A Line In The Sand

Have you ever been in the room with me when there is a discussion going on and suddenly realize that I have not said a word for 20 minutes or more? Ever wonder what I was thinking? I’ll tell you. I was thinking this:

Don’t say a word, Don’t Say A Word, Don’t SAY A Word, Don’t SAY A WORD, DON’T SAY A WORD, DON’TSAYAWORDDON’TSAYAWORDDON’TSAYAWORDDON’TSAYAWORD!!!!

I’m not a debater. I don’t enjoy a good argument. My opinions are almost always a little ‘out there’. Perhaps I was born in the wrong decade, because I would've made a great hippie.

I digress.

My point is that the ‘Don’t say a word’ mantra is playing in my head as I type and I am determinedly ignoring it. Don’t worry, I don’t ignore it often.

My silence has been disturbed by the recent equal marriage unrest. Seems like everyone has a strong opinion and it has led to some ugliness between friends and families. Well, I am not here to start a fight. I am here to express my opinion. If you have a different opinion; get your own blog and share it.

As a follower of the example Jesus set for me I refuse to throw stones. I am not going to beat anyone up for their opinions, actions, or lifestyle.

As a follower of the example Jesus set for me I will try to be an example of what I know to be right.

As a follower of the example Jesus set for me I will Love, cherish, hang out, walk, talk, and eat with you whether you are doing what I think you should or not.

As a follower or the example Jesus set for me I look into the past and around at the present and weep for Christians who are persecuted, those who were not and/or are not free to worship God.

As a follower of the example Jesus set for me I can therefore sympathize with people being mistreated for their beliefs and lifestyle.

Many people came to America  for religious freedom.

Wikipedia says: Freedom of religion or Freedom of belief is a principle that supports the freedom of an individual or community, in public or private, to manifest religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship, and observance; the concept is generally recognized also to include the freedom to change religion or not to follow any religion.[1] The freedom to leave or discontinue membership in a religion or religious group.

I am afraid. I fear that by beginning to be hardhearted and to mistreat a group of people as a government we take the first step towards becoming a nation of persecution and fear, because these things don’t happen overnight. They are gradual. It's a slope that can get steeper with every decision. Many people don't see what they are becoming until it is out of control.

Will we become just as bad as the countries our ancestors fled from? Will we become what we try so hard to prevent in other countries where my fellow Christians are being mistreated?

I fervently pray that we don’t. I believe now is the time to prevent it.

Happy Easter Everyone!!

Tables, Coins, And Animals, Oh My!

We visited Pittsgrove Baptist Church this week and heard an amazing sermon on John 2:13-25 This link will take you to those verses Courtesy of biblegateway.com. I know it was amazing because I filled up two pages of notes, front and back, and may have filled a third if I was a faster writer. 

Well, that and I didn't hear any snoring :)

So John 2 :13 tells us of a time near Passover when Jesus went to the temple and started yelling and driving out animals and overturning tables. 

If you're like me you think "Wow, that's great Jesus! Wa-Hoo! Don't let them turn your fathers temple into a marketplace. The nerve of them!"

The thing is, The temple probably didn't end up that way overnight. Nobody woke up one day and said "We can do this and this and this and we'll be rich and the temple will be big and awesome and that's what God wants" I mean, maybe they did, but it doesn't sound very realistic.

It was probably very gradual.

It makes more sense when you realize that at Passover everyone within a 15 mile radius was expected to come and bring a perfect lamb to sacrifice and to pay their temple tax. Well, what if someone didn't have a perfect lamb to bring. Maybe they could have a whole flock of perfect lambs there at the temple for people to buy. Now there is no personal responsibility for bringing an appropriate sacrifice. 

Now imagine that the Jewish leaders thought... Well, if they are going to provide these lambs, they should get a little extra money for the trouble. Then they decide that maybe they can find things wrong with people's lambs so that the people will have to pay extra for one of the 'pre-approved' ones sold there. 

Hello corruption. They got too wrapped up in the business of the temple and less dedicated to the business of worship. Now read that sentence over again and replace the word temple with church. That brings us to the present time and a very real problem in Christianity today. 

