I like to read Christian books, whether fiction or nonfiction. I am always looking into the deeper things, not always to find answers but to see what else is out there. I know that ultimately I can turn to the Bible for insight and answers. A lot of the non-fiction Christian books will quote scripture and relate something to that scripture reading so that you can better understand it. At some time or another, we all question things about life, about God and I think it is good to turn to "good" Christian readings to help you find answers to those lingering questions.
This book Furious Pursuit is a book that was compiled by two gentlemen. Tim King is a former pastor, marketing executive, and magazine editor. Frank Martin is director of the Furious Faith Ministries and the author and co-author of more than 14 books. The question that is the reasoning behind this book is why must we always pursue God, why can't he pursue us? Through many stories, these two authors discuss, how God does pursue us but do we really pursue him. To quote from the book, "you're not defined by what you've done. you're defined by who pursues you." They mention in this book how we humans only believe in what we can see, what is tangible. We let what others think and say determine what we believe. We must stop reading what others have said about Christians yet look into the heart of the Giver of Life.
King and Martin state that "God not only chases you, but that he has never left your side." What the authors convey in the message of this book is that God has never left your side. He sees everything in your heart but despite what he sees in that heart, He still pursues you because He understands you. What King and Martin want readers to get from this book is to stop relying on yourself for everything and rely on God and grow in a relationship with Him.
I enjoyed reading this book, the only thing I did not like about it was that in the beginning as they were relating stories to the topic, it felt as if they were saying the same thing over and over but with a different ending. However, despite that, I felt that what they wanted to convey and get across was done well. I liked how they quoted scripture and threw in some stories from the Bible. I believe the point of this book is to tell people that they are missing out on something big and greater than they could ever imagine. And that when things don't seem to be going exactly how they feel it should go, they should know that God is always there for them.
Recommended Fiction:
The Shack by William P. Young--I read this book a few months ago. I have never read a more moving Christian fiction book than this one. Mackenzie Allen Phillip's daughter was abducted during a family camping trip in Oregon. Evidence has appeared that she was murdered in this abandoned shack. Four years goes by and Mack receives a suspicious note, saying see you at the shack...Papa. Mack decides to go and see what this is all about and what he discovers there will change him forever. It is a must read!
The Struggle by Nancy Rue
Recommended Non-fiction:
Furious Longing of God by Brennan Manning
Too Busy Not to Pray: Slowing down to be with God by Bill Hybels, Lavonne Neff, Ashley Wiersma
Thursday, August 5, 2010
The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch w/Jeffery Zaslow (Memoir)
I have had this book on my shelf for a year now. I went out and bought it when I found out that Jeffery Zaslow, the man who would help Randy Pausch put his thoughts onto paper, was coming to homecoming at the chiropractic college I work for. I had heard the story of Randy Pausch and the "last lecture" he gave at Carnegie Mellon before he died from pancreatic cancer. When Zaslow spoke of Randy, he shared what he had learned from Randy and gave us more of an insight to the person Randy Pausch had been. He discussed how he helped Randy put his lecture, his thoughts into words on paper. I was able to meet Zaslow and have him sign the copy of the book I had. It says, "Karlene, I hope Randy's story reminds you of your own childhood dreams." I don't know that his story reminded me of my childhood dreams because I wasn't a huge dreamer, I just knew I didn't want to be a struggling single mom like my own mother. I guess I can say that even though I started out on that road, I have ended up on the road of my childhood dream. I do however, tell my kids to dream big, that whatever they dream, go out and make it yours.
Randy Pausch was an amazing human being even before he was diagnosed with a terminal cancer. He talked about how great his parents were to him and his sister. They were not spoiled kids who got whatever they desired, no they were taught to be appreciative of the things you have right in front of you. He dreamed big. He wanted to work for Disney, he wanted to float in space, he wanted his name in the World Book Encyclopedia. In some form or another, Randy was able to fulfill those big dreams. He talks about taking a sabattical from University of Virginia and working for Disney for 6 months in the Imagineering Department. He didn't get to go to outer space to float but was able to float in the NASA gravity plane. And he was even asked to write something on virtual reality for the World Book Encyclopedia. Randy perservered no matter what he did, if a brick wall went up in front of him, he would find a way to get over it. That is one thing he said that everyone should do.
In this book, Randy told many stories from his childhood to when he gave his lecture. Much of the book he re-told the things he talked about in his one hour lecture. He spoke of how he met his wife Jai and each of his three children, Dylan, Logan, and Chloe and what they all meant to him. How he wanted to leave each of them something that would help them remember him. He did talk of his hurt, the hurt of how he was going to be leaving his family behind but that he was going to make the best of the time he had with them. He made everyone he touched think, think about who they are and what they could accomplish if they dreamed big.
This was a very good memoir and I'd recommend to anyone who has not read it, to take some time and read it. It is a quick read, it will make you laugh and it WILL make you cry. But it will also make you think of who you are. Randy described himself as a Tigger and not an Eeyore. He lived life bouncing and trouncing and having fun, even despite what was lying ahead for him and his family.
