If you're not in the mood for Christmas yet...

...maybe this will help

"My hope is that Christmas Memories becomes a tradition for families today, to look at the past to remember, the good times, the blessings, to catch a glimpse of a bye gone era, a simpler time and how people lived and celebrated CHRISTMAS… and then to have a discussion of REMEMBER WHEN? To me the importance of Christmas Memories is that we should celebrate Christmas EVERYDAY! "--Michael Davis, director of Christmas Memories

I heard from a voice from out of my past today. Michael Davis used to be a sales executive here at 101QFL back in the 90's. He has since gone on to the more creative side of media, producing films and documentaries with North Carolina-based Uptone Pictures.

Mike's latest project was created out of his love for vintage 8mm family movies that he picks up at garage sales and flea markets. Soon he had amassed hours of footage--and when he realized that much of it was of family Christmas celebrations, Christmas Memories was born.

The movie is a montage of family Christmas movies, enhanced with narrated stories and evocative music.

Says Mike:

"The coolest thing that I have seen over and over as we have screened the film to various focus groups is that people pull from the film things that are unique to them. While someone sitting next to them in the same viewing would pick something completely different from the same exact footage. The fact is the film literally transports people back to a time and place or a moment which has been saved in their minds for years, in some cases decades. So, when they see these images they are immediately back in the kitchen at Grammas house eating cookies on the kitchen stool. Or they are back putting ornaments on the tree as a blizzard roared outside. It has just been a lot of fun to see this kind of thing."

The movie is available at many Christian bookstores, or you can order it from the website. It will also air on television numerous times during the Christmas season, including nationally on Christmas Day on the CW Network.

In the meantime, here's a taste of it--the title song, sung by Jill Parr.

Francine Rivers at work on a new novel

...as "Redeeming Love" is released in hardcover

As I mentioned Friday, I interviewed beloved author Francine Rivers, and I'm delighted to confirm that she is working on a new full-length novel...her first in several years. (In recent years, Rivers has written novellas.)

Rivers' classic novel, Redeeming Love, is now available for the first time in hardcover. The book is a re-telling of the story of the biblical prophet Hosea, who was commanded by the Lord to marry a prostitute...thereby illustrating God's unconditional love.

Redeeming Love was the first book Francine wrote after becoming a Christian. She set the story against the backdrop of the California Gold Rush, which was familiar to her readers. However, her readers were used to steamy love scenes...something missing in Redeeming Love.


Author Francine Rivers

In this sound clip from our interview, Rivers talks about how Redeeming Love came about...and how her secular readers accepted it:



In the following sound clip, Rivers talks about the novel she is now writing:



We Francine Rivers fans will have to wait a while for this one...she tells me it probably won't be in print before spring of 2009.

"Amazing Grace" is out on DVD now

I interview Chip Flaherty of Walden Media

"We went, overall box office worldwide, over 30 million dollars, which really sent a signal that you can make a movie based on a historical figure who is motivated and inspired by his newfound faith, and that it's going to find an audience."--Chip Flaherty of Walden Media

Back in February, I interviewed Chip Flaherty, the executive vice president of Walden Media, about the movie Amazing Grace, which was about to be releasd in theaters.

Walden Media is the production company behind such movies as "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe," "Charlotte's Web," and "Bridge to Terabithia."

"Amazing Grace" is now available on DVD, and I had the pleasure of interviewing Chip Flaherty again the other day.


Chip Flaherty (right) and his brother Michael Flaherty (left), president of Walden Media

In this sound clip, Flaherty talks about the terrific response to "Amazing Grace," both in its theater release and now on DVD.



In this sound clip, Flaherty talks about the advantages of owning the DVD:



Christian fiction lovers will be happy to know:

I just interviewed beloved author Francine Rivers about the new hardcover edition of her classic bestseller, Redeeming Love. And it's true: she IS working on a full-length novel...her first in quite a while!

Francine tells me the plot centers around four generations of women who are forced together because of a flood. She says the book is going to be pretty lengthy, with a lot of dialogue and insight about how women of different generations view their faith.

