The event involves much fundraising, and also training to be able to walk 20 miles a day for three days. I am fairly confident that I can train and be ready to walk. The main hurdle is financial. I am unable to even come up with the registration fee as of yet, not to mention the equipment that I would need. I believe that if the LORD truly wants me on that walk this year He can make a way for it to come to pass, whether that means some generous souls endowing me to walk or me finding a part-time job. I do not know if I will be able to do the walk this year, but I know that the desire to do so fills my heart and it seems to get stronger every time I hear the commercial for the walk on the radio or see one on TV. I pray fervently that this will come to pass this year.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
A long-time dream
For several years, I think since I first became aware of the event, I have wanted to participate in the 3-Day Walk for Breast Cancer (see the3day.org) . I am not really sure why I want to do it; noone in my immediate family has ever had breast cancer. One of my aunts had it, but she died when I was very young so I have no memories of her. Noone in my immediate circle of friends has had it either, so I have no direct experience with the disease. I guess because it strikes 1 in 8 women it hits closer to home with me than most other diseases. I have long gone out of my way to buy products I see with the pink ribbon on the label that indicates that company supports cancer research. I have felt the desire to do that walk for several years, but for some reason it seems even stronger this year and I am starting to seriously think that I may truly be able to do the event this year, God willing.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
The King And Dr. Nick
The King And Dr. Nick by George Nichopoulos, M. D.
The King and Dr. Nick was written by the doctor who cared for Elvis Presley during the busy, turbulent years that were ultimately the last decade of his life. In this book the reader is given an account of the relations Dr. Nichopoulos, called Dr. Nick, had with Elvis and those who surrounded him. The account begins with the tragic ending that was the last day of Elvis' life. Dr. Nick gives an account of his dealings on that day, and also of what happened at Graceland, because his son Dean was working security there that day. He then backtracks to cover his entire history with Elvis and his entourage. Also included is the aftermath that Dr. Nick dealt with because a great many people believed that Elvis' death was drug related and that Dr. Nick had a hand in it, though it has been proven that Elvis died of natural causes.
Ultimately Elvis' is the supreme tragedy. He, one of the most gifted entertainers of our time, was forced to battle many demons of addiction and dependency, as well as genetic conditions such as high blood pressure and heart problems. His name was unnecessarily sullied during the investigation surrounding his death, and he was marked as yet another rock god who overdosed. The evidence is against that finding, though, convincing anyone with an unbiased mind that his death was of natural conditions recognized and untreated at Elvis' choice.
I have always had a great deal of respect and admiration for Elvis Presley, and that is what I see reflected in this book, written by his personal physician. I have long wondered about what caused his death, and in this book are the closest we can come to an answer.
Disclosure of materials connection: In return for this review, I was given a copy of the book by the publisher.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
The Gospel According to LOST
The Gospel According to LOST by Chris Seay
I truly loved this book. In this book, Chris Seay delves into the mysteries that surround LOST, and connects it and its main characters to Scripture. As anyone who has seen the series knows, Lost is truly more than just a television show. It is a drama about a group of crash survivors on an island, yes, but it also contains rich layers of symbolism and theories. It has created a culture in itself, connecting people of all races and backgrounds.
In The Gospel According to LOST Chris Seay takes many of the main characters, and names them the patron saints of certain areas, e.g., Jack Shephard: Patron Saint of Wounded Healers. He dissects the characters, discussing many events from the show, their relevance to the story as a whole and the mysteries surrounding each one. He also discusses the character arcs that each one follows as the five seasons of the show have unfolded.
This book is a great book for anyone who enjoys Lost, especially for Christians and students of the Bible. Each character that is covered is not only dealt with in the context of the show and the island, but also in a Biblical context. Through this we can see ourselves in each one, giving us the hope that though we are (possibly) as flawed as this ragged band of castaways and Others, we, too, can be saved. Also included with this book are portraits of those Seay names patron saints, which themselves are worth the price of the book. As we wait anxiously for the final season of Lost, this book is a great companion.
Disclosure of materials connection: In return for this review, I have been given a copy of the book by the publisher.
In The Gospel According to LOST Chris Seay takes many of the main characters, and names them the patron saints of certain areas, e.g., Jack Shephard: Patron Saint of Wounded Healers. He dissects the characters, discussing many events from the show, their relevance to the story as a whole and the mysteries surrounding each one. He also discusses the character arcs that each one follows as the five seasons of the show have unfolded.
This book is a great book for anyone who enjoys Lost, especially for Christians and students of the Bible. Each character that is covered is not only dealt with in the context of the show and the island, but also in a Biblical context. Through this we can see ourselves in each one, giving us the hope that though we are (possibly) as flawed as this ragged band of castaways and Others, we, too, can be saved. Also included with this book are portraits of those Seay names patron saints, which themselves are worth the price of the book. As we wait anxiously for the final season of Lost, this book is a great companion.