Recommended Fiction:
The Tales of Adam by Daniel Quinn--a book of life, nature and humankind.
The Daughters of Joy by Deepak Chopra--a book on passing sacred lessons of love from generation to generation.
Recommended Non-fiction:
Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom
Morrie: In his own words...by Morris Schwartz
Randy Pausch was an amazing human being even before he was diagnosed with a terminal cancer. He talked about how great his parents were to him and his sister. They were not spoiled kids who got whatever they desired, no they were taught to be appreciative of the things you have right in front of you. He dreamed big. He wanted to work for Disney, he wanted to float in space, he wanted his name in the World Book Encyclopedia. In some form or another, Randy was able to fulfill those big dreams. He talks about taking a sabattical from University of Virginia and working for Disney for 6 months in the Imagineering Department. He didn't get to go to outer space to float but was able to float in the NASA gravity plane. And he was even asked to write something on virtual reality for the World Book Encyclopedia. Randy perservered no matter what he did, if a brick wall went up in front of him, he would find a way to get over it. That is one thing he said that everyone should do.
In this book, Randy told many stories from his childhood to when he gave his lecture. Much of the book he re-told the things he talked about in his one hour lecture. He spoke of how he met his wife Jai and each of his three children, Dylan, Logan, and Chloe and what they all meant to him. How he wanted to leave each of them something that would help them remember him. He did talk of his hurt, the hurt of how he was going to be leaving his family behind but that he was going to make the best of the time he had with them. He made everyone he touched think, think about who they are and what they could accomplish if they dreamed big.
This was a very good memoir and I'd recommend to anyone who has not read it, to take some time and read it. It is a quick read, it will make you laugh and it WILL make you cry. But it will also make you think of who you are. Randy described himself as a Tigger and not an Eeyore. He lived life bouncing and trouncing and having fun, even despite what was lying ahead for him and his family.
Recommended Fiction:
The Tales of Adam by Daniel Quinn--a book of life, nature and humankind.
The Daughters of Joy by Deepak Chopra--a book on passing sacred lessons of love from generation to generation.
Recommended Non-fiction:
Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom
Morrie: In his own words...by Morris Schwartz
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Jerusalem's Lot by Stephen King (short story horror)
This story was one of the short horror stories in a book titled Night Shift. I have read some horror stories from time to time, mainly back in my youth when I could handle reading them. Call me chicken but I can't handle reading them too much these days. This story, however was not that bad and what I liked most was that it was short.
This story is a series of letters that this Charles writes to his friend Bones about his life at this house in inherited from his cousin. The story is set back in the 1850s. Charles discusses his health, which apparently was not well, this is not greatly discussed in the letters. At random times he would talk about his fever returning and his lungs healing, I kind of got the impression he had lung cancer or something. Charles notices that people in the town fear him for some reason but he can't figure out why. He has hired some ladies to clean the house for him and one of them Mrs. Cloris knows why people fear him. He finds out that some family members of his seemed to have "cursed" the home, yet he and his helper Calvin discover that it lies deeper than just a curse inside the home. They hear noises in the walls and in rooms, curiosity getting the best of them they discover what the noises are and why. They also find out that some of Charles' family members were into satanic rituals.
I liked this story because it wasn't gross scary, you know the kind of scary that keeps you awake at night or causes you to see things while you sleep. I found it interesting how Stephen King wrote this as a letter, I felt it made it easier to read and made me feel less tense while reading it. There are 20 other stories within this book, not sure I'll read them. Even though I didn't find this story scary, I just don't think I'll continue in reading horror stories.
Recommended Fiction:
I do recommend reading more Stephen King books. He's a great writer who has been around for a long time. However, I'll recommend 2 other books that I think would be great reads.
Song of Kali by Dan Simmons
I am Legend by Richard Matheson
Recommended Non-Fiction:
Readings on Stephen King by Karin S. Coddon
On Writing Horror: A Handbook by the Horror Writers Association
This story is a series of letters that this Charles writes to his friend Bones about his life at this house in inherited from his cousin. The story is set back in the 1850s. Charles discusses his health, which apparently was not well, this is not greatly discussed in the letters. At random times he would talk about his fever returning and his lungs healing, I kind of got the impression he had lung cancer or something. Charles notices that people in the town fear him for some reason but he can't figure out why. He has hired some ladies to clean the house for him and one of them Mrs. Cloris knows why people fear him. He finds out that some family members of his seemed to have "cursed" the home, yet he and his helper Calvin discover that it lies deeper than just a curse inside the home. They hear noises in the walls and in rooms, curiosity getting the best of them they discover what the noises are and why. They also find out that some of Charles' family members were into satanic rituals.
