I know all of my avid readers are wondering where in the world I've been. Like the NHL, I took an Olympic break. As I write this, we are waiting for the overtime of the USA/Canada hockey game. The Olympics are fantastic!!! How could I take a break from 2 hours of curling to read? Therefore, my New Year's Project had to take a back seat.
This book was excellent. By far the best of hers I've read. She went a totally different direction in this book than in any of the others. Rather than the main character, Goldy, finding a dead body or needing to prove who did it to save a friend, there was no body...just speculation of foul-play. This book had everything suspense, excitement, rotten cops, several near-death experiences, and of course delicious food. This story resonates the ugliness of people in our world and the triumph of friendship and love.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Monday, February 15, 2010
Book #16 - What difference do it make? by Ron Hall and Denver Moore
First, I'd like to say thank you to Thomas Nelson publishing company who sent me a free copy of this book after reading my post about "What Difference Do It Make?" I truly appreciate your reading my blog and thinking enough of it to send me this book. Truly an honor.
This book took the seed that was planted in the first book and expanded the stories of Ron and Denver. In the first book, I could not stop focusing on Deborah to even think much about Ron and Denver, but this book really let me take a hard look at the lives of these men. I am going to split this post in two parts. The first, I'd like to discuss my opinions of these extraordinary men, and in the second, I'd like to talk about the two societal issues that I think they are doing a magnificent job of bringing attention to.
I really have to appreciate the character found within Ron Hall. He doesn't profess to be a great Christian or even a great man. He doesn't pretend that becoming involved with the homeless came naturally or easily to him. He is truly honest to the readers opening up his feelings of fear and disgust for the vagrants of his city. He admits he would never have gotten involved with the homeless without the passion of his wife. I find a lot of myself in Ron. I have done some work at the shelter's in Nashville, and I struggle with fear and the instinct to run away. In my life, I have experienced the compassion and total acceptance that two incredible women have shown in regards to the homeless. The first is my mother. There were several years when I was in high school that she took a job as a nurse in the local homeless clinic. Part of her job was to travel between the different shelters and man the local clinic while serving the forgotten of my hometown. I don't know how she did it, but every person she helped felt her compassion and understanding. And, she did it with a servant's heart. The other woman is my best friend, Kathye. Kathye is totally committed to working with the inner city food kitchen, Community Cares. Several times a year, she loads up students and faculty from school and heads down to serve lunch, clean the facilities, and load them up on supplies. She is an incredible woman who is always thinking of the other person first. She gives our students the eye-opening experience of how people, in our very city, struggle to survive. All of the kids that go with her are changed for life by their experiences.
Denver is still one of the wisest people I've ever read. After spending most of his life unable to read and write, he has a very simplistic outlook on right and wrong. His incredible faith and ability to care for others without judging is incredible. He makes the following call out to the Christians of the world, "If all the Christians - I mean all of 'em - go outta the pews on Sundays and into the streets, we'd shut the city down. We'd shut down hunger. We'd shut down loneliness. We'd shut down the notion that there is any such of a thing as a person that don't deserve a kind word and a second chance." Denver is cut from a different cloth, one of kindness, respect, and most especially, action.
This book is a revolution. It is starting people thinking about how they can get involved. I told my husband earlier today that I think we live in a wonderful country who jumped to the aid of Haiti in an instant, but how disappointing there are millions in our country with nowhere to live. Ron and Denver bring again to the forefront the plague of the homeless in out country. In addition, this book really revealed one of the things more and more Americans are struggling with, growing up with no true father. It was very interesting how both of these gentlemen were greatly affected by the lack of a father-figure. As a teacher, more and more, I see the affects of children growing up without a father. I find so many young men have no one to look to for guidance and discipline. I think for centuries, we've known the value of a mother, but it is becoming blindingly obvious the role of a father in families. I am blessed to have had the best father of his generation and to have married the best father of this generation.
This book took the seed that was planted in the first book and expanded the stories of Ron and Denver. In the first book, I could not stop focusing on Deborah to even think much about Ron and Denver, but this book really let me take a hard look at the lives of these men. I am going to split this post in two parts. The first, I'd like to discuss my opinions of these extraordinary men, and in the second, I'd like to talk about the two societal issues that I think they are doing a magnificent job of bringing attention to.
