January 25, 2012

The New Year Catch Up

Happy 2012 everyone! I’m back from my blog pause and ready to write my heart out.

First let’s start off with the mini book reviews I didn’t have a chance to post before Christmas.

 Catch-22 by Joseph Heller. The story follows the primary journey of a Captain in the Army, Yossarian, who is desperately trying to do everything he can to get sent home, away from harm’s reach. The only way to get sent home is to convince the higher-ups that he’s crazy through the doctor, Doc Daneeka.

There was only one catch and that was Catch-22, which specified that a concern for one’s safety in the face of dangers that were real and immediate was the process of a rational mind. Orr was crazy and could be grounded. All he had to do was ask; and as soon as he did, he would no longer be crazy and would have to fly more missions. Orr would be crazy to fly more missions and sane if he didn’t, but if he was sane he had to fly them. If he flew them he was crazy and didn’t have to; but if he didn’t want to he was sane and had to. Yossarian was moved very deeply by the absolute simplicity of this clause of Catch-22 and let out a respectful whistle.

I really liked this book. I know some people that have read it and said they laughed out loud; that wasn’t my case, but I did think it funny. However at times I found that I felt bad for and frustrated with Yossarian. Anyway, GOOD READ!

 

The book I had read after Catch-22 was A Meal with Jesus by Tim Chester.

In A Meal with Jesus Tim Chester brings us through Scripture, stressing the importance of sharing a meal with the people around us, and how that opens the door to sharing our lives with them. As children of God, we are to be hospitable. We are to serve and love our neighbors as ourselves. We are to be generous with food, even as generous as giving to the needy and broken. Chester quotes Christine Pohl, saying:

Many churches prepare and serve meals to hungry neighbors, but few church members find it easy to sit and eat with those who need the meal. When people are very different from ourselves, we often find it more comfortable to cook and clean for them than to share in a meal and conversation. We are familiar with roles as helpers but are less certain about being equals eating together.

I loved this book. I’m writing this post today, January 25th, and I finished it almost a month ago so I can’t exactly remember if I agreed with every idea in here, but I remember walking away thinking it was pretty solid and written in a lot of truth. It would totally be worth your time.

 

And lastly, my little family’s biggest update is that

our little boy is going to be a big brother.

Really really hard to believe. Today I am 11 wks (tentatively; we’ll have a better estimate at my next appointment). We found out when I was 7 weeks. I’ll admit that there has been an array of emotions when we found out that we were expecting again. It really was unbelievable for a while. Mini man hasn’t even had his first birthday yet and he’s already under the daunting task of becoming a big brother. Crazy. Absolutely crazy. But I can say now that I no longer feel terrified. At least not as terrified as I used to be. Now to get through this morning sickness. Also in related news, my New Years Resolution for 2013 is to spend an entire year NOT PREGNANT.

Anyway, sorry for the blogging delay and thanks for reading!

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December 23, 2011

2011: The End

I’ve “paused” the blog thus why you haven’t seen the weekly book reviews and etc.

I’ll have the belated reviews for Catch-22, A Meal with Jesus, and Mere Christianity after the beginning of the year along with a list of 2012 readable hopefuls and my life as I know it.

So go! Spend time with your loved ones. Laugh. Smile. Be joyful.

From my family to yours,

MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

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December 6, 2011

Where Has Oprah Taken Us? – Stephen Mansfield

Where Has Oprah Taken Us? is a biography  by Stephen Mansfield that more specifically documents the spiritual journey Oprah Winfrey has traveled. From her Baptist roots to her pseudo-Hinduism stance of today, Mansfield covers it all and reveals it compassionately. He well documents where and how Oprah grew up, the poverty she dwelt in, the times of the country around her, the heartache she endured, and also her meteoric rise to success despite the odds against her. Mansfield also shows his readers how all of this has formed the woman that Oprah is today and how is it shaping the world that is following her. It all culminates in the wonderful telling of a story of a woman who has influenced millions for the good, and for the bad.

I really enjoyed this book and the worldviews it has exposed me to. I am not very familiar with the world of Oprah and how she has shaped people, nor am I regularly surrounded by people who seem to be very affected by her, so reading and knowing her story is very new to me. Mansfield does a great job presenting facts to his readers, but is also considerate enough to let us know that yes, his opinions do influence what he writes. But he writes so compassionately, with the hope that Oprah will one day return to her roots, not only for the good of herself, but also for the good of her followers. I share in his hope and am so glad I had a chance to read this book.

★★★★☆

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

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December 5, 2011

Book Review: Searching for God Knows What

Finished Searching for God Knows What. I am behind my book reading schedule, but finished this one none-the-less.

