Friday Fantasia...

a potpourri of facts and fun

If you have a young person graduating this spring, you must check out Mark Harris' "Find Your Wings." Go here and scroll down to listen to an audio clip, and here are the lyrics.

Here are some of the lyrics:

"I pray that God would fill your heart with dreams
And that faith gives you the courage
To dare to do great things
I'm here for you whatever this life brings
So let my love give you roots
And help you find your wings"

Beautiful song, and so fitting for this time of year.

Mark, of course, was a longtime member of 4Him, the members of which recently decided to go separate ways and pursue solo careers.

Of course, name-dropper that I am, I have to share a pic with you from when I got to meet 4Him when they visited the 101QFL booth at the Gospel Music Association Convention in 2002:


With Andy Chrisman, Kirk Sullivan, Mark Harris and Marty Magehee

Happy Birthday, PyroManiacs!



My friend Phil Johnson celebrated the first anniversary of his blog yesterday, and what a wild ride it has been! PyroManiacs is now a team blog featuring a few other writers along with Phil.

You may not always agree with Phil and Co., but you will doubtless be informed, educated and even entertained.

I must admit, though, I did have to chuckle at Joe Carter's assessment of PyroManiacs
in his recent Royal Rumble in Godblogdom post: "I could say something snarky about Phil’s tone, his views, or his allegiance to Charles Spurgeon and John MacArthur. To be honest, though, I’d rather just take a horse whip to the person who introduced Phil to Photoshop." (snicker :))

Ghastly maxi-dresses inducing 70's flashbacks...

At the ever-entertaining Purgatorio today, , it's one of my favorite features: Divine Vinyl. I don't know where Marc gets the old album covers, but they are crazily kitschy and funny now. Remember the maxi-dresses of the mid-70's? They're here, in all their polyester glory.

Where's the Wonkamobile when you need it?

Those lucky South Bend, Indiana downtown office workers! This from AP: "The South Bend Chocolate Company is delivering coffee, chocolates and lunch to
those too busy to take a break. Company president Mark Tarner
says they're making chocolate runs in a golf cart they're calling
the 'Wonkamobile.' He says the delivery service won't end when
the weather turns cold. He adds he'll get snow tires for the cart
if he has to."

Now that's what I call commitment.

Have an awesome weekend, everyone!

Related Tags: Mark Harris, graduation, 4Him, Phil Johnson, PyroManiacs, Purgatorio, music, blogging

Thirteen places I want to go

Some of these places I HAVE been to, and I just want to go back. Other places I've yet to see. Here we go:

1) Ireland --it's been my dream since childhood.

2) Scotland--it's been my dream since Braveheart.

3) England--while I'm at it, why not a tour of the United Kingdom? I would love to visit London.

4) Vermont--Friends tell me it's gorgeous, especially in the fall

5) Steamboat Springs, Colorado--I was there once, on my way somewhere else, and I immediately fell in love with it. It was so beautiful, and I LOVE the Colorado Rockies.

6) Savannah, Georgia--My parents went there for a convention once, and my mom has never forgotten how beautiful it was, especially the old houses.

7) The Maine Coast--Have heard, and read, that this is gorgeous.

8) Boise, Idaho--My daughter-in-law's hometown. I was there in the winter, for the wedding, but I would love to see it in the summer.

9) San Diego, California--Specifically, the Del Coronado Hotel in Coronado. Been there once, will never forget it, would love to go again.

10) Paris, France--I know, people tell me it's dirty and the residents have bad hygiene and bad manners, but I'd love to go anyway!

11) Provence, France--Everything I've read about it makes it sound idyllic and lovely.

12) Greece, the Greek Isles--I'm one quarter Greek, and would love to see the place where some of my heritage is rooted. I've also heard and read that the islands are beautiful.

13) Branson, Missouri--Had my honeymoon here, have been back a couple of times. I just love the spirit of this little resort town!
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The speech I give to all new moms

The first six to eight weeks are the hardest

How well I remember when I first became a mom. I was thrilled, elated, joyful, and...CLUELESS.

Weeks of LaMaze training had not prepared a 23-year-old, who had never even had so much as a puppy. to care for a newborn baby and all its attendant needs and complications.

My mom has a photo of me holding Jonathan a few days after his birth. Jonathan is crying his head off, and I look like a deer caught in the headlights. The helpless feeling of "What do I do now????" is palpable and almost humorous in that picture.

Interestly, Jonathan wasn't even a difficult newborn! In fact, he was a remarkably good one, who slept long stretches at a time, was colic-free, and had a very peaceful (dare I say "angelic"?) disposition.

But the fact is, nothing can quite prepare you for the impact of your first child.

So, I have a little speech I give all new moms that I come in contact with--whether they ask for it or not! Just today, I posted it on the blog of the Lange Family, who welcomed Joseph into their home a little over a month ago.

It's actually based on something I read when Jonathan was a newborn, in the book Nursing Your Baby, by Karen Pryor.

I remember the book was a real help to me as a new nursing mother, but it there was one paragraph that really caught my eye. Pryor said that a turning point takes place when the baby is around six to eight weeks old. In effect, she was saying that things get easier then. Much easier.

I clung to that paragraph like a lifeline, and turns out--at least in the case of my three babies--Pryor was right on the money.

This is what I wrote in the Lange blog, and it's essentially my speech to new moms:

"The first six to eight weeks are the hardest. After that, things get much better. Baby will sleep more at night, plus he begins to get a little personality that rewards you with a smile or a coo, instead of just being a tiny little eating/sleeping machine.

Plus, you as parents are getting more accustomed to him by then--what his cries mean, how to comfort him, how to react to him.

If mom is breastfeeding, the worst of it (soreness, long feedings, uncertain schedules) will be over. Feeding settles into a routine, and baby gets so efficient at getting the milk out, feedings are much shorter.

Six to eight weeks is the magic milestone, in my opinion. And by six months? You'll think this child is the greatest thing God ever created, and the greatest thing that's ever happened to you. :)"

So if you're an overwhelmed first-time mom of a newborn, keep your chin up. Happier, easier, more well-adjusted times are just around the corner!


Related Tags: newborns, pregnancy, childbirth, nursing

It's so funny how we don't talk anymore...

or at least, teenagers don't!

You see them everywhere. Teenagers furiously typing out tiny little messages on their cell phones...but rarely actually TALKING on their cell phones. They've gotten so good at "hunting and pecking" the letters on that miniscule keyboard, it's amazing. (Well, of course they have--they're young. They have good eyes that don't require reading glasses, and skinny, agile little fingers. Is it any wonder you don't see a lot of middle-aged people text-messaging?)

I've noticed this phenonemon, partly because I have a teen-aged daughter of my own. She does her share of text-messaging, but she does actually use her phone for oral verbal communication more often than not.

Why the texting? Why not just call the person and talk to them? My sensible 23-year-old stopped instant messaging on the computer ages ago, and rarely (if ever) text messages. TALK. That's what free minutes are for, he reasons.

USA Today has a very interesting story about the text- and instant-messaging phenomenon and it's present and future repercussions.

Are we raising a generation of kids who can't carry on a real, face-to-face and voice-to-voice conversation--especially in the context of important job interviews and business and professional discussions?

According to the article: "Not long ago, prattling away on the phone was as much a teenage rite as hanging out at the mall. Flopped on the bed, you yakked into your pink or football-shaped receiver until your parents hollered at you to get off.

"Now, Sidekicks and iBooks are as prized as Mom's Princess phone, and conversations, the oral kind, are as uncomfortable as braces. Which makes employers and communications experts anxious: This generation may be technologically savvier than their bosses, but will they be able to have a professional discussion?

"'We are losing very natural, human, instinctive skills that we used to be really good at," says Sonya Hamlin, author of How to Talk So People Listen: Connecting in Today's Workplace.'"

Admittedly, all the blogging among young people could end up having some good effects. It's never a bad thing to be able to express yourself well in writing.

Interesting stuff.

Memorial Day revisited...