If you love Francine Rivers as I do, the thought of a hefty Rivers novel will be right up your alley!

Francine tells me she doesn't have a title yet. She thought about "Flood Waters," but her daughter laughed and said, "Mom, you can't have a title like 'Flood Waters' when your last name is Rivers!"

She says the manuscript is due in August of '08, so we're looking at spring or summer of 2009 before it will be released. Something tells me it will be well worth the wait.

The Gobble Gobble Recipe Event!

(scroll down if you're here for Thursday Thirteen)

I am all for some good traditional Thanksgiving food. But I also like to mix things up (much to the irritation of my "don't-mess-with-a-good-thing" husband). I've enjoyed making cranberry-orange sauce... pecan stuffing... pumpkin cheesecake...

And this year will be no different. I'm interested in what y'all are making for your Thanksgiving meal. We all know the tried-and-true recipes... But what do you do differently to make the holiday meal extra special?--Karla of Looking Towards Heaven

Karla at Looking Towards Heaven is sponsoring a bloggy recipe event today. Post a recipe and stop back and her place to let her know you did!

My contribution? Well, since I hope to not completely blow my diet on Turkey Day, I'm going to bring a carb-friendly dish that has gotten rave reviews in the past from people who had no earthly idea that it's low-calorie and low-sugar. Let's just not tell them, OK?

WEIGHT WATCHERS GRAHAM CRACKER DESSERT

--Graham crackers (your choice...I use the chocolate ones)
--2 boxes fat-free, sugar free vanilla OR white chocolate Jello pudding
--3 cups milk
--1 carton Cool Whip (fat free or sugar free if you wish)
--chocolate syrup

Make pudding with 3 cups of milk. Mix the Cool Whip in with it.

Line 9 by 13 pan with graham crackers (don't crush them, just lay them flat...you'll have to break them off some to make them fit).

Cover with pudding/Cool Whip mixture.

Add another layer of graham crackers. Drizzle with chocolate syrup.

This does not have to be frozen, but if you put it in the freezer for a while, it tastes like ice cream sandwiches. It really tastes like something sinfully fattening, but it isn't at all!

The Top 13 TV Icons

...according to TV Land and Entertainment Weekly

I hereby count them down (and I'm not saying I necessarily agree with these choices or the order they're in!):

13. Jackie Gleason

12. Dick Van Dyke

11. Roseanne

10. Dick Clark

9. Homer Simpson

8. Jerry Seinfeld

7. Mary Tyler Moore

6. Carol Burnett

5. Walter Cronkite

4. Bill Cosby

3. Oprah Winfrey

2. Lucille Ball

1. Johnny Carson

You can see the entire list of 50 Top Icons here.


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Living victoriously with diabetes

"It’s [diabetes] a part of my makeup, part of who I am. It built a lot of character, for who I am now. That comes out in the way I write. There are some inspiring songs on my new record –- a song called FREE for one, about how nothing’s impossible. You can achieve the unexplainable."--singer Elliot Yamin, in an interview at Diabetes Mine

...and responding with grace to "The Golden Compass"



Today is World Diabetes Day...something that might have passed by fairly un-noticed by me in the past, but is now of vital interest to me. As I've mentioned on this blog, I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in September. And as I've found since my diagnosis, I'm far from alone.

According to the World Diabetes Day website, diabetes currently affects 246 million people globally, including nearly 21 million children and adults in the United States.

Diabetes and its complications can be deadly, but you don't have to become a statistic. If diabetes runs in your family, you can start down the road to prevention NOW. Books like the one I reviewed here can be a huge help in explaining how to live and eat in order to prevent diabetes or to stabilize your blood sugar if you are diabetic.

Diabetes is NOT a death sentence! I feel better than ever since I've made regular exercise and healthy eating part of my life. In fact, I actually enjoy my food more than ever!

Here are some other great websites and blogs that will tell you more about preventing and/or living with diabetes:

--dLife--tons of resources and recipes!

--Diabetes Mine--a blog with a wealth of info written by Amy Tenderich, who has Type 1 diabetes. Currently she's featuring an interview with American Idol finalist Elliot Yamin, who is diabetic.

