| Rock Star Fathers |
[21 Jun 2009|03:59pm] |
Yesterday I talked to my dad. I called mostly to ask if he will be available to shuttle me back and forth from DFW when I fly to Detroit next week, but before we hung up I said, "Happy Father's Day tomorrow. I'm sure I'll call you again, since I was lame-o and didn't get a card in the mail."
He chuckled and said, "Okay. Good to know. I look forward to being surprised by your call."
After I hung up I thought about the fathers in my life. My dad, the father of my children, and the future fathers of my (potential) grandchildren. And I realized something amazing and perhaps rare. I'm surrounded by fatherly greatness.
Every year when Father's Day rolls around, I see articles written by people who grew up fatherless or abused or who've lost their dads and desperately miss them. The holiday looms large and oppressive, a reminder of what they don't have or never had. Greeting card racks or store displays showcasing golf balls, silk ties, electronic doodads or other dad-type items only magnify their pain or loss.
The irony is, while they feel the holiday keenly, I hardly notice it. I'm sure part of the reason is distraction and pure laziness, but I think it goes deeper than that.
Suppose someone in your family becomes a rock star. When you're out in public with him you notice people staring and snapping surreptitious photographs. The bolder ones approach, giggly and starry-eyed, to ask for an autograph. But to you he's just your goofy cousin who always made up funny songs to make you laugh. You don't get the hype, because living around that kind of talent is your norm.
I suppose Father's Day is no big deal to me because off-the-charts fatherly talent is my norm. I was loved, cherished, nurtured, taught, disciplined, and trusted as a child. My kids received the same beautiful gifts from their dad. And I'm 100% confident my sons (I include my son-in-law in that group, because I love him like a son) will do the same. I don't need one day out of the year to force me to especially love these men. If I loved them any more than I already do, my heart might explode.
But a designated day is an opportunity to remember and express appreciation for things I all too often take for granted. The fact that beautiful fathers are my norm makes them no less beautiful and worthy of celebration. So I think I'll quit writing this and go make that "surprise" call to my dad. Then I'll spend the rest of the evening with the amazing man I married.
To all you other fathers (and potential fathers) out there, happy day to you, too. Rock on.
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| Whatever you have not done for the least of these . . . |
[20 Jun 2009|11:20am] |
Yesterday morning I was exercising in the den when the doorbell rang. I headed that way, but saw George coming from the opposite end of the house and let him get it. He opened the door and said hello to someone I couldn't see. Then I heard a woman's jittery voice. "I-I'm just looking for houses that need to be cleaned."
"No thanks. We're good," George said. The woman didn't try another tack or ask for a hand-out. She just turned to leave, so George shut the door and hurried back to the kitchen where he'd left food cooking on the stove.
I watched the front walkway from the den window. As soon as the woman came into view, I recognized her. I'd seen her downtown the day before wearing the same red halter top and tight jeans. She was middle-aged, weather-worn, and much too thin. My immediate impression as I'd driven past her had been drug addict looking for "work" (and I wasn't thinking maid service).
After she walked away from my safe, comfortable, air-conditioned home, a strong sense of loss seized my heart and whispered to my mind, "You should have talked to her. Asked if she's alright. You should have asked her name."
Inclinations can come from a lot of different places, but this was one of those, "My sheep know My voice" moments. It was so strong, I moved to a different window that afforded a view of the whole street to see if she was still canvasing houses. If I spotted her, I fully intended to take my sweaty, half-exercised self outside and strike up a conversation. Offer her a glass of water. Ask her name. But all I saw was an empty street, radiating the heat of a merciless late-morning sun. She was gone.
Ever feel like you had a chance to touch a hurting person in a deep way, and you blew it? I stood at the window and prayed. I prayed for a woman I don't know and may never see again. I thanked God that He knows everything about her and I asked Him to protect her. I also prayed that the next time she knocked on a door belonging to one of His "sheep," that person would be quicker to hear His voice and a better steward of mercy. More than anything, I prayed that person would ask her name. I don't know why that struck me as so important, but it did.
