Books I'm Reading in 2012 -- A Small Start Anyway!

Dear friends,

Many of my friends and fellow bloggers have posted their 2012 intended reading lists.  Last year I posted a 2011 reading list but didn't read them all.  Maybe someday I should compile a list of the books I actually did read (all or in part) last year, but I've completely lost track of them.

I can't predict all of the books I'll read this year, since many of them come to me unexpected and I just enjoy them as they come. Nevertheless, here is the start of my reading list, though some of these books I am already reading and just need to finish them.

You can click on the book titles to see (or order) them at Christian Book Distributors or Amazon.

Inspiration:

Bittersweet: Thoughts on Change, Grace, and Learning the Hard Way 
by Shauna Niequist

My friend (and favorite author) Gary Thomas has recommended Niequists's book Cold Tangerines on FB many times, so I asked my husband to get it for me for Christmas. I loved the book and so did my daughter Joanna.  Right now, my daughter Julia is reading it.   I already mentioned it in this post on one of my other blogs: Friday Favorites: Recalibrating for the New Year. I found the sequel, Bittersweet, at my favorite used bookstore, Brightlight.  Any book with a picture of chocolate on it has to be good. It's got short essays about the Christian life based in stories from her own life.  I seriously don't know how people can write like that.  I am insanely jealous.  She is a bit more liberal than I am, I think, but still quite worth the read.

The Divine Conspiracy: Rediscovering Our Hidden Life in God
by Dallas Willard

Gary, who specializes in Christian contemplative classics, also told me to read something by Dallas Willard to recover some of my lost joy. The Divine Conspiracy looks like a good one, and I think I can get it from the public library.  It's a thick one, though, so I may have to renew it once or twice!  Hopefully, it will renew me, too.



Orthodoxy (free on Kindle)
by G.K. Chesterton 

Chesterton was a contemporary and friend of C.S. Lewis.  "Witty" and "profound" are the two words that come to mind when I think of the writing style of Orthodoxy.  You have to think about this book, which is a Christian classic.  I particularly appreciate his kind words about those of us who think more poetically than logistically.  Chesterton reminds us to break out of our airtight little circles of rigidly "rational" thinking and stretch our brains and our hearts to a larger life. I like that.

Breath for the Bones - Art, Imagination and Spirit: Reflections on Creativity and Faith  
by Luci Shaw

Another one on my "halfway through but need to finish up" list!  I've already blogged about it in these posts: Is My Head in the Clouds? and Ivory and Gray.  If I get really brave, I might take a breath and dip my bones into the book Studying Poetry by Stephen Matterson and Darryl Jones, both of Trinity College Dublin.  I don't know where I got it, but I think someone passed it along to me recently.

Generous Justice: How God's Grace Makes Us Just

by Timothy Keller

I already blogged about this one here: Just Beauty and Even More Weekend Gratitude.  It shouldn't take me long to finish!

Parenting & Education:

Going Public: Your Child Can Thrive in Public School
by David & Kelli Pritchard

I've been home schooling my 10 kids for 20 years, but now I have two in public school: a junior who started in her sophomore year and more recently my third grader who started just before Thanksgiving.  Both are doing very well, and I'm confident we made the right decision. This book is a field guide for Christian parents who want their kids to thrive in public schools.  


Life Skills for Kids by Christine Field



This is one I need to plow into -- one of my weak areas as a mom and a home manager!  I bought it used at a home school curriculum sale last spring. I. Will. Read. This. Book. (Eventually.)





Grace Based Parenting
by Dr. Tim Kimmel

I've actually been writing a series of reflections about this book on www.ComeWearyMoms.blogspot.com, so I won't write more about it here.  Needless to say, I've already finished a good chunk of it!





Fiction: 

The Help
by Kathryn Stockett 

My daughter Joanna took me to see the movie at the dollar theater a few weeks ago, and I enjoyed it so much that my daughter Mary gave the book to me. I have a strong interest in social justice, and the Civil Rights era is one that I have always covered in our home schooling.  I've read plenty of kids books on the topic, but this is the first grown-up one.  (Yes, I admit, I've never read To Kill a Mockingbird.  Maybe I should add that to my list, too.)  The book is written from the points of view of three women -two black maids and one white journalist - living in Jackson, Missisippi in 1963, which, by the way, is the year I was born.

