My wife has been involved with a ministry to the homeless in Pensacola for over a month now. She first went to the meetings that are held on Sunday afternoons in order to blog about the ministry.
She was hooked from the first. Stacey has a heart for the homeless as she was once homeless and living in her car with Kayla.
She is now helping in the clothing side of the ministry.
While there are many clothing needs and any contrbutions are welcome, underwear and socks are always a commodity as are toiletry items.
If anyone out there has a a hook up with Hanes or Fruit-of-the-Loom, see if they would be willing to donate underwear for women, children and men.
Stacey's blog (where she has pictures and other info) is http://www.treasuresfromlifesgarden.blogspot.com/
and the web page for Nothing Lost Outreach is http://www.nothinglostoutreach.com/
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
20 November, 2011
17 November, 2011
A Dragon Tale Worth Reading - The Dragons of Chiril
Before DragonSpell, on a different continent and a different time, a young Emerlindian’s desperate decision threatens to disrupt the foundation of the world.
Tipper has been caring for her family’s estate for years now, ever since her father disappeared, making a living by selling off his famous artwork. Then she learns that three statues she sold were carved from an ancient foundation stone, and the fabric of her reality is crumbling.
She must free her father and save the world. But she can’t do it alone.
Her ragtag band of adventurers includes Beccaroon, a giant parrot; Bealomondore, an aristocratic young artist; a handsome dragonkeeper prince; the Wizard Fenworth; and the tumanhofer librarian Librettowit. Together they travel through valleys and kingdoms and consort with purveyors of good and agents of evil to find and reunite the missing statues. Will they learn to rely on Wulder’s grace and guidance along the way?
Previously released as The Vanishing Sculptor
Tipper has been caring for her family’s estate for years now, ever since her father disappeared, making a living by selling off his famous artwork. Then she learns that three statues she sold were carved from an ancient foundation stone, and the fabric of her reality is crumbling.
She must free her father and save the world. But she can’t do it alone.
Her ragtag band of adventurers includes Beccaroon, a giant parrot; Bealomondore, an aristocratic young artist; a handsome dragonkeeper prince; the Wizard Fenworth; and the tumanhofer librarian Librettowit. Together they travel through valleys and kingdoms and consort with purveyors of good and agents of evil to find and reunite the missing statues. Will they learn to rely on Wulder’s grace and guidance along the way?
Previously released as The Vanishing Sculptor
Donita K. Paul has created a delightful read in The Dragons of Chiril.
Our heroes and villains are engaging and have definite characters that seem real and not forced.
There is a definite working in of the somewhat mysterious ways and words of God, but also the truth that is inherent in Him.
That our characters struggle with understanding and denial lends even more reality to the story. The mission to spread the Good News throughout the earth is also deftly inserted into the plot.
Probably my only complaint would be that the story was resolved rather quickly and the villain dispatched without much of a fuss.
This novel is a good read for just about any age, but more so for older teens and younger.
I haven’t read Ms. Paul’s other novels, but they are definitely on the radar now.
This book was provided by Waterbrook-Multnomah at no charge to me. The only stipulation on my receiving the book is that I provide an honest review.
Book List & 3 Movies
What I've read lately:
Captain Nemo - Kevin J. Anderson
The Time Thief - Linda Buckley-Archer
Here Lies Arthur - Philip Reeve
House of Many Ways - Diana Wynne Jones
The Universe Between - Alan Nourse
Robots, Androids & Mechanical Oddities: the Science Fiction of Philip K. Dick - edited by Patricia Warrick & Martin Greenberg
Bare Bones: Conversation on Terror with Stephen King - edited by Tim Underwood & Chuck Miller
Roswell Crash: What They Don't Want You to Know - Karl K. Korff
Beyond the Reflections Edge - Bryan Davis
Three movies I've watched recently. A couple have been out for a while, but I've got a 6 year-old & a 7 year-old, so I don't get to watch much or get out (other than school & basketball practice).
