I Couldn't Have Said It Better Myself

New York Times columnist and best selling author, Thomas L. Friedman is one of the smartest men in the United States today. Please read his column at the link below and everyone said, "AMEN!"

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/08/opinion/08friedman.html?_r=1

While you're at it, please read the blog he references here:

http://climateprogress.org/

REMINDER: I have a copy of Clutter-Free Christianity by Robert Jeffress to give away to my readers! To enter the random drawing, just e-mail your name and address to me at http://seewhykinsman@gmail.com. Winners will be drawn on Friday, April 3, 2009. Good luck!

Clutter Free Christianity -- Book Review and Giveaway

Would you do surgery on yourself? No? You need a surgeon? Okay, would you help your surgeon do surgery on you? How about heart surgery?

Of course, in the physical realm, we would never perform heart surgery or even try to help our cardiac surgeon do the procedure. But in the spiritual realm, it's required. Although we become new creations when we are accept the Master, the process of sanctification -- becoming like Yeshua (Jesus) -- is the work God does in us with our cooperation and with us doing a lot of the work.

Clutter Free Christianity, What God Really Desires for You by Robert Jeffress describes how to assist God in performing heart surgery on you. He describes six fundamental areas where we need to have a change in heart in order to become more Christlike: We need to learn to (1) forgive, (2) obey, (3) trust, (4) be content, (5) serve others and (6) pray. This process is a lifelong journey toward transformation.

Clutter Free Christianity focuses on what God really requires from us in order to have a relationship with Him. Too often we get busy with our "to do" list -- we volunteer our time, we cook for various functions, we take Bible study classes, we chaperone the youth retreat -- and we lose sight of what God really wants us to focus on in order to be good disciples of the Master. The funny thing is, when we focus on the changes our heart requires, the "to dos" of corporate worship become easy. You'll never learn to forgive, trust, be content, etc., from cooking for a church supper, but if you work on forgiveness, trust, being content, etc., cooking for a church supper will naturally flow out of those heart transformations.

This book is great for baby believers, but is even better for those who have been at it awhile -- it brings back your focus to what really matters to God. Below is the summary from the publisher and information about the author. You can buy this book at RandomHouse.com http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780307446589&ref=externallink_wbm_clutterfreechristianity_aeb_0224_01 and other booksellers.

I have one copy of Clutter Free Christianity by Robert Jeffress to give away. The winner will be randomly drawn and announced on Friday, April 3, 2009. To enter, please e-mail your name and mailing address to me at seewhykinsman@gmail.com. Good luck!

Summary

When did the Christian life become so complicated?

Your greatest desire is to please God, but with each passing week, your spiritual to-do list grows longer. As you strive to fulfill a never-ending inventory of requirements for being a godly parent, spouse, voter, employee, and more, you feel increasingly disconnected from the God you’re trying to serve.

It’s time to cut through the clutter and get to the heart of what it means to please God. In this liberating look at the core principles of faith, Dr. Robert Jeffress reveals the truth about what God really wants from you–and what He wants to do for you.

Through solid biblical teaching and practical insights, Dr. Jeffress points you toward a revitalized faith centered on becoming more like Jesus in action, attitude, and affection. You’ll learn how to partner with God in the process of spiritual transformation as you choose to follow Christ in forgiveness, obedience, trust, contentment, service, and prayer.

Through a renewed focus on experiencing the kingdom of God right now, you’ll find your to-do list shrinking and your spiritual life deepening. It all comes with embracing Clutter-Free Christianity.

Includes a Bible study guide for personal growth and group discussion.

Author Bio:

Dr. Robert Jeffress is the senior pastor of First Baptist Dallas, one of the most historic churches in the Southern Baptist Convention. The author of sixteen books, he is a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary and Southwest Baptist Theological Seminary. In addition, live broadcasts of Dr. Jeffress’ weekly messages reach millions of listeners and viewers each week, while his daily sermon series airs on 1,100 television stations and cable systems nationwide. Dr. Jeffress and his wife, Amy, are the parents of two adult daughters.

Book Giveaway Winners and Earth Hour Reminder

Congratulations to Eva of San Francisco, California, and Jen of Portland, Oregon, our winners of The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived giveaway. Remember to check back on Monday for another book review and giveaway.

