Athlete

I was sitting in a park watching one of my youth girls play softball yesterday and I was reminded that I once had an unassisted triple play when I was younger. It was a hotly contested kickball game during recess when I was in the fifth grade. I doubt anyone else that was there even remembers it, but let me tell you that it was amazing.

Confession

I have a confession to make. My wife and I were out and about this evening when we happened across a KFC. I'm a sucker for testing and trying new food products and KFC has one. Perhaps you've heard about it in the news. It's called the Double Down. It consists of two pieces of boneless chicken. Not chicken tender size but full breast size. These pieces of fried chicken act as the bun. In between the two pieces of deep fried goodness resides bacon, cheese, and a sauce of some sort. There is no bun. It's a chicken sandwich in the purest sense.  Most questions concerning it revolve around its nutritional value. Having now  recently partaken of one of these concoctions, I lend my voice to the crowds that decry it's total lack of nutrition. The only problem I have was that it was amazing. We split one just for fun, but we were both surprised that it was so good. The chicken was moist and juicy and there was quite a bit of it. Both the cheese and sauce were tasty. And the bacon? Well, it's hard to ever go wrong with bacon. The end result was surprising but extremely satisfying. 

I would love to try another, but it will be a tough argument between my taste buds and my brain that knows something like that will shorten my life expectancy. 

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Growing Up

As I write this, my son is sleeping in his own room. I know that doesn't sound special, but it's his first night there. He's more than ready to transition into a bed and our apartment just doesn't accommodate both he and his sister each having a bed in the same room. Just not enough space.  So the crib and various other pieces of furniture have exchanged places to allow this. Later this week we'll be bringing the bed. I sit here and realize my children are growing up so fast.  Before I blink this moment will be gone. That is why I played hide and seek with my children tonight. I assure you that hide and seek with only four small rooms to hide in isn't much of a challenge, but it was worth it.  Too fast this moment will be gone forever.    

Check Out My Diploma

I have a confession to make. I had a couple of speeding tickets about two years ago. One I absolutely deserved. There were extenuating circumstances with the second and I think it was undeserved. Anyway, you pay your fine and move on with life. That is, you move on with life until it comes back to bite you.

In updating some church insurance information, my name was submitted as a primary driver of the church van. The insurance company ran a check on me and declared me ineligible to drive the van. Seems they don't like those speeding tickets acquired back in my youth (ahh...to be thirty again).

This presented a problem and problems need solutions. I called our insurance provider and they offered me probation on one condition, I had to take their online defensive driver course. I really had no choice so I accepted their offer. As of this morning, and after a grueling online course and test, I am now a diploma carrying defensive driver.

Now I have to live with the shame of being on probation. I wonder if they'll assign me some sort of parole officer?

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The Meeting is Done

I know it sounds odd, but we just had our 2009 annual church business meeting today. Actually, I like the way we work it. The winter months are rather unpredictable here in Ohio and instead of promoting a meeting that might have to be canceled, we simply wait until March for our meeting. Considering this is April, you can tell that the winter storms affected us and we had to push it back a little more. I doubt anyone looks forward to business meetings, but they are necessary to keep a church running. Sounds like a lot of things we have to do in life. No deeper thoughts than that.

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Book Review - Forget Me Not

Today's book review is for "Forget Me Not" by Vicki Hinze.

My Thoughts
This book has been a tough one for me to review. It's not a bad book, but it's not great either. The story moves along at a decent pace, but sometimes I felt like the plot was being forced along and not allowed to develop naturally. And maybe I'm just extremely perceptive, probably not but I'll run with it, but I felt is was obvious from early on why Benjamin's wife and son were murdered. The other major twist, which I'll politely not even mention in case you read the book, again seemed obvious early on. In addition to those, I'm just not much for love stories that rapidly develop within matter of days. Once again, it seemed forced. Finally, I felt that scant little information was provided concerning this shadowy organization that the characters are suppose to fear. These little details hinder what overall wasn't a bad storyline.

