Chat Pack Vlog: Sounds

                          

I thought I'd do something different with my blog this week.  How about a vlog every day?              

                       What is your favorite loud sound?

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Scariest Halloween Memory

The only thing I ever liked about Halloween when I was a kid is that I got lots of candy.  Dressing in a costume was sorta fun, but it was really all about the candy. 

In all honesty, I have always been fearful of people in costumes.  Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny?  Forget about it!  Our family had several shoe stores located at malls when I was young, and when I saw Santa walk past our storefront to go on his break, I would make sure I was waaaay at the back of the store, just in case he decided to come in to browse for a pair of shoes.

So you can see why Halloween would be all about the candy for me.  It became more like a reward of survival for trudging out into the dark night with all those maniacal people who wanted to jump out and scare a poor, defenseless girl just to get a laugh.

In hearing the buzz around the blog community about Halloween movies and candy and parties, I remembered the scariest Halloween memory I have.  Just to think of it now, it still ticks me off.

I don't remember how old I was.  Maybe 12 or 13.  I was probably in junior high at the time.  Halloween was approaching, and for some reason our Baptist church put on a haunted house every year.  (I really don't know why.)  Anyways... while I was in band practice, a couple of people dressed like ghouls opened the classroom door and came in.  They started wandering around the room and getting in people's faces as some sort of promotion to go out to the haunted house.

I don't recall how close one of those costumed people got to me, but I was utterly and thoroughly FREAKED OUT!  I was actually angry.  I felt angry at whoever let them come into the classroom.  I was angry at my band director for not kicking them out for interrupting our band practice.  I was stinkin' mad that our church even had a haunted house.

You have no idea what a relief it was when they finally discontinued putting on that haunted house.  It's possible it was the very next year because I don't remember it after that time.

What's your scariest memory?  Do costumes bother anyone else?

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The One Year Book of Discovering Jesus in the Old Testament

The One Year Book of Discovering Jesus in the Old Testament by Nancy Guthrie

The "One Year" devotionals are written for the busy person who wants to develop a daily habit of growing in their relationship with the Lord.  This particular 365-day devotional is meant to take you through the Old Testament day by day, showing you the pictures that were meant to point us to Jesus Christ in the New Testament. 

When I was given the opportunity to review this book, I jumped on it because I enjoy seeing the symbolism that represents Christ in the Old Testament.  Some of the entries were of things I had already known, but there were plenty that were new to me.

The devotional is created in a way that you can simply start on any day of the year.  The reading covers one page, and there is a brief written prayer at the bottom concerning the aspect of Christ that was focused on in the devotion.  It would take someone about 5 minutes to sit and read the devotional for the day, thus meeting the criteria of fitting into a person's busy schedule.

The readings are sweet and something to carry in your thoughts through the day as you contemplate the character and work of the Lord Jesus.  However, there is an aspect of the devotional that I was a little disappointed with.  Although there are scripture references sprinkled throughout each devotion, including at least one scripture quoted within the text, I would expect there to be a main scripture reading provided at the heading of each day.  There is not. 

I would suggest using this devotional in addition to a daily Bible reading.  I believe it would enhance a quiet time.

Overall I would give this book 4 stars for good content that's easy to understand and for its use as a wonderful companion to any daily quiet time.

I wish to thank Tyndale House Publishers for providing me with a free review copy of this book.  I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

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What's On Your Nightstand?

 

In the last couple weeks I've finished reading...

Fiction:

• Masquerade by Nancy Moser (see my review)
• Love's First Bloom by Delia Parr  (see my review)
• The Telling by Beverly Lewis (This was an audiobook that I finally finished after about a month.)
• Intervention by Terri Blackstock (I loved this book.  Fast paced reading and suspense.)

Christian Living:

• Radical Womanhood by Carolyn McCulley

I am currently reading...

Fiction:

• In My Father's House by Bodie Thoene

Christian Living:

• Changed Into His Image by Jim Berg (for a Bible study group)
• The Fear Factor by Wayne Mack (for a Bible study)
• The Holiness of God by R.C. Sproul (reading along with Tim Challies classics)

So what's on your nightstand?  Are you reading anything good right now that you can recommend?

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Love's First Bloom by Delia Parr

Book Review:

Love's First Bloom by Delia Parr

Ruth Livingstone, the daughter of a minister and a woman of faith, flees town and resumes a fake name when her father is accused of murdering a prostitute.  Assuming the name Widow Ruth Malloy, her father has also entrusted her with the care of a young child who must be protected. 

Ruth struggles with keeping her secret, but she believes she can follow through with the plan for a short while for the sake of the child because she knows her father will be soon acquitted and then send for her to return home.  Although, Ruth never anticipates the tragedy that will change the plan drastically.

The book was good, although not a serious page-turner for me.  I like that it had some mystery and some romance.  I enjoyed the character of Ruth.  She was very likable.  It was touching to watch her develop her relationship with the little girl, as well as her relationship with Jake.  She went back and forth between trusting and distrusting him, and I wasn't sure how the lies and secrets were going to be resolved between them.

I have not read other books by Delia Parr prior to this, but I like her style and content.  I appreciate that her characters have faith in God, and that they view their life circumstances through the lens of their relationship with God.  It makes this historical fiction stand out from other books in this genre, and I like that.

I wish to thank Bethany House Publishers for providing me with a free review copy of this book.  I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

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