I had started a book report about a month ago, and finished it today. Even though I hit PUBLISH today, it posted on August 13, and I wonder if anyone would have even noticed it was there??? So that you don't have to dig through my archives... you can click here to read my review.
So, I was wondering... does anyone else ever feel rushed to unload her grocery cart in to their vehicle? What is the unpublished rule of acceptable time? If a car is waiting for your spot do you take the cart back to the cart return? I find it odd that when I am loading my cart I am careful not to crush the bread or chips, but as soon as I get to my car, I feel this overwhelming urgency to cram it in and get out...
Yesterday, Labor day, made me feel a little home sick. Mostly because it is a day for family picnics and get togethers... we don't have any extended family around... so the day seemed incomplete. Of course we were invited to spend the day with friends, I was very excited to go, but preteen A had the audacity to present a fever... so we couldn't go. :-(
Stay tuned for pictures of the cabin... (hopefully tomorrow, but maybe not, Preteen just mentioned a Science modle due TOMORROW!)
Showing posts with label Book report. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Book report. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Book Report - The noticer
Title - The Noticer
Author - Andy Andrews
Description: Poverty. A failing marriage. Old age. Lost Dreams. A failing business. An unsure future. To the residents of Orange Beach, Alabama, these desperations are dead ends. Hopeless, barren places with no chance to change.
But an old drifter named Jones with a gift for seeing what others miss, there is no such thing as a dead end. It only takes a little "perspective" he says, to recognize the miracles in our moments, the seeds of greatness tucked in our struggles.
As Jones mysteriously makes his way through this coastal town and into the searching hearts of its residents, he offers simple wisdom and sound hope.
"My contention is that you are right where you are supposed to be. This may look like barren sand to you, but nothing could be further from the truth. I say to you as you lay your head down tonight, you are sleeping on fertile ground. THINK, LEARN, PRAY, PLAN, DREAM. For soon you will become."
My thoughts: This was one of those books that didn't just entertain me. It touched me. Do you ever look are a situation from the outside and the solution seems SO obvious, but when you are among the situation you can't see anything clearly? This is the "perspective" that Jones gives people. One thing in this book that really spoke to me was, it said we often judge ourselves by our intentions, but others by their actions. I intended to take a friend dinner after her surgery, and I intended to write a thank you note, and I intended to visit a lonely neighbor. After all my intentions, It's amazing I have a moment left to my family in any given day. But I never did any of them... So then all my friends sees after her surgery is that no one cared or bothered to bring by a meal for her family while she recovered, or the lonely neighbor is once again reassured that she has no value or purpose for someone to give her a few moments of time. I think "It's the thought that counts" only counts when you have taken action, that didn't maybe turn out as good as you planned. The thought only would have counted if I HAD taken my friend dinner, only to find out that they couldn't eat specifically what I sent. It's the thought that counts of the thank you card came a little later than it should have. It's the thought that counts, if I can only visit for 20 minutes, because 20 is better than nothing at all.
If you life is a mess, it is only a mess up until this very moment. You can change, Right now. Change doesn't take time, it can happen in an instant... what will take time is your reputation and people's opinions of you. You can tell people that you are different all you want, but they will need to SEE the change in you.
ok I could go on and on because I really liked this book, so I will stop before I give everything away... Go get this book now, I promise you will not be disappointed.
Author - Andy Andrews
Description: Poverty. A failing marriage. Old age. Lost Dreams. A failing business. An unsure future. To the residents of Orange Beach, Alabama, these desperations are dead ends. Hopeless, barren places with no chance to change.
But an old drifter named Jones with a gift for seeing what others miss, there is no such thing as a dead end. It only takes a little "perspective" he says, to recognize the miracles in our moments, the seeds of greatness tucked in our struggles.
As Jones mysteriously makes his way through this coastal town and into the searching hearts of its residents, he offers simple wisdom and sound hope.
"My contention is that you are right where you are supposed to be. This may look like barren sand to you, but nothing could be further from the truth. I say to you as you lay your head down tonight, you are sleeping on fertile ground. THINK, LEARN, PRAY, PLAN, DREAM. For soon you will become."
My thoughts: This was one of those books that didn't just entertain me. It touched me. Do you ever look are a situation from the outside and the solution seems SO obvious, but when you are among the situation you can't see anything clearly? This is the "perspective" that Jones gives people. One thing in this book that really spoke to me was, it said we often judge ourselves by our intentions, but others by their actions. I intended to take a friend dinner after her surgery, and I intended to write a thank you note, and I intended to visit a lonely neighbor. After all my intentions, It's amazing I have a moment left to my family in any given day. But I never did any of them... So then all my friends sees after her surgery is that no one cared or bothered to bring by a meal for her family while she recovered, or the lonely neighbor is once again reassured that she has no value or purpose for someone to give her a few moments of time. I think "It's the thought that counts" only counts when you have taken action, that didn't maybe turn out as good as you planned. The thought only would have counted if I HAD taken my friend dinner, only to find out that they couldn't eat specifically what I sent. It's the thought that counts of the thank you card came a little later than it should have. It's the thought that counts, if I can only visit for 20 minutes, because 20 is better than nothing at all.