Also, remember that tomorrow is Earth Hour, your chance to vote for Earth in the showdown of Planet Earth versus Climate Change. Remember to turn off your lights for one hour starting at 8:30 p.m. local time. You can learn more about Earth Hour here: http://www.earthhour.org

Final Installment of Vegan Passover Recipes

Here is the final Vegan Passover Recipe I have to share. This frittata can be assembled the day before and makes a wonderful breakfast (lunch or dinner, too!) You can double the recipe if you want leftovers which heat up great in the microwave.

Tofu Frittata

Brown the following together in a large sauce pan:
2 Tbs olive oil
1 ½ c chopped onion
2 c shredded carrots
½ c dried shallots
1 tsp garlic powder
When veggies are browned, add 1 pound frozen broccoli and set aside.

In a blender, blend:
2 12 oz pkg firm tofu, drained
6 Tbs grated vegan mozzarella (we like Follow Your Heart)
6 Tbs soy sauce
salt and pepper

Mix veggies and blended tofu mixture and spread in a 10 inch, greased glass pie pan (or similar casserole dish). Slice tomatoes on top. Bake in a preheated oven at 375degrees for 40-45 minutes.

If you wish, you can top the frittata with the following before serving:

Sassy's Tangy White Sauce

1 (10 oz.) package silken tofu, firm, drained
1 1/2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice, or to taste
1 Tablespoon umeboshi plum vinegar or rice wine vinegar
1 Tablespoon mirin
2/3 cup vegan mayo
3 teaspoons onion granules
2 teaspoons garlic granules
1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt
1 1/2 teaspoons ground dill seed
In a blender, process until completely smooth. Place into a squirty bottle of some sort and make zig-zag designs to the top of the frittata. This is a wonderful, cheesy-sauce which will keep several weeks in the refrigerator.

REMINDER: I have TWO copies of The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived by Steven K. Scott to give away to my readers! To enter the random drawing, just e-mail your name and address to me at http://seewhykinsman@gmail.com. Winners will be drawn on Friday, March 27, 2009. Good luck!

More Vegan Passover Recipes

I make this recipe all year around, not just at Passover. I came up with it one day while cleaning out the refrigerator. In fact, it was the first time I tried quinoa and was just trying to find some way to use it. It was such a hit, we make it regularly -- it's super easy and super healthy.

Quinoa and Veggies

1 c quinoa (rinsed thoroughly in a mesh strainer)
2 c “chicken” broth
Bring quinoa and chicken broth to a boil in a pot on the stove, cover and simmer 15 minutes. While quinoa is cooking, saute in an oiled pan:
1 red pepper, cubed
1 cup snap peas
1 cup button mushrooms
1 cup tomatoes, cubed
When veggies are tender, add to cooked quinoa with salt, pepper, onion powder and garlic powder, all to taste.

During Passover, I also am fond of Eggplant Parmesean. We use our own meatless spaghetti sauce and don't bother breading the eggplant because it just adds useless calories. Of course, you can bread it with matzo bread crumbs:

Peel and slice into rounds 2-3 small eggplants into an oiled baking dish. Salt and pepper to taste. Top with marinara or meatless spaghetti sauce and vegan cheese (we like Follow Your Heart Monterrey Jack and soy parmesean.) Cover with foil (cut slits into foil to vent steam) and bake at 350 degrees for approximately 35 minutes or until the eggplant is soft.

REMINDER: I have TWO copies of The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived by Steven K. Scott to give away to my readers! To enter the random drawing, just e-mail your name and address to me at http://seewhykinsman@gmail.com. Winners will be drawn on Friday, March 27, 2009. Good luck!

More Vegan Passover Recipes

Last week I featured numerous vegan Passover recipes, especially those that can be used for the Seder: soup, appetizer, main meal. Today I'm giving you a dessert recipe. Tomorrow I'll provide you with a couple other receipes to have throughout the week.