Question of the moment: If Jesus were to walk into your regular services what would his reaction be? Smiles and nodding or tables & coins everywhere?

Is there too much concern about how much money is being made? Has the business of keeping the building open and expanding it out-prioritized the reason it's there in the first place; the worship of God? 

I expect I've gone on long enough even though that's only halfway through the back of my first page of notes :) 

Thoughts?

Thanks to freebibleimages.org and Big Book Media for the use of their images

Just Another Day In Paradise- Easter Art

Dependable Book Reviews

Some of you may know that I have always been more comfortable with my daughter reading books that I have read first and given my seal of approval.

*Don't look at me like that! There are a lot of parents that do this.

You may also be aware that this beautiful child of mine now reads at a 5th grade reading level and as quickly as I do. I love it, of course! Unfortunately, I do not have as much time to read as she does... You know, because little things get in the way. Like my job and house and teaching a homeschool curriculum. So I have been searching for a web site that I can trust for book reviews of the books I have not had a chance to pre-read. Thanks to suggestions from my friends on Cafemom I have found several great resources.


Common Sense Media
I have used this website for movie reviews in the past, but somehow didn't realize that there were book reviews as well! This site allows registered members to give the book a

• Star Rating
• Age Recommendation
• Rating for topics such as Educational Value, Positive Messages, Positive Role Models, Violence, Sex, Language, and Drinking Drugs & Smoking.

Christian Book Websites
Christian book distributors usually only carry books that have been carefully reviewed. One is The Way Station


Another is ChristianBook.com which allows customers to review books and give the book a

• Star Rating
• Rating for Quality, Value, and Meets Expectations

Sparknotes
Remember these? The old fallback for when you didn't do your high school summer reading? Well, now they can help you find out the ins and outs of a book even if you don't have time to read the whole thing before your speed-reading child! (Or if, like with me and Gwen, you and your child have differing opinions on what you like to read) This website seems to have everything the books have, including, but not limited to

•  Plot Overview
• Character Analysis
• Themes
• Breakdown of Chapters
• Explanation of Important Quotes
• Key Facts

Thriving Family
This is my favorite site of the ones I have found. It doesn't feature as many books as I had hoped, but I love the quality and breakdown of the reviews. It supplies

• Age range
• Plot Summary
• Christian and Other Beliefs
• Profanity/Graphic Violence
• Kissing/Sex
• Discussion Topics

And more!


Books About Books!!
When in doubt, look in a book!!!
 
Honey For A Child's Heart by Gladys Hunt is out in it's 4th addition. It is a guide of wholesome books for ages 0-14. Honey For A Teen's Heart is in it's 1st addition and lists over 400 titles!


The Hand That Rocks The Cradle by Nathaniel Bluedorn was revised and updated about 5 years ago. This book includes summaries, reading levels, and settings for 400 classic read-a-loud books.

Happy Reading/Reviewing!!!!

Spiritual Sunday- Speechless

Inappropriate..

...

 but funny

Remember

When Your Child Is In Pain

I have felt protective of many kids over the years. I won't count them, you'll just have to trust me. I find though, that the 'Mama Bear' instinct comes out just a little stronger when it comes to my own child.

When she is sick, I want to be sick for her so that she doesn't have to suffer, and when she gets hurt, I wish mommy's kiss could still make it all better immediately. I yearn to protect her from the most terrible and degenerate things in this world and want to cry for every bit of innocence that she loses because it always seems too soon.

I think about this especially today because it is Good Friday. Today is the day we Christians commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death.

Imagine this:
You live in a wonderful place where there is no sickness or death or pain, but there are people that you love who live in a hard place and cannot get to you. So, being unable to go yourself, you send your child to lead them to you.

You watch as your child is embraced by some, but turned away by others. Some of the very people, that you love, that you sent your child into this harsh land for, refuse to listen. Then, they hurt, mock, degrade and kill your child in the most painful way they can.

At any moment you could wisk this precious child out of there... But you don't. You know and your child knows that through his death all the people you love will be able to come to the wonderful utopia that is your home. So you sit there and allow preventable pain to overcome your only child and for him to spend several days in Hell.

What kind of love would you have to have for these horrible people to contain the 'Mama Bear' instinct?

I cannot even imagine that kind of love.

