Zombie masterpiece?

No, this is not a post about Zombieland, the greatest zombie movie ever (in case you are confused by my use of the word masterpiece... lol), although I could write a whole post about that. ("The Rules" alone are awesome, but the best part had to be Bill Murray's cameo!)

Anyway, my sister Katie brought home Pride and Prejudice and Zombies for me to read. I'm about 6 chapters in and I have to say I'm not sure if I like it yet. I've chuckled maybe twice. It's definitely different.

I LOVE Jane Austen (especially Pride & Prejudice) and I LOVE Zombie movies, so everyone and their momma has recommended that I read this book. So far the jury's out on whether they work together for me. I'll have to let you know.

In the meantime, here's an excerpt to get an idea of what this book entails:

"In a few days Mr. Bingley returned Mr. Bennet's visit, and sat about ten minutes with him in his library. He had entertained hopes of being admitted to a sight of the young ladies, whose beauty and fighting skill he had heard much; but he saw only the father. The ladies were somewhat more fortunate, for they had the advantage of ascertaining from an upper window that he wore a blue coat, rode a black horse, and carried a French carbine rifle upon his back--quite an exotic weapon for an Englishman. However, from his clumsy wielding of it, Elizabeth was quite certain that he had little training in musketry or any of the deadly arts."

Stuff Christians Like

I'm so buying this book: Stuff Christians Like

Apparently it is a hilarious book based off of a hilarious blog. Here is a review from the publisher:

Sometimes, we fall in love on mission trips even though we know we’ll break up when we get back. Sometimes, you have to shot block a friend’s prayer because she’s asking God to bless an obviously bad dating relationship. Sometimes, you think, “I wish I had a t-shirt that said ‘I direct deposit my tithe’ so people wouldn’t judge me.”

Sometimes, the stuff that comes with faith is funny. This is that stuff.

Jonathan Acuff’s Stuff Christians Like is your field guide to all things Christian. In it you’ll learn the culinary magic of the crock-pot. Think you’ve got a Metro worship leader—Use Acuff’s checklist. Want to avoid a prayer handholding faux pas? Acuff has you covered.

Like a satirical grenade, Acuff brings us the humor and honesty that galvanized 450,000 online readers from 199 countries in a new portable version. Welcome to the funny side of faith.

Can't wait! I'll let you know how it is when I'm done with it....

Die-hard Anne Fan

I admit it. I'm obsessed. It started with Anne of Green Gables, and now, 4 books later, I'm completely attached... simultaneously looking forward to and greiving over the last two books in the serious. It's almost over! No!

I've been so engrossed that I literally asked my Mom for nothing more than the whole series for my birthday. It's that bad.

Why did I never read these as a child? If I have daughters, they are so getting to know Anne as early as possible. What little girl--or even big girl, as I can attest to--wouldn't fall in love with Anne (with an "e") Shirley? =)

"Isn't it splendid to think of all the things there are to find out about? It just makes me feel glad to be alive--it's such an interesting world. It wouldn't be half so interesting if we know all about everything, would it? There'd be no scope for imagination then, would there?" Anne Shirley (Anne of Green Gables)

Thoughts on Anne of Green Gables

As you know, I picked up Anne of Green Gables (AOGG) and have been reading it for a couple weeks now. I finished it today. LOVED IT!

Although I'm generally a crier, not too many books have made me cry. In fact the only time I can remember crying on a book is in Lord of the Rings: Return of the King when (SPOILER ALERT) I thought a certain mischevious Hobbit who's name begins with a "P" gets killed. Turns out he doesn't, but when I thought he was a goner, I cried my eyes out.

And yes, by way of the previous paragragh, I have now revealed how much of a nerd I really am. Judge me if you will....

Anyway, AOGG, made me cry right there at my desk at work. (Yeah, I know I shouldn't be reading at work, but what they don't know won't hurt them. lol)

It is now one of my all-time favorite books.

Up next: I think I'll go ahead and purchase the other books in the Anne Series. I must know what happens next!

