I just finished the second book in Ted Dekker’s Circle trilogy.  The first book was Black, which I wrote about here.  The above image comes from the Books-a-Million website where you can purchase the book and read a review.  It tells the redemptive story of the Bible in a fresh, captivating way, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.  If you’re looking for something different to read, and I mean really different, and if you enjoy fantasy, you just might like this trilogy. 

I accidentally came across this book in the library while looking at the World War II fiction.  I love Madeline L’Engle, so I picked it up.  I’m so glad I did.  The book is a beautiful story about a family and how they learned, really learned. the mercy of God.  L’Engle has filled the book with amazing quotes and scientific facts, through her characters.  It is a heart-warming story of love, friendship, growing through pain, and learning to embrace the mercy of God and give it to others.  The title comes from a quote within the book by William Langland,  “But all the wickedness in the world  which man may do or think is no more to the mercy of God than a live coal dropped in the sea.”  It’s a good read if you need something that is easy to read and at the same time uplifting.

I want to tell you about an amazing trilogy I just stumbled upon by Ted Dekker.  Wow.  That is about all I can say.  My neighbor came over and handed me the first book of his first trilogy earlier this week, and I finished it a few minutes ago.  The book is called Black, and it is a hard-to-describe work of fiction based on this world and another world where good and evil live separately, at least until a twist of events causes the entrenchment of evil into the beautiful world of Elyon. 

The story mirrors the Biblical account of creation and the fall of the world into sin.  It also brilliantly captures the heart of God and his delight in his creation, especially mankind.  As I read about the encounters with Elyon my heart longed for the day I will be free to experience this type of intimacy with my Creator in paradise.  The way Dekker describes the evil presence in creation is at the same time breath-taking and chilling.  It is an eye-opening and important piece of work, and I encourage you to read it.

It took me awhile to get into it, because the beginning moves slowly and keeps moving between the two worlds by the dreams of the main character, Thomas Hunter.  But when the story picks up and captures your imagination, it is almost impossible to put down.

Check out the website, and see what you think.  I can’t wait to read the next novel, entitled Red.  Then comes White, followed by several other additions.  The above picture is from Thomas Nelson Publishing Company.  The books can also be found at Amazon.

One of the high school kids I counsel recently told me about a deeply inspiring story.  It is the story of the life of a boy, who was the victim of one of the worst documented cases of child abuse in the state of California.  The events took place in the late 60’s and early 70’s beforeDavid Pelzer, the survivor wrote a trilogy of his life events.  The first is pictured above, A Child Called It.  The second and third books are The Lost Boy and A Man Called Dave.  You can find the books here.

It is hard to read about such cruelty to children, but the statistics tell us that these things happen everyday.  One therapist has gathered a list of online resources that look at the different aspects and occurrences of abuse.  If you are interested in learning more, check out the findings of C.J. Newton, MA, on this site.

If you work with or are around children, it is crucial to understand and recognize the signs of child abuse and neglect.  You can also get more information about this survivor’s current work with abuse prevention and inspiration here.  Dave has appeared on Oprah, and he has a weekly radio broadcast.

There is a whole bucket load of Junie B. Jones’ books by Barbara Park, and they are hilarious. I can’t believe I never knew about them. My nextdoor neighbor changed that the other day by giving us some old paperback copies. We’ve been addicted ever since. Junie B. Jones is, well let’s say, a spunky, precocious, curious, honest kindergartner. She is always getting herself into every possible sort of pickle.

Even more entertaining are the audio books read by Lana Quintal. She does an amazing job of making these stories even funnier. You can order them here, or just do like I did and check some out from your library. The stories are so delightful to listen to, and the car rides are much more bearable. (i.e. less hair-pulling and scream-fighting on the way home from places when the you-know-who’s are tired and grumpy.) The books are great fun to read aloud as well. My kids are even quoting some of the quirky sayings and using some of Junie B’s mannerisms.

Here is a sample from Junie B. Jones and some Sneaky Peeky Spying:

Spying is when you be very quiet. And you look at people through a peeky hole or a crack or something.

I am a very good spier.

That’s because I have sneaky feet. And my nose doesn’t whistle when I breath.

Last Friday morning at Grampa Miller’s house, I hided in the dirty clothes hamper. Then my grampa came in the bathroom. And I lifted up the lid a teeny bit. And I peeked my eyes at him.

And guess what?

Grampa Miller took his whole teeth right out of his head! That’s what!

I popped right out of the hamper!

“HEY! GRAMPA! HOW DID YOU DO THAT CRAZY THING!” I hollered.

Then my grampa screamed very loud. And he runned out of the bathroom speedy quick.

Grampa Miller has high blood pressure, I think.

I you, like me, didn’t know about these gifts of laughter, or you just haven’t read them to your kids, go. Now! Get some! Hurry!

We have recently begun reading The Chronicles of Narnia aloud to our seven year old son, and it is so much fun!  I remember my second grade teacher reading these books each day after lunch for a few minutes, and I would become enraptured and never want her to stop.  Then, when my husband and I were first married, we read them aloud to each other.  It is delightful to be at the stage with our oldest to be able to read these classics to him. 

And his wonder is as full as my own was at his age.  The other night, when we were reading The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe,  my husband came downstairs as I was reading aloud to our Jonathan.  Jonathan jumped up and ran over to my husband, squealing with delight,  “Daddy, Aslan is coming!  Aslan is coming!”

If you haven’t read these wonderful masterpieces of children’s literature, you really should.  And if you have kids, they definitely need to read them or hear them read!  They are too good to miss, and too good to be only for the children. 

Purchase them here, or check them out from your library today!

I have recently begun reading a book called Ruby Slippers by Jonalyn Grace Fincher, which explores what it means to live authentically with the redeemed soul of a woman.  At the end of the prologue, there is an interesting prayer and reminder of the most important thing.  Here is the author’s:

I am not a wife, a daughter, a niece, a sister. . . . (your relationships)  I am not a philosopher. . .  (your training) I am not a writer. . . (your job) I am not fun, enthusiastic, motivated, organized, disciplined, creative. . . (your gifts) I am not bossy, demanding, impatient, stubborn, judgmental . . . (your failures) I am none of these.I am a naked soul clothed in the righteousness of Christ.

When I read this, it struck a cord with me.  It seems that most of us, definitely myself included, are often looking for an identity to wrap around ourselves, and striving to find something to prove our worth.  To systematically strip this off by being reminded of the essence of our unpretentious and “unperforming” selves seems to me a very healthy spiritual practice.

Here is mine: (I used her skeleton and put in my personal specifics.)

I am not (primarily) a wife, mother, daughter, and friend. I am not a counselor. I am not a homeschooling mother.  I am not compassionate, creative, bright, insightful, bold. I am not grumpy, depressed, impatient, angry and tired. I am none of these. I am a naked soul clothed in the righteousness of Christ.

Why don’t you write one of your own?