Connie Mishali's Weblog

Book Giveaway Winner and Farewell

2010-02-04T15:24:00.001-06:00

Congratulations goes to Andrea of Foley, Alabama, our winner of the book giveaway Angels by Dr. David Jeremiah.

I am also writing to say "Goodbye". As you have no doubt noticed, my posts have been few and far between the last few months. I've been so busy, I just haven't had the necessary time to devote to blogging and there's no let up in sight for my schedule. SOOOOOOO, much as I hate to do it, I'm going to stop blogging. Who knows, maybe there will be room for it at some point in the future.

It's hard to believe I've been doing this for two years already. It feels like I just began yesterday. Thank you, everyone, for listening to my ramblings! I've meet some great friends in the blogosphere and I appreciate all of you.

Angels -- Book Review and Giveaway

2010-02-01T08:00:00.000-06:00

Angels by Dr. David Jeremiah is very complete on the subject of angels and extremely well grounded in scriptures. If you want to become an authority on the topic of angels -- what the Bible says, their role, their characteristics, what they are NOT despite public thought -- then this is the book for you. I found this book more "textbook" than engaging, but it's hard to be scholarly and definitive AND entertaining at the same time. That's not to say it's a hard book to read; in fact, it flows easily. If you're really interested in what the Bible says about angels, Angels by Dr. David Jeremiah is a must have book.

GIVEAWAY: I have one copy of this book to giveaway. To enter the random drawing, please e-mail your name and mailing address to seewhykinsman@gmail.com. The winner will be announced Friday, February 5th.

You can purchase the book here:
http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781601422699&ref=externallink_mlt_Angels_sec_1208_01

Below is the summary from the publisher:

Summary:
What are angels? What is their role in God’s plan? Are they present? Do they appear? Do they give us personal insight about our work, our worship?

Many contemporary beliefs about angels are based on misconception and myth. Dr. David Jeremiah uses scripture to unveil the remarkable truth about these agents of heaven, and their role and work in our world—and lives.

More than 60,000 units of this powerful book have sold in two past editions. This repackage of the original 1996 paperback will surely capture the attention of readers of all ages who seek a broad and thorough survey of scripture that clearly separates fact from fiction as it relates to angels. The book will appeal to the thousands who follow Dr. Jeremiah’s books, and radio and TV broadcasts.

Relevant, little known biblical facts help readers sharpen their knowledge and sensitivities toward the spiritual reality of angels. Dr. Jeremiah’s enlightening findings are supported with illustrations and insights from Billy Graham, Corrie ten Boom, C.S. Lewis, and more.

Author Bio:
Dr. David Jeremiah is senior pastor of Shadow Mountain Community Church in San Diego, and founder of Turning Point Radio and TV Ministries. His radio program is carried on over 2,500 stations worldwide, while the TV broadcast is received by 500 million homes via cable and satellite. The recipient of numerous awards for broadcast excellence, his books have garnered Gold Medallion awards and become bestsellers with The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and the New York Times. He is a sought-after conference speaker by organizations nationwide.

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Tea with Hezbollah Giveaway

2010-01-30T12:45:00.002-06:00

Congratulations to Eric of Pensacola, Florida, the winner of Tea with Hezbollah by Ted Dekker and Carl Medearis. Check back Monday for another book review and giveaway.

Tea with Hezbollah

2010-01-24T12:04:00.000-06:00

Jesus, Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr., among others, all taught us to love our enemies. With this in mind, the authors, Ted Dekker and Carl Medearis, decided to see if it's possible to love one's enemies. Tea with Hezbollah, Sitting at the Enemies' Table, Our Journey Through the Middle East is the result of their exploration. The authors met with leaders of the Muslim world . . . often time the extremist Muslim world . . . to find out what they think about the "love your enemies" teaching. The authors wanted to know how they felt about it, did they think it possible, how is the non-Muslim world not loving them, etc. Tea with Hezbollah is an ambitious work to understand "our enemies" in order to love them, and perhaps, for them to get to know and love us as well.

This is not an "us versus them" book as evidenced by one of my favorite lines in the introduction:

We [the authors] are both Christian. We both cringe at being called Christian, because in both of our worlds, Christians are the bad guys who either slaughter civilians or destory civilization in the name of God.

The authors frequently inserted transcripts of their actual interviews with various Muslim leaders which was facsinating and lead to their credibility because they didn't always put words in the mouths of their subjects.

I would definitely recommend Tea with Hezbollah. You can purchase it here:
http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780307588296

Giveaway: I have one copy of Tea with Hezbollah to give away. To enter the random drawing, please send your name and mailing address to seewhykinsman@gmail.com. The winner will be drawn Friday, January 22, 2010. Good luck.

Below is the summary from the publisher:

Summary:

Is it really possible to love one’s enemies?

That’s the question that sparked a fascinating and, at times, terrifying journey into the heart of the Middle East during the summer of 2008. It was a trip that began in Egypt, passed beneath the steel and glass high rises of Saudi Arabia, then wound through the bullet- pocked alleyways of Beirut and dusty streets of Damascus, before ending at the cradle of the world’s three major religions: Jerusalem.

Tea with Hezbollah combines nail-biting narrative with the texture of rich historical background, as readers join novelist Ted Dekker and his co-author and Middle East expert, Carl Medearis, on a hair-raising journey. They are with them in every rocky cab ride, late-night border crossing, and back-room conversation as they sit down one-on-one with some of the most notorious leaders of the Arab world. These candid discussions with leaders of Hezbollah and Hamas, with muftis, sheikhs, and ayatollahs, with Osama bin Laden’s brothers, reveal these men to be real people with emotions, fears, and hopes of their own. Along the way, Dekker and Medearis discover surprising answers and even more surprising questions that they could not have anticipated—questions that lead straight to the heart of Middle Eastern conflict.

Through powerful narrative Tea With Hezbollah will draw the West into a completely fresh understanding of those we call our enemies and the teaching that dares us to love them. A must read for all who see the looming threat rising in the Middle East.

Author Bios:

Ted Dekker is the author of many nationally bestselling novels, including Bone Man’s Daughters, The Circle Trilogy, Thr3e, and House, which was coauthored by Frank Peretti. His unique style of storytelling has captured the attention of millions worldwide. Visit him at TedDekker.com.

Carl Medearis is the founder and president of International Initiatives, LLC, an organization that promotes cultural, educational, and commercial exchange between the East and the West. He is an advisor on Arab affairs to the members of the U.S. Congress and leaders in international business.

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

I Couldn't Have Said It Better Myself

2010-01-19T14:02:00.004-06:00

I know I've been "absent" of late . . . my busy life seems to be raised to the "Nth degree" these days.

I just wanted to pass on a recent article of Thomas L. Friedman. Click the link below:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/10/opinion/10friedman.html?adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1263931312-fRntPS8bJc/qEvIlJopsHA

Book Giveaway Winner

2010-01-15T10:04:00.001-06:00

Congratulations to Andrea of Foley, AL, this week's winner of The Male Factor by Shaunti Feldhahn. Check back regularly for more book reviews and giveaways.

How to Become "One of the Boys"

2010-01-11T15:03:00.003-06:00

It's no secret that women make about 70% of men and in many industries, the glass ceiling is a real barrier for women. However, in her new book The Male Factor Shaunti Feldhahn shows women what they are unconsiously doing wrong in the business world which is shooting them in the proverbial foot.

Shaunti Feldhahn has done a lot of research to get inside the male psyche to figure out what men think and feel in the workplace, what unwritten codes of conduct they live by, how they perceive women in general and their actions in the workplace, and what women can and should do in order to succeed in their careers.

The information Shaunti has compiled is sometimes surprising, sometimes almost unbelievable, and always helpful! This book is a must-read for every career or business-minded woman. Incidentally, its insights will also help you with your marriage and friendships because you will have a greater understanding of what men experience at work.

Book Giveaway: I have one copy of The Male Factor by Shaunti Feldhahn to give away. To enter the random drawing, please send your name and mailing address to seewhykinsman@gmail.com. The winner will be drawn on Friday, January 15th.

You can purchase the book here:

http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780307457721&ref=externallink_wbp_extraordinary_sec_0817_01

Below is the summary from the publisher:

Summary:

Many talented women today risk undermining their careers without realizing it, simply because they don’t understand how they are perceived by their male colleagues and customers. In The Male Factor, best-selling author Shaunti Feldhahn reveals the inner reality behind men’s views — the unspoken expectations that no man would dare to publicly acknowledge, and no woman would learn from an HR department. These revelations include:

• Men’s unwritten ‘rules’ of the workplace
• How men perceive workplace emotion
• What common situations with female colleagues most frustrate men-- and why
• Why revealing clothing can sabotage a woman’s effectiveness
• Why some men think flextime is fine, but equal compensation for it is not

The Male Factor equips women with the information they need to make informed decisions and compete on a level playing field.

Author Bio:

Shaunti Feldhahn is a nationally syndicated columnist and the bestselling author of For Women Only: What You Need to Know About the Inner Lives of Men and For Men Only, which together sold one million copies. She holds a Master in Public Policy from Harvard, worked on Wall Street and now lives in Atlanta, Georgia.

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Book Giveaway Winner

2010-01-08T11:02:00.002-06:00

Congratulations to Sylvia of Minneapolis, Minnesota, our winner of The One Day Way by Chantel Hobbs. Check back Monday for another book review and giveaway!

Book Review and Giveaway

2010-01-05T16:54:00.002-06:00

Probably the most popular New Year's Resolution is to "lose weight". We all know that losing weight, and keeping it off, is hard . . . almost impossible if you look at success statistics. It all comes down to a few simple rules (simple in concept, not always simple to implement): Reduce calories, increase exercise, and make sure the plan is one you can stick with for the rest of your life.

I can wholeheartedly recommend Chantel Hobbs' new book, The One Day Way. Chantel will explain the basics to you, give you strategies that work for "real life" and motivate you with stories that will make you laugh as well as inspire you. Best of all, she has a section on exercise with step-by-step photos that any idiot (like me) can follow.

This is a great book with no fads or unrealistic rules or goals.

I have a FREE copy to give away. To enter the random drawing, e-mail your name and mailing address to seewhykinsman@gmail.com. The winner will be announced Friday, January 8th.

If you don't win, you can buy the book from amazon.com or your favorite bookseller.

Below is the summary from the publisher:

Summary

The One-Day Way produces lasting results by taking you back to basics. No more complicated weight-loss strategies. No more expensive diet plans that achieve only temporary results. Instead, you will lose weight and get fit with Chantel Hobbs’s simple, high-energy meal plans and her at-home program for cardio exercise and strength training. She will teach you how to change the way you think, which leads to new actions. Before you know it you will be strong, fit, and healthy. All it takes is doing things differently for twenty-four hours—and then repeating it.

The One-Day Way gives you everything you need to lose weight and get fit in body, mind, and spirit:

Break free from past dieting defeats
Learn a realistic, life-changing way to measure success
Change the way you think so you can change your life
Translate your dreams into goals, and your goals into lasting achievements
Get strong with thirty-one simple exercises, no fancy equipment required
Take advantage of ten ways to eat better while you lose weight

By focusing on food, faith, and fitness, Chantel shows you not only how to lose weight, but how to build the new life you were designed to live. You don’t have to wait any longer. The One-Day Way gives you all the tools for success, starting right now.

Author Bio:

The author of Never Say Diet and The Never Say Diet Personal Fitness Trainer, Chantel Hobbs is a motivational speaker, life coach, personal trainer, marathon runner, wife, and mother of four whose story has been featured on Oprah, The Today Show, Good Morning America, Fox & Friends, the 700 Club, and the covers of People and First magazines. She appears weekly on two fitness-themed radio programs and promotes her One-Day Way Learning System on television. Visit Chantel at ChantelHobbs.com for fitness updates and coaching tips.

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

What's "Wrong" with God?!

2009-12-31T18:23:00.003-06:00

I'm re-reading Mark Batterson's book, Wild Goose Chase, and I'm finding I like it even better the second time around.

I came across a quote yesterday that really spoke to me. Mark Batterson is talking about how we take all the miraculous daily events for granted: the sun rising and setting, God keeping the planets in orbit, etc.

Keeping the planets in orbit is a perpetual miracle of unparalleled proportions. So why aren't we overwhelmed with awe over our annual orbit? Why don't we ceaselessly praise God for our spinning lobe? The reason is simple: we take constants for granted. And that is the problem with God, if I may say it that way. God is the ultimate constant. He is unconditionally loving. He is omnipotently powerful. And He is eternally faithful. God is so good at what God does that we tend to take Him for granted.

How true is that?!

Great Quote to Ponder

2009-12-26T19:54:00.002-06:00

I recently read this quote and thought I'd pass it along to think about when considering the upcoming New Year:

Ralph Waldo Emerson, "Who you are speaks so loudly I cannot hear what you're saying."

I Couldn't Have Said It Better Myself

2009-12-20T13:58:00.000-06:00

I read two great articles this last week about the environment and problem of climate change. Once again, I couldn't have said it better myself!

The first is entitled "Going Cheney on Climate" by Thomas L. Friedman, best selling author of Hot, Flat and Crowded and New York Times columnist. Basically, Friedman argues that even if there were only a 1% chance that global warming is taking place, we should take heed. After all, we buy house and car insurance with a 1% chance that something catastrophic will happen . . . Green energy would revitalize the economy, create jobs, clean up the environment, and make us less dependent on foreign oil. Even if there's NO chance global warming is real (which it is people -- it's absolutely, positively real), who wouldn't want more jobs, a better economy, a cleaner world and little dependence on Arab nations for survival?! It's a no brainer!

Here's the link:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/09/opinion/09friedman.html?_r=1

The second article is by psychologist, author and newspaper columnist, Phillip Chard, entitled "Some are Cool to the Idea that Earth is Warming". This article explains why some people are reluctant to believe climate change is happening despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary. It's a great peak into the human psyche -- and helpful to those who want to change the minds of those ostriches in the sand.

Here's the link:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/09/opinion/09friedman.html?_r=1

Book Giveaway Winner

2009-12-18T10:09:00.003-06:00

Congratulations to Karin in Tenstrike, MN -- this week's winner of 40 Loaves, Breaking Bread with Our Father Each Day by C.D. Baker. Thanks to everyone who entered; please check back often for more book reviews and giveaways.

Primal -- Book Review

2009-12-15T16:06:00.003-06:00

If you've read this blog for awhile, you know that Mark Batterson is one of my very favorite authors of all time. His knowledge is so diverse; he's one of the most well read people I "know"; and he has the rare talent of making the most complex ideas accessible to everyone and seeming to do so without any effort! His newest book, Primal, is fabulous -- as expected.

Mark takes the Shema of the Old Testament (Deuteronomy 6:5), the most important commandment according to Yeshua/Jesus (Mark 12:30), and discusses how one can truly love God "with all your heart, soul, mind and strength". In typical Batterson fashion, he explains loving God with your entire being by drawing not only on scriptures, but also psychology, science and real life analogies.

In a word, I love this book.

Having said that, I would be remiss with one tiny portion of Mark's book with which I disagree. At the beginning of the book, Mark is trying to explain why this is God's greatest commandments. He says that the Pharisees were guilty of making man-made commandments (they were) and that they created 613 commandments from the Old Testament. The fact of the matter is, GOD created 613 commandments in the Torah (and 1050 in the New Testament). The Pharisees (and priests and other leaders) then added to God's 613 commandments by creating "fences" around God's commandments. Let me give you an example. One of God's commandments was (and is) to honor the Sabbath by doing no work. That's one of the 613. The Pharisees then commanded the people not to carry a needle on the sabbath because if you didn't have a needle, you couldn't work at sewing. For the record, their intent in establishing these man-made laws was not evil; originally they created these "fences" around God's commandments so the people of Israel would not unintentionally break God's commandments.

Aside from that one point in Mark Batterson's book with which I take issue, the rest of the book was truly excellent. Primal will inspire you to go back to the heart of the matter, to what is truly important with respect to your relationship with God, and it will challenge you to serve Him better and more completely. I strongly recommend this book.

Unfortunately, I don't have a copy of Primal to give away, but it's well worth the money to order several copies (you'll want to give them away). Here's the link to purchase this great book:

http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?isbn=9781601421319

Below is the summary from the publisher:

Summary:

Be Astonished Again

We have a tendency to complicate Christianity. Jesus simplified it: Love God with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength. If we are to live out the essence of Christianity, we must commit to being great at this Great Commandment.

In Primal, Mark Batterson explores the four elements of Great Commandment Christianity: compassion, wonder, curiosity, and power. Along the way, he calls you to be a part of God’s reformation, starting in your own life.