I'm not naive. I realize this woman may be a scam artist, a thief, or up to any number of other tricks. But it's not for me to judge who or what she is. God sees her heart, knows why she's roaming the streets in a red halter top and tight jeans, and is big enough and strong enough to take her hand and guide her to deliverance, wholeness, dignity, and peace.
God knows everything about her that I can't know. And He knows something I could and should--something I will go out of my way to learn if I ever see her wandering around town again.
Her name.
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| Observations of a Part-Time Twit |
[17 Apr 2009|02:44pm] |
If you're involved at all in social media (which, um, you are, if you're reading this), then you've probably already read eleventy-jillion opinions on why you should or should not be involved in social media (which is kind of like a convention of Mary Kay consultants discussing the pros and cons of wearing make up), but I guess there are some pertinent questions being posed by media socialites to other media socialites, namely a) which social media best serves your networking needs/personal purposes/professional goals/stalking addiction, and b) once you decide to join one, how do you enter the conversation/recruit friends/win followers/look way more popular than you will ever be in real life, since you spend all your time in your pajamas, staring at a computer screen, trying to come up with pithy status updates containing 140 characters or less?
Introducing opinion number eleventy-jillion and one. Today's topic? Twitter.
Yes, I do tweet. I'd call myself a casual twitterer (er, twit?). No Twizzles or Tweezers or other snazzy applications. I just log on a few times a day, scan my home page, respond to friends, follow the occasional link. I enjoy a lot about it, like Heather Wilson's word-defining challenge (@definethis), access to publishing industry news, connection with other artists, and humorous banter with a variety of folks. However, Twitter can also be a bit bizarre--almost voyeuristic at times, mind-numbing at others. But don't take my word for it. For a fascinating peek at the machinations of the Twitterverse, check out this video. (Yes, I meant now. I'll wait.)
Funny? I think so. Far from reality? Sadly, no.
Given this state of affairs, I offer the Top Ten Twitter Rules by which I personally try to abide.
1.) Do not share what kind of cereal I ate for breakfast, how soggy it got, or whether or not the fiber content was sufficient to achieve the desired gastro-intestinal response. TMI, people. Seriously.
2.) Do share updates that are either beneficial, entertaining, informative, or part of a conversation.
3.) Do not brag about how many followers I have or try gimmicky ways to get new ones. Reason? When people I follow do that, I feel like I'm merely a statistic to them--a rung on a social-climbing ladder. Likewise, don't follow people just to get a follow-back and trump up an inflated number on my profile.
4.) Do follow people who are: interesting, entertaining, have similar interests, are real-life friends, provide a service I can use, provide information I may need.
5.) Assuming those who "follow" me are actually interested in my life, do post upcoming events, like a book signing (Saturday, April 18, Barron's Bookstore in Longview. 11:00 to 2:00 Please come!!!), radio interview, coronation as queen of a small country, etc., but . . .
6.) Do not re-tweet the same self-promotional update every fifteen minutes. Also, don't post links to every positive book review I receive, or every Pulitzer Prize, or every marriage proposal from a head of state, and . . .
7.) Definitely don't re-tweet nice things people say to or about me. (I mean, can you imagine being at a party, and someone complimenting your hair, and then going up to every other person at the party to repeat their compliment word-for-word? AWKWARD!) But DO re-tweet wonderful news or compliments about my friends.
8.) Do not whine about the weather or my ingrown toenail or the five million unanswered e-mails in my inbox (Hello! Why are you on twitter? Go answer your e-mails!)
9.) Along those same lines--and perhaps my favorite for its sheer irony--do not complain about how late I am. For the love, people. If you're already late, and you're making yourself later to pause and tell the world, just go ahead and type, "I'm addicted to social media and desperately need an intervention" and be done with it.