The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe
by C.S. Lewis

I'm reading this one with my kids.  It's been a while, and I don't think the younger ones have ever heard it even though they have watched the movie.  There are so many other books I want to read to my kids this year, but I can't even get started on that list right now!  I haven't been doing as many books with them lately since we are in the home school co-op, but for next year I am thinking of doing another "read through our shelves" year with world lit.  It's been tough getting motivated with home schooling this year. Am I up for that?  I'm actually thinking I could get some of my zest back that way.  Hmmm.  I guess that will be a matter for prayer and research!

So I know that's not everything I'll read this year, but I suppose it's a representative sample!

What are you reading?  Share it in the comments!

Virginia Knowles
www.VirginiaKnowles.blogspot.com

27 Million Slaves Today

Dear friends,

There are ‎27 million slaves in the world today.  That number is completely mind boggling to me.  Try to imagine that many people in one place.  Try to wrap your mind around the unbelievable suffering they experience, so many of them with no hope in sight.  Try to imagine you are one of them. Just try.  It breaks your heart, doesn't it?  It should.  Mine isn't broken nearly enough.

Yes, there are slaves even here in the USA.  Right here in my hometown Orlando, due to the tourist industry, human trafficking (especially for the sex trade) is a serious problem.  

Human trafficking it also quite a hot button social justice issue among young evangelicals, and even middle aged ones like me.

January 13 was International Human Trafficking Awareness Day, as proclaimed by President Obama.  In honor of that, I posted links on Facebook all evening,  I thought I'd collect all of my links and combine them into one blog post. If you know of more links, please send them along!

College kids vow to end slavery CNN reports on the Passion student conference that raised over $3 million to fight human trafficking.  (They reported $2.6 million, but more has come in!)

International Justice Mission International Justice Mission is a human rights agency that brings rescue to victims of slavery, sexual exploitation and other forms of violent oppression. IJM lawyers, investigators and aftercare professionals work with local officials to secure immediate victim rescue and aftercare, to prosecute perpetrators and to ensure that public justice systems - police, courts and laws - effectively protect the poor.  I have read the book Just Courage (subtitled God's Great Expedition for the Restless Christian) by IJM's founder Gary Haugen and highly recommend it.

Nefarious: Merchant of Souls is the first of three hard-hitting, feature-length documentaries that expose the disturbing trends of modern sex slavery and offer hope for its abolition.

Rahab's Rope exists to give hope and opportunity to women and girls that have been forced into the commercial sex trade of India. By creating a safe and loving environment, they are enabled to grow and develop physically, mentally, and spiritually. Our work provides basic education and vocational training for each girl and woman who come through our centers; ultimately, allowing them to integrate into their communities in a positive and constructive manner.

Florida Abolitionist (FA) is a non governmental organization established to campaign against modern day slavery. FA is a sister organization of the Florida Coalition Against Human Trafficking (FCAHT). This organization was created as a result of encouragement by Anna Rodriguez, the founder and president of FCAHT. FA’s approach is a focused strategy to educate, equip, and empower the faith community. Tomas J. Lares, the founder and president of FA is passionate about ending modern day slavery. As a child he was captivated by the life of Harriet Tubman. Lares believes that a 21st century abolitionist revival movement has begun. 

And, one that my cousin Elizabeth sent to me today after I posted on the blog...

Stop Traffick Fashion  provides opportunities and hope for survivors of human trafficking while offering unique clothing and accessories. Survivors who have been rescued from their captors make almost all of our accessories and receive income from STF sales. In addition, a portion of all sales revenue is donated back to our partner organizations that rescue victims and provide rehabilitation and training. 

Please note that I am providing these links for your information.  I am not endorsing everything about these organizations.

Foggy Morning!

Dear friends,

It was a foggy morning, but clearer by the time I took these pictures at 9 AM.  Before that, the driving visibility was horrible.  I heard sirens this morning before we left the house, and I'm imagining someone was in a traffic accident.

So I'm checking out the Blogger App on my iPod touch! I see that it's hard to add clickable links via the mobile app, so I had to edit this on a regular computer. Hmmm... Also no way to position the pictures or fiddle wth fonts or see existing labels. And typing on a tiny keyboard is not the most efficient way to add a blog post.  Oh well, it was a fun little experiment but I'm not sure I'll do that on my iPod again!

For those who are wondering, these pictures were taken at the end of the soccer field at Metro Life Church in Casselberry, Florida, where our home school co-op meets.

There are more fog pictures, as well as a bunch of links for moms, in a post from last year, Emerging from the Fog, on one of my other blogs (www.ComeWearyMoms.blogspot.com) at 

Blessings,
Virginia Knowles

www.virginiaknowles.blogspot.com

Leu Gardens Again!