--Side by Side--The blog of the American Association of Diabetes Educators.

Responding with grace to a controversial movie

You've probably been hearing a lot about the upcoming fantasy movie, "The Golden Compass." The movie is causing some concern because it's based on a series of novels written by an avowed--some would even say "militant" atheist, Philip Pullman.


Jeffrey Overstreet

Yesterday, I interviewed Jeffrey Overstreet, author of the fantasy novel Auralia's Colors. Overstreet is also a movie reviewer and avid film buff.

I was able to ask Overstreet his views on "The Golden Compass." I had planned to share sound clips from our conversation, but I ran into some technical problems with that. However, Overstreet does talk about "The Golden Compass," Pullman, and the rest of the novels in the "His Dark Materials" series on his blog.
Here are some of Overstreet's insights on the books:

The book, The Golden Compass, showed up on my radar screen back in 1995. My wife and I both are big fans of fairy tales and fantasy stories. We both grew up with The Lord of the Rings, and The Chronicles of Narnia, and the books of Madeleine L’Engle. And when I started reading The Golden Compass, I thought to myself, ‘This is the most imaginative, enthralling fantasy novel I have read since The Lord of the Rings.’ For me, that’s saying a lot; I’ve read a lot of fantasy. I was so captivated by the characters, by the world that author Philip Pullman created.

“But then, as we went into the second and third book of the trilogy, something very strange started to happen. The characters and the situations started seeming more and more pointed to present us with an aggressive idea or with an aggressive argument about the way the world is. It was very discouraging for my wife and I as we read the third book, because these characters that we had come to know and love were suddenly turning into pawns in Pullman’s clever game to try and portray the Church as devoid of anything loving or good or gracious.

“In the third book in the series, The Amber Spyglass, where everything that began in The Golden Compass comes to fruition, you have characters turning to each other and saying things like ‘Christianity is a mistake, a powerful and seductive mistake, but a mistake all the same.’ [Note: Overstreet says this is not a direct quote from the book.--CS]And you start to realize that it is playing out exactly what its author, Philip Pullman, has said in interviews – that he wrote this book to strike at the idea of Christianity portrayed in C.S. Lewis’ work … He has openly said in interviews that if there is a God, and if he is as Christians describe him, then he deserves to be put down, which is exactly what the characters in the series that The Golden Compass end up doing.

“[Pullman’s] characters, as they make their way through the world, end up waging a second war in heaven. And Pullman portrays them killing God, who turns out to be just a supernatural imposter who’s feeble and cruel and senile. He [Pullman] has determined to draw young readers into this world, and try and show them a world in which … Christianity … is a tyrannical institution, and God is a tyrant. And all the church, which he calls the Magisterium, wants to do is control them. And as a result, God is overthrown in the end, and you have a restaging of the Garden of Eden at the climax where eating the apple as an act of defiance against God, is the triumphant conclusion.”

Respond with grace

While Overstreet has real concerns about "The Golden Compass," he cautions Christians to respond to the movie with love and grace. He points out that when Christians go on the attack, they run the risk of turning into the very stereotype as which they're often viewed:

“… whenever Christians are linked with movies in the media, you can expect it has something to do with protesting. And it’s already begun. There is such a loud, aggressive protest against 'The Golden Compass' happening, that Christians are playing right into the hands of the ugly stereotype that the world has of us; which is that we only wake up and get busy when we’re angry about something."

He has a point there.

My own opinion is that I will avoid "The Golden Compass," no matter how innocent it seems, because I won't knowingly support the work of someone who hates God and has an obvious agenda against Him.

But I hope any interaction I have about the movie will be seasoned with Christlike grace.

"The best new fantasy novel you've never heard of"

"Overstreet's writing is precise and beautiful,
and the story is masterfully told."
- Publisher's Weekly on Auralia's Colors

The powerful, lyrical Auralia's Colors, by Jeffrey Overstreet

Although I count the Chronicles of Narnia among my favorite books, and I enjoyed the Lord of the Rings books--the truth is, as an adult, I've never been a huge fan of the fantasy genre. However, I've been proven wrong about this not once, but twice in recent months.