Passover Apple Cake

Mix in a large bowl the following for the top and bottom crusts:
3/4 c. applesauce (for egg replacement)
1 1/4 c vegetable oil

1 ½ c sugar
1 ½ c plus 3/4 c matzo meal
3/4 c potato starch
1 heaping Tbs cinnamon

In a separate bowl, mix:
1 ½ c brown sugar
1 ½ Tbs cinnamon
3/4 tsp nutmeg
Slice 4 large, peeled and cored, Granny Smith apples into this sugar mixture

Press half of the crust mixture into a 9 x 13" pan. Dump apples and sugar mixture over crust and press a little. Add rest of crust mixture to the top, press and bake in an oven preheated to 350 degrees for 45 minutes - 1 hour.

REMINDER: I have TWO free copies of The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived by Steven K. Scott, to give away. To enter the random drawing, just e-mail your name and address to me at http://seewhykinsman@hotmail.com. Winners will be drawn on Friday, March 27, 2009. Good luck!

The Best Example . . . for Everything!

The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived by Steven K. Scott is a great book. Imagine reading a self-help book, one of those books that teach you how to better manage your time, focus on your priorities, cultivate friends, make more money, be fulfilled in your career, have an enviable marriage, be a better parent, etc., etc. Now imagine being told you can do all of the above if you just follow the example of one man: Jesus. This is that book.

Steven K. Scott manages to make complex subjects easy to understand and apply, while not dumbing down his message. This is a rare talent – one I greatly appreciate. We all know we are supposed to be followers of the Master, but this book shows us how to do that in practical terms.

I have TWO copies of this book to give away to my readers, free! To enter the random drawing for The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived by Steven K. Scott, just e-mail your name and address to me at http://seewhykinsman@gmail.com. Winners will be drawn on Friday, March 27, 2009. Good luck!

If you don’t win, you can purchase this book at numerous booksellers. Click the link below to find out where:

http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780385526005&ref=externallink_wbm_thegreatestwordseverspoken_kef_0220_01

Below is the summary from the publisher:

Summary:
In The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived, Scott guides readers in a step-by-step application of the life-changing principles, skills, and methods that Jesus used throughout his earthly life. Although believers may spend a lifetime learning from Jesus’ teachings, it’s easy to overlook the powerful lessons demonstrated in His life. But when these incomparable lessons are learned and put to use, they enable ordinary people to achieve extraordinary success and happiness.

From Jesus’ earthly life readers will learn:

How to break through the barriers that prevent them from achieving extraordinary success at work and relational success at home.

How to experience a level of happiness and fulfillment that nothing the world offers can duplicate.

How to use adversity and opposition as a springboard for greater success.

How to love others in a way that increases their love as well.

No matter what a person’s area of expertise and in what setting a person influences others, living by the principles of Jesus’ life on earth produces extraordinary success, unprecedented achievements, personal fulfillment, and blessings for others.

Author Bio:
Steven K. Scott is the best-selling author of The Richest Man Who Ever Lived, The Greatest Words Ever Spoken, and Mentored by a Millionaire. After failing in nine jobs, he started reading a chapter of Proverbs every day—and the wisdom of Scripture changed his life. Scott and his business partners have built more than a dozen multimillion-dollar companies from scratch, achieving billions of dollars in sales. He is the co-founder of Max International, Total Gym Fitness, and The American Telecast Corporation. He is a popular international speaker on the subjects of personal and professional achievement and the application of biblical wisdom to every area of life.

Don't Let Me Go Book Giveaway Winner

Congratulations to Carol of San Jose, California, our winner of a free copy of David W. Pierce's wonderful book, Don't Let Me Go.

Next week will feature another book review and giveaway and more Vegan Passover recipes.

Vegan Passover Main Dish Recipe

Today I'm continuing to provide kosher for Passover, vegan receipes, many of which are gluten free. Today's recipe features quinoa (pronounced keen-WAH), a high protein grain-like substance that is actually a berry and, therefore, allowed during Passover. You can buy either red or white quinoa -- just make sure you rinse it thoroughly before using it. It has a "soapy" residue on it which protects it from birds, etc., in the wild. You'll know when it's done because the kernels "pop" and look like they have a curly little "string" coming out of them. This recipe is one I modified which usually uses rice so you can substitute rice for quinoa the rest of the year.

