I have started to actually use the site Good Reads this week.  With a vast array of books in my library and on my Kindle I need to read more.  Books are as tempting for me to collect as fabric and quilt patterns.  I see something I really like,  bring it home, maybe even start to read it, and then it just sits there lost to my schedule of otherliness.  I thought I was making up a new word, but alas, when I searched on Google it actually pulled up links for queries on whether it was in a Scrabble dictionary.  The answer was no, no, no, and no.  And there was no known definition in any dictionary.  Goody!  I get to tell you what it means!  Otherliness-the quality or state of being busy with other things of equal or lesser importance.

One of the things that Good Reads does is recommend books to me based on my ratings of books.  Today it gave me recommendations based on my feelings about Strunk and White's Elements of Style.  

I happen to like that book and it has a fun family history in our home.  Late one night after the boys had gone to bed I came into the room where my husband was and began to read a section of it to him out of pure delight for what it was saying.  The boys were not sleeping but heard this wonderful little exchange and unbeknownst to us stored up their knowledge ofthis exchange for the future.  

It came one afternoon many years later when we were sitting at the table with a group of friends after church one Sunday.  The topic turned to one of how our children used the ventilation systems in our home to hear that which we thought was secret.  In every home we have ever lived there are certain rooms that carry sound well to another.  In this particular case, the room where I read passages from Elements of Style carried right to their ears with enough clarity to hear what we were saying (and it really hit their funny bones, but to their credit they kept quiet.)  So here we are at a table with with friends when Jeff suddenly pipes up about the conversations he heard as a child from his parents bedroom.  Ken and I both looked at him aghast-what was he about to reveal!  How much had his young ears heard over the years?  With great style he informed us of the night mom came into dad and asked if she could read a grammar book.  He did a great job of implying that this was great romance in his parents lives and that Ken would then read me math books in return.  We still get ribbed about that.

So...my Kindle now has samples of Spunk and Bite by Arthur Plotnik, Sin and Syntax by Constance Hale, Making a Literary Life by Carolyn See, and The Right to Write by Julia Cameron.  That should add some spice to my life.

Happenings in the Quilt Studio-

Five Errors to Drop From Your Easter Sermons-This was a very interesting read, the comment section is also worth a look.

Moralism is Not the Gospel (but many Christians think it is) -Al Mohler with some interesting thoughts: "The deadly danger of moralism has been a constant temptation to the church and an ever-convenient substitute for the Gospel. Clearly, millions of our neighbors believe that moralism is our message. Nothing less than the boldest preaching of the Gospel will suffice to correct this impression and to lead sinners to salvation in Christ."

When Marriage is Hard-"This is what we cling to when marriage is hard. Day by day we trust the one who accomplished salvation for us. We lean hard on his grace and beg him for new mercies with the rising of the morning sun."

I'm Thankful that I Became Blind-an excerpt from Fannie Crosby's autobiography.  Makes you think about your life.


Heaven Is For Real-I saw an ad for the release of the movie so pulled up reviews I had read when the book came out.  I like Tim Challies perspective.


Best wishes for your weekend!
Deb

When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
    the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
 what is man that you are mindful of him,
    and the son of man that you care for him? -Psalm 8:3-4, ESV

What I Am Reading-I started a new book this week by D.A. Carson.

Psalm 100

Freebie Thursday

Osteenification and What it Portends- Do we see God as simply a means to an end?

Predestination: Should We Even Talk About It?-"I’d like to begin a series on—get ready—predestination. Yes, I said that word. I know this is not the most popular topic to bring up among polite company; in fact, it’s downright divisive, isn’t it?"   This has been a topic of conversation of late in our household and I am already gleaning good bits from Daniel Hyde as he begins his series.

The Sources of Systematic Theology-R.C. Sproul has a way of making things clear for me, so why not stop avoiding posts with the words "Systematic Theology" in them.

How Many People Go to Your Church?- Tim Challies with some good points.  The comments section is worth a look too.

Why I Am Becoming Presbyterian: Some Reasons for Changing From SBC to PCA-I have been struggling with some of these same issues as we have started attending an OPC church.  There is much I like about the conservative branches of the Presbyterian church-weekly observance of the Lord's Supper,  corporate confession of sins, the adherance to the Bible as our sole authority, and getting a diet of meat instead of milk is good for the soul.  At the same time there are some big hurdles yet to clear and I appreciate hearing from those who are exploring these same things.

Captain Context!

Some Wise Words About Facebook-Good guidelines for all of us.

How to Get Your Email Inbox to Zero Every Day-You may find this helpful if, like me, your email gets to be overwhelming at times and you ignore it rather than deal with.