I really have to appreciate the character found within Ron Hall. He doesn't profess to be a great Christian or even a great man. He doesn't pretend that becoming involved with the homeless came naturally or easily to him. He is truly honest to the readers opening up his feelings of fear and disgust for the vagrants of his city. He admits he would never have gotten involved with the homeless without the passion of his wife. I find a lot of myself in Ron. I have done some work at the shelter's in Nashville, and I struggle with fear and the instinct to run away. In my life, I have experienced the compassion and total acceptance that two incredible women have shown in regards to the homeless. The first is my mother. There were several years when I was in high school that she took a job as a nurse in the local homeless clinic. Part of her job was to travel between the different shelters and man the local clinic while serving the forgotten of my hometown. I don't know how she did it, but every person she helped felt her compassion and understanding. And, she did it with a servant's heart. The other woman is my best friend, Kathye. Kathye is totally committed to working with the inner city food kitchen, Community Cares. Several times a year, she loads up students and faculty from school and heads down to serve lunch, clean the facilities, and load them up on supplies. She is an incredible woman who is always thinking of the other person first. She gives our students the eye-opening experience of how people, in our very city, struggle to survive. All of the kids that go with her are changed for life by their experiences.
Denver is still one of the wisest people I've ever read. After spending most of his life unable to read and write, he has a very simplistic outlook on right and wrong. His incredible faith and ability to care for others without judging is incredible. He makes the following call out to the Christians of the world, "If all the Christians - I mean all of 'em - go outta the pews on Sundays and into the streets, we'd shut the city down. We'd shut down hunger. We'd shut down loneliness. We'd shut down the notion that there is any such of a thing as a person that don't deserve a kind word and a second chance." Denver is cut from a different cloth, one of kindness, respect, and most especially, action.
This book is a revolution. It is starting people thinking about how they can get involved. I told my husband earlier today that I think we live in a wonderful country who jumped to the aid of Haiti in an instant, but how disappointing there are millions in our country with nowhere to live. Ron and Denver bring again to the forefront the plague of the homeless in out country. In addition, this book really revealed one of the things more and more Americans are struggling with, growing up with no true father. It was very interesting how both of these gentlemen were greatly affected by the lack of a father-figure. As a teacher, more and more, I see the affects of children growing up without a father. I find so many young men have no one to look to for guidance and discipline. I think for centuries, we've known the value of a mother, but it is becoming blindingly obvious the role of a father in families. I am blessed to have had the best father of his generation and to have married the best father of this generation.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Book #15 - The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
This is an ancient Toltec book of Wisdom that guides the reader to personal freedom, the pursuit of happiness, and acting with love. The book guides us to four agreements for living life: 1. Be impeccable with your word, 2. Don't take anything personally, 3. Don't make assumptions, and 4. Always do your best. I have to say that I found the fourth assumption the easiest, and that is the one in which the author says unites the other three. So, with Lent starting on Wednesday, I am going to spend my forty days working on the first three. I am going to make a conscious effort to eliminate the negative things I say. I'm going to each day wake with the attitude that I will not try to hurt people with my words nor gossip about them behind their back. I'm going to try to encourage and love people with my words. Like the author said, they are the most powerful weapon we have got. Second, I am going to focus on not taking what people say or do personal. Their words and actions are simply a reflection of how they are feeling. This has been very difficult for me. Being a teacher, we often only hear from parents the negative and rarely the positive. In the next 40 days, when I get a negative email telling me how it is my fault a child is not successful, I vow to not take it personally. I am going to detach from the emotion of the situation, take a deep breath, and then give the parent some reasonable advice. And then, to practice #1, I won't turn around and talk about that parent to my family and friends. I don't feel like I make many assumptions, but I am going to try to remain conscious of it. As I have matured and become more self-confident in life, I think the assumptions and trying to speculate what people think of you go by the wayside. I have to say that this book didn't have a life changing impact on me. Perhaps it is because I already strive to live my life free from the stigma and pressures of society. For the last 5-6 years, I have been beating to my own drum. I leave you with this mantra, "I'm going to be myself. No longer am I going to run my life trying to please other people. No longer am I going to be afraid of what they think about me. What do I care what others think if I am going to die in one week? I'm going to be myself."
