I'm Glad I Don't

I know lots of folks put pictures of their kids and family on their blog. It's a personal choice.

And even though I enjoy looking at your cuties, this is one reason I very rarely post pictures on mine.

I'd rather be safe than sorry. I don't even want to think about what someone with a slimier motive might do.

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Words Written on Words Unspoken

Words Unspoken
by
Elizabeth Musser
(Bethany House)

In this stirring novel, Elizabeth Musser has skillfully depicted the heartache, panic attacks, and guilt that torment Lissa Randall as a result of the accident that stole her mother's life and robbed Lissa of the joy of her own life, wrecking her present and her future, as well as her relationship with her father and her beloved Caleb. Teetering on the brink of despair, she calls driving instructor Ev McAllister for help in mastering her fears. The pearls of wisdom he offers, along with an array of seeming coincidences, cause Lissa to face the most basic question of life. Simultaneously portrayed are the inner struggles of a group of seemingly random individuals who are desperately trying to keep their lives afloat. A missionary mom, broken and paralyzed with grief; a stockbroker, for whom the golden carrot is agonizingly close; a society wife, discovering she doesn't have it all, after all; a young publisher, bent on making his family in the Old Country proud, no matter the price; and a mysterious best-selling author whose soon-to-be-released novel is already causing quite a stir. Does one life impact another? Surely life is random. . .or is it?

This is a wonderful book with a clear message of hope, forgiveness, restoration, and renewal. You do have to pay attention as the characters are introduced and then their stories are intertwined. It's not a book to read awhile and then put aside for a few days. Which is fine, because I doubt you'd want to. I found myself wanting to reach through the pages and encourage, admonish, scold, comfort, shake, and hug these folks who seemed so real. The timing of the book's release itself, although not deliberate, isn't random, for although it is set in the fall of 1987, the financial climate and the consequences of greed seemed as if they were ripped from today's headlines. I laughed at the actual quote from Lee Iacocca:

We can't keep romping forever on borrowed money. (p. 212)

(Apparently, no one listened 20 years ago!)

And I suspect the fact that I read it while waiting for the forms to begin my boy's driving lessons isn't exactly random, either!

BOOK SUMMARY:
Lissa Randall's future was bright with academic promise until the tragic accident that took her mother's life--and brought her own plans to a screeching halt. Eighteen months later, she still can't get back behind the wheel.

A casual recommendation to Ev McAllistair's driving school sets in motion a cascade of events... until Lissa begins to wonder if maybe, just maybe, life isn't as random as she's thought.

Set against the breathtaking backdrop of Lookout Mountain, TN, Words Unspoken weaves together a vibrant cast of characters whose intertwining stories of courage, choice, heartbreak, and hope will hold you captive until the final page.

AUTHOR BIO:
Elizabeth Musser, an Atlanta native, lives in southern France with her husband and their two sons. Her acclaimed novel, The Swan House, was a Book Sense bestseller list in the Southeast and was selected as one of the top Christian books for 2001 by Amazon's editors. Searching for Eternity is her sixth novel. Find out more about her at her website, where she says:

My heart's desire is to create beautiful stories of hope, faith, forgiveness and love--sprinkled with history, mystery and much more--thereby offering my readers 'entertainment with a soul.'

I highly recommend this book. You can purchase it directly from the publisher, from Amazon, or Barnes & Noble.

Happy Reading and Safe Driving!

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Savoring a Good Book

Some books make your heart pound with suspense and compel you to leave a light on. Others make you laugh with delight over the antics of the characters and their witty repartee.

And then there are books such as How Sweet It Is by Alice Wisler (Bethany House): like a well-crafted dessert whose flavors blend and enhance one another, it causes you to savor every morsel and sigh with delight at the end.


When Deena Livingston moves into her grandfather's cabin in the mountains of North Carolina, she plans to keep to herself, start a cake-decorating business, and recover from the heartbreak she left behind in Atlanta. But a special request from Grandpa Ernest compels her to interact with the Bryson City locals, who have some surprising stories to share with the new girl in town.

Can a Dr. Seuss-quoting plumber who shows up at the most unexpected times, a handsome social worker who seems to know exactly what Deena is thinking, and a classroom full of mischievous middle-school students teach Deena to once again embrace the sweet things in life?


Alice J. Wisler is an author, public speaker, advocate, and fundraiser. She has been a guest on several radio and TV programs to promote her self-published cookbooks, Slices of Sunlight and Down the Cereal Aisle. Her first novel, Rain Song, is a 2009 Christy Award finalist. She graduated from Eastern Mennonite University and has traveled the country in jobs that minister to people. Alice was raised in Japan and currently resides in Durham, North Carolina. You can learn more at her website and her blog.

MY THOUGHTS:
As the aroma of a freshly-baked cake delights your senses, enticing you to take one bite and then another and another, so this book seeps into your heart, slowly drawing you in until you've devoured the whole thing - possibly in one sitting! Yet instead of feeling uncomfortably stuffed, you will simply feel satisfied. Her grandfather's request and challenge to Deena regarding his Southern Peanut Soup is fitting for the book as well as life:

See if you can taste all the flavors. Sometimes you have to concentrate on the good in order to experience it. The good stuff in life doesn't always come with a big sign around its neck...You can't help but find when your hand is firmly encased in His. (p. 56)

There are indeed many individual flavors and characters in this book which combine to make a delectable and thoroughly satisfying read. Even flavors which appear to be strident and overstrong turn out to provide just what Deena needs, once she learns how they are best utilized. However, there's one piece of Grandpa's advice I wish to stay far, far away from:

Eat the soup from the bowl with the raccoon.

