BOOK REVIEW

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

CRITICAL CARE --A New Nurse Faces Death, Life, and Everything in Between
By Theresa Brown

OVERVIEW: The best overview I can give of this book is to post the following positive words of Pauline Chen, author of Final Exam: "Among all the recent books on medicine, Critical Care stands alone. It is a beautifully written account of a nurse's first year on the wards, a medical memoir that combines lyricism and compassion with searing honesty and well-timed laugh-out-loud wit. What Theresa Brown has managed to do with her book is precisely what the best of nurses do with their patients--focus always on the heart of what matters. I loved this book."

MY REVIEW: Theresa Brown gave up being an English professor who taught writing at Tufts University to become a nurse. That impressed me and at the same time made me wonder why. Reading the book, it didn't take long for my questions to be answered. Theresa cares about people and wants what she does in life to matter. She said, "It's a simple enough idea: love what you do, even when you hate it. I never felt that way about being an English professor or even a teacher. I like teaching, and at times I found it enjoyable enough, but I never felt passionately about it, for better or for worse."

Critical Care  is one of the best books I have read in a long time. I received this book from HarperStudio as a gift. I am not required to write a review. I am writing this review because I want those coming to my blog to know about it. We all need to be interested in death, life, and everything in between. Theresa Brown faces all of that as a nurse and writes about it in this splendid book. Critical Care is filled with tough "stuff" but there is much humor also. One of my favorite chapters is "Doctors Don't Do Poop." I can not quote from it for two reasons: (1) My copy is an advance reader's edition and (2) I don't want to post the "get down and get dirty" language she has to use to make it real.

CHOOSE LIFE

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Listen carefully to the words of this song. Too often when we have the choice to sit it out or dance--we sit it out. Don't do that! Dance! The word dance can be seen as a metaphor for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Choose life.

clipped from www.youtube.com

BOOK REVIEW

Monday, March 29, 2010

CRUSH IT! By Gary Vaynerchuck

OVERVIEW: Why Now Is The To CRUSH IT! Cash In On Your Passion by Gary Vaynerchuck shows you how to use the power of the Internet to turn your interests into real businesses. Gary spent years building his family business from a local wine shop into a national industry leader. Then one day he turned on a video camera, and by using the secrets revealed here, transformed his entire life and earning potential by building his personal brand. By the end of this book, readers will have learned how to harness the power of the Internet to make their entrepreneurial dreams come true. Step by step, Crush It! is the ultimate driver's manual for modern business.

AUTHOR: Gary Vaynerchuck has captured attention with his pioneering multifaceted approach to personal branding and business. After primarily utilizing traditional advertising techniques to build his family's local retail wine business into a national industry leader, Gary rapidly leveraged social media tools such as Twitter and Facebook to promote Wine Library TV, his video blog about wine. Gary has always had an early-to-market approach, launching Wine Library's retain website in 1997 and Wine Library TV in February of 206. His lessons on social media, passion, transparency, and reactionary business are not to be missed.

MY REVIEW: When I first read the title: Crush It! I wasn't sure what it meant. However, the sub-title: Cash In On Your Passion caught my eye and I understood immediately. The title of the first chapter is: Passion Is Everything. And I believe strongly that it is! As a minister for forty-seven years, passion was the driving force behind every sermon I preached. Passion is an all-consuming feeling. In my opinion, you are not going to be successful without it. Gary's book is about taking what you have an obsession about and using it to make a living doing what you love. The advice he gives is not about what has worked in the past but is working now. He doesn't write about what he thinks might work in the future. He writes about what has worked and is working right now for him and many others. Kevin Rose, founder of Digg.com said of Gary, "he's always two steps ahead of anyone else."

This book was a gift from Michael Hyatt at Thomas Nelson Publishing. I wrote the review because I want my business friends to be aware of this book.

DON'T QUIT---FIGHT ONE MORE ROUND

Saturday, March 27, 2010

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest! If you must--but never quit.

Life is queer, with its twists and turns,
As ever one of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about
When he might have won if he'd stuck it out;
Stick to your task, though the pace seems slow--
You may succeed with one more blow.

Success is failure turned inside out--
the silver tint of the clouds of doubt--
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so afar;
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit--
It's when things seem worst that you MUSTN'T QUIT.
                                                          Author Unknown

HE'S GOT THE WHOLE WORLD IN HIS HANDS

Friday, March 26, 2010

"IN HIS HEART A MAN PLANS HIS COURSE, BUT THE LORD DETERMINES HIS STEPS."
                                                                                                                 Proverbs 16:9

WILD FLOWERS IN ARIZONA

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Absolutely beautiful!

