Book Corner: One Thousand Gifts

One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Life Fully Right Where You Are
Author: Ann Voskamp

What kind of read is it?Notes from the Tilt-a-Whirl meets Brother Lawrence meets Pioneer Woman
There is a lot of quoting of great minds.  And at times, you have to follow a scattered train of thought to get to the point, but I found it to be worth it.

Why did I read it?
1. It's about thankfulness in everyday life - who doesn't need more of that?
2. I was curious about it since I had heard it quoted a few times.  Becca P. shared a version of her quote "You can only embrace one emotion at a time.  Choose gratitude."  That stuck with me.
3. I randomly saw this video online one day and decided it was worth giving a shot.  Though there is some cheesiness, it is really sincere, and it grabbed me.

Favorite quotes from the book? (Holy cow. Impossible to choose. I dog-eared about 75 pages.  So, I will pick three at random.)

Out of the darkness of the cross, the world transfigures into new life. And there is no other way. (p.96)

The hard discipline to lean into the ugly and whisper thanks to transfigure it into beauty.  The hard discipline to give thanks for all things at all times because He is all good. (p.100)

Isn't joy the art of God? ... The glory of God is the human being fully alive and the life of the human consists in beholding God...Don't I give God most glory when I am fully alive? And I am most fully alive beholding God! (p.118)

What will I remember most about this book?
Receiving what God gives and saying thanks.  Even if it seems bad.  If I have perspective and truth about God in my heart, I can remember that he is giving me grace.  The cross looked really bad while it was happening. (Ann Voskamp calls that the ugly beautiful.)  But the cross was the BEST thing to ever happen.

Also around page 136 she talks about fighting feeling with feeling.  "Feel thanks and its absolutely impossible to feel angry..."

Book Corner: The Cross of Christ

The Cross of Christ
Author: John R.W. Stott

What kind of read is it?
Theology.  It answers all sorts of questions about why Jesus died on a cross. What did it mean? What did it accomplish?  And much, much more.

Why did I read it?
I needed a deeper look at the cross so I had fresh reasons in my heart for worshiping and trusting God.  It definitely did this and more.  It was so encouraging to delve into these truths, even though it's probably a more heady book than I typically choose.  It was highly recommended at church by Tom Fluharty and our pastors too.

For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing,

 but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

-1 Corinthians 1:18-

Favorite quotes from the book? (there were so many)
We have rejected the position of dependence that our createdness inevitably involves and made a bid for independence... Sin is not a regrettable lapse from conventional standards; its essence is hostility to God, issuing in active rebellion against him. (p.92)

We learn to appreciate the access to God that Christ has won for us only after we have first seen God's inaccessibility to sinners. We can first cry "Hallelujah" with authenticity only after we have first cried "Woe is me, for I am lost." (p.110)

For the better people understand the glory of the divine substitution, the easier it will be for them to trust in the substitute. (p.199)

What will I remember most about this book?
It really proves that to learn about the cross is to love the cross.  It's the only way for me to have peace with God.  Amazing Grace!

Book Corner: Reboot

Reboot: refreshing your faith in a HIGH TECH world

Author: Peggy Kendall

What kind of read is it?

Written for someone who is curious to learn more about the ways technology has changed relationships and especially how it can impact our relationship with God.  A fairly quick read. Written with anecdotes and personal examples.

Why did I read it?

I read it for two reasons:

1. Peggy Kendall was one of my (favorite) professors at Bethel University.  I spent lots of time with her over the course of my college years, exploring Vienna on Europe Term, doing research for a scholarship, playing games at her house, talking about Alfred Hitchcock etc.  I like and admire her mucho.

2. I am passionate about understanding the impact technology is having on our lives.  I believe it's a tool that can be used for good, but it also has some negative impact as well.  I love to talk  and learn about it!

Favorite quotes from the book?
When we rush by or text through experiences and relationships, it is all too possible that we will completely miss the very things that God has designed specifically to give us joy and purpose. (p.4)


As wonderful as e-mail, computers, and Internet connections are, they can slowly steal away our margins.  They quietly fill up our time with things that are not all that important, tasks that are not that much of a priority, and people who aren't really there. (p.47-48)


The things we choose to hide might be an important part of who we are. (p.75)

What will I remember most about this book?