10.) And last, but not least, never ever write, "I have nothing interesting to say." Hint: if you have nothing interesting to say, say nothing. People will assume you're busy, or having fun, or--better still--you're mysterious! You may know that you're boring, but no one else has to.
Yeah, so, if you follow me on Twitter, and I don't post anything for hours, it's not because I'm mindlessly cross-linking to YouTube social-media videos (this one is hilarious, too), or watching Susan Boyle dream a dream for the fiftieth time (today), or reading celebrity-teen gossip on Yahoo's OMG (Zach Efron has real talent--I don't care what the haters say). And it's definitely not because I'm boring. Oh, no! I'm mysterious. Hey, you don't even know what I ate for breakfast.
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| Dancing with Uncle Sam |
[15 Apr 2009|09:38am] |
Ah, it's that lovely time of year when the trees are budding, the grass is greening, and my system once again revolts, driving me to drugs for relief. Pollen, you ask? No. My misery is fueled by something even more unavoidable than the changing of seasons. Taxes.
The good news is, I actually filed last week. But not before climbing a few small mountains to get there. The final one was figuring out how to handle the investment, income, and donations involved in self-publishing Parting the Waters. After asking a few friends for advice and still not obtaining definite answers, I broke down and called the IRS tax-help line.
I had no idea what to expect. Would I have to wait on hold forever, listening to cheesy arrangements of 70s songs? Would the person who finally answered be a heartless, disgruntled bureaucrat who slaps a big, red, be-sure-to-audit-this-clueless-citizen flag on the files of callers with issues? (Hey, we all know I have issues.) Before I dialed the number, I prayed.
I navigated the voice-mail menu and then listened to Tchaikovsky's A Nutcracker Suite. Could be worse, I thought. Finally it switched to a ring. A woman answered and quickly rattled off something to the effect of, "Ah-low! Thees ees Mees Heernahndez, ID noomber Wahn Seex Zehdo Seex Sree Sehbrun Sree . . . "
I didn't catch her whole speech, because a.) I wasn't sure she was actually speaking English, and b.) I was too busy trying to figure out how I was going to understand specific tax schedule instructions spoken in a triple-thick Hispanic accent with all the words running together. What now? The US government is outsourcing tax-help jobs overseas? This was not good. When she finally paused, I assumed it was time for me to speak, but I didn't dare launch into details at this point. "Um, hello. I have a question about filling out Schedule C."
"Ah naht soor ah unnerstahn yoo, deed yoo sahee "Cee" ahs een "Caht?"
Awkward pause while I mentally translated. She didn't understand me? Oh dear. "Uhhhh, yes! C as in Cat." Nervous laugh. "I'm sorry. I'm having trouble understanding your accent."
Burst of delighted laughter on her end. "Ah, thahs ahraheet, yoo sahee Skehdool Cee, yes? I cahnnect yoo to sahmwahn who hayelp yoo weeth dat. Ahneetheeng else ah cahn do for yoo?"
I caught the "connect you to someone who can help you" part and latched on for dear life. "I just need to talk to someone about Schedule C, thank you!"
"Ah trahnsfeer yoo now. Sahnk yoo foor cahlleeng dee I Ahr Ehss."
She put me on hold where the Sugar-Plum Fairies continued to dance. I must say imagining a room full of IRS Dilberts prancing about on twinkle toes brightened my mood immensely. Then the music stopped, I heard click, click noises, and then ringing. Oh, Lord, please, please, please . . .
A man's voice interrupted my prayer. "Hello. This is Mr. Molner, ID number 02705 . . ."
I wanted to shout, "I LOVE YOU!!!!" but I thought it might be taken as an inappropriate attempt to seduce a tax employee for Schedule C favors. I will say, though, that I had such a deep appreciation in that moment for the simple pleasure of clear communication, I spoke to Mr. Molner with the deepest respect and most profound gratitude imaginable. He proved to be a friendly, helpful assistant, found the answers to my questions, and even wished me well with my book.
