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2 hours ago
3.31.2009
Book Review: The Moviegoer
The Moviegoer by Walker Percy, Publisher: Vintage, 1961, ISBN-10: 0375701966
Rating: Ugh...stopped around page 95
Source: Random pick up some time ago...
So - I decided to put this on my Fiction-I-Own-TBR list when I saw some references to it. It's also the winner of the 1961 National Book Award. And I've seen Percy lumped in with Southern writers of the Flannery O'Connor ilk.
Here's the story description from Amazon:
This elegantly written account of a young man's search for signs of purpose in the universe is one of the great existential texts of the postwar era and is really funny besides. Binx Bolling, inveterate cinemaphile, contemplative rake and man of the periphery, tries hedonism and tries doing the right thing, but ultimately finds redemption (or at least the prospect of it) by taking a leap of faith and quite literally embracing what only seems irrational.
I made it to about page 95 and then just....couldn't....do...it...anymore. About the only thing I could relate to was the references to my home state - Louisiana. It's rare for me to make a conscious decision to put down a book because I feel my time is worth more than what it's offering. Usually, I'll just drift off meaning to eventually get back. But not this one...I'll probably keep it in my library because so many people seemed to have liked it. Maybe it's meant for some future time in my life. Maybe I'll 'get it' then...but...mmm...I surely don't now!
Here's the review rating from Amazon. See? 49 people gave it a 5 STAR rating! Wowzers. I'll just link to the ten 1 STAR ratings so you'll get the idea of how I feel. Bummer.
Rating: Ugh...stopped around page 95
Source: Random pick up some time ago...
So - I decided to put this on my Fiction-I-Own-TBR list when I saw some references to it. It's also the winner of the 1961 National Book Award. And I've seen Percy lumped in with Southern writers of the Flannery O'Connor ilk.
Here's the story description from Amazon:
This elegantly written account of a young man's search for signs of purpose in the universe is one of the great existential texts of the postwar era and is really funny besides. Binx Bolling, inveterate cinemaphile, contemplative rake and man of the periphery, tries hedonism and tries doing the right thing, but ultimately finds redemption (or at least the prospect of it) by taking a leap of faith and quite literally embracing what only seems irrational.
I made it to about page 95 and then just....couldn't....do...it...anymore. About the only thing I could relate to was the references to my home state - Louisiana. It's rare for me to make a conscious decision to put down a book because I feel my time is worth more than what it's offering. Usually, I'll just drift off meaning to eventually get back. But not this one...I'll probably keep it in my library because so many people seemed to have liked it. Maybe it's meant for some future time in my life. Maybe I'll 'get it' then...but...mmm...I surely don't now!
Here's the review rating from Amazon. See? 49 people gave it a 5 STAR rating! Wowzers. I'll just link to the ten 1 STAR ratings so you'll get the idea of how I feel. Bummer.
If anyone can explain this one to me, I'd appreciate it.
3.30.2009
The Now But Not Yet
We went to church Sunday which, for us, was normal. Not so normal was that we got there early. We arrived around 10am, but the worship service didn’t start for almost another thirty minutes. Mary was a greeter, handing out bulletins at the front door. Matt and I went to find the pastor because we had a quick question. Promptly at 10:30, the service began with a song, I Walk By Faith. I was glad to be there.
There were a few short announcements – a ladies luncheon coming up in April, a church-wide family beach retreat in May, a welcome to visitors. A time of greeting followed and then more singing: Rock of Ages, Jesus Friend of Sinners, Still, and It is Well with My Soul. The pastor led us in prayer. A surprisingly beautiful instrumental by the electric guitarist accompanied the offertory plates as they were passed quietly up and down the rows. I don’t usually think of the electric guitar as a particularly worshipful instrument, but I closed my eyes, leaned my head on Matt's shoulder, and prayed. I felt a peace move over me. Then Matt and I were introduced and given a microphone so we could share our ‘Faith Story.’ We were both nervous, but glad to do it. It was short. We probably only talked five minutes or so. The pastor hugged us when we were finished.
He then asked the congregation to pray for who we might ask to come to Easter service in a few weeks. He had a basket of cards that had been printed up with the details of the service – time, location – that we could use to give to those we wanted to ask. He said he was starting a new series of sermons on ‘hope’ and asked that we think of those we know who need the hope of Jesus Christ in their lives. The front of the cards had two hands holding a ball of light with the word hope superimposed. We prayed again, this time specifically for these invitations and the people who would be invited to come.
The sermon was on the Kingdom of God from Matthew 7:24-29. Something the pastor said, I don’t remember exactly what, made Matt turn to me and whisper, “I was watching the news and there were these two back-to-back stories on CNN. The first was about it now being illegal for high school coaches to cuss; the second said the age limit for the Morning After Pill is being lowered to 17.” He shook his head and rolled his eyes. I understood his point: how silly to focus on making cursing in front of high school students illegal but at the same time give them access to a pill that would kill an unborn child. Our sixteen year old daughter sat on my other side. I shifted in my seat to get more comfortable.
The pastor showed a diagram on the projection screens that symbolized the coming of the Kingdom of God when Christ walked the earth. I pictured in my mind a huge needle with golden thread swooping down from heaven and weaving itself into the rough burlap material that was the Kingdom of Man. After a short period, the needle rose again into Heaven and then came back, this time with beautiful white silken thread, as the Holy Spirit now brought down the Kingdom of God to earth by living in the hearts of believers.
We live today, the pastor said, in the tension between the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Man. The now but not yet.
This is a timely church. The sermon was finished shortly after 11:30 and we prayed again. We stood to sing one last hymn – The Solid Rock. Then the pastor dismissed us for the week. Our family stayed around for a bit, talking. People expressed their thanks to us for sharing our story. I had made a big pot of chili early that morning and we planned to have a quiet lunch together. On the way home, we passed the local hospital. I was driving and Mary was in the back seat.
“Look,” I said. “Mary, see the helicopter?” There was a helicopter flying low over the hospital and it passed just over our truck. Mary is still at the age where she would find a low flying helicopter exciting. I remember thinking that someone must have been in an accident and was being flown to Chapel Hill where there are more extensive medical services available. A car accident, I thought.
It wasn’t until after lunch had been eaten on our sunny porch - and after I had taken a long nap - that Matt told me why we had seen the helicopter leaving the hospital. There had been a shooting in a nursing home in Carthage, the seat of our small county. The facility was just 10 miles from our church. A man had walked into the nursing home around 10am, about the same time we were arriving at church. He had various guns – a rifle, a shotgun – I’m not sure what else.
The details, the District Attorney said in the news conference, could not yet be discussed. There's an investigation underway.
But this detail can: eight people were shot and killed while my family worshipped.
