currently reading but cant wait to share.......
This is not a new book..copyright 2006. In fact I bought it a few yrs ago and it sat on my bookshelf until liz mentioned she was reading it and asked me if I wanted to read it too. (We started a little book club to read the same book at the same time..fun mother-daughter sharing as we both love studying nutrition. In fact all of us (katie, liz and me) have the same cookbook- pink edition of Better Homes and Garden Cookbook to share recipes..fun fun) Sorry for the digression....
"The inescapable fact is that certain people are making an awful lot of money today selling foods that are unhealthy. They want you to keep eating the foods they sell, even though doing so makes you fat, depletes your vitality and shortens and degrades your life. They want you docile,compliant, and ignorant. They do not want you informed, active, passionately alive and they are quite willing to spend billions of dollars annually to accomplish their goals." Food buyer beware..is what I would say to you all!!
This book has amazing research based,documented nutrition facts about DIET AND DISEASES. It is written by T Colin Campbell and research done jointly through Cornell University, Oxford University and the Chinese Academy of Preventive Medicine....a massive study of diet, lifestyle and disease. It gives "overwhelming statistics for the case of a vegetarian diet as the foundation for a healthy lifestyle". But it goes father than that with its documented studies and research. It links almost all diseases to animal products diet of meat and dairy...yes that means heart disease, Diabetes, High blood pressure, heart attack and stroke, bone health, auto-immune diseases, even Alzheimers ,vision,brain and kidney health and yes all types of cancer. America has the highest cancer death rates in the world and it because of our western diet based on meat and dairy. In his research of over 16 yrs, he proved "People who ate the most animal based foods got the most chronic diseases....people who ate the most plant based diets were the healthiest and tended to avoid chronic disease."
Dr Colin started his career in Veterinary medicine and actually was doing graduate research originally in "animal nutrition"....he was attempting to improve our ability to produce animal protein, the cornerstone of what I was told was good nutrition". He was on the "road to promote better health by advocating the consumption of MORE meat, milk and eggs" and "after a childhood of growing up on an American farm as a child and and was happy to believe that the American diet was the best in the world".He later did research in third world countries to study to study the role of nutrition and protein in the development of cancer and "what as found in the research was shocking........that low protein diets inhibited the initiation of cancer and low protein diets also blocked subsequent cancer growth".They also found "Casein found in cow's milk protein promoted all stages of the cancer".What was also found through the research was that " the safe protein came from plants". Plant proteins were found to protect the body from cancer and even heal the body with cancer. So starting his career to promote animal protein actually gave him these shocking scrince based facts of how animal protein promotes disease while plant proteins inhibit and heal disease!!!This is why after four decades of scientific research,education and policy amking at the highest levels in our society he now teaches a course at Cornel university on "Vegetarian Nutrition" and offers a Certificate program of three classes in "Plant Based Nutrition" thur eCornell. I am definitely looking into taking this course and getting certified in my retirement!!What is more important than our health???? Nothing except faith and family..so my education continues.....
Hope you enjoyed learning about this amazing nutrition info.. I wish everybody could read this book and have less disease in their lives...We need to be teach and eating by example for our children and grandchildren so they can have healthy, happy futures.....It will be a lifestyle change, but isn't our health and old age worth it!!!! For me... I am in month 4 of being a vegetarian and altho I slip back a bit now and then when traveling, I am making great progress to find tasty, healthy alternatives to meat and dairy...It is possible!!! Now if I could just kick that white sugar habit of german donuts...hehe
Happy reading..and here's to a healthier you and me!!
Friday, November 22, 2013
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
The RAVE diet and Lifestyle by Mike Anderson
Just found this book on Amazon when looking up another. It is a book unlike no other diet book as it is not just about healthy weight loss but also about preventing disease through a plant based low fat diet,especially...cancer,heart disease, diabetes,high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity and other disease prevention.Half of the book is recipes...even how to make your own dressings,chart of which seasoning go best on which foods,substitutes for refined products like white flour, sugar and oils and plant proteins, and making healthy fast food at home. It dispels the myths of the high protein or low carb diet as healthy!
First wake up call is how it talks about the only way to prevent disease is by building up a healthy immune system through a low fat plant based diet ,as no Rx or therapy can cure anything. "Even chemotherapy( as I suspected) ,cannot cure cancer just extend life for a few yrs. (usually up to 5 with re occurrence). Most cancer patients in this country die of chemotherapy. Chemotherapy does not eliminate breast,colon or lung cancers.The cancer industry has made peoples lives miserable by putting them thru surgery,chemotherapy, radiation and other invasive treatments and created a living hell for patients through nausea,vomitting, infections and damage to their internal organs while pocketing billions of dollars, and after all this treatment they have not extended the lives of their patients" (beyond 5 yrs. without re- occurrence or death)." With a plant based low fat diet and exercise cancer can be prevented, reversed and even eliminated!!!!!
This is a book that tells you the reality thru science that Drs., the government and food manufacturers will not share with you as it would put the medical profession and the big business of RX drugs and big AG out of business."The meat and dairy industries are a huge part of our economy. They contribute mass amounts of campaign finance in very successful efforts to purchase politics. The politicians think this is good as it not only allows them to get re-elected but also because the food industries employ people which helps to keep our economy going.So these politicians continue to subsidize these industries, that would in fact go bankrupt with out these subsides. And consumers love their meat and politicians love the money they get from big agri business.The only way we are going to make Americans eat healthy food is by letting the free market determine the price of food and that means taking away all subsidies received by the food industry by voting for campaign finance reform." So it's all about food and politics folks ,not about health at all.
The realities are as follows: " nutrients from animal foods( meat and dairy)grow cancer and nutrients from plant food shrinks cancer. Cancer is very rare in cultures that primarily eat low fat plant based diets (there is 120 times less incidence of prostrate cancer in china than the USA). The more animal protein you eat ,the more you impair your body's natural defenses against cancer."( And this applies to many other diseases as well!) Also. "fish based diets promote heart disease due to the high levels of cholesterol and saturated fat, as well as a rise in blood cholesterol levels( as with pork and beef).Testing fish from usa rivers found contamination by estrogen mimicking chemicals that promote breast cancer growth" as well as mercury and pcbs contamination . In addition high fat levels of fish and fish oils suppress the immune system."
Most nutritional studies look at a small part of health not inclusively about you as a healthy person and diets aim for weight loss( healthy or unhealthy) with no eye on disease prevention except for the big obvious like less fat means less weight means better health. This book/ health diet looks at all of your body and function and disease prevention ESP cancer and heart and all related ones.
Some of the main points are :
* the food pyramid on the RAVE diet starts with organic foods and exercise at the bottom( most important item followed by low fat veggies ( largest quantity),then fruit , then beans,peas,lentils and soy and lastly nuts and high fat fruits and veggies(like
*" cooking and baking without oil" mean you can use: water ,broth apple juice wine or vinegars to sauté ;and applesauce, or puréed fruit like bananas to bake
*making food taste great with seasoning vs buying chemical ladened prepared foods
* making your own condiments and salad dressings to eliminate the bad oils by using vinegars, vegetable juice ,seasonings, lemon juice,mustard, molasses etc....
* no white flour means using: WHOLE grains like oat, wheat, barley, rice, and whole wheat pasta, or potatoes
*no white sugar means: using maple syrup, honey etc... for sweeteners
* if using soy: buy whole vs refined or just elimate soy all together
* it means cooking like our grandmothers with fewer more pure ingredients..( yeah for less food in our pantries and less trips to the grocery store!!this is just what I have been interested in !!)
Th RAVE diet stands for and has four simple principles:
No Refined foods( see list below)
No Animal protein(that means meats ,fish and dairy )
No Vegetable oils
No Exceptions and Exercise
This is an amazing book that comes with a DVD and I for one believe its contents and will try to modify my diet to gradually reach for this disease prevention lifestyle. (For me the lack of dairy is harder than the lack of meat but with all things starting slow and using less will be the start.) They say it takes about 3 weeks or 21 days for your body to get used to this kind of eating and which will give you results you will feel and see.
Before you get turned off from the elimination part of this diet,know that they have documented many people with these diseases actually getting cured from re occurrence with this diet if followed fully, but if they slipped backwards disease returned. It DOES fill you up and there are few limits of quantity as all good stuff for your body. (I personally am on a mission to discontinue all packed and canned foods so it fits in with my belief that additives and preservatives and chemicals in our foods, cleaning products and personal use products are giving many cancer, heart disease, diabetes,obesity ,high blood pressure and high cholesterol.)
Other important bits of info from this book are:
*What are refined foods...they are simple carbohydrates that include elimination of white foods like white and wheat flour,white sugar,white rice ,white pasta,and white bread, french fries,any cake or pastries,soft drinks( pop), chips of any kind, and junk food. (Most fast food is in this category especially the buns). "Sadly about half of the total calories in a typical American diet are rom refined foods that are lifeless imitations of the vibrant products found in nature..stripped of fiber,vitamins,minerals, antioxidants, devoid of nutritional value,wreak havoc on our health ,do not satisfy hunger and generally Do Not Require Teeth To Eat Them (haha...this should have given us a clue as to their nutritional value).Annually Americans spend 90% of their food budget on refined products." ( For me it goes further than this as any product hat has more than five ingredients i will not buy and esp none that list a chemical , corn ,or sugar or refined ingredient as the first item when listed which of course means the largest quantity in that item.)
*Each and every minute an immune cell is made by what we eat.
* A deficient diet means a deficient immune system.
*Within the next five years cancer will surpass heart disease as the number one cause of death in the America."
When people talk diet my motto is just eat half of anything but it goes beyond quantity to balance and quality. With all the GMO(genetically engineered food )out there that BIG AGriculture is producing so yields are bigger, we are surely going to see the rise of disease. Isn't it a wonder why Europe has banned these GMO foods from their countries but America continues to allow and hide these origins of food from the American people!!! Apparently Europe truly cares about the health of their people ( perhaps due to social medicine in these countries?)vs. America caring more about corporate profits, (as most food in the USA comes from about 5 big food companies under alot of different labels)!!
Well there is so much more .I recommend buying this book for yourselves as such a good resource for food shopping and cooking. Here's to your good health and Bon Appetite!!