After I hung up satisfied, I wondered if Mees Heernahndez was a strategic plant on the part of the IRS--a way to make citizens so grateful when they finally reach a Mr. Molner, they forget to be annoyed by tax-return issues. If so, my hat's off to them for a grand psychological success. It definitely worked for me. I was so happy when it was all over, I even felt like leaping, dancing, and throwing in a few pirouettes. All I needed was the appropriate music. Hmmm, maybe a quick call to the IRS . . .
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| Mysteries of the universe and other things that crack me up |
[01 Apr 2009|09:28pm] |
Gah! I'm so behind on blogging, if I wait a little longer, maybe life will lap me and I can just fall in step and pretend I kept up all along. (Don't question my reality. I'm comfortable here.) Meanwhile, to grease the wheels, here's one quick story and a couple of fun links. First the story:
Last weekend was the FDDDS+M (Father Daughter Daughter Daughter Son plus Mom) ski trip, an annual tradition for my family of origin. We flew to Denver and drove a rental car to Beaver Creek where we enjoyed two days of amazing skiing in 50+ degree weather on three feet of new snow. Yeah. Paradise.
But I'm getting ahead of myself. During our shuttle ride from the airport to the Budget Rent-a-Car lot, I told my family about Graham's blog. Graham is one of Luke's friends at Regent College, and he is also one of the funniest people on the planet. I was mostly aiming my remarks at my brother, because he and Graham have very similar senses of humor. I don't remember exactly what I said, but something like, "Graham is one of Luke's seminary friends and he writes a hilarious blog. You should check it out." At this point, my mom interjected a question--one that I found myself unable to answer.
The world is full of mystery and wonder--enigmas that philosophers and theologians have pondered for centuries, and yet they remain unexplained to this day. This was not one of those questions. Mom asked, "What's his horsepower?"
Awkward silence. Finally I ventured a response. "I have no idea what you're asking."
Then we all cracked up. I now have a new favorite question to ask about people. Thanks, Mom!
Okay, so here are the links. First, Graham's blog. Enjoy!
Second, here are some photos I shot at the Dallas Arboretum last Thursday. Explanation included with the pictures. Again, enjoy!
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| A book review and a (sort of) promise |
[11 Mar 2009|10:44pm] |
This is blog tour week for my cute, talented friend Mary and her wonderful new novel, Daisy Chain. Click HERE to read my review and to get more info on the book.
Now that I'm (mostly) recovered from jet lag and (partially) caught up with my to-dos, I hope to start posting stories and photos from Thailand very soon!
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| Chiang Mai and Phuket! |
[11 Mar 2009|10:33pm] |
I wish I had time to write stories about all we're seeing and experiencing here. For now, a few pictures will have to suffice.
Click HERE for shots of Chiang Mai, and HERE for shots of Phuket. Enjoy! :)
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| My Dinner with Jacob Action Figures, Flashback |
[30 Jan 2009|08:53pm] |
Today I received an amazing note from Trey Sandlin. Trey and our younger son, Luke, were in the same class growing up. We haven't kept in touch through the years, but his grandmother gave him a copy of Parting the Waters for Christmas, and he wrote to express his thoughts. In the opening paragraphs he shared some deep personal ways the book spoke into his life and rekindled his relationship with God. I can't begin to tell you how much I treasure hearing stories like that. But then he gave me another delightful gift. He took a little walk down Memory Lane and told a story I know I will repeat many times now that I've heard it. This is what he wrote:
I remember Jacob before the accident. At the sports banquet the year of the accident, I was standing next to Jacob in the buffet line. I remember him picking up a dinner roll, and taking a big bite out of it. At the end of the line, Jacob looked at the lady serving the food and said, "Ma'am, it seems that a hungry member of your staff has been testing the dinner rolls," and then he turned and grinned at me, and kinda elbowed me in the ribs.