The first was in the instance of Sharon Hinck's fascinating The Restorer. More recently, I've been happily surprised by Jeffrey Overstreet's Auralia's Colors.



I was able to interview Jeffrey Overstreet today for my radio show, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Even in conversation, Overstreet is a wordsmith, words flowing eloquently and effortlessly to articulate the thought he wants to get across.

The title of my post is actually from a review of Auralia's Colors, and the quote from Publisher's Weekly? My thoughts exactly.

The book hooked me immediately, and throughout the book I marveled at Overstreet's gift for weaving a story as compellingly as his heroine weaves her magical colors.

The story is about a land where colors have been outlawed. Everyone must dress in drab and neutral browns and grays. Into this world comes a strange child who was found abandoned as a baby. Auralia is one of the most interesting fictional characters I've come across in a while, and Overstreet imagines her world and his characters in complex, vivid detail.

In this soundclip from out interview, Jeffrey Overstreet gives us an overview of the book:



Yes, there are spiritual parallels in Auralia's Colors, but they're not heavyhanded or cliched. Like the prince's mentor in this richly-imagined story, they simply draw the reader to truth and light.

After reading Auralia's Colors, you'll be pleased, as I am, that there are three more books coming in this series. You can find out more about Jeffrey Overstreet and his books here, and more about Auralia's Colors here.

Tomorrow, I talk with Jeffrey Overstreet about the controversial new movie, "The Golden Compass."

A book that could save your life

...or at least add some years to it

"A sprinkling of cinnamon adds flavor to apple pie and oatmeal—but did you know that it can also significantly lower your blood sugar? Or that pumpernickel is the best kind of bread for keeping blood sugar stable? You’ll want to discover these foods if you have diabetes or pre-diabetes—and even if you don’t, since keeping blood sugar steady is proving more and more important to weight loss, heart health, and even memory and critical thinking! Get off the blood-sugar rollercoaster and you’ll also have more energy and fewer junk-food cravings."

When I found out I was diabetic a couple of months ago, my mom ordered a book for me that has turned out to be an incredible help, and I have to share it with you--even if you're nowhere near being diabetic.

The book is Reader's Digest's Magic Foods for Better Blood Sugar.

I read the book with avid interest the moment I received it, and I've been making recipes from it for the past several weeks. (This past weekend, I made the lentil and bean chili and the apple bran muffins.) My husband and daughter have raved about the recipes, and I have the satisfaction of knowing that they're filled with good things for us.

One of the things I've noticed since I've been eating diabetically (to coin a phrase?) is that my cravings have been greatly reduced. This is just one of the by-products of getting off the blood sugar roller coaster. I am so grateful to my mom for giving me this book, and I heartily recommend it to anyone who wants to make their diet healthier.

Eating to maintain stable blood sugar will benefit you in so many areas, not just diabetes-related. Many of these foods are rich in antioxidants and other things that help prevent things like cancer, high blood pressure and cholesterol, and even Alzheimer's and depression.

The book is so reader-friendly and informative, I find myself consulting it frequently. I'm trying to incorporate all of the "magic foods" into my diet, although I still haven't tried a few, like turmeric and jerusalem artichokes. For the first time in my life, I bought (and am using) things like whole wheat flour, flax seed and wheat bran!

It's actually put the fun back into cooking, too! I was getting into a real rut, but making things like pork chops with peach salsa and orange beef stir-fry has really--no pun intended!--spiced things up in my kitchen.

Here's a list of the "Magic Foods":


apples
avocado
barley
beans
beef
berries
bran
broccoli
brown rice
Brussels sprouts
bulgur
cabbage
carrots
cauliflower
cheese
cherries
chicken and turkey
cinnamon
citrus fruits
coffee
eggplant
eggs
fenugreek
fish
flaxseed
garlic
Jerusalem artichokes
lamb
lemons
lentils
melons
milk
nuts
oats
olive oil
onions
pasta
peaches, apricots, plums
peanut butter
peas
pork
pumpernickel bread
rye bread
seeds
shellfish
sourdough bread
soy foods
spinach and other dark greens
sweet potatoes
tea
tomatoes
turmeric
vinegar
wheatberries
wheat germ
whole wheat bread and flour
yogurt

Veterans Day 2007

My heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to all who have served.

