Archive for the Recommendations
Friday, August 5th, 2011
Pulling heroes out of hiding
I want you to meet my cousin Rebecca.
Her beauty is not only on her face, but in her heart. Her heart is huge and keeps her looking toward far corners of history and geography, on the lookout for the works of God in people’s lives.
I am thankful that in her books she shares her discoveries with us.
She wrote first about more well-known historical figures– Amy Carmichael, George Mueller, and Fanny Crosby.
Her most recent books are the beginning of her Hidden Heroes series– With Two Hands: Stories of God at Work in Ethiopia and The Good News Must Go Out: Stories of God at Work in the Central African Republic.
Obviously, there’s another book underway. Rebecca tweets teasers, and is posting chapters on her blog.
You go, girl!
Wednesday, August 3rd, 2011
Rediscovering Wendell Berry
Sometimes I forget about an author I’ve really liked. Then when I’m reminded of that person, it’s like discovering him or her all over again. Today I rediscovered Wendell Berry who has written many books, both fiction and nonfiction.
During this month of August, ChristianAudio is offering a free download of his novel, Hannah Coulter. Seeing this offer, I remembered how much I’ve enjoyed his books in the past. The most recent I’d read–too long ago–was Jayber Crow.
One reviewer says: “The prose is luminous. It’s like Berry found a way to turn his poetry into a novel.”
Wednesday, August 3rd, 2011
An introvert thinks about friendship
When the folks at Tabletalk asked if I’d write an article about women and friendship, I was honored and agreed.
Then I panicked. On the introvert-extrovert spectrum, I’m way over toward the introvert end. That means I’m more energized by being alone than by being with people. What in the world could I say about friendship that could be helpful to anyone?
With the hope that I’m not the only introvert in the world, I submitted an article that was published in the July issue of Tabletalk. My story was posted on their blog.
Thursday, July 28th, 2011
One singer my boys and I agreed on
Justin Taylor notes that today is the 29th anniversary since Keith Green died. He includes an hour-long video that I’m looking forward to watching.
Keith Green was part of the Jesus People years. I was young in that era too, though I became familiar with his music later.
A generation after Keith Green, one of our sons spent hours behind his closed bedroom door with Keith Green cranked up to the highest volume on his boombox–especially when he was upset. Too loud, but I wasn’t about to argue with music that often spoke to my soul too.
Even now, my heart resonates especially with Oh Lord, You’re Beautiful or Create in Me a Clean Heart or There Is a Redeemer.
Thursday, June 2nd, 2011
Thriving as an Adoptive Family: book winners
A couple of weeks ago, many of you took the time to explore ICareAboutOrphans.org, the initiative of Focus on the Family focusing on adoption. Some of you already had already been benefitting from their ministry and resources, and others of you told me how encouraged you were to find so much helpful information there.
Congratulations to six commenters who were randomly chosen to receive a copy of Handbook on Thriving as an Adopted Family: Real-Life Solutions to Common Challenges, edited by David and Renee Sanford. These were donated by Focus on the Family.
If you are considering adoption and didn’t win a copy, I do hope you will get hold of one for yourself.
If your name is here, congratulations, and I have sent you an email requesting your mailing address.
- Jess
- Janice Settlemoir
- Beth K
- RebekahY
- Jonathan
- Stephanie
Tuesday, May 17th, 2011
Reclaiming Adoption — Book winners
I asked Dan Cruver of Together for Adoption to share some thoughts with us this morning. Dan is the editor and one of the authors of Reclaiming Adoption: Missional Living through the Rediscovery of Abba Father.
__________
What Orphans Need
by Dan Cruver
When Jesus was about to go public with the mission of God, his Father declared over him, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). Although we are quick to recognize that Jesus moved forward to accomplish his Father’s will in the strength and knowledge of his Father’s delight (Matthew 3:17; Mark 1:11; Luke 3:22), we are too often slow to believe that the Father delights in us with that very same delight. And when we are too slow to believe this good news, the very practice of true religion (James 1:27) becomes a burden too heavy to bear.
Therefore, what orphans need are churches that are full of people who wake up each morning sure of the Father’s delight in them. Because of Jesus, the Father says to us: “You are my beloved children, in whom I am well pleased. Yes, you were once without hope and without me in this world, but I have brought you near by the blood of Jesus. I have embraced you in the Beloved. Live in my love as you move out in mission.”
If you are a Christian, God declares these amazing words over you. He doesn’t speak them over you because you have earned them. You could never do enough to earn these words of love. No, the Father speaks these words over you because of who Jesus is for you.
As our Messiah, Jesus was the faithful Son who always did the will of his Father. Never once did he disobey or disappoint Him. All of his living, from his birth in the manger to his death on the cross, was perfect in thought, word, deed, and motive. His life was perfectly lived, and he lived it in our place and on our behalf. This means, among many other things, that the words that were spoken over him at his baptism are also spoken over us today.
Living as Christians in mission—in other words, being the church—involves learning to live each day knowing that God the Father delights in us even as He delights in Jesus. Those who learn to live in the reality of God’s loving pleasure will find that circumstances no longer control them. They will find that they are able to deal with the difficulties of the Christian life with confidence and humility. To be adopted by God is to enter into a family relationship where all of God’s children are treated even as He treats His Beloved Son. If we are confident that we are being loved by God like this, we will not only desire to love others like we are loved, we will also be empowered and compelled to do so.