Skyline - the special effects were good, didn't like the storyline very much & while probably realistic about the eventual outcome if we were attacked, too pessimistic for me.
Battle: Los Angeles - I liked this one. The effects were good and I liked the story. The opposite of Skyline.
Captain America - I really liked this one a lot. I've actually watched it twice now. Pretty faithful to the original storyline from back in the day. I didn't really miss the red-white-and-blue uniform. This is my favorite Marvel movie so far, with Iron Man 1 in second. Can't wait for the Avengers.
Captain Nemo - Kevin J. Anderson
The Time Thief - Linda Buckley-Archer
Here Lies Arthur - Philip Reeve
House of Many Ways - Diana Wynne Jones
The Universe Between - Alan Nourse
Robots, Androids & Mechanical Oddities: the Science Fiction of Philip K. Dick - edited by Patricia Warrick & Martin Greenberg
Bare Bones: Conversation on Terror with Stephen King - edited by Tim Underwood & Chuck Miller
Roswell Crash: What They Don't Want You to Know - Karl K. Korff
Beyond the Reflections Edge - Bryan Davis
Three movies I've watched recently. A couple have been out for a while, but I've got a 6 year-old & a 7 year-old, so I don't get to watch much or get out (other than school & basketball practice).
Skyline - the special effects were good, didn't like the storyline very much & while probably realistic about the eventual outcome if we were attacked, too pessimistic for me.
Battle: Los Angeles - I liked this one. The effects were good and I liked the story. The opposite of Skyline.
Captain America - I really liked this one a lot. I've actually watched it twice now. Pretty faithful to the original storyline from back in the day. I didn't really miss the red-white-and-blue uniform. This is my favorite Marvel movie so far, with Iron Man 1 in second. Can't wait for the Avengers.
07 November, 2011
Light Bulbs
CFL light bulbs are brutally suckish. Any bulb that you use and it doesn't come on at full strength, but takes minutes to get bright is a useless piece of garbage.
The energy they save is in direct correlation to the pain in the rear they are to dispose of, and heaven forbid if one breaks in your home. How many places recycle these bulbs? If an incandescent bulb breaks, you don't have to air out the entire house and then wear protective clothing to clean up the mess.
And they cost more.
Thanks to Congress for helping look out for us and our health by mandating change.
And to think they didn't President Obama or his health care plan to stick this one to us.
The energy they save is in direct correlation to the pain in the rear they are to dispose of, and heaven forbid if one breaks in your home. How many places recycle these bulbs? If an incandescent bulb breaks, you don't have to air out the entire house and then wear protective clothing to clean up the mess.
And they cost more.
Thanks to Congress for helping look out for us and our health by mandating change.
And to think they didn't President Obama or his health care plan to stick this one to us.
Book - The Fuse of Armageddon
Written by authors Sigmund Brouwer and Hank Hanegraaff, The Fuse of Armageddon is both an exciting and thought provoking read.
Our hero is a hostage negotiator on the trail of the terrorist who killed his family. Throw in a cop from the US seeking to arrest him for a murder he didn't commit, a secret society bent on reclaiming the Dome of the Rock from Muslims, a hostage situation involving a world famous evangelist and you come away with a highly complex plot that could very well occur at any time.
Along the journey to stop the madness, there are some interesting positions put forth on the Israeli/Palestinian relationship.
I would recommend reading this novel on the strength of the arguments raised in it.
I'll give it a 4.5 of 5.
Nothing more could go wrong for maverick hostage negotiator Mulvaney Quinn. First stabbed in the hand during a failed terrorist burst, then arrested for a hate crime he didn’t commit. Now Quinn must come face to face with his past in order to stop the worst terrorist threat of all time --- a plot to bring about the ultimate religious uprising by destroying one of the most sacred relics in history.