A blogging award I'm honored to receive

This award, given to me by Malcolm of Pop Culture Dish, really means a lot to me. Malcolm awarded me in the "Staying True to Their Beliefs" category, and I am truly honored.

Here's a bit about the award, from the blog of Mama Pajama:

"After looking, reading and watching many many Blogs and bloggers I decided to issue some recognition to those fellow bloggers I feel maintain integrity in the Blogs. All these bloggers incorporate within their wonderful sites, an integrity not always seen. They share terrific stories, topics, discussions and images. All Well worth a look."

I'm now passing the award on to five other bloggers, in the five specified categories:

For Creativity:

Linda of 2nd Cup of Coffee

Linda has one of the most varied, interesting and appealing blogs around!

For Staying True to Their Beliefs:

Joel Griffith of The Seventh Sola.

Joel is never shy about expressing his opinions in a thoughtful and articulate manner.

For Keeping It Real:

Ann-Marie of The Lefthanded Rabbit

Ann-Marie's transparency and not-taking-herself-too-seriously wit are a delight!

For Social Conscience:

Rodney Olsen's The Journey

Rodney tackles a variety of social and spiritual issues on his very interesting blog...and thumbs up to him for starting the Thumbs Up! Awards--although I've been sadly negligent about participating of late. Gotta love that Rodney is a Christian radio person like me! :)

For the Spirit of Giving:

Grams of Talk...to...Grams!

Grams has kindly given me several awards, and I'm happy to return the favor! Anyone who has come in contact with Grams and her blog will agree with me that she epitomizes a spirit of giving. Thanks, Grams!

A happy and blessed weekend to all who read here!

Thirteen Very Interesting Things to Tell You About

Genie Francis in "The Note"

Some interesting links to pass along to you today! As always, if you don't have time to peruse them all now, bookmark this page and come back at your leisure. Happy TT to all!

1) To help promote the movie "The Note"(which will premier on the Hallmark Channel on December 8th and is based on a book by one of my fave writers, Angela Hunt), Hallmark has set up a special site where you can “leave a note” for someone special. After leaving a note, you’ll be able to watch a snippet from the upcoming movie.

2) Just a few days left to prepare a shoebox full of Christmas presents for a needy child as part of Operation Christmas Child!

3) Sunday is Prayer for the Persecuted Church Sunday. Go here to find out more.

4) A sweet phone call to a Christian radio station.

5) Looks like Jack Bauer is a casualty of the writer's strike...at least for now.

6) Target is halting sales of a gruesome video game.

7) Yet another toy recall...and this one isn't because of lead.

8) I've been hearing good things about the movie Bella. Here's Roger Ebert's review.

9) Peggy Noonan's thoughts on Hillary Clinton.

10) It's apparently pretty good right now to be Carrie Underwood.

11) How Starbucks has become part of American culture.

12) Plugged In Online talks about Phillip Pullman, on whose books the movie "The Golden Compass" is based.

13) I just re-read Francine Rivers; Mark of the Lion trilogy (after winning it in a contest sponsored by Barb of A Chelsea Morning. People, these books are beyond good. I had forgotten just how incredible they were. If you love fiction, and haven't read them, DO. A little note about which I'm very excited: I'm going to be doing a radio interview with Francine Rivers! it's in the planning stages now.

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A singer writes a charming children's book

My interview with Dan Haseltine of Jars of Clay

I talked with Dan Haseltine, lead singer of the three-time Grammy Award-winning band Jars of Clay, for my radio show yesterday, and I really enjoyed it. (Despite pictures of Dan that always seem to show him looking extremely solemn, he was very pleasant and amiable.)



Dan has written a children's book, "The One, The Only Magnificent Me!"

I read to my kids a lot while they were growing up, but I must admit that since they've gotten older, I've been out of the loop when it comes to children's books. Now that I have a little grandson, though, I'm getting back in the loop! And I found that The One, The Only Magnificent Me! is a book I'd be delighted to read to a child.