I'll let Deena keep that bowl!

You can purchase the book directly from the publisher, Amazon, or Christian Book.com.

Happy Sweet Reading!

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A Winning Sisterchick!

Well, it's not quite a trip for two to Holland, but at least the winner of Sisterchicks in Wooden Shoes won't have to deal with jet lag!

Here are your random numbers:
8
Timestamp: 2009-06-10 01:39:03 UTC
Congrats to Robin! Email me your address and I'll send it your way!

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A Giveaway for You Sisterchicks!

There is nothing like a dame girlfriend! Although much is written - accurately so - about "mean girls" of all ages, women also connect in a way that is completely unique to our gender. While our husbands are dear and wonderful, we often need another woman's ear, perspective, and feedback to help us navigate the highs and lows that we face in life. Sisterchicks in Wooden Shoes by Robin Jones Gunn (Multnomah/Random House) is a wonderful story of how friendship helped two women sort the "stuff" in their lives.


BOOK SUMMARY:
When a mammogram result comes back abnormal, midlife mama Summer Finley makes a snap decision to relegate fear to the back burner and fulfill a lifelong dream. Summer heads for Holland where she meets up with tulips, wooden shoes, and her best friend, Noelle.

Pen pals since fourth grade, Summer and Noelle have never met face-to-face. Through decades of heart-level correspondence, they have sustained a deep friendship. A week of adventure helps both women trade anxiety for a renewed and deeper trust in God. When Summer confides in Noelle about the abnormal medical report, Noelle finds the freedom to share a long-held heartache, and both women discover they needed each other more than they realized.

Women ages 35 and up, readers of Christian Boomer Lit, and fans of books such as The Yada Yada Prayer Group will enjoy Robin Jones Gunn’s humorous and uplifting style. True-to-life characters and moments of poignancy bring a deeper understanding of the value of life and the gift of true friends. Readers guide and bonus material included.

AUTHOR BIO:
Robin Jones Gunn is the best-selling and award-winning author of over seventy books, including the Glenbrooke, Christy Miller, Sierra Jensen, Katie Weldon, and Christy and Todd: The College Years teen series. The Sisterchicks® series has sold more than 300,000 units, bringing her total sales to more than 3.5 million books worldwide. A Christy Award winner, Robin is a popular speaker, both at home and abroad, and is frequently interviewed on radio and on television. You can find out more on her website and on the Sisterchicks website.

MY THOUGHTS:
I had not read any of the previous Sisterchicks books, but this one was a delight. Although the nurse in me shudders at the idea of someone taking a trip instead of immediately taking care of a suspicious mammogram, I loved how the book shows Summer seeking solace in her friendship with Noelle, and yet Noelle benefits from the visit as well. As Noelle shows Summer around Holland, the places they visit and the experiences they share minister to the hidden recesses of each of their hearts. And while their bond is even stronger by the end of Summer's journey, they both have learned to trust not in friendship but in God. The paraphrase of the Twenty-third Psalm toward the end is worth the price of the book, and while this book is a great read for anyone, it would be a wonderful gift for someone facing an uncertain physical diagnosis.

I have an extra copy of this book to give away to one of you. To enter, please leave a comment on this post by 6:00 p.m. Tuesday (6/9/09) and I will draw a winner. (Continental US residents only, please.)

You can also purchase the book directly from the publisher or from Amazon.

Happy Reading & Armchair Traveling!

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Everything Old is New Again

Since I love finding out bizarre & random stuff and passing it along to you, I have an important question:

Do you know what week this is?

International Clothesline Week.
Seems there's a growing segment of the population that is urging us to air our dirty laundry let it all hang out to dry. Some feel it's important for the environment as well as the economy because of the amount of electricity used on dryers.

Now I'm all for saving money, but since the claim is that dryers account for 6% of a family's electricity usage, I'm not in too much of a panic. (The clothesline proponents act like it's 60%!) I'd much rather bump the thermostat up a couple of degrees! Besides, this movement is apparently geared for a different and much younger generation, as one site urges consumers to put up "a clothesline, just like your grandparents did".

Well, even though I'm not older than chocolate chip cookies, I do remember the days without a dryer, or at least when the dryer was new enough to only be used on rainy days. And rather than being a pleasant nostalgic memory, I mostly remember it being a lot of work, and I also remember the laundry (especially the sheets & towels) being stiff and scratchy. Experiencing a memory at your own house where your mom assigns the chores is just a tad different from a memory when you go to visit your grandmother!

And with all the pollen that Central Texas is known for, I imagine that most of the time the laundry would have to be re-washed as soon as it was brought in, if I had a clothesline today. I'm not sure I could breathe if I had to sleep on sheets that had hung outside when the oak trees are dropping their flowers. My MIL grew up on a farm, and she talks about how dusty the laundry was when they brought it back in. I suspect West Texas with its dust storms and some other midwestern states have the same problem!