Imagine the impact that churches would have upon the global orphan crisis if they were filled with people who lived each day in the strength and knowledge of their Father’s delight. Just imagine.
What orphans need are communities of Christians (churches) who live in the joy of their Father’s delight.
__________
Congratulations to the winners of a copy of Reclaiming Adoption. I have sent emails to each of the following to confirm.
- Dan Sudfeld
- Lance Skifter
- MarkC
- Justine B
- Michael Hallas
- Carol Schneider
- Heather
Friday, May 13th, 2011
Thriving as an Adoptive Family: book giveaway
Focus on the Family has been connecting for years with the needs of families. One newer initiative is in the area of orphan care. For starters, they offer some really helpful resources (including, for example, Karyn Purvis’s The Connected Child).
David and Renee Sanford are the editors of Handbook on Thriving as an Adoptive Family: Real-Life Solutions to Common Challenges. They have collected ideas, information, and personal stories from adoptive parents and from professionals.
Many thanks to the folks at the Focus exhibit here at Global Orphan Summit VII who have donated 5 copies to be given away.
If you’d like to be eligible for winning a copy of Handbook on Thriving as an Adoptive Family: Real-Life Solutions to Common Challenges, here’s what to do.
- Visit the orphan care/adoption page of Focus on the Family, and look around.
- Write a comment here to let me know you’ve done #1 (honor system).
- Comment just once.
- Do it by midnight Sunday, 15 May.
__________
Focus on the Family Canada also has an orphan/adoption page.
Saturday, May 7th, 2011
What moms were reading 100 years ago
Maybe you or your mom would enjoy glimpses of what mothers were reading a hundred or more years ago when they were hoping for advice, encouragement, recipes . . . .
I’ve linked each title to the page where you can download it free to read on Kindle.
Or if you prefer to read on your computer without downloading the free Kindle app, you can also find all the books at Project Gutenberg.
The value of a praying mother, Isabel C. Byrum, 1911
Advice to a Mother on the Management of Her Children and on the Treatment on the Moment of Some of Their More Pressing Illnesses and Accidents, Pye Henry Chavasse, 1878
The Prospective Mother, a Handbook for Women During Pregnancy, J. Morris Siemons, 1912
Mrs. Whittelsey’s Magazine for Mothers and Daughters, 1842
Practical Suggestions for Mother and Housewife, Marion Mills Miller, c.1900
Things Mother Used to Make: A Collection of Old Time Recipes, Some Nearly One Hundred Years Old and Never Published before, Lydia Maria Gurney, 1914
(Note: The opinions expressed in these books are not necessarily those of the author of this blog!)
When you dip into any of these, comment to let us know what you DO agree with or what’s really different now.
Wednesday, May 4th, 2011
Free Kindle book
Have I mentioned that I really, really like my Kindle?
But you don’t have to own a Kindle to read books from Kindle. You can download the Kindle program free to your computer, iPad, or smartphone and read from there.
Once you’ve got that downloaded, go ahead and order a free, good book–Paul Miller’s The Praying Life: Connecting with God in a Distracting World. Free! I’m not sure how long that offer will last.
Wednesday, April 20th, 2011
Holy Week: Wednesday
Justin Taylor, with the help of the ESV Study Bible, is blessing us by dividing up Holy Week according to what might have happened each day. Here’s Wednesday.
__________
Tuesday, April 19th, 2011
Before the KJV
A few days ago, when I recommended a dvd about the KJV Bible , some of you reminded us about the work of John Wycliffe and William Tyndale. I thought you might be interested in films about their lives too.
John Wycliffe lived 200 years before the Reformation. In 1382, he completed a translation of the Bible into English.This was the first European translation of the Bible. John Wycliffe: Morning Star is a DVD about him.
In the 1500s, William Tyndale was burned at the stake for his heretical (Reformed) views. But at least 80% of the KJV is the same wording as his translation. God’s Outlaw is his story. Also, my husband writes 
about Tyndale and the impact of his work in Filling Up the Afflictions of Christ.
Friday, April 15th, 2011
The book that changed the world
These days, John Rhys-Davies is probably best remembered as Gimli in Lord of the Rings.
Tonight my husband and I watched the “real” Rhys-Davies in a completely different setting, in KJB: The Book that Changed the World. As the Amazon review says:
Acclaimed actor John Rhys-Davies visits landmarks, explains relics and leads us back into a darker time to discover this fascinating tale of saints and sinners, power and passion, as the greatest translation of Holy Scripture emerges into a world and culture that would never be quite the same again.
“Never be quite the same again” indeed. As of this year, the translation that King James commissioned has been in print for 400 years. Until only a few decades ago, the KJV has been the way God’s English-speaking people have known God’s word. And for many, it still is. No wonder there’s been no other book that has so influenced the English language.
The movie is a combination of dramatization and fascinating commentary. One effect on me was making me think of ”King James” as a real person who made real decisions for both personal and political reasons–not just as part of a title on a book. You can get a taste in this trailer.
Whatever version we might prefer for our Bible reading and study now, James’s Bible is a giant part of our heritage.