Last night, I was up way too late (having had friends over for a cook-out earlier,) and I was listening to Focus on the Family while folding some laundry before hitting the sack.

I began unashamedly weeping as I was listening to their Salute to America's Veterans.

We owe so much to our military people, past and present.

One of the most moving segments of the show was Lt. Colonel Oliver North reading this tribute to our troops: "The kid who wouldn’t share a candy bar with his brother will now offer his last drop of water to a wounded comrade, give his only ration to a hungry child and split his ammo with a mate in a firefight. He’s been trained to use his body as a weapon and his weapon like it was part of his body. And he can use either to save a life – or take one."

Do read the entire article when you get a moment.

A beloved artist

Since I don't have anything major to blog about today, I thought I'd post another pic taken when my mom and sisters were visiting me last month. (What an awesome time that was...sheer happiness. Those of you whose sisters and moms live near you, you don't know how blessed you are!)

Anyway, this picture was taken in front of my fireplace. I didn't crop the photo too much because I wanted to show you the lovely picture above my fireplace.

The picture was given to me for Christmas year before last by my dear friend Teri. Amazingly, I had seen that very picture while visiting Galena, Illinois, and had commented to my sister-in-law Beth about how much I liked it. When Teri gave it to me, I automatically assumed that Beth had told her about my comment. Not so. Teri was visiting Galena later, saw the picture, and thought I'd like it.

I actually love it. Sometimes I like to just sit and look at it. It's the kind of picture that draws you in. I've had guests comment, "I'd like to go inside that picture and be there."

The painting is called "Au Bois de Senteur." Click here to see a larger view of it.

The artist is a man named Donny Finley. All of his art seems to have that quality of almost photograph realism, yet softer and sweeter than real.

I was interested to find, at a local gift shop recently, a coffee-table type book of Finley's art, with text by Christian author Lori Wick. The book is Reflections of a Thankful Heart.

(Speaking of Lori Wick, several years ago I went on a kick of reading everything by her that I could get my hands on. I even interviewed her on my radio show...but lately I've gotten out of the habit of reading her books. Anyone a fan?)

Another thing I didn't crop out of this picture is the photograph to your left. That's my wonderful son Jonathan and his beautiful wife Daylyn on their wedding day. I love that photo...it brings back such happy memories and warm feelings!

What you can't see are the other photographs on the mantle, including ones of my daughter Elizabeth and my son Justin.

Well, I hope everyone has an awesome Memorial Day Weekend. God bless!

Thirteen random things

1) Why does Madonna feel it's perfectly OK to offend Christians? Would she like it if someone created an entire concert segment out of mocking and disrespecting Kabbalah? (For that matter, why are Christians the ONLY group that it's perfectly OK to offend?)

2) My friend Randy perfectly captures how I feel about the Dixie Chicks right now: Bigger Microphones

3) I have fallen in love with a perfume that's new to me. I first inhaled Narciso Rodriguez For Her at Bloomingdale's in Chicago when I went there last month with my sisters and my mom. When I came into some "found" money recently, I ordered it online, actually from Nordstrom's. (It's not available anywhere in Rockford.) Ohmygoodness. This stuff smells so good, I could practically drink it.

4) Is anyone else a little disappointed in the latest Kinsey Millhone mystery? I've read all the books and for the most part, loved them. Just read the most recent...S is for Silence...and although much of what I love about the Sue Grafton books is still there, it was (as Randy Jackson would say) just "aaiight" for me. I would rather Kinsey tell the whole story, rather than using flashbacks. The book was also much more overtly sexual than the others, IMHO. It did keep me turning pages, but the ending was a bit anticlamactic. Oh well...

5) For the first time ever, my husband and I are really getting into decorating our yard with flowers. Is there anything prettier? We had a horribly hot, dry summer last year, which wreaked havoc on the few flowers I did have. I hope that won't be the case this year.

6) So Taylor Hicks is the new American Idol. I definitely wouldn't have predicted that one at the beginning of the season! I must admit I lost a bit of interest when my favorites started to trickle away...including Mandisa and Paris.

7) Speaking of Paris Bennett, she is coming to my town this Saturday for a free appearance at the beautiful Coronado Theater. Paris was born here and lived here until age 12, and her great grandfather is pastor Perry Bennett of Macedonia Baptist Church.

8) This guy is pretty cool.

9) This is my favorite magazine.

10) I often buy and read Vogue despite the fact that I think it's ludicrously snobbish and hoity-toity. It's so snobbish I don't think it even realizes how snobbish it is.

11) I don't have to spend very much money on magazines anymore, because often my daughter buys them first. :)

12) One of my favorite things about my husband--other than his very cool and husky speaking voice, and many other wonderful attributes--is his hands. I don't think I could have married someone if I didn't like their hands!

13) Seasonal delight that I haven't yet partaken, but will soon and often: BeefARoo's Summer Berry Salad. Look up "refreshing" in the dictionary, and there's a pic of this salad.

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I interviewed author Jane Kirkpatrick

One of the great perks of my job is that I often get books sent to me without even asking for them. Several years ago, I was sent a wonderful book called "A Sweetness to the Soul." Not long after that, I was able to read its sequel, "Love to Water My Soul."

That began my love affair with the writings of Jane Kirkpatrick. It's hard to pigeon-hole Jane's books into a strictly Christian fiction slot, although they definitely come from a Christian world-view and are faith-affirming.

But it's my belief that Jane Kirkpatrick's books could be put on any shelf and stand out for their excellence. I've read just about everything Jane has written since I read "A Sweetness to the Soul," and I'm delighted that she has begun another series, the Change and Cherish series.

The first book in that series is A Clearing in the Wild. The story--based on actual people and events--centers around Emma Wagner, a young woman who is part of the Bethel colony, a close-knit religious community ruled by a charismatic and autocratic leader, Dr. Wilhelm Kiel.

Spirited, outgoing and opinionated, Emma has trouble buckling under in a community that scarcely allows women to speak, much less contribute an opinion. When one of the main men in the colony falls in love with her, conflict inevitably arises between Emma and Kiel, the leader. And then, Kiel decides to send Emma's husband on a trip to Oregon.

As always, Jane Kirkpatrick breathes life into a small portion of history, through meticulous research and beautiful writing. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.

More on my interview with Jane Kirkpatrick tomorrow.

Go here to read my review of Jane Kirkpatrick's "A Name of her Own" and "Every Fixed Star.

The Norman Rockwell Code

Forget "Da Vinci." This is a must-see: (Hat tip to Jollyblogger.)
The Norman Rockwell Code

More about the movie here and here.



Related Tags: The Da Vinci Code, Da Vinci parody, Norman Rockwell Code, movies, parodies

Quote o' The Day

"Makes me wish Aunt Bee were still alive to give Opie a good hiding."--Joel Griffith, commenting on the Ron Howard-directed "Da Vinci Code"

13 of my very favorite books

In no particular order, except number one:

1) The Bible--(and my favorite book within the Bible is Psalms) Unparalelled not only in poetry and literature, but because it is a living, breathing, supernatural thing that literally has the power to change lives.

2) The Chronicles of Narnia--technically more than one book. (My favorite is probably "The Silver Chair")--I was avidly reading these books as a child, many years before the movie hype came along, and probably before many of you were born! Still, I continue to re-read them about once a year.

3) Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte--This book has everything--romance, high drama, mystery. Often seen as the mother of all Gothic fiction (and by "Gothic," I don't mean teenagers wearing black clothes and white make-up.)

4) Wuthering Heights, by Emily Bronte--Heathcliff is the ultimate bad boy that you can't help falling in love with. Windswept moors, sobbing heroines--it's a mess, but you can't help being captivated.

5) Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen--I've always loved the way Darcy and Elizabeth are inexorably drawn to each other throughout the book, despite ostensibly not being able to stand each other. And Elizabeth is one of the coolest heroines ever...feisty, funny and beautiful.

6) Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott--Introduced me to the joys of fiction when I was a very little girl. Now, as an adult, it seems a bit quaint-- but I still love it.