This book challenged me to think about my use of technology and how that lines up with the life God has called me to.  Maybe that sounds simple, but I think it's an important question to ask, and re-ask as seasons of life change.  For me, it encouraged me to continue staying away from facebook because that has been such a self-centered time-waster in my past.  And to focus on the people I am with, trying to be more fully present and willing to care for those around me.

 The theory is that for each thing that technology adds, 

it also takes something away.  

So our question should be, what is being taken away? Is it worth it?

P.S.

Here's a neat interview with Peggy about this book.

Also, be prepared for more Book Corner posts on the next few Mondays.  I'm catching up with my reading since last June people!  

Coming Soon: Book Corner Revived

Better late than never.

Here's a glimpse at what's coming soon:

Also, imagine the three Hunger Games books in this picture.

Despite what my blog has shown, I have been reading a bit the past 7 months.  And I'm excited to tell you about it.  Or at least to have my thoughts written down for my own pleasure and memory.  I am not offended if you choose to skip reading these posts!

My encouragement on a bad hair day:

Take heart.

It could definitely be worse.

Gwen: 9 months

The Latest:

• Welcomed her FIRST TOOTH! Angels rejoice!
• "Da da dad," "Ma ma mom," and various other vocal experimenting
• scoots around in a sort of backwards army crawl, but hates being put on her hands and knees
• sings and claps
• when I walk up to crib she sticks her arms through to touch my legs
• loves gerber oatmeal mixed with fruit - hooray!
• loves to entertain a crowd at the table, otherwise often shy around visitors and friends
• dabbling in the waters of separation anxiety, but ok to go to church and fitness center child care :)
• getting more balance on her feet, but not enough to stand freely

When in public I get daily comments about Gwen's lovely red hair, and about how much fun this stage of babyhood is.  Both comments I agree with whole-heartedly! We love seeing her (big) personality emerge in new ways and enjoying her new antics. Though it is humbling to start learning the world of loving discipline!  Our first area of discipline has been to start teaching "gentle touch" instead of hitting my face.  She often hits me first thing in the morning, or before naps.  There's a new look in her eye when she does it, which tells me it's coming from her will, not just dchildhood behavior. We are trusting for more grace to parent well.  For the ultimate goal of Gwen loving Jesus and other people.

We love you Gwen!

Christmas Recap

Warning: this is going to be really long.  Don't say I didn't warn you.  

Here come pictures from our Christmas celebrating!

What a great Christmas!

Cinderella

On December 21st we went to see Cinderella at the Ordway.  In years past I wanted to go to the Christmastime plays there (Singing in the Rain, White Christmas...) but it's outside the bounds of our typical date night funds.  However, this year one of my Bethel roommates IS Cinderella.  That made it easy to decide that this is the year to splurge on tickets.

It was very fun.  I really liked "Impossible" and "Ten Minutes Ago." The acting was wonderful.  The love story was sweet and believable, despite the fairy tale setting.  However I have to say the low point was watching Cinderella's animal friends, which were really just people dressed in black with animals on the end of sticks walking around the set.  The 'holders' would even move in rhythm like they were acting instead of just puppeting.  Pretty distracting and strange.  (Is puppeting a word?  Spellcheck says no.)

All in all Cinderella was WONDERFUL.  It was the best ever to see Jessi up there in the spotlight she deserves.  She performed beautifully, and the whole night was lots of fun for us!

Something about this picture of me reminds me of my mom.  Anyone else see it?

Beth thought that we should capture the scene of Gwen playing at our feet. :)

Wonderful music!  Jessi has a BEAUTIFUL voice, and it was so fun to hear her sing again.

View from the Ordway's second level

View of Rice Park from the car.  It was actually cold that week, and too cold to fumble with the camera while we walked through this park.  It was so pretty though.  Too bad I didn't take a picture of the Landmark Center.  It's like a real castle.

The happy pair who got to hang out while we were away.  Thanks again Aunt Beth!

Bath Joy

These photos were taken last month during a particularly happy bath time.

I like the way she is squinting her eyes.  Pretty funny.