Embracing Your Second Calling...I'm still listening to my first.

Embracing Your Second Calling, Finding Passion and Purpose For the Rest of Your Life, A Women’s Guide by Dale Hanson Bourke may be touted as a book for women entering the second half of their lives but really it’s message applies to any woman at a crossroads in her life. Sometimes it doesn’t take years for us to realize we need to find a new focus and a new direction for our lives. This book serves as a workbook or study guide to women who find themselves in such a place. Through many comparisons to Naomi and Ruth, Bourke has presented an inspiring book that challenged me not to retreat into old patterns but to embrace the potential in ourselves. That said, I don’t think this book was really for me…maybe my mom. I’ve never had a hard time with finding passion (maybe I’m just a tad to selfish.) but I know MANY women who would find much truth in this book. I also think that just because the advice inside the pages didn’t apply to me it wasn’t well written to an extent that I could appreciate. I enjoyed the narrative the author spoke in as well as the exercises and reflections. If you’re a woman who has never really found your place and purpose this book may be just what you need.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Hasbro HouseParty!

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Tonight was my Hasbro Houseparty!  Unfortunately as a week night we couldn’t get as many people out for it…but we had a super great time!  I think we need to make a habit of it. 

The star of the night was the new Trivia Pursuit game where you get to bet whether or not your opponents will be able to answer their questions right or wrong!  With six players we ran out of money fast,  ‘cause we all know each other well enough to know what we can and cannot answer :) 

Taboo was fun but much harder than Catchphrase, which Nate deemed a perfect drinking game!  All in all we had a good time and good snacks I almost forgot to mention all the awesome wheat thins and triscuits!  Oh, and the special dark CHOCOLATE bites!  MMMMMM!

Read and Share: The Jesus Series, Life and Miracles

The Read and Share Bible: The Jesus Series, Life and Miracles DVD is a children’s product that presents the life of Christ through a four volume DVD set. The Life and Miracles DVD is a half an hour depiction of Christ’s life in particular the miracles performed along Lake Galilee. What is so great about this series is that in conjunction with the Bibles from Read and Share a familiarity begins to grow inside kids and with it a clearer understanding of Jesus and his message. I just love this series of DVDs and Bibles as do my children. I would highly recommend it as an accompanying tool to help reinforce the messages found in the life of Christ.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Classic Wisdom for the Professional Life edited by Bryan Curtis

Classic Wisdom for the Professional Life is a collection of quotes and words of wisdom from a wide range of historical and modern-day leaders, entrepreneurs and innovators. Sometimes the day to day drudgery of going to the office can overshadow the satisfaction and happiness we’d otherwise find in a job well done. Other times we find ourselves in a place that disconnects us from ourselves and what we want to contribute to the world. These quick snippets serve as reminders filled with encouragement, insight, and simple classic wisdom that really held my attention and made me reevaluate where I choose to spend the majority of my day and the attitude I’ll bring there. While I was disappointed that the quotes were not separated out categorically I would still recommend this book to others. In particular I think it would make a great office gift.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

The Gospel According to Lost

The Gospel according to Lost is one of those books centered on a phenomenon that almost makes you embarrassed to be reading it. But this isn’t a Spice Girl’s biography, this is the real deal. This is a commentary on a television program that reminds us all to think, feel, explore and most importantly love. Author Chris Seay hit one way out of the park with his remarkable observations and comparisons between the characters and dynamics of a show with the love of God.

The Gospel is a well written book that breaks down each character on the hit series Lost and points out the uncanny similarities between what they are going through and the struggle to accept God’s love. As Seay writes, “One of the most beautiful parts of Lost is the attention paid to the shaping of personalities and development of individual modi operandi.” Take for example Sawyer, the resident bad boy through and through, he’s convinced himself that he cannot change but as with God anything is possible if we believe. “The miracle is that his love extended to us in our angry, hateful, and shirtless state-not offered as a carrot on a stick for the person we each might become. Looking at Sawyer’s sly grin, I think he’s gotten a glimpse of this truth.”

One of the most enduring chapters to me dealt with the character Eko Patron Saint of Warlord Priests. I’m not going to go through the Eko’s history, if you’re considering purchasing this book you’re a Lost fan and already know it. I will point out that like many Lost characters Eko’s life-changing moment came when he was a child and forced to kill a man to save the life of his little brother. Seay writes, “Children are a sacred trust, a blessing from God to be nurtured with love,…The world is filled with stories of not only neglect but also the abuse and exploitation of those we regard as the leaders, the innovators, the mothers, the fathers-the caretakers-of tomorrow.” Pure Wisdom.

In discussing the crazed Benjamin Linus the Patron Saint of Dutiful Tyrants Seay writes, “But Ben is relying on karma (you reap what you sow)-if he’s been ruthlessly faithful to Jacob, Jacob should reward him faithfully.” However, as Seay goes on to write, life in Lost is like life in the real world and karma just doesn’t pan out. This was probably the one part that I disagreed with; I do believe that you get what you give. But let me point out, just because you give in this life doesn’t mean you’ll get in this life, your reward may be on the other side.

Regardless of everything this is a book a read within a day…yep it was that good. Just like Lost it made me think, it made me feel in touch with myself, my world and my God.

Today’s Mail: House Party!

I was so excited to be a host for the upcoming Fun, Fit and Guilt-Free House Party!  Today I got the package in the mail and I couldn’t wait to show it off!   I think this one is going to be a lot of fun.  I plan on sending out invites next week!

Notes on Democracy by H.L. Menken

Who is H.L. Mencken and why am I just now reading him!? This book is genius! I started highlighting passages I liked but then realized nearly every page was marked in florescent pink.

I'm not going to say this book is for everyone but it is definitely for those of us out there that watch the news and listen to certain groups or leaders thinking, "Seriously are there people out there buying this?" Then we come into contact with those who are in fact subscribing whole-heartily to an idiotic brainless existence. Left dumbfounded we trudge along wondering if there are any 'real' people left in the world.

The world was a completely different place in 1926 when Mencken originally wrote this but it doesn't' take long to realize despite our innovations and advancements nearly 100 years later we've made no real progress in terms of democracy. Mencken's insights serve as a reminder to that fact and while the organizations may have changed and the leaders all have new names they are in essence the same.

"Public policies are determined and laws are made by small minorities playing upon the fears and imbecilities of the mob-sometimes minorities of intelligent and honest men, but usually minorities of rogues." Hmmmm, rogues you say? Remind you of anyone?

If you are of a thinking mind I highly recommend this book but be warned it reads like a philosophy book so if you think you can just pick it up and read a few chapters you're wrong. It will have you thinking and a buzz with every paragraph so make sure you have a good sounding board to bounce ideas off of after reading.

(I received this book as part of a giveaway on Goodreads.com I was not in anyway encouraged to give a review that didn't reflect my genuine feelings towards the book.)