What a perfect mini-snapshot of the Jacob we once knew! Such a fun memory, I couldn't help laughing out loud when I read it, even though that banquet was one of the last events Jacob attended before the end-of-school canoe trip that changed our lives forever. Trey went on:
I thought he was so cool. I never really knew him, in fact I was kind of intimidated by him, but we were both on the soccer team. I started wearing Airwalk shoes and a chain on my wallet because I saw him do it. His life has obviously turned out differently than anybody ever thought, but after reading your book, it just shows that God has a plan for everyone. If the accident never happened, if you hadn't written a book, I might have never realized how far I had strayed from the Lord.
We never know what lies ahead down the road--the twists and turns it will take and how hard some of them will be to navigate. And we don't know how much our journey could mean to the people we've met along the way. But Someone knows all these things. He goes before us and cheers us on. He's even preparing a great feast for us when we finally reach the end.
I hope I get to stand by Jacob in the buffet line.
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| Parting the Waters Blog Tour |
[26 Jan 2009|02:00pm] |
I promise The View From Here hasn't become a place exclusively devoted to all things Parting the Waters. But I do want you to know that the book is currently being featured in a blog tour. Fifty-four bloggers have read it and will post their reviews this week. You can find the complete list of participating blogs here.
This morning the tour host sent me an e-mail with a link to this review. Wow. Made me cry. I can't wait to see what they all have to say.
Also, while we're on the subject of PTW and crying, my friend Tina and her friend Andrea made a book trailer. You can watch it here.
In other news, I'm thinking about buying stock in Kleenex.
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| Parting the Radio Waves |
[21 Jan 2009|08:53pm] |
Just a quick reminder. Tomorrow (Thursday) at noon CST I'll be interviewed by Lesley Hurst of Vocal Point Radio, an outreach of the late Dr. James Kennedy's Coral Ridge Ministries. It's an hour-long chat and listeners can call in with questions or comments. Find info about the station or listen online at WAFG.com.
Also, Friday morning at 7:20 AM CST I'll be talking with Anitra Parmele of REACHFM in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Listen online at REACHFM.org.
Please pray for me about these interviews. It would be lovely if listeners decided to buy books, but my deepest desire is that they think about the topics discussed and are encouraged to find beauty in their own brokenness. Thanks!
Also, coming soon: My Love Affair with Uncle Sam. Mmmm. Can't get enough of government bureaucracy. Bring it, Sammy!
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| Date change |
[11 Jan 2009|03:41pm] |
Just in case anyone was planning to listen to my interview tomorrow morning on Reach FM, the date has been changed to Friday, Jan. 23. The show host called today. She hasn't received her copy of the book yet, and she actually wants to read it before we talk! Isn't that awesome? I'm excited, because I think we'll be able to take the discussion deeper and offer more to her listeners.
Tune in:
Same time (7:20 AM Central)
Same station (Reach FM)
Different date (Friday, January 23)
Thanks! ♥
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| Blog Tour (Free Book!) and Radio Interviews |
[08 Jan 2009|10:00am] |
Yesterday George and I were in Dallas and stopped by Baylor Institute of Rehabilitation to deliver a few books to some folks who made a huge difference in Jacob's life. Sweet stories and pictures from that visit coming soon, but first a couple of announcements. If you don't yet have a copy of Parting the Waters, here's your chance to get a free one:
Tina Howard of the Blog Tour Spot is hosting a Parting the Waters blog tour for the week of Jan. 26-30. If you’d like to participate but don't have the book, we’ll send you one. Your job is to read it and then tell the whole wide world what you think about it. If you don't have a blog, a facebook note works just as well. Anyone interested should e-mail Tina at toddntinahoward@gmail.com.
