Archive by Author | Sherry

Gleaned from the Saturday Review and Other Places

Thanks to Carrie for pointing me to this review of Praying for Strangers by River Jordan. I’m intrigued by the idea of this book about an author who decides to choose one stranger to pray for each day. My first thought after reading about Ms. Jordan’s resolution was, “I could do that!” Then, I read at her blog that Ms. Jordan not only prays for a stranger each day, but she also often feels led to tell the person that she will be praying and asks for prayer requests. That’s a little more intimidating. See, I’m really rather shy and reserved. The idea of going up to a complete stranger and telling them that I’ll be praying for them is, well, actually terrifying. So I’ve been praying for a stranger each day for the past three days, but I haven’t told anyone about it, especially not the person I prayed for, until I wrote this post.

I also downloaded the book for my Kindle and started reading it today. I’m intrigued, and I can see the benefit to me and to others of actually talking, getting my stranger’s name, and telling the person that I’ll be praying for him or her. I’m just not sure I have enough courage to do it. Maybe in the pages of Ms. Jordan’s book, I’ll find the gumption and unselfishness to move me to talk to strangers. Maybe I’ll just continue to talk to God about the people He brings across my path. Either way I’m expecting God to work through this prayer thing, even though I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t really understand how or why prayer works.

On another note, I found a few other books at Borders and at Barnes and Noble that I’d like to read soon. I didn’t buy anything, but I’ll be looking for these books at the library soon:

Decision Points by George W. Bush. I’m a Bush fangirl, and I’ve been meaning to read his book. But I sort of forgot about it, so I was happy to be reminded whe I saw it in the bookstore.
Truman by David McCullough. Another president, another biography by the author of John Adams. I expect to enjoy learning more about Mr. Truman when I get around to this one.
The Last Greatest Magician in the World: Howard Thurston versus Houdini & the Battles of the American Wizards by Jim Steinmeyer. I heard the author of this book talking about Thurston and Houdini on NPR, and I thought then that I would like to read the book. However, it’s another one I had forgotten until I saw it displayed in the bookstore.
Fortunate Sons: The 120 Chinese Boys Who Came to America, Went to School, and Revolutionized an Ancient Civilization by Leil Leibovitz and Matthew Miller. “In 1872, under the auspices of the Chinese Educational Mission, 120 Chinese boys were sent to the U.S. to attend elite colleges, absorb the best this mysterious country could offer, and return to enrich China with their experiences and knowledge.” (Booklist) Why does this subject sound so fascinating to me?
The First Clash: The Miraculous Greek Victory at Marathon and Its Impact on Western Civilization by Jim Lacey. And this one, too?

Right now, in addition to the prayer book, I’m reading a book about Louisa and John Quincy Adams called Cannibals of the Heart: A Personal Biography of Louisa Catherine and John Quincy Adams. The book is annoying me in some ways because the author, Jim Shepherd, seems to have no sympathy for John Quincy Adams at all. In fact, his portrayal of JQA makes one wonder how in the world he ever would have managed to get a job as local dogcatcher much less world famous diplomat, senator, U.S. president, and legislator. Mr. Shepherd likes Louisa a lot more and tries to induce his readers to feel sorry for her and her lot as an early nineteenth century woman, enslaved and dominated by the men in her life, especially the irascible Mr. Adams. I’m sure she was in a pitiable state and one at which I would have chafed, but Mr. Shepherd’s obvious and heavy-handed partisanship makes me want to take JQA’s side just to be contrary. Still, I’m finding the life story of of this Washington power couple to be full of interest and excitement, not to mention historical significance. I’ll be writing more about the Adams family soon, I’m sure.

I will finish my posts on the 40 Inspirational Classics for Lent, too. I’ve been in the midst of a blogging block or dry spell or something the past few days, so my 40 Classics posts may go past Easter and into the time of feasting after Easter. But that’s OK with me.

