Showing posts with label inspirational. Show all posts
Showing posts with label inspirational. Show all posts
Happy Mother's Day!
I have the most wonderful mother on Earth. Love her!
Happy Mother's Day to all of you!
The No Cussing Club
From The Christian Home:
McKay Hatch, at the ripe old age of 14 founded the No Cussing Club. He also authored a book by the same name. McKay encourages fellow teens not to swear. The idea germinated in seventh grade when McKay noticed his friends beginning to use profane language. He formed the No Cussing Club and invited others to join. Within a year, the entire city of South Pasadena got on the bandwagon and declared the first week of March as No Cussing Week. Nearly 30,000 people have formed No Cussing Clubs in all 50 states and several foreign countries. Today, the No Cussing Club has a website, T-shirts, and a hip hop theme song on YouTube. McKay has appeared on Dr. Phil, The Early Show, Good Morning America and on many other news shows.
Awesome, huh? Find out more about The No Cussing Club here.
Book Review: The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kambewamba
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kambewamba
Book Review by Cindy Bohn of Digging Up Bohns
In the LDS Church, we are encouraged to fast for two consecutive meals on the first Sunday of every month. It's not just 'going hungry' - we are to ask for spiritual help with something, or to bless someone else, and to pray for an increased measure of the Spirit as we fast. Then we take the money we would have spent on those meals and donate it to the Church for the support of the poor in our area. I must admit that I am not great about following this practice. We have always been faithful in the payment of our fast offerings, donating as much as we could, much more than the cost of the food itself, whenever we can. But the going without food part is hard for me.
This weekend I grabbed a library book that will forever change how I look at the fast. It's called "The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind," by William Kambewamba. William grew up in the African nation of Malawi, the son of a farmer. His family would grow maize, or corn, and tobacco every year, milling the food they needed for themselves and using the money they earned to provide for their needs for the year. One year they had planted their maize, as usual, but the rains didn't come. For weeks the crop struggled along, with the seeds barely breaking through the soil. Then the rains came, but all at once. The seeds were washed away in a flood. William's family planted again, but they couldn't afford fertilizer and the crop didn't have enough time to grow before the harvest. The entire nation was affected.
His family got their pitiful harvest of grain milled, one bag at a time, but they had only five bags to last them all year. At first, they hoped that the government would come through with the food they needed. But instead, corrupt officials sold what grain they could and the surplus disappeared. So people starved. When the grain was almost gone, the hungry people took the husks of the corn, the green part I throw away every time I cook corn, and ground that up and ate it. When it began to run out, they mixed the husks with sawdust and ate that. They ate the leaves of the pumpkin vines. They even ate the seed corn, scrubbing off as much insecticide as they could. William's family saved their seed corn, but they were down to a tablespoon of food or so a day. Then it was time to plant. With their bellies aching from hunger, and sometimes too dizzy to stand and temporarily blinded, they found the strength to plant their seeds. And then they prayed. The rains came, and the people had food again.
As I read William's story, and his desperate attempts to gain an education and break this cycle of subsistence farming, I found myself thinking about my cupboard full of food. All those stories of 'children starving in Africa' and how I needed to clean my plate ran through my head. And yet, what would William have done with my breakfast cereal, my mashed potatoes and meat loaf, my tuna casserole? They wouldn't have even known what it was, much less how to cook it. Their special Christmas treat was rice and meat.
Last night I prepared for my fast today with a completely different attitude. It wasn't that by fasting I could somehow bless those who are hungry in tiny nations across the world. It wasn't even that I could somehow alleviate the hunger of those in this country. It was because I needed to remember that food is a blessing, that I am lucky to have enough to eat. If we run out of food and money again, I know that I can count on my church, on my government, on my family. The stores have plenty of food. But over the history of the world, most people were not that lucky. So my fast becomes an act of gratitude that I am blessed, and a reminder that I need to help others who are not so lucky.