7) Redeeming Love, by Francine Rivers--Showed me how really excellent, top-notch and absorbing Christian fiction can be.

8) The Emerald Ballad Series, by BJ Hoff (again more than one book--but hey, this is MY list)--Solidified my love for all things Irish and taught me about Irish-American history while capturing me with characters I cared about and stories I couldn't put down.

9) The Moon Spinners, by Mary Stewart--I've re-read this book many times, just because I love Stewart's way with language, the suspenseful story, the setting, the feisty heroine and her appealing love interest.

10) The Shell Seekers, by Rosamunde Pilcher--Introduced me to the joys of Rosamunde Pilcher, and I can't get enough. I've now read everything she's written, and I'm afraid she's not going to write much more. Wait a minute--I just read something here that I never knew before. Pilcher used to write as Jane Fraser. Maybe I can get ahold of some of her Fraser-books. She's the kind of writer that creates such a cozy atmosphere, you can taste the tea and scones.

11) Wisdom Hunter, by Randall Arthur. Probably the most brutally honest look at graceless Christianity to date. Combines a fascinating story with vital spiritual insights. (Jollyblogger has a good review of this book, including some excellent caveats.)

12) Villette, by Charlotte Bronte--Never hyped or lauded as much as "Jane Eyre," this book is nevertheless a terrific story, and I've re-read it many times.

13) The Church Ladies, by Lisa Samson--The first book that showed me Christian fiction could be real, fresh, funny and honest. Fortunately, that's now a Lisa Samson trademark, and I don't miss a Lisa Samson book, period.

...and the list could go on...and on...and on...

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Ron Howard: Don't see "The Da Vinci Code" if...

...and, what's the deal with Tom Hanks' hairdo?

"The Da Vinci Code" director Ron Howard is actually telling people like me NOT to see his movie: "Howard agrees that the movie, like the novel, 'is likely to be upsetting to some people.

"The book and its screen adaptation suggest Jesus Christ was married to Mary Magdalene and fathered a secret dynasty. But Howard insists his movie is supposed to be entertainment' and 'not theology.'"

Read more here.

Meantime, how is the movie? A review by Caroline Briggs of the BBC says it "fails to live up to the hype that surrounded Dan Brown's novel."

However, negative reviews won't necessarily keep moviegoers from flocking to the film in droves.

And if you're tired of the controversy...

How about Tom Hanks' Bad Movie Hair?

MSNBC "Picture Stories" calls Hanks' hair in "The Da Vinci Code" "an eroded hairline spewing a half-baked bob"...saying the effect is "a bald man wearing a fur beret on the back of his head."

And Caroline Briggs of the BBC writes: "... Hanks is dry and uninspiring as Langdon - and the mullet hairstyle he sports throughout deserves a credit of its own."

Go here and scroll down to click on "Images: 'Da Vinci' inspires bad movie hair," to see pics of awful movie hairdo's from Glenn Close in "Fatal Attraction" to Bill Murray in "Kingpin." Pretty funny.

Related Tags: "The Da Vinci Code," Ron Howard, Tom Hanks, Dan Brown, movies

"The Da Vinci Code" disturbs me...

...but Josh McDowell sees an opportunity

Yes, as a Christian it disturbs me that a movie based on a book that's been called "blasphemy on steroids" is probably going to be a huge hit.

Call me sensitive, but it just doesn't sit well with me that millions of people will see, and believe as fact, horrendous lies about the Person who is my best friend in the universe and the Saviour of my soul.

But apologist Josh McDowell has a positive spin on Da Vinci. McDowell tells AP's Religion Roundup: "This is one of the most positive opportunities in years to share our faith! What a wonderful time to be winsome and wholesome, to make issues clear about the deity of Christ, the Scriptures, everything..."

McDowell does say he knew he needed to respond to the book and movie: "When they take fiction as factual, and it hits home to something very dear to me, my relationship with God through his son Jesus Christ, the Scriptures and all--
then I feel I have a responsibility--not to defend the truth, not to attack Dan Brown--but to simply make the truth known."

McDowell has made resources available to help Christians do just that, based on his book The Da Vinci Code: A Quest for Answers.

More resources are available at this Focus on the Family Da Vinci Code site.

By the way, Barbara Nicolosi of Church of the Masses has been blogging regularly about this issue; she is the one who came up with the idea of an "othercott" of the movie. Her idea: don't boycott DaVinci, just go to a different movie on May 19th...preferably "Over the Hedge."

And in case you missed the Screwtape parody about Da Vinci, (hat tip to Nicolosi), here again is the link.

Related Tags: The Da Vinci Code, Josh McDowell, Barbara Nicolosi

My foray into the Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen things I love about my mom

In no particular order...

1) Her name, Cynthia, which she passed on to me (much to my appreciation.)

2) Her beautiful green eyes

3) Her smile--it's dazzling and can light up a room

4) The fact that she doesn't dress in "old lady" clothes

5) The way she would defend her kids to the death

6) Her handwriting...it's incredibly neat and pretty

7) Her cooking--no one can fix a roast, or beef stew, or chicken fried steak as good as she can. Don't even tell me about any other chicken fried steak; hers rules.

8) Her genuine love of the Lord

9) The fact that she's a prayer warrior

10) Listening to her sing around the house. She can get so HIGH (vocally, I mean!)!

11) Her wonderful storytelling ability...she really should write a children's book

12) The way she's so disciplined...why didn't I inherit that?

13) The many ways she shows her love to me

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Can't resist a book quiz

You're The Poisonwood Bible!

by Barbara Kingsolver

Deeply rooted in a religious background, you have since become both
isolated and schizophrenic. You were naively sure that your actions would help people,
but of course they were resistant to your message and ultimately disaster ensued. Since
you can see so many sides of the same issue, you are both wise beyond your years and
tied to worthless perspectives. If you were a type of waffle, it would be
Belgian.


Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

OK, this is interesting. I AM deeply rooted in my religious background, but the rest of the quiz results are hooey. :)

(By the way, hat tip to Dianne of Unfinished Work for this quiz.)

I DID find The Poisonwood Bible a fascinating book, but I had some real problems with it.

Naturally, I blogged about them not too long ago, and I now helpfully re-run the post for your perusal.

(Originally posted December 1,2004)

Call me contrary, but my kneejerk reaction to Oprah Book Club titles is generally to ignore them. (It's true, I read Christian fiction more than any other kind of fiction, but not exclusively by any means.)

At any rate, I've seen The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver everywhere from airport newstands to Wal-Mart, and heard great things about it, but never even had an urge to pick it up.

However,my sister Bev gave me her copy to read on the way home from Wyoming. I picked it up, and was hooked from the first page.

Kingsolver's writing is beautiful, powerful and lyrical, and she genuinely inhabits the voices of each of her narrators--whether missionary wife Orleanna Price or her daughters, Rachel, Leah, Adah and Ruth May. Without question, Kingsolver is a singularly gifted writer and storyteller.

An unusual missionary story

The premise resonated with me on a few levels anyway, because it's the story of a Baptist missionary taking his family to a foreign land in the early 60's. This was my own situation as a child in the mid-60's, as my family uprooted from the United States and moved to Beirut, Lebanon.

However, a lot of things were different in my own case, as I'll mention later.

In the book, World War Two veteran Nathan Price takes his family to a remote, primitive village in the Belgian Congo, and proceeds to try to forcefully shove Christianity down the throats of the villagers, completely insensitive to their native ways and customs. Headstrong and bullying, Price also coldly disregards his family's safety and stubbornly stays in the village, even when his mission board urges him to leave and cuts off his stipend amid swirling political turmoil.

Kingsolver tells the story through the eyes of Price's family, alternating the narrative among his wife and four daughters.

Authentic narrative voices

Wife Orleanna tells her part of the story from the future, where she is living a safe distance away in her native Georgia.