Smoky Stuffed Peppers

2 Tbs olive oil
2 stalks celery, minced (1/2 cup)
1 medium onion, minced (1 cup)
2 Tbs poultry seasoning
1 clove garlic, minced (1 tsp)
1 canned chipotle pepper in adobo sauce, drained and minced
2 cups cooked quinoa (directions for cooking below)
1/2 cup yellow raisins
1/2 cup vegetable or faux chicken broth
3 red bell peppers, halved lengthwise (or coarsely chopped, see note below*)

Rinse quinoa thoroughly in a mesh strainer. Bring 2 cups of water to a boil in a pot and add 1 cup quinoa. Turn heat down to medium-low, cover with a tight fitting lid, and let simmer for 15 minutes or until almost all the liquid is absorbed and kernels have split and appear "curly". Drain excess water. Quinoa will approximately double in size.

Heat oil in pan over medium heat. Add celery, onion, poultry seasoning, and garlic and saute 7 minutes or until soft. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in chipotle pepper and saute 2 minutes. Add quinoa, raisins and broth to pan and cook 5 minutes more or until the consistency of stuffing, stirring constantly. Add quinoa mixture to each half red pepper. Place peppers in a 9 x 13 casserole dish. Add water until it comes 1/2 up the sides of the peppers. Bake in an oven preheated to 400 degrees for 30 minutes until peppers are soft. Can top with vegan cheese before serving if desired.

* Rather than stuffing the peppers, I chop the red pepper and saute it with the onions and celery. I mix all the ingredients together and serve it as a casserole.

REMINDER: BOOK GIVEAWAY -- I have one copy of Don't Let Me Go by David W. Pierce to give away to a lucky reader. To enter the drawing, please e-mail me at http://seewhykinsman@gmail.com. I will announce the winner on Friday, March 20th.

Passover Broccoli Knishes

This week I will continue to feature Vegan Passover recipes, many of which are gluten-free. Last week I gave you the recipe for the first course of your Passover seder, soup. Below is a recipe for great appetizers or a side dish. Tomorrow we'll start with some main meals . . .

Passover Broccoli Knishes

4 cups instant mashed potatoes

1 cup matzo meal

8 Tbs potato starch in 1 cup warm water

2 small onions, diced

2 Tbs black pepper

1 tsp salt

4 cups steamed broccoli, chopped fine

In a large bowl, mix all of the above except broccoli. Knead until smooth. Make 3 inch "pancakes" and place them on an oiled cookie sheet. Sprinkle each pancake with broccoli. Put another 3 inch "pancake" on top and seal edges with a fork. Brown on the lowest rack in the oven, preheated, at 375 degrees for 15 minutes on each side. Serve with a little vegan cheese or gravy over the top.

REMINDER: BOOK GIVEAWAY -- I have one copy of Don't Let Me Go by David W. Pierce to give away to a lucky reader. To enter the drawing, please e-mail me at http://seewhykinsman@gmail.com. I will announce the winner on Friday, March 20th.

Book Review and Giveaway -- Don't Let Me Go

Don't Let Me Go: What My Daughter Taught Me About the Journey Every Parent Must Make by David W. Pierce is a book about growing up, letting go, perserverence, testing your strength and determination, and the bond a father and daughter can build doing all of this. When David's 15 year old daughter, Chera, announces she want to climb a mountain, David thinks, "No way!" but says, "Sure. Sounds like fun." Uh, yeah. Over the course of 3 years, they climb 5 mountains and run 2 marathons together . . . and learn valuable lessons along the way. Chera learns how to grow up while David learns to let go. They learn what they are made of. They learn about each other. Most importantly, they learn that the mountain top experiences are short lived; we learn to live our lives in the valleys and we also learn along the journey from valley to summit and back again. Here is my favorite quote from the book:

[I]t’s not always about making it to the summit – it’s about going. The summit
is small, usually, but you’re only there for a moment. But the journey . . . We
visit the summits, but we live in the valleys. That’s where we train. That’s
where we prepare. That’s where we grow strong.

God can move mountains, that’s true. But sometimes he just moves people up mountains – neither is easy, and both are miracles.

David W. Pierce is married to Christian comedienne, Chonda Pierce. Some of the "funny" has clearly rubbed off because David's accounts are very amusing. His self-effacing humor reveals a heartfelt humility. One of the best features of this book -- in my opinion -- is the fact that every chapter begins with a picture of David and/or Chera on their journeys. The family photos really bring the story to life. While Don't Let Me Go focuses on David's relationship with his daughter, he also describes his relationship with his own fathers -- his earthly father and his heavenly One -- how he his relationship with his earthly father caused him to lose God, and how he found Him again.