While we sang about the Rock of Ages, Tessie-88, Lillian-89, Jessie-88, and Bessie-78 were murdered while they lay in their beds and sat in their wheel chairs.
As we were reminded that Jesus brought the Kingdom of God to earth, John-78, Margaret-89, Louis-98, and their nurse, Jerry-39, (shot more than two dozen times), breathed their last earth-drawn breaths. A young officer dispatched to the scene shot the assailant ending the massacre. He received a bullet wound in the leg himself. A man visiting a family member in the home was also shot, but thankfully his injury has not proved to be fatal.
Yes - we live in the tension that pulls tight between the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Man.
The now but not yet.
Come, Lord Jesus.
There were a few short announcements – a ladies luncheon coming up in April, a church-wide family beach retreat in May, a welcome to visitors. A time of greeting followed and then more singing: Rock of Ages, Jesus Friend of Sinners, Still, and It is Well with My Soul. The pastor led us in prayer. A surprisingly beautiful instrumental by the electric guitarist accompanied the offertory plates as they were passed quietly up and down the rows. I don’t usually think of the electric guitar as a particularly worshipful instrument, but I closed my eyes, leaned my head on Matt's shoulder, and prayed. I felt a peace move over me. Then Matt and I were introduced and given a microphone so we could share our ‘Faith Story.’ We were both nervous, but glad to do it. It was short. We probably only talked five minutes or so. The pastor hugged us when we were finished.
He then asked the congregation to pray for who we might ask to come to Easter service in a few weeks. He had a basket of cards that had been printed up with the details of the service – time, location – that we could use to give to those we wanted to ask. He said he was starting a new series of sermons on ‘hope’ and asked that we think of those we know who need the hope of Jesus Christ in their lives. The front of the cards had two hands holding a ball of light with the word hope superimposed. We prayed again, this time specifically for these invitations and the people who would be invited to come.
The sermon was on the Kingdom of God from Matthew 7:24-29. Something the pastor said, I don’t remember exactly what, made Matt turn to me and whisper, “I was watching the news and there were these two back-to-back stories on CNN. The first was about it now being illegal for high school coaches to cuss; the second said the age limit for the Morning After Pill is being lowered to 17.” He shook his head and rolled his eyes. I understood his point: how silly to focus on making cursing in front of high school students illegal but at the same time give them access to a pill that would kill an unborn child. Our sixteen year old daughter sat on my other side. I shifted in my seat to get more comfortable.
The pastor showed a diagram on the projection screens that symbolized the coming of the Kingdom of God when Christ walked the earth. I pictured in my mind a huge needle with golden thread swooping down from heaven and weaving itself into the rough burlap material that was the Kingdom of Man. After a short period, the needle rose again into Heaven and then came back, this time with beautiful white silken thread, as the Holy Spirit now brought down the Kingdom of God to earth by living in the hearts of believers.
We live today, the pastor said, in the tension between the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Man. The now but not yet.
This is a timely church. The sermon was finished shortly after 11:30 and we prayed again. We stood to sing one last hymn – The Solid Rock. Then the pastor dismissed us for the week. Our family stayed around for a bit, talking. People expressed their thanks to us for sharing our story. I had made a big pot of chili early that morning and we planned to have a quiet lunch together. On the way home, we passed the local hospital. I was driving and Mary was in the back seat.
“Look,” I said. “Mary, see the helicopter?” There was a helicopter flying low over the hospital and it passed just over our truck. Mary is still at the age where she would find a low flying helicopter exciting. I remember thinking that someone must have been in an accident and was being flown to Chapel Hill where there are more extensive medical services available. A car accident, I thought.
It wasn’t until after lunch had been eaten on our sunny porch - and after I had taken a long nap - that Matt told me why we had seen the helicopter leaving the hospital. There had been a shooting in a nursing home in Carthage, the seat of our small county. The facility was just 10 miles from our church. A man had walked into the nursing home around 10am, about the same time we were arriving at church. He had various guns – a rifle, a shotgun – I’m not sure what else.
The details, the District Attorney said in the news conference, could not yet be discussed. There's an investigation underway.
But this detail can: eight people were shot and killed while my family worshipped.
While we sang about the Rock of Ages, Tessie-88, Lillian-89, Jessie-88, and Bessie-78 were murdered while they lay in their beds and sat in their wheel chairs.
As we were reminded that Jesus brought the Kingdom of God to earth, John-78, Margaret-89, Louis-98, and their nurse, Jerry-39, (shot more than two dozen times), breathed their last earth-drawn breaths. A young officer dispatched to the scene shot the assailant ending the massacre. He received a bullet wound in the leg himself. A man visiting a family member in the home was also shot, but thankfully his injury has not proved to be fatal.
Yes - we live in the tension that pulls tight between the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Man.
The now but not yet.
Come, Lord Jesus.
3.29.2009
The Regulator Bookshop - Durham, North Carolina
Some time ago a friend gave me a newspaper article that listed the top nine bookstores in the country. I've been trying to visit as many of them as possible whenever some trip takes me in close vicinity. So far, I've visited three of the nine. (The Strand in NYC, Politics & Prose in DC, and Elliott's Bay in Seattle.)
Also, last year, Lynn accompanied me on a business trip to Knoxville, Tennessee. We drove and planned stops all along the way at bookstores in different cities. It was great fun and you can find a summary of our visits here.
So, you can see, I'm interested in visiting independent bookstores and love to experience their unique flavor. I have a friend who is close to retirement and wants to ride his Harley to every state once he's done with working. He plans to visit Harley dealerships along the way. I told him if he would visit bookstores in every state (he's a book lover, too!) and take pictures, gather information, etc, we could write a travel book together titled Bikes and Books. I think it's a good idea. :o) Maybe a niche market, but it could work...
This past Friday when taking Mary and friends on a field trip to Durham, I decided to try to squeeze in a visit to an independent bookstore. A quick Google search and I found The Regulator Bookshop in close proximity to Nasher Museum and the Duke Chapel. So, we braved the rain and popped over for a short stop before heading home.
It was a cute store and if you're a book lover and are ever in Durham, North Carolina, The Regulator is worth the time to browse. Being with three little girls who were overdue for lunch, out of money, and ready to head back home cut my time a little short, but all-in-all I thought it was a bookstore worthy of the time. There's a separate room for a large collection of magazines and newspapers, a great kids section, and a basement area with a nice offering of used books. There's also a good 'Sale' section of all genres. There was a closed coffee bar in the basement, too. I asked the salesperson when it was open and he said unfortunately it was defunct. Apparently they rent it out for operation and no one has been able to make a go of it. A warm cup of coffee on a rainy day would have made the browsing experience oh-so-much-better!
