An Unlikely Lesson
I just finished reading “The Other Boleyn Girl,” and as strange as it sounds my other Boleyn girl experience has caused me to re-think my opinions on another book, “The DaVinci Code.”
The DaVinci Code is a pretty controversial book in the Christian faith with many Christians boycotting the book (and subsequent movie) because the plot centers around Jesus having a wife and a child. These claims about Jesus are of course not true, so some Christians took the book as heresy and were (rightly so) concerned that non-Christians or those immature in their faith would be confused by comparing Dan Brown’s story to the truth of the Bible. I, personally, felt inadequate condemning a book for reasons that I had only heard about through the media or other people, so I made the decision to read the book.
As it turns out, I thoroughly enjoyed the book, sometimes reading two or three hours a night. (The mystery that is the main plot made it hard to put down.) Also, I was not persuaded to believe any of the theories about Jesus having a secret wife and child.
Where The Other Boleyn Girl is relevant is that, like DaVinci Code, the book takes some known facts and embellishes the story with made-up content. In Da Vinci Code, I was able to discern between what was truth and what was fiction because I know what the truth is. I struggled with truth in Other Boleyn Girl because I’m not a history scholar and I have very limited knowledge of this period in history. Therefore, I had to trust that when the author said King Henry and Mary Boleyn had a daughter and son, that she’s telling the truth because without researching it, I really don’t know. Similarly, a person without substantial prior knowledge about Jesus might feel the same about DaVinci Code and place too much trust in the “story.”
Even with this new realization, I don’t regret my decision to read the DaVinci Code. I feel that a person who is not sure who Jesus is would be turned off by someone who condemned the book without having reading it and might be more open to listening to someone who wasn’t afraid to read it.
Manage the Country’s Money Like You Manage Your Own
After watching Obama and McCain discuss in Friday’s debate how they would solve the country’s “economy crisis” I had this thought: the nation’s budget woes could be solved just by treating it like we would a budget crisis at home. McCain said he’d make deep, sweeping cuts in all government agencies, save the military and veterans. Obama wants to make some cuts in some departments but rather wanted to make long-range budget improvements by investing in new fuels, better healthcare, etc. that would result in savings in the long-run.
What would actually work, and what I would put into practice if facing a budget crisis in my home, is a combination of the two. I would analyze where I was “wasting” money and reduce or eliminate those things from my spending (McCain’s plan). With the money I was saving by eliminating wasteful spending, I’d contribute a portion into a savings account, a part towards my debt, and invest a part towards long-range, money-saving improvements to my home, vehicles, and other assets (Obama’s plan).
Sounds simple enough. Maybe even too simple. The real issue is agreeing on what is “wasteful.” For that, there’s no easy answer. What is wasteful to one will be viewed as important and beneficial to another. In my personal life, I’d have to rely on God’s direction to help me decipher what is useful spending and what is not. I pray that whoever becomes president does the same.
Ordering Sarah Palin for the Last Time
Since I found the original Sarah Palin biography in the store but needed to order something in order to get free shipping on my co-worker’s book, I decided to order the other Sarah Palin book, Sarah Palin: A New Kind of Leader.
Book description:
Alaska Governor Sarah Palin s nomination as vice presidential candidate by John McCain not only changed the landscape of the current election, but also marked a shift in leadership style across our country. Exploring themes from her career in politics, her life as a hockey mom, and her strongly held Christian Faith, this book explores the leadership principles that made Palin successful.
If good, this book may have actual life applications which I like. But also, I believe this presidential race is a moment in time that I want to fully appreciate. One way to do that is to collect artifacts — key newspaper articles, books, even this photo of a sign in my town advertising Sarah Palin glasses. I imagine that decades from now, when I’m spending my days sitting in a rocking chair reflecting on my life, I’d like to have this stuff as a reminder of a key moment in U.S. history and as mementos to share with the next generation.
Frank Caliendo Impressions
A co-worker sent me this video on Facebook and it’s just hilarious!!
Fireproof
I got an email today from a friend reminding me that the movie “Fireproof” comes out this weekend. I first heard about this movie on the Christian radio station a few weeks ago and a quote in the advertisement stuck with me. It was something like this:
“Fireproof doesn’t mean you won’t have fires. It means you’ll be ready when you do. “
Under Attack
Ever since I read “This Present Darkness” in high school, spiritual warfare has been more real and more visual for me. In my mind I “see” the physical struggle and the conversations between angels and demons, just as described in the book. (If you haven’t read it, I recommend it. I’m considering reading it again soon.)
By the time I read the book, the summer before my senior year, I had already experienced the type of battle described in the book and witnessed the direct influence of Satan on the people around me. Since then, I’ve had several occasions where I start to move in a certain direction and the Holy Spirit convicts me and I step back and can clearly identify the devil trying to lead me to do the wrong thing. How frustrating! Thankfully, the Holy Spirit has helped me recognized what is going on, and together we put a stop to it. This may sound silly to some, but the phrase I’ve heard my mom use when discussing such matters is “Get thee behind me Satan.” So in these situations, I say something like that and sing a song of praise in my heart and Satan flees.
Lately though, he’s been relentless. He’ll get behind me but peer over my shoulder. I have witnessed him use a conglomeration of circumstances lately to really bring me down about by abilities as a wife, a mom, a child of God, an employee, a friend … you name it and I’ve been told by Satan that I’m not worthy of these responsibilities. He’s tempted me to make bad decisions and to give in to worldly desires rather than follow what I know to be right. This has been very frustrating and down right annoying, to attack someone’s weaknesses at a particularly weak moment. But the good news is that I’m not going to give in to him. He will not win. This too shall pass and I am going to make it through this more victorious than he! He only attacks those who are a threat to him, so I’ll take that as a compliment.
“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” — Romans 8:38-39
Palin Book Update: Got it!
I bought the Sarah Palin book off the shelf at the bookstore today, so I’ll be canceling my amazon order. I appreciate Johnny’s suggestion about ordering a book on OCD. I’ll take that under advisement.
I also want to respond to Lisa’s suggestion about getting a Kindle. This is the one scenario where I can see a Kindle being useful. I’m just not ready to let go of paper. And since Johnny has diagnosed me as OCD, it would be no surprise then that even if I had bought it on the Kindle I’d still want and be searching for a paper copy.
Palin Book Update
I got this message from Amazon today:
We now have delivery date(s) for the order you placed on September 17 2008 11:35 PDT (Order# 002-7474915-9355410):
Kaylene Johnson (Author) “Sarah: How a Hockey Mom Turned the
Political Establishment Upside Down” [Paperback]
Estimated arrival date: 11/13/2008 – 11/19/2008
I’m thinking I’ll try to find it in the bookstore this weekend and if successful will cancel my order once again. The biggest inconvenience of that is actually not making a physical trip to the bookstore or even paying regular price for the book but having to come up with another book to order from Amazon so I still get free shipping on David’s book.
Suggestions?