Oh, and the reasoning on that website that asks "Why spend on artificial products to make your clothes smell like mountain meadows, when you can get a better effect from your backyard?" Obviously those folks didn't grow up in southeast Houston, just a couple of miles from Stinkadena!

But if you feel the urge, go right ahead. There are even websites with instructions detailing how to use a clothesline! (I'm just wondering. . . .how much do you think those 20-somethings are spending at Starbucks with their laptops while they read about saving a few dollars and how to hang clothes on a line?) It's also apparently been a hot item of debate & contention in some neighborhoods, and some homeowner associations have even banned them or at least put heavy restrictions on them. (This has sparked the Right to Dry Campaign, and they even have a petition asking the First Family to line dry their clothes on the White House lawn one day! Sorry, but I think there are many issues with greater urgency facing our country than how we dry our clothes!)

BTW, if you are going to be shopping for a clothesline, be sure to check out The Clothesline Shop - they even have one that puts the clothespins on your clothes for you!

What's your preference? The answer is blowing in the wind!

Ironically, one of my clearest memories as a very little girl involved both the clothesline and chocolate chip cookies. My mom was in the middle of making cookies, and toward the end of the stirring process had to stop and go hang another load out on the line. I was about 4 years old at the time, and I thought I would surprise her and finish mixing them. So I climbed up in the chair by the table and stirred the cookies. Stirred them right onto the floor. And in those days, Sunbeam Mixmaster bowls were glass. I saw my life flash before my eyes. But while my mom wasn't thrilled about the loss of her bowl and the cookie dough, she realized I was trying to be a helper, and I didn't get in trouble. I still like chocolate chip cookies, but I don't like clotheslines!

First, the clothesline; next it will be this.

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TSMSS - Where Could I Go?

I love this old song. The words are wonderful, and a great reminder that while friends, even Christian friends, are wonderful, when we face the trials of life, our true comfort can only be found in the Lord.

This is considered to be a gospel song rather than a hymn, and it was written by J.B. Coats. I've not been able to find any information about the background of the song, but the Gospel Music Association (GMA) Hall of Fame has a brief biography of Mr. Coats, who lived from 1901-1961.

This is a great rendition by the Gaither Vocal Band and the Homecoming Friends. Most of the singers whose names appear on the screen as they sing have gone on to be with the Lord. Only Larry Ford, Ben Speer, and Jessy Dixon are still alive (of those older singers identified specifically by name). And I'm not sure why the bass singer in the yellow coat wasn't identified. That's JD Sumner, and he's been singing in heaven since 1998. (For a number of years, he held the Guinness World Record for the lowest human note ever recorded, a "double low" C, which is 3 octaves below middle C!)

BTW, just a couple of interesting bits of trivia: Jake Hess, who you'll see singing the first solo (he was famous for his toupee!) is (or was - he passed away in 2004) the father-in-law of Judy, the brunette sister from The Martins, who I featured last week. He also formed The Imperials, way back in 1964! I know I'm probably the only one geeky enough to care about stuff like that, but who knows? You might win a game sometime knowing such a tidbit!

WHERE COULD I GO BUT TO THE LORD?

Living below in this old sinful world
Hardly a comfort can afford
Striving alone to face temptations sore
Brother won't you tell me
Where could I go but to the Lord?

Where could I go? Oh, where could I go,
Seeking a refuge for my soul?
Needing a friend to help me in the end
Brother, won't you tell me
Where could I go but to the Lord?

Neighbors are kind, I love them everyone
We get along in sweet accord
But when my soul needs manna from above
Brother, won't you tell me?
Where could I go to the Lord?

Where could I go? Oh, where could I go,
Seeking a refuge for my soul?
Needing a friend to help me in the end
Brother, won't you tell me
Where could I go but to the Lord?

Life here is grand with friends I love so dear
Comfort I get from God’s own Word
Yet when I face this chilling hand of death
Brother, won't you tell me?
Where could I go to the Lord?

Where could I go? Oh, where could I go,
Seeking a refuge for my soul?
Needing a friend to help me in the end
Brother, won't you tell me
Where could I go but to the -
Where could I go but to the -
Where could I go but to the Lord?

Words & Music: J. B. Coats, 1940

Stop by Amy's for more songs to bless your weekend!

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No Respect

Maybe she's not as smart as I thought.

My girl was making chocolate chip cookies earlier this evening and began wondering who invented the chocolate chip cookie. I told her I thought it was a woman who chopped up chocolate for her cookies thinking it would melt as it baked, but it didn't. (I was right.) Lots of great recipes come from mistakes!

I bet you can guess what she asked next. In complete and utter seriousness.

Were chocolate chip cookies around when you were growing up?

It's not like I'm that old. Just because we had no computers, phones were attached to the wall with a cord, we had never heard of a microwave, and recycling meant taking our soda bottles (and any others we found along the side of the road) back to the store for nickels, I'm not exactly in the same category as Laura Ingalls Wilder. We did have electricity and indoor plumbing, I'll have you know!

