bekahcubed

Categories Book Reviews, Homemaking

Book Review: “Handmade Home” by Amanda Blake Soule

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My friend read it and loved it.

“You’ve got to read this book,” she said.

I dutifully placed it on my TBR list and waited for it to become available at my library.

It took awhile. It’s a popular book.

But once I got it, I knew why.

It’s filled with gorgeous projects for re-purposing old items into new “pretties” (and “usefuls”) for your home.

Projects range from bags and pillows to children’s toys to “green” items (cloth diapers and women’s cloths) to clothing items to curtains, banners, and table runners.

And there’s the lovely towel rug that I decided to make for myself. I have dozens of vintage towels I saved from my Grandmother’s collection, intending to repurpose them into something. I originally thought I’d make a throw–but for the last year or so, I’ve been thinking I’d use them to make some easy washable bath mats.

Towel rug

Soule’s towel rug, made with a towel and a garage-saled pillowcase, fit the bill perfectly. Having made this one, I’m keeping my eyes peeled for more garage sale/thrift store sheets and pillowcases. ‘Cause I don’t think I’ll be done until I’ve made a whole set of these!

Towel rug

Rating: 4 stars
Category: Sewing Crafts
Synopsis: 30 Household Sewing Projects from Amanda Blake Soule, blogger at SouleMama.com
Recommendation: Lovely projects, pretty pictures, engaging commentary. Sewers and crafters will want to take a peak at this book.

Visit my books page for more reviews and notes.

Categories The Week in Words

WiW: The Happiness of Love

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The Week in Words

“…What you tell me about in the nights. That is not love. That is only passion and lust. When you love you wish to do things for. You wish to sacrifice for. You wish to serve.”

“I don’t love.”

“You will. I know you will. Then you will be happy.”

“I’m happy. I’ve always been happy.”

“It is another thing. You cannot know about it unless you have it.”

~Ernest Hemingway A Farewell to Arms

The young priest explains his conception of love and of love’s benefits to the American soldier. The soldier proclaims that he doesn’t need such love. “I’ve always been happy.”

The priest counters: You only think you’ve been happy because you’ve never known the true happiness of love.

The soldier asks if he can find such love with a woman.

The priest answers that he does not know. The priest has never loved a woman. He has only loved God.

The priest does not know. But I do.

No, dear soldier. You cannot find such love with a woman–just as I cannot find such love with a man.

You cannot find a love that will never disappoint. You cannot find a love that will always satisfy. You cannot find a love that promises forever happiness in any mere man or woman.

You can only find such love in Christ.

“For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.”

~Romans 5:7-11

It is a whole new type of happiness, a rejoicing unknown by those who have only known the pleasures of this earth or the love of a mere human. It is a love that served us while we were enemies, a love that incites in us adoration.

You will be happy when you love Him. Because when you love Him, it will be be because He first loved you. You will be happy when you love Him, because then you will know His love.

Then and only then will you know the happiness of love. “It is another thing. You cannot know about it unless you have it.”

Collect more quotes from throughout the week with Barbara H’s meme “The Week in Words”.

Categories Family & Friends

Sunday Snapshot: Engine Check

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Last Sunday, on my way to church, my car’s “check engine” light flashed on.

Since I’m doing a fair bit of traveling these days with my new job in another town, I knew I wanted to get things checked out quickly.

So I asked my brother Timothy, who works at a car lot, to recommend a place to go.

He said he could read the error if I’d just take my car up to the lot.

I complied, of course.

Timothy reading my engine

We wrote down the error code, returned home to look up what it meant, and quickly did some troubleshooting by the side of the car.

Turns out my gas cap was not fully screwed on and that was causing a pressure reading to “flag” the check engine light.

We screwed the cap on tightly and I drove away.

15 minutes, no money, no problems.

Having family in the “car business” works for me!

Categories Recap

Recap (Sep 12-25)

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New on bekahcubed

Perhaps you’ve noticed that I’m now posting book reviews as part of my regular blog schedule. What with living and working in two towns, I simply do not have the time to sustain a two post a day schedule and write reviews on the side. What’s more, since I do my manual html coding and ftp uploading and the like on a desktop computer located in only one of those cities, it’s just not convenient to do manual coding for things that I want to do on a regular basis (like book reviews!) So expect to see book reviews cropping up more regularly in my daily posts–and disappearing from my “New on bekahcubed” recap posts.

