Seriously?

What Pinterest and Dante's Inferno have in common

2012-01-29T17:36:00.002-06:00

And here is the most anticipated blog post of the past 10 days... my comparison of Pinterest and Dante's Inferno. I hope it lives up to all the hype.

Circle 1: Limbo

I had people tell me, oh, you need to join Pinterest, you need to join Pinterest. It seemed like everyone on Facebook was on Pinterest. I told myself that I did not need another time waster in my life. I didn't need to join Pinterest even though everyone said I did. Yes. No. Yes. No. I was in Pinterest limbo. Finally, "I drank the Kool-Aid," as one of my authors liked to say.

Circle 2: Lust

One night, by simply scrolling through the main page of pins, I kept coming across pictures of Channing Tatum. And then, it was shirtless pictures of Channing Tatum. Enough said about lust.

Circle 3: Gluttony

Have you been on Pinterest? All those pictures of food just make me hungry even if I just ate. I don't cook, but wanted to cook all of it. I'm actually trying to get my dad to make some red velvet brownies I saw for my Valentine's party. Anyone who submits themselves to looking at Pinterest while wanting to lose weight is "glutton for punishment."

Circle 4: Greed

I wish I had the money to go there on vacation. I wish I had the talent to make that. I probably actually have the talent, but don't have the time to make (or go shopping for the supplies) that. I want this. I want that. Maybe this really doesn't scream greed, but I often think of envy and greed together, and I definitely feel envious when logged on.

Circle 5: Anger

I cannot figure how to navigate friends and such and that leads me down the path from annoyance to anger. Maybe it's just that I haven't been on there enough. I also get angry at what a time waster it is. It's like craft crack.

Circle 6: Heresy

Wow, it's been a long time since I studied Dante's Inferno in McAfee Daniel's English class at Navarro. I admit that I had to look up the circles before starting this post today. I forgot about heresy. Hmmm. This one is harder to address. Let's see if you all will give me credit with this... Some people idolize Pinterest and become heretical.

Circle 7: Violence

Many times anger leads to violence. Another thing that leads me down the road from anger to violence is how the page keeps reloading and I have to scroll back through what I have already seen to get back to where I was. I show violence towards my mouse when I slam it down in frustration.

Circle 8: Fraud

You know some of that stuff is PhotoShopped. Everyone knows if you have to use PhotoShop, it's fraud.

Circle 9: Treachery

Treason. Disloyalty to country... I know this is a stretch, but here it goes. Up to this point, I have only vacationed in the United States. Several reasons behind this. Most of the time I go with my parents, and my dad believes anyone who travels outside of the US has a death wish. Opportunity has not presented itself because of lack of funds, etc. to go with a friend. However, after my first night on Pinterest, I have decided that I do not want to go anywhere in the US on vacation. I want to go to Canada. British Columbia to be exact.

I will also just throw in at this point, that I'm one of those OCD people who have always been weird about Crayons. In college, I finally got to buy the biggest box as to have all the colors, and they were all arranged in color wheel order. I never wanted to peel the paper or anything. I know this does not surprise you. Now that I am on Pinterest, I want to go buy a big ol' box and break them up and melt them. How many crafts have you seen made of broken and melted Crayons? At least most of them are in color wheel order.

The good news or the bad news?

2012-01-28T21:28:00.004-06:00

The good news or the bad news first?

The good news is that I was able to get my wireless working. I can now be on my computer and the work computer at the same time (because I'm that talented at multi-tasking!) and my printer now functions wirelessly too. Yea! One defeat of technology.

I also completed my taxes and my parents' for them. Hurray!

I ended up not doing my work that I was going to which is good that I'm not spending the weekend doing that, but bad that I didn't have the motivation today to do what I had planned. But we're going with good because I need to give myself the weekend. I'll be more productive next week with rest anyway.

The bad... I got tangled up in looking for social media buttons I felt I needed to add to my blog, and I wasted major time doing that.

I also have not researched a new code for that remote problem, but my dad was having trouble with all of his TVs and he found what might be a solution to my problem. The bad news is I haven't gotten around to that either.

The really, really bad news is that I also haven't done my bit of research needed for my Dante's Inferno blog, so that's going to be tomorrow.

And it's also bad that without doing anything to my hair and not putting on any kind of make-up to look half presentable, I'm also not video blogging "Get Right Church". I don't want anyone looking at me.

Possibly the worst news of all is that I have not looked at my lesson for Sunday school in the morning, so I can't waste any more time online so that I will be prepared in the morning.

Go ahead, shout out how terrible that is.

However, I don't know if anyone has noticed, but even when it is really lousy posts like this, I have actually posted a blog every day of this year! I'm trying to get better at that. So, I'll leave you with that thought.

Enough with technology already

2012-01-27T21:51:00.000-06:00

I have had enough of trying to make technology work. It seems like I am still setting up my new computer since I couldn't get my old one functioning right after it had a moment of crash. I still need to try to get some recovery software on it to see if I can get back that was not backed up. Sounds like fun, huh?

Now that I got a replacement TV since the old one became a TV for the blind (the picture went out and had volume only), I CANNOT get my Dish remote to find the right code to operate the volume of the TV when the train comes by. It's annoying me.

So, I went to my computer to blog, and my DSL isn't working. I THINK it is because my upgrade equipment (to get better yet cheaper internet service) came in Wednesday, and my old service isn't working because AT&T mistakenly thought I was going to complete my installation after 8 PM last night as soon as I was able to do so. WRONG!!! Josh Lucas and his blue eyed self was on a new episode of The Firm last night. And I am not setting it up tonight after sitting in front of a computer for more than 12 hours a day the past two days.

So here I am pecking away on my phone through the old interface because my phone only types every third letter on Blogger's new interface. Which I hate that Blogger doesn't have a BlackBerry app.

At least I am laughing at Mark Cuban dancing on Shark Tank that I recorded earlier.

I'm praying that the technology fairy visits so that I don't spend all weekend punching buttons and making everything work in perfect harmony.

Yes, I realize the pettiness of this. I am not a starving child in Africa. I am just annoyed and frustrated. At least tonight is the night that should have hot water, and the landlord did unclog the tub. Oh, how I took a draining bathtub for granted.

It's not true!

2012-01-26T19:51:00.005-06:00

I've been crazy busy trying to get some things taken care of, so I haven't had a chance to work on a couple of posts that I promised on Facebook. I promise, even if I don't do my video of "Get Right Church" I will do the post comparing Pinterest to Dante's Inferno this weekend.

In the meantime, I'm posting a video I found entertaining and informative this week. I like a lot of what I have seen on 22 Words. Or I should probably say what people have shared from the site.

What do you mean?

2012-01-25T21:36:00.000-06:00

I am posting this because of a new running joke that came about today, and to crack the code of my Tweets and status updates on Facebook, just in case you ever have a hard time figuring them out.

When I say:
"I must have picked out the itchiest clothes in my closet today."

I mean:
"Wow, this sweater sure is scratchy." Or "Man, I have dry skin and itch, but I am going to blame it on my clothes."

What I don't mean:
"Someone sure is being something that rhymes with witchy."

When I say:
"My mom called me to..."

I mean:
"My mom called me."

What I don't mean:
"Someone other than my mom called me."

When I say:
"I sure wish the weather would stop changing, it's making my head hurt."

I mean:
"I have a headache. I think it is the change in the barometric pressure, but I could just need caffeine."

What I don't mean:
"Somebody hit me in the head with an umbrella." (That is a joke directed to Amanda.) Or "Someone is giving me a headache."

When I say;
"I need a frappachino."

I mean:
"I want a frappachino." It could be, "I am stressed and want a frappachino." Or "I am thirsty and a frappachino would be a tasty treat.

What I don't mean:
"I want a V8."

If I missed anything that you may have questions or are confused about, please let me know.

The lie

2012-01-24T21:17:00.002-06:00

Every last one of my single friends and blog readers can debate me on this. Go ahead, tell me I'm wrong. I'm usually someone to be the first to say that they may be wrong. However, this time, I really don't think that I am. Well, maybe with one exception, and I won't tell you who that one person might be.

Jenny left her comment earlier on yesterday's blog, and she was exactly right, guessing exactly where I was going.

I got to thinking about this after the Timmy the Fly conversation on the parking lot after church the other night. One of the three of us there said these words, "I'm not looking for anyone right now. I'm perfectly happy being on my own."

At that particular moment, it could have been true. But I know as I was standing there, I was thinking, "yeah sure." I know, that's wrong of me to assume anything.

We all say it though. We're fine being alone. We don't need anyone. We aren't looking for anyone. We just want to be friends. We just want hang out. Suuurrrrrre. Every last one of my female currently unmarried my friends and co-workers (oh goodness, some of my former co-workers) were wanting someone on some level.

I am, but I'm not. I say the "I'm not looking part all the time." I'm not actively seeking out, but honestly, I keep my eyes open.

Are we all just trying not to be pathetic? Trying not to be needy? Trying to put on a strong face? Does just admitting the truth do any harm?

Here's the whole fact of the matter: we're born wanting companionship, and we don't just want a friend. We want to be LOVED. God made humans that way. It's not a sign of weakness.

Yeah, admitting it might scare the guys off, but they want the same thing. They're all looking for someone too. Yes, I think women are worse about being emotional and tend to be more desperate about it.

Fortunately, my group of friends and I are of the independent, can make it on our on variety. And that's a good thing because with each passing day the likelihood of us hooking a man is slipping by. Goodness knows, with age comes baggage. We just have to decide how bad we want a man.

I just don't know anyone that wants the Fly yet.

The lie every woman tells

2012-01-23T21:37:00.002-06:00

This is a teaser for my next post. I was going to blog about it tonight, but watching The Bachelor put me to sleep, and I'm yawning too much right now to make my post. So, let's see who guesses my direction correctly...

What does a woman lie about? Especially single women?

Post your thoughts... it may lead to some interesting upcoming blog posts.

Timmy the Fly strikes again

2012-01-22T22:13:00.000-06:00

Anyone remember Timmy the Fly? I was reminded this was the name I had for him back when I posted over a year ago. I'm pretty sure you can do a search of my blog for the term and get some back story.

Timmy knows better to buzz around me. Actually, I'm just thinking it's because he is not interested in me whatsoever anyway. Which is fine by me. I already have a really strange problem of real flies behind my house, and they are covering my car. That, and there's always a fly that needs to be swatted at the office. I don't need a menacing grown fly in the form of a 29 year old adult mail buzzing around.

I don't really recall why I named him Timmy the Fly - at least the fly part - but he does tend to behave like a fly, flying around and landing on one person or another and back again.

Oh, no, that's a problem some other single (oh, and heck, one married) ladies are having right now. I will, however, and say that he does not realize - or at least pay enough attention to realize - that the married one is married.

I shall change all of the names involved to Biblical names as to not be extremely obvious about what is going on.

My friend Rebekah (who is going to kill me for choosing that as her name) was telling me a few weeks ago that he was back to texting her again, offering to buy her dinner, pay for her car inspection, etc. He actually did pay for her car inspection unbeknownst to her. He started texting again calling her friend and asking if they were friends that he knew they needed to be friends in order to take it slow this time.

A) You usually know when you are friends with someone without having to ask.
B) If you are just friends, and only ever going to be friends, there is no need to take it slow.

Thankfully, after the whole care inspection thing, ignoring texts was the right thing for Rebekah to do. She's not heard from him in a couple of weeks other than trying to avoid him on the First Day of the Week and on the fourth day of the week. She also told me about having a near parking lot collision with the Fly while he was talking to a woman I'll call Lydia. Except it was not Lydia he was talking to, he was talking to Lydia's daughter Esther who is married. Esther was waving her wedding ring around, but he must not have been paying attention.

So, after church, I was just talking and catching up with Rebekah since we haven't talked in a couple of weeks. Before we headed out, she wanted to make sure she talked to Esther, so she and I talked to Esther and Lydia. The Fly made sure to wave to Esther tonight though she thought maybe he was waving at her mom. Lydia made a point to tell Rebekah and I that we needed to do something because it was two weeks in a row he had been talking to Esther. (He might better watch out... the last time I saw Esther's husband, he was in his Sheriff's Department uniform carrying a firearm. And yes, I'm only saying this to be funny, not that the Fly should be shot.)

While those who have known them forever wouldn't do this, Esther and Lydia are wondering if he has Esther confused with her sister Leah who he has met and spoken to before. If he was paying any attention to anyone, he would know they are not the same person. I mean, seriously!?

I told them I would say something as he walked by because in the meantime, he had Phoebe cornered. Poor Phoebe.

Unfortunately, there were other people around, so I couldn't say what I threatened to, and Esther made a don't-you-dare-face, followed by a well-aren't-you-going-to-face, so as he passed I said, "So, Esther, how's your HUSBAND?"

Lydia said, "that was loud and blatant." Well, I just hope he heard.

Anyway, about this time, someone turned all the lights off in the auditorium to get rid of us all. I went out the closest door, and Rebekah drove me around to my car. She said she was going to A) text Timmy to let him know Esther was married, and he needed to stop it and that B) she was going to give Phoebe a warning call.

We drive around the back of the church and see Phoebe coming out, so have a long chat with her telling her that he'd already been after Rebekah, called me at one time, asked out Tabitha, was trying to talk to Esther who he possibly thought was Leah and we noticed she was next.

He had asked her step-dad if she was seeing anyone and if could ask her out. I see where it is a noble and the gentlemen thing to do in asking a dad, but A) we're all adults here, B) it's not 1921, C) what is it about dads? I guess dads can identify with younger guys trying to find a worthy woman, but dads should not speak for their daughters.

Before he makes his strike (and he's struck out enough to claim the golden sombrero at church alone), he doesn't know anything about anyone. He needs to have a conversation where the first question is not, "are you seeing anyone?" Had he known a little bit, he would have known that Moses was Phoebe's step-dad and wouldn't have kept saying, ah you don't need to see your dad since Moses is your dad anyway." Timmy knows nothing of their relationship to make those kinds of comments even though they have a good one.

Phoebe had even heard him mention Miriam, who is way too young for him to cast his eyes upon. Rebekah has also warned Mary to watch out and keep out of his line of vision. If Dorcas came regularly, I'm sure she would on his radar. It's almost like it's become a support group that we must warn the masses.

I truly believe that he is as harmless as a fly. I think he means well. I think he really doesn't know better. Yet, his parents' urging for him to find a good Christian girl at church is not really going to work out within the confines of our congregation.

I'm just not sure what the solution to this problem is. In the meantime, with each closing prayer, we all just scatter like ants when the pile is kicked.

Maybe I do have psychoticness

2012-01-21T21:38:00.001-06:00

I'm beginning to believe more and more that the 5th grade boys are on to something with needing to recover from my psychoticness. It's a little hard to explain though. Anxiety of being around people in a confined space perhaps, even if you dearly love and adore the people in the confined space. I blame that on just spending too much time by myself. A vehicle filled with 5 people for a few hours is a bit much.

Anyhow... I did go ahead and make the trek with the family up to visit my aunt today. And I requested a stop at Starbuck's so I did get to have a Salted Caramel Mocha Frappachino. That had to start a day off well!

We took Aunt Lois to Babe's in Carrollton, Paige's favorite place in the whole world because it's all the chicken she could possibly eat. When they called "Jennings, party of 6" this random guy says, "your name's Jennings too? I'm Richard Jennings." My dad responds, "I am too!" Thus, a geneaology discussion ensued and Peyton began to wonder if the guy was going to eat lunch with us.

After lunch, my parents got to talk geneaology with Lois while I tried to teach the girls to shoot pool, not that I'm an expert. Yeah, there's a reason why I'm not a teacher anymore!

We got to go by one of my favorite places to shop - Hobby Lobby. I could spend forever in that place. I finally got a frame for a picture that one of the kids from church drew for me months ago of a blue jay. I wish for the life of me I could figure out how to take a picture with the webcam of my computer so I could post it. That's going to drive me to psychoticness.

Seriously! I can figure out how to "make a movie" and then use the webcam, but not do a simple snapshot. It's driving me nuts. If I figure it out, that may be worth a whole other post.

UPDATE: I figured it out!

TGIF

2012-01-20T20:39:00.001-06:00

I am oh so thankful it is Friday. It's just been one of those weeks. I've posted about my technological problems over the week and honestly, that's just a small part of the week I've had. Yet, I can't completely put a finger on any one thing.

The changes in the Texas weather - 28 degrees one night and two days later it's 78 - is wreaking havoc on my head. I think it's the shifts in the fronts that are giving me headaches coming and going.

What I need is a weekend of nothing, but I already know I'm going to have to fight to say no.

The family guilt trip...

Dad called earlier tonight saying he was thinking about going up to visit his sister, my aunt that's like a grandmother to me. I love her to death, but I just don't have it in me to drive the hour plus up there and back.

The reason why this weekend is because Paige and Peyton are going to be around. I really want to spend some time with them, but entertaining them and keeping them mellow while at a retirement home is just more than I can bear to think about in my sleep deprived state. And even though they are 10 and 7, they aren't the best people to ride around with. Especially if they are in a feuding mood. Add on to the fact that it's come to a point the best option of drivers is me through Dallas... If I don't go, I have to hear my mom talk about his old man driving and what she really wanted to do tomorrow, etc.

Of course, I'm going to have to hear that anyway. I've already been the bad granddaughter by not going by my parents to eat Wednesday night when my grandmother was in town.

So, I'm just trying not to think about it. I'm trying to relax. I'm kicking back in the chaise in my office/library that I never sit back and relax in because I am watching TV shows I've missed the past few days online because the picture on my TV went out in my living room. I'm tired, but not tired enough to get into bed for the rest of the night.

I had an invitation tonight to go see Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close tonight. I would have gone except that I need to laugh instead of watch a movie that depressed me to watch the previews of. I think the 9/11 aspect of the movie alone has to be awfully sad. However, I think the movie theater here only had the Chipmunks as a happy alternative, and I don't think chipmunk voices would do much for my head right now.

Speaking of depressing, when I left work today, I did go to Walmart. That's almost against my religion. I was TV shopping for when I finally admit that I'm going to have to go buy one if I want one in my living room and bedroom both which I know I do. I was also looking at dishes because I decided that I at some point want enough matching dishes to have more than 3 friends over and not eat off of paper.

Before buying a new TV, I was looking at buying dishes, but possibly not since I just ended up with a new computer when what I was really trying to do was save up money for a house.

Instead, everything is going kaput and my landlords lied to me and didn't come fix the drippy faucet or the clogged bathtub. At least last night was the night for the hot shower because I think my water heater is ecologically or economically efficient, and I only get a really hot shower every third day. So, I figure since I have to wash my hair tonight, it will be somewhat warm, but I'll be up to my shins in water by the time I get my hair rinsed out because I evidently haven't complained enough about the standing water that won't drain.

Even though if I had my own place, I'd have to pay for the plumber, at least I would have the FREEDOM to CALL the PLUMBER!!!

Instead of my TV, I wish my refrigerator would have gone out. My older than dirt rusted out fridge is what really needs replacing, and if it went out, the landlords would have to buy it.

I'm just crossing my fingers the dryer doesn't go out. It's been on it's last limb for years. However, I can tell you that I'll be draping a wire across the living room and hanging my underwear and towels across the room to dry if that happens.

Alright, I'll close my mumblings and groanings now. I warned you that it has been that kind of week.

On the brighter side, I think I'll see if I can watch The Firm online. Blue-eyed Josh Lucas will definitely brighten my spirits.

Yesterday's tale continued

2012-01-19T07:05:00.000-06:00

Alright, now I can actually explain why I decided to just go to bed yesterday as it just seemed like a bad day for me and anything involving electricity.

It was cold in the office, so I went and got a space heater we've had stored in another room and plug it in. Why not, it's here, right?

After 10-15 minutes of being plugged in, a fuse blew knocking out just a small section of electricity in the building. OK. I'll plug it into another wall, hopefully a different circuit. I don't really know that it was, but it's an old building and it was worth trying. The heater had an alarm on it, and after five minutes, I guess it got too hot. Fine, I'll be cold.