The illustrations by Joel Schoon Tanis are colorful and appealing, and perfectly complement Haseltine's whimsical rhyming narrative: "I wish I had feathers. I wish I had wings. I wish I was covered with prickly things. I wish I was sort of a blue greenish red, with a hint of bright orange and a spike on my head."

The main message of the book? Even though you may yearn to be something you're not, there really is only one "you," and you are unique and special.

In this sound clip from our interview, Dan tells me how his own children, Max and Noah, were instrumental in the book coming into being:



In this clip, Dan talks about the similarities between writing a children's book and writing a song.



Dan and I also chatted about Jars of Clays' upcoming Christmas album, Christmas Songs, and Dan's upcoming humanitarian trip to Africa. You can hear the entire interview here.

Autumn in the Forest City

I've been enjoying the fall colors here in Northern Illinois. Although I wasn't able to really capture the brilliance, I snapped a few pics yesterday that I thought I'd share. These were taken along the Rock River late yesterday afternoon.

This is my daughter Elizabeth with the river as a backdrop.


Gorgeous trees along the riverside.


The young red maple in our front yard...actually taken several days ago. It's already lost a lot of its leaves now. :(


The Auburn Street bridge.

Catching up!

I had strep and lived to tell about it...

Wow...I feel like I've just emerged from a cave. I was diagnosed with strep throat last Wednesday, and didn't go to work Wednesday, Thursday or Friday. I've got a lot of catching up to do!

Thanks to those of you who continued to check out my blog despite the fact that nothing much was going on.

I am much better, by the way...faithfully taking my antibiotics. Thanks to those of you who showed concern!

Anyhoo, I do have some things to share with you today.

An inspirational dieter

At one point this past weekend, I was feeling well enough to peruse some blogs. I decided to check out some of the blogs I've never visited on the Christian Blogosphere blogroll, and that's how I ended up on the blog called The Dip Shtick.

Dave has lost 100 pounds. 100 Pounds!!! That's major. When I asked him for some tips and advice, he kindly sent me an e-mail...which he plans to expand on in a blog post.

Weight Watchers has been key for him, but he also gave me some terrific advice about attitude and persistence. Here's some of what he shared:

Persistence - to always continue when you mess up. To work through the hard days. To stay on the program even if you gain a pound.

Attitude - Maybe this should be first, but you have to have an attitude that you want to lose weight. If I didn't want to lose weight, it would be harder to have discipline and persistence.

Goals - Set short-range attainable goals. My weekly goal is to average 2lbs per week. I use www.joesgoals.com to help me manage my short-term goals. Then I have medium range goals - with rewards. The roller coaster, the uniform all come with rewards. For hitting my 100 lbs, I rewarded myself with a fillet mignon steak. Still within my diet but something I rarely splurge on.

Hats off to David for his accomplishment, and thanks for the inspiration!

Other stuff:

--In anticipation of the 2008 Games, Chinese people are naming their kids "Olympics." (I guess Olympia Dukakis would fit right in, huh?)

--Sure, everyone has something to complain about...but singing about it in four-part harmony? I give you the Complaints Choir of Chicago.

--What level of education is required to read your blog? Supposedly you can find out here, but I couldn't get it to work...kept getting a "Sorry, something went wrong" message. (By the way, hat tip to Evangelical Outpost--whose blog reading level was "College: Undergrad.")

--This is funny! Obviously the cake decorators made a mistake.

Happy Monday, all!

The cutest little dinosaur ever...

This is my adorable little grandson, all decked in his dinosaur costume. Is he the cutest, or what?

I have to say a heartfelt thank you to my lovely daughter-in-law, who always makes sure that Payton's far-away grandparents (one set in Idaho, one set in Illinois) get plenty of Payton pics.

No Thursday Thirteen today. I was diagnosed with strep throat yesterday, and am still feeling pretty rotten.

A teen blog worth recommending...and an upcoming movie worth avoiding

"The official definition of the 'rebelution' is 'a teenage rebellion against the low expectations of an ungodly culture.' When you look around today, in terms of godly character and practical competence, our culture does not expect much of us young people. We are not only expected to do very little that is wise or good, but we're expected to do the opposite. Our media-saturated youth culture is constantly reinforcing lower and lower standards and expectations.

