Fasting

This Lenten season I've been fasting. But not from food. From Facebook. 


It's odd, I do feel like I'm missing out. On information. On gossip. On stuff I'd like to know about. On stuff I'd rather not know about. On laughs. On prayer needs. On the everyday lives of my friends that I've become accustomed to hearing about.


And I wonder, honestly, if Jesus were walking the earth today like he did 2000 years ago, would he have a Facebook account? I rather think he would, but not for the same reasons I do. He'd be doing his proclaiming to the people about his true identity. And he'd receive comment after comment. If you were Jesus Facebook friend, would that change how you use Facebook?

Why

Just over a week ago I had the opportunity to spend 8 hours in solitude driving to my parents house to help my mom out after hip replacement surgery.

Funny thing about being alone with your thoughts, sometimes you get some pretty big revelations.

I think I did just that.

Have you ever thought about the origin of the question "Why?" It was what was on my mind during part of my drive. I sort of came to the conclusion that without sin we wouldn't have the question "Why?" because life without sin is a life of perfect trust and obedience.

Think about it. If the serpent had never asked Eve "Why?" we would never have reason to ask it! Now, am I condemning everyone who ever says "Why?" Certainly not! But I know when I ask "Why?" of God, eventually I have to get around confessing the sin of arrogance that I actually deserve to know the answer to "Why?"

I hear people say a lot (and I've said it, too) that when I get to Heaven, I have a lot of questions for God about why... and you fill in the blank. But I wonder if we'll even be able to utter the word? Because isn't that where it all started? Questioning God's wisdom on the subject of knowledge of good & evil?

What do you think? Why?

Playground fund, paid forward...

So here's what just over $2700 bought. We had in mind something much larger, but all in all this is a huge improvement, as you can still see some of the old equipment in the background of one of these. God is good.

Playground fund still alive and well!

A few months ago I posted for the first time about the Cherokee Mental Health Institute's playground and the resulting fund to enable them to purchase new equipment for the children who need to be treated there.

Tuesday, Mark and I were honored to receive a large corporate donation on the playground's behalf. The fund is now at just over 10% of the goal. We continue to trust that God will move in the hearts of many to give, with no benefit to themselves, to this most worthy cause.

If that's you, let me know. I'll be glad to share more information on where you can send your gift.

Bright Title, Dark Subject

Brouwer's The Canary List was an easy selection for me. I was introduced to his work several years ago, and have been hooked on anything that bears his name ever since.


I wasn't disappointed with my choice. He had me from the first word of the prologue. Brouwer skillfully weaves a tale of intrigue and wonder. Making me question whether such events might truly take place within the confines of the organized church.

I'm a firm believer in Satan's attempts to deceive and infiltrate the good work Christ has accomplished, so this book wasn't necessarily shocking in it's content, but nevertheless I found it disturbing. While convincing, to discover that one of the characters was cavalier about what he was fighting for left me questioning which side, darkness or light, truly won out in the end.

I am grateful to know the end of the story, and that when the last day comes I am securely on the side of The Light.

You can pre-order the book here.

Indivisible is indispensible

Attention all suspense junkies! Get your hands on a copy of Kristen Heitzmann's Indivisible and read it without stopping, cover to cover. This is a must-read!
Heitzmann is a master of suspense, she allows the events of her novel to give the reader the insights they need, bit by bit, as the characters discover them themselves. She keeps you reading, and when you're done with the book, wondering about how the people you've just met between its pages are faring now.
Suspense being what it is, I'm hesitant to go into much detail about the book, lest I give anything away. Just get yourself a copy and get reading and enjoying this book!

Lady in Waiting-A Gem Worth Discovering

Immediately upon reading the back cover of Lady in Waiting I knew I would have a connection to its main character, Jane Lindsay. This year, 2011, will mark my 22nd anniversary of marriage. Honestly, based on that fact alone I was leery of reading the book, for fear of seeing too much of my own life within the pages. Thankfully, this was not the case. While Jane and I are approximately the same age and in the same life stage, I'm happy to report that my marriage is not in crisis.

That said, this book remained poignant for me, as it did give me cause to evaluate my life. I'm glad I read it. Susan Meissner is an excellent storyteller, the fictionalized retelling of the factual life of Lady Jane Grey was most intriguing. I appreciated Meissner's admiration for the 16th Century noble; her authentic recreation of the period and her skillful weaving of the modern day into the narrative.
I have read a lot of books by authors whose endings are neat and trite. Lady in Waiting is not one of those stories. While the ending is a hopeful one, it is not all neatly tied up in a sweet little package. Life is messy, and Meissner allows her characters to live in that messiness.
I would highly recommend this book, both to modern day and historical fiction lovers as it skillfully bridges the gap between the two. Meissner was an unknown to me. I intend to get to know her work better in the future.

You can purchase a copy of your own by clicking here or here.