Looking up at my light fixture at the moment, I also realize I blew out a light bulb after tightening and checking them all on Monday.

I wasted what seemed like half of the morning by having to re-do something in our database three times because my notes kept deleted somehow. Thankfully, the third time was the charm.

When I got home after church last night, I sat down to eat a bite and turn on the TV. I have volume, but absolutely no picture. If the picture is truly out, that's quite frustrating because I just bought a new computer because my other one was not running correctly after having to do a forced system recovery and erasing everything. I just finally got all my pictures and music moved on to the new computer after having to buy an SD chip recovery program (that didn't recover everything) and uploading a bunch of CDs back on to iTunes.

So, since my TV was not working, I thought, it's a sign to get some work done. Then, my internet decided to run slower that Vladimir Guerrero in a 10 run game. (Remember how slow he was Ranger fans?) It was actually running much slower than that.

Fine, I'll see if I can quickly blog on my BlackBerry. With the newer interface of Blogger, that doesn't work either because only every 4th letter I was typing (slowly hoping it might register), so I finally just gave up to take a shower and go to bed.

Hopefully, the landlord is coming out today to stop the incessant drip in the kitchen and tend to the bathtub that won't drain because I was probably standing in 6 inches of water by the time I got my hair washed last night. Of course, I've been complaining about this for a while.

Here's to hoping today is much more productive. After all, I got up an hour and a half early to try to cram it all in!

This is why I am going to bed before 9 PM

2012-01-18T20:33:00.001-06:00

I give up on this day. I may not get through this blog because of technology. My whole day has been that way and typing on my phone is not working.

Nothing says love like a dead animal

2012-01-17T18:05:00.001-06:00

I commented last night on Facebook that I had forgot about watching Cajun Pawn Stars. On that show, a person can pawn a donkey. Last week, someone sold their goat to to the store, and someone else tried to sell their alien in a jar.

Obviously, anything goes.

After referring to this, one Facebook stalkers, I mean, one of my friends shared a story with me. I love Christine - we mutually stalk each other on Facebook.

She gave me permission to share her story here. I must say, after reading her stories, I don't think of my own gift stories sound so bad.

And, I'm pretty sure you can find these items at Silver Dollar Pawn Shop in Louisiana.

For my birthday, I got a cross from my mom. I opened mypresents with my parents over the phone, so I said, “Wow. This is interesting.What type of wood is this made of?”

It looked like little roundish pieces of wood glued end toend.

My mom said, “Look for the little card.”

So I pull out the little card and begin to read. It turns outthat the cross is not made of wood. It’s made from the scales of a 200-lb fishthat lives in the bayou by a Cajun craftsman.

Yes, that’s right.Nothing says “I love you” like gifts made from dead fish!

As if that weren't enough, she got enough gift from this talented artist.

Fast forward to Christmas. I’m opening my gifts, and there’sa box that says “Pecan House” on it. I’m thinking, “Oh, maybe they got mepecans.”

So I open it, and there’s no pecans.

There’s a craft item in there. It’s on the shape of amagnolia flower, and whatever it’s made of us painted. I’m looking at it, remembering the box, andthinking that it doesn’t look like it’s made out of pecans. What is it?

So I asked my mom when I called her that morning. She said itdidn’t come from the Pecan House, that was just the box. She said it was madeby the same folks who made the cross. It was made out of “alligator buttons”which is the scaly things on their back.

Dead animal present #2. I’m beginning to think it was a badidea for my parents to move to Mississippi....

Second opinion?

2012-01-16T19:19:00.001-06:00

Every one has one... What's your opinion?

Enjoy my very amusing niece Paige. Don't really think this alone is worth the $40 I paid to recover bits and pieces of what I deleted off my SD chip before my computer crash, but it is entertaining.

My mother thinks it's love

2012-01-15T21:48:00.003-06:00

The love skeptic in me says it isn't. And even if it is, it does not matter.

Well, the good news is that I don't have to worry about whether or not I really made the boy "T" in my Sunday School class cry last week. I'm pretty sure we're all good now.

This morning, many of the kids were out with their older siblings at a retreat or elsewhere, so my class of 9 last week was 4 this week. However, they were still a little more rambunctious than usual. The quiet, usually more timid one - the one I was somewhat worried that I had humiliated to tears last week is certainly emerging from his shell. I don't know what I've done to the kid.

After church this morning, the two boys - the best of friends and usually up to something came my way after church with papers in hand. "C" tries handing me a piece of paper while "T" is trying to make sure I don't see it. My mother says, "they're writing you love notes. I saw something about my dear Audra."

Finally, I rescue one piece of paper from C and give it back to T so that T will not be embarrassed by whatever it is that C is trying to show me. A few minutes later, T shows back up and lets me look at one page. It says, "Dear Miss Audra, I hope you recover soon from your psychoticness."

AWWWW!!! Isn't that sweet? He made me give it back or I would scan it in to show you.

I told Mom what it said, and she asked if it was spelled correctly. (Keep in mind that I have made these kids have a spelling be to spell angel and John.) Surprisingly, I think it was spelled correctly or close to it. I only got to look for a minute and it was hyphenated from one line to another so I was good to tell psy - choticness.

Yes, this is what the 5th grade boys had going on during the sermon today. I'm deeply touched. And somewhat worried about what next week brings.

I blame the government

2012-01-14T21:26:00.002-06:00

Earlier this week, I was lamenting to myself that this would be a long year. I was trying to figure out how I could do my job in needing to know what's going on in the world and at the same time staying off the internet and stop watching TV (except skillfully using DVR at all times) so that I would not have to listen to and see all things surrounding the 2012 election every day.

And whose bright idea was it for election year and leap year to coincide? I know each comes every four years (as does the Olympics), but who decided it should be the same year every four years? That means it's one more day of political blah-blah.

You know it had to have been a politician that came up with this. Obviously, had to have been.

I'm having the same kind of reaction to all the Tebow fanaticism on Facebook. I'm so ready for the Super Bowl to be over (so that we can get past football season - not that I'm saying the Broncos will be in it), and not just because The Voice premieres afterwards. And yes, I am so ready to see Adam Levine and Blake Shelton. And no, I'm not sure who looks more uncomfortable... Ceelo Green (aka the Milk Dud - think about it) or Christina Aguilara with her "ladies" lifted up her neck.

Back to Tebow... Yes, I give him credit for being a bold, professing Christian. He's not the only one in the world. I think people are coming close to worshiping Tebow instead of the One and Only that Tebow is worshiping.

You know what, I blame the government for this one too. If the government had not restricted everyone to be "politically correct" more people would be able to profess their faith and Tebow wouldn't be such a rare sight.

What are you tired of hearing about?

A look inside the Gospel Story Bible

2012-01-13T07:15:00.002-06:00

Thank you to everyone who participated in today's tour!

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!

Today's Wild Card author is:

Marty Machowski

Illustrated by:

A. E. Macha

and the book:

The Gospel Story Bible:

Discovering Jesus in the Old and New Testaments

New Growth Press (December 5, 2011)

***Special thanks to Audra Jennings – The B and B Media Group – for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Marty Machowski is a Family Life Pastor at Covenant Fellowship Church, a Sovereign Grace Ministries church in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania, where he has served on the pastoral staff for twenty-three years. Marty leads Promise Kingdom, the children’s ministry of Covenant Fellowship. He is also the author of Long Story Short: Ten-Minute Devotions to Draw Your Family to God and the forthcoming Gospel Story Sunday school curriculum. He and his wife Lois and their six children reside in West Chester, Pennsylvania.

Visit the author's Facebook Page.

http://gospelstoryforkids.com

ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR:

I have never been the best at anything. This has given me the freedom to really enjoy alot of things; perfection is not on the line. So my drawing is not clean, my patchwork corners don’t really match up, and my cooking is always an adventure. I was raised by a single mom who has an exhausting amount of creative energy. My brother and I were taught how to create our own entertainment and seek adventure in the everyday.

When I was in Jr High, both my parents remarried and let’s just say things have never been boring. A foster brother, two step sisters, and a half brother were added to the mix. I have aunts and uncles who have been beyond generous and helped raise me in many ways. I have been blessed to travel overseas and even live in Prague for six months. My dad and stepmom run a special needs home in Guatemala where I have spent time and really fallen in love with the culture. My brother and his wife run a shoe company out of Guatemala. Everywhere I have been, even a dirt floor hut in the hills of Guatemala, there has been art: design and color. I believe as humans we are created in the image of The Creator, and so we all have some creative effort to put forth.

I have a BFA in Illustration because after all the studio classes one takes to finish an Art Education degree, I found what I really like to do is draw. I doodle. Alot.

Presently, I am married with two little ones, living in the Germantown section of Philadelphia. I teach art part time at a sweet little christian school, grow tomatoes and beets, and sew or draw when I get the chance.

My first illustration project is coming out in the fall, 156 illustrated Bible stories in the “Gospel Story Bible” by Marty Machowski, published by New Growth Press.

Visit the illustrator's Website.

SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:

Sometimes it’s easy to forget Jesus in the midst of frantic schedules, family squabbles and conflicting priorities. For many Christians, God often becomes little more than an afterthought after days absorbed and depleted by the busyness of life. But the truth is that he is the hero of every story—including the mundane, ordinary ones we experience on a regular basis. That is why Marty Machowski beckons families to take time out from the daily grind to be transformed by the message of the Good News in his latest release, The Gospel Story Bible: Discovering Jesus in the Old and New Testaments (New Growth Press, November 2011).

Based on the ESV Bible, this uniquely illustrated Bible storybook uses 156 stories to present God’s plan of salvation in Christ from its opening narrative in Genesis to its finale in Revelation. This easy-to-read storybook written for children from preschool to high school introduces readers to many captivating people, places and events from the Bible’s Old and New Testaments. At the same time, Machowski skillfully connects the individual stories to the overall gospel narrative of how God redeemed a broken world through sending his son Jesus to save his people. Each story ends by connecting to Jesus and his gospel of grace. By sharing these Bible stories with each other, young and old will learn together the life-changing habit of recognizing the presence and workings of Christ in every moment of their day.

“The gospel is deep enough to keep the oldest and wisest parents learning and growing all their lives, yet simple enough to change the heart of the first grader who has just begun to read,” says Machowski. “That’s what makes The Gospel Story Bible ideal as a storybook for a preschooler, a devotional for a grade school student, a refresher for the adult believer or an introduction for the new one. Parents and children will learn together to read the whole Bible as one story, with one hero—Jesus Christ.”

Vibrant illustrations by A. E. Macha, child-friendly discussion questions and Scripture references accompany each story to help lead families in exploring the Bible. Parents and teachers will be delighted to discover how easily even a young child can understand the original text of a story that he or she has already come to love. A companion to the family devotional Long Story Short: Ten-Minute Devotions to Draw Your Family to God and the soon-to-be-released Gospel Story Sunday school curriculum (February 2012), The Gospel Story Bible is also a great resource for churches, Sunday school classes, home-schoolers and Christian schools who want to teach their children to apply the gospel to every situation and make Jesus the most important part of their everyday lives.

Product Details:

List Price: $29.99
Hardcover: 328 pages
Publisher: New Growth Press (December 5, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1936768127
ISBN-13: 978-1936768127

AND NOW...Some Sample Pages (click images to see them larger):

I've got nothin' for ya

2012-01-12T21:30:00.000-06:00

I without flowing words of hilarity or pithy wisdom this evening. By the way, I hate the word pithy and when the word pithy is used. Actually, it triggers annoyance. I exhausted my writing skills earlier while editing the writing of others.

And there is no video tonight because the only video I care about this evening after a very long work day is Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice.

I would celebrate in the fact tomorrow is Friday if Fridays weren't the most stressful day of the week. I must go out of town just to go to Starbuck's this eekend. You have weeks like that?

Preview TEN: How Would You Rate Your Life?

2012-01-11T09:00:00.000-06:00

Thanks to everyone who participated in today's tour!

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!

Today's Wild Card author is:

Terry A. Smith

and the book:

Ten: How Would You Rate Your Life?

HigherLife Publishing (January 3, 2012)

***Special thanks to Audra Jennings – The B and B Media Group – for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Terry A. Smith has served as a lead pastor of the Life Christian Church for twenty years. TLCC is a nondenominational faith community in West Orange, NJ, serving the New York City metro area. Terry is a cofounder of the New York City Leadership Center and an instructor in its Leadership Fellows program. A gifted communicator, Terry speaks in a variety of venues nationally and internationally. He is passionate about challenging, developing, and encouraging leaders.

Visit the author's website.

SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:

Many of us dream of living a richer and more significant life—the kind of fulfilling life that, when rated on the scale of one to ten, would score a definitive ten. Inviting us to awaken to the TEN Life is the theme of a new book by Terry A. Smith, lead pastor of The Life Christian Church in West Orange, New Jersey. A gifted communicator, Terry is a national and international speaker with a passion for challenging and encouraging others, especially those who are completely unaware of their own unique power and potential.

Based on the tenth verse of the tenth chapter in the Book of John, Ten: How Would You Rate Your Life? (Higher Life Development Services, Inc) is a guide to living the life God dreams for us. “We can only know life in all its fullness,” he explains, “if we live the life God dreams for us. And part of the TEN experience is to try to figure out what that means for each of us as individuals.” Smith’s easy-going style of writing, coupled with his broad scope of reference, makes the book appealing to any reader wanting to create a richer quality of life.

Product Details:

List Price: $24.95

Hardcover: 272 pages
Publisher: HigherLife Publishing (November 10, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1935245503
ISBN-13: 978-1935245506

:

AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:

The Future Is in You

A really cool thing happened to me recently. I was at the ESPN Zone at Times Square for a Cotchery Foundation benefit. Th e Cotchery Foundation was founded by Mercedes and Jerricho Cotchery. Jerricho is a star wide receiver for the New York Jets. He and Mercedes are friends of mine, and I was at this event to support them and the causes they care about. Oh—and I’m a big football fan.

On this night, the Cotchery Foundation was raising a lot of money for several causes, but the primary beneficiary was Pride Academy Charter School. Pride Academy is located in East Orange, New Jersey. East Orange sits in the shadow of Newark and is plagued by severe problems in its educational system—problems all too common to urban America. Th e hope is that a successful charter school like Pride Academy will make a powerful difference in the future of many kids and the future of the community itself.

So I’m standing there in a crush of people, many of them fans who had donated in order to be there. They were given the opportunity to hang out with Jerricho, some of his teammates, and other celebrities. Lots of autographs were being signed.

A woman kind of forced her way over to me. Th e two beaming young girls at her side were about ten or eleven years old. “I want to meet you,” she said, “and these girls said that you were the celebrity they want to meet tonight.” I laughed. Politely? I thought I had been confused—again—for an old retired lineman. Big guy. Shaved head. Still eating to gain weight but not working out enough anymore. Celebrity? Ha! The last autograph I signed was the signature line of a personal check.

“No,” she smiled, “we know who you are.” Then the girls introduced themselves and started to thank me. They attend Pride Academy. The woman was the principal.

So what did this have to do with me?

Well, I am the senior pastor of The Life Christian Church in West Orange, New Jersey, a fairly prosperous suburb of Newark and New York City. A young woman named Rose Mary Dumenigo attends our church. Rose Mary says that she was so inspired by the message in my weekend talks that she decided—along with three other women—to create Pride Academy Charter School.

Rose Mary was a schoolteacher in Newark. She was pouring her life into kids, as do most teachers, but felt stuck in a system that didn’t work. She wanted more. She heard me say—over and over—that we have the God-given ability to create new realities. She believed me. She started a school. Kids’ lives are being saved.

Enter Jerricho and Mercedes Cotchery. In one of our weekend celebrations, Mercedes experienced a presentation about a serving opportunity at Pride Academy. She was inspired to get involved. She started RESH 180, a mentoring program where she teaches the students values that provide the foundation for life success. She has rallied many other volunteers to serve at Pride Academy. The Cotchery Foundation has raised a lot of money to help this school succeed.

And I got to be a celebrity—at least in the minds of two beautiful kids—for about sixty seconds.

But that’s not the point. The point is that I’ve had a lot of people, though usually in less dramatic ways, tell me that the message they hear me share again and again and again has changed their lives and the lives of people around them.

What is that message? Well . . . here it is. I hope it impacts your life too.

The future is in you now.

Most of us have some awareness of the future that is in us. We have moments when we catch our breath in wonder as we briefly glimpse possibilities vastly preferred over our past and present. We intuit something great and grand and from God percolating just beneath the surface of our lives.

We can become fully awake to this future. We can bring this future from the nebulous realm of the subconscious into the world of the conscious. We can move the mystery toward the intentional. Once we do, we can partner with God to create the tomorrow He has dreamed for us—the future we were made for. We can create our God-inspired futures.

God-inspired futures are futures that are better, best, preferred. But God does not force these futures on us. He allows us to choose whether to actualize them. We can cooperate with Him in the continuing act of creating the life and the world He envisioned. And we can experience more and more what He made in the beginning, before terrible human choices messed everything up.

I want this preferred future God planned for each of us and for those we love. I’m not only referring to future generations—opportunities that only our children or even their children will be able to experience. I am talking about imminent futures, eventualities that we can all witness sooner rather than later.

I want to help you conceive and birth the futures—yours and others’— that are gestating in you but are yet unborn. Countless lives are waiting to be changed. There are always new futures waiting to live.

Dr. Thomas P. Barnett, former advisor to the Office of the Secretary of Defense of the United States, was tasked with the burdensome responsibility of studying the future of the world. He writes about the need “to imagine a future worth creating” and to “actually try to build it.”1 He says, “I choose to see it as a moral responsibility—a duty to leave our children a better world.”2

If someone has the ability to imagine a better future and holds the power to create it, then he or she is morally responsible to do just that. We all have facing us incredible potentialities that can cause an entire new reality to exist. When we consider these possibilities, common and moral sense should direct us toward purposeful action.

We must take the actions necessary to bring about the promptings in our hearts. In the New Testament, James talks about the worthlessness of knowing the good we ought to do and not doing it. He says it is a sin (Jas. 4:17). If opportunities lie dormant in our minds and are never actualized, we are living inferior lives. Purposeful inaction is a detriment to the future of our world.

Donald Miller wrote a beautiful book about how to write a better story with our lives. He said, “A character who wants something and overcomes conflict to get it is the basic structure of a good story.”3 Profound. I think “living a good story” is a loaded proposition. One part of “good” is “interesting.” We should live interesting stories. The more important part of “good” is “moral.” It is not enough to live an interesting story; there must be a moral to our story. What great story does not have a moral conflict?

Who can say what is moral? What authority determines what is good? I am a Christian. My understanding of morality is premised on the Judeo-Christian worldview. Whether or not your worldview is the same as mine, I think we can agree that there is a difference between right and wrong, good and evil. And I hope you’ll keep reading. Whether you are a Christ follower or not, I hope that we can agree that we can create a “good” future together.

Anyone who thinks one thing should be done rather than another has acknowledged a “moral ought.” Keep the law. Help the poor. Save the trees. This “ought to” is rooted in the idea that better, best, and preferred must be practiced in a moral context.

There has been a common understanding of morality throughout time even though it has been expressed uniquely through various cultures at various times. I believe, as do other people of faith, that this implies the existence of a moral lawgiver: God—the Creator of conscience. He gave us the ability to discern right and wrong.

And I believe that the future we are responsible to create must be pursued with the idea of what’s right and what’s good deeply impressed in our minds. This guarantees that our stories will be filled with moral conflict. Good.

One of the greatest moral conflicts in American history was the struggle for the abolition of slavery. William Seward was a New York state senator (1830–1834), state governor (1838–1842), and the leading candidate in the Republican Party for the 1860 presidential nomination. He was defeated by the relatively unknown Abraham Lincoln. Seward, however, decided to continue serving his country during a time of tremendous moral crisis by accepting President Lincoln’s invitation to become secretary of state.