First wake up call is how it talks about the only way to prevent disease is by building up a healthy immune system through a low fat plant based diet ,as no Rx or therapy can cure anything. "Even chemotherapy( as I suspected) ,cannot cure cancer just extend life for a few yrs. (usually up to 5 with re occurrence). Most cancer patients in this country die of chemotherapy. Chemotherapy does not eliminate breast,colon or lung cancers.The cancer industry has made peoples lives miserable by putting them thru surgery,chemotherapy, radiation and other invasive treatments and created a living hell for patients through nausea,vomitting, infections and damage to their internal organs while pocketing billions of dollars, and after all this treatment they have not extended the lives of their patients" (beyond 5 yrs. without re- occurrence or death)." With a plant based low fat diet and exercise cancer can be prevented, reversed and even eliminated!!!!!
This is a book that tells you the reality thru science that Drs., the government and food manufacturers will not share with you as it would put the medical profession and the big business of RX drugs and big AG out of business."The meat and dairy industries are a huge part of our economy. They contribute mass amounts of campaign finance in very successful efforts to purchase politics. The politicians think this is good as it not only allows them to get re-elected but also because the food industries employ people which helps to keep our economy going.So these politicians continue to subsidize these industries, that would in fact go bankrupt with out these subsides. And consumers love their meat and politicians love the money they get from big agri business.The only way we are going to make Americans eat healthy food is by letting the free market determine the price of food and that means taking away all subsidies received by the food industry by voting for campaign finance reform." So it's all about food and politics folks ,not about health at all.
The realities are as follows: " nutrients from animal foods( meat and dairy)grow cancer and nutrients from plant food shrinks cancer. Cancer is very rare in cultures that primarily eat low fat plant based diets (there is 120 times less incidence of prostrate cancer in china than the USA). The more animal protein you eat ,the more you impair your body's natural defenses against cancer."( And this applies to many other diseases as well!) Also. "fish based diets promote heart disease due to the high levels of cholesterol and saturated fat, as well as a rise in blood cholesterol levels( as with pork and beef).Testing fish from usa rivers found contamination by estrogen mimicking chemicals that promote breast cancer growth" as well as mercury and pcbs contamination . In addition high fat levels of fish and fish oils suppress the immune system."
Most nutritional studies look at a small part of health not inclusively about you as a healthy person and diets aim for weight loss( healthy or unhealthy) with no eye on disease prevention except for the big obvious like less fat means less weight means better health. This book/ health diet looks at all of your body and function and disease prevention ESP cancer and heart and all related ones.
Some of the main points are :
* the food pyramid on the RAVE diet starts with organic foods and exercise at the bottom( most important item followed by low fat veggies ( largest quantity),then fruit , then beans,peas,lentils and soy and lastly nuts and high fat fruits and veggies(like
*" cooking and baking without oil" mean you can use: water ,broth apple juice wine or vinegars to sauté ;and applesauce, or puréed fruit like bananas to bake
*making food taste great with seasoning vs buying chemical ladened prepared foods
* making your own condiments and salad dressings to eliminate the bad oils by using vinegars, vegetable juice ,seasonings, lemon juice,mustard, molasses etc....
* no white flour means using: WHOLE grains like oat, wheat, barley, rice, and whole wheat pasta, or potatoes
*no white sugar means: using maple syrup, honey etc... for sweeteners
* if using soy: buy whole vs refined or just elimate soy all together
* it means cooking like our grandmothers with fewer more pure ingredients..( yeah for less food in our pantries and less trips to the grocery store!!this is just what I have been interested in !!)
Th RAVE diet stands for and has four simple principles:
No Refined foods( see list below)
No Animal protein(that means meats ,fish and dairy )
No Vegetable oils
No Exceptions and Exercise
This is an amazing book that comes with a DVD and I for one believe its contents and will try to modify my diet to gradually reach for this disease prevention lifestyle. (For me the lack of dairy is harder than the lack of meat but with all things starting slow and using less will be the start.) They say it takes about 3 weeks or 21 days for your body to get used to this kind of eating and which will give you results you will feel and see.
Before you get turned off from the elimination part of this diet,know that they have documented many people with these diseases actually getting cured from re occurrence with this diet if followed fully, but if they slipped backwards disease returned. It DOES fill you up and there are few limits of quantity as all good stuff for your body. (I personally am on a mission to discontinue all packed and canned foods so it fits in with my belief that additives and preservatives and chemicals in our foods, cleaning products and personal use products are giving many cancer, heart disease, diabetes,obesity ,high blood pressure and high cholesterol.)
Other important bits of info from this book are:
*What are refined foods...they are simple carbohydrates that include elimination of white foods like white and wheat flour,white sugar,white rice ,white pasta,and white bread, french fries,any cake or pastries,soft drinks( pop), chips of any kind, and junk food. (Most fast food is in this category especially the buns). "Sadly about half of the total calories in a typical American diet are rom refined foods that are lifeless imitations of the vibrant products found in nature..stripped of fiber,vitamins,minerals, antioxidants, devoid of nutritional value,wreak havoc on our health ,do not satisfy hunger and generally Do Not Require Teeth To Eat Them (haha...this should have given us a clue as to their nutritional value).Annually Americans spend 90% of their food budget on refined products." ( For me it goes further than this as any product hat has more than five ingredients i will not buy and esp none that list a chemical , corn ,or sugar or refined ingredient as the first item when listed which of course means the largest quantity in that item.)
*Each and every minute an immune cell is made by what we eat.
* A deficient diet means a deficient immune system.
*Within the next five years cancer will surpass heart disease as the number one cause of death in the America."
When people talk diet my motto is just eat half of anything but it goes beyond quantity to balance and quality. With all the GMO(genetically engineered food )out there that BIG AGriculture is producing so yields are bigger, we are surely going to see the rise of disease. Isn't it a wonder why Europe has banned these GMO foods from their countries but America continues to allow and hide these origins of food from the American people!!! Apparently Europe truly cares about the health of their people ( perhaps due to social medicine in these countries?)vs. America caring more about corporate profits, (as most food in the USA comes from about 5 big food companies under alot of different labels)!!
Well there is so much more .I recommend buying this book for yourselves as such a good resource for food shopping and cooking. Here's to your good health and Bon Appetite!!
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Pure Scum..The Left-out,Right-brained,and the Grace of God
Sorry I haven't posted in a long while...very busy with family this past year.
Well I just finished reading a book called "PURE SCUM: The Left-out, Right -brained, and the Grace of God"(IVP books Inter Varsity Press). It was written by my daughter's pastor in Denver, Mike Sares .
It is a very transparent personal, readable story about a faith journey through vocations,
trials , family, finances and people , both supportive and not along the way.
It is a reminder that God takes us on a journey... on HIS timeline, and what we gain along this path is valuable and essential to where it is God wants us to be. We grow up along the way, adding to our skills, friendship and faith understanding. The road can break us down to build us up. This is about the human journey and the choices WE make as well. It also talks of the role of the church and its sense of community and how we need to keep re-examining this to best meet the needs of the people we serve in and out of our church doors.
Scum of the Earth Church in downtown Denver has made a commitment to open its doors to all people and to keep shaping and changing to meet the needs of those who enter there. It is a refreshing and important way to view the role of the church and to introduce Jesus to all and support people along the way in their life and faith journeys. Scum's mission statement is:
"We strive to be a church that recognizes its need for a savior".
I feel it is blessing for Katie ,our daughter, to be part of such a vibrant breathing church community. where she has a place to continue to grow in her life/faith journey and with an abundance of faith based friendships that add much joy and support to her life.
I would recommend this book to anybody at any age and at any level of faith ,as it talks about all those ages and stages of faith, and most of all it talks about the joy of letting yourself experience all the life and faith roads along the way to growing up to be who God wants us to be.
As a person who really values Jesus in her life, I must say it is always a pleasure to read about another's faith journey as well as hearing deep thoughts about the faith life and what the bible says to support it, for myself as I continue my faith walk at age 60.
My favorite quote from the book comes toward the end in the chapter called "Carried":
"Often we meander through life or think we know which way to go, but is valuable only for a season, the force of God's Spirit lifts and carries us in HIS own direction. It is his great LOVE for us that accomplishes this."
I have felt this in my own life in a number of surreal experiences I have had and opportunities that God has created for me... like teaching in Africa...it was a great great, life changing experience and blessing. Now when I look back , I see and know that it was perfect timing and that I needed all the skills along the way and Gods Grace to do this....a great blessing indeed!!
Well I just finished reading a book called "PURE SCUM: The Left-out, Right -brained, and the Grace of God"(IVP books Inter Varsity Press). It was written by my daughter's pastor in Denver, Mike Sares .
It is a very transparent personal, readable story about a faith journey through vocations,
trials , family, finances and people , both supportive and not along the way.
It is a reminder that God takes us on a journey... on HIS timeline, and what we gain along this path is valuable and essential to where it is God wants us to be. We grow up along the way, adding to our skills, friendship and faith understanding. The road can break us down to build us up. This is about the human journey and the choices WE make as well. It also talks of the role of the church and its sense of community and how we need to keep re-examining this to best meet the needs of the people we serve in and out of our church doors.
Scum of the Earth Church in downtown Denver has made a commitment to open its doors to all people and to keep shaping and changing to meet the needs of those who enter there. It is a refreshing and important way to view the role of the church and to introduce Jesus to all and support people along the way in their life and faith journeys. Scum's mission statement is:
"We strive to be a church that recognizes its need for a savior".
I feel it is blessing for Katie ,our daughter, to be part of such a vibrant breathing church community. where she has a place to continue to grow in her life/faith journey and with an abundance of faith based friendships that add much joy and support to her life.
I would recommend this book to anybody at any age and at any level of faith ,as it talks about all those ages and stages of faith, and most of all it talks about the joy of letting yourself experience all the life and faith roads along the way to growing up to be who God wants us to be.
As a person who really values Jesus in her life, I must say it is always a pleasure to read about another's faith journey as well as hearing deep thoughts about the faith life and what the bible says to support it, for myself as I continue my faith walk at age 60.
My favorite quote from the book comes toward the end in the chapter called "Carried":
"Often we meander through life or think we know which way to go, but is valuable only for a season, the force of God's Spirit lifts and carries us in HIS own direction. It is his great LOVE for us that accomplishes this."
I have felt this in my own life in a number of surreal experiences I have had and opportunities that God has created for me... like teaching in Africa...it was a great great, life changing experience and blessing. Now when I look back , I see and know that it was perfect timing and that I needed all the skills along the way and Gods Grace to do this....a great blessing indeed!!