Teen-aged daughter Rachel is vain, shallow and not too bright, as reflected in her numerous spelling errors and mixed up phrases like "my feminine wilds" and calling the marriage state "monotony" instead of "monogamy." Yet Rachel's easygoing humor, even in the bleakest of situations, makes her narratives some of the most fun to read.

Leah and Adah are twins, both highly sensitive and intelligent. Yet while Leah is whole, her twin was born with a birth defect that causes her to limp, and for some reason renders her voluntarily mute.

Leah worships her father and longs for his approval, but we see her view of her father changing as the story progresses. She is fair-minded, likable and insightful.

Meantime her twin Adah, living in a silent and highly imaginative inner world, is contemptous of her father and everything he stands for. She is obsessed with palindromes and Emily Dickinson poetry, and her narratives are among the most whimsical and poetic.

The five-year-old, Ruth May, also gets her chance at narration, and Kingsolver perfectly captures the mind of a small child.

We are prepared, but no less shocked, when the story careens to catastrophe.

I was glad that the book doesn't leave the family picking up the pieces of the tragedy, but follows them into the future as we see their lives unfold and how they are permanently affected by their experience in Africa.

However, I do have some problems with Kingsolver's view of Christianity and missionaries.

An unflattering view

I will admit I've seen my share of legalistic, bullying Baptist preachers, but Nathan Price is worse than anything I've ever seen. And as far as Christian missionaries go, I've had a great deal of experience with them. The vast majority are gentle, sacrificing souls who have devoted their lives to bringing Christ's love to others. They have done an immeasurable amount of good, much of which will endure for eternity, and they are true heroes of the faith, in my opinion.

[For another beautifully written but true story of missionary selflessness and love, read Through Gates of Splendor by Elisabeth Elliot. In fact, read just about anything by Elisabeth Elliot and you can't go wrong.]

As I read The Poisonwood Bible with its extremely unflattering picture of a missionary, I couldn't help but think of Elmer and Mary Deal. The Deals were missionaries to the Congo until the political situation forced them out, and they were missions professors at Baptist Bible College in Springfield, Missouri, when I was a student there. As I understand it, they've since returned to the Congo as missionaries.

You could never meet sweeter, kinder or more loving people than the Deals...the polar opposite of Nathan Price.

My missionary father

As the daughter of a Baptist missionary, I also had to look at the differences between Price and my own father.

First of all, although you could have called my father dogmatic about some things, he would never have tried to force someone--much less an entire village--into converting to Christ. My dad believed that the Holy Spirit convinces people.

He also had a sense of humor and fun, loved his wife and children dearly, and would never have allowed us to stay in harm's way. In fact, political turmoil forced us out of Lebanon in June of 1967.

Some inaccuracies

Kingsolver gets a few other things wrong when it comes to Baptist preachers. First of all, I have never in my life met a Baptist preacher who thought the Apocrypha should have been included in the cannon of Scriptures, as Price does in the book, and to preach a sermon from the Apocrypha (as Price does) is something I have never heard of in my 48 Baptist years of life.

Also, I have never met a preacher, no matter how hardcore, who goes around spouting Bible verses in lieu of conversation. That's simply a cartoonish exaggeration of a minister.

I understand that Nathan Price had to be written as thoroughly detestable, since he is the genuine villain of the book. And detestable and despicable he is. But in making him so, Kingsolver also makes him one-dimensional, a cardboard cut-out caricature of a wild-eyed fanatic, without a shred of humor or loving feeling.

Would I recommend reading the book? Certainly. It's gripping, beautifully written, and ultimately uplifting.

I'm not naive enough to believe that Christian missionaries haven't made some serious mistakes in their well-intentioned efforts to carry out the Great Commission...and I happen to agree with what one of the characters says in the book: "There are Christians, and there are Christians."

May we all be the best kind.

Flying isn't fun anymore

I used to love to fly. And air travel is still definitely my preferred mode of transportation when traversing long distances, like from here to my loved ones in Texas. But I have to assert that flying just isn't fun anymore.

First of all, before you even get on board, there's the hassle of security. Don't get me wrong; I'm glad our government is taking such precautions, and I really wouldn't want it any other way at this point. But I look back fondly on a time when I didn't have to take my shoes off, and "Garrett" was my maiden name, not a word on a wand that was waved over me to make sure I'm not packing something dangerous.

Come to think of it, 9/11 has even changed the way I'm greeted at the airport. I used to love landing in Austin, rushing through that little tunnel to find my loved ones waiting joyously for me with hugs and exclamations of welcome. Now, there's no one waiting for me until I trudge a mile or so through the terminal. Again, I appreciate the precautions...I just wish it didn't have to be that way.

And the delays...the maddening delays. I used to never give a thought to whether my plane would be leaving when my ticket said it would. Now, I steel myself for the delay that seems to happen more often than not. Heaven forbid I enter the airport without a hefty supply of reading material to while away the time.

Then, once you get ON the plane, there's the crowdedness. I'm blissful if I'm not sandwiched between two strangers in an appallingly intimate manner. Often I'm sitting closer to a perfect stranger than I usually sit with my own husband. Excuse me, I don't know you from Adam, but I'm up close and personal with you for the next two and a half hours!

It doesn't help that I struggle with claustropobia when I can't get a zipper unstuck, much less being crammed into a narrow space with no chance of escape. I do a lot of Lamaze relaxation breathing on these flights, just to calm myself down.

And then there's the fear...an emotion I never used to struggle with in my younger flying days. Maybe all young people just think they're invincible? Now, I'm in a constant attitude of prayer while flying. Turbulence upsets me, and terrorism is always a lingering threat, despite said airport security precautions.

And how about the stinginess in modern air travel? You're lucky to get a soft drink and a tiny bag of pretzels. Forget any kind of meal. People used to complain about airplane food, but at least you did get fed.

The lack of food prompts people to bring their own meals on board, which can be a very sloppy and even smelly proposition. I read an article not too long ago decrying the messes air travelers are making with their pizzas and cheeseburgers.

And when the plane finally does land, here's one of my biggest pet peeves. Why don't they let people exit the plane FIRST who DON'T have luggage in the overhead bins? Doesn't that just make sense? Inevitably, I'm paralyzed in my seat or in the aisle while everyone hauls their stuff out of those bins...and seemingly take forever to do so. Would it kill anyone to make a simple announcement: "Passengers without luggage in the overhead bins may now exit the plane"????

I'm not ready to give up air travel. As I said, it's still the quickest, safest and most efficient way to get from Point A to faraway Point B. But, well...it just isn't fun anymore.

Thanks for letting me rant. :)

I interviewed author Linda Hall

I was delighted yesterday to interview one of my very favorite authors, Linda Hall.

I wrote this about Linda on my website's reading page: "With her page-turning narrative ability, realistic characters and intriguing plots, Linda Hall has quickly become a favorite author of mine. I had read a few of her books, including Margaret's Peace and Island of Refuge in the past, and recognized instantly her exceptional talent and singular style. Her recent books, including Sadie's Song and the first two books in the Teri Blake-Addison mystery series--Steal Away and Chat Room--have irrevocably hooked me. I highly recommend them!"

Besides being one of the best Christian fiction writers I know of, Linda is a member of the Crime Writers of Canada, so she brings special expertise to mystery/suspense stories like her most recent book, Dark Water.

Why not let Linda tell you about it? Here's a 2-minute soundclip:



I highly recommend Dark Water, as well as all the other Hall titles I've read. Go here to read my review of Sadie's Song.

And have a blessed weekend, everyone!

Loved Ones

Time only for a fly-by today...but thought I'd post a pic of my mom, my sisters and me during their recent visit. I love the way my dad referred to all of his relatives--even those he barely knew--as his "loved ones." The women in that pic truly are my loved ones.

A Wednesday hodge-podge

Some random thoughts, comments and links on this Wednesday...

Oh, the pic is of Scottish actor Angus Macfadyen, by the way. He played Robert the Bruce in Braveheart, and I thought he was one of the best things about the movie. Every emotion played out on his face and in his eyes. It has always surprised me that he hasn't become more of a star after that performance, which amazingly, was more than 10 years ago.