If you life is a mess, it is only a mess up until this very moment. You can change, Right now. Change doesn't take time, it can happen in an instant... what will take time is your reputation and people's opinions of you. You can tell people that you are different all you want, but they will need to SEE the change in you.
ok I could go on and on because I really liked this book, so I will stop before I give everything away... Go get this book now, I promise you will not be disappointed.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Hey BFF!!!!
I am going to assume that when you suggested that I read "The Ishbane Conspiracy" that you did not know there was a book preceding it. I can't imagine that you of all people would miss lead me so. Do you recall how Foulgrin was searching for Squaltaint? I know its been awhile since you read it... but in book one, titled Lord Foulgrins Letters, Squaltaint is assigned to Jordan Fletcher - the father. He was saved and so squaltaint failed miserably and is on the run hiding from Foulgrin.
I haven't read the book, but Ya-ya, (yes that really is her nickname) whom I let borrow Ishbane came in to Small Group yesterday and dropped that on my lap... She said everything in the second book makes SO much more sense now...
So lets see if we can find it at the library and maybe we could read it together. Our own little book club!
Kisses - Lucky
PS - Your facebook status is ridiculously vague... please explain. :-)
I haven't read the book, but Ya-ya, (yes that really is her nickname) whom I let borrow Ishbane came in to Small Group yesterday and dropped that on my lap... She said everything in the second book makes SO much more sense now...
So lets see if we can find it at the library and maybe we could read it together. Our own little book club!
Kisses - Lucky
PS - Your facebook status is ridiculously vague... please explain. :-)
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Book Report - The Ishbane Conspiracy
Title - The Ishbane Conspiracy
Author - Randy Alcorn
Summary - Jillian is picture-perfect on the outside, but terrified of getting hurt on the inside. Brittany is a tough girl who trusts almost no one. Ian is a successful athlete who dabbles in the occult. And Rob is a former gang-banger who struggles with guilt, pain, and a new found faith in God. These four college students will face the ultimate battle between good and evil in a single year. As spiritual warfare rages around them, a dramatic demonic correspondence takes place. Readers can eavesdrop on the enemy, and learn to stave off their own defeat, by reading The Ishbane Conspiracy.
What I learned...First let me say this book was recommended to me by mt BFF, especially since I was facing a difficult decision concerning my preteen. Do I assert my authority, put my foot down and risk her not talking to me? Or do I allow her to express herself, and avoid conflict and ultimately parental guidance.
In this book I got to see the correspondence between the demons assigned to the "vermin" (teenagers) and there quest to keep the truth about the "Enemy" and the "Carpenter" from them. How they use parental compliance to plant seeds of doubt and keep them from hearing the truth. That as long as you aren't seeking and hearing and living the truth, this is success for the devil. You don't have to be a satanist devil worshiper. It reinforced that children need parents, not friends. That they need to be accountable and guided.
I was surprised and happy that the book had several very real situations that young adults address everyday. It was interesting to read the letters between the demons and see what methods they were using to keep them from "the enemy", and to relate and recognize those moments in my own life throughout the years.
My favorite sentence in the book was in one of the demons letters, it read "do what ever you have to do, if they hear the Truth, all heaven's going to break loose"
I think every parent, every teacher, every young adult should read this.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Book Report 2fer -Summerhouse and Return to Summerhouse
Author - Jude Deveraux
Title - Summerhouse
Title - Return to Summerhouse
In each book three woman go on vacation to "the Summerhouse" where they encounter Madam Zoya. She gives each woman an opportunity to go back in time, rewrite a painful past, to answer a lingering what-if question of doubt.
This is a great beach book. You don't have to think about who is who. You are entertained. It makes us all think about our "what-if" moments. What if I had taken that job out of state, what if I hadn't gone on that blind date, what if I had turned around.?
What if I knew then what I know now? What changes would I have made?
The most encouraging part about this book? Even though some of the woman went through hardships, some chose to not change a thing in their past. They recognized that each hill they hiked and valley they crossed made them who they are today. Without that specific journey they would never be all that they had become. I sometimes mourn the bad decisions I had made in the past, and wish I could erase all the hurt that those decisions made. But then I wonder, if I erase that bad decision would I also erase all the wisdom I gained from it? The hurt and pain can heal, but the wisdom I gained could only be learned through experience.