Maybe top rank is just another term for knowing how to rankle your mom!

BTW, I didn't mean to cause such a ripple in the blog world by my little declaration about disliking Chinese food. My laptop is still reverberating from the gasps of shock and awe! (I hope we can still be friends.) My aversion primarily stems from (1) my love for crunchy foods, and most of the food in that category appears to be wet and slimy, and (2) my days as as a college student and the plethora of eggroll carts set up on campus as well as on "The Drag", the eclectic street that ran alongside campus and contained bookstores, street vendors -- and a fair number of folks whose hygiene left much to be desired. The strong smell emanating from the eggroll carts was less than appealing in and of itself, but juxtaposed with the shuttle bus exhaust and other unsavory "scentsations," it permanently squelched any desire I might have had for an eggroll.

But chocolate chip cookies? I've loved those since BEFORE I was born!

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An Overdue Review

Mea culpa. I read a book, liked a book, but neglected to post my review. Hopefully, better late than never - fortunately, it's not a library book with an overdue fine!

I've enjoyed Julie Lessman's Daughters of Boston series. Following A Passion Most Pure and A Passion Redeemed, she concludes the trilogy with A Passion Denied, the story of Elizabeth (Lizzie) O'Connor who has loved John Brady since she was thirteen. He's been her pal and her spiritual mentor, and no other man comes close to being the man of God that he is. Now at the ripe old age of almost eighteen, her love has only deepened. Unfortunately, his love for her is only brotherly love. Why is he so stubborn about seeing what's obvious to everyone else around him?

While the past has haunted John's mind for years, when it rears its ugly head and must be faced head-on, it seems that things can't get worse. And when John's brother appears and begins pursuing Lizzie and showing an interest in religion for the first time ever, it only serves to complicate matters. John doesn't think he deserves Lizzie for himself, but he knows his brother doesn't! And Lizzie doesn't know what to think. Who can be believed and trusted? Will John ever be free from the chains of the past?

In the process of weaving Lizzie and John's story, the book also provides glimpses into the marriages - both the victories and the struggles - of Faith and Charity, Lizzie's two sisters from the first two books. It has some amusing aspects as the gals do their best to manipulate, often deviously, the men in their lives to accomplish their goals. This is an enjoyable read with several surprises and a great message of forgiveness, redemption, and renewal.

BOOK SUMMARY:
Has she fallen in love with a man who cannot love her back?

Elizabeth O'Connor has been like the little sister John Brady always wanted, sharing his love of literature and his thirst for God. But in the throes of the reckless Roaring Twenties, Lizzie has grown up. Suddenly she wants more from the man who has been her friend since she was a child. When this shy little bookworm blossoms into a beautiful young woman bent on loving John, she discovers that his past won't let him return that love. But Lizzie refuses to give up--until his shocking secrets push her away.

Can true love survive the betrayal and deceit of a painful past . . . or will it be shattered like the fairy-tale dreams of a girl in love?

Brimming with romance, longing, and redemption, A Passion Denied will quicken your pulse and gladden your heart with a riveting story of the true power of love.

AUTHOR BIO:
Julie Lessman is the author of A Passion Most Pure and A Passion Redeemed. Even as a debut novelist, Lessman garnered writing awards, including ten Romance Writers of America awards. She lives in Missouri. On her website she says she hopes her novels "strike the balance between romantic and spiritual passion for the broad base of readers searching for its message, and by interweaving the two, bring them into an intimate relationship with the true author of romance."

You can purchase the book directly from Revell or at Amazon or CBD.

And now A Passion Denied is a review denied no more!

Happy Reading!

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Saints in Limbo Reviewed

SAINTS IN LIMBO
by
River Jordan
(Waterbrook Press)

Ever since her husband Joe died, Velma True’s world has been limited to what she can see while clinging to one of the multicolored threads tied to the porch railing of her home outside Echo, Florida.

When a mysterious stranger appears at her door on her birthday and presents Velma with a special gift, she is rattled by the object’s ability to take her into her memories–a place where Joe still lives, her son Rudy is still young, unaffected by the world’s hardness, and the beginning is closer than the end. As secrets old and new come to light, Velma wonders if it’s possible to be unmoored from the past’s deep roots and find a reason to hope again.

AUTHOR BIO:
River Jordan is a critically acclaimed novelist and playwright whose unique mixture of southern and mystic writing has drawn comparisons to Sarah Addison Allen, Leif Enger, and Flannery O’Connor. Her previous works include The Messenger of Magnolia Street, lauded by Kirkus Reviews as “a beautifully written, atmospheric tale.” She speaks around the country and makes her home in Nashville. You can learn more about her at her website.