Read Recently

Laugh out loud funnies:

News to take note of:

  • AHA releases a position paper on smokeless tobacco
    Here we go again: “Smokeless tobacco products not a safe alternative to smoking”. Absolutely right. But they ARE a safER alternative to smoking. And they don’t have the same second-hand effects–you’re not poisoning someone else while you’re at it! Grrr!
  • Gas Mask Bra now available to public
    Inventor says “Isn’t that wonderful that women have two breasts, not just one? We can save not only our own life, but also the life of a man of our choice next to us.” Unfortunately, these are only currently available in firecracker red–and in a limited selection of sizes. (HT: Instapundit)
  • Speaking English Makes You Fat!
    Okay, that’s not quite what this article says–but I don’t doubt many an unscientifically minded journalist might report it as such. Let this be a lesson to you about trusting causational conclusions drawn from correlational studies!

On Christianity and Politics:

Categories Memes

(8 Questions x 2) – 1

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I was about to despair at having no memes to do this week, when Carrie open-tagged her readers for an “eight question” post.

Why thank you, Carrie, I think I’ll play along!

While Carrie officially instructed her readers to pick their favorite eight of the sixteen she had received, I have a hard time cutting things down so I just went with all of them–except that I only kept one of the two near-duplicate questions.

Which is why you’re getting (8 questions x 2) – 1

1. What is your favorite children’s book of all time?

I can’t choose. I’m not super attached to little kid children’s books–but I have dozens of early-reader-type chapter books that I love. By which I mean, the Little House books, the Chronicles of Narnia, the Anne of Green Gables series, and a select few others.

2. What is it that you like most about where you live?

I’m close to my family.

3. What is it that you like least about where you live?

I’m close to my family? (Actually, I’m teasing there. I’m not sure exactly. Probably that I’m a renter so I don’t have as much freedom to do whatever I’d like with the house. Then again, I don’t think I’d want to own this house. It wasn’t spectacularly well-built and will probably need a lot of work in the next few years.)

4. Do you have any special fall traditions?

Not really. For all of my life, fall has meant the beginning of school. Next year will be my first year without that, since I’m now working in the private non-academic sector (!) and I should be done with my Master’s by then.

5. What is your favorite holiday, and why?

Christmas. Because… it just is. Because I like an excuse to make crafty stuff for my home. Because I like an excuse to give people things I’ve made. Because I LOVE to feed people. Because it’s a holiday that lasts a month. Because it’s opportunity to spend time with family. And because it’s a celebration of Christ’s birth.

6. Do you still eat sugary kid’s breakfast cereals? Do you have a favorite?

I don’t still eat sugary kid’s breakfast cereals, I now eat sugary kids breakfast cereals. (I never ate them as a kid.) Now I enjoy generic-brand fruit loops every so often (once a week or less).

7. If you could pick any age to stay at (teens, 20’s, 30’s, 100’s), which age would it be?

I don’t know that I’d pick an age to stay at–but I know which age I’ve been internally for quite a while. I think that my soul is the soul of a 35 year old woman. I hypothesize that, while I currently feel older than people my own age (and even many older than me), once I turn 35 I will start feeling younger than everyone.

We’ll see how that little hypothesis turns out.

8. What do you enjoy most, and least about blogging?

Most? Getting compliments. Least? Letting too much of my identity get tied up in how people respond to my blogging.

9. What was your childhood nickname? How did you get it? Are you still called that now? (Oops — I guess that’s three in one!)

One of my first nicknames was “bekahcubed”. I was just learning to talk and my dad asked me what my name was. I responded “Anna” (my older sister’s name.) My dad, concerned that his daughter didn’t know what her name was, replied “No, you’re Bekah. Bekah. Bekah.” He asked me again what my name was. “Anna.” And again and again. New(ish) father that he was (realize that I am only 14 months younger than my older sister), my dad was becoming more and more worried about his daughter. Then he asked me again what my name was and I answered: “I’m Bekah-bekah-bekah!” It was then that he realized that his concern was misplaced. He didn’t have a SLOW daughter–just a playful one! “Bekah-bekah-bekah” became my name–except that it was quickly shortened to bekahcubed (you know, bekah x bekah x bekah = bekah^3)

10. Miracle Whip or mayonnaise?

Depends on what it’s on/with.

11. What is your favorite season and why?

Spring, because I love the contrast of fresh new green grass and soil made soft by the freeze-thaw cycle of winter. Spring, because I love the first day I can take off my shoes and walk barefoot on freshly turned earth. Spring, because I love dropping seeds into the ground and then covering them over. Spring, because I can get back on my bicycle after a long winter’s break. Spring, because there’s fresh lettuce and spinach and rhubarb in the garden. So, yeah. Spring.

12. When you are sick, do you like a lot of attention and pampering, or do you like to be left alone?

What better pampering than to be left alone with a good book and plenty of hot tea?

13. Share one pleasant childhood memory.

I was nine years old, my mom had gone to the hospital. A family friend was taking care of us at our house. Yvonne woke Anna and I up a little after two in the morning to let us know that we had a new baby sister. The boys didn’t find out until morning, but after four boys, Yvonne was thrilled that this was a girl–and she couldn’t help but share her excitement with us.

