I thought this month's mini-challenge could be a little different. I thought I would challenge myself--challenge us all--to devote more time to praising God. I've been reading through Psalms--that's the book I'm teaching from this past month--and praise is everywhere! David (and the other psalmists) were for praising God when times were good, when times were bad, when times just were. There was no situation that couldn't be turned into an opportunity to praise God.
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Sunday, February 28, 2010
March Mini-Challenge: Praise the Lord!
I thought this month's mini-challenge could be a little different. I thought I would challenge myself--challenge us all--to devote more time to praising God. I've been reading through Psalms--that's the book I'm teaching from this past month--and praise is everywhere! David (and the other psalmists) were for praising God when times were good, when times were bad, when times just were. There was no situation that couldn't be turned into an opportunity to praise God.
Sunday Salon: Week In Review (February 21-27)
February Favorites
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Book Review: Abigail
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Sunday Salon: Week In Review (February 14-20)
Book Review: Out With The In Crowd
Friday, February 19, 2010
Faith 'n' Fiction Saturday: Not Recommending
What keeps you from recommending a book? Poor writing? Poor theology? Explicit sex? Profanity? Violence? Inappropriate subject matter? Are there any books you love so much you would recommend them to anyone or does each recommendation you make take the person you are recommending the book to into consideration?
Book Review: The Country House Courtship
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Book Review: Noah's Bark
Down below, the animals were crowded together, trying to keep their pointy parts to themselves.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Book Review: We're All In The Same Boat
The ants were antsy.The bees were bored.The camels were complaining.The dogs were demanding.The elephants were enraged.The foxes were frantic.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Book Review: The Road Home
This book is a 'modern retelling of Ruth's ancient story.' And while I had a few reservations about it before I began reading it, I must say that overall I really enjoyed this one. The names are the same--Ruth, Naomi, Orpah, Boaz in this retelling. Ruth and Orpah are from Las Vegas. Ruth is the daughter of migrant farm workers. She spent a good many years in foster care after being sexually abused in her own home. In her adulthood, she worked as a cocktail waitress. Orpah, well, she's an exotic dancer. First of all, this is a story within a story. The opening lets us see Ruth as an old woman looking back on her life--all the people and places she's known. She's passing down her legacy in a way through telling this story. But this narrative really just opens and closes the novel. The majority of the book is set in modern-day America. The book really begins when Ruth and Orpah lose their husbands in quick succession. The three women are devastated, and a new plan is formed. Naomi wants to go back home to her Mennonite community. Ruth wants to go with her. You know how the story goes. Ruth and Naomi set out on a wild road trip. They barely have enough money, and their car...well, it's beyond old. It would take a miracle for the two to arrive safely. Along the journey, Ruth and Naomi share some good times--good talks--about life, about death, about heartaches and disappointments. Can the two women find a way to start over?
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Sunday Salon: Week In Review: February 7-13
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Faith 'n' Fiction Saturday: Purpose
Book Review: A Sweet and Bitter Providence
As a means to that end--and everything is a means to glorifying Christ--the book of Ruth reveals the hidden hand of God in the bitter experiences of his people. The point of this book is not just that God is preparing the way for the coming of the King of Glory, but that he's doing it in such a way that all of us should learn that the worst of times are not wasted. They are not wasted globally, historically, or personally.When you think he is farthest from you, or has even turned against you, the truth is that as you cling to him, he is laying foundation stones of greater happiness in your life. (24)
God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea
And rides upon the storm.
Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never failing skill
He treasures up His bright designs
And works His sovereign will.
Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy and shall break
In blessings on your head.
Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.
His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower.
Blind unbelief is sure to err
And scan His work in vain;
God is His own interpreter,
And He will make it plain.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Book Review: Your God Is Too Small
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Book Review: Anything But Normal
Reading Ruth Challenge
Sunday Salon: Week in Review (January 31-February 6)
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Book Review: Sunday Is For God
Yes, we'll gather at the riverThe beautiful, the beautiful river
Praise God from whom all blessing flow,Praise Him, all creatures here below...
We're marching upward to Zion,The beautiful city of God
Before we know it, Momma has Baby fed and dinner on the table. It's fried chicken and gravy and mashed potatoes and greens and corn bread, and it's all ready at the same time and it's all hot. The grown-ups drink iced tea. Brother asks for tea too, but Momma says no, so all the kids get ice water, like always. Papaw says grace, and he makes sure to get everybody in.
Faith 'n' Fiction Saturday: Why Read Fiction
Today we're going to discuss why Christians should read fiction. If you are a lover of fiction, it's no doubt that you're heard all sorts of arguments against spending time reading it. In fact, a commenter just this week on my blog said she's heard it referred to as emotional porn. The very concept of Christian fiction had a huge battle to face in conservative circles and is, in my opinion, still facing those battles in its attempts to grow. Is there any value in reading fiction for Christians? Why are some people so resistant to the idea of reading fiction? If you DON'T read fiction, why don't you read it? (Please keep in mind we are talking about ALL fiction and not just Christian fiction)
The best books--regardless of publishers, regardless of labels--are those with complex characters that engage the reader on multiple layers. Books that make you think. Books that make you feel. Books that make you question perhaps. Books that leave an impression, make an impact.
I think most of what I read has some value. (Maybe the equivalent of a candy bar at times.) But I think almost all of it has something of value, of worth. Even if that something is just to illustrate the world's fallenness, its brokenness, its need for a Savior. I just finished a book actually that was about the meaninglessness of life, of the brokenness of humanity, of feeling hopeless and it had characters making really poor choices. And I didn't like what I was reading. Not really. Yet now that I think back on it, I see that those characters just had really big God-shaped holes. They were men and women living in darkness. They, of course, didn't realize their need for a Savior, didn't realize that there was someone who could save them, who could love them, who could redeem their lives from the ugly brokenness and the messy muck they had gotten themselves into. But I could. Of course I really really doubt that that was the author's intent. But still. If you bring God with you into the reading experience, you can get something (be it big or small) from it.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Book Review: A Small Child's Book of Prayers
A Child's GraceThank You for the world so sweet,Thank You for the food we eat,Thank You for the birds that sing,Thank You, God, for everything.Edith Rutter Leatham.