This was an amazing book. William's father ran out of money so could not pay for his son's education. William had to quit school and go to work on the farm. He tried to keep up with what his classmates were learning and found the local library. There he found books on electricity, physics, and energy. He decided to build a windmill. He scrounged parts from the junkyard, took apart radios and engines, and got help from his friends, but he succeeded. He was able to use his windmill to provide energy for little light bulbs in his house so he could see to read at night. Soon word of his project got out and he attracted the attention of journalists and scientists. They helped him make his windmill stronger and safer, dig a well so his family could have clean water, replace his grass roof with a tin one, and provide electricity for his entire village. It is an amazing story of determination and triumph over adversity that will inspire anyone. And it changed the way I look at what I have. I have a cupboard full of food, clean water with the turn of the faucet, a sturdy house, electricity and heating, a way to keep myself and my clothing clean. I am not afraid of soldiers with guns taking what I have. I can send my children to school for free. I can go to the doctor when I am sick.
I am blessed. And I need to remember that.
Book Review: Left to Tell by Immaculee Ilibagiza
I have another great book club book to share with you. It has a bit of violence. It is about living through a massacre, after all, but it's inspiring. It's a true, life-changing book like The Hiding Place.
Left to Tell by Immaculee Ilibagiza
Book Review by me, Emily
The subtitle of this book says it all...Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust. While the unthinkable is happening all around her, Immaculee Ilibagiza finds peace in God's love.
Immaculee grew up in a Rwandan paradise. It wasn't until she was ten, that she even learned the words Hutu and Tutsi. When her teacher began taking ethnic roll call, she didn't know which tribe she belonged to. However, prejudices deepened into hatred, and when Immaculee was 24, a massive genocide took place. It is estimated that a million Tutsis were killed in three months.
Immaculee hid in a bathroom with six other women. The space was so small, that they had to take turns standing. When someone needed to use the toilet, everyone had to shift to accomodate her. The ladies nearly starved to death. Worse still, they could her the killers outside looking for them, chanting horrible death songs.
Immaculee spent nearly all her time praying in that bathroom. The women couldn't talk to one another because they might be heard, so Immaculee talked to God, who spared their lives because of her prayers.
Each time it seemed that Immaculee's life would end or that there was no way to go on, she prayed "show me" how to do this, and God would literally show her what to do.
I was touched by this story. I think it will make a wonderful book to discuss in my book club.
Download a song for a good cause...
You are likely familiar with the inspiring NieNie and her family, but you may not be familiar with the up-and-coming country band, Lucky Blue. They recently released a single (which I love) that you can download free when you donate to the Christian and Stephanie Nielson Burn Fund. You can find out more about donating here. Or you can listen to their singles at their website, right here.
Now here's my extremely lame claim to fame...
One of the band members is apparently a cousin of Mr. Christian Nielson, and I am a cousin of another band member. See? I'm almost related to the wonderful Mrs. Stephanie of NieNie. Okay. I'm really not. But still.
Also, while we are on the subject of inspiring people. And music. And relatives....
My beautiful and talented sister, Sarah, has a song on this inspiring CD for women and young women. It is called Daughters of Heaven. You can listen to samples of the songs here. Sarah's song is Daughter of God. And I couldn't be more proud of her. Can you tell?
Now here's my extremely lame claim to fame...
One of the band members is apparently a cousin of Mr. Christian Nielson, and I am a cousin of another band member. See? I'm almost related to the wonderful Mrs. Stephanie of NieNie. Okay. I'm really not. But still.
Also, while we are on the subject of inspiring people. And music. And relatives....
My beautiful and talented sister, Sarah, has a song on this inspiring CD for women and young women. It is called Daughters of Heaven. You can listen to samples of the songs here. Sarah's song is Daughter of God. And I couldn't be more proud of her. Can you tell?
Blog Tour: Bo's Cafe by John Lynch, Bill Thrall, and Bruce McNicol
Bo's Cafe by John Lynch, Bill Thrall, and Bruce McNicol
Review by Emily
Steven Kerner may appear to be successful. He is a thriving executive, after all. But in reality, his life is in shambles. His coworkers dislike him. His wife and daughter are ready to leave him for good. Steven doesn't have anyone to turn to.
He ends up at a run-down old restaurant where he meets an unusual old man. Andy seems to know a lot about Steven and his personal life. Steven doesn't trust Andy but doesn't know where else to go.