During his earlier years as a United States senator, Seward set a moral momentum toward ending slavery by advocating an allegiance to “higher law.” He acknowledged that some believed that the United States Constitution permitted, or perhaps ignored, slavery. In a famous speech to the Senate, Seward said, “But there is a higher law than the Constitution.” He then made a future-changing argument, based on moral law, against the inglorious institution of slavery.4

President Lincoln was influenced mightily by Seward’s concept of a higher, moral law. He coupled that philosophy with his own strong conviction that the basis of American independence—that all men are created equal—came directly from God Himself. The argument against slavery was essentially a moral argument for a better future for a nation and its people. This concept was anchored in God’s mandate for the equality of every human being, a partial motive for the Civil War, which won freedom for millions of formerly enslaved people and their progeny.

When Richmond, Virginia, the capital of the Confederate States of America, fell to Union forces on April 3, 1865, Lincoln and his entourage showed up the next day. They walked dangerously through the streets of the city—now golden streets—echoing the voice of freedom as throngs of newly freed slaves flocked the vicinity of the defeated capital. The emancipated surrounded the Great Emancipator with such force and determination that the soldiers guarding him were helpless in keeping them at a safe distance. With great passion, this group sang the president’s praises, hailing him as their Messiah, shouting, “Glory, hallelujah!”

Lincoln knew better than to accept such acclamation. He responded, “Don’t kneel to me; that is not right. You must kneel to God only, and thank him for the liberty you will hereafter enjoy.”5 While Lincoln was used as an instrument to unfold the preferred futures of people who had never tasted the fruits of freedom, he knew that this better future came from God, the highest law.

So, the future is in us.

And not just any future. It is the future that God has planned for us and our world.

We are responsible to bring this future out of the realm of the unseen and into the world of the seen and lived.

And we can. We can create a better future for ourselves and others.

If we really want to.

Does anyone really want to see this?

2012-01-10T21:07:00.001-06:00

Video blog... good idea or bad idea? Comment as you will.

Preview of The Accidental Bride

2012-01-09T08:00:00.000-06:00

Thanks to everyone who took part in today's tour!

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!

Today's Wild Card author is:

Denise Hunter

and the book:

The Accidental Bride

Thomas Nelson (January 3, 2012)

***Special thanks to Audra Jennings – The B and B Media Group – for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Denise lives in Indiana with her husband Kevin and their three sons. In 1996, Denise began her first book, a Christian romance novel, writing while her children napped. Two years later it was published, and she's been writing ever since. Her books often contain a strong romantic element, and her husband Kevin says he provides all her romantic material, but Denise insists a good imagination helps too!

Visit the author's website.

SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:

Shay Brandenberger has built her entire life on the shifting sands of what others think. Constantly seeking the approval of others, she has struggled through a rocky childhood, a failed marriage and single parenthood. Now it looks like she’s losing the ranch that has been in her family for three generations, a surefire way to mark her as a failure in the eyes of the community. When Travis McCoy, the high school sweetheart who very publicly broke her heart fifteen years before, returns to Moose Creek, she is less than pleased. Not only does his re-appearance dredge up a deluge of painful memories, it also reminds everyone in town that it was he who left her, not the other way around. To make matters worse, Shay and Travis are unwittingly paired to play bride and groom in the annual Founder’s Day wedding re-enactment where, much to her chagrin, she discovers he still has the power to take her breath away.

Product Details:

List Price: $15.99

Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Thomas Nelson (January 3, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1595548025
ISBN-13: 978-1595548023

AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:

The bell above the diner’s door jingledand—despite her most valiant effort—Shay Brandenberger’s eyes darted toward theentry. An unfamiliar couple entered—tourists. She could tell by their khakiEddie Bauer vests and spanking-new hiking boots. Look out, Yellowstone.

When her heart rate returned to normal,she checked her watch and took a sip of coffee. Five minutes till she met MissLucy at the Doll House, forty till she met John Oakley at the bank. What if hesaid no? What would they do then?

“Mom . . . Earth to Mom . . .” Oliviawaved her hand too close to Shay’s face, her brown eyes widening.

“Sorry, hon.” The one bright moment ofher Saturday was breakfast with her daughter, and she couldn’t enjoy it for thedread. “What were you saying?”

Olivia set her fork on herpancake-sticky plate and heaved a sigh worthy of her twelve-year-old self.“Never mind.” She bounced across the vinyl bench, her thick brown ponytailswinging. “I’m going to meet Maddy.”

“Right back here at noon,” Shay called,but Olivia was out the door with the flick of her hand.

The diner buzzed with idle chatter.Silverware clattered and scraped, and the savory smell of bacon and fried eggsunsettled her stomach. She took a sip of the strong brew from the fat rim ofher mug.

The bell jingled again. I will not look. I willnot look. I will not—

The server appeared at her booth, a newgirl, and gathered Olivia’s dishes. “On the house today.”

Shay set down her mug, bristling. “Why?”

The woman shrugged. “Boss’s orders,” shesaid, then made off with the dirty dishes.

From the rectangular kitchen window,Mabel Franklin gave Shay a pointed look.

So Shay had helped the couple with theirfoal the week before. It was the neighborly thing to do.

Fine. She gave a reluctant smile and awave. She pulled her wallet from her purse, counted out the tip, and draggedherself from the booth, remembering her daughter’s bouncy exit. Lately herthirty-two years pressed down on her body like a two-ton boulder.

She opened the diner’s door and peekedboth ways before exiting the Tin Roof and turning toward the Doll House. Shewas only checking sidewalk traffic, not hiding. Nope, she wasn’t hiding fromanyone. The boardwalks were busy on Saturdays. That was why she hadn’t come totown for two weeks. Why their pantry was emptier than a water trough at highnoon.

She hurried three shops down and slippedinto the cool, welcoming air of Miss Lucy’s shop.

“ ’Morning, Miss Lucy.”

“ ’Morning, dear.” The elderly woman, inthe middle of helping a customer, called over her rounded shoulder, “It’s inthe back.” Miss Lucy’s brown eyes were big as buckeyes behind her thickglasses, and her white curls glowed under the spotlights.

“Okeydoke.” Shay forced her feet towardthe storeroom.

A musty smell assaulted her as sheentered the back room and flipped on the overhead fluorescents. She scanned theboxes of doll parts and skeins of yarn until she found what she was lookingfor. She approached the box, lifted the lid, and parted the tissue.

The wedding gown had been carefullyfolded and tucked away. Shay ran her fingers over the delicate lace and pearls.Must’ve been crisp white in its day, but time had cast a long shadow over it.Time had a way of doing that.

Her fingers lingered on the thin fabric.She remembered another time, another dress. A simple white one that hung on heryoung shoulders, just skimmed the cement of the courthouse steps. The ache thatsqueezed her heart had faded with time, but it was there all the same. Would itever go away?

Shaking her head, Shay turned back tothe task at hand. The gown seemed too pretty, too fragile to disturb.

Oh well. She’d promised.

She pulled it out and draped it over thebox, then shimmied from her jeans. When she was down to the bare necessities,she stepped carefully into the gown. She eased it over her narrow hips and slidher arms into the long sleeves. The neckline was modest, the gathered skirtfuller than anything she ever wore. Here in the air-conditioning it was fine,but she would swelter next Saturday.

Leaving the button-up back gaping, shehitched the skirt to the top of her cowboy boots and entered the store.

Miss Lucy was ushering the customer outthe door. When she turned, she stopped, her old-lady shoes squeaking on thelinoleum. “Land sakes.”

Shay took two steps forward and droppedthe skirt. It fell to the floor with a whoosh.

“Fits like a glove,” Miss Lucy said.“And with some low heels it’ll be the perfect length.”

Shay didn’t even own heels. “My boots’llhave to do. Button the back?”

Miss Lucy waddled forward, turned Shaytoward a small wall mirror flecked with time, and began working the tiny pearlbuttons.

Shay’s breath caught at her image. Sheforced its release, then frowned. Wedding gowns were bad luck. She’d swornshe’d never wear another. If someone had told her yesterday she’d be wearingthis thing today, she’d have said they were one straw short of a bale.

Miss Lucy moved up to the buttonsbetween her shoulders, and Shay lifted her hair. The dress did fit, clinging toher torso like it was made for her, wouldn’t you know. Even the colorcomplemented her olive skin.

Still, there was that whole bad luckthing.

And what would everyone think of ShayBrandenberger wearing this valuable piece of Moose Creek heritage? A whitewedding gown, no less. If she didn’t have the approval of her closest friendsand neighbors, what did she have? Not much, to her thinking.

She wanted to cut and run. Wanted toshimmy right out of the dress, tuck it into that box in the storeroom, slipback into her Levi’s and plaid button-up, and go back to her ranch where shecould hole up for the next six months.

She checked the time and wished MissLucy had nimbler fingers. Of all days to do this, a Saturday, when everyonewith two legs was in town. And she still had that infernal meeting with JohnOakley.

Please, God, I can’t lose our home . . .

“I’m obliged to you, dear. I completelyforgot Jessie was going out of town.”

“No problem.”

“Baloney. You’d rather be knee-deep incow dung.” The woman’s marionette lines at the sides of her mouth deepened.

“It’s one hour of my life.” A pittance,after all Miss Lucy had done for her.

Miss Lucy finished buttoning, and Shaydropped her hair and smoothed the delicate lace at the cuffs.

“Well, bless you for being willing. Godis smiling down on you today for your kindness.”

Shay doubted God really cared one way oranother. It was her neighbors she worried about.

“Beautiful, just beautiful. You’ll bethe talk of the town on Founders Day.”

“No doubt.” Everyone in Moose Creekwould be thinking about the last time she’d worn a wedding gown. And the timebefore that.

Especially the time before that.

Third time’s a charm, Shay thought, the corner of her lipturning up.

“Stop fretting,” Miss Lucy said,squeezing her shoulders. “You look quite fetching, like the gown was made foryou. I won’t have to make a single alteration. Why, it fits you better than itever did Jessie—don’t you tell her I said so.”

Shay tilted her head. Maybe Miss Lucywas right. The dress did make the most of her figure. And she had as much rightto wear it as anyone. Maybe more—she was born and raised here, after all. Itwas just a silly old reenactment anyway. No one cared who the bride and groomwere.

The bell jingled as the door openedbehind her. She glanced in the mirror, over her shoulder, where a hulkingsilhouette filled the shop’s doorway. There was something familiar in the setof the man’s broad shoulders, in the slow way he reached up and removed hishat.

The sight of him constricted her ribcage, squeezed the air from her lungs as if she were wearing a corset. But shewasn’t wearing a corset. She was wearing a wedding gown. Just as she had beenthe last time she’d set eyes on Travis McCoy.

What is wrong with children TODAY?

2012-01-08T21:06:00.001-06:00

Seriously, this must have been hyper children day. This morning in Sunday school, I can usually get the kids pretty settled, the fifth graders this morning reminded me a whole lot of the fourth graders I taught during that one semester I taught school. They were hyped up from being back in school for a week after being out for two weeks, I guess. I don't know what it was.

It went downhill after I had everyone laughing so hard they were crying. Actually, one kid might have been crying and not laughing at all. I'm not really sure.

I try to teach them a new song, or sing a different song every week because the whole congregation is tired of the three songs the kids pick on Sunday nights - The Color Song, Kumbaya (the newer version), and Blue Skies and Rainbow. Even the preacher's wife thinks I need to be teaching him some new material.

This morning, they had several choices, and I told one of the boys we would have to sing his song next week. He wasn't necessarily pleased. Of course, this after I told him Ten Thousand Angels was also off today's list. Then I told him instead of Doubting Thomas or Doodling Thomas (a name he got a few weeks ago), he was being "Pouting Thomas."

His answer, "You did not just go there!" If you knew him and his tone, you would find this hilarious. I got tickled, got to laughing, as did everyone else laughing at the both of us and our exchange, and we were all laughing so hard we had tears - boys and girls alike. Thomas had to get up for Kleenex. I'm really hoping it was from laughing so hard and not upestting him otherwise. We were back on good terms later, so I think so.

Paul, whose song was one we were going to sing, tried leading the song when he had a "Peter Brady Moment". You know, as in, "when it's time to change you have to rearrange" crack? I had to explain this reference to them because goodness knows I'm old and they haven't seen the show. It was kind of funny too, but I assured him it was ok and it just meant he was going to be better able to lead those boys parts in the not too distant future.

From there, I couldn't get them to shut up. I told them, "don't make me tell ya'll to shut up in church." One girl said, "but you just said it, and it's a bad word." I told her that was the point and it might not have been nice, but I didn't just curse in church. I also told her she could laugh becuase it was funny.

We sort of got through the lesson today. Sort of.

Fast forward to tonight. My family got together for my Dad's birthday which is today, my brother's which is Tuesday and Madison's which is next Sunday. Layton was hollering like I've never heard him hollering, right in my ear. Paige, Peyton and Madison were on the hyper side. My ears were ringing after they headed out, and I thought I was going to have to take Advil when I got home. And none of them are usually that wound up, especially all at once.

So, parents, all I have to say is good luck getting your kids to bed tonight. You're going to need it.

Willpower

2012-01-07T22:56:00.001-06:00

I don't have a lot of willpower when it comes to some things like Mexican food or chocolate. Well, except that time I went over two years without chocolate. Yeah, I'm pretty sure I had to go to attitude adjustments during that time, but that's beside the point. I really don't think they were connected.

That, however, is not the point. Where I am using willpower is Pinterest. I refuse. I don't care how many people are pinning whatever they are pinning. I'm not giving in. Besides, I can see what you're pinning on your Facebook wall, right?

I wasted enough time earlier in the day bouncing around Twitter and scrolling through Facebook when I had things I needed to be doing much, much worse. I'm choosing to not spend hours exploring Pinterest.

I will not create a log in.

I will not do it.

That's willpower, right? Now that I have the last of the Christmas chocolate out of my house, let's see how long I can go without anymore coming in.

I think the avoiding Pinterest thing will last much longer.

One of these days...

2012-01-06T21:30:00.000-06:00

One of these days, I'm going to get back on my new touch screen computer and really try it out. However, today is not the day. I spent 15 hours in front of another computer today, and it's just not going to happen today.

It's like Christmas, but you don't get to play with your toys until New Year's. Someday.

At 9:00 tonight I launched a call with AT&T tech support because that is always fun on a Friday night. I keep getting notifications by phone "you can now set up your AT&T Uverse..." No, I can't. I don't have equipment. Turns out Motorola messed up their shipment to AT&T, so I won't get it for a few weeks. Sigh. And I was ready to finally have Wi-Fi set at the house so that I wouldn't have to keep switching the DSL cable from one computer to another. I know that isn't major trauma, but a little annoying in that I hope I don't get a recorded message every day until it gets here.

It also means that I can't do some other set up on my new computer while I'm working on my work one. So much for great multi-tasking. But I think I will survive.

Reasons for Hope: In the Mosaic of Your Life

2012-01-05T18:02:00.000-06:00

God uses our brokenness to create something beautiful;
Carl Kerby shares his mosaic.

Life is not always picture-perfect, and sometimes itis difficult to see God’s plan or purpose—especially during difficult times. Reasons for Hope: In the Mosaic of Your Life,by sought-after speaker Carl Kerby, researches the many aspects of faith thatwill encourage everyone looking for hope in today’s troubling times. With humorand passion, Carl answers questions about suffering, evolution, relativism,faith and more, strengthening his readers and equipping them to offer true hopeto a broken world.

“In a mosaic, the artist arranges pieces of cut orbroken stones or tiles to create a decorative pattern. We may struggle to graspthe overall design of a mosaic when we’re looking at the individual pieces upclose, because what we see looks like a piece of junk, broken and useless. Butwhen we step back far enough to view the entire mosaic, we get a newperspective, and we see the intricate beauty of the finished masterpiece. Thatenables us to grasp the original intent of the artist,” explains Carl Kerby. Reasons for Hope chronicles Carl’s rockystart as the son of a professional wrestler and takes readers from hisdifficult teen years and his military career to his stressful responsibility asan air-traffic controller at one of the nation’s busiest airports andultimately to his ministry calling as a speaker. Carl reveals how God hascreated a beautiful mosaic from the broken pieces of his life, held together bythe saving grace of the cross of Jesus Christ. As readers join in Carl’sjourney, they will come to understand how the bigger picture of their own livesreveals a unique and beautiful mosaic.

Using his dynamic and infectious passion, Carl revealsGod’s hand throughout his life, from childhood to adulthood, from unbelief tobelief. No matter what the circumstances, God gathers up the broken pieces oflife and forms them into something beautiful, all according to His purpose andplan. Carl’s story will not only give reasons for hope but will also encouragereaders to share their only true hope, Jesus Christ. Readers will walk awayknowing that the broken pieces of their lives are used by God to make beautifuland useful vessels for His work.

About theAuthor: Carl Kerby is president andfounder of Reasons for Hope (rforh.com), founded in 2011 as a response to acalling from God to proclaim the authority and authenticity of the Bible. Hewas previously a founding board member at Answers in Genesis for ten years andserved there for over fifteen years. Before that he worked as an air-trafficcontroller at O’Hare International Airport. Kerby’s love for Jesus fuels apassion to engage the minds and hearts of youth and adults so that they canknow the truth of God’s Word. He is a sought-after speaker both in the UnitedStates and abroad. Yet his most cherished accomplishment is his 29-yearmarriage to his wife, Masami, and his roles as father to his children, Alisaand Carl, Jr., and as grandfather to Trey.

Reasonsfor Hope: In the Mosaic of Your Life by Carl Kerby

Genesis Publishing Group/December 15, 2011

ISBN: 978-1933591094/208pages/paperback/$14.99

To learn more about Reasons for Hope* visit www.rforh.com

For review copy and interview information, contact:

Audra Jennings - 800-927-0517 x104

Bloggers may request a copy by filling out the form below:

God's Will or a Preacher's Blunder?

2012-01-04T18:04:00.001-06:00

The Accidental Bride

In her latest novel,author Denise Hunter

explores the flaw in seeking favor with others

Do the opinions of those aroundus really matter? Should we live our lives based on what others might think? Ifso, at what cost? In her latest novel, TheAccidental Bride (Thomas Nelson), award-winning author Denise Hunterexplores these questions as she deftly leads her readers to discover the One whosefavor should always be sought.

Shay Brandenberger has built her entirelife on the shifting sands of what others think. Constantly seeking theapproval of others, she has struggled through a rocky childhood, a failedmarriage and single parenthood. Now it looks like she’s losing the ranch thathas been in her family for three generations, a surefire way to mark her as afailure in the eyes of the community. When Travis McCoy, the high schoolsweetheart who very publicly broke her heart fifteen years before, returns to MooseCreek, she is less than pleased. Not only does his re-appearance dredge up adeluge of painful memories, it also reminds everyone in town that it was he wholeft her, not the other way around. To make matters worse, Shay and Travis are unwittinglypaired to play bride and groom in the annual Founder’s Day wedding re-enactmentwhere, much to her chagrin, she discovers he still has the power to take herbreath away.

After years of successfully followingthe rodeo circuit, Travis’s one regret in life is having hurt Shay so badly.He’s determined to make the past up to her, so when, through a series offlukes, the marriage ceremony is “accidentally” made official, he seizes theopportunity to make things right. But can Shay let go of her pride and stopworrying about what others think long enough to let him? Or will she remainconvinced their accidental marriage is just one more mark against her in theeyes of her neighbors?

Skillfully creating a love story that beautifullyreflects God’s grace, Hunter uses the pages of The Accidental Bride (the second release in the Big Sky Series) tobring to light preoccupation with caring what others think. Using complexcharacters, an enticing backdrop and an almost palpable range of emotion andconflict, Hunter draws her readers to a new awareness of how much more simplelife becomes when we aim to please God instead of man.