Sunday Salon: Books Read in March, 2011

Apr2

First of all, announcing: The National Homeschool Book Award Homeschoolers will vote for one of four nominees to win the award in the inaugural year of this children’s book award.

Adult Fiction
She Walks in Beauty by Siri Mitchell. Semicolon review here.
The Double Comfort Safari Club by Alexander McCall Smith. I’m just getting around to this latest in Mr. McCall Smith’s series about traditionally built lady detective Precious Ramotswe and her assistant Mma Makutsi. I actually think this series, contrary to typical expectations, gets better with each installment. The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series is comfort food for traditional readers. There’s a new book in the series just out this month: The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party.
Talk of the Town by Lisa Wingate. The accented dialog in this Texas chick-lit novel about a reality TV producer who finds true reality in the small town of Daily, Texas was a bit overdone, but the story was readable and entertaining. Read on my Kindle.
After the Leaves Fall by Nicole Baart. Also a Kindle read. Review will be forthcoming.

Young adult and children’s fiction
Taking Off by Jenny Moss. Set in Houston in 1986, the time of the space shuttle Challenger crash. I remember these events, so how could I not become absorbed in this coming-of-age novel about a girl and her dream and her admiration for Christa McAuliffe?
Trash by Andy Mulligan. Excellent mystery/action/adventure story about poor garbage picker children living next to the trash dump in the Philippines who find a valuable treasure in the garbage. Resilience and courage were the hallmarks of the young protagonists in this thriller for kids.
Sent (The Missing: Book 2) by Margaret Peterson Haddix. I had to read this next book in Haddix’s The Missing series since it deals with the two princes in the Tower and Richard III. I’m still with Josephine Tey and the Richard defenders, but Haddix’s take on the story was enjoyable anyway.
Bitter Melon by Cara Chow. Semicolon review here.
Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver. I read this one because my teens have been reading this book and a newer one by this author. I found it disturbing because of the very unlikeable characters and the toxically self-absorbed teen culture that is described. I think Ms. Oliver probably describes the teen/high school world quite accurately; it’s just a world that I’m sorry that anyone has to inhabit. Even in a book. Read more about the book itself, rather than my reaction to it at Reading Rants, Rhapsody in Books or Life With Books. Many other reviews are only a Google search away.
Delirium by Lauren Oliver. Of the two by this author, I liked this dystopian novel the best. Very sad.

Nonfiction
The Great Silence: Britain from the Shadow of the First World War to the Dawn of the Jazz Age by Juliet Nicolson. Semicolon review here.
Orthodoxy by G.K. Chesterton. Semicolon review here.
Crazy Love by Francis Chan. Semicolon thoughts here.
What Good Is God? by Philip Yancey. The next book for the Faith ‘n Fiction Roundtable, to be discussed at the end of April.
Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Prophet, Martyr, Spy by Eric Metaxis. Excellent. One of the best nonfiction biographies I’ve read in a good while. After having finished the book and re-read the criticism, I can say that I think this bit of fault-finding is both unwarranted and unfair. Metaxis did a good job with writing about a complex man, and I found myself both admiring and questioning Bonhoeffer’s life and decisions. That’s a good balance.

Poetry of Christina Rossetti

Apr1

40 Inspirational Classics for Lent

I’ve posted several poems by Ms. Rossetti in the course of writing this blog—because I like her deceptively simple poetry.

In the Bleak Midwinter, lyrics by Christina Rossetti.
Summer by Christina Rossetti.
Love Came Down at Christmas, another Christmas carol by Christina Rossetti.
An End by Christina Rossetti: “Love, strong as Death, is dead.”
Beneath Thy Cross by Christina Rossetti.
A Better Resurrection by Christina Rossetti.
A Birthday by Christina Rossetti: “My heart is like a singing bird.”

And here’s yet another, entitled Up-hill:

Does the road wind up-hill all the way?
Â Yes, to the very end.
Will the dayâ€™s journey take the whole long day?
Â From morn to night, my friend.