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Book #14 - Cream Puff Murder by Joanne Fluke
So if you haven't figured out the pattern by now, here it is. One heavy, intense book followed by a brainless, forgettable book. It helps me to keep from having emotional meltdowns every book I read. This is the eleventh book of the series starring Hannah, the cookie store owner. She is the ultimate busy body. Every book, there is a murder in their small town, and Hannah is always involved with finding the body and capturing the bad guy. This book was funny because literally every person in the town was coming to her asking her to solve the case (even the local police). It was like the Scooby Doo Gang. She solved another one, managed to dodge having to chose between the two men who have proposed to her, and created a half a dozen new cookie recipies. It was good. Not profound or life changing, but entertaining none-the-less.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Book #13 - Always Looking Up by Michael J. Fox
I love Michael J. Fox. I always have. My brother, AJ and I grew up watching Alex P. Keaton on Family Ties (my sister born 1982 was a little young to remember). We loved all of the Back to the Future movies, Teen Wolf, and Secret of My Success. As we grew older, movies like Doc Hollywood, American President, and Atlantis became favorites as well. Ironically, as much as I love Michael J. Fox, I never saw one episode of Spin City. I attribute this lack of attention to one of my all time favorite actors to college. Spin City's four years with MJF were during the period of my life where I didn't get to watch a lick of TV. I'm making up for the lost time now, so don't worry. Although I've always loved MJF and thought he was a wonderful actor, it wasn't until reading this book, I've realized how incredible he is. He is a fantastic writer. Just enough humor, story telling, and wise adage to make for a wonderful autobiography. And, if that isn't enough, he took me through every emotion from devastation and sadness to anger and frustration to joy and of course OPTIMISM. MJF is a hero. Not perfect, but a hero to so many of us that have never had a debilitating disease. So many of us who say, how does he do it? Why doesn't he just give up. In his book, Michael borrows Christopher Reeve's definition of hero, "an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure." The book is broken into 4 topics: work, politics, faith, and family. And, if you will indulge me, I would like to share tidbits from each with you, my avid readers (by the way Dad, you need to finish this book. The best parts of it were ahead of you).
Work. When MJF stepped away from the public limelight, he started/created/runs the most successful non-profit organization ever. He sought guidance from Lance Armstrong and took major risks. Because of the generosity of people around the world and this foundation, stem cell research was able to continue in the last decade even though the President of the United States (George W. Bush) restricted all funding.
Politics. MJF was in his late 20's when diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease, and at the start of the 21st century, he was certain a cure would be found in the next 5-10 years. How devastating when the President slashed his dreams of a better life. How crushing when certain political reporters accused him of "faking" his symptoms. Being the granddaughter of a beautiful, talented, artistic woman who died a terrible, horrible death from this disease, I feel his anguish. Too see a woman whose beautiful, soft hands once made works of art no longer able to hold a spoon is horrific. She remembered everything, knew everyone, but was a prisoner in her own body. I have tried so hard in my classroom to open the conservative eyes of my students to the bigger question of what God has called us to do. I have found that when given the same explanation that MJF gave as to why stem cell research should be allowed if the embryos are donated, that most of my students feel it is the kind and humane science to pursue. His argument is this, "In vitro fertilization creates a surplus of embryos, which are discarded in numbers greater than will ever be used in research. Many of our friends are parents of children who, without in vitro, would not exist - I have no reservations about it. However, to favor one and forbid the other is fundamentally inconsistent, or plainly inequitable."
Faith. I did not realize until reading the book the Michael's wife and children were Jewish. But, from his discussions of raising his children in this ancient religion, I found myself wondering if some of the rituals of generations should be applied to children today. When speaking of his sons bar mitzvah, "structure and ritual around this transition [from child to adult], instructing these emerging life forms to recognize and accept their responsibility to themselves, their families, and others. They are claimed and celebrated just when they are most susceptible to feeling unwanted and misunderstood." Could our modern culture utilize these ancient practices. If we could embolden young people to take more responsibility and be accountable, could be prevent many school shootings, teen (or pre-teen) pregnancies, and high school dropouts. Could we give them purpose during times of self doubt.
Finally Family. Incredible insight that as teachers, we try to teach parents. Michael J. Fox discusses how it doesn't help anyone to protect our children from all types of failure or problems. He discusses what a disservice we do our children by saving them from all childhood ales and troubles. He talks about how those childhood challenges prepared him to face a life with a debilitating illness.
This book was wonderful, and as I read the final pages where he describes going to bed knowing on 11/5/08 that a new President who would reinstate funding for stem cell research was going to the White House, I found I had tears in my eyes. Tears for all of those like my grandmother who may never have to suffer so senselessly. Tears for the hope for millions suffering from not only Parkinson's, but diabetes, spinal cord injuries, and cancer. Maybe this decade is the one where we conquer and place emphasis on saving God's living children rather than focusing on who gets to police what God would or would not approve of.
Work. When MJF stepped away from the public limelight, he started/created/runs the most successful non-profit organization ever. He sought guidance from Lance Armstrong and took major risks. Because of the generosity of people around the world and this foundation, stem cell research was able to continue in the last decade even though the President of the United States (George W. Bush) restricted all funding.