"The word 'rebelution' is a combination of the words 'rebellion' and 'revolution.' So it carries a sense of an uprising against social norms. But in this case, it's not a rebellion against God-established authority, but against the low expectations of our society. It's a refusal to be defined by our ungodly, rebellious culture. Actually, we like to think of it as rebelling against rebellion."--Alex and Brett Harris (pictured above)

If there's a teen-ager in your life that you care about, there's a blog you'll want to let them know about. It's called The Rebelution, and it's written by Alex and Brett Harris, who just happen to be the 18-year-old brothers of Joshua Harris, author of I Kissed Dating Good-bye.

I read about "The Rebelution" on author Randy Alcorn's blog. When I checked it out, I found a lot of good stuff there. Actually, it's not only a blog, but a full-fledge website.

Randy Alcorn writes:

"Alex and Brett are the real deal—young men of character, depth, and eternal perspective. They're abandoned to Jesus. Their message is vital, for just such a time as this. Join the Rebelution!"

An upcoming children's movie aimed at destroying faith

--I've been getting a lot of e-mails about an upcoming children's movie called "The Golden Compass," which is purportedly based on a series of anti-God books written by an avowed atheist. Well, guess what? The rumors are true.
The movie is being called "the anti-Narnia."

Conservative British columnist Peter Hitchens writes:

He [author Phillip Pullman] has described the Narnia Chronicles as grotesque, disgusting, ugly, poisonous and nauseating. Yet, as Michael Ward, an expert on Lewis, has pointed out, Pullman’s saga begins just as Lewis’s does with a girl hiding in a wardrobe and finding more than she bargained for. It is almost as if he wants to turn Narnia upside-down and then jump on it. While Lewis portrays rationalist atheists as comically ghastly and joyless, Pullman depicts priests as evil and murderous, drunk and probably perverted, and the Church as a conspiracy against happiness and kindness.

Set for release in December, the movie will star Nicole Kidman.

and other stuff...

----The church that produced Facing the Giants is working on another movie, this one dealing with the issue of marriage. Fireproof is set for an August 2008 release.

--Head over to Taco Bell and get a free taco today, thanks to the World Series. (There is a time frame.)

Friday Stuff

...and a cookbook giveaway to let you know about...

Molly Coddled is giving away this marvelous cookbook. Go here to sign up. (Hat tip to Barb of A Chelsea Morning.)

Other stuff:

--OK, these singing horses are just too cute and too much fun. (Hat tip to Angela Hunt of A Life in Pages. I should give Angela billing on this blog, I give her so many hat tips!)

--The Bible as literature? Adrian Warnock gives us 12 Literary Features of the Bible.

--The world's first Divorce Fair? (Hat tip to Amy's Humble Musings.)

--Uber-bloggers Joe Carter, Justin Taylor and Matthew Anderson are officially endorsing Mike Huckabee for president.

--Then again, some of you might like the bumper sticker that Granny of Granny's House is touting...

--Do you believe in ghosts? Apparently quite a few people do.

--Like these postage stamps you will--if you like Yoda.

Everyone go out and have a blessed and fantastic weekend!

13 lifestyle changes I'm making since finding out I'm diabetic

Finding out several weeks ago that I have Type 2 diabetes was a nasty surprise. However, I've decided to accept the challenge to lower my blood sugar by doing everything at my disposal to make that happen. Here are 13 things I am making a part of my life.

1) I exercise at least 30 minutes every day but Sunday. (I either do the elliptical or treadmill along with some weight training at TruEssence, or walk or ride the stationary bike at home.)

2) I take 2 tsps of apple cider vinegar twice a day.

3) I put cinnamon in my coffee, cereal, pudding and baked apples.

4) I try to have about two tablespoons of ground flax seed a day.

5) I divide my dinner plate three ways: meat and a carb on the top half of my plate, veggies on the bottom half, and I focus on eating smaller portions

6) I eat whole grain cereal, bread and pasta.