But is there for the night a resting-place?
Â A roof for when the slow dark hours begin.
May not the darkness hide it from my face?
Â You cannot miss that inn.

Shall I meet other wayfarers at night?
Â Those who have gone before.
Then must I knock or call when just in sight?
Â They will not keep you standing at that door.

Shall I find comfort, travel-sore and weak?
Â Of labour you shall find the sum.
Will there be beds for me and all who seek?
Â Yes, beds for all who come.

Poems for Fools

Apr1

Happy April Fools’ Day! Have you been fooled yet? Or fooled anyone? What’s the best April Fools’ joke you ever witnessed or experienced?

Today is also the first day of National Poetry Month, a celebration that I enforce upon the poor hapless souls here at Semicolon family every year, whether they like it or not. I choose to believe that secretly they do, like it, that is.

I like poetry. Not all poetry, but lots of poetry. My younger children like poetry, too. They memorize poetry. We had a Poet-Tea a couple of weeks ago where we read poems out loud, and drank tea, and a lovely time was had by all. (Betsy-Bee had the idea of the Poet-Tea, and she and Z-baby planned and catered it all.)

My older children (teens and up) also love poetry, but they don’t know it. Shhh, don’t tell them, but the song lyrics they recite and sing and post on their Facebook pages are all poetry. Some of the lyrics are good poetry, poetry that will last, and some are not so immortal, but they’re poetry, nevertheless.

So, to start this poetry month off with a bang and a whistle, here are a few links to Poetry for Fools:

Ogden Nash. One of my favorites, Mr. Nash had a gift for making the ordinary things of life fun and joy-filled.
Shel Silverstein. Mr. Silverstein’s website for kids is filled with poetry , but also lots of teaching helps, printables, poetry starters, and other foolish and fancy foibles and follies.
Edward Lear and A Blog of Bosh.

Peace Child by Don Richardson

Mar30

40 Inspirational Classics for Lent

Don Richardson (born 1935) is a Canadian Christian missionary, teacher, author and international speaker who worked among the tribal people of Western New Guinea, Indonesia. He argues in his writings that, hidden among tribal cultures, there are usually some practices or understandings, which he calls “redemptive analogies”, which can be used to illustrate the meaning of the Christian Gospel, contextualizing the biblical representation of the incarnation of Jesus. ~Wikipedia

That rather academic introduction to the story of missionary Don Richardson and his work with the Sawi people of Western New Guinea in Indonesia makes it sound almost boring. Peace Child, a missionary memoir, is anything but boring. Richardson went to Western New Guinea with his wife, Carol, and their seven month old baby in 1962. There they worked with a people who as a culture glorified violence, cannibalism, and revenge. In fact, as they listened to the story of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection in their own language, the Sawi laughed at the poor fool Jesus and admired Judas for his ability to deceive and betray such a close friend. Richardson despaired of ever being able to teach the Sawi the truth of the gospel until he discovered in their own culture that the Sawi had a tradition that mirrored the substitutionary death of Jesus as a “peace offering” for our sins.

The entire idea of redemptive analogies placed within cultures by God for the purpose of giving people a deeper and more complete understanding of the gospel should be handled carefully. I can see how it could be misused and and lead to more misunderstanding than understanding. However, used prayerfully and carefully, I can also see how God could use the stories and educational tools of a people and a culture to bring about miraculous communication. Peace Child is a wonderful story of just such a miracle.

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:1-4

The Brothers Karamazov by Feodor Dostoyevsky

Mar28

40 Inspirational Classics for Lent

The Anchoress, Elizabeth Scalia, recommends it highly.

Sigmund Freud called it “the most magnificent novel ever written,” not that I’m sure Mr. Freud and I would be in much agreement as to other reading choices. On this one, I almost concur with his opinion. I only reserve first place on that list of novels for Les Miserables.

