Bacon

Are 4 pieces of bacon too many to put on my salad? If so, I can just eat one.

Nutty Bars

Those Little Debbie Nutty Bars I bought on a whim at BJ's? What was I thinking? They are TERRIBLE for you! I can't give them to the kids as a treat. I'll just have to eat them myself.

Finished: Robinson Crusoe

I know this book has wonderful insights and value to it, but here are my two thoughts:

1. What!? No chapter breaks?

2. I thought his guy Friday was a main character. He doesn't show up until over half the book is through!

Robinson Crusoe, Daniel Defoe

Finished: The Lightning Thief

A terrific middle school book by Rick Riordan, this has just the right mix of Greek mythology and modern day life to make a good read. John - pass on the rest of the series to me, will you?

This is much better than the movie (of course). Percy Jackson and the Olympians are seemingly challenged, ADHD, dyslexic kids who are actually offspring of gods and mortals. An interesting way to explain dyslexia...their brains are hard-wired for Greek, which they can read just fine.

I know my son will like these books when he gets a bit older.

The Lightning Thief, Rick Riordan

The Great Physician

One stanza of a myriad, by George Herbert.

Now heal thyself, Physician; now come down.
Alas! I do so, when I left my crown
And Father's smile for you, to feel his frown:
Was ever grief like mine?

Just For Laughs

This is the kind of thing I find hysterical! Catalog Living.

Talk to the Man

When you're in the grocery store, make sure you stop and chat with the Herrs' man if he's stocking the shelves. He's got coupons in his pocket!

On My Towel

Always looking for good reading material in the bathroom, I resorted to reading the tag on the hand towel. I thought I'd pass along the very interesting information that it contained.

"Machine Wash Warm. Tumble Dry. Wash Dark Colors Separately and Before Using. Do Not Bleach. Avoid Contact With Medication Containing Benzoyl Peroxide."

Cars

It's really hard to find a used car these days. Everything is pre-owned.

Finished: The Wrecker

True to Clive Cussler, The Wrecker was Tom Clancy on sedatives. I say that because while Clive is somewhat enjoyable as a story-teller, and knows his "train talk", he doesn't compare in his ability to come up with as complicated and marvelous of a plot.

An easy read.

The Wrecker, Clive Cussler

Finished: Diary of a Wimpy Kid

A far cry from the other book I just finished!

This was highly recommended to me by someone who doesn't know me well and referred to me to form an opinion by someone who does.

Horrible.

And that's all I have to say about it.

The Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Jeff Kinney

Finished: Anne Bradstreet Pilgrim and Poet

It is always an encouragement and a discouragement to me to read of godly women, their trials, and their response.

Anne Bradstreet is no exception.

Bearing severe trials, she constantly put her eyes back onto Christ. I want to be that way. I desire to have nothing but a God-ward look when I am pressed to disbelieve or despair. But in reading her life and her poetry, I realize that her godliness is not separate from her sin. She is so real about her struggles and temptations. Similar to King David, she lays out her fears and through her pen-song, is brought to an ever-increasing trust in her Saviour.

A pilgrim I, on earth perplexed
with sins, with cares, with sorrows vexed,
by age and pains brought to decay,
and my clay house mould'ring away.
Oh, how I long to be at rest,
and soar on high among the blest!

Mine eyes no more shall ever weep,
no fainting fits shall me assail,
nor grinding pains my body frail;
with cares and fears ne'er cumbered be
nor losses know, nor sorrows see.

And when a few years shall be gone,
this mortal shall be clothed upon...
in weakness and dishonour sown,
in power 'tis raised by Christ alone.

Lord, make me ready for that day,
Then come, dear Bridegroom, come away.

Anne Bradstreet: Pilgrim and Poet, Faith Cook

Target Practice

I guess this product is why Target is called Target.

Finished: Our Mutual Friend

You know, if you give a character the name Eugene and make him dispicable, it doesn't really matter what happens in the end, does it?

This is a definite read-again, as I believe all Dickens are. Love the characters, love to hate the characters, love to see how they carry on together or destroy one another...

Our Mutual Friend, Charles Dickens

The Forecast

I suppose if you're from Mercury, 87 degrees may be considered colder.

Finished: Fahrenheit 451

A good point made in this novel...

Toward the end, the main character is told he is Ecclesiastes. In other words, he is the one that carries it around in his head, so he is classified as the carrier of that book. Aren't we, as Christians, to become the words that we read in Scripture? If we carry God's Word in our heads and in our hearts, then they should change us. We should become known by the Word imprinted upon us.

Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury

Excerpts: Seeing With New Eyes

"Those you counsel must know that God is gracious. They must receive and depend on real grace. No one can truly change who does not know and rely on gifts from the hand of the Lord. Since Christ is both Giver and Gift, attempts to change without grace are barren of the very purpose, power, and Person that change is about. Self-manufactured changes do not dislodge almighty me from the center of my tiny self-manufactured universe. Still in the futility of my mind and the hardness of my heart, I only act a bit different. Successful living without grace describes mere self-reformation: get your act together, save your marriage, get off your duff and get a job. Failure in living describes failed self-efforts: when you can't get a grip, you despair. Christless, grace-less attempts at change conclude either with the praise of your own glory or with your shame."

Seeing With New Eyes, David Powlison, Chapter 2, p 48

Successful Parenting

Ed Welch of CCEF posted this the other day, and I found it encouraging. Well, as encouraging as something can be when you realize that you haven't "arrived".

I was challenged in contemplating the question, "What are you learning about Jesus?"

What am I learning about Jesus?

And if I can't come up with something, then get in the Word!

Finished: Pudd'nhead Wilson

Entertaining Mark Twain. Wouldn't read it again, but glad I read it once. I'll hang on to it.

Pudd'nhead Wilson, Mark Twain

Finished: Moll Flanders

Weird. A book purporting to be against immorality by revealing the (successful!) life of an immoral woman and her supposed redemption.

Interesting. Not really worth an additional read.

Moll Flanders, Daniel Defoe