New Blog--Jay Adams is Blogging!

I just received the following email in one of my email in boxes. I haven't had a chance to check the blog out yet, but I'm sure it's good!

The Institute for Nouthetic Studies offers training in biblical counseling by extension and features the teaching ministry of Dr. Jay E Adams.
Jay Adams is Blogging!
Because he is no longer able to travel far from his home in the Upstate of South Carolina Dr. Adams has been able to turn his attention to writing a blog. Since he began around the first of the year it has quickly become a popular internet destination for hundreds of pastors and counselors around the world. Jay's subjects have included theology, preaching, writing, and, of course, counseling issues. He has also cracked open the door just a bit for a look into his life as a retired, rural southern gentleman. Bookmark the address of our blog and check it out daily.
The Institute Continues to Grow
New students join the ranks of those who are studying biblical counseling through the Institute every week. If you are seeking a robust curriculum, taught by the founder of the modern biblical counseling movement, at an affordable cost, that you can study in your own home, we urge you to check us out on our website at http://www.nouthetic.org/.
Comfort from the Scriptures
We are glad to introduce a series of booklets from Dr. Adams that explains the hope and comfort only God's Word can provide. No maudlin poetry, no silly illustrations, no sappy stories---only clear and compassionate instruction from the Scriptures. Would you expect anything else from Jay Adams?
For a limited time we are pleased to make this set of three booklets available to everyone who sends a donation (of any amount) to support the Institute. Follow this link to our donation page.

The Annual NANC Conference Comes to SC
Mark your calendar for October 5-7 and plan to join us in Spartanburg, SC at the annual conference of the National Association of Nouthetic Counselors. Follow this link for more information about the conference. While you are in the upstate plan to stop by and visit our offices in Greenville.
What is Nouthetic Counseling?
Click on the link above and let us explain.

February Update

Hello! This isn't a book review, but I thought I should update you on what is going on with me these days. (if you don't really care, that's fine and you can stop reading now :-) ) Actually, I'm thinking I should do these little update things once a month...hmm...maybe I should do a poll and see what you think. :-)

Work this month has been a mixture between busy and slow, depending on the week. The one week where I had a lot of time off, I spent my time doing lots of cooking and cleaning, and ignoring the blog. So yes, I did have time to do some blogging this month, but I wanted to spend my time doing other things. :-) Overall I love working at a craft store, except I really wish they had different music... :-)

As for cooking, this month I tried several new recipes and had a goal to use up a bag of wheat flour that has been around for awhile. (okay to be honest, using up the flour was just part of the goal, the real goal was to use up several ingredients that have been around for awhile) Recipes varied from potato soup, banana bread, whole wheat bread, a couple of cookie recipes, and the latest was homemade whole wheat crackers! (the goal of using up the flour wasn't quite accomplished, but I made a significant dent in it! Maybe I'll make something today... :-)) I had a lot of fun with new recipes, but I could tell I needed to get back to work, because I was driving myself and Mom crazy. :-)

The past week or two, I've been busy trying to sell things (or just get rid of things) online. It varies from books, to home school books for friends, clothes, and some other things. This week I've been trying to get my taxes done. (not the most fun thing in the world to do)

In addition to all of that, our church is celebrating 90 years this April and I and some others will be involved with trying to do a scrapbook and a variety of other things to prepare for that. This will be keeping me pretty busy for the next couple of months, so, don't expect too many book reviews! :-)

Speaking of book reviews and blogging...

I still hope to get a review done this month and with all the activity in the coming months, I will consider it a success if I can get one to three book reviews done a month. We will see though! If you are wondering on the status of Dad blogging, well, nothing to report yet, he hasn't started on anything else to my knowledge, but maybe I can get him to write something soon.

Other things...

At the end of January I attended a marriage conference with Dad and Mom. I enjoyed it and I've been considering summarizing my notes etc. here on the blog. (hmm, another poll idea!)

Also, my best friend is back in town with her new baby girl. I got to see her and the baby last Friday, briefly. I am so thrilled they are back and am looking forward to more visits! :-)

I've also been having fun working on some knitting these days. I found a bunch of dish cloth patterns online that I've been trying. (Yes, I know, my knitting knowledge is very limited, the only thing I've ever done is dish clothes)

What I've been reading...