Politics. MJF was in his late 20's when diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease, and at the start of the 21st century, he was certain a cure would be found in the next 5-10 years. How devastating when the President slashed his dreams of a better life. How crushing when certain political reporters accused him of "faking" his symptoms. Being the granddaughter of a beautiful, talented, artistic woman who died a terrible, horrible death from this disease, I feel his anguish. Too see a woman whose beautiful, soft hands once made works of art no longer able to hold a spoon is horrific. She remembered everything, knew everyone, but was a prisoner in her own body. I have tried so hard in my classroom to open the conservative eyes of my students to the bigger question of what God has called us to do. I have found that when given the same explanation that MJF gave as to why stem cell research should be allowed if the embryos are donated, that most of my students feel it is the kind and humane science to pursue. His argument is this, "In vitro fertilization creates a surplus of embryos, which are discarded in numbers greater than will ever be used in research. Many of our friends are parents of children who, without in vitro, would not exist - I have no reservations about it. However, to favor one and forbid the other is fundamentally inconsistent, or plainly inequitable."
Faith. I did not realize until reading the book the Michael's wife and children were Jewish. But, from his discussions of raising his children in this ancient religion, I found myself wondering if some of the rituals of generations should be applied to children today. When speaking of his sons bar mitzvah, "structure and ritual around this transition [from child to adult], instructing these emerging life forms to recognize and accept their responsibility to themselves, their families, and others. They are claimed and celebrated just when they are most susceptible to feeling unwanted and misunderstood." Could our modern culture utilize these ancient practices. If we could embolden young people to take more responsibility and be accountable, could be prevent many school shootings, teen (or pre-teen) pregnancies, and high school dropouts. Could we give them purpose during times of self doubt.
Finally Family. Incredible insight that as teachers, we try to teach parents. Michael J. Fox discusses how it doesn't help anyone to protect our children from all types of failure or problems. He discusses what a disservice we do our children by saving them from all childhood ales and troubles. He talks about how those childhood challenges prepared him to face a life with a debilitating illness.
This book was wonderful, and as I read the final pages where he describes going to bed knowing on 11/5/08 that a new President who would reinstate funding for stem cell research was going to the White House, I found I had tears in my eyes. Tears for all of those like my grandmother who may never have to suffer so senselessly. Tears for the hope for millions suffering from not only Parkinson's, but diabetes, spinal cord injuries, and cancer. Maybe this decade is the one where we conquer and place emphasis on saving God's living children rather than focusing on who gets to police what God would or would not approve of.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Book #12 - The First Commandment by Brad Thor
I have to honestly admit the first book I read by Brad Thor I picked up off the shelf because of the cover. I do that quite often (make note publishers that the cover art does matter), and about half the time, the result is great and the other half of the time a flop. Brad Thor is a great adventure writer who has cornered the market on the Secret Service/Covert Ops books. Throughout this book, I found myself thinking, who would I have play Harvath in the movie. Still haven't come up with anyone. Must be beautiful like Tom Cruise but would have to be far tougher. It must be played by someone who can go crazy on the bad guy like Mel Gibson in "The Patriot." This book was great on many levels. Great adventure, high paced, great subplots, etc. However, what got me was how close it hit to what we are seeing in the news. All of the talk about Gitmo and terrorism were right out of the evening news. What was disturbing was the description and detail of how torture works. There were many occasions that my stomach rolled right up into my throat. If excerpts of this book were read of this book about the torture that happened at Gitmo, the citizens of our country would be furious and appalled by the fact that our government opened the prison and maintained it unlawfully for so many years. On a lighter note, for those avid readers as myself, I would be interested to know if you catch the reference he makes to Steve Berry's Cotton Malone.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Book #11 - What Time Devours by A.J. Hartley
A couple of years ago, my brother AJ called me up and said I had to get "On the Fifth Day" by AJ Hartley. This was during the resurgence of the "Da Vinci" type genre that immediately followed the release of the movie "The DaVinci Code." The first book was really good, so when I saw this new book by Hartley listed on Amazon as a recommended book, I went ahead and ordered it. I just love this type of book. Intrigue. History. Suspense. This one was really neat because it was about a long lost Shakespearean play that several different factions were trying to get their hands on. The adventure kept you wrapped in the book the entire time, and I have to say, I'm a sucker for books that take us through historic European countries. It was a nice break from all conspiracy surrounding the Vatican, and since I've never been to England, I truly enjoyed the history and description of Shakespeare's home town. Also interesting, is that the main character is an English teacher. It makes you think that adventure is out there for everyone, not just the chosen few. All we have to do is follow our imagination and not be afraid to try. For those of you who like to read the Epilogue first (as a few of my friends do, you know who you are), DON'T. The plot in this story is far more complicated than you first think, and several elements are exposed in the Epilogue.
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