Wild flowers are blooming all over Arizona now.

They won't be around long. But while they are, they are spectacular.

HELP US GET RID OF HARRY REID AND NANCY PALOSI

Me and my friend Paul are running for Congress. We intend to unseat Harry Reid and Nancy Palosi. We will appreciate your support. That's me in the red hat and Paul in the green cap.

SURPRISED BY HOPE

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

The man Newsweek calls "the world's leading New Testament scholar" takes on the controversial topic of life after death and revels how most Christians get it wrong--and why it matters.

I am reading N.T. Wright's excellent book, Surprised By Hope--Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church for the second time. I have read sections of it several times.  I feel the need to carefully study this book.

Rob Bell said, "This is N. T. Wright at his finest; dismantling the tired old theologies of escapism and evacuation to help a whole generation of us more clearly grasp a Jesus revolution for here, now, today."

I also like what Richard Foster wrote about this book, "I heartily commend to you Surprised By Hope. Without compromise or apology Wright lays out a bold and vigorous articulation of the 'blessed hope' of the Christian witness. Grappling with a vast array of controversial topics, this book is sure to surprise you and will no doubt fill you with hope."

If you are positive that heaven is out there someplace in the wild blue yonder. If you know without a doubt that hell is a place where sinners are going to burn for eternity without being consumed. Then, this book is not for you. Please do not read it. It will only disturb you.

If on the other hand, you have an open mind on issues around the future and hope and resurrection--then you will be blessed by reading, studying, questioning and learning from this book.

BOOK REVIEW

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

RESTORATION ROAD --The Master key to a New and Satisfied Life of Authenticity
By Mitch Kruse with Derek Williams

OVERVIEW: Like a classic car that needs restoration, each one of us must surrender our old basket case of a life to the Restorer who desires to return us to His original design. Restoration Road offers a raw and honest glimpse into the unique story of Mitch Kruse. Mitch's honest storytelling takes you step-by-step as he shares his tragedies, triumphs and truths about the wisdom he discovered along the way.


ENTREPRENEUR, AUTHOR, SPEAKER: For seventeen years, Mitch Kruse was owner, CEO, and auctioneer of Kruse International, the world's largest collector car sales organization. He led Kruse International to producing fifty annual events that reached millions of automotive enthusiasts across the globe, offering more than 15,000 collectible vehicles at public auction each year. Mitch has earned a Bachelor of Science Degree, a Master of Arts and Doctor of Religious Studies with high distinction.


MY REVIEW: Mitch Kruse drew me into the world of classic cars and auctioning. When I started reading this book I never dreamed I would be so interested in classic cars and especially auctioning. I have never wanted to sit through or be a part of any kind of auction. And what I know about classic cars is less than nothing. But I am interested in restoration. Restoration Road is about what the Bible teaches about restoration and how this affected the life of Mitch Kruse. I agree with Truett Cathy, founder of Chick-fil-A, who said, "Whether in marketplace or ministry, this book is a must read for anyone who desires to lead. I highly recommend it."Bobby Unser, world champion Indy car driver, said, "I recommend Mitch's book for the same reason that I chose him to auction my restored Nortion Spirit Penske/Cosworth that I drove to my third Indy win: he has a passion for excellence in everything he does." This book has some beautiful pictures of classic cars. And although this didn't mean a lot to me--it will be appreciated by classic car lovers. I recommend this book to all who are wanting to be restored to authenticity. Authenticity is the most valuable commodity in today's culture. Authenticity reflects the design of the Designer.

This book was provided by The B& B Media Group, Inc.

REDISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Barack Obama is busy leading our great nation into Socialism.

We are being told not to think that and certainly not to say it.

I know many who feel the same way I do but do not have the guts to say it.

Barack Obama wants to redistribute the wealth of this country by taking from hard working citizens and giving to those who for whatever reason do not work.

He will sign into law a health bill that will open the flood gates to abortions. We are being told that there will be 400,000 more abortions each year. And we are going to be taxed to help pay for them.

People like Dr. James Dobson, who I have long admired, said he could not conscientiously vote for John McCain, and thus helped elect Barack Obama President. How stupid can you get?

Many Democrats will be voted out of office and Obama may not win another term.

But by the time all of that comes to pass we will be even further down the road to Socialism.

Many of my friends sit around mouthing pious platitudes and not wanting to be bothered.