But the FUSE OF ARMAGEDDON has already been lit. With the clock ticking down toward a global catastrophe, Quinn must team up with the most unlikely ally of all --- the woman who arrested him --- to bring down an even more unlikely coalition of enemies. Facing an unholy trinity of a Jewish fanatic, a Muslim terrorist, and a "Christian" freedom fighter, only Quinn can stop them from achieving their goal. But will he be in time? Or is it already too late? Because when Armageddon is unleashed, the fate of the entire world hangs in the balance.
synopsis from book
Our hero is a hostage negotiator on the trail of the terrorist who killed his family. Throw in a cop from the US seeking to arrest him for a murder he didn't commit, a secret society bent on reclaiming the Dome of the Rock from Muslims, a hostage situation involving a world famous evangelist and you come away with a highly complex plot that could very well occur at any time.
Along the journey to stop the madness, there are some interesting positions put forth on the Israeli/Palestinian relationship.
I would recommend reading this novel on the strength of the arguments raised in it.
I'll give it a 4.5 of 5.
Nothing more could go wrong for maverick hostage negotiator Mulvaney Quinn. First stabbed in the hand during a failed terrorist burst, then arrested for a hate crime he didn’t commit. Now Quinn must come face to face with his past in order to stop the worst terrorist threat of all time --- a plot to bring about the ultimate religious uprising by destroying one of the most sacred relics in history.
But the FUSE OF ARMAGEDDON has already been lit. With the clock ticking down toward a global catastrophe, Quinn must team up with the most unlikely ally of all --- the woman who arrested him --- to bring down an even more unlikely coalition of enemies. Facing an unholy trinity of a Jewish fanatic, a Muslim terrorist, and a "Christian" freedom fighter, only Quinn can stop them from achieving their goal. But will he be in time? Or is it already too late? Because when Armageddon is unleashed, the fate of the entire world hangs in the balance.
synopsis from book
06 November, 2011
Two More Things That Country Music Has Taught Me
Well, some goob broke off the antenna on our car (we are back to one) and wouldn't you know it, the only stations it actually picks up are country stations. No talk radio at all. And I've learned a couple of new things.
1. There are some freaks out there that get off on tractors (especially green ones.
2. The real reason for global warming is the farmer's daughter.
I also know that Jimmy Buffet is real popular right now and George Strait is here for a good time.
1. There are some freaks out there that get off on tractors (especially green ones.
2. The real reason for global warming is the farmer's daughter.
I also know that Jimmy Buffet is real popular right now and George Strait is here for a good time.
02 November, 2011
Book - Raised Right
Raised Right by Alisa Harris
I have to admit that I was not genuinely interested in reading this book when I received it. The subtitle, “How I Untangled My Faith from Politics,” left me dreading what I would find on the inside.
I admire the author, Alisa Harris, for being able to break away from the religious and political programming that was forced on her in her formative years. Unfortunately it seems to have resulted in disillusionment that the world isn’t black and white as she was taught. It also seemed to me that there was some bitterness toward the parents that subjected her to that relentless dogmatic approach to life. Though, to be fair her love for her parents is also evident in the book.
The things that she plans to pass on to her children: To care, To love, To take heart – these are things every parent should teach. Her last sentence should be a clarion call to all of us, ‘In other words, as Jesus urged His followers, “Take heart! I have overcome the world” – not through a show of power but a picture of love.’ I can agree with her on that point. We also agree on the view that freedom of speech includes all speech, even that which we disagree with.
And there are points of Ms. Harris’ which I disagree with. I won’t use this book review to list each and my counter argument to them, since this is a review and not an opinion piece.
Needless to say, the book is good, written well and tells a story of which many should be able to draw parallels from and also learn from. Her personal story is both heart-breaking, yet inspirational. Ms. Harris is very witty and is able to draw a reader into her situations.
If you have the time and/or opportunity to pick this book up and read it, you will be well served to do so.
As always, even though this book was provided by Waterbrook Multnomah at no charge other than giving a review of the book. Waterbrook Multnomah makes no stipulations on the review of Raised Right being good or bad, just that it be an honest review.
The link below will take you to a downloadable copy of chapter 1.
http://multnomahemails.com/wbmlt/pdf/RaisedRightSneakPeek.pdf
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