While browsing in the basement, in a far back corner, I came upon the writing reference section and found a used book I've had on my list for a while: Writing Fiction: A Guide to Narrative Craft by Janet Burroway. It's the third edition and she's up to the sixth now, but you couldn't beat the price: $5.00! :o) Mary also talked me into a book for her: Things to Do with Mom. How could I say no to that?
Also, last year, Lynn accompanied me on a business trip to Knoxville, Tennessee. We drove and planned stops all along the way at bookstores in different cities. It was great fun and you can find a summary of our visits here.
So, you can see, I'm interested in visiting independent bookstores and love to experience their unique flavor. I have a friend who is close to retirement and wants to ride his Harley to every state once he's done with working. He plans to visit Harley dealerships along the way. I told him if he would visit bookstores in every state (he's a book lover, too!) and take pictures, gather information, etc, we could write a travel book together titled Bikes and Books. I think it's a good idea. :o) Maybe a niche market, but it could work...
This past Friday when taking Mary and friends on a field trip to Durham, I decided to try to squeeze in a visit to an independent bookstore. A quick Google search and I found The Regulator Bookshop in close proximity to Nasher Museum and the Duke Chapel. So, we braved the rain and popped over for a short stop before heading home.
It was a cute store and if you're a book lover and are ever in Durham, North Carolina, The Regulator is worth the time to browse. Being with three little girls who were overdue for lunch, out of money, and ready to head back home cut my time a little short, but all-in-all I thought it was a bookstore worthy of the time. There's a separate room for a large collection of magazines and newspapers, a great kids section, and a basement area with a nice offering of used books. There's also a good 'Sale' section of all genres. There was a closed coffee bar in the basement, too. I asked the salesperson when it was open and he said unfortunately it was defunct. Apparently they rent it out for operation and no one has been able to make a go of it. A warm cup of coffee on a rainy day would have made the browsing experience oh-so-much-better!
While browsing in the basement, in a far back corner, I came upon the writing reference section and found a used book I've had on my list for a while: Writing Fiction: A Guide to Narrative Craft by Janet Burroway. It's the third edition and she's up to the sixth now, but you couldn't beat the price: $5.00! :o) Mary also talked me into a book for her: Things to Do with Mom. How could I say no to that?3.28.2009
Field Trip Friday!!
Mary and I along with two friends (M&E) took a field trip up to Durham this Friday. It was her last day of Spring Break before getting back to the grind Monday and I had promised her a trip to the Nasher Museum of Art and Duke Chapel. (Mary had visited both places with her class a few weeks earlier and had been mightily impressed. She wanted me to see all the sites she had seen...and wanted to see both places herself again.)
We started off with Nasher. (Here's a good article about it in Southern Living.) It's quite impressive. Kids under 16 get in free and I had an adult pass Mary had been given on her field trip, so it the cost was zippo! Yeah! I was most impressed with the gallery containing some of the permanent collection. There's a huge mask as you first come in that is amazing. It's called Mask and is a self-portrait by Ron Muek. You could stand there and stare at the details forever! Incredible. Also, there are some great pieces of medieval and renaissance art. (See picture above with Mary standing next to a wooden bust of Christ. I forgot to write down the date.) There were two other galleries to check out, too. Of course, the highlight for the girls was the museum store since their spending money was burning a hole in their purses. I found this cute, cute coffee mug....couldn't resist. I am the quintessential 'early bird'!! 
Then it was off to Duke Chapel which is beautiful. There were some interesting ironworks of the Stations of the Cross. Really, it's a beautiful building and worth the visit if you're ever at Duke University. It reminded me of a little shrunk down St. Patrick's in New York. 
Then one more stop....a book store of course! The Regulator. More on that later...Book Review: Cold Sassy Tree
Cold Sassy Tree by Olive Ann Burns, Mariner Books; published 1984, ISBN-10: 0618919716
Rating: 4.5 of 5 STARs
Source: CCC Book Club selection for March
If you are from the deep south, you'll love this book. I could just hear my grandmother saying, "I swanee!" If you're transplanted and trying to figure out a small southern town, this book may give you some insight. Really, I think anyone would enjoy Burns' storytelling and character development. She did a wonderful job! I read this book some years ago on the recommendation of my librarian-friend Sandra. I reread it for our church book club and was just as charmed as the first time.
There were a lot of themes going on in this story: death, the will of God, breaking out of religious legalism and suffocating social conventions, and the ushering in of the modern era. The setting is the town of Cold Sassy Tree (based on Commerce, Georgia) in 1906. At it's heart, the story is a love story....well, actually two love stories - Grandpa and Miss Mattie Lou (long time first wife) and then Grandpa and Miss Love (the second wife married only three weeks after the first was buried.) To say much more about the plot would give it away, so I won't. It's long (about 400 pages), but well worth the investment.
The discussion last night at book club was wonderful. We had four or five women there between the ages of 60 and 80 from various southern states. They all loved the book and it prompted them to share many of their own family stories. Cold Sassy Tree is a great selection for book clubs, especially those associated with a church. Below are our discussion questions in case you've come upon this post looking for help with your own book club:
**CAUTION: Potential Spoilers**
1. Who was your most favorite character? Why? Least?
2. At the end of the book, the name of Cold Sassy Tree is changed to Progressive City. Do you think this is an appropriate name? Discuss the "modernization" of Cold Sassy.
3. What were some examples of racism in the book? Who was the least racist person?
4. Discuss the significance of death, mourning, and grief presented in the story.
5. Discuss the advantages of having the story told from Will’s perspective.
6. Describe the concept of marrying beneath oneself. Who do you think ‘married’ beneath themselves?
7. Discuss Rucker’s unfaithfulness to Miss Mattie Lou.
8. What do you think of Miss Love and her decision to marry Grandpa?
9. Fear of what people would think drove some characters actions, like Mary Willis. What are your thoughts on her behavior?
10. What do you think about Grandpa’s view of God’s will in human lives?
11. Discuss Campbell’s suicide and contrast Grandpa’s reaction to Loma’s.
12. What did you think of the ending of the story? What would you have changed?
Finally, here's my favorite quote from Grandpa:
"Well'm, faith ain't no magic wand or money-back gar'ntee, either one. Hit's jest a way a-livin'.
I didn't give a 5-star rating because I thought the ending was too abrupt. Apparently so did a lot of other people who wrote to Olive Ann Burns asking her to write a sequel. She started on Leaving Cold Sassy but died before finishing it. It was published unfinished in 1994 with notes from her friend and editor.
Our book club gave it an overall rating of 4 STARs with a wide rating spread from 3.5 to 5.0.
Highly recommended!
Rating: 4.5 of 5 STARs
Source: CCC Book Club selection for March
If you are from the deep south, you'll love this book. I could just hear my grandmother saying, "I swanee!" If you're transplanted and trying to figure out a small southern town, this book may give you some insight. Really, I think anyone would enjoy Burns' storytelling and character development. She did a wonderful job! I read this book some years ago on the recommendation of my librarian-friend Sandra. I reread it for our church book club and was just as charmed as the first time.
