Cold Tangerines

"Cold Tangerines" by Shauna Niequist

My bestest curly haired friend gave this to me for Christmas. The book is about finding God in every day life. When we do this there is light, hope, love and joy that we couldn't see before. I know that I get bogged down with preparing meals, cleanup, school, discipline, finances and taking care of my family that I forget to see God amidst my busyness. I want to stop. I want to see Him in my every day. I long for this. I long to not live from task to task doing the mundane. I want to remember that God is here, even in the mundane, don't you? "But I'm learning to just keep moving, keep walking, keep taking teeny tiny steps. And it's in those teeny tiny steps and moments that I become, actually, who I am. We won't arrive. But we can become. And that's the most hopeful thing I can think of." I need to become because I know I will never, ever arrive. Who is God asking me to become? Who is God asking you to become?

Velvet Elvis

"Velvet Elvis" by Rob Bell

I got given this book by a dear friend of mine. I admit I devoured it in a measly 4 hours. I have been told that Rob Bell is controversial and I can see why. I have been told to be careful who you loan this book too. But I will say that it rocked me, it changed me and it touched me so that I wanted to scream from my roof. Books get to me, I love them but this book moved me to want to ask all who are close to me to read it. I want to talk about it and to discuss it with all who will listen. Matthew and I have discussed it, I called my friend who read it and talked with him about it, I told my parents and they bought it to read too. For me who has been a Christian since I was little, growing up in the church and reading the Bible for what feels like forever it brought the scriptures back to life. Rob knows a lot about the history and times of the Bible. He really breathed life into the words for me, it was like they were new again and I was reading them for the first time. Part of me feels a little ashamed that this book spoke to me so much because of the controversy but if God spoke to me in the midst I shouldn't be ashamed. I can't begin to explain the feelings that welled up in me when reading this book. You will have to read it and decide for yourself. As with every book I read I glean from it what I can and question what I don't understand so that I find truth and leave behind the rest. One of my favorite quotes, "You rarely defend the things you love. You enjoy them and tell others about them and invite others to enjoy them with you. Have you ever seen someone pull a photo out of their wallet and argue about the supremacy of this particular loved one? Of course not. They show you the picture and give you the opportunity to see what they see." This should be what we do with our faith, exemplifying Christ and letting others see what we see.

Three Cups of Tea

"Three Cups of Tea" by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin

This was a wonderfully insightful book. I am amazed that just one man can accomplish so much. It made me look at the war in Afghanistan so differently. It is a true story of a man who attempted a climb to K2 and wound up lost in a Pakistan village. He was treated so kindly and saw the people there give so much when they had so little. He made a promise to come back some day and build a school. He kept his promise and so much more. "I have seen that community and a close relationship with the land can enrich human life beyond all comparison with material wealth or technological sophistication. I have learned that another way is possible." Sometimes technology and all the things that we have get in the way of the most important thing in our lives, the people we love. "That day, Haji Ali taught me the most important lesson I've ever leaned in my life," Mortenson says. "We Americans think you have to accomplish everything quickly. Haji Ali taught me to share three cups of tea, to slow down and make building relationships as important as building projects. He taught me that I had more to learn from the people I work with than I could ever hope to teach them." When we sit down with people and talk with them, to take the time, we learn so much. "You have to attack the source of your enemy's strength. In America's case, that's not Osama or Saddam or anyone else. The enemy is ignorance. The only way to defeat it is to build relationships with these people, to draw them into the modern world with education and business. Otherwise the fight will go on forever." And as I type this we continue to send more troops to fight a war that has been waging for 8 years. This book will inspire you and lead you to form new ideas on war.

American Anthem

"American Anthem" by BJ Hoff

This was three books in one, 550 pages but oh so good! This book has romance, drama, heartbreak, music and nineteenth-century New York all wrapped up with a Christian theme. The story that is threaded throughout is one of struggle, loss but also of hope in the One who sees us through all of our ups and downs. A favorite quote, "The only thing I know for certain is that God's love is beyond our comprehension. In fact, it seems to me that His love is as much a mystery as His will. As to why He does what He does or doesn't do what we think he should do-well, I suppose that's where faith comes in. Sometimes there's simply nothing else to do but trust Him." That is what faith is about, just trusting in the One who created us, that He is going to do what is best for us, even when we don't understand. Another quote, "We are different kinds of people, we Americans. We come from different countries. We share different beliefs, different traditions, different dreams, and different music. But one thing we share in common. We are all God's children, all blessed by His love and His grace. For truly God has bestowed grace to this nation and its people, so that with all our differences, we might yet exist in unity. May we never cease to be mindful that we will exist as a great nation only as we are faithful to our great God." Wow, how our country and it's people need to hear this now. At a time when our differences are tearing us apart and our leaders have stepped away from the God who gave them the ability to lead. May we as believers strive for unity and not be afraid to make our voices heard where they are needed most. A very good book and one that brings tears to your eyes yet joy to your soul.

Fair Game

"Fair Game" by Carol Cox

This was the second book but not really a series. It had a few of the same characters but the main characters were different. I actually liked this book better than the first one. The book is about a girl who moves to Chicago to find her father and some adventure. She ends up finding romance and God's calling on her life. This one was a little less predictable and a little more intriguing. I enjoyed how the main character persevered despite some difficult circumstances. A little more than half way through the book I got hooked and couldn't put it down. A part of the book that made me think was when a man was people watching and saw a young couple that looked so happy strolling along. Then he said, "But if they hadn't made their peace with God, that happiness would only be temporary. Lord, draw them to Yourself. Let their joy be eternal and not based on the here and now." He prayed for perfect strangers, he saw their need for God, that their earthly joy would soon disappear. I want to be the kind of person who sees with God's eyes and prays for all those who need His lasting joy.

Ticket To Tomorrow

"Ticket To Tomorow" by Carol Cox

This is the first book of two. It is a Christian romance mystery. I am not too big on mysteries but this one wasn't a who done it book so I didn't mind. It was an easy read but not totally predictable. I enjoyed the easy banter between the characters and the way that God was threaded throughout the story. A part that hit home for me was about how we as humans judge people when God is the only one who has the right to judge and how when we stand before God it won't matter our status in this world just that we are His child.

A Severe Mercy

"A Severe Mercy" by Sheldon Vanauken

This book was given to me by my friend, as she is a big fan of C.S. Lewis. This book includes 18 letters to Sheldon from C.S. Lewis. This is a story of a mans journey to Christianity, his love for his wife and his grief in loosing her. It is a touching book of love given and lost. It is an interesting book as to how Sheldon came to research Christianity and thus became a believer. It takes a lot of mind power and thinking to read this book as all who are in it are scholars or writers of some sort but it is good because it does get one to start thinking. Sheldon and his wife make a pact to never let anything or anyone come between their love for one another. It is a beautiful thing that they attempt and even more beautiful when it is God the Maker of love that comes between them. Sheldon deals with his grief in such a touching manner, trying to find the meaning in his wife's death and trying to carry on her love of God. This book is proof that when one seeks God they will find Him and that He works all things, even the death of someone we love, for good.