Dear friends,

I wanted to go to Leu Gardens (www.leugardens.org) in Orlando earlier this week because they have free admission on the first Monday of each month.  My four youngest kids and I picked up lunch at Chick-fil-A using coupons for free food from their calendar.  At the gardens, we were joined by my husband Thad, along with my oldest daughter, my son-in-law and toddler grandson.

I don't have time to describe each of these pictures right here.  I also uploaded these and many more to Facebook with a public link here.

My daughter Mary, pregnant with her second baby boy

Leu House open for tours

Lucky Stripes

Striped bamboo

Pink camellia

My husband Thad

I have a thing for odd tree trunks...

Floss silk tree

Floss silk tree up close!

Tree trunk rotted out by sending down new roots from the rubble

 

Bride and Groom bronze sculpture by Peter Otfinoski

Bird of Paradise

I love the red glow of the leaves in the sunlight

I hope you enjoyed these photos!

There are many more at Facebook Album of Leu Gardens January 2012.

(You don't need to be logged into Facebook to see this since it is a public link.)

You may also wish to see a previous post with even more photos from Leu Gardens: 

Leu Gardens and a Busy Birthday for Melody

My other photographic post with beautiful botanical gardens is: Weekend Gratitude for Family in Maryland and Longwood Gardens

Blessings,

Virginia Knowles

www.VirginiaKnowles.blogspot.com

Weekend Gratitude: Happy New Year and The Feast of the Holy Name

Dear friends,


Happy New Year!


So we stayed up well past midnight to welcome 2012, making s'mores at the fire pit in the backyard, walking to a neighbor's house to see fire works, and finally watching a DVD movie. I think I finally got to bed at 2 AM since I had to pick up two teens from a party at our old church and wait up for another daughter to get home safely. 


This morning my 12 year old son finally woke me up at 9:57 AM (yikes!), but somehow five kids and I managed to walk into Lake Baldwin Church by 10:48 AM during the welcoming song.  We weren't exactly wearing our "Sunday best" (more like our "Sunday Good Enough") and my littlest girl probably still had a few small traces of melted marshmallow in her hair, but we were there and ready to participate!  I am grateful for our church family!


Our worship leader Josh Bales preached a sermon on "The Feast of the Holy Name."  (Yes, we do get a bit liturgical in our mellow little Presbyterian church!) Apparently in the lectionary of many churches, the Sunday after Christmas commemorates when Jesus was named, as we read in Luke 2:21. "On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived."


Josh reminded us how closely names are connected with identity. Throughout the Bible, we find the importance of names, such as Adam naming the animals, or Jacob ("deceiver") being renamed Israel ("to prevail") when he wrestled with God, or Naomi ("pleasant and delightful") calling herself Mara ("bitter") when her life turned sour.  (I spoke and wrote about this after my daughter Naomi was born.  See Nurturing Naomi: How to Help Yourself or Someone Else Overcome Discouragement.  It's been a tough year, and I really need to absorb those truths again!  Here's to a better 2012!)


On our continent, the Native Americans give multiple names throughout life.  At birth, they expressed hopes for the child's character, perhaps naming for an animal that signified it.  Later on in life, new names might commemorate a personality trait, strength, or accomplishment. The Puritans often used virtue names such as Prudence or Patience, or, if they were feeling particularly preachy or long-winded, hortatory names like Kill-Sin or If-Christ-had-not-died-for-thee-thou-hadst-been-damned  (known as "Damned" Barebones for short). We used Melody as a first name for our youngest daughter, and Grace, Joy, Hope, and Faith as middle names for four other daughters.  Just a little reminder for them!  Julia actually wanted to be known as Grace or Gracie when she was in middle school. :-)


Recounting a story of when he was in seminary in Chicago and traveling as a singer/songwriter, Josh Bales told of a time when he arrived at O'Hare airport thoroughly tired and discouraged.  As he plunked his guitar and other luggage down on the curb at the departure area, an old bell cap looked him over and asked, "What's your name, Son?",  then, "Josh? Well, Joshua brought back a good report.  You bring a good report back, too."  What an encouragement to live up to his name and not be disheartened by life!


Jesus certainly lived up to his name, which means "God saves."  (He is also known as Immanuel, which means "God with us.") And it is because of his name and the reconciliation with the Father that he brings to us, those who believe in him can live in a new identity as ones who are deeply loved of God.  