Well, to be honest, not much! I read a Noel Piper book that I'm borrowing from a friend. It was very good and I hope to review it (along with my list from the past couple of months) here in the near future. My stack of books to read and review is still around, but I am kind of ignoring it. (I'm sure the people who are lending me books wish I would hurry up! However, they haven't said anything...so... :-) ) I also picked up a bunch of books recently that I'm reading and then selling. They won't make it here for a review, but that is keeping me slightly busy. :-)

The Love Challenge...

I was thinking of doing an entire post to update on this, but I may just have a small snippet here.

I've been working sporadically on 1 Corinthians 13:4-8b, and yesterday I said them to Dea, and with the exception of forgetting "is not provoked" I got through them! It was fun learning these verses, but also very convicting! I hope to get back to memorizing Philippians in March.

Just a comment about memorizing, if you aren't memorizing anything right now, I'd really encourage you to start! Find a partner to be accountable to and you will be a little more determined. :-) If you think you don't have time to memorize, you really do. I try to work on my verses during my lunch break at work. I don't get to look at them every time, but I've found that using the last 10 minutes or so of my break is a great time to look at verses! I'm sure everyone has about 10 minutes in the day they can spare. :-)

I think that is the majority of things that have been going on during the last month or so. Hopefully you didn't mind my rambling post. :-) I will try to get some polls and a book review done today or tomorrow.

Have a great day!

Quote of the week for January

Here are the quotes for the month of January!

Week 1

Let books be your dining table,
And you shall be full of delights.
Let them be your mattress,
And you shall sleep restful nights.
~Author Unknown

Week 2

Nothing is worth reading that does not require an alert mind.
~Charles Dudley Warner

Week 3

I divide all readers into two classes; those who read to remember and those who read to forget.
~William Lyon Phelps

Week 4

How many a man has dated a new era in his life from the reading of a book.
~Henry David Thoreau, Walden

The "Love Challenge" The February Scripture Memorization Challenge

Hello all! I am taking up a Bible memory challenge, and I want to encourage you to do the same!

You can learn more about it here:

http://dea-frommyhearttoyours.blogspot.com/2009/01/do-you-really-know-what-love-is-take.html

I'm copying and pasting her directions on here, so you can get a general idea what the challenge is about.

Here is what you do:

1.Place a copy of the above heart picture along with a link back to this post onto your blog. (right click the heart, and hit the save picture button) Include a description of this challenge and let people know you are participating. Encourage them to participate as well. Feel free to copy any information from my post to place on your blog.
Note: the heart picture is NOT a button. It is only a picture, therefore it will NOT link back to my blog when you click on it. (Sorry, don't know how to do that) By the way, you do not need to have a blog to participate.

2.Leave a message on my blog or email me to let me know you are participating. I will put up a list February 1st of the names and or blog sites of those who are participating in the challenge so that we can spur one another on!

3.Check my blog throughout the month of February as I (Lord willing) go over the 15 truths that describe love in I Corinthians 13:4-8a.

4. Start memorizing! (She is memorizing in NASB, I will be doing NKJV)

4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;

5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;

6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;

7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

8 Love never fails.

(If you want even more of a challenge memorize verses 1-3 as well!)

I would enjoy hearing updates throughout the month of how your memorizing is going, what you are learning, and how God is working these truths into your everyday lives. Although this is completely optional , it would be a huge encouragement to all of us who are participating. Let me know if you do post an update so that I can include a link to it each Monday throughout the month of February.

That's what you have to do! Dea and I have been encouraging each other to memorize Scripture in the last several months. She is working on memorizing the book of 1 Peter, and I'm working on the book of Philippians. Scripture memory is something I used to do when I was younger, in my AWANA days, but I'm sad to say that for past several years I haven't been memorizing anything. I've really enjoyed the challenge of working with Dea to memorize! It's a lot of fun, and it helps to have someone to be accountable to! I hope to finish Philippians this year, maybe in April. :-) I'm working on chapter 2 right now.

So, I'd encourage all of you to take up this "Love Challenge" and even take it a step further and start memorizing a book of the Bible! Get someone else to do it with you, it will keep you on track and make it fun too! :-) (a word to guys, taking a "love challenge" is NOT girly! It's Scripture, so it applies to all! :-))

Have a great day!