As Mark writes, “Is there a place in your past where you met God and God met you? A place where your heart broke for the things that break the heart of God? Maybe it was a sermon that became more than a sermon. Maybe it was a mission trip or retreat. Maybe it was a vow you made at an altar. In that moment, God birthed something supernatural in your spirit. You knew you’d never be the same again. My prayer is that this book would take you back to that burning bush—and reignite a primal faith.”

Primal will help you live in light of what matters most and discover what it means to love God. It will help you become great at the Great Commandment.

This was book was provided for review by WaterBrook Multnomah.

40 Loaves -- Book Review and Giveaway

2009-12-14T14:36:00.002-06:00

Do you have sticky questions about your walk with God? Are you afraid to ask those questions because it might make you look like a "bad" Christian? Then I have a little devotional for you! 40 Loaves, Breaking Bread with Our Father Each Day by C.D. Baker is filled with honest, real questions every believer has struggled with at one time or another. And C.D. Baker tackles each question without making you feel "condemned" for asking . . . in fact, his illustrations and real life examples are reassuring and wonderful. It's a great way to open honest discussions between yourself and God! I really enjoyed this book and am tickled to have a free copy to give away. It would be a great stocking stuffer and is available for purchase here: http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780307444905

GIVE AWAY: To enter the random drawing for 40 Loaves by C.D. Baker, please send your mailing address to seewhykinsman@gmail.com the winner will be chosen on Friday, December 18th.

Here's the summary from the publisher:

Why don’t I have more faith?

Why am I so bored with Jesus?

Why don’t I feel connected at church?

These are the types of questions the religious establishment often makes it uncomfortable, if not impossible, to ask. And by asking them, C. David Baker, author of 40 Loaves: Breaking Bread with Our Father Each Day hopes to start a conversation in people’s hearts, then with others, and ultimately with God. Many circles of Christianity have led us to believe that certainty and confidence are the proof of true spirituality; questions are discouraged.

But Jesus offered his followers an ongoing conversation—a relationship built around a free, open-ended discussion. Questions were encouraged. They were often impertinent, sometimes alarming, and the religious establishment was distinctly uncomfortable with them … just as it is today.

“40 Loaves is something of a collection of the kinds of questions I felt finally free to ask of myself and of my relationship with Christ,” says Baker. “It’s my belief that these questions are shared by many others who long for the freedom to simply ask them out loud. I hope this book becomes a platform that frees others to search their hearts more deeply and be fed with the Bread of life.”

Each “loaf” here is a big question that stimulates discussion, investigation, and contemplation; it will take hours—or days—to digest. Conversational, inviting, disarming, and real, 40 Loaves nourishes self-examination and offers validation for those who feel discouraged, guilty, or even shamed when the realities of their lives don’t match up with the ideals of the Christian establishment.

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Books on a Budget

2009-12-07T13:23:00.001-06:00

How would you like to get the information to help you during these tough times and still meet a tight budget? Well, I can recommend some books that are big on advice with tiny price tags.

I recently got the opportunity to review a sample of the "budget line" from WaterBrook Press and I can tell you, they're great.

Just because the economy is suffering doesn’t mean relationships have to suffer, too. The Value Non-Fiction Line (September 15, 2009) offers insightful books on love, marriage, relationships and personal growth. At just $6.99, WaterBrook Press is offering readers on the most limited budgets, valuable resources to help them grow and succeed in their personal lives. Titles include:

More Than A Match (ISBN: 978-1-4000-7489-1) by relationship experts, Michael & Amy Smalley, marriage and family counselors who demystify the science behind compatibility tests to help singles in search of love recognize when the right relationship comes along. They also reveal the specific skills that can transform an ideal match into a lasting love.

Fool Proofing Your Life (ISNB: 978-0-307-45848-3) by Jan Silvious, Precept Ministries (Kay Arthur) radio co-host discusses how attempts at coping with difficult people often fails, because they are what the Bible refers to as “fools.” Silvious provides tools to help readers get along and conduct relationships in a way that honors God, while preserving their own sanity.

How to Act Right When Your Spouse Acts Wrong (ISBN: 978-0-307-45849-0)
by Leslie Vernick, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 25 years experience, reveals how God uses the imperfections, difference and sins of a spouse to help anyone become more like Christ.

What Women Don’t Know and Men Don’t Tell You (ISBN: 978-0-307-45850-6)by Michelle McKinney Hammond, best-selling author, speaker, singer and co-host, with Joel A. Brooks, Jr., senior pastor of Christian Life Center, clears up misperceptions, providing women with the information they need to succeed in a lasting male-female relationship ─ both while waiting and after the wait is over.

The Value Non–Fiction Line provides readers with invaluable resources at a low cost, and offers priceless insights to help build meaningful relationship.

I got the chance to review More Than A Match by Michael and Amy Smalley. Their target audience is couples who meet online through a dating website, but their wisdom is appropriate for any couple, dating or married. They discuss how "compatibility" is just the beginning. What makes a successful marriage is WHAT COMES NEXT. They discuss important topics such as how to resolve conflict while still respecting your spouse, discussing the big issues such as finances and children, and they are honest about their own marital bumps in the road to illustrate their points perfectly. From More Than A Match, I can tell you the "budget line" books are anything but cheap.

_____

In tough times discover…99 Ways (times six) to thrive!

The Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group introduces 99…times six…practical and up-to-date ways to help families flourish despite present economic challenges, priced at just $5.99 per book (WaterBrook Press, July 21, 2009). These books are not only timely, but also inexpensive enough to fit into everyone’s tightening budget.

99 Ways to Entertain Your Family for Free (ISBN-13: 978-0-307-45836-0)
by Mack Thomas, bestselling author of The First Step Bible and father of five.
Offers activities and events sure to entertain and educate family members of all ages.

99 Ways to Stretch Your Home Budget (ISBN-13:978-0-307-45841-4)
by Cheri Gillard, nurse and mother of quadruplets.
Practical ideas on how families can save money around the house.

99 Ways to Increase Your Income (ISBN-13:978-0-307-45839-1)
by Frank Martin, successful entrepreneur and author of over sixteen books.
Provides tips to generate more cash, and rebuild or supplement an income,
while hanging on to existing dollars.

99 Ways to Build Job Security (ISBN-13:978-0-307-45840-7)
by Gary Nowinski, veteran in corporate management and downsizing.
Introduces key strategies to help employees keep their jobs during economic
cutbacks.

99 Ways to Fight Worry and Stress (ISBN-13: 978-0-307-45837-7)
by Elsa Kok Colopy, Associate Editor for Focus on the Family Publications.
Presents skills to guard rest, dream a little, and dive into truth and more.

99 Bible Promises for Tough Times (ISBN-13:978-0-307-45838-4)
by Randy Petersen, seasoned author of more than fifty books and Bible studies.
Gives encouraging and wise words found in Scripture to mediate upon.

Written for families and individuals who are hoping to not only survive but thrive, during tough times. These value-packed, applicable resources offer relevant and reliable insights to endure the current economic downturn, and are sure to appeal to families in all stages of life.

I got the chance to review 99 Ways to Increase Your Income. This book provided an all inclusive approach -- ways to increase the cash you have to spend and ways to spend less and make what you have stretch farther. The information was basic, logically presented with interesting illustrations, and very helpful for those who don't (or won't) spend a lot of time reading about money matters.

These little books are fabulous stocking stuffers! Unfortunately, I don't have any copies to give away, but at these prices, it's easy to buy several.

These books were provided for review by WaterBrook Multnomah.

I Have Some Great Books to Recommend for the Holidays

2009-11-30T09:20:00.002-06:00

I have some great books to recommend for the holidays; sadly, I don't have any free copies to share, but they're worth buying.

First, for the adults in your life: Treasured by Leigh McLeroy. This is a great little book which seeks to help you understand the nature of God by the "things He treasures". The author asks you to imagine opening a "treasure chest" of God. Inside the chest you find all kinds of items that give you insight into who He is and what He values. She then links each item to the Bible story where it originated and explains what each "treasured keepsake" reveals about the nature of God.

When I first read the introduction of this book, I was afraid it was going to be hokey and unoriginal. I was surprised to find it fairly insightful -- the author has a knack for looking at the most familiar Bible stories and pointing out something unique, causing you to think about something in a slightly different way than you previously did. I strongly recommend this book. Although it doesn't claim to be a devotional as that term is used, I thought it worked well as a devotional. The stories are long enough to be substantial, but short enough to get through quickly -- and they kernel of insight gave me something to think and pray about all day.

You can buy it here:
http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781400074815

Below is the Summary from the publisher:

In Treasured, Leigh McLeroy considers tangible reminders of God’s active presence and guides readers in discovering evidence in their own lives of his attentive love.

“The idea for the book came from a cigar box filled with odds and ends of my grandfather’s life that arrived a few months after his death. Sifting through the objects in the box, I experienced him in a fresh new way. This made me wonder what treasures might be tucked away in Scripture that could frame God for me in an equally intimate, tangible way. This process also helped me uncover my own “treasures” of my walk with the Lord: objects that remind me of my history with him and his faithfulness to me,” says McLeroy.

Drawn from the pages of Scripture, the author considers twelve such treasures and personalizes their meaning for readers, such as a green olive branch that offers proof of God’s “new every morning” mercy and a scarlet cord that demonstrates his willingness to adopt “strays” of every sort.

Weaving these treasures together with scenes from her personal history, Leigh McLeroy invites readers to discover God’s heart for them and embrace their unique role in his redemptive story. Treasured offers readers a guided experience of God’s love and character and invites them to consider their own treasures that point to their part in God’s ongoing story.

Leigh McLeroy is the author of The Beautiful Ache and The Sacred Ordinary. An avid collector and recorder of everyday moments, words, and wonders, Leigh’s keen eye for God’s presence in ordinary life infuses her writing and living with a deep, insistent joy. A frequent conference and event speaker, the author makes her home in Houston, Texas, and posts often on www.leighmcleroy.com and www.wednesdaywords.com.

For the little ones in your life, I can recommend two gems from Lisa Tawn Bergren. In God Gave Us Love, a polar bear grandfather explains to his "grandcub" the story of God's love for us and the love we are to have for others in a cute, sweet, easy to understand and non-aggressive manner. I was impressed by the sensitive way the author presented the story and the illustrations were great. It's hard to explain to kids why they should love the unlovable, but this book does it well.

You can buy it here:
http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781400074471

Summary:

In God Gave Us Love, Little Cub and Grampa Bear’s fishing adventure is interrupted by mischievous otters, and the young polar bear begins to ask questions like why must we love others . . . even the seemingly unlovable? Why is it easier to love those we like? Where does love come from? And why does God love her so much?

Grampa Bear patiently addresses each one of Little Cub’s curiosities by explaining the different kinds of love we can share: the love between friends, the love between families, the love between moms and dads, and the love for God.

He also assured Little Cub that because of the love God has given her through his Son, there’s nothing she can do to make God love her any more or any less. Through Grampa Bear’s encouraging Little Cub to love others with a “God-sized love,” children will be inspired to love others and to be patient, gentle and kind, so that in every way, they too can demonstrate God’s love.

Again, in God Gave Us Christmas the author explains the meaning of Christmas through the cute polar bear family. The story flows very well, answering common questions without making it seem like a big deal. I love books that don't cram the Christian message down my throat -- or down kids' throats -- but introduce it gently and naturally. The illustrations are fabulous and "soft".

You can buy it here:

http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781400071753

Summary

In God Gave Us Christmas, as Little Cub and her family prepare to celebrate the most special day of the year, the curious young polar bear has something on her mind: “Who invented Christmas?” she asks. “Is God more important than Santa?”

Her questions reflect the confusion of so many children during the holiday season. And this heartwarming story takes them on a wonderful journey of discovery—right to the heart of Christmas.

Through Mama’s gentle guidance, Little Cub learns that God loves her and everyone— polar bear, moose, or human—so much that he gave us Jesus, the very best gift of all.

Lisa Tawn Bergren is the award-winning author of nearly thirty titles, totaling more than 1.5 million books in print. She writes in a broad range of genres, from adult fiction to devotional. God Gave Us Love follows in Lisa’s classic tradition of the best-selling God Gave Us You. She lives in Colorado, with her husband, Tim, and their children, Olivia, Emma, and Jack.

These books were provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

I Couldn't Have Said It Better Myself

2009-11-29T18:38:00.003-06:00

This article will blow your mind:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/15/opinion/15friedman.html?scp=8&sq=thomas%20l%20friedman&st=cse

The Little Things

2009-11-25T10:23:00.003-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone! I've been thinking of all the reasons I have to be grateful. This 15 minute exercise turned into several hours. Of course, I'm thankful for friends, family, health, finances, pets, a job . . . but then I started thinking of the little things. When was the last time you realized you were grateful for fluoride and dental floss? Kleenex? Sunshine? Clean water? Access to competant medical care? Tylenol? Good books to read and the libraries that loan them for free? Gasoline? Freedom of speech? Not being hungry, shoeless or homeless? When is the last time you were grateful for life itself?

The Blind Side

2009-11-23T09:10:00.003-06:00

We went to see The Blind Side this weekend. Really a great movie -- it made you laugh (a lot), it made you think, it was heartwarming, and it didn't manipulate you into crying (which I appreciate since most feel good movies are also cheesy in this regard). Honestly, I think it was the best movie I've seen in years!

The best line of the movie still has me laughing: "Honey, who would think we'd have a black son before we'd know a Democrat?!"

After living in the South all these years, I can tell you that comment's not an exaggeration! Go see the movie -- it's well worth it!

Garbage -- Change the World

2009-11-19T10:12:00.003-06:00

It's been awhile since I've passed on Reduce Footprints' weekly Change the World Challenge. This week's challenge fits nicely with a statistic I just collected last night from my co-op magazine:

Over five million tons of EXTRA garbage is generated between Thanksgiving and Christmas. EXTRA garbage! UGH

Reduce Footprints says this:

"This week's challenge is about raising our awareness. It comes from one of our newest readers, River221, a 13-year old whose Geography teacher asked the class to try this out. Here's how it goes:

This week, collect your garbage rather than toss it out. Continue to compost and recycle, but rather than take your bag of "real" garbage to the dumpster or put it out for collection ... keep it. At the end of the week, take a look at how much you've collected and consider ways to reduce it. This should truly open our eyes to the amount of waste in our lives."

I can tell you that our office only puts out one bag of trash a month. Our household does about a bag every two weeks. I'm sure we'd cut that in half if we composted, but I just can't seem to work it into my life right now with everything else going on.

So gather your garbage and see what you can do to improve -- at your home and workplace!

Scary Factoid

2009-11-17T11:57:00.002-06:00

247 billion emails are sent each day. That’s one email every 0.00000035 seconds.

Is it any wonder our days aren't long enough?

White Picket Fences Winner

2009-11-13T10:29:00.002-06:00

Congratulations to Wanda of Winnipeg, Manitoba, our winner of White Picket Fences by Susan Meissner. This was a fabulous book! Thanks to everyone who entered; please check back for more reviews and give aways.

Got Peace?

2009-11-12T14:32:00.003-06:00

Bill Porter wrote a book entitled Road to Heaven concerning his search for Taoist and Buddhist hermits in the Chungnan mountains in China in 1989. In this book, Porter remembers a Chinese saying, “The small hermit lives on a mountain. The great hermit lives in a town.”

Recently I was listening to a teaching series by Graham Cooke and he was talking about finding peace in God. He said retreating into the quiet place with God is a skill learned through discipline. He further said no matter what his circumstances or where he is, he can become peaceful in under 5 seconds.

I struggle to find perfect peace, what the Bible refers to as “shalom shalom” in the most ideal circumstances!

Porter goes on to recall a conversation with a monk. The monk was asked, “Is it a good place because it’s quiet?” and the monk replied, “If people are quiet, they can be quiet anywhere.”

I also recall a book (Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbers) where the author was discussing her time in Indonesia. She said mothers of young children would take their kids to the doctor (a type of medicine man) if the kids were too hyperactive. She said by American standards, these “hyperactive” kids were practically comatose because they would sit quietly with their mothers for hours waiting to be seen. But the locals thought the inability to sit and be quiet was sign of a serious illness and disorder – to be honest, I agree.

So I pursue peace . . . peace in God, the ability to be quiet, to rest, to listen. I don’t always succeed, but I try.

REMEMBER: I have one copy of White Picket Fences by Susan Meissner I'm giving away tomorrow. To enter the random drawing, send your mailing address to seewhykinsman@gmail.com. The winner will be drawn tomorrow, Friday, November 13th. Good luck.

White Picket Fences -- Book Review

2009-11-09T09:20:00.001-06:00

Susan Meissner's new book White Picket Fences is one of the better books I've read in a long time. I find myself thinking about it over a week after I finished it . . . and when I read the last chapter, it actually brought me to tears. Not the one drop falling down your cheek kind of cry, but a "good cry" that lasted several minutes.