Author Bio: Denise Hunter is the award-winning author of eighteenromance novels, including The ConvenientGroom, Surrender Bay, Driftwood Lane and the first book in theBig Sky Series, A Cowboy’s Touch. Struckby the brevity of life following her grandfather’s passing, Denise beganwriting in 1996. As a young stay-at-home mom she used the brief time while herchildren were napping each day to pursue her dream of being a writer. Two yearslater her first novel was published. She then continued her naptime writingschedule to complete four more novels. Today she encourages other young mothersto pursue their writing dreams, pointing out that writing only one page a dayfor a year will result in a completed manuscript. Since beginning her career,Hunter’s work has earned her the Holt Medallion Award, the Reader’s ChoiceAward and the Foreword Book of the Year Award. She has also been a RITAfinalist. Hunter lives in Indiana with her husband and their three teenaged sons.Along with writing and spending time with her family, she enjoys reading,traveling and playing drums for her church’s worship team.

The Accidental Bride byDenise Hunter

Thomas Nelson/January 3, 2012/ISBN 978-1-59554-802-3/304 pages/trade paper/$15.99

www.ThomasNelson.com ~ www.DeniseHunterbooks.com

For review copy and interview information, contact:

Audra Jennings - 800-927-0517 x104

Bloggers may request a copy by filling out the form below:

How would you rate your life?

2012-01-03T17:37:00.000-06:00

What DoesIt Take to Live a Fulfilled Life?

The key togetting better at your life is

helping others get better at theirs.

Based on the tenth verse of the tenth chapter in the Book ofJohn, Ten: How Would You Rate Your Life? (HigherLife Development Services, Inc) is a guide to living the life God dreams forus. “We can only know life in all its fullness,” he explains, “if we live thelife God dreams for us. And part of the TEN experience is to try to figure outwhat that means for each of us as individuals.” Smith’s easy-going style ofwriting, coupled with his broad scope of reference, makes the book appealing toany reader wanting to create a richer quality of life.

But while the book does most certainly provide structuredsteps toward a more fulfilling life, it isfar from being the typical “all about me” self-help book. Rather, it is an others-help book. Throughout its pages,Smith links our incredible potential for a superior life to the exponentialpower of leadership, exposing the bond between creating your own better life and helping others create better livesfor themselves. No matter what our inclinations or natural giftings might be,Smith stresses that we all have the ability to lead ourselves and others to the best possible future.

It was while endeavoring to cheer on his wife during herfirst ever marathon run, Smith explains in the book’s opening, that he began torealize that, even while we yearn for someone to witness our lives, we alsohave a driving need to be a supporting witness for others. And just as we wantdesperately to cheer on those we love, he believes God is also desperate tocheer us to a preferred future and be the ultimate witness to our lives. “Andif God be for us,” he asks, “then how can we do anything but believe our bestpossible future is within our grasp?”

Ten is aboutgrasping God’s dream for our lives and then taking the necessary action to makethat dream come true. Within the pages of Ten,Smith offers sound advice and gives the reader seven inspired steps specificallydesigned to lead to a better life:

· Awaken:Wake up to God’s dreams for your life.

· Discover:Learn how to discover your life’s calling.

· Imagine:Learn how the discipline of imagination makes the future real.

· Grow:Develop the life infrastructure necessary to sustain success.

· Act: Takeaction to create your future.

· Lead: Learn to lead yourself and others tothe best possible future.

· Go: Acceptthe call to get started living the life God dreams for you.

Through application of these seven steps, Smith reveals howeach of us can experience life in all its fullness, moving forward fromwherever we are toward a TEN. In this way, we can create the best possiblefuture for ourselves and those around us. We can achieve total fulfillment. Wecan take our lives all the way up the scale to TEN. All we need is the desireto do so.

Ten: How WouldYou Rate Your Life?

by Terry A. Smith

Higher LifeDevelopment Services, Inc./January 2012

ISBN: 978-1-935245-50-6/249pages/hard cover/$24.95

www.livingten.com/book

For review copy and interview information, contact:
Audra Jennings - 800-927-0517 x104

Bloggers may request a copy by filling out the form below.

This year, it's gotta be further than just beyond the border

2012-01-02T22:08:00.001-06:00

Hopefully, I can get through this blog post without my computer dying. I came this close || to buying a new computer today, and may end up buying it tomorrow, but that's a whole other story. I'm too scared to try to connect my BlackBerry to this computer to get some pictures and video off of it to post tonight, but maybe sometime this week.

So, I promised to share about my great weekend. Every year I lament and pout about my lack of New Year's plans. This year, Rakia and I had said we were going to try to do something, and on my birthday while I was together with her, Jenny and Courtney, we decided what it would be.

Courtney or Jenny, one saw a friend say something about Blake Shelton at the WinStar (a little over 2 hours from here) on December 30. Rakia and I said, you know, that works. When we found out Maroon 5 was going to be there New Year's Eve, we were definitely in for it, and trying to decide if we were doing Blake. So, we decided to do both (except Rakia said she'd occupy herself on Friday night since she's not into country).

I guess any location is big to travel to on NYE because the closest hotel we could get to Thackerville, OK, right across the Red River from Gainesville, TX, was 30 miles north in Ardmore. The WinStar casino is right across the border because A) it's legal to gamble in Oklahoma, and B) a Texan doesn't want to get very far into Oklahoma. I can't remember how long it's been there, but I've heard about it over the years. I admit that I'll play video poker in a casino, but I'm pretty tight with my money and tend to quit when I'm ahead (except that one quarter ahead just wasn't enough for me). I lost $9 this trip. A casino trip was not the purpose of this trip, I can assure you.

All along, we were wondering out the WinStar got a big act like Maroon 5 on NYE. Having been there, we are even more puzzled than we were to start with. For all the hype, the place is ridiculous. This is our hypothesis. They got Blake Shelton because he is from Oklahoma, has been there a number of times before, and easy to get him to come just down the road. I'm thinking he might have even agreed to NYE. However, he got invited for a show in Vegas on TV on NYE. Somewhere along the way, Adam Levine from Maroon 5 lost a bet to Blake during the time of working on The Voice, and they had to agree to come on NYE, and Blake took the night before.

The "Global Events Center" is in the middle of the "casina" as Courtney kept referring to it. (That came from her dad.) The global events center is the equivalent of a big ball room in a hotel. It can even be divided down the middle. It does have a big stage, but all the seating is not stadium. It's a bunch of banquet chairs that hook together in rows, flat on the floor. The cheap seats are said chairs on risers (two rows the same height at a time). The good part is that it's a small, somewhat "intimate" venue. The bad news is that there is not a way to see over the people in front of you because there is no rise.

The "World Casino" was a joke. They had sections that were supposed to be different cities like, Madrid, Rome, Paris and Bangkok. All this meant is that you walked through one area and it had a different chandelier or centerpiece over a self-service beverage area. I've also never seen so many penny slots in my entire life. It is a big casino (didn't go through all of it), but not anything to behold. Maybe I just say that because when Jenny was station in Vegas, I saw the big fancy ones. Obviously, it wasn't the Bellagio. I play video poker because you fiddle around on the same dollar for a while if you play nickels. I think they only had 8 video poker machines in the whole place, and they were quarters, thus my $9 loss. Anyway.

I'll back up the story, now that I've given my scathing review of the WinStar. On Friday, once I left work, Jenny met me here while I hastily threw stuff in a suitcase. I think we did the least amount of packing planning given how Courtney was debating what she was going to wear to meet Adam on Facebook. I think Rakia even packed the night before.

We stopped for me to get happy juice aka a peppermint mocha frappachino at Starbuck's in Ennis, picked up Courtney in the Big E, swung through Garland to get Rakia, and headed towards Oklahoma, toasting as we exited 635 in Dallas with Snapple's "Tea Will Be Loved", a flavor created by Maroon 5. I saw it at Walmart, and got it especially for the trip.

We breezed by the WinStar in route to check in our hotel 30 miles north in Ardmore. Let me just say the reason I hate driving through Oklahoma (and I've done it more times than I can count in route to Branson, South Dakota, Chicago, and Iowa) is that there is NOTHING on the roads. The only good thing about driving through Oklahoma is that there are very few highway patrol (and seemingly no local police since there are so few towns), so you can drive 85 in a 70 and not really worry about getting pulled over. And I'm usually a "set the cruise at 5 over" kind of girl. (I know, I know...)

We checked in to our Best Western where the room Jenny and I stayed in had an open door when we arrived and a used wash cloth hanging over the shower curtain. Yeah. Gross.

We went to eat at El Chico, and because there wasn't a table available, decided we would just eat up at the bar. There was a total jerk and his stupid wife (for putting up with him) that at least gave us something to talk about. Then a cute guy came in, but he was just really into the bartender who was not into him. What was funny, is that I noticed his cap said "Stallion" which is one of Courtney's blast from the past words. I noticed it, and pointed it out to her. All four of us knew the story, so had a great laugh out of that one. After dropping Rakia back off, we took the longest 30 mile drive of my life back down to Thackerville. You practically have to go back into Texas to exit and get back across the road to it.

When we got in for the concert, they didn't even scan tickets. Who does that anymore? The reason might have been is that they sold the tickets based on an old floor plan set up, and the seats printed on our tickets (as well as those of a number of other people) did not exist. We were wondering around like chickens with our head's cut off trying to figure it out. They took us into a room, said they would give us other seats and our money back.

Blake was hilarious, but on a great show, and we'll get money back! Woohooo! And he brought his wife Miranda Lambert and Kelly Clarkson out for an encore!

On Saturday, we knew we A) did not want to hang out at the casino all day and B) didn't have anything to do in the township of Ardmore, so I suggested going up the hour and a half to Oklahoma City. (There is nothing between the two places, I might add.) We went down to Bricktown where they have a river walk type set up, and ate at what I call a black napkin establishment for lunch. Thank goodness because we never could have afforded it at night. Rakia and I had really good fried chicken breast topped with shrimp and crab. Never had anything like it, but it was marvelous. As was the 7 layer cake I thought I could not dare eat any of until they brought the biggest slab of cake ever out that Rakia ordered, and I helped her out. Also wonderful and better than anything Praipie's in Ardmore could have offered. They really should fix the R in that Prairie's sign.

I took them over to the Oklahoma City Memorial to see the outside. I didn't care about going back in for the tour, and everyone else thought seeing the outside was enough as well - that the tour would be too intense for NYE. We were going to go to the art museum, but we are pretty sure it was closed. That or the road construction around it kept everyone away.

On the way back, Rakia and Courtney wanted to find the OU stadium so that they could spat upon it. We took the scenic route through Norman, which included a stop at Cracker Barrel for shopping where I found an orange Christmas light bulb salt shaker that I am going to turn into something else for Peyton. (You know, the child that wanted orange Christmas lights for Christmas.) I paid 32 cents since it was 70% off.

By the way, neither Courtney nor Jenny could remember how to play checkers. And Jenny never seems to look at the camera. But just wait until I get the picture off of my phone!

Finally, we found the stadium, pulled in and took pictures flashing Hook 'em Horns signs.

When we got back to the big city of Ardmore, we all took naps because we're old. Then we got as dressed up as we were going to get for a concert in an Oklahoma casino. I did wear my purple wedges I bought a few days before, and knew I would regret them from the get go.

Everyone and their child were at the WinStar when we got there Saturday night. Literally. Why people brought their children to a casino, I do not know. Some brought to the concert, but even at that, take your kid home afterwards. The place does not have enough restaurants or seating at restaurants. And I still cannot figure out why they have pizza in Madrid instead of Rome. It's really quite stupid. One old lady we had to walk buy had her cane stuck out in the path, trying to trip people, I guess.

The Maroon 5 concert was much better than the one we sat on the lawn getting our butts bitten by ants at. Much more high energy and great flow. Awesome!

It didn't start until about 9:20, but was over by 10:45. So, we wondered around the casino, barely able to walk through the clouds of cigarette smoke, killing time until midnight. There were so many people there, you could hardly find a chair in front of a machine that worked even just to park it temporarily. We wondered back and forth, and I finally found a video poker machine while Rakia tried to figure out the animated penny slot machines that neither of us could figure out. She, however, won $20+. We blew our party whistles at the stroke of midnight and headed back to the metropolis of Ardmore. (I would have rather driven back to Denton aka Little D that night.)

After sleeping in on Sunday morning, we decided we were ready to exit Oklahoma and had our choice of breakfast or lunch at Cracker Barrel in Gainesville. Rakia only goes to CB when she is with us white folk, but it can be an official road trip for me if we don't have it which is also kind of true for Jenny too.

As fun as it was, and as glad as I was to get away for the whole weekend, I wouldn't go back to Thackerville unless it was someone I really, really, really wanted to see. There has to be something better to do next NYE than go to Oklahoma. It's a leap year, so we'll have a whole extra day to plan this year.

I think I'm having a Valentine's get together for all my dateless friends though first. Since Valentine's is on a Tuesday, I guess they can have dates at some point. OR here's an idea. Leap day is Sadie Hawkins' Day kind of thing right? (Or am I completely dreaming that up?) Oh, wait, none of us know any guys we would ask out. Never mind.

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T19:59:00.001-06:00

First of all, Happy New Year ya'll! I say ya'll because I just got back home from a weekend in Oklahoma this afternoon and am thankful to be back in Texas.

I do plan to share from my trip, but I'm tired from late nights the past two nights and long days.

I will say, that I dislike Oklahoma in general, and the WinStar World Casino is way, way, way overrated even though I've not heard too much about it anyway other than all the commercials begging people begging to come right over the border.

I'm not sure how they get the big name performers they do. Blake Shelton I understand since he is from Oklahoma. Adam Levine of Maroon 5 must have lost a bet at some point and time to Blake Shelton in order to perform in Thackerville on New Year's Eve. But, who cares?!?! They were awesome last night, and that's all I care about!

What did you do for New Year's Eve? Do tell!

Who cares if he thinks he sings like a girl?

2011-12-29T17:19:00.003-06:00

I'm just saying... GONNA. BE. THE. BEST. NYE. EVER.

A dedication to my friends

2011-12-28T17:07:00.000-06:00

Not in a sentimental or mushy way, but I dedicate

this song to my friends. You know who you are.

Traditions and such - what's yours?

2011-12-26T15:08:00.000-06:00

After having gone over the river and through the woods to Grandmother's house on Christmas, I have some questions and comments.

My mother, her brother and sister were a bit peeved that Grandmother didn't pull out their stockings like she has every year of their life this year. We also got to discussing what is tradition to put in a stocking.

For the last, I don't know, 10 years, maybe... My dad has put a scratch-off ticket in the stockings. Everyone gets one. I NEVER win ANYTHING. This year, my mom made sure she put a Hershey bar (because her dad always did that) and a pair of socks (because my grandmother on the other side of the family always gave us socks).

My aunt always put toothbrushes in my cousins' stockings and still does, actually. Of course, she was walking around with a very mini toothbrush after lunch while talking to people. We all looked at her funny and asked what she was doing.

What was/is always in your stocking?

My 27 year old cousin told me that the two of us had to sit at the kids' table at which I refused and sat elsewhere. On that side of my family, the grandchildren came in two sets of four. I was 16 when the younger set started and 24 when the youngest came along. No offense to them, but they weren't going to talk if I sat there, only seeing them once a year, needless to say, we aren't close. I did get accused of being anti-social. I admitted it. I'm 35 and anti-social.

Do you still have to sit at the kids' table?

How old are you?

When grandmother wanted to tell stories about Christmases past, we all groaned out a "NOO!!!", but my 19 year old cousin played along and replied "remember the year I fell out of the high chair?" All of the cousins that were at the kids' table laughed because we were there and annually mentioned it for the longest time.

Any mishaps you have to bring up every year?

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-24T21:52:00.000-06:00

My excuse of the day

2011-12-23T18:57:00.000-06:00

Everytime I go to post pictures of Christmas decorations, etc., I run into some reason why I can't. I don't have the pictures on the computer yet. The pictures are on the other computer.

Well, today, I booted up my home computer, but it wouldn't boot. I did some scan as recommended the other day, and it would not boot. I tried Safe Mode. I tried last successful mode. I tried normal mode. I finally had to do a system restore. Usually I thought it could be restored to a certain point. The only way I could get the computer on is to do a "from the beginning.". That wiped out all my files. I didn't have any of my 2011 pictures backed-up. I do have through August on Shutterfly, and can get a Archive DVD from them for a price.

However, I didn't have my Maroon 5/Train concert, trip to Branson, my Ranger playoff game, or any Christmas pictures thus far saved.

I was able to get 3 pictures from the Ranger game off my blog. One good picture of the Oak Ridge Boys (and I had a number of good ones). That's about it. Earlier this week, I had saved everything to my computer and deleted all the pictures that had been on there for months off the chip.

All the concert pictures were blurry. The rest of the Ranger game pictures looked like most any other game. And most of the Branson pictures weren't of any importance and my mom still has some pictures saved or I've taken the pictures before.

So, in order to post any pictures of my trees and such, I have to take more pictures.

I think most of the files I am missing I can get from somewhere. I'm hoping iTunes syncs back to my iPod ok. Cross your fingers. I've messed with fixing my computer most of the afternoon instead of anything else I needed to do. What a pain!

One's definition of urgent

2011-12-22T20:19:00.000-06:00

I was going to do a post about all things Christmas and post pictures of my trees and stuff, but I'm on my work computer and deleted my photos off of my chip once I saved them to my home computer the other day. My work computer is up because I was tending to "urgent" requests earlier in the day.

Just a commentary on how people can be too connected, I guess people in general are not able to have days off. Because of one interview in particular - well, it would have been up like this regardless - my away message gives my cell number for if something is urgent. The one interview with Fox News coming up tomorrow would fall under urgent, but some of the calls I got would not fall under that category really. Procrastination, perhaps. Urgent, not so much...

Not necessarily related to phone calls, but many of the people I work with were either on the laptop at the airport trying to get back home for the holidays. Others were trying to feel a taping schedule for next week for programs that wouldn't air until mid-January. How much can be taken care of even though every one's schedules are sketchy this week and next?

The sad part of being so technologically savvy is that few people can - or more realistically chose - to have a day off. The only way to do that is if all smart phone reception and all Internet went down. Ironically, I was trying to reach someone about something today and the power was down so they couldn't get calls and emails.

Maybe I'm just waxing reminiscent about how Christmas just isn't want it was when I was younger. I can't remember if I told you, my faithful readers, about the other day when I got a card in the mail from the youth group. One Sunday, the youth minister announced that the older members (over 65) that did not get fruit may have gotten a card instead because they didn't know every one's birth year. A couple of days letter I got a card. I later found out it was sent to the single people who evidently needed encouragement - another rant I could go on altogether. The fact that I can't remember if I told this story proves my age is catching up with me.

Back to my train of thought again... Why can't we all for a few days, just disconnect, not work and enjoy the holiday season. Or heck, I could have just enjoyed a nap today after I took some cold medicine. Hold that thought... I meant to take cold pills when I came home a few minutes ago. Another sign of my old age - forgetting again.

OK. Cold medicine taken. Guess I have to stay up until mid-night to take my night time dose since I just took the day medicine. I don't know why I didn't take the night now. Oh, well!

Anyway... God bless the fireman who have to work on Christmas Day to aid the people who decided to try to be Santa Claus and forgot there was a fire in the chimney when they went down it or caught their shed on fire with the fried turkey. Thank goodness for the police offers to aid travelers on the road.

But seriously, if you procrastinated on your shopping, does the poor college student working minimum wage at the mall really have to work until whatever time on Christmas Eve because you forgot to get something for your mom? (Been there, done that when I had to close on Christmas Eve and drive an hour and a half home.) Does anyone really need to buy anything on sale at 6 AM the next morning? Can't we just sleep late?

Why can't we all just take the few days given to us to enjoy family (or the couch and a good book) and disconnect? As serious as I take my job, my away message can suffice for the person who decided they wanted to do a book giveaway on their blog next week since no one is at the office to mail out a book until Tuesday anyway.

So, after you finish reading this non-earth shattering blog post, I challenge you to turn off your computer. If you are reading it on your phone, go plug your phone in to recharge and ignore it for a while. I promise you, no one is posting anything earth shattering on Facebook. You don't have to turn on the TV, all that is on are bad Lifetime or Hallmark Christmas movies, but I'll probably go sleep through one anyway. I'm going to get a book I've been trying to read for weeks, but haven't allowed myself the time to read. I might get through a couple of pages before the non-drowsy formula makes me sleepy.