A copy of The Brothers Karamazov was found on the nightstand next to Tolstoy’s deathbed at the Astapovo railway station.

Shelley at Book Clutter says, “I feel like I need to make a little notebook just for quotes from this novel. I could easily pull together my own sermon now, and it would be pretty darn good.”

Sarah at A Library is a hospital for the mind says, “I count the reading of The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky as one of my greatest literary accomplishments.”

Somerset Maugham placed The Brothers Karamazov on his list of the Top Ten Novels.

Noel Devries read it while traveling in Russia, and she says, “Dostoyevsky probes the heart.”

In my favorite TV series ever, LOST, while Ben (who was then claiming to be “Henry Gale”) was held captive in The Swan, Locke gave him The Brothers Karamazov for reading material. Ben responded, by asking “You don’t have any Stephen King?”

Eldest Daughter says, “Dostoevsky asks all the right questions and gives literature its most convincing and sympathetic good guy. I dare you to read it and not fall in love with Alyosha.”

And I just wish I could re-read The Brothers Karamazov, but too many books and too little time make that impossible, or at least unlikely right now. So why don’t you read it for me?

My Semicolon Tote from Simply Bags

Mar28

Personalized tote bags.

I don’t usually advertise here at Semicolon (aside from a few links to Amazon), but the folks at Simply Bags offered me a free tote with the name of my blog embroidered on it in return for a mention and a link here at the blog. I couldn’t resist when I saw pictures of the bags, and when I got mine in the mail I immediately transferred all of my stuff (I carry lots of stuff) to the new bag and began to use it daily.

I love it. It’s beautiful and roomy. I can carry books, notebooks, my smaller clutch purse, keys, papers, my Kindle, writing utensils, brochures, my Bible, my iPhone, and . . . well, you get the idea. I do carry a lot of things around with me. You never know when you might need a pair of nail clippers or a magazine or a green highlighter or a nametag from our homeschool co-op–yes, all things I found just now inside my lovely bag. I’ve been carrying the bag for about three weeks now, and nothing seems strained or frayed, so I’m pleased. Did I mention that I carry a lot of stuff, including two or three books, with me wherever I go?

A bag like mine costs $29.95 at Simply Bags with the word(s) of your choice embroidered on the side. There are many, many other styles and colors of bags available at the website of this family owned and operated company, and if you like what you see I encourage you to check it out.

Homeschool Journal: Week of March 20-26, 2011

Mar26

In my life this week… there was heartache and joy, in roughly equal measures. I bounce back and forth from feeling wholly inadequate to this task of parenting and homeschooling to feeling gratitude to the Lord of all parents and children for the opportunity.

In our homeschool this week… we did math (Saxon) and language lessons, read history, began reading aloud The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster, went to co-op on Friday, and re-grouped after a week of spring break.

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing… We watched a few of the videos in R.C. Sproul’s Old Testament survey series, From Dust to Glory. I like these videos very much. Karate Kid performed a minor role in the play, As You Like It at Selah Arts (located at our church). Some of the family are gone this afternoon to see the final performance of this Shakespearean classic. It’s not my favorite of Shakespeare’s plays, too absurdly unlikely, but it does have a few of my favorite lines in it:

And this our life, exempt from public haunt,
Finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks,
Sermons in stones, and good in everything.

I can suck melancholy out of a song as a weasel sucks eggs.

O, wonderful, wonderful, and most wonderful wonderful!
and yet again wonderful, and after that out of all whooping.

Down on your knees,
And thank Heaven, fasting, for a good man’s love.

Men have died from time to time, and worms have eaten them, but NOT for love.

My favorite thing this week was… stories, as usual: the book I’m reading about Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Phantom Tollbooth, seeing my youngest reading Ramona and her Mother, seeing the movie The King’s Speech with Engineer Husband, living our own story.