Well I’m going to have to tweet @donmilleris a “Well Done.” I really enjoyed this book, as I have also enjoyed Blue Like Jazz.

When I first read Blue…, I remember loving it. I find that anytime I really love a book, I end up evangelizing for that book for awhile. The same thing happened with Blue… But I remember at some point while talking to a friend about it, I really don’t remember the time or place, they tried to give me staunch reasons as to why I shouldn’t read Donald Miller books or even listen to what the guys says. The conversation was along the lines of him being emergent or whatever. I had not known my friend as an extremist so I thought they had credibility, but really I walked away from the talk sort of neutral about everything I heard, though I knew I still loved reading Blue…

That was a few years ago, but that was the last conversation I had about Donald Miller’s books with anyone; that is where I was coming from when I picked up Searching for God Knows What a week and a half ago. I picked it up as unbiasedly as I possibly could.

And I enjoyed it!

In Searching for God Knows What, Miller presents an alternative to the “formulaic” way many Christians tend to approach their salvation. Many of us know the following to be fact: man is sinful, sin separates us from God, Jesus died to reconcile us to God, believe in Jesus and you receive salvation through Him. Your basic tract, right? But Miller notes, as many do, that believing in Christ is about aspiring to be more than just in agreement with some points. It’s about knowing that those key truths are a part of who you are because you know who you are in Christ. And you cannot know who you are in Christ unless you know Christ. To know someone, there has to be a sense of intimacy there. A relationship.

Donald Miller writes about the Gospel so beautifully in Searching…. I think the thing I most appreciate about Miller’s writing is his perspective. He writes as if to invite you to see through his eyes and allows you to tap into how he pieces things together. I will say that one thing I did become concerned about was how often he seemingly said that systematic theology does not matter. I do believe our knowledge and how we view God matters. However, Miller knew the line he was walking and humbly wrote a great afterword, mentioning he was not trying to write off theology all together and how “[systematic theology] is a helpful guide and certainly recommend[s] the study of [it] to enhance and explain, but not to replace, the human story.”

Anyway, I could go on and on about the book. But really, Mr. Miller, well done.

Gain some perspective and read Searching for God Knows What.

★★★★☆

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December 2, 2011

Season of Drought, Season of Plenty

Lake Texana (Image courtesy of fromalldirects.blogspot.com)

Texas has been experiencing a severe drought this year. I remember barreling through the month of April and thinking that our normal April showers were so shower-y. It’s now December and we have still basically gotten nothing. At least not enough to quench the thirst of the land. Lake Houston is looking more like a marsh than a lake. What’s worse is people in Bastrop have experience so much loss.

But you know what? A few years ago, we were hoping, pleading, begging that the hurricanes and flooding would stop coming. Southeast Texans were so tired of the flooding. Now I’m guessing it’ll take two hurricanes hovering over days for days to put us back on track for this year – let’s be honest, I don’t know if that’s true. (Also, I do NOT want hurricanes to come! No more evacuating.)

There’s always the seasons of drought and season of harvest. Seasons of without and season of plenty. No matter which one we’re in, we’re always wanting something we don’t have.

This obviously happens to us personally too. There’s time when we feel like we need a break from the “withoutness” of our situations and circumstances. Loneliness, finances, housing. Then there’s time of plenty when we feel like we do not know what we should get our hands on next. Significant others, bonuses, buying a home.

Because of all of this (and probably because I’ve been reading some thought-provoking books), I have been reflecting on my depravity quite a bit. And not just my depravity but everyone’s. The world at large. No matter how glitzy and glamorous we make this place look, it still stinks. New York in it’s majesty is still filled with thieves and crooks. The coveted American Dream isn’t very fulling.

You could really say that Hubs and I had already had the American Dream.
Awesome Job – ✔…Own a House – ✔…Cars – ✔…Dogs – ✔…Baby – ✔
It still felt like it wasn’t enough.

Whether in seasons of drought or seasons of harvest, we’re always going to be wanting something we’re not getting. My pastor always points out that God has put eternity into the hearts of man (Eccles 3). We’re always going to feel out of place, without something. What we need to realize is that, really, we are without someONE. To have eternity in our hearts, to feel like something is missing, this is a mercy of God. He wants us to feel without in this world, even when we seemingly have everything, so that we would find our fulfillment in Christ and our Creator. When we find fulfillment in Him, we’ll realize that all the time before knowing Him, we were basically grasping at straws, things capable of fulfilling absolutely nothing. If we were creatures easily satisfied by money or people or things – Kindle Fires, iPads, Xboxes, Canon Rebels, new cars, better clothes – we would feel whole. Sounds good, right? Until you realize that whole beings do not need a Savior.