Our Lord was "bothered" by wrong: "So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves he said, "Get them out of here!" John 2:15-16

I'm not the Lord and I'm not going to make a whip and drive anybody. But I am angry and I think you should be too.

GOD IS FOR YOU

Saturday, March 20, 2010

God is for you. Turn to the sidelines; that's God cheering your run. Look past the finish line; that's God applauding your steps. Listen for him in the bleachers, shouting your name. Too tired to continue? He'll carry you. Too discouraged to fight? He's picking you up. God is for you.


God is for you. Had he a calendar, your birthday would be circled. If he drove a car, your name would be on his bumper. If there's a tree in heaven, he's carved your name in the bark. We know he has a tattoo, and we know what it says. "I have written your name on my hand," he declares (Isa. 49:16).


God is with you. Knowing that, who is against you? Can death harm you now? Can disease rob your life? Can your purpose be taken or your value diminished? No. Though hell itself may set itself against you, no one can defeat you. You are protected. God is with you.

(These words were taken from Max Lucado's excellent book, In The Grip Of Grace.)

OPINIONS

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Need an opinion?

Don't worry. You won't have to search for long. Everybody seems to have one on any subject you can name.

But be honest. You don't really want someone's opinion. You want to give them yours!

But if you want to learn and also make other people happy, you will look for the grain of truth in other opinions.

It's not easy. But it can be done.

However, when someone states their opinion and it doesn't agree with our belief, we either dismiss it or find fault with it

Almost every opinion has some merit.

We'll all be much happier if we will search for that grain of truth in what the other person is saying.

(For example: Just think today of the many opinions you read on Facebook that you instantly rejected.)

ACCEPT "WHAT IS"

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

One of the toughest battles I fight in life is--accepting "What is."

I have struggled with this my entire life.

I am a stubborn person.

When I think I am right, I fight to the bitter end.

I think that is the way it should be.  But all of us need to recognize that when we have done all that we can do that we need to accept that this is just the way it is. Period!

When we do this we can find peace. It doesn't mean that we will like the way it is. It doesn't mean we need to pretend things are the way they should be. It simply means the greater our surrender to the truth of the moment, the greater our peace will be.

This is a better way to live.

Lo-Lo's Number One Meal

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

People all over Phoenix rave about Lo-Lo's and this particular meal. Charles Barkley, Amare Stoudemire, Ken Griffey, Larry Fitzgerald and the list goes on and on but  is too long to print here.. I'm sorry this is not for me. At least, not this way. I love fried chicken but with other side dishes. I like waffles but with lots of butter and maple syrup. And I like cheese covered eggs but with bacon or sausage and hash browns. And I never eat grits. I loved Kool-Aid when I was a kid but I haven't had any since. But hey, other people love Lo-Lo's and they love this food. To each his own.

THIS AND THAT, HERE AND THERE

UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE - Can Obama, Pelosi and Reed be stopped from forcing upon us this socialistic style health bill? I don't know. Does prayer change things? Yes prayer does change things sometimes. Then we better be praying. You don't think I should call this plan, socialistic? Why not? That's what it is!

POOR PEOPLE NEED HELP - Yes, they do. And I have been helping as many as I have been able to all my life. I haven't been forced to do it and I don't want to start now. I just want everybody to work hard, if they can, and to take care of their own families and help all the others they can. I don't want to level the "playing field" by pulling all the working people down.


ON GUARD - I am reading one of the best books for defending your faith. The book is On Guard by William Lane Craig. There is probably no greater defender of the Christian faith alive today.

CRUSH IT - Crush It! Cash In On Your Passion by New York Times and Wall St. Journal bestseller, Gary Vaynerchuk is a book that needs to be read by every person in the business world. In this book he shows you how to use the power of the Internet to turn your real interests into real businesses.

THE LUMBY LINES  A Novel by Gail Fraser is the first of a new series about a quaint little town nested in the Northwest. I have the first four books on hand and can hardly wait to "dig in" to reading them. Lumby is a beautiful town that rivals Jan Karon's Mitford.

PLANTS AND FLOWERS - Reading is not all I do. Spring is in the air and I now find myself strolling around in the local nurseries looking for just the right plants and the right colors.

BREAKFAST FIRST - I'm writing about it last, but it should have been first. Ah yes, breakfast at Coco's this morning. Charlotte sat across from me lingering over a cup of coffee and said, "This is my favorite breakfast."
What did she have? Maybe she will tell you in one of her five blogs. I have already written too much. I'm quitting now. GOOD-DAY!