What’s working/not working for us…
Not working:
Trust issues with one of my urchins.
Too busy a schedule, too much driving around.
Working:
Return to read aloud time.
Sitting down to do math with my nine year old, Z-baby. She still needs me nearby for support and encouragement. I’d better slow myself down and enjoy that together-time while I still can.

Homeschool questions/thoughts I have… I want to simplify and enjoy more, but at the same time I want to have it all, not miss out on a single good book or learning experience or beautiful thought. It’s difficult to find any kind of balance between gulping life passionately and focusing on the small, seemingly insignificant things that make all that passion worthwhile.

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…
Large Family Mothering: Homeschooling less is more links and lists This blogger’s perspective on curriculum necessities and the true purpose of education is refreshing and encouraging. And according to the heading, she has fifteen children.

The Homeschool Chick is hostess for the weekly Homeschool Mother’s Journal.

Poetry Friday: Poetry and Sermons of John Donne

Mar25

“Despair is the damp of hell, as joy is the serenity of heaven.”
~John Donne

40 Inspirational Classics for Lent

I’ve written several times here at Semicolon about the seventeenth century poet and Anglican priest, John Donne:

A Valediction Forbidding Mourning by John Donne, 1611
Holy Sonnet X (Death Be Not Proud) by John Donne
The Sunne Rising by John Donne
Song (Go and Catch a Falling Star) by John Donne
Hymn to God, My God, in my Sickness by John Donne
The End of the Alphabet, Wit and John Donne

I strongly suggest both the poetry and the sermons of Mr. Donne for your Lenten edification.

From A Lent Sermon preached at White-hall, February 20, 1629 on Matthew 6:21, For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also:

The words admit well that inversion, “Where your Treasure is, there will your heart be also,” implies this; Where your Heart is, That is your Treasure.

Do all in the Fear of God: In all warlike preparations, remember the Lord of Hosts, and fear Him; In all treaties of peace, remember the Prince of Peace, and fear Him; In all Consultations, remember the Angle of the Great Council, and fear Him: fear God as much at Noon, as at Midnight; as much in the Glory and Splendor of his Sun-shine, as in his darkest Eclipses,: fear God as much in thy Prosperity, as in thine Adversity; as much in thy Preferment, as in thy Disgrace.

(Heaven) Where all tears shall be wiped from mine eyes; not onely tears of Compunction for my self, and tears of Compassion for others; but even tears of Joy, too: for there shall be no sudden Joy, no Joy unexperienced there. There I shall have all joys, altogether, always. There Abraham shall not be gladder of his own salvation, then of mine; nor I surer of the Everlastingness of my God, then of my Everlastingness in Him. This is that Treasure.

What the Bible Is All About by Henrietta Mears

Mar23

40 Inspirational Classics for Lent

I’m doing my best to read through the entire Bible during 2011. I want to make this “read through” a yearly habit. But sometimes I get to some book of the Bible, and I just don’t get it. What is this part of Scripture about? Why is it in here? What does it mean?

That’s where Henrietta Mears’ little book about the books of the Bible is a great help. In the book, Ms. Mears takes each book of the Bible in order and explains the main themes of the book, a summary of its contents, the characters, the historical background, the type of literature, key teachings, and the book’s relationship to the life and mission of Jesus.

“The work for which she is best known, What the Bible is All About, a survey of the Old and New Testaments, was a revision of one year of her high school Sunday school lessons taken from her teaching notes. At four million copies this is one of the most popular study books on the Bible ever printed; it has been revised twice and produced in a number of editions. In this work, Mears clearly communicates the Scripture and shows one of the chief reasons her students’ favorite name for her was ‘Teacher.'”

Ms. Mears was the Christian Education director for Hollywood Presbyterian Church, and in her position she influenced many young people who went on to bring the message of Christ to the world. Some of her students and disciples included Billy Graham, Bill and Vonette Bright, founders of Campus Crusade for Christ, Richard Halverson, chaplain of the U.S. Senate, and Jim Rayburn, founder of Young Life.