I need a Savior, one that looks more like Christ and less like a Kindle Fire. (Santa, it’s okay. I don’t need a Kindle Fire, but it would be nice.)

All this to say that, though it stinks really really bad, I’m not too worried about the drought.
Rain will come.

(And let’s not sing that cheesy “Pray for Rain” song, okay? Not what I’m going for.)

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November 28, 2011

Book Review: The Reason for God

**First off, I apologize for the tardiness of this review. Thanksgiving and my little guy have been hoarding all my free time for themselves, until now. Thanksgiving is over and baby nap time is now.**

Tim Keller’s The Reason for God is on my list of books I want to finish reading before the end of 2011 and I just finished about a week ago. Unlike the other books on the list, I needed to give myself some grace and set a goal to finish it in two weeks instead of one.

I needed an extra week to read because this book is loaded with information. There is so much that challenges you and makes you think that sometimes you need to put the book down and let what you just read soak in. Honestly, I am going to need to pick this book back up again very soon and really give myself some more time to read it.

I read this as a Christian already, so I benefitted by reading The Reason for God as a tool I can one day use should I ever need to answer the same questions mentioned in Part One in a loving, knowledgeable way.

I am having a really hard time trying to pinpoint what I thought were very good points. However, my favorite chapter was probably Chapter 14, “The Dance of God.” Keller’s description of the Trinity and each person’s relationship with the other amazed me. The image of each person of the Trinity seeking to find their joy in both of the others, encircling them in their own “dance” is such an awesome thing.  And that’s what we’re called to do with the relationship we have with Him and the relationships we have amongst our peers, making it “other-centered” instead of “self-centered.” Another point Keller mentioned, although I cannot remember what chapter, was that, and I’m paraphrasing, really you have to know Jesus before fully understanding and reasoning why something is a particular way (I’ll try to find the exact quote later). But that being said, there are ways to reason the existence of God, why He does what He does, and how He does it. And it is possible to explain all of this is a loving, humble way.

Great book! ★★★★★

If you decide to read it, give yourself some time and really take things in.

(By the by, from now on I’m going to actually start star-rating book according to how much I really liked it versus everything either getting five stars or no stars :) )

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November 7, 2011

Shamelessly Playing: All things ’90s

I found this little gem a few weeks back when T (husband) and I decided to upload all of our CDs into iTunes. I’ll be honest that this album has been my “go-to” when I need something funky move to when I’m cooking. T hates it.

Listening to this album reminds me of a time when I used to pretend to be an Pacific Islander half breed version of Sporty Spice/Mel C. I remember when I heard that Ginger Spice/Geri H. decided to leave the Spice Girls and how devastated I was.

DEVASTATED!

I know that many would probably agree, but in some slightly twisted way, I miss the 90s, at least the music. T would definitely disagree with me, but “whatever” via Cher Horowitz.

To all 90s haters, I seem to have turned out all right despite of 90s love.

Do you miss anything from the 90s?

Before you answer, reflect on this list of nostalgia (which I will be constantly updating for my references):

Spice Girls
Third Eye Blind – “Closing Time”
Marcy Playground
“Hey, Dude”
“Salute Your Shorts”
The Cranberries – EVERYTHING they have done
Pearl  Jam
Everclear – “I will buy you garden where you flowers can bloom!”

“Ahh! Real Monsters”
“Rocko’s Modern Life”
“Ren & Stimpy”
Hootie & The Blowfish
“Hey Arnold”
“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” – prominant in the 90s, but I think they had an 80s start?
“All That”
Jerry Springer
JONATHAN TAYLOR THOMAS
” Dinosaurs”
Carlton Banks
Steve Urkel
Stephan UrKEL
“Sister/Sister”
“Smart Guy”
N’SYNC
Backstreet Boys
Hanson
“No! I don’t want no Scrubs” – TLC
“My So-Called Life”

(To Be Continued…)

Help me remember more by adding via comment!

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November 6, 2011

Book Review: A Swiftly Tilting Planet

I could not remember if I read A Swiftly Tilting Planet by Madeleine L’Engle when I was in middle school or not. I do remember reading A Wrinkle in Time and loving it. Wrinkle… was the first book (of some significant size) that I ever read in a day, one single day. I think that is a feat for most American Teenagers. I remember being parked on our family loveseat for an entire Saturday becoming totally wrapped up in L’Engle’s fictitious world. I loved it.