White Picket Fences is the story of a seemingly perfect family . . . which is anything but perfect. The members of this family have to learn to trust each other with their secrets, their feelings, their fears. The secondary theme of this book is the Holocaust -- the teens of this book interview two survivors of a concentration camp as a school project and unearth yet another family secret.

Since this is the second Meissner book I've read and really enjoyed, I even bookmarked her web page to my "favorite authors" page. I strongly recommend this book.

GIVEAWAY
I'm happy to announce I have one free copy of White Picket Fences to give away. To enter the random drawing, please send your name and mailing address to seewhykinsman@gmail.com. The winner will be drawn on Friday, November 13, 2009.

You can purchase the book here: http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781400074570&ref=externallink_wbp_whitepicketfences_sec_0916_01

Below is the summary from the publisher.

Summary

Amanda Janvier’s idyllic home seems the perfect place for her niece Tally to stay while her vagabond brother is in Europe, but the white picket fence life Amanda wants to provide is a mere illusion. Amanda’s husband Neil refuses to admit their teenage son Chase, is haunted by the horrific fire he survived when he was four, and their marriage is crumbling while each looks the other way.

Tally and Chase bond as they interview two Holocaust survivors for a sociology project, and become startlingly aware that the whole family is grappling with hidden secrets, with the echoes of the past, and with the realization that ignoring tragic situations won’t make them go away.

Readers of emotional dramas that are willing to explore the lies that families tell each other for protection and comfort will love White Picket Fences. The novel is ideal for those who appreciate exploring questions like: what type of honesty do children need from their parents, or how can one move beyond a past that isn’t acknowledged or understood? Is there hope and forgiveness for the tragedies of our past and a way to abundant grace?

Author Bio

Susan Meissner cannot remember a time when she wasn’t driven to put her thoughts down on paper. Her novel The Shape of Mercy was a Publishers Weekly pick for best religious fiction of 2008 and a Christian Book Award finalist. Susan and her husband live in Southern California, where he is a pastor and a chaplain in the Air Force Reserves. They are the parents of four grown children.

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Surprise! Surprise! Surprise!

2009-11-04T15:46:00.003-06:00

I can say, honestly and gleefully, "My husband is NOT the man I married!"

Today he called to say, "Hey! I got off work early today and just went to the bank. Now I'm going home to mow the lawn, but there's a big Red Cross trailer parked next to the bank. Do you want me to go donate blood?"

Of course, I said, "Yes! Absolutely!"

So he donated blood today for the first time. Spontaneously. Out of the blue. Just because it's the right thing to do.

He's been doing a lot of that lately. He's becoming quite the spokesperson for environmentalism and animal rights. He's donating to charity. He's giving blood.

I not only love the man my husband is becoming, I really LIKE him, too!

World Vegan Day!

2009-10-30T13:38:00.003-05:00

World Vegan Day is Sunday, November 1st! You can read more about it here: http://www.worldveganday.org/

Why not take the extra hour you gained as a result of Daylight Savings Time ending and whip up an easy risotto? Do something good for the environment, your body and animals around the world.

Below is my favorite risotto recipe so far:

Vegetable Risotto

Classic risotto is made with an Italian short grain rice — arborio rice – simmered and constantly stirred, so it slowly absorbs the cooking liquid, resulting in a creamy, delicious dish.
2 c sliced fresh mushrooms (button, portabella, crimini — your choice)
½ c onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 Tbs olive oil
1 cup Arborio rice
3 c vegetable broth (1 c reserved)
3/4 c broccoli pieces
3/4 c fresh tomato, remove seeds and dice
1/4 c shredded carrot
3 Tbs basil
2 Tbs parsley
Cook onion, garlic and mushrooms until tender, but not brown. Bring fresh veggies to a boil in 2 cups veggie broth. Add rice and cook until liquid is absorbed, stirring constantly, add 1 cup broth and stir another 15 minutes. Stir in carrots and tomato. Cook until rice is creamy and just tender; stir in basil and parsley and serve. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Be a Hero This Halloween -- Feed Minds

2009-10-29T09:44:00.004-05:00

Kids in America collect 3 billion pieces of candy each Halloween. Be a hero this Halloween and feed minds instead. Check out this site: http://booksfortreats.org/

Book Reviews: Wisdom Hunter and Shadow Government

2009-10-26T13:00:00.000-05:00

Wisdom Hunter by Randall Arthur follows the life of a “hellfire and brimstone” preacher who, eventually, comes to realize the love and grace of God and the error of his legalistic, intolerant, know-it-all ways. He undergoes a series of crushing traumas that cause him to question everything he’s ever been taught (and subsequently taught others) including the existence of God. Eventually, he is reconciled with God with a more clear and valid theology and a more loving nature and his beliefs are strong and unshakable because of the depth of his questioning. Unfortunately, I grew up with a pastor such as the “before” version of this main character so I identified well with the book.

I also had the opportunity to take the “plank” out of my own eye before worrying about my brother’s splinter. There are times that I get too judgmental over the “right” or “wrong” doctrine when, in fact, some things are non-negotiable, but a good many are unknowable. This book does a great job gently and kindly bringing you back to the truth of the Bible versus the cultural spin we put on scripture and call it the truth. I think just about everyone needs a reminder of this now and then.

Wisdom Hunter was a great, fictional story of spiritual maturity, repentance, forgiveness, mercy, grace and restoration. Also hard to miss is the theme that when we try to control our own lives, our circumstances eventually spin out control, but when we surrender to God’s ways and God’s timing, he never forsakes us.

I would strongly recommend Wisdom Hunter as an excellent read with fiction that easily translates into spiritual reality.

Unfortunately, I don't have any copies of this book to give away, but you can buy the book here:
http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781601422996&ref=externallink_mlt_wisdomhunter_sec_0908_01
Here't the summary from the publisher:

Pastor Jason Faircloth knows what he believes. His clear faith, in fact, is why he is one of the most prominent pastors in Atlanta. He relies on it to discipline his daughter, his wife, his church. He prays daily that others would come to see God’s ways as he does.

And it is about to cost him everything.

Groping for answers in the face of tragedy, Jason begins a search for the only family he has left: the granddaughter kept hidden from him. Soon he finds himself on an international adventure that will take him straight into the depths of his soul. He is determined not to fail again.

A fast-paced suspense novel rich in spiritual depth, Wisdom Hunter explores what it means to break free of Christian legalism—and discover why grace can mean the difference between life and death.

Shadow Government by Grant Jeffrey discusses the technological age of the 21st Century, the “flattening” of the world with the spread of globalization, changes to modern governments and politics and how this all merges with up end-times prophecy and the ability of the Antichrist to rule the world. While I do agree that Big Brother is a real threat to our personal freedoms and that modern institutions do have a number of factors in place to align with Biblical prophecy, I thought Shadow Government was a little paranoid and far fetched in some areas. The points raised by Grant Jeffrey are certainly ones we should think about, but I didn’t find the book entirely credible to take all its claims at face value.

I don't have any copies of this book to give away, but you can buy the book here:
http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781400074426&ref=externallink_wbp_shadowgovernment_sec_0908_01
Here's the summary from the publisher:

Security cameras, surveillance of private financial transactions, radio frequency spy chips hidden in consumer products, eavesdropping on e-mail correspondence and phone calls, and Internet tracking. No one is protected, and privacy is a thing of the past.

An ultra-secret global elite, functioning as a very real shadow government, controls technology, finance, international law, world trade, political power, and vast military capabilities. These unnamed, unrivaled leaders answer to no earthly authority, and they won’t stop until they control the world.

In Shadow Government, prophecy expert Grant Jeffrey removes the screen that, up to now, has hidden the work of these diabolical agents. Jeffrey reveals the biblical description of Satan’s global conquest and identifies the tools of technology that the Antichrist will use to rule the world.

Readers will have their eyes opened to the real power that is working behind the scenes to destroy America and merge it into the coming global government. Armed with this knowledge, readers will be equipped to face spiritual darkness with the light of prophetic truth.

These books were provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Pack Your Own Bags!

2009-10-21T13:00:00.000-05:00

I thought I'd share a piece of wisdom from Graham Cooke's A Way in the Wilderness:

There's a difference between luggage and baggage. When you go on vacation, you pack your own LUGGAGE. You are excited and happy and you look forward to the process. You fill it with your favorite things -- the things that make you look and feel good, the things that make you comfortable. And you always leave room to bring something back.

BAGGAGE is always packed by someone else and it makes you feel terrible about yourself. It's the lies other people have said about you -- the life they've given you -- that's heavy and destructive and hurtful.

We need to stop carrying around our baggage. We need to leave it at the cross (the execution stake). We don't want to just empty it out -- we want to leave the whole mess there, bags and all, and burn it!

We pack our luggage with God. God is never past/present with us; He's always present/future with us. We pack our luggage and LEAVE ROOM TO BRING SOMETHING BACK (the future version of us we will become).

Fun Fall Reading -- Book Reviews

2009-10-20T16:29:00.008-05:00

Leaving Carolina by Tamara Leigh is "Sweet Home Alabama" all over again. Luckily, I loved the Reese Witherspoon movie so I enjoyed Leaving Carolina. In Leaving Carolina, the main character leaves her past and her hometown in the South when she runs away to the big city, changes her name and loses her accent. More than a decade later, circumstances force her to return home where she has to face the demons from her childhood . . . and possibly discovers romance while she’s at it. Leaving Carolina is a fun, light read with a theme of healing childhood wounds, forgiveness and finding your authentic self.

Unfortunately, I don't have a copy of this book to give away, but you can buy it here:
http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?isbn=9781601421661

Summary:

Piper Wick left her hometown of Pickwick, North Carolina, twelve years ago, shook the dust off her feet, ditched her drawl and her family name, and made a new life for herself as a high-powered public relations consultant in LA. She’s even “engaged to be engaged” to the picture-perfect U.S. Congressman Grant Spangler.

Now all of Piper’s hard-won happiness is threatened by a reclusive uncle’s bout of conscience. In the wake of a health scare, Uncle Obadiah Pickwick has decided to change his will, leaving money to make amends for four generations’ worth of family misdeeds. But that will reveal all the Pickwicks’ secrets, including Piper’s.

Though Piper arrives in Pickwick primed for battle, she is unprepared for Uncle Obe’s rugged, blue-eyed gardener. So just who is Axel Smith? Why does he think making amends is more than just making restitution? And why, oh why, can’t she stay on task? With the Lord’s help, Piper is about to discover that although good PR might smooth things over, only the truth will set her free.

Limelight by Melody Carson is the story of an 80-something lady who was rich and famous – in all the worst ways -- but must learn to live like “normal” people when her wealth disappears. In doing so, she comes to realize what’s important in life, come to peace with her past and is able to reconcile a number of her relationships. I enjoyed this book, although I have to admit the main character took a little long to “gain perspective”. I say this because her attitude set my teeth on edge so much, I wondered how long I could stand to listen to her whining before she finally “got over it.” I’ll say this for Melody Carson: she paints a very funny picture. Some of the scenarios the protagonist goes through before seeing the light are hilarious! This is a good, light read.

You can buy the book here (no giveaway copy):
http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?isbn=9781400070824

Summary:
Claudette Fioré used to turn heads and break hearts. She relished the glamorous Hollywood lifestyle because she had what it takes: money, youth, fame, and above all, beauty. But age has withered that beauty, and a crooked accountant has taken her wealth, leaving the proud widow penniless and alone.
Armed with stubbornness and sarcasm, Claudette returns to her shabby little hometown and her estranged sister. Slowly, she makes friends. She begins to see her old life in a new light. For the first time, Claudette Fioré questions her own values and finds herself wondering if it’s too late to change.

Melody Carson knows the heart and mind of a teenager. I recently read her book, What Matters Most (Book 3, Diary of a Teenage Girl series, Maya) and was amazed by (1) how little high school has changed since I left many moons ago; and (2) how hard it is to negotiate the emotional, social and sexual obstacle course of the teen years. I still remember every awful thing about high school and you couldn’t pay me enough to do it again. But if I had a friend like Melody Carson, I might survive a little better. I found her book to be realistic (oh so realistic) and her wholesome “advice by example of her characters” well received since it’s not preachy and offers practical guidelines for how to behave. Of course, I love the fact that Maya is an environmentalist and her "green tips" are posted throughout the book. Based on my reading of this one book, I would strongly recommend the series to anyone with a pre-teen or teenage girl.

You can buy the book here (no give away copy):
http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?isbn=9781601421197

Summary:
Maya’s Green Tip for the Day: Recycled fashion is one of the most fun ways to go green. A pair of jeans could be transformed into a denim skirt. A sweater into a vest. A bunch of old ties into a dress. A blanket into a poncho. Accessorize it in new way–with beads, buttons, appliqués, buckles, stencils, or ribbons…your imagination is only the limit. (65 words)

Sixteen-year-old Maya Stark has a lot to sort through. She could graduate from high school early if she wants to. She’s considering it, especially when popular cheerleader Vanessa Hartman decides to make her life miserable–and Maya’s ex-boyfriend Dominic gets the wrong idea about everything.

To complicate matters even more, Maya’s mother will be released from prison soon, and she’ll want Maya to live with her again. That’s a disaster waiting to happen. And when Maya plays her dad’s old acoustic guitar in front of an audience, she discovers talents and opportunities she never expected. Faced with new options, Maya must choose between a “normal” life and a glamorous one. Ultimately, she has to figure out what matters most.

These books were provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

2009-10-19T10:19:00.003-05:00

I've been listening to an 8 disk teaching series by Graham Cooke entitled, "A Way in the Wilderness". He talks about the lessons God teaches us as we go through "wilderness experiences". Graham teaches to love the "valleys" even more than the mountain top experiences because it's in the times of God's hiddenness that we really learn the lessons of how God thinks. If we can live by faith in the wilderness, we can do anything.

Alan Redpath once said, "There is nothing, no circumstance, no trouble, no testing that can ever touch me until, first of all, it has come past God and past Christ, right through to me. If it has come that far, it has come with a great purpose."

A lot of people I know and love, myself included, are going through wilderness times right now. It's hard. It's unpleasant. It's especially draining when the battles last months or years.

But I have a feeling. A teeny, tiny feeling in the bottom of my heart that a lot of these long, long wilderness times are about to be over. I think we're almost at the end of the valley and starting the climb to the mountaintop.

I hope I've learned well the lessons intended for me.

Mixed Messages

2009-10-15T12:30:00.004-05:00

Gandhi said, "My life is my message."

Think about the message you want your life to convey: your priorities, the type of person you are, what you value, the image of how you perceive yourself.

Now think about what message you send in how you live your life?

Do they match up?

Probably not. Don't take that as a scathing criticism; mine doesn't either.

The important question is, "Now what are you going to do about it?!"

To read more, visit today's post on Zen Habits entitled Life is Poetry.

Blog with a Purpose

2009-10-12T12:31:00.004-05:00

Today is Blog Action Day, the day when bloggers all over the world blog about a common topic. The timely topic for 2009 (how's that for alliteration?!) is Climate Change. You can read more about Blog Action Day here.

So what can you as an individual do about Climate Change? The single greatest thing you can do is write your elected officials on all levels and vote for those politicians who support environmentally sound practices. There are a million little things each of us can and SHOULD do every single day to support green living, but when a global sized problem exists, global sized solutions are required and the only way to do that is on a large political scale. Read Hot, Flat and Crowded by Thomas L. Friedman for a detailed explanation on what can be done if only we had politicians in office willing to tackle climage change in a meaningful way.

Book Giveaway Winner

2009-10-09T11:28:00.002-05:00

Congratulations to Pam of Boulder, Colorado, our winner of John Bevere's new book Extraordinary. Thanks to everyone who entered. Please check back for more reviews and give aways.

I Couldn't Have Said It Better Myself

2009-10-07T14:37:00.003-05:00

If you've been reading my blog at all, you know I'm a huge fan of New York Times columnist and best selling author several times over, Thomas L. Friedman. I recently caught up on reading his column. Here's another case where I Couldn't Have Said It Better Myself!

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/27/opinion/27friedman.html

Change the World

2009-10-07T14:26:00.003-05:00

Here's Reduce Footprint's Wednesday Change the World Challenge:

Put on your walking shoes because this week we're going to walk ... not just idle walking ... we're going to clean as we go. Yep, this week, please go for a walk ... at least once ... and pick up litter as you go. If you're feeling ambitious, go every day. Once you've got your bag of litter, recycle what can be recycled before tossing the rest in the trash bin.

Isn't that a great challenge? Not only will we get some exercise and breathe in some fresh, fall air ... we'll be cleaning up trash as we go. We can all agree that litter is an eye-sore ... but if you're wondering why litter is bad for the environment, read about it HERE.