There were a lot of themes going on in this story: death, the will of God, breaking out of religious legalism and suffocating social conventions, and the ushering in of the modern era. The setting is the town of Cold Sassy Tree (based on Commerce, Georgia) in 1906. At it's heart, the story is a love story....well, actually two love stories - Grandpa and Miss Mattie Lou (long time first wife) and then Grandpa and Miss Love (the second wife married only three weeks after the first was buried.) To say much more about the plot would give it away, so I won't. It's long (about 400 pages), but well worth the investment.
The discussion last night at book club was wonderful. We had four or five women there between the ages of 60 and 80 from various southern states. They all loved the book and it prompted them to share many of their own family stories. Cold Sassy Tree is a great selection for book clubs, especially those associated with a church. Below are our discussion questions in case you've come upon this post looking for help with your own book club:
**CAUTION: Potential Spoilers**
1. Who was your most favorite character? Why? Least?
2. At the end of the book, the name of Cold Sassy Tree is changed to Progressive City. Do you think this is an appropriate name? Discuss the "modernization" of Cold Sassy.
3. What were some examples of racism in the book? Who was the least racist person?
4. Discuss the significance of death, mourning, and grief presented in the story.
5. Discuss the advantages of having the story told from Will’s perspective.
6. Describe the concept of marrying beneath oneself. Who do you think ‘married’ beneath themselves?
7. Discuss Rucker’s unfaithfulness to Miss Mattie Lou.
8. What do you think of Miss Love and her decision to marry Grandpa?
9. Fear of what people would think drove some characters actions, like Mary Willis. What are your thoughts on her behavior?
10. What do you think about Grandpa’s view of God’s will in human lives?
11. Discuss Campbell’s suicide and contrast Grandpa’s reaction to Loma’s.
12. What did you think of the ending of the story? What would you have changed?
Finally, here's my favorite quote from Grandpa:
"Well'm, faith ain't no magic wand or money-back gar'ntee, either one. Hit's jest a way a-livin'.
I didn't give a 5-star rating because I thought the ending was too abrupt. Apparently so did a lot of other people who wrote to Olive Ann Burns asking her to write a sequel. She started on Leaving Cold Sassy but died before finishing it. It was published unfinished in 1994 with notes from her friend and editor.
Our book club gave it an overall rating of 4 STARs with a wide rating spread from 3.5 to 5.0.
Highly recommended!
Book Review: The Art of Mending (Audio)
The Art of Mending by Elizabeth Berg, read by Joyce Bean, Brilliance Audio on CD Unabridged; April 13, 2004, ISBN-10: 1593557698
Rating: 3.5 of 5 STARS
Source: Random pick at public library
I enjoy this author. I've read a few of her books, the most recent being an excellent collection of short stories titled The Day I Ate Whatever I Wanted. The Art of Mending didn't live up to my expectations, though, and I can't seem to put my finger on exactly why.
The story is about three adult siblings (Laura, Caroline, and Steve) who begin to face the truth of their family - mainly that their mother abused the middle child, Caroline. The main character is Laura, the oldest, who is a quilt artist. (That alone gave the book a STAR for me. It was a very interesting occupation to read about.) At their annual family reunion, an emotionally disturbed adult Caroline, confesses to Laura about the abuse. The storyline continues with the death of their father, the only person besides Caroline and her mother who knows the truth. Finally, Caroline does get a chance to confront her mother. It's basically a mother-done-wrong-daughter-confronts-as-an-adult story. Not exactly uplifting in its conclusion.
It could have been the reading that turned me off. The reader did this weird noise in the back of her throat that was pretty distracting. ("Well, I...ech...I just wanted to talk.")
If you're a Berg fan, give it a try. If not, choose something else by her to start off with...like her short story collection. Berg actually read this herself in the audio edition and did a fabulous job. She should have read this one, too, I think.
Rating: 3.5 of 5 STARS
Source: Random pick at public library
I enjoy this author. I've read a few of her books, the most recent being an excellent collection of short stories titled The Day I Ate Whatever I Wanted. The Art of Mending didn't live up to my expectations, though, and I can't seem to put my finger on exactly why.
The story is about three adult siblings (Laura, Caroline, and Steve) who begin to face the truth of their family - mainly that their mother abused the middle child, Caroline. The main character is Laura, the oldest, who is a quilt artist. (That alone gave the book a STAR for me. It was a very interesting occupation to read about.) At their annual family reunion, an emotionally disturbed adult Caroline, confesses to Laura about the abuse. The storyline continues with the death of their father, the only person besides Caroline and her mother who knows the truth. Finally, Caroline does get a chance to confront her mother. It's basically a mother-done-wrong-daughter-confronts-as-an-adult story. Not exactly uplifting in its conclusion.
It could have been the reading that turned me off. The reader did this weird noise in the back of her throat that was pretty distracting. ("Well, I...ech...I just wanted to talk.")
If you're a Berg fan, give it a try. If not, choose something else by her to start off with...like her short story collection. Berg actually read this herself in the audio edition and did a fabulous job. She should have read this one, too, I think.
3.25.2009
Coming Along...
Progress in art class last night...My moon's eyes are wonky and I have to finish the trees and add the stone walk to the house. I also have to do something with the green blobs that I messed up on the grass. I'll finish it next week and plan to pick something new to work on. I'm having fun, at any rate! 3.24.2009
Book Love
Nothing like a Goodwill pick-me-up! I dropped by and found these four books....smile.Citrus: A History by Pierre Laszlo (Lovely hardback in brand new condition...found a surprise index card inside from the previous owner with a handwritten recipe for orange sherbet!)
Salt: Grain of Life by Pierre Laszlo (Another pretty hardback, but not in as-perfect condition as the one above. Salt is a raw material at the plant where I work, so I think this one will be interesting from a technical point of view. But, also, think of all the Biblical references to salt. Hmmm...may have to read this one first.)
The Life and Times of Thunderbolt Kid by Bill Bryson (I love Bill Bryson. His book A Short History of Nearly Everything is one of my most favorite books. I've picked this memoir of his up at the bookstore several times, but then always ended up putting it back again for one reason or another. But today I found it in brand new condition in hardback for a buck!)
A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest Gaines. (Paperback - I already have a copy of this. My friend Lynn gave it to me and said it was really good. It's on my award-winner TBR list for this year. But it was only fifty cents, so I bought it to give to a friend.)
Total spent: $3.50 plus tax. :-P
3.23.2009
We Can't Keep Doing What Everyone is Doing...