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
The Time Keeper
On my 13 hr drive back from working on the Rosebud Reservation for three weeks, I picked up this four hour "book on tape"/audio book, at Cracker Barrel restaurant( do you know you can purchase a book on tape from CB for rent of $3.94 per wk- you pay full purchase price when renting but get it refunded with return- and return it to ANY CB in ANY state?! I rented mine in Sioux Falls SD and will return it to Gurnee IL when i get home). I usually do this for the middle of my trip home as it makes the hours of driving fly by!
The book The Time Keeper by one of my favorite authors Mitch Albom is another keeper!! I love his writing , so rich in character and story development, Once you start at Mitch Albom book you cannot put it down, and in this case cannot turn it off your CD player!!
The story revolves around three sets of characters...an ongoing saga of a snippet into their lives...all struggling with time.The characters are: a rich man dying of cancer, a young high school girl struggling with acceptance and identity and a historic man who invents time keepers but is vanished to a cave for not trusting in Gods timing.
It is a rare glimpse into how we all view time and how we choose to use each precious day we are given or how we can fritter it away with little thought.
The older and the deeper my faith grows in my daily walk i have come to trust fully in Gods timing in life and death so this book was especially great for me to read. Its funny how even my prayer life has changed about this full trust in Gods timing. I no longer pray for specifics but rather for peace and patience for those in need as God knows best and I believe everything happens in HIS timing. I don't choose to second guess him by asking for what I want for myself or others but rather that HE be with us in times of trial or worry. It is such a comfort to know God is in control and I will not second guess that.
Anyway....if you love a good story that reflects on real life and faith with imaginary characters you will love this book. I think I will look into giving this as a gift book to friends and family!! Stop reading...go get it thru Cracker Barrel for an audio book for your holiday travels or betterworldbooks.com for a hard copy for a great read!! ENJOY!!
The book The Time Keeper by one of my favorite authors Mitch Albom is another keeper!! I love his writing , so rich in character and story development, Once you start at Mitch Albom book you cannot put it down, and in this case cannot turn it off your CD player!!
The story revolves around three sets of characters...an ongoing saga of a snippet into their lives...all struggling with time.The characters are: a rich man dying of cancer, a young high school girl struggling with acceptance and identity and a historic man who invents time keepers but is vanished to a cave for not trusting in Gods timing.
It is a rare glimpse into how we all view time and how we choose to use each precious day we are given or how we can fritter it away with little thought.
The older and the deeper my faith grows in my daily walk i have come to trust fully in Gods timing in life and death so this book was especially great for me to read. Its funny how even my prayer life has changed about this full trust in Gods timing. I no longer pray for specifics but rather for peace and patience for those in need as God knows best and I believe everything happens in HIS timing. I don't choose to second guess him by asking for what I want for myself or others but rather that HE be with us in times of trial or worry. It is such a comfort to know God is in control and I will not second guess that.
Anyway....if you love a good story that reflects on real life and faith with imaginary characters you will love this book. I think I will look into giving this as a gift book to friends and family!! Stop reading...go get it thru Cracker Barrel for an audio book for your holiday travels or betterworldbooks.com for a hard copy for a great read!! ENJOY!!
Monday, August 13, 2012
Out Live Your Life by Max Lucado
Out Live Your Life by Max Lucado
I recommend ANY of author Max Lucado's books for anyone looking to read nonfiction Christian books of inspiration. He writes for the common man...so readable.....so inspirational!!
I just started this book but did not want to wait to recommend it to delay your finding it!!
After reading just one chapter i was enthused, impressed and energized, amazing!!( I read books out of order...that's how i read nonfiction..by interest and passion...so often reading numerous books at the same time....works for my bipolar personality...he he).
I chose the chapter that's called, "Don't Write off Anyone"(thinking of a friend i made while working on the Rosebud Reservation, as i go back in November this year). It is difficult befriending someone who struggles with alcohol addiction...it tests my faith and endurance and i must admit i had to pull back a bit as overwhelmed...but want to stay supportive of this person, so i read on!!
This book is written to inspire ALL of us to live our faith in real ways and with loving real people.
It is about walking our faith into the real world not just worshiping and reading the bible for ourselves. The whole point of this is to inspire us to be the real Christians IN THE WORLD outside ourselves to love others!! He uses biblical characters and stories to set the stage for these chapters of inspiration.
This book is such a fast read...Max writes in short chapters that help engage us and allows for short pauses in life when we can pick up one of his books to read a chapter, digest it and use it in life, even before finishing the book!!He is so understandable and practical that you almost feel foolish not to be encouraged to act out our faith with real people beyond our families, and our church family.
Its a great book to get re-energized in our faith, can be re-read and re-read, and to eventually passed on to others when done. It would make a great birthday or Christmas book to give as a gift.
Enjoy Enjoy Enjoy this quick read to uplift you and bring out your energy and creativity for loving the others Jesus puts in your path!!
ps all author royalties from the sale of this book go to World Vision and other faith based compassion ministries....so your purchase of this book is also a donation to those in need...a good start in living this mentality!!
I recommend ANY of author Max Lucado's books for anyone looking to read nonfiction Christian books of inspiration. He writes for the common man...so readable.....so inspirational!!
I just started this book but did not want to wait to recommend it to delay your finding it!!
After reading just one chapter i was enthused, impressed and energized, amazing!!( I read books out of order...that's how i read nonfiction..by interest and passion...so often reading numerous books at the same time....works for my bipolar personality...he he).
I chose the chapter that's called, "Don't Write off Anyone"(thinking of a friend i made while working on the Rosebud Reservation, as i go back in November this year). It is difficult befriending someone who struggles with alcohol addiction...it tests my faith and endurance and i must admit i had to pull back a bit as overwhelmed...but want to stay supportive of this person, so i read on!!
This book is written to inspire ALL of us to live our faith in real ways and with loving real people.
It is about walking our faith into the real world not just worshiping and reading the bible for ourselves. The whole point of this is to inspire us to be the real Christians IN THE WORLD outside ourselves to love others!! He uses biblical characters and stories to set the stage for these chapters of inspiration.
This book is such a fast read...Max writes in short chapters that help engage us and allows for short pauses in life when we can pick up one of his books to read a chapter, digest it and use it in life, even before finishing the book!!He is so understandable and practical that you almost feel foolish not to be encouraged to act out our faith with real people beyond our families, and our church family.
Its a great book to get re-energized in our faith, can be re-read and re-read, and to eventually passed on to others when done. It would make a great birthday or Christmas book to give as a gift.
Enjoy Enjoy Enjoy this quick read to uplift you and bring out your energy and creativity for loving the others Jesus puts in your path!!
ps all author royalties from the sale of this book go to World Vision and other faith based compassion ministries....so your purchase of this book is also a donation to those in need...a good start in living this mentality!!
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Embracing the Heart, Engaging the Mind
The full title of this book is:
Embracing the Heart, Embracing the Mind
-Universal Stories of Resilience/65 Stories with Commentary by Joseph R Dunn, PH.D.
The author is a PHD in Psychology with masters degrees in Psychology AND Theology!! This is a book with both the human and faith responses. They are stories of wisdom. They are also stories of discovery, solutions and survival for the "ups and downs" of life. These stories are from around the Globe and have been passed down from generation to generation and told in many cultures. I collect multi-cultural story collections and will add this one to my library!
I have only just read a handful of the 50 stories offered but was so impressed with it that i re-ordered multiple copies to give as gifts. I just gave one for a high school graduation gift. It is the type of book you do not want to read through fast...rather savor the wisdom each story offers. I look forward to reading through it this summer. Another great summer read!! The stories are short and have commentary after each so real "food for thought". The eight story chapters have the following titles: Assessing Treasure, Touching and Transforming Relationships, Accepting Reality and Serenity, Choices: Changing what you can, Judicious Decisions, Stories of Folly, Addressing Anger, and Resourceful Solutions. Its Great!! I think i found it by browsing a catalogue from Alibris( cat #9780578011561), they also have a website of course .The publisher is Psychology Etcetera Press (PsychEtc.com)
Enjoy!!
Embracing the Heart, Embracing the Mind
-Universal Stories of Resilience/65 Stories with Commentary by Joseph R Dunn, PH.D.
The author is a PHD in Psychology with masters degrees in Psychology AND Theology!! This is a book with both the human and faith responses. They are stories of wisdom. They are also stories of discovery, solutions and survival for the "ups and downs" of life. These stories are from around the Globe and have been passed down from generation to generation and told in many cultures. I collect multi-cultural story collections and will add this one to my library!
I have only just read a handful of the 50 stories offered but was so impressed with it that i re-ordered multiple copies to give as gifts. I just gave one for a high school graduation gift. It is the type of book you do not want to read through fast...rather savor the wisdom each story offers. I look forward to reading through it this summer. Another great summer read!! The stories are short and have commentary after each so real "food for thought". The eight story chapters have the following titles: Assessing Treasure, Touching and Transforming Relationships, Accepting Reality and Serenity, Choices: Changing what you can, Judicious Decisions, Stories of Folly, Addressing Anger, and Resourceful Solutions. Its Great!! I think i found it by browsing a catalogue from Alibris( cat #9780578011561), they also have a website of course .The publisher is Psychology Etcetera Press (PsychEtc.com)
Enjoy!!
Daughters by Design by Paula Jarot
We met this mission couple that live and teach in Thialand and vacation in Wisconsin each summer and we have become friends. This book was written Paula, the mom of two Cambodian orphans that are now fully adopted and American cirtizens. This book is a great read...short readable chapters about the difficult path of adopting older children from Cambodia. I especially loved following how the girls personalities developed with the transition to a real family from an orphanage and to western living.The paper trail was extreme and only a woman of faith could endure it!! It is a story of fierce love and trust in the Lord!!
You can order it through Wine Press Publishing 2011 and comes quickly in the mail( disreagrd the warning on USA delivery). Enjoy!!
You can order it through Wine Press Publishing 2011 and comes quickly in the mail( disreagrd the warning on USA delivery). Enjoy!!
Monday, May 24, 2010
FIT FOR LIFE by Harvey and Marilyn Diamond 1985
This is not a new book but if you care about health and nutrition you will want to read this!!
It has great basic info about "how food works in your body" and the order in which you should consume certain foods each day. It is not a diet, a gimmick or a book selling gig. It is about real facts about foods and how your body uses them to serve you best.The first half of the book has nutrition info and the second has meal plans and possible recipes to implement the principles shared. Although,you do NOT have to use all the recipes to get the general benefit of the knowledge about how best to eat foods that this book will give you!!
The most important piece of information in the book is "The Energy Ladder". It is am a.m. to p.m. guide of which foods to eat and when during your day. It goes like this:
A.M.