My mom and I do this all the time. Don't underestimate the influence you have on people. When we started walking our subdivision picking up trash, we were the only ones. Now several other neighbors do, too, and one told us we inspired her. I'd like to think that anyone who sees us, whether they're driving by or looking out their windows, might think twice the next time they litter or walk past someone else's litter. Tip: keep a set of garbage bags next to your walking shoes so you don't forgot to take them with you.

Book Review and Giveaway

2009-10-02T14:29:00.003-05:00

Extraordinary, The Life You're Meant to Live, by John Bevere is an excellent foundations book. Unfortunately, in these times, its message probably contains foundational teaching that a lot of seasoned believers should know, but don't . . . or don't apply it to their lives. Basically, John Bevere challenges you out of your spiritual mediocrity and into a life where you are sanctified, set apart unto God, and, thus, able to move in the full power, promise, blessing and authority promised by God. We get in this rut of thinking, "I can't do great things. Only the first century giants like Paul and John could do such things." Or, "I'm just a sinner, forgiven, but warring every day without progress against the flesh." Extraordinary teaches those beliefs are false -- and shows you how to live life better -- as God intended.

I really enjoyed this book overall. Unfortunately, a few of Bevere's scriptural interpretations were off base (in my opinion), but I'm quite sure I don't have it all right either! This was a good book with a relevant message for all believers, new and seasoned alike.

I have one copy of Extraordinary to give away. To enter the random drawing, just e-mail your name and mailing address to seewhykinsman@gmail.com. The winner will be drawn on Friday, October 9th. Good luck!

You can purchase the book here:

http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780307457721&ref=externallink_wbp_extraordinary_sec_0817_01

Below is the summary from the publisher:

Summary:

There’s a question that troubles many believers: “Why am I not experiencing more joy, more hope, more satisfaction, more intimacy, more power, more everything in my Christian life--didn’t Jesus promise that?”

He did promise an abundant life, but too many people are trapped by the curse of “the ordinary.” They have accepted the wrong idea that following God means losing individuality, creativity, and a passion for achieving lofty goals.

Nothing could be further from the truth! John Bevere builds a convincing case, straight from Scripture, for a way of living marked by extraordinary experiences and accomplishments—the life God always intended for his children.

Here is a guide to understanding God’s incredible plans, and how to enjoy a life where he adds the “extra” to “ordinary.”

Author Bio:

John Bevere is an internationally popular conference speaker, teacher, and author of bestsellers, including The Bait of Satan, Drawing Near, and Driven by Eternity. His award-winning curriculum and books have been translated in over sixty languages and his weekly television program, The Messenger, is broadcast around the world. John and his wife, Lisa—also a bestselling author and speaker—reside with their family in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Visit his ministry website at www.messengerinternational.org.

Clutter

2009-10-02T14:07:00.004-05:00

Last night I read something in Vegetarian Times that has captured my thoughts. An actress being interviewed said that she and her husband decluttered by each choosing one item from their house every day for 30 days to get rid of. Also, if they wanted to bring a new item in, they had to dispose of one additional item. How marvelous! Imagine if everyone in your household got rid of one item every day for 30 days. Preferably, the items would be donated, sold or recycled rather than trashed. For a family of 5, that's 150 items! Think of how much stress those items would represent. Think of how much work (cleaning, storing). Think of how much SPACE you'd gain.

Chop Chop

2009-09-30T08:43:00.004-05:00

I read a statistic yesterday that I've read many times in the past, but it never ceases to blow me away:
In China alone, 25 million trees are made into chopsticks every year.

Below is the Ideal Bite article to read. Definitely check out the links. I was intrigued by the Kwytza Recycled Chopstick Art page -- great products for yourself or others!

http://www.idealbite.com/tiplibrary/archives/chopstick-shop

I Couldn't Have Said It Better Myself!

2009-09-23T16:11:00.003-05:00

Once again, I couldn't have said it better myself. Please enjoy this New York Times article by Thomas L. Friedman, "Real Men Tax Gas":

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/20/opinion/20friedman.html?_r=1

Inspiration

2009-09-22T13:10:00.002-05:00

Yesterday was the International Day of Peace as designated by the United Nations. While this day centers around ending war and human atrocities, I'd like to remind everyone of the following wise words:

The most violent weapon on earth is the table fork. —Mahatma Gandhi

If God is Good

2009-09-21T13:33:00.003-05:00

We have all asked the question and probably more than once, "If God is good, then why . . ." Why is there suffering? Why is there unfairness? Why is their illness? Why is there death? Job loss? Divorce? Sexual abuse? War?

Many books have tried to answer this age old question. Some authors use this question to "prove" that God doesn't exist. Some say God does exist, but he doesn't have the power to work miracles in the face of free will. Some say God has the power to do anything, but isn't entirely benevolent and, therefore, allows evil to exist. Some say God created the world, but then lets it run on its own and doesn't get involved with the day-to-day workings.

In his new book If God Is Good, Randy Alcorn attempts to answer this question in a scholarly and comprehensive manner. His book is very lengthy, detailed and attempts to leave no scriptural stone unturned or facet of the question unanswered. This book is an excellent resource for counselors, pastors, caregivers, and anyone who wants to help someone who's hurting. I wouldn't necessarily recommend it for someone in the midst of turmoil unless that person is the type who needs to process grief through intellectual undertaking. Because the book is so detailed and long, I can't imagine someone in the throes of trauma having the wherewithal to cull through it. However, since we all go through difficult times at one point or another, it's an excellent book to read so that your faith and understanding are more fleshed out when the time comes for you to undergo a situation that raises the question, "If God is good, then why . . . ?"

Unfortunately, I don't have a free copy of this book to give away. However, you can buy it here:

http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781601421326

Summary:

Every one of us will experience suffering. Many of us are experiencing it now. As we have seen in recent years, evil is real in our world, present and close to each one of us.

In such difficult times, suffering and evil beg questions about God--Why would an all-good and all-powerful God create a world full of evil and suffering? And then, how can there be a God if suffering and evil exist?

These are ancient questions, but also modern ones as well. Atheists such as Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, and even former believers like Bart Ehrman answer the question simply: The existence of suffering and evil proves there is no God.

In this captivating new book, best-selling author Randy Alcorn challenges the logic of disbelief, and brings a fresh, realistic, and thoroughly biblical insight to the issues these important questions raise.

Alcorn offers insights from his conversations with men and women whose lives have been torn apart by suffering, and yet whose faith in God burns brighter than ever. He reveals the big picture of who God is and what God is doing in the world–now and forever. And he equips you to share your faith more clearly and genuinely in this world of pain and fear.

As he did in his best-selling book, Heaven, Randy Alcorn delves deep into a profound subject, and through compelling stories, provocative questions and answers, and keen biblical understanding, he brings assurance and hope to all.

Book Giveaway Winners

2009-09-21T13:30:00.002-05:00

Congratulations to Julie of Norfolk, Virginia, and Eliana of Madison, Wisconsin, our winners of Kiss Me Again by Barbara Wilson. Thanks to everyone who entered.

Book Giveaway Winner

2009-09-18T10:19:00.002-05:00

Congratulations to Wanda of Winnipeg, Manitoba, our winner of Bruce Wilkinson's new book, You Were Born for This.

Remember, there's still time to enter the drawing for Kiss Me Again by Barbara Wilson; the winner will be announced Monday.

Book Review

2009-09-15T10:00:00.000-05:00

Kiss Me Again by Barbara Wilson is for women who have lost the intimacy in their marriage due to the baggage of their sexual history. I think this book can be very helpful to a lot of women; however, I don't believe that sexual history is the only reason women lose intimacy in marriage.

By the time most women come to marriage, they have had one or more previous romantic experience, sexual or not, and those bonds, hurts, experiences, perhaps sexual sins, etc., can have a cummulative effect on a woman's marriage and the intimacy of marriage. I admit that I've often told my husband I wish I would have met him before I was hurt multiple times -- I would have been less jaded, more giving, less protective, more hopeful, and, generally, a better wife. So I can certainly see how many women's romantic and sexual histories would have a negative effect on intimacy in their marriages.

Barbara Wilson gives step by step instructions for healing the wounds caused by sexual and romantic history and uses a lot of examples (many personal) demonstrating her points. Her book is easy to understand and engaging. I can certainly see how her book would heal a lot of marriages and would recommend it.

GIVE AWAY: I have two copies of Kiss Me Again by Barbara Wilson to give away. To enter the random drawing, e-mail your name and mailing address to seewhykinsman@gmail.com. The winner will be drawn Monday, September 21st. Good luck!

To buy the book, go to www.amazon.com or your favorite bookseller.

Summary:

Do you ever wonder why marriage can seem like the end of intimacy and sexual desire instead of the beginning?

Ever wonder why it was so hard to resist sex before marriage—and so easy to resist it now? If so, you’re not alone! Many married women genuinely want to feel more desire toward their husbands…and can’t figure out what went wrong. But there’s good news. In Kiss Me Again, Barbara Wilson shows how powerful “invisible bonds” from past relationships can cause heartache, disappointment, and distance for couples in the present. Then—with sensitivity, honesty, and hope—Barbara walks you step by step toward healing…and a rekindling of the closeness and passion with your husband that you really want.

You don’t have to live any longer with confusion, disappointment, resentment, or shame. You can rediscover desire. You can say Wow! again.

With assessment tools, write-in exercises, and gentle guidance, Kiss Me Again offers a biblical plan for rekindling the closeness and passion women long for in marriage. Because no past is beyond the reach of God’s healing touch.

In Kiss Me Again, Wilson:

· Shares her own story of healing and renewed desire

· Helps women forgive themselves and their husbands for past choices

· Shows readers how to break free from “invisible bonds”

· Explains God’s plan for helping a husband and wife to re-bond

· Includes conversation helps for both wives and their husbands

· Helps couples reignite the passion that they thought was lost

Author Bio:

Barbara Wilson is the author of The Invisible Bond and former director of sexual health education for the Alternatives Pregnancy Resource Center in Sacramento. She speaks nationwide to youth and adults with her message of sexual healing, and she teaches frequently in the women’s ministry at the multi-campus Bayside Church in Northern California. Barbara and her husband, Eric, have been married for twenty-eight years.

Book Review

2009-09-14T14:45:00.005-05:00

You Were Born for This by Bruce Wilkinson is a book most believers need to read. Many believers I know pray without expecting answers from God and actually seem shocked in the event He answers. This is not what God intends. Further, I wonder how we ever got to the point where we stopped expecting God to do miracles in our lives.

Bruce Wilkinson tackles this head on in You Were Born for This. He discusses in clear and practical terms how we can live every day ready to be God's agent for performing miracles, and expect them in our own lives as well. I found this book to be somewhat similar, in concept at least, to Henry Blackaby's Experiencing God series -- that God desires to accomplish His will and perform miracles, He chooses to use people to accomplish His will, and if we will be willing to listen and obey, God can and will habitually deliver miracles through us. If all believers would start to practice the principles taught in You Were Born for This, I think revival would come to the world because miracles would be widespread.

GIVE AWAY: I have one copy of You Were Born for This by Bruce Wilkinson to give away. To enter the random drawing, please e-mail your name and mailing address to me at seewhykinsman@gmail.com. The winner will be chosen Friday, September 18th.

To buy the book, click on the link below:

http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781601421821&ref=externallink_mlt_youwerebornforthis_sec_0728_01

Summary:

His New York Times phenomenon The Prayer of Jabez changed how millions pray. Now Bruce Wilkinson wants to change what they do next.

Anyone can do a good deed, but some good works can only happen by a direct intervention from God. Around the world these acts are called miracles—not that even religious people expect to see one any time soon. But what would happen if millions of ordinary people walked out each morning expecting God to deliver a miracle through them to a person in need? You Were Born for This starts with the dramatic premise that everyone at all times is in need of a miracle, and that God is ready to meet those needs supernaturally through ordinary people who are willing to learn how Heaven works.

In the straightforward, story-driven, highly motivating style for which he is known, Wilkinson describes how anyone can help others experience miracles in such universally significant arenas of life as finances, practical help, relationships, purpose, and spiritual growth.

You Were Born for This will change how readers see their world, and what they expect God can do through them to meet real needs. They will master seven simple tools of service, and come to say with confidence, “I want to deliver a supernatural gift from God to someone in need today—and now I know how!”

Author Bios:

One of the world’s foremost Christian teachers, Bruce Wilkinson is best known as the author of the New York Times #1 bestseller The Prayer of Jabez. He is also the author of numerous other bestsellers, including A Life God Rewards, Secrets of the Vine, and The Dream Giver. Over the past three decades, Wilkinson has founded several global initiatives, including organizations that recruited and trained thousands of Americans to address hunger, AIDS, and poverty in Africa. Bruce and his wife, Darlene, have three children and six grandchildren. They live outside Atlanta.

David Kopp has collaborated with Bruce Wilkinson on over a dozen bestselling books, including The Prayer of Jabez. He is an editor and writer living in Colorado.

Book Giveaway Winners

2009-09-11T11:35:00.002-05:00

Congratulationns to Jen of Dallas, TX, and Lori of Pensacola, FL, our winners of Charlene Ann Baumbich's new book Stray Affections. Check back Monday for more reviews and giveaways.

There's No Such Thing as a Free Lunch

2009-09-10T12:49:00.002-05:00

We all have limited time (24 hours a day) and limited money (even Bill Gates has a limit -- a high limit, but a limit nonetheless). In fact, I can't really think of anything that doesn't have a limit. So why -- WHY do we think the earth's resources are unlimited?! GRRRR.

To read what has me in a huff, click here:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/10/science/10fish.html?no_interstitial

Reminder: Book Giveaway: I have TWO copies of Stray Affections by Charlene Ann Baumbich to give away tomorrow, September 11th. To enter the random drawing, please send your mailing address to seewhykinsman@gmail.com.

The Burden of Communication

2009-09-09T13:13:00.004-05:00

I think I've mentioned in the past that my husband is not originally from the United States. One of the biggest cultural differences that affect our marriages is communication. Obviously, communication is essential to a marriage!

In America, we put the burden of communication on the speaker -- it is the speaker's role to communicate his or her point well. If the audience doesn't understand, it is the speaker's job to communicate the point differently/better. In my husband's country, good communication is the burden of the listener. If you don't understand, it's your job to figure out what the speaker was trying to convey. (My obnoxious American attitude is to say, "Yeah, and how do I do that without making the speaker explain it better?!") Incidentally, these cultural differences are not just my opinion and observation, but supported by Malcolm Gladwell in his fascinating book, Blink.

Anyway, I read a quote about communication many, many weeks ago that I can't stop pondering:

"Human nature is such that if two people listen, each feels only half responsible for understanding, and if ten people are listening each feels responsible to be but one tenth." Yasutani Roshi, The Lectures from The Three Pillars of Zen.

HMMM. If that's true (and I feel it is based on careful observation), what does that say for any lecture, sermon, homily, class, etc.?

Stray Affections

2009-09-07T09:53:00.004-05:00

This week's book is Stray Affections by Charlene Ann Baumbich. I have to confess, I didn't finish this book. Not because it wasn't good, but because I'm too soft hearted (or soft headed) to read it. The main character of the book talks in detail about her rescue dogs that were strays . . . even though there is a happy ending and it's fiction, I just could handle "stray dog" details. But, the book intrigued me and what I read of it I enjoyed (minus the dog details). I'm sure my blog readers are stronger stock and would enjoy this book immensely.

Here is a video of the author talking about her book:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWwya52SkjU

Summary:

In Stray Affections, the last thing that Cassandra expects out of her Sunday is to be mesmerized at a collectors’ convention by a snowglobe. She’s enjoying some shopping time, with husband Ken at home tending their brood of four young boys, when she’s utterly charmed by the one-of-a kind globe containing figures of three dogs and a little girl with hair the color of her own. She can’t resist taking the unique globe home—even if means wrestling another shopper for it!

The beautiful snowglobe sparks long-dormant memories for Cassie, of her beloved Grandpa Wonky, the stray she rescued as a child and the painful roots of her combative relationship with her mother, “Bad Betty” Kamrowski. Life in Wanonishaw, Minnesota is never dull, though, and Cassie keeps the recollections at bay, busy balancing her boys, her home daycare operation, and being a good friend to best pal Margret. But after a strange—flurrious, as Cassie deems it—moment happens with the remarkable snowglobe, Cassie and the people she loves are swirled into a tumultuous, yet grace-filled, and life-changing journey.

“As a believer, I know the power of forgiveness and new beginnings, and of a God, and family and friends, who love me the way I am,” Charlene Ann Baumbich says. “The heartbeat of change flows through those wonderful gifts.”
With the quirky, close-knit Midwestern small-town feel that made Charlene Ann Baumbich’s acclaimed Dearest Dorothy novels so popular, Stray Affections invites readers to experience the laughter and the healing of second chances.