A sure sign of Christmas

2011-12-19T19:00:00.000-06:00

Growing up, a sure sign of Christmas was I would get a cold or sinus infection or something a week before Christmas. So many of the holiday traditions of my youth have gone away. Unfortunately, this one remains.

I've been gifted with the Christmas cold.

Yuck.

I blame this on the fact that I practically waded through ice water barefoot last week. Peyton's school Christmas program was Thursday night, and it was raining. And raining. And raining.

By the time I got to the school, I had to park in front, walk through the cold rain to the back, and it was inches of water in some places. Without rain boots, you might as well be barefoot. I had to take my shoes off and put my feet in my coat to dry them off and keep them warm when I got in.

Afterwards, it was back through the standing rain in the parking lot, then in and out at Applebee's. When I got home, I have no sidewalk, so I had to trudge through more rain to get to my back door. Not only did I have to shed my shoes at the door, the bottom of my pants legs were soaked.

So therefore, I'm blaming my sore throat, sneezing, itchy eyes, runny nose, and congestion on my outing to the Christmas program because I was attempting to be a good aunt.

Peyton needs to come take care of me now.

Do you think it's edible?

2011-12-17T21:21:00.002-06:00

Back this spring, I told the tale of the minuscule pineapple plant that arrived in the mail and how I doubted I would ever have pineapple. (Or at least I think I did.) That plant is doing quite well, amazingly, though I don't plan to be able to harvest fruit from it anytime soon, if ever. (Below I included a picture of it the day I got it. I'll have to get a picture of it now.)

After that, I bought a pineapple plant from Home Depot. It has thrived over the past several months, but the pineapple itself hasn't really grown. It's had monstrous foliage from the top, so I figured, OK, it's just ornamental and I've got a cool, funky plant.

I walk by it daily on my back porch, and pay little attention to it. Tonight, when I got home from the grocery store, I notice that the pineapple had fallen over from being top heavy. Seriously. I went ahead and took it off the plant, but I'm not sure if I removed it properly so that another one can grow in its place. I guess I need to Google that in a minute.

Regardless, the pineapple turned from green to somewhat golden, and smells wonderfully ripe. The girls are supposed to hang out with me after church tomorrow, and I plan to cut it to see if it's edible.

What do you think?

My hand is in the picture so that you can see how small the fruit is, but how many fronds spike from it. Obviously, it's too small to use my corer on. between the core and the outside, maybe, we can get a bite out of it.

Do you care about what others think of you?

2011-12-14T07:40:00.001-06:00

Today's Wild Card author is:

Edward Welch

and the book:

What Do You Think of Me? Why Do I Care?: Answers to the Big Questions of Life

New Growth Press (October 1, 2011)

***Special thanks to Audra Jennings – The B and B Media Group – for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Edward T. Welch, M.Div., Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist and faculty member at the Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation (CCEF). He has counseled for over twenty-five years and is the best-selling author of many books, including When People Are Big and God Is Small; Addictions: A Banquet in the Grave; Blame It on the Brain?; Depression: A Stubborn Darkness; Crossroads: A Step-by-Step Guide Away from Addiction; Running Scared: Fear, Worry and the God of Rest; and When I Am Afraid: A Step-by-Step Guide Away from Fear and Anxiety. He and his wife Sheri have two daughters, two sons-in-law and four grandchildren.

Visit the author's website.

SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:

In his latest release, author Edward T. Welch offers a way

of escape for young adults held captive by the opinions of others
In an increasingly unstable culture, being obsessed with what others think is an escalating struggle among teens and young adults, leading to more serious consequences than ever before. Although everyone—whether they’re sixteen or sixty—works hard to win someone’s approval or ward off someone’s rejection, these issues plague teenagers and young adults with particular intensity. And how teens and young adults answer the big questions of their lives now will affect the direction of their adult lives for better or worse. In his new book, What Do You Think of Me? Why Do I Care?: Answers to the Big Questions of Life (New Growth Press, October 2011), Edward T. Welch extends hope to those weary of hiding behind a mask of performance in order to gain love and acceptance.

Peer pressure, codependency, shame, low self-esteem—these are just some of the words used to identify how young people can be controlled by the perceived opinions of others. Stand out in the right way to the right people, and you’re on top of the world. But experience failure in front of those same people and prepare for a sinking sensation in your stomach and a night of tossing and turning.

Why do you care? Why do we all care? These are questions that can’t be answered without listening to God, the One who made us and knows us better than we know ourselves. In What Do You Think of Me? Why Do I Care? Welch takes the big questions of life and shows that freedom from what people think of us comes as we learn who God is and who we are in relationship to Him. Only then will we be able to let go of our masks, stop trying to fill our leaky love cups and begin to live for something bigger than ourselves.

An interactive book, What Do You Think of Me? Why Do I Care? includes questions throughout the text for individual or group study and is especially aimed at teenagers and young adults.

“I want to draw people to the path of becoming truly human, where you are controlled by God more than other people and where you love others more than you need them to love you,” says Welch. “The result? Genuine loving relationships and the ability to make a lasting impact on the world around us. It’s a hard process, but it’s wonderful and the results are worth it.”

Product Details:

List Price: $12.99

Paperback: 160 pages

Publisher: New Growth Press (October 1, 2011)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1935273868

ISBN-13: 978-1935273868

AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:

Somebody is Watching

“Lord, please let me be normal.”

Okay, maybe you never actually prayed that, but you do want it. You want to fit in. Who doesn’t? Imagine you are invited to a formal dinner, but you didn’t read the entire invitation and you go in shorts and flip-flops. (Yes, it wasn’t pretty. I was also wearing a Killer Dana T-shirt—it’s the name of a surf shop, but the other dinner guests thought I was going gangsta.)

We all have these stories. We spend a lot of time concerned about fitting in, which means that we spend a lot of time thinking about our hair, our body, our intelligence, and our clothes so we can be part of the larger group. None of us want to be stared at if it means that the people looking at us don’t like what they see. When they look at us that way we want to run and hide.

Oh, and there is another prayer too. “Lord, please don’t let me be normal.” “If I can’t fit in, then I’ll be a vampire,” and she did just that. She figured that both fitting in and standing out were impossible, so she made a choice. Her parents would have preferred a more traditional route such as starting on the basketball team or high SAT scores. They are hoping it is a phase, which it is—there are not many fifty-year-old vampires. But, unless she discovers something else to run her life, she will always be looking for ways to stand out, and she will be depressed.

We want to stand out from the crowd. We want to be seen, which means that we want people to notice us and be impressed with something. We want them to respect us, to like us, and to love us. Not too many people dream of being average. Take a look at your fantasies, and you will probably find a quest to be noticed.

• Have you ever imagined that you scored the winning basket in the NBA finals?
• Do you enjoy superhero movies because you like to imagine what it would be like to have such powers?
• Do you identify with a celebrity because you would like to live her life, at least for a year or two?
• Have you ever fantasized that you were famous or great?
• Or maybe you have already given up on greatness and will settle for a B+.

It’s complicated, isn’t it? If only we could be less controlled by the opinions of others. Maybe a deserted island could be the answer. That would be a pricey way to avoid the judgments of others, but it might work. Apart from that option, you have a creepy sense that people are watching, judging, evaluating, accepting, or rejecting you. Sometimes the eyes belong to no one in particular. Other times you know exactly who or what group you are trying to please. Either way, you are controlled by other people more than you think, and other people, of course, are controlled by how you see them.

The problem is a common one, but we don’t talk about it too often. As a way to get it out into the open, keep trying to locate this in your own life.

• Do you buy clothes because of what other people will think? Have you ever not gone somewhere because you didn’t have the right clothes or didn’t like the way you looked?
• Do you spend a lot of time in front of the mirror?
• Do you avoid people, either because you are angry with them or because you would be embarrassed if they saw you?
• Do you ever get embarrassed to be seen with your parents?
• Have you ever been embarrassed at the thought of other people knowing that you go to church?
• Have you ever been embarrassed to say you believe in God?
• Have you ever been embarrassed to say you believe in Jesus?
• Do you ever exaggerate to make yourself look better?
• Do you feel like a failure sometimes? Do you hate school because from the moment you walk in you feel like a failure?
• Are you afraid to ask questions in class because you might look stupid?
• Do you wish you were thinner, stronger, taller, shorter, smarter, faster, or better looking?
• Have you ever been jealous of someone thinner, stronger, taller, shorter, smarter, faster, or better looking?
• Have you ever wished you could shrivel up and disappear?

Agreed, these questions are too easy. You might hesitate on one or two of them, but basically the answer is yes across the board, and they are that way for everyone. They all point to how we can be too controlled by the opinions of others. Why do you think everyone struggles with it? Where does it come from?

One of the riskiest things in life is to like someone—really like someone. It all starts innocently. You find yourself attracted to another person. Happens all the time. No big deal. But then the attraction grows, and amid the glow of romantic feelings lurks a monster: what if you like the other person more than the other person likes you? What will he or she think about me? you wonder.

You send some friends out on a reconnaissance mission. Their job is to find out if the other person likes you without that person knowing your intentions. If word comes back yes, you can move toward that person safely. If the answer is no, you lick your wounds, thankful for the heads-up that saved you from total embarrassment. In your every- day life, the potential for rejection is enormous. It’s amazing that so many people actually get out of bed in the morning. Sound familiar?

Success can’t protect you. Steven King, the ridiculously prolific and famous horror writer, was told by Miss Hisler, his school principal, “What I don’t understand, Stevie, is why you write junk like this in the first place.” At the time, he was already writing scary stories that other students were willing to pay to read. “I was ashamed,” he says of the incident. “I have spent a good many years since—too many, I think—being ashamed about what I write.”* You too have probably heard words like Miss Hisler’s, and they are still etched inside your soul. Can you think of some?

Look around a little more and you will see it—it goes by many names: a desire for acceptance, the fear of rejection, painful self- consciousness, or peer pressure. You can see it when you or any of your friends take muscle-enhancing steroids or illegal drugs. You see it in anorexia, bulimia, and depression. You find it in people who are sexually active before or outside of marriage.

• What will they think of me?
• What might they think about me?
• How can I be accepted?
• How can I be loved?

The evidence is everywhere. If you can’t relate to any of this, here is a sure way to find it.

• Do you think you’re especially attractive?
• Are you supercompetitive? Do you hate to lose? (And do you usually win?)
• Would you say you are self-confident?

There it is again: a life that is always judged by others. The only difference is that, at least for the moment, the judges score you highly. Yet it is even more complicated. Deep down those who are super self-confident don’t believe the judges’ high scores. They feel like failures— frauds who are barely fooling other people. Do you think beautiful celebrities struggle with feeling judged and unaccepted by others? Count on it.

Some people seem more self-confident or at least less self-conscious than others. It’s hard to know exactly why, but everyone can easily recall times when they withered under the rejection (or possible rejection) of other people.

I know, I know. You were trying to manage this perfectly common experience by ignoring it, and somebody (me) comes along and makes an issue out of it. But my purpose is not to make you miserable. Stick with it, because this particular problem is actually a window into the mysteries of the universe. It takes you directly to three questions that every human being must answer: Who am I? Who is God? and Who are you? And there is no way I would invite you down this road unless the road was very good.

Shopping is not a team sport

2011-12-11T17:36:00.000-06:00

There is a reason why I do my Christmas shopping alone most years. I was reminded of this today. I made the comment to my mother that I needed to go shopping. I'm not certain that I really intended for this to be a mother-daughter bonding activity. After all, she had been on more than one shopping excursion having been off work recently.

Nevertheless, since I had my party on Saturday, she planned that we could go after church on Sunday. Which yeah, I was on board with to an extent, but knew that would mean kissing the sacred nap goodbye.

She decided we could take her car and that she would drive though I didn't mind. I'm almost to the point that I mind either one of my parents driving. They scare me to death - we're going to get run over.

I saw something for my sister-in-law that she talked me out of getting at the Hallmark. Where mind you, we had to go first so that she could get her annual ornament. She says we can probably find something at Belk on sale. Well, Belk had nothing on sell that was a good match. She offered to go back later on, but by that time I was on a firm "no."

I did keep finding things for Paige which I had covered first. I did find a few warm clothes for me that I needed.

We wandered around Target back and forth a few million times. She asked if I found something else I was thinking of for my sister-in-law which I had already told her I saw none of the times we just walked back and forth past a certain section. This meandering around lasted until she could finally see on my face I was done.

What I really wanted was a Starbuck's peppermint mocha frappachino courtesy of a gift card I had in my wallet, but the line was way long once we finished checking out. I was too busy missing my nap to get in line. If I were by myself, I would have gone through the drive-thru at the regular Starbuck's, but did not suggest that.

I don't know what it is, but I always find more by myself than with anyone with me. I go at the pace I want to the stores I want, and without someone trying to talk me out of something.

Other than the $2 orange glitter duck Christmas ornament that I found for Peyton to prove how few orange Christmas decorations there are out there, my shopping excursion proved fruitless on the Christmas front. (My mom did happen on something else I got my dad, but it wasn't a great find.)

I still have to buy for Brian and Julie. And I'm tired and cranky from missing my nap.

Taking a moment to rant about the State of the Union

2011-12-08T20:23:00.001-06:00

These days I honestly do wonder what our world is coming to. Or not even so much wonder, but want to bury my head in the sand and just not think about some things like how our country really is "going to hell in a hand basket." I'm not outspokenly political or an activist of any kind, but I've really just about had enough.

One of the big news stories around here is how Freedom From Religion Foundation, based in Madison, Wisconsin is protesting the nativity scene set up on the Henderson County Courthouse square in Athens, Texas. Athens is literally just down the road from here 40-45 miles.

Here's what I want to say to the Freedom From Religion Foundation: "Whatever happened to freedom OF religion. If you don't want a nativity scene in your yard, don't put one in your yard. If you don't want to live in a county that has it on the courthouse lawn, move. Get over it!"

I'm so tired of everyone trying to be politically correct and not wanting to offend anyone. Well, I'm offended!

No, I don't have a nativity scene in my front yard. In fact, growing up in the Church of Christ, we don't officially celebrate Christmas as Jesus' birthday, but that's a whole other topic for another time. I've heard enough "Christmas stories" on the Sunday closest to Christmas that it's kind of funny. I'm not sure where I'm going on this particular part of my rant.

Anyway, I've never owned a nativity scene, but I'm sure not offended by it. The Christmas decoration I'm offended by is the oil derrick that used to be in the middle of one of the intersections that was on the way to/from work and was a traffic hazard because no one knew whether to turn in front of it or behind it. Besides, if I had a nativity scene, I'm pretty sure my neighbors' kids would beat it up and the guy next door would put a beer bottle in the manger, but I'm still getting off the point.

Back on track... It seems like every group of people outside of Christians can complain and get their way, but what, Christians can't? I was working on a pitch for a client last week, and Gallup polls do still show that the large majority of Americans still believe in God.

I sure hope that none of the members of the Freedom From Religion Foundation get anything for Christmas. Not even coal in their stocking because that would be acknowledging a religious holiday. They better not watch a Charlie Brown Christmas special because they are going to get a lesson about Jesus. They better not have taken part in a Black Friday Sale that promotes Christmas.

Personally, I'm not fond of the 24 hour Christmas station that starts playing songs close to November 1, but I can choose to ignore it and change the station. It's not because I want freedom from religion, it's because I want freedom from George Michael singing "Last Christmas I Gave You My Heart, the Very Next Day, You Gave it Away." And that's not because George Michael is gay (and I don't agree with the group that's as random as the Wisconsin group that was praying for his death last week because he is gay). It's because that is an annoying song. I'm pretty sure I downloaded a free Melissa Etheridge Christmas song that iTunes was giving away free last year.

I think we need to go back to the days when the 1st Amendment was about freedom, not about restriction.

I hate the whole Presidential Debate yeh-yeh-yeh. Yes, it would be wonderful if America was a true Christian nation, but let's be realistic here... Let's move toward at least being as tolerant of Christians as every one is ranting that we be tolerant of them. Would it make anyone happier if the City of Athens added an elephant to the scene - it already has a donkey, and we do want to treat everyone equally, right?

Rant over. At least for tonight.

Things to do > Time to do it

2011-12-07T22:00:00.000-06:00

Of course, I've realized for a long time that I'll always have more things to do than I have time to do them. This week, it's less about work (or not, but for the sake of this...) than outside of work.

I'd like my house to not be dusty and my floors to be vacuumed before I have friends over Saturday. I have to pick up the dishes my parents washed for me at their house. They are their dishes that I'm using, but had been in the cabinet for at least a year collecting dust. I have my own dishes piled in the sink, clothes piled in the basket sitting in the kitchen. Random decorations on the dining table. Clothes needing to be hung up.

Christmas shipping that needs to be done. Some kind of idea of what to buy some people. Just over 2 weeks to make some decisions. Some people may be getting coal for Christmas.

Oh, and I need to think ahead to the Christmas party I told the kids at church we would have. That's next weekend. I can think about that next week, right?

Which reminds me, sometime I have to work on my Sunday School lesson.

Sigh.

A True Man is Recognized for His Character

2011-12-05T23:08:00.000-06:00

Learning to Assess Your Value as a Man

Author Richard Simmons encourages men

to discover theirtrue worth.

What do people think of me as a man? Do I measure up intheir eyes as they see the choices I am making? What will happen to me if Ifail at what I do? These are the questions with which men struggle. “Men sooften define themselves by what they do, who they know or what they own. Andwhen they do so, they unwittingly set themselves up for great confusion andfailure in their personal lives, particularly when a major economic stormarises,” says businessman Richard E. Simmons III. In his book The TrueMeasure of a Man: How Perceptions of Success, Achievement & RecognitionFail Men in Difficult Times, Simmons identifies these fears and seeks tohelp men find their true worth.

Ofall the suicides in the United States, 80 percent are committed by men. Thesestatistics point to the fact that, unlike any other culture, America has placeda man’s worth on his performance and possessions. Men feel good aboutthemselves when they are performing in the workplace and achieving new goals.But what happens after a layoff or a foreclosure? Where is their value then?Simmons helps men to realize that they are worth more than an amount on theirpaycheck. He deals with their innermost fears, namely the fear of not measuringup. He realizes that every man wants to get to the end of his life and believethat his earthly existence made a difference.

The True Measure of a Man presents new parameters, coupled with a surprising paradox,for assessing the worth of a man. The old measurements simply don’t work whentimes get tough.Its core message is that it’s more important to build personal qualities thatcan weather the storms of life than outward achievements which fall short whenthe bottom drops out. Using a variety of stories, illustrations and quotes,Simmons will provide men with hope, purpose, courage and determination as heencourages them to find their true identity.

Simmonsspent 25 successful years with the insurance firm of Hilb, Rogal and Hamilton,where he was CEO for 10 years. While giving back to his community, working withyouth as well as advising businessmen and professionals, he discovered that hehad a gift for teaching and public speaking. So in December of 2000, he foundedthe Center for Executive Leadership, a nonprofit, faith-based ministry. Andthrough his years of working with businessmen, he realized that all menstruggle with the same feelings of insecurity, isolation, loneliness andfear.

Accordingto Claude B. Nielsen, the chairman and CEO of the Coca-Cola Bottling CompanyUnited, “The True Measure of a Man is a provocative and crediblechallenge to the conventional wisdom of modern man’s value system. RichardSimmons gives us a clear picture of how we deceive ourselves into a falsereliance on our own accomplishments to establish our identity and our worth.And he wisely counsels that we are in treacherous territory! Thankfully, hegives explicit guidance to a liberating and transformational course for ahopeful and fulfilling life. This is an inspirational and uplifting work!”

The TrueMeasure of a Man by Richard E. Simmons III

EvergreenPress/November 2011

ISBN:978-1-5816-9359-1/160 pages/hardcover/$21.95

www.thetruemeasureofaman.com

Learn moreabout the Center for Executive Leadership at www.thecenterbham.org.

