Real Marriage DVD Kit

There's been so much controversy about Mark Driscoll and his book and book tour of "Real Marriage." I will admit, I wasn't looking forward to this DVD series and so I gave it to a friend who is doing the group study in her small young marrieds community group. She's actually going to give me a better, more in depth write up of the study. From what I looked it, (without doing it in a group) is a DVD kit that looks like it would be excellent for use in a small group. There's an openness in the DVD that promotes people to be open about their own struggles; there are topics addressed that would be difficult to approach had it not been brought up in the DVD. The questions are probing but constructive. I am looking forward to hearing what my friend thought of it in a group couples setting. Mark Driscoll often gets in trouble for the brash way he can come across but many really need to hear the straightforwardness of his words and, though I might not always like or agree, I am thankful for him and his ministry. I received a copy of the DVD by booksneeze. The views I hold are my own.

Words I Loathe

"Buy In"

Oh how I cringe when I hear the word "buy in" in church. Why is it like this? Why do we need to get our own people, people who come to church faithfully and worship freely, to manipulate them to "buy in" to what the church is doing and its existence?

Why?

It fills me with sadness and yet, it's such a reality: marketing, making it attractive and presentable.


Why isn't the Gospel and the Glory of God enough of a "buy in"?

Everything

Everything by Mary DeMuth is a good, challenging book! It is broken up into 3 sections. Part 1 is Head - What We Think. Part 2 is Heart - Who We Are and Part 3 is Hands - How We Live. Basically, these three components add up to 'everything'. Jesus wants our everything - Head, Heart and Hands.

At the end of every chapter are Questions for Reflection and Discussion, that really add to the book. These questions would also be useful if you were to do this in a group study. Mary writes from the heart and is very sincere and passionate, as well as very open about her life and journey. Because of this, it doesn't sound like a sermon, but one person earnestly sharing her journey with others.

Everything is a good, challenging book. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would.

Traditions

Traditions. I'm finally realizing how important they are, especially to kids. Growing up Christmas always had a few traditions in my family. Fist, we always went to my Granny's house for Christmas Eve. The train, an old Lionel train set, was always out for the evening, and usually involved quite a bit of coaxing and fixing to get it to work properly. It always ad a certain old locomotive-liquid smoke smell to it.

My Granny always had a white flocked Christmas tree, decorated with red Cardinal birds, harkening her back to Kentucky, or so she said. And though she was rather confined to a state of being less mobile and on oxygen, she still commanded and had an opinion on every ornament and bird placed on that tree, in a nearly scary way. As a child, this evening took forever because it was very methodically organized: first we'd arrive, and talk, talk, talk and finally we'd eat. Then the kids would all sing Happy Birthday to Jesus, even though I don't think my Grandma was a believer or even remotely religious! And out of the freezer would come some snowballs. I haven't a clue where shed' purchase them, but they were a ball of vanilla ice cream covered with white coconut and topped with a fake holly and ivy sprig that held the candle so we could sing to Baby Jesus and blow out our candle. After that, it was present time, but it was all excruciatingly slow!

Likewise, we alway received pajamas on Christmas Eve to wear to bed that night, and in the morning Santa always arrived and we'd play and enjoy the morning until it was time to go to my Grandma's home for the other side of my family's celebration.

A few years ago I stumbled on Elf on the Shelf and we now have an Elf named Gabriel that visits every December. He hides and shows up somewhere new every morning. My kids so enjoy waking up and finding him and what crazy antics he's gotten into. Last year I purchased a Nativity set from Africa and my kids love to look at it and see Baby Jesus. Every year we help decorate my inlaws tree and I take photos and we have soup and enjoy hanging out together. It pretty much signifies the start of Christmas, and is a tradition we all look forward to.

This year we put our lights and tree up days before December 1st and it's been so enjoyable! Our stockings are hung, Christmas Decorations out, Advent calendar stocked with candy and goodies. We're set.