25 Random Things About Me (Amanda)

Hello all! I did this for facebook, and thought it would be fun to share with you. Technically, I could be "tagging" people. However, I don't really know too many people in the blog world, and I don't want to bother the ones I do know. :-) So, if you're reading this, and want to tag yourself, feel free to do so! Let me know if you do and I'll check out your 25 things too. Hope you enjoyed something a little spontaneous today!

Rules:

Write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. Try and think of something that no one knows about yourself. Don't type something typical like your age, type something completely and utterly random about yourself! It's really fun and kind of challenging!

1. When I was younger I really, really wanted to be a writer. (I still have half finished stories around the house)

2. I took ballet lessons for about two years

3. I trusted Christ, when I was around four, inside a grocery cart, in the grocery store!

4. I love to read, talk about books, blog about books, and convince others to read!

5. I liked dogs when I was younger, now I'm a cat person, and dogs are kind of a pain.

6. I'm pretty competitive; you'd be surprised if you played Monopoly or Dutch Blitz with me!

7. It took three times for me to pass my drivers license test, but I've not had an accident or a ticket yet!

8. I love movies, especially old ones!

9. I can't stand the smell of the wet jet that Mom uses to mop!

10. I've never broken a bone, but I had to get stitches before…not a cool story.

11. I used to think farms and farm life were cool when I was younger, now I don't. (it was before I actually SAW a real farm)

12. I was home schooled from K-12, and I love to talk about home schooling.

13. Some day I hope to be proficient on the sewing machine!

14. I love crafty things, scrapbooking, crocheting, etc, but I don't like painting, it stresses me out!

15. I don't like gross noises, belching is disgusting!

16. I'm a picky eater. (this might not surprise some of you)

17. I love to attend Bible conferences.

18. I didn't get my ears pierced until I was 20.

19. I really want to get fish, but I don't want to take care of them, just look at them.

20. I can be pretty bossy at times.

21. I donated about 11 inches of my hair last year, the first time I've had it cut short since I was little! (no, I didn't cry, but I felt like it!)

22. I have a tendency to cry when I see others crying, even if I'm not really upset! (I do this with laughing too, actually)

23. I've been wearing dresses/skirts only since about 12 or 13, my choice. However, I had to purchase my first pair of pants in November to fit with the dress code at Michael's. (this was NOT fun shopping for…took forever!)

24. I love to get together with friends, but I don't do it very often!

25. My dream job is to be a wife and home schooling mom, with lots of kids!

Praying for Others--The Dad :-)

Hello again! Here's is the article written by Dad. :-) I've been waiting until I finished my post on Spiritual Disciplines, because I thought this corresponded well with it. I hope you enjoy it!

Praying for Others

by Charles (aka "The Dad")

Over the years I have been introduced to many formulas or tools to help improve my prayer life. A lot has helped me since my Roman Catholic days of praying through a rosary. Above all, a thorough knowledge of what the Scripture says about prayer has been life changing.

The acronym A.C.T.S. was my initial introduction as a true believer that taught me to pray (Adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication).

The Lord’s prayer (sometimes called the disciple’s prayer) has also been useful not only as a prayer but especially as a pattern for prayer.

However, something that has helped me tremendously over the years to give me some satisfaction that I was praying for others in some systematic way on a regular basis (and not just when I thought about it) started with a lesson in the Daily Bread devotional guide.

The lesson was from a parent to a child using the hand as an object lesson in prayer. The thumb represented missionaries because it was so far away from the fingers. The index or pointing finger represented leaders who point the way, like kings, presidents, and various rulers. The middle finger represented our spiritual leaders because it was the tallest and they carry the largest load of responsibility for the Lord’s work. The weak or ring finger represented the sick and the helpless. Finally, the baby finger represented the little ones: the babies and the unborn.

Thus began an adventure which I passed on to my family over the years as we expanded this ‘formula’ and developed a weekly prayer list that looks like this:

Monday -pray for the Missionaries
Tuesday – pray for those that Tackle leadership issues (president, governor, mayor)
Wednesday – pray for the Warriors--pastors, Christian leaders, biblical counselors and Christian radio programs
Thursday – pray for The sick, the orphans [fatherless], the widows, the prisoners, the persecuted church
Friday – pray for Friends who are expecting, the unborn (the abortion issue), and mothers with little ones,
Saturday – pray for the Salvation of friends, co-workers, students, neighbors, family, and those associated with the church. Pray also for the Spiritual growth of Christians we know.
Sunday – pray for the Servicemen, the church Services, and the Schools. (includes teachers, Public, Private, Home Schoolers, College Students, and Christian Colleges)

This is something we do primarily as a family as we drive but is also encouraged in personal prayer time when we are not traveling together.

"Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you"

I Samuel. 12:23

Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life--Donald Whitney Part 4

Hello all! I'm finally going to do a book review! I'm continuing on with the Spiritual Disciplines book that I started last year. :-) This chapter is on prayer and once I finish the summary, I will be posting an article by Dad on prayer. You will notice a difference in this review from the previous three on the book. It should be shorter and more summarized. (I hope! :-) ) I also hope to get another book review done this week, if time and personal motivation permits! :-)

Title: Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life
Author: Donald S. Whitney
Published: 1991 by NavPress
Background Information: Donald Whitney is the associate professor of spiritual formation at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminar in Kansas City Missouri. He is the best-selling author of Simplify Your Spiritual Life, Ten Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health, and How Can I be Sure I'm a Christian? (all that was taken from the back the book)

Since 2005, Don Whitney has been Associate Professor of Biblical Spirituality at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, where he also serves as Senior Associate Dean. Before that, he held a similar position (the first such position in the six Southern Baptist seminaries) at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Missouri, for ten years. He is the founder and president of The Center for Biblical Spirituality. (all of that was taken from the website mentioned below)You can learn more about Donald Whitney and his resources at: http://biblicalspirituality.org/

Spiritual Disciplines, Chapter 4, entitled "Prayer...For the Purpose of Godliness"
Bold emphasis is my own.

The chapter begins with the following quote:

"We Protestants are an undisciplined people. Therein lies the reason for much of the dearth of spiritual insights and serious lack of moral power. --Albert Edward Day, quoted in Ronald Klug, How to Keep a Spiritual Journal" (p. 65)

Whitney begins by using an illustration on how people try very hard to hear messages from space, he then writes, "What great lengths people will go to searching for a faint message from space when God has spoken so clearly through His Son and His Word!" (p. 65) He continues to write about how God has not only spoken to us through His written Word, but that "He will hear every prayer of His children, even when our prayers are weaker than a snowflake" (p. 66)

Whitney quotes Carl Lundquist on prayer, and Whitney then writes: "If Lundquist is right, as I believe he is, then one of the main reasons for a lack of Godliness is prayerlessness." (p. 66)

Whitney finishes the chapter by explaining each of these three points. 1. Prayer is Expected, 2. Prayer is Learned, and 3. Prayer is Answered. He gives several Scriptures to back up these points and quotes several people, primarily Puritans, on the subject of prayer.

Here are some highlights for you.

Whitney writes about how lack of prayer is often a lack of discipline, but also he says,
"Often we do not pray because we doubt that anything will actually happen if we pray. Of course, we don't admit this publicly. But if we felt certain of visible results within sixty seconds of every prayer there would be holes in the knees of every pair of Christian-owned pants in the world! Obviously the Bible never promises this, even though God does promise to answer prayer. Prayer involves communication in the spiritual realm. Many prayers are answered in ways that cannot be seen in the material realm. Many prayers are answered in ways different from what we asked. For a variety of reasons, after we open our eyes we do not always see tangible evidence of our prayers. When we are not vigilant, this tempts us to doubt the power of God through prayer." (p. 69)

He also makes the point of that when we sense a lack of nearness to God, this also discourages us from praying. (side note, there's a great song, called "When God is Near" :-) On a CD called "Soldiers of Christ, available through Majesty Music)

He also says: "When there is little awareness of real need there is little real prayer. Some circumstances drive us to our knees. But there are periods when life seems quite manageable. Although Jesus said, "Apart from me you can do nothing" (John 15:5), this truth hits home more forcefully at some times than at others. In pride and self-sufficiency we may live for days as though prayer were needed only when something comes along that's too big for us to handle on our own. Until we see the danger and foolishness of this attitude, God's expectation for us to pray may seem irrelevant." (p. 69-70)

Under his heading, "Prayer is Learned" Whitney gives several ways of how prayer is learned.
First prayer is learned, by praying! He gives the illustration of learning a foreign language, and the best way to learn another language is to actually speak it.

