Appalachian Hermitage

They Say It's Your Birthday!

I would like to wish a very special birthday to the Real Live Preacher!

The City of Falling Angels

This morning I presented a professional development workshop to an adult education program in another county.  During my travels to the workshop I tuned in public radio and was treated to a interview with John Berendt concerning his new work of nonfiction entitled, The City of Falling Angels.

Even though Mr. Berendt has only published two books, you are very familiar with him if you have ever visited the beloved city of Savannah.  Every gift shop, souvenir shop, and restaurant has a sign announcing that they carry "The Book."  The book that they speak of is Mr. Berendt's first publication, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. Whereas this piece of non-fiction gives us a glimpse into Savannah and its colorful denizens, The City of Falling Angels takes us to the heart of Venice.  The book opens on January 29, 1996, with the burning destruction of La Fenice Opera House and ends seven years later at the post-reconstruction re-inaugural concert.

Among the many interesting Venetians included in the book, I am most looking forward to Berendt’s pages dedicated to Olga Rudge who was the mistress of poet and critic, Ezra Pound.

The interview was so compelling that I had to rush to the nearest bookstore and purchase my own copy. Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil spent 4 years on the best seller list. Perhaps The City of Falling Angels may rival its predecessor!

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

I saw Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire this afternoon.  I was not disappointed.

The film is action packed and moves quickly from one intense scene to another and it was a much darker picture than the previous three.   I was very excited with the arrival of Beauxbatons and Durmstrang.  Very impressive effects!  The most touching moment of the film was when Harry brought back the body of Cedric Diggory and he cried over his fallen friend.

The Goblet of Fire is one of my favorite books in the six that have been published and it is also the best movie of the four that has been brought to the big screen!

Walk the Line

Today my wife and I went to see Walk the Line.  I found it to be a very interesting and entertaining production.  Reece Witherspoon gave an amazing portrayal of June Carter and Joaquin Phoenix was extremely believable in his portrayal of the man in black.  Both actors gave oscar-worthy performances. 

I was amazed to learn that both Phoenix and Witherspoon performed their own singing.  It was highly enjoyable.

Modern Library Future Classic

I recently read a review of Jonathan Harr's The Lost Painting: The Search for a Caravaggio Masterpiece in the current issue of Pages Magazine.  I immediately added the title to my "To Read" list (I am a great creator of lists).

The nonfiction bestseller, recently named as a Modern Library Future Classic, concerns the intrigue, mystery, and drama that interweaves through the life of Michelangelo Caravaggio...genius, madman, artist, and killer.

Harr's former work, A Civil Action, was a disappointing read.  I hope that The Lost Painting delivers...in light of its glowing reviews I certainly think that it will.

Reaction to the Closed Doors

Kudos to Tim Challies for his intelligent illumination on the issue of closing church doors on Christmas!

Hear Ye! Hear Ye!

Hallelujah!

The Website of Novelist Jared C. Wilson is now open!!!

What?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

I am dumbfounded!

I just learned that Southland Christian Church, one of the largest churches in Central Kentucky, will not be holding services on Christmas morning.  Their reasoning?  They wish to make Christmas Day more family-friendly and lifestyle-friendly. 

Apparently, large evangelical megachurches across America are echoing this sentiment.  The list of closed congregations include:  Willow Creek Community Church (Chicago), Mars Hill Bible Church (Grandville, Michigan), North Point Community Church (Georgia), and Fellowship Church (Dallas).

This is unbelievable!  Here we are, living in the midst of an extremely secular society, and the churches are turning secular as well.  As for me and my family, we will be attending Christmas Services and basking in the glory of the day.

A Is For Acclaimed Alphabetic Authors

Today's paper ran a story about mystery writer, and fellow Kentuckian, Sue Grafton.  I have only read one of her novels, N Is For Noose.  I read it for a book club that I was a member of and I have to admit that I was not crazy about it.  It must be me though, for Sue Grafton is a bestselling author who has already created 19 books around her sleuthing Kinsey Millhone.  Perhaps I should pick up the first in the series and give her another try. 