In checking imdb.com, I see that Macfadyen did make a few guest appearances on Alias. Good for him. That's one show that I have never really watched, but I wouldn't mind checking it out on DVD.

"Pimpfants"??? Good grief...

Check out this new line of babywear. Eeesh.

Life is still not back to normal in Lakeshore...

It's easy for those of us who were not directly affected by Hurricane Katrina to assume that everything's back to normal in the areas ravaged by the storm.

Not so, as you'll find when you read Don Elbourne's blog. As I've mentioned here before, Don is the pastor of Lakeshore Baptist Church in Lakeshore, Mississippi. Rebuild Lakeshore.com calls the church "a beacon of hope for the ongoing relief, recovery, and rebuilding efforts."

Don has been doing a good job chronicling those continuing efforts in his blog lately. Donna Jean of Liberty and Lily recently returned from a trip to Lakeshore to help out..she promises to blog about it as well.

Don writes: "Every night, when I lay my head on a pillow to get a few hours of rest, I do so leaving so much undone. Taking time off means that even more phone calls will be left unreturned, dozens of emails unsent, scores of questions unanswered, and hundreds of urgent issues set aside."

Recently, he did give in to the urgings of friends and loved ones and took a short time off to attend the Together for the Gospel conference in Louisville, Kentucky.

Green with envy? You bet I am...

The wonderful Katy McKenna Raymond of Fallible is in IRELAND now. As I've mentioned here frequently, it is my heart's desire to visit that lovely country. In the meantime, I'll get a vicarious thrill out of Katy's exploits there.

Be sure to read this post if you need a good chuckle.

I heard from Tilly Cryar!

and an update on Johnny Philippidis of Burlap to Cashmere...

Not long ago, I blogged about hearing a lovely female voice on a small radio station here in Rockford. A little sleuthing revealed that the voice belonged to Tilly Cryar, daughter of Christian singer Morgan Cryar. At that time, I sent a shout-out to Tilly to let me know what she's up to, and if she has any plans to record again.

Well, ask and you shall receive, apparently. I got this e-mail today:

"Cindy,

A friend sent me your blog about my record, and I was quite tickled by it. I am, indeed, still here at David Lipscomb, and working on writing originals in the same style for another record, hopefully on a label this time- something I have not yet done. But thanks for the encouragement! It made me want to sit down and write immediately, even in the middle of finals week. :)

God bless,

Tilly"

It was great to hear from this very talented young woman, and I hope we hear more of her music as well. But hey, Tilly...don't neglect those finals! :)

To hear Tilly sing, go here and click on "music."

More on Johnny Philippidis...

Last fall, I blogged about the fact that Burlap to Cashmere singer/guitarist Johnny Philippidis had been badly beaten in a road rage incident in New York City.

I was able to interview Johnny's sister, Nicole, a couple of times for updates. At the time, Johnny was still pretty fragile, although he was released from the hospital.

Like an idiot, I lost Nicole's phone number and have no way of getting it back. So I've been looking for info about how Johnny's doing five months later.

I found this blurb that seems to indicate he's progressing very well.

I've e-mailed Steven Delopolous, Johnny's bandmate and cousin, and will let you know if I hear anything from him.

In praise of rose-colored glasses

...and what exactly is a "toddlin' town"?!?

"take a permanent vacation. you're blog is boring. you write like your cinderella on acid. or june cleaver. you must wear rose-colored glasses a lot."

That was a comment left on the post in which I had explained that I was taking a blogging break while on vacation. Obviously, someone is not a huge fan of my blog. The same person (hello--you leave your IP address when you leave a comment!) left a few other fairly hostile comments on other posts as well.

I had to laugh. First of all, the "Cinderella on acid" comment was genuinely funny to me. But the other reason is because, as a rule, I'm not the most optimistic person in the world.

I have a lot of Irish in me...and it's common knowledge that it's typically Irish to either be in a jubilant mood or be in the pits of a black depression. Maybe I'm not quite that extreme, but I do battle times of being really down in the dumps.

I honestly didn't realize that my blog comes across quite differently. I guess it can often seem somewhat light and trivial, although I firmly maintain that it is often quite serious as well. I could give you concrete proof in the form of links to various posts, but I won't bother.

Quite frankly, I do find it odd that someone would take the time to leave such hostile messages on a blog. If you don't like reading it, that's your perogative, right? Just click elsewhere.

Anyway...what's so wrong with rose-colored glasses? I'm not talking about denial here--it's foolish to duck reality, of course. But I believe we all know how awful everything is. Why wallow in it? Why not try to put a positive spin on things? What's so wrong with trying to have a good attitude about life? What's so bad about trying to make someone smile?

I guess I think it wouldn't hurt to put on those rose-colored glasses every once in a while.

That said...

That toddlin' town?

One thing I HAVE to be positive about is this past week...I don't care if it means I'm channeling June Cleaver like crazy.

I had the most wonderful time with my mom and two sisters. My mom and Lisa came from Round Rock, Texas, while my sister Beverly came from Casper, Wyoming.

We talked endlessly, laughed an exorbitant amount, and shopped till we literally just about dropped. It was a wonderful, rejuvenating, recharging time of laughter and fellowship. (We also ate some pretty amazing meals.)

But one of the highlights was our day-trip to Chicago. Anyone who reads this blog knows I have a passion for the Windy City. We had a blast shopping, dining, and just soaking up the atmosphere of the place.

But there is one thing bugging me. You know the song that goes, "Chicago, Chicago, that toddlin' town...."? WHAT does that mean?

I gave a Google search my best shot, and all I can come up with is that it has something to do with jazz and/or dancing. Can't find anything definitive, though. If you know, PLEASE enlighten me!

Taking a blogging break....

Well...I'm not really going fishing. However, I'm putting this up as an "away" sign for the next several days. Delightfully, my mom and sisters are coming to visit me, and I'm taking a week off! So, Lord willing and if the creek don't rise, I'll be back around May 1st.

Simple pleasures

Actually, I didn't get tagged for this meme...I saw it at Carol's She Lives, and decided to take part.

Here are ten of my simple pleasures, in no particular order:

1) Hearing my kids laugh
2) Reading the Life section of USA Today
3) Getting a pedicure
4) Black Cherry Vanilla Coke--or the diet version, it's almost as good
5) Seeing the first daffodils
6) A phone call from one of my sisters
7) My husband giving me a compliment
8) Getting the Estee Lauder gift-with-purchase
9) Eating out with friends
10) Hearing a favorite old song on the radio

How about you?

I still support our troops

I wish I could post a picture my sister sent me via e-mail today, but I'm afraid i'd be violating all sorts of copyright laws...so look at it here.

Todd Heisler is a wonderful photographer, and the Final Salute story is so moving.

God bless and keep our troops!

And if you need a good chuckle...

You MUST check out this video of quadruplets laughing! It's priceless.

There's a little hotel called the Shady Rest...

Remembering "Petticoat Junction"...and other Wednesday stuff

It's funny how one random thought will spark a chain of memories. The other day, I had a random thought about actress Lynda Day George. That triggered a "whatever happened to her?" thought, and of course, I had to check out the internet to try to find out.

According to Wikipedia, George, who was married to the now-deceased actor Christopher George, is officially retired from show biz, re-married and living in California.

Anyway, while looking for info on Lynda, I came across the fact that she was often confused with actress Linda Kaye Henning of Petticoat Junction...apparently because of the similarity in their names.


Betty Jo, Bobbie Jo and Billy Jo

Thinking about "Petticoat Junction" brings back a lot of great childhood memories. My family had just returned from being missionaries in Beirut, Lebanon. Color TV was just becoming widespread, and there were a lot of harmless, fun, family-friendly shows on TV. "Petticoat Junction" was one of my favorites.

I loved Kate, who was played by the wonderful Bea Benederet, and was sad when she died of cancer in 1968. The show was never the same after that.

I understand that you can buy the show on DVD now, and I've resolved that I'm going to do so as soon as possible.