EVIL AND SUFFERING ARE REAL

Saturday, March 13, 2010

(The message in this post is not mine. It is from Randy Alcorn's marvelous book, If God Is Good--Faith in the Midst of Suffering and Evil.)

Some pantheistic religions, often related to Hinduism, essentially deny the existence of suffering and evil. It's unreal, an illusion.

Others question evil's reality or define it vaguely. Eckhart Tolle comments, "If evil has any reality...it has a relative, not an absolute reality." He relates evil to denying "my intrinsic oneness" with others.

It's hard to imagine how anyone who looks evil in the face can seriously maintain it's not real. One day I sat on a plane next to a young man, an intelligent college graduate, who told me he believed evil doesn't exist.

"If there's no such thing as evil," I said, "then the Holocaust wasn't evil. Is that what you believe?"

He grimaced, then finally, stammering, said,"Well, I guess the Holocaust was a mistake." I suggested to him that in his heart he must know it was something far worse.

Some worldviews, including Christian Science, argue that suffering doesn't exist. The irrationality of this worldview is illustrated by a boy who visits his family's Christian Science practitioner to ask him to pray for his very sick father. The practitioner replies, "Son, your father only thinks he's sick. Tell him to have faith and believe he's not sick, but well."

The boy did so. The practitioner sees him the next day and asks, "How's your father?"

The boy answers, "Now he thinks he's dead."

(Randy Alcorn delves deep into a profound subject, and through compelling stories, provocative questions and answers, and keen biblical understanding, he brings assurance and hope to all.)

GOD IS A BIG GOD

Friday, March 12, 2010

The trouble with a lot of people is: their God is too small. 


"...My God shall supply all your need..." (Philippians 4:19).


God will never let you down---"...shall supply all your need."


God never lets you off. Jesus said that God is a Father. He never said God is an indulgent grandfather. A true father is one who keeps control over his children as long as they are children.


God never lets us go. We have all heard the story of the boy who again and again broke the laws of the land and would end up in jail. His father would go down and pay his fine and get him free. A friend said to the father, "If that were my boy, I would let him go." He replied, "If he were your boy, I would too, but he is my boy and I can't let him go."

(Thoughts taken from Charles Allen"s splendid book, All Things Are Possible Through Prayer)

SILENT NIGHT

Thursday, March 11, 2010

It looks like anything but Christmas here in Scottsdale today.

The sun is shining, the sky is a beautiful blue, it's warming up outside and will be into the 80's next week.

But come to think of it--that's about the way it is around here at Christmas time.

I have been listening to Susan Boyle sing Silent Night on her new CD.

It's absolutely beautiful. Especially when the other singers join in. Wow!

I like every song on this CD but I especially like Silent Night.

I get misty eyed every time I hear it.

I learned Silent Night and other "Christmas songs" at school when I was a kid.

I didn't go to church when I was a kid and when I started attending the Church of Christ we didn't sing them there. Which is another ridiculous story all it's own and I won't bother you with it now.

I don't know it for a fact, but I don't think they sing these songs at school anymore. And that makes me sad. Almost as sad as not singing them at the Church of Christ.

I was the senior minister at the Lincoln Heights Christian Church in Phoenix for fifteen years. At Christmas time we always closed our candlelight service by standing and singing Silent Night. I feel the emotion of that even as I write these words. Did it make me feel closer to God? Absolutely!

BOOK REVIEW

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

A CENTURY TURNS--New Hopes, New Fears 
By William J. Bennett, New York times Best-Selling Author

OVERVIEW: Where is America going? Just look at the decades between 1988 and 2008. Surveying politics and pop culture, economics and technology, war and religion, Bennett pieces together the players, the personalities, the feats and failures that transformed key moments in the American story. And he captures it all with piercing insight and unrelenting optimism.

THE AUTHOR: William J. Bennett is one of America's most important, influential and respected voices on cultural, political, and education issues. He studied philosophy at Williams College (B.A.) and the University of Texas (Ph.D.) and earned a law degree from Harvard. He is the author and editor of eighteen books.

MY REVIEW: I wholeheartedly agree with Michael Barone, senior writer for U.S. News & World Report when he says: "Bennett has a gift for choosing the pithy, revealing anecdote and for providing fresh character sketches and critical analysis of the leading figures. This is an American history that adults will find refreshing and enlightening and that younger readers will find a darn good read."

