Stronger Than You Think review

Kim Gaines Eckert / IVP Books (InterVarsity Press)
Subject: Pastoral Helps; Women
p $15 ISBN:9780830833733
Women who long for wholeness, admit something is missing, and are willing to engage on a journey toward emotional healing are stronger than they think, Gaines Eckert says. As a practicing counselor, she uses helpful examples and real-life situations. Her realistic approach offers tips, suggestions, activities, and images to assist readers on the journey, but acknowledges there’s no quick fix to life’s deep pains and difficulties.
“God’s intent is not to help us avoid pain and maximize pleasure,” she says. Rather, God intends to help us grow up in Christ, as we find wholeness in community with Him and others.
Stronger Than You Think is ideal for group study, as each chapter concludes with “Tools for the Journey,” and the concluding section is dedicated to discussion/reflection questions. Readers who take the message to heart will find Stronger Than You Think worth far more than the suggested retail price.

Practical Justice review

Kevin Blue / Likewise (InterVarsity Press)
Subject: Chr. Ministry/Missions
p $13 ISBN: 0830833684
Practical Justice exposes the disparity that exists when Christians show little concern for injustice. It calls Christians to service—even if it means discomfort or suffering.
Blue doesn’t pretend serving the poor equates earthly benefit, though he says, “no act of love is wasted.” You aren’t the beggar’s judge, the author says: “Let us not be fooled into not giving for fear of being fooled.”
The book follows through on the title’s promise of practicality. Many useful examples are provided, including fasting with a friend from entertainment for a month and giving what you would have spent to/for someone in need.
This challenging read will spur justice-minded Christians to do more for the poor and may encourage the apathetic to action. Practical Justice is one of the first from the Likewise line, named after Jesus’ command to “Go and do likewise.”

Tagged

I was reading Margaret Feinberg’s blog today and she said, “if you're reading this consider yourself tagged,” which means I get to answer these questions here, and if you’re reading this, and you have a blog, consider yourself tagged.

1. What’s the most fun work you’ve ever done?
Writing magazine articles, reviewing books, music, and movies.

2. What's one thing you did in the past that you no longer do but wish you did?
Running. I love it, but it’s not worth the sciatic pain it now provides me.

3. What's one thing you’ve always wanted to do but keep putting it off?
Write a book.

4. What two things would you most like to learn or be better at, and why?
Learn: Music—how to play the piano and harmonica (I’ve never had a talent for music, but I’d like to conquer my fear of being incompetent at it) and how to fly an airplane (I’ve loved my experiences as a passenger in 2-seaters, and would love the thrill and challenge of being the operator—plus, it runs in the family).

Become better at: swing dancing (it’s fun and I want to be able to dance with anyone) and swimming (it’s a great workout and my missing link to being better at triathlons).

5. If you could take a class/workshop/apprentice from anyone in the world living or dead, who would it be and what would you hope to learn?
If Jesus isn't an option, I might say Leonardo da Vinci. I would hope to learn how to use my brain and abilities to their full capacity.

6. What three words might your best friends or family use to describe you?
Caring, beautiful, encouraging

7. Now list two more words you wish described you…
fearless, confident

8. What are your top three passions? (can be current or past, work, hobbies, or causes)Writing, relationships, health

9. Write–and answer–one more question that YOU would ask someone (with answer in three sentences max)

What is one step you can take toward doing that thing you’ve been putting off?

I hope that the fiction-writing class I’m taking will help me get closer to writing the book that is in me.

Wine and friends improve with age

Happy Birthday, Abbie!

Overwhelmed

I’ve been feeling a little overwhelmed with life because there’s so much going on. And there's so much more I want to do in this year, and during this lifetime.

I bet you can relate. Here are some things that may help:

1. Surround yourself with people who will speak truth to you. Select a group of close, intimate friends who know you. Don’t even try to fool them, but allow them to tell you who you are, who God is—and let that transform your life.

When conversing with friends this weekend about resolutions, one of them asked if we could suggest resolutions for each other. I gleaned valuable insights from these dear friends’ suggestions. Another question: What gift do you feel you have, but haven’t been exercising? Resolutions often fixate on what we’re not good at, but what if we focused on some talents/skills/gifts we’d like to improve upon?

2. Make a commitment to cut the excess baggage out of your life.
What is most important to you? A leadership principle called the 80/20 rule says 20% of the things in your life create 80% of your success. And 80% of the things you spend your time on only give you 20% of your successes. Find the top 20% of the things you are good at that yield the most results and cut the 80% of things that are basically wasting your time.

Searching for Wisdom

Psalm 90 is full of rich wisdom, and offers for me a prayer for the coming year.
It says: for God, a thousand years are as a passing day, as brief as a few night hours.
He may give us 70 or 80 years on earth—but even the best years are filled with pain and trouble; soon they disappear, and we fly away.
May we ask God to teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.
And may the Lord our God show us His approval and make our efforts successful.
May He teach us to live wisely and well.

Tardy

Happy New Year!

I'm a bit late ushering it in blogdom, and since life seems a little too hectic right now to spend time blogging, I'll offer an easy pic.

A few of my favorite things: abode in Montana

dog, Chewy

new(ish) Subie, Jade