Anne of Green Gables

Another of the books I found in the box of books was Anne of Green Gables.

I LOVED the 1980s miniseries based on the books when I was little, but I've never actually picked up the book(s) and read it. So I decided to crack it open. I'm starting to really develop a love for the old classics (especially anything by Jane Austen) and since, as they say, "the book is always better than the movie," I'm sure I won't regret it...

How much you wanna bet this is going to make me want to hit up Netflix for the miniseries after? LOL. Actually, I think I'll queue it up now...

Treasure in a box...

So, my mom left behind a giant pile of books, which my sister then proceeded to toss into a large box for her to come look through one of these days and either take with her or throw away/donate. I was cleaning up and decided to rearrange the books neatly in the box so that they weren't spilling out all over the place. In the process I came across some interesting finds: some historical books (which I definitely will be looking at); a devotional by the authors of the Left Behind series (which I have been reading every night for about a week); and a beat-up, old, hardcover book that my sisters (and possibly I) scribbled all over called A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23.

I brought the last one to work, pulled out my big eraser, and started trying to clean it up. Fortunately, most of the scribbles were in pencil. Most of them. (Ay ay ay! We were bad... lol)

As I was doing so, I decided to look the book up and see if there were any reviews. WOW. Were there! All positive too. Several people talk about how it's one of their favorite books of all time, how well it explains Psalm 23, and just basically how wonderful the book is.

My interest is definitely peaked.

Here is a description of the book from the back cover:

More than a quarter-century and 1.5 million copies since it was first published, A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 continues to inspire and encourage with its now-classic insights into the heart of the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ. Drawing on what he learned during his own years as a shepherd, Phillip Keller leads and prods the reader to the green pastures of discovery and the cool waters of fulfillment hidden in the "Shepherd Psalm." Pleasure and enlightenment await those willing to follow his careful leading. Page by page, Keller reveals new facets of the Shepherd of Psalm 23 and his untiring expression of Christ's love for those who trust in him as their guide, protector, source of provision, and faithful keeper. Experience Psalm 23 in a new way. See with the Shepherd's eyes, touch with his hands, and feel with his heart through this intimate look into the person of our Lord, the Great Shepherd . . . and ourselves, the "sheep of his pasture."

Can't wait to crack it open.

The truth about sin...

So, I'm reading Lies Women Believe and the Truth that Sets Them Free by Nancy Leigh DeMoss. REALLY good book. I don't think Francis Chan's book, Crazy Love, convicted me as much as this one does.

Anyway, in the chapter titled, "Lies Women Believe... About Sin," I was blown away by the following story/analogy:

"When the Romeros first got Sally as a family pet, she was only one foot long. Eight years later, she had grown to eleven-and-a-half feet and weighed eighty pounds. Then on July 20, 1993, Sally, a Burmese python, attacked fifteen-year-old Dereck, strangling the teenager until he suffocated to death.

In one fatal moment, the creature that had seemed so docile and harmless was exposed as a deadly beast. The “pet” the unsuspecting family had brought into their home, cared for, and nurtured turned on them and proved to be a destroyer. In a sense, no one should have been surprised at the turn of events, for in the end, the python merely did what was its nature to do.

So it is with sin. Though it may entertain us, play with us, sleep with us, and amuse us, its nature never changes. Inevitably, it will always rise up to bite and devour those who befriend it."

This is SO true. We think we can handle a little sin in our lives because it's "harmless" or "feels good" or [insert seemingly good excuse here], but in reality NONE of it is good. It's ALL dangerous. We must do what the Bible says and flee all sin (Jeremiah 51:6; 1 Corinthians 6:18). It's the only way to remain safe.

Christmas Wrap-up (pun intended)

LOL. I make myself laugh.

Anyway..... MERRY (belated) Christmas!

It was very nice this year (after all that whining and crying about stuff, right?). I really enjoyed the time spent with family.

Christmas Eve was spent with Kim's in-laws. That was nice, but I left a little early because I was beat. I just wanted to hit the hay.