In other fun book news, I have several upcoming radio interviews. The first is Monday, Jan. 12, with Anitra Parmele of Reach FM in Fort Lauderdale, FL. It's a live interview at 7:20 AM Central. If you don't live in the area, you can listen on the web at ReachFM.org (Here's hoping I'm "live" enough at that hour to say something worth hearing!) After visiting my website and learning about JUBILEE, Anitra gave the music a listen and also requested a CD to play on their station. How awesome is that? :)
The next interview is Thursday, Jan. 22, with Lesley Hurst of Vocal Point on WAFG 90.3 FM, also out of Fort Lauderdale, and also live. It airs at 12:00 noon Central and lasts an hour. I’d greatly appreciate your prayers, and I'd LOVE it if you listened in!
On Jan. 27 I'm taping an interview with Steve Bonenberger of Angels in Action Radio in California. Not sure yet when that one will air, but I'll let you know. It will also be available as a podcast.
Thanks for your love and support!
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| The Graduate |
[03 Jan 2009|09:09pm] |
No, this post is not about Dustin Hoffman, Mrs. Robinson, or even Simon and Garfunkel, though John Denver will play a part later on. (Yes, Luke, I know he's not in the movie but he is a musician, like Simon and Garfunkel. Hence the logic. Work with me.) As I was getting around to saying, on December 13, with great pomp and no less circumstance, a mere mister walked across a platform, and when he reached the other side, he found himself in the hood. (As in doctoral regalia, yo.) After ten years (no, that's not a typo) George can finally claim with full authority that he's got worms! (Lots of them. Preserved in glass vials, some of which are stored in our bedroom. But let's not spoil this celebratory moment with points of contention.)
Back to the good news of great joy: George now possesses a PhD in forestry! His specialized research makes him an official expert in megadrilology (that's Geek-ese for the study of earthworms). Indeed, Dr. Damoff is ranked among the nation's top few megadrilologists. Of course, all the nation's megadrilologists are ranked among the top few. They're a rather smallish club. But that in no way minimizes the importance of what they do, and I say that with utmost sincerity. Seriously.
The ceremony was all one would expect (i.e., ridiculously crowded, long, and boring--my sister and I spent much of the time devising ways the so-called "platform party" could have made it more party-ish), but I felt deep joy, excitement, and pride when the university president shook George's hand and the dean of forestry placed the hood over his head.
Afterward we stopped by a reception in the forestry department and then headed to the home of George's friend and colleague, Dr. I'Kuai Hung, for a wonderful Chinese luncheon prepared in George's honor. I'Kuai also invited George's dissertation director and several other close friends from the department. Delicious food, laughter, music, and pleasant conversation. It was wonderful. And Jacob added to the fun (mine, anyway) by shouting the occasional "Amen"--his standard response to anything he finds interesting or even amusing. So great to watch the faces of the non-church people when he punctuated a story. (Yes, I know I'm bad.)
About now the careful reader will be wondering when John Denver comes into the picture. Good job! You just provided me the perfect segue. For photos and the rest of the story, click here.
We're not sure yet what the future holds, but meanwhile you know where to go for answers to all your distressing megadrilological questions. The worm doctor is in!
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| Once upon a time . . . |
[02 Jan 2009|01:38pm] |
When I started this blog in 2003, it was my one portal into the vast and then-mysterious realm of The Internets. I tip-toed sheepishly into a smallish corner and jotted little stories I wanted to remember and share. Then, much to my delight, a few people seemed to like them and left comments, which spurred me to share more.
Over the years the face and purpose of this blog has changed very little, but my presence here has become sadly sporadic. Now I jet between Facebook, Twitter, The Master's Artist, and Just for Pics, but none of them can replace The View From Here. It's like the cozy cottage I'll always think of as "home" even after acquiring extensive properties in other bloggerhoods. Where else can I share episodes of My Dinner With Jacob Action Figures or transcribe George's and my pillow-talk sessions (Rated R for Ridiculous)?
