Friday, March 16, 2012

Rhonda Rhea: A Mission Of Hilarity And Hope

Everyone's Story welcomes comedic author and radio personality Rhonda Rhea (pronounced RAY) as its guest this week. From the St. Louis area, Rhonda exudes not only hilarity and cheer through the many miles of cyber space, but also a genuine warmth. Multi-published in columns and articles, she recently released her eighth book. Plus, she's one ecstatic and proud mom, with a new two-book deal written with her favorite fiction author, daughter Kaley Faith Rhea. 


~*~Book Giveaway: Rhonda is generously offering one copy of her just-released book HOW MANY LIGHTBULBS DOES IT TAKE TO CHANGE A PERSON?--Bright Ideas For Delightful Transformation. All you have to do to be entered into the random drawing is to leave a comment with your email within the text~*~

Back of the book blurb:


Enjoy enlightenment from the Scriptures through the real, humorous stories, pithy wit, and life-wisdom shared by celebrated speaker and author Rhonda Rhea. In How Many Lightbulbs Does It Take to Change a Person?, Rhea explores many of the 300 Bible references to light--to draw us to the light found only in Jesus Christ.

Author and speaker, Patsy Clairmont, calls the book “high voltage humor along with a biblical charge.”

Hanging On to Hilarity by Rhonda Rhea
Not to toot my own horn or anything, but I think I have some very unique and useful character qualities. Granted, most better psychoanalysts might not refer to them as “character qualities” as much as they refer to them as “symptoms,” but still.  
One of the reasons I love being a humor writer is that I’m sort of “forced” to find the hilarity in everyday life. I think humor writers are usually the result of a strange stirring of the gene pool. Just the other day I was thinking about the fact that our family doesn’t have a coat of arms. I’m considering designing one myself. A white one. With really cool sleeves that tie in the back.
I think writers in general acquire an exclusive symptom…er…“quality” or two that others don’t necessarily encounter. Maybe it’s the inordinate amount of rejection we’re called to deal with, but insecurity is so often the order of the day. Not to mention that when fiction writers hear new little voices in their heads, they never medicate. No, they actually encourage the little voices. And then publish them. 
Recently, though, I experienced a “quality” beyond voices. It’s a weird thing that happens to me now and again. I look over the writing du jour and I keep thinking I’ve misspelled words—even when I haven’t. 
I think I might be a typo-chondriac.
Interestingly enough, if the psycho-professionals come up with a 12-step program for typo-chondriacs, I’m pretty sure step one will be admitting you don’t have a problem.
When it comes to successfully living out this writing life, though, I would never try it without full reliance on my Heavenly Father. As a Jesus-follower, I have to recognize right from the get-go my complete lack of ability to make anything good happen on my own. 
You’d think that would cause a more intense insecurity. But it doesn’t. As a matter of fact, it’s the exact opposite. There is great security in knowing that I don’t have to depend on my own abilities. There is even greater security in knowing that I can so completely depend on the One who is all-powerful. Paul reminds us in Philippians 3:3 that, “We rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us. We put no confidence in human effort,” (NLT). 
So it’s not such a terrible thing to recognize that even though I’m a writer, with all the built-in insecurities and various “qualities” that come with it, I don’t have to live in insecurity. There’s freedom in recognizing I have nothing to offer in and of myself, but that “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” (Philippians 4:13, NKJV). 
That’s especially refreshing to dwell on when I realize that on top of my typo-chondria, I think I might be coming down with a touch of kleptomania. Gee, I hope there’s something I can take for that.

Rhonda addresses in HOW MANY LIGHTBULBS DOES IT TAKE TO CHANGE A PERSON? the weary person who longs to make a change in her or his life. In Rhonda's words: "It is God's given enlightenment that makes possible this change. God will show us this path for change, and will light our way in His mighty plan for us."
Are you considering a change in your life? Are you a wee bit skeptical or nervous? How do you use humor to get through the day? Rhonda will enjoy reading your comments.
AuthorBio:
Rhonda Rhea is a radio personality, humor columnist, conference/event speaker and author of eight books, including I’m Dreaming of Some White Chocolate, High Heels in High Places, and her newest, How Many Lightbulbs Does It Take to Change a Person? She is presently working on her ninth nonfiction book, scheduled to release in early 2013, and just this week got a yes from a publishing board on a two-book fiction deal co-authored with her daughter, Kaley Faith Rhea. Rhonda is a pastor’s wife and mother of five mostly grown children. She chuckles through the hubbub with pastor/hubby, Richie Rhea, near St. Louis in Troy, Missouri.
Facebook regular page: http://www.facebook.com/rhonda.rhea

31 comments:

  1. Rhonda, welcome to Everyone's Story--I'm so excited that you're my guest this week.

    You know, do you have a patent for that Coat of Arms? If not, I may just incorporate that into my own lifestyle--LOL!