Friday night I was privileged to watch a DVD of Craig Groeschel speaking at the Leadership Summit 2008 about "IT." His talk was directed to group ministries, but what Groeschel shared really convicted me personally. In particular, he said: To reach people that no one is reaching we can't keep doing what everyone is doing. This really made me think about the people in our community that aren't being reached by Christ's Church. What can I, personally, do to reach them?
I've never heard of Craig Groeschel before or his ministry, LifeChurch.tv. I'm intrigued after listening, though. This clip is about nine minutes and is from his Summit presentation.
I've never heard of Craig Groeschel before or his ministry, LifeChurch.tv. I'm intrigued after listening, though. This clip is about nine minutes and is from his Summit presentation.
3.22.2009
Lenten Reading
Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will." (Matthew 26:39)
"What is this cup? It is clearly a reference to the wrath of God for your sins and mine....This cup contains the full vehemence and fierceness of God's holy wrath poured out against all sin, and we discover in Scripture that it's intended for all of sinful humanity to drink. It's your cup...and mine.
In the vivid imagery of the Old Testament, this cup is filled with "fire and sulfur and a scorching win" like all the fury of the Mount St. Helen's eruption concentrated within a coffee mug. That's why there's shuddering terror and deep distress for him (Jesus) at this moment. In the crucible of human weakness he's brought face to face with the abhorrent reality of bearing our iniquity and becoming the object of God's full and furious wrath.
That is what bearing our sin means to him - utter distress of soul as he confronts total abandonment and absolute wrath from his Father on the cross, a distress and an abandonment and a rejection we cannot begin to grasp.
"Yet not what I will, but what you will."
He'll drink all of it, leaving not a drop.
Not only will he leave nothing in that cup of wrath for us to drink...but today you and I find ourselves with another cup in our hands. it's the cup of salvation. From this precious new cup we find ourselves drinking and drinking - drinking consistently, drinking endlessly, drinking eternally...for the cup of salvation is always full and overflowing."
(Excerpts from C.J. Mahaney in Christ Our Mediator reprinted in Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross.)
"What is this cup? It is clearly a reference to the wrath of God for your sins and mine....This cup contains the full vehemence and fierceness of God's holy wrath poured out against all sin, and we discover in Scripture that it's intended for all of sinful humanity to drink. It's your cup...and mine.
In the vivid imagery of the Old Testament, this cup is filled with "fire and sulfur and a scorching win" like all the fury of the Mount St. Helen's eruption concentrated within a coffee mug. That's why there's shuddering terror and deep distress for him (Jesus) at this moment. In the crucible of human weakness he's brought face to face with the abhorrent reality of bearing our iniquity and becoming the object of God's full and furious wrath.
That is what bearing our sin means to him - utter distress of soul as he confronts total abandonment and absolute wrath from his Father on the cross, a distress and an abandonment and a rejection we cannot begin to grasp.
"Yet not what I will, but what you will."
He'll drink all of it, leaving not a drop.
Not only will he leave nothing in that cup of wrath for us to drink...but today you and I find ourselves with another cup in our hands. it's the cup of salvation. From this precious new cup we find ourselves drinking and drinking - drinking consistently, drinking endlessly, drinking eternally...for the cup of salvation is always full and overflowing."
(Excerpts from C.J. Mahaney in Christ Our Mediator reprinted in Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross.)
Artwork: Gethsemane by Carl Heinrich Bloch (1834-1890)
3.21.2009
Spring Has Sprung!
I've been bloggy-green for a month now and, since St. Pat's is over, it's time to spring into something new! :0) The Princess is not happy....she says her face looks fat in her picture. Ugh!
Oh - I made my post area bigger...It all fits on my screen, but does it look wonky to any of you? Let me know if it does so I can change it back. Thanks-
Through His Eyes: Chapter 6
It's my turn to post about the next chapter in Barrs' book, Through His Eyes: God's Perspective on Women in the Bible. Kristy at Prone to Wander and Megan at Half-Pint House are also hosting these discussions. I think this has been my favorite chapter so far.
The previous chapter was on Tamar, a woman who played a prostitute for a day and ended up in the lineage of Christ. This chapter is on Rahab (Joshua 2:1-24; 6:15-25), a woman who didn't just play a prostitute but was a prostitute and still ended up in the lineage of Christ. God uses us all...no matter our sin, no matter what particular clay we were stuck in when He reached down and pulled us out! I love that....I am supremely grateful for that. Barrs quotes Schaeffer as saying, "We are all prostitutes. We are all harlots. Each one of us is a whore in the idolatry of our hearts." (page 88) Powerful...and very true...words.
Barrs gives a synopsis of the story of Rahab, but if you don't know it, or haven't read it in a while, go to the book of Joshua and read it firsthand. It's dramatic to say the least. As Barrs says, Grisham and Clancy couldn't have done better. I won't summarize the story here - go get your Bible and read it! Then come back and let's talk.
Hum, de-dum, .....Ok - back now? Let's keep going, then.
In his section on the setting of the story, Barrs talks about God's miracles of holding the waters back of the Red Sea and then at the Jordan so the Israelites could cross over. He goes into a discussion of nature and God's power over it (page 89). In response to the belief that the universe is a closed natural system, Barrs says: "Our response as Christians has to be that the universe is....a lawfully ordered system upheld by its Creator and open to his action at any time. The physical laws of the universe are simply descriptions of the orderly way that God rules the world." I loved that last sentence...the orderly way that God rules the world. I remember sitting in high school chemistry class learning about the atom and thinking, "Wow! This is absolutely beautiful!" I love to study nature and to see fingerprints of God everywhere I look. He is amazing. He is orderly, logical, and beautiful. Think - He made all of Creation for our enjoyment and that we might know and understand Him better.
But, the real impact of this chapter on me was Barrs discussion of whether it is ever "right" to lie. This comes up because Rahab lies to her leaders and betrays her people which directly leads to their destruction at the hands of the Israelites. Yet the Bible says her act is righteous (James 2:25) Hmm...So, it's ok to lie sometimes? In certain situations? Barrs says 'yes': "In many situations the call to protect human life makes concealment of the truth a necessity - in fact makes such concealment and lying an act of righteousness." (page 96) He is referring here to situations of war. I think of a book I recently read again, The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom, and her family's specific struggle with this question as they were hiding Jews from the Nazis in order to save their lives.
