Every Now And Then

(I had started another blog to review books and CDs on, and have never done much with it. I am transporting those to here, so the most of the posts posted today have are old. I want to close the other blog, but wanted to keep the posts.)

I think I stated in my first post on this blog that I may review books on here also, so here goes.

Karen Kingsbury is my favorite author. She has a way of telling a story and making a point at the same time. In her fiction books, she has dealt with forgiveness, depression, marital unfaithfulness, even pornography, among other issues. I am not giving fiction the same importance as the Bible, or even church, but Jesus himself often used a story to get a point across, and many is the time I have put down a Karen Kingsbury book after reading it, feeling a new determination that I could make it. God can use anything to encourage and/or convict, and I believe that Karen Kingsbury is being used of God with the stories she writes.

This book, Every Now And Then, is book three in her 911 series, a look at fictional characters directly influenced by the events of 911. This book takes up now, 7 years after the tragedy. Alex Brady is the main character. Seven years ago, he lost his dad/best friend among the other rescue workers. At age 18, he became a different person, and shut God and everyone else.

To combat the bitter emptiness in his life, he set out to rid the world of all criminals that crossed his path, terrorist, or just local criminals up to no good. Working as a deputy with his K9 companion, Bo, he tried to avenge his father's death by putting away men like the ones who had been responsible for his father's death.

I won't give too much away, but the story shows how someone can change from a person who trusts God, but faced with a tragedy, gives up on God. It also shows how that same person can come back to God, and that He truly never gives up on us. I personally think this is one of her best books, but that could be because the book spoke to me. The plot is great, there is drama and excitement, and even danger and romance. What more could you ask for?

Christmas Music...The Best & Worst

(I had started another blog to review books and CDs on, and have never done much with it. I am transporting those to here, so the most of the posts posted today have are old. I want to close the other blog, but wanted to keep the posts.)

Warning, my personal opinions & tastes are abounding in this post.
Since I am finally listening to Christmas music, the music I love, I thought I'd blog about it. Here are my top 10 lists. :-)

First off, in my opinion, the worst Christmas songs out there, songs that make me cringe and want to change the station or turn the radio off, these are the ones that immediately come to mind:

1) Blue Christmas: Elvis

2) Santa Baby: Madonna

3) Ave Maria: anyone

4) Jingle Bells: Sandy Patty

5) I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas: Dr Dementia, I think

6) Little Drummer Boy: Johnny Cash (he doesn't do the pa rum pa pa pums - annoying)

7) Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays: N'Sync

8) Santa Claus Is Back In Town: Elvis

9) Same Old Lang Syne: Dan Fogelberg

10) Baby, It's Cold Outside: by anyone


My top 10 Christmas albums:

1) A Family Christmas: Talleys, 1988, in my humble opinion, the best Christmas album ever, in any genre'

2) Still The Greatest Story Ever Told: Gaither Vocal Band

3) The Magic of Christmas: Garth Brooks

4) Music of Christmas: Steven Curtis Chapman

5) It's Christmas: Talley Trio

6) It Feels Like Christmas Again: Jeff & Sheri Easter

7) This Christmas Time: Lonestar

8) Once Upon A Christmas: Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton

9) A David Phelps Christmas: David Phelps

10) Home For Christmas: Amy Grant


Top 10 Religious Christmas Songs (non-carol)

1) Still The Greatest Story Ever Told: Gaither Vocal Band

2) Mary Wrapped A Present: Hoppers

3) Come On Ring Those Bells: Evie

4) Our God Is With Us: Steven Curtis Chapman

5) Night Before Christmas: Amy Grant

6) Mary, Did You Know: Kenny Rogers & Wynonna Judd

7) Reason For The Season: Lonestar

8) I Can Still Celebrate Christmas: Talleys

9) The Gift Goes On: Sandy Patty

10) We Are The Reason: Avalon


Top 10 secular Christmas songs:

1) Hey Santa! Wendy & Carnie Wilson

2) With Bells On: Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton

3) It's Christmas: Ronnie Milsap

4) Tonight Is Christmas: Alabama

5) Merry Christmas, Darling: Carpenters

6)Tennesse Christmas: Amy Grant

7) Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree: Brenda Lee

8) Christmas In Dixie: Kenny Chesney/Alabama

9) The Gift: Jim Brickman, Colin Raye, Susan Ashton

10) I Believe In Santa Claus: Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton


