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.

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??

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!!

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

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?!

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.

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"