MY THOUGHTS:
This is a book that is receiving much acclaim, but personally, I just didn't get it. It may be somewhat a matter of taste. Just as I love a thick, juicy filet mignon but don't like Chinese food, some books just are not my cup of tea mocha. But beyond that, I found the book difficult to follow and honestly, just plain bizarre. I loved the title and the concept that, as believers, we are Saints in Limbo - living here while anticipating our eternal home. (Although on her website the author comments that "we are all Saints in our small ways yet we are all also in this stage of transition, growing from one thing into another", which sounds a bit New Age-y to me.) But Velma seems to have stepped beyond limbo and a bit off the edge of reality. The mystical elements got stranger as the book progressed and I began to feel a little bit in limbo myself. I'm having a hard time deciding if I consider this Christian fiction or simply literature. Not everything that has a "spiritual" element is Christian. Some reviews refer to it as Southern goth and/or magical realism. Publisher's Weekly ends its review by saying "Velma True's mystical adventure will speak to an audience interested in a thrilling, often touching, gothic tale about conquering fear and regret with a stubborn, Southern love." And while there's nothing wrong with reading a book that isn't blatantly "Christian," if one is presented as such, I want to be sure it qualifies.

An expert I am not, however. Decide for yourself. You can purchase it directly from the publisher or here.

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Bits & Pieces

1. First things first. . . .the winner of Stealing Home by Allison Pittman:

Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:
6
Timestamp: 2009-06-03 01:11:44 UTC
Congrats to Beverlydru! Email me your address and I'll send it on its way!

2. TCKK asked how I became a book reviewer. Basically, I did what she just did: asked a blog reviewer how they did it! Some of it is by word of mouth and referral; often when I am emailed by a publicist with an offer to review a book, at the bottom of the email will be an invitation to submit to them the email of someone we know who might be interested in reviewing the book as well.

Additionally, there are publisher blog networks you can join, such as Thomas Nelson, Tyndale, and Bethany House. Generally they will send you one book at a time, and once you review it you can request another. Also with sites such as that, they request that your review be posted on a public site such as Amazon or Christian Books in addition to your blog.

I also review with Christian Fiction Blog Alliance (CFBA) but right now I don't believe that they are accepting any additional members.

If you would like more information or you are interested in my passing your name along, send me an email.

3. My girl graduated from 8th grade this afternoon. If you can indulge my being a proud mama for a few sentences, it was especially fun to see her receive the Leadership Award as well as the Top Rank Award for highest GPA of her class. She is going out with a bang! She cannot wait to get to high school in August, especially since she found out on Friday that she is one of only two students from her middle school to make the top orchestra (there are 3 levels & most freshmen start at the bottom) at the high school. Okay, I'm done being obnoxious mom!

4. Tomorrow is the Last Day. For my girl, it's all over but the partying - she has a field trip tomorrow followed by a friend's birthday party after school. And my boy was exempt from the last half of his finals and he's been done since Friday. And to those of you who commented on Monday that your kids don't finish school until the middle of this month, thank you for the perspective, and you have my deepest sympathies!

5. Our end of school tradition is that I always give my kids a stack of books. Of course, I started this when they were in elementary school and they were reading chapter books that cost $2.99! But books are a great investment! We went ahead and did it tonight and my boy immediately began perusing the pictures in the middle of this, commented that this looked interesting, and checked out the back of this. My girl has already started flipping through this and reading this and this! (They gotta have something to do while I read and blog!)

6. Summer won't just mean my girl's transition to high school. My boy hasn't been in a hurry (and neither have we!) but it's time and he's ready to learn to drive. Yike! Where did those precious toddlers go?!

7. Finally, just in case you hadn't noticed, it's June! This one's just for you, Lid, since I know you really do secretly love musicals!


March went out like a lion
A-whippin' up the water in the bay
Then April cried
And stepped aside
And along come pretty little May!
May was full of promises
But she didn't keep 'em quick enough fer some
And a crowd of Doubtin' Thomases
Was predictin' that the summer'd never come

But it's comin', by gum!
Y'ken feel it come
Y'ken feel it in yer heart
Y'ken see it in the ground
Y'ken hear it in the trees
Y'ken smell it in the breeze
Look around, look around, look around!

(And this part at the beginning cracks me up:)
With the little tail a-swishing'
Ev'ry lady fish is wishin'
That a male would come
And grab 'er by the gills!
They sure don't make 'em like they used to!

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A Crackerjack of a Book and a Giveaway

A mere three years ago I picked up a book by a brand new author who quickly became a part of my "Must Read" list. Allison Pittman has continued to churn out the books, and she has proved to be a multi-faceted writer. Her Crossroads of Grace series was a delightful historical fiction trilogy (I reviewed the final book here) that blended great stories with beautiful messages of hope and grace that can transform even the most seemingly hopeless of lives. Following that she absolutely charmed me with Saturdays with Stella (see my review here), the story of how she "learned to sit, stay, and come when God calls me." I don't even like dogs, and I alternately laughed and winced with conviction as she shared the spiritual lessons she gleaned at obedience school with Stella.

Now she has branched out in yet another direction with Stealing Home (published by Random House), and the message of hope and redemption shines through. And although I prefer "hot dogs, apple pie, and Chevrolet" to baseball, I was not at all surprised that the book captured my attention from the very beginning. For no matter the background, deep within the heart of every human being is a longing for acceptance, forgiveness, grace, and a new start.

