Walking in Your Own Shoes

Just a quick note tonight.

I just learned that this new book by Robert A. Schuller (the younger one)
is on the very TOP of Amazon's Christian Book List.

Take a look. Walking in Your Own Shoes.

The examples he gave today at the Hour of Power were astounding and simple.

Of course, we are each unique individuals and that is the key to discerning what God wants for your life path. I put it on my Christmas wish lis
t.

Oh my I just read something FUNNY

Book was written by Jane Wagner.

Play was performed by Lily Tomlin.

Title: Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe.

Perspective of the quintessential "Bag Lady".

How did I miss this when it first came out?

Rarely do I enjoy reading a play.

But this was like being inside the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy.

Find a copy and enjoy!

Poems

Well, I have been very busy these days and not much book reading has been done.

That is not to say I have not been READING!

Just other things. Like writing. And even teaching Vacation Bible School!

I invite you to go to Poetry.com to vote or comment on this poem:
Look for the author name bessken.

Adirondack Pond

Stillness of pond belies it treasures.

Forest of fragrant firs

Hides you from path.

Emerging transparent beauty,

Fragile mystery before me.

One ephemeral foggy morning

Hundreds of you arise from swampy waters.

In morning mist I see you climbing.

Tenuous stem-clasping steps.

Each one brings you closer.

Closer to the top where you stop,

Clinging tightly with every foot.

Transforming like miracles

From creatures of water into creatures of air.

Brilliant blues and shimmering greens

Grace your delicate wings.

As lovely a damsel as ever did fly

Go now, to eat and mate and die.

Or be eaten never knowing why,

Eternal Damselfly.

Copyright ©2007 Donna Paul Bessken

Thanks. My next writing will be related to the book in the yellow box to your right.

Touching Your Lifethread, by Patricia Berliner, Ph.D.

Thanks for reading.

A Species of Eternity

A Species of Eternity by Joseph Kastner
is a great read for history buffs or biologists or birdwatchers!
Imagine having your name given to a plant or animal species because you were the first person to see it or describe it!

That is the kind of immortality many of the early colonial naturalists have earned as they explored the NEW WORLD.

People like Bartram, Audubon, Cuthbertson, Wilson, and many others, including Lewis and Clark had sponsors from wealthy European clients.

Benjamin Franklin is revered within the name of a southern tree-

Franklinia.

The tree was rare in the 1700's and may have been saved by the Bartrams who brought seeds into gardens to cultivate and observe them. Today these trees are ornamentals and they are all from that historic stock. To the best of our knowledge the trees do not exist in the wild anymore.

Joseph Kastner takes the reader on a well-researched journey which includes vivid descriptions taken from the field notes of many of these great naturalists.

The humor and honor among naturalists is refreshing and Kastner presents these people as individuals with each their own character.

When some Europeans doubted the veracity of some of the claims coming from this colony, Thomas Jefferson sent a full grown MOOSE to Europe to prove his case that these animals are huge and very real!

I thoroughly enjoyed travelling with these historic explorers through their stilted language and formalities. Wilson's saga of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker is as touching as it is tragic.

Earth in the Balance

Earth in the Balance.
Yes, Al Gore did write that book. It sounds pedantic as he often does. But it gives background for this year's Oscar winning documentary An Inconvenient Truth. If you have not read it yet, you can listen to it as an audiobook.

The book was written in 1992, so for many people it seems almost ancient history, irrelevant. But my friends, if we cannot learn from our own history are we not doomed to repeat our errors over and over again?

Look and Read and Listen. It matters not whether you like the politics or not. What matters is how you choose to live your everyday life to reduce your impact on this planet which we share.

Tell your representatives and senators about how important it is for them to take proactive steps to mitigate the effects of Global Warming. Here is one way to tell them without taking too much of your time today: http://www.algore.com/index-splash.html

On March 21, 2007, Al Gore plans to deliver these messages to Congress. I strongly encourage you to send your message and tell your friends about it too.

My sponsor today is a new site about Birds.

Lenten Reading

If you are not a Christian, Lent may be baffling.

Even for some Christians it is a profound season.

In the old days, people spoke of "giving up something for Lent". The idea was to give up something sinful or evil. Later it became... let's use these 40 days to go on a diet and maybe give up dessert or smoking or candy and give the money we saved to the poor.

Many people today look at Lent as a time to draw closer to God, to atone for sins, to strive for enlightenment. A time of study and introspection.

My Lenten reading this year is Original Blessing by Matthew Fox. Perhaps you have heard of it. It is an alternative view of the theology of creation. Proposing that instead of Original Sin, we are born with Original Blessing.

The book is elemental to understanding Creation Spirituality. Matthew Fox refers to this as a more ecologically oriented doctrine than the original sin perspective.

Interesting that Matthew Fox was a Dominican priest and is now an Episcopalian priest because his views went beyond what was acceptable to Dominicans.

The four paths of Creation Spirituality do reflect the seasons and are worthy reflection for this season. I have attended some CS workshops and seen some videos but I have never read this basic text, so in these next few weeks I shall learn and read and reflect some more.

In what way will you honor this Lenten season? Fasting? Meditation? Service?

someone asked me what eccelesiastes is

someone asked me what Ecclesiastes is

So, I guess the first thing to identify is that it is a book of the Bible. It is in the Old Testament. The reference in the previous post is to Chapter 4 verses 9 and 10. It says:

"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work;
If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!"

So, my suggestion is to read and reflect. I have not read the story of the 47 Beavers yet but I am sure there is a lot of teamwork involved.