My wife loves mystery series so I am thinking about getting some of Grafton's novels for her to read.  My wife loves the James Qwilleran series (The Cat Who Books) created by Lilian Jackson Brain as well as Janet Evanovich's mystery series.  We recently heard that Janet Evanovich's detective, Stephanie Plum, will soon be coming to the big screen.  Both Reese Witherspoon and Sandra Bullock are being considered as the female sleuth.  My wife is pulling for Sandra Bullock who more closely resembles the Stephanie Plum that my wife has pictured in her head.

Dr. John C. Maxwell

Dr. John C. Maxwell is a wonderful, prolific, Christian, motivational teacher.  He is also one of Amazon.com's all-time bestselling authors.

I was able to attend a seminar today where he presented an amazing and thought-provoking lecture on his book, The 17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork: Embrace Them and Empower Your Team.   The seminar was presented at Lexington Center/Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky.    I was able to attend with  7 co-workers due to the generosity of my supervisor.  The tickets were $125 and I feel that it was money well spent.  I think the seminar was something that we could use to become a harmonious team working toward our common goals.

I took along my copy of The 17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork and was able to get it signed by Dr. Maxwell!   

Dr. Maxwell informed us that his new book, The 360 Degree Manager, will be released this month. 

My Hope For the Near Future

Condi for '08!

Things I Am Thankful For...

Cliff Knighten has a wonderful idea about composing an alphabetical listing of things that you are thankful for.  Thanks, Cliff!  Here is my list:

Abba God, Alison Krauss and Union Station, Alistair Begg, Alton Brown, Amazon.com, Amish Bulk Stores, Andrew, Apostle's Creed, Appalachia, Appalachian fiction, Applebee's, Aquafina, autumn, Baxter's Coffeehouse, Barefoot Contessa, Barnes and Noble, Bath & Body Works Aromatherapy handsoap (Jasmine and Vanilla), being able to read, Birkenstocks, Blake, blogging, bluegrass music, books, Boston Legal, Brennan Manning, buttermilk, cafe au lait, Caleb, Cary Grant, Charleston SC, Chase, cheese, Chevrolet Impala, Chinese food, the Christ, Christi, Commander-in-Chief, computers, cornbread, cotton sheets (500 count), cranberries, cranberry-flavored anything,  creative writing, crocheting, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, C.S. Lewis, Dallas Willard, Dave Lieberman, Diet 7-Up, Dune, egg rolls, Empire Earth, fajitas, Famous Amos Chocolate Chip cookies, first editions, flannel sheets, Frank McCourt, Fred Astaire, friends, Ghiradelli Chocolate, Giada De Laurentiis, The Good Earth, Greg, Guys and Dolls, helping others, the Holy Spirit, House of Flying Daggers, Hero, hydrangeas, Il Divo, India Jewel aka Scooter (my cat), Ireland, Irish Breakfast Tea, Iron Chef, The Isaacs, Israel, Jack, Jake and Amos' Amish Peaches, Jared Wilson, Jesse Stuart, J.K. Rowling, John Lithgow the author, John Mayer, John Paul II, Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Josh Groban, journals, J.R.R. Tolkien, Kelli, Kevin, Kimberly, latte, lemonade, Levenger, the library, Life Application Study Bible, liturgy, Logan's Roadhouse, log cabins, The Lord of the Rings, Love that Dog, the mandolin, Mario Batali, Mary Ann, Meet Me in St. Louis, messenger bags, Mexican food, Michael Card, Mitzi, Moe's Southwest Grill, Mother, mountains, movies, my recliner, Mysterium Tremendum, National Geographic, Nickle Creek, NPR, oatmeal, Obsession cologne, the ocean, orange juice, Pappa, Pat Conroy, Paula Dean, PBS, picture books, pinto beans, potato pancakes, Precious (my dog), ragamuffin diva, Ralph Stanley,  Real Live Preacher, rice, Richard J. Foster, Rich Mullins, Robin, Rodney, Saturday dates, Sara Elizabeth, Savannah, Sawyer, Scott, Seth, sewn composition books, The Shop Around the Corner, Silas House, Sister Marty, Starbucks, Sue, the Sunday newspaper, Thinklings, Thomas Merton, Ticonderoga pencils, Tommy, Tori, Trivial Pursuit, Tungsten PDAs, turkey hot dogs with mustand and onion, Turner Classic Movies, Wendell Berry, XM Radio, XM Radio Channels (7, 8, 14, 25, 133, and 170) and Zachary.