But even more provocative was Barrs discussion of whether or not *total* honesty can actually be unloving in a marriage. He says "We must not always say what we feel. If we do, we will destroy of marriage very rapidly. We are required to be faithful to our commitment to love our husband or wife rather than to the feelings and words that may be in our heads or in our hearts at a particular moment." (page 97) He goes on later: "There are times when the statement of truth is unrighteous, Pharisaical, and cowardly. My speech is to be ruled by the law of love on behalf of my neighbor." (page 97) Oh, boy. What think you, out there in bloggy land? Total honesty always in your marriage? Huh. I think I agree with Barrs. This made me think of a quote I'd written down in my journal some years ago by Madeleine L'Engle from Two-Part Invention: The Story of a Marriage -
"I learned fairly early in marriage that I did not have to confide everything on my mind to my husband; this would be putting on him burdens which I was supposed to carry myself. When a bride insists on telling her lover everything, I suspect she is looking for a father, not a husband. Some of my life was mine to be known by me alone. But our marriage was ours, belonged to the two of us, and was full of wonderful things, terrible things, joyous things, grievous things, but ours." I'm still chewing on this...I love L'Engle's writings and have learned much from her about marriage and motherhood. What do you think?
One of my favorite verses comes from Rahab's story: But Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute, with her family and all who belonged to her, because she hid the men Joshua had sent as spies to Jericho—and she lives among the Israelites to this day. (Joshua 6:25)
Yes, she does.
This was a great chapter. I'd love to hear your thoughts on some of these things! Happy Weekend! Blessings...
The previous chapter was on Tamar, a woman who played a prostitute for a day and ended up in the lineage of Christ. This chapter is on Rahab (Joshua 2:1-24; 6:15-25), a woman who didn't just play a prostitute but was a prostitute and still ended up in the lineage of Christ. God uses us all...no matter our sin, no matter what particular clay we were stuck in when He reached down and pulled us out! I love that....I am supremely grateful for that. Barrs quotes Schaeffer as saying, "We are all prostitutes. We are all harlots. Each one of us is a whore in the idolatry of our hearts." (page 88) Powerful...and very true...words.
Barrs gives a synopsis of the story of Rahab, but if you don't know it, or haven't read it in a while, go to the book of Joshua and read it firsthand. It's dramatic to say the least. As Barrs says, Grisham and Clancy couldn't have done better. I won't summarize the story here - go get your Bible and read it! Then come back and let's talk.
Hum, de-dum, .....Ok - back now? Let's keep going, then.
In his section on the setting of the story, Barrs talks about God's miracles of holding the waters back of the Red Sea and then at the Jordan so the Israelites could cross over. He goes into a discussion of nature and God's power over it (page 89). In response to the belief that the universe is a closed natural system, Barrs says: "Our response as Christians has to be that the universe is....a lawfully ordered system upheld by its Creator and open to his action at any time. The physical laws of the universe are simply descriptions of the orderly way that God rules the world." I loved that last sentence...the orderly way that God rules the world. I remember sitting in high school chemistry class learning about the atom and thinking, "Wow! This is absolutely beautiful!" I love to study nature and to see fingerprints of God everywhere I look. He is amazing. He is orderly, logical, and beautiful. Think - He made all of Creation for our enjoyment and that we might know and understand Him better.
But, the real impact of this chapter on me was Barrs discussion of whether it is ever "right" to lie. This comes up because Rahab lies to her leaders and betrays her people which directly leads to their destruction at the hands of the Israelites. Yet the Bible says her act is righteous (James 2:25) Hmm...So, it's ok to lie sometimes? In certain situations? Barrs says 'yes': "In many situations the call to protect human life makes concealment of the truth a necessity - in fact makes such concealment and lying an act of righteousness." (page 96) He is referring here to situations of war. I think of a book I recently read again, The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom, and her family's specific struggle with this question as they were hiding Jews from the Nazis in order to save their lives.
But even more provocative was Barrs discussion of whether or not *total* honesty can actually be unloving in a marriage. He says "We must not always say what we feel. If we do, we will destroy of marriage very rapidly. We are required to be faithful to our commitment to love our husband or wife rather than to the feelings and words that may be in our heads or in our hearts at a particular moment." (page 97) He goes on later: "There are times when the statement of truth is unrighteous, Pharisaical, and cowardly. My speech is to be ruled by the law of love on behalf of my neighbor." (page 97) Oh, boy. What think you, out there in bloggy land? Total honesty always in your marriage? Huh. I think I agree with Barrs. This made me think of a quote I'd written down in my journal some years ago by Madeleine L'Engle from Two-Part Invention: The Story of a Marriage -
"I learned fairly early in marriage that I did not have to confide everything on my mind to my husband; this would be putting on him burdens which I was supposed to carry myself. When a bride insists on telling her lover everything, I suspect she is looking for a father, not a husband. Some of my life was mine to be known by me alone. But our marriage was ours, belonged to the two of us, and was full of wonderful things, terrible things, joyous things, grievous things, but ours." I'm still chewing on this...I love L'Engle's writings and have learned much from her about marriage and motherhood. What do you think?
One of my favorite verses comes from Rahab's story: But Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute, with her family and all who belonged to her, because she hid the men Joshua had sent as spies to Jericho—and she lives among the Israelites to this day. (Joshua 6:25)
Yes, she does.
This was a great chapter. I'd love to hear your thoughts on some of these things! Happy Weekend! Blessings...
Book Review: A Good Man is Hard to Find
A Good Man is Hard to Find and Other Stories by Flannery O'Connor, Mariner Books (August 23, 1977), ISBN-10: 0156364654
Rating: 4.5 of 5 STARS
Source: Farming of Books book club selection for March
Our book club read this collection of O'Connor's stories for our March selection. It was a great follow up to Blood Done Sign My Name that we read in February for Black History Month. (I didn't finish it, hence no review here.) O'Connor so wonderfully (and truthfully) captures the South in her writing...the good, the bad, and the ugly...including bigotry. As a group, we rated the book as a 3.9 and had a huge spread of ratings. A couple of 1.5's and then mostly 4.5's and 5's. Apparently, you either love O'Connor's writing or hate it.
The first story for which the book is named turned me off a bit. I finished it and went, "Huh?" I just didn't get it. Even after a great discussion led by one of our members this week at book club, I still don't get it. But the stories got progressively better and better through the book. By the end, I was in love with her writing and imagination.
A good man is definitely hard to find in this collection. Almost every story shows men to be criminals, nare-do-wells, or just generally deplorable. And most of the women aren't much better. But, as another member pointed out, the last story finally shows us a "good man." I won't tell who it is here, but I think it was a great insight into O'Connor's point about the depravity of man and redemption.
My favorite story was titled "The Artificial N*gg*r." Don't let the name turn you off. It is a beautiful, beautiful snapshot of a man recognizing his depravity, his sinfulness, and then immediately understanding the mercy and grace of God.
O'Connor is writing from a Christian worldview and it definitely shines through. The leader of our discussion said that O'Connor believed we are constantly presented opportunities in our daily lives to give and receive grace and that's what her writing is about....portraying those moments. But don't think you'll walk away from this book being greatly uplifted. Her writing is classified as Southern Gothic, and its definitely dark. I did find a lot to laugh about, though. I like her sense of humor.