Don't Let Me Go by David W. Pierce is a great book. I would especially consider buying a copy as an early Father's Day gift. You can purchase it here: http://www.amazon.com/ and from other booksellers.

I also have a copy to give away. To enter the drawing for a free copy of Don't Let Me Go by David W. Pierce , please e-mail me at http://seewhykinsman@gmail.com. I will announce the winner on Friday, March 20th.

Below is the summary from the publisher:

Summary:

The true story of how a father and his teen daughter connected through an ice axe and well-worn running shoes.

One day after reading a book about a wilderness adventurer, David Pierce’s fifteen-year-old daughter Chera announced that she wanted to climb a mountain. What David heard behind that wish was a bold declaration: “I’m growing up, Dad—what are you going to do about it?” A few weeks later they bought matching backpacks.

Over a three-year period they climbed five mountains and ran in two marathons. Together they suffered sore muscles, bitter cold, sprung knees, shin splints, and broken spirits. But they also reveled in blazing sunsets, glissaded on a glacier, and celebrated numerous victories great and small. And in the process, they built an unshakable father-daughter bond that will stand the tests of time.

In Don’t Let Me Go, David Pierce—the husband of popular Christian comedienne Chonda Pierce—offers a down-to-earth, funny-yet-serious book for parents with the same universal appeal as Bob Carlisle’s heart-tugging song, “Butterfly Kisses,” only with well-worn running shoes and an ice axe.

Vegan Recipes for Passover (Gluten Free)

This is my first installment of Passover recipes that are vegan/vegetarian and gluten free.

Passover meals traditionally begin with soup. Soup begins with "chicken", "beef", onion, or mushroom broth that is Kosher for Passover. We love Osem brand consomme at Passover and all year around. You can find it in the kosher section of many Wal-marts, Winn-Dixie, Publix, and online. The following soup recipe works with any of the above broths, or vegetable broth. This recipe makes a huge amount: approximately 22 quarts. We eat it as the first course of our seder meal and then throughout the week -- it rounds out our meals and saves time. It can be frozen as well; just cool it in the refrigerator overnight before transferring the containers to the freezer.

Passover Soup

1 1/2 lb baby carrots, sliced

3 medium-large onions diced

8 large celerey stalks, sliced

6 medium zuccini, sliced

1 lb cauliflower

1 lb broccoli

2 large heads of cabbage, chopped fine

2 28oz cans of diced tomatoes with juice

9 quarts water

1 1/2 c dry, loose broth (Osem brand, any flavor)

2 boxes frozen spinach

4 Tbs minced garlic

salt and pepper to taste

Brown onions, garlic, celery and zuccini until veggies are soft. Add to large stock pot with water, broth, and rest of veggies. Cover and cook on low heat for 3 hours, stirring occasionally.

Vegan Passover Recipes

Passover starts at sundown on Wednesday, April 8, 2009. Passover is when we eliminte leavening from our food and focus on eleminiating sin from our lives. Leavening is yeast, but Jews and Messianic Jews (and some Christians rediscovering their Jewish roots) avoid all "chametz" which is anything made from the five major grains: wheat, rye, barley, oats and spelt that has not been completely cooked within 18 minutes after coming into contact with water. This is the time of year when we eat "matzah", unleavened bread. Many Jews also eliminte "kitniyot" during Passover. Kitniyot are ingredients commonly used to make bread -- eliminating them avoid any confusion of what is acceptable and what isn't. Kitniyot include rice, corn, peanuts, and beans, among other things. Some people eliminate soy and soybeans, as well, although some vegans allow soy during Passover.

A couple of years ago, my mom and I got through all of Passover without eating anything in the strictest kitniyot lists. It wasn't impossible, but it was awfully hard. We were hungry (and cranky) all the time. We researched, talked and my husband agreed we could eat soy, so we do, but in smaller amounts than usual.

Needless to say, being a vegan is a challenge during Passover. We live on chametz and kitniyot! I have scoured the internet over the last several years for Kosher for Passover Vegan recipes. Slowly, but surely, I'm building our collection. I thought I would share them with you. Applicable to Jews and Messianic Jews, most of these recipes also are great for gluten-free diets. Over the next several days, I'll share some of our tried and true recipes for Passover. If you have wheat allergies, these recipes will be great for you!