You can purchase the book here:
https://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780307444714

GIVE AWAY: I have two copies of Stray Affections to give away. To enter the random drawing, please send your name and mailing address to seewhykinsman@gmail.com. The winners will be drawn Friday, September 11th. Good luck!

Charlene Ann Baumbich is a popular author and speaker and an award-winning journalist. In addition to her Dearest Dorothy series of novels, she has written seven nonfiction books of humor and inspiration. A bungee-jumping, once motorcycle-owning grandma and unabashed dog lover, Charlene lives with her husband and rescued dog Kornflake in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. She loves telling stories, laughing whenever possible, and considers herself a Wild Child of God.

I'm Back . . . I Think

2009-09-06T08:49:00.003-05:00

I know I've been absent from the blogosphere for awhile. I could try to tell you what my life's been like lately, but I wonder if anyone would believe it! Anyway, I think I'm back and, in fact, will have a book review and giveaway tomorrow.

I've been missing the Change the World Challenges, but just wanted to comment on this week's challenge from Reduce Footprints. This week's challenge is to forego all manner of styrofoam containers. This reminds me of an episode of the TV sitcom, Murphy Brown. Murphy does a story on the environment that's so moving, everyone on the show vows not to do anything "ungreen" for a week. This was a progressive message in the late '80s and early '90s. Anyway, one night Murphy works late and is starving. She orders a sandwich delivered from the local bar, Phil's, and is dismayed when it's delivered in a styrofoam box. She struggles with the decision for several minutes, before refusing delivery of the sandwich.

That episode really stuck with me (obviously). So much so that a couple of months ago, I couldn't take the guilt that accompanied my doggie bag from a restaurant. Although I don't believe in wasting food, I also couldn't "stomach" the styrofoam take out container. The solution? I keep a bag of reusable Rubbermaid containers in my car (with my cloth grocery bags). Whenever I need a "to go" box from a restaurant, I get one out of my car and scrape my food into it.

The first time I used my containers, I was a little self conscious. When the waiter saw what I was doing, he informed me he and his wife have been doing the same thing when they go out for the last year! I felt like such a Johnny-come-lately. So now I'm not even remotely self-conscious about it. It just provides me with another opportunity to be an "ambassador for environmentalism". It gives me a chance to talk to the waitstaff, my dining companions or other patrons of the restaurant about green living in a non-judgmental way. Non-judgmental? Oh yeah, did I mention the Rubbermaid containers I use are bright pink with Hello Kitty on them ($1 for 2 at Target)? This not only attracts attention and starts conversations, but allows me to use humor and make fun of myself while getting the message out! ;-)

Melt Down Giveaway Winners!

2009-08-25T15:52:00.002-05:00

Congratulations to Gina in New Orleans, Louisiana, and Tami in Des Moines, Iowa, our winners of Chuck Holton's new book, Melt Down. Thanks to everyone who entered.

Feeling Frenzied? Stressed? Overwhelmed?

2009-08-24T12:52:00.002-05:00

I feel like someone turned a blender on in my chest and I'm so overwhelmed I don't know where to run first (quite frankly, I just want to crawl back into bed and hide). So when I ran across the prayer below in Joanna Weaver's book, Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World, I knew I had to share it.

And for those of you who are wondering, although the book is excellent, I still look like Martha on steroids and look little or nothing like Mary!

The Lord Is My Pace Setter

The Lord is my pace setter. I shall not rush
He makes me stop for quiet intervals
He provides me with images of stillness which restore my serenity
He leads me in the way of efficiency through calmness of mind and his guidance is peace
Even though I have a great many things to accomplish each day, I will not fret, for his presence is here
His timelessness, his all importance will keep me in balance
He prepares refreshment and renewal in the midst of my activity by anointing my mind with his oils of tranquility
My cup of joyous energy overflows
Truly harmony and effectiveness shall be the fruits of my hours for I shall walk in the pace of my Lord and dwell in his house forever.
(A version of the Twenty-third Psalm from Japan)

Having a Big Mouth CAN be a Plus!

2009-08-20T15:20:00.003-05:00

Recently I was directed to an article about how to spread the "green message" -- see the link at the bottom of this page. I have been doing this for years and want you to know it works. Recently, I was in a store and delivered my standard line: "Thanks, but I don't need a bag. It's just more for me to recycle." The clerk went OFF -- talking loud and long to me, other customers and her co-workers about how we definitely have too much waste in the world, we need to save resource, the environment, etc., etc. By the time she (and I) were through, we had gathered a crowd of nodding people. Another time when I delivered that line, I had a customer come back to the counter and say, "Yeah, come to think of it, you can take my bag back, too."

I didn't even realize how much I talk about the environment in passing until one day the owner of the Pack & Mail store I frequent often for my job said, "Well, I KNOW how much you recycle and, quite frankly, you made me feel so guilty that I am much more conscientious about it now because of you." I apologized for the guilt trip, but he assured me my conversation was perfectly fine -- he just felt convicted by my words and vowed to do better as a result. By the way, take any packing peanuts and other packing materials you receive to your local Pack & Mail, UPS store, etc. They will gladly reuse your packing materials -- it saves them money, saves their customers money, and saves the environment.

If you deliver your message with a smile or a bit of humor, I promise it will get across. However, the best lessons are taught by actions, not words. I've blogged before about the fact that when I am on my way to a store, I almost always grab an errant cart and pick up garbage on the way to the store (there are always garbage cans at store entrances). One day, a man who had seen me do this followed me through the store until he got enough courage to approach me. He said I had inspired him to do an unnoticed good deed as well and he'd look for an opportunity to do just that. I had no idea I was being watched and, while I don't pick up litter for the accolades, it does my heart good to know perhaps I'm having a positive influence on people. Maybe they won't pick up litter, but perhaps they'll think twice before they toss something on the ground.

Here's the article which inspired this post:
http://www.blogcatalog.com/search.frame.php?term=how+to+green+the+world+by+running+your+mouth&id=d5e2b6424ca35afe1e3eca2b8a35f635

Change The World Challenge

2009-08-19T15:41:00.004-05:00

Here's this week's challenge from Reduce Footprints:

This week, turn your trash bin into the smallest container in the house by starting a compost bin and/or a recycle bin.

Or, if you're already a composter and recycler, write a post about it. Include information on what works for you and what doesn't, tips on how to be successful at it, and perhaps why it's preferable over sending stuff to a landfill.

I recycle every little bitty thing. In fact, the other day my husband accidentally tossed a 1 1/2 x 2 inch post it note in the garbage and then jumped a foot when he heard the blood curdling shriek that involutarily escaped from my throat. He didn't even have to ask. His arm automatically swung an arc and plucked the paper out of the garbage can and into the recycling bin! However, although I've research composting extensively -- and harvesting worm castings myself -- I canNOT add one more thing to my to do list. However, may I recommend Rising Mist Organics, http://www.wackyworldsof.com/ for the best worm composting system on the market?! You may remember Rising Mist Organics from my post on buying vegan fertilizer -- worm castings!

Don't forget, Im giving away two copies of Chuck Holton's book, Meltdown. To enter the drawing, e-mail your name and mailing address to seewhykinsman@gmail.com. The winner will be drawn next Tuesday, August 25th. Good luck.

Military Adventure

2009-08-18T11:31:00.002-05:00

If you like 24, you’ll like Meltdown by Chuck Holton. Meltdown is the third book in the Task Force Valor series. This is a story of terrorism and the men and women who battle against it. It also is the story of soldier Bobby Sweeney's inner battles against God.

In Meltdown, a pretty CIA agent leads a military unit task force to try to stop a radioactive threat by terrorists in the Ukraine, and the threat could -- and does -- spread to the U.S. Although I thought the terrorism story was intersting, what I really enjoyed was the character relationships, especially Master Seargeant Bobby Sweeney. Sweeney grew up in a ultra conservative, religious right household that turned him off to God and religion entirely. Much to Sweeney's dismay, his brother and some of his military friends have come to know and love a more "grace-filled" God from his fire-and-brimstone childhood. Sweeney's battle against his loved ones' attempts to introduce him to this "kinder, gentler" God is as interesting as the task force's battle against terrorists.

Although I didn't always agree with the political agenda advanced by this author, I did enjoy Meltdown on the whole.

GIVEAWAY: I have two copies of Meltdown by Chuck Holton to give away. To enter the random drawing, send your name and mailing address to seewhykinsman@gmail.com. The winner will be picked next Tuesday, August 25th. Good luck!

Below are the links to buy this book and the summary from the publisher:

- www.Amazon.com

- www.ChristianBook.com

- www.FamilyChristian.com

TASK FORCE VALOR

Explosive Ordnance Disposal — The Bomb Squad

The global war on terror has reached catastrophic proportions, leading the U.S. Special Operations EOD team—Task Force Valor—to Chernobyl, where ghosts of past disasters are nothing compared to the nuclear nightmare about to unfold.

With CIA Agent Mary “Phoenix” Walker heading her first Special Ops mission and Master Sergeant Bobby Sweeney fighting demons on and off the battlefield, Task Force Valor races to stop a terrorist threat in the Ukraine before Europe is turned into a radioactive wasteland.

But when the terror reaches American shores, the team is powerless to help until they can save themselves. And when they finally track down the source of the chaos, what they find is worse than anything they could have imagined.

Chuck Holton has traveled the world, experienced combat, served in the Elite 75th Ranger Regiment, and is the author of six books, including Allah’s Fire, Island Inferno, Bulletproof, Stories From a Soldier’s Heart, and A More Elite Soldier. His journeys have taken him from the depths of the Atlantic, to the mountains of Burma, from the dogsleds of Alaska, to skies of Iraq. Chuck lives in Appalachia with his wife, Connie, and their five children.

Funny!

2009-08-17T14:50:00.003-05:00

This was on a t-shirt that made me laugh and laugh:

"Defend your right to arm bears."

Book Giveaway Winners

2009-08-14T11:53:00.002-05:00

Congratulations to Trudi of Foley, Alabama, our winner of Sarah Zacharias Davis' book The Friends We Keep and Andrea of Magnolia Springs, Alabama, winner of The Essentials of Effective Prayer bible study. This was too wild since I had lunch with both these fine ladies this past Wednesday. Random drawings are so random! Thanks to everyone who entered. Check back next week for another book review and giveaway.

Change the World

2009-08-13T14:32:00.004-05:00

This week's Change the World Challenge is this:

Most commercial cleaners, commonly available in stores today, contain harsh chemicals . . . many, of which, harm the environment. So this week, try an Eco-friendly cleaner . . . something that doesn't hurt the environment or us. For some suggestions, check here:

http://vegweb.com/index.php?board=614.0

http://reducefootprints.blogspot.com/2008/10/cleaning-environmentally-safe-way.html

http://www.ecocycle.org/hazwaste/recipes.cfm

OR,

If you only use Eco-friendly cleaners, share your favorite cleaner/recipe with us and talk about why it's your favorite.

Here's my recipe for the most amazing Oven Cleaner. I didn't think this would work, but it does. Just spray it on, wait an hour or two, and wipe clean the worst baked on mess!

2 tsp. Dawn
2 tsp. lemon juice
2 tsp. vinegar
2 tsp. Borax
2 quarts warm water

Book Giveaway and Winner

2009-08-11T09:26:00.003-05:00

Congratulations to Elaine of Orange Beach, Alabama, our winner of Cindy Woodsmall's The Hope of Refuge.

Remember, I'm giving away a copy of The Friends We Keep by Sarah Zacharias Davis and The Essentials of Effective Prayer Bible Study this Friday, August 14th. To enter the drawing for one or both books, please send your name and mailing address to seewhykinsman@gmail.com. Good luck!

Book Review and Giveaway

2009-08-10T09:00:00.001-05:00

Today’s book review features The Friends We Keep, A Woman’s Quest for the Soul of Friendship by Sarah Zacharias Davis.

It’s no secret that women need friendships – all women. We need to feel connected. We need support, love and understanding that men cannot satisfy. So why is it so hard for women to be TRUE friends? Why do women, especially in groups, tend to be catty, passive aggressive, judgmental, back-stabbing, and competitive? The Friends We Keep attempts to answer these questions. But rather than provide concrete answers, the author simply raises the questions, discusses them in detail and provides real life examples when women have succeeded, or, more often, failed to be genuine friends. Obviously, the answer to each of these questions resides only deep within in our hearts and minds . . . and it’s up to each of us to ferret out the answers and undertake to change the areas where we’re lacking. The hope is that if we can become the kinds of friends we desire, we will, in turn, attract like-minded women into our group. I really enjoyed The Friends We Keep; I only wish the book could have provided me the answers, and easy ones at that!

I have one copy The Friends We Keep by Sarah Zacharias Davis to give away. To enter the random drawing, please send your name and mailing address to seewhykinsman@gmail.com. The winner will be selected on Friday, August 14, 2009. I also have one copy of The Essentials of Effective Prayer Bible Study to give away (see below). You can enter for one or both of the books. Good luck.

Below is the summary from the publisher. You can purchase the book here:
http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780307446114

Summary

During a particularly painful time in her life, Sarah Zacharias Davis learned how delightful–and wounding–women can be in friendship. She saw how some friendships end badly, others die slow deaths, and how a chance acquaintance can become that enduring friend you need.

The Friends We Keep is Sarah’s thoughtful account of her own story and the stories of other women about navigating friendship. Her revealing discoveries tackle the questions every woman asks:

• Why do we long so for women friends?
• Do we need friends like we need air or food or water?
• What causes cattiness, competition, and co-dependency in too many friendships?
• Why do some friendships last forever and others only a season?
• How do I foster friendship?
• When is it time to let a friend go, and how do I do so?

With heartfelt, intelligent writing, Sarah explores these questions and more with personal stories, cultural references and history, faith, and grace. In the process, she delivers wisdom for navigating the challenges, mysteries, and delights of friendship: why we need friendships with other women, what it means to be safe in relationship, and how to embrace what a friend has to offer, whether meager or generous.

ALSO, YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN THE FOLLOWING:
The 40 Minute Bible Study series from beloved Bible teacher Kay Arthur and the teaching staff of Precept Ministries tackles important issues in brief, easy-to-grasp lessons you can use personally or for small-group discussion. Each book in the series includes six 40-minute studies designed to draw you into God’s Word through basic inductive Bible study. There are 16 titles in the series, with topics ranging from fasting and forgiveness to prayer and worship. With no homework required, everyone in the group can work through the lesson together at the same time. Let these respected Bible teachers lead you in a study that will transform your thinking—and your life.

Titles Include:
•The Essentials of Effective Prayer •Being a Disciple: Counting the Cost
•Building a Marriage That Really Works •Discovering What the Future Holds
•Forgiveness: Breaking the Power of the Past •Having a Real Relationship with God
•How Do You Walk the Walk and Talk the Talk? •Living a Life of Real Worship
•How to Make Choices You Won’t Regret •Living Victoriously in Difficult Times
•Money & Possessions: The Quest for Contentment •Rising to the Call of Leadership
•How Do You Know God’s Your Father? •Key Principles of Biblical Fasting
•A Man’s Strategy for Conquering Temptation •What Does the Bible Say About Sex?

Kay Arthur, executive vice president and cofounder of Precept Ministries International has worked with her teaching staff to create the powerful 40-Minute Bible Studies series. Kay is known around the world as a Bible teacher, author, conference speaker, and host of national radio and television programs.

Vegan Recipes -- Change the World Challenge

2009-08-07T10:01:00.004-05:00

Yesterday I passed along this week's Change the World Challenge -- to eat vegetarian or vegan for one whole day (or longer) and spread the word as much as possible.

If every person ate meat just a couple of times a week versus almost every meal, we could end world hunger. END IT! Eating vegan is healthier, cheaper, much better for the environment and, oh yeah, nothing needs to die. I'm not saying a vegan diet is for everyone, but even replacing one meat meal a week, makes a measurable difference. If you could repeat this challenge once a week, it would be great -- I'm convinced if you try it, you'll see it's not so hard.

To aid you in meeting the challenge, below are two of my favorite vegan recipes -- dessert first (yum!) and a delicious, easy, creamy risotto!

Vegan Brownies

Boil 1 cup water. When it’s boiling, take it off the burner and add 1/2 cup flour a little at a time, stirring constantly, until it’s thick and smooth. Cool well.

In a separate bowl, mix:
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla
3/4 cup cocoa
1 tsp. chocolate extract
1/2 cup vegetable oil (canola, etc.)
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 cup nuts, chopped — walnuts or peacans
1 cup chocolate chips (vegan, non-dairy)
Add water/flour mixture to above ingredients and beat well.
Then stir in 1 1/2 cups more flour and beat until smooth.
Put in 9×13 greased and floured pan and bake 25 minutes at 350 degrees/until a toothpick comes out clean from the center of the brownies.