Top 10 carols & Older religious Christmas songs

1) Mary's Boy Child: Anne Murray

2) Silent Night

3) It Came Upon The Midnight Clear: Talleys

4) Joy To The World

5) Do You Hear What I Hear: Vince Gill

6) Hark the Herald Angels Sing

7) Angels We Have Heard On High

8) Beautiful Star of Bethlehem: Kingsmen

9) I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day: Gaither Vocal Band

10) Away In A Manger


OK, I was a little bored, but it did entertain me. :-)

The Real Enemy

(I had started another blog to review books and CDs on, and have never done much with it. I am transporting those to here, so the most of the posts posted today have are old. I want to close the other blog, but wanted to keep the posts.)

People are missing. Every day, a different person disappears, without a trace. As police chief Brill Jessup tries to find the missing people and unravel the mystery, it seems they have no leads, and the victims have nothing in common, or do they? As she tries to keep the mayor and media at bay while working on the case, she is still dealing with the aftermath of her husband's admission of infidelity.
The real enemy in the book is not the criminal masterminds, but bitterness. Woven throughout a great story of suspense, is also the story of a wounded woman, determined never to forgive, and not realizing her bitterness and unforgiveness is hurting her more than anyone else.
Kathy Herman has 3 series and a stand alone novel under her belt. She isn't the new kid on the block anymore. This, in my not so humble opinion, is her best yet. The first of a trilogy of books in a new series. She did something neat for this series: posted some photos on her website of the town she modeled her fictional town after: http://www.kathyherman.com/
I was the first person to comment on her site about the book, and received a nice reply:
"Hi Mark,

You're the first official reviewer . THANKS. I think you've outdone yourself too. How could I get a better review now-lol? Seriously, thank you. I loved writing this story. My publisher and editor fell in love with the characters, and I hoped my readers would. Your encouragement came at just the right time.

Believe it or not, my editor and publisher also think book two, THE LAST WORD, is better yet. I hope they're right. But the main thing is that the stories touch hearts and bring people closer to Christ. If I've done that, I've succeeded.

I appreciate your support of my work. Thanks for taking the time to make my day.

Blessings,
Kathy"
If you have never read anything by Kathy Herman, and like clean Christian suspense, this book is a good place to start. Check it out. It even has a good read guarantee with it.

When All Around Has Fallen

Ran across these song lyrics today, and though I have never heard the song, or the group, really liked the words to this song, When All Around Has Fallen:

When all around has fallen your castle has been burned
You used to be a king here now no one knows your name
You live your life for honour, defender of the faith
But you've been crushed to pieces and no one knows your pain

Come, come lay your weary head be still my friend
Come, rise I'll place my sword upon your shoulder
Come, rise with me

When tomorrow has been stolen and you can't lift your head
And summer feels like winter your heart is full of stone
Though all your hopes have fallen your skin is now your only armour
Wear your scars like medals defender of the faith

Come, come lay your weary head be still my friend
Come, rise I'll place my sword upon your shoulder
Come, come lay your faithful head, be still my friend
Come rise with me
(Song by Delirious)

Do we care enough?

This thought has come to me many times over the years. Are we truly concerned enough, and really care about, loved ones and friends who do not know Christ?

Our Sunday School lessons have been on Revelations for several weeks now. The Second Coming, the tribulation, the anti-Christ. It has awakened me to the fact that Christ's second coming is close. Closer than it has ever been. It has also made me more determined to be ready when He comes.

His coming could be a hundred years from now too, though doubtful, but we are not guaranteed tomorrow. I just heard of a tragic accident last night. A couple killed instantly in a head-on collision by a semi truck as they traveled home from a vacation in Gettysburg, PA. (http://www.altoonamirror.com/page/content.detail/id/521458.html?nav=742) They left behind an eight year old boy, and some older kids in their 20's. The woman was my third cousin, though I didn't know her well. As far as I know, they were both ready to meet God. But what if they hadn't been? If you or I die tomorrow, will we be ready?

This may come across as judging, but I do not intend it to be. I don't know what goes on behind the scenes. but I have known people over the years who had children far from God. Yet many of them never request prayer in church for them. Never go to the altar under a burden of prayer for them. Now I know one doesn't have to express it in public to be concerned, but it does make me wonder....have we really caught the vision of our loved ones bound for hell? If they die without Christ, will we look down at their body and wish we had done more? (And yes, people may pray and cry their eyes out at home....I am leaving room for that.)