How about you? Anybody have fond memories of the good old days of TV? Let me know in my comments section. (By the way, my 19-year-old daughter thinks Petticoat Junction sounds silly. What does she know? :))

Turning a corner...a cool story

If you have a moment, check out this story. Apparently the blogger did not write it himself, and it's in slightly broken English, but you'll get the point...and it's a very good one.

A good night for AI

They sang the standards last night, and I thought everyone except Kellie shone. I think Katharine could BE the next Idol, but I'm still pulling for Paris and Elliott.

Six weird things about me

I've been tagged

Norma of Collecting My Thoughts has tagged me to list Six Weird Things about Me. It's kind of disturbing how easy it was to come up with six things!

Here we go:

1. I have never played Monopoly.--I know, it seems almost un-American. And I don't really know why I've never played it, because all my life, Monopoly games have gone on all around me. To this day, my kids occasionally play it with friends at my home, and I never take part. Just...never played it.

2. I like ketchup on a lot of unusual things.--This is a weirdness that I try not to display when dining out, simply out of consideration to my fellow diners who may be grossed out. But I like ketchup on steak, fish, baked potatoes, eggs, rice...I just love ketchup. I will admit, though, that as my tastes have matured, I don't rely on ketchup as much as I used to. I can actually savor the flavor of things without glopping ketchup all over them. But the fact remains...I love ketchup. I've even blogged about it.

3. I'm not very organized EXCEPT in weird little ways.--It's strange...it's like I have selective organization. I can let my desk get very untidy, and forget to enter important things on my calendar... but when I put my make-up on, I have to have every make-up item lined up neatly before me. I'm micro-organized in other ways as well. Weird, huh?

4. I have strange housecleaning methods.--I hate housecleaning, although I love the results. Often, I have to motivate myself to clean. So, often I'll use a timer. I'll set the timer for 10 or 15 minutes, and see how much of a room I can get clean in that amount of time. When the timer goes off, I have to move on to another room (although I can come back to any room later). It's like I'm in a little competition with myself to see how much I can get done.

If I don't have a timer handy, I'll use a "song method." I'll see how much of a room I can clean for the length of a song on the radio or a CD. When the song changes, it's on to another room. Now, I don't always use these methods...sometimes I just dig in and clean a room until it's clean, nonstop. But if I'm really dreading the whole housecleaning thing, these little games help me. I know...weird.

5. I never take the first magazine off the stack. --I love magazines, but I will never buy the first one that's facing me on the rack. Even if it shows no signs of being picked over or dog-eared, it's not for me. My magazine must be as pristine and perfect as possible.

6. I don't like circuses.--I never have, even when I was a child. I wasn't scared of them, or scared of the clowns, so that has nothing to do with it. I've just always found them boring. I know...weird.

I'm not going to tag anyone with this, but if you'd like to do it in my comments section or on your own blog, feel free!

What kind of writer should you be?

Yes, it's one of those internet quizzes. But hey, it's Monday, and I'm having a hard time adjusting to it after my lovely three-day weekend!

By the way, since some of my blog-readers are actually published writers, it would be interesting to see how the quiz comes out for them.

You Should Be a Romance Novelist

You see the world as it should be, and this goes double for all matters of the heart. You can find the romance in any situation, and you would make a talented romance story writer... And while you may be a traditional romantic, you're just as likely to be drawn to quirky or dark love stories. As long as it deals with infatuation, heartbreak, and soulmates - you could write it.

What Type of Writer Should You Be?

Speaking of writing and wonderful books...

I finished Jane Kirkpatrick's A Clearing in the Wild over the weekend. Absolutely wonderful. I love the heroine, Emma Giesy, who is based on an actual person, and I'm so glad this is going to be a series. Jane's writing is, as always, beautiful, thoughtful and evocative.

This must be a cross of love

Not long ago, I read a comment by a columnist who was vociferously anti-Christian and anti-God. It was something to the effect of, "So, Jesus died on the cross for us. We didn't ask him to!"

She's just one of many people who don't get it...who reject and scorn the sacrifice Christ made on the cross for us.

I'm reminded of a scene in the movie, The Matrix. Morpheus takes Neo to a busy street in a large city. People are going to and fro, frantically moving about their daily lives, each person totally unaware that their entire life is a lie, an illusion.

That scene cut me to the heart, because I realized that millions of people today are doing the same thing. They've bought the lie sold them by the world, the flesh and the devil. Perhaps they've been turned off of Christianity by charlatans, fakers, and people who are just poor representatives of Christ. For whatever reason, they reject the cross. To them, it truly is a stumblingblock (1 Corinthians 1:23).

No, we didn't ask Him to do it. So why did Christ die on the cross?

The answer is simple. Love is the reason. He loves even that person who is mocking and jeering and blaspheming Him. And He died for that person.

With Easter just around the corner, my thoughts are focused on that cross. I'm thinking of a song my sister Lisa and I often sing when we're together. It's called "Cross of Love," and it's from a musical called Savior--The Story of God's Passion for his People.

I was only able to find a short soundclip of Steve Green and Twila Paris singing this beautiful song. I did find this choir version in its entirety.

I've posted the lyrics below.

By the way, if you've stumbled on this blog by happenstance and have read this far, and you've so far rejected Christ for whatever reason, I urge you to reconsider.

Meantime, I won't be blogging again until next week. So to all who stop here on a regular basis, I wish a happy and blessed Easter!

Cross of Love

Blood and sorrow flow from the languid brow of Jesus dying;
and tears from Heaven's eyes are the anguished drops of a Father crying,
"Oh, why?"

Emblem of his pain, oh splintered wood of my transgression
I'll never comprehend how an act so great gave love expression--Oh, why?

And the people jeered at Him and mocked His holy name,
for they knew not who He was, nor why it was He came.
Some had come to offer help to soothe a mother's pain,
but as she watched her wounded Son, the comfort never came,
Oh, why?

This must be a cross of love
for God to bruise His only Son.
Jesus, what a sacrifice to reach us,
it had to be a cross of love!

A Wednesday hodge-podge

Screwtape reviews Da Vinci...The Carnival of Beauty...My friends blog...AI marches on...and some fantastic new fiction

Several different things to mention today. By the way, the pic is of my darling niece, Channing, playing soccer. She's the one (obviously) directly above the soccer ball. Unfortunately, I wasn't actually there...Channing lives in Texas. When I look at her, I see so many different members of our family, it's incredible!

The Da Vinci Code According to Screwtape

If you're a fan of C. S. Lewis' The Screwtape Letters (and I am), you must read this.

It's a letter from Screwtape to Wormwood, telling him about the book. (He loves it, of course.

A long read, but well worth it! (Hat tip to the wonderful Robin Lee Hatcher.)

The Carnival of Beauty

It's a good idea to enter your blog in one or more of the various "carnivals" in the blogosphere. I've entered posts in The Christian Carnival and The Carnival of the Recipes several times, but this was a first for me. I participated in The Carnival of Beauty.
Unlike some of the other carnivals, this one has a theme that changes from week to week. This week's theme was "The Beauty of Aging Gracefully."

The delightful Carol of She Lives hosted the Carnival this week, and she presents it in fine fashion. Check it out...and think about entering a Carnival next week. It's a great way to get your blog out there and find out about other terrific blogs.

Speaking of new blogs...

Another friend of mine has made the leap into the blogosphere. Randy's blog is Reflections, and I can already tell that it will be a great venue for his talented writing and insights. Check it out.

Like Joel, Randy is a former co-worker of mine, and we have a history of going through some crazy times together here at the radio station!

American Idol recaps

I didn't get to watch American Idol last night, but here are a couple of takes on it from people I trust:

Beth
Robin

I'm starting to feel a little detached from the whole thing. There's no one that I think stands out as "THE" American Idol this time. Same with "The Apprentice"...no one is really blowing me away. In fact, IMHO, the apprentices this season are among the most inept I've ever seen on that show.

By the way, if you are a big fan of "Idol" and you miss an episode and don't have TiVo or didn't tape it, here's a website where you can see and/or hear the performances the day after.