As Brennan Manning writes in his book Abba's Child, a major source of discontent is our struggle for identity.  When we live as the Beloved, we can strip off the impostor image we are trying to present to others, which for someone like me might be "Super Mom" or, as I am sometimes called by others, "Home School Guru."  We don't need that anymore.  His image, his essence, is enough for us. One of Manning's quotes gleaned from the church bulletin: "Living in the awareness of our belovedness is the axis around which the Christian life revolves.  Being the beloved is our identity, the core of our existence.  It is not merely a lofty thought, and inspiring idea, or one name among many.  It is the name by which God knows us and the way he relates to us."  I need to pull that book off my shelf and finish reading it.  In the middle of the trials and insults of life, it is so easy for me to lose sight of being Beloved.  


Instead of striving in our own strength for worth and significance or craving approval and acceptance (maybe because we have been wounded by others?), we can rest in our identity with the name of Jesus.  There are so many spiritual blessings in his name: we believe in his name for our salvation, our sins are forgiven in his name, we are justified in his name, we pray in his name, we have life in his name, we have power in his name, we are baptized in his name, and at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that he is Lord.  (Click on each phrase to see a passage.)


This morning we took communion to remind us of our identity with Christ and with one another, pulling morsels of bread from the one loaf and dipping them into grape juice or wine. The gentle voice (God through human) calling my name: "Virginia, the body of Christ broken for you..."


I enjoyed the music very much this morning.  It is somehow always related to the sermon, and this week was no exception.  Here are two songs we sang this morning.  If you can't play the embedded videos from your feed reader or e-mail version of the blog you can visit the actual post on-line.


"He Knows My Name"
by Tommy Walker
(click on title above to listen on YouTube)


I have a Maker
He formed my heart
Before even time began
My life was in his hands

He knows my name
He knows my every thought
He sees each tear that falls
And He hears me when I call
.com/lyrics/t/tommy_walker/he_knows_my_name.html ]
I have a Father
He calls me His own
He'll never leave me
No matter where I go

"How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds"

John Newton (who also wrote "Amazing Grace") 

How sweet the Name of Jesus sounds
In a believer’s ear!
It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds,
And drives away his fear.

It makes the wounded spirit whole,
And calms the troubled breast;
’Tis manna to the hungry soul,
And to the weary, rest.

Dear Name, the Rock on which I build,
My Shield and Hiding Place,
My never failing treasury, filled
With boundless stores of grace!

By Thee my prayers acceptance gain,
Although with sin defiled;
Satan accuses me in vain,
And I am owned a child.

Jesus! my Shepherd, Husband, Friend,
O Prophet, Priest and King,
My Lord, my Life, my Way, my End,
Accept the praise I bring.

Weak is the effort of my heart,
And cold my warmest thought;
But when I see Thee as Thou art,
I’ll praise Thee as I ought.

Till then I would Thy love proclaim
With every fleeting breath,
And may the music of Thy Name
Refresh my soul in death!

This is a very old hymn, but we sang an updated version to this tune:

---

And finally, this offertory song (which doesn't talk about the name of Jesus, but relates well with the sermon anyway):

"Only to sit and think of God, Oh what a joy it is!

To think the thought, to breathe the Name,

Earth has no higher bliss."

Frederick W. Faber

"Eternal Father, 

you gave to your incarnate Son 

the holy name of Jesus 

to be the sign of our salvation: 

Plant in every heart, we pray, 

the love of him who is the Savior of the world, 

our Lord Jesus Christ; 

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, 

one God, in glory everlasting. Amen."

Grace in his name,
Virginia Knowles
www.VirginiaKnowles.blogspot.com


P.S. Want to read more? 

• Posts in Weekend Gratitude series.
• Posts about Lake Baldwin Church
• On Mommy Blogging: Image, Identity, Authenticity and Freedom
• I Am (Who is Jesus and Who Are We In Him?)
• What Else Did He Say?
• "It Became to Me a Dark Thing" (A Poem)
• Reflections on the 6th of Luke

Reflections on the 6th of Luke

Dear friends,

I'm taking a fast-paced read through the book of Luke in the Bible.  I try to read a chapter a day, but sometimes it's so meaty that I have to split it up into smaller passages.   I try to write a little about it each time, even if it is just copying a verse or two.  Sometimes I'm able to focus enough to ponder more and write my reflections in my journal.

I like to share with you some thoughts from the 6th chapter, which you can read first here: Luke 6.  There is so much in this chapter that I didn't write about all of it, especially since my mind was also musing on extensions of these concepts that were not strictly found in this one passage but in other related ones.  

Throughout this post, I excerpt key verses I was thinking about most of all, and then write about them.

~*~*~

6 On another Sabbath he went into the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was shriveled. ⁷ The Pharisees and the teachers of the law were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal on the Sabbath. ⁸ But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Get up and stand in front of everyone.” So he got up and stood there.  