Today, I spend some time in awe of love that can be that great and pray that someday I might comprehend it's magnitude.

Another Trip to the Bookstore

Another trip to the bookstore. Another day when I got home and kicked myself for being able to spend so much money in so short amount of time. I want to share with you one of the books I came home with yesterday.

Kisses From Katie by Katie Davis and Beth Clark

I haven't read this book, but I have heard so much about it. It is the amazing story of a young girl, fresh out of highschool, who goes on a short mission trip and is called by God to make it her life.

I will let you know how the book is... or better yet, watch some of her YouTube videos and buy the book yourself! :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfXgCx3f_1c&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqaphcYWBEQ&feature=related

Obviously, I have no Idea how to get the YouTube videos to play here on my page :( Sorry!

Spiritual Sunday- Be Still

"Be still and know that I am God"

Psalm 46:10

More Lost Than Found by Jared Herd

In More Lost Than Found, Jared Herd comes alongside anyone who has ever struggled with faith to reengage them in the truth they long to hear. If you have ever felt you didn't fit at church or had questions about God, maybe it's time to give your faith another chance.
God wants to find you where you are.

Upon receiving a free digital copy of this book from booksneeze in exchange for an honest review I was anxious to get started. I have several friends who thoroughly enjoyed it so I was expecting to be immediately engrossed.

Unfortunately I struggled with it for several weeks before finishing it.  In a couple of places I thought he was crossing into a place that was too liberal for me then, after I reread it, I realized he was doing no such thing... hence the struggle.

I liked the way the author welcomes us into his experiences with religion with refreshing honesty and hope. He encourages us to reevaluate our faith with humor and points out the problems in our society with acceptance, not condemnation.

I really appreciate where the author was going with his book. As I understand it, it's all about getting back to the basics- God, Jesus and the Bible. In my opinion, that makes all the work of reading it well worth it. I hope you enjoy it as well!

You'll have to forgive me

I know I have been annoyingly religious lately during the few and far between times I have even been here, but I'm still going through some stuff and the lord is helping me through. Therefore, you'll just have to forgive me :). When life starts to make more sense I will be more balanced.
Some of the keepers of my sanity:

The Casting Crowns

Tenth Avenue North

The Gospel of Matthew

Carolyn Arends- They'll Know We Are Christians 

We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand
We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand
And together we'll spread the news that God is in our land
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
They will know we are Christians by our love

Lisa Harper's book Stumbling Into Grace

Side note: I picked up this book after reading a bad review...

I have got to do that more often!

Honestly though, I am again indebted to my friends that push me in the right directions... no matter if I want to be pushed or not :) and my amazing kid who keeps me moving and living and praying for better things. If not for me, then at least for her.

Having a job I love helps too. The best thing about having babies around is free hugs and happiness whenever I need it! 

I hope you are all having a wonderful holiday season!

Happy Birthday

When I look at the Nativity, I wonder. How many of those people really had any idea what was happening? How could a teenage girl fully grasp what she had been given? What kind of faith would the lowly shepherds have needed to have that would enable them to know what was happening right in front of them? And poor Joseph...

Suffering

“Does God want us to suffer? What if the answer to that question is ‘yes’? You see, I don’t think that God particularly wants us to be happy. I think He wants us to love and be loved. He wants us to grow up. You see, we are like children who think that our toys bring us all the happiness there is, and that our nursery ...is the whole wide world. But something has to drive us out into the world of others, and that thing is suffering. Put simply, pain is God’s megaphone to rouse a deaf world. We are like blocks of stone from which the Sculptor carves a form. The blows of His chisel which hurt us so much are what make us perfect.” - CS Lewis

Spiritual Sunday- Trust

Listen

I just picked this up at The Way Station

#1 Courageous... It really, Just wow. I'm not a big music person, but I think I've been spending too much time with my friend Dana who has a song for every occasion... Very similar to the way I have a book for almost any occasion :)

They're coming to my area in March and I might have to go see them. That's how much that song said to me.

Lets Start The Season Out Right

After Thanksgiving we start to worry about lights and trees and gifts... but are we thinking about the 'reason for the season'? We should be. Even from the very beginning.