For review copy and interview information, contact:

Audra Jennings - 800-927-0517 x104

You can also click here to request an interview!

I guess it sort of seems like Christmas is coming

2011-12-04T20:39:00.000-06:00

Growing up, it was tradition for my dad to say "it just doesn't seem like Christmas," usually on Christmas Eve. The older I get, the less like Christmas it ever seems.

Even yesterday's amazingly pitiful city Christmas parade was more pathetic than usual. There wasn't even a band in the parade. The college was playing football yesterday. I think the Corsicana band was supposed to be in it because I saw a couple of band members in their letter jackets carrying instruments and the drill team in jackets and Santa hats. I guess not enough members showed up. And it started 30 minutes late. It was 70 degrees, so the weather seemed off.

I have Paige's Christmas bought, and portions of a couple of other people, but need to start thinking about that more. Maybe I can go shopping after work one night this week. While I am shopping, what I really want is a peppermint mocha frappachino from Starbucks. They say you can get them anytime of year, but you can only get tiny chocolate curls at Christmas. That's as long as the one I go to has peppermint ad is not out.

I need to clean my house and finish putting some other decorations around for my party next Saturday. I don't know when the last time I had a party was. I am ready to melt down some chocolate and make holiday candy. That's as complicated as I get with holiday candy - melt some chocolate and stick something in it.

I was going to post some pictures of my Christmas trees, but my photos are,kt uploading at the moment. The purple one really is awesome. Next year, Peyton wants me to get orange lights and decorations a least for a small one
Kurt Warner's interior decorator put one in house. I just saw it on HGTV.

Can a Bedtime Story Change a Life?

2011-12-01T19:13:00.001-06:00

Marty Machowski’s new offering for families

transformshearts one story at a time

Based on the ESV Bible, this uniquely illustrated Biblestorybook uses 156 stories to present God’s plan of salvation in Christ fromits opening narrative in Genesis to its finale in Revelation. This easy-to-readstorybook written for children from preschool to high school introduces readersto many captivating people, places and events from the Bible’s Old and NewTestaments. At the same time, Machowski skillfully connects the individualstories to the overall gospel narrative of how God redeemed a broken worldthrough sending his son Jesus to save his people. Each story ends by connectingto Jesus and his gospel of grace. By sharing these Bible stories with eachother, young and old will learn together the life-changing habit of recognizingthe presence and workings of Christ in every moment of their day.

“The gospel is deep enough to keep the oldest and wisestparents learning and growing all their lives, yet simple enough to change theheart of the first grader who has just begun to read,” says Machowski. “That’swhat makes The Gospel Story Bible ideal as a storybook for apreschooler, a devotional for a grade school student, a refresher for the adultbeliever or an introduction for the new one. Parents and children will learntogether to read the whole Bible as one story, with one hero—Jesus Christ.”

Vibrant illustrations by A. E. Macha, child-friendlydiscussion questions and Scripture references accompany each story to help leadfamilies in exploring the Bible. Parents and teachers will be delighted todiscover how easily even a young child can understand the original text of astory that he or she has already come to love. A companion to the familydevotional Long Story Short: Ten-Minute Devotions to Draw Your Family to Godand the soon-to-be-released Gospel Story Sunday school curriculum(February 2012), The Gospel Story Bible is also a great resource forchurches, Sunday school classes, home-schoolers and Christian schools who want to teach their children to apply thegospel to every situation and make Jesus the most important part of theireveryday lives.

About the Author: Marty Machowski is a Family LifePastor at Covenant Fellowship Church, a Sovereign Grace Ministries church inGlen Mills, Pennsylvania, where he has served on the pastoral staff fortwenty-three years. Marty leads Promise Kingdom, the children’s ministryof Covenant Fellowship. He is also the author of Long Story Short:Ten-Minute Devotions to Draw Your Family to God and the forthcoming GospelStory Sunday school curriculum. He and his wife Lois and theirsix children reside in West Chester, Pennsylvania.

The GospelStory Bible: Discovering Jesus in the Old and New Testaments by MartyMachowski

New GrowthPress/November 2011

ISBN978-1-936768-12-7/328 pages/hardcover/$24.99

www.newgrowthpress.com

For review copy and interview information, contact:

Audra Jennings - 800-927-0517 x104

You can also request an interview by clicking here!

Bloggers may sign up for a copy by filling out the form below.

Preview Truth and Dare Devotionals - for girls!

2011-11-30T09:28:00.000-06:00

Attention radio stations: Giveaways are available for interviews and on-air reviews! Email Audra to request your copies!

Thanks to everyone who took part in today's tour!

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!

Today's Wild Card author is:

Ann-Margret Hovsepian

and the book:

Truth and Dare Devotional

David C. Cook (October 1, 2011)

***Special thanks to Audra Jennings, Senior Media Specialist, The B and B Media Group for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Ann Margret Hovsepian is a published author, freelance writer and editor and amateur artist. She has published more than 210 articles for dozens of Canadian and U.S. print periodicals and has become a sought-after author of pre-teen girls’ devotional books. She has published Blossom: The Complete New Testament for Girls (Thomas Nelson, 2006) and The One Year Designer Genes Devo (Tyndale, 2007). She speaks at conferences and events and is actively involved on the board of Canadian Baptist Women of Ontario and Quebec, Canada. Hovsepian resides in Montreal, Canada.

Visit the author's website.

SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:

Is your pre-teen daughter ready for more—more excitement, more adventure, more joy? Then dare her to discover the secret to a life that sparkles for God. Show her she’s got what it takes to make an impact on the world. Ann Margret Hovsepian’s newest book, Truth and Dare: One Year of Dynamic Devotions for Girls, is designed for girls 9 to 12 and filled with powerful wisdom on everything from godly friendships to worshipping God.

It can be easy for young girls to neglect their Bible reading. Perhaps they feel Scripture doesn’t directly relate to them. Maybe they may lack encouragement or accountability, or they may just have too many distractions in their everyday lives. This lack of spiritual food can stunt girls’ spiritual growth and make them vulnerable to the temptations and ungodly influences around them. It can also prevent them from developing a love for Scripture early in life, making it even harder to get into God’s Word when they get older.

Truth and Dare encourages tween girls to discover how exciting God’s Word can be. They will see it make a difference in their daily lives and experience the blessings that come from doing it and not just hearing it. Daily challenges (dares) based on Scripture (truth) will provide opportunities for them to make their faith come alive as they learn to serve others, build character and make a difference.

Scripture will be transformed from something learned to something lived. Girls will delight in discovering how God’s Word can become real in whole new ways as they learn to apply it with each day’s dare. It ideally suits anyone looking to inspire a young girl to boldly live out her faith. So encourage the tween girl in your life to take the dare and discover the truth! It’s her time to shine as a girl who knows what it means to live a fierce and fearless life of faith.

Product Details:

List Price: $14.99
Reading level: Ages 9 and up
Paperback: 432 pages
Publisher: David C. Cook (October 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1434702081
ISBN-13: 978-1434702081

AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER (To enlarge, click on the images):

Preview Triple Dog Dare Devotionals - for boys!

2011-11-29T08:57:00.001-06:00

Attention radio stations: Giveaway copies are available for interviews and on-air reviews! Email Audra to request yours!

Thanks to everyone who took part in today's tour!

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!

Today's Wild Card author is:

Jeremy Jones

and the book:

Triple Dog Dare Devotional

David C. Cook (October 1, 2011)

***Special thanks to Audra Jennings, Senior Media Specialist, The B and B Media Group for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jeremy V. Jones is an award-winning journalist who has served as senior associate editor of Breakaway magazine. He has authored several books, including Toward the Goal: The Kaka Story and The Keeper: The Tim Hoard Story. He also writes for magazines such as Clubhouse and Christianity Today. He resides with his wife and two children in Colorado.

SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:

Boys want action. They don’t want to sit around and talk—that’s for grown-ups and girls. They engage life and relationships by doing something: skateboarding, playing games or re-creating favorite movie scenes. So why should faith be any different? That’s why Jeremy V. Jones created Triple Dog Dare: One Year of Dynamic Devotions for Boys—to provide the action boys need in order to grow their faith.

The Bible is full of action. Remember how David slew Goliath, Daniel faced those lions, Paul survived a shipwreck and Jesus stood up for a woman about to be killed? God made boys to take His truth and do something with it, to man up and change the world. These action-packed devotions for boys ages 9 to 12 are filled with godly truth and bold spiritual challenges that transform time with God into the adventure of the day.

Triple Dog Dare connects God’s Word to boys’ hearts and hands with real-life scenarios and activities. Each day is filled with short Scriptures, concise biblical truth and a daily dare, all challenging them to put their faith into practice. Scripture readings from every book of the Bible open up the action-packed Word of God. Whether it’s drawing comic strips of biblical battles, dreaming up a life list of goals, making snack packs for the homeless or producing Bible-based movies, boys will go on daily dynamic experiences with God, taking faith off the page and setting it into motion. Themes cover the daily realities of pre-teen males, including bullying, peer pressure, girls, sibling rivalry, honesty and more.

These exciting devotions will inspire boys’ hearts toward godly characteristics such as integrity, generosity and kindness. Parents will appreciate watching Christ-like traits emerge as each dare is undertaken. It is a manual that will deepen boys’ friendships with Jesus as they look forward to spending time with Him every day. So if you know a boy who is up for the challenge, triple dog dare him!

Product Details:

List Price: $14.99

Reading level: Ages 9 and up

Paperback: 432 pages

Publisher: David C. Cook (October 1, 2011)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0781404576

ISBN-13: 978-0781404570

AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER

(Click on images to enlarge):

How would you explain it?

2011-11-26T21:11:00.001-06:00

Last weekend, my parents and I were trying to explain the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to Paige. Not being a fan of them myself, there was some difficulty in explaining to Paige about turtles who were teenagers, mutants, and ninjas named after some of the most famous artists in history lived in a sewer and were super heroes.

At least that explanation may have made a little sense when Selena Gomez asked Kermit the Frog if he was a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle in The Muppets when we went to the movies today.

Of course, I kind of had to explain the whole Muppet thing too. Paige and Peyton didn't watch much Sesame Street when they were young, or at least didn't remember, so throw that in the mix too.

I had to explain how the Muppets really did have a TV show that came on regularly when I was young, and they also had movies too. I didn't try to explain the Muppet Babies cartoon I watched every Saturday morning as a child. At least I understood the Muppets reuniting as did the 70 year old couple in front of us.

I did enjoy it - I'm fickle about movies, and it was on my "wanna see" list. I think one of the best parts was Camilla and the chickens singing "Forget You." And why the girls couldn't just take "Mahna Mahnam" at face value, I'm not sure. I do know we sang that the whole way back to their house.

In true going to the movies with Paige and Peyton, I did have to name as many characters as possible all the way through.

What things from your generation have you had a hard time explaining to kids?

Here's the film trailer and some other videos to share.

Why was Skeeter only in Muppet Babies? I don't remember her anywhere else.

Dig out some more plates

2011-11-24T20:54:00.001-06:00

About 48 hours ago, I thought it was just going to be me and my parents for Thanksgiving. Yesterday, when I got over to my parents' house to cook, I dug out three plates from the hutch and glasses we had not used in who knows when. My mom has several set of dishes that never get used.

When Dad talked to Brian last night, he confirmed that he and Julie were coming. We really weren't sure since Mom had mentioned to both of them without getting a commitment in return. So, I dug out two more plates.

This morning, while I was cooking and Mom and Dad were still looking over the paper or making fruit salad, my phone rings. Peyton asked where I was so that her mom could drop her and Paige off since they were coming back to their Dad's. So, I eagerly got to get out two more plates and put the leaf in the dining room table. I told the girls this story, and they got quite the kick out of it. I guess they are easily entertained like me.

What I thought was going to be a table for 3 was an energetic table for 7. That's reason enough to be thankful!

I need to get the picture of Peyton from my phone onto my computer so that I can post her silver Mickey Mouse ears that matched her sequined shirt today. (I found boots to match in the Target sales ad tonight.) They had a good time at Disney World for a day and a half this week, but did not get to see near all of it. Their Mom said I'd have to take them back (when can we go???). They rode Space Mountain like I told them too, and both said they almost barfed. I think they enjoyed it though - at least they said their mom did. They did do some of the other things I told them they must do at Magic Kingdom.

I think we'll get to go see The Muppets this weekend. At least, they informed their dad they were.

So, did anyone else have any Thanksgiving surprises?

I finally have some plans

2011-11-23T19:50:00.037-06:00

So, picking up where I left on Saturday, when I headed out with Jenny...

Actually, I'm typing part of this for a second time because My draft was not saving and I hit a command by accident that went back and I had nothing that I had been typing on. And now, I am even switching to my Blackberry because my computer really hates me now.

Everyone knows I don't get out nearly enough, so Jenny lined up meeting Courtney and Rakia at El Fenix in Mesquite for my birthday. El Fenix is kind of my birthday thing and has been for a while with different people. The four of us are an interesting mix. Sort of explained best when Rakia asked where the rest of us met each other.

I've know Jenny since I was in 5th grade and my family started going to the same church hers did. I met Courtney the first day of college in 8 AM American History class. Jenny and Courtney met the next year in band. Rakia and I worked together for a while. Jenny had moved away for a while during the time Rakia and I worked together, so they had not met until last summer.

This year, we all got together when I had four free Ranger tickets in July and called up everyone to see if they were available. That's when we decided to all go to Train/Maroon 5 in September.

As we ate our chips and salsa, everyone bonded over bad stories of online dating and how we are all pretty sure we're all destined to singleness. My dear, single, 33-35 year old friends.

When Jenny and Rakia each turned me down on my invitations to go to Branson, Rakia told me to forget Branson and go somewhere with her New Years. We had not decided what that would be though.

While we were sitting around at El Fenix, Jenny saw someone post on Facebook about Blake Shelton at the Winstar on December 30. I asked Rakia what she ended up deciding about NYE with another friend of hers, and we decided we could go to San Antonio, or hey, go to Winstar and spend a couple of days.

For those of you outside of this area, I guess I better explain that Winstar is a big casino in Oklahoma right over the Texas border. We decided to go ahead with that until Courtney started looking around and found that Maroon 5 is there the next night. So, the four of us are heading to Oklahoma on Friday, December 30 to spend a couple of days going to both concerts and living it up... whatever that means.

We're having to stay deeper into Oklahoma (for shame!) because everything nearby is already booked for that weekend. Who knew so many people wanted to go to Oklahoma for New Year's? It wouldn't have been my first choice, that's for sure. However, it's going to be a blast!

When I told my dad that I had made NYE plans, he was actually quite excited, especially since he is not going. Usually, he gets jealous if he doesn't get to do what I do as silly as it sounds. That was a near miracle.

I was telling my brother about this today, and I would not be surprised if he and my sister-in-law don't end up there for Blake Shelton themselves.

Last Saturday night, I also decided to have a Christmas party. In addition to our foursome, I've invited Rachel from church that I team teach with on Sundays and who went to Opening Day with me. Between the 5 of us, we'll still probably be getting together in 40 years talking about the desperate old men in the nursing home.

So, all this to say, I actually have some plans. I'm so excited! (It doesn't take much.)

Preview the latest in the Fresh Life Bible Study Series

2011-11-22T07:33:00.001-06:00

Today's Wild Card authors are:

Lenya Heitzig
and
Penny Rose

and the books:

Live Reflectively: Lessons from the Watershed Moments of Moses

David C Cook (November 1, 2011)

and

Live Abundantly: A Study in the Book of Ephesians

David C Cook; 2 edition (November 1, 2011)

***Special thanks to Audra Jennings, Senior Media Specialist,

The B and B Media Group for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

Lenya Heitzig is an award-winning author and popular Bible teacher. She and her husband founded Calvary Church of Albuquerque—one of the fastest-growing churches worldwide. She is the author of Holy Moments: Recognizing God’s Fingerprints on Your Life and also contributed to the best-selling New Women’s Devotional Bible. Heitzig serves as Executive Director of She Ministries of Albuquerque, overseeing weekly Bible studies and yearly retreats. She and her husband Skip live in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Penny Rose is the award-winning author of numerous books. Penny thrives on teaching at conferences and retreats nationwide. She lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with her husband, Kerry, a pastor at Calvary of Albuquerque.

Visit the authors' website.

SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:

The Fresh Life series was created for women who crave a profound experience of God’s Word without an overwhelming time commitment. Bible teachers Lenya Heitzig and Penny Rose challenge readers to dig deep into Scripture by using a directed study method that only requires twenty minutes a day. With a fresh approach to studying Scripture that gives newcomers as well as seasoned students deep insight into God’s Word, the latest two additions in the series explore the life of Moses and the riches in the book of Ephesians.

Live Reflectively: Lessons from the Watershed Moments of Moses (Heitzig) is an engaging Bible study on the life of Moses. He was saved from death on the Nile and raised as an Egyptian prince. He met his wife at a Midianite well, witnessed the birth of a nation as the Red Sea parted and watched water gush from a rock with one touch of his rod. He died overlooking the Jordan River. Through viewing the water moments of Moses’ life, readers will be encouraged to consider the moments in their own lives that shape who they are and who they are becoming.

Live Abundantly: A Study in the Book of Ephesians (Heitzig and Rose) challenges readers to dig deep into the book of Ephesians to find the spiritual treasure God has for them. The book of Ephesians is God’s “last will and testament” that bequeaths his spiritual treasures to His beloved children. Covering topics such as living in God’s will and receiving peace no matter the circumstances, it reveals the magnitude of every Christian’s inheritance—a gift “exceedingly abundantly above” what you could ever ask for.

The Fresh Life series teaches readers to:
· Lift up...a prayer
· Look at…God’s Word (answering questions concerning what the passage says)
· Learn about…what the passage means (sidebars define words and profice background information)
· Live out…what they have learned (personalizing the text and learning how it can impact their daily life)
· Listen to…quotes from well-known figures to build on the truths uncovered in Scripture

Readers will develop a deeper intimacy with the Lord and walk away feeling inspired to move forward in their walks of faith. Live Abundantly and Live Reflectively continue the rich biblical tradition of the Fresh Life series. They offer wisdom that will leave readers encouraged in their present situations and hopeful for the spiritual journey ahead.

Product Details:

Live Reflectively: Lessons from the Watershed Moments of Moses

List Price: $17.99

Paperback: 288 pages

Publisher: David C. Cook (November 1, 2011)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0781405939

ISBN-13: 978-0781405935

Product Details:

Live Abundantly: A Study in the Book of Ephesians

List Price: $17.99

Paperback: 304 pages

Publisher: David C. Cook; 2 edition (November 1, 2011)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1434703304

ISBN-13: 978-1434703309

AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER

(Click on images to expand):

Live Reflectively: Lessons from the Watershed Moments of Moses

Live Abundantly: A Study in the Book of Ephesians

Yes, I do in fact feel older

2011-11-19T16:50:00.001-06:00

Here's how the conversation usually goes down:

"Oh, hey, it's your birthday. Do you feel any older?"

"Uh, no, not really."

If someone were to ask me the same question yesterday, I would have had to say, "yes, in fact, I really do."

I feel every bit of 35 plus some lately. And can probably put my finger on every reason why.

Before I ramble off and forget, thank you to everyone who posted "Happy Birthday" on my Facebook wall. Everybody needs a day to feel special. I especially appreciated the ones that wished Kelly a Happy Birthday. It made me feel like people do pay attention to me because you were reading my Facebook status messages the day before when I decided that shall be my new name.

If you were wondering what I did on my birthday, here's the run down. I had to have reports in for work since I took my birthday off, so I feverishly worked Thursday (getting to work about 6:30) and Thursday night, and Friday morning to get them done. I hit a wall about 2:15 AM on my birthday and decided I must go to bed. I didn't get to sleep until around 3, set my alarm for 10 AM so I could get up and finish my reports by the noon deadline.

I woke up around 8:30 needing to go to the bathroom like the old woman I have become and knew I wouldn't get back to sleep. I trudged to my home office down the hall and worked for 2-3 hours. I hurriedly straightened my hair in time to pick up Paige from school at 12:20 because she wanted me to pick her up instead of going to the football game with her family.