 ⁹ Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?”

 ¹⁰ He looked around at them all, and then said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so, and his hand was completely restored. ¹¹ But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law were furious and began to discuss with one another what they might do to Jesus.

Jesus "worked" on the Sabbath (in this case, by healing the man with the shriveled hand -- not just the hand, but the whole man) but he also prayed every day.  He was fully into everything that was worthwhile for him to do, no matter what it was or when it was.  He didn't say, "It's not the Sabbath, so I don't need to be religious," nor "It is the Sabbath, so I can't do practical things."

For him, life was whole and integrated, not compartmentalized. Weeping and mourning could go hand in hand with rejoicing.  He could treat an enemy as a friend, and yet say something difficult to a friend.   He could give and receive. He could be discerning and merciful at the same time.  So can we.  What is always required? Love, reverence, wisdom, kindness, obedience to the Word.

Jesus was also bold.  He didn't shy away from doing or saying something which might be unpopular.  He didn't just stumble into healing the man.  He knew what the Pharisees were thinking, and he was proactive about healing.  He took the initiative.  No one pressured him into it.  In fact, he already knew they would be furious with him for breaking their man-made religious rules.

~*~*~

¹² One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. ¹³ When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles: ¹⁴ Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, ¹⁵ Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot, ¹⁶ Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

In this chapter Jesus healed, prayed, preached the gospel, and chose his 12 apostles from among his many disciples.  These apostles, like all of the disciples, were primarily followers of Jesus. From the overflow of that following, they led and trained others later. 

Perhaps one reason some Christian leaders get into trouble with authoritarian control is that they see themselves primarily as leaders rather than followers, teachers rather than fellow learners, those who want to change others rather than be transformed from within by the precious power and presence of Jesus (through the Holy Spirit), who alone can change a heart.

The Pharisees were more concerned about maintaining their own power than about truly ministering to a needy, hurting, oppressed and confused people.  The Pharisees lost their effectiveness as leaders because their rules were more important to them than the miracles of God. What the people really needed was Jesus and his dynamic power.  So do we.  Jesus used his power for the good of other people, not an end in itself for himself.  He gave them truth, not empty promises and platitudes.

~*~*~ 

²⁰ Looking at his disciples, he said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. ²¹ Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. ²² Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. ²³ “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets.

Another theme of this chapter is getting past the immediate outer appearance of worth and success instead of seeing "big picture" and "long term."  Popularity and wealth and control are not what matters.  Even being well-treated by others is not the ultimate goal. We can't always control what others do, but we are responsible for ourselves. Who we are inside (the purity and power of  character) and what we do as the fruit of that (love, mercy, forgiveness, compassion, generosity, courage) are the true marks of genuine worth and success.  What is in your heart will come out in what you say and do.  That's where the inner meets the outer.

~*~*~

²⁷ “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, ²⁸ bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. ²⁹ If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. ³⁰ Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. ³¹ Do to others as you would have them do to you.

Jesus was specific and practical in his teaching, but he also gave broad principles that covered much more. He could talk about lending to the poor, but also about doing to others as we would have them do to us.  That way, he couldn't fall into the opposite ditches of being nitpicky & narrow, or vague & non-committal.

~*~*~

³² “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. ³³ And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. ³⁴ And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. ³⁵ But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. ³⁶ Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

"The Most High is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked." Does that mean he never punishes them in his justice?  No, he still does.  He gives them opportunity to repent.  He is patient.  He sends rain on the just and the unjust -- the "common graces."  Likewise, we should be kind to others, even if they are not kind to us.

~*~*~ 

⁴³ “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. ⁴⁴ Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. ⁴⁵ A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.

⁴⁶ “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? ⁴⁷ As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. ⁴⁸ They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. ⁴⁹ But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”

When the action doesn't match the speech and intention, there is hypocrisy.  You can't truly say Jesus is Lord of your life if you aren't willing to obey him.  It is not enough to hear it and mentally agree with it. We must do it. Some people equate agreement with obedience.  They can pretend, and talk a great talk, and make a few half-hearted gestures of compliance for the sake of reputation, but if it's not authentic from the core, it won't last long. It will crumble like a house on the sand.  Genuine faith follows through even (and especially) when no one else notices.

So those are my notes on parts of Luke 6.

What do you think about all of this?  What stands out to you?  Did you glean something different from this chapter?

What is God teaching you from your Bible reading and prayer time?

Blessings,
Virginia Knowles
www.VirginiaKnowles.blogspot.com