The 160 Acre Woods

okay, this quiz was too funny not to try… and i might add, my choice actually fits me fairly well (now)

What Your Pizza Reveals

People may tell you that you have a small appetite… but you aren’t under eating. You just aren’t a pig. You aren’t particularly picky about pizza. It’s so good… how could you be? You fit in best in the Western part of the US. You favor foods that are simple and high quality. You believe that showy ingredients only serve to cover up mediocre cooking techniques. You are generous, outgoing, and considerate with your choices. You are cultured and intellectual. You should consider traveling to Vienna. The stereotype that best fits you is upper class preppy. You don’t anything too ordinary or vulgar.

Five Sacred Crossings - A Novel Approach to a reasonable faith

By Craig J. Hazen

Had I not a copy of this book and knew it was Christian, I probably wouldn’t have picked it up. I would have thought it was a new age book… I would not have guessed the mystery and wealth of information that lay between it’s pages… I wouldn’t have guessed that it was well worth the investment of a few dollars to read it!

So, what is the Five Sacred Crossings? It’s a new style of Christian fiction.. or at least new to me -> Christian apologetic Fiction. I was shocked when I started reading it that I was devouring it so fast! I wished my University professors were as interesting in their script of religion as Micheal, the professor was in here. I wish someone would have given me this book when I was trying to figure out how to defend my faith. While it is a fictitious story it contains compelling arguments to bigger questions that I think most of us have faced at one point in our Christian walk against someone who wants to “fight”. The method it uses to bring these questions to light are easier to understand, and the use of fiction helps the story stick in my head. I’m excited to see what else Harvest House has in store with their new Conversant Life series.

As Mr.Hazen writes in this opening “I hope the story will be compelling enough to entice readers to consider some thoughtful answers to real religious questions–readers who may never read an apologetics textbook…” You definitely don’t have to be a Christian to read this, in fact I would give this book to any of my non-Christian friends because it is non-threatening, as it is “just fiction”.

It is a book that will make you think.

A bit about the actual book:

Professor Michael Jernigan is a teacher called in last minute to sub for his colleague in a religious studies class. He introduces “The Five Crossings”. A sacred book he picked up in his past adventures. The tribe he received it from had views of religion and how to test it. It brings some basic questions that I think everyone should consider before they belong to any religious group, and that if you are actually reasonablely objective you’ll have the conclusion you knew all along (I think anyhow).

It discusses on whether it is testable, what religions cost, if it matches reality, and other topics. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how much information Mr. Hazen provides on these topics.

While the challenges in the classroom, and the discussion flows, there is a back story that is just as interesting in which terrorism and life are happening around them. In short, without ruining the ending of the book, Michael ultimately gets to give the greatest example of “The Five Crossings”. Okay, to put it this way, I was touched and actually cried… and I rarely ever cry when I read a book. The ending was such a shocker for me! (hehe, does that make you want to read it?)

I think my favorite quote from this book would be “Have you emptied your cups?” It will have me saying this as I take look into my Bible and other readings; am I going in with my perceived notion of people and God’s word, or have I come to learn? I loved on page 110 where the discussion covers people such as Oprah, or the author of “the Secret” who reject the realities of life and try and pretend they are the center of the universe….

No matter which way you read this book — as straight fiction, or fiction laced with truth, you’ll be touched!

** Can I add, a week later, I’m still in awe of this book… I’m thinking one of my all time favorites!

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This was part of my spring reading thing, click on the graphic to read other reviews:

Welcome to Word-Filled Wednesday!

I’ve made a few little changes this week, so please bear with me!

• I apologize for the delay a few people were having with WFW! I’m going back to using Mr. Linky. I don’t think wordpress liked all the comments, and was throwing some into my spam folder last time, so I think it will be easier to try Mr. Linky. If it doesn’t work, i’ll switch back. Anyhow, sorry about that!
• Please make sure you enter in your correct link! I love to visit and hope others visit other WFW sites.
• I made a new title and side link graphic, so feel free to use the new or the old! I hope you like them. The code is on the WFW page, as well as the little one is on my sidebar ——————>

Now onto the fun!!

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born in the time adversity. Proverbs 17:17.

This picture is from a photo shoot I did a few years back. She was sooooo cute!

The purpose of Word filled Wednesday is to share God’s word through photo’s & a verse!

download it,
read it,
print it,
share with others!

If You’d like to join us for Word Filled Wednesday,
simply add your name to Mr. Linky, post a BIBLE verse
(or feel free to add mine to your site)
and send a link back here so others can visit and have a word filled day!

(And don’t forget to leave me a comment too! And visit other blogs too! It’s nice to hear from everyone!!)

If you’d like to be added to the blogroll, please let me know, and I will add you. Please be patient, as there is only one woman behind this screen!

I’m full of surprises this week!

I’d like to hold a little draw for all my favorite friends! (Yes, that’s you ladies!) You mean so much to me and encourage me so much with your comments and participation! So everyone who enters a comment this week (whether you particpate or not in WFW) will be entered to win, all you have to do is write a comment and answer: what is your favorite Bible verse?

What’s the prize??? The Bible verse done up for WFW with a surprise gift!

Contest is open from May 7th to May 13th! Just leave your comment here!

I’ve been working on this tackle for a while now.  I finished all the kids baby books .. which is really just my photo albums … from 2003,2004, 2005, 2006 (no kid, but did a book), 2007, and i’m on top of the game with starting the book for 2008.

It’s all my digital scrapbooking & photography done.  Here are the covers of the book.  I published them and got them hardbound through blurb.com.

kinda neat eh?  Now, if I never scrapbook again, it doesn’t matter!  the kids are done!