We came on back into town, and decided to drag my parents to play mini golf. When we got out there around 2, we were told the course didn't open until 4. We proceeded to Gander Mountain to look for my brother a Christmas present, to Office Depot where my mom had a $15 credit and Paige found her a Christmas present, then went to Collin Street Bakery where I did get the world's smallest piece of cheesecake for $1.

By then, it still wasn't 4:00, but the skies were dark with clouds and the wind was blowing like crazy. I just knew if we went back over there, we would be rained on. We ended back at my parents' house where Paige wanted to play Canasta. She's been wanting to play for months, but every time we get out the cards, Brian drives up to pick her up.

So, Paige, Dad and I played a marathon game of Canasta. By this point, my approximate 5 hours of sleep after getting up at 5 AM the day before was kicking my rear. In middle of the first to 5000 point game, we did order pizza so that I could get my birthday chocolate bread sticks from Pizza Hut.

Because Paige is weird, we ordered one of the strangest pizzas ever in addition to the super supreme so that she would have something she would eat. Her half of the pizza was no cheese with pepperoni and bacon pieces. I made the other half onions, bell peppers and mushrooms (it was supposed to have tomatoes). I can only imagine what the Pizza Hut people were thinking in making that. At least Paige loved it and called it the best pizza ever.

After we finally finished playing Canasta, Paige and I wandered back over here to the house and crashed on the love seat about 10 minutes into an episode of My Fair Wedding with David Tutera because for some reason we watch stuff like that and Say Yes to the Dress together. Talking about her wedding of course. At least we were talking about it last Sunday.

She said she was going to get married by 25 because after that, it was just too late. I told her if she dared tried to have that conversation in front of me and Jenny, I would wring her scrawny little neck.

Of course, this does bring to mind a statement I made to some friends around the time I was 25. I said I would have a big wedding up until age 30. A small one between 30-35, and after that, I just wasn't going to get married. I figured at the time, even then, that event was not likely to be.

The funniest thing I heard this week wasn't meant to be funny at all. Someone emailed me an early happy birthday saying, "I believe you are single, I know you must have a fellow to celebrate with." I almost laughed so hard I fell out of my chair. I told him I sure did not. That I was spending my day with my 10 year old niece.

So, I have to wrap this up. Jenny is here to take me out with a couple of my other 33-35 single female friends. We are the "who needs men, thank goodness we don't children" women. Gotta go --

Kelly

40 Days to Overcoming Depression

2011-11-17T09:00:00.000-06:00

Today's Wild Card author is:

Dr. Scott Morris
and the
Church Health Center

and the book:

40 Days to Better Living: Depression

Barbour Books (November 1, 2011)

***Special thanks to Audra Jennings – The B and B Media Group – for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

From the time Scott Morris was just a teenager, he knew he would do two things with his future—serve God and work with people. Growing up in Atlanta, he felt drawn to the Church and at the same time drawn to help others, even from a very young age. It was naturally intrinsic, then, that after completing his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Virginia he went on to receive his M.Div. from Yale University and finally his M.D. at Emory University in 1983.

After completing his residency in family practice, Morris arrived in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1986 without knowing a soul, but determined to begin a health care ministry for the working poor. He promptly knocked on the doors of St. John’s Methodist Church and Methodist Hospital in Memphis inviting them to help, and then found an old house to refurbish and renovate. By the next year, the Church Health Center opened with one doctor—Dr. Scott Morris—and one nurse. They saw twelve patients the first day and Morris began living his mission to reclaim the Church’s biblical commitment to care for our bodies and spirits.

From the beginning, Morris saw each and every patient as a whole person, knowing that without giving careful attention to both the body and soul the person would not be truly well. So nine years after opening the Church Health Center, he opened its Hope & Healing Wellness Center. Today the Church Health Center has grown to become the largest faith-based clinic in the country of its type having cared for 60,000 patients of record without relying on government funding. The clinic handles more than 36,000 patient visits a year while the wellness center, which moved to its current 80,000-square-foot location on Union Avenue in 2000, serves more than 120,000 member visits each year. Fees are charged on a sliding scale based on income.

Visit the author's website.

SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:

Depression is a serious condition—and 40 Days to Better Living: Depression provides clear, manageable steps for people to manage it, through life-changing attitudes and actions. Readers can select one or more elements of the 7-step Model for Healthy Living—Faith, Medical, Movement, Work, Emotional, Family and Friends, and Nutrition—and follow the 40-day plan to improve their lives, just a bit, day by day. With plenty of practical advice, biblical encouragement, and stories of real people who’ve taken the same journey, this book—from the Church Health Center in Memphis, the largest faith-based clinic of its type in the U.S.—may be one of the most important books your customers will read this year.

The 40 Days to Better Living series offers clear, manageable steps to life-changing attitudes and actions in a context of understanding and grace for all people at all points on the journey to optimal health. With plenty of practical advice, spiritual encouragement, and real stories of those who have found a better life, this simple and skillfully crafted book inspires readers to customize their own path to wellness by using the 7-Step Model for Healthy Living as a guide:

· Nutrition: pursuing smarter food choices and eating habits

· Friends and family: giving and receiving support through relationships

· Emotional life: understanding feelings and managing stress to better care for yourself

· Work: appreciating your skills, talents, and gifts

· Movement: discovering ways to enjoy physical activity

· Medical care: partnering with health care providers to optimize medical care

· Faith life: building a relationship with God, neighbors, and self

Along with tips from the Model for Healthy Living, the easy-to-read format features a Morning Reflection and an Evening Wrap-Up as well as a place for documenting plans, progress, and perspectives. Targeted scriptures and prayers that undergird the focus of each day’s message make this compact book an excellent choice for a daily devotional.

Subsequent titles in the Better Living series will be released bi-monthly and address key health topics including hypertension, diabetes, depression, weight management, stress management, aging, and addiction. All promise substantial support to those who are ready for a newer, better way of living—body and spirit.

Product Details:

List Price: $7.99
Paperback: 176 pages
Publisher: Barbour Books (November 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1616262664
ISBN-13: 978-1616262662

AND NOW...THE FIRST FEW PAGES: Click on the images to see them larger:

Do Good Things for Others

2011-11-16T18:41:00.000-06:00

The Hidden Gifts ofHelping:

Do Good Things for Others

This Holiday Season

Article by StephenG. Post,

Author of TheHidden Gifts of Helping,

a Wall Street Journal bestseller

(www.StephenGPost.com/HiddenGifts)

Ebenezer Scroogebegins in The Christmas Carol with a “Bah humbug!” He is both miserlyand miserable. As the story unfolds, he eventually discovers the “giver’sglow,” as I like to term it. He is dancing on the streets in the enduring joyof his newfound generosity of heart. I compare the giver’s glow to a glow stickthat children get at parades and fairs. These are the translucent plastic tubescontaining substances that when combined make light through a chemicalreaction. After the glass capsule in the plastic casing is broken, it glows.The brokenness is part of the process. Give and grow, give and glow. Scroogediscovered this before it was too late.

Human beings are wired to give ofthemselves for noble purposes, regardless of circumstances. Recently, Idelivered a sermon in an African-American Baptist church in Coram, New York.The subject was how we benefit when we love our neighbor. Afterwards, awonderful elderly woman, who was full of vitality, said to me, “You know, thatgiver’s glow is how we African Americans have been getting through hard timesfor two centuries!”

On the inside cover of a copy of The Book of CommonPrayer, given to me in 1986 by the Rev. William B. Eddy of Tarrytown, NewYork, is an accumulating memorial list of twenty people I have known closely asmodels of kindness and generosity over the years. To get on the list a personmust have passed on and, by all accounts, remained generous even in their finaldays. These are people who understood that happiness is not to be found just inthe getting, but in the giving, and they taught by example. Have you noticedthe warm glow in your heart that comes when you act kindly? They had a deepsense of common humanity, and they all had a certain happiness about them—asort of gaiety that comes with a life well-lived and rightly inspired.

In my most recent book, The Hidden Giftsof Helping: How the Power of Giving, Compassion, and Hope Can Get Us ThroughHard Times (Jossey-Bass, A Wiley Imprint), I describe a bit of an upheavalin my own life, and how helping others got me and my family through theinevitable tough times that come everyone’s way.

“After twenty years of being ‘at home’ inthe Cleveland suburb of Shaker Heights, my job disappeared. Maybe we were tooattached to Cleveland, and maybe God wanted us to move on. But as a family wenever anticipated just how challenging up-rootedness is, especially when it isnot something that you would have opted for in better times. So in June of2008, we sold the house and moved east on Route 80 from Ohio to the GeorgeWashington Bridge, landing in Stony Brook. What a great place! But still, wejust had not quite imagined how stressful such a move would be and how hard wewould have to work to find renewed peace of mind and heart.

“Suddenly cut adrift from friendsand community, we felt painfully uprooted—out of place, stressed out,disoriented and at odds with each other. Most movers suffer from a lack ofcompanionship and intimate friends, at least temporarily, and doing thisrepeatedly is really tough. Fortunately, we had those twenty good years inOhio. We struggled to find our footing with the move, determined to recreatethe good life of community and friendships we all so keenly missed. The keyturned out to be something we knew quite well, but learned to remember daily inour upheaval: the healing power of helping others. The medical prescription isthis—Rx: Helper Therapy.

“Simply put, helping others helpsthe helper. Research in the field of health psychology, as well as all thegreat spiritual traditions, tells us that one of the best ways to get rid ofanger and grief is to actively help others. Science supports this assertion:Giving help to others measurably reduces the giver’s stress; improves healthand well-being in surprising and powerful ways; renews our optimism about whatis possible; helps us connect to family, friends and lots of amazing people;allows the deep, profound joy of our humanity to flow through us and out intothe world; and improves our sense of self-worth. These are valuable gifts anytimeand particularly in hard times. If there is one great secret to life, this isit.”

After all was said and done, this move worked out. My wifefound a grade school where she could continue her work as a teaching assistantfor especially needy children, my son Drew volunteered at the hospital and Istarted working with families of individuals with autism. We eventuallyrealized that wherever we are, we are at home when we can contribute to thelives of others. We got back in touch with the things that matter most, andmaybe that is what hard times are for. We helped others in ways that we feltcalled to, we used our strengths so as to feel effective and we shared ourexperiences with family, faith community and like-minded others.

Eventually, of course, everyone stumbles on hard times, andno one gets out of life alive. Today, even those who had considered themselvesprotected from hardship are being touched and their lives changed by volatileeconomic markets, job uncertainty and the increasing isolation and lonelinessof modern life.

Here arefour things to keep in mind. First, as Washington Irving put it so well:“Love is never lost. If not reciprocated, it will flow back and soften andpurify the heart.” Second, love often does beget love, just as hateusually begets hate, and so good givers need to be good receivers. Third,we should never count on reciprocity because this is sure to be frustrating andultimately small-minded. Better to take joy when those upon whom our love isbestowed do not “pay it back” to us, but rather “pay it forward” to others asthey move through life remembering our good example. Or to bring this to thekitchen table, as I heard one Italian mother in Cleveland tell her son, “Loveand forget about it!” And fourth, in I Corinthians Paul linked“faith, hope and love,” and he proclaimed that “love never fails.” What isfaith but having confidence that no matter how harsh a particular scene in thedrama of our lives or of history might be, it is love that wrote the play andlove that will be revealed in the final act.

Do a little good this holiday season. The 2010 DoGood Live Well Survey, released by United Healthcare andVolunteerMatch (www.VolunteerMatch.org),surveyed 4,500 American adults. 41 percent of Americans volunteered an averageof 100 hours a year. 68 percent of those who volunteered in the last yearreported that volunteering made them feel physically healthier. In addition:

· 89% reported that“volunteering has improved my sense of well-bring”

· 73% agreed that“volunteering lowered my stress levels”

· 92% agreed that“volunteering enriched my sense of purpose in life”

· 72% characterizedthemselves as “optimistic” compared to 60% of non-volunteers

· 42% of volunteersreported a “very good” sense of meaning in their lives, compared with 28% ofnon-volunteers

How wise it is to do what onecan to contribute benevolently to others!

Some individuals on my The Book of Common Prayer listwere well known and others lived quiet lives out of the limelight. Some wereappreciated and some not. We might prefer to think that loving servants ofgoodness would, after a long and successful life, die peacefully in their bedsand all people would speak well of them at their funerals. But this is toosimplistic. Everyone on my list experienced an enduring joy as a by-product oftheir generosity. Thus, the motto of my independent Institute for Research onUnlimited Love (www.unlimitedloveinstitute.com),founded with the help of Sir John Templeton (who happens to be on my list!), is“In the giving of self lies the discovery of a deeper self.”

To request permission to post thisarticle or for review copy and interview information, contact:

Audra Jennings - 800-927-0517 x104

In need of some Inspired Design?

2011-11-15T17:12:00.000-06:00

Inspired Design

Creating a Beautiful Home for the Holidays
byEmbracing Family, Traditions and Love

Drawing from arich family history and her own collection of acclaimed designs,California-based interior designer Roxanne Packham has joined with her teenagedaughter Hannah to create Inspired Design (Inspired Design Publications,2010), an idea-provoking book filled with stunning photographs, treasuredfamily traditions and a plethora of truly inspirational tips for creating awarm and welcoming home, not just throughout the holiday season, but every dayto follow.

Whether seeking unique ways to entertain for the upcomingholidays, celebrate with friends, begin new family traditions or showcase thefamily history, talents and passions in the home’s interior design, thePackhams have shown the way. In doing so, they have utilized the beautifullystructured pages of Inspired Design to reveal the classic truth that anyhome is made more beautiful when it is filled with love, joy and thedetermination to make those who enter it feel welcomed.

Decorating for the holidays can be a daunting task, whetherit is in preparation for family or for a spouse’s office party. Roxanne offerssimple ideas for making your home welcoming and comfortable for guests. Hannahis able to offer, from a teen’s perspective, ways of getting the entire familyinvolved in holiday preparations while teaching your children the art ofhospitality. With today’s busy, high-tech lifestyle, these are importantlessons we often overlook.

With a desire to celebrate the beauty of home and family,the mother-daughter duo has skillfully melded their own store of familymemories and candid observations with photos of impeccably designed interiorsto remind the reader of the home’s power and ability to change lives. Theirpurpose in writing Inspired Design is straightforward: “To inspire youto create a home that touches the soul of those within, as well as all who walkthrough the doors.”

Borne on the wings of their earnest prayers, InspiredDesign is far from being just another photo-rich book on interior design.Instead, it is a beautifully rich hospitality book focused as much on whatvisitors entering the home will feel as on what they might see. Once theircollaboration on the book was finished, this mother-daughter duo knew they hadfound their calling. To continue the work they had begun, Roxanne and Hannahfounded Inspired31.org, an organization devoted to inspiring teenage girls,mothers and others to find and follow God’s plan for their lives. Along withfunding Inspired31.org, sales of the book go straight to Heart of Hope (aministry that advocates for orphans and at-risk children in Romania) and otherselected charities. The Packhams’ unified mission is to change lives one heartat a time.

Author Bios: Roxanne Hughes Packham is an acclaimed California-basedinterior designer, whose classic designs grace homes from San Diego to SanFrancisco. Born into a family of gifted artisans, including renownedsilversmiths Allan Adler (her grandfather) and Porter Blanchard (hergreat-grandfather), Packham is a graduate of the University of SouthernCalifornia, The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising and the ParisFashion Institute. Additionally, she studied French at the Sorbonne and Frenchculture and literature at the Cité Universitaire in Paris. Roxanne operates herinterior design business through a home studio during the hours her childrenare in school. She makes her home in Southern California with her husband Scottand children Justin and Hannah.

Continuing her family’s long tradition of design excellence,Hannah Packham’s interests include classical ballet, skiing and modern dance.She has participated in mission trips to Costa Rica and Romania and in 2010 wasselected to participate in the Rotary Leadership Conference. Miss Packham livesat home with her family in Southern California.

InspiredDesign by Roxanne and Hannah Packham

Inspired Design Publications/ISBN 978-0-9844563-0-7/152 pages/hardcover/$40.00

www.inspireddesignpublications.com ~ www.inspired31.org

For interview information, contact:

Audra Jennings - 800-927-0517 x104

What were you thinking?

2011-11-12T12:00:00.000-06:00

So, in other news, like, I have much if any news to report ever, I'm sort of looking for a house. I get this whim from time to time. My dad was convinced I needed to look at this one house he had been in while at an estate sale. "You need to see this house, you need to..."

Last week, he even called the number and told the woman selling it to call me. I should have known anything he tries to convince me of, I will not like. Case in point... Branson. But, I digress.

I talked with the woman, talked with her sister, and set up a time to meet. I asked my parents if they wanted me meet me over there, and of course, Dad even arrived before I did. I give him credit for enthusiasm and encouragement in my wanting to buy a house.

The first hesitation going into this whole thing is the list price of the house - more than I would be qualified for purchase. When I almost bought a house a few years ago, I know what I pre-qualified for, and I know that even though I don't have certain monthly payments now that I had then, my income has not changed enough to make that significant of a difference. That's a big part of the magic number so to speak.

Anyway, the house itself... There was something about the exact location even though the neighborhood is fine. The house needed a little more than just some new wallpaper and some paint which is what I was led by both my father and the people selling it. As much of a believer in Behr paint with primer that I am, wow, yeah, not so sure about that.

They had laid ceramic floors in the kitchen, living room, hall and bathrooms. (There was also enough for the dining room and entryway to be done, but they hadn't done it.) I could be ok with ceramic tile in the living room if it weren't really ugly ceramic tile. It was kind of gray, but with some green and pink tones to it. Just not attractive.

Then, the living room had built ins that I was good with, but the ceiling had wood beams and wood paneling. Not necessarily the wood paneling that you would just paint over because it was nicer wood paneling. Dad says, "I think this makes a neat den." I kept quiet a couple of minutes until I could whisper to my mother, "I hate the paneling." She answered, "I knew you would."

All the other walls had a chair rail, and I'm not sure if it was really paneling or the illusion of paneling. Whatever it was, it had a funky texture in a funky bad way. The ceilings would of course need to be painted because part of the cottage cheese ceiling was coming down, and the only way you can do that is to spray more cottage cheese up there or scrape it bare and neither choice was too appealing.

Overall, I just didn't say much while we were there. I went over to eat with Mom and Dad afterwards, and Dad finally asks, "was there anything you liked about it?" "Uh, not really."

I've seen worse - the house I was going to buy a few years ago was worse, but at a better price.

Online, I saw a house I would like to see the inside of. It's been completely redone like an episode of Property Ladder or something. Laminate wood floors, new ceiling fans, painted cabinets in the kitchen, all painted as a fresh slate (lots easier to paint the walls color when everything is fresh and white).

The price is affordable, but the neighborhood would not be near my first choice. That's the frustration of being a single person with a single income and finally having other things paid off and just now able to save up anything.

I'd also like to take a look at an "old lady townhouse" that's for sale across the street from me. Even with an HOA fee, at least I wouldn't have to mow/maintain a yard and it's a quiet neighborhood - at least the neighbors. The train isn't going to be much quieter or the busy street.

I'm just a cat away from being one of those old ladies anyway. And Jenny has threatened to get me one this week for my birthday. Oh, she better not...

Just wrong and mean

2011-11-11T19:24:00.001-06:00

I'm just wrong and mean, in case you didn't know that. I'm sure some of you are saying, "thanks for stating the obvious."

It's more likely I just have an ounce of my dad's sick sense of you humor.

Paige is getting her pigs tomorrow to show for the youth expo. She showed a couple of years ago. She told me that she wanted to name a girl pig a certain name, but now neither of us remembers what it was she was going to name it.

Earlier, when I talked to her on the phone she said she was going to name her pigs after Rangers players. Cruz and Wilson. She liked the name Wilson for a pig.