To read more about Passover, these links should help:

http://www.jewfaq.org/holidaya.htm

http://www.hebrew4christians.com/Holidays/holidays.html

Happy Birthday to Me

I just had the most amazing surprise -- an impromptu birthday lunch! Every Wednesday I have lunch at a Mexican restaurant with a friend of mine who is a pastor. Almost every Wednesday my husband calls during our lunch. Almost every week I "ignore" the call and he usually leaves the voicemail, "I just realized you're probably at lunch . . ."

Today he called twice; the second time I turned the ringer off. A few minutes later my friend's phone rings -- my husband is calling her. "Hello?" she says laughing after she shows me the caller ID. "Well, at least you answer your phone; my wife won't." He told her to have me place his order and he would be there in a few minutes. Two minutes later, another really good friend calls her, "Can I join you two for lunch?" So, we had a foursome -- some of my very favorite people in the world. We had more fun and laughs at this impromptu get-together than I usually do at parties I plan weeks in advance. It just goes to show, it doesn't take a lot of money or time or effort to make someone feel loved.

I am a very lucky woman. Happy birthday to me.

March 28, 8:30 p.m. -- TIME TO VOTE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT!

Mark your calendars for March 28, 2009, at 8:30 p.m. local time, to vote your concern about climate change during EARTH HOUR. Turn off your lights for just 1 hour and let your voice be heard. It's Planet Earth versus Global Warming. Who wouldn't vote for Planet Earth?! 1,000 cities will do the same: The Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco - dark. Chicago -- dark. Las Vegas -- dark (imagine it!) New York -- dark. Los Angeles -- dark. Miami -- dark. Sydney, Australia -- dark. Paris, France -- dark. My house in Gulf Shores, Alabama -- DARK! You can learn more about Earth Hour here, including watch great videos:

http://www.earthhour.org/

Give extra "oomph" to your voice by clicking the link below and choosing "Raise Your Voice" on the lower left of the page. Provide your contact information and a letter will be sent to your representatives in government to urge them to take environmental issues seriously.

http://www.earthhourus.org/main.php

Whether you're from a red state or a blue state, we all need to unite for GREEN!

Book Giveaway Winner!

Congratulations to Debi of Fort Walton, Florida, our winner of a free copy of A Day with a Perfect Stranger by David Gregory. Thanks to everyone who entered. Our next book giveaway week will begin March 16th!

Reminder -- Checking Out

Just a reminder that I'll be checking out of the blogosphere for a couple of days, which means you have a couple extra days to enter this week's book giveaway. To enter the drawing for a free copy of A Day with a Perfect Stranger by David Gregory, please e-mail me at seewhykinsman@gmail.com. I will announce the winner on Sunday, March 8th. By the way, as long as I'm reminding you of things, don't forget this weekend is the beginning of Daylight Savings Time -- Spring Forward an hour on Saturday night/Sunday morning.

Eat S.L.O.W.ly

What do you think of when you imagine "dinner in France" or "lunch in Italy"? Do you think of cafes populated with diners lingering over coffee and dessert? Do you think of meals that extend three hours as the patrons talk and laugh and savor their food? Now what comes to mind when you picture lunch time in America? People scarfing down fast food in their cars?

Your mother told you to eat slowly and now there's even more reason to do so. Slow Food is a movement which began in Italy in 1989 to "counteract fast food and fast life, the disappearance of local food traditions and people’s dwindling interest in the food they eat, where it comes from, how it tastes and how our food choices affect the rest of the world." Slow Food employs a handy acronym to help you focus on your food choices:

S - Seasonal
L - Local
O - Organic
W - Whole

The Slow Food website is chock full of great information. Visit it here: http://slowfood.com/

Reminder: To enter the giveaway for a free copy of A Day with a Perfect Stranger, by David Gregory, please e-mail me at seewhykinsman@gmail.com. Winners will be drawn Sunday, March 8th.

A Day or Dinner with a Perfect Stranger -- Book Giveaway

What if you could have dinner with Jesus? What if you could spend a whole day with him? These are the questions answered by David Gregory in his books, Dinner with a Perfect Stranger and A Day with a Perfect Stranger .