Set in the tiny town of Picksville, Missouri in 1905, Stealing Home is the story of Donald "Duke" Dennison, the player on whom the Chicago Cubs have pinned their hopes. Unfortunately, he's pretty much drowned his hopes in the bottle, and he's now been sent to Picksville to sober up anonymously. And it's the story of Ellie Jane Voyant, a reclusive town spinster who hides her hurts from childhood in the same way that she barricades herself in the ticket booth of the railroad station. She has reluctantly agreed to be Duke's conscience chaperone and provides a room for him in the house where she lives with her father. And it's the story of Ned Clovis, the clerk at the town's feed store. He's enamored with baseball, the Duke, and Ellie Jane - not necessarily in that order - and he alone can decide what he's willing to give (or give up) to have them all in his life. And it's the story of Morris, the twelve -year-old African-American boy whom the town is happy to trust with their errands, but not with their acceptance or respect.

When the Duke discovers Morris has a natural gift for pitching a baseball, he takes him under his wing to refine his talent and determines to find a way to make Morris one of the first African-American players accepted in the lily white sport. And a good place to start is right in tiny Picksville. But will the process unite or divide the town? What will it mean for the future of Morris and Duke? And will these four wounded individuals (Duke, Ellie Jane, Ned, and Morris) be able to tear down their walls and find love and healing?

This is a deeply moving story for the heart. Allison Pittman has knocked another one out of the ballpark. The only caveat I have is to read it with a box of tissues nearby! (Peanuts and Cracker Jacks optional.)

BOOK SUMMARY:
It’s 1905 and the Chicago Cubs are banking on superstar Donald “Duke” Dennison’s golden arm to help them win the pennant. Only one thing stands between Duke and an unprecedented ten thousand dollar contract: alcohol.

That’s when sportswriter David Voyant whisks Duke to the one-horse town of Picksville, Missouri, so he can sober up in anonymity. He bides his time flirting with Ellie Jane Voyant, his unofficial chaperone, who would rather hide herself in the railway station ticket booth than face the echoes of childhood taunts.

Ned Clovis, the feed store clerk, has secretly loved Ellie Jane since childhood, but he loves baseball and the Duke almost as much–until he notices Ellie Jane may be succumbing to the star’s charm.

Then there’s Morris, a twelve-year-old Negro boy, whose only dream is to break away from Picksville. When Duke discovers his innate talent for throwing a baseball, Morris might just have found his way out.

Four individuals, each living in haunted isolation, each harboring a secret passion. Providence brings them together. Tragedy threatens to tear them apart. Will love be enough to bring them home?

AUTHOR BIO:
Allison Pittman spent seventeen years as a high school English teacher, and then shunned the advice of “experts,” quit her day job and set out to write novels that bring glory to God. She relishes inspiring other writers and leading the theater arts group at her church. She and her husband and three sons live in Universal City, Texas. I always enjoy Allison's blog, and her website is great also.

GIVEAWAY!
Random House has provided a copy of this book for one of you! Just leave a comment on this post by 6:00 p.m. CDT Tuesday (6/2/09) and I will draw a winner. (Continental US residents only, please).

Happy Reading!

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It's June, So Why Is It a School Day?

Did your kids sing this?

This is the song that never ends,
Yes it goes on and on my friend.
Some people started singing it, not knowing what it was,
And they'll continue singing it forever just because...
(repeat ad infinitum and ad nauseum)
That song has been on my mind lately, only the first line has been replaced with "This is the school year that never ends."

I don't remember the last time school wasn't out by Memorial Day, and it's certainly out by May 31. (I always felt sorry for those northern states that I've heard go until mid-June, but we don't have to deal with blizzard days down here.) Not this year. Wednesday is our last day, and some districts in the area don't finish until this Friday.

All because the Texas Legislature decided they should dictate when schools were allowed to start in August. They gave some nonsense reason about not cutting into summer, saving on school air conditioning costs, and tourism.

I'm not sure what part of temps in the 90's and Memorial Day doesn't qualify as summer to those folks under the Dome. It's not like this is Minnesota.

I'd write more, but I have to take my girl to school.

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Amish Love

What’s all the hubbub about Amish fiction? Major media outlets like Time and ABC Nightline are covering it, and authors like Cindy Woodsmall are making the New York Times bestseller list regularly. What makes these books so interesting?

Check out the recent ABC Nightline piece here about Cindy and her titles When the Heart Cries, When the Morning Comes, and When the Soul Mends. It’s an intriguing look at Amish culture and the time Cindy has spent with Amish friends.

And don’t forget that Cindy’s new book, The Hope of Refuge, hits store shelves August 11, and is available for preorder now.

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Global Day of Prayer

Today, Pentecost Sunday, has been identified as the Global Day of Prayer. Begun in July of 2000 by a South African Christian businessman, this effort has expanded to 220 countries participating this year. As explained on the GDOP website, "United by a Prayer for the World, Christians from different cultures and denominations gather in many different venues each year to cry out to God for the healing and blessing of our nations."

Here is the Prayer for the World that our interim pastor led us in this morning as he prayed the main parts and we responded with the parts in green. How cool to know that "Wherever you gather on Pentecost Sunday, there will be one thing uniting Christians from all nations: a Prayer for the World that will be prayed by millions from where the sun rises in the East to where it sets in the West." The prayer is available in more than 50 translations on the GDOP website.