Finally, read it. It's worth the time. I didn't give it a 5 simply because of the first story...I disliked it that much! You can read here and here some "Good Words" from this book I posted earlier. What talent!
I love this book club...it's made me read a lot of things I never would have without it. You can check waaaay down at the end of my sidebar and see what we've read since starting over two years ago.
Rating: 4.5 of 5 STARS
Source: Farming of Books book club selection for March
Our book club read this collection of O'Connor's stories for our March selection. It was a great follow up to Blood Done Sign My Name that we read in February for Black History Month. (I didn't finish it, hence no review here.) O'Connor so wonderfully (and truthfully) captures the South in her writing...the good, the bad, and the ugly...including bigotry. As a group, we rated the book as a 3.9 and had a huge spread of ratings. A couple of 1.5's and then mostly 4.5's and 5's. Apparently, you either love O'Connor's writing or hate it.
The first story for which the book is named turned me off a bit. I finished it and went, "Huh?" I just didn't get it. Even after a great discussion led by one of our members this week at book club, I still don't get it. But the stories got progressively better and better through the book. By the end, I was in love with her writing and imagination.
A good man is definitely hard to find in this collection. Almost every story shows men to be criminals, nare-do-wells, or just generally deplorable. And most of the women aren't much better. But, as another member pointed out, the last story finally shows us a "good man." I won't tell who it is here, but I think it was a great insight into O'Connor's point about the depravity of man and redemption.
My favorite story was titled "The Artificial N*gg*r." Don't let the name turn you off. It is a beautiful, beautiful snapshot of a man recognizing his depravity, his sinfulness, and then immediately understanding the mercy and grace of God.
O'Connor is writing from a Christian worldview and it definitely shines through. The leader of our discussion said that O'Connor believed we are constantly presented opportunities in our daily lives to give and receive grace and that's what her writing is about....portraying those moments. But don't think you'll walk away from this book being greatly uplifted. Her writing is classified as Southern Gothic, and its definitely dark. I did find a lot to laugh about, though. I like her sense of humor.
Finally, read it. It's worth the time. I didn't give it a 5 simply because of the first story...I disliked it that much! You can read here and here some "Good Words" from this book I posted earlier. What talent!
I love this book club...it's made me read a lot of things I never would have without it. You can check waaaay down at the end of my sidebar and see what we've read since starting over two years ago.
3.19.2009
Lenten Reading
Spiritual Cross Art by Michel Keck"How can a just God pardon sinners? Only because all of our sin was transferred to Christ...God pardons sinners even though they have sinned and sinned and deserve only condemnation. And if he didn't, we would be forever excluded from his presence. Second, he displays and satisfies His perfect, holy justice by executing the punishment our sins deserve. Without this God would not be true to Himself.
Here's the gospel in a phrase. Because Christ died for us, those who trust in him may know that their guilt has been pardoned once and for all. What will we have to say before the bar of God's judgement? Only one thing. Christ died in my place. That's the gospel." (Alistair Begg in Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross)
Pondering the wonder of a just God and a forgiven sinner...Blessings-
Here's the gospel in a phrase. Because Christ died for us, those who trust in him may know that their guilt has been pardoned once and for all. What will we have to say before the bar of God's judgement? Only one thing. Christ died in my place. That's the gospel." (Alistair Begg in Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross)
Pondering the wonder of a just God and a forgiven sinner...Blessings-
Reading, Reading, Reading!
First, a fun MEME from Kristy at Prone to Wander on reading:
1. To mark your page you: use a bookmark, bend the page corner, leave the book open face down? I usually use some type of bookmark, but have started turning down pages in a pinch, even though my reading father always taught me that was a big no-no. Oh, and I'll use anything for a bookmark...an empty candy bar wrapper, a movie stub, a stick of (unwrapped) gum. You'll never know what you might find stuck in one of my books!
2. Do you lend your books? Yep...and I don't have a method of keeping up with what I loan. But I love books and want to share my book-love with others. :-)
3. You find an interesting passage: you write in your book or NO WRITING IN BOOKS! Ab-so-lutely! Highlight, underline, write in the margins. (Maybe you don't want to borrow any of my books now?) Matt HATES to read books that have been marked. I also grab important passages either in my journal or on this blog!
4. Dust jackets - leave it on or take it off. Off, off, off! But I save them to put back on when finished reading.
1. To mark your page you: use a bookmark, bend the page corner, leave the book open face down? I usually use some type of bookmark, but have started turning down pages in a pinch, even though my reading father always taught me that was a big no-no. Oh, and I'll use anything for a bookmark...an empty candy bar wrapper, a movie stub, a stick of (unwrapped) gum. You'll never know what you might find stuck in one of my books!
2. Do you lend your books? Yep...and I don't have a method of keeping up with what I loan. But I love books and want to share my book-love with others. :-)
3. You find an interesting passage: you write in your book or NO WRITING IN BOOKS! Ab-so-lutely! Highlight, underline, write in the margins. (Maybe you don't want to borrow any of my books now?) Matt HATES to read books that have been marked. I also grab important passages either in my journal or on this blog!
4. Dust jackets - leave it on or take it off. Off, off, off! But I save them to put back on when finished reading.
5. Hard cover, paperback, skip it and get the audio book? I really like the bigger paperbacks the best. They're the most comfortable to read. That's what I have the most, but I suppose hardbacks are the best in the end, though. They should last longer, right? And I'm beginning to fall in love with audio. I used to be a die-hard-paper-only-audio-doesn't-even-count-as-reading person. But with a 30 minute commute back and forth to work everyday, I'm really getting into fiction audio.
6. Do you shelve your books by subject, author, or size and color of the book spines? Hmmm...completely and totally haphazard right now...but I'm working on cataloging with Library Thing right now and then my plan is to organize by subject and then author.
7. Buy it or borrow it from the library? Both. I love going to the library and checking out completely random books. For instance, this week, I picked up: The Yellow House: Van Gogh, Gauguin, and Nine Turbulent Weeks in Arles, Spent: End Exhaustion and Feel Great Again, The Undressed Art: Why We Draw, and Tycho & Kepler: The Unlikely Partnership That Forever Changed Our Understanding of the Heavens. But, of course (and those who know me go ahead and laugh), I love owning books, too. Mary said she wants my books when I die. I'm not sure if I should be flattered or a little afraid to go to sleep at night!
8. Do you put your name on your books - scribble your name in the cover, fancy bookplate, or stamp? I try to put my name on my books. I have a stamp and a friend gave me an embosser for Christmas a year or so ago. I stamp the front (title) page and then one other random page inside the book. (I have a bookish friend - Lynn - who is not above tearing out the front cover page and calling it hers given the chance....so I stamp a certain page number deep inside. :0)
9. Most of the books you own are rare and out of print books or recent publications? No rare books. Mostly new, but some pretty old stuff, too.