Through a series of counseling type meetings, Andy and Steven are able to open up to one another. They discuss faith in Christ, relationships, and allowing others (and oneself) to see the real you.
This book has been compared to The Shack by Wm. Paul Young. Personally, I thought The Shack was a bit out-there. Bo's Cafe reminded me a lot more of Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom. It is certainly preachy, but the points are interesting and valid. So, if you are in the mood to be preached to (and inspired), this may be the book for you. Furthermore, if The Shack and Tuesdays with Morrie (both huge bestsellers) are two of your favorite books, you should probably read Bo's Cafe right away.
If you aren't sure yet if this book is for you, check out some of the other reviews:
September 28th
Steven Kerner may appear to be successful. He is a thriving executive, after all. But in reality, his life is in shambles. His coworkers dislike him. His wife and daughter are ready to leave him for good. Steven doesn't have anyone to turn to.
He ends up at a run-down old restaurant where he meets an unusual old man. Andy seems to know a lot about Steven and his personal life. Steven doesn't trust Andy but doesn't know where else to go.
Through a series of counseling type meetings, Andy and Steven are able to open up to one another. They discuss faith in Christ, relationships, and allowing others (and oneself) to see the real you.
This book has been compared to The Shack by Wm. Paul Young. Personally, I thought The Shack was a bit out-there. Bo's Cafe reminded me a lot more of Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom. It is certainly preachy, but the points are interesting and valid. So, if you are in the mood to be preached to (and inspired), this may be the book for you. Furthermore, if The Shack and Tuesdays with Morrie (both huge bestsellers) are two of your favorite books, you should probably read Bo's Cafe right away.
If you aren't sure yet if this book is for you, check out some of the other reviews:
September 28th
September 29th
September 30th
October 1st
October 2nd
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho is an inspiring journey that teaches readers to follow their Personal Legend.
The story is a parable about life and how so many people settle for less than their dreams.
We follow the story of a young shepherd boy who desires to search for treasure. Will he choose to follow his dream? If he does, will he make it to his goal?
Coelho talks about “Beginner’s Luck”, saying that when a person sets out to achieve their life dreams, the whole universe comes together to try to help. Then, at the end of the journey, the universe tests everything it has taught us.
I want to share with you a piece of my favorite part of the book (being the romantic that I am), but I’m not going to share the whole scene because I don’t want to spoil anything…
“At that moment, it seemed to him that time stood still, and the Soul of the World surged within him…when he saw that her lips were poised between a laugh and silence, he learned the most important part of the language that all the world spoke—the language that everyone on earth was capable of understanding in the heart. It was love.” P. 92
I recommend The Alchemist because it is a quick, inspiring read that can be read on a very basic level or on a more philosophical level.
The Alchemist is meant for adults, but it is perfectly clean and appropriate for teens as well.
The story is a parable about life and how so many people settle for less than their dreams.
We follow the story of a young shepherd boy who desires to search for treasure. Will he choose to follow his dream? If he does, will he make it to his goal?
Coelho talks about “Beginner’s Luck”, saying that when a person sets out to achieve their life dreams, the whole universe comes together to try to help. Then, at the end of the journey, the universe tests everything it has taught us.
I want to share with you a piece of my favorite part of the book (being the romantic that I am), but I’m not going to share the whole scene because I don’t want to spoil anything…
“At that moment, it seemed to him that time stood still, and the Soul of the World surged within him…when he saw that her lips were poised between a laugh and silence, he learned the most important part of the language that all the world spoke—the language that everyone on earth was capable of understanding in the heart. It was love.” P. 92
I recommend The Alchemist because it is a quick, inspiring read that can be read on a very basic level or on a more philosophical level.
The Alchemist is meant for adults, but it is perfectly clean and appropriate for teens as well.
Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life by Wendy Mass
Review by me, Emily
My other blog: Whimsy Books
I'm a little bit torn about this book. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed it. It's funny, meaningful, creative, compelling, thoughtful, realistic, and hopeful. It's a teen version of the "miracle books" I've talked about before, like The Wednesday Letters, Letters for Emily, and the Blue Bottle Club.
