This is the book trailer for a current book I am reading "Surrender The Wind" by Rita Gerlach.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Roundabout
Gracious Home Doylene has created a homespun/comfort blog for her readers. The delish apple pie theme makes me want to go in my kitchen an bake a pie myself!
All in a Day's Thought Wendy has written 2 inspiring posts entitled "Salt Mine Writing" posted November 4, and "Two in One" posted November 2.
All you have to give Lori recently posted on November 4--Psalm 42:8 and her reflections on this Psalm.
Books, Movies, Reviews! Oh My! Booklady has put much imagination and creativity into her blog. It is one of the most insightful and entertaining blogs I know.
Through the Looking-Glass Dr. Mike Thomas has written 2 great posts--"Are You In Touch With Your Inner Child" posted October 17, and "Stunning Moments In The Bible" posted November 1.
Tom Toya's Blog (Send Me - Isaiah 6:8) Tom has written a great post "Turning To A Different Gospel" posted November 1.
Becky's Book Reviews, Relz Reviewz, and Passages to the Past have posted several enticing and interesting book reviews.
Blissful Blogging!
Annette
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Review-"Lost Mission"
Review-"Lost Mission" by Athol Dickson
Howard Books A Division of Simon & Schuster
Published 2009, 350 total pages
Book was provided for review purposes
Athol Dickson (his name Athol is pronounced like eighth-ol) is a master story-teller.
I had read his previous novel "The Cure" and loved it. I hope to read 2 others "River Rising" and "Winter Haven." I was anticipating this newest treasure "Lost Mission" and I'm honored to review it.
"Lost Mission" is 2 tales that both intersect in a forte finale.
One tale is 200 years ago at a Spanish mission that falls to some kind of evil atrocity, the other tale is a modern day city in southern California that is on the thresholds of discovering an undisturbed ruin.
There are 4 main characters to present the present day story and 1 main character from 200 years ago. Each character speaks to the reader in their own thoughts and voices.
All of the characters in the book represent various levels economic status, education, power and prestige.
The characters each have their own wistful visions, moral and spiritual struggles, and the story follows them on their quests.
I felt the author is dimensional and meaty in his multiple twists and plots, his likable or unlikable characters, the scenery and setting.
I felt the story was phenomenally creative and unabashedly delved into impossible situations.
The story goes back and forth in time, yet I never had a problem being confused or being able to keep pace.
I was impressed and interested in the 18th century time period, the culture of the peoples, and the life that the Franciscan's lived.
This book is more than a page turner, or a hummer of a read. It is a beautifully crafted prose that has power to remain fixed in the readers brain, and possibly even change a few hearts.
Blissful Reading!
Annette
Review-"Fireflies In December"
Review--"Fireflies In December" by Jennifer Valent
Tyndale Fiction, Published 2008, 345 pages
A Christian Writers Guild Operation First Novel Winner 2007
I am always excited to do a book review on a new author. I feel that I am walking along with them (or following them) on their journey as a published writer. I also with keen interest anticipate watching their development and maturity as a writer in their future books.
I bought the book "Fireflies In December" earlier this year, but put off reading it until October, because my book club for women at Church was having a book discussion on it November 1. I wanted my memory of the book to be fresh since I was leading the discussion.
Our book discussion was lively, and included even 1 man. We shared memories of and stories we'd heard of segregation in schools, violence against African Americans, the KKK, how often officials in charge such as the police were apart of the violence, and seeing signs that read for "colored's only."
As a gal of the south I have known people that hated those of another race, period. Most of the people I have encountered have not felt this way.
When I worked in a hospital from 1987-2000, often we would have elderly men and women as patients state, "they wanted no black nurse taking care of them." It was as if this idea came from another world--another time. It is a thought pattern that I hope slips away, permanently.
"Fireflies In December" is a story of 2 adolescent girls that are friends, Jessilyn and Gemma. Jessilyn is white and Gemma is black. Neither care that their skin tone is different, they only care for their loving bond of friendship. The year is 1932 and they live in Virginia. Jemma's parents die in a fire and she goes to live with Jessilyn and her parents. This arrangement is unheard of in the south and in the 1930's; after all people talk, it makes them uncomfortable, and things could happen.
I loved the southern language, figures of speech, and culture that was described in the characters.
I felt the author did a remarkable job of taking the reader back in time to the thought patterns and reactions of the depression era south.
Both Jessilyn and Gemma are adolescent girls with all of the growing angst, uncertainty, and awkwardness, I felt this was expressed well.
Other characters that are brought in to the story are Jessilyn's parents, other town folk and neighbors---some of which are vile vermin.
The story follows the main theme of the arrangement of Gemma living with a white family, and the complexities of that; yet other issues are developed as well.
