Recap (May 23-29)

Book Reviews:

• Eye Contact by Cammie McGovern
  

  “When Cara’s autistic nine-year-old son Adam witnesses the murder of a classmate, Cara’s already stressful life goes insane. Adam has regressed–any advances he’s made fly out the window in light of the trauma he’s experienced. At the same time, the police want to learn anything they can from their sole witness, the elementary school and nearby middle school are doing everything they can to maintain order, and Cara runs into a reminder of her past.”

• Forgotten God by Francis Chan
  

  I saw the video on Vitamin Z and thought “I have got to read that book.

  I did something unusual for me. I didn’t interlibrary loan it. I didn’t request that the library purchase a copy. I went out and purchased a copy of my own.

  For the record, “The Big Red Tractor” is not a book trailer for Forgotten God. No sneak peeks of the book included. But, like any good parable, “The Big Red Tractor” whets the appetite for more. “What do you mean by that?” we ask. “What is the tractor? Who is the farmer? What is the owner’s manual?”

  I have a copy of this and would love to lend it to anyone who wants to read it–on one condition: you have to be willing to tell me your thoughts once you’re done. If you’re interested, let me know via Facebook or email (b3master@menterz.com) and I can figure out how to get it to you.

Photo Albums:

• Sister’s Spa Night (Menter/Brunk girls, May 28)
  The boys went camping and potato-gun shooting (out of town so it wasn’t illegal). It was supposed to be their last hoorah before Daniel gets married and John leaves for boot camp. We ladies decided to have our own fun with a Beauticontrol spa night “catered” by Debbie’s coworker Nikki. We had a WONDERFUL time.
  

Books for the TBR list:

• In the President’s Secret Service by Ronald Kessler
  A friend (Joanna) read this and mentioned that she enjoyed it. When I saw Susan’s review in the monthly Nightstand carnival, I knew I needed to add it to my TBR list. I love behind-the-scenes stuff (and who doesn’t want the scoop on some of our former presidents’ “private” lives?) I have since found this in my library’s online audio book collection and am currently listening to it. It really is pretty great.

News to take note of:

• Olfactory Reference Syndrome: Probably the coolest disorder ever.
  

  “ORS has been described around the world for more than a century,” Phillips explained. “It consists of a preoccupation with the belief that one emits a foul or offensive body odor which is not perceivable by other people.”

• Scientists create the first “synthetic cell”
  Dr. Fazale “Fuz” Rana of Reason’s to Believe explains why the recent creation of “artificial life” by Craig Venter’s team is evidence FOR design in this podcast.

  “This is a third approach that says ‘We think that life is the work of a designer because we know from empirical experience now that to make life requires ingenuity, careful planning, careful manipulation of chemicals in the lab under exacting conditions in order to generate life forms.”

Thought-provoking posts:

• Are we “training our brains to pay attention to the crap”?:
  Please pardon my French. It’s a quote and I wasn’t sure quite how to modify it.

  “Dozens of studies by psychologists, neurobiologists, and educators point to the same conclusion: When we go online, we enter an environment that promotes cursory reading, hurried and distracted thinking, and superficial learning. Even as the Internet grants us easy access to vast amounts of information, it is turning us into shallower thinkers, literally changing the structure of our brain.”

  HT: Challies.com

• Sandra talks about “organic mentoring”:
  

  “Organic mentoring is just what the name implies- mentoring that is natural. Women naturally become friends. The “younger” woman begins to ask questions. The “older” woman finds more and more to share. Naturally, organically, they find themselves covering all the topics Paul lists in Titus 2:3-5.”

  I think we all could do well to seek ways to incorporate “organic mentoring” into our lives–both as “older women” and as “younger women”.

Videos worth seeing:

• Wintley Phipps shares about Negro spirituals, the pentatonic scale, and Amazing Grace. This video is absolutely amazing–totally worth your nine minutes. (I had tears running down my face by about halfway through.)
  
  HT: Challies.com