There is a difference, though...and, despite how wonderful Jeremy Fink is, and how well written, I admit that this difference is bothering me a bit.
The adult miracle books I have mentioned all incorporate God into the meaning of life. To me, God and the meaning of life go hand-in-hand and cannot exist without the other.
There are a couple brief mentions of religion in Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life...but these almost make it worse. I think the story would have been better without addressing religion at all than the way it was done. Jeremy and his best friend, Lizzy, have some time to kill and wander into a church where they are healing people. They leave more confused than ever but don't really talk about what was confusing.
Anyway, the book was wonderful. I just feel like it is missing something. God. It still has a great message (enjoy every moment of life), but, in my opinion, lacks the bigger picture. I certainly don't think all novels need to talk about God. I read more regular fiction than Christian fiction, but I feel that talking about the meaning of life without God is a little bit...empty.
So, you may be wondering why I am reviewing it at all since I don't review books I'm not excited to share...well, I AM excited to share this one. I just want to be upfront about what you are getting into.
Jeremy Fink is almost thirteen when a package arrives for his mother. Encouraged by his best friend, Lizzy, he opens the box to find another box. A beautiful wooden box engraved with the words, "The Meaning of Life, For Jeremy Fink to open on his thirteenth birthday." The ornate box is accompanied by a note that says the four keys (one for each side) have been lost.
As you can imagine, an adventure begins. Jeremy, who is afraid of subways, has a mutant candy collection, and sweats peanut butter, is the ultimate fun character. Wendy Mass has nailed his voice. He takes us on his quest to understand the meaning of life. He wonders what is wrong with himself that he never pondered the meaning of life before.
The journey takes Jeremy and Lizzy to a fortune-teller, a Natural History museum, a comic shop, an abandoned law firm, and even to a makeshift police office.
Despite my one minor reservation about it, I am recommending Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life. Check it out. I bet you'll love it.
Hope Was Here by Joan Bauer
Hope was Here by Joan Bauer
“Hope was here.” Those three simple words are how sixteen-year-old Hope marks her presence in a place she is about to leave, and Hope has made her mark in quite a few places as she and Addie, the aunt with whom she lives, travel around the country. The last place they left was Brooklyn, where Addie, a professional cook, was part-owner in the Blue Box Diner. When her business partner skips town with all the diner’s money, Addie and Hope have no choice but to move on. Their destination: Mulhoney, Wisconsin, where a job awaits Addie at the Welcome Stairways Diner.
After the bustle of Brooklyn, Hope doesn’t have high expectations for Mulhoney, feeling sure she will not fit into small town life. But she couldn’t be more wrong. In addition to waiting tables at the diner, Hope gets involved in local politics, helping her boss, G. T. Stoop, run for mayor. In her work on G.T.’s campaign, Hope sees both the best and worst in people, and finds something she has always wanted in an unexpected place. Hope truly is here, in so many ways. This is a heartwarming story, liberally sprinkled with humor. Recommended for age 12 and up.
“Hope was here.” Those three simple words are how sixteen-year-old Hope marks her presence in a place she is about to leave, and Hope has made her mark in quite a few places as she and Addie, the aunt with whom she lives, travel around the country. The last place they left was Brooklyn, where Addie, a professional cook, was part-owner in the Blue Box Diner. When her business partner skips town with all the diner’s money, Addie and Hope have no choice but to move on. Their destination: Mulhoney, Wisconsin, where a job awaits Addie at the Welcome Stairways Diner.
After the bustle of Brooklyn, Hope doesn’t have high expectations for Mulhoney, feeling sure she will not fit into small town life. But she couldn’t be more wrong. In addition to waiting tables at the diner, Hope gets involved in local politics, helping her boss, G. T. Stoop, run for mayor. In her work on G.T.’s campaign, Hope sees both the best and worst in people, and finds something she has always wanted in an unexpected place. Hope truly is here, in so many ways. This is a heartwarming story, liberally sprinkled with humor. Recommended for age 12 and up.