There are some decent twists and turns that keep you intrigued. I won't deny that I was reading more chapters in a sitting than I intended to simply because I wanted to know what was going to happen next. That fact alone bodes well for any story. That's why this review is mixed. I enjoyed the story, but I think it could have been better. If you like a mystery with a little romance thrown in you'd probably appreciate the book. The call is yours.

Publisher's Info
Crossroads Crisis Center owner Benjamin Brandt was a content man—in his faith, his work, and his family. Then in a flash, everything he loved was snatched away. His wife and son were murdered, and grief-stricken Ben lost faith. Determination to find their killers keeps him going, but after three years of dead ends and torment, his hope is dying too. Why had he survived? He’d failed to protect his family.

Now, a mysterious woman appears at Crossroads seeking answers and help—a victim who eerily resembles Ben’s deceased wife, Susan. A woman robbed of her identity, her life, of everything except her faith—and Susan’s necklace.

The connections between the two women mount, exceeding coincidence, and to keep the truth hidden, someone is willing to kill. Finding out who and why turns Ben and the mystery woman’s situation from dangerous to deadly. Their only hope for survival is to work together, trust each other, and face whatever they discover head on, no matter how painful. But will that be enough to save their lives and heal their tattered hearts?

Author Bio
Vicki Hinze is an award-winning author of twenty-three novels, three nonfiction books, and hundreds of articles. Selected for Who’s Who in America in 2004 as a writer and educator, Hinze is active in Romance Writers of America and serves as a Vice President on the International Thriller Writers Board of Directors. Vicki lives in Florida with her artist husband, a retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel. Visit www.vickihinze.com to learn more about Vicki’s books, blogs, and writing programs.


My favorite place to buy books is Amazon and you can find the book there. Or of you are inclined, you can find out more about it from the Random House web site.

This was book was provided for review by WaterBrook Multnomah, a division of Random House.

On Facebook? The original post resides at www.focusedjourney.com.

When Something Is Missing Part 2

Yesterday's story was the opening to my message on Sunday from the 13th Psalm. I tried to bring out the idea that the Psalm lacks what I would consider a climax (as introductory story). We have David lamenting the fact that it feels like God has abandoned him and that his enemies are going to triumph. The tension builds as David cries out to God for an answer. Without an answer he surely will die and all his enemies will celebrate his demise. All this brings us to the point in the psalm where we want a climax. We want the answer to come, a solution to arise, and the enemy to be defeated. In short, we want God to step into the story and do something.

Yet, God never steps into the story. We're expecting a climatic moment for God's power to be displayed, and what we get is something very anti-climatic. We get nothing. After all the build up, David ends the psalm by declaring that he will continue to trust, rejoice, and sing for God has been good. He goes from complaining that God has forgotten him to singing because God is God, and nothing in the story has changed.

My point I felt was simple to understand, but harder to accept. God can and does still answer prayer. There are climatic points in our lives were we need God to step in and he does just that. However, and I can't explain why, there are other times when God chooses not to step in. Moments where we desperately need God, and he remains silent. The climax of our story doesn't come. When that happens, we're left with a choice. Is faith in God dependent upon him doing things for us, or is it based on belief? Belief that he is God both when he steps into our story and when he chooses not.

Maybe it just resonated with me, but I thought it was a good word.

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When Something Is Missing

The year was 1987. A seventeen year old girl raced down a maze of New York alleys. The area around a wicked slash in her jeans was quickly becoming stained red. The pounding of footsteps and shouts of men pushed her on. She was lost and tired, but if she stopped she was dead. Two wrongs turns and a backtrack brought her into the view of her pursuers. Trying to duck into another alley, she lost her footing on some loose gravel and went tumbling down. She lay on the pavement dazed. Then, without warning, they were there. Rough hands grabbed her and pinned her to the ground. A foot was placed solidly on her neck and pressure slowly began to be applied. She coughed as it became harder to breathe. They had found her and now she was going to die. Through the pain she looked up past the buildings into the night sky and saw the most amazing thing.

An Amazing Feeling

Yesterday I was able to do something amazing. At least it was amazing in my opinion. I went to my bank’s web site and I clicked the option to pay bills. On the following screen, I choose to make a payment on my student loan. Then, I wrote in an extremely large number, verified it, and clicked pay. With that mouse click I officially paid off my student loan. It was an incredible feeling. One step closer to being completely debt free. I guess that means the car is about to break down. Anyway, rejoice with me for the day at least.