Vegetable Risotto

Classic risotto is made with an Italian short grain rice — arborio rice – simmered and constantly stirred, so it slowly absorbs the cooking liquid, resulting in a creamy, delicious dish.
2 c sliced fresh mushrooms (button, portabella, crimini — your choice)
½ c onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 Tbs olive oil
1 cup Arborio rice
3 c vegetable broth (1 c reserved)
3/4 c broccoli pieces
3/4 c fresh tomato, remove seeds and dice
1/4 c shredded carrot
3 Tbs basil
2 Tbs parsley
Cook onion, garlic and mushrooms until tender, but not brown. Bring fresh veggies to a boil in 2 cups veggie broth. Add rice and cook until liquid is absorbed, stirring constantly, add 1 cup broth and stir another 15 minutes. Stir in carrots and tomato. Cook until rice is creamy and just tender; stir in basil and parsley and serve. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Change the World

2009-08-06T10:42:00.004-05:00

Here's the Change the World Challenge of the week. As a vegan, this one is near and dear to my heart. I've posted many articles about veganism and numerous recipes. BUT, I will address this further tomorrow.

If you eat animal products, then for one full day eat only meatless meals ... go vegetarian. Dairy products & eggs are permissible ... but no other animal products.

Or, if you are vegetarian full time ... then, for one full day, eat only vegan meals. No animal products whatsoever.

And finally, if you are vegan, full time, write an article about why meatless meals are good for the planet and perhaps include your favorite recipe.

So what do you think? Are you up for this one? If you need a little help, there are a few vegan recipes posted on Reduce Footprints ... just use the search engine at the top left of the page and insert the words "vegan recipe". And, I'll be posting another one on Friday.

Remember ... part of the challenge is to spread the word and get as many people as possible involved. For more information on how to do that ... and a little motivation, stop by and see our friend, Thomas ... he's written a wonderful article entitled "How to green the world by running your mouth". He's got some great words of advice.

Thanks, everyone!

We're changing the world ... one challenge at a time!

Become a Mr. Fix It

2009-08-04T12:44:00.003-05:00

Want to save money? Want to save the environment? Repair your broken items instead of buying new. Don't know how? Not that handy? Then read this article by Mary Hunt, the "Everyday Cheapskate" for resources to help you fix ANYTHING.

http://www.creators.com/advice/everyday-cheapskate/how-to-get-on-the-repair-it-yourself-bandwagon.html

Remember, I'm giving away one copy of Cindy Woodsmall's The Hope of Refuge next Tuesday, August 11th. To enter the random drawing, send your name and mailing address to me at seewhykinsman@gmail.com.

Book Review and Giveaway

2009-08-03T12:42:00.003-05:00

Hope of Refuge by Cindy Woodsmall is a great story about what happens when two cultures, two worlds collide. When Cara's mother needed to escape, she went to the safe and loving Amish community, taking little Cara with her. Twenty years later when Cara, herself, needs to run, she and her daughter return to that Amish community. Cara, as a woman of the Englischer world, poses a threat to the Amish culture, but she has one friend and ally -- Ephraim who remembers her -- and her family's secrets -- when her mother brought her to the community as a child. Hope of Refuge is a great book and Cindy Woodsmall's knowledge of the Amish culture bring it all to life for you. Cindy recently gave an interview on ABC's Nightline. You can find out more about it here: http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/story?id=7676659&page=1

GIVEAWAY: I have one copy of Hope of Refuge by Cindy Woodsmall to give away. To enter the random drawing, please e-mail your name and mailing address to seewhykinsman@gmail.com. The winner will be drawn Tuesday, August 11, 2009.

Below is the link to purchase the book and the summary from the publisher.

http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781400073962

Summary:
Raised in foster care and now the widowed mother of a little girl, Cara Moore struggles against poverty, fear, and a relentless stalker. When a trail of memories leads Cara and Lori out of New York City toward an Amish community, she follows every lead, eager for answers and a fresh start. She discovers that long-held secrets about her family history ripple beneath the surface of Dry Lake, Pennsylvania, and it’s no place for an outsider. But one Amish man, Ephraim Mast, dares to fulfill the command he believes that he received from God–“Be me to her”– despite how it threatens his way of life.

Completely opposite of the hard, untrusting Cara, Ephraim’s sister Deborah also finds her dreams crumbling when the man she has pledged to build a life with begins withdrawing from Deborah and his community, including his mother, Ada Stoltzfus. Can the run-down house that Ada envisions transforming unite them toward a common purpose–or push Mahlon away forever? While Ephraim is trying to do what he believes is right, will he be shunned and lose everything–including the guarded single mother who simply longs for a better life?

Author Bio:
Cindy Woodsmall is the author of When the Heart Cries, When the Morning Comes, and The New York Times Best-Seller When the Soul Mends. Her ability to authentically capture the heart of her characters comes from her real-life connections with Amish Mennonite and Old Order Amish families. A mother of three sons and two daughters-in-law, Cindy lives in Georgia with her husband of thirty-one years.

MEET THE AUTHOR
New York Times bestselling author Cindy Woodsmall is on tour, and she may be coming to a city near you! Don’t miss your opportunity to meet Cindy and have her sign her newest title The Hope of Refuge at one of the following events.

Tuesday, August 11 7 – 8:30pm
Barnes & Noble
5141 Peachtree Parkway, The Forum
Norcross, Georgia 30092
(770) 209-4244

Wednesday, August 12 7 – 8pm
Barnes & Noble Opry Mills
515 Opry Mills Drive
Nashville, Tennessee 37214
(615) 514-5000

Thursday, August 13 6 – 8pm
Barnes & Noble
2540 Futura Pkwy. #135
Plainfield, Indiana 46168
(317) 838-7941

Friday, August 14 6 – 8pm
Barnes & Noble
1550 West 75th
Downers Grove, Illinois 60516
(630) 663-0181

Saturday, August 15 1 – 3pm
Baker Books
2768 East Paris Ave SE
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546-6139
(616) 957-3110

Sunday, August 16 2 – 4pm
Barnes & Noble Booksellers
3700 Rivertown Parkway Ste. 2058
Grandville, Michigan 49418
(616) 531-1825

Monday, August 17 7 – 8:00pm
Barnes & Noble Booksellers
1739 Olentangy River Road
Columbus, Ohio 43212
(614) 298-9516

Tuesday, August 18 7 – 8:30pm
Joseph Beth Booksellers
2705 E. Carson Street
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15203
(412) 381-3600

Wednesday, August 19 6 – 8pm
Hackman’s Bible Book Store
1341 Mickley Road
Whitehall, Pennsylvania 18052-4610
(610) 264-8600

Thursday, August 20 1 – 3pm
Rachel’s Country Store (Amish dry goods store)
6352 McClays Mill Road
Newburg, Pennsylvania 17240
(717) 530-9452

Book Giveaway Winner

2009-07-31T10:32:00.003-05:00

Congratulations to Jill of Tampa, Florida, our winner of Tricia Goyer's book, Blue Like Play Dough. Thanks to everyone who entered. Please check back on Monday for another book review and giveaway.

Book Review: Blue Like Play Dough

2009-07-27T07:30:00.000-05:00

Blue Like Play Dough by Tricia Goyer is a wonderful book for moms (or just about anyone, for that matter).

Tricia Goyer was just a teen when she got pregnant and gave birth to her first child. Although the baby’s father fled from the picture, she married a wonderful man who gave her two more children. One day it occurs to Tricia that she is like play dough in God’s hands – being pushed, pulled, and squished into the shape He wants her to be. Some days, she easily molded. Other days, not so much. I love when she talks about “crumbs” in her play dough . . . who among us hasn’t had a crummy day here or there?

Blue Like Play Dough gave me pause on more than one occasion – I felt convicted at how unbending I am, how unyielding I am to God’s will for my life, even when I know without a doubt how He wants me to change and grow. That’s precisely why you don’t need to be a mom to get something very valuable out of this book.

GIVEAWAY: I have one copy of Blue Like Play Dough by Tricia Goyer to give away. To enter the random drawing, please send your name and mailing address to seewhykinsman@gmail.com. The winner will be selected on Friday, August 31, 2009. Good luck.

Below is the summary from the publisher. You can purchase the book here:

http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781601421524

Summary:
In the everyday stretch and squeeze of motherhood, Tricia Goyer often feels smooshed by the demands of life. In Blue Like Play Dough, she shares her unlikely journey from rebellious, pregnant teen to busy wife and mom with big dreams of her own. As her story unfolds, Tricia realizes that God has more in store for her than she has ever imagined possible.

Sure, life is messy and beset by doubts. But God keeps showing up in the most unlikely places–in a bowl of carrot soup, the umpteenth reading of Goodnight Moon, a woe-is me teen drama, or play dough in the hands of a child.

In Tricia’s transparent account, you’ll find understanding, laughter, and strength for your own story. And in the daily push and pull, you’ll learn to recognizes the loving hands of God at work in your life… and know He has something beautiful in mind.

Author Bio:
Tricia Goyer is the author of numerous works of fiction and nonfiction, including Generation NeXt Parenting and the Gold Medallion finalist Life Interrupted. Goyer writes for publications such as Today’s Christian Woman and Focus on the Family, speaks to women’s groups nationwide and has been a presenter at the Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) national convention. She and her husband, John, live with their family in Montana.

Book Giveaway Winner

2009-07-24T10:06:00.003-05:00

Congratulations to Linda of Iron Mountain, Michigan, our winner of a copy of A Perfect Mess by Lisa Harper. Thanks to everyone who entered.

Please check back on Monday for another book review and giveaway.

Change the World Challenge

2009-07-23T09:55:00.002-05:00

Here's the latest challenge from my friend at Reduce Footprints:

We all know that it's better to reuse something we already have rather than buy something new. But what about those items that are sitting in closets, storage sheds and the "back room" ... those things that we don't use and probably haven't used in a long while? I'll bet that there is someone who could use it. So, this week, take a look around your home and put together a box of no-longer-used items and ... "reuse them" by giving them away. Donate them to local charities, shelters, retirement homes or the Humane Society. See if your neighbors might need them or perhaps a family in need would appreciate them. This challenge has a double impact ... we'll be making items available for reuse and we'll be helping others. It's a challenge with heart!

We're changing the world ... one challenge at a time!

Fish Have Feelings, Too!

2009-07-21T11:54:00.003-05:00

I once heard a comedian talk about fishing. He said, “People go fishing and say, ‘I love animals so I practice catch and release fishing.’ I always think to myself, ‘Really? You think that’s humane? So would you volunteer to have me put a hook half the size of your head in your cheek? Then I’ll pull you by a rope connected to the hook for, say, 50 feet, while you pull in the other direction. Then I’ll yank you up here on stage and cut off your ability to breathe for a good 5 minutes while I manhandle you and take my picture with you. Then I’ll rip the hook out of your mouth and throw you, still bleeding, back where I found you. Yeaaaahhhh, that sounds really humane!’”

Well, here’s some scientific evidence for you – fish DO feel pain, and react much the same way you or I do in response. Read here:
http://www.healingnature.com/page7/files/d5ceccb0da9feddc8dba2f532f5205ea-19.html

GIVEAWAY: I have one copy A Perfect Mess by Lisa Harper to give away. To enter the random drawing, please send your name and mailing address to seewhykinsman@gmail.com. The winner will be selected on Friday, July 24, 2009. Good luck.

Are You "A Perfect Mess"?

2009-07-20T09:02:00.003-05:00

Recently, I had the opportunity to read A Perfect Mess, Why You Don’t Have to Worry About Being Good Enough for God by Lisa Harper.

This is one of the few Bible study books I’ve read and wasn’t tempted to “skim” the scripture discussions. Why? Because Lisa Harper is FUNNY. She has an irreverent way of describing things that makes her book entertaining and exciting to read. But just because she talks like an Everyday Jane, don’t underestimate the weight and importance of her words. Lisa Harper is a biblical scholar to the nth degree. She just has the uncanny ability to make her wisdom and knowledge accessible to her readers.

I really needed the message of this book because I’m definitely more Martha than Mary. I feel the need to earn my salvation, and when my efforts fall short, my prayer time is spent disbelieving that God really wants anything to do with a failing worm like me. What I didn’t expect is that a Bible study on certain key Psalms would help me. Why? Because I don’t like the Psalms. I know, I know, everyone likes Psalms . . . except me. But I like them a lot more after Lisa Harper walked me through them!

A Perfect Mess is a wonderful book. Lisa Harper is completely transparent in showing us the messiness in her life and what your own messiness means for your spiritual relationship with God. My favorite chapter was entitled “Frantic Isn’t a Spiritual Fruit”. In fact, I read that chapter first and then went back to the beginning of the book! Since everyone of us is A Perfect Mess, this book is a must read.

GIVEAWAY: I have one copy A Perfect Mess by Lisa Harper to give away. To enter the random drawing, please send your name and mailing address to seewhykinsman@gmail.com. The winner will be selected on Friday, July 24, 2009. Good luck.

Below is the summary from the publisher. You can purchase the book here:
http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780307457882&ref=externallink_wbp_aperfectmess_sec_0526_01

Summary:
Caught up in the self-imposed pressure to do and be all the things they think a Christian woman ought to do and be, countless women are working desperately to convince everyone, including God, that they have it all together. Few have any idea that the Creator of the universe looks at them with delight even when they yell at the dog, drive a minivan littered with French fries, or think bad words about that rude clerk at the store.

A Perfect Mess offers hope to every woman who yearns for a vibrant relationship with God but worries she isn’t good enough or doesn’t do enough to merit His affection. With characteristic authenticity, speaker and author Lisa Harper shares poignant stories from her own imperfect life to showcase the real-life relevancy of the Bible in the lives of modern women.

As she guides readers on a story-driven journey through selected Psalms, they will be inspired to experience for themselves how God’s incomparable love transforms the messiness of life into a gorgeous work of grace.

Author Bio:
Lisa Harper is a master storyteller whose lively approach connects the dots between the Bible era and modern life. She is a sought-after Bible teacher and speaker whose upcoming appearances include the national Women of Faith Conferences. A veteran of numerous radio and television programs and the author of several books, she also is a regular columnist for Today’s Christian Woman magazine. Lisa recently completed a master’s of theological studies from Covenant Theological Seminary. She makes her home outside Nashville.

No Regrets

2009-07-16T13:08:00.003-05:00

This past Tuesday, July 14th, marked the 9 year anniversary of my dad's death. I always tell people who have lost a parent, “When both your parents are alive, you think you can imagine how it will feel. When you actually lose one, you feel like you’re part of a secret club and you realize you couldn’t possibly imagine how it would feel.”

I hurt more now than I did when he died. It’s like when you first fall in love with someone and want to spend all your time with that person. When they go away for a day, you miss them. If they were to go away for a week, you’d miss them so much more. If they were gone a month, you’d REALLY miss them. With respect to the death of a parent, you miss them more as time goes on because their presence is missed more and more with each passing day, month and year. Plus, there are more “missed” memories . . . missed holidays, milestones, events you wanted to share, questions you wish you’d asked, etc.

I actually spent the last couple of days writing a "tribute" of sorts about my dad, but now that I'm done with it, I realize it's far to personal to post. So let me give you a piece of advice instead:

If one or both of your parents are alive, cherish your time with them, leave no question unasked, no story unheard, no advice unheeded. Try your hardest not to have any regrets when they're gone.

I Couldn't Have Said It Better Myself!

2009-07-14T15:08:00.003-05:00

Studies show that children do better with more UNSTRUCTURED play time. Not so many "play dates" or "activities" or "lessons". More time spent outdoors with a stick and a box and their imaginations. The benefits? Higher intelligence, more creativity, less behavioral problems. They'll be less bored because they'll know how to entertain themselves and actually like spending time with themselves (making them more of a joy to be around as well).

What do bored children grow up to be? Bored, unhappy, unfocused, unfulfilled adults.

Read this article to understand your adult angst.

http://www.jsonline.com/features/advice/50644417.html

GULP!

2009-07-13T10:23:00.006-05:00

I read a statistic last week that still has me reeling:

Airlines use about 1 million disposable cups every 6 hours!

Bring your own reusable bottles on your trip and have the flight attendant fill 'er up. If you don't have one, go to World Wildlife Fund's website here, make a donation, and receive two cute water bottles with the panda logo. They're essentially "free" since your donation amount is tax deductible.

You can read the whole article about airline waste here:

http://www.idealbite.com/tiplibrary/archives/snacks-plane

Change the World Challenge

2009-07-09T10:25:00.005-05:00

My friend at reduce footprints issued the following challenge in her blog:

For one full day this week, don't use (or ride in) a car. That's right ... leave the car at home and either walk, ride a bicycle or take public transportation (or even ... stay home). One full day ... 24 hours ... no car. Think you can do it?