I liked this story because it wasn't gross scary, you know the kind of scary that keeps you awake at night or causes you to see things while you sleep. I found it interesting how Stephen King wrote this as a letter, I felt it made it easier to read and made me feel less tense while reading it. There are 20 other stories within this book, not sure I'll read them. Even though I didn't find this story scary, I just don't think I'll continue in reading horror stories.
Recommended Fiction:
I do recommend reading more Stephen King books. He's a great writer who has been around for a long time. However, I'll recommend 2 other books that I think would be great reads.
Song of Kali by Dan Simmons
I am Legend by Richard Matheson
Recommended Non-Fiction:
Readings on Stephen King by Karin S. Coddon
On Writing Horror: A Handbook by the Horror Writers Association
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card (SciFi)
I'm not generally big into reading science fiction books, so I had to ask someone that I know that writes some science fiction what I should read, he recommended Ender's Game. I had been hearing great things about this book, especially since taking this class. I have to say I found this book rather fascinating and thought provoking, but at some points a little weird. But isn't science fiction like that sometimes?
Ender, also known as Andrew, is a little boy who is called a Third. He is the third child born to his parents and is considered special because of that. However, not everyone finds a Third special. Ender has a monitor attached to the back of his neck, a device that is used by I.F. (International Fleet) to monitor children who they might be able to use in the war against the buggers (aliens I'm guessing). Ender gets told that his monitor is going to come off, which to him means he was not chosen by I.F. to be a part of their mission. This scares Ender because having this monitor on protected him from his brother Peter, who was mean to him quite frequently. Now with the monitor off, he did not have the I.F. there to protect him. It left the door open for Peter to hurt Ender and make him feel like he didn't exist. Colonel Graff comes to see Ender, Graff sees something in Ender that no one else does. He believes that Ender is the one that is going to save the world from the buggers. Ender is only 6 years old, he has to decide whether to stay with his family, the only one in his family that he wants to stay for is his sister Valentine who he is close to. Or should he go up into space to learn to become part of saving the world from the buggers. He would not see his family for a very long time. Ender chooses to go, hoping that things will be different up there, however it does not start out that way. Everyone knew when Ender appeared that he was the one that was going to save the world. At such a young age he goes through many trials and tests. I had wondered if he would make it after reading everything he goes through with the other kids there and all the training he endures.
This was a most interesting book and can see why Orson Scott Card won awards for this book, it is truly deserved. He makes you feel as if you are really there experiencing everything that Ender is and feeling bad that such a little child has to go through so much. I'd like to read the other books that Orson Scott Card has written in the Ender Wiggin series.
Recommended Fiction:
I would recommend to read more books in the Ender Wiggin series, such as Ender's Shadow. I'm also recommending a couple other titles to read if you enjoyed Ender's Game...
Dune by Frank Herbert and The Forever War by Joe Haldeman
Recommended non-fiction:
How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy by Orson Scott Card
Understanding the Book of Mormon by Grant Hardy (I recommend this book because I learned that Orson Scott Card is a devout Mormon, so this might be interesting to learn about his beliefs.
Ender, also known as Andrew, is a little boy who is called a Third. He is the third child born to his parents and is considered special because of that. However, not everyone finds a Third special. Ender has a monitor attached to the back of his neck, a device that is used by I.F. (International Fleet) to monitor children who they might be able to use in the war against the buggers (aliens I'm guessing). Ender gets told that his monitor is going to come off, which to him means he was not chosen by I.F. to be a part of their mission. This scares Ender because having this monitor on protected him from his brother Peter, who was mean to him quite frequently. Now with the monitor off, he did not have the I.F. there to protect him. It left the door open for Peter to hurt Ender and make him feel like he didn't exist. Colonel Graff comes to see Ender, Graff sees something in Ender that no one else does. He believes that Ender is the one that is going to save the world from the buggers. Ender is only 6 years old, he has to decide whether to stay with his family, the only one in his family that he wants to stay for is his sister Valentine who he is close to. Or should he go up into space to learn to become part of saving the world from the buggers. He would not see his family for a very long time. Ender chooses to go, hoping that things will be different up there, however it does not start out that way. Everyone knew when Ender appeared that he was the one that was going to save the world. At such a young age he goes through many trials and tests. I had wondered if he would make it after reading everything he goes through with the other kids there and all the training he endures.
This was a most interesting book and can see why Orson Scott Card won awards for this book, it is truly deserved. He makes you feel as if you are really there experiencing everything that Ender is and feeling bad that such a little child has to go through so much. I'd like to read the other books that Orson Scott Card has written in the Ender Wiggin series.
Recommended Fiction:
I would recommend to read more books in the Ender Wiggin series, such as Ender's Shadow. I'm also recommending a couple other titles to read if you enjoyed Ender's Game...
Dune by Frank Herbert and The Forever War by Joe Haldeman
Recommended non-fiction:
How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy by Orson Scott Card
Understanding the Book of Mormon by Grant Hardy (I recommend this book because I learned that Orson Scott Card is a devout Mormon, so this might be interesting to learn about his beliefs.
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