I lived in the time between 1988 and 2008. However, as I read this book I was amazed at how much I had either missed or forgotten. The twenty years from 1988 to 2008 were amazing years. This is a remarkable story about what was going on in America at that time. Bennett brings that story to life through superior writing. I highly recommend this book to all, young or old who are interested in this great nation.

Thomas Nelson has provided me with a complementary copy of this book.

A BUFFALO COMES TO TOWN

Tuesday, March 09, 2010

Home on the range?

Well not really, but that is a buffalo on the lawn. The lawn in front of my old high school in Lawton, Oklahoma.

Not a real buffalo of course, but a buffalo.

The real ones roam freely in the Wichita mountains not far from Lawton.

When I was in high school I loved to go out to that area to lake Jed Johnson and swim. We almost always drove around long enough to see the buffaloes before returning to town.

Why did we do it? I don't know. Why do high school kids do many things they do?

We wanted to see the buffalo? Not really. If you have seen one buffalo, you've seen them all. I guess!

The buffalo on the lawn will look better when the new sod starts to grow and turns green. I think.

Am I anxious to get "back home" to see the buffalo on the lawn?

Not really. If you have seen one fake buffalo you have seen them all. I guess! And I have seen one.

THE MOVIES AND MUSIC OF 1934

Monday, March 08, 2010

                                                             

It Happened One Night (Academy Award Winner)     The Gay Divorcee,

Here Comes The Navy,  The House of Rothschild,   The Thin Man,   The White Parade

                                                        

Cocktails For Two - By Duke Ellington,     June in January - by Bing Crosby

Moon Glow - by Benny Goodman,    All I Do Is Dream Of You - by Jan Garber

The Beat O' My Heart - by  Ben Pollack,     Carioca - by Enric Madriguera

Everything I Have Is Yours - by Rudy Vallee,     I Only Have Eyes For You - by Ben Selvin

I Saw Stars - by Freddy Martin,     Let's Fall In Love - by Eddy Duchin

I was born in 1934 and I have seen many movies and listened to a lot of music over the years, but I can't rate any of these movies or any of this music. I haven't seen any of the movies and the only song that sounds even faintly familiar is June in January by Bing Crosby. And I can't even hum that.

TAKE FROM OUR SOULS THE STRAIN AND STRESS

Saturday, March 06, 2010

                                                        Drop Thy still dews of quietness,
                                                        Till all our strivings cease;
                                                        Take from our souls the strain and stress,
                                                        And let our ordered lives confess
                                                        The beauty of Thy peace.

John Greenleaf Whittier wrote this beautiful  old hymn, Dear Lord and Father of Mankind.

I can't remember the last time we met as the church and sang this song of prayer to God.

And yet I believe this is a prayer we all could pray with deep sincerity.

I know we want our strivings to cease. I know we need the beauty of His peace.

But if it's going to happen we must pray and we must be in a receptive mood.

We must be open and receptive to the dews of quietness that God is dropping on us.

Then and only then will our spirits be quieted, our strivings cease and we see the beauty of His peace

LETTING GO

Friday, March 05, 2010

The kind, gentle, man who leads my Tai Chi class is not an instructor. He's a teacher-- an excellent teacher.

I have been able to grasp most of what he is teaching.

The part that has been the most difficult for me--should be the easiest.

The opening exercises, the warm-up exercises, the ones meant to relax the body are the ones that have given me the most trouble. Not because they are too difficult to do. But because they are too easy or simple.

He is guiding us step by step in relaxing through the rib cage, the stomach, the lips, the eyebrows--and that's where he loses me. I just don't get it!

But I think I'm making some progress after eight weeks.

When you've been uptight all your life--man, it's hard to let go.

RISING OR SETTING, THE SUN LOOKS THE SAME

Thursday, March 04, 2010

(In his splendid book, All Things Are Possible Through Prayer, Charles Allen uses some excellent illustrations I would like to share with you here.)

In Switzerland there is a town by the name of End der Welt. In English it means "End of the world." It is surrounded by high mountains and the road into it suddenly stops on the farther side of the town before an impassible rocky cliff. When one gets there, he feels he can go no further. But hidden away in that rocky cliff is a narrow path that leads up the mountain to the heights above. If one searches diligently, he can find that path and go on.

At some time in life, nearly every person arrives at a place which seems to be the "end of the world." We remember Miss Haversham in Dickens' Great Expectations. Elaborate preparations had been made for her wedding but her lover jilted her. In grief and humiliation, Miss Haversham closed all the blinds of the house, stopped every clock, left the wedding cake on the table to gather cobwebs, and continued to wear her wedding dress until it hung in yellow decay about her shrunken form. Her disappointment became her end of the world.