Disclosure of materials connection: In return for this review, I have been given a copy of the book by the publisher.
Monday, December 7, 2009
The White Horse King
The White Horse King by Benjamin Merkle
The White Horse King is a compelling and interesting book about the only English monarch ever to be titled great: King Alfred the Great. Alfred was a great leader and a wise and learned man. Under his leadership the English people would band together to fight and defeat the Viking raiders who were constantly attacking the island of Great Britain.
Alfred was born in the mid-ninth century in Wantage, Wessex, England. His father was the king of Wessex. Alfred was by no means the heir to his father's throne, having several older, battle-hardened brothers. However all those in line ahead of him died untimely deaths, either in battle or due to illness, so that Alfred was left on the throne.
Alfred became a great scholar before he took the throne, and during his reign, England experienced a revival of learning, particularly Christian learning. Alfred expected those in leadership in his kingdom to learn to read and write at least their own language. He codified a system of laws that ended some of the feuding and revenge killings that had been epidemic in his kingdom. Alfred's reign also signaled a revival of Christian worship.
Alfred was also a very pious and godly leader, even going to the point of sponsoring in baptism one of his chief Viking opponents, Guthrum. However his piety by no means meant he was a weak opponent to face in battle. He stood steadfastly against those Viking raiders who would invade the island of Great Britain and pillage ruthlessly, leaving destruction in their wake. In so doing he caused them to go back to their homelands and raid somewhere else.
Alfred was the first king to unite all the Anglo-Saxons into one kingdom. His grandson would become the first to rule over the entire island of Britain. Merkle writes, "England, and the many nations descended from her, still have Alfred to thank for a substantial portion of the heritage and freedoms that they enjoy today. The title 'Alfred the Great,' so strangely offensive to the modern ear, was well deserved by the Anglo-Saxon warrior-king. Of course these words of unreserved praise are all in need of much qualification. Alfred was, after all, a mere mortal and certainly had his fair share of foibles. Nevertheless, he was a fierce warrior, a devout Christian ever thirsting for wisdom, deeply committed to justice, a lover of mercy, and a king who gave himself for his people. He was practically a myth and a much-needed reality. He was the king of the Whitehorse--Alfred the Great."
Disclosure of materials connection: In return for this review, I was given a copy of the book by the publisher.
Alfred was born in the mid-ninth century in Wantage, Wessex, England. His father was the king of Wessex. Alfred was by no means the heir to his father's throne, having several older, battle-hardened brothers. However all those in line ahead of him died untimely deaths, either in battle or due to illness, so that Alfred was left on the throne.
Alfred became a great scholar before he took the throne, and during his reign, England experienced a revival of learning, particularly Christian learning. Alfred expected those in leadership in his kingdom to learn to read and write at least their own language. He codified a system of laws that ended some of the feuding and revenge killings that had been epidemic in his kingdom. Alfred's reign also signaled a revival of Christian worship.
Alfred was also a very pious and godly leader, even going to the point of sponsoring in baptism one of his chief Viking opponents, Guthrum. However his piety by no means meant he was a weak opponent to face in battle. He stood steadfastly against those Viking raiders who would invade the island of Great Britain and pillage ruthlessly, leaving destruction in their wake. In so doing he caused them to go back to their homelands and raid somewhere else.
Alfred was the first king to unite all the Anglo-Saxons into one kingdom. His grandson would become the first to rule over the entire island of Britain. Merkle writes, "England, and the many nations descended from her, still have Alfred to thank for a substantial portion of the heritage and freedoms that they enjoy today. The title 'Alfred the Great,' so strangely offensive to the modern ear, was well deserved by the Anglo-Saxon warrior-king. Of course these words of unreserved praise are all in need of much qualification. Alfred was, after all, a mere mortal and certainly had his fair share of foibles. Nevertheless, he was a fierce warrior, a devout Christian ever thirsting for wisdom, deeply committed to justice, a lover of mercy, and a king who gave himself for his people. He was practically a myth and a much-needed reality. He was the king of the Whitehorse--Alfred the Great."
Disclosure of materials connection: In return for this review, I was given a copy of the book by the publisher.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Read-a-thon update 2
Since my last post I read Maggie's Miracle, Sarah's Song, and Hannah's Hope, by Karen Kingsbury. The entire collection, the four books I have read, are 620 pages.
Read-a-thon update
Since my first post I read 5 psalms, 1 chapter of Proverbs, 4 chapters of the Gospel of Luke, and the books of Haggai and Zechariah. I also read Gideon's Gift by Karen Kingsbury.
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