On bekahcubed
Book Reviews:
- Get Married by Candice Watters
I planned to get married June 10, 2006. I set the date in 1999 and had my dad reserve the time in his PalmPilot. It’d be perfect. I’d be 21, so I could enjoy champagne at my wedding if I liked. I’d have only a year left in college, so unless I ended up with a honeymoon baby, I should be able to finish out my bachelor’s degree. And if I didn’t? Meh. I’m all about the stay-at-home-mother thing, and don’t necessarily need a degree for that.
- Lost in Rooville by Ray Blackston
What do you get when you cross two couples, a trip to the Australian outback, and a quest for the perfect place to propose?
A perfectly hilarious novel.
- Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow by Jessica Day George
“Beauty and the Beast” was always my favorite Disney fairy tale. I identified with the bookworm Belle–and was absolutely enthralled by the strong and (sometimes) silent Beast. I was disappointed beyond belief when the final ball would come and the Beast and Belle swirl across the dance floor–only to become Belle and, well, whoever that guy is.
Jessica Day George’s Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow is an unparalleled story of Beauty and the Beast. Based on the Norse story “East of the Sun, West of the Moon” rather than the French version used in Disney’s retelling, George’s story has a unique, Scandinavian twist.
Photo Albums:
- Debbie’s Shower (Church and Family, May 1)
Recipes:
- Ginger Lentil Stew
I made this quick and easy (and cheap) stew earlier this week to use up a leek that had been sitting in the bottom of my fridge. It was fantastic–perfect for a rainy spring day!
On the web
Laugh out loud funnies:
- The Guy who takes credit for answered prayer:
“Am I surprised that the prayer was answered? Not really. That’s what I do. I’m like the Justin Bieber of answered prayer. I make hits. Am I surprised that it took so long? Yeah, a little bit. I took some time off from my prayer training this winter and probably need to get back in shape. I’ve got a 2.3 week average on getting prayer answered, so that it took Brian 4 weeks to get a job is a little disconcerting.”
I think I might be guilty of this. It’s just so excited when you pray for something and God says yes. It makes me want to do a little victory dance–“He agrees with me!” (Or maybe it should be–“For once, I agree with Him.”)
- Shakespearean insults for when you’re lacking inspiration:
Take that, thou puking fen-sucked moldwarp!
HT: Abraham Piper - A rather depressing birthday song…
HT: Abraham Piper - Ted Kluck on Carman’s “Witch’s Invitation”
This had me seriously busting a gut.“Carman is welcomed into the house of the witch, who is wearing some sort of a smoking jacket (red) and has a fu Manchu moustache. He also has lots of scary occultish stuff in his house like “Horoscopes[4]” (Carman’s words), a Dungeons and Dragons board game (apparently he’s a really nerdy witch), and a bird in a cage (some people find birds scary).
Like all Carman videos, the narrative involves Carman sizing this guy up and then somehow “defeating” him, because as Carman theology has taught me, we’re (Christians) here primarily to dance in abandoned warehouses and win fights.
My favorite line of dialogue, uttered by Carman (narrating the story): “I sat literally intimidated.”
Scariest Moment: In a terrifying production value flourish reminiscent of Degarmo & Key’s “666” we learn that Carman also has a skull underneath his face.
Best Moment: (Spoiler Alert) After preaching to the male witch, Carman leaves the house in a huff and slams the door! The witch’s make-it-yourself-at-home pentagram glass wall hanging falls to the floor in pieces. Cut to the birdcage to reveal a pile of feathers at the bottom. Carman killed the bird! Justice prevails!
See the video:
Books for the TBR list:
- Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons
How have I not heard of this? Apparently it’s a classic parody of the even-older classic romantic pieces where a young orphaned girl goes off to live with her rather awful relatives–you know the stories… - The Last Time I Saw You by Elizabeth Berg
The story of a 40th high school reunion. This must be a book club read, ’cause my library has TONS of copies. - Pearl of China by Anchee Min
A biographical novel about Pearl Buck’s life in China. Fascinating. - Radical by David Platt
A pastor challenges his congregation to live radical lives for the gospel instead of tame lives chasing the American dream. That’s a challenge I/we would all do well to take up. If I wasn’t convinced by Lisa’s review (shown above–which I was, BTW), I’d still have to read it based on these comments to a different Lisa’s post mentioning the book. And then there’s this review from Carpe Libris. - She Walks in Beauty by Siri Mitchell
Christian romance amidst the flurry of an 1890’s debutante season. - Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life by Donald S. Whitney
Carrie had me when she wrote of Donald S. Whitney:“If you’ve ever read a book by Jerry Bridges and liked it, then I’m pretty sure you will like Donald S. Whitney’s approach to sharing doctrine and motivating his reader to apply it to life. He has the same kind of easy going manner, and yet despite his calm demeanor, he never waivers in his devotion to truth.”
Jerry Bridges has long been one of my favorite authors. Four years ago, Bridges preached a sermon to a group of Navigator college students in Jacksonville, Florida. God used that sermon to transform my understanding of justification–and to transform my life thereby. If Whitney’s anything like Bridges, I want to read this book.
Projects to try:
Thought-provoking posts:
- I mentioned the guilt-motivation for giving when I reviewed The Power of Half a couple of weeks ago. This article from Desiring God talks about true motivation for Christian giving.
“The Bible does not use the guilt-producing motivation, yet it powerfully argues for the ministry of mercy. In 2 Corinthians 8:2-3, Paul tells us that the Macedonian Christians gave generously to the Jerusalem famine victims. He notes that “out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity” (v. 2). The Macedonians were not of a higher social class than the needy in Jerusalem. They apparently were going through terrible trials of their own. What, then, was the dynamic that moved them to give? “Their overflowing joy . . . “ (v. 2) and “they gave themselves first to the Lord” (v. 5). It was the Macedonian’s response to the self-emptying Lord. Their gifts were a response, not to a ratio of income levels, but to the gift of Christ!”
- Expositional Preaching. Not gonna lie, I’m a fan. It ensures that we don’t skip or gloss over parts of the Bible.
“That is where expository preaching that is verse-by-verse and text-by-text and chapter-by-chapter and book-by-book doesn’t allow you to ride a hobbyhorse. It doesn’t allow you to enter into that imbalance. It takes you on to the next truth, which you then have to prepare yourself to teach and to preach.
I don’t think we are very good, arbitrarily, at setting a sense of balance for ourselves.”
HT: Challies DOT com
- The Simple Wife on being intentional in friendship. This one’s still a work in progress for me.
Videos worth seeing:
- Prodigal. A beautiful song from Sovereign Grace Music accompanied by a beautiful animation.
HT: Vitamin Z - “At the Red House–where black people and white people buy furniture.”
HT: Abraham Piper - Sunday morning Trailer–Great ironic piece about the “relevant” “contemporary” service.
“Sunday’s Coming” Movie Trailer from North Point Media on Vimeo.