The week before Thanksgiving I saw a tweet from Compassion International linking a website that was donating proceeds to their oganization for all those who purchased a "Cradle to the Cross" wreath. Intrigued I looked into it and kinda on an impulse, placed an order. You can check out the website HERE. . It's a wood spiral with holes to hold a candle. Every day you move the candle and the wood Mary sitting on a donkey, on hole forward. For my family, we wanted to have a lot of lighted candles, so we stocked the whole thing with candles and will light an additional one each day in December. It's only the second day but already it's a highlight of the evening meal where we light the next candle for the duration of dinner.

Traditions. It feels so good to have traditions and hope that it creates a strong and sweet memory, as well as reinforce our Christian faith and reflect on what Christmas truly means. .

The Voice New Testament

A few years ago I happened upon a small book called The Voice Revealed by Chris Seay. It was a small book that was pretty much the same selection as ini this Bible, except this is the entire New Testament as well as some other features.

This book highlights images and the story of Scripture. The word "story" is pretty big these days. I've heard at a conference that "the one who tells the best story wins"... not sure what that really means exactly. This book, because I have a hard time saying it's a true translation, is a myriad of innovative ways to express story. Some parts are like a screenplay. Other features include notes, a topical index, four different reading programs, helpful resources and an easy to read innovative way of telling Scripture. While I think it is a good supplemental Bible, I wouldn't use it as my "main" Bible.

Still, as an aid or way to further read Scripture in an engaging unique way, I can see its merit. I have an older copy of this BIble without all the notes and features and I like this new updated version better. It's layout is cleaner and easy to read and navigate. It has more of a book introduction and more features. It also has a pretty cover. It is paperback and the pages are similar to any paperback, not a "bible" feel to it. Though I wouldn't use this as my everyday Bible, I can see how someone might enjoy using this to supplement their reading.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Where Has Oprah Taken Us? - Review

I will admit, I've never been a "follower' of Oprah. Sure I'd watch a show here and there, and I think i did read one of her book club selections once but I never really "got into" Oprah, so imagine my surprise by how much I enjoyed this book, Where Has Oprah Taken Us by Stephen Mansfield.

This is a biography of Oprah and yet, also a commentary on society and culture, intertwined. Oprah really created culture, not just reflected it. The book recounts her fascinating life and what shaped her, the good and the bad, chronicling her resolve and her belief systems that have evolved over the years. Though well-revered and loved by many, she isn't perfect, and in fact, she'd probably be the first to tell you that! It's part of her charm and appeal: In many ways, this influential, wealthy, confident woman faces the same fears and struggles as everyone.

I didn't know much about Oprah's life and this book is a good introduction into it. Really, the woman is fascinating and the way the book is written makes it difficult to put down. What might be dry simply isn't because of the subject matter. I also really enjoyed how Stephen Mansfield wrote this: as a biographer and trying to report without bias, yet bring up several questions and concerns along the way. He'd often put his own opinions and observations in italics and that was one of the most thought-provoking parts and really made the book more meaningful to me.

Oprah has definitely left a mark on how we view religion and spirituality and how we view ourselves as well. No longer is spirituality something dictated by others, we are now in control of what we believe and how it shapes our lives. Of course, I disagree here but the reality is: this has shaped our culture and I think it is good to really reflect on that so we can understand our culture and why this is so appealing.

Intriguing and thought-provoking book. I recommend it.

Thoughts on Father Hunger

Father Hunger by Douglas Wilson is a book that is worth reading. There's a lot of controversy these days about what "masculinity" is and who should lead in a household. There are too many households that have an absent father or one that doesn't take their role seriously. In fact, there are many today that minimize a father's role in the life of children.

This book addresses the value and influence fathers have on their families, what masculinity truly is, how men should be leaders in the home and may other issues. It can at times be a bit dry but all of it is valuable and insightful.

A great book that challenges men to lead and lead well, and also how God is our perfect Father. Truly excellent book.