14. Share a time a hymn ministered to you in a special way.

I was overwhelmed by what lay before me. God ministered to me through “Trust and Obey”.

I experienced a great sorrow. God ministered to me again through “Trust and Obey.”

It seemed like I had no direction. God ministered to me again through “Trust and Obey.”

I have a new job in a new city. My heart is conflicted. God is still ministering to me through “Trust and Obey.”

15. Describe your favorite coffee mug (or show us a photo of it). Why do you like it?

Hmm-I don’t really have a favorite coffee mug. I generally drink my coffee or tea out of a generic looking blue mug with a somewhat rounded shape. I like it because it’s bigger than the souvenir-style mugs.

So tell me now–what about you? Answer a question or two in the comments–or do the whole thing on your own blog or as a Facebook note. I’d love to hear your answers!

Categories Book Reviews

Book Review: “Heavens to Betsy”

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Neither of us knew what book mood we were in so Grace and I started playing the “find a Christian book” game at the library.

The “find a Christian book” game has absolutely nothing to do with finding interesting books to read–and has everything to do with seeing how good you are at identifying Christian novels from their spines. The best players can identify using only the color, font, and graphics on the spine. In other words, the best players don’t even have to read the book’s title.

I, of course, am among the best players :-)

But even I went out on a limb when I selected Heavens to Betsy by Beth Pattillo as a Christian novel. From the spine, it could have been a Christian novel or it could have been some really low-quality chick-lit. But I’d already been successful at several rounds of our game and I was ready to be bold (“Be Bold! Be Strong!” as my dad would sing.)

I turned out to be right. On both counts.

Heavens to Betsy is Christian, of a sort. And it’s chick-lit, of a sort. And its quality is rather poor. But while I generally avoid talking about poor quality, pseudo-Christian chick-lit, I just can’t help but want to say a few words about this title.

It’s about a female pastor.

A single female pastor.

Who is convinced by another single female pastor to do a makeover show.

And who falls in love with another single pastor (this one a guy.)

Yeah.

Wow.

I really don’t have a lot more to say about it.

Except that the whole thing is totally wrong. In so many ways.

The thing that bothered me most?

The assumption the author makes that a woman can’t minister, or even be “in the ministry” unless she’s a pastor.

Completely mistaken.

Very sad.

But what should I have expected from an author who is herself a pastor in the Christian Church-Disciples of Christ (not to be confused with the more conservative independent Christian churches)?

Why’d I read it?

I don’t know.

I guess I sometimes find chick-lit entertaining. I sometimes find Christian novels entertaining.

And Heavens to Betsy was mildly entertaining–if only for the shock value.

Rating: 0 stars
Category: Christian chick lit (of a sort)
Synopsis: Reverend Betsy Blessing struggles with her awkward role as a single, female, interim senior pastor of an aging Nashville congregation.
Recommendation: No need to read. Just gasp along with me as you read my “review”.

Visit my books page for more reviews and notes.

Categories Books, Flashback Friday

Flashback: Bookworm Reminisces

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I’m a reader and I’ve always been, which makes Linda’s book-related Flashback prompt this week kinda fun for me!

Flashback Friday buttonPrompt: Did you like to read when you were a child? What were your favorite genres, books or series? Did you read books because of the author or because of the title/plot? Did you own many books?…

I learned to read at my mama’s knee, and once I had completed the final reader in the “Little Patriots Read” series (I think it was the purple covered Sounds of Joy), I was allowed to get a library card. From then on, I was an avid reader and library patron.

I’m a binge reader–always have been.

The Little House books, the Chronicles of Narnia, and Frances Hodgson Burnett’s A Little Princess were some of my earliest favorites. (I own several copies of each of these today.)

Then I had times of serial mystery binges: Boxcar Children, Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, and the rare Trixie Belden I could find at a garage sale or used store. (A couple years ago, I finished re-reading all the Nancy Drew mysteries–now I’m working on both the Boxcar Children and the Hardy Boys from my local library.)

By my pre-teen years, I was avidly reading Christian romances: Janette Oke, Lori Wick, Gilbert Morris, Michael Phillips. (Lori Wick was one of the first authors I “closed out” on my “read every book” goal–and I’m currently working my way through Oke.)

In fifth or sixth grade, I became addicted to popular pablum. My sister and I collected way too many Babysitter’s Club and Sweet Valley Twins and Friends books. (We threw them all away under conviction in our seventh?, ninth?–sometime during Junior High or High School.)

Then I started reading Harlequins. First, the “Love Inspired” Christian twaddle–and then clean Regency romances that my mom had pre-screened. Then I moved to the not-so-clean Regencies. While I still love certain aspects of the genre, I deeply regret the thoughts and images I allowed into my mind during this period.