In Dinner with a Perfect Stranger, Nick receives a dinner invitation from someone purporting to be Jesus. Although Nick is certain this is a practical joke, he decides to go along. However, his dining companion simply knows too much for this to be a hoax. The discussions they have are fascinating and the end result is Nick learns what it is to have a one-on-one relationship with Jesus. Day with a Perfect Stranger is the logical sequel. Nick's wife, Mattie, is certain her husband has gone completely insane. First, he claims to have had dinner with Jesus and now he's acting all weird and doing all kinds of church stuff. Mattie is ready to scream. So when she meets a stranger on a plane who seems to have the same feelings about organized religion she does, she's relieved to vent. Except, who is this stranger who simply knows too much?

Dinner with a Perfect Stranger and A Day with a Perfect Stranger by David Gregory are not only fabulous little books (think The Shack -- lite version), but they are the perfect books to use at witnessing tools since they are short, easy to read, not too-heavy-handed and thoughtfully consider the honest negatives that sometimes hold people back from church and "church people".

I only have a copy of A Day with a Perfect Stranger to give away. But both of these books are well worth your while to buy as gifts, to share with your loved ones, etc. You can purchase both these books from www.amazon.com and other booksellers. You can also order these books and learn more about them from Random House using the links below:

Dinner with a Perfect Stranger:

http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781578569052&ref=externallink_wbm_dinnerwithaperfectstranger_eaj_0129_01

Day with a Perfect Stranger:

http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781400072422&ref=externallink_wbm_daywithaperfectstranger_eaj_0129_01

To enter the giveaway for a free copy of A Day with a Perfect Stranger , please e-mail me at seewhykinsman@gmail.com. Because I will be out of town Thursday-Sunday, winners will be posted Sunday afternoon.

Below are the summaries from the publisher. Good luck!

Summary Dinner with a Perfect Stranger:

You are Invited to a Dinner with Jesus of Nazareth

The mysterious envelope arrives on Nick Cominsky’s desk amid a stack of credit card applications and business-related junk mail. Although his seventy-hour workweek has already eaten into his limited family time, Nick can’t pass up the opportunity to see what kind of plot his colleagues have hatched.

The normally confident, cynical Nick soon finds himself thrown off-balance, drawn into an intriguing conversation with a baffling man who appears to be more than comfortable discussing everything from world religions to the existence of heaven and hell. And this man who calls himself Jesus also seems to know a disturbing amount about Nick’s personal life.

"You’re bored, Nick. You were made for more than this. You’re worried about God stealing your fun, but you’ve got it backwards.… There’s no adventure like being joined to the Creator of the universe." He leaned back off the table. "And your first mission would be to let him guide you out of the mess you’re in at work."

As the evening progresses, their conversation touches on life, God, meaning, pain, faith, and doubt–and it seems that having Dinner with a Perfect Stranger may change Nick’s life forever.

Summary Day with a Perfect Stranger:

What if a fascinating stranger knew you better than you know yourself?

When her husband comes home with a farfetched story about eating dinner with someone he believes to be Jesus, Mattie Cominsky thinks this may signal the end of her shaky marriage. Convinced that Nick is, at best, turning into a religious nut, the self-described agnostic hopes that a quick business trip will give her time to think things through.

On board the plane, Mattie strikes up a conversation with a fellow passenger. When she discovers their shared scorn for religion, she confides her frustration over her husband’s recent conversion. The stranger suggests that perhaps her husband isn’t seeking religion but true spiritual connection, an idea that prompts her to reflect on her own search for fulfillment.

As their conversation turns to issues of spiritual longing and deeper questions about the nature of God, Mattie finds herself increasingly drawn to this insightful stranger. But when the discussion unexpectedly turns personal, touching on things she’s never told anyone, Mattie is startled and disturbed. Who is this man who seems to peer straight into her soul?

David Gregory is the author of the best-selling books Dinner with a Perfect Stranger and A Day with a Perfect Stranger, and coauthor of two nonfiction books. After a ten-year business career, he returned to school to study religion and communications, earning graduate degrees from The University of North Texas and Dallas Theological Seminary. A native Texan, David now devotes himself to writing full time.