Just Call Me Mr. Crafty

My wife is an excellent crocheter.  She can make almost anything in very little time.  You would be hard pressed to examine one of her creations and find any mistakes for she is a true perfectionist in the craft.

Last evening she taught me the beginning concepts and I practiced all night on chain stitches.  Today she added double crochets and single crochets to my repetoire.  She says that I am quite good although I am very critical of my own stitches. 

Several months ago I had printed her out some materials on crocheting prayer swawls as a ministry.  I got her patterns out and she has helped me to start a prayer shawl.  I am going to make one for my sister-in-law for Christmas.  The concept behind a prayer shawl ministry is that you pray for the person you are creating the prayer shawl for during the entire creative process.  I love this idea!

Go in peace...serve the Lord!   

Terrible Night

Why is it that we have terrible dreams in the middle of the night?  What causes them?  Is there some psychological trigger that brings the unthinkable into quasi-reality?

My wife awoke me last night at 3:30.  I had my head in my hands and I was crying uncontrollably.  I had experienced a dream that was so real that I was visably shaken.

The dream concerned the future death of my mother.  I cannot tell you how or why she died, nor did I see her dead body, for the dream itself consisted of the interaction between me and my siblings as we went about the process of planning her funeral.  When I awoke I was overcome by grief and felt a terrible emptiness within myself.  My mother raised me to respect other people so I strongly resisted the urge I had to telephone her and make sure she was alright. 

My mother is a lovely person.  She is totally selfless, loving, kind, and encouraging.   It is my prayer, that  God blesses her with many, many enjoyable days to come. 

Go in peace...serve the Lord!

RLP Reviews Books

Great News!  Real Live Preacher is now reviewing books on his site.  The reviews are sponsored by Viva Books in San Antonio.  I have been a fan of the Reverend's for some time now and I am greatly looking forward to his book reviews.

Go in peace...serve the Lord!

Day of Leisure

Today there was no school due to the Thanksgiving Holiday so I spent a wonderful relaxing day with my wife.  She spent most of her time working on some crocheted items for Christmas.  I poured my heart and soul into creating a blog for her to use.  I am really proud of it.  You can access her blog, The World of MitziQ, through this link.  I am going to wait until it is perfect before I show it to her.  I am really proud of the way that it looks!

Go in peace...serve the Lord!

Thanksgiving

Today was a fantastic Thanksgiving Day.  My wife, son, and I went to my parent's home and shared a sumptuous meal and spent a wonderous time with my parents, sister, brothers, in-laws, nieces, and nephews.  There were seventeen people present.   After all of the festivities my mind began to reflect on the many reasons for which I am most thankful.

I am thankful that God has blessed me with a loving wife and son.  My wife and I are just alike.  We love the same things and even think the same thoughts.  We are best friends and love spending all of our time together.   I treasure the ground she walks on and she is the one true love of my life. I am thankful that God gives my wife the blessings of health and recovery.

I am thankful that God allowed me to be a part of a large, loving, supportive, and encouraging family.   We are a very close knit, almost clannish group.  We share in each others joys and sorrows. 

I am thankful that my sister experienced such success during the second surgery on her brain stem.  God was certainly most providential and merciful during this time of our lives.  May He continue to bless her during her time of recovery.

I am thankful that I have a job that I love and am able to touch people's lives every day. 

I am thankful that God, in His mercy, loves the unlovable, forgives the unforgiveable, and blesses the undeserving.

I am thankful that God uses me to touch others' lives in a positive way.

I am thankful that God blessed me with a love of reading and books.  I cannot imagine my life without them.

It is my greatest hope that you have many things to be thankkful for as well. 

Quote of the Day:  "We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties  of Heaven; we have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity; we have grown in numbers, wealth, and power as no other nation has ever grown." -Abraham Lincoln, 1863

Go in peace...serve the Lord!

Welcome to the Appalachian Hermitage

Welcome to my new blog, Appalachian Hermitage!  Pull up a chair, make yourself comfortable, and visit a while.

Go in peace...serve the Lord!