Almighty God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
Together with believers all over the world,
We gather today to glorify Your Name.
You are the Creator of heaven and earth.
There is no one like You, holy and righteous in all Your ways.
We submit to Your authority as the King of the universe.
We pray with one voice to enthrone You in our hearts
and to honour You before the world.

Lord God, You alone are worthy of our praise and adoration.

Our Father in heaven,
Thank You for loving the world so greatly.
You gave Your only Son, Jesus Christ,
to die on the cross for our sins
so that we could be reconciled to You.
We are grateful to call You Father and to be called Your children.
Nothing can separate us from Your love.

Thank You Father, for adopting us into Your family
because of Jesus Christ our Saviour.

Lord Jesus Christ,
You alone are worthy to open the scrolls of history,
for You were slain and have redeemed us to the Father by Your blood.
We confess that You are Head of the Church
and Lord of all heaven and earth.
May people from every tribe and language become Your followers
so that Your blessing brings transformation among all peoples.
Let Your kingdom be established in every nation of the world
so that governments will rule with righteousness and justice.
And may Your Name be great, from the rising of the sun to its setting.

Jesus Christ, You are the Saviour of the world and the Lord of all.

Father of mercy and grace,
We acknowledge that we have sinned
and that our world is gripped by the power of sin.
Our hearts are grieved by injustice, hatred and violence.
We are shamed by oppression, racism and bloodshed in our land.
We mourn all loss of life in murder, war and terrorism.
Our homes are broken and our churches are divided by rebellion and pride.
Our lives are polluted by selfishness, greed, idolatry and sexual sin.
We have grieved Your heart and brought shame to Your Name.
Have mercy on us as we repent with all our hearts.

God of mercy, forgive our sins.
Pour out Your grace and heal our land.

Spirit of the living God,
Apart from You, we can do nothing.
Transform Your Church into the image of Jesus Christ.
Release Your power to bring healing to the sick,
freedom to the oppressed and comfort to those who mourn.
Pour Your love into our hearts and fill us with compassion
to answer the call of the homeless and the hungry
and to enfold orphans, widows and the elderly in Your care.
Give us wisdom and insight for the complex problems we face today.
Help us to use the resources of the earth for the well-being of all.

Holy Spirit, we need Your comfort
and guidance. Transform our hearts.

Lord Jesus Christ,
Because You were dead, but are now risen,
and the Father has given You a Name above all names,
You will defeat all powers of evil.
Tear down strongholds and ideologies that resist the knowledge of God.
Remove the veil of darkness that covers the peoples.
Restrain the evil that promotes violence and death.
Bring deliverance from demonic oppression.
Break the hold of slavery, tyranny and disease.
Fill us with courage to preach Your word fearlessly,
and to intercede for the lost faithfully.

Almighty God, deliver us from evil.

King of Glory,
Come and finish Your work in our cities, our peoples and our nations.
We lift our voices in unison with believers from Africa and Asia,
from the Middle East and Europe, from North and South America,
and from Australia and the Pacific Islands—together we cry:

Lift up your heads, O you gates!
Be lifted up ancient doors
so that the King of glory may come in!

As Your deeds increase throughout the earth,
and as Your blessings abound to all the nations,
they will seek You, asking, “Who is this King of glory?”
Together we will answer:

He is the Lord Almighty!
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!

Come fill the earth with Your glory as the waters cover the sea.
The Spirit and the Bride say:

Amen! Come Lord Jesus!

The following 90 days, June 1 through August 29, are marked as 90 Days of Blessing, which is "an opportunity for Christians to not only continue in persistent prayer, but to actually become the answers to their prayers." The 90 Days of Blessing Prayer Guide "will challenge you to continue your prayer efforts, but also to become physically involved in the places that we normally pray for. This is our opportunity to become vessels of blessing through prayer and action" and can be downloaded here.

Did your church participate?

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TSMSS - Redeemed!

This hymn by Fanny Crosby has always made me smile. The words and truth found within are fantastic, and I've always loved both tunes of this song.

You see, there are two versions in the Baptist Hymnal; the words are the same but the melodies are different. I'm always happy to find a great arrangement of an old hymn on to share with you, and this one by the sibling group The Martins is especially fun because they combine the two melodies. They sing one verse with each melody, then they split and sing the 3rd verse simultaneously, with Joyce (the blonde sister) singing melody 1 and the Judy (the brunette) singing melody 2, while their brother, Jonathan, harmonizes with both. That's difficult to do any time, but the fact that they sing it acapella astounds me. Finally, they weave the two melodies together, alternating with each line. You can tell they do indeed love to proclaim that they are Redeemed!

REDEEMED, HOW I LOVE TO PROCLAIM IT*/REDEEMED**

Redeemed--how I love to proclaim it!
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;
Redeemed through His infinite mercy,
His child, and forever, I am.

CHORUS:
Redeemed, redeemed,
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;
Redeemed, redeemed,
His child, and forever, I am.

Redeemed and so happy in Jesus,
No language my rapture can tell;
I know that the light of His presence
With me doth continually dwell.

I think of my blessed Redeemer,
I think of Him all the day long;
I sing, for I cannot be silent;
His love is the theme of my song.