I stated the obvious. She should name it after Josh Hamilton - Hammy. She knew this statement was funny, yet, she said that would just be wrong and mean.

I guess she's right.

I know one thing is for sure. If I apologized or took the blame for one thing in the past 24 hours, I easily did so 10 times. Not that anything was under my control, but none the less. Ever have days like that? Smoothing things over, making nice, trying to answer a situation without throwing someone under the bus. Yeah, it was one of those days.

A look inside Hope Underground

2011-11-08T09:20:00.000-06:00

Thank you to everyone who took part in today's tour!

Today's Wild Card author is:

Carlos Parra Diaz

and the book:

Hope Underground

Imago Dei (September 28, 2011)

***Special thanks to Audra Jennings, Senior Media Specialist, The B and B Media Group for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

After serving as chaplain at Camp Hope during the 2010 mine collapse that trapped 33 miners a half-mile underground for 69 days, minister Carlos Parra Diaz believes he is now living the answer to a prayer. Today he finds himself exactly where he asked to be placed several months before the collapse when he climbed atop a hill near his home and prayed God would use him to bring awareness of Jesus to all nations.

Believing it was God’s hand that placed him in Camp Hope and gratified to be given the privilege of participating, Parra admits his life will never be the same because of the experience. He further acknowledges that what happened at the San José Mine “offers unequivocal testimony that, in this 21st century, faith still does move mountains.”

Today, Pastor Parra, his wife Gloria and their two children live in Asunción, Paraguay, where he serves as regional pastor and missionary. In addition, he continues to share his experience with others throughout the world, diligently seeking every opportunity to spread the message of the San José Mine: that our God is a God of Love.

Visit the author's website.

SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:

For several suspenseful hours on October 13, 2010, the attention of the entire world lay centered on a solitary spot in the Chilean desert. It was there that 33 trapped miners emerged to fresh air and freedom and the eager embrace of jubilant family and friends, after having spent ten weeks entombed one-half mile underground. Their emergence brought an end to the greatest mine rescue of all time.

As told to writers Mario Veloso and Jeanette Windle, Hope Underground: The 34 Chilean Miners—A Story of Faith and Miracles (Imago Dei Books) records the personal journey and spiritual involvement of a local, unassuming minister with the miners and their families. In a series of circumstances that would change his life forever, Pastor Carlos Parra Diaz rose to prominence as he became the influential chaplain of Camp Hope—a makeshift tent community established not far from the site of the mine collapse.

Yet Hope Underground is clearly more than just Pastor Parra’s story. Rather, it is the story of all who came together at Camp Hope focused on asking God to do a mighty work on behalf of the miners and the overwhelming evidence of His response that followed. Told simply and from the heart, Pastor Parra describes not only his own involvement with the families at Camp Hope but also introduces the reader to those miners, family members and officials who extracted nuggets of hope from the situation and then used them to instill faith in others.

For most people, this spectacular rescue is already yesterday’s news. However, for the millions who prayed for a miracle, this event has become a spiritual heritage for the whole world, a stirring reminder that God listens to the pleas of His children.
Readers are introduced to women like Maria Segovia, the “mayor” of Camp Hope, whose quiet strength and steadfast faith daily encouraged others. We meet the miner whose wife gave birth to their first child during the ten-week ordeal—a daughter they named Esperanza (which means Hope). And no reader will soon forget the youngest miner who boldly insisted there were 34 in the mine instead of 33 because, as he explained, “God never abandoned us.”

Though on its own, the story of his involvement would provide fascinating reading, what Pastor Parra gives us in Hope Underground is so much more. With humility and reverence, he leads us through the story of Camp Hope to a new realization that God remains a never failing presence to everyone willing to call upon His name.

Product Details:

List Price: $14.99

Paperback: 208 pages

Publisher: Africa Publishing Company (September 28, 2011)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0986979953

ISBN-13: 978-0986979958

AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:

The Journey Begins

My own journey of faith did not begin August 5, 2010, on the dusty slopes of San José Mine, but almost forty-three years earlier and far to the south. I was born Carlos Roberto Parra Díaz on September 15, 1967, in the small, rural community of Coelemu, located 500 kilometers south of Chile’s capital city, Santiago. In complete contrast to the Atacama Desert where I would one day find myself, Coelemu is a richly fertile region of rolling hills, eucalyptus forests, green pastures and cultivated fields, fruit orchards, and grape vineyards. Nearby winds the placid waterway of the Itata River.
The family into which I was born was of modest means. My father, Luis Parra, worked at many types of manual labor within the lumber industry, the region’s primary export. My mother, Ester, stayed busy running our household and rearing nine children, of whom I was one of the youngest. We lived in a small house built of wood that faced onto an unpaved dirt lane. If cramped for such a large family, we could always retreat outside to a sizable patio filled with fruit trees and a grape arbor. There my siblings and I played, climbing trees, running among the grapevines, driving tiny model cars in the dirt.

My parents were devout Christians, and from my earliest childhood I attended a local evangelical church where I grew up hearing Bible stories and singing hymns and choruses. Our small town was privileged to have both a primary and a secondary school, where my siblings and I attended. The flow of life in Coelemu was unhurried and serene.

Yet I was not always happy. As one of the youngest in a large family, I constantly battled low self-esteem. I had been taught the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ. I believed in the existence and power of a Creator God. But I had never placed my own faith in Jesus Christ or made any personal commitment to follow my Creator.

When I graduated from secondary school at age seventeen, there were no funds available for further education. In fact, no one in my family had ever gone on to university. I had done well in school and dreamed of a higher education. But without the necessary funds, I headed instead to the nearest city to look for work.

Seventy kilometers south of Coelemu, Concepción is Chile’s second largest metropolitan center with a population of almost a million people. One of my older brothers, Claudio, had already moved there. Boarding in his home, I quickly found a job. I worked hard, sending part of my earnings home to help my parents, saving what I could in hopes I might be able to study again someday. I made friends.

But I soon also turned my back on the Christian upbringing my parents had provided for me. The big city was filled with temptations for a young man out on his own for the first time. When I was not working, my days soon became a round of parties, dances, and other entertainments of which my parents would certainly not have approved. Church attendance was something of the past.

Once a month or so, I would travel home. My parents had no idea how my life had changed. They were simply happy their son had found work and was building a future for himself. In contrast, despite all the excitement of city life, I was not happy at all. By age nineteen, I had fallen into a deep depression. While I could point to nothing specifically wrong, my life seemed to be spiraling out of my control. I began to question whether God even existed. My self-esteem had hit rock bottom. I had a job, friends, and all my needs supplied. But there seemed no purpose to my existence, no reason to keep living.

By a certain evening when I was nineteen years old, I had come to a drastic decision: I would take my own life. I’d gone out that evening to party with one of my friends. But I could not make myself enjoy the festivities. Offering an excuse to leave my friend, I headed toward the railroad tracks cutting through that part of the city, thinking to throw myself in front of a passing train.

That particular night was clear of clouds, the stars bright against a black sky. It had been a long time since I’d thought of the God in whom my parents had raised me to believe, the Almighty Creator of the Universe. But as I lifted my eyes to that star-strewn sky, it was as though I glimpsed in the soft glitter of the constellations far above me a peace that I had not been able to find anywhere below on earth—a peace so vast and breathtaking, it brought sharply to my mind the presence of the God I’d learned of as a child, His pardon, His peace.

In desperation, I cried out in the direction of those stars, “God, if you are really there, please forgive my sins, and give me another chance to live.”
The answer that came was not thunder from heaven, but I heard its words as audibly as though spoken aloud. “Carlos, I will give you another opportunity to live. But you must live that life for me.”

I dropped my gaze from the glittering expanse of the night sky. But the moment I started looking at the darkness all around, despair once again overwhelmed me. I now know that this was a direct attack from Satan. You are worthless, he was murmuring in my mind. You would be better off taking your own life.
But the God who had created those constellations and spoken to me from heaven did not abandon me now. Before I could make any rash move, the friend I’d walked out on came rushing up. Somehow he’d sensed my earlier desperation. Worried, he’d been looking for me in all the places we usually hung out. He insisted on escorting me home to my brother’s house.
By now it was late at night. My brother Claudio let me in and told me to go to bed. We’d talk in the morning. Still battling despair, I went to my room. There I spotted a New Testament lying on a shelf. I couldn’t sleep, so I picked up the New Testament and began leafing through its pages. I don’t even remember what passages I read. But in those pages, I caught a glimpse of the same supernatural peace that I’d sensed in the stars. It was as though God was speaking to me again, giving me a direct confirmation that the earlier conversation we’d had was real and that He had forgiven all the wrong things I’d done over those last two years.
Going to bed at last, I slept like a small child, without stirring. When I awoke the next morning, I knew I was a new person, born again. From that day, I committed myself to follow God with all my heart.

“Almighty God, as I asked, You have given me a new chance to live,” I prayed. “Now I surrender my life to do Your will. Guide me wherever it is that You want me to serve. Let me live to exalt Your name among all nations.”
My next step was to find a local church where I could once again hear and study God’s Word. Locating one some distance away within the city of Concepción, I attended there for the next year or so. Then new neighbors moved next door to my brother Claudio’s house where I was still living. They were Seventh-day Adventist missionaries, a denomination I had never heard of at that time. They were friendly and kind. Within a short time, they’d volunteered to teach a Bible study in our neighborhood, which I began attending with my sister-in-law, Claudio’s wife. After three months of intensive Bible study, both of us made the decision to be baptized as a witness of our faith. On June 24, 1989, I surrendered my life in baptism. I was twenty-one years old.

From the moment I’d placed my faith in God, I’d committed my life to serve God. But I had no thoughts at that time of ever becoming a pastor or missionary. By then I’d found a good job as an administrative aide in a bank. But I still dreamed of one day getting a higher education. Then our neighbors told me about the Adventist University in nearby Chillán, a city about a hundred kilometers east of Coelemu.
“But I have no funds for university study,” I immediately responded.
That didn’t matter, the missionaries informed me. Then they explained to me the Adventist University’s unique system of self financing. Students could work one year for the university and then attend free the next year, alternating work and study years until they’d achieved their chosen degree. With great excitement, I enrolled, planning to study accounting, a career that would allow me not only to provide for myself, but to help my family. But by the end of my first year working for the university, God had made it clear that He was calling me into full-time ministry. When I finally started my university studies in 1991, it was in the field of theology rather than accounting.

For the next seven years, I alternated between working and studying. My employment for the university was as a colporteur, distributing and selling Christian literature door to door all over the city as well as in surrounding towns and villages. God had now made clear His calling on my life. But I did not want to follow that calling alone. I began to pray that God would bring into my life the marriage partner He had for me. For five years I prayed, not only that God would prepare the right wife for me, but that He would prepare me as a godly husband for that wife.

Then in my third year of studies, I found myself in Santiago, the capital city of Chile. Part of the course requirements for third year theology students was to conduct an evangelistic campaign. Among the volunteers helping at the church where I’d been assigned to preach was an attractive young woman named Gloria Angélica Montoya. From a third-generation Christian home, Gloria was a committed Christian herself, deeply involved in children’s and youth ministry within her church. She also worked full-time as a nursing assistant at a local psychiatric clinic.

The following year was one of those in which I was not studying. I stayed on in Santiago, working in the literature ministry and also getting to know Gloria better. It was not long before we both recognized how much we’d come to love each other. Both of us had complete peace that God was calling us together as life partners.

Gloria and I were married in the summer of 1996. We returned from Santiago to Chillán for my last year of theological studies. I graduated in 1998 and spent the next year doing a ministry apprenticeship in Concepción. Then Gloria and I returned to Santiago, where for the next five years I served as pastor and missionary overseeing a group of churches in the Santiago metropolitan area. By this time God had given Gloria and me two beautiful children: my son Carlos Malaquías (Malachi), who at the time of this book’s writing is thirteen years old, and my daughter Belén, who is now ten.

In 2003, we moved again as a family to Chile’s beautiful Viña del Mar region, famous for its vineyards and beaches. Once again, I served as pastor and missionary to a group of churches scattered around the area. Traveling from one to another, I would preach God’s Word, teach and counsel church members, and spearhead evangelistic outreach into each community.
It was 2009 when I was asked if I would move from the Viña del Mar region to serve as an area coordinator in the northern city of Copiapó. Moving from the lush vegetation that I’d known all my life in southern Chile to the barren wastelands of the Atacama Desert would be a shock, I knew. But I also knew God was calling me to accept this new ministry challenge. In Copiapó I would have under my supervision nine churches, including a Gypsy kangiri, as this Romany people group called their church assemblies, in the small community of Paipote eight kilometers from Copiapó.
The regional capital of Copiapó is a community of about 130,000 inhabitants just beyond where Chile’s southern “green zone” gives way to the Atacama Desert. Its main industrial base is the copper, silver, and gold ore dug out of numerous mines in the surrounding area. A large copper smelter in nearby Paipote employs many local residents. Unexpectedly in such an arid zone, the second main source of employment is agricultural production. From my first visit to Copiapó, I was pleasantly surprised to find the town a green oasis, with irrigation for citrus and olive trees, vineyards, and vegetable crops coming from subterranean water sources deep beneath the thirsty surface.

Beyond the irrigated zones, the barrenness of a region that does not receive a single drop of rain is immediately evident. Since my childhood in Coelemu, surrounded by forest-cloaked hills, climbing has been one of my favorite pastimes. Once I’d begun my ministry, I’d made a practice in each new place to which God moved us of finding a nearby hill to climb where I be alone with God and pray. I was encouraged in doing so by the recognition that I was following Jesus’s own example of retreating in solitude to the mountains to spend time with His heavenly Father.
Shortly after arriving in Copiapó, I climbed to the top of a high hill overlooking the city, a peak dubbed by local residents Cerro de la Cruz, or Mountaintop of the Cross. The reason for its name was clear as I climbed. At the very summit of the hill, a large white cross rose against the cloudless blue backdrop of the sky.

As I reached the foot of the cross, a Bible verse rose to my thoughts that God had placed in my heart and mind since the very beginning of my ministry. The words were Jesus’s own as He foretold how He would soon die upon a cross: “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself” (John 12:32).

Ever since God had called me to serve Him in full-time ministry, my greatest desire had been to see the eyes of everyone drawn to Jesus Christ, to see my Savior exalted among all nations. As I stood there praying over the city of Copiapó and the new ministry to which God had called me, I added a very specific and bold prayer request. I prayed that God would open the door for me to preach His good news of redemption through Jesus Christ, not just in the city of Copiapó, but across the entire region of Atacama, throughout all Chile, and—if in God’s sovereign will I was given opportunity—one day even to the rest of the world beyond Chile’s borders.
Over the next months I was very busy in my new ministry responsibilities, visiting each of the nine churches assigned to my administration, working and praying with both adults and youth for revival in the church. Together as a united body of believers, we prayed that God would show us how we could make a difference in this city and region for Christ.
Meanwhile, my family had settled in well, my children quickly making new friends at a local Adventist school they attended. When we had free time, we enjoyed hiking the hills around Copiapó as a family. But whenever I could find time, I would climb alone to the white cross on the top of Cerro de la Cruz. Each time I would pray again the prayer I’d offered up on that first day.
Never did I dream that within eighteen months of the first time I climbed that hillside, God would provide a wonderful answer to that bold prayer I’d made, opening the doors for me to speak His gospel, not just throughout the Atacama region and all of Chile, but across the entire world.

Books from my "for fun" list - Meet the Jacksons

2011-11-05T19:35:00.001-05:00

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. I really don't understand how book bloggers are able to read so many books and are always posting. I guess I am always to busy working with everyone covering books all the time (literally) in order to share what I do read for fun. And I don't get too much time to do it. Even the books I have read, I haven't found the time to blog about.

However, sending out posting reminders, and an email from a client convicted me to get some posts made this week. But the email from the client wasn't accusatory in any way and had nothing to do with my blog. She just mentioned she knew I liked a certain author, and I remembered I had asked her for a book I hadn't posted on. Actually two. The only two books I have asked for in who knows when! And I don't ask for books because I know I myself can't be timely in actually blogging about them.

That's why I buy a good number of the fiction books I read. I'm aware of my limitations.

So here are a few of my personal recommendations from the last several upon several months.

Who Is My Shelter

A Yada Yada House of Hope Novel #4
By Neta Jackson

About the book:

Gabby knows God is the God of second chances.

But can she give one to the man who betrayed her?

When she was thrown out of the penthouse she shared with her husband and their sons, Gabby didn’t know if she’d ever find a soft place to land. But after seeking refuge at the shelter where she works, extraordinary things happen as she is reintroduced to God.

From the ashes of her marriage comes the House of Hope—a safe haven for homeless moms and their children.

But now those ashes of her destroyed marriage are being stirred again. When her long-gone husband’s life hits rock bottom, he reappears and asks for one more chance. And Gabby faces what feels like an impossible choice. Take him back. Or keep moving forward without him. Toward someone new who hasn’t betrayed her.

Is God redeeming what Gabby thought was gone forever? Or is He leading her down a different path and giving her something—and someone—new?

My take:

I worked on the first three releases of Neta's Yada Yada Prayer Group series. This is the final book of her Yada Yada House of Hope series which includes some of the favorite characters from her first series.

I can identify with Gabby's insecurities and obsessions. But she has much more restraint than I have. I'd have slapped her estranged husband up one side and down another. Actually, someone already did that. If you caught book three, Who Do I Lean On? that's the cliff hanger of the book. If you haven't, you need to go back and start with book one!

With every one of Neta's books, I devour them. I actually will toss aside my "I really need to finish that for work" guilt aside and sit down and read her books. They're believable. They show flawed people and the people that love them anyway.

This book is floating out there among my relatives somewhere. Speaking of OCD - I'm that way with my library of books. I hope I get my books around the holidays. I think I deserve some Amazon.com gift cards for Christmas so I can supply my mother, grandmother and aunt with more reading material. This book is actually one that Thomas Nelson so kindly sent to me. (Thanks Katie!)

Harry Bentley's Second Sight

A Yada Yada Brothers Novel #2

By Dave Jackson

About the book:

From the beginning Harry Bentley has been a friend to Gabby Fairbanks, the main character in Neta's House of Hope novels, but you’ve seen Harry only through Gabby’s eyes and may not realize he is a retired Chicago cop who put himself on the line by blowing the whistle on a corrupt and dangerous colleague.

Harry Bentley, was doing just fine. He had custody of his grandson, DaShawn, giving him a second chance at being a good parent. He was enjoying a second romance with the enchanting Estelle Williams. He had finally connected with God, thanks to the Yada Yada brothers. And he was even enjoying SouledOut Community Church and helping at Manna House shelter for women. So, why was his eye giving him fits?

A blind spot had developed in the very center of his vision with strange distortions around it. Was it a brain tumor? A stroke? Diabetes? Worse ... was he going blind? There was no way he could face life like this ... let alone raise his grandson or propose marriage to Estelle. Where was God? And why, at the height of his crisis, did all sorts of other complications crop up-his alcoholism, Estelle's emotionally disturbed son, his renegade boss from the Chicago Police Department, and an attempt on the life of Gabby Fairbanks' estranged husband? He couldn't see his way clear ... until God gave him a "second sight."

The Yada Yada Brothers novels by Dave Jackson parallel Neta’s House of Hope novels and represent a different kind of reading enjoyment, three-dimensional literature, if you will. It’s something that only a husband and wife writing team could pull off. Each novel stands alone but takes place in the same time frame, same neighborhood, involving some of the same characters living through their own dramas and crises but interacting with and affecting one another … just the way it happens in real life.

My take:

Actually, you should probably read this one before you read this one before Neta's book. It actually takes place at the same point in the story as book 3 in Neta's series. I think I actually read them in reverse order. I can't really remember for sure since I'm so behind on posting. It's really fun in that you get the men's perspective of what is going on at the same time.

Dave had the same kind of eye problems that Harry has in the book, so he writes from experience. I can only imagine how scary and stressful it all was.

The book is also floating around somewhere because I'm the only one that had already purchased it on Amazon.

Visit www.daveneta.com for more

info about all the Jacksons' books!