If you are going through a what if moment of doubt, snag this book. It will encourage you to think things through and to realize that maybe you are right where you should be.
Title - Summerhouse
Title - Return to Summerhouse
In each book three woman go on vacation to "the Summerhouse" where they encounter Madam Zoya. She gives each woman an opportunity to go back in time, rewrite a painful past, to answer a lingering what-if question of doubt.
This is a great beach book. You don't have to think about who is who. You are entertained. It makes us all think about our "what-if" moments. What if I had taken that job out of state, what if I hadn't gone on that blind date, what if I had turned around.?
What if I knew then what I know now? What changes would I have made?
The most encouraging part about this book? Even though some of the woman went through hardships, some chose to not change a thing in their past. They recognized that each hill they hiked and valley they crossed made them who they are today. Without that specific journey they would never be all that they had become. I sometimes mourn the bad decisions I had made in the past, and wish I could erase all the hurt that those decisions made. But then I wonder, if I erase that bad decision would I also erase all the wisdom I gained from it? The hurt and pain can heal, but the wisdom I gained could only be learned through experience.
If you are going through a what if moment of doubt, snag this book. It will encourage you to think things through and to realize that maybe you are right where you should be.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
90 Minutes in Heaven by Don Piper
It's book report time...
Title: 90 Minutes in heaven
Author: Don Piper
Summary: The author is in a terrible car wreck, he dies and is pronounced dead on the scene. He goes to heaven, then a preacher climbs in the car and prays for him. He comes back to life and has a long painful recovery. He struggles with WHY god would allow him to experience something so awesome, and then return him to earth to suffer.
What I learned: I learned about the gift of receiving/gratitude. Receiving you ask?
Here was a man completely helpless, and people constantly wanted to do for him. He, not wanting to be a burden, rejected everyones efforts. Finally a dear friend of his told him, these people love you and care for you and are trying to show you love that you have shown for them and you are denying them that blessing. Denying someone the gift of giving. He finally started allowing people to give, and learned how to gratefully receive.
Well let's put it this way. I am a giver, I love to give, my time, my friendship, my prayers, my money, my everything. You know that feeling when you give to someone, with NO strings and how it fills up your heart until you think you are going to burst? I love that feeling, so I keep giving, even when I have nothing left to give, I give. Now think about that incredible feeling and how you would feel if each person you gave to rejected you. It would be saddening at best.
So this is all good until you are on the receiving end. I have given to others, but have never been given too. (without asking for help, without strings) When my small group showed up at my house with all the fixings for a Thanksgiving dinner, I wept. Not over the relief of having spared the cost, but I wept because I felt genuinely loved. Loved by someone how doesn't have to like me, not my mom, husband etc... When hubby said " I think your friends really like you " I wept again. This a a group of women that had only known me now for a few months. I thought I had done really well of hiding our financial dispair, and maybe I had on the surface, but somehow those ladies heard my prayers.
I wanted to reject it, declare that it should go to someone even less fortunate than me. That was mostly pride talking, but I thought of this book, and realized that by denying their gift I am denying their opportunity to give.
Think of this the next time someone offer to help you. These people are expressing their love to you, don't deny them that opportunity. Think how dejected you would feel if they rejected your offers to help them.
There are probably a lot more messages in this book, it really was good, but for me, this was the lesson I learned.
Title: 90 Minutes in heaven
Author: Don Piper
Summary: The author is in a terrible car wreck, he dies and is pronounced dead on the scene. He goes to heaven, then a preacher climbs in the car and prays for him. He comes back to life and has a long painful recovery. He struggles with WHY god would allow him to experience something so awesome, and then return him to earth to suffer.
What I learned: I learned about the gift of receiving/gratitude. Receiving you ask?
Here was a man completely helpless, and people constantly wanted to do for him. He, not wanting to be a burden, rejected everyones efforts. Finally a dear friend of his told him, these people love you and care for you and are trying to show you love that you have shown for them and you are denying them that blessing. Denying someone the gift of giving. He finally started allowing people to give, and learned how to gratefully receive.
Well let's put it this way. I am a giver, I love to give, my time, my friendship, my prayers, my money, my everything. You know that feeling when you give to someone, with NO strings and how it fills up your heart until you think you are going to burst? I love that feeling, so I keep giving, even when I have nothing left to give, I give. Now think about that incredible feeling and how you would feel if each person you gave to rejected you. It would be saddening at best.
So this is all good until you are on the receiving end. I have given to others, but have never been given too. (without asking for help, without strings) When my small group showed up at my house with all the fixings for a Thanksgiving dinner, I wept. Not over the relief of having spared the cost, but I wept because I felt genuinely loved. Loved by someone how doesn't have to like me, not my mom, husband etc... When hubby said " I think your friends really like you " I wept again. This a a group of women that had only known me now for a few months. I thought I had done really well of hiding our financial dispair, and maybe I had on the surface, but somehow those ladies heard my prayers.