Creator Of Veggietales Tells His Own Tale

Somehow I received a Veggie Tales poster in the mail the other day.

It is precious.

I do not NEED a Veggie Tales poster any more than I need more dust under my desk!

But since it arrived, I decided to read up on the charming little Veggies.

Here is an article I found about the guy who created the series.

I found it interesting so here I share it.

"In 1990, 24-year-old computer animator Phil Vischer sat down to create characters that could teach Christian values to kids in a delightfully weird way. Hence, a tomato named Bob and a cucumber named Larry were born. VeggieTales would revolutionize Christian filmmaking, selling more than 50 million videos and placing Phil's faith-filled stories in one in three American households with young children.

In Me, Myself & Bob (Nelson Books), currently in bookstores, Phil Vischer, founder of Big Idea and creator of "VeggieTales," gives a behind-the-scenes look at his journey with the very loveable veggies.
This is a story of dreaming big and working hard, of success and failure, of shouted questions and whispered answers. With trademark wit and heart, Phil shares an amazing story that shows how God can use failures and the death of a dream to point us toward true success."Larry was the loveable goofball-the guy who entertains your kids at a birthday party. But Bob had ambition. The first words that ever came out of his mouth were, in fact, 'I have a dream.' Bob, the tomato, was a dreamer. He wanted to change the world. Like me."

Now, the man who made the vegetables talk has written a new picture book that may make your heart sing. After his bankruptcy, Phil is no longer heading Veggie Tales and has started fresh with a new company called Jellyfish Labs.

His new book, 47 Beavers on the Big, Blue Sea, is a children's picture book that begs to be read again and again. When 47 Beavers on the Big, Blue Sea find themselves lost on the great deep, obstacles and assorted adventures abound.

The aquatic critters also discover the true meaning of Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 and that things just go better when they work together.

The book is accompanied by a sing-along CD and children and adults may find themselves singing its silly song long after the story is over.

Filled with riotous retro art, Vischer's imaginative tale on the importance of cooperation through the ebb and flow of life is great for reading aloud and sharing at bedtime.

Look for 47 Beavers on the Big, Blue Sea at your bookstore this spring.

The VeggieTales stars may be the most famous vegetables you'll ever eat.

By: Stacey Moore

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

http://www.articlesdashby.com

Submit Articles to ArticlesDashby Directory - Article submission and content you can use for free at ArticleDashboard.com

Great Deals on Veggie Tales Products Here Just enter Veggie Tales in the search box to see them

Was Valentine a Revolutionary?

Now there is a question for the ages!

You see

the origins of Valentine's Day can be traced back to the days of the

Roman Empire.

Not many people think of it often though.

We tend to think of the romantic aspects of the day.

But back then this brave priest quietly married couples

EVEN THOUGH IT WAS AGAINST THE LAW FOR SOLDIERS TO MARRY!

As a consequence, Valentine, the priest, was thrown into prison.

He was to be executed on FEBRUARY 14, 270

It was what happened IN Prison that we cherish today.

Valentine... once a radical priest...

later considered a saint...

showed tenderness and care for the jailer's blind daughter.

The message he left for her before his execution was

"FROM YOUR VALENTINE"

I know this sounds like it MUST be a Joke.

But it is legendary history for sure!

And the card companies Love it even unto today

Remembering a Great and Peaceful Man

REMEMBERING a Great and Peaceful Man

The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in
moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. —Martin Luther King, Jr.

In 1964, Martin Luther King, Jr received the Nobel Peace Prize for his non-violent Civil Rights activism in the USA. In 1968 he was assassinated. A tragic loss.

Learn more about him and his life and his Dream.

Do something today to demonstrate that his Dream is yours also.

Be non-violent.

Historical Romance Novel

Romance Novels I generally avoid. But the one I read this weekend had some good history about a place and time of interest to me.


I had agreed to stay off the computer during most of the NEW YEARS weekend, so when a friend suggested this novel I took a look at it.


Joanna is a Scholastic Book in the Sunfire Series. It was written by Jane Claypool Miner and published in 1987. It is written in the overly dramatic style of most romance novels.


Think.

What emotions are likely to be part of the life of a 15 year old girl away from home for the first time?

Go ahead the think for a moment. I will doodle while you make your list.


Now. Think 1835.

What changes in your list?

Certainly communication with the family is a bit more challenging. Patience is needed while you WAIT for a possible response to a letter.

What about transportation?
What else is happening in the US in this time period before the Civil War? Before the National Road was built across the Allegheny Mountains and the Ohio Valley was still considered western frontier?

That helps put the story in perspective.

Now. Think Lowell, Massachusetts.
Do you remember what is there?
It is now Lowell National Historic Site.
But do you remember why? Look here to gain that perspective.


Proceeding with the basic story... Joanna is a country girl who goes to Lowell bystagecoach to find a job at the textile mills. She will live at a boarding housewith about a dozen other Lowell girls who also work at the mills. There are interpersonal mini-dramas with the other boarders throughout. The social and political issues of the time regarding Irish immigrants and early union organizing provide interesting subplots.
Of course there are two love interests for Joanna: The boy back home who wentoff to the adventures of life at sea and the son of the mill owner with his promising college education and career. She experiences just about every emotion you can imagine that a 15 year old is likely to encounter and then some.
The tension of making all these decisions is a lot for a teenager to carry then and now.
The book gave some personality to the Lowell Massachusets scene which I have long wanted to visit.
Though it was entertaining,and historically sound,I doubt if I will read another romance for a long while.