Another way to learn how to pray is by meditating on Scriptures. Whitney writes:
"This is one of the most compelling concepts on prayer I've ever learned. Meditation is the missing link between Bible intake and prayer. The two are often disjointed when they should be united. We read the Bible, close it, and then try to shift gears into prayer. But many times it seems as if the gears between the two won't mesh. In fact, after some forward progress in our time in the Word, shifting to prayer sometimes is like suddenly moving back into neutral or even reverse. Instead there should be a smooth , almost unnoticeable transition between Scripture input and prayer output so that we move even closer to God in those moments. This happens when there is the link of meditation in between." (p. 71)

Whitney then includes several great quotes on meditation and prayer. He uses Richard Baxter, John Owen, William Bates, William Bridge, Peter Toon, and he includes a lengthy article on George Muller. I'm including just one part of what Muller wrote:

"Now what is food for the inner man? Not prayer, but the Word of God; and here again, not the simple reading of the Word of God, so that it only passes through our minds, just as water passes through a pipe, but considering what we read, pondering over it and applying it to our hearts." (p. 76)

Whitney then gives a couple of other suggestions on how to learn how to pray. One is praying with others, he uses the disciples and Jesus as an example. Another way is reading about prayer. He points out that reading about prayer can't be the only thing you do. "But reading about prayer in addition to praying can be a valuable way to learn." (p. 77)

Finally in his last point on "Prayer is Answered" I will use his quote from Spurgeon to summarize this section.

"I cannot imagine any one of you tantalizing your child by exciting in him a desire that you did not intend to gratify. It were a very ungenerous thing to offer alms to the poor, and then when they hold out their hand for it, to mock their poverty with a denial. It were a cruel addition to the miseries of the sick if they were taken to the hospital and there left to die untended and uncared for. Where Gods leads you to pray, He means you to receive." (p. 79)

Whitney then closes is chapter by asking his readers some questions:

"Since prayer is expected, will you pray?" (p. 80)

"Since prayer is learned, will you learn to pray?" (p. 80)

"Since prayer is answered, will you persistently pray?" (p. 81)

Whitney again quotes Muller:

"The great fault of the children of God is, they do not continue in prayer; they do not go on praying; they do not persevere. If they desire anything for God's glory, they should pray until they get it. Oh, how good, and kind, and gracious, and condescending is the One with Whom we have to do! He has given me, unworthy as I am, immeasurably above all I had asked or thought!" (p. 81)

Whitney writes: "Don't let the Enemy tempt you to become silently cynical about God's willingness and ability to answer. Let a love for God cause you to prevail in prayer to Him who loves you, even when His judgements are unsearchable and His ways past tracing out (Romans 11:33)." (p. 81)

Whitney closes the chapter with this challenge: "Would you be like Christ? Then do as He did--discipline yourself to be a person of prayer." (p. 82)

I hope you were challenged by this chapter! Again, there is always a lot a leave out, and I hope the summaries make you want to buy the book!

Poll Results--01/13/09--01/20/09

Hello all! Thank you for your votes on the polls! Here are the results!

Did you get any books for Christmas?
Total of 3 votes

Of Course!.......................1 vote (33%)
No!.......................0 votes (0%)
I got several!.......................1 vote (33%)
What's a book, and why would I want one? :-).........1 vote (33%)

Glad to see you all got some books! I also got some, haven't had a chance to read them, but I did get some! :-) (yes, they are are girly book, in case you wondered :-) )

My little note I had before the next poll questions...

New Polls!
Hello all! At long last I am doing polls, amazing! :-) I'd like to get some ideas about what you think about adding my Dad as a guest author or contributor to the blog. Also, I'd like to see if you like the idea, what you'd like to see him write. Thanks for your input and have a great day!

Do you think Dad should:
Total of 3 votes

Be a guest writer with article/reviews occasionally.......................0 votes (0%)
Be a contributor.......................3 votes (100%)
Not sure......................0 votes (0%)
Neither, keep things how they are!.......................0 votes (0%)
He should write one article, then ask me! :-).......................0 votes (0%)

Interesting, you all think Dad should be a contributor! Cool! I will have to let him know. :-) I probably will hold off for now, on actually adding him as a contributor, but I will start posting some articles, soon, I hope! :-)

If Dad contributes would you like him to: (you can choose more than one)
Total of 3 votes

Write book reviews/summaries..............1 votes (33%)
Review Systematic Theology from Sun. School..............2 votes (66%)
Write Theological/thought provoking articles..............3 votes (100%)
Something else (email with an idea)..............0 votes (0%)