I wanted to reject it, declare that it should go to someone even less fortunate than me. That was mostly pride talking, but I thought of this book, and realized that by denying their gift I am denying their opportunity to give.
Think of this the next time someone offer to help you. These people are expressing their love to you, don't deny them that opportunity. Think how dejected you would feel if they rejected your offers to help them.
There are probably a lot more messages in this book, it really was good, but for me, this was the lesson I learned.
Monday, January 5, 2009
book review - The Shack
So something you may or may not know about me is that I love to read, a lot. That being said I decided to start sharing what I have read and what I thought about it sooo, here goes:
Title: The Shack
Author: Wm Paul Young
Summary: Father of four with a painful childhood loses his youngest daughter. Four years later, he gets a mysterious note, possibly from God, to return to the scene of the crime. There God helps him understand why there is pain in this world, and why God doesn't stop it from happening.
First let me say that I have walked past this book several times, and as soon as I read that his youngest daughter was abducted and murdered I put the book back down. I have daughters and I almost felt as if I acknowledged something tragic like is then it makes me susceptible to something tragic like this. I don't know if that makes any sense to you but... anyways.
So I have been rejecting this book for some time, but a couple days ago hubby said "Get yourself something to read while you are at Wal-Mart" this is what I found.
Don't be afraid to read this book. It touches so many emotions, humor, pride, sadness and joy just to name a few. There is an open dialogue between the main character and God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. It shows us how much easier it is to do things with Jesus than with out. If shows that you aren't the only one ever to be angry with God and that he loves you still. It teaches that God has no expectations of you, only that you trust in him with as little or as much as you have . Let me emphasize that again, NO EXPECTATIONS. He already knows every horrible decision you have made, every bad decision you will make and already he has forgiven you for it. Long before you acknowledge you've made the mistake and even longer before you've forgiven yourself for making it. It's that amazing?
When I read this at one point I thought to myself, I should grab a highlighter, and then promptly DIDN'T. If I had I would have shared some awesome passages, but of course now I can't find them... I also don't want to give away the entire book. The entire book is not "deep" there are some really humorous parts too, like when the main character, God, the Son, and the holy spirit sit down for dinner and the main character bows his head for prayer, the trinity all look at him and laugh. Realizing that they probably don't bow their heads and thank themselves.
So, yes it was a great book, great for someone new to faith that is still trying to understand the trinity, someone more mature in their faith and can talk to Jesus like a friend. For someone with no faith at all, it's possible it could plant a small seed in a lost soul.
So I say if you get the opportunity, read it. I actually want to re-read it now with my highlighter this time! :-)
Title: The Shack
Author: Wm Paul Young
Summary: Father of four with a painful childhood loses his youngest daughter. Four years later, he gets a mysterious note, possibly from God, to return to the scene of the crime. There God helps him understand why there is pain in this world, and why God doesn't stop it from happening.
First let me say that I have walked past this book several times, and as soon as I read that his youngest daughter was abducted and murdered I put the book back down. I have daughters and I almost felt as if I acknowledged something tragic like is then it makes me susceptible to something tragic like this. I don't know if that makes any sense to you but... anyways.
So I have been rejecting this book for some time, but a couple days ago hubby said "Get yourself something to read while you are at Wal-Mart" this is what I found.
Don't be afraid to read this book. It touches so many emotions, humor, pride, sadness and joy just to name a few. There is an open dialogue between the main character and God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. It shows us how much easier it is to do things with Jesus than with out. If shows that you aren't the only one ever to be angry with God and that he loves you still. It teaches that God has no expectations of you, only that you trust in him with as little or as much as you have . Let me emphasize that again, NO EXPECTATIONS. He already knows every horrible decision you have made, every bad decision you will make and already he has forgiven you for it. Long before you acknowledge you've made the mistake and even longer before you've forgiven yourself for making it. It's that amazing?
When I read this at one point I thought to myself, I should grab a highlighter, and then promptly DIDN'T. If I had I would have shared some awesome passages, but of course now I can't find them... I also don't want to give away the entire book. The entire book is not "deep" there are some really humorous parts too, like when the main character, God, the Son, and the holy spirit sit down for dinner and the main character bows his head for prayer, the trinity all look at him and laugh. Realizing that they probably don't bow their heads and thank themselves.
So, yes it was a great book, great for someone new to faith that is still trying to understand the trinity, someone more mature in their faith and can talk to Jesus like a friend. For someone with no faith at all, it's possible it could plant a small seed in a lost soul.
So I say if you get the opportunity, read it. I actually want to re-read it now with my highlighter this time! :-)
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