Fresh fruit AND Fruit Juices
Fresh Vegetable juices and Salads
Fresh vegetables, Raw nuts and seeds
Grains, breads, potatoes,Legumes
Meat, Chicken,Fish, Dairy
P.M.
You start each day at the top and eat downward during the day- eating as many fruits and veggies early and saving grains, dairy and meat for later in the day.
THE AUTHORS SHARE THE THREE CYCLES OF YOUR BODY AND THE TIME THEY SHOULD OCCUR if you are eating properly:
1.ELIMINATION (4a.m. to noon) for cleansing and detoxifying
2.APPROPRIATION( noon to 8pm)
3.ASSIMILATION (8pm to 4 am)
Some other facts that caught my eye and were new to me were : never cook fruits as it makes them acidic and hard to digest( like for apple sauce or pie- they have a great recipe for no- cooking blended applesauce) and to make your own juice as concentrated juice is also very acidic. It also had a chart of how long to wait before or after eating fruit ,as the body easily digests fruit but when added with other foods it rots in our bodies rather that serving up the nutrients we are promised. In other words eat fruit early in the day and by itself or as snacks later in the day if using the times below for best nutritional and body benefits:
CHART FOR FRUIT EATING
2hrs after salad or raw veggies
3 hrs after combined meal without meat
4hrs after combined meal with meat
8 hrs after any poorly combined meal
Our usual version of a "hearty breakfast" first thing in the morning like cereal and milk or eggs and toast breaks all the rules and will sit in our bodies for up to three hours before giving us any energy at all..in fact it will make you tired!! It is all about getting energy from our foods , losing weight and having maximum nutrition benefits from our food ...I am all for that..who isn't??
It just makes sense!!
They also say tpo consume NUTS "raw" not "roasted" as roasting makes them acidic. ALSO MOSTLY CONSUME FOODS WITH "HIGH WATER CONTENT" SUCH AS FRUITS AND VEGGIES.VS OTHER "CONCENTRATED FOODS".
A typical meal plan looks like this:
Breakfast: fruit or smoothie
Lunch veggies or veggie juice, salad without meat or nuts
Supper: veggie soup, cooked veggies or starch, meat, salad or just a meat/ salad*
All of their salads are half lettuce and half spinach plus other ingredients.And most fiber comes from nuts and fruits and veggies vs flour based products.
I am amazed with all the reading on nutrition over the years i have done that i have never heard any of this??I don't think i will ever tire of reading about nutrition and how best to eat food for energy!
It has great basic info about "how food works in your body" and the order in which you should consume certain foods each day. It is not a diet, a gimmick or a book selling gig. It is about real facts about foods and how your body uses them to serve you best.The first half of the book has nutrition info and the second has meal plans and possible recipes to implement the principles shared. Although,you do NOT have to use all the recipes to get the general benefit of the knowledge about how best to eat foods that this book will give you!!
The most important piece of information in the book is "The Energy Ladder". It is am a.m. to p.m. guide of which foods to eat and when during your day. It goes like this:
A.M.
Fresh fruit AND Fruit Juices
Fresh Vegetable juices and Salads
Fresh vegetables, Raw nuts and seeds
Grains, breads, potatoes,Legumes
Meat, Chicken,Fish, Dairy
P.M.
You start each day at the top and eat downward during the day- eating as many fruits and veggies early and saving grains, dairy and meat for later in the day.
THE AUTHORS SHARE THE THREE CYCLES OF YOUR BODY AND THE TIME THEY SHOULD OCCUR if you are eating properly:
1.ELIMINATION (4a.m. to noon) for cleansing and detoxifying
2.APPROPRIATION( noon to 8pm)
3.ASSIMILATION (8pm to 4 am)
Some other facts that caught my eye and were new to me were : never cook fruits as it makes them acidic and hard to digest( like for apple sauce or pie- they have a great recipe for no- cooking blended applesauce) and to make your own juice as concentrated juice is also very acidic. It also had a chart of how long to wait before or after eating fruit ,as the body easily digests fruit but when added with other foods it rots in our bodies rather that serving up the nutrients we are promised. In other words eat fruit early in the day and by itself or as snacks later in the day if using the times below for best nutritional and body benefits:
CHART FOR FRUIT EATING
2hrs after salad or raw veggies
3 hrs after combined meal without meat
4hrs after combined meal with meat
8 hrs after any poorly combined meal
Our usual version of a "hearty breakfast" first thing in the morning like cereal and milk or eggs and toast breaks all the rules and will sit in our bodies for up to three hours before giving us any energy at all..in fact it will make you tired!! It is all about getting energy from our foods , losing weight and having maximum nutrition benefits from our food ...I am all for that..who isn't??
It just makes sense!!
They also say tpo consume NUTS "raw" not "roasted" as roasting makes them acidic. ALSO MOSTLY CONSUME FOODS WITH "HIGH WATER CONTENT" SUCH AS FRUITS AND VEGGIES.VS OTHER "CONCENTRATED FOODS".
A typical meal plan looks like this:
Breakfast: fruit or smoothie
Lunch veggies or veggie juice, salad without meat or nuts
Supper: veggie soup, cooked veggies or starch, meat, salad or just a meat/ salad*
All of their salads are half lettuce and half spinach plus other ingredients.And most fiber comes from nuts and fruits and veggies vs flour based products.
I am amazed with all the reading on nutrition over the years i have done that i have never heard any of this??I don't think i will ever tire of reading about nutrition and how best to eat food for energy!
Friday, April 23, 2010
Death by Rubber Duck by Rick Smith&Bruce Lourie
There are so many toxic chemicals we get exposed to and our body absorbs in our daily lives. This book talks about the 7 worst chemicals and where we get exposure to them. Most are easily avoided if we just know there is risk. The links to many illnesses is unnerving as we all use some of these things. You know I have always read food labels and cleaning supplies for additives but seldom do I do so in personal care products like: shampoo,lotion,and cosmetics. The list will surprise you and everybody should know about these things. This book is a must read is you care about the quality of your health and that of your family members.
The damaging effects of "hormone-disrupting chemicals" in toxic plastics is now linked to diseases such as: Parkinson's ,Alzheimer's, Breast and Prostrate Cancer,Asthma,Autism,ADHD,Obesity and Reproductive Disorders/Infertility, Learning Disabilities, and Diabetes. Think about how many of these diseases have really increased in our lifetimes!!
We need to re-examine everything we touch and put on our bodies and try our best to avoid what we can to make healthier choices.We probably can't eliminate all of them, but we can surely improve out "consumer smarts" about them and make our own decisions about which ones we will try to stop using or change to make better choices. I have come to the conclusion in the full range of additives in our lives that the fewer and more natural the ingredients in things the safer they are..that is one simple rule we can all remember when shopping.
The average woman uses 17 personal care products everyday they shower, apply lotions, use make up and do their nails!! I counted up mine just for fun and it was over 20!!
The book lists 7 chemicals that are frequently used in products that we should avoid as they use toxic plastics in the packaging or actual ingredients.They are:
1.Phthalates- often listed as "fragrance","parfum", in items that have strong smells-such items as cosmetics,lotions,shampoos,soaps, also in shower curtains, raincoats,air fresheners,plastic food containers, and brands like Pantene,Tresseme,RightGuard,Jergens,Dawn,Glade,Gillette,Rubbermaid
2.PFC- nonstick cooking containers and utensils (ieTeflon/Dupont/3M),Gortex,Scotchguard,Stainmaster, newspaper ink- thus any recycled paper,boxes,ie pizza boxes,microwave popcorn bags,fast food wrappers, store cash register receipts
3.PBDE- flame retardants in children's clothing, bed linens,some mattresses, electronics
4. Mercury- tuna( esp While Albacore canned tuna), batteries,fluorescent light bulbs,thermostats(last two esp for disposal).
5.Triclosan(also called Microban,Nanosilver,dichchlorophenoxy phenol)-antibacterial items,cleaning products and tools,cosmetics,cutting boards, knives, i.e (Reach toothbrush, Colgate Toothpaste,Clean and Clean Facial Cleanser,Dial hand soap,Gillette Shaving gel,Dawn dish det.,Right Guard deodorant)
6.Pesticides/herbicides-lawn chemicals, fresh produce, 2-4-D,DDT,DDE,DEET
7.Bisphenol A(BPA)- plastic food containers(don't microwave these!),canned food and soda,
baby bottles and 'sippy' cups,children's toys, plastic water bottles,plastic drinking
glasses/cups,hockey visors,faces of laptops/ and cell phones like Blackberry,
headlights,eyeglass lenses,kitchen appliances, Cd's DVDs, #7 plastics
These pollutants are not only found in personal care and cleaning products, food containers and household items, but also in our environment as they make their way into our water and air.The book lists that over one billion pounds of pesticides alone are used every year in the USA! And more than five thousand ingredients are allowed to be used in our personal care products in North America.
Some of the tips I took away from this book to avoid these chemicals were: avoid canned foods(esp acidic ones),avoid heating plastic containers in the microwave(use glass), buy Organic if possible- esp for fruit, veggies and meats (ie for grapes,peaches,strawberries,apples,spinach,nectarines,celery,pears,cherries,potatoes,peppers, and raspberries, chicken and beef ), stop accepting plastic bags and plastic food containers,and Styrofoam to go containers, read the labels of personal care and cleaning products and avoid these 7 toxic plastics by reading the ingredients of the items we buy and in general just buy less plastic everything-toys,dishes,etc..., eat fewer big fish and more smaller fish, eat hormone free meat, avoid buying "slippery clothes-use clothing with natural fibers(non synthetics) like wool, cotton and hemp that are chemical free and naturally fire resistant, use natural products for insect repellent and for cleaning products like baking soda and vinegar or bar soap and water,, stop buying bottled water and use the microwave less.
This is a real challenge and not easy to read all of this, but if we care about our health we need to be informed.The FDA obviously is not doing a good job of really testing the safety of many items on store shelves.
Some good brands to buy and stores to shop who have made a commitment to reducing the use of these chemicals in their products they make or sell are :IKEA furniture,Greener Lifestyles(Seattle),Essential(Montreal based),Sony, Philips, Panasonic/Matsushita,Samsung.The good plastics that are safe to use are #1,2,4& 5("4, 5, 1 and 2 all the rest are bad for you").
Some websites to get more information and become an advocate for unsafe chemicals removal in our lives are: safemama.com,momsrising.org/NoToxicToys,healthytoys.org,www.safecosmetics.org,
www.foodnews/walletguide.php, seafoodselectionpocketguide at edf.org , , stoptoxicimports.org, National Geographic Green Guide
This information can surely change the way we live!! Here's to more informed shopping and healthy living for us all!!
