reading list status

Lately finished:

Servolution by Dino Rizzo: Aside from my dislike of mashing the word serve with the slightly overused revolution, it's an easy read about the founding and continuing ministry at Healing Place Church in Baton Rouge, LA. It also offers an outline of how to adapt some of their techniques and philosphies to other ministries, but if you are already familiar with dreaming up ministry philosophies, it doesn't offer anything that new (or at least it didn't really present anything new to me, but I probably read more about structuring ministries, etc. than the average person). I would reccommend this book as a 101 level of "rethinking" church resource.

Through Painted Deserts by Donald Miller: After years of hearing praise for Miller's Blue Like Jazz, I ended up being drawn more to this story of Don's roadtrip from Texas to Grand Canyon to Oregon. It was an interesting read, it seemed more like a memoir though than a new ways to think about God and/or Christianity (which is what I was expecting for some reason...). MIller shares a lot about his views adn idea of God during this journey, and while I value his willingness to share and openess, it didn't feel like anything new...which reflecting that I'm saying this about two books in row, maybe I've grown a little hard-hearted...It's good, and I'm looking forward to reading his other books (especially with all the things I'm hearing about his latest), and this wasn't a bad place to start since chronilogically in Miller's life, this was the frist journey.

Salvation on the Small Screen? 24 Hours of Christian Television by Nadia Bolz-Weber: In the vein of The Year of Living Biblically by AJ Jacobs, Bolz-Weber, a Lutheran minister, watches 24 straight hours of the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN). Looking at the content, intended audience, products offered, and Biblical soundness (Bolz-Weber would also have visitors spend portions of the day viewing, many of whom have various masters or doctartes in Divinity). It's interesting, that while she expects to be horrified by what's going on TBN (televangelists preying on shut-ins for monetary gifts; iirelevant teaching; etc.), by the end, Bolz-Weber is able to draw connections and ask some interesting questions not only of the Christianity represented on TBN, but also in her own emerging Lutheran church camp. It's a very quick read, and I greatly enjoyed it and would also reccommend it.

In the midst of:
The Books of Pellinor by Alison Croggon: This is a four book young adult fantasy series a friend reccommended and I'm currently on the final installment. It's decent...I would only reccommend it to other YA readers, and even then only if they like fantasy.

On Deck:
Total Church by Tim Chester & Steve Timmis (yes, I've finally retrieved it from carry-on bag and have placed it on top of the pile_
Uglies by Scott Westerfield (I like to read fiction before going to bed, while I reserve non-fiction for other times of the day, so this will take over the pre-bedtime slot when Pellinor is through)
Flickering Pixels: How Technology Shapes Your Faith by Simon Higgs (in reality I've already read the first 3 or 4 chapters, but I really want to explore more of the ideas Higgs presents and take the time to reflect and journal when reading, so this might be pushed back still...)
Speaking My Mind: The Radical Evangelical Prophet Tackles the Tough Issues Christians Are Afraid to Face by Tony Campolo (I'm intrigued to read this because I've been thinking and debating a lot lately of gay marriage (and marriage in general especially as what is marriage as defined by God and what is marriage as defined by government and are they same thing, should they be the same thing, etc.?) and while there are many books out there I'd like to read regarding this subject matter (I'm most interested in Love Is An Orientation by Andrew Martin, but it's not available at the Clarksville library...nor is it sitting on the shelves of either of the major chain bookstores...), they're a bit hard to come by

hedgeapple

Today I walked for several miles to enjoy the lovely weather and geocache. The Clarksville Greenway lays atop a now defunct railway path and offers some wonderful views. And a fun autumn find: hedgeapples!



Found a hedgeapple/osage orange. The texture is so amazing.

Around 1630 there was an echoing of loud booms. I'm pretty sure that was my husband. Can't wait for him to be home on Wednesday.

The creepiest spider I've ever seen in person that didn't have a nice layer of glass between us.

purchasing pumpkins

Excited by the possibility of handing out candy to children dressed as pirates, princess, and other things, I wanted to make sure they knew that they could come to our door for said candy, and the best way to advertise free candy? A jack-o-lantern.

Except that week, due either to time restraint or gallons of water pouring down a pumpkin was not to be gotten. Which left pumpkin purchasing till the day of...

Attempt #1: Walmart. Our super Walmart has everything; groceries, electronics, lube jobs and when we walked in a giant wreath proclaiming "Seasons Greetings"... but no pumpkins (we did however pick up a new Xbox game).

Attempt #2: Gordon Food Service. If you ever wanted to pretend to own a restuarant, this is the place to go. Previously in October, they had a huge cardboard trough filled with perfectly sized for carved pumpkins. Day of, free samples of hot cider...but no pumpkins (the cider was decent).

Attepmt #3: Kroger. Besides Walmart, really the only other place to buy groceries is Kroger and while some of their prices maybe slightly higher, their produce and bakery departments offer much more than Walmart. Though that day they had one striking thing in common with Walmart...no pumpkins (though at this point we bandied about the idea of carving a watermelon).

Driving home in defeat, there on a hill on the side of the road a simple plywood sign reads "Farm Fresh Produce" and surrounding this sign: pumpkins.

Pull in and we are in Pumpkin Wonderland. Deserted Pumpkin Wonderland. Pumpkins lay all over, gourds stacked high in all shapes, sizes, and colors, but not a farm fresh producer anywhere. Including the near by farmhouse.

Our solution to making this transaction? We left the following in a note:

Hello! We are excited to buy a pumpkin, but it appears that no one is home. We are not entirely sure how much you want for the pumpkins in the bin marked 45 200, but we took a pumpkin from that bin and have enclosed $5. Thanks!

Evening fell, leaves rustled by our jack-o-lantarn angled ever so smarted by our now inviting door which was not knocked on once.