What I love most about this book is that it causes us to ponder, discuss, and glimpse a vision of how far we have come and how far we have yet to go, in our attitudes of race.
I also love the unbreakable bond of love and friendship that is displayed in Jessilyn and Gemma.
Jennifer Valent's newest book is "Cottonwood Whispers."
Blissful Reading!
Annette
P.S. Jennifer Valent thanked me on my Facebook wall for my review of "Fireflies In December."
You welcome Jennifer!
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
The New Jesus Movie
The Jesus Movie for
the Next Generation
The New Jesus Movie www.NewJesusMovie.com
Guest post by Bruce Marchiano, producer of Jesus...No Greater Love
The truth of the gospel never changes. But Christianity has many faces. They reflect the customs and cultures and the beautiful diversity of the global church. They are lined with the wisdom of age and vibrant with the passion of youth. One gospel for all the world…but how will we deliver it in a way that reaches the whole world? How will we reach the next generation?
Young Christians today are more like St. Francis of Assisi than a circuit riding preacher. “Preach the gospel at all times and when necessary, use words.” This is a generation focused on being the hands and feet of Christ and meeting the physical needs of those in both the local and global community. They are building houses, planting gardens, taking food and clothes to the poor and helping the widows and orphans… and then they are sharing the gospel. And they are using technology like never before. They communicate the message through audio, film, video and the internet, and they strive for excellence within those mediums. They must. This is how they will reach their generation for Christ.
I share their passion. In the film, The Gospel According to Matthew, we were able to capture the heart of Christ that is so often missing in Christian films, but the quality of the film making was constrained by an $800,000 budget. Now we are inspiring a movement that will bring Jesus to film in a version that literally leaps off the screen and into the hearts of viewers.
Jesus…No Greater Love, the new Jesus movie, (http://www.newjesusmovie.com/">http://www.newjesusmovie.com/>) will be a word for word, verse by verse film adaption of the Gospel according to John. The gospel is the power of God unto salvation. That’s really our concept, that the gospel would go out in the power of the film medium, unaltered by any human script writer.
The budget for a typical Hollywood production is $100-110 million. Actors’ salaries account for much of that cost. Because the new Jesus movie will be not be paying big name actors, our team believes we can produce a world class, state-of-the-art film incorporating the latest cutting-edge technology for just $45 million. The production will be shot on location in Jerusalem and shot digitally using CGI backgrounds and a green screen stage, providing unlimited potential for sharing the gospel for generations to come.
We are inviting people from all nations and all generations to join this movement to bring the gospel to all people. A movement made of 4.5 million people contributing a tax deductible donation of $10 each would fund the cost of the film. The Gospel belongs to everyone, and the new Jesus movie will be produced expressly so it can be accessed by everyone, no matter their financial situation. Our team's vision is to see the film translated into as many languages as possible and supplied to mission organizations and churches all over the world.
You can become a part of the movement to reach the next generation. Please help us spread the word to your friends and family. If you would like to make a donation, you can do so at http://www.newjesusmovie.com./">http://www.newjesusmovie.com./>
Also, you can keep up with our progress by visiting any of these links:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bruce Marchiano is an actor, author, international speaker, and the founder of Marchiano Ministries, a non-profit organization reaching out to people both spiritually and practically in the USA and across the world. He is best known for his joyful, passionate portrayal of Jesus in the film, The Gospel According to Matthew.
Pictures From Our Vacation To Colorado-Late October 2009
A tarantula, we found several in the yard by the house and we would follow them throughout the yard. They would only venture so far and then turn back. I was shocked that I was not afraid of them, they were focused not on me, but on finding food---because winter snows were coming.
Early morning, the sun burning off the fog---view from our porch.
Navajo Lake, is a few miles west of the house we stayed at. Navajo Lake is near Arboles and Ignacio, Colorado--SW corner of Colorado. The southern end of the lake is in New Mexico.
Navajo Lake.
Navajo Lake.
The house that we stayed at.
Our favorite transportation, a Kawasaki Mule. In the late afternoon before dusk, we would ride through the woods looking for mule deer and elk. We came upon sometimes herds of deer and elk, most often we saw 2 or 3, they were as curious of us as we were of them. Jeff and I wondered how many other animals saw or herd us and we did not see or hear them, I'm sure many.
A small cave in the woods and up a steep hill, behind the house.
Me.I have a jacket on, a sweater underneath and a pull over---it was cold riding that mule.
A second cave.
An interesting rock formation near the caves. This rock to me looks like a camel? a hippopotamus? Maybe my imagination is getting the best of me.
What do you think this rock looks like?
Blissful Blogging!
Annette
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