The damaging effects of "hormone-disrupting chemicals" in toxic plastics is now linked to diseases such as: Parkinson's ,Alzheimer's, Breast and Prostrate Cancer,Asthma,Autism,ADHD,Obesity and Reproductive Disorders/Infertility, Learning Disabilities, and Diabetes. Think about how many of these diseases have really increased in our lifetimes!!
We need to re-examine everything we touch and put on our bodies and try our best to avoid what we can to make healthier choices.We probably can't eliminate all of them, but we can surely improve out "consumer smarts" about them and make our own decisions about which ones we will try to stop using or change to make better choices. I have come to the conclusion in the full range of additives in our lives that the fewer and more natural the ingredients in things the safer they are..that is one simple rule we can all remember when shopping.
The average woman uses 17 personal care products everyday they shower, apply lotions, use make up and do their nails!! I counted up mine just for fun and it was over 20!!
The book lists 7 chemicals that are frequently used in products that we should avoid as they use toxic plastics in the packaging or actual ingredients.They are:
1.Phthalates- often listed as "fragrance","parfum", in items that have strong smells-such items as cosmetics,lotions,shampoos,soaps, also in shower curtains, raincoats,air fresheners,plastic food containers, and brands like Pantene,Tresseme,RightGuard,Jergens,Dawn,Glade,Gillette,Rubbermaid
2.PFC- nonstick cooking containers and utensils (ieTeflon/Dupont/3M),Gortex,Scotchguard,Stainmaster, newspaper ink- thus any recycled paper,boxes,ie pizza boxes,microwave popcorn bags,fast food wrappers, store cash register receipts
3.PBDE- flame retardants in children's clothing, bed linens,some mattresses, electronics
4. Mercury- tuna( esp While Albacore canned tuna), batteries,fluorescent light bulbs,thermostats(last two esp for disposal).
5.Triclosan(also called Microban,Nanosilver,dichchlorophenoxy phenol)-antibacterial items,cleaning products and tools,cosmetics,cutting boards, knives, i.e (Reach toothbrush, Colgate Toothpaste,Clean and Clean Facial Cleanser,Dial hand soap,Gillette Shaving gel,Dawn dish det.,Right Guard deodorant)
6.Pesticides/herbicides-lawn chemicals, fresh produce, 2-4-D,DDT,DDE,DEET
7.Bisphenol A(BPA)- plastic food containers(don't microwave these!),canned food and soda,
baby bottles and 'sippy' cups,children's toys, plastic water bottles,plastic drinking
glasses/cups,hockey visors,faces of laptops/ and cell phones like Blackberry,
headlights,eyeglass lenses,kitchen appliances, Cd's DVDs, #7 plastics
These pollutants are not only found in personal care and cleaning products, food containers and household items, but also in our environment as they make their way into our water and air.The book lists that over one billion pounds of pesticides alone are used every year in the USA! And more than five thousand ingredients are allowed to be used in our personal care products in North America.
Some of the tips I took away from this book to avoid these chemicals were: avoid canned foods(esp acidic ones),avoid heating plastic containers in the microwave(use glass), buy Organic if possible- esp for fruit, veggies and meats (ie for grapes,peaches,strawberries,apples,spinach,nectarines,celery,pears,cherries,potatoes,peppers, and raspberries, chicken and beef ), stop accepting plastic bags and plastic food containers,and Styrofoam to go containers, read the labels of personal care and cleaning products and avoid these 7 toxic plastics by reading the ingredients of the items we buy and in general just buy less plastic everything-toys,dishes,etc..., eat fewer big fish and more smaller fish, eat hormone free meat, avoid buying "slippery clothes-use clothing with natural fibers(non synthetics) like wool, cotton and hemp that are chemical free and naturally fire resistant, use natural products for insect repellent and for cleaning products like baking soda and vinegar or bar soap and water,, stop buying bottled water and use the microwave less.
This is a real challenge and not easy to read all of this, but if we care about our health we need to be informed.The FDA obviously is not doing a good job of really testing the safety of many items on store shelves.
Some good brands to buy and stores to shop who have made a commitment to reducing the use of these chemicals in their products they make or sell are :IKEA furniture,Greener Lifestyles(Seattle),Essential(Montreal based),Sony, Philips, Panasonic/Matsushita,Samsung.The good plastics that are safe to use are #1,2,4& 5("4, 5, 1 and 2 all the rest are bad for you").
Some websites to get more information and become an advocate for unsafe chemicals removal in our lives are: safemama.com,momsrising.org/NoToxicToys,healthytoys.org,www.safecosmetics.org,
www.foodnews/walletguide.php, seafoodselectionpocketguide at edf.org , , stoptoxicimports.org, National Geographic Green Guide
This information can surely change the way we live!! Here's to more informed shopping and healthy living for us all!!
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Through the Eyes of a Ragamuffin by Rich Mullins
What are the benefits of youth vs wisdom?? Rick Mullins included this excerpt in his book about his life and the columns he wrote for Release magazine, regarding the benefits of being young vs benefits of growing older (ages 18 vs. 40, from his experiences).It hit a chord as i just celebrated my 58th birthday, although I could probably add another column for 50's:
*" At 18 if you have oversized aspirations the whole world sees you as a dreamer...at 40 you
get the reputation for being a visionary,
*at 18 if you have thrown in the towel you are called a loser...at 40 you are called down to
earth- a realist,
*at 18 time fits you like a pair of pants big enough to swim in ...at 40 time fits so tight you can't
button your collar,
*at 18 if you play in the rain, howl at the moon,paint,invent, or compose songs or poems you are
accused of being childish...at 40 you are praised for being childlike,
* at 18 your sails are full...at 40 your rudder runs deep,
*at 18 people misjudge your character flaws as being mere bad habits that they might change...
at 40 people misjudge every bad habit as being a mark of weak character and they dismiss
you as being a lesson in reprobation or just accept you as a friend,
* at 18 no one knows as much as you...at 40 you begin to understand the wisdom of Solomon in
his saying 'So stay alive...a living dog is better than a dead lion'.
Rich Mullins has some deep faith walk reflections in his columns he wrote for Release...this was just one of his lighter ones. I enjoyed this short devotional book which only takes a few hours to read and recommend it as good food for thought. Rich Mullins during his successful christian music career decided to finish his college degree in music education and chose to work for 2 years on an Indian Reservation teaching music to Native American children in the southwest, before his death in a car accident in 1997. He is the author of many well know praise and worship songs used in churches all over the U.S.
*" At 18 if you have oversized aspirations the whole world sees you as a dreamer...at 40 you
get the reputation for being a visionary,
*at 18 if you have thrown in the towel you are called a loser...at 40 you are called down to
earth- a realist,
*at 18 time fits you like a pair of pants big enough to swim in ...at 40 time fits so tight you can't
button your collar,
*at 18 if you play in the rain, howl at the moon,paint,invent, or compose songs or poems you are
accused of being childish...at 40 you are praised for being childlike,
* at 18 your sails are full...at 40 your rudder runs deep,
*at 18 people misjudge your character flaws as being mere bad habits that they might change...
at 40 people misjudge every bad habit as being a mark of weak character and they dismiss
you as being a lesson in reprobation or just accept you as a friend,
* at 18 no one knows as much as you...at 40 you begin to understand the wisdom of Solomon in
his saying 'So stay alive...a living dog is better than a dead lion'.
Rich Mullins has some deep faith walk reflections in his columns he wrote for Release...this was just one of his lighter ones. I enjoyed this short devotional book which only takes a few hours to read and recommend it as good food for thought. Rich Mullins during his successful christian music career decided to finish his college degree in music education and chose to work for 2 years on an Indian Reservation teaching music to Native American children in the southwest, before his death in a car accident in 1997. He is the author of many well know praise and worship songs used in churches all over the U.S.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Messengers of the Wind by Jane katz
This is a book about cultural values. It is written autobiographically about the cultural struggle of Native American grandmothers , mothers and daughters growing up "Indian". These "First Americans" talk of valuing the wisdom of the elderly, having hope in our children, trying to be self sufficient, and valuing the earth. It is about real American history with sadness and loss, the struggle to maintain one"s heritage and somehow the persistence to maintain an inner spirit of courage to survive and move forward for the sake of our children and the future of the culture.
I believe along with Romona Bennett, one of the women who was interviewed for her story, that we are losing a lot when not living as extended families. I loved her vision of the benefits of full families living together under one roof or very close by. "You have old people who know all the rules necessary for social order, and the best methods of making and doing things...they have the wisdom and can teach the little ones. Children have strong legs and bright eyes, they are quick and helpful. In the middle years...people are stronger and able to do the heavy work. You have a good team." She continued to say, "That was what was really good about Indian societies. Everybody knew the rules of social conduct, so there was no confusion. Everybody was useful and part of the future, so there was no need for unemployment insurance or welfare, juvenile detention centers, prisons, or nursing homes. These Indians had extended families- the finest form of social security there is."
Think about this one house or community where we all live together or close by to be the help we may need to help us all be self sufficient. Isn't that in essence what Christian community should be as well?? I loved growing up with my maternal grandma and grandpa living in the flat above us. My grandparents owned the house my parents could not afford and because of this i really got to spend time with my grandparents while very young. Of course we moved on with the American dream and bought a house on another block when we could afford this. But you know what, my grandparents moved to that same block and bought another house to remain close. That was very German and later i realized my parents had also purchased their house in a German neighborhood as well. There is a lot of German roots in my family.
The oh so many stories in this book are so inspirational yet sad with what the American greed and selfishness did and continues to do to the Native American population who were in essence peace filled, environmentally sound, self sufficient, and willing to co-exist. But we had to have everything for ourselves- buying up or stealing the precious lands that gave them self sufficiency for farming, fishing and hunting for their food, clothing and shelter. Without work and pride of self sufficiency also came substance abuse. These stories really inform the reader as to the realities these Native American people lived through and are still living through. Why didn't we learn this in our history textbooks and why aren't we working to correct these wrongs and help our first citizens who live well below the poverty line today and right here in the USA?
I guess the question is for each of us is.... do our lifestyles still reflect this greed and individual achievement as the forerunner in needing to own everything or perhaps could we learn a bit about co-exisiting and sharing from this rich culture. Learn about living on less and sharing more- living more simply and more naturally with both man and planet earth to embody a real American spirit and lifestyle we can be proud of. I for one was charged to try to keep evaluating what it is we call the "American Dream" and does that dream include all who live here??