    On a serious note, I agree--it is a a lot less scary knowing that God is walking down the unknown path with us. Thank you for your God-blessed talent of hilarity and guidance.

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  2. Love your blog, Elaine, and so tickled to be your guest. Thanks so much, sistah!

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  3. I love changing symptons to character qualities. ;-) What a great attitude. Wishing you continued success.

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  4. Thanks loads, Caroline! Blessings to you!

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  5. The book sounds great. Sign me up. cbalmonyyahoocom. Thanks!

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    1. Okay, so cbalmony is now officially one of my favorite people. :o) Thanks loads!

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  6. Very interesting article. I'm not sure, but I be a typer-maniac. Sometimes my fingers go so fast my mind gives up trying to keep up and just decides to run spell/grammar check when my finger run out of gas.

    Blessings,

    Tom Blubaugh, author
    Night of the Cossack

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    1. I so get that, Tom. If only our fingers had their own brains, heh heh heh.

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  7. Yea, Rhonda! Thanks for some humor. The world needs it. By the way, I am a typochrondriac, I just did not have a word for it. Sometimes, words, although correctly spelled, just plain don't look right...and hooking humor with a great message is a bonus!

    Blessings,
    KB Schaller

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    1. Thanks, KB. Always nice to connect with like-minded people. Actually, it's probably more like people with like-psychoses. But like-minded sounds better, yes? :o)

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  8. Thanks Caroline, Connie, Tom, and KB for re-visiting Everyone's Story.

    I'm not sure what kind of writing chrondriac I am: I think I fear seeing typos and therefore when I reread through my work my brain is convinced there are none. Ouch!

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    Replies
    1. I'm guessing editors love you for that, Elaine. Job security, snicker, snicker.

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    2. You truly make me laugh out loud, Rhonda. May God bless you, always.

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  9. Hey Rhonda
    So good to see you here!! We will have to chat at AWSA since we both have a book coming out early 2013. Timing is too perfect :) love your coat of arms! You'll have to come visit my blogs next to share your wit and wild ;)
    Angie Breidenbach

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    1. Lovely to *see* you, Angie! We need to catch up, girl! Love ya!

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  10. Thanks Elaine for introducing me to a great new author. I would love to read this book so sign me up please crmcc at setel dot com
    Rose, a recovering typo-chondriac!

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  11. Rhonda,
    Love the "character qualities," definitely explains a lot for many of us. And what a great title for the book. Thanks for the laughs today!
    Elaine, hope to finally meet you next week, so looking forward to it!

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    1. Planning to be there, Cynthia. Finally--right? Thanks for visiting here again.

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    2. Thanks, Cynthia! Blessings!

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  12. Welcome back, Angie! And welcome, Rose, to Everyone's Story. Hope you both come back for more visits.

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  13. haha my fingers have no brain
    Plus I'm a tad on the crazy train
    So no matter what come due
    Even if I don't have a clue
    Just pretend to be a cat
    And all is humorous at my mat..haha
    Nice interview once more
    Here at your shore

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    1. Hi Pat--and welcome back to Everyone's Story. I just told Rhonda about your awesome comment--from one funny writer to another. You two are incredible!

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    2. Love it, Pat! You're so all that! (Look, I tried it too, ha ha ha!)

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  14. I love your books. I love the humorous way you deliver His word and how things hit home everytime. Please sign me up for the contest. My e-mail is cherry-blossom14@hotmail.com.
    Thank you
    Christina Burrell

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    Replies
    1. Welcome, Christina, to Everyone's Story. Seems like Rhonda has made you laugh as much as me. You'll definitely will be entered in the giveaway opportunity.

      Hope to see you here again.

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  15. I love the title of this book it reminds of my life
    one arm not knowing wat the othr arm is doing Joy Joy
    love your posts on FB Rhonda you are great thanks for the laughs
    Bonnie Michel '
    amryhrt@gmail.com

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    1. Hi, Bonnie. So glad you visited with us today. You just described Rhonda perfectly: joy!

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    2. That's just the sweetest, Bonnie. Thanks for the blessing. You too, Elaine. The joy of the Lord is our strength. :o)

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  16. Thanks a million, Christina--what a sweet blessing!

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  17. So ends another week here at Everyone's Story, but what a joy it was to have a week of fun & hilarity, let alone hope! Thanks so much Rhonda for a fantastic guest appearance and for making us all smile.

    The winner of Rhonda's book HOW MANY LIGHTBULBS DOES IT TAKE TO CHANGE A PERSON is Angie. Way to go! Congratulations. We'll be in contact with you shortly.

    May everyone have a blessed week to come ♡

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