Christmas morning was amazing. We met up at Sandy's this year and her future in-laws and her blood sister, Vicki, were there. Dad and I made breakfast and Juan's mom made pozole. Everyone pigged out. We even had mimosas (sorry, Jesus. lol). The kids opened their presents first. Then Katie read from the Word, we all prayed together, and then we opened our Secret Santa gifts. Everyone seemed to be pleased with what they got.

I was very happy with what I got because it was all stuff I asked for:

-Sarah Palin's book Going Rogue. Yes!!! She really is one of my heroes. We are very much alike--we both believe in standing up for what you believe, no matter how much people might hate you for it. Ahem... media. lol

-A large-barrel curling iron. Yeeeeesssss! I have been wanting one so badly so that I can flip my hair out and so that I can be lazy on those days were I don't feel like blow-drying my hair. I'm a woman and I like my hair to be pretty... what can I say...

-An iPod adapter for the car stereo. The car's older (2001) and doesn't have MP3 player capabilities, so I needed a cassette tape adapter so I can finally hear my music in the car when I want to. Yay!

In addition to what my Secret Santa got me, my mom gave me a Victoria Secret body spray, lotion, and body wash combo that someone gave her and didn't want. Thanks! She also gave me a $75 Nordstrom's gift card that someone gave her that she knows she's not going to use. I'm going to use it to buy a purse and to surprise her with a little something, since it WAS supposed to go to her anyway. She deserves something special also.

Back to Christmas day: After Sandy's, I spent the remainder of the day with Mandy and the family. I gave her her gift (a mug I had made with all the pictures of her kids and grandkids on it), which made her cry. Victory! lol. Then we ate Christmas dinner and went to see the Chipmunks: The Squeaquel. It wasn't the greatest, but Baby loved it, so that's all that matters.

So yeah, like I said, Christmas was amazing this year. It really ended up being a very joyful occasion.

Thank you, Lord. Help me to remember Your most special gift the whole year round! It's all about YOU, Jesus.

Lukewarm = No bueno

So, I'm reading Francis Chan's "Crazy Love" (finally... I've been meaning to for awhile now!). So far it is very thought-provoking and convicting, at the very least. =) Right now, I'm in Chapter 4 - Profile of the Lukewarm. Francis lists a bunch of signs of a Lukewarm Christian--one trying to live for both the World and Christ, which is impossible. Like Francis says, a Lukewarm Christian is an oxymoron.

Anyway, one description really stood out to me:

LUKEWARM PEOPLE do not live by faith; their lives are structured so they never have to. They don't have to trust God if something unexpected happens--they have their savings account. They don't need God to help them--they have their retirement account in place. They don't genuinely seek out what life God would have them live--they have life figured and mapped out. They don't depend on God on a daily basis--their refridgerators are full and, for the most part, they are in good health. The truth is, their lives wouldn't look much different if they suddenly stopped believing in God.

(See Luke12:16-21 and Hebrews 11 for scripture that Francis gives for rebutting this characteristic of a Lukewarm Christian.)

Wow. Talk about convicting. We are such control freaks in this day and age, that we don't want to have to depend on whether God might help us out in a bind. We want to make sure we have a back-up plan.

How dare we have a back-up plan to God!

I may not have a savings account with more than $100 (no, seriously... lol). I may not have elected to have the best retirement plan the County has to offer. I may even appear to be very reckless when it comes to my future by the world's standards. Yet I know, however, that despite appearances, I don't always completely trust that God is going to take care of me. For example, I don't always tithe as much as I should when I know that I barely have enough to buy groceries and some gas before my next paycheck. Instead of just giving the Lord what I owe Him, I hold back a little to make sure I can get a few extra things from the market.

How shameful. I'm basically telling Him that I don't think He will sustain me for the next few days so I'm going to dip into His account... the money that is RIGHTFULLY HIS. Wow! WOW!

Lord, forgive me for not fully trusting in You at ALL TIMES. From now on I will go hungry before I act like a Lukwarm Christian:

I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. - Revelation 3:15-17