I believe along with Romona Bennett, one of the women who was interviewed for her story, that we are losing a lot when not living as extended families. I loved her vision of the benefits of full families living together under one roof or very close by. "You have old people who know all the rules necessary for social order, and the best methods of making and doing things...they have the wisdom and can teach the little ones. Children have strong legs and bright eyes, they are quick and helpful. In the middle years...people are stronger and able to do the heavy work. You have a good team." She continued to say, "That was what was really good about Indian societies. Everybody knew the rules of social conduct, so there was no confusion. Everybody was useful and part of the future, so there was no need for unemployment insurance or welfare, juvenile detention centers, prisons, or nursing homes. These Indians had extended families- the finest form of social security there is."
Think about this one house or community where we all live together or close by to be the help we may need to help us all be self sufficient. Isn't that in essence what Christian community should be as well?? I loved growing up with my maternal grandma and grandpa living in the flat above us. My grandparents owned the house my parents could not afford and because of this i really got to spend time with my grandparents while very young. Of course we moved on with the American dream and bought a house on another block when we could afford this. But you know what, my grandparents moved to that same block and bought another house to remain close. That was very German and later i realized my parents had also purchased their house in a German neighborhood as well. There is a lot of German roots in my family.
The oh so many stories in this book are so inspirational yet sad with what the American greed and selfishness did and continues to do to the Native American population who were in essence peace filled, environmentally sound, self sufficient, and willing to co-exist. But we had to have everything for ourselves- buying up or stealing the precious lands that gave them self sufficiency for farming, fishing and hunting for their food, clothing and shelter. Without work and pride of self sufficiency also came substance abuse. These stories really inform the reader as to the realities these Native American people lived through and are still living through. Why didn't we learn this in our history textbooks and why aren't we working to correct these wrongs and help our first citizens who live well below the poverty line today and right here in the USA?
I guess the question is for each of us is.... do our lifestyles still reflect this greed and individual achievement as the forerunner in needing to own everything or perhaps could we learn a bit about co-exisiting and sharing from this rich culture. Learn about living on less and sharing more- living more simply and more naturally with both man and planet earth to embody a real American spirit and lifestyle we can be proud of. I for one was charged to try to keep evaluating what it is we call the "American Dream" and does that dream include all who live here??
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Dinner With A Perfect Stanger-David Gregory 2005
I picked up this book in a "bargain bin" at betterworldbooks.com. It is a stunning and wonderful read. It takes you through a dinner conversation with a business man and Jesus. It is a discussion about faith and doubt, world religions,the Bible, science theories and miracles,and the defining of true Christianity including a relationship with God as well as the definition of heaven and "eternal life".
It draws you in with the humanity of the real questions the man asks and how Jesus responds to them. It is a book for believers and nonbelievers, for those church going Christians and those deep in a relationship with Jesus. It is a perfect book for examining our own faith as well as improving our evangelism skills.
What an amazingly human way to look at faith in Christ and to talk to many different people from different faith backgrounds. I also think it really attacks the truths that being obedient, attending church and doing good does not define Christianity or being a Christian. Without a real and daily relationship with Christ in our lives we are not fully Christian. For many of us of my generation, this was never taught to us in the churches we attended. Only since I have attended evangelical churches as an adult, have I understood and accepted this concept of Christianity.
Perhaps many of you have already found this book and have read it, as it is not new( published in 2005). I had heard about it but until now had never read it. It is a wonderful few hours of really examining what and why and how we say we love Jesus. I urge you to pick up a copy soon!!
It draws you in with the humanity of the real questions the man asks and how Jesus responds to them. It is a book for believers and nonbelievers, for those church going Christians and those deep in a relationship with Jesus. It is a perfect book for examining our own faith as well as improving our evangelism skills.
What an amazingly human way to look at faith in Christ and to talk to many different people from different faith backgrounds. I also think it really attacks the truths that being obedient, attending church and doing good does not define Christianity or being a Christian. Without a real and daily relationship with Christ in our lives we are not fully Christian. For many of us of my generation, this was never taught to us in the churches we attended. Only since I have attended evangelical churches as an adult, have I understood and accepted this concept of Christianity.
Perhaps many of you have already found this book and have read it, as it is not new( published in 2005). I had heard about it but until now had never read it. It is a wonderful few hours of really examining what and why and how we say we love Jesus. I urge you to pick up a copy soon!!
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
The Church of Facebook by Jesse Rice 2009
I heard about this book on Moody radio through an interview with the author. I bought it through Amazon and am in the process of reading it. It is very readable as filled with alot of interesting info regarding research on what makes people happy, the effects on science inventions in population growth and other discussion about the use of the Facebook phenomena to build our connection with others and evaluate our ethics of use.
A few tidbits that I have read so far and stick out in my mind are the following:
*The author is not for or against Facebook but rather helps to explain WHY it has come to be and about using it with thoughtfulness about what we post, who we connect with and why and how much time we spend on the process.
* The book has three main focuses:
1."the force that has pulled hundred of millions of users into Facebook"
2. "the new and unexpected outcomes of our social networking habits- the good , the bad
and the confusing"
3. "the types of adaptations that will best help us navigate the shifting social tides to help us
enrich our relationships and help us better understand ourselves"
( "much of the discussion is framed with biblical insights")
* Actual research on "what makes people happy" proves that CONNECTION (with family and friends) is the answer, NOT money, youth or sunny weather( the old cliches).
Students used for this research who had regular people "connections" in their lives(in-person and on-line) tested with the highest level of happiness and lowest signs of depression.
*advice not to use Facebook first thing in your day or last thing before bed- rather choose time alone with God to focus you rather that random Facebooking or emailing to start or end your day.
*advice to try to choose 1 or 2 friends for 1month to have regular Facebook contact with to develop deeper relationships vs. random scrolling and surface relationships with many friends each time we go online.
*amazing facts on the massive growth of Facebook-it announced its mobile download application in 2007 and by 2009 twenty million people had downloaded it
* using authenticity intentionality, and humility by focusing on real emotions and feelings and seeking quality vs. quantity in our on-line and in- person relationships
A few tidbits that I have read so far and stick out in my mind are the following:
*The author is not for or against Facebook but rather helps to explain WHY it has come to be and about using it with thoughtfulness about what we post, who we connect with and why and how much time we spend on the process.
* The book has three main focuses:
1."the force that has pulled hundred of millions of users into Facebook"
2. "the new and unexpected outcomes of our social networking habits- the good , the bad
and the confusing"
3. "the types of adaptations that will best help us navigate the shifting social tides to help us
enrich our relationships and help us better understand ourselves"
( "much of the discussion is framed with biblical insights")
* Actual research on "what makes people happy" proves that CONNECTION (with family and friends) is the answer, NOT money, youth or sunny weather( the old cliches).
Students used for this research who had regular people "connections" in their lives(in-person and on-line) tested with the highest level of happiness and lowest signs of depression.
*advice not to use Facebook first thing in your day or last thing before bed- rather choose time alone with God to focus you rather that random Facebooking or emailing to start or end your day.
*advice to try to choose 1 or 2 friends for 1month to have regular Facebook contact with to develop deeper relationships vs. random scrolling and surface relationships with many friends each time we go online.
*amazing facts on the massive growth of Facebook-it announced its mobile download application in 2007 and by 2009 twenty million people had downloaded it
* using authenticity intentionality, and humility by focusing on real emotions and feelings and seeking quality vs. quantity in our on-line and in- person relationships
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Work In Progress by Kristin Armstrong
I just listened to an interview with this author on Moody radio today and have placed an order for this book. The full title of this book is Work in Progress: An Unfinished Woman's Guide to Grace and is written by the former wife of Lance Armstrong. Personally i am not a huge fan or Lance with his arrogance in his selfish version of "team" cycling where he gets all the credit and multiple failed marriages( although his zest for life and recovery from cancer is certainly a real tale of courage), so i did not buy the book because of him. It was listening to Kristin in her "down to earth" approach about achieving grace in her life. She too is a survivor... of "life after divorce" and heartbreak. I could hear her optimism and hope for all of us in her radio conversation talking about grace. I love the idea that we will always be "unfinished" in character. I have always believed in "lifelong learning"( as an educator) and so this goes hand in hand with that philosophy of life. If we think we are finished then we have no room for compassion and reaching out to God or others do we?... if we know it all- that is a dangerous notion! Kristin discusses 12 traits of grace in her book:Beauty( not physical but rather as a reflection of who we are) ,Confidence,Softness,Trust,Truth,Generosity,Forgiveness,Courage,Diligence,Wisdom,
Authenticity and Freedom. What a comprehensive list that is!! I cannot think of anyone who has all those traits polished up and ready to go?!
Authenticity and Freedom. What a comprehensive list that is!! I cannot think of anyone who has all those traits polished up and ready to go?!
Monday, October 26, 2009
SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES HANDBOOK BY ADELE CALHOUN
I just started reading the book Spiritual Disciplines-Practices that Transform Us by Adele Ahlberg Calhoun. I believe this is such a COMPREHENSIVE handbook that perhaps it will be a "resource book" vs a "read through book" and a very valuable book in my "life library". One of the pastors of our church did a series of summer workshops on some of these practices but I missed it. In my inquiry about it recently Pastor Matt referred me to this book which I ordered from Amazon.com. I tend to read "loaded topical books by interest, so i started not with the first chapter but rather with the chapter of interest- bad habit perhaps but it gets me reading quicker!!I started with the chapter entitled "Silence" in "Discipline 3 of 7: "Relinquish the False Self".The other disciplines include: Worship, Open Myself to God,Share my Life with Others,Hear God's Word,Incarnate the Love of Christ, and Pray. Under these chapters are 55 practices!!Pastor Matt said this is one of his most valuable books in his library and I can see why as it so very comprehensive-- good food for thought and learning and growing in Christ!
"SILENCE" has always been MY challenge as I am a talker!! So ANYTHING that helps me become "still" is a blessing. The quotes that struck me are these. " Silence challenges our cultural addiction to amusement, words, music, advertising, noise, alarms and voices. Silence asks for patience and waiting. Silence is a time to rest in God. leaning into God, trusting that being with him in silence will loosen your rootedness in the world and plant you by streams of living water. Like a can opener the silence opens up the contents of the heart, allowing us a deeper access to God..." I am a multi-tasker in all I do: read or email while watching tv, clean while listening to a sermon on Moody radio, talk as I go on a walk.... so this is a challenge for me! Lord give me peace and patience in this process!!
