our own faith renewed.
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A Gift that Keeps on Giving...
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Wow, what a gift! My oldest son and his wife gave me an all-expense paid trip to the 2004 Broadmoor Writing for the Soul conference. This has been a gift that has just kept on giving in many ways.
As I browsed my Writer's Digest magazine, I found the ad for the Writing for the Soul conference once again. I was somewhat interested when I saw the ad earlier, but this time I read it in depth. "This Broadmoor conference would be a great writing conference to attend," I casually commented to my husband. (At the encouragement of my husband, I attended my first Writing for the Soul Conference in the fall of 2003 at The Cove in Asheville, NC, where I was made to realize how the odds were very much against an unknown author getting a first book published, but I was, also, encouraged to submit articles to periodicals and received valuable how-to information).
Supportive as my husband always is, he replied, "Why don't you plan to go to this conference?" I dismissed the idea with the list of reasons why I couldn't or shouldn't. It was scheduled in February, and since I am a teacher, I would be in school at that time. Besides that, I felt it would be extravagant to spend that much money just for myself. I wasn't sure I wanted to make the trip by myself, and room with someone I'd never met. Could an Alabama girl (I use that term "girl" loosely) withstand the frigid weather and the high altitude? My insecurities mounted and I felt my insignificance just at the thought of rubbing elbows with well-established authors. Nonetheless, the idea of attending the conference was still somewhere in the recesses of my mind.
A few days later my husband was talking to our son, who was, at that time, Director of Endosurgical Education at Duke University School of Medicine and Chief of Endosurgery at Duke University Hospital (He is presently the Chairman of the Department of Surgery at the University of Missouri). He told his dad about an interesting conference he had just returned from where he had been the guest speaker. Steve, my husband, casually mentioned that he had encouraged me to sign up for a writing conference that I was interested in Colorado. Our son questioned, "Why doesn't she plan to go?"
"Here, I'll let you talk to her and ask her yourself." He then passed the phone off to me. "Mom, Dad said that you were interested in going to Colorado to the Writing for the Soul conference. Why don?t you plan to go?" I began giving him my reasons and ended by saying, "That would just cost too much money by the time I included conference fee, travel, and hotel."
"Find out exactly how much everything will cost and work out the details to get the days off from work." He expressed that he and my daughter-in-law would really like to give me that for Christmas." I objected, "I couldn?t let you do that. That is just too much, but you will never know how much I appreciate the offer." He insisted, "Mom, you know we are going to get you something for Christmas, and we had much rather do this than to spend all of December shopping for a dress that probably wouldn?t fit anyway."
With that, I humbly accepted the very generous offer and attended a conference, which has inspired me both professionally and spiritually. Anne Graham Lotz's and Sammy Tippit's inspiring messages, along with Joni Eareckson Tada's moving presentation and the discussion I had with writer Francine Rivers over dinner, brought me to the realization that God had chosen to use them and their talents when they committed their lives and writing to Him.
"Why do you want to get your book published?" probed one of the conference leaders. Through the introspection and soul searching that resulted from that I gave my book to God. I had to ask myself, "Do I want this published for self-glory or recognition?" I said, "God, if you can use my words to bring joy to other people and draw them to a closer walk with you and if you want my book published, I give it to you. If not, I don?t want it published anyway. Keep my motives pure."
At the conference I received the practical information I needed to accomplish some of my goals from workshop leaders like, Cec Murphey, such as how to write a professional query letter and a proposal. I met with publishers who gave me encouragement and great insight as to what the possibilities were for Christian writers. I was impressed by the warmth Jerry Jenkins conveyed to me personally, and to all the other attendees. I met others like myself who had dreams of being published, and we developed great friendships as we shared our joys and struggles. (I have already signed up for the upcoming Broadmoor Conference, February 2005)
Since that conference, my book, Humorous Happenings in Holy Places, has been accepted by Tate Publishing Co. and will be in the bookstores this December. Christian Writer's Guild's business manager, Wayne Atchison, graciously wrote the foreword for my book.
My son and daughter-in-law truly gave me a gift of encouragement by giving me this generous trip to the 2004 Broadmoor Writing for the Soul conference. My prayer is that through receiving this gift, I may be better equipped to give to others and bless them through my writing.
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Celebrating Mother's Day without Mother
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While some look forward to celebrating Mother's Day with gifts and flowers to honor their mothers, for those who have lost their mothers to death, the day often brings sadness. This became a reality to me about two years ago when I faced my first Mother's Day without my mother. Typical Mother's Day hymns at church brought tears rather than joy. Simply walking by a card display loaded with beautiful verses for mothers brought a fresh awareness of the void left by mother's death. Browsing the Sunday paper, which focused on Mother's Day Sale's reminded me that this year I wouldn't be trying to find the appropriate gift. I soon realized I had turned, into mourning recollections, which should be bringing joy. When the focus is on what has been lost, it brings grief, but finding other ways to honor our mothers who have passed away may bring gladness and smiles.
I discovered some positive ways to approach Mother's Day and to honor Mother's memory when she is no longer present:
1. Talk about to family something funny your mother did or said.
I recall the way my mother would invent words when normal vocabulary failed her. Once she told me of a sale on blouses at a local department store. She said, "The price was so good I 'cabbaged' on that deal."
I remember another incident when her correction of Dad's mistake was a blunder in itself. My dad was discussing the need for various types of churches. He said, "Now your church is more 'confisticated' than ours, but I enjoy our style of worship just the same." Mother corrected, "Hugh, it isn't 'confisticated'; it's sophisticated." Pondering this, he asked, "Well, what does 'confisticate' mean?" "It's when the sheriff goes out and 'confisticates' the bootlegger's liquor."