Book Review - This Little Prayer of Mine

Today's book review is by my wife Kelly and is for "This Little Prayer of Mine" by Anthony DeStefano. Illustrations are by Mark Elliot.

My Thoughts
This is a cute children's book. It is written as a prayer to show kids how and what to pray. It shows two children in different aspects of life and how they can pray during those times. I liked that it included asking God to help in making good choices and showed asking for forgiveness when wrong. The pictures are nice and show great detail. I read it to my four year old and she enjoyed it too.

Publisher's Info
Author Anthony DeStefano’s adult books, The Prayers God Always Says Yes To and A Travel Guide to Heaven, have sold a quarter-million copies. Illustrator Mark Elliott’s cherished artwork has appeared in popular picture books and novels for young readers, including Gail Carson Levine’s ever-popular Princess Tales series.

Now, these acclaimed inspirational experts have come together to create This Little Prayer of Mine, a beautiful and alluring book designed to guide children into a very simple, real and expressive relationship with God.

Through engaging rhymes and alluring illustrations, This Little Prayer of Mine shows children—and their parents and grandparents—that complete dependence on God is what brings peace and fulfillment. It invites children to know and believe that God is always just a simple prayer away and that He longs to respond to them with a resounding, “Yes!”
This Little Prayer of Mine appeals to readers from all different faiths. Easy-reader format allows children to read alone, or with someone older, and encourages them to openly express their fears, thanks, and needs directly to God.

Author Bio
Anthony DeStefano is the author of The Prayers God Always Says Yes To and A Travel Guide to Heaven. He has received prestigious awards from religious organizations worldwide for his efforts to advance Christian beliefs in modern culture.

Mark Elliott’s brilliant illustrations have appeared in popular picture books and novels for young readers, including Gail Carson Levine’s Princess Tales series. His acclaimed artwork delivers inspiration, wonder, and timeless beauty on every page.


My favorite place to buy books is Amazon and you can find the book there. Or of you are inclined, you can find out more about it from the Random House web site.

This was book was provided for review by WaterBrook Multnomah, a division of Random House.

On Facebook? The original post resides at www.focusedjourney.com.

Book Review - An Absence So Great

Today's book review is by my wife Kelly and is for "An Absence So Great" by Jane Kirkpatrick.

My Thoughts
This book is the sequel to A Flickering Light, which I read before and blogged about. When I read the first book, I was not too thrilled about the story line as some of the elements of the plot I did not agree with. After reading this one I found out that it is based on the life of the author's grandmother. The story is very good. She takes the truth of her grandmother's life and makes it an enjoyable story. I recommend both books to get the full story. It was a good book.

Publisher's Info
Inspired by the engaging stories told through her grandmother’s photographs taken at the turn of the century, award-winning author Jane Kirkpatrick provides a portrait of the tension between darkness and light in the soul of a young woman pursuing her professional dreams.

Despite growing in confidence as a photographer, eighteen-year-old Jessie Ann Gaebele’s personal life is still at a crossroads. Hoping she’s put an unfortunate romantic longing behind her as “water under the bridge,” she exiles herself to Milwaukee to operate photographic studios for those ill with mercury poisoning.

Jessie gains footing on her dream to one day own her own studio and soon finds herself in other Midwest towns, pursuing her profession. But even a job she loves can’t keep those painful memories from seeping into her heart, and the shadows of a forbidden love threaten to darken the portrait of her life.

Author Bio
Jane Kirkpatrick is an award-winning author of sixteen historical novels, including A Flickering Light, the first part of Jessie Gaebale’s story, and three nonfiction titles. Known for her unique insights into the exploration of community, family and faith of actual historical women, the Wisconsin native and her husband have called their ranch in Oregon home for the past 25 years.


My favorite place to buy books is Amazon and you can find the book there. Or of you are inclined, you can find out more about it from the Random House web site.

This was book was provided for review by WaterBrook Multnomah, a division of Random House.

On Facebook? The original post resides at www.focusedjourney.com.