I do believe that without becoming a good listener we cannot really be a true disciple of God. So I am yearning to become a better listener and be able to truly hear God in the silent prayer vs. fill it up with MY thoughts. One simple method( for beginners) that they talk about in this book is to use a timer for 10 min of silence with God as a recommended technique to try if we are struggling. It made sense to me so I will give it a try....a place to start. Then while in that 10 min "becoming quiet to what we hear in the way of outside sounds. As we remain in silence the inner noise and chaos will begin to settle. Let it go continue to let the quiet deepen and be with God. Place yourself in the presence of God by saying 'Here I am' . If you struggle with this bring the timer into this silent time and count each distracting thought that comes to mind and let it float down a visual river. Continue with this method and be patient as it takes practice to gain the silence." It sounds basic, but I believe I need this basic beginning.
"Then progress to spending half a day alone in silence with only the Bible- just listen...what surfaces ? Continue to build solitude, silence and retreat into your daily lifestyle."
There are many, many chapters and topics discussed in this book this is just one of them.
"SILENCE" has always been MY challenge as I am a talker!! So ANYTHING that helps me become "still" is a blessing. The quotes that struck me are these. " Silence challenges our cultural addiction to amusement, words, music, advertising, noise, alarms and voices. Silence asks for patience and waiting. Silence is a time to rest in God. leaning into God, trusting that being with him in silence will loosen your rootedness in the world and plant you by streams of living water. Like a can opener the silence opens up the contents of the heart, allowing us a deeper access to God..." I am a multi-tasker in all I do: read or email while watching tv, clean while listening to a sermon on Moody radio, talk as I go on a walk.... so this is a challenge for me! Lord give me peace and patience in this process!!
I do believe that without becoming a good listener we cannot really be a true disciple of God. So I am yearning to become a better listener and be able to truly hear God in the silent prayer vs. fill it up with MY thoughts. One simple method( for beginners) that they talk about in this book is to use a timer for 10 min of silence with God as a recommended technique to try if we are struggling. It made sense to me so I will give it a try....a place to start. Then while in that 10 min "becoming quiet to what we hear in the way of outside sounds. As we remain in silence the inner noise and chaos will begin to settle. Let it go continue to let the quiet deepen and be with God. Place yourself in the presence of God by saying 'Here I am' . If you struggle with this bring the timer into this silent time and count each distracting thought that comes to mind and let it float down a visual river. Continue with this method and be patient as it takes practice to gain the silence." It sounds basic, but I believe I need this basic beginning.
"Then progress to spending half a day alone in silence with only the Bible- just listen...what surfaces ? Continue to build solitude, silence and retreat into your daily lifestyle."
There are many, many chapters and topics discussed in this book this is just one of them.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Three Cups of Tea written byGreg Mortenson and David Relin
Well this is not a faith based book persay or even that new, but i very much enjoyed reading it and the spirit of passion oriented service work to others that the story unfoldeds for the reader.The true story of how ONE person CAN make an amazing difference in the work done for others they choose to do in their lives. The choice away from conforming to the world, that is in human nature ,and to instead choose to live as a servant to others.This is a story of faith in essence,as it is a true selfless, courageous Christian that chooses to do this with their lives. Once you have seen poverty with your own eyes it will forever open up your heart to help the poor and needy as it did the author in stunning ways. It can bring more joy and peace than you ever thought possible but it is not always an easy or even a safe path.
I somehow picked up the "youth" version of this book ,but I really enjoyed the parts of the book that were included for youth and the detail of directing thoughts at the young reader.I think it will help me to perhaps share it with kids i come across in service work and would love to encourage them to read it as well and to get involved in service work themselves to build their self esteem , better enlarge their view of the world ,and to best serve Christ.
The story is about a young man you loved rock climbing and setting goals to climb various famous mountains to their summit. But as he traveled to other countries to pursue this passion, he began to develop deep relationships with some of the people he met along the way and his focus changed to wanting to do service work to help them.. This turned his heart to want to serve these people in ways that would promote the education of girls and boys in these poor countries by building schools and later building other things they revealed as their community needs. He is still doing this work today and gave some great bits of wisdom and insight into fundraising and working on service projects overseas.
Some of my favorite quotes and concepts expressed in the book are as follows :
* "building relationships is an important as building projects"
*Fundraising results are not always based on the number of people attending an event ,but rather the effectiveness of the speaker to share the essence of real people with names and real needs and how this information touches the hearts of those attending the event
*one needs to use community building to evaluate the needs in an area , using real relationship connections to plan ahead , i. e.where the local culture comes together by elders or village boards to evaluate their needs and determine their priorities of need.
*"The war in Iraq( and other poor countries)can be won with BOOKS vs. BOMBS"(educating its young to give them a sense of future and hope as this is a way to reduce young people accepting being used in terrorism tactics as they begin to choose life not death and this will ultimately lift them out of poverty).
*you can give youth hope and sense of the future by shaking each of their hands and asking them what they want to be or do one day( when they grow up). I saw this used by a house mother at an orphan boarding house for young children in Nairobi,Kenya and it was amazing what hope for a future and individaul pride it gave the children. They were asked to introduce themself by name and future profession( ie James/teacher, Mercy/nurse). It was a simple and effective exercise in building child self esteem and hope.
* "the true core tenets of Islam are: justice,tolerance and charity"
*Peace is more powerful than war
*"Education is like water, important for everything in life"
I somehow picked up the "youth" version of this book ,but I really enjoyed the parts of the book that were included for youth and the detail of directing thoughts at the young reader.I think it will help me to perhaps share it with kids i come across in service work and would love to encourage them to read it as well and to get involved in service work themselves to build their self esteem , better enlarge their view of the world ,and to best serve Christ.
The story is about a young man you loved rock climbing and setting goals to climb various famous mountains to their summit. But as he traveled to other countries to pursue this passion, he began to develop deep relationships with some of the people he met along the way and his focus changed to wanting to do service work to help them.. This turned his heart to want to serve these people in ways that would promote the education of girls and boys in these poor countries by building schools and later building other things they revealed as their community needs. He is still doing this work today and gave some great bits of wisdom and insight into fundraising and working on service projects overseas.
Some of my favorite quotes and concepts expressed in the book are as follows :
* "building relationships is an important as building projects"
*Fundraising results are not always based on the number of people attending an event ,but rather the effectiveness of the speaker to share the essence of real people with names and real needs and how this information touches the hearts of those attending the event
*one needs to use community building to evaluate the needs in an area , using real relationship connections to plan ahead , i. e.where the local culture comes together by elders or village boards to evaluate their needs and determine their priorities of need.
*"The war in Iraq( and other poor countries)can be won with BOOKS vs. BOMBS"(educating its young to give them a sense of future and hope as this is a way to reduce young people accepting being used in terrorism tactics as they begin to choose life not death and this will ultimately lift them out of poverty).
*you can give youth hope and sense of the future by shaking each of their hands and asking them what they want to be or do one day( when they grow up). I saw this used by a house mother at an orphan boarding house for young children in Nairobi,Kenya and it was amazing what hope for a future and individaul pride it gave the children. They were asked to introduce themself by name and future profession( ie James/teacher, Mercy/nurse). It was a simple and effective exercise in building child self esteem and hope.
* "the true core tenets of Islam are: justice,tolerance and charity"
*Peace is more powerful than war
*"Education is like water, important for everything in life"
Monday, July 20, 2009
THE HOLE IN THE GOSPEL by Richard Sterns
I have just started reading the book, The Hole in the Gospel by Richard Stearns.
Although the author is the President of World Vision ,this is not a book about child sponsorship, it is a book about understanding what it means to live out God's love in our lives.I strongly share his view on methods of evangelism. The following are some of my favorite quotes from the first few chapters:
"Focusing on "the afterlife"(heaven) reduces the importance of what God expects of us in this life."
( I have always been uncomfortable focusing people on reaching heaven through salvation as their MAIN goal in becoming a Christian ,as it really makes every day of living seem meaningless.Living each day by sharing God's love through kindness to others is what i feel i want to share!That to me is what the gospel is.)
"Christ commanded us to go into the world- to bear fruit by lifting up the poor and the marginalized,challenging injustice,wherever we find it,rejecting the worldly values found within every culture, and loving our neighbors as ourselves."
"God's love was intended to be demonstrated not dictated."
"Our charge is to embody the Gospel so that others can see, hear, and feel God's love in tangible ways."
"God is responsible for the harvest-- but we must plant, water and cultivate the seeds."
"It is rare that a simple recitation of the gospel will cause people to instantly change their minds.
It usually takes much more than that. Our own narratives typically involve a journey of discovery marked by relationships with respected friends and loved ones, reading, discussions, learning about the basis for Christian faith,seeing the difference faith made in the lives of people
we knew and witnessing genuine faith demonstrated through acts of love and kindness toward others. In other words, before we became ripe for harvest a lot of other things had to happen first."
I personally believe offering unconditional love to others in need, developing true relationships , sharing your own testimony and publicly giving the glory to God when good things happen in our lives ,can be some of the best tools of evangelism. Seeing the love of Jesus through our lives can be more of an honest effort at evangelism that preaching the gospel to someone. I feel sharing honest love to others is really what the gospel is all about.
I read a story about a group of pastors who traveled out of country on a church planting mission but no one would come to their meetings.One pastor who was walking around the village then began to see that many people were sick and dying in that village due to contamination of the water well by animals too close to the site. He and the group of pastors then began to set out to clean up the well that was the cause of so much disease and death in this village.After doing so many villagers came to their meetings. Reaching out in love to those in need better demonstrated the love of God- much more than any meeting could. Love brought them to Christ- not a meeting!! This is a good example of getting the cart before the horse. Why do we go on mission trips- hopefully to genuinely help others in need and in that process many come to faith not the other way around. Let's all share that love that Jesus demonstrated for us in the gospel story, not just on a mission trip but in every day we live!!
Although the author is the President of World Vision ,this is not a book about child sponsorship, it is a book about understanding what it means to live out God's love in our lives.I strongly share his view on methods of evangelism. The following are some of my favorite quotes from the first few chapters:
"Focusing on "the afterlife"(heaven) reduces the importance of what God expects of us in this life."
( I have always been uncomfortable focusing people on reaching heaven through salvation as their MAIN goal in becoming a Christian ,as it really makes every day of living seem meaningless.Living each day by sharing God's love through kindness to others is what i feel i want to share!That to me is what the gospel is.)