I miss this place. I don't know if any of my old neighbors ever drop by any more, but I'm planning to sweep away the cobwebs, shake out the rugs, and throw the windows wide open again. Hopefully some will notice a light on and come back. Maybe I'll make some new friends, too. No matter what, I'll have a place to stash treasured memories.
Welcome, friends. It's a brand new year. Here's to music, dancing, laughter, a few tears, and lots and lots of stories.
♥
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| An update: featuring news and some stylish asterisks. |
[14 Nov 2008|03:02pm] |
To whom it may concern, here's a brief update on my life.
**Parting the Waters released this week! That's only been coming for, oh, about six years.
**The book is now available at WinePressBooks.com, Amazon.com, and SignedByTheAuthor.com. (Personally signed copies available at the last one!)
**21 cases (1000 books) are piled in Luke's room. I'm pretty sure you want one (or 50).
**We're hosting a community-wide, come-and-go book release party at the Marshall Visual Arts Center from 4:30 to 7:00 PM on Thursday, December 4. One free book per family in attendance. You're invited!
**On Tuesday, KSLA News 12 interviewed me, George, Jacob and some other people for a feature story to air before Thanksgiving. (They want to help advertise the book and the release party. Isn't that cool?)
**Meanwhile, I'm spending my mornings at the high school teaching the choirs choreography for their Christmas show. Always love that. What awesome kids!
**I still post every other Thursday at The Master's Artist.
And, in keeping with the social networking times, I'm on Facebook and Twitter, too. If you're over there and I haven't found you yet, look me up!
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| So many books . . . |
[21 Oct 2008|01:45pm] |
If you're like me, you have floor-to-ceiling shelves and desk-tops full of books, books in stacks on the floor, and others stashed here and there--on the piano bench, in a chair--all awaiting your attention. Wouldn't it be nice if someone started a reliable service that would not only offer opinions about which ones are worth your time, but also provide concrete examples of why? And, while they're at it, they could throw in a comprehensive summary. Wouldn't that be grand?
Well, guess what, kids! If the above paragraph applies to you, then today just may be your lucky day, especially if you're interested in non-fiction books that address Christian topics.
Solomon Summaries is a brand new online service launched this week by Chris and Heather Goodman. It provides solutions for busy Christians who want to maximize their limited time and increase their awareness of current and classic Christian non-fiction books. This unique subscription summary service provides subscribers with a 10-page summary of a non-fiction book, a review of the book, and group discussion questions every week. These summaries are not intended to replace the content of the entire book but rather to provide a synopsis of the key points. Solomon Summaries encourages dialogue, helps readers decide which books to buy and read, and tickles minds with new ideas and concepts that might warrant further exploration by the reader.
When asked what inspired them to start Solomon Summaries, Chris said he found a growing chasm between the amount of books he wants to absorb and the amount of time available to read them (not so much due to time shrinking, but because there are so many amazing books). In the business world, for years he had access to executive book summary services to glean the latest business wisdom, and he dreamed of something similar for Christian books.
Heather is a writer friend of mine and a kindred spirit. In fact, I still marvel that we aren't related. She's funny, whimsical, and is passionate about all things books. As an imaginative, curious person, she loves the idea of raising awareness of what's out there. In a culture that has adopted "I'm busy" as a standard response to the question "how are you?", there seems to be an interesting opportunity to engage people in bite-size chunks with the key points from a book on Christian living. Hopefully, this will help readers triage which books they want to look at further.
Also, they want to help lay leaders choose good materials and resources for Sunday school classes, small groups, mentoring relationships, and leadership training and help pastors stay in touch with what's out there and what their congregations are reading.
As future-thinking people, Chris and Heather have great interest in seeing Solomon Summaries become a platform for engagement and growth. Based on the initial reaction they received from product testers, and how passionately people have shared the idea with their friends, they're in discussion on a number of additional pieces of the puzzle (what Chris calls the blueprint) to offer value to book readers and small group book discussions. They'd also like to get the authors of the books more involved in the discussion and will be paying close attention to subscribers and their interests. Ultimately it will grow into what people want and need to help them in their lives.