7) I eat brown rice instead of white.

8) I snack on things like apples with natural peanut butter.

9) I have blueberry tea every day.

10) My most decadent dessert is fat-free sugar-free pudding, topped with sugar-free Cool Whip.

11) I often use blue agave nectar instead of artificial sweeteners.

12) I make berry smoothies with yogurt and flax.

13) I've completely given up pop, sugared or diet, and drink only water, herbal tea, or a mixture of brewed green tea and sugar-free powdered drink.


Actually, there are other changes. I'm trying to make them an ingrained part of my life. And you know what? I don't feel like I'm suffering at all. I feel better than I have in a long time...more energetic and healthier...and everything I eat tastes delicious. If you're diabetic or just trying to eat healthier, please feel free to leave me any tips that are working for you, in my comments section.

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The Biggest Loser just keeps getting better

OK, I'm hooked on this show. In a season in which I hardly ever watch TV...and I mean that...this is the one show that I won't miss. (Prime time sit-coms' almost ludicrous preoccupation with sex have made TV almost un-watchable for me, but that's a whole 'nother "Oprah.")

I'm sure it has a lot to do with the fact that my daughter and I are both in the midst of one of the strongest weight-loss and healthy lifestyle commitments we've ever made, but The Biggest Loser has become a source of both entertainment and inspiration for us.

I think you would've had to watch it from the first episode of the season. I have, and now I'm totally invested in several of the cast members. I root for them when the scale is kind, and cringe when it's cruel. (Because if you've ever tried to lose weight--especially in a setting in which you have to get on that scale on a regular basis and face the music--you know just how cruel that scale can be.)

Last night, one of the cast members threw a major monkey-wrench into the "game" just as I had forgotten that it really is a game...a competition in which the person who is eventually crowned "The Biggest Loser" wins thousands of dollars and all the attendant fame, endorsements, etc, that a huge weight loss could bring.

It'll be interesting to see how the rest of the cast members respond to Neal's gambit. But to be honest, the competition is not what I like most about the show. I find the weight loss to be the most interesting and inspiring factor. To see the changes in a person, week after week...it's just cool.

By the way, I really like Allison Sweeney as the host. Despite her status as a diva on "Days of Our Lives," she comes across as personable, empathetic and down-to-earth.

And kudos to whoever allowed the guys to keep their shirts on, and the gals to keep their midriffs covered at last night's weigh-in. I don't know if that's a permanent change, but it's a good one. Making them flaunt all that excess flesh was just cruel.

...and a lifelong dream of mine...

...could be at least a tiny bit closer to coming true.

"Let Them Eat Cake"--a delicious treat for fiction lovers

My interview with author Sandra Byrd

Since part of my job is interviewing authors, a lot of books pass my desk. Many of them are enjoyable reads; some just fail to spark my interest. But occasionally, there's the real winner: a book that I simply can't put down. Those are my favorite books to review or talk to the author. Let Them Eat Cake by Sandra Byrd is just such a book.

So I was delighted to interview Sandra Byrd for my radio show yesterday. Let Them Eat Cake is the story of Alexandra "Lexi" Stuart, a 20-something who is having trouble getting her career bearings in a post-college world. When yet another job falls through, this Francophile decides to follow her heart and work for a much smaller paycheck in a French bakery.

I blogged earlier about the book:

I liked Let Them Eat Cake by Sandra Byrd so much, I scarfed in down almost as fast as I would a piece of my mom's legendary brownie chocolate cake.

While I've enjoyed some Christian "chick lit" lately, some of it can veer into the self-consciously cute and trying a little too hard to be funny zone. Not this book. Sandra Byrd's humor is wryly amusing instead of broadly slapstick, her protagonist's interaction with God believable instead of goofy.

However, in this sound clip from our interview, Sandra tells me that Let Them Eat Cake doesn't neatly fall into the chick lit genre anyway.



In this sound clip, Sandra talks about her intent to create "holistic" characters:



I'm happy to report that Let Them Eat Cake is the first in a trilogy called "French Twist." After you read the first book, you'll be hungry for more!