I have been worried about one of my friends lately. Endless emails, chats, and nothing seems to really get home. In church, we ask if anyone has any unspoken prayer requests, and my hand goes up for him. I have asked some people to pray for him. I have lost sleep, cried, prayed....and wonder is there more I should do? If he died tonight without Christ, would I wish I had done more?

I really don't intend to judge people who never seem to show any outward concern in public about unsaved children. I do believe if we all got a vision of hell, it would cause us all to strive to get closer to God, and we would do everything in our power to get unsaved loved ones to God.

There is an old song that goes something like this:

Lord, lay some soul upon my heart
And love that soul through me
And may I nobly do my part
To win that soul for Thee

I am not out to condemn anyone. I do believe that Christ is coming soon, that eternity is forever, and we all need to pray harder for our friends and relatives who are not ready to meet God.

That's My Child

I have screwed up a lot in my life. I will be the first to admit it. And as I come crawling back to God to ask His forgiveness for the umpteenth time, I always feel so ashamed. I don't deserve His grace and forgiveness, but I guess that is exactly what grace is....not getting what we deserve.

This is bad to admit it in public, but during the sermon this morning, my mind started wandering - don't tell my pastor! The words of a song was playing through my mind (lyrics below) and I got to wondering about something. If we can - and do - displease God by our actions, then on the flip side, isn't it entirely possible - and likely - that when we stand firm in the face of temptation, and not fall or give in - that He is proud of us? Just like we are proud of a child, loved one, or friend, who makes progress or does something well?

As elementary as the truth may be, and for as many times as I have listened to the song, that truth never hit me before. That God might actually be proud of me when I do right. The idea feels pretty good. As the song referenced says, He might just look down and say with pride "that's my child!"

That's My Child

Have you ever watched a daddy
As he watched his little boy
When he would say Daddy's name for the very first time
How his eyes would feel with joy
Have you ever watched that daddy
Watch his little boy
Ride his bike for the very first time
He'd proudly say, "hey that's my boy."

Have you ever watched a mama
As her eyes would fill with tears
When her little girl would say "Mamma I love you,
You're the bestest mama in the world"
Have you ever watched a mamma
As she watched her little girl
Play the piano for the very first time
She'd proudly say, "hey that's my girl."

Now we have a Heavenly Father
Who loves us even more
He watched over all His children
As they face their earthly toils
And I believe He smiles with pride
Every time we overcome
I believe He stands and looks over Heaven's portals
And proudly says, "that's my child."

Chorus
That's my child there
Tell me, did you see him
When the enemy came against his soul
He just looked our way
Angels come on over here
I want you to see him
That's my child there
And very soon the Father's going to send us
To take him away
That's my child

Fishing and Ambition

Ran across this story and liked it, so thought I'd pass it on.


One day a fisherman was lying on a beautiful beach with his fishing pole propped up in the sand and his solitary line cast out into the sparkling blue surf.

He was enjoying the warmth of the afternoon sun and the prospect of catching a fish.

About that time, a businessman came walking down the beach trying to relieve some of the stress of his workday. He noticed the fisherman sitting on the beach and decided to find out why this fisherman was fishing instead of working harder to make a living for himself and his family.

“You aren’t going to catch many fish that way,” said the businessman to the fisherman, “you should be working rather than lying on the beach!”

The fisherman looked up at the businessman, smiled and replied, “And what will my reward be?”

“Well, you can get bigger nets and catch more fish!” was the businessman’s answer.

“And then what will my reward be?” asked the fisherman, still smiling.

The businessman replied, “You will make money and you’ll be able to buy a boat which will then result in larger catches of fish!”

“And then what will my reward be?” asked the fisherman again.

The businessman was beginning to get a little irritated with the fisherman’s questions.

“You can buy a bigger boat and hire some people to work for you!” he said.

“And then what will my reward be?” repeated the fisherman.

The businessman was getting angry. “Don’t you understand? You can build up a fleet of fishing boats, sail all over the world, and let all your employees catch fish for you!”

Once again the fisherman asked, “And then what will my reward be?”

The businessman was red with rage and shouted at the fisherman, “Don’t you understand that you can become so rich that you will never have to work for your living again! You can spend all the rest of your days sitting on this beach looking at the sunset. You won’t have a care in the world!”

The fisherman, still smiling, simply looked up, nodded and said: “And what do you think I am doing now?” He then looked at the sunset, with his pole in the water, without a care in the world.