84. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, by Douglas Adams
85. Dawn's Light, by Terri Blackstock
86. Green Lantern: The Sinestro Corps War, by Geoff Johns, et. al.
87. The Prodigal Comes Home, by Michael English
88. Artemis Fowl: The Time Paradox, by Eoin Colfer
89. Darkly Dreaming Dexter, by Jeff Lindsay
90. A Cat under the Mistletoe, by Lydia Adamson
91. The Elves of Cintra, by Terry Brooks
92. The Tide is Turning, by David J. Hartline
The observations (and ramblings) of a Real Person searching for the Real God in the Real World.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Saturday, October 25, 2008
From St. Bonaventure
From his The Journey of the Mind to God. The theological writings of this 13th Century saint were so sound and influential that he is one of only 33 men and women in church history to be named a Doctor of the Church.
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Seek the answer in God's grace, not in doctrine; in the longing of the will, not in the understanding; in the sighs of prayer, not in research ... Look not to the light but rather to the raging fire that carries to soul to God with intense fervor and glowing love. The fire is God, and the furnace is Jerusalem, fired by Christ in the ardor of his loving passion. Only he understood this who said: My soul chose hanging and my bones chose death.
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Seek the answer in God's grace, not in doctrine; in the longing of the will, not in the understanding; in the sighs of prayer, not in research ... Look not to the light but rather to the raging fire that carries to soul to God with intense fervor and glowing love. The fire is God, and the furnace is Jerusalem, fired by Christ in the ardor of his loving passion. Only he understood this who said: My soul chose hanging and my bones chose death.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Book Review
The Prodigal Comes Home, by Michael English with Lynn Vincent.
First, let me say that I never liked his music -- I doubt that I have ever heard a single song of his all the way through. That being said, I was interested in reading his book -- I am a sucker for redemption stories.
In the introduction, he states that this is not an "I'm sorry I had an affair; now please buy my records" book. True enough. But it does at times read like an "I'm sorry I was addicted to prescription painkillers much of my life; now please buy my records" book. He actually covers the affair only briefly. I actually wanted to know more. He spent much more time on his family upbringing, drug addictions, rehabs, arrests, etc ...
I found the book maddening at points. Two specifc times, he uses a one-sentence explanation where I was wanting much more detail. But other parts were terrific, giving insight as to how the christian music industry could make a superstar out of someone whose faith was (by his admission) so shallow.
I don't know what to make of English himself, either. I appreciate the candor he put into parts of the book, but didn't find it candid straight through. And he spends as much time whining about being cut out of the gospel music world as he does admtting to not living right while trying to make various comebacks in that world. Hypocrite? Naive? Maybe just the addictions and insecurities talking? Hard to tell.
The book was frustrating, and the story itself was frustrating. Then again, living the story was more frustrating for English than reading it was for me.
First, let me say that I never liked his music -- I doubt that I have ever heard a single song of his all the way through. That being said, I was interested in reading his book -- I am a sucker for redemption stories.
In the introduction, he states that this is not an "I'm sorry I had an affair; now please buy my records" book. True enough. But it does at times read like an "I'm sorry I was addicted to prescription painkillers much of my life; now please buy my records" book. He actually covers the affair only briefly. I actually wanted to know more. He spent much more time on his family upbringing, drug addictions, rehabs, arrests, etc ...
I found the book maddening at points. Two specifc times, he uses a one-sentence explanation where I was wanting much more detail. But other parts were terrific, giving insight as to how the christian music industry could make a superstar out of someone whose faith was (by his admission) so shallow.
I don't know what to make of English himself, either. I appreciate the candor he put into parts of the book, but didn't find it candid straight through. And he spends as much time whining about being cut out of the gospel music world as he does admtting to not living right while trying to make various comebacks in that world. Hypocrite? Naive? Maybe just the addictions and insecurities talking? Hard to tell.
The book was frustrating, and the story itself was frustrating. Then again, living the story was more frustrating for English than reading it was for me.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
brokenness
This one popped up today on my i-Pod. Had forgotten what a terrific song it is.
Restore My Soul
by Steve Hindalong
as performed by The Choir
I call to you with one lung exploded
From breathing the dust of the earth
With my tongue eroded
From licking the crust of the earth
A tear away from reconciled
A prayer away from whole
Restore my soul
I cry to you with two eardrums blistered
From laughing with preachers of night
With my vertebrae twisted
From dancing with creatures of night
A day away from sanctified
A breath away from whole
Restore my soul
I crawl to you with ten fingers smoking
From turning the pages of sin
With my spirit choking
From earning the wages of sin
A bridge away from justified
A step away from whole
Restore my soul
Restore My Soul
by Steve Hindalong
as performed by The Choir
I call to you with one lung exploded
From breathing the dust of the earth
With my tongue eroded
From licking the crust of the earth
A tear away from reconciled
A prayer away from whole
Restore my soul
I cry to you with two eardrums blistered
From laughing with preachers of night
With my vertebrae twisted
From dancing with creatures of night
A day away from sanctified
A breath away from whole
Restore my soul
I crawl to you with ten fingers smoking
From turning the pages of sin
With my spirit choking
From earning the wages of sin
A bridge away from justified
A step away from whole
Restore my soul
Saturday, October 04, 2008
St. Francis of Assisi
782 years ago today, St. Francis of Assisi passed away. Known mostly for his practice of charity/poverty and love of God's natural world (he is the patron saint of animals and the environment), I appreciate this quote of his on holy living.
"While you are proclaiming peace with your lips, be careful to have it even more fully in your heart. Nobody should ever be roused to wrath or insult on your account. Everyone should rather be moved to peace, goodwill, and mercy because of your restraint. For we have been called to the purpose of healing the wounded, binding up those who are bruised, and reclaming the erring."
Lord, let it be so in me.
"While you are proclaiming peace with your lips, be careful to have it even more fully in your heart. Nobody should ever be roused to wrath or insult on your account. Everyone should rather be moved to peace, goodwill, and mercy because of your restraint. For we have been called to the purpose of healing the wounded, binding up those who are bruised, and reclaming the erring."
Lord, let it be so in me.
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