Sound good? You should check them out here! If you decide to join now, you'll be eligible to receive a year's subscription to the service for $100 (regular price: $120, ~15% discount), and will be entered into a drawing for a stack of books with your subscription.
If you know anyone in ministry who might be interested in this service, please feel free to forward this post. Also, if you want to read more about Solomon Summaries or Heather and Chris, they will be highlighted throughout the week on the following blogs:
AKA Lewis Theodore
A Peek at My Bookshelf
A Prisoner of Hope
Aspire 2 Blog
Bible Dude
Blame it on the Loud Mouth Gene
Fictionary
Gatorskunkz and Mudcats
Geaux 2 Girl
High Calling Blogs
In.A.Mirror.Dimly
In the Dailies
Leap of Faith
Michelle Pendergrass
Morning Cup of Coffee
One Glory
Portrait of a Writer . . . Interrupted
Relevant Blog
So You Wanna Be Published
The View From Here
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| Holy Lunch, Batman |
[13 Oct 2008|12:40pm] |
While I was waiting for my toast to pop up, I reached into the pantry for the agave nectar. Then, without premeditation, I started singing, "Agave Maria, Sanc-toast, Sanc-toast."
Thankfully no one was home, so I didn't have to feel like a nerd for the spontaneous song or for cracking up afterward. Now that I think about it, though, I probably shouldn't have eaten that beatific toast. Think of the fortune I could have made on eBay!
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| My Dinner with Jacob Action Figures, Act IV |
[04 Oct 2008|09:21pm] |
When we have red wine with dinner, George usually pours an inch or so in a wine glass for Jacob, then adds as much or more cranberry-grape juice to make a wine cooler. Jacob has always just assumed it was wine, which actually made for quite a funny incident once when someone served Jacob straight wine and he tossed back a great big swig of it. His facial expression sent Grace and me into hysterics. But I digress.
Tonight we ate cheese tortellini with sweet-onion and garlic sauce, salad, and toasted french bread. And a nice Malbec. Jacob received the cooler blend. We'd only just begun to eat when he picked up a slice of bread and held it as though he intended to dip it in his glass.
I said, "Jacob, I don't think you want to stick your bread in the wine."
He hesitated, then took a bite instead and put it back on his plate. "I want to get drunk," he said.
"You do? Well, that's not the best way to get drunk."
He looked thoughtful for a moment, then snatched the bread and dipped it in the wine as quick as he could and popped it in his mouth, the whole time watching across the table to see what I would do.
I raised an eyebrow and took a bite of pasta, chewing slowly. He waited. After swallowing I said, "You know, Jacob, that reminds me of a little boy I used to know." I paused, and he fought a grin. "Whenever I told him not to do something, he loved nothing more than doing that very thing--usually right in the same room so I could see him doing it."
Jacob looked away to hide his smile.
"Can you guess who that little boy might have been?" I asked.
"HmmmmMMMMMmmmm," he said, I presume to buy some time.
I leaned forward. "Any ideas at all?"
Jacob fixed his gaze on the cross on the wall--his standard line of defense when he wants to pretend he's ignoring you.
"Oh," I said, acknowledging the object of his focus. "So, were you taking communion then?"
Steady gaze. No answer. George and I kept eating. Jacob eventually picked up his fork and joined us. Toward the end of the meal, he reached for the wine glass.
"Remember to sip it, Jacob," George said, demonstrating with his own glass.
Jacob threw back his head and downed the rest of it in one gulp. Then he got up to clear the table while I sang a hearty rendition of "What can you do with a drunken Jacob?"--composing additional verses until he finished the chore.
Yeah. So, let me just say that "intinction" is a wonderful word, and it means something even more wonderful. Let us celebrate the feast. We are redeemed, and boy do we ever need to be.
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ellezymn's journal