I know I shall see in His beauty
The King in whose law I delight;
Who lovingly guardeth my footsteps,
And giveth me songs in the night.
WORDS: Fanny Crosby, 1882
MUSIC: William Kirkpatrick, 1882 (Redeemed, How I Love to Proclaim It)
A. L. Butler, 1967 (Redeemed)

*This title is the original melody composed and is the tune sung in the first verse
**This is the title given to the newer tune sung in the second verse.

Join us at Amy's for more great songs for your weekend!

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Summer Flavor to Savor!

You Are a Coconut Flavored Popsicle

You are easygoing. For you, summer is definitely a time to kick back. You are a peaceful soul. You shy away from drama and stress. You are a warm and compassionate. You give everyone a fair chance. Your tastes tend to be simple. You rather have a few high quality items than a bunch of junk.

What Flavor Popsicle Are You?

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Winners of This Week's Book Giveaways

Winner of Mark Mynheir's The Night Watchman:
#5 - "Rachel" at Musings of a Future Pastor's Wife

Winner of Chet Galaska's Finding Faith in a Skeptical World:
#1 - Renee G
Congratulations, ladies! Please email me your address and I'll get your book in the mail!

Thanks to all for your comments and entries.

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A New Entry For My Dictionary

Words are a delight. Mostly. There are some, however, which I think need altered or additional definitions and/or spellings. One such word is the following:

ra·con·teur: a person who excels in telling anecdotes
Pronunciation: \ˌra-ˌkän-ˈtər, \
Function: noun
Etymology: French, from Middle French, from raconter to tell, from Old French, from re- + aconter, acompter to tell, count —
Date: 1828

This seems like an innocent enough word, and it certainly fits many of you blogging friends. In fact, I may start adding it to my comments!

But after today, I've got a new form of the word and it describes my man, the Hero of the Day.

He is a raccoonteur.

Because we can breathe easily once again, now that he successfully located and removed a dead baby raccoon from our attic.

And its THREE siblings.

Apparently mama decided the attic was too hot once she gave birth, and she abandoned them.

You may only use the phrase poor things in your comment if you are referring to us -- the humans who live in this house -- not the critters! Raccoons are only cute in cartoons. (And even then, only if you've never dealt with them in your attic or yard.) I've seen raccoons as big as large dogs and they are a major pain.

And. They. STINK REEK!

I'm keeping that man of mine. But I am not getting him this for Father's Day, with or without eyes.

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Another Book Giveaway!

Finding Faith in a Skeptical World
Chet Galaska was an atheist who thought he had it all figured out.
But when he opened his mind and learned about Christ he came to faith.
Finding Faith explains what he discovered.

BOOK SUMMARY:
This book is written by a former atheist who became a Christian after several years of questioning our society's common perceptions regarding Christianity. Some chapters deal with matters of faith such as prayer, redemption, salvation and sin. Others address issues like Christian hypocrisy, why bad things happen, miracles, and the Christian view of war. Some are about the seemingly contradictory relationship between science and religion that are discussed in chapters on scientific peception, creation and evolution. Other subjects, like the sometimes cruel and violent history of Christianity, "Born Agains" and the Christian view of the Jewish people don't fit neatly into any category. The common denominator is that each addresses an issue that can be misunderstood and create a distorted, unfair and negative view of the faith. Finding Faith in a Skeptical World is written in an understandable, interesting and down to earth way in brief chapters.

AUTHOR BIO:
C. William "Chet" Galaska was born in 1951. He began his college career at Drew University in Madison, NJ and graduated from the University of Hartford, West Hartford, CT with a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration. In 1979 he co-founded a company that casts stainless steel for use in corrosive industrial applications that grew into a multi-million dollar enterprise and was its president for 24 years before changing careers and becoming a real estate investor.

His credentials are defined by what he is not. He isn't a theologian, pastor, Ph.D. or a philosopher but is a typical person who was an unbeliever, influenced by the same things as other skeptics, who became a Christian after several years of investigating the faith with an open mind.

He served as Chairman of the New England Chapter of the American Foundry Society, played rugby, earned a Private Pilot's License, is a Certified Scuba Diver, has skydived, is a roller coaster aficionado, likes traveling and enjoys having new experiences. He lives with his wife, Lisa, in Massachusetts. They have two grown sons, Jon and Drew.

You can find out more at his website and blog.

MY THOUGHTS:
The short chapters and down-to-earth style of writing make this an easy read. Based on the author's former experience as an atheist, it is aimed, as the title suggests, toward those who are skeptical of the claims of Christianity. I would suggest using this book as a springboard for conversation rather than just giving it to an unbeliever without follow-up. The book has many good points but its simplicity results in it being simplistic at times. There were a few places I felt could be misunderstood, as I initially disagreed with some statements but then realized upon closer reading that his choice of words simply skated precariously close to the edge of that disagreement. However, the book is not intended to be a deep theological thesis but a practical discussion of faith and its relation to a host of common questions.

Finding Faith in a Skeptical World may be purchased at Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

I have been provided with a copy to give to one of you! Just leave a comment on this post by noon CDT tomorrow (5/28) and I will draw a winner. (Continental US residents only, please.)

Happy, Faith-Filled, Reading!

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