2. Cook for your family one of your mother's best dishes.
A few years back, realizing that she would not always be with us for Thanksgiving and Christmas, I watched Mother make her famous chicken and dressing because I knew she didn't go by a printed recipe. Now the family gathers at my house. With great care and pride, I mix with my hands the crumbled cornbread, chicken broth, and other ingredients just as she always did. I reflect on the many great meals she served, hoping mine would measure up to hers and wondering if my children would have similar pleasant holiday memories.
3. Sing some of her favorite songs with your family.
Just as we, as a family, would gather around Mother's piano and sing some of her favorite hymns with her as she played them, I now gather my grandkids around for us to play and sing some of her favorites.
4. Write a poem that recalls her good qualities, even if it is the "Roses are Red" kind.
After her death, I was going through some of Mom's cherished possessions. Among them I found some very simplistic poems I had written for her on past Mother's Days. I realized she had thrown away the cards we had bought for her but had saved those I had personalized with poems about her. I then sat down and wrote another about my favorite memories with her. I found this to be very therapeutic.
5. Plant a tree in her honor.
A nice way to make a living memorial is to plant a tree in Mother's memory each Mother's Day. This can become an orchard if the children and grandchildren continue the tradition. The actual planting can become a pleasant memorial service in her honor.
6. Show your family photos of mother, made at fun times in her life, to family members.
Going through old photo boxes and albums elicits many memories of happy days with Mother. Not only can these be preserved with photographs, but an oral history can also be passed on as you discuss these pictures with family.
7. Place flowers in your church to honor her.
Many churches allow family members to place altar flower arrangements to commemorate special events. It would please most mothers to know they were remembered in such a way.
8. Write ten lessons that you learned from your mother.
Most good mothers teach valuable lessons by word and deed. By writing these down, a person can recall and revisit these lessons. This also preserves them for future generations.
9. Do something special for someone else's mom, such as giving a gift, making a call to tell her she is special or cooking something for her.
I have cooked Sunday dinner for other mothers in honor of my own. This helps both the one being served and me by changing my sorrow into something productive.
10. Try to embody and live out the good qualities you saw in her.
If I can focus on "just being happy" as my mother always encouraged, I can keep my mother's philosophy alive. When we apply Philippians 4:8 to this situation, we find ourselves focusing on the lovely, pure, just, and good things left behind by our mothers instead of spending Mother's Day mourning our losses. Thinking about what we have instead of what we?ve lost can make Mother?s Day a happy occasion once again.
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Lest We Forget...
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"Guest Editorial" printed in The Gadsden Times - September 3, 2006
"Lest We Forget: Movie Brings Memories of Sept. 11, 2001"
by Barbara Eubanks
Not often am I moved to tears and great emotional reaction by a movie. "It's just a story," my mom would console when I was a child.
But this one was more.
World Trade Center isn't just a story and a movie. It truthfully depicts an event that changed all Americans' lives. Watching this movie brought back to me the insecurities and fears I felt on 9/11/2001 when a co-teacher stepped to my classroom at Sardis High School and told me the news. "We've been attacked." Those were his words. I quickly turned on the TV since it was my planning period.
I, like other Americans, was stunned. I quickly thought of my different family members and their whereabouts. After the news came of the second plane attack on the Pentagon, I feared I would never see them again. I thought, "This is only the beginning. We all may be gone shortly or, even worse, be governed by Muslims from another country." Were my fears exaggerated and unrealistic? Oh, no. If our seat of our government had been violated, why should we think any other place would be impenetrable?
Soon, I witnessed the strength of our nation as people, not only from New York but from many other places also, came together with resolve to defeat this enemy and to give aid and comfort to those so closely connected with this tragedy. I could only sympathize with those who were trapped for days in the debris of the twin towers and for the families who lost loved ones; true empathy was impossible because there was no way I could truly know what these victims and their families were having to endure.
The movie "World Trade Center" brought to me a greater understanding of the suffering and anguish many people had to experience first hand.
At times, viewing and listening was more than I could take. I closed my eyes as tightly as I could, put my hands across my ears to try to blot out the sound, and tried to block the most gruesome parts of the events out of my mind. Iõm afraid that's exactly what many of us have done since 9/11.
It's easier just not to think about it. It's easier to criticize those in government - our President and military leaders - when decisions they make to try to defend against other disasters of this sort don't work out just like we would like for them to nor as quickly.
We are a nation of instant everything and have no patience with situations that cannot be resolved satisfactorily in the time it takes to make a cup of instant coffee.
Perhaps we all need to see this movie to bring back the fears and dreads we had on this infamous day in our history.
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Fire and Hell...
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Fire! Fire! Fire!
Frantic, desperate calls came roaring.
I'm burning! I'm burning!
Voices called as the flames were soaring.
Too late! Too late!
The message sounded.
No time to waste,
Firemen and police were not to stay grounded.
Hurry! Hurry!
The brave men called.
They're dying, dying!
Can't find them all.
Down, down, down,
Many ran in the dark.
Up, up, up,
Heroes still embark.
Save them! Save them!
Was all they thought.
Ignoring danger for themselves.
But life for others they bought.
Some lived; some died.
All were praised for selfless sacrifice.
Families suffered; some shed tears.
Praise was given for saving lives.
Fire! Fire! Fire!
Many are in grave danger.
Hell! Hell! Hell!
But some still risk the wager.
Not me! Not me!
I will not die.
Later, later, later
Many still sigh.
Closer! Closer!
The fiery flames leap.
Be saved, Be saved.
Christians repeat.
Hurry! Hurry!
The brave men still call.
They're dying, dying!
Can't find them all.
Down, down, down,
Many run in the dark.
Up, up, up,
Heroes still embark.
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