I interviewed Tracey Bateman

I had the pleasure a couple hours ago of interviewing Tracey Bateman, author of the book I raved about the other day, Leave it to Claire. I hope to blog about our interview within the next few days and hopefully provide an audio excerpt as well.

Meantime, I've plunged headlong into not one, but TWO books by two of my very favorite authors! I'm reading Dark Water by Linda Hall and A Clearing in the Wild by Jane Kirkpatrick.

Folks, fiction writing doesn't come any better than these two ladies, and I'm thrilled that they've both started new series after having been relatively quiet for a while. Have you noticed that I LOVE TO READ?!!!!!!!!

My 101QFL Page

My colleague, Rick Hall, recently sent me a list of questions for my page on the 101QFL website. Since some of these things may be of interest, and since you might be too lazy to click on the actual page, I decided to thoughtfully post my answers here. Just for fun. Here you go:

HOMETOWN
Rockford, Illinois for the past 26 years, but I was a missionary/preacher’s kid who lived all over—including Beirut, Lebanon. Most of my extended family lives in Texas, and I call the Lone Star State my second home!

LITTLE KNOWN FACTS ABOUT ME
I got to ask astronaut John Glenn a question during a student news conference when I was in the fifth grade! I think that kick-started my career as a reporter. Other facts? I’m a fairly expert calligrapher, and I do a mean Dolly Parton impression.

KIDS
Jonathan, born in 1980 (he’s married to Daylyn and lives in Texas); Justin, born in 1983, and Elizabeth, born in 1987.

PETS
Stormy the German Shepherd and Brandy the toy poodle (yes, they get along fine!)

TIVO ANY SHOWS
I don’t have Tivo yet, but I like “Lost,” “The Apprentice,” “Scrubs” and “American Idol.”

PERSONAL HEROES
My mother and Ronald Reagan

SCARIEST THING I HAVE EVER DONE
Running from the U.S Capitol grounds during what everyone thought was a terrorist attack, but was actually just a plane accidentally venturing into DC airspace! I thought I was going to die!

BIGGEST PET PEEVE
People who ask me to tell them who they should vote for in an election

MOST ANNOYING HABIT
Of mine? Biting my nails. Of other people? Tossing their dirty clothes on the floor instead of putting them in the dirty clothes hamper.

MOST MEMORABLE ROAD TRIP
As a teenager, traveling with my grandparents up through the Colorado Rockies on the way to visit my sister in Utah. I will never forget the incredible scenery, and it makes me long to go back to Colorado to this day!

FAST FOOD
BeefARoo, without a doubt!

WHEN I FIRST KNEW I WANTED TO BE A DJ
When, as a Bible college student, I volunteered to answer phones for the local Christian station’s sharathon. And I suppose earlier than that, when as a kid I used to interview people on my portable tape recorder!

IF I WAS NOT A DJ, I WOULD BE
A full-time voice-over artist and/or a published writer of fiction.

FAVORITE 101QFL MOMENT
With 25 years of memories behind me, that’s just too hard to single out!

RADIO BACKGROUND
I worked for three years at KWFC Radio in Springfield, Missouri before moving to Rockford.

There you go...even more than you probably ever wanted to know about me! :)

Aging gracefully?

From USA Today: "This obsession with plastic surgery is an epidemic. It's lunacy! These women have had their faces rebuilt and they look terrible. It's going to backfire at some point; sadly, somebody famous and young is going to have to die on the table." --plastic surgery veteran Jamie Lee Curtis, 45, to More Magazine.

Well, guess what, Jamie? Even that won't stop the lunacy. In a society where what you look like on the outside is of paramount importance, people--especially women--will continue to pursue that image of perfection, whether it be through plastic surgery or extreme diets.

Don't get me wrong; I believe in looking one's best. As an old preacher once said about women wearing make-up: "Even an old barn looks better with some paint." (OK, that's a groaner.) I don't even have a problem with people correcting something that really, truly needs fixing.

But I do believe the plastic surgery craze is getting out of control. It started in Hollywood and it's spreading across the nation, aided and abetted by the plethora of cosmetic surgery reality TV shows. One of the most disturbing trends is young girls hopping on the plastic surgery bandwagon; teen-agers getting breast implants, etc. My daughter picked up a copy of Teen Vogue recently, and it included an article on this disturbing phenomenon.

It might be a good idea to do a follow-up on some of these people and see if altering their appearances was the ultimate antidote they thought it was going to be. Hmm, makes me think of a thought from the Bible: "Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised."

Sure, I get frustrated when I see signs of encroaching age--another "laugh line," or the fact that I can't see ANYTHING up close without reading glasses, or the chagrin when I compare my late-40-something hands with the impossibly silken smoothness of my 19-year-old daughter's.

But then I think about my mother.

My beautiful mother, pictured above, is in her early 70's, but looks much younger. I wrote these words in a tribute to her a few years ago, and they are just as true today: "She has sparkling green eyes; a lovely full,expressive mouth...a dazzling smile. The years have been kind to her, and she is a prime example of how decades of righteous living can influence a woman's face...years free of alcohol, cigarettes and immoral living. Years dedicated to God's service and unselfish love for her husband and children. She has the sort of radiant, luminous, from-the-inside beauty that defies age."

That kind of beauty--the beauty of a pure mind, a loving heart and a God-focused soul--is the kind of beauty to which I aspire. And that kind of beauty cannot be touched by age.

(This post was partially based one I wrote in August 2004.)

Monday Mish-Mash

Two terrific books: Ireland and Leave it to Claire

I've been saying most of my life that I love Ireland, but the truth is, I've had only a rudimentary knowledge of that nation's history. Now, after having read Frank Delaney's Ireland, A Novel, I can say that I learned a great deal about Ireland's history while enjoying an absorbing fictional tale at the same time.

The story begins when a traveling Storyteller--perhaps the last of a long Irish tradition of "seanchais"-- comes to the home of 9-year-old Ronan O'Mara in 1951. As he weaves his tales of ancient Ireland, Ronan feels convinced that he and the Storyteller are somehow connected. When the Storyteller is evicted by Ronan's cold and distant mother, Ronan devotes the next several years of his life to trying to find him.

As we follow Ronan's life during the next few years--his successes and heartaches and the startling revelations he eventually faces--we are treated to more stories, as one reviewer says, "seamlesssly interwoven" into the novel. The stories reach Ronan in various ways--through radio, television, even letters from the Storyteller himself, never signed or with a return address.

I found myself thoroughly enjoying the stories even as Ronan's own story propelled me forward. Tales of St. Patrick, of Brendan the Navigator, Conor of Ulster, the legendary Finn MacCool,the Battle of the Boyne, all the way up to 1916 when the Easter Rising led by men like James Connolly and Michael Collins set the stage for the eventual formation of the Irish Republic.

If you have a yen for all things Irish, I definitely recommend this book. It's a rich, fanciful, imaginative retelling of Irish stories, as charming and appealing as the Irish themselves.

By the way, I kept thinking all along that this would make a wonderful movie. It would have to be sized down, of course, and all of the stories probably wouldn't be included. But I picture it along the lines of The Big Fish...a series of fanciful tales linked together by an ongoing contemporary story.


Gabriel Byrne

I can really picture Irish actor Gabriel Byrne, with a bit of age make-up, as the Storyteller. (They would have to get a younger actor to play the Storyteller as a young man.) And there would be choice roles for actors to play Ronan, his father, his aunt and his mother, and many characters in the tales. Hey, I have it all planned. Is anybody listening?

Another terrific read...



...but a totally different kind of book, is Leave it to Claire by Tracey Bateman.

The book follows the trials and tribulations of Claire Everett, a Christian fiction writer who is struggling to raise her four kids after a divorce. The divorce happened a few years ago, and her cheating ex-husband Rick is now married to the perfect, beautiful and adorable Darcy (who was not, by the way, one of his co-cheaters).