Below is a post I wrote last year about this very topic.

Sometimes I get tired of being "the crazy one". The one whom everyone thinks is a little extreme, too outspoken, the granola-sucking, tree-hugging nut. Sometimes I wish I weren't so burdened for the environment and the plight of all the world's animals. Sometimes I wish I could take the easy way out. Then I learn about someone who inspires me, who makes me look moderate, who makes me look sane!

I recently received the latest issue of On Wisconsin magazine, the magazine put out by the University of Wisconsin-Madison for its alumni. In it was an article entitled, "Walking the Walk" by Dashka Slater. The article tells the story of John Francis, a handsome black man in his 60s who, after witnessing the damage caused when two oil tankers collided beneath the Golden Gate Bridge in 1971, spilling 840,000 gallons of crude oil into the San Francisco Bay, decided to "walk the walk". He started out by "end[ing] his participation in the oil economy" by refusing to ride in a vehicle for 22 years. He walked across the United States and South America, earning his bachelor's, master's and doctorate degrees along the way. One day he became tired of arguing and defending his viewpoints, so he stopped talking for a day, then a second day . . . his vow of silence lasted 17 years. He communicated via banjo, charades-style acting, whistling, and occasionally writing something down. Incidentally, he earned his Ph.D. at the UW-Madison DURING his vow of silence, proving the University of Wisconsin is a place for creative education solutions!

John Francis wrote a book, Planetwalker: How to Change Your World One Step at a Time, which has been optioned to be made into a movie. I'm planning to read the book and eagerly await the movie.

Interestingly, John Francis does talk now, and he also drives a Prius which was a gift. In 1990, the Coast Guard in Washington, D.C., was developing regulations that would implement the 1990 Oil Pollution Act which was passed shortly after the Exxon Valdez disaster. They invited John Francis, who is a Goodwill Ambassador to the United Nations, among other things, to work with them. Because he didn't ride in cars or planes, the Coast Guard waited two months for him to travel from New York to D.C. via bicycle. In 1994, Francis realized that he was a "prisoner" of his decision not to use vehicles. If the Coast Guard had not been willing to accommodate him, he would have missed a great opportunity to make a real change in the world. He questioned whether it would "have been worth passing up the opportunity to resolve the very problem that had inspired him to stop driving in the first place? 'The lesson for me was that I have to reassess wherever I am to get to the next place. . . . I have to let go of the old self, which is very scary sometimes.'" John Francis worried who he would be when he became a man who rode in cars.

This is reminiscent of a post I did some time ago wherein I reminded you to reassess your priorities from time to time to make sure they still fit. Sometimes we start to do something because it's meaningful and fulfilling, but we keep doing it out of habit, long after we've outgrown it.

In any case, John Francis' story inspired me, challenged me and made me realize how very far from extreme I am.

Dirty Feet

2009-07-08T12:33:00.002-05:00

Yesterday I talked to you about not letting things that steal your energy and joy “rent space in your brain” to use my husband’s analogy. Although my husband is not a philosopher by any means, his comment reminds me of a favorite quote by Gandhi, “I will not let anyone walk through my mind with their dirty feet.”

Yesterday I asked how many things you’re renting space to -- things you should be evicting. Ideas, thoughts, obsessions, feelings, grudges that suck the joy and energy from your life.

Today I’m asking how many people with dirty feet are walking through your brain? How many family members are draining your energy with constantly negative comments and complaints? How many so-called friends don’t feed your friendship, but simply are sucking balls of need? How many acquaintances fill your inbox with e-mail forwards that slap your beliefs in the face? How many people “force” you to listen to racist, sexist, homophobic, crude or otherwise offensive jokes, comments, and diatribes just because you’re too “polite” to say “thanks, but no thanks”?

Do you have the courage to show these people the “welcome mat to your mind” and ask them to “please wipe their feet” before walking through your mind? If they refuse, do you have the further courage to kick them to the curb?

For Rent

2009-07-07T14:50:00.003-05:00

English is not my husband's first language. But you'd barely notice if you spoke to him. In fact, one day we were watching a movie and he used the word, necrophelia, which caused me to think, "How long would I have to live in a foreign country before I knew how to say, 'sex with dead people' in that language?!"

Anyway, because English is my husband's second language, he has a great way of wording things. He uses his vocabulary to paint incredible word pictures.

Last night, we were discussing something upsetting. As I was just winding up into full "rant" mode, my husband stopped me cold by saying, "That takes too much energy. I just won't let it rent space in my brain."

How many things to we let rent space in our brains, sucking the energy and joy right out of us? How many of those things need to be evicted?!

Another Way to Recycle

2009-07-06T10:02:00.003-05:00

Recycle Your Old Tennis Shoes with Nike's Reuse-A-Shoe program. Athletic shoes (any brand) are ground up for reuse in playgrounds, running tracks, basketball courts, etc. Mail your shoes in or check for drop-off locations. You can read the details at nikereuseashoe.com.

Perspective

2009-06-30T14:44:00.005-05:00

I've been feeling stressed lately. Overwhelmed. I have the weight of the world on my shoulders. My problems are big; my God seems small. Clearly, I need an "attitude adjustment" . . . perspective. Or, as my father would say, "A good, swift kick in the *** to set me on Main Street."

So, here's some perspective. My source for this information is last month's Crown Financial online magazine.

In 1990 the World Bank established international standards for classifying poverty. Essentially, this enables us to understand how much money people have for necessities if were were all on equal footing. These standards allowed for the world’s population to be more accurately classified into two groups: the Poor, who live on $2 per day, and the Ultra-Poor, who live on $1 per day. Using these measures, 1.2 Billion people are Ultra-Poor and 2.6 Billion are Poor. That's Billion with a "B" folks. Almost 4 million people living on less than $2 per day. Combined, this group equals 53 percent of the world’s population. Equally as significant, one-half of the world’s population is under the age of 25.
Consider the nation of Zambia where an estimated 86 percent of the populaton is either Poor or Ultra-Poor. The unemployment rate is 50 percent and inflation is more than 18 percent. Most people are employed in subsistence agriculture, and HIV/AIDS is a significant problem.

Hmmmmm, somehow I don't feel quite so unfortunate right now. How about you? There it is . . . perspective.

"Live simply so that others might simply live." Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

Checking Out

2009-06-25T14:12:00.003-05:00

I'm checking out of the blogosphere for a little while. My husband and I are celebrating our anniversary (July 8th) and his birthday (July 9th) a little early since life is so crazy here around Independence Day. We're going to have a loooooonnnnnnnngggggggg weekend we both so desperately need. I'll see you back here on Monday or Tuesday.

Green Challenge

2009-06-24T15:38:00.003-05:00

As I told you last week, Wednesdays are "Change the World Wednesdays" . . . courtesy of reducefootprints. Here is your green challenge:

For one full day this week, eat only local foods. No tropical fruits from across the world ... no veggies that traveled hundreds of miles to get to your table ... only locally grown foods (this includes meats, dairy products, etc., if you eat them).

OR, if you're already eating only local foods full time ... and may I say congratulations to that ... post one of your favorite "local food" recipes on your blog.

Every year we talk about growing some veggies, but our lifestyle just doesn't allow for it (plus, we hate gardening!) I'm lucky enough to have neighbors who do garden and share their bounty with us: tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce and herbs galore! We reciprocate by delivering an occasional pan of vegan brownies -- a worthwhile trade!

How Small Do You Feel?

2009-06-23T13:17:00.003-05:00

A lot of people I know are struggling with perspective right now. How big our problems are versus how big they seem. How small our God is in relation to how big our problems are.

I frequently struggle with wanting to control the universe, to be the master of my domain . . . and everyone else's within my grasping fingers!

Yesterday I read the transcript of Mark Batterson's sermon from Sunday, July 21st, and I thought I'd share an excerpt with you (fyi, Mark Batterson is the pastor of National Community Church in Washington, D.C., and a favorite author of mine):

I’ve read so many [Teddy] Roosevelt biographies, I love Roosevelt Island, I just like him, a great man, very cool President. He had an interesting habit – every now and then, he would go out and look up into the night sky with his naturalist friend, William Beebe and they would locate a faint spot of light in the lower left-hand corner of Pegasus and recite the following, “That is the spiral galaxy of Andromeda, it is a large as the Milky Way, it is one of a hundred million galaxies, it is 750,000 light years away, it consists of one hundred billion suns, each larger than our own.” Then the President would pause and grin and say, “Now I think we feel small enough to go to bed.” I love that. I love that because I think there are moments in our lives where we need to come in for a landing. I think there are moments in our lives where we need God to reveal to us our smallness. What will happen in that moment is it won’t devalue your life or your significance or who you are, it will simply remind you of how big God is and it will help you put things in perspective.

How's that for a little perspective? So NOW how big do your problems seem, how small is your God, and how big are you?!

Get a BETTER College Education for LESS!!!!!!!

2009-06-22T11:38:00.009-05:00

My friend, Maya Frost, is an amazing woman with an amazing family. She and her husband, Tom, have four daughters who are beautiful, popular, cultured and well educated. In a world where parents are afraid to move to a new neighborhood because their kids may have to change schools, Maya and Tom have moved from Seattle to Mexico and then Argentina, all while their girls were either in high school or college. Their last family vacation while all the girls were in high school was a backpacking trip through India for a couple of months.

The girls thrived in language classes as well as taking all their other classes in a foreign language. They earned their high school diplomas and college degrees several years early and matured, intellectually and socially, far better than their peers. These ladies, while smart, are not geniuses in the IQ department. They are regular, normal (amazing) young women. All of them have snatched up the jobs of their dreams, being chosen over many, many other applicants because of their "global education."

In a world that is getting flatter all the time (to borrow Thomas Friedman's term of how globalization is changing how business works), global education is increasingly important to young people entering the work force. Unfortunately, most universities' answer is to provide a semester or year abroad that (1) cost a fortune; and (2) are so sheltered that the students rarely interact with the culture they are visiting, thus defeating the purpose.

Maya has written an amazing book, The New Global Student: Skip the SAT,
Save Thousands on Tuition, and Get a Truly International Education. This book is a must read for all parents! Maya shows you how to get a truly superior education for pennies on the dollar -- all the while causing your kids to "soar" academically, socially, emotionally and professionally.

You can read more at Maya's webiste (and have access to a lot of freebie resources): http://www.mayafrost.com. Buy the book; you won't be sorry!

Green Challenge

2009-06-17T15:02:00.005-05:00

One of the blogs I read regularly is Reduce Footprints (check it out here). Recently, the author came up with a great idea -- Change the World Wednesdays. Every Wednesday she will issue a challenge for her readers to be more environmentally conscious for the week. Actually, each challenge has two parts -- the first step is an easier, more basic challenge. If you've already mastered step one, step two takes it to the next level. She has asked all her readers with blogs (me) to pass the challenge onto their readers (you) in an attempt to "go viral" with green living. Last week's challenge was to commit to taking showers no longer than 10 minutes. (Woefully I didn't have time to pass that challenge on to you, but feel free to do so!)

This week's challenge is:

For the entire week (yep, the whole week), refuse plastic bags at the store or anywhere else where they are offered. One whole week ... 7 days ... no plastic bags.

OR ... If you're already "plastic bag free" ... then, within the next 7 days write a detailed post (or email, letter, etc.) on why plastic bags are bad for the environment.

I've been plastic (and paper) bag free for a couple of years. My Whole Foods and WWF bags actually work better -- much better. How about you? Are you up to the challenge?

Two New Book Reviews

2009-06-16T10:30:00.006-05:00

This week I have two books to review, but none to give away. However, I've included links below for you to buy them.

Do you have trouble believing that God loves you? Of course, you know He loves everyone else, but do you really FEEL His love for YOU?! I think everyone has trouble accepting this truth in their hearts. That's why Eyes Wide Open by Jud Wilhite is a great book. In reading this book, you start to see yourself through God's eyes, not your own. Best of all, after showing you how God sees you, Wilhite shows you how to live out God's vision and purpose for your life, how to make a difference within your sphere of influence. Eyes Wide Open is a wonderful book for every believer who is too hard on himself or herself (most of us), for everyone who has trouble forgiving their own sins and getting out from under a guilty past, and who is unsure how to proceed to serve God's purposes.

Below is the summary from the publisher:

I had it all backwards. The main thing was not my love for God, but his love for me. And from that love I respond to God as one deeply flawed, yet loved. I’m not looking to prove my worth. I’m not searching for acceptance. I’m living out of the worth God already declares I have. I’m embracing his view of me and in the process discovering the person he created me to be.

In Eyes Wide Open, Jud Wilhite invites you to discover the real you. Not the you who pretends to be perfect to satisfy everyone’s expectations. Not the you who always feels guilty before God. Not the you who secretly feels God forgives everyone else but only tolerates you. Not the you who looks in the mirror and sees a failure. The real you, loved and forgiven by God, living out of your identity in Christ.

A travel guide through real spirituality from one incomplete person to another, Eyes Wide Open is a book of stories about following God in the messes of life, about broken pasts and our lifelong need for grace. It is a book about seeing ourselves and God with new eyes–eyes wide open to a God of love.

You can purchase the book here:

http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781601420725

The Disappearance of God by R. Albert Mohler, Jr. is a studious look at God in modern day culture. Mohler attempts to answer why our morals have loosened as a whole, why the Christian movement has become more "accepting" and "tolerant", and whether those changes are a good thing (he concludes not). To be honest, I didn't care for this book much; I found it dry and sometime esoteric. Plus, I think believers need to accept and love non-believers, practicing more tolerance and less condemnation, if they want to reach people. I do, however, agree that the church falls short on sanctification once someone is a believer, preferring to focus solely on "feel good" messages that fill the pews and coffers rathar than messages that will grow baby believers into spiritually mature warriors. I think the modern church feeds too much spiritual milk and not enough meat (said the vegan, wryly). Maybe it's not the book; maybe it's my mood right now. Read the publisher's summary below and judge for yourself.

Summary:

More faulty information about God swirls around us today than ever before. No wonder so many followers of Christ are unsure of what they really believe in the face of the new spiritual openness attempting to alter unchanging truth.

For centuries the church has taught and guarded the core Christian beliefs that make up the essential foundations of the faith. But in our postmodern age, sloppy teaching and outright lies create rampant confusion, and many Christians are free-falling for “feel-good” theology.

We need to know the truth to save ourselves from errors that will derail our faith.

As biblical scholar, author, and president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Dr. Albert Mohler, writes, “The entire structure of Christian truth is now under attack.” With wit and wisdom he tackles the most important aspects of these modern issues:

Is God changing His mind about sin?
Why is hell off limits for many pastors?
What’s good or bad about the “dangerous” emergent movement?
Have Christians stopped seeing God as God?
Is the social justice movement misguided?
Could the role of beauty be critical to our theology?
Is liberal faith any less destructive than atheism?
Are churches pandering to their members to survive?

In the age-old battle to preserve the foundations of faith, it's up to a new generation to confront and disarm the contemporary shams and fight for the truth. Dr. Mohler provides the scriptural answers to show you how.

You can purchase this book here:

http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781601420817

Book Giveaway Winner

2009-06-11T14:24:00.002-05:00

Congratulations to Cindy of Asheville, North Carolina, our winner of Sisterchicks in Wooden Shoes! by Robin Jones Gunn. Thanks to everyone who entered.

Get It Done!

2009-06-10T11:45:00.003-05:00

Years ago I had a friend who was chronically behind on everything he needed to do. One of the biggest contributing factors to this problem was that he would spend HOURS completing a simple task until it was "perfect". In fact, most of the time, the task was completed when the deadline for getting it done had expired -- without a deadline it would have never been done because it would have never been perfect. It didn't matter if it was an important project or a meaningless task, he agonized over meaningless minutiae to the point where he was woefully behind at work, home, everywhere.

While I understand and subscribe to the wisdom that "anything worth doing is worth doing well", I also understand that a lot of times you need to just get it done.

What is important is to set priorities -- knowing when something needs to be excellent and when it just needs doing -- and achieve balance.

Recently, I read a blog post on the topic of taking Imperfect Action rather than succumbing the paralysis that often accompanies trying to be perfect. You can read it here: http://christinekane.com/blog/why-taking-imperfect-action-is-the-perfect-action-to-take/

Now, are you ready to "git 'er done!"?

REMINDER: I have one copy of Robin Jones Gunn's book, Sisterchicks in Wooden Shoes! to give away. To enter the drawing, simply e-mail your name and mailing address to me at seewhykinsman@gmail.com. The winner will be announced on Thursday afternoon, June 11th.

Another Book Review and Give away

2009-06-08T09:37:00.004-05:00

Sisterchicks in Wooden Shoes! by Robin Jones Gunn is a sweet story of friendship and spiritual introspection.