Please understand, I am in no way saying that Christmas trees, presents and lights are bad. I'm simply saying that we all (including me) need reminders of what it's all about. A religious advent calender is good.

So here are my other recommendations for reminders to read with your kids:

My All-Time favorite for preschoolers and kindergartners. A Board Book about ALL the great things about Christmas!

A Classic Golden Book

Once upon a time, there lived a little princess who enjoyed all the privileges of being wealthy, especially at Christmastime when visitors from far and wide would bring her piles and piles of presents. But when the little princess becomes ungrateful for all she has been given, her parents decide to make a change to their Christmas celebration.

Fun activity book

With gentle rhyme and number fun from one to ten, this Christmas board book is full of shepherds, kings, & angels

I Spy Christmas, an engaging photographic puzzle book with rhyming riddles that invite children to find hidden objects among a treasure trove of Christmas items

The most popular children's Bible story series in the world Generations of Christian children have learned the Bible through the lively poems and colorful illustrations of Arch Books

A full-color, beautifully illustrated, wonderfully written holiday story about hopes and aspirations, and appreciating the possibilities of life.

Traditional as well as less familiar tunes, specially arranged to suit children's voices

Join the Patterson family in celebrating all the craziness, joy, love, and true meaning the Christmas season brings.

An endearing and amusing variation of the Nativity story that will appeal to children and adults alike

Here Is the one that I am wanting to get read this year:



This Christmas, cut through the hype that leaves you exhausted and broke at the end of the year. Instead, experience the peace of knowing that God is truly with us, the joy of giving sacrificially, and the love of a Savior who gave everything he had for us.

This one has been recommended to me:



Journey with Adam Hamilton as he travels from Nazareth to Bethlehem in this fascinating look at the birth of Jesus Christ

Of course, I always encourage you to buy local. Help your neighbors keep their jobs and businesses. Most of the books are linked to one of my favorite local stores, so if any of them look good and you can't support your local businesses... feel free to support the ones near me! :)

Spiritual Sunday- Moms

1 Corinthians 15:58:

Therefore, my dear [sisters], stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Cliques, Hicks, and Ugly Sticks by K.D. McCrite

11 year old April Grace Reilly lives in a small town in the 1980's with her teenage sister & her parents and just across the field from her Grandmother whose love life is interesting to say the least. She has all the struggles of a girl entering middle school including a friend who is no longer friendly and a boy that won't leave her alone, but that is nothing compared to the drama at home. The St. James's have moved into her house until they can fix up their own. If Isabel St. James isn't enough to deal with now April's mother is hiding something from her.

I stalked Booksneeze.com for a free copy of this book because I love young adult books and anything with Ugly Sticks in the title is right up my alley. The reflections of this preteen had me chuckling over and over. All kids this age are overly sensitive and dramatic, but April Grace approached everything with a strong sense of self and an amazing heart for others. I would highly recommend this book, though since all of my experience is with kids 9 yrs old and younger I am unsure whether 11 is old enough for some of the content. I advise parents to preview it and decide for themselves.

Story Time

When I worked at Barnes and Noble regularly, I would usually do the Tuesday morning or Thursday night story times. It was simple. 2-3 age appropriate books and a coloring page. Followed by a massive cleanup of all the books the parents allowed them to take off the shelves and rip or stomp on.

Since I started watching kids in my home story times have gotten a little more in depth. With all the iPads, video games and TV shows that are coming out for younger and younger children, encouraging a love for books and reading is becoming more and more challenging. The decision is to either give up or work harder. So, story time now includes books, of course, but also matching crafts, stuffed animals, games, and felt characters. 

   

When the Strouds asked me about doing a story time at their store, The Way Station of Truth and Life, I knew that I would have to do a little extra leg work to make it interesting.

Step one: Pick the stories  

  

Step two: Create a decent looking felt board (I think mine is as old or older then me... and it looks its age)

Old:

  

New, but temporary. I can do better:

Step 3: Create characters

Step 4: Pick music

It went really well. There were 8 kids... of course one was Gwen and one was the Stroud's granddaughter so I don't know if I can count them :) 

They all got cute little goody bags too. Next time we might get brave and add a small craft or coloring page... We're thinking on it.