So, everyone thinks Dad should write articles. :-) I hope to incorporate all three of these ideas at some point. The systematic theology will probably be on of the "easiest" to do on a regular basis. I'd love it if Dad can summarize some of the books he reads, that way I can get more books on here, without having to do all that reading first! :-) If Dad and I can come up with some good ideas for theological articles, we'll try to get those up too, especially since you all like that idea! :-)

If Dad contributes would you like to see it happen:
Total of 3 votes

Once a week.............3 votes (100%)
A couple times a week..............0 votes (0%)
Once a month........................0 votes (0%)
Twice a month.......................0 votes (0%)

Again, you all agree! Seems unusual. :-) Once a week sounds pretty good to me, but I'm not entirely sure what Dad will think of this idea. :-) If he does the Systematic Theology, that should work, since he has to do that once a week anyway. :-)

Thank you again for your participation! I'm glad to see that everyone seems favorable to having Dad contribute in some way. Next week, I have most of the week off, and in addition to doing some things around the house, I hope to get lots of blogging done! :-)

On another note, I apologize if you don't like my new "girly" background. :-) However, I was going to do pink with lots of hearts for Valentine's Day, but it seemed too busy, so be happy it's pink and brown and not pink and hearts! :-)

Until the next post, have a great week!

Amanda :-)

Quick Update

Hello all! Sorry for my lack of book reviews, but I hope to do some this week! (I have two days off this week, so a book review should happen. :-) )

On another note, I had a great Christmas, and I hope you did too! If you wondered, the millions of Christmas things that needed to get done, all did get done, so I am very grateful about that! (and slightly amazed :-) ) My job is going well, and at this point, I think they will keep me on as part time. It should slow down at some point, they keep telling me this, but I have still been working close to 30 hours a week. Maybe by February? Cash register work is getting a little easier, I think I finally have a better grasp on how to do checks and returns, although it is still my least favorite thing to do. (watch, I write this and today some major stressful thing will happen with a check or a return :-) ) Once things slow down, I will go back to job searching, I would appreciate your prayers as I continue to look for full time employment and make decisions.

In the blog world:

Well, obviously I hope to get a book review this week done, and at some point I hope to make a tentative plan of what books to review this year. I am also considering adding my Dad as a contributor to the blog, or just have him write some articles occasionally. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this idea! (I will probably have a poll in the near future on that)
Dad is currently teaching Systematic Theology in Sunday School, so I am considering trying to incorporate that, or have him do book reviews on the various theology books he reads, or just do some theological type posts. So, if you have any thoughts, pass them on! :-)

Also, for Christmas, I sort of persuaded my parents, to let us get the old BBC Chronicles of Narnia dvds for Christmas. I have yet to watch them, but I will probably post some reviews on those this year.

What to look for:
I am hoping to finish up Prince Caspian, Spiritual Disciplines, a Voice of the Martyrs book, Pleasing People, and Voyage of the Dawn Treader first this year. These are all books I finished last year, but have yet to review them. After that, probably the rest of Narnia will follow and then I'm not entirely sure what I'll do next. Probably some other books people are letting me borrow. :-) If you have any requests for the year, let me know.

Hope you all have a great day!

Quote of the week for December

Hello all! Here are the quotes for December. Hope you all have a wonderful New Year! I hope to be getting back into book reviews soon! (maybe some polls too!) Have a great day!

Week 1 December

This will never be a civilized country until we expend more money for books than we do for chewing gum. ~Elbert Hubbard

The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other. ~Burton Hillis

Week 2 December

You know you've read a good book when you turn the last page and feel a little as if you have lost a friend. ~Paul Sweeney

There has been only one Christmas - the rest are anniversaries. ~W.J. Cameron

Week 3 December

"Tell me what you read and I'll tell you who you are" is true enough, but I'd know you better if you told me what you reread. ~François Mauriac

This is Christmas: not the tinsel, not the giving and receiving, not even the carols, but the humble heart that receives anew the wondrous gift, the Christ. ~Frank McKibben

Week 4 December

"I would be most content if my children grew up to be the kind of people who think decorating consists mostly of building enough bookshelves." ~Anna Quindlen, "Enough Bookshelves," New York Times, 7 August 1991

When we were children we were grateful to those who filled our stockings at Christmas time. Why are we not grateful to God for filling our stockings with legs? ~G.K. Chesterton