Each book is approx 100 pages or more… yes, lots of work!!

Want this button?
“The Crazy Way We Met.”

Our eyes met across the room.. they looked up and down, and checked each other out… from then on it was love at first sight….

well, okay, that isn’t exactly how we first met… let me see if I can remember!

It was 1993.  I was in high school — seventeen to be exact.   I did a lot of work for my church at that time and worked with a group of other youth.  We had bonded and become great friends… so we often did things together.  My friend Lauria and I were suppose to go to the University campus together to watch the new “Jesus” video that had been released.  She backed out last minute and I really didn’t want to go, but there was a cute guy I knew going (he was the one who invited us)– so I decided last minute to go anyhow.  My mom –yes, my mother dropped me off at his dorm room (hey it was a church friend… ) and we met a group of other people.  He introduced me to a group of his friends (one of which was Mr. C-unbeknown to me), and we went to go watch the movie.

Well, the movie started, but the reel kept breaking, so they took a break.  My friend, Kim (guy) got up to go and talk to some of his other friends, and his friend “Craig” came and sat down beside me.  We started talking, and the movie went back on.  We kept cracking jokes, because the movie didn’t work well, but he stayed beside me the rest of the movie, and ended up driving me home (I know, I know .. taking rides from strange men home… hey it was the 90’s.. and it was a friends friend.. church thing.. I thought it was safe!… didn’t think it would change my life!).  He met my mom; we watched “The Sound of Music” til 3am and than he went home.  I didn’t actually think I’d ever see him again, until he showed up at my door 3 days later because he lost my phone number.

I thought his name was Craig for the first 2 months we saw each other (he never corrected me, or never heard me say his name, I”m not sure lol)… until I went to his work and asked for him, and found out it was GREG!!! (boy was my face red! lol)

Needless to say, we got married almost 2 years later!

We’ve had an interesting marriage.  Ups and downs.  But I think that’s how God has taught us to grow.  If we wouldn’t have changed and experienced life the way we have we wouldn’t have our wonderful family today.  I am blessed that we have been able to work through life together and I am excited to see what God has in store for us for the rest of our lives… never a dull moment!

A funny part about our wedding/buying a house was every house we looked at had a Bible verse on the wall somewhere in the house that said

Matthew 19:5,6

“‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? 6 So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.”

How funny is that?

Anyhow, some thing to giggle at:

Our wedding picture. It was 2 weeks after my 19th birthday, he was 22.

Here we are at a marriage retreat; I was pregnant with Miss H.

Here we are at my brother’s wedding (unknowingly pregnant with Master P)

And here we are on my birthday… 32nd… *gulp*

a little heavier, but happy as can be with my life full of God’s blessings, and still married to the smart, happy, sweet man of my dreams.

We definitely aren’t the same kids that we were those many years ago when we got married, but Thank God for that!  Marriage has never been easy, but I think taking the time to laugh at the funny things, and learn from our mistakes makes us stronger and better suited for each other. I think he -God let us marry young and stupid, so we would still love each other so many years from than.. Hard to believe so much has changed, and yet I know I love my husband more today, than the lustful way I loved him when we first got married (he had a cute bum.. what can I say?!).

Thanks for reading!

okay, okay I couldn’t resist the title.. sorry..

are you a pecker.. you know like a chicken.. finger pecking the keyboard or can you actually type?

Try this fun little test!

73 words

Speed test

do’t

drik

tea

at

your

keyoard

icase

you

spill

ad

loose

fuctios.

off

2

uy

a

ew

oe

toight!

have…a…great..weeked!!!

(mouse..still..works..at..least!)

I love reading, don’t you? I always find it especially fun, when there is more than just writing occurring, …some of God hidden in the words.

A Wolf Story - A Novel of Savage Conflict and Desperate Faith by James Byron Huggins

If you like Narnia! This a book for you! It’s fast paced, fast action between the rise and fall of good and evil! You’ll be at the edge of your seat, and you won’t be able to put it down!

I thought this was a the first time I’ve read a book by Huggins, but realizing I’ve read one of his earlier books called the Reckoning, which I loved! Both are worth your time and if you’re ready for the energy these books bring, you’ll be thrilled!

A Wolf Story is an allegory , similar to the style of Chronicles of Narnia. I love the fact that it is so packed with adventure and faith. I think it is a crowd please for both the seekers and the adventurers. It talks about honour, courage, and faith. It encourages young people (Aramus in this story), to do the right thing, even if it hurts. I love that through the use of animals and the growth of the characters that happen in this novel. It shows that even though people are so different, we still can find common ground through our faith. It holds so much power and action in the book, you truly will be at the edge of your seat as you turn each page! I think I finished the book in about a day and a half because it was so exhilarating!

It is magic! It is adventurous!  It is the ultimate fight between good and evil!  It’s main stage is in the forest and deals with how the animals of “the lightmaker” stay their course through the challenges of their life!  Children and adults will enjoy this book. I would love to see this book in movie form! It will be be a classic on our book self for sure! Dare I say it will be on the list for a few of my nephews this Christmas! Mr. C is buckling down to tackle this book too!

A Wolf’s story is part of my Spring Reading Thing:

Click on the image to see others!

Love is patient, love is kind…

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I hope you’ll be blessed by todays Word Filled Wednesday.
The purpose of Word filled Wednesday is to share God’s word through photo’s & a verse!

download it,
read it,
print it,
share with others!

If You’d like to join us for Word Filled Wednesday,
simply add your name to my comments, post a verse
(or feel free to add mine to your site)
and send a link back here so others can visit and have a word filled day!

Have An Awesome God Filled Day!