"Christ commanded us to go into the world- to bear fruit by lifting up the poor and the marginalized,challenging injustice,wherever we find it,rejecting the worldly values found within every culture, and loving our neighbors as ourselves."
"God's love was intended to be demonstrated not dictated."
"Our charge is to embody the Gospel so that others can see, hear, and feel God's love in tangible ways."
"God is responsible for the harvest-- but we must plant, water and cultivate the seeds."
"It is rare that a simple recitation of the gospel will cause people to instantly change their minds.
It usually takes much more than that. Our own narratives typically involve a journey of discovery marked by relationships with respected friends and loved ones, reading, discussions, learning about the basis for Christian faith,seeing the difference faith made in the lives of people
we knew and witnessing genuine faith demonstrated through acts of love and kindness toward others. In other words, before we became ripe for harvest a lot of other things had to happen first."
I personally believe offering unconditional love to others in need, developing true relationships , sharing your own testimony and publicly giving the glory to God when good things happen in our lives ,can be some of the best tools of evangelism. Seeing the love of Jesus through our lives can be more of an honest effort at evangelism that preaching the gospel to someone. I feel sharing honest love to others is really what the gospel is all about.
I read a story about a group of pastors who traveled out of country on a church planting mission but no one would come to their meetings.One pastor who was walking around the village then began to see that many people were sick and dying in that village due to contamination of the water well by animals too close to the site. He and the group of pastors then began to set out to clean up the well that was the cause of so much disease and death in this village.After doing so many villagers came to their meetings. Reaching out in love to those in need better demonstrated the love of God- much more than any meeting could. Love brought them to Christ- not a meeting!! This is a good example of getting the cart before the horse. Why do we go on mission trips- hopefully to genuinely help others in need and in that process many come to faith not the other way around. Let's all share that love that Jesus demonstrated for us in the gospel story, not just on a mission trip but in every day we live!!
Monday, July 13, 2009
"Same Kind Of Different As Me" by Ron Hall and Denver Moore
I just finished reading the book Same Kind Of Different As Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore.
It is an amazing true story and a NY times bestseller. It is a great, fast, summer read and I highly recommend it! It is told through the eyes of these two authors in a unique way.
It starts out with each man writing his own chapter and alternating until their lives come together toward the middle of the book. When their lives come together it shares what transpires in this process of faith and friendship. I especially enjoyed it as i do volunteer work at a Chicago church -based homeless soup kitchen and that is where Ron and Denver meet. It describes some of the characteristics of this homeless man and how he has to live so very guarded on the streets, closed off from everything and everyone, until Ron and his wife come along. It explains so much about the often non-conversational and yet intense personalities of some of the homeless men and women we meet. It gives you a look inside their lives and hearts ,as well as those who struggle to serve them. Ron's wife is the motivating factor but as it turns out, Ron comes along for the journey and his life is forever changed by this man he meets and befriends ,with his "life wisdom" from a life of slavery and later homelessness. It demonstrates that one person's passion for good and serving others CAN not only profoundly change the lives of others but also change themselves- it will change them for the better as well as doing good for others.It is a touching story and reads so very fast as very short chapters- a real page turner, i could not put it down ... the characters and their new relationships draw you in.
Some of my favorite quotes are the following:
from Ron:when driving away at the end of a visit to Denver's original home town where he grew up as a share cropper and where some of his relatives and neighbors still lived on the same land:"We left just before dark, and as we drove away the images of poverty and squalor burned themselves into my brain like hated tattoos. I could hardly believe places like that still existed in America. I thanked Denver for taking me there and for taking my blinders off."Then Denver said- "Mr. Ron,they're livin' better than I ever did when I was livin here. Now you know it was the truth when I told you that bein' homeless in Fort Worth was a step up in life for me."
when Denver asked Ron to introduce him at a church he was asked to preach at, instead of saying Denver's life story as the preacher wanted him to say, he asked Ron to say this:"just tell em I'm a nobody that's trying to tell everybody 'bout Somebody that can save anybody".
from Denver:"I worried that i was so different from them that we wadn't gon' have no kind a' future. But i found out everybody's different- the same kind of different 'as me. We're all just regular folks walkin down the road God done set in front of us. The truth about it is, whether we is rich or poor or somethin in between, this earth ain't no final resting place. So in a way, we is all homeless - just workin our way toward home."
It is an amazing true story and a NY times bestseller. It is a great, fast, summer read and I highly recommend it! It is told through the eyes of these two authors in a unique way.
It starts out with each man writing his own chapter and alternating until their lives come together toward the middle of the book. When their lives come together it shares what transpires in this process of faith and friendship. I especially enjoyed it as i do volunteer work at a Chicago church -based homeless soup kitchen and that is where Ron and Denver meet. It describes some of the characteristics of this homeless man and how he has to live so very guarded on the streets, closed off from everything and everyone, until Ron and his wife come along. It explains so much about the often non-conversational and yet intense personalities of some of the homeless men and women we meet. It gives you a look inside their lives and hearts ,as well as those who struggle to serve them. Ron's wife is the motivating factor but as it turns out, Ron comes along for the journey and his life is forever changed by this man he meets and befriends ,with his "life wisdom" from a life of slavery and later homelessness. It demonstrates that one person's passion for good and serving others CAN not only profoundly change the lives of others but also change themselves- it will change them for the better as well as doing good for others.It is a touching story and reads so very fast as very short chapters- a real page turner, i could not put it down ... the characters and their new relationships draw you in.
Some of my favorite quotes are the following:
from Ron:when driving away at the end of a visit to Denver's original home town where he grew up as a share cropper and where some of his relatives and neighbors still lived on the same land:"We left just before dark, and as we drove away the images of poverty and squalor burned themselves into my brain like hated tattoos. I could hardly believe places like that still existed in America. I thanked Denver for taking me there and for taking my blinders off."Then Denver said- "Mr. Ron,they're livin' better than I ever did when I was livin here. Now you know it was the truth when I told you that bein' homeless in Fort Worth was a step up in life for me."
when Denver asked Ron to introduce him at a church he was asked to preach at, instead of saying Denver's life story as the preacher wanted him to say, he asked Ron to say this:"just tell em I'm a nobody that's trying to tell everybody 'bout Somebody that can save anybody".
from Denver:"I worried that i was so different from them that we wadn't gon' have no kind a' future. But i found out everybody's different- the same kind of different 'as me. We're all just regular folks walkin down the road God done set in front of us. The truth about it is, whether we is rich or poor or somethin in between, this earth ain't no final resting place. So in a way, we is all homeless - just workin our way toward home."
Monday, May 18, 2009
One Anothering
I just started reading the book " Authentic Relationships- Discover the Lost Art of 'One Anothering'...." by Wayne and Clay Jacobsen . They offered a great list of Bible verses that address this concept of "one anothering" ( i love that phrase!!),so i thought i would share them with you- in case you don't have this book:
Loving... "one another"(John 13:34)
Forgiving...(Eph 4:32)
Accepting...(Romans 15:7)
Bearing with...(Eph 4:2)
Being devoted to...(Romans12:10)
Honoring...(Romans 12:10)
Greeting...(2 Cor 13:12)
Being Hospitable to...(1 Peter 4:9)
Being kind and compassionate...(Eph 4:32)
Sharing with...(Hebrews 13:16)
Serving...(Gal 5:13)
Carrying others burdens...(Gal 6:2)
Building up others...( 1 Thess 5:11)
Encouraging...(Hebrews 3:13)
Comforting...(1 Thess 4:18)
Stimulating others to love and good deeds...(Hebrews 10:24)
Instructing...(Romans 15:14)
Admonishing...(Col 3:16)
Praying for...(James 5:16)
Confessing your sins to one another...(James 5:16)
Being of the same mind toward others...(Romans 12:16)
Submitting to one another...(Eph 5:21)
I would add Gal 5:6- "The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love."
Loving... "one another"(John 13:34)
Forgiving...(Eph 4:32)
Accepting...(Romans 15:7)
Bearing with...(Eph 4:2)
Being devoted to...(Romans12:10)
Honoring...(Romans 12:10)
Greeting...(2 Cor 13:12)
Being Hospitable to...(1 Peter 4:9)
Being kind and compassionate...(Eph 4:32)
Sharing with...(Hebrews 13:16)
Serving...(Gal 5:13)
Carrying others burdens...(Gal 6:2)
Building up others...( 1 Thess 5:11)
Encouraging...(Hebrews 3:13)
Comforting...(1 Thess 4:18)
Stimulating others to love and good deeds...(Hebrews 10:24)
Instructing...(Romans 15:14)
Admonishing...(Col 3:16)
Praying for...(James 5:16)
Confessing your sins to one another...(James 5:16)
Being of the same mind toward others...(Romans 12:16)
Submitting to one another...(Eph 5:21)
I would add Gal 5:6- "The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love."
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Getting Started.....
Two new books I recently purchased and am about to start reading are about "living missionally in our communities," a topic our church is exploring at present( I bought them on Amazon.com).
The Hole in our Gospel by Richard Stearn, CEO World Vision
Authentic Relationships-Discover the Lost Art of One Anothering
by Wayne and Clay Jacobsen
Join me as i read these in the coming weeks and discuss my thoughts. Or add a book that you have read and that has really impacted your life, to share with others. I will try to keep my posts and comments(as i read them)short to make them quickly readable to make room for others to share their thoughts as well. If you are responding to the same book try to write the comments under that book entry to keep things somewhat cohesive for readers. Thanks.
Happy reading to you all!!
P.S. I realize that i have not configured this site to allow others to list THEIR reviews of books they have read or are reading, as i can do! So forgive my slowness to technology as i try to figure this out. Meanwhile feel free to just write your book reviews in the comments section of the most recent book review I did just making it clear that it is about YOUR book. I hope this will work temportarily :(
The Hole in our Gospel by Richard Stearn, CEO World Vision
Authentic Relationships-Discover the Lost Art of One Anothering
by Wayne and Clay Jacobsen
Join me as i read these in the coming weeks and discuss my thoughts. Or add a book that you have read and that has really impacted your life, to share with others. I will try to keep my posts and comments(as i read them)short to make them quickly readable to make room for others to share their thoughts as well. If you are responding to the same book try to write the comments under that book entry to keep things somewhat cohesive for readers. Thanks.
Happy reading to you all!!
P.S. I realize that i have not configured this site to allow others to list THEIR reviews of books they have read or are reading, as i can do! So forgive my slowness to technology as i try to figure this out. Meanwhile feel free to just write your book reviews in the comments section of the most recent book review I did just making it clear that it is about YOUR book. I hope this will work temportarily :(
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