Review by Lina
Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
I personally didn’t love Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli, but I’m reviewing it anyway because I know a lot of people do love it. Stargirl is on virtually every list of clean teen books I have ever seen.
I think the problem was that I was confused about what I was getting myself into. The book cover (and many reviewers) call Stargirl “magical”, but she isn’t. Not in the traditional way. She’s a wonderful non-conformist character who changes the lives of those around her through her personality, not magic.
When Stargirl starts going to school at Mica Area High School, everyone notices her. She wears pioneer dresses, strums her ukulele, carries her pet rat, and serenades her classmates on their birthdays. Slowly, people start to wonder why they conform to be like the popular crowd and Stargirl becomes the most popular girl in school. Of course, Stargirl is genuine and couldn’t care less that she is popular.
But Stargirl turns out to be too weird to be popular. (Her classmates blame homeschool for her obliviousness about how to be normal.) The school shuns her when she cheers for both teams at the basketball games.
Stargirl’s story is told by Leo, who is fascinated by her. Even when she falls from popularity, Leo stands by her. But he has a lot to learn about himself before he can fully understand what an amazing person Stargirl is. Will he truly understand her before it is too late?
Stargirl reminds me of Jamie Sullivan in A Walk to Remember, only Stargirl is much quirkier.
Honestly, I think I would have enjoyed the book more if I hadn’t expected elements of fantasy. If I had gone in knowing it was realistic fiction, I probably wouldn’t have been looking for more. I may have felt satisfied with this well-written story about a girl who changes lives for the better by being completely selfless and genuine.
If you enjoy this book, look for the sequel, Love, Stargirl.
Review by me, Emily.
Miss Spitfire: Reaching Helen Keller
Miller, Sarah. 2007. Miss Spitfire: Reaching Helen Keller.
I don't quite remember when I first saw the movie The Miracle Worker, but I do remember it making a great impact on me. I remember being fascinated with finger spelling, particularly the famous w-a-t-e-r and d-o-l-l. I do know that at some point afterwards, I learned the alphabet. It's something I still know to this day, though I don't place too much confidence on my being able to remember "x" or "z"or "q" on demand. But there is something about this story of Helen Keller and Annie Sullivan that has always fascinated me. So when I first read about Miss Spitfire, I was excited. Very excited. I wanted to track down a copy of this book quickly. Very quickly.
But enough about my pre-reading activity. What did I think of Miss Spitfire? I loved it. Absolutely loved it. True, I was already interested in the story. Already compelled to love it based on my prior history, but Sarah Miller's writing was remarkable. I not only fell in love with the story. I fell in love with how she told the story.
"I'm not sure I can do this job. Yet a part of me understands Helen better than she does herself. I'm no stranger to frustration, anger, isolation. I wonder, though, how Helen can be content to deprive herself of my affection? The thought of her indifference makes my throat sting, yet I can't help feeling drawn to her. If I could only touch her heart, I know I could reach her mind. But she won't even let me hold her hand." (43)
"It seems nothing I do comes out right. But in my heart I know what's right for Helen: obedience, love, and language. Come what may and hell to pay, I'll find a way to give her all three." (64)
Annie Sullivan is a young woman on a mission. Her job? To teach a child--a six year old child--who is blind, deaf, and dumb. It won't be easy. There has only been one successful case in the past to base their hopes and dreams on: Laura Bridgman. But Annie is strong-minded and determined. She'll need every ounce of stubborness she has if she's going to master the willfullness of Helen. Used to getting her own way, Helen runs wild. And as Annie soon points out, the family expects better behavior from the dogs than they do their young daughter. Helen has never been disciplined a day in her life--at least since an illness left her blind and deaf. This journey from despair to hope, from chaos to communication, is an important one. It is full of emotion--as day by day Annie struggles to teach and love a child who fails to comprehend the meaning of words altogether. Anger. Frustration. Rage. Joy. Happiness. Fear. Hope. Despair. It's all here. Annie and Helen. This is their story. And for the record, I loved, loved, loved the ending. It was oh-so-magical.
Becky's Book Reviews: http://blbooks.blogspot.com/
Becky's Christian Reviews: http://stand-firm-then.blogspot.com/
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