The main character, Summer, finds out her mammogram was “abnormal” and she needs a biopsy. She decides to enter a “week of denial” and put off the biopsy in favor of a spur-of-the-moment trip to the Netherlands to meet her best friend and pen pal since elementary school, Noelle.

Summer and Noelle have a wonderful time building their friendship face to face for the first time as they explore the Netherlands. In the process, they both find themselves exploring their hearts regarding unresolved spiritual issues as Noelle sees things in Summer that Summer has not recognized in herself, and vice versa. Every woman needs a friend with whom she can bear her soul – and who can speak the truth to her in return; such a friendship is a restorative gift of God.

The women’s friendship is beautiful, as is the countryside of the Netherlands. Robin Jones Gunn does an amazing job of describing sights, sounds, culture and food of the Netherlands – you’ll feel as if you’ve gone there yourself!

Sisterchicks in Wooden Shoes! is a fabulous read for women everywhere! And I have one copy to give away. To enter the drawing, simply e-mail your name and mailing address to me at seewhykinsman@gmail.com. The winner will be announced on Thursday afternoon, June 11th.

You can purchase this book here:
https://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781601420091&ref=externallink_mlt_sisterchicksinwoodenshoes_sec_0423_01

Below is the summary from the publisher:

When a mammogram result comes back abnormal, midlife mama Summer Finley makes a snap decision to relegate fear to the back burner and fulfill a lifelong dream. Summer heads for Holland where she meets up with tulips, wooden shoes, and her best friend, Noelle.

Pen pals since fourth grade, Summer and Noelle have never met face-to-face. Through decades of heart-level correspondence, they have sustained a deep friendship. A week of adventure helps both women trade anxiety for a renewed and deeper trust in God. When Summer confides in Noelle about the abnormal medical report, Noelle finds the freedom to share a long-held heartache, and both women discover they needed each other more than they realized.

Women ages 35 and up, readers of Christian Boomer Lit, and fans of books such as The Yada Yada Prayer Group will enjoy Robin Jones Gunn’s humorous and uplifting style. True-to-life characters and moments of poignancy bring a deeper understanding of the value of life and the gift of true friends. Readers guide and bonus material included.

Book Giveaway Winner

2009-06-05T08:59:00.003-05:00

Congratulations to Patty in Tacoma, Washington, our winner of a copy of Saints in Limbo by River Jordan. Check back on Monday for another review and giveaway contest.

It's a Boy

2009-06-03T11:09:00.004-05:00

I told you awhile back that I lost my beloved Persian, Sonja, who was less than 5 years old. For any number of reasons, that loss has been particularly hard on me. She was such a character, so full of personality. She was always near us, with the personality more of a friendly lab or golden retriever than a cat. She was so young. I have her littermate with similar genetic problems and I'm fearful of complications with her in the future. I feel like the color has gone out of my life, leaving me with black, white and shades of gray.

Sonja's sister, Anna, has seemed to thrive as an only cat, coming out of her shell and being more "needy" and less reclusive. Then the thought occurred to me: maybe she's not happy being an only cat; maybe she's lonely! I think she's always wanted to "mother" something.

So I went looking to fill the void -- hers and mine. This is a picture of Sveeka who will be joining our family on June 20th.

I'm scared (I can't open myself up to another love if I'm going to have to say goodbye in the near future), sad and lonely (because I still miss Sonja so terribly). But I'm hoping a bundle of fur will soothe the jagged edges of my emotions when he gets here.

Book Reviews and Giveaway

2009-06-01T11:20:00.003-05:00

Stealing Home by Allison Pittman is a fabulous book about love, equal rights and baseball. It’s not nearly as strange as it sounds! When a famous baseball player come to a “dry town” for a month after completing a detox program for alcoholics, he turns the town on its ear. He moves in with the eccentric town spinster and her father and befriends a “Negro” boy with an amazing pitching arm. What happens next is nothing short of heart warming (and, at times, heart wrenching). Stealing Home is a look into the past – pre-Civil Rights era – when life was simple and oh-so-complicated at the same time. This book will keep you thinking long after you read the last page.

Unfortunately, I don’t have a copy of this book to give away, but you can order it from Random House here:
http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781601421364&ref=externallink_mlt_stealinghome_eaj_0408_01
Below is the summary from the publisher:

Summary:

It’s 1905 and the Chicago Cubs are banking on superstar Donald “Duke” Dennison’s golden arm to help them win the pennant. Only one thing stands between Duke and an unprecedented ten thousand dollar contract: alcohol.

That’s when sportswriter David Voyant whisks Duke to the one-horse town of Picksville, Missouri, so he can sober up in anonymity. He bides his time flirting with Ellie Jane Voyant, his unofficial chaperone, who would rather hide herself in the railway station ticket booth than face the echoes of childhood taunts.

Ned Clovis, the feed store clerk, has secretly loved Ellie Jane since childhood, but he loves baseball and the Duke almost as much–until he notices Ellie Jane may be succumbing to the star’s charm.

Then there’s Morris, a twelve-year-old Negro boy, whose only dream is to break away from Picksville. When Duke discovers his innate talent for throwing a baseball, Morris might just have found his way out.

Four individuals, each living in haunted isolation, each harboring a secret passion. Providence brings them together. Tragedy threatens to tear them apart. Will love be enough to bring them home?

Saints in Limbo by River Jordan is a book I almost didn’t read. I managed the first 50 pages and then gave up. It was only after I read other reviews that I was willing to try again. I’m glad I did. Saints in Limbo is a “Southern style” novel – I’m not sure what that means, except that all the characters seem a little crazy! Seriously, this book features Velma, a widow who suffers from agoraphobia, her son, Rudy, who is a womanizer and a drunk, her friend, Sara, who feels she’s losing her life’s purpose, and a young waif of a girl who hitchhikes into town looking to solve a mystery of her own. Velma receives a strange gift on her birthday – a gift that allows her to revisit, but not control or change, her past. Each of the people in her life become entwined in her journeys to the past and, when Velma’s path crosses with the young hitchhiker’s, their futures change as well!

Saints in Limbo is an odd, but wonderful book and I have one copy to give away. To enter the drawing, simply e-mail your name and mailing address to me at seewhykinsman@gmail.com. The winner will be announced on Friday, June 5th.

You can purchase this book from Random House here:
http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780307446701&ref=externallink_wbm_saintsinlimbo_eaj_0408_01
Below is the summary from the publisher:

Summary:

Ever since her husband Joe died, Velma True’s world has been limited to what she can see while clinging to one of the multicolored threads tied to the porch railing of her home outside Echo, Florida.

When a mysterious stranger appears at her door on her birthday and presents Velma with a special gift, she is rattled by the object’s ability to take her into her memories–a place where Joe still lives, her son Rudy is still young, unaffected by the world’s hardness, and the beginning is closer than the end. As secrets old and new come to light, Velma wonders if it’s possible to be unmoored from the past’s deep roots and find a reason to hope again.

Amish Love!

2009-05-29T10:20:00.002-05:00

Amish Love

What’s all the hubbub about Amish fiction? Major media outlets like Time and ABC Nightline are covering it, and authors like Cindy Woodsmall are making the New York Times bestseller list regularly. What makes these books so interesting?

Check out the recent ABC Nightline piece here about Cindy and her titles When the Heart Cries, When the Morning Comes, and When the Soul Mends. It’s an intriguing look at Amish culture and the time Cindy has spent with Amish friends.

And don’t forget that Cindy’s new book The Hope of Refuge hits store shelves August 11, and is available for preorder now.

Book Giveaway Winner

2009-05-29T10:17:00.002-05:00

Congratulations to Elaine of Orange Beach, Alabama, our winner of The Night Watchman by Mark Mynheir. Thanks to everyone who entered. Please check back on Monday for another book review and giveaway!

Empty Hands

2009-05-28T14:29:00.004-05:00

I just wanted to share with you a quote from a book I'll be reviewing in a few weeks:

" . . . I know you are carrying this loss as if it is yours alone to bear. But you were not meant to carry such a heavy burden. Give it back to God and keep giving it back until you have no more grief in your heart to hand over to Him. Then wait and see what gift He places in your empty hands." Sisterchicks in Wooden Shoes! by Robin Jones Gunn

When I lost my beloved Persian, Sonja, a few weeks ago, I had such a moment. I was lamenting the loss of my cat which carried into the loss of all kinds of species from the Earth such as the polar bear (Unfortunately, I had a sad image in my mind from a movie). I was asking God to take away my feelings of pain and loss and remove the polar bear image from my mind. I felt God say to me, "How do you think I feel? They're MY creations! I love the polar bears and I love Sonja more than you can even imagine."

God cares. So what are you carrying in your hands that prevents you from accepting His gifts?!

The Night Watchman -- Book Review and Giveaway

2009-05-24T17:29:00.003-05:00

The Night Watchman by Mark Mynheir is great if you like mysteries/cop dramas, which I do! Ray Quinn is a shattered man, both figuratively and literally. He was forced to retire as a police officer after a shooting incident kills his partner and leaves him physically disabled and emotionally wrecked. He takes a job as a night watchman at a condominium which is rather boring until a couple of dead bodies – a preacher and an exotic dancer – turn up in one of the condos. The case is quickly closed as a murder/suicide, but the minister’s sister doesn’t believe a word of it. She finagles Quinn into looking into the case which turns out to be anything but open and shut. Quinn finds himself fighting for his life as he tries to solve this murder which intertwines with his own shooting incident as well.

The Night Watchman is a great read! I have one copy to give away to a lucky reader. To enter the drawing, please e-mail me at seewhykinsman@gmail.com. The winner will be announced Friday, May 29, 2009.

You can purchase it from Random House here:
http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781590529355&ref=externallink_mlt_thenightwatchman_sec_0414_01

Below is the summary from the publisher:

Summary:
Ray Quinn is a tough, quick-witted homicide detective in love with his partner, Trisha Willis. She gives Ray something to live for—something to hope in. Until a barrage of bullets leaves Trisha murdered and Ray crippled.

Struggling with his new physical disability and severe depression, Quinn turns to whiskey, scorn, and a job as a night watchman to numb the pain. But when a pastor and dancer are found dead in an apparent murder-suicide, the pastor’s sister approaches Quinn for help.

Reluctantly, Quinn takes the case and is plunged into the perilous Orlando. Soon he discovers that, not only was the pastor murdered, but the case may be linked to his and Trisha’s ambush. Torn between seeking revenge or responsibility, Quinn is thrust into the case of his life.

Author Mark Mynheir gives readers his most profound police thriller to date with The Night Watchman (first book in The Night Watchman Private Detective Agency Series). Readers of all ages will devour this gripping murder mystery that bristles with tension and intrigue. In a taut cop-style all his own, Mynheir delivers an inside look at the thoughts, feelings, fears, and challenges police officers experience while investigating violent crimes and the lost souls who commit them.

Book Giveaway Winner

2009-05-22T10:48:00.003-05:00

Congratulations to Mary of Raleigh, North Carolina, who won a copy of Hero by Fred and Jasen Stoeker. Make sure you check back on Monday for another book review and giveaway.

Be K.I.N.D.

2009-05-20T13:51:00.003-05:00

With kids spending more time indoors and with electronic entertainment (anything with a screen like a TV, computer, gaming system), how do we encourage a connection with nature, foster empathy for animals, and educate about the environment?

A good friend of mine told me about a program called KIND (Kids In Nature's Defense) News. Here's what she had to say:

KIND News is a publication for elementary school children published by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). For only $30 ($25 if purchased through a humane society) per classroom, students receive a monthly four page newspaper and the teacher receives a guide for an entire school year. It teaches children to be kind to animals, each other, and the environment. I think it's a fabulous way to make a difference in the world since the children can bring home ideas to their parents. Our shelter has been sponsoring classrooms for five years. It doesn't cost the schools or the animal shelter a single penny (except very minimal postage and paper costs). The teachers, students, and sponsors are all enthusiastic about it. Last year we sponsored sixteen classrooms and for the upcoming school year we're sponsoring twenty-five! Just think how many children can be affected in a positive way. It isn't much work for me and it's only once a year that I need to do anything.

You might want to print this and bring it to your local animal shelter, talk to your kids' teachers about the program, and contribute funds to a local KIND news program in your area. Here's the link if you'd like more information: http://www.humanesocietyyouth.org/Adopt_a_Classroom/default.asp

REMINDER: I have one copy of Hero by Fred and Jasen Stoeker to give away to my readers. To enter the random drawing, please e-mail your name and mailing address to seewhykinsman@gmail.com. The winner will be announced on May 22, 2009. Good luck!

Calling All Heroes!

2009-05-18T10:26:00.004-05:00

Hero, Becoming the Man She Desires, by Fred Stoeker and his son, Jasen, is a fabulous book for a teen, young adult, or parent. Essentially, it is a book about how a single, young man can remain (or become) sexually pure. In doing so, you strengthen your relationship with God through your obedience to His word, you protect the women who come into your life, and eventually you find a similar young woman with whom to spend the rest of your life. The principles of this book are not easy – a fact the authors admit – but they are possible and Jasen Stoeker proves it. His first kiss (EVER) occurred on his wedding day to a beautiful, righteous young woman. While his wife had kissed in the past, she, too, had remained sexually pure.

I had the pleasure and honor of knowing a young couple such as this. A handsome young man and a beautiful young woman who saved themselves for each other on their wedding day. Although their decisions weren’t easy and didn’t always make them popular, they had/have plenty of friends and more fun than I ever thought possible.

In fact, this book made me sad because although I’m happily married now, I didn’t remain pure in my life and I was skeptical of anyone who would want to try. Now that I am older, wiser, and slightly more in tune with God’s heart, I know He was right and I was wrong (duh). This is what God intended for a relationship.

This book is down to earth and honest about the difficulty of the task. It also contains invaluable practical advice on how to win the battle. Although the intended audience of this book is young, single men, I think it would be great for parents (to talk to your kids), young women (to know what you should be looking for in a godly man and what their battle is like) and older, single men who may not be sexually pure, but can repent and change their ways to become pure from this point forward.

This is truly an essential book if you have a pre-teen, teen or college age son.

I have one copy of Hero to give away to my readers. To enter the random drawing, please e-mail your name and mailing address to seewhykinsman@gmail.com. The winner will be announced on May 22, 2009. Good luck!

If you don’t win the giveaway, you can purchase the book from Random House here:
http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781400071098&ref=externallink_mlt_hero_kef_0403_01

Below is the summary from the publisher:

Summary:
You already know it’s not easy being a single man in this culture today. But it is easy to be overwhelmed, to feel helpless and hopeless about living by God’s high standards for singles. It’s easy to cave in to the pressures of this sex-soaked world and accept defeat—blaming the media, the culture, even girlfriends who don’t know how tough it can be.

But many men have read books like Every Young Man’s Battle and Tactics and have committed themselves to stand strong and pure in the power of God, and to go on the offensive against the onslaught of negative stereotypes. Some have suffered. Some have fallen. But many have experienced victory—and you can be among them.

What makes those committed men so desirable to women? Be Her Hero is their motto. From best-selling author Fred Stoeker, along with his son Jasen, come the straightforward insight and real-life examples you’re looking for to help you take personal purity to its logical conclusion. Here’s straight truth with irrefutable evidence of what makes an ultimate hero to women who long for men of faith—men who stand by their convictions and make their world a safer and better place.

Are you ready to accept the challenge?

It Pays to Complain

2009-05-14T13:22:00.003-05:00

Some weeks ago, I shared the problems I have with some of the "big box" stores' un-user-friendly policy toward reusable shopping bags. You can read about that here. Well, I sent numerous e-mails to corporate headquarters explaining my experiences and what I thought needed to be done about it.

I am happy to report that the store clerks are ALL VERY HAPPY to see me coming with my own bags and are HELPFUL and COURTEOUS in allowing me to bag my groceries. But this one takes the cake: yesterday I went through the self check out and the overseeing clerk proudly pointed out the "new button" on the registers, "I have my own bag." This button recalibrates the scales to recognize the weight of your bag so you don't have to weigh your items on the scale and then transfer them to your own bag.

Do I think I personally, single-handedly caused this change? No. Do I think I contributed to cause this change? No doubt about it!

It definitely pays to complain. My orange juice recently underwent a new name, new recipe, new ad campaign and new packaging. Why? Because enough people wrote to the company and asked that the natural no calorie sweetener (Stevia) replace the artificial no calorie sweetener (Splenda) they had been using. This change involved a lot of time and money on the orange juice company's part, but they did it because enough consumers told them they wanted it.

So when you see a company with a non-green policy or product, let them know. While you're at it, let your politicians know how important the environment is to you. This is the only way to effectuate systematic change on a global scale.