I read about a traveler who fell down the side of a mountain and was knocked unconscious. Finally he woke up but he had no idea how long he had been there. He had lost all sense of time and direction. He looked across the valley and saw the sun just above the horizon, but he could not tell whether the sun was rising or setting For the first time he realized that, rising or setting, the sun looks the same.

So it is in life--these experiences come upon us that change our lives. ...What seemed to be the end may be a new beginning.

BOOK REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

Wednesday, March 03, 2010

ON THE BRINK --Inside the Race to Stop the Collapse of the Global Financial System
By Henry M. Paulson, Jr.

OVERVIEW: On The Brink is Hank Paulson's fast-paced, first-person retelling of the key decisions that had to be made with lightning speed. Paulson puts the reader in the room for all the intense moments as he addressed urgent market conditions, weighed critical decisions, and debated policy and economic considerations with the notable players--including the CEO's of top Wall Street firms as well as Ben Bernanke, Timothy Geitner, Sheila Bair, Nancy Pelosi, Barney Frank, presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain, and then-President George W. Bush. More than an account about numbers and credit risks gone bad, On The Brink is an extraordinary story about people and politics--all brought together during the world's impending financial Armageddon.

THE AUTHOR: Henry M. Paulson, Jr., served under President George W. Bush as the 74th secretary of the Treasury from July 2006 until January 2009. Before that he was the CEO of Goldman Sachs.

MY REVIEW: On The Brink is a big, hard back book numbering four hundred seventy-eight pages. You would definitely have to be interested in what Paulson and others did in an effort to stop the collapse of the global financial system in order to read it. But if you are interested in that subject, as I am, then you will read it. And if you will read it, I want to encourage you to make a comment and let me put your name in the drawing. I am anxious to give away five copies to those who will read the book. I do not want to waste the time and money of the generous people at Hachette Book Group to give you a book to put on your book shelf.

I'm not going to tell you that this is a "page turner" that will grab you at page one and not let you go. But I will tell you that I was surprised at how interesting it was. This is the story of a once-in-a-lifetime economic nightmare. Events no one had thought possible were happening in quick succession, and people all over the globe were terrified that the continuing downward spiral would bring unprecedented chaos. All eyes turned to the United States Treasury secretary to avert the disaster. I was glad to go behind the scenes and get a glimpse of what was going on with this big mess. As I write this review the mess continues on.

(The Hachette Publishing Group has given me this book free in return for an honest review)


WIN A COPY OF THIS BOOK

The generous folks at Hachette Book Group are allowing me to host this book giveaway for five (5) copies!

• Winners are restricted to the US and Canada. No PO Box mailing address please. You do not have to be a blogger to win.

• I must have a way of contacting you, so be sure to leave your email address in your comment.

• Some choose to omit the @ sign and the . dot by writing it in "code" like this: you (at) your email (dot)com.

• I'll close the comments March 16 and pick the five winners. I will contact the winners via email to get their mailing information. The winners will have three days to respond. If I do not hear from them within three days, I will select another winner(s).

NEVER LOSE HEART

Tuesday, March 02, 2010

"I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait I say, on the Lord!"   Psalm 27:13-14


If you will live with an attitude of faith, before long God's favor is going to show up, and that difficult situation will turn around to your benefit. The Old Testament character Job went through one of the  most trying times any person could ever endure. In less than a year, he lost his family, his business, and his health. He had boils over his entire body and no doubt lived in perpetual pain. But in the midst of that dark hour, Job said to God, "You have granted me life and favor" (Job 10:12 )

Is it any wonder God restored to Job twice what he had before? Never give up on God.

(From Joel Osteen's devotional book, YOUR BEST LIFE Begins Each Morning)                                                              

PICTORIAL DIRECTORIES

Monday, March 01, 2010

Pictures from the past.

I never dreamed that pictorial directories made for church members could be so wonderful and produce so many memories.

At the time when they were being made at the churches where I preached I saw them simply as a tool for the present. A tool to help identify church members.

Today, many years later, I look back at those old directories and smile--and sometimes cry.

Many I see on those pages are now dead. Sometimes entire families. Most, however have just grown older. They have married. Started their own families and their children now have children of their own.

I enjoy looking at those old pictures and then seeing pictures of the same people today.

MEMORIES!

It's always interesting to see how much people change over the years.

Oh not me, of course, just those other folks!