10. Page edges - deckled or straight? Straight. For sure.
11. How many books do you read at one time? Several. Right now I'm reading one fiction and three non-fiction. I typically only have one fiction going at a time. I belong to two book clubs right now and do an online book discussion or two!
12. Be honest, ever tear a page from a book? You're kidding, right? Tear a page from a book?! I'm sure there's a prohibition against that kind of deviant behavior in the Bible!?
7. Buy it or borrow it from the library? Both. I love going to the library and checking out completely random books. For instance, this week, I picked up: The Yellow House: Van Gogh, Gauguin, and Nine Turbulent Weeks in Arles, Spent: End Exhaustion and Feel Great Again, The Undressed Art: Why We Draw, and Tycho & Kepler: The Unlikely Partnership That Forever Changed Our Understanding of the Heavens. But, of course (and those who know me go ahead and laugh), I love owning books, too. Mary said she wants my books when I die. I'm not sure if I should be flattered or a little afraid to go to sleep at night!
8. Do you put your name on your books - scribble your name in the cover, fancy bookplate, or stamp? I try to put my name on my books. I have a stamp and a friend gave me an embosser for Christmas a year or so ago. I stamp the front (title) page and then one other random page inside the book. (I have a bookish friend - Lynn - who is not above tearing out the front cover page and calling it hers given the chance....so I stamp a certain page number deep inside. :0)
9. Most of the books you own are rare and out of print books or recent publications? No rare books. Mostly new, but some pretty old stuff, too.
10. Page edges - deckled or straight? Straight. For sure.
11. How many books do you read at one time? Several. Right now I'm reading one fiction and three non-fiction. I typically only have one fiction going at a time. I belong to two book clubs right now and do an online book discussion or two!
12. Be honest, ever tear a page from a book? You're kidding, right? Tear a page from a book?! I'm sure there's a prohibition against that kind of deviant behavior in the Bible!?
Second, here's a great post from Challies Dot Com on Reading that I really enjoyed.
Third, here's a couple of book recommendations on reading: A Theology of Reading and Reading is Believing.
Third, here's a couple of book recommendations on reading: A Theology of Reading and Reading is Believing.
3.18.2009
Through His Eyes: Chapter 5
Judah and Tamar, School of Rembrandt, circa 1650-60Kristy at Prone to Wander has continued our discussion of Jerram Barrs' book, Through His Eyes by posting on Chapter 5: Tamar - A Righteous Woman. Tamar has always been one of my favorite women of the Bible and I love that God used her as an ancestor of the Messiah. You can read mine and others' comments at Kristy's site...Wander on over! :0)
Lenten Reading
(The Fall on the Road to Calvary by Raphael)As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. (Luke 9:51)
"Here is a question put to every believer...Does discipleship mean deploying god's missiles against the enemy in righteous indignation? Or does discipleship mean following him on the Calvary road which leads to suffering and death? The answer of the whole New Testament is this: the surprise about Jesus the Messiah is that he came to live a life of sacrificial, dying service before he comes a second time to reign in glory. And the surprise about discipleship is that it demands a life of sacrificial, dying service before we can reign with Christ in glory. Jesus' journey to Jerusalem is our journey, and if he set his face to go there and die, we must set our face to die with him." - John Piper (from Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross)
"Here is a question put to every believer...Does discipleship mean deploying god's missiles against the enemy in righteous indignation? Or does discipleship mean following him on the Calvary road which leads to suffering and death? The answer of the whole New Testament is this: the surprise about Jesus the Messiah is that he came to live a life of sacrificial, dying service before he comes a second time to reign in glory. And the surprise about discipleship is that it demands a life of sacrificial, dying service before we can reign with Christ in glory. Jesus' journey to Jerusalem is our journey, and if he set his face to go there and die, we must set our face to die with him." - John Piper (from Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross)
A Few Things...
*Above is a picture of a potato I bought at Food Lion for a batch of Chicken Noodle Soup. I almost couldn't cut it up with that smiling face staring up at me. Almost.
Chicken Noodle Soup Supreme:
Chicken Noodle Soup Supreme:
- Saute a chopped onion, three cloves of minced garlic, and sliced mushrooms in oil
- Add a BIG can of chicken broth and chopped carrots, potatoes, and celery.
- Debone a rotisserie chicken and add to soup. Let simmer until vegetables are soft.
- Add salt, pepper, and Cavendar's Greek Seasoning
- Throw in some broad noodles and simmer just until they are done.
- Serve with crackers...yum!
*I went by the library yesterday and at the end of the shelf that hold the religion and philosophy books, these three books were displayed: It's All in the Cards: Tarot Reading Made Easy, Life on the Edge by James Dobson, and Making Dough: The 12 Secret Ingredients of Krispy Kreme's Sweet Success. I just found that grouping funny: Dobson, donuts, and divining. I wonder who decided those three subjects should go together?
*Art class was a blast last night. We painted whatever we wanted and I chose to try to a scene I had sketched last year and then colored with watercolor pencils. I stumbled upon it somewhere on the Internet and copied it. Sorry to whoever inspired me, but I can't find the link now! :-( I hope to get over to Laura's attic studio before next Tuesday to finish it.
*Mary leaves today this morning for a few days at Myrtle Beach with a friend whose mother graciously asked her to come. She's going to an indoor water park and an aquarium and is super excited! What a blessing!
*Parenting tip: The best way for your 16-year-old daughter to end up with a modest bathing suit for the summer? Have Dad take her shopping! :o)
*If we're honest, most women will admit they love to color. But who wants to color Disney Princesses? Here's a Coloring Book for Women that our art teacher, Joy Hellman, introduced us to. I'm ordering one today!
3.16.2009
Weepy
My weeping willow tree I planted over 5 years ago is putting on leaves. It always makes me happy to see its leaves come back every year. When I was a girl, we had a big weeping willow tree in our yard that I used to climb into and read. It was my escape. The drooping branches were like a curtain all around me, hiding me from everyone and everything. My little tree here in NC has a long way to go before it will hold a girl and her book.
3.15.2009
Lenten Reading
"When tribulation and sickness assail you, think how slight these are compared to the thorns and the nails of Christ. If you are thwarted, remember how he was bound and dragged. If pride besets you, see how the Lord was mocked and with robbers despised. If unchastity incites your flesh, recall how his flesh was scourged, pierced , and smitten. If hate, envy, and vengeance tempt you, think how Christ for you and all his enemies interceded with tears, though he might rather have avenged himself. If you are afflicted and cannot have your way, take heart and say, "Why should I not suffer when my Lord sweat blood for very anguish?"
- Martin Luther (From Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross)
- Martin Luther (From Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross)
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