In ninth grade, we started a co-op literature class taught by my aunt–and my reading grew up a bit. I started reading Hawthorne and Austen and Beowulf and Hemingway.

I’d read non-fiction throughout my life, but I became a real fan in my late teenage years. Educational theory, medical innovation, grammar, history, memoirs… I loved it.

And most recently, I’ve been binging on…theology.

With regular snacks of all my old favorites, that is!

Visit Linda and follow the links to read some more stories about books!

Categories Thankful Thursday

Thankful Thursday: Settling into two towns

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I’m starting to settle into my double-lives, I think. At least, bits and pieces are coming together to make this wild season of working two jobs in two different towns a bit more workable.

Thankful Thursday banner

Today I’m thankful…

…for the sweet, singing voices of the residents who’ve already become dear to me

…for the lab coat that covers the fact that I can rarely find shirts with long enough sleeves

…for the umbrella that I remembered to bring home from work–allowing me to use it this morning in the rain

…for the blanket under my fitted sheet that keeps the airbed from freezing me to death in the night!

…for the book club that has resumed, giving me something (one thing) other than work that I force myself to take a break for

…for the Bible study that has welcomed me as a half-dweller and sympathizes with my mixed emotions about becoming a full-dweller.

…for the God who graciously grants me each breath, each day, each person, each place.

I have been blessed beyond measure to have such a rich and full life.

Categories Everyday Life

Sign, sign, everywhere a sign

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Five Man Electrical Band had a song:

Sign, Sign
Everywhere a sign
Blocking out the scenery
Breaking my mind
Do this, don’t do that
Can’t you read the sign?

The lyricist dislikes the signs he sees all about.

I agree–sometimes.

But then there are the signs like the ones I’ve seen at various times at my parents’ house:

SignSign

Or the ones at my grandparent’s house:

SignSign

Good-natured signs put up by good-natured people in order to inform or instruct on the basic mechanisms of how a house works.

Do you have any signs in your house?

Categories Following Christ

God Provides

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A week and a half ago, at the last minute, I was asked to teach the elementary-aged Sunday school at my church. As the kids are currently between curricula, I had to come up with the material for myself.

I chose the story of Abraham sacrificing Isaac as my lesson–mostly for the sake of convenience. You see, I’m a true believer in gospel-centered teaching–and that story doesn’t require any work to get to the gospel-center.

Isaac was going to die. God provided a substitute. It’s as easy as that.

Even Abraham’s obedience can’t be simply taken as a moral to-do: “You should obey.” The point of Abraham’s obedience was faith displaying itself in action. Abraham believed that God would be faithful to His promise, therefore Abraham was able to trust God and be obedient to His direction.

So the story of Abraham and Isaac makes a nice text for a gospel-centered teacher.

Then, I was asked to teach for the next week.

I figured I’d just follow the chronology of Scripture. Isaac and Rebekah. Another story of God’s provision–this time of a wife for Isaac.

Abraham had a predicament. His family was all alone in the land of Canaan–and the only women around were godless Canaanites. His son Isaac is single, but he needs a wife if God’s promise that Abraham would be the father of a great nation was to be fulfilled. And Abraham can’t well send his son back to his homeland. He can’t risk Isaac not returning. After all, God had promised to give Abraham’s descendants this land–the land of Canaan.

Abraham sends his servant back to the land of his origin. The servant prays for provision–and God provides a wife for Isaac.

Abraham and his son Isaac had a need. God provided for their need in Rebekah.

The import of this story smacks me upside the head.

God provides.

Last week, we saw Him provide a lamb. This week He provides a spouse in a land without godly women. If I’d gone back a few stories, I’d have seen that God provided water for Hagar and Ishmael when they were in a waterless desert; God provided a son to the barren Sarah; God provided an escape for Lot from the doomed cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.

And here I am worrying about my career, about my future, distressed over the personal barrenness I (and even those around me) see in the city I’ll soon be relocating to. It looks to be a good move for me professionally. Personally, it feels like death to my dreams.

I’m Abraham saying “How can I have a son? I’m old.” I’m Sarah laughing that there might be room for the promise in my barren body. I’m Hagar laying down to die because I have no water. I’m Isaac asking where the sacrifice is, then staring in terror as my father restrains me and places me on the altar. I’m Abraham’s servant asking “But what if no woman is willing to come back with me to marry your son?”

And amidst my need, amidst my lack of faith, God provides.

Not one of His good promises will fail. My needs will never go unmet. God sees my every need and provides. First, He provides me with Himself–my ultimate, deepest need. But then He also provides me with every temporal thing He deems necessary to accomplish His good purposes through my life.

I intended to teach the gospel to some children through a couple of Old Testament stories. I ended preaching the gospel to myself through the same stories. For one truth permeates the pages of Scripture: I, we, all of humanity are desperately needy–and God provides for our needs in Christ Jesus.