When carpal tunnel surgery forces Claire to stop writing for a few months, she decides to make a list of everything she wants to accomplish--reconnect with her kids, make real-life friends as opposed to those who are on the Internet, exercise, go to church more, etc.

None of it is easy, especially when her kids are acting up and acting out more than ever; her mother moves to Texas; and Rick and Darcy, who have become Christians, suddenly want to be her friends...not an idea Claire is crazy about.

The book is immensely enjoyable--funny, real, occasionally painful but full of hope. Most of all, you can't help but love Claire and her wry and relatable observations about life, love, and the Lord.

So now, I have another favorite new author in Tracey Bateman (who I hope to interview soon), and I can't wait to read Claire Knows Best and I Love Claire.

Related Tags: Ireland, Frank Delaney, Irish history, Gabriel Byrne, Tracey Bateman, fiction, Christian fiction

It's FRIDAY!!!!

...and I answer the Friday Feast quiz

Oh, and happy birthday, Russell Crowe! 42 today. Russell, stay away from the phones today.

The weekend could not come soon enough for me! I have struggled with sleepiness all week long. Hopefully I can get some much-needed rest this weekend.

So, here is the Friday's Feast quiz. I invite you to answer the questions on your own blog, or here in my comments section. Here goes:

Appetizer
Name a trait you share with your parents or your children.--An all-consuming love of MUSIC. My father was a passionate music-lover as well, as are all my children...I honestly don't think we could live a day without music in some form.

Soup
List 3 qualities of a good leader, in your opinion.

1. Vision--as in, a vision for the organization he or she is leading
2. A servant's heart--a humbleness that asks, "What can I do for you?"
3. The ability to delegate tasks and authority

and if I may add a fourth:

4. The ability and the desire to bring out the best in each employee

Salad
Who is your favorite television chef?--Oh, my. I do not watch cooking shows on TV at all. I don't know why...just not my cup of tea.

Main Course
Share a story about a gift you received from someone you love.--Wow, I'm really wimping out today! Too many gifts and stories to mention...I can't single out just one.

Dessert
How do you react under pressure?--Uh, not very well. I tend to panic. Thankfully my husband is a strong, calming influence on me.


Have a blessed weekend, everyone!

Get ready to give answers to "The Da Vinci Code"

I talk with apologist Alex McFarland...scroll down to listen to an excerpt

"Blasphemy on steroids"--that was Alex McFarland's reaction when he first read the popular but controversial book, "The DaVinci Code," by Dan Brown. McFarland is the director of Teen Apologetics for Focus on the Family.

On May 19th, the movie based on the book, starring Tom Hanks and directed by Ron Howard, will debut in theaters.

However, you won't find Focus boycotting the movie. Such actions are often counterproductive anyway. Instead, the organization has put together a website aimed at helping Christians answer the inevitable questions that will arise from the movie.

McFarland told me in an interview earlier this week, "Ultimately we have a great opportunity...we can say to the world, OK, that's a book, it's a novel, and it claims to be accurate, but it's not. But let me tell you the really exciting thing--it's that Christianity rests on solid foundations, and here's what they are."

One of the authors highlighted on the website is Dr. Erwin Lutzer, author of The DaVinci Deception, who writes: "The movie will confuse lots of people, but Jesus will become the centerpiece of many conversations. For those who are prepared to explain that Christianity rests on solid foundations, the opportunity will be tremendous."

The website includes writings by Lutzer, Lee Strobel, and Dr. Norman Geisler as well as Alex McFarland. McFarland is author of the book, Stand: Core Truths You Must Know for an Unshakable Faith. He calls the book sort of an "intro to theology," and he says it's showing young people that theology is NOT boring.

Also available on the site are free downloadable resources, Sunday School leader materials and discussion guides.

McFarland also points people to Josh McDowell's website, Beyondbelief.com, which includes a special section on "The DaVinci Code."

Listen to a 2-minute excerpt of my interview with Alex McFarland:


Recommended websites:

go.family/davinci

Josh McDowell's Beyond Belief DaVinci page

Liz Curtis Higgs' Decoding DaVinci


Related Tags: The Da Vinci Code, faith, apologetics, theology, Alex McFarland, Dr. Erwin Lutzer, Liz Curtis Higgs

Have you ever had a really bad boss???

I have. Oh, believe me, I have.

And apparently so have a lot of other people. There's even a website devoted to the subject: Badbossology.com, "Protecting People and Companies from Difficult Bosses."

Badbossology.com did an internet survey asking pople why they would like to can their boss. According to AP, "Nearly a third said they didn't trust their employer. About a-quarter of those who responded cite their supervisor's micromanaging.


Another ten percent said the boss was taking credit for the ideas and work of others. More than a-thousand people responded to the online
survey, which was designed by the human resource consulting
company, Development Dimensions International."

According to Badbossology, these are the most common bad boss behaviors:

--Bullying
--Incompetence
--Reports and Surveys
--Harassment; Discrimination
--Inadequate Compensation
--Not Respecting Legal Rights
--Privacy Invasion


Having a bad boss is a really terrible feeling. Fortunately, I can name only one boss (and I won't mention his name here) that made my work life so unhappy that I actually dreaded coming to work. Also, fortunately, he wasn't my boss for long--just a little over a year.

I can vividly remember the day I found out he was leaving. I really wanted to throw a party! His last day on the job was a joyful one for me and my co-workers, all of whom were more than happy to see his departing backside.

And I would have to say, along with having a terrible personality and zero people skills, this boss's chief fault was his micromanaging. He was a serious control freak. I have often wondered how people who have no gift for interacting with other people end up in positions of power.

Of course, I have also had some wonderful bosses...ones who were characterized by good leadership skills but also flexibility, kindness, and the ability to delegate and not micro-manage. Thank the Lord for good bosses!

How about you? Have you had a really awful boss...or an exceptionally good one? I'd love to hear your stories!

Whatever happened to really good movies?

...and do we really need all the bad language?

Oh, I know there are still some good movies being made...even perhaps some great ones. But they seem to be fewer and farther between, and even the good ones seem to contain a surplus of words that in the words of the old Kim Carnes song, would make a crow blush.

My friend Joel Griffith's post about an old movie he saw recently is what got me thinking along these lines. The movie--Remember Last Night? (1935) propelled his thoughts in a number of different directions, but one of them was the fact that such a movie could be made in a "clean" manner. Joel writes: "The dialogue is witty, sardonic and subtle. No swear words, no sex scenes. Not even really any blood. However, this film could not be made today in the same way partially because of political correctness and partially because the present generation doesn't find dialogue funny unless it would make The Happy Hooker blush."

How true! Now, over the weekend I watched The Godfather for the first time. (I had seen bits and pieces before.) Understand, I'm not saying there aren't very disturbing elements to this movie. But here's the amazing thing: There is not an F-word in this movie. Not one. In a movie about the Mafia. How on earth was this possible? (I'm told the sequels made up for lost profanity.)

A recent AP-Ipsos Poll found that most of us...even people who do swear occasionally...are tired of all the profanity: "Nearly 74 percent in an A-P-Ipsos poll last week said they come across swearing in public frequently or occasionally. Almost half say they swear a few times a week or more.

"...And the poll shows many people who swear themselves don't like to hear it come from other mouths. Two-thirds say it bothers them when others use profanity."

When it comes to entertainment, what's the solution? I have friends who have special programs that delete the swearwords, but the results are clunky and sometimes laughable.

I'm not willing to give up entertainment completely. I am a movie buff and I enjoy a good story, well-acted and well-produced. I also love to laugh. I suppose it's too much to ask of Hollywood to clean up its act (there's my cynicism coming through.)

There is the occasional news story that offers a glimmer of hope. Like the fact that Sharon Stone's erotic thriller, "Basic Instinct II" is bombing abysmally at the box office. Then again, "Brokeback Mountain" was waaaaay behind "The Chronicles of Narnia" in box-office sales, and that didn't seem to matter.

If you have suggestions for some really good movies that have minimal or no profanity, by all means, let me know!