I loved A Swiftly Tilting Planet as well. I read it in a matter of days. It is easy to do that with books you get lost in. L’Engle subtly saturated this book with biblical stories, stories I think that the average American think are pretty cut and dry. Cain killed Abel and Cain was bad. The end. Right? But through this young adult tale, L’Engle points that that history helps form the today. Brothers have been against brothers from the very near beginning; how would it shape today? History, the “once upon a times” and “long agos,” helps form the “nows” and the “what-will-bes”. That is important for young adults to learn. It is important for everyone to learn!

I am always a sucker for being given pieces of a puzzle and trying to put it together. Charles Wallace travels through time, finding different pieces that mean something but really not knowing how important they are yet. First, he tries to strategically dictate the “Wheres” and “Whens” they must go to. After much struggle with the awful Echthroi because of choices he had forced, Charles Wallace learns to let the wind carry him “Where”-ever and “When”-ever he and his unicorn-friend, Gaudior, need to go. After witnessing heartache, love, and providence, he knows what past “might have been” needs to actually “be” in order to save the world and restore a more harmonious time.

I know. I know. I’m a 23, almost 24, year old reading seemingly ridiculous, young adult fantasy books. But you could say the same thing for 50 year olds getting lost in the Edward and Bella romance, so do not get me started.

Although I am not stingy with how many stars I give a book, I am pretty selective about who my favorite authors are. I have liked Madeleine L’Engle since I was 13 and just realized that I think she is in the top five. The other four I will keep to myself and not disclose now ;)

A Swiftly Tilting Planet ★★★★★

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October 31, 2011

Book Review: The Invisible Man

I should note that the title is The Invisible Man, the novella by H.G. Wells, not Invisible Man, the novel by Ralph Waldo Ellison.

I began reading this book with no expectations. The cover shown to the right is the same cover that is on our copy we have, so that alone should have told me the The Invisible Man was going to be a creepy, crazy, guy.

I also should have clued in that it was written by H.G. Wells and was definitely going to be a science fiction piece. But I did not, so like I said, I began reading this book with no expectations.

Just the right amount of thrill and mystery. I thought the ending was a bit anti-climatic. Griffin is out to kill Kemp, running after him, wreaking havoc everywhere he goes, and then Griffin just dies in a mob? If I were a writer, I would have written something along the lines of having the mob cover up the body to convene elsewhere on how to dispose of him, only to return and find the body missing. But I’m sure many would have been averse to that ending as well. However, H.G. Wells knew what he was writing and this became a classic. I really admire how much science Wells knew (or studied) to be able to articulate how Griffin manipulated the refractive index of objects to make them invisible. Wells’ attention to details was amazing.

I still would like to know what happened to the three books/diaries that Griffin kept? What kind of cypher did he use? How did Griffin come upon the bandages that he used to cover himself? (Or did I miss that somewhere in the book?)

Anyway, great read. ★★★★★

 

 

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October 31, 2011

What’s a Probate?

Me, Brother, Dad

I remember when my brother, cousin and I were younger, though much older than the photo above, we decided to be the ones to decorate my MawMaw’s house for Christmas. I was busy setting up the Nativity scene, using whatever action figures and original Nativity figurines I could find. In the meantime, my brother and cousin were next to me, setting up the small Christmas tree and putting a string of lights around it. In the middle of putting the lights around the tree, my cousin asked my brother to “give him some slack.” My brother responded, “What’s a ‘slack’?” At that moment, everyone around watching us, started laughing. I think we were laughing at the fact that my brother called it “a slack” more than laughing at his not knowing what it was. It was a simple question. I am pretty sure it got a simple answer.

Now, approximately 13 years later (maybe even more), I wish my brother and I were asking those same simple questions that received nonthreating, non-life-changing answers. Going through the process of closing my dad’s estate has been really easy up to this point. My dad’s lawyer has been doing everything, but I got a letter a while back saying that it has been filed for probate and that I will have to go to court soon.

People keep throwing that word around, “probate”. “What’s a ‘probate’?” In this age, I could easily find out. A simple visit to to Google.com or Wikipedia.org could tell me all I want (or do not want) to know. But quite simply, I do not want to know. In my case, “ignorance is bliss.” Eventually I am going to have to know, I am going to have to go through the process of closing his accounts and discontinuing anything in my dad’s name. I already know that it is going to be hard. I do not feel like I need to make it even harder on myself by googling things that will only cause me more worry now. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Matthew 6:34 ESV

When we were kids, we never really realize how much we will miss the simplicity of being kids, how much we miss being looked after.

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