Perfection takes time, Honey!!

One of my favorite singers has humorously quipped the title statement several times, particularly when asked about future recordings.  I haven't written a blog post in far too long, but I have a good reason.  I am trying to live up to the title of this blog by becoming better educated.  I am working toward a Master's degree in Professional Counseling and had the blessing of taking a class on site in Virginia last week.  I had the opportunity to meet some amazingly wonderful people and learned so much about myself! My brain and heart were both well fed through the class work and friendships. If you have never had the opportunity to participate in counseling, whether individually or in a group, I highly recommend it, particularly if you feel frustrated in any area of your life.

Review of "The Book that Made Your World" by Vishal Mangalwadi

This book beautifully combines history, philosophy, anthropology and worldview all in one volume.  It addresses various aspects of life in the United States and the freedoms that those who live there are fortunate to have.  Dr. Mangalwadi shows his readers how principles found in the word of God impact life in the free world.  This is the sort of book that can be kept in your car or bag and can be read over a period of time.  There is so much information to be gleaned from these pages.  Dr. Mangalwadi has a very gracious way of writing, and tells the stories of various people and places with the utmost honor and respect.  I especially enjoyed the way Dr/ Mangalwadi compared and contrasted the lives of Johann Sebastian Bach and Kurt Cobain.  Their early lives are remarkably similar, yet Bach drew closer to God through his circumstances while Cobain's, sadly, made him more depressed and reclusive.  He does similar things throughout the book, showing how the truths of God's word have influenced and inspired many positive aspects of modern life.  Many efforts that now contribute to the physical, emotional and spiritual betterment of society were founded upon principles that God gave many years before now. 

Review of "The Sacred Meal" by Nora Gallagher

I received this book from a website called booksneeze.com, which sends books to blog writers in exchange for a review of the book.  This book is not what I expected at all, in a good way.  I thought that the author would spend much of the text making a case for a particular format or an insistence that the bread and wine is or is not actually the body and blood of Jesus.  In many ways, it is more of a memoir.  Ms. Gallagher has served and received communion in churches all over the world, and her experiences are riveting.  She shares her stories in such a way that I felt like I was there.  Ms, Gallagher's message is grace centered and unifying.  What most of her stories have in common is the ability of the Lord's Supper to unify even those who have long been opposed to one another.  While the bread and cup might or might not be one thing or another, there is no question that God meets with those who come together in His name, and the effects are evident.  There are study questions included in the back of the book to allow deeper individual or small group study. 

Be unusual!!!

According to Newsweek magazine, only 1 out of 10 Americans know at least one author of The Federalist Papers.  They are Alexander Hamilton, John Jay and James Madison.  Perhaps we can boost the average by a few decimal points!  =)

You can learn more about the Federalist Papers by going here:

http://www.sparknotes.com/history/american/federalist/timeline.html

Why do I think that God loves me?

"Jesus loves me, this I know.  For the Bible tells me so......".  My 20-month-old daughter knows these words.  They seems so easy to understand.......but are they?  Why do I think that God loves me?  It is so easy to think that He does when I look across the room at the wonderful man with whom I share my life.  I often praise Him in my heart when I watch my sweet little girl spinning around and singing.  I do not doubt that God has given me this blessing and many others.  But I have to wonder.......if I did not have all of these blessings, would I still believe that God loves me?  Would I still love Him? 

I John 4:10 says, "This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins".  This is how I know that God loves me.  Jesus sacrificed Himself and redeemed me when I was His enemy.  That alone is light years beyond what I deserve.  Even without the blessing of family, friends, good health, money (I could go on and on), He is good and utterly worthy of my love.  May He always have it.

Numerophobia

Numerophobia = fear of numbers

I am not truly afraid of numbers.  Most of the time, I like them just fine (especially if there are a lot of them in my bank account)!  =)  The lovefest ends when it comes to using numbers to find answers to my questions.  I just do not know how to do it.  So...........I'm going to try again.  I'm going to read The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith as an introduction to economics.  Maybe I can become like one of these people............

http://www.walletpop.com/2011/03/09/forbes-the-richest-people-in-the-world-2011?icid=maing%7Cmain5%7Cdl1%7Csec1_lnk1%7C49368

......but it's okay if I don't!  =)

Free Ivy League education? Anyone? Bueller?

Here's a link to some ABSOLUTELY FREE courses offered at Yale University.  Granted, you cannot get credit for taking these courses, but you can get a lot of great information!

http://oyc.yale.edu/

Black history readings...........................

The month of February is considered Black History Month in the United States.  While I happen to be of the opinion that "black history" need not be relegated to one month of the year, I really don't feel like stepping up on the soapbox today.  Here's some interesting stuff written by one of the smartest young ladies in the world.
http://allshehastosay.blogspot.com/2011/01/huck-finn-gets-makeover.html

...........and, lest I forget, here is my list of favorite books that relate to black history!

Uncle Tom's Cabin~~Harriet Beecher Stowe
Up From Slavery~~Booker T. Washington
Black Like Me~~John Howard Griffin
Roll of Thunder, Here My Cry~~Mildred Taylor

Baby, you're (FAR more amazing than) a firework!!

With my utmost respect to Mrs. Brand and her very popular song, I have to say that it is lacking something.  What are fireworks?  Explosive pyrotechnics.......................colorful, flying fire.  Impressive?  Yes.  Beautiful?  Uh huh.  An accurate assessment of a human being?  Not quite.  God has far more to say about our value as people.  Want to feel amazing?  Read on............


See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!  ~I John 1:3

 So God created mankind in his own image,  in the image of God he created them;  male and female he created them.  ~Genesis 1:27

 Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.  ~Hebrews 2:11

Yes, we are beautiful, awe-inspiring and utterly precious............because our Maker says so!

Thoughts on languages

In my opinion, learning a second (or third!) language is one of the best ways to educated one's self.  I know that I have an advantage, since I attend a Chinese church and am married to a gifted linguist.  There are so many ways to learn another language inexpensively, and many good ways are absolutely free!  This is the link to my favorite language learning site:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/

The Glass Menagerie by Tennesse Williams

I just finished this play yesterday.  Wow, what a page-turner!  I felt like I had stepped back in time--the descriptions are so vivid, I could actually picture the apartment in which the characters were living.  The characters made the armchair therapist in me come out quite a few times.  Great, fast read......highly recommended!

Educated............not always smart!!

What makes a person smart?  Proverbs 9:10 tells us how to be wise--"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight".  I have already accepted that becoming wise will take a lifetime, but it will not keep me from trying (and relying on God's grace!).  There is so much to learn, and just about everything we read, hear and experience can be a bridge